#t: steadfast heart

[solxamber]

'Elloo! :D I saw your requests open, can I request some hcs or short imagines for the first, second, and third years, separate characters?? Or you can just do it as a single scenario with all the characters. They're (Their??) reaction when they've realized the things reader/Yuu had to go through starting from the very beginning ,when they first got transported to the school. Like, the shock of not being able to go home, new environment, the fear-- just the emotional and mental turmoil reader/yuu went through starting from the beginning.

Also, as time goes by it just gets worse and worse along with all the overblots and stuff that got reader/Yuu over the edge. And now the students kind of help?? Or at least try to soothe or comfort the reader I guess??

Does this make any sense?? I dunno :'D

I want me some angst hehe >:]

But if this is kind of too much then it's okii if you wanna skip this one, I love the effort you put into your writings! <3

I kinda just wanted to ramble and yap about this idea I had hehe

Toodles!

thank you!! and i'm sorry it too so long, but i hope you like it <3

They realise what you went through - All NRC + Rollo + Neige + Grim, Staff

Riddle Rosehearts

Riddle doesn’t realize the extent of your struggle until much later, likely after witnessing you reach your breaking point. The way you bottle up your emotions reminds him of himself before his own overblot, and it fills him with guilt. He prides himself on upholding order, but he feels like he failed to notice the chaos within you.

“Why didn’t you say something?” Riddle asks, voice trembling as he stands before you, his normally stern expression soft with regret. He places a hesitant hand on your shoulder, unsure if he has the right to offer comfort after overlooking your pain for so long. “I… I should have noticed. I’m sorry.”

Riddle dives into a methodical plan to ease your burdens. He takes on your academic concerns, ensuring your assignments are manageable and offering personal tutoring. When you’re overwhelmed, he insists you take breaks in Heartslabyul’s peaceful rose garden. While he’s not good at openly expressing affection, he’s steadfast, always by your side with words of encouragement and warm tea.

Trey Clover

Trey picks up on your struggles sooner than most, his observant nature allowing him to notice the small cracks in your demeanor. He doesn’t pry but stays close, offering quiet support until he realizes you’re beyond your limit. His heart aches knowing you’ve been carrying so much without asking for help.

“Hey… you don’t have to pretend everything’s fine,” Trey says softly, kneeling beside you as you sit slumped in an empty classroom. His usual calm demeanor is tinged with concern. “I’ve seen you pushing yourself too hard. You’re not alone in this, you know.”

Trey becomes your sanctuary. He’s the type to cook comforting meals for you, often sneaking you your favorite desserts. He encourages you to talk at your own pace, listening without judgment. Trey also ensures you’re surrounded by people who care, gently urging you to spend time with friends so you never feel isolated again.

Cater Diamond

Cater doesn’t fully realize how bad things are until he catches you breaking down when you think no one is watching. The sight hits him hard—he’s used to wearing masks himself, but seeing you put on a brave face while falling apart reminds him of his own struggles.

“Whoa, hey, hey…” Cater’s voice is unusually soft as he crouches in front of you, the playful lilt replaced with genuine worry. “You’ve been holding all this in, haven’t you? Man, that’s not healthy… You should’ve told me!”

Cater becomes your cheerleader, using his energy to lift your spirits. He takes you on spontaneous outings, distracting you with fun activities and selfies to remind you of life’s lighter side. When you need to vent, he’s surprisingly patient, letting you talk without interruptions. His go-to phrase becomes, “No filter, just let it out. I’m here.”

Ace Trappola

Ace is the last to understand the depth of your pain, brushing off your struggles as stress until you finally snap. Seeing you cry or lash out leaves him dumbstruck—he’s not used to serious emotions and struggles to process it at first. But beneath his awkwardness, he genuinely cares.

“Whoa… I didn’t think it was this bad.” Ace rubs the back of his neck, guilt clear in his expression. “Look, I’m sorry if I made things worse. I didn’t mean to. I just… didn’t know.”

Ace sticks close to you in his own Ace-like way. He cracks jokes to make you laugh and distracts you with playful banter, but he’s also there for the serious moments. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, he drags you outside to play a quick game of basketball or to look at the stars, insisting, “You’ve gotta clear your head, or you’ll go crazy.”

Deuce Spade

Deuce notices your struggles but doesn’t know how to approach you about them. When he finally sees you crumble, it makes him feel like he’s failed as your friend. His protective instincts kick in, and he becomes determined to help you in any way he can.

“Wait—you’ve been feeling like this the whole time?” Deuce’s voice is thick with emotion as he looks at you, his fists clenched at his sides. “Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve done something! I’m supposed to have your back!”

Deuce takes your well-being seriously, to the point of overcompensating at first. He insists on walking you to class, carrying your things, and defending you against anything he perceives as a threat (real or imagined). Over time, he learns to provide quiet support, sitting with you during tough moments and saying, “We’ll get through this together. I promise.”

Leona Kingscholar

Leona is a perceptive man, even if he acts otherwise, but your struggles slip under his radar for too long. It isn’t until he notices how you’ve stopped rising to his teasing or how the light in your eyes has dimmed that the gravity of your situation hits him. It reminds him of his own sense of isolation, and the guilt gnaws at him.

“Tch. You think you’re the only one who has to deal with this crap?” Leona’s voice is gruff, but there’s no malice in it. He sighs, sitting beside you under the shade of a tree. “You should’ve said something sooner, herbivore. Doesn’t mean you have to carry it all yourself.”

Leona doesn’t coddle you, but his actions speak louder than his words. He offers his presence, silently inviting you to nap in the botanical gardens with him when you need a break. If anyone dares to make your life harder, Leona handles it with a quiet, lethal efficiency. “Rest up. You’re not falling apart on my watch.”

Ruggie Bucchi

Ruggie notices your struggles quickly, but his initial reaction is to brush it off as normal stress—until he sees you genuinely hit your breaking point. It stuns him; he’s used to dealing with hardships himself but hates the idea of you enduring the same without support.

“Oi, don’t do this to yourself,” Ruggie says, his usual playful tone replaced by something softer. “You’re not alone, y’know? I don’t let my people suffer in silence. That’s not how we roll.”

Ruggie uses his resourcefulness to lighten your load however he can. He sneaks you snacks, takes care of tedious tasks for you, and even makes you laugh with his sharp wit. When you’re overwhelmed, he shares stories of his struggles to show you that it’s okay to lean on others. “You’ve got me, okay? I’ll make sure you’re okay, promise.”

Jack Howl

Jack notices the signs of your stress early on, but he hesitates to bring it up, unsure if it’s his place. When he finally realizes how deeply you’re struggling, it stirs a protective instinct in him, and he immediately resolves to do whatever it takes to help you.

“You should’ve told me,” Jack says, his voice low and filled with regret. His ears twitch as he glances away, guilt etched across his face. “I could’ve helped. You don’t have to do this on your own anymore.”

Jack becomes your steadfast support, encouraging you to exercise or go for runs to clear your mind. He’s a calming presence, offering quiet companionship when words aren’t enough. “You’re strong, but you don’t always have to be. Let me help carry the weight, okay?”

Azul Ashengrotto

Azul prides himself on noticing vulnerabilities in others, but your ability to mask your pain throws him off. When the cracks finally show, it shakes him deeply, reminding him of his own insecurities and the times he felt powerless.

“I didn’t realize…” Azul murmurs, his hands wringing nervously as he looks at you with uncharacteristic vulnerability. “I should have seen it. I’m sorry—for everything. Let me help you now.”

Azul’s approach is practical and calculated, but it’s rooted in genuine care. He offers to take over responsibilities or negotiate solutions to ease your stress. When you’re overwhelmed, he’s unexpectedly tender, sitting with you in his VIP room and reminding you, “Even the strongest need someone to lean on. You’ve been there for others; let us be here for you.”

Jade Leech

Jade notices your struggles early but refrains from intervening, assuming you’ll reach out when you’re ready. When he realizes how much you’ve been bottling up, he’s surprised and slightly guilty for not addressing it sooner.

“My, you’ve been carrying quite the burden,” Jade says, his usual calm tinged with regret. “It seems I underestimated just how much you’ve endured. Forgive my oversight.”

Jade is a master of subtlety, offering comfort in ways that feel natural and unintrusive. He invites you on quiet walks through the woods, using the serene atmosphere to help ease your mind. When words are needed, he listens attentively, his soothing voice offering reassurance. “Do not hesitate to lean on me, should you need support. I’ll always be here.”

Floyd Leech

Floyd doesn’t realize how bad things are until you completely snap, and even then, it takes him a moment to process that your outburst isn’t just a temporary mood. Seeing you so broken flips a switch in him, his usual playful demeanor replaced with a rare seriousness.

“Shrimpy, why didn’t you say anything?” Floyd’s voice is uncharacteristically quiet, his sharp eyes scanning your face. He pouts, but there’s no mischief in it—just genuine concern. “You don’t gotta handle everything alone, y’know?”

Floyd sticks to you like glue, his unpredictable nature becoming a strange source of comfort. He drags you out for spontaneous adventures, insisting that fun will help you feel better. When you’re feeling low, he’s surprisingly gentle, wrapping you in a tight hug and muttering, “I gotcha, Shrimpy. Nobody’s messin’ with you while I’m here.”

Kalim Al-Asim

Kalim is always full of energy and positivity, so it takes him a while to notice the depths of your struggles. When he does, he’s devastated, blaming himself for not seeing it sooner.

“Wait—you’ve been feeling like this?” Kalim’s eyes widen, tears threatening to spill. “Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve done something to help!”

Kalim does everything in his power to brighten your days. He showers you with gifts, invites you to lively parties, and insists on spending time together to lift your spirits. When he realizes that quiet support means more than grand gestures, he sits with you, holding your hand. “You’re not alone, okay? I’ll always be here for you.”

Jamil Viper

Jamil is highly observant, and while he notices your struggles early on, he assumes you’re managing on your own until he sees how much you’ve truly endured. It reminds him of his own bottled-up frustrations, and guilt eats at him for not acting sooner.

“...I should’ve known,” Jamil mutters, his voice low and filled with regret. He rubs the back of his neck, avoiding your gaze. “I’ve been through this too. I know what it’s like to feel trapped. I’m sorry I didn’t step in sooner.”

Jamil’s care comes in quiet, thoughtful gestures. He prepares your favorite meals, arranges peaceful moments away from the chaos of NRC, and ensures you never feel overwhelmed alone. “You’ve done more than enough. Let me take care of things for a while.”

Vil Schoenheit

Vil’s sharp eyes catch the signs of your struggles quickly, but he initially brushes them off, believing you’ll overcome them like any challenge. When the full weight of your burden becomes clear, he’s horrified and deeply regretful for not intervening sooner.

“I failed to notice something so glaringly obvious,” Vil says, his tone laced with self-reproach. “That’s not acceptable—not as your friend and certainly not as someone who should’ve supported you better.”

Vil approaches your comfort with precision and care, determined to help you regain your footing. He insists on self-care days, encourages you to vent your frustrations, and teaches you grounding techniques. “You’re stronger than you think, but even the strongest need rest. I’m here for you, no matter what.”

Rook Hunt

Rook is attuned to the emotions of those around him, and your pain does not escape his notice. He marvels at your resilience but is deeply saddened that you’ve been enduring so much without seeking help.

“Mon cher trésor, your suffering… it pains me to think I let you endure this alone,” Rook says softly, his gaze earnest. “You’ve carried a weight that no one should bear by themselves. Allow me to lighten your burden.”

Rook’s support is poetic and heartfelt, crafting moments of beauty to remind you of the world’s wonders. Whether it’s a bouquet of flowers, a handwritten letter, or a quiet moment under the stars, he ensures you feel cherished. “You are not alone in this grand stage of life, and I shall remain by your side as your steadfast ally.”

Epel Felmier

Epel is initially too caught up in his own frustrations to notice the extent of your struggles, but once he sees you falter, his protective side kicks in. It reminds him of his own insecurities about being underestimated.

“Aw, geez, why didn’t ya say somethin’?” Epel frowns, his voice uncharacteristically soft. “You’re always lookin’ out for us, but ya never let anyone do the same for you. That ain’t fair.”

Epel takes a straightforward approach, offering to help however he can. He sticks close, ensuring you never feel alone, and encourages you to vent when needed. “You’re tough as nails, but that doesn’t mean you gotta do it all by yourself. We’re a team, remember?”

Idia Shroud

Idia is slow to notice your struggles, being so wrapped up in his own world, but when he realizes the extent of your pain, it hits him hard. He sees a reflection of his own struggles in you and feels immense guilt for not seeing it sooner.

“This is my fault, isn’t it?” Idia mumbles, his voice trembling. His hair dims as he nervously fiddles with his tablet. “I should’ve… I don’t know, paid more attention. I’m sorry. I—I wanna help, if you’ll let me.”

Idia comforts you in his own awkward way, creating a safe space where you can relax without judgment. He shares his favorite games, shows, and quiet moments, offering you an escape from the chaos. “You don’t have to be ‘okay’ all the time. Just… take it easy for now. I’m here if you need me.”

Ortho Shroud

Ortho is one of the first to notice your struggles, his advanced sensors picking up on changes in your emotional and physical state. His concern is immediate, and he wastes no time in seeking to help.

“You’ve been so sad for so long, haven’t you?” Ortho’s voice is soft, as he hovers close. “I wish I could’ve made you smile sooner. I’m sorry you’ve been hurting.”

Ortho’s comfort is warm and reassuring, filled with optimism and boundless energy. He’s always ready with encouraging words, small gifts, or simply a cheerful presence to brighten your day. “You’re not alone! I’ll do everything I can to help you feel better, okay?”

Malleus Draconia

Malleus has always sensed something amiss about your emotions, his acute sensitivity to auras making it impossible for him to overlook your struggles. However, he hesitates to approach, fearing he might overstep or worsen your burdens. When he finally understands the depth of your pain, he is both heartbroken and determined to help.

“You’ve been enduring this in silence?” His deep voice is laced with regret as his green eyes soften. “If only I had been more attentive, perhaps I could have eased your pain.”

Malleus ensures you feel his unwavering support. He invites you for peaceful strolls under the stars, shares his favorite quiet spots, and reassures you with his calming presence. “You are precious to me. Whatever darkness surrounds you, I will remain by your side until the light returns.”

Lilia Vanrouge

Lilia has lived long enough to recognize the signs of emotional turmoil, and it pains him to see you suffer. While he often masks his seriousness with cheerfulness, he doesn’t hesitate to step in when he sees you reaching your breaking point.

“Oh, little one, you’ve carried such a heavy heart all this time.” His playful demeanor fades into solemnity as he places a gentle hand on your shoulder. “You shouldn’t have to face this alone.”

Lilia comforts you with wisdom and warmth, drawing on centuries of experience. He shares stories to make you laugh, cooks (albeit questionable) meals to distract you, and offers sage advice when you’re ready to talk. “Life’s trials are harsh, but you’re stronger than you know. And if you need someone to lean on, I’ll always be here.”

Silver

Silver is observant despite his drowsy nature, and he’s one of the first to notice your growing exhaustion. When he realizes the extent of your suffering, he feels deeply remorseful for not acting sooner.

“I should have seen this sooner,” Silver says quietly, his tone filled with regret. “You’ve always looked out for others… I should’ve done the same for you.”

Silver stays by your side, offering silent, steady support. He doesn’t push you to talk but is always ready to listen when you’re ready. His calm demeanor helps ground you, and he often sits quietly with you under a tree or by a calm lake. “You’re not alone. I’ll protect you—not just from danger, but from this weight you’re carrying.”

Sebek Zigvolt

Sebek’s initial reaction is frustration—not at you, but at himself for failing to notice your struggles while being so focused on Malleus. His loyalty shifts into overdrive as he becomes determined to help you.

“You’ve been struggling this much, and I didn’t see it?!” Sebek’s voice is loud, but there’s a rare softness in his expression. “That is… unacceptable. I failed you as a companion.”

Sebek’s attempts to comfort you are a bit clumsy but heartfelt. He insists on helping you with daily tasks and loudly declares his commitment to your well-being. Despite his rough edges, his sincerity shines through. “Know this: I will not allow you to suffer alone any longer. You have my loyalty, now and always.”

Rollo Flamme

Rollo’s disdain for magic only deepens when he realizes how much you’ve suffered due to the chaos and overblots of NRC. His concern for you is genuine, though it’s laced with anger toward the school and its culture.

“This place… It’s a cesspool of disorder and harm,” Rollo says, his voice cold yet trembling with suppressed emotion. “You’ve been caught in its web for too long. You deserve better.”

Rollo’s comfort is practical and protective. He tries to create a sense of normalcy for you, offering quiet, structured moments away from the chaos. His words are sharp but sincere. “You deserve a life of peace and stability. If you can’t find it here, I’ll do what I can to give it to you.”

Neige LeBlanche

Neige is quick to notice your distress, his naturally empathetic nature making him keenly aware of your struggles. He’s horrified to think of you enduring so much alone and wants to do everything in his power to make you smile again.

“Oh no… You’ve been feeling like this?” Neige’s voice is soft, his eyes brimming with concern. “You don’t deserve to carry such sadness by yourself.”

Neige’s comfort is gentle and uplifting. He sings for you, offers kind words, and encourages you to express your feelings without fear. “You’re so strong, but you don’t have to be strong all the time. It’s okay to let someone take care of you for a change.”

Grim

Grim initially doesn’t notice your struggles, his focus often on his own ambitions and mischief. When he finally realizes how much you’ve been enduring, he feels both guilt and panic.

“Hey… You’re not okay, are ya?” Grim’s ears droop as he looks up at you, his voice unusually soft. “Why didn’t ya tell me? I—I’m supposed to be your partner!”

Grim becomes fiercely protective, sticking by your side at all times. He tries to cheer you up with his antics and insists on being your “emotional support boss.” “You’re stuck with me, got it? So don’t go actin’ like you’re all alone. I won’t let ya.”

Staff:

Crowley

Crowley prides himself on being the "benevolent" headmaster, but when he realizes how much you’ve suffered under his care—or lack thereof—he’s struck by a rare pang of guilt. While he’s not one to admit fault outright, he becomes visibly uncomfortable with the weight of his oversight.

“My dear, you’ve been carrying all of this on your shoulders?” His dramatic flair falters for a moment, his usual exuberance replaced with awkward sincerity. “I… suppose I may have been a tad neglectful in ensuring your well-being.”

Crowley tries to make amends in his own roundabout way, offering resources, extended accommodations, or attempting to be more attentive (though his efforts are often misguided). “Rest assured, I shall personally oversee that you are well cared for! You have my full support—within reason, of course.”

Divus Crewel

Crewel is not one to tolerate weakness, but when he sees the toll everything has taken on you, his stern demeanor softens. He’s the type to take immediate, no-nonsense action to ensure you’re taken care of.

“You’ve let it get this bad without saying a word?” His sharp tone is laced with frustration, but his eyes betray his concern. “Pup, I thought I taught you better than to carry burdens alone.”

Crewel’s approach is practical yet caring. He insists you rest, brings you comforting meals, and ensures you know you’re valued. “You’re stronger than you think, but even the strongest need support. Lean on me, pup. I’ll make sure you’re back to full strength in no time.”

Mozus Trein

Trein is a man of wisdom and observation. He likely noticed your struggles but respected your space, waiting for the right time to step in. When he realizes the full extent of your distress, he feels deep regret for not intervening sooner.

“I should have addressed this earlier.” His voice is steady but tinged with remorse. “You’ve faced more challenges than any student should. It’s a testament to your resilience, but it shouldn’t have come to this.”

Trein offers gentle guidance, providing stability and reassurance. He shares stories of his own trials and reminds you that even the hardest times pass. “Life is fraught with difficulties, but you’ve shown remarkable courage. Allow others to help shoulder the burden—you need not face this alone.”

Ashton Vargas

Vargas isn’t the most emotionally perceptive, but when it finally clicks that you’re struggling, he’s hit with a wave of guilt. He immediately shifts gears, trading his usual boisterousness for genuine concern.

“Whoa… I had no idea it was this bad,” Vargas says, his brows furrowed in concern. “Why didn’t you say something sooner? I would’ve helped in a heartbeat!”

Vargas focuses on physical activity as a form of comfort, encouraging you to blow off steam in healthy ways. He also offers constant positive reinforcement. “You’re tough, kid, but even the toughest need a break. Let’s get some fresh air and clear your head—you’ve got this!”

Sam

Sam has always been attuned to the emotions of others, so when he realizes the depth of your struggles, he feels a pang of regret for not stepping in sooner. His usual upbeat demeanor becomes tinged with quiet sympathy.

“Well, well… Looks like someone’s been carrying more than their fair share.” His voice is soft, his usual grin replaced with a concerned expression. “You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”

Sam provides comfort through small but meaningful gestures, like preparing your favorite treats or giving you space to talk. He reassures you with his calming presence and wise words. “Don’t keep it bottled up, friend. Whatever you’re feeling, it’s valid. I’m here to help you through it.”

Masterlist

[long-live-aelin]

Unrequited Love

Quick background summary.

Reader is new to inner circle and is secretly in love with Azriel. Azriel is courting Elain and reader is jealous.

This is just something I couldn't get out of my head. It's not a fully fleshed out idea but thought I would post anyway. Enjoy!

----

I was leaning against one of the uppermost railings in the house of wind breathing the crisp air. The laughter and chatter of the people below echoed up to me and it reminded me of this time last year. My first Starfall would be a memory I would never forget.

I had spent the start of the night in exhilaration and excitement to the build-up to the stars falling, hoping that the view looked as stunning as everyone described. My breath left me when I saw those beautiful souls in the sky and it was unlike anything I had ever seen. I remember thinking that I was born to see those skies lit up in the most magical way.

I remember dancing with my friends who were steadfast becoming a new family. I had never had friends that I could call such a thing. I spent the night dancing upbeat songs with Mor and Feyre, songs that’s wild beat felt like it was echoing in my heart. Laughing at Cassian’s dancing, his booming laugh making me laugh. Slow dancing with Azriel at the end of the night my heart beating so loud in my chest I thought he could hear it. Ending the night with my feet so sore I thought I would never walk again, a wild smile on my face. Brightness bubbling in my chest how lucky I was to find Velaris, these people around me.

Tonight felt very different than that. The wild opposite. My chest felt hollow, longing haunting my every step. I didn’t know how long I could live with that hollowness in my chest reaching for something I would never get, it was madness. The moment I had arrived here I had avoided Azriel at any cost. I knew tonight would be tricky, so I convinced myself I wouldn’t have to see him. See him looking at Elain with his own longing showing on his face, so similar to how I knew mine would look looking at him. And I knew I couldn’t bear it, so I escaped up here after saying enough pleasantries to my friends that they wouldn’t suspect a thing. Mor had given me a brief sad look when she saw me, but I quickly looked away looking for the next person to say hello to so I could get away from the pity in her face. I was starting to regret telling her I was secretly in love with Azriel.

The longer I had stayed up here the more my worries seemed distant. The breeze singing its sweet song to me, the cold wind calming my frayed nerves and soothing my aching heart.

“I had a feeling I would find you here.” I started out of my thoughts, twisting around to the sound of Azriel’s voice at the door to the balcony, only a few steps from me. This balcony felt far too small for the distance I had been trying to keep from him the past few weeks. The closest I had been to him in a while. And god did he look good I could hardly stand it. He was wearing his usual black, but it was more tight fitting and smoother than the Illyrian leathers or the thick armored fighting clothes he wore so often. His shadows swirled haphazardly at his shoulders which I knew meant he was unsure.

He studied me, a serious look on his face. “You’ve been avoiding me.”

I shook my head not knowing what to say. I leaned against the railing subtly as much as I could trying to get distance.

His sharp eyes detected it. He looked back up at me his eyes narrowing even more.

He took a step toward me, a pleading look on his face.  “Y/N I just want to talk. If there’s something I have done tell me because I can’t take this anymore. We’ve been close for so long and every time I try to talk to you or even get close you, you back away like you can’t stand me.” He took another tentative step forward like I was a scared cat he was afraid would bolt at any second and he wasn’t wrong.

I shook my head once more. “You didn’t do anything.” I forced a smile onto my face and even its feeling felt too forceful for me. “Everything’s fine Az.”

He arched a brow smoothly. “I’m sorry but I find that hard to believe with how much you have been avoiding me the past few weeks. And then I find you up here hiding.”

“It’s just-“ my words failing me again. What could I say? I found it so hard to lie to him. How could I say the truth? Ever since you and Elain have been spending time together these past few weeks I can't stand to be around you because of my angry hateful jealousy?

“It’s just me Az, you didn’t do anything.”

“What’s just you?”

I made a frustrated noise, looking away from him toward's Velaris below. I was afraid the emotions on my face would reveal all. He was always so good at reading me.

“Please Azriel I can’t. Just not know.” I whispered.

“Than when y/n.” he said softly but sternly, “Because I know how good you are at keeping things bottled up and I’m not going to let it go on for any longer.”

“Oh what and your any better?”

He took an annoyed breath in, his chest expanding before letting it out in a rush. “No I’m not, we’re both great at holding things in. But I can’t walk away without knowing a reason why. Did I do something to hurt you? Say something I shouldn’t have? It’s been driving me mad the past few weeks and I can’t let it go. And don’t say it’s nothing, because I know you and somethings happened between us that I can’t understand. Somethings changed the way you look at me and all I can’t chalk it up too, is that you loathe me.”

My heart broke at his words knowing that I had hurt him. I couldn’t stand to know it. Even though it’s what I had preferred in the beginning when I was avoiding him. I had wanted him to think I was angry at him to hide my feelings. Had been happy to hide behind it. But now the shame of that, the cowardice and shame of everything washed over me. All the emotions I had kept bottled up started to raise to the surface and a cry broke from me. I looked away trying to stop it because I couldn’t stand to look at that pleading look on his face.

“I can’t tell you Az because I don’t want to loose you.”

He crossed the distance between us and turned my chin with one hand so I was looking at him again. And didn't let go so I couldn’t look away from those piercing eyes.

“You could never loose me." And I knew he meant it by the stern look on his face. He truly thought there was nothing that could ruin our friendship, but I wasn’t so sure. Even if he did mean it, things would change when I told him and never go back to the way they were. And I knew he meant what he said but I couldn’t hold it to him. Even when you don’t want it to feelings change and I knew that better than anyone.

“Why do you choose Elain?” I blurted.

His brows furrowed, confusion dancing on his features. “What?” 

“Why do you want to be with someone who doesn’t know what she wants?”

He leaned against the railing letting go of my face in shock.

“Love is tricky sometimes, it’s not always perfect.”

“No Az, love is when someone chooses you completely and doesn’t have thoughts of someone else in their head.  You know she is interested in Lucien. Why do that too yourself when there’s someone out there who will choose you? Want you.”

Az’s face turns angry like I’ve never seen before at least not directed at me. His amber eyes near glowing, his jaw set tight.

 “Oh and I suppose you know this from your experience? You have never experienced what it’s like to be in a real relationship how complicated it can be.”

I laugh hatefully. “I never want to experience love if that’s what it is. Pining after someone who doesn’t even respect you to let you go. Driving you mad to the point that you run to your friend every time she hurts you.”

He stood upright again off the railing and took a step toward me until he was looking down at me with those beautiful eyes so close I had to look up. His chest was rising up and down in angry puffs and as he got so close to me I could see the amber hues in his eyes near glowing. His anger was near radiating from him.

His sharp eyes studied me intently, too intently I wanted to look away.  “Where is this coming from, why are you so concerned by Elain’s intentions toward me?”

“I think I have a right as a friend to be concerned.”

“Answer the question.” He growled.   

"I'm in love with you!" I pushed him and he took a step back. I wasn't sure if it was from the shock or the force of my push. "And your in love with Elain and I can't stand it Az. I can't stand to see you two together because I've been in love with you since we met."

I took a big breath in realizing what I was saying. But I couldn't stop the words that I so desperately needed to get out. "and I know you'll never feel the same. And that's ok." My voice broke at the honestly in those last words, but it was like a weight off my shoulders saying it.

The shock on his face was all I saw before I turned away from him heading to the balcony door. I couldn't bare to hear the rejection from him so I ran away like the coward I was.

[filmsbyun]

Between the Silent Hours, You Found Me || Hwang Hyunjin

Hyunjin finds solace in the quiet embrace of someone who understands that sometimes, all it takes is a little rest to heal a tired soul.

⊹₊⟡⋆ 4.1k

pairing: hwang hyunjin x afab!reader

warning: established relationship, tooth rotting fluff, hurt/comfort, changbin is mortified and single

i love hyunjin. yeah. that's all for the author's note.

Even though you were always one for routines, that night, you chose to go against them for once. For him, you were willing to defy anything and everything, even if it meant abandoning the comforting warmth of your room to brave the dark, icy streets of Seoul on a cold winter night.

Breathing in the chilly air, you let out a puff of smoke, the unpleasant cold biting at your skin as you buried your hands deep inside your jacket's pockets. From the packet of warm food dangling from your wrist, a comforting heat seeped through the fabric on your left side. Seoul at night was unworldly, its beauty undeniable. It was the only companion you had as you strolled along the lonely sidewalk.

A few 24/7 stores stood open, their neon lights casting vibrant hues onto the lonely, dark streets. The glow felt oddly comforting, yet it did little to distract you from your thoughts. Changbin’s voice from earlier echoed in your mind—his frustration laced with concern as he complained about a certain long, dark-haired male. The memory tugged at you, and the faint, bubbling worry began to resurface in your chest, persistent and unshakable.

Hwang Hyunjin.

The boy whose smile seemed to defy the gravity of the world, lifting the heaviest hearts with its light. The boy whose very presence painted brilliance into the darkest corners of life, as if he carried a palette of sunshine and moonlight within him. He was the boy who poured his soul into everything he touched, crafting beauty in even the smallest of efforts, and always placing others' needs above his own.

Yet, he was also the boy whose quiet nature made him a canvas for misunderstanding—a blank space where people painted their assumptions, creating a version of him that wasn’t truly his. A boy forced to live in the shadow of an image the world wanted to see, even when it didn’t fit the colors of his soul.

But to you, Hwang Hyunjin was something entirely different. He was the boy who had stripped away the layers, letting you see the raw, unpolished strokes beneath. He trusted you enough to share his worries, to let you carry the weight of his unspoken burdens, and in doing so, he gave you a piece of his heart—a fragment of himself as vulnerable and breathtaking as the art he created.

Hwang Hyunjin—the boy you fell in love with.

You had always known that the sun was just a star, distant and unyielding, until you met Hyunjin. He convinced you otherwise, showing you that the sun could very well be a person. A person who radiates light and warmth so effortlessly, illuminating everything around him. But even the brightest sun cannot shine endlessly. There are days when its golden rays falter, when it needs someone else to provide the heat, the comfort, and the reassurance it so freely gives to others.

And for him, you didn’t hesitate. You leapt in without doubt or fear, drawn to the fragile beauty of his vulnerabilities. You wanted to be the one who stayed when the sun’s glow dimmed, the one who held him steady when his light faltered. To be the quiet, steadfast warmth that allowed him to rise again, stronger and brighter, without the weight of the world on his shoulders. So that the sun—so that Hyunjin—could run free once more.

Just like tonight.

You came to a halt in front of the apartment building, your breath clouding in the frigid air as you eyed the familiar apartment. Clutching the paper bag in your hand, you stepped inside, the warmth of the lobby a stark contrast to the chill outside. In the elevator, you hugged the bag closer, savoring the fleeting comfort of its warmth against your chest.

As soon as the doors slid open, you made your way to the boys’ shared apartment, knocking firmly on the door. It wasn’t long before a disheveled and distinctly grumpy-looking Changbin greeted you, his hair a mess and his face shadowed by irritation.

“Fuck, thank god you’re finally here,” he grumbled, stepping aside to let you in without so much as a proper greeting.

“Good to see you too, Bin,” you teased, a light chuckle escaping as you slipped off your shoes. The warmth of the apartment wrapped around you like a much-needed embrace, and you let out a contented sigh as you made your way to the kitchen.

The paper bag was still warm in your hands as you set it on the counter, already thinking about how to plate everything. Behind you, Changbin trudged halfway to the kitchen, scratching the back of his head before veering off toward his room.

“He’s in his room,” Changbin informed you, his tone gruff but filled with a hint of concern. You nodded, offering him a reassuring smile.

Changbin stood in the doorway, hands on his hips, the frown on his lips deepening. “He wouldn’t do anything I say,” he muttered, his gaze shifting toward the hallway. “So he better listen to you, or I swear, I’m kicking his ass.”

You waved him off, an exaggerated gesture. You knew the older male’s words were laced with empty threat. He cared deeply for Hyunjin. “There’s no need for violence. Go to sleep. I’m here now.”

Changbin snorted, but said nothing more as he turned and made his way toward his room.

You busied yourself with preparing the food, placing it into bowls, the warmth of the meal sending a sense of comfort through your chest. With the tray in hand, you walked down the hallway, your steps slow but steady, until you reached the second room from the end.

Gently, you knocked before pushing the door open. The room was dark, save for the dim glow of the desk lamp, casting shadows on the walls. The heavy scent of black coffee hung in the air, so potent that it made you wrinkle your nose in distaste. You had never been fond of the smell, nor the taste, but it was everywhere in his space.

Your heart sank as you took in the scene before you. Notes and books were scattered all over the desk, some spilling onto the bed, and in the midst of it all was Hyunjin. He was slumped over the desk, his body crumpled as if the weight of the world had settled on his shoulders.

The soft sound of his snores filled the otherwise quiet room. The lamp’s faint light illuminated his face, and the dark circles beneath his eyes stood out like bruises. Your worry only deepened as you spotted the cold coffee mug next to his head, abandoned and forgotten, just like everything else.

You felt an ache in your chest as you quietly stepped closer. This wasn’t right. Hyunjin shouldn’t be living like this—overworked and barely holding it together. He needed to rest, to breathe, to feel like himself again.

A heavy sigh escaped you as you stood there, watching him. He had so much of the world to give, but it felt like he was crumbling beneath the weight of it. You couldn’t stand by and let him keep going like this—not when you were here. Not when you were ready to be there for him, to help him through the darkness that sometimes clouded his heart.

As long as you breathed, you promised yourself, he would never be alone in this.

Carefully, you placed the tray on the bedside table, the warmth from the food rising into the air. Next, you gathered the scattered papers, gently folding them and clearing the bed. You made the space as neat as possible, arranging everything just the way you thought he would appreciate. Once you finished, you turned to look at Hyunjin, still asleep in the midst of the chaos he had created.

Part of you didn’t want to wake him. He looked so peaceful, like a quiet, fragile moment suspended in time. But you knew you had to. Changbin had mentioned he skipped dinner, and that fact gnawed at you.

Taking a deep breath, you placed a soft hand on his shoulder, giving him a gentle shake. “Hyunjin, wake up,” you whispered, your voice careful, almost tender.

He stirred slightly, his body stiff, and after a few more shakes, his eyelids fluttered open. His eyes, heavy and half-lidded, struggled to focus on you. His hair was a mess, sticking out in every direction as if he had run his hands through it too many times without noticing.

A soft smile tugged at your lips, and without thinking, you ran your fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp gently. His body seemed to relax at the touch, but he still blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of his surroundings.

“W-what are you doing here?” Hyunjin’s voice was deeper than usual, hoarse from sleep, and it made your heart twist unexpectedly.

“I brought you food.” You said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world, but inside, you were battling the urge to smile too widely, too fondly. You bit back the overwhelming feeling of wanting to fuss over him. “You haven’t eaten yet.”

Hyunjin blinked a few more times, rubbing his eyes, his face still clouded with sleep. Your eyes softened at the sight—he looked like he had barely rested, but still, there was something endearing about the way he struggled to wake up.

He shook his head sluggishly. You couldn’t suppress the small, quiet laugh that escaped your lips at the sheer cuteness of it all, but you quickly composed yourself. You gestured to the bed, your tone gentle but firm.

“Sit up. You need to eat,” you insisted.

He obeyed, propping himself up on the bed. He looked at the food in front of him, then back at you, but there was a hint of reluctance in his eyes.

“Eat up. Skipping meals isn’t healthy for you.” You emphasized, not backing down, your voice calm but filled with an undercurrent of concern.

Hyunjin gave a small sigh, but there was something vulnerable in his expression. He didn’t argue; instead, he simply picked up the chopsticks and dug into the food. As he ate, you watched him, your heart full—this was what you needed to do, what you wanted to do, to take care of him in the small ways that mattered.

Hyunjin frowned, his brows furrowing as he jutted his lips slightly. "Did you come here alone?" he asked, his voice hoarse but laced with genuine curiosity as he picked up the chopsticks.

You watched him, noting the way he perked up as the taste of the food registered on his tongue. A fond smile tugged at your lips, and you hummed softly, a small but affectionate sound. "Yeah," you replied simply, your eyes softening as you watched him eat. "I came alone."

But the words seemed to sink in a little too slowly. Hyunjin halted mid-bite, his chopsticks hovering in the air. He stared at you, wide-eyed, as if he couldn't quite comprehend what you were saying. "You came here... all by yourself?" he repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief. His gaze flickered to the desk clock, then back to you. "At midnight?"

The concern in his voice was enough to make you laugh softly, shaking your head at him. You couldn’t help but find his overprotective nature endearing, even if it was a little unnecessary. "How can you expect me to stay put when you're not taking care of yourself?" you teased lightly, your voice soft but firm.

Hyunjin fell quiet, his expression unreadable for a moment as he processed your words. The flush on his cheeks deepened, and for the first time, he seemed at a loss for words. He glanced down at his food, trying to hide the sudden heat creeping up his neck. He mumbled something under his breath, the words barely audible in the stillness of the room.

"Thank you," he said quietly, so quietly that you almost missed it, but the sincerity behind it was clear. His face turned a deeper shade of red, and he thanked God for the darkness of the room - making it a secret between him and the dark only. The silence lingered for a moment, comfortable in its quiet understanding.

For the rest of the time, Hyunjin ate quietly, his focus entirely on the food in front of him. The sound of his chopsticks scraping against the bowl or the occasional clatter of a utensil broke the otherwise peaceful silence. In the meantime, you busied yourself organizing his desk, arranging the papers and tidying up the scattered books. You worked in rhythm with the quiet, the act of organizing a calming distraction, but time passed in a blur, and before you knew it, you were standing in the kitchen.

You washed the dishes mechanically, your mind still spinning from everything you’d been thinking about while tidying up. The sound of running water and the clink of ceramic against ceramic filled the air, and you were too preoccupied in your task to notice the presence that had quietly slipped into the room. The sudden sound of a cupboard door creaking open made you jump, a curse slipping from your lips before you could stop yourself.

"God, Hyunjin, you scared me," you huffed, wiping your hands with the towel as you turned to face him.

He was standing there, grinning goofily at you, not even a hint of apology in his expression.

"Sorry," he said, the amusement in his voice obvious. He didn’t stop rummaging through the shelves, his eyes scanning for something. You tilted your head, an eyebrow arched in curiosity.

"What’re you doing?" you asked, standing on your tiptoes in an attempt to peek over his shoulder.

"Oh, you know," he solemnly spoke. "Just coffee."

Your face fell immediately, the weight of his words settling in your chest like a stone. You set the towel down on the counter, then walked over to him, unable to ignore the concern creeping up in your throat.

Hyunjin always pushed himself too far. It was no secret that he overworked himself—studying late into the night, neglecting rest, and living off unhealthy, sugary coffee to keep him going. You knew the grind of senior year all too well; everyone was under immense pressure, trying to secure their futures, but Hyunjin was always the one who worked himself into exhaustion, his passion for both his studies and his art fueling the fire that burned inside him. Still, there was no denying that his health was suffering because of it, and that was something you couldn't ignore.

He was so consumed by everything he had to do that he forgot to take care of himself. And that’s where you came in.

You grabbed the mug from his hands and placed it firmly back on the counter, taking the coffee away from him before he could protest. The sound of the cupboard door shutting echoed in the room, and you shot him a stern look, silently telling him that this wasn’t up for debate.

Hyunjin stood frozen, completely taken aback by your actions. His mouth opened, but no words came out. The room fell silent, the tension thickening between you, though it wasn’t uncomfortable or suffocating. It felt more like a silent understanding between two people who cared enough to make the other listen.

You exhaled a breath you didn’t realize you were holding, gathering your thoughts. The words you had been rehearsing in your mind suddenly didn’t seem enough. You had to say something—anything—to make him understand.

You stepped closer to him, your gaze holding his, the caramel brown of his eyes wide and shaken. You could see the vulnerability in them, and for a brief moment, a pang of guilt twisted inside you for being so firm with him.

But this was necessary.

"Hyunjin, listen to me," you said softly, your voice gentle but unwavering. The tenderness in your tone seemed to shake him, his eyes flickering with something between surprise and apprehension.

"Let's take a break tonight, yeah?" You gently coaxed, your voice soft yet insistent. "You're giving your best, love, and you’re bound to get the best results, but you need rest too. Overworking this way will only hold you back."

You studied his face, watching for any hint of resistance. When he said nothing, you assured him, "You're okay."

Hyunjin opened his mouth to protest, but you were quick to stop him.

"Sometimes a break can benefit you more than pushing through, you know that, right?" you asked, entwining your fingers with his. His eyes stayed downcast, and you could feel the weight of the world he carried in his silence.

He knew you were right. Deep down, he knew he was being too hard on himself. He was trying so hard to meet the harsh expectations the world had set for him, and in doing so, he had forgotten to give himself the grace he deserved. He just needed someone to remind him he was doing his best, someone to show him the way back when he was lost.

Someone who could hold him before he broke down.

You guided his head to rest on your shoulder, wrapping your arms around his waist, pulling him closer. Hyunjin inhaled your scent, the warmth of your embrace soothing him. He breathed out slowly, letting the tension in his body melt away.

“I’m proud of you, Hyunjin. You’re doing enough,” you whispered, your voice full of warmth and reassurance.

He wanted to cry out—to shout his thanks to the heavens for sending someone like you into his life. He let go of all the thoughts about the pressure from college, the constant demands, and the stress. It all faded as you held him there, under the soft glow of the dim kitchen light.

He lifted his head, his gaze softening as he met your eyes. He pressed a gentle, sweet kiss to your lips once, then twice.

"Thank you," he murmured against your lips.

"I'm always here for you," you replied with a small smile as he leaned back, looking at you with a tenderness that made your heart flutter.

"I know," he whispered, his eyes closing as he exhaled deeply, the weight of everything lightening. Then he opened them again, gazing at you with a love so pure it took your breath away. "I know, and I'm blessed to have you."

Your grin widened as you watched him trying to conceal a smile. Unable to resist, you wrapped your arms around his torso and buried your face in his chest, pulling him into a warm, tight hug.

"You'll be okay, trust me," you murmured, your voice soft against him. "We just need to work on your resting schedule to make sure you don't fall sick."

He held you close, his breath steady as your words sank in, and for a moment, all the weight of his worries seemed to melt away, replaced by the soothing comfort of your presence.

Hyunjin cupped your jaw, tilting your face up before pressing his lips on yours again, this time a bit more firm and taking his time. His fingers grazed your ear, sending goosebumps down your entire being. He peppered soft, light kisses along your jaw to your earlobe.

You breathed out slowly, heart lurching as he pulled back only for a brief moment just to pull you in gently again. It was slower, he lazily moved his plump lips against yours, cradling the back of your head with one hand, the other held your waist.

Kissing him back, you sighed at the warmth he exuded. His kisses were always intoxicating. You stepped back to lean on the counter for support, a hand placed on it. The other hand you'd rest against his nape, making him sigh into the kiss.

A small grunt escaped from the back of his throat when you softly nibbled on his lower lip. His eyebrows creased at the feeling as he pulled you even closer if it was even possible.

And just like that, the moment was over.

You pulled away breathless. There was a beat of silence before both of you broke into a fit of quiet giggles, forehead resting against each other.

The quiet of the room was disturbed by a screech, sharp and loud, cutting through the peaceful silence. Both you and Hyunjin jumped at the unexpected noise. Hyunjin’s face immediately flushed, turning a deep red, as he groaned and buried his face into your shoulder, trying to hide from the embarrassment.

You glanced over at Changbin, who stood frozen in the doorway, eyes wide and mortified. His whole posture screamed that he wished he could evaporate into thin air.

“It’s just kissing, Changbin,” you said dryly, not even trying to hide the amusement in your voice, as you observed his flailing arms and panicked expression.

“Then do it somewhere else! This is the goddamn kitchen!” Changbin groaned, his voice heavy with frustration. He snatched a water bottle from the counter, muttering under his breath, “All I ever wanted was just to get some damn water,” before quickly retreating to his room.

You couldn’t contain the snort that escaped you, shaking your head in pure amusement at Changbin’s antics. With a gentle pat on Hyunjin’s shoulder, you teased him, watching as his face deepened in color, a soft dusting of pink that only made you smile more.

“Let’s go to sleep,” you suggested, your voice light with laughter, thoroughly enjoying the way he whined in embarrassment.

“He won’t let this die down,” Hyunjin mumbled, shaking his head, his words soft with a mix of exasperation and a touch of amusement.

You hummed in response, slipping your hand into his and guiding him down the hallway toward his room. As you walked, a mischievous glint flickered in your eyes, and a devilish smirk tugged at your lips. “Don’t worry. My stash is full of such moments that'll strip him of his dignity.”

Hyunjin’s laughter filled the air, a sound so carefree that it made your heart flutter. No, there was no need to worry about Changbin—this was just another moment to add to the collection of memories you’d share as friends.

As Hyunjin sat on the edge of the bed, you went to work arranging the pillows. Before you could call his name, you noticed him staring at his desk across the room. There was a heaviness to his gaze, a weight that lingered even after everything else had fallen into place.

You knew he was still struggling, still carrying the weight of his dreams and his worries, but you also knew—he’d let go soon.

With a soft sigh, you moved over to him, your hand resting gently on top of his. The moment was simple, but the reassurance you gave him was everything. He needed to know that it was okay to stop for a while. That he didn’t always have to push himself so hard. Your smile was small, but it held everything you needed to say. It was okay.

Hyunjin nodded slowly, a quiet acceptance in his eyes. He allowed himself to finally sink into the softness of the bed, the weight of his exhaustion settling in.

You slid into the bed beside him, pulling the covers over the both of you. His arm wrapped around your waist, pulling you closer. His cheek rested gently on your head, and his fingers ran through your hair, a steady and soothing motion that made you feel safe, loved.

“Thank you,” he whispered, his voice filled with sincerity, his words so soft and vulnerable.

You mumbled against his neck, a playful tone in your voice. “You know you can stop saying that.”

He let out a small chuckle, the sound more relaxed now. “And I’m sorry.”

“Nope. Don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong,” you said firmly, your tone full of warmth.

He hummed in contentment, and you felt a soft kiss press to your temple. “I love you,” he whispered, the words so quiet, but they wrapped around your heart.

You smiled, warmth blooming in your chest. You looked up to see the sun - see him, still not radiating light but the warmth – oh, the warmth was there. And you knew it wouldn't take too long for his light to show.

“When the exams are over,” you whispered, your voice soft as it pulled him closer to sleep, “I’ll make you your favorite coffee, just how you like it.”

Hyunjin’s breathing slowed as he drifted off, your words the last thing he heard, the promise of a comforting, peaceful moment awaiting you both.

THE END.

© filmsbyun ── please do not copy, translate, or repost my work without permission.

[nayziiz]

Meet the Parents | LN4

Pairing: Lando Norris x reader (she/her)

Author's note: I'm trying something a little bit different with shorter form fics, so please send through any requests or feedback. These one shots will likely not have a second part unless it really speaks to me to continue with it. Thank you!

Masterlist

Lando's parents had always been his steadfast pillars of support, unwavering in their encouragement through life's twists and turns. From his earliest dreams to his most ambitious endeavours, they stood by him with unwavering faith and boundless love. Yet, there was something uniquely daunting about the prospect of introducing the love of his life to them.

He longed for his parents to embrace this new chapter of his life with the same warmth they had always shown him his whole life. But with that longing came the fear of disappointment, the fear that this pivotal moment might not unfold as smoothly as he hoped. In the days leading up to the meeting, Lando was riddled with anxiety and doubt. He rehearsed conversations in his mind, imagining different scenarios and outcomes. Despite his confidence in her and their relationship, there was an undeniable unease lingering in his heart.

The surprise that Lando's parents experienced upon realising the true nature of his relationship added an extra layer of complexity to the anticipated meeting. They had caught glimpses of her at race weekends, exchanged polite pleasantries, but never did they fathom that she held such a significant place in his life. In their minds, Lando had always been the embodiment of the carefree bachelor, navigating life with a nonchalant ease that belied any serious commitments.

The sudden revelation that he had arranged a family dinner to formally introduce her spoke volumes about the depth of his feelings. This was no casual encounter or passing fling; this was someone special, someone he wanted to share with the most important people in his life. It was a departure from his usual approach, a signal that this relationship held a significance unlike any before.

With a mixture of anticipation and nervousness coursing through him, Lando stood before his parents' home, his heart pounding in rhythm with the uncertainty of the moment. As his hand hovered over the doorbell, he felt the weight of his decision pressing down on him, the culmination of weeks of anticipation and apprehension.

Lando's grip on her hand tightened, his fingers closing around hers with a fervent intensity. The pressure of his grasp increased, his knuckles turning white as he sought to anchor himself in the midst of his swirling emotions. Sensing his unease, she squeezed his hand gently in return, offering a silent reminder that she was there, steadfast and unwavering by his side. In her touch, he found solace, a lifeline amidst the storm of his thoughts and fears.

As the door swung open, revealing the familiar warmth of his parents' home, Lando felt a rush of emotions flood over him. His heart raced with anticipation, his palms grew clammy, and his breath caught in his throat. But as he stepped inside and his parents enveloped him in a tight embrace, all his fears seemed to melt away.

“Welcome home, son,” Adam, his father said, his voice filled with pride and affection.

“It's so good to see you, Lando,” his mother, Cisca, added, her eyes sparkling with joy.

Lando returned their embrace, feeling the weight of their love and support wash over him like a comforting blanket, surrounded by the familiar sights and sounds of home.

“Hi, Mum, Dad,” Lando said, his voice quivering with emotion as he stood beside her, his heart pounding in his chest. “This is Y/N.”

She smiled warmly, her hand finding comfort in Lando's as she met his parents' gaze with a gentle reassurance. The love and support in the room was palpable, enveloping them in a cocoon of warmth and acceptance.

Lando's parents exchanged a knowing glance, a silent understanding passing between them as they took in the sight of their son standing beside the person who had captured his heart. Their smiles widened with pride, reflecting the joy and happiness that radiated from Lando's eyes.

“Welcome to the family, Y/N,” Adam said, his voice filled with warmth as he stepped forward to pull her into a warm embrace.

She returned the hug, feeling a sense of belonging wash over her as she was enveloped in the embrace of Lando's family. In that moment, surrounded by the love and support of those who mattered most to Lando, she knew that she had found a home—a place where she was cherished and accepted for who she was.

“Thank you,” Y/N said, her voice filled with gratitude as she pulled back from the hug, her eyes shining with emotion. “I'm so happy to be here.”

As Lando navigated the familiar streets of London, the city lights casting a warm glow upon the darkened streets, Y/N stole a moment to study him. She watched as the tension that had gripped his shoulders earlier in the evening seemed to melt away, replaced by a sense of ease and contentment that radiated from his very being.

“I can't believe you were so worried,” she chuckled, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them.

Lando glanced over at her, a sheepish grin spreading across his face as he recalled the whirlwind of emotions he had experienced earlier that night.

“I know, I know,” he admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of embarrassment. “But you know how it is with parents. You always want them to approve.”

Y/N reached out to gently squeeze his hand, her touch grounding him in the present moment.

“They clearly adore you. And I can see why,” she reassured him, her eyes sparkling with affection. 

Lando felt a warmth spread through his chest at her words, a sense of gratitude washing over him. In Y/N's presence, he felt understood and cherished in a way he had never experienced before. She saw him—the real him—and loved him all the more for it.

“Thank you, for being here, for being you,” he said softly, his voice laced with sincerity. She smiled, her heart swelling with love for the man beside her.

“Always,”  she promised, her gaze meeting his with unwavering devotion.

[sukirichi]

[ DUSK ‘TILL DAWN : 016 ]

“we who bear the burden of the crown do not need to love. you only need to stay here, with me, in power, in greed, in lust – in victory.”

cw. angst. infidelity. manipulation. lying. mentions of kidnapping. blackmail. sex tapes.

notes. this chapter is dedicated to the lovely @shhh-anon who drew me a lovely naoya piece for some omi crumbs (but i have no self-control and wrote a whole chapter with the long awaited kiyoomi pov!) thank you again shhh anon for that scrumptious naoya art <3 also, please read carefully as there will be lore drop in this chapter!

wc. 11.3k

series masterlist 

[ SIXTEEN ] feels like we had matching wounds but mine’s still black and bruised and yours is perfectly fine now, feels like we buried alive something that never died, so God, it hurt when i found out.

Kiyoomi stood alone in the waiting room of the Yuzuru Estate, surrounded by the fragments and echoes of your past.

The walls were adorned with your childhood photos, each frame capturing the moments of innocence and joy that he now yearned to be a part of. Tracing the contours of your smile in those pictures, his fingers hovered the glass as if he touched the memories themselves. Each image had perfectly captured the bits of your soul, a glimpse into the life you had before he knew you, and he felt your presence in every corner of the room.

The scent of petrichor lingered, mingling with the faint aroma of blooming flowers from the garden outside. The Yuzuru Estate smelled just like you – of innocence, unbridled happiness, and untainted purity of heart.

He could picture it already – you as a little girl, running through these halls with unabashed laughter, your joy as light and delicate as gossamer threads dancing in the breeze.

His heart ached with the knowledge that he had missed those moments, that he had come into your life too late to share those memories. Often, he wondered... if he’d met you as a child like Tooru did Maiko, would the Queen have arranged a marriage between you two?

He figured if he did, then it was a wedding neither parties would be opposed to.

As Kiyoomi waited, the silence of the house seemed to make the voices in his louder, each one a bittersweet reminder of his unspoken affections. Your smiles, so radiant and pure, were the cynosure of his existence, yet they were never meant for him. He wished, with an incendiary intensity, that he could be the one to bring that joy to your face, to be the one you looked at with those pretty, sparkling eyes.

Instead, those eyes were filled with crystalline tears, and your smile was always pulled at the opposite direction.

Kiyoomi studied your photos as he roamed the waiting room, seeing not just the girl you were, but the woman you’d become. The depth of your soul was evident in every image, your very essence woven into the fabric of the house itself. It was as if you’d been molded by graceful hands with the utmost care. Carved to perfection, adorned with elegance, and draped with dignified regality. You would’ve made the perfect Princess if you weren’t tied to their worst Prince.

And so he’d asked himself... what if he’d been yours?

Had you been his wife, his Princess, would you have been happier? It was a silly question, that he knew. Nothing but fleeting musings. Because he knew the Crown never made anyone happy, and the Palace was not a place where childish concepts such as ‘love’ existed.

Yes, he longed to hold your hand, to feel the warmth of your touch, but he knew that such moments were only dreams. You were terribly in love with your husband despite all his wrongdoings. And as much as he hated it, Kiyoomi couldn’t bring himself to convince you otherwise. Even that felt unfair for him. He wanted to be loved because he’d been chosen as the one you loved, not simply because he was the better one. For now, he would remain your steadfast friend, your confidant, and ultimately would find solace in this unspoken connection you shared.

He’d already made a vow to himself to cherish every moment he had with you, even if it meant hiding his true feelings. Being your friend was better than being nobody at all, and he would hold onto that role with all the strength he had. Because his love, a constant and silent force, would be there for you always – even if you never knew the depth of his longing.

“Your Highness!” a feminine voice interrupted his thoughts. Kiyoomi turned away from your framed photographs, greeted by the sight of your parents descending the stairs. “What an unexpected visit. Oh, please do sit down, we’ll have some tea served shortly after.”

Kiyoomi did as he was told.

Your parents, even with their faces lined with crow’s feet and prominent smile lines, were still exactly the same as he’d met them from years ago. Kind, genuine, and compassionate – he briefly recalled how generations ago that there’d been talk spreading about how the Yuzuru Clan would’ve made great country leaders. That if ever the Suna Clan failed and continued with their frivolous endeavours and the Kingdom was plunged into poverty and hunger, your clan would be next to take over.

It had all been nothing but word of the mouth, however. The Suna Clan, if anything, was annoyingly persistent and remained in power for the next years to come. Whilst you, the Yuzuru Clan, remained perfectly content being the Kingdom’s spear.

The tea arrived not long after. The three of them settled into the plush cushions of the settee, the sounds of the teacups clinking against porcelain filling the room.

“Lady Yuzuru, Lord Yuzuru,” smiled Kiyoomi as he gestured to the room, unable to take his eyes off one certain photograph – the one of you and Rintaro, taken during the courtship phase, with his hand wrapped around your waist and you leaning into his chest. He’d placed a white gardenia at the crook of your ear, both your smiles wide and untouched by reality. With a clench of his jaw, Kiyoomi plastered a polite smile on his face and tore his gaze away from it. “You have such a lovely home.”

“Oh, you flatter us too much,” your mother waved her hand, dabbing a handkerchief at her bottom lip before intertwining her hands at her lap. “May I ask what brings you here, my Prince?”

Straight to the point, just as he’d hoped. Setting his tea down, Kiyoomi leant forward. “I’m inclined to say royal duties; Her Majesty has insisted that Her Highness make herself known in the Palace. However... I am here for more personal reasons,” he confessed, his composure finally falling as he dared sneak a glance upstairs, where he hoped your room would be. It’d been three days since you all left the beach house, three days since Rintaro returned to the palace alone.

“I’m very worried for your daughter. How is she?”

Your parents shared a look with each other before your mother sighed, the sound disappointed and crushing him by the core. “So you know about the affair as well.”

Kiyoomi kept his head down. “Yes. It is with a heart heavy with regret that I admit I kept it a secret, too.”

“Pardon me, Sir, if I may be overstepping but... why couldn’t you warn out dear girl? You’ve met her. Your mother knows us and our daughter – you know our girl a sweet, innocent one. She didn’t deserve any of this,” cut in your father, his more-than-salt and pepper hair glinting under the chandeliers. “If you knew, if any of you knew all this time, why didn’t anyone say anything against the Crown Prince’s courtship?”

“I’m sorry, my Lord. I don’t have any excuse for my behaviour,” Kiyoomi sighed, “But I am hoping that you would give me another chance to repent for what I’ve done. I can no longer stand watching the Princess suffer at the hands of my brother and my wife. And I assure you, I have nothing but pure intentions. I simply... I simply want the best for her, my Lady. That is why I am here today – to offer my sincerest apologies, and to see for myself if Her Highness is doing well.”

Lady Yuzuru stood up and threw her handkerchief on the ground. Tears brimmed her eyes.

“She isn’t. Of course she isn’t. She has been locked up in her room for days, refusing to eat, or-or to speak to us. She is heartbroken and won’t even let us comfort her,” she clutched at her chest as if it ached, and immediately, Lord Yuzuru was beside her. His arms wrapping around her shoulders for comfort. “Your sincerity is flattering, but what can you do for her? You cannot take away her pain. She is married, and divorce is not an option. Tell me, my Prince, what can you do for her?”

Kiyoomi sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. He’d already braced himself for this – to have your parents’ fury be directed at him. He told himself he would take it all with stride, but even he knew his honest answer was not the most acceptable.

“I’m afraid this is a battle in which she has to learn the way out for herself. Although I give you my word, I won’t let her face any of this alone. I already promised the Princess I would be by her side at all times, and I don’t intend on backing out anytime soon.”

Your parents exchanged another glance, their brows drawn together in worry. He couldn’t blame them. It wasn’t an easy decision to make – trusting the Crown Prince only for him to break their daughter’s heart, and now having to place that trust on another Prince, the husband of their ‘son’s’ mistress, no less.

“Then we will trust you on this,” they said, and Kiyoomi raised his hands in surprise. It’s enough for him to shoot up in his seat, your mother immediately raising her hand to warn him. “Please, Sir. Don’t make us regret welcoming you into our home.”

Kiyoomi was speechless.

“Thank you, my Lord, my Lady. I promise I won’t waste this opportunity.”

Lord Yuzuru nods, albeit still hesitant. “Can we trust you to look after her for now? I’m afraid duty calls, and we’ve already missed out on a lot because we were too worried over her.”

“She is in safe hands. I promise.”

Your parents left shortly with a quick farewell. Lady Yuzuru needed to attend to the family business as it expanded every day, and Lord Yuzuru spent most of his time in the Palace – always on guard, always prepared for a war that loomed overhead as the surrounding nations turned their backs on Inarizaki. The war never happened, of course. A false sense of security still loomed over the Kingdom thanks to the Queen’s tireless efforts. Still, it was only a matter of time. With the throne losing its power and the Kingdom one scandal away from damnation, one couldn’t be too lax.

Not that any of it was Kiyoomi’s concern. He had more pressing matters in hand. Racing up the stairs, he quickly found your room after being guided by a servant, and softly rapped his knuckles on the door.

“Princess? It’s me, Kiyoomi. May I enter?” No response, not even a stirring groan or a shaky breath. Complete but utter silence. His worry deepened, and Kiyoomi dared to push the door open, his eyes adjusting to the darkness enveloping the room. “Princess?”

You are nothing but a curled-up lump in your bed, your form shivering as you were swathed in heavy blankets. And your face was pale and clammy as the dim lights danced off of your skin. Breaths shallow and labored, your eyes fluttered weakly as you stayed conscious – your head turning in his direction.

Seeing you in such a fragile state when you’d been alit with joy days ago... Kiyoomi’s heart clenched. Something dark pulled and tugged at his very soul.

In quick strides, he’d already crossed his way to your bed, the mattress dipping beneath his knee. He pulled you into his lap without another word, his hands coming to rest at your forehead as you groaned with each movement. As if scalded, he retreats his hand. “Oh, God. You’re burning up.”

Taking care of you does not come as a second thought to him. It is the first, as your safety and well-being was his concern. In the next moment, he’d gently laid you back down on your bed and darted out of the room, searching for water, medicine, and politely asking the resident cooks if he could prepare some soup for you. He didn’t doubt the cooks knew how to, yet he also couldn’t fight off this urge that he had to take care of you. Not the estate staff, not the doctors, not anyone. Quite frankly, he didn’t trust anyone anymore to lay their hands on you. It had to be him, even if it meant running back and forth to dampen towels and changing it every hour to lower your temperature.

Around the third towel, when the sun has begun to set and his phone went off with multiple ignored messages, you finally stirred awake. “Rin? Is that you?” Your voice is weak, throaty and scratched. Your eyes fluttered open as you gazed at the figure beside you, nestling into the warm palm that’s dabbing a damp towel onto your face. “I thought you would never return.”

A sharp of pang pierced his heart. It was a humbling experience – to know that even in your weakest moments, you sought out a man that wasn’t him.

“Rest, Princess,” he muttered, caressing your cheeks as you sighed into his touch – or your husband’s touch – and slowly went back to sleep. I won’t leave you.”

As you drifted back into a peaceful sleep, and your breathing finally began to even out, Kiyoomi told himself to relax.

He stayed vigilantly by your side, his eyes never leaving your pallid face. He feared that if he dared look away for even the briefest of moments, you would wilt before him, and it’d be too late for him to catch you. So he checked your temperature periodically, the gentle press of his hand on your forehead filled with a tender concern. Once reassured your fever was going down little by little, he meticulously arranged the medicine prescribed to you on the beside table – ensuring everything would be within your reach for when you wake. Not that he’d leave your side until you’d woken up. The Palace Guards would have to break down the door to your room and have a fleet of them personally drag him away from you before he even thought to go someplace else.

However, he was only human, and he’d never experienced having this level of worry and anxiety over someone’s health before.

Soon, exhaustion crept up at him, tugging at his eyelids and his muscles aching. He fought against the need to sleep, determined that he would remain awake in case you called out for him. Him, not Rintaro, because he foolishly hoped that you would realize it was never your husband who cared this much for you.

Each time his head dipped forward in weariness, Kiyoomi shook himself awake, unwilling to leave you unguarded for even a moment. Your parents had entrusted you to his care, and he wasn’t going to let them down now.

The hours passed by slowly, the quiet of the night filled with the steady rhythm of your breaths and the occasional rustle of the sheets. In those still, lonely hours, Kiyoomi watched you as he sat across the room – his cheek in his hands, his eyes half-lidded. Much like the flickering candles, his love burned brighter, interweaving with his own fatigue and heartache. His emotions stormed around his soul like a typhoon – his affection for you battling with the hatred he began harbouring towards his brother.

How could one call himself a man when he put his wife into such a weakened state? Your name and the word ‘weak’ shouldn’t even be in the same sentence. Yet Rintaro had a penchant for making the impossible possible, and he’d reduced such a great woman – a great Princess, even – into the battered, bruise-hearted, and shivering person that you were now.

Kiyoomi is nodding off moments later when he heard a slight groan. His eyes shot open, his body lurching forward as if your presence tugged on him like a rope. He’s knee-deep in your bed and cradling your head when you finally turn to him, and realization sinks in.

He waited for it – held his breath and soothed his heart for the hurt to come should disappointment ever cross your face that he hadn’t been Rintaro. It seemed, however, that the Gods decided to grace him tonight, because you never did. Instead, your face lit up, and your chapped lips tugged into a smile as best as it could. And he still found you to be the prettiest thing he’d ever laid his eyes on – even with sleep-crusted eyes and smelling of sickly sweat.

Just the sight of you, so wholly trusting and happy to see him, made him want to engulf you in his arms and never let you go.

Kiyoomi never does. He didn’t have the right, because friends didn’t go around kissing their friend’s foreheads. That wouldn’t be what companionship meant, at least not in his book. He simply holds you, and lets you crawl into his lap as he reaches for the soup he’d made prior. “You’re looking better,” he commends, placing his hand on your forehead one last time as pride fills him with each spoonful you ate. “Is the soup good?”

“Yes, thank you. It’s delicious,” you beamed at him, and placed the bowl back to your bedside table. Kiyoomi had expected you to move away and slide off his lap, yet made no complaints – because why would he? – when you remained on his lap, legs tucked beside his knees and nimble fingers toying with the strings of his shirt. “I didn’t know you knew how to cook.”

“Kanami made me learn all sorts of things. She said, uh...” shyly, Kiyoomi scratches the back of his neck and looks away. “...That women like it when a man was a great cook.”

Your giggle was instantaneous, airy. “She would be right about that,” you agreed, the smile on your face softening as you placed your palms on his chest, right above where his heart lay. He prayed desperately to the Gods you wouldn’t notice how fast his heart raced at the contact. Gazing up at him from under your lashes, you tipped your head to the side. The straps of your nightgown slipped on one shoulder at the motion, revealing smooth, bare skin and the lack of anything else underneath. “Were you... the one who nursed me back to health?”

Kiyoomi shifted you on his lap as to not let your knee accidentally graze his groin. “Yes,” he croaked out, finding it hard to speak when you were so... defenceless like this. It makes his throat dry up, and as subtly as he could, uses a finger to hook your strap back to your shoulder.

“Thank you,” you pat his chest, completely unaware of your hold on him. “And I’m sorry too, that you had to see me in such a state. I swear I didn’t mean to be a burden.”

His eyes darted to your face, offended that you would even imply such. “You are never a burden.”

You smiled at him like you didn’t believe his words. It strikes the dagger of hurt an inch deeper, a pain which he told himself to not take personally. He reminds himself you’ve trusted, over and over, and have been betrayed, over and over again. It must be a reflexive response by now.

“What brings you here, Kiyoomi?” your voice fills the expanse of the room as dread paints your face. “Did something bad happen?”

Kiyoomi swallowed. He’d been so engrossed in looking after you he’d momentarily forgotten why he was here in the first place. It suddenly weighed on him now – the Queen’s wrath at Rintaro’s sudden announcement to divorce you, her orders to bring you back immediately, and the flashing of the muted calls he’d deliberately ignored.

“I believe we should talk about that somewhere else. You could use some fresh air.”

+

You and Kiyoomi wandered through the sprawling gardens of your family estate under the tender glow of the moonlight, your footsteps whispering softly against the dew-kissed grass. The night air was crisp and invigorating – which you welcomed happily, as it was a great change from the stuffiness of your bedroom.

With each step taken, Kiyoomi’s hand brushed against yours, your fingers occasionally intertwining as he offers his silent gestures of comfort. There was a palpable sense of dread now that reality demanded your full attention, an undercurrent of foreboding that neither of you dared to voice, yet it was tempered – even slightly – by the solace you found in each other’s presence.

You told him everything that transpired at the beach house – the ‘romantic’ dinner date, Rintaro’s odd behaviour of acting like Iris never existed, Iris’ sudden appeal for peace. The entire time, Kiyoomi listened without interruptions.

You moved slowly, as if savouring each moment, knowing very well the fragile peace of the evening was fleeting like everything else.

“I’m sorry,” Kiyoomi spoke after a while, his head ducked down.

“What for?” you grinned, “That my husband, who never loved me, finally decided to leave me after all?” you waved a hand in the air. “It’s nothing. It was bound to happen. If anything, I feel a little relieved, you know? It’s like... I’ve wanted to end everything all this time, but I just wasn’t brave enough to call it quits. I was afraid that if I said goodbye, then I would be admitting that he’d made a fool out of me,” you released a shuddering breath, watching as Kiyoomi lifted his gaze and his piercing eyes looked at your soul, through your soul. You found that his penetrating and intrusive gaze didn’t feel... unwelcomed. It was as if you knew that you could show him your worst and everything that made up your flaws, and he would still find a way to notice what was beautiful instead.

He looked at you the way you wished your husband did.

Just like that, Rintaro’s betrayal returned to you in full force, and your smile wavered. “But now that he’s the one who’s decided it, it’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I never knew how difficult it was – deciding when or how it had to end.”

“You’ve been brave and strong. Don’t undermine yourself.”

“Was I strong, though? I thought I’d been nothing but a fool.”

Kiyoomi’s eyes darkened with something unreadable. “You were in love. It happens to the best of us.”

You couldn’t help it – your smile was genuine, affection pouring out of your every pore. “You know, Kiyoomi, that’s one of my favourite things about you,” you softened at his taken-aback expression, mustering up the courage to close the distance as you loop your hand around his bicep, and giving it a firm squeeze. “How you always know what to say, and always at the right time. You’re charming without having to try. And when I’m with you... I feel like everything is going to be okay. Is that weird?”

With nothing but the moonlight to illuminate his face, Kiyoomi’s reddened cheeks were partially hidden. “Not at all. I’m honoured I could be a source of solace to you.”

“I hope you feel that way with me too,” you tell him, “I’ve thought about it the entire time I was here – how Rintaro sounded so determined to divorce me. When I asked him about the pregnancy, he looked... mortified, and I couldn’t fathom if it was because he never wanted me to find out. He didn’t look happy about it, but why wouldn’t he? Isn’t that what he always wanted? To have a future with the one he loves?” your brows furrowed as you said it aloud. Moving forward, you walked with your hand still clutching Kiyoomi’s arm, the both of you content enough to not pull away. “Although it struck me as odd... we’re a royal couple. Divorce is impossible. But he’d been so confident, so sure. Like he knew something could tear us apart and it’d be acceptable in the eyes of the law.”

Kiyoomi hummed in thought.

“I’m afraid I don’t know what he was thinking about either. I never really understood my brother, and I’ve long given up on trying,” he shrugs, “He’s a complicated man. That’s what happens when you’re lost and have no true sense of self.”

“He is lost, isn’t he?” you agreed, lifting your free hand to stare at the wedding ring you found so difficult to take off. “I don’t know what happens next now, but it seems as if I’m getting divorced soon.”

“That is good news, is it not?”

“Perhaps,” you mused, “Perhaps it is.”

You couldn’t ignore the call of your duties. It was often an upsetting reminder, the knowledge that being a Princess meant more than wearing frilly gowns, attending balls, and kissing your Prince Charming as you awaited a happy-ever-after.

If you’d known sooner that being a Princess meant being the Crown’s property as well... a small part of you might have hesitated. Might have.

It felt gruelling having to tear yourself away from the safety of your parents’ embrace. For the past few days, you’d been coddled, kissed over by a hundred soothing words. Something a Princess shouldn’t be doing or wanting, to be precise, especially not when you were expected to lead the country someday. It was a show of weakness, an act of incompetence. The Queen never failed to remind you that you weren’t your parents’ child anymore. You were of the Crown, and therefore had to act as the Crown – with dignity, with poise, and quite frankly – with very little heart.

With much hesitance, you bid farewell to the Yuzuru Estate. You left everything behind – the warmth and safety of your bed where no one could taint it, the reassuring and comforting smiles of your parents, and the unwavering support of your people. You headed straight for the Palace not long after, the feeling akin to a lamb walking into slaughter.

Still, you couldn’t deny – Inarizaki struck you mute with its orphic allure.

The cityscape shimmered under the glow of twilight as the royal convoy wound its way through the bustling streets. People of all kind waved and cheered at your arrival. Their smiles, innocent and genuine, sparked all the way from outside the vehicle. Silently, you waved back, hoping that it seemed real enough and no one would be able to tell the tracks of dried tears behind your makeup. And there, the palace loomed ever closer in the distance.

You watched as the grand edifice grew larger with each passing moment. Its towering spires and intricately carved facades were bathed in a golden hue, showcasing its storied past and enduring presence.

Like heaven on earth, a former devotee had once said, their arms gesturing all throughout the Palace grounds. Here where is the light touched us from the skies above, where the Gods have blessed us with their mercy and gave us their angels in the skins of Kings.

As a child, you’d gazed upon the palace with wide-eyed wonder, picturing the Palace as a bastion of wisdom and power – where the rules of the country made decisions that shaped the lives of the people they ruled upon. It had seemed almost holy, a symbol of reverence and awe. But now, as you approached the gates once more, you felt a deep, unsettling sense of selcouth – a strange, eerie unfamiliarity with the very place you had to call home.

The limousine glided through the ornate iron gates, flanked by guards in crisp uniforms.

The grandeur of the palace grounds, with its meticulously manicured gardens and majestic fountains, should have felt welcoming, but instead, it loomed with an imposing majesty that sent a shiver down your spine. The towering walls and endless corridors, once symbols of security and strength, now seemed to whisper secrets of a bygone era, of lives and stories woven into the very stones that built this palace brick by brick.

Stepping out of the car, you were immediately greeted by a retinue of attendants – their faces polite yet distant.

A lamb walking to its slaughter, indeed.

You knew exactly why you were called to return. The Queen had been insisting to speak with you, a call you ignored as you buried yourself into your sheets at the Yuzuru Estate. To say that you’d made Her Majesty livid would be an understatement. That much was clear from the staff’s expressions, their eyes hollow and lips set into a thin, grim line.

If you looked hard enough, maybe one of them would even look at you with pity.

Carefully, you made your way up the marble steps, each click of your heels on the carpeted floor echoing in the silence of the evening. It was eerily silent, like a predator lurked around the corner – simply waiting for the perfect opportunity to lunge for its kill.

The palace doors opened before you, greeting you with its bright, golden beams. Crystal chandeliers shimmered against the polished floors, the opulent decor speaking of centuries of wealth and power. The floors were too clean, too polished, like even a speck of dirt would be considered offensive.

At the back of your mind, you wondered if that held true for the monarchy as well. If the Queen scrubbed everything clean that is shone hard enough to deceive people into thinking that’s what they were – without fault, without flaw, without sin.

As you walked through the cavernous space, alienation blanketed you. The palace, for all its splendour, remained a mystery to you. You knew its rooms and corridors, its hidden passages and secret gardens that Rintaro revealed, but you didn’t know its heart. It was a place built on power and legacy, all with the might of a single family that had ruled for generations.

Your footsteps led you to the grand staircase leading into the Queen’s hall, its balustrade intricately wrought with gold and marble. You paused, your hand resting on the cool stone, and gazed ahead at the looming double doors of Her Majesty’s office.

How many had walked these steps before you? How many lives had been shaped by the decisions made within these walls? The weight of history pressed down on you, and you couldn’t help but ponder the immense responsibility that came with such power. You understood it a little better now – the Crown was not to be taken lightly. Heavy is the head that held the Crown, but heavier the heart might be for all the sins it concealed.

With a final sharp breath, you rapped your knuckles on the door and pushed open.

Her Majesty did not seem to age. She looked as she did on all the official royal portraits plastered on the tabloids and daily mail – elegant, beautiful, with dark eyes that read your every movement, and blood-red lips that dripped venom from each word.

Once, you’d considered her your second mother.

Now? She was nothing but a lonely figure, a formidable individual who you could barely recognize.

“Princess,” she greeted, her smile perfectly practiced and pristine. “I hope your temporary retreat to the family estate has been well.”

There was no ill behind her words, but neither did it carry sincerity. The Queen spoke like a recorded message, straight to the point and lacking of weight. Curtsying, you returned the gesture. “It was, Your Majesty. Thank you. I missed my parents dearly.”

“Sit down, child,” she spoke after a moment, and gestured before her. “Indulge your queen with a quick round, and then we shall discuss everything.”

The ornate shogi board, with its polished wooden surface and delicately carved pieces, was laid out between you both. The setting sun cast long shadows across the room, its golden light filtering through the tall, stained-glass windows, illuminating the intricate patterns it. Timidly, you sat down, pressing your skirts underneath you. You did play shogi, but it’d been a while. You had an inkling that this was one of those times you had to win, as nothing ever was a casual interaction with the Queen.

“...What did you want to talk about, Ma’am?”

“Firstly, your marriage. How is it? On second thought, don’t answer that. It’s written all over your face – you’re unhappy and miserable. Now, we can’t have that can we?” she teased, though her calm composure revealed nothing of her strategies – the tricks she’d hidden under her sleeve. “You are lucky the press has been quiet lately and they didn’t get a photo of your frown. Imagine how that would be interpreted by the people. ‘Princess returns from getaway vacation with her husband and comes back depressed. Could the cheating scandal be true, after all?’”

“It is true.”

“Indeed, but the public doesn’t need to know that,” she quickly retorted, gesturing for you to make your move. “What exactly are your thoughts on marriage?”

You moved your rook forward, aiming to control a vital column.

“Marriage, to me, is about finding a partner who becomes not only your greatest love but also your closest friend, someone who understands your heart and supports your aspirations. I believe marriage is built on a foundation of trust, respect, and unwavering commitment, where two souls come together to create a life filled with joy, love, and endless possibilities. It’s a bond that grows stronger with each passing day, a promise to cherish and nurture each other through all of life's adventures,” you answered, ensuring to meet Her Majesty’s gaze. “That was how my parents’ marriage has been. Beautiful, and enduring. That is how marriages should be.”

The Queen remains unfazed. Responding with a calculated advance of her knight, her move blocked your plans – forcing you to reconsider your strategy. Cornered, you bit your lip, realizing a little too late Her Majesty’s subtle yet effective intentions.

“Your parents married for love. They were both born with a silver spoon in their mouth, a great amount of wealth, and a high-ranking title that granted them the freedom to do anything as they pleased. And I am willing to bet it has never occurred to you that marriages outside your fantasy-like bubble could be different than that.”

You found yourself on the defensive as the game progressed. “There is nothing wrong in hoping and believing that love exists.”

“You are correct,” she nods, her gaze not once leaving the board. “But you are a lot more childish than I expected if you truly thought royal marriages would be the same. You see, child, civil marriages are mostly done out of love, and a commitment to one another. In certain cases, people marry because of unexpected pregnancies, for the need of companionship, or for the combination of assets. It’s easy, straightforward, and like the rest of us in our glorious Kingdom – a commitment. Divorce is not an option for anyone, but do you know what truly separates royal marriages from common ones?”

“That we are bound with more duties?”

The queen’s pieces moved with a graceful precision, each step tightening the net around your poorly drawn defences.

“It is that royal marriages are symbolic. Why is it that the royal family, despite being humans like everyone else, is worshipped and glorified?” she tapped her nail against the board, before leaning back into her seat. The sun’s glow hit her just right, and bathed her with an ethereal gloom. “It is because we offer an ideal, an escape to the bleak, miserable lives of the common folk. We are unlike them. If we lived like everybody else, then these people would have nothing to strive or look up to.”

You gritted your teeth. “But we are just like them. We cry and experience difficulties in marriages like they do. What good does it do the Crown when there is a clear distinction between us and our people? They will find us inscrutable, and out of their reach. How could they trust us to lead them when we live such different lives? How could they believe we would understand their struggles and listen to their cries of help if we do not show our true selves?”

“Because we as people are not perfect, and our true selves are cruel, immoral, and sinful. The Crown is not. The Crown is always flawless, shining like diamonds and standing out amongst the rest,” gesturing to the ornament on her head, the Queen continued. “We represent the Crown. We must mold ourselves into perfection. How could our people find us worthy to lead them if we are just as faulty and miserable as them?”

“So you are telling me to lie about my marriage.”

The Queen snorted. “Oh, I don’t need to tell you to do that, my dear. You’ve done that already by having that journalist write lies about how the scandal is nothing but a hoax,” at your widened, eyes, Her Majesty’s chest rumbled with laughter. “Oh, don’t be surprised. I am the Queen. Nothing you do in my Kingdom will ever be a secret from me.”

“If you knew all this time, why didn’t you stop me from releasing that article?”

She shrugged, turning her attention back to the board and grinning at the pieces – already, the pressure was getting to you. “Simple – because you did all the dirty work for me already. You cleared up the allegations that your husband is innocent, and effortlessly won the people’s trust back. As Queen, I will never stop you from doing things that benefit me, even if you must take a suspicious hand to do so.”

The Queen’s relentless advances pushed you back to desperation. Hoping to create a barrier against the impending threat, you moved your bishop to a defensive position once more. “I didn’t have it written for you, or the Crown. I did it because I couldn’t stand my husband beat himself up after his own people turned against him.”

“And that is exactly why you’d make the perfect Queen for him,” she advanced her gold general, its path clear and purposeful. “I’ll be honest with you. My marriage with the Late King hasn’t been a fairytale.”

Now, it was your turn to snore. “I can figure. He’s done worse than what Rintaro did.”

“Indeed. Eight bastard sons, and a dozen of mistresses he couldn’t even bother to hide from me,” she hummed, and for the first time since meeting with her, the Queen’s mask slowly slipped off.

Gone was the regal woman who everyone worshipped. Sat before you now was an older, more mature reflection of yourself – a woman who’d been torn, ripped apart to pieces, and forced to stay in a marriage she badly wanted an escape from.

“I was useless to His Majesty unless I bore his son, and three miscarriages later, he’d given up and turned to other conquests. With each son born, my title as his wife was threatened, and the Kingdom was slowly growing unstable as his scandals became uncontrollable. Before I knew it, the Crown was falling apart. The people were beginning to hate us. Our allies stopped reaching out, and the whole world thought we were nothing but a joke.”

You were too young to remember everything in detail, but you could recall those days when your parents ran around the estate, their frowns permanent and their voices hushed during dinner. Something about the Crown becoming fragile, no thanks to His Majesty’s endeavours.

“It was a difficult time for Inarizaki. I was growing desperate, and when one was desperate, one would take desperate measures,” mumbled the Queen, “And so Rintaro arrived, and I thought... this was it. This was my salvation. I could restore the glory of the Crown back to the way it was. This boy... he would solve all my problems. So I did, one by one. I arranged the marriage of Maiko and Tooru, feeding a story to the people of childhood friends turned to lovers – the symbol of love. And then came Iris and Kiyoomi’s wedding, to fortify our alliance to Itachiyama by having locals as their representatives. We had to make them feel seen, heard. And then, there was you,” her icy-cold glare met yours, something dark and sinister flashing through them. “When Rintaro told me he wanted to marry you, I couldn’t decide yet if you were going to be a blessing or a curse.”

You moved your knight in a desperate attempt to divert the queen’s attention. “I’ve been your daughter in law for four months now. Have you decided?”

“The decision of whatever you will be is all in your hands,” when the Queen faltered at your movement, you felt a glimmer of hope as she paused, considering the development. “I’m aware Rintaro wishes to divorce you. It’s impossible, but I think you know that already.”

“I don’t know, actually. He sounded pretty convinced we could be separated.”

The Queen’s eye twitched, her free hand gripping the edge of the table. “He is an idiotic child. You cannot divorce him. If you let him do as he pleases, he will marry that whore of his. I cannot risk destroying our already fragile relationship with Itachiyama by hurting their dear, darling Prince.”

“Kiyoomi wouldn’t be hurt. He doesn’t even want Iris.”

“Nobody knows that. All they will see is that his wife was impregnated by our Crown Prince, and chose to leave their Prince for ours. Itachiyama is not to be messed around with, child. They hold a majority of our country’s natural resources. Think of fuel, livestock, and produce. All of that will be withheld from us. Our people will starve. This is why you need to make this marriage work, and let Rintaro take the throne.”

Taking a deep breath through your nose, you gestured for the Queen to make her move. “Ushijima can take the throne. He has proven himself to be reliable.”

“The first Prince cannot be King. I forbid him to.”

“And why is that?”

Just as the hope appeared, the Queen mercilessly crushed it. She’d seen right through your ploy, continuing her methodical advance as she devoured you in one move. “Because he is a good, honourable man. The moment he wears the Crown and finds out the dark secrets of what has made the royal family so powerful, the cruel things we’ve done to ensure we stay in power, he will expose it and push for democracy. I refuse to let my life’s worth of suffering to be wasted over a man with too big a conscience.”

You faltered, your grip on your piece loosening. “Secrets? What are you talking about?”

“The King, my dear. Did you really think a young, healthy man like him died from a heart attack?” throwing her head back in laughter, the Queen clutched at her stomach and wiped away a stray tear. “I killed him. A woman can only endure so much abuse from a man who does not love her.”

Your face fell.

Undaunted, the Queen leant forward to place her hand on yours in what seemed to be an attempt for reassurance. It is anything but, not with the Queen’s cruel smile. “It’s scary. Trust me, I know. I have been in your shoes and experienced far worse. But do not be scared, Princess, because you have me. So let Rintaro become King, and once you have gotten all the power from being Queen, then you can make Inarizaki flourish. And when the time comes that you grow sick of that boy... you can always tell me. It wouldn’t be the first time this Kingdom lost their King at the hands of their Queen.”

Your mind conjured up of the most horrid of images. Of Rintaro perishing at the hands of his own mother, of your husband’s eyes slowly losing its light.

And to think she was someone you’d once thought of as your own family.

“You are insane. Yes, he has hurt me. Yes, he has crushed my pride with his fists, but to kill him? To take the life of my husband? I could never be so cruel. And what makes you think Rintaro would want to be King, anyway? He already plans on divorcing me!”

“He will be King if I tell him to. He has no choice. He is the Crown Prince–”

“You cannot force him–”

“Yes, I can, because I am the Queen and I am all he has! He will do as I say unless he wants to be exiled!”

“Exiled?” you echoed, laughing in disbelief. “Why would he be exiled?”

The Queen suddenly shot up, and slammed her hands on the table. “Because he isn’t my son, or the King’s! He is a nobody. He’s just a random gardener’s boy. I took him from his parents to secure my title. If he refuses to be King... then you leave me no choice but to exile you both.”

The revelation struck you like a bolt of lightning.

Breathless and trembling, your world tilted as the truth unfurled before you – your husband, the man who you believed to be a true Prince, the only and treasured Crown Prince, was nothing more than an imposter.

Your heart pounded in your chest as betrayal and disbelief clouded your thoughts. You sat there frozen, eyes wide with shock, unable to process the enormity of his deception. The lavish room around you began to blur and fade, your once cherished memories of being the chosen, the lucky one for being the Crown Prince’s wife, was now tainted bitterly by his lies.

Could it be... that he knew all along?

It all made sense now. His insistence for divorce, his need to push you away. Divorce, or annulment, would be possible once you’d revealed it was never a royal marriage.

Your throat ran dry. Nevertheless, you remained seated, refusing to give in to the Queen’s baits as you drew out a shaky breath. “Go ahead. Exile us. I don’t care. Ushijima will still be King even if Rintaro refuses–”

“There is one more Prince who could be King, one I am confident I can control, and one I am certain will do well in hiding my secrets,” she smirked with a triumphant and wicked glint in her eye. “All I need to do is have him marry that actress, threaten him with the sex tape, and he will happily be King if it means he could have all that he wants.”

Your stomach dropped. It was impossible – Kuroo had deleted all and any traces of that tape. But truly, what did you know? This was the Queen you were up against. This was her kingdom, her playground. As she’d said, nothing could be hidden from her, but to think Atsumu would and could be King... “No. H-He can’t be...”

“Oh, but he can,” her smile grew sharp, malevolent. “And you have no idea the things Atsumu would do to Rintaro once he learns that your husband is nothing but a no-name lowborn nobody.”

“How could you do this to him? You robbed him of his life!”

Scoffing, the Queen reared back. “It was hardly a life. His parents were both poor and starving to death. I saved him from that fate and offered him the luxuries of a royal,” she spat out, shifting her skirts behind as she plopped down on the seat before you.

As you looked back at the game, the reality of your position became undeniable. The queen’s pieces were everywhere, controlling the board with ease. You could see your end approaching, your king cornered with no escape. The Queen knew this, too, an air of triumph surrounding her as she chuckled.

“You see now, don’t you? Everything was already set in stone. Rintaro will be the King. It’s the only way he can remain alive and breathing. If he dares to go against my will and my word, I will not hesitate to kill him. And when he dies, no one will mourn him. He will be remembered as an adulterer, and a new, better, rightfully deserving King will take his place.”

The queen moved her rook into position, the final piece in her flawless strategy.

You stared at the board, recognizing the inevitability of your defeat. As much as you hated to admit it, you could see the beauty in Her Majesty’s play – the way each move had been part of a larger plan, a dance of strategy and foresight perfected through years of manipulation.

“Make your marriage work,” the Queen warned, leaning back against her seat. She knew she’d already won. “It’s the only way you can stop this Kingdom from being burnt to ashes. And if you wish to make a difference? Well, my dear. The Crown is all you need.”

With a deep breath, you moved your king as you acknowledged your defeat.

The Queen’s face lit up in pure joy. “Checkmate.”

You promptly left the queen’s office, your steps slow and heavy as if each stride carried the weight of the world.

Around you, the palace corridors seemed to close in around you. Your mind churned with the devastating realization that all your foolish hopes of escaping the royal confines and finding freedom now slipped through your fingers.

The conversation with Her Majesty unravelled the last threads of your resolve, revealing a cruel ultimatum that nearly drove you mad – stay and sacrifice your dreams of peace, or abandon the kingdom to ruin.

The queen’s words echoed in your mind with each step, her words like a dagger effortlessly piercing any fragile hope you clung to. It wasn’t an easy decision either – if you stayed, you would be bound to a life of duty and subjugation, your own desires forever stifled beneath the weight of the Crown’s expectations. Yet, the alternative was even more harrowing – to leave would be to condemn the kingdom, your people, to chaos and despair. You couldn’t do that; couldn’t be so cruel to let the Kingdom fall under the rule of the heartless Miya Atsumu.

The gravity of having that decision placed in your hands left you reeling, your heart caught in a vice of impossible choices. It was only a question which was more important now: your freedom, or this country’s downfall? Was the price of your divorce really worth the suffering of millions of innocents?

The palace, with all its grandeur and beauty, was no more than a prison now. The one you would spend a lifetime locked in should you choose the right thing to do.

As you walked back to your chambers, your gaze remained fixed on the floor, where the marble tiles glistened coldly beneath you. How could you notice only now? The Palace had always been this way – cold, unfeeling, and empty. It was impossible to find love within these walls, not when dark secrets lurked at every corner, and blood was spilled to remain in power. But innocent you were not, because regardless of the Queen’s sins, you couldn’t blame her for it.

When one’s humanity was constantly tested, monstrosity would soon break through the skin.

If you truly wish to make a difference, the Crown is all you need.

The Queen was right.

Long before you stepped into her office, she’d already read your mind, known what it is you would say. You would advocate for peace, become a paladin to pave a better way for the people. But to do such would mean to hold power greater than everyone else. And if one did not wield that power properly, territories would be split apart, cities would fall, and your Kingdom would be nothing more than a tragedy that went down in history.

The fate of your people was now all up to you.

With that in mind, the air around you seemed heavy with the weight of impending doom. You moved with a sense of numb resignation, each step a reminder of the bleak future that awaited you.

Before you knew it, you’d arrived at your chambers, emptily staring into the mahogany double doors. Behind these doors... there’d be no more Suna Rintaro. Just Rintaro, you told yourself. The son of a nobody, a man who is a nobody. To think that he’d known all this time, and still dragged you into the belly of the beast that was the Crown... it was difficult to fan the flames of your hatred. You had to remind yourself to keep it down – to not let it consume you. If it did, then you wouldn’t be any better than the Queen. If you hated him more, then you might risk it all and leave Inarizaki to its own damnation.

If I loved him less, you gripped the doorknob, biting the inside of your cheek as memories of your husband flashed in your mind, I could save this Kingdom.

“Princess, you’re back!”

Your eyes shifted to the bumbling figure before you. Airi scuttled towards your way, her eyes wide and nervously fiddling with the way your hands hovered over the doors. The gesture made you frown, and you dropped your hands to soothe her. “Hello, Airi. How have you been?”

“I’m good, but... I should be asking you that, Your Highness.”

“I am well. I just want to rest now,” you told her, brows pinching together when she suddenly stood between you and the door, her gaze planted at her feet. You sighed. “Airi, why are you blocking my way?”

“Uhm, you see...”

You’d been in this situation countless of times before – around wary maids with their gazes bouncing between you and the doors. It didn’t come as a question anymore. Those looks only ever meant Iris. This time, however, the thought no longer squeezed the life out of your heart. You merely sighed and pushed past Airi, her protests falling on deaf ears.

And truly, it shouldn’t come as a surprise anymore that it would involve her, but you couldn’t fathom this happening even in your wildest of dreams.

Your bedrooms had been stripped bare. Gone were all your clothings, your shoes, your perfume and makeup on the vanity table. The heady scent of vanilla cloaked over the room so heavy it felt suffocating. Iris was everywhere – her wristwatch on the table, her folded nightgown on your bed, her fluffy slippers right next to your husband’s. On the coat rack before your bedroom were their coats hung together, his necktie delicately intertwined with her scarf.

It was as if you never existed in the first place.

Your jaw clenched, fists balling at your sides. You deliberately ignored Airi’s desperate pleas after you, and stormed right into the bedroom. Iris was nowhere to be seen, but Rintaro was there. Sleeping on the couch without a care in the world, a book covering his face as his chest fell with his steady breaths.

“Rin. Rintaro,” you poked his chest, your irritation further fuelled when he didn’t budge. Gritting your teeth, you swatted his book to the side, careful to not let the hard-bound edges nick his nose. “Suna Rintaro!”

Your husband’s eyes shot open. Panic flooded his gaze upon the sight of you, until he groaned, falling back into the couch as he went back to slumber. “Oh. You’ve returned.”

You tried to ignore the way he’d sounded so disinterested, like you were nothing but a bother. You crossed your arms against your chest instead, and demanded for an explanation. “Why is Iris’ belongings here in our room?”

“It’s our room now. I had your things moved.”

“Moved where?”

“Belleview Manor.”

Your jaw dropped. “You – you can’t do that! You can’t move my things around without my permission!”

“I just did,” came his bored reply. Then, he sat up, resting his arms on his knees as he lazily rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Odd, considering he looked like he hadn’t slept in days. “Listen, could you... could you stop screaming? It was the doctor’s orders. He said as the father of the child, I needed to be by her side at all times. She might feel sick in the middle of the night. I have to be there for her.”

The weight of the harshness of his words pressed onto you like a physical force.

You detested it – the way he looked at you, or through you. Three days he did not call. Three days he did not bother to even leave a text. Three days since he’d left abandoned you like he did a hundred times before, with not even a trace of guilt present on his face.

“And what about me?”

“What about you?” he raised a brow, challenging you as he stood up to his full height and turned his nose down at you. “I told you already, didn’t I? I don’t want you anymore. So go. Don’t make yourself look even more pathetic by staying around and hoping I’ll change my mind.”

The silence that followed was deafening.

Rintaro’s cold rejection struck you like a slap. Your heart clenched painfully at the cruel finality of his command, rendering you frozen and unable to grasp reality. Time itself had fractured. The room around you seemed to dim, the deepening shadows darkening the hard features of his face.

Your vision blurred with unshed tears as you felt the ground beneath you sway, the emotional blow rendering you unsteady. With a last, fleeting look at the man you had once adored, you turned away.

“Fine.”

You spun on your heel and ran out of the room. The sting of his rejection propelled you through the grand corridors of the palace. Tears blurred your vision, and you furiously wiped them away, each swipe a desperate attempt to not drown in the flood of sorrow.

You could hear the final pieces of your marriage crumbling, the sound a haunting melody of betrayals that echoed within your soul. This was it. You wouldn’t tolerate anymore of his cruelty. You’d had enough – your chest aching with a numb, all-consuming hurt. You longed to scream, imagining the echo of your agony bouncing off the empty hallways of the palace, but no sound escaped your lips. It was as if your lungs had exhausted its air, just as your heart had lost all its will to beat again for the man you married.

As you burst through the palace doors and into the open air, the sky mirrored your inner turmoil, the dark clouds gathering ominously.

The first raindrops began to fall, mingling with your tears. You couldn’t focus on anything but to run, run as far away from here possible, to keep running until your legs could no longer.

You suddenly stumbled upon the length of your dress, your steps faltering on the slick ground. You tripped over your own feet as your strength failed you, and you fell on your knees, your hands plunging into a cold puddle. It soiled the ends of your pristine dress, with mud caked on your shoes and your knees scratched from the pavement.

The rain poured down harder, a relentless deluge that matched the intensity of your sobs.

You cried so hard it felt impossible to breath, your body wracking with despair. Each thunderclap overhead felt like the heavens themselves roaring in sympathy with your agony.

Your mind whirled with thoughts of broken promises and unfulfilled dreams. The life you’d envisioned with Rintaro – his promises, the beach house, the dogs, the children to be had and loved, the life to have been lived – it was now nothing more than a shattered illusion. And the pain? It cut deep, leaving its mark until it embedded itself into your bones. You could die and be buried and the remnants of your hurt would remain carved up in your carcass, never to be healed, never to be withered, never to vanish even long after your death.

You felt lost in a cosmogyral spiral, the universe spinning with your loneliness as its epicentre – your existence reduced to a solitary point in an endless void.

You wanted to run, to hide from the pain he had caused and inside. To scream and cry until the hurt faded, yet it remained, a stubborn shadow clinging to your soul and refusing to let go. You aimlessly clawed at your chest like you could rip out your broken heart, and throw it to the next clueless person to come across you.

Through the curtain of rain, a dark silhouette approached.

You looked up, and the onslaught of rain suddenly ceased above your head, replaced by the soft patter of raindrops on an umbrella. The dark figure finally bent down his legs, his face illuminated by the gummuservi on the puddles.

Kneeling before you was Kiyoomi, his eyes filled with a sorrowful kindness that pierced through your pain like a cold balm on a cut. The umbrella he held cast a protective halo over you, sheltering you from the storm.

You felt... protected. Shielded from the world with nothing but his umbrella, warmed by the heat of his body. He studied you with an intensity that made you feel seen, truly seen, for the first time in a long while. His eyes traced the contours of your face, absorbing your pain as if it were his own. And when he tenderly said your name, the rain became a mere whisper, the world fading into the background as a silent understanding passed between you.

He didn’t speak anymore, but his actions conveyed what words could not. Gently, he took your hand and guided you to your feet, his grip firm yet tender.

“He made you cry again, didn’t he?”

In that moment, the storm seemed to lose its ferocity. The thunder rolled away in the distance as if giving you a moment of respite.

“It hurts so much, Kiyoomi,” you cried out to him, eyes closing when his thumb reached over to swipe at a fallen tear. “What... what did I wrong? What did I do to deserve this? How could he keep doing this to me? He-he pushes me away, betrays me, and then says he loves me and each time I think that maybe I’ve changed his mind – because I’m nothing but a fool – he reminds me, time and time again, that I hadn’t done a thing at all! I couldn’t... I could never change his mind. He is never going to love me. And it’s entirely too late but I think – I think that I no longer love–”

“–You’re right. He will never love you,” Kiyoomi’s eyes darkened, tentative as he takes two steps to close the distance. “But I do.”

“What?”

Your eyes widened as Kiyoomi’s sudden confession fell upon your ears. The world around you seemed to momentarily freeze, the vibrant colours of the garden blurring into muted hues. Your hand instinctively flew to your mouth, stifling the gasp that escaped you.

The serene beauty of the surroundings, with its delicate flowers and tranquil fountains, froze in the passage of time.

“I love you,” he says, sounding broken and wholly unsure. “I always have.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because you loved him, and I had to live with the fact you would never look my way,” just as the moment started, it broke – Kiyoomi took a step back as if needing to distance himself away, but still with his umbrella hovering protectively. “My apologies, Princess. I did not mean to add more on to your burdens–”

You didn’t let him finish speaking.

Without another word, your hand moved with a swift and determined grace as you reached up, grasping Kiyoomi by the collar. The fabric, cool and smooth beneath your fingers, was tugged gently but firmly to draw him closer – needing more of him, wanting more of him. You could breathe him in and consume him whole, and it still wouldn’t be enough. He had to be certain of this, too, and you kept your touch tender and insistent, a silent command that left no room for hesitation and argument.

Kiyoomi’s breath caught in his throat as he felt the heat of your proximity, felt your breasts crushing his chest, the racing of your heart against his. The world was entirely bending to your will as it narrowed to the space between you and him.

In a single, fluid motion, your lips met his.

The kiss was a fierce, passionate declaration – charged with all the emotions that had been restrained and unspoken. It was a melding of fervor and tenderness, every unvoiced feeling poured into this single, electrifying contact that set your nerves alight.

Kissing Kiyoomi was akin to being in a comic explosion.

The kiss ignited a cascade of feelings, a burst of heat that seemed to set the very air around you ablaze. It was as if a thousand fireworks had been set off in the quiet of the night, each spark and burst of light a vidid expression of all the affections you’d held back. Because by the Gods, how long have you thought about this? How many kisses had you played in your mind before it finally took place? The initial contact was electric, a jolt of fervor and longing surging through you, ripples of euphoria cascading through your entire beings.

And when he finally kissed you back, his moan soft and nearly muted like a secret he’d whispered, Kiyoomi unfurls like a blossom in bloom.

It was an ardent embrace of sensation that led to intoxication, a symphony of fireworks that ignited every nerve, flooding your senses with an addicting blend of his heat, sweetness, and the stray drops of rain.

In that fleeting moment, the world around you ceased to exist. The universe only held you and Kiyoomi in this ephemeral moment, his face now cradled in your palms, along with his soft, sweet moans swallowed and kept at the back of your mind. Time stood still, as your hearts and lips intertwined in this dance of longing acknowledged.

The need to breathe caught up eventually, forcing the two of you to slowly draw apart. Gazes locked, reflecting the hungering and unsatiated desire born from that first explosive contact.

Kiyoomi’s arms encircled you not a moment later, drawing you closer as if to hold onto the fragile, precious connection that had been forged. The intensity in his gaze softened, and you smiled up at him, frightened – realizing a little too late at what you’d just done.

You’d kissed Kiyoomi.

You’d kissed a married man.

Frantically, you scrambled away from him, ignoring the dejected look on his face when your actions caused his umbrella to drop. He, too, began to be soaked in the rain. His shirt clung to his skin, his curls now plastered against his face. Yet, he made no move, and remained where he stood – his chest rising and falling with each, staggered breath. And god, he looked ethereal like this – face flushed, lips bruised from your kiss, and his hands twitching by his side with the need to pull you close.

But he never does. He’d let you be the one to decide on that. His submission, his decision to give up and place all the power in your hands, was written all over his face.

If we are to kiss, it would have to be me instigating it.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have–”

“–It’s not a mistake, and I don’t regret it,” Kiyoomi declared, his gaze hard and firm. Then, he makes a show of slipping of his ring and throwing it to the side – the gold band swallowed up by the puddles. He’s in your space the next moment, his eyes closed yet vulnerable as he takes your palm, and rests his cheek there. “Use me. If you need me to forget him, if that’s what it takes... then use me. I am yours.”

[levisjinchuriki]

forever yours

summary: you and gojo have been separated for six months due to his troubles. you try to juggle co-parenting your young son and moving on, but gojo makes it obvious he’s not ready to give you up on your relationship yet

warning: just angst

word count: 2.3k

the separation of you and gojo was hard. you had devoted so much of your life, time and energy to him only to feel like you weren’t a priority. it was a terrible feeling you could push past during the first few years together, but after your wedding and the birth of your son, you started to realize how unfair it was. 

gojo’s job kept him away from home a lot, leaving you to take care of your son, haru. when he did manage to get some time off- things just didn’t feel the same as they once were. he always seemed distracted. 

he still loved you, of course. you were the only woman in his life he had ever truly been in love with. that will never change. and he didn’t realize how much he was slacking until you served him divorce papers one night- looking so defeated. it caught him off guard, and he was surprised that you had taken such a step. 

you were steadfast as gojo tried to convince you out of your decision. and when you didn’t budge he realized how many mistakes he’d made leading up to this moment. he couldn’t blame you, but he also couldn’t force you to take him back. 

he didn’t sign the papers. there’s no way in hell he’d do that. delusional or not, he’d convinced himself you’d be together again and going through the motions of a divorce would just complicate everything. he did reach a compromise with you, though. he was forced to accept the reality that he had lost you as his wife. gojo had enough money to take care of both you and haru so you could focus on raising him without having to work. per your request to live separately, gojo moved into an apartment on the other side of town. 

and when gojo put the last of his belongings in the moving truck haru ran up to him, sobbing as his small body clutched at gojo’s legs. 

“don’t go daddy” haru cried against him. it broke gojo’s heart. not only was he losing you as his wife, but his actions had torn his family apart. haru, the light of his life, was forced to be in the middle of his parent’s separation. it wasn’t fair to him and the guilt ate at gojo everyday.

your son loved his father, and if there was one thing gojo prioritized- it was haru. 

you had to turn away as tears slipped down your cheeks. it was almost too much for you to handle. you tried to stick through your marriage for haru’s sake, but you couldn’t keep up the act anymore. and although you were the one pushing him away, it hurt so much to see satoru leave. but it was the best decision for you, both mentally and emotionally. 

he had moved out six months ago now and still, the house felt all too empty.

—

the sound of Haru’s footsteps echo as he moves from room to room, looking for something to occupy his mind. he's become used to his dad not always being around, but he’s just a boy and he still needs his father in his life. gojo is still present, though only on the weekends when he has most of his free time. you would never completely take either of them away from each other. 

you sit on the couch, staring blankly at the screen in front of you- not sure what you had been watching as you aren’t paying attention. haru had been quiet tonight, spending most of his time drawing or playing alone. he’s almost four, now. he’s bright and everything you need. 

you smile as haru walks into the living room, clutching his favorite stuffed animal and rubbing his eyes. 

“mommy,” he yawns softly, “can i call daddy?”.

even after all these months the question is like a knife to your heart. you’ve tried to protect him from the worst of the separation, but the longing in his eyes is something you can’t ignore. you nod, forcing a smile. “of course, baby”. 

the phone rings a few times before gojo answers. his voice always has a warmth to it that makes you melt every time. 

“hey,” he greets. “is it bedtime?”. haru would talk to his dad every night before bed, a ritual that he tries his hardest not to break, even if he is busy with work. 

“yeah, he wants to speak to you”, you say.

haru’s small hands eagerly hold the phone to his ear, his face lights up at the sound of his father’s voice. “daddy! it’s me!”, he says excitedly. your heart melts at how much he loves his father.

gojo’s tone immediately softens. “hi, sweet boy. how’s my little guy doing?” he coos. gojo cherishes every moment he has with haru. it means so much to him to talk to him every night and make sure he’s okay, even if he isn’t around anymore. 

haru babbles about his day and gojo eagerly listens. he loves it when his son gets excited. 

haru clutches the phone tightly after he finishes, suddenly becoming upset. his small voice trembles slightly at his next sentence. “i miss you, daddy. when are you coming home?”. 

the silence on the other end of the line is heavy. gojo’s breathing is a mixture of sadness and regret. he wishes he could be there with the both of you. 

“i miss you too”. he’s not sure how to answer the little boy’s question. it all depends on you and if you are willing to sort through your issues together or not. he hopes you will decide to, but your relationship hasn’t improved much since he moved out. he’s not even sure if you still wear your ring. 

you can see haru’s eyes welling up with tears as he tries to hold back his emotions. 

“why can’t you come home? i want you here with us.”. he didn’t understand why his father had left in the first place. he’s too young to understand the concept of separation, even though you and gojo have explained it to him before. in his mind, if you both love each other then you should all be living together as one. he can’t grasp that even if you love someone so much, sometimes you have to let them go. 

gojo clears his throat. “i know, precious. things are complicated right now, but i promise i’m working on it”. whether he’s successful or not, gojo intends to try to mend things with you in any way he can.

“i’m coming to pick you up tomorrow and we can spend the whole weekend together. how does that sound?”. he tries to cheer haru up. 

the boy sniffles and wipes his eyes. “okay, daddy. i love you”. 

“i love you too, haru,” gojo says softly. “more than anything”. 

after a few more exchanged words and assurances, haru hands the phone back to you before climbing in your lap. you rub his back comfortingly as you bring the phone to your ear. 

“you still there?”, gojo asks. without needing to mask his tone for his son, you can hear just how defeated he sounds. 

you confirm you’re still on the line. the conversation is short- you and gojo discussing when to meet at the park tomorrow for him to pick up haru. in the last few months you’ve stopped having personal conversations with him- just trying to focus on co-parenting. it was easier for you that way.

you look down at your son and brush his hair from his face. he’s a spitting image of his father- same ghostly white locks and stunning eyes that held all the potential of the world within them. every time you looked at him, it was like seeing a smaller, more innocent version of satoru. and that made it harder to move on.

“daddy loves you very much. we’ll see him soon, okay?”, you assure him with a kiss on the head. 

haru nods against your shoulder, his small frame cuddled up to you. “okay, mommy”.

you hold him tightly, wishing you can offer more than just words of comfort. the house is still big and empty, but you try to fill it with all the love and reassurance you could muster. for haru’s sake, you hope that someday soon, this will all be behind you.

—

haru’s laughter rings out as he chases a butterfly through the empty park, the pure sound filling the air with a sweetness that tugs at your heart. you watch him, torn between the joy of his innocence and the ache of the life you once dreamed of with satoru. the butterfly flutters just out of haru's reach, and he giggles, his happiness a stark contrast to the storm of emotions brewing inside you.

the crunch of footsteps on gravel snaps you out of your thoughts, and though you don’t look up, you know who it is. satoru’s presence is unmistakable, a force that commands attention even without a word. he slides onto the bench beside you, close enough that his warmth seeps into your skin without touching you. he watches haru play for a moment before turning his attention to you. 

“i missed you”. his voice is sweet like honey, the words slipping out effortlessly. it’s that natural charm, the way he makes even the simplest phrases sound enchanting, that drew you to him in the first place. 

you turn to face him, finally meeting his gaze. those damn blue eyes–deep and endless like the ocean—have always been your weakness, pulling you in no matter how hard you try to resist. they hold a mix of emotions, swirling with the memories of a past you can’t quite let go of. his eyes search yours, and for a moment, it feels like time stops, as if the world around you fades away, leaving just the two of you and the unspoken feelings hanging in the air.

“what we had was a life full of complications,” you respond, not allowing yourself to get pulled into his trap. “you’re still in that world, satoru. and i can’t be a part of it anymore. haru can’t be a part of it”. 

his jaw tightens as a flicker of determination flashes in his eyes. “just because you’re pushing me away doesn’t mean i’m gonna give up”, his voice is low, laced with a quiet resolve.  “i haven’t given up on us”. the weight of his words hangs between you, thick with emotion, as if he’s daring you to believe him, to see the fight still left in him.

your heart aches at his words. you want to believe him, to let yourself fall back into the warmth of his promises. there is still so much love in your heart for satoru, but love alone isn’t enough to mend the things that had broken you apart. the dangers he faced daily, the secrets he kept hidden away, the growing distance that had slowly stretched between you until it became an uncrossable chasm—it had all become too much. the memories of what you once had clash with the reality of what you've lost, leaving you torn between the past and the painful truth of the present.

“don’t make this harder than it already is.” you plead, feeling your resolve weaken. he reaches out, gently taking your hand in his. 

i’m not ready to let you go,” he admits, his thumb brushing over your knuckles. “i don’t know if i’ll ever be.”

the confession hangs between you, heavy and unresolved. it would be so easy to slip back into old habits, to let him back in and pretend that everything could be okay again. but you deserve more than that. and deep down, you know the truth. satoru isn’t ready to change, and you aren’t ready to keep living in a world where he could be taken away at any moment. the weight of his unfulfilled promises and the uncertainty of your future press down on you, a reminder of the painful reality you can’t escape.

“haru needs stability,” you say softly, pulling your hand away. “he needs a life that doesn’t revolve around waiting for his father to come home in one piece”. gojo doesn’t miss a beat

“and what about you?” satoru asks, his voice laced with a vulnerability that he rarely showed. “what do you need?”

for a moment, silence envelops you both, the weight of the question hanging heavily in the air, unspoken yet profoundly understood. you look at him, at the man who once meant everything to you, and feel the tears well up in your eyes.

you need to move on. it’s been half a year, and you’re still in the same place, still foolishly hoping that satoru will change overnight. still waiting for him to burst through the door, fall to his knees, and apologize for everything that’s gone wrong in your relationship. the reality of your stagnant situation presses down on you, a painful reminder that hope alone isn’t enough to mend the fractures that have grown too deep.

haru’s laughter rings out again, drawing both of your eyes to him as he runs toward you, blissfully unaware of the tension between his parents. satoru stands up as haru reaches him, lifting him into his arms with a grin that makes your heart clench. he showers haru’s chubby cheeks with kisses, telling him how much he’s missed him this week, making haru giggle with delight. Satoru is such a good father, and that only makes everything harder.

“ready to go?” he asks, holding haru close. the boy nods, and satoru tells him to say goodbye to you.

“bye, mommy!” haru waves enthusiastically. you kiss his cheek and tell him you’ll pick him up soon.

“i’ll see you sunday?” satoru confirms, his gaze searching yours.

you nod, unable to trust your voice. with one last wave at haru you watch as they make their way toward his car. as they disappear from view, the weight of what you’re leaving behind settles heavily over you. moving on was never easy, but with satoru, it feels almost impossible.

----

>> ch 2

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[wisteria--thegirlinpurple]

Paws, Claws and Hands

Bucky x Shapeshifter!Reader Feat. Alpine

Summary: You find Alpine in the dead of night, and the only person who might be able to save her is a weirdo wearing gloves and a black leather jacket in the hot-humid spring...Why is he trying to take you home too?

A growl caught her attention first, then, a heart-breaking whine.

The smell of New York City is assaulting and revolting, especially with her delicate nose so close to the ground. The motel employee that had been feeding her was finally found out by his employer, so she was forced to evict from her previous ‘home’. Still, life as an adorable cat was far easier than being a human in the city so disconnected from nature. She was prancing along the avenues and streets in the Brooklyn when she was stopped by the distressing sound. 

The shapeshifter moved, half out of instinct, at the distressing plea that she heard coming from the alleyway. 

There, in the corner behind the bins, a small white fur-ball curled in on itself. The smell of tang in the air suggested that the cat (the real one) was injured and hurting. (Y/N) snuck closer, letting out soft whines so as to not alert the other cat. 

The white cat looked up, beady black eyes glistening as she whined again. 

The sound curled into (Y/N)’s heart and she felt her mind shaking from it. The rational part of her understood that her cat brain was reacting to the distress call from a fellow cat, but the irrational, instinctual part of her wanted to help utilising all means necessary. 

(Y/N) darted to the head of the alleyway, but night had fallen many hours ago and there were almost no humans on the street. Nobody that looked trustworthy anyway. 

The shapeshifter was hanging onto her last threads of sanity, wondering if she should transform back into a human so that she could lift the poor cat to the vet when a shadow appeared from the end of the street. 

It was a man— he wore a black leather jacket over a black t-shirt and black jeans. The shapeshifter had to focus her cat eyes in order to distinguish the man from the rest of the shadows. He walked with purpose, his hands tucked into his jeans pocket as he strolled down the street. 

He had to do.

With some determination, (Y/N) let out a much louder yowl as the man approached. He shot her a quick glance, but blinked it away and kept going on his way. (Y/N) panicked, pitter-pattering a small circle on the ground. Then, with some more determination, she let out a distressing whine and levelled her eyes at the man, hoping that he would understand. 

The man finally stopped, looking down with some curiosity. He carefully knelt, and reached his right hand out slowly.

(Y/N) stared at the glove hand with some confusion. It was a nice autumn day, a little chilly, sure, but not enough to warrant gloves by any means. 

Nevertheless, she’s achieved her objective.

She meowed at the man, and bit at his fingers gently. She tugged him towards the back of the alleyway.

“Woah woah.” He muttered, “Slow down.”

He rose to his full height, and followed her panicked steps down the alleyway. The smell assaulted her nose again, but she stuck steadfast to her goal. The shivering white mass was still whining, and upon hearing footsteps, weakly lifted her head. 

Noticing the injured cat at last, the man knelt down. Steel-blue eyes darted around the alleyway as he assessed the situation. He spared an amused glance to (Y/N). The shapeshifter whined again, moving closer to the injured cat and licking a stripe from her cheek up to her ear. 

“Hello.” The man said softly, reaching out his hand to the injured cat, “I’m Bucky.”

The white cat whined, but gave his gloved hand a quick sniff. 

“I think your friend wants me to take care of you, is it okay if I pick you up?”

The injured cat shivered, and curled further into herself. (Y/N) could feel her pulse quickening at the sight, and gently nipped down at the back of the neck of the other cat. With some straining, she dragged the cat over to Bucky’s outreached hand. Her eyes darted from his eyes to his hands to the ground, hoping he would understand. 

He furrowed his eyebrows, but left his hands stretched out. (Y/N) gently dragged the white cat onto his hands. 

The white young thing was barely conscious at this point, letting out only weak whines at her movement. Bucky rose slowly, lifting the white cat to his chest. Her fur was matted down by oils and grease and god knows what there is in a New York City back-alley. But he was gentle as he petted the the white cat’s head with a gloved finger, holding her close to his chest. 

“I think I best take you to the vet now.” He muttered, half to himself. He flipped out a phone, typing something into it— probably looking up the nearest vet that was still open.

Cat in arms, he began to walk out of the alleyway. 

(Y/N) watched as he left, eyes trailing the dark figure as he disappeared down the mouth of the alleyway. For a moment, she felt content.

Then a small whine sounded through the evening air. The sound echoed into her bones, and she felt the hair on the end of her neck stand.

She grumbled to herself, then dashed out to track down the white cat and the man that was carrying her away.

——

(Y/N) leapt up the fire-exit stairs, strong feline legs allowing her to jump from one ledge to the next with ease. It didn’t take long before she hovered at the window of her location. There was a small ledge just outside the window. It was a cool evening, which was probably why Bucky had the window half open to let the air in.

The man was not always home, disappearing sometimes for days at a time, leaving behind only a cat-sitter that would come to take care of Alpine. Those days would be easy, (Y/N) would slip in, spend some time with Alpine to check that she was recovering well, and slip out again. Things were not so simple when Bucky was home. (Y/N) feline eyes dashed from corner to corner, drinking in the domestic scene inside. Alpine was napping on a sofa cushion. Bucky sat next to the slumbering cat, one hand mindlessly stroking her head. There was something playing on the T.V., some movie with a small brown-haired man with big feet and an even bigger backpack.

Squeezing between the window frame and the window, (Y/N) slipped into the apartment. She shook her head, trying to get any dust that might she might have rubbed off of her. The movement seemed to be enough to draw the attention of Bucky, whose steel-blue eyes trained on her with precision. 

(Y/N) stretched, arching her back before she jumped off the window ledge onto the hardwood floor of the apartment. Bucky’s apartment was, if anything, a little sparse. Despite perfectly good furniture, he often slept on the floor, as evidenced by the blankets and pillows he left just next to the couch. The shapeshifter gracefully stepped over all the linens on the floor, no doubt leaving dark paw prints all over. She could hear Bucky sigh as he leant back into the couch. 

The shapeshifter leapt again, stepping onto the man’s thighs before settling next to Alpine on the cushion. The young white cat meowed, happily accepting the shapeshifter’s company. She began to lick all over, and purred as the shapeshifter returned the favour. 

“You came to check on Alpine, huh?” Bucky remarked, his hand curling over the end of the sofa.

(Y/N) looked over and let out a small meow in response. 

“Are you her mother or something? Your coats don’t match though.”

(Y/N) let out a growl, showing her canine teeth.

“Okay— so not her mother.” Bucky nodded, then he paused, “… And I’m talking to a cat. Great. Doc is going to have a field day with her notebook when she finds out.”

The shapeshifter puffed, leaving the man to his own devices. She checked over Alpine. Her coat was shinier than she last saw, and the wound on her leg was healing nicely. There was a small scar over her ear that looks like it might last, but there was nothing but a pink line remaining. The last few times she came to check, Alpine’s wounds were shaved and bandaged. Already, a thin layer of white fur was growing out to cover it. 

The snap of a window alerted her, and she jumped up from where she was sitting. 

Bucky had shut the window she came in from, he looked down at her and ran a hand over his face. 

“…I’m going to talk to a cat.” He muttered to himself, “That’s a new low for you, Buck.”

“Look—“ He started, raising his hands in the air in mock surrender, “Just stay the night with Alpine. You keep popping in and out and disappearing into the night. I’ll open a window for you to leave in the morning. It’s getting really cold out.”

(Y/N) lowered herself into stance, a growl vibrating from her chest. She slipped her long canines for the man to see that she was not afraid to use them. Alpine’s head shot up, a cute whine emanating from her mouth as her eyes shot from one to the other.

“Fine.” Bucky sighed, and unlatched the window, sliding it open. 

(Y/N) pounced, jumping from the sofa and clawing her way up Bucky’s jeans and shirt as she leapt out of the window. She could hear Bucky’s grunts of pain behind her as she dashed down the fire-exit. The metal sung as she pranced down each level, disappearing into the night. 

She ran until she felt like she was out of view. 

The shapeshifter could feel the oxygen burn as she inhaled it into her exerted lungs, her paws and feet stinging from the exercise. Still, she felt good to be free. Even if the man was good to Alpine, and said that he was just trying to ‘protect her from the cold’. She’s been through enough to know that humans were very adept at lying. 

As the adrenaline left her body, and she curled around herself in a park bench, she wonders if she might’ve been a little harsh. It was clear from the state of her gleaming white fur that Bucky’s care for Alpine was sincere and thorough. The flat, which had been near barren when (Y/N) first trailed the pair home, was now filled with bits and bobs of cat toys and furniture. Alpine’s willingness to tame her fear to cuddle closer to her owner was a good sign that Bucky was in fact a good owner. 

Alpine’s injuries were, of course, the actions of a bunch of teenage brats with too much time of their hands. She had said so as much. 

Still— (Y/N) wondered if her reaction was a little harsh for the man she had literally dragged into this mess (teeth on his fingers and all). 

Slowly, unfurling herself, she pounced into the night air once more. Bucky was right, the nights occasionally had the bite of winter in it. Tonight, the cool breeze drifted over her coat. Tomorrow, the air could curl right into her bones. Winters were always hard, even for a shapeshifter in the city. 

Looking up at the fire-exit for the second time of the night, she slowly ascended to Bucky’s apartment, one paw at a time. 

She was surprised to find that her usual window was half-open.

The shapeshifter charged her hind legs, and pounced onto the same window-ledge. Bucky had returned to his place on the sofa, Alpine curled around his hand like she was previously. 

(Y/N) dawdled, but eventually decided to enter into the threshold once more. Bucky’s eyes darted over, but quickly returned to the television programme that was on. The shapeshifter internally grimaced, but there was no effective way for a cat to apologise. 

Or maybe there was?

(Y/N) clawed at the window, softly shutting it and knocking at the clasp until it clicked. Then, she bounced from object to object until she reached Bucky’s arm that rested at the top of the sofa, dangling slightly off the edge. 

She rubbed her face at it.

The shapeshifter could feel the man melting before he sighed, lifting her up to plop him down on his lap. She curled up, placing her head over his thigh where she could keep an eye on Alpine.

And if Bucky managed to make her purr by running rough fingers through the fur on her head, that’s none of anyone’s business.

—

Bucky, (Y/N) decides, is actually a fantastic pet-owner. 

The house was always warm, even if he was out. He kept the heating running all day long since he knew that Alpine and her would be in. The water was always fresh, and he served them fresh food as much as he can. Something about how his Ma would never let him feed them tinned food that smelt like the inside of a beached whale. 

Her hair was always combed through, and he didn’t mind that she wasn’t cuddly. 

When he was in, he’d let her out through the window, always leaving a gap so that she could sneak back in. He’d complain about the dirty paw prints that she was leaving all over, and tackled her down to clean her feet. Eventually, she settled on cleaning her paws on a towel near the window before she tracked it all over the apartment. They fought over little things like that a lot, but Bucky always indulged her and she always yielded when he gave her that kicked-puppy look. That’s probably how things would’ve stayed, if the attacks didn’t start.

The attacks started small. A single gunshot through the window whilst Bucky was watching the TV.

His training kicks in immediately, dropping Alpine and (Y/N) onto the floor and rolling down with them. Once the scene was clear, he picks both of them up and locks them into his bedroom with him, all the lights off. In the darkness, Alpine whines as he mutters small apologies and cuddles her closer to his chest. (Y/N) sits on his thigh, tail swishing back and forth as she watched the sweat trickle down his face.

Bucky doesn’t tell anyone about the attacks, not even when this man called “Sam” calls him every other day to check on him. 

It was like there was something in the air since that first attack. Bucky becomes more vigilant, the lights are rarely ever on. He starts going out in a suit more often, with his hair gelled back. 

He gets an automatic feeder and litter box, he disappears for weeks at a time. 

When he is in, the attacks continue. Mysterious packages appearing at his door, men who clearly circle the block in the middle of the night. Shots litter the windowpane until Bucky gives up on replacing it, and boards up the whole thing instead. 

He doesn’t sleep well, not even with Alpine sitting on his chest. 

Alpine frets over him, refusing to watch her new owner waste away. She claws at him until he eats, and nibbles on his fingers when he has the thousand-mile away stare. Bucky clearly appreciates it, because his moody disposition always breaks into a thousand-watt smile when she does. He tucks her into his arms, and lets her purring ground him. 

The final night in the apartment begins as it usually does. 

It was Bucky’s second night back from a two-week trip. He spent most of the evening talking into his phone, muttering something about campaigns and ox's. Alpine claws at him until he gets up to reheat some soup. Once he had dinner, he took a long shower and settled into bed. Alpine crawled in with him, curling up next to his chest.

(Y/N) puttered about, tail dancing in the air as she pounced around the bedroom. She watched as the former-assassin’s shoulder relaxed, drifting off. 

The serenity of the moment was cut through by the soft thump of boots outside the apartment. 

The shapeshifter stood in alert, a growl unconsciously leaking out of her jaws. The hair on the back of her neck straightened at the threat. 

The boots stopped right at the door of the apartment. There was a muttering of commands.

(Y/N) leapt from her place on the nightstand, landing onto Bucky’s arm and swatting his face with her paw. His brows furrowed, but his steel-blue eyes opened. His confusion vanished as the sounds of the intruders echoed down the quiet house again.

The shapeshifter bit at the skin at the back of Alpine’s neck, and tore the young kitten away from her owner. She mewled in protest, but it was quickly silenced by (Y/N) shoving her into a corner of the closet. The shapeshifter bit the cat gently on the mouth, signalling to her to be quiet. 

Bucky was already on the move, his vibranium arm whizzing quietly as he pulled on a shirt and readied his handgun.

The breach happened quick. A team of twelve men launched into the apartment with guns trained at their singular target. Dressed in black tactical gear, they flooded into the house with torches flashing circles wherever they pointed.

Bucky moved faster— He fired six shots in rapid succession, taking one down with each bullet. Then, he dismantled the firearm and the pieces of metal were transformed into projectile weapons as he battled the remaining assailants. Two men flustered at the pieces of metal lodged into the helmets, and Bucky took the opportunity to slam them into the wall. They slid down quietly, head lolling to the side. 

The team had come prepared, they circled the former assassin, careful not to enter into hand combat range. Bucky had his hands up as he studied each person, looking for any moments of weakness. He leapt first, disarming the remaining members and stealing a knife from one.

A chill ran down (Y/N)’s spine as she heard the shuffling of another pair of boots.

The shapeshifter looked from the corner of the room in horror as another team member entered the room, holding an assault rifle in their hand aimed at Bucky. 

Bucky seem to notice too, and he cursed as he wrangled with the other four.

The shooter steadied his aim, and released the safety. 

Before his finger pulled the trigger, (Y/N) leapt and shifted in the air. She could feel her bones and flesh shifting, tearing, melting and knitting itself back together. The pain sent hot flashes through her body and her vision white-out as it wrecked through her body. 

Strong, clawed paws slashed into the shooter as she roared. With a groan, he dropped the weapon.

The shapeshifter didn’t let this moment of weakness go to waste, with another raise of her paw, the man flew into a nearby wall, denting the structure and flopping onto the floor. 

(Y/N) growled, the phantom pain from her transformation barely there below the adrenaline that ran through her veins. The black bear shook out the tension in her neck, and prowled towards her remaining prey. 

Humans, especially disarmed humans, were hardly a match for a fully grown black bear. 

Bucky stood in the centre of the chaos, dead and unconscious men scattered around him. He studied the black bear in his house, tracing over each dip and curve of the animal.

“What the hell?” He muttered under his breath. 

The shapeshifter willed the magic to re-knit her bones and flesh again. Her paws retracted into human skin, her ears retrieving to make room for her human ones— Fully aware that Bucky watched in abject horror, until his former house cat and current black bear— transformed into a human. 

“Hello.” (Y/N) waved, “You’re welcome, by the way.”

“Huh?” Bucky objected.

“For saving your life.” (Y/N) puffed, crossing her hands on her waist, “You really should just move at this point. I’m not even sure why you’re still staying at this dingy little apartment. This is like the fourteenth time we’ve been attacked.”

“Wait— Hold on a second,” Bucky lifted the palm of his metal hand up signalling for the woman to stop, his other hand pinching his brows, “I thought you were a cat.”

“Well, I’m not. I just shape-shift into one.”

“Is Alpine…?”

“No, she’s an actual kitten. Thank you for saving her, by the way, I was really sweating that night that she might die from exposure.”

“And you just decided to pretend to be a cat for a year?!”

“Well…” (Y/N) tilted her head, “I was just going to dip in and out to keep an eye on Alpine. But you kind of locked me in afterwards.”

Bucky eyebrows furrowed further, his eyes blinking open and close as he tried to process the information. He looked up and down at his (now) human companion.

“Let’s get out of here for now.” He finally decided, “But you better give me a longer explanation than ‘I just can turn into a cat.’��� 

They moved into a new apartment in DC soon afterwards— just Bucky and his two cats (?)

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

Link to my Masterlist if you want to see more in this series!

I just really wanted to write scenes with Alpine and Bucky, and then I thought-- why not just give Bucky a second cat?

It's not relevant to the story but the Reader's ability is heavily inspired by the Druid class in BG3 (because I do not know enough about DnD to claim anything otherwise). She stays in cat form most of the time because a) people treat you very nicely and b) she got tired of trying to convince New Yorker not to destroy nature like a few decades ago so she just chills as a cat.

[fuzzyautumninmetal]

Loving Husband pt 2

Olderhusband!Price 🤝 YoungerWife!Reader 🤝 Trying for a baby

The beginning is a lil sad I'm sorry

Part 1 Part 3

It had been two months. Two months of trying, of hoping, of praying, and yet still no positive result. Each negative pregnancy test was a dagger to your heart, a cruel reminder of the unfairness of life. Despite your tears and sorrow, John remained steadfast in his support and love, comforting you in your moments of despair and promising you that they would eventually achieve their dream of starting a family together.

"We're gonna get there my love," he assured you one night after another failed attempt left you in floods of tears. "Just hang in there for me, okay? We're stronger together, remember?" His words were a lifeline, pulling you back from the brink of desolation and giving you the strength to keep fighting, to keep believing that someday they would succeed in bringing a child into their lives.

You wiped away your tears and took deep breaths, John saw you were trying to stay positive for him and for yourself. "I love you. So much" You managed to say through ragged breaths.

John watched as you struggled to regain control of yourself, wiping away your tears and taking deep, steadying breaths. He could see the effort it cost you, the battle you waged against your own despair, and it only made his admiration and love for you grow stronger. Seeing you try to stay positive for his sake touched him deeply, reminding him once again of why you were the love of his life.

"I love you too, baby," he said softly, pulling you into his arms and holding you tightly against his chest. "We'll make this happen...together." His words were a vow, a promise that they would not give up, that they would continue to fight and hope and pray until their dreams of becoming parents were realized.

John held you tight as you cried on his shoulder. You stayed like that for a long time, just crying and clinging onto him. But eventually you calmed down and looked up at John with teary eyes.

As you calmed down and looked up at him with tears still glistening in your eyes, John smiled softly and gently wiped away the last of your tears with his thumbs. His heart ached at the pain he saw etched across your features, but he knew that all he could do was be there for you, to support and love you through the difficult times. "You okay now, baby?" he asked gently, cupping her cheek in his palm and leaning in to press a tender kiss against her lips.

You nodded slowly and kissed John back, feeling yourself calm down even more at the feel of his lips against yours. "With you by my side.... I'll always be okay" You whispered.

John smiled warmly at your words, his heart swelling with love and gratitude. He knew that you were right; with you by his side, he could weather any storm, face any challenge, and overcome any obstacle. Together, they were strong enough to conquer anything, including their shared dream of starting a family.

"And with you by my side, I can accomplish anything," he replied softly, pulling you closer and resting his forehead against yours. "So let's keep fighting, yeah? Let's keep trying and hoping and praying...until we finally get our happy ending."

John pulled you close again, hugging you tight as you buried your face into his chest. Your heart beat steady against his ear as you breathed him in. A tear rolled down your cheek as you thought about everything you had gone through together, all the ups and downs, the good times and bad. But despite it all, here you were, still together, still fighting, still loving each other.

Feeling you bury your face into his chest and hear the steady rhythm of your heartbeat against his ear filled John with a profound sense of contentment and peace. He held you close, wrapping his arms around you and savouring the warmth of your body pressed against his own. As he felt the warm trickle of a tear against his skin, he knew that you were thinking about all they'd been through together, the trials and tribulations they'd faced, and the strength of their enduring love.*

"Hey," he murmured softly, tilting your chin up with a finger under your jawline. "No more tears, okay? We're strong...we can do this."

Feeling your soft lips against his own, John knew that you were pouring all of your love and affection into that single kiss. He returned your embrace passionately, his hands cradling your face as he lost himself in the taste and feel of you. The kiss was a testament to their enduring love, a symbol of their unbreakable bond and their unwavering determination to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

After breaking the kiss, you rested your head on John's chest again, listening to his heart beat. "Don't forget Soap's invited us for a BBQ this weekend" You reminded John.

At the mention of the barbecue, John chuckled softly, his hand stroking through your hair soothingly. "Yeah, I did forget about that didn't I?" He said, smiling. "Well, maybe it's a sign. Maybe we should go, have some fun, take our minds off things for a bit." His words were hopeful, filled with the belief that perhaps changing their environment might lead to a change in fortune.

You smiled up at John and nodded "Yeah, you're right. We need to take our mind off things. And besides, I'm sure Soap will have plenty of booze, we could use a few drinks." You giggled.

John grinned at your suggestion, his fingers tracing idle patterns on your arm. "You read my mind, sweetheart," he said, winking playfully. "A few drinks, some good food, and great company...sounds like just what we need."

"But first," he added, leaning in to capture your lips in a passionate kiss. "How about we take a nice hot bath together? Soak away our troubles for a while..."

Your cheeks turned pink as John suggested a hot bath together. You giggled and playfully pushed him away. "Naughty boy! You're trying to seduce me when I'm supposed to be sad!" You teased him, he always knew how to cheer you up.

John laughed at your teasing, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief and desire. "When am I ever not trying to seduce you, sweetheart?" He asked, pulling you back into his arms and nuzzling your neck.

"But you're right," he continued, his voice dropping to a low purr. "You are supposed to be sad. So how about this? I'll make you laugh, cry, scream...and then I'll make you scream some more. Deal?"

You giggled at John's proposal, running your fingers through his hair as you looked into his eyes. "Deal" You whispered, kissing him again before leading him towards the bathroom where you drew them both a hot bubble bath.

Following you into the bathroom, John couldn't help but admire your figure from behind. Your curves were enticing, your ass round and plump - a sight that never failed to stir his desires. His eyes locked onto you as you started drawing the bath.

"You know," he said, stepping up behind you and wrapping his arms around your waist. "I think I've got a better idea..."

Before you could react, he bent you over the edge of the bathtub, spreading your legs wide apart. He then plunged to fingers into your tight cunt.

Caught off guard, you gasped as John's fingers entered you roughly. You gripped the edge of the tub tightly as he began to finger fuck you. You moaned loudly, your pussy clenching around his fingers.

Feeling your tight walls clench around his fingers, John groaned in pleasure, his cock throbbing with need. He continued to pump his fingers in and out of you, curling them to hit that sweet spot inside you.

"God, you're so wet," he growled, his breath hot against your ear. "And you sound so fucking delicious..."

Your whole body trembled as John fingered you relentlessly. You reached down between your legs and began to rub your clit, amplifying your pleasure as you moaned and whimpered.

Hearing you moan and whimper, John felt his control slipping. His cock was painfully hard, begging for attention. Pulling his fingers out of you, he spun you around and pushed you against the wall next to the bathtub. He then lifted you up, your legs wrapped around his waist, giving him easy access to your dripping cunt.

Caught by surprise, you let out a loud gasp as John thrust into you, filling you completely. Your legs quivered around his waist as he began to pound into you, your nails digging into his shoulders as you clawed at him.

Feeling your nails dig into his shoulders, John groaned in pleasure, his hips slapping against yours as he pounded into you. His cock throbbed inside you, stretching her tight walls deliciously.

"Oh, fuck..." he muttered, his breath coming in short pants. "So fucking tight...so fucking perfect...my perfect wife."

Your eyes rolled back as John fucked you against the wall, your pussy clenching around his cock as you screamed out in pleasure. You reached up and grabbed his face, pulling him in for a rough kiss as you moaned into his mouth.

John eagerly accepted your kiss, his tongue duelling with yours as he continued to thrust into you, harder and faster. His hand roamed over your body, cupping your breasts, pinching your nipples, and squeezing your ass.

"I love you," he managed to gasp between thrusts. "Always have, always will"

Your breath hitched as John continued to fuck you, your body shaking uncontrollably as you climaxed, screaming out in ecstasy. You wrapped your legs tighter around his waist, urging him on as you came.

Feeling your pussy tighten around his cock, John knew he wouldn't last much longer. He quickened his pace, thrusting into you with wild abandon as he neared his climax.

"Fuck...I'm gonna cum," he gasped out, his grip on your ass tightening. "Fill you up...my beautiful wife..."

"Please John" You gasped in between moans. "Fill me up....give me a baby" 

Hearing your plea, John grunted in response, his thrusts becoming even more frenzied. His cock twitched inside you, signalling his imminent release.

"Fuck...I hope so..." he panted, his body shuddering as he finally erupted inside you. Wave after wave of pleasure washed over him, his seed filling you up completely.

"Ahh...fuck!" he cried out, his grip on your ass tightening even further.

Your body convulsed as John emptied himself inside you, his hot cum filling you up. You kissed him passionately, your tongues wrestling as you rode out your orgasm together. John held you close, his hands caressing your back and ass as he slowly slid out of you.

"That was...incredible," he murmured, panting heavily. "But now we really should draw that bath"

You giggled as John pulled out of you and gently put you down, his cum leaking out of your still quivering pussy. You nodded and led him over to the bathtub, pouring in a generous amount of bubble bath. John got into the bath first, then you got in after. 

As you settled between his legs, John wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close against him. He sighed contentedly, enjoying the warmth of the water and the feel of your soft skin against his own.

"This feels nice," he murmured, nuzzling your neck. "Just what we needed after all that excitement"

His hand moved down to her belly, gently rubbing circles there. "Hopefully we did manage to give ourselves a little surprise tonight..."

"I hope so" You smiled as you intertwined your fingers with John's. Admiring your wedding rings. 

John returned your smile, his gaze falling on their entwined fingers and the wedding rings adorning their fingers. He gave your hand a gentle squeeze, feeling a surge of affection for you.

"These sure are a reminder of how lucky I am," he said softly. "To have found someone like you."

He leaned in closer, pressing a tender kiss to her temple. "I love you, my dear wife."

You looked up at John and kissed him back, your lips lingering on his for a few seconds before you spoke. "And I love you, my dear husband."

John returned your kiss, deepening it slightly before breaking away with a soft chuckle. "Well, isn't that just the sweetest thing?" he murmured, his voice filled with warmth and affection. "My lovely wife, who can make even the toughest soldier melt with her words."

You blushed deeply at John's compliment, "You're just a big ol' softie when it comes to me." John chuckled softly, leaning in to press another kiss to your cheek.

"Guilty as charged," he admitted with a grin. "There's no denying it, sweetheart. But don't go spreading that around, okay? I've got an image to maintain." You laughed softly and shook your head, "I wouldn't dream of it, darling."

John grinned, leaning back against the edge of the tub as he pulled you closer to his chest. The warm water lapped against them, creating a soothing rhythm that seemed to match the steady beating of his heart.

"You know," he mused, his fingers idly tracing patterns on your stomach. "I think this might just be my favourite part of the day."

He chuckled softly, nuzzling your neck. "Not the sex - though that was pretty damn fantastic - but this. Just being here with you, relaxing and talking. It's perfect."

You smiled softly as John talked about his favourite part of the day, his fingers tracing patterns on your stomach. You closed your eyes and snuggled deeper into his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. "Mine too."

John smiled, his heart swelling with happiness at your words. He tightened his hold on you, pulling you even closer if that were possible.

"And to think," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, "we almost didn't get married. Can you imagine? All those missed moments...all these wonderful memories we could have missed out on."

You sighed softly and cuddled deeper into John's embrace, your fingers tangling with his as you gazed out at the stars twinkling in the night sky through the window. "I know. It's crazy to think about."

John nodded in agreement, his gaze fixed on the stars outside. A sense of gratitude and appreciation welled up within him, making his heart swell with emotion.

"But we did get married," he said softly, his voice thick with sentiment. "And for that, I'm truly grateful. Because without you, my life would be nothing more than a series of battles and losses. With you, it's a journey filled with love and laughter."

You smiled softly at John's heartfelt words, tears pricking at your eyes. You squeezed his hand and turned to look up at him. "And without you, I'd probably still be wandering aimlessly, trying to find some meaning in my life. With you, I've found not only love, but also purpose."

John's heart pounded in his chest as he listened to your words, his grip on your hand tightening instinctively. He swallowed hard, a lump forming in his throat as he fought to keep his emotions under control.

"I love you, sweetheart," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "More than anything else in this world."

You stared at John for a moment, admiring him, "And I love you, more than anything. You're my whole life". You gave him a gentle kiss before you began washing yourself, once clean you started started getting out of the bath.

John watched as you began to stand from the bath, his gaze trailing appreciatively over your wet, glistening form. He couldn't help but admire your beauty, both inside and out.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, reaching out to pull you back down into his lap. "John" You laughed as he pulled you back into the bath.

John smirked, wrapping his arms around you again, holding you close. His lips brushed against your earlobe, sending shivers down your spine.

"I thought we had all night," he whispered huskily, his erection already stirring beneath the water once more. "No rushing off to bed just yet, Mrs. Price."

"Sorry Mr. Price" You smirked as you started grinding against his cock. John groaned as you ground against him, your movements sending waves of pleasure coursing through his body. He reached down, his hand sliding between your thighs to guide his length to her entrance.

"Not sorry enough," he muttered, thrusting up into you. His other hand moved to cup your breast, thumb rolling over her nipple teasingly.

You moaned softly as John thrust into you, his hand squeezing your breast as his thumb rolled over your sensitive nipple. You arched your back, pushing yourself further onto his cock.

John's breath hitched as you took him fully inside you, a low growl rumbling in his chest. He held your hips tightly, guiding your movements as you rode him.

"That's it, sweetheart," he groaned, his free hand moving to stroke your clit. "Ride me...just like that."

You moaned louder as John stroked your clit, the sensation causing your pussy to clench around his cock. Your hips moved faster, grinding against his hand as you fucked him harder and faster. "Oh god, John" 

John grunted in response, his grip on your hip tightening as you picked up the pace. He could feel himself losing control, his climax building rapidly.

"Fuck, sweetheart..." He gasped, his thrusts becoming erratic. "I'm gonna...fuck, I'm gonna cum."

You smirked at John, you were feeling spontaneous tonight, you decided to take charge. You wrapped your hand around his throat. "Not yet baby" You slowed down your pace. "Not until I say so." 

John's eyes widened in surprise as you grabbed his throat, slowing down your movements. He groaned in frustration, wanting nothing more than to release himself. "Yes, ma'am," he rasped. "As you command, Mrs. Price."

You smirked at John's submission, you loved seeing him like this, needing you. "Good boy" You mumbled. You leaned forward letting your lips be dangerously close to his but not kissing him knowing it drives him insane.

John bit back a groan as you teased him, your lips tantalizingly close but not quite touching his own. He wanted to reach up and grab you, force you to kiss him, but he knew better than to defy his wife. "Oh fuck, sweetheart," he breathed, his cock twitching inside you. "This is torture."

You giggled at John's words, you liked having power over him. You leaned back and started riding him again, your hands resting on his shoulders for support. You started fucking him faster.

John let out a guttural growl as you resumed your passionate movements, his hands gripping your hips firmly. He could feel his climax approaching rapidly, every thrust driving him closer to the edge.

"Fuck..." *he gasped, his thrusts matching yours. "I'm gonna...oh fuck"

You slowed down your movements again. "Not yet Mr. Price" You smirked at John, you were enjoying torturing him. You leaned down and began kissing his neck, nipping it occasionally.

John groaned in frustration as you slowed down your movements once more, your teeth grazing his neck adding another layer of pleasure to the mix. He gripped her your tighter, desperate to maintain control.

"Sweetheart..." he warned, his voice strained. "I'm warning you...if you don't let me finish soon, I'll have to punish you later."

You smirked at John's threat, you loved the idea of being punished by him. You continued to ride him slowly, torturing him. "Is that a promise Mr. Price?"

John gritted his teeth, his grip on your hips tight enough to leave marks. He was teetering on the edge, his climax threatening to spill over any second now. "Yes, it's a fucking promise," he growled, his voice laced with desire and frustration. "Now stop teasing me and let me finish."

You laughed at John's words, you loved how much he needed you. "Oh so demanding" John groaned, his patience wearing thin. But despite his frustration, there was an undeniable thrill in submitting to your whims. "As your husband, I demand it," he said with a smirk. "But if you want me to beg, I will."

You smirked at John's words, you loved hearing him beg. You stopped riding him completely, leaving him hanging. "I would love nothing more than to hear my husband beg"

John let out a frustrated growl as you stopped moving entirely, leaving him hanging. His cock throbbed inside you, desperate for release. "Shit" he groaned, his voice strained. "Let me...please, sweetheart. I need to...oh God, I need to cum."

You smirked at John's begging, you loved hearing him plead for you to let him cum. You started riding him again, your movements slow and sensual. You cupped his face and ran your thumb over his bottom lip. "That's a good boy"

John let out a relieved sigh as you finally started moving again, your movements slow and sensual. He opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out was a low moan as your thumb grazed over his lip.

You smirked at John's reaction, you enjoyed making him squirm. You rode him for a few minutes before speeding up your pace, your hands running over his chest and stomach. "How's that Mr. Price?"

John groaned in pleasure as you sped up your pace, his hands reaching up to grip your hips tightly. He could feel his climax approaching rapidly, every thrust bringing him closer to the edge. "Fuck, yes," he gasped, his voice strained. "That's it, sweetheart...just like that."

You smirked at John's words, you loved hearing him praise you. You leaned down and kissed him passionately, your tongue exploring his mouth. You broke the kiss only when you felt John's cock pulsating inside you. "Cum for me baby"

You sped up the pace, your head falling back. "Oh fuck" You gasped. Your cunt clenching around John's cock, his fingers gripping into your waist hard enough to leave bruises. "John!" You cried as you fell forward.  John's entire body tensed as you urged him over the edge, his cock throbbing inside you. He could no longer hold back, his climax ripping through him with a force that left him gasping for air.

"Fuck, sweetheart," He groaned, his thrusts becoming erratic as he spilled himself deep within you. John laid beneath you, panting heavily as they both recovered from their intense orgasms. He could feel your hot breath against his skin, your kisses and gentle bites sending shivers down his spine.

You lifted yourself off John slightly, looking down at him. You had a satisfied smile on your face, your eyes sparkling with happiness. "Can't I get out of the bath now?" John chuckled softly, his arms wrapping around her waist as he pulled her back down onto him.

"No, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice husky with satisfaction. "We're staying right here until the water cools."

[hypnautic-cereal]

And now: a comprehensive analysis on Eddie Dear’s drag persona

(Or at least how I interpret it✨)

💜💎💜💎💜💎💜💎💜💎💜💎💜💎💜💎

The Tiara:

Ah, starting this off with the glittery tiara sitting atop Eddie’s head. Its royalty and elegance is easy to notice, and its glimmer emphasizes the brightness Delle Ivory brings to any room she walks into. The only thing is…the tiara is fake, merely plastic and easy to break if one wrong step is made, much like the persona of Delle Ivory. Regardless, it’s taken seriously by all who don’t take the time to look closer to it.

The makeup:

I’ve seen other artists draw the makeup much closer to actual drag makeup, and that’s something I very much so aspire to work on. The way I enjoy drawing it is a bit simple however: just some red lipstick, subtle blush, shimmering blue eyeshadow, and a very large eyeliner wing.

Blue eyeshadow and red lipstick was often used in counter culture, especially from the 1960s-90s. In an article by flannels.com, “the look came to symbolise both the establishment (take, Barbie) and a critique of the steadfast rules of what a woman should look and behave like that predated that era.”

Blue eyeshadow was also associated with drag queens, specifically the late drag queen Divine in the film Pink Flamingos

The red lipstick also has some symbolism. During World War II, red lipstick stood as a symbol of defiance and unwavering spirit, as even in concentration camps women made their own red lipstick out of either crushed brick or berries

After the war as well, red lipstick was a staple in 1950s and 60s Hollywood, with stars such as Marylin Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and Audrey Hepburn, with the lipstick color being also a symbol of seduction and confidence (paraphrasing from bangstyle.com

Akin to the blue eyeshadow, as large eyeliner wings became popular in film, it drew close with the drag performance community, being a symbol of grunge and counterculture

Couldn’t find much in terms of blush throughout the 60s or 70s, but there was a rise in popularity of pastel shades of blush (you can call the blush Delle uses pastel in comparison to her skin tone, right?)

The dress:

The sparkling mass that is Delle Ivory’s dress, wow. Purple is a color that is very, very rarely used within the world of Welcome Home, reserved mostly just for shading in blue. Eddie however, is the only one who has purple on his body, that being his eyelids.

The whole idea of purple being a reserved color is flipped entirely on its head, with Delle Ivory absolutely holding the mantle for the character associated with purple.

The slit that leaves room for Eddie to show some leg tells us that Delle is not at all afraid of being open with herself, letting everything she feels reveal itself to others.

There’s no real message behind the glitter, the dress would just be a simple purple dress without it, and trust me, drag queens do not do simple.

Even with today’s modern associations with purple, it’s known as a color for iconic moments and sass. This can be often seen with TikTok and its collection of Purple Heart (💜) memes. They’re a bit corny, but that’s what plays into how iconic they are; it’s not a subgenre of TikTok that’s meant to be serious with it’s humor, simply being a subgenre to recognize humorously stan culture moments.

The boa:

There wasn’t really any intended symbolism with the sparkly boa. I just thought it would be a nice accessory for Eddie/Delle to have from time to time.

The heels:

At first I didn’t think that much about the heels, I thought of them as pretty white heels, but that’s when I thought about it more.

White is often seen as a color of innocence. Despite all the showiness of Delle Ivory, it has to be reminded that this does take place in a puppet show made for children. The dainty white shoes balances the star power the persona of Delle Ivory dazzles the audience with, by also carrying Eddie’s humbleness and kindness towards others.

Another character in the neighborhood seen in white shoes is Julie Joyful. In my head, I headcanon that Eddie has just a hint of jealousy towards Julie, being able to be loud and overflowing with positive everywhere she goes. The white heels of Delle Ivory mimic Julie’s mary janes, as both share their matching energy with everyone they come across.

What else am I missing…oh yeah!

The name:

Most drag names are puns or some kind of play on words. I wanted Eddie’s drag persona to still be tied to his career of being a mailman, so what’s the one thing mailman do? Deliveries

Deliveries

Delivery

Delle Ivory

DelIvory

Delivery

Mailman

Delivery💜

[leftoverpages]

Split Away

Pairing ✦ Qimir x Jedi!reader

Tags ✦ angst, reader uses she/her but no physical description, romantic subtext

Notes: Written while listening to Haunted by Taylor Swift

Wordcount ✦ 854

likes, comments, reblogs are much appreciated!

In the silent, forgotten halls of an ancient temple on the outskirts of the galaxy, Qimir stood amidst crumbling stone and the lingering whispers of forgotten lore. His journey had taken him far from the bustling centers of power, where he had immersed himself in the teachings of darkness and dominance. Yet, amidst the echoes of his training, there remained a haunting memory — the Jedi who had once crossed his path like a shimmering mirage.

Y/N, a Jedi Knight dedicated to the ideals of peace and justice, had encountered Qimir during a rare moment of truce amidst the galaxy's relentless conflicts. Her presence, a beacon of unwavering light, had sparked a tumultuous conflict within him. He had been drawn to her compassion, her steadfast belief in a goodness he believed himself unworthy of.

Tonight, as he knelt in contemplation before a pool of shimmering reflection crystals, he sensed her approach — a ripple in the Force that stirred the stagnant air of the ancient temple. She entered the chamber cautiously, her blue lightsaber casting a serene glow against the weathered stone walls.

"Qimir," her voice was soft yet firm, cutting through the silence. "I've been searching for you."

He turned to face her, his expression guarded yet betraying a flicker of turmoil. "And now that you've found me?" His tone was tinged with bitterness, a stark contrast to the curiosity that had once drawn him to her.

"I thought I had you figured out," she confessed quietly, her eyes searching his for a glimpse of hope she had believed in. "But something's changed. Something's made your eyes go cold."

Qimir's jaw clenched, the weight of his choices heavy upon his shoulders. "The darkness has always been a part of me," he admitted, his voice a mixture of defiance and resignation. "I cannot deny who I am."

She took a tentative step forward, her gaze a mixture of sorrow and determination. "You have a choice, Qimir," she urged gently, her words carrying a plea that echoed in the chamber's stillness. "You don't have to surrender to this path."

His resolve hardened, a mask of indifference settling over his features. "The dark side offers power beyond your comprehension," he countered, his voice a whisper that cut through the tension between them. "You Jedi are too blinded by your ideals to see the truth."

In that moment, Qimir made his choice — to embrace the darkness that had beckoned him since childhood, to forsake the fragile connection he had forged with this Jedi. He turned away, a testament to his newfound allegiance.

The reader's gaze faltered, betrayal etched across her features as she realized the depth of Qimir's descent into darkness. "I trusted you," she whispered, her voice cracking with the weight of shattered faith.

Qimir met her gaze with steely resolve, the echoes of their shared history drowned out by the thunderous beat of his own heart. "You thought you had me figured out," he echoed, his voice tinged with bitter irony. "But some paths lead only to darkness."

In the abandoned temple, where secrets whispered and alliances shattered like glass, he embraced his destiny as a Sith, leaving behind the echoes of a Jedi whose light had once illuminated the path he had forsaken.

As the darkness closed around them, the reader retreated with a heavy heart, leaving behind the shattered remnants of trust and hope. Qimir watched her departure with conflicted emotions, knowing that he had chosen a path that would forever divide them. Yet, in the depths of his soul, a seed of doubt lingered — a whisper of regret for the bond he had forsaken in pursuit of power.

Days turned into weeks, and the echoes of their encounter haunted Qimir's dreams. The allure of the dark side promised strength and mastery, yet the memory of the her unwavering gaze lingered like a ghost in the shadows of his consciousness. He immersed himself deeper into the teachings, honing his skills with ruthless determination, yet finding no solace in the victories that came at the cost of his soul.

Meanwhile, across the galaxy, Y/N grappled with the aftermath of Qimir's betrayal. Her faith in the Jedi Order remained unshaken, yet the sting of betrayal cut deep. She delved into her missions with renewed purpose, her resolve tempered by the lessons learned from their momentary but memorable encounters. The path of light remained her guiding star amidst the darkness that threatened to consume the galaxy.

In the quiet moments between battles, she reflected on him — torn between two worlds, the whisper of potential lost to the allure of power. She harbored no hatred for him, only a profound sadness for the choices that had driven them apart. As she meditated beneath the canopy of stars, she sent a silent prayer to the Force, hoping that one day, Qimir would find redemption and reclaim the light that had once burned within him.

And amidst the vast expanse of the galaxy, where destinies intertwined and conflicts raged, the echoes of their encounter continued to resonate, a testament to the enduring power of choices made and paths diverged.

[eyesofshinigami]

Boyfriend Privileges

Rating: T

CW: None

Tags: Just getting together, language, fluff

Prompt: For @sparklyslug "Love is letting him pick the music"

WC: 959

Written for @steddielovemonth Day 21

The rules were simple in Steve’s car. Wipe your feet before you get in. No snacks or drinks. And most importantly, don’t touch the fucking radio.

Steve is very particular about his music. He likes what he likes and he won’t hear anything about it. He likes pop music because it’s happy, it’s fun, and it gives him something mindless to sing along to when his head feels too full.

Even when the kids complain, or Robin teases him, Steve is steadfast. Whatever is playing is what’s going to play, and no one is going to be able to say anything about it. 

But then Eddie came crashing into his life like a hurricane. 

Eddie is a lot of things that Steve isn’t. He’s confident and loud, brash and unapologetic in just about everything he does. They’re also the same, sometimes; they’re both scarred, both of them just wanting to be loved, to be understood. 

Falling for Eddie was a quiet thing, for Steve. It crept up on him until one day he looked at Eddie, smiling and laughing as he and the kids were gathered around the table playing their dragons game, and he thought oh. Oh I want to be with this person for the rest of my life. 

That’s where it started, and now they’re here. It’s only been a couple of days since Eddie beat him to the punch and confessed first. They kissed, they touched, and decided that this is something they both wanted. Steve could hardly believe that Eddie wanted him back. 

They hadn’t told the kids yet; not that they were hiding it, but they were both enjoying just being together and figuring out what exactly that meant. But it’s good already, with Eddie giving him a sweet, private smile as he slides into the front seat. Steve had volunteered to pick the whole gaggle of them up from the arcade so he could bring them back to his house for a movie night. 

“Heya Stevie,” Eddie says, pulling his hair across his mouth. It’s enough to make Steve’s heart start beating fast even over the sound of the boys climbing into the backseat. “Happy to see me?”

“Always,” Steve answers honestly. Eddie’s cheeks turn a delightful shade of pink and Steve mourns the fact that he can’t leave over and kiss him. Soon, he tells himself. Once they drop the kids off, they’ll go back to Eddie’s trailer and-

“We’re burning daylight, Steve! I thought we were going to watch a movie or something!” Dustin’s voice breaks through the lovesick haze that had settled over them.

Steve grumbles and turns the car on. “Keep your shirt on, butthead. We’re going now.” That incites another bout of grumbling and arguing from the backseat. “Don’t make me regret offering you guys the chance to use the TV. Or make me consider throwing out all those snacks I bought, or sending the pizza back…” 

Eddie pretends to swoon and presses his hand to his forehead. “Oh no, please, oh gracious King of my Heart! Do not let the ramblings of the peasants cast a shadow upon your infinite kindness and patience!” He looks up at Steve with big, wide eyes that make Steve think a whole lot of other things besides the upcoming movie night. “What can this fair knight do to assuage the slight against your good name?”

“I could think of a few things,” he says, just loud enough for Eddie to hear. It makes a pretty cat-like grin break out across Eddie’s face. Oh, the things they’re going to do later…

Eddie seems to be on the same page, licking his lips as he reaches up to the radio. He pushes the button and pops the tape out, slipping in  the he’d made for Steve the night they decided they wanted to give this a go. It makes Steve’s heart skip a beat. 

It’s probably why it takes him so long to realize that the backseat has gone completely silent. No squabbling, so arguing, no nothing. Dead silent. Eddie picks up on it too, turning around in his seat to stare at them. “Did someone press the mute button? What gives?”

“You touched the radio,” comes Will’s voice from the back, sounding awed. 

“Yeah? And? Steve always lets me put music on.”

That gets a reaction. Dustin and Mike start squawking protests. “What the hell, Steve?? You never let us pick the music? You don’t even let Robin touch the radio! What are the three rules of riding in the Bimmer?” Dustin calls out.

“Wipe your feet. No snacks or food. And most importantly, don’t touch the radio,” the other boys in the back chorus together. 

Eddie turns and looks at Steve, smile getting impossibly wider. “Is that so?” 

He could deny it. He could lie and say they’re just being shitheads about it. It’d be really easy. “Yeah. Yeah it is true. But you know,” Steve stops, reaching over and grabbing Eddie’s hand to press a kiss to the back of it. His heart is pounding, but it’s worth it for the stars he sees in Eddie’s eyes. “You’re the exception to the rule.”

The backseat erupts in a whole different bout of noise, but Steve tunes it out. He’s too busy enjoying the way he and Eddie’s fingers are laced together over the console, the mixtape Eddie made for him playing in the background. 

“Does this mean you’ll let us eat in the car now?” Mike tries, sounding put out. 

Steve shakes his head. “Absolutely fucking not.” Though, he looks over at Eddie, who is still grinning like the cat who got the canary. “Except you. Boyfriend privileges and all that.”

It’s worth the noise coming from the back.

[sigilslvt]

Until The End • Suguru Geto

☣︎ Summary: Suguru Geto. The name that used to give you butterflies and come wrapped in nothing but sunshine now only makes you feel a deep void in your heart. Three years ago, your high school sweetheart defected. He gave no warning, offered up no signs of his emotional state, he simply... left. What will you do now when he shows up after all this time?

Pairing: Suguru Geto x Fem Reader

Tags: fem! sorceress reader, ex boyfriend! suguru, angst, pre and post jjk0, mentions of murder, smut, oral sex (f receiving), p in v, creampie, whiney geto, stalking, heartbreak, pregnancy, death

WC: 6.6k

A/N: hehe, i know i said happiness would come soon, but the mood struck, so ANGST! feel free to send suggestions for a happy fic, though!

The wind stirs through the sprawling campus of Tokyo Jujutsu High, carrying the soft scent of rain on the horizon. It’s spring, your favorite season. You’ve always loved the way rain kisses the apples of your cheeks when you look to the sky to see the pillowy clouds just before a storm starts. You’re sitting on the steps outside the training hall, your knees tucked up to your chest. It’s quiet—a rare, fleeting moment of peace. The faint hum of distant voices from other students training filters through the air, but it feels like a world away. From behind you comes a familiar voice, warm and teasing, breaking the spell of solitude.

 Your favorite voice.

“Spacing out again?”

You turn your head, a grin already forming. Your beautiful boy is approaching, his hands casually shoved into his uniform pockets, that usual spark of mischief glinting in his beautiful purple eyes. His presence feels like sunlight breaking through the clouds, and you can’t help the way your heart leaps. He’s a comfort you never knew you needed until he walked into your life. His hair, tied neatly in its usual ponytail, catches the light, and for a moment, you’re reminded of how effortlessly radiant he is. He saunters over, his movements unhurried, and settles down beside you as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. Because it is. It’s so natural to just gravitate toward each other at this point and you love it. He loves it. He feels like he belongs, truly belongs when he’s with you.

“I was just thinking,” you reply, your voice soft. He leans closer, tilting his head in that way he always does when he’s truly listening. It’s one of the things you’ve always loved about him— how present he is, even in the smallest moments. His head rests on yours, making your body feel all warm and tingly inside. The faint smell of his cologne, a subtle mix of cedarwood and something floral, lingers in the air between you, grounding you in the moment.

“About what?”

You hesitate, glancing down at your hands, the delicate scars lining your fingers feel more pronounced under his gaze, like they’re a testament to the battles you’ve fought and the fears you’ve buried so young. “About the future. What comes after all of this. After Jujutsu High. Our lives are just gonna consist of curses, curses, and more curses.”

“And each other.” He interrupts.

“You know what I mean.”

He hums thoughtfully, the sound low and soothing. “You’re not thinking of quitting, are you?”

“No,” you say quickly. “It’s just... hard to imagine what life will look like. Fighting curses, protecting people who will never even know our names. Sometimes it feels endless.”

Suguru is quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The sky above is streaked with shades of orange and pink as the sun dips lower, casting long shadows across the courtyard. Then he reaches over, his fingers brushing against yours. The touch is light, tentative, but it’s enough to send warmth blooming through your chest. It’s… testing. To see if his normally strong and steadfast girlfriend will allow him to comfort her. You relent, intertwining your fingers with his and he squeezes your hand.

“You’re not alone in this,” he says, his voice steady. “No matter what, we’ll figure it out together. I’ll be with you until the end”

You look at him, your breath catching. There’s something unspoken in his eyes, something deeper than words. It’s in the way he looks at you, the way he always seems to know what you need to hear. In that moment, the uncertainty that’s been gnawing at you fades, replaced by a quiet, steadfast hope. You believe that as long as he’s by your side, you’ll be able to face whatever comes next.

He smiles then, his thumb grazing the back of your hand. “I’ll love you until the end, you know,” he says, almost teasing, but the words land heavier than you expect. You laugh softly, brushing it off, but a part of you holds onto them, tucking them away in the deepest corners of your heart.

⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺

Three years later, that hope feels like a distant memory. Especially now.

You stand frozen in the doorway of your apartment, staring at the man who had disappeared without a trace. Suguru Geto. His name feels foreign now, like a ghost of the boy you once knew. He looks older, sharper, his features etched with a hardness that wasn’t there before. Worn by the hatred for non-sorcerers. His dark hair is longer now, loose and falling over his shoulders, and he sports a gojogesa rather than his usual black t-shirt and sweats. But his eyes— those same amethyst eyes that once held so much warmth are fixed on you with an intensity that makes your chest ache.

He’s standing there so casually. As though he never left. As though he hadn’t broken your heart and left you to pick up the pieces. “I need you,” he says, his voice low and urgent. It’s the first thing he’s said to you in three years, and it cuts through you like a blade. The weight of his words crashes over you, dredging up emotions you thought you’d buried: anger, longing, confusion, and an unbearable grief.

Your fists clench at your sides. “You need me?” you echo, your voice trembling with anger. “You left without a word, Suguru. No explanation, no goodbye. You killed over a hundred people and then killed your parents. You said goodbye to Shoko and Geto. And now you just show up and expect me to—”

“I couldn’t break up with you,” he interrupts, his tone desperate. He takes a step closer, and the faint scent of him—still cedarwood but now tinged with something darker, heavier—invades your senses.

“That’s why I didn’t tell you. I couldn’t tell you how I was feeling because I didn’t want to let you go and I knew we wouldn’t be on the same path from then on. I told myself that if I didn’t end it, then… then we would still be together. Still be okay.”

Your breath catches, your heart pounding in your ears. “So what? You didn’t want to give me a chance to change your perspective!? To steer you in the right direction? You thought leaving without a trace was a good option? Do you have any idea what that did to me!?”

He flinches, guilt flickering across his face. But there’s something else there too, something darker. “I couldn’t stay,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper. “Not with the way the world is. Not with the way sorcerers are treated. I had to do something.”

“Defecting was the answer?” you demand, your voice rising. “Turning your back on everything we fought for?”

“It’s more complicated than that,” he says, his tone sharp. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Then make me understand,” you plead, your voice breaking. “Tell me why you chose this path. Tell me why you left me.”

For a moment, he says nothing, his gaze dropping to the floor. The tension between you is suffocating, the silence heavy with unspoken truths. Then he steps even closer, his hand reaching for yours. You don’t pull away, even as your heart twists painfully in your chest. Even as every atom that makes up your body tells you to.

“I left you because I loved you,” he says, his voice raw. “I knew that if I stayed, I couldn’t protect you or create the world you deserved. I didn’t want you to get caught up in my choices until I was sure I could do it. I hoped that you could see that all of it— all of this was… ” he trails off for a moment, seemingly rerouting his brain. “Do you remember that one day in spring? When you wondered about what life would be like after high school?” he asks.

“What about it?”

“I helped you through it by telling you what you wanted to hear, but… but really I was happy that you were questioning things, too. Because ever since Amanai… since Toji… I realized that we were just slaves to those who will always see us as dirt on their shoes without knowing all that we sacrifice for them. I saw the look on your face and I knew then that I couldn’t keep fostering a world where that’s all that we know. Where our kids would know. I found a better way. This is the better way. The only way for us to live happily and free from the shackles of being a jujutsu sorcerer. We can live for ourselves, not for the weak. No more fighting. No more loss.” he explains desperately.

The sincerity in his voice is like a knife to your heart. You want to hate him for all he’s done, to push him away, but the love you still feel for him won’t let you. It’s a cruel, unrelenting thing, binding you to him even after everything. That bond solidified by the knowledge that even though he did things in a sick and twisted way, he meant good. He wanted to make the world a better place. For you. Always for you.

And while you’re trapped in your thoughts, he brings your knuckles to his lips, breaking you from them in the way he always used to do. Your gaze softens and you take him all in while he’s in this state. For a second, he looks once again like the boy you fell in love with. Soft. Caring. Strong. But you can’t let go of the fact that he isn’t him anymore. Not fully. And you resent him for taking that boy from you. “I hate you.” you spit, an obvious lie.

“I love you.” he replies.

“You should go.”

“I know.”

And yet neither of you move. Not for a few moments. And it’s thanks to those few, uninterrupted moments that he has the time to work up the courage to press himself to you, bringing your hands up around his neck. He’s so close you can feel his breathing on your forehead, but you don’t look all the way up into his eyes, afraid you’ll wake up from a dream if you do.

“I need you.” he echoes the first words he said to you in three years.

And just like that… you’re done for.

You finally look up, gaze landing on his, the expression on his face full of the very need he claims to feel. When your eyes soften the way they always used to for him after a silly argument, he knows… he knows you need him, too. His lips mash into yours and the kiss is desperate, teeth against teeth, swallowed breaths, and strained grunts as he closes the door to your apartment behind you, placing his palm on it to protect your head before slamming you against it.

He breaks the kiss to look at you. Really look at you… and all he can think is that you look so much more beautiful up close. Three years of watching you from afar, of keeping tabs on you without getting caught did nothing for him the way seeing you right here in front of him did. You look tired. So tired. He hates seeing you like this. Knowing you slave your life away for weak people, spending every day putting your happiness— your life on the line.

He’s ripped from his thoughts when you stand on your tippy toes to nuzzle your nose against him. “I’m right here.” you murmur, seemingly reading his mind. He nods, kissing you again, but this time it’s slower. Passionate. Loving and loving mixing together to make you both drunk on each other.

Strong arms lift you, bringing your thighs to wrap around his waist while he takes you to your bedroom, your mind too focused on how your boy is now a man— a strong, beautiful man, for you to question why it is that he knows the layout of your home down to the laundry basket even you bump into that’s in the hallway just in front of your bedroom door.

He places you on the bed gently, standing to look at you again. “Stay.” you breathe, unsure of whether or not he was thinking of leaving, but speaking anyways. He smiles as though he’s lost another silly decision about where to eat again like when you were younger and your heart flutters. He’s utterly helpless against you.

You watch as his fingers move to undo his gojogesa, letting the top half fall off his broad shoulders and hang off his waist before bending to hover over you. “I couldn’t leave even if I tried.” he murmurs, pressing kisses from your lips to your cheek, then your jawline, and finally your neck where he bites down gently, sucking a mark into the soft flesh that joins your neck to your shoulder.

You use the opportunity to lift your hips and slide down your leggings, but he stops you before you can get them too far, shaking his head. “Please let me take my time. I need this… to savor this.” He pleads, knocking the breath from your lungs with the look on his face. He’s so beautifully pained that all you can do is nod.

His fingers replace yours, hooking into the waistband of both your leggings and underwear and slowly pulling them down while he kisses your belly… your hips… your mound… and finally they’re off and your cunt is laid bare before him. He doesn’t rush to it though, no, he instead moves back up your body to kiss you again, hands splaying out on either side of your stomach, gripping at whatever fat he can get as his tongue invades your mouth, tasting you— the sweetest thing he’s ever known.

He only breaks the kiss to remove your shirt from your body, pleased to find that you’re not wearing a bra. His head dips into the crook of your neck and he swipes his tongue on it, his hands pinning and brushing up, up, up your arms until his fingers intertwine with yours. It’s a grounding gesture, one meant to keep you in place and him in this moment.

“Tell me you still love me…” he breathes and you can’t believe he even wonders. As though you not turning him away or capturing him and calling Satoru wasn’t enough. He really was still the boy who always needed reassurance behind closed doors.

“I’ll love you until the end.” you echo the words he once told you three years ago. He smiles at the memory, taking in your smell before moving to pepper lingering kisses along your collarbone, your chests, and finally your breasts. He places one of your hands in the other so he can hold them with only one of his own, opting to knead at one of your breasts while his mouth tends to the other.

Thumbing the hardening pebble with one hand, his mouth works on the other, tongue swirling around your nipple before he sucks with enough pressure that has your back arching up into him, cunt beginning to just weep onto your bed. He chuckles at the shaky moan you release, his warm breath ghosting on your now cold nipple and making your body jerk.

He doesn’t linger there long, moving down to kiss your mound and finally releasing your hands, his hands sliding down your body and instead finding purchase on your breasts before he’s slotting his head between your thighs, kissing the insides of them sweetly. “You’re a vision of perfection, y’know that?” he coos, making your cheeks burn up.

You’re not given a chance to respond before he’s pulling a gasp from your lips by kissing your clit like he’s hit a bullseye. Your thighs jerk on either side of his head and he chuckles, swiping his long tongue up from your quivering hole to your clit, kissing it again for good measure.

“Sugu…” you whine, a pout forming on your face to complete the look of pure need that has his eyes nearly rolling back in his head. In these years, he’s imagined what you’d look like underneath him countless times. Imagination was nothing compared to the real thing. Fucking his fist pales in comparison to the pleasure he gets from simply kissing your pillowy lips.

You couldn’t possibly be more thankful when he finally begins to glide his tongue between your folds more eagerly, fingers pinching at your nipples at the same time for the added stimulation you needed to avoid going stir-crazy while he worshipped you. He still works his tongue languidly, slow laps to savor your taste that have your gut twisting and a hand snaking down to his head, fingers tangling into his raven locks. “Fuck…” you breathe out, hips bucking into him, other hand gripping the sheets.

The more his warm tongue works against your now scorching hot cunt, the faster your breathing gets, almost in time with the flicks of his tongue against your swollen clit. You can’t bring yourself to look down, feeling his gaze sear itself onto your face without even having to. But, that won’t do for him. He sucks your clit harshly and releases it with a loud ‘pop’, lifting his head from your delectable core.

“Look at me.” he purrs, blowing onto your wet skin and causing goosebumps to rise all over your body. And with that voice, you can’t deny him, not even for a second. You drag your eyes to look down at him and the sight is none other than Godly. His mouth and chin are covered in your slick, face red and forehead beading with sweat as his chest heaves… and those fucking eyes. Those beautiful eyes are looking up at you like you’re the only thing that matters in this world.

He keeps his eyes on you as he starts to work your clit again, his hand coming down to prod his middle finger into you, your legs twitching at the intrusion. “A-Ah, Sugu, I’ve ne–”

“I know.” he interrupts. Of course he knows, you two had never done anything in high school. He wanted to marry you first, wanted to be honorable. He’s never seen you with another man aside from Gojo and he knew that’d never happen. He knew better than to waste time now, no, he wouldn’t let this chance slip away from him.

He glides his finger in and out of you slowly at first, testing the waters as he eats you out, eyes still on you to gauge your reactions. After all, you’d need lots more preparation before he could fit himself snugly inside you. He presses a second finger against your hole, pushing past the muscly ring of resistance to fit inside of you along with his middle finger. You hiss and he stills, watching as your brows knit together and you take a deep breath, blowing it out to steady yourself. “You okay, angel?” he asks.

Angel. The nickname he had blessed you with so long ago. One you’d long to hear from the shadows, at a coffee shop, or just back at Jujutsu High signaling that he’d come back. And he finally has. “Don’t stop…” you force out, not wanting to waste any time, either. The stretch is uncomfortable thanks to Sugu’s admittedly large fingers, but you’ve fought curses since you were thirteen, you can handle pain. Especially if he’s the one to deliver it to you.

The look of pride on his face is so glaringly obvious as he smiles against your sodden cunt, beginning to pump his thick digits into you again, pulling a lascivious moan from your lips that he swears is an angel’s song. But with the way he begins plundering his fingers into you as a reaction, you’d think you’d have moaned a siren’s song instead. He’s chasing more of them, more moans, more slick, more beautiful twitches of your brow when he hits that spot.

And he gets it all. You writhe and wriggle beneath him while he eats you out and pumps you full of his digits again and again. He pulls back to watch your cunt greedily swallow his fingers up and he almost chokes, the muscle clinging so tightly that it comes in and out with his fingers, pulling him back in every time he pulls out.

With that, he’s attached to your clit again, sucking and swirling his tongue around it with a hunger that has you seeing stars. The knot that’d formed in your stomach is now tightening to a point where you feel it might just snap and with just one low, gravelly, pussydrunk moan from him– it does. Your hips buck and you’re turning your head to the side, eyes squeezed shut as you grip his locks, keeping him against your pussy while you just cum, cum, cum, all over his fingers as he works you through your orgasm with quick flicks and sucks on your clit before he slows to a stop.

You will yourself to look back down at him, chest heaving as you catch him pulling his fingers out to suck your slick from his fingers, his eyes rolling back into his head while he literally growls at the taste. And if you thought he was pussydrunk before, you were sorely mistaken. Pussydrunk becomes pussy crazed and he stands, undoing the rest of his gojogesa to let it fall to his feet, stepping out of it and slowly approaching you. Your eyes fall from his own down to where his need for you is strongest and your breath hitches. 

You always knew Sugu was big, it was never a secret. You two’d never done anything before, but back then he’d practically get hard whenever you were around him. This, however, is more than just big. He’s fucking hung. You wonder if you should’ve held out on cumming so he could train you a little longer with a third finger, but that time is long gone and you know he can’t hold back any longer. You don’t want to either, but…

“You can handle it.” he snaps you from your thoughts. The words sound more like a promise than reassurance.

You tremble with anticipation, backing up further onto the bed and resting your head against your pillows as he settles himself between your thighs. He looks down on you like a predator looks at its prey– calculating and hungry. You wrap your arms around him, pulling him down into a kiss, his body moving upward so he can rest a hand on your headboard. His fat tip smacks your clit, dripping pre onto it in small beads, making you whine. It’s heavy and hot against you and you can feel it twitching when it comes into contact with your slit, accompanied by a hiss from him when he breaks the kiss. 

“Just relax for me, Angel, okay? It’ll be less uncomfortable that way.” he directs you, voice low and strained and breath ghosting against your lips. You can tell he wants this just as much, if not more, than you.

“Okay, baby…”  You say and you can hear the way his breath hitches in response, swearing he snuck a little ‘fuck’ in there.

His grip on the headboard is so tight he thinks he might just splinter it, but he knows he needs to steady himself, so he holds on anyway, promising himself to just buy you a new bed if he breaks yours. His other hand reaches down for his length, gripping the base of his shaft and sliding himself between your folds to collect your slick and make it easier for him. The contact has you both groaning and he can’t help but look into your eyes again as he positions himself at your entrance, testing the resistance with his tip.

“It’s okay, baby, give it t’me.” you reassure him.

That’s all he needs to hear before he’s sheathing the tip inside of you, causing you to suck in a sharp breath at the stretch. The second he feels your gooey, gummy walls around him, it’s game over, truly. “Sh-Shit!” he hisses out, actually breaking the headboard above you, wood pieces falling beside your head. You look up at him and can see the restraint on his face. He’s holding back for your sake.

Your hands glide up his chest and caress his face. “You got it, baby, just breathe. Breathe.” You tell him, taking slow and deep breaths again and again until he starts following your lead, calming himself down as much as possible in this situation. With your nod, he pushes in further until he’s halfway in and you’re writhing underneath him, the sheer girth of him stretching your walls thin. The hand that’d been guiding his cock now finds purchase on one of your thighs to keep you steady, trying to stop you from shying away from or fucking yourself deeper onto him.

“Almost there, Angel. I’m gonna make you feel good…” he promises you, grunting as he slowly pushes forward again. He’s thrusting in, in, in, and scraping against your gummy walls until his balls hit your ass and he’s fully sheathed inside of you, a shaky, high pitched whine falling from his lips.

You’re breathing heavily, tiny little whimpers freeing themselves from your throat between each breath, legs shaking, fingers digging crescents into his shoulders to ground you. For a few moments, all you two can do is stare at each other. In awe, in lust, in love, you stare. It’s him that breaks the silence. “Baby, if I don’t move now, I’m gonna cum. You’re squeezing so tight, I gotta loosen you up a bit.” He grunts out, pulling all the way out before gliding forward again, back home to your welcoming wet heat.

“S-Sugu… s’deep… you’re s’deep!” 

“I know, pretty girl, I know.” He coos, leaning forward to dig even deeper, still using the broken headboard for support. He pulls back for just a moment before rolling his hips forward, impossibly heavy balls smacking against your ass as you moan out, pulling him down for another kiss. You need it desperately to keep yourself from fainting at the way he feels inside of you.

You’d heard so many stories about the first time being painful and bloody and this was not that, no this pain turned to pure pleasure. Maybe you were sick for feeling like it, you don’t know.

“More, Sugu, more…” You beg, breaking the kiss and you swear you see the man leave his body for a moment before he’s kissing you deeper, making love to you harder. He rolls his hips into you with perfect precision, free hand folding one of your thighs up higher so he can aim for that spot that makes your mind go dumb.

He breaks the kiss to look at how fucked out you already look, his brows knitted, sweat dripping from them. “God, you’re s’fucking tight, Angel… I can’t st—hah stop!” He warns you, pressing more of his weight down onto you as he drills himself into your squelching cunt, your hole twitching and struggling to stay stretched around him as he churns your insides.

You’re fucked utterly stupid. He’s not even fucking you fast, just so incredibly deep and hard that he knocks the wind from you with every thrust. Between how good it feels and the lack of oxygen, you can only allow him little ah, ah, ahhs while he splits you open on his length over and over again. You can tell he’s fucking you with the intent to make you feel just how much he’s missed you. So it’s only fair that you do the same.

His lips are hovering over yours and you fist his hair roughly to bring him to you, kissing him hard, teeth gnashing together as you squeeze your sopping wet cunt tighter around him. He gifts you with a growl that ends in a whine as he picks up the pace, now removing his hand from the headboard to fold you up and stuff you so good you can’t think, can’t speak, can’t do anything but feel. Feel him. Feel his weight fully pressed onto you, now.

You can’t help but look down between you to catch a glimpse of his length disappearing into you every time he thrusts, a small but noticeable bulge poking just below your navel when he gets in nice and deep. There's a ring of slick forming around the base of his cock and dripping down his balls that makes you wanna lick it up and the way his hips stutter and then ram into you slower, deeper, and rougher when you think that makes you realize that you’d actually said that out loud. And there’s that feeling again in your core. Strong and pulsing, teetering on the edge. You’re so close.

“So fucking nasty, d’you know that? You and this pussy. M-My pussy… my pussy, baby, my pussy… say it’s mine. Say you’re mine.” He whimpers, making you tear your eyes from where the two of you are connected to look up at his face. His cheeks are red, mouth agape, brows meeting in the middle, and he’s heaving. The moment you make eye contact, he throws his head back, hips faltering again. He’s close too, you can feel it.

“I’m yours, Sugu, it’s yours… all yours! Fuck! Yes, yes, yes!” You moan in time with his thrusts before he kisses you hungrily, quickening up, but not at the cost of how deep or rough he’s delivering every precise thrust. He wants you to cum first, but you’re holding out, you wanna cum with him. You rip your kiss bitten lips from him to coax it out of him. “S’okay, baby, cum… cum in me, it’s yours…” You bite your lower lip after you speak, keeping your eyes on him, your own brows knitted in pleasure as your pussy flutters and tightens around him.

That’s all he needs to fuck into you one last time, delivering the last thrust you need to cum, too. Nails clawing down his back, cries reverberating off your bedroom walls, you’re arching up into him and he’s pulling you flush to him, up onto his thighs while his arms wrap around your back, hands reaching your shoulders and pushing you down onto his length as he stuffs his face in your neck. He groans and moans and bites into your flesh as he ruts himself into you, getting out whatever spurts of cum your nasty pussy can get from him and overstimulating you both all at once.

It takes a few minutes for you both to catch your breath and he stays buried in your neck the entire time, laying down on top of you with his cock still buried in the deepest parts of your cunt. This feels perfect. So perfect that despite all he’s done, you want to save him, still. His heartbeat is steady, a quiet reassurance that he’s still here, still alive, still yours.

In that moment, every tear you’ve shed and every sleepless night spent missing him seem to dissolve into the fact that he’s here. His touch is both familiar and foreign, a bittersweet reminder of what you’ve lost and what you still crave. The room is dimly lit by the pale moonlight dancing on both of your skin. His hands trace the contours of your body, memorizing every inch as if he’s trying to etch you into his memory. But he doesn’t have to..

“Stay,” you whisper, your voice barely audible. “Stay with me. Talk to the elders, plead your case, and maybe they’ll understand enough to give a light sentence. Please. Please, Sugu, I don’t want to lose you again.”

He presses a kiss to your forehead, his lips lingering against your skin. “I think you give the elder’s too much credit. Nevertheless, I’ll do anything— everything... for you.” he says, and there’s a heaviness in his voice that makes your chest tighten. 

You want to believe him, to hold onto the hope that he can change. And as the night passes, he shows no signs of leaving. He tells you what he’s done for the last three years aside from the cult, tells you he’s always watched you, tells you that he couldn’t stand being away from you anymore. That he was ready to come here and bring you to his side and he’s happy you’ve accepted him. It’s a peaceful night and eventually, his voice paired with his soothing touch lulls you to sleep.

When you wake the next morning, he’s gone. The space beside you is cold, and the ache in your chest is unbearable. You sit there for what feels like forever staring at the empty bed, tears streaming down your face. He’s gone and somehow you know that this time… he’s not coming back.

⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺

Six years pass and life moves on, even though the pain doesn’t. The first two years, you disappear with the help of Gojo. You knew that if you stood and Geto came to you again, you’d break completely. You couldn’t, as you had a new reason to build a better world. A new life to protect growing inside you. When you give birth, it’s magical, but something is missing. You miss Suguru. You hope that by some miracle, he’ll come to you and raise your little girl instead of spewing all the hatred he does.

The next four years are easier. You have a support system and everyone in it helps with your daughter. Everyone loves her. You throw yourself into your work as a jujutsu sorcerer, burying the memories of Suguru beneath layers of duty and resolve for the sake of being a good mother and sorcerer, but no matter how hard you try, you can’t forget him. He lingers in the corners of your mind, a shadow you can’t escape.

Now you’re standing in the middle of a training session with first-year students when the piercing wail of alarms shatters the quiet morning. Every head snaps up, tension rippling through the air like an electric charge. You motion for the students to stay back, your instincts already kicking into overdrive. The higher-grade sorcerers are moving toward the front of the school in unison, their expressions grim. It’s Gojo’s expression that catches your eye. He’s upset— angered, even. It’s not often he shows those emotions and so you follow, your heart hammering in your chest.

When you reach the entrance, the sight awaiting you sends a chill down your spine. Suguru Geto stands at the gates of Jujutsu High, flanked by members of his cult. His presence is overwhelming, his aura darker and more oppressive than you’ve ever felt. He’s smiling, but it’s a cold, calculated thing, devoid of the warmth you once knew.

“I’m here to declare war,” he announces, his voice echoing across the courtyard. The gathered sorcerers bristle, their hands instinctively going to their weapons. “In one week… one thousand curses will be unleashed across Japan. This is the beginning of a new era.”

You step forward before you can stop yourself, breaking through the line of sorcerers in the front, your voice trembling with a mix of fury and heartbreak. “Suguru, stop this! You don’t have to do this! Please, this isn’t the way!”

His gaze lands on you, and for a moment, something flickers in his eyes—a fleeting shadow of the boy you once knew. But it’s gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by a steely resolve. You muster up the courage to say the one thing you think will reign him back in and it’s spewing from your mouth immediately. “We have a ki—”

“This is the only way,” he interrupts, his tone final. He turns his back to you, his voice ringing out one last time as he walks away. “Until we meet again.”

You’re standing there, your heart ablaze with anger and hurt. The weight of this betrayal feels heavier than ever, and yet, a small, stubborn part of you still hopes that he’ll come back. That he’ll choose you over whatever darkness has consumed him. That he’ll realize that you can both be happy being jujutsu sorcerers so long as you have each other.

⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺

The battle a week later is chaos. The air is thick with cursed energy, the clash of sorcerers and curses echoing like thunder. You’re on the frontlines, fighting alongside your comrades, but your mind is elsewhere. When you hear the news that Suguru has been defeated by Yuta Okkotsu, your heart sinks. You don’t know what to feel—relief, sorrow, or something in between.

An hour later, you’re pulled from the battlefield by Satoru. He doesn’t explain much, simply grabbing your arm and teleporting you to an alley shrouded in shadows. Your breath catches in your throat as you see Suguru lying there, his body torn apart and blood pooling beneath him. The sight of him steals the air from your lungs.

“I thought you’d want to say goodbye,” Satoru says quietly before stepping back, giving you space.

You drop to your knees beside Suguru, your hands trembling as you reach for him. His eyes flutter open at the sound of your voice, and he smiles faintly, the edges of his lips tinged with pain. “Hey,” he murmurs, his voice barely audible.

Tears blur your vision as you cradle his face in your shaky hands. “Why?” you whisper, your voice cracking. “Why did you have to do this?”

“I told you,” he rasps, each word a struggle. “I did it for us. So we wouldn’t have to fight anymore. I thought… I thought I could make a better world for you.”

“You didn’t have to do it alone,” you say, your tears falling freely now. “We could have figured it out together. Like you promised.”

He smiles again, softer this time. “We would have died trying. And she needs at least one parent.”

“Sh—” your throat closes up. “She? You know abou—”

“O’course I do. Who d’you think was giving her those lollipops you get onto her about, hm?” He musters up a weak chuckle, blood spurting out of his mouth, staining his lips.

“You…” you trail off, not knowing what to say. Not wanting to say goodbye.

“I’ve always kept my promise, you know. I love you. Until the end.” He murmurs. You can see the light fading and you want to will him to stay, to fight harder, but you can’t. You know it’ll end like this one way or another.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I love you. I’m so sorry, baby, I— I love you, please.” You cry, closing your eyes and pressing your forehead to his. His hand brushes against yours one last time as if to reassure you before it falls limp. 

The world around you seems to still, the weight of his absence pressing down on your chest like a physical thing. You sob uncontrollably, pressing kisses to his pale face, closing his eyes, and apologizing again and again. If only you hadn't questioned your place in the world as sorcerers all those years ago, if only you’d tried harder to convince him, if only you’d captured him when he showed up to you. He’d still be alive. You don’t know how long you sit there, holding him, but when Gojo finally pulls you away, you feel like a part of you is being ripped away with him.

As you’re taken from the alley, the echo of his final words lingers in your mind. Despite everything, despite the pain and the loss, you know one thing for certain: you will always love him. Until the end.

[zorosdimples]

BETWEEN YOU AND ME (AND THE SEA)

pairing ༄ zoro x gn!reader

warnings ༄ suggestive content (this takes place after sex). slight angst that ends in sweet comfort. brief descriptions of violence and wounds. love as religion/love as worship.

word count ༄ 911

notes ༄ this fic is just an insanely intense pillow talk session with my favorite man (i don’t know how to be normal). it’s brimming with love. please enjoy!

p.s. i use the word “bokken” to denote a wooden practice sword.

“i would die for you.”

your breath caresses zoro’s heaving chest, his tawny skin damp, glistening under the moon’s pearly glow. the air is still in the crow’s nest; the only sound to disturb the lulling midnight is the gentle lap of the wine-dark sea.

it takes the swordsman several moments to process your words, his mind still hazy from the events of your shared watch. one wide palm rests on the soft curve of your lower back while he absentmindedly strokes the arch of your neck.

“hm?” zoro belatedly rumbles, brows knit in confusion.

you raise your head to meet your lover’s steel gaze. the look in your eye—zoro knows it well. beneath the heady cloud of contentment is the crazed glint of worship, shining like a honed blade. it’s a look that both terrifies him in its depth and comforts him in its earnestness.

will he ever be worthy of your devotion?

“i’m not particularly brave or strong,” you start, a fingertip etching love into his flesh as you trace the jagged edges of the scar that slashes across his torso—the ghost of an injury that almost took him from you.

“but i would do anything for you, zo. i would die for you. and it should scare me, that i feel so deeply.” your finger stills, hovering above his heart, beat steadfast as the foamy tide. “but when it comes to you? i lose all my inhibitions. i would die for you in an instant.”

even in the dusky quiet, zoro’s hands are broad and warm as the sun. they are an extension of his weapons, instruments of death. yet he cradles your cheeks with devastating care as he pulls your face to his own. his jaw flexes resolutely as he grits out, “don’t say shit like that.”

“not saying it doesn’t make it any less true,” you murmur.

few things scare the swordsman; he knows death’s face, having brushed shoulders with the endless ether more times than he can count. when he dreams, he wades through a river of ichor as asura, violence incarnate.

but your vulnerability frightens him—how you lay your heart bare and expect nothing in return.

the way you live goes against everything zoro has ever known, against his basest instincts to keep his emotions close to his chest, to fight the burden of existence with blood in his maw, to survive at any cost.

(it’s a bitter january evening and snow flurries paint the eaves of the dojo white. zoro’s stomach growls, hunger gnawing at his intestines. his young, scrawny limbs ache with overuse. the room is frigid; his simple robe is not nearly enough to keep the color in his cheeks.

this dreaded overnight practice is punishment for pilfering onigiri from the kitchen several days prior. hunger is but a distraction for the weak. he must repent with grueling drills. but in the middle of an overhead swing, he loses feeling in his arms, the bokken clattering to his feet.

his sensei tsks in disappointment. “the way of the sword is absolute, roronoa. you eat and sleep and breathe by the blade. the second you lose focus—the moment you lose sight of what is important—you will cease to be a swordsman.”

tears of frustration prick the young boy’s eyes, but he holds his tongue, picking up the bokken without sound or complaint. he doesn’t realize that his palms are cracked and that the wooden hilt is stained sanguine. he continues training until dawn.)

zoro licks his chapped lips. his tongue is always loose when it’s just the two of you and the sea. “i’m not worth it.”

a frown pinches your features. adorable, he wants to say as you wrap your arms around his neck with a huff.

“what makes you think your life is worth any less than luffy’s? than chopper’s? than mine?”

zoro assesses you for a moment, feline eye unreadable. he measures his words with unusual care. “my role is to protect. it was—it is—my vow to luffy.”

threading your fingers through his mint tresses, you tug, concern rolling off of you in waves. “then who’s left to protect you, zo?”

his mind answers without hesitation: no one. (the little boy with the bloodstained bokken weeps.)

“let me protect you,” you entreat, lips brushing his, ardent as a prayer.

the fates, in their divine and impartial wisdom, must have made a grave mistake: spinning the claret thread of your fate, meting it out, and mistakenly intertwining it with the swordsman’s. zoro is certain that it’s a miscarriage of justice—not that the gods have ever been preoccupied with fairness.

did he do something in a past life to deserve your reverence?

“i can’t,” he breathes. but his iron resolve is rusting, fissures compromising the once-gleaming surface.

“you can.”

zoro has never considered himself to be a good man. you are eager to give, and he wants nothing more than to receive. he drinks in your affection so greedily that he doesn’t notice how his lone eye burns when he claims your lips with his own, heartfelt i love yous exchanged between spit and tongue.

the tears are silent as they drip down his freckled cheek; you swipe each of them away with a thumb before dotting kisses across his salty flesh. zoro has half a mind to be embarrassed—swordsmen don’t cry.

but if there is one absolute truth in this cursed world, it’s this: his heart is safe with you and you alone.

[oneshotnewbie]

Olivia Benson and Reader break up. Two weeks after that, they're distant towards each other even though Reader is working with the SVU. Two weeks after Olivia breaks up with Olivia, she sees Reader dancing with a stranger and she is jelly. Maybe she goes to Reader, takes her by the hand without saying a word and brings her to the next room or something and then... it's up to you! Fluffy, Angst and maybe pre-smut pls?

⚠️Trigger Warning⚠️ This one-shot includes pre-smut and the plot is presented. That's why I only recommend reading it if you are over 18+. If this triggers you too easily or you just can´t handle the subject, I urge you NOT to read this work. I am NOT embellishing this topic under any circumstance. Read at your own risk.

Authors note: Woah.. Lets say I got carried away. I had to cut out a whole section to keep it suitable for my younger audience, even though it hurt my heart to delete my work. There is still a bit of pre-smut like you requested. But I hope you like it anyway ♥

ᕚ---ᕘ

The hum of the neon lights on the ceiling and the roar of the air conditioning mixed with the muted clacking of computer keyboards seemed louder than usual in the busy Special Victims Unit. The air was heavy with unspoken words and broken promises. Everyone in the room felt the change, even if no one said it out loud.

The office was usually a place of hectic activity, where phone calls, keyboards, and hushed conversations formed a constant backdrop. But today was different.

You sat at your desk, eyes glued to the screen in front of you, the words of the report blurred before your eyes. Your mind was far away, on old memories of happy times before everything fell apart. On the woman who had broken your heart. Olivia Benson, Lieutenant and steadfast leader of the team, had been more than just your superior. She was your partner, your confidante, the love of your life. But now she was just your boss, and the distance between you was painfully real.

Since splitting up with Olivia, everything had changed. The dynamics in the office, the atmosphere, even the way others looked at you - everything was different. She had been your rock. Strong, determined, and unwavering. She had always held the team together, been a leader, and the one who never backed down, no matter how hard it was. But now there was something in her eyes that you had never seen before - a coldness, a distance that hurt every time your eyes happened to meet.

You only spoke to each other when necessary, and the times when you had worked as a harmonious team seemed far away. The rupture in your relationship was reflected in every aspect of your work. Cases that were once solved with ease now dragged on. Decisions that were once made instinctively and together now had to be laboriously and formally agreed upon.

Olivia sat in her office, the door only half open. She had tried to throw herself into her work to fill the emptiness in her heart, but it didn't help. Every time she looked up, she saw you - and every time you looked at her, it hurt. Your eyes met briefly through the glass before both quickly looked away again, unable to hide the feelings that still burned within you.

Detective Amanda Rollins, who was sitting at her desk next to Fin Tutuola, sighed quietly and shook her head in displeasure. She and the rest of the team had noticed the unspoken tension and cool politeness between the two of you. "Have you noticed?" she whispered quietly so only her partner could hear her. He nodded, his eyes fixed on the monitor. "Yes, it's hard to miss. It's as if a dark cloud is hanging over the office. Rain is pouring down on us."

"I thought they would stay together forever," she said sadly, more to herself, watching you with a sideways glance. "They were the perfect couple. Why did they have to split up?"

"Sometimes love alone isn't enough," Fin murmured, his voice heavy with life experience and knowledge of the complexity of human relationships. Amanda pushed her chair back and came to your desk, sitting on a corner of the wood, her arms folded under her chest. "What's wrong with you two? You're like two icebergs meeting in Antarctica." she began her conversation, giving you a questioning look.

You sighed and rubbed your eyes. "It's complicated, 'manda. It wasn't exactly a nice break-up. Just leave it, please?"

Amanda shook her head, her face showing compassion and understanding. "I know it's hard, but you both have to find a way to deal with it. It's not just a burden on you, but on the entire team."

You nodded, but you knew it wasn't that easy. The rifts that had developed between you and Olivia were deep and painful. It wasn't just a professional challenge, but a personal catastrophe that you both tried to overcome in your own way.

Meanwhile, Olivia had made her way out of her office, a stack of files in her hands. She moved through the room with her usual determination, but there was a certain rigidity in her posture. You could see her shoulders tense as she crossed the room to your desk. In the past, you would have known how to calm her down and take away her nervousness, would have known what words and gestures she would have needed. But those days were over.

"Y/n, I need you in my office," she said, not looking directly at you. She handed you a report, your fingers touching briefly before you stood up, your heart beating faster at the thought of being alone with her. The tension between you was palpable as you followed her and closed the door behind you. She sat down while you stood across from her, the desk as a barrier between you.

"We need to talk about the case, you're the lead investigator," Olivia began, her voice professional but cool. "The evidence is thin and we need a new strategy."

You nodded, trying to focus on the conversation, but her proximity made it difficult. "I agree. Maybe we should question the witnesses again and see if we missed something."

Your eyes met again, and for a moment everything else was forgotten. The attraction, the passion, the love - all of it was still there, just beneath the surface. But you both knew it wasn't that easy. Too many things stood between you, things that couldn't be overcome so easily. "We have to stay professional," Olivia said finally, her voice breaking. How she would love to hug you right now. "The team needs us to be strong."

You nodded again, your eyes heavy with unspoken feelings. "I know. But it's hard, Liv. Working with you every day and pretending everything is fine when it isn't."

"We have no choice," she whispered, visibly tense. "We have to find a way to deal with this. For the victims who are counting on us.“

The following days were torture for both of you. You worked side by side, your interactions brief and distant. Each of you tried to remain as professional as possible, but the unspoken feelings and the broken relationship between you and Olivia weighed on you.

One evening, when most of your colleagues had already gone home, you stayed late at the office. You worked on a strategy, trying to distract yourself. Olivia was still in her office, the light on, casting a lonely shadow in the large room you were sitting in.

Finally, you stood up and went to her. You knocked softly on the door and entered when she invited you in. "Olivia, we need to talk," you began, your voice quiet but firm. She looked at you, her eyes tired and sad. "I know, y/n. But I don't know what to say. It's all so... messed up."

"Just tell me it hurts you as much as it does me," you said, your voice growing more intense with each word. "Tell me you regret it."

"Of course it hurts," she replied, her voice shaking as she placed her sweaty and shaking hands on her lap, leaning back in her chair. "I still love you. That will never change. But you deserve better."

Tears glistened in your eyes as she reached out an arm to you, your hand enveloping hers before pulling you to her side. "I love you too, Liv. I don't need anything better, I need you."

Olivia hugged you, tight and desperate, as if she never wanted to let you go. In that moment, you both knew that the love between you was strong, but the reality of your situation demanded more than just feelings. She knew she had to find a way to balance your situation and your work so as not to put further strain on the team.

ᕚ---ᕘ

Two weeks had passed since Olivia Benson ended her relationship with you. Two weeks of stolen glances and feelings that remained unspoken. But life and work must go on, and so Olivia threw herself into her duties while you behaved just as professionally. The team continued to sense that not everything was settled between you, but no one spoke openly.

That evening, the team was at Club Delirium, a popular downtown nightclub, to conduct an undercover operation. The goal was to break up a human trafficking ring, and you had volunteered to act as bait. Olivia watched the scene from a secluded table, her eyes always fixed strictly on you.

The music blared and the lights flickered in different colors. You, in a tight, black, low-cut dress and perfectly styled hair, looked stunning. You were dancing with a strange woman whose hands were on your hips. Olivia felt a stabbing sensation in her chest. Jealousy mixed with the pain of separation burned inside her. A dangerous combination.

Every step you took, every movement, every smile you gave the stranger felt like a slap in the face. Olivia knew it was part of the mission, but it didn't make the situation any less painful. Her hands clenched into fists as she tried to keep her emotions under control.

The plan was simple: get the suspect, a ring leader, to give you information by gaining her trust. But Olivia couldn't focus on the details entering her brain through an earpiece while she watched the woman she loved give herself to someone else, even if only in appearance.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, you gave a signal. The suspect had given up the information, and the team moved in to arrest her. The club turned into a chaos of flashing lights, loud music, and cops suddenly appearing. Amidst this chaos, Olivia kept her eyes on only one thing - you.

As soon as the mission was complete and the suspect was taken into custody, Olivia looked for you. She found you at the edge of the dance floor, away from the crowd. She walked up to you, grabbed your hand, and wordlessly pulled you into a side room of the club that served as a storage room.

You were roughly pushed inside, Olivia closed the door behind her and turned to you. Her eyes sparkled with unspoken jealousy. "What were you thinking?" she hissed, her voice lower but charged. You looked at her in surprise and confusion. "It was an undercover mission. I only did what was necessary."

"Necessary?" Olivia stepped closer to you, her presence overwhelming. "It looked like you enjoyed it."

Your eyes widened in shock and anger. "It was part of the job, Liv! You know that better than anyone." you said and she grabbed your wrist, pulling you closer, your bodies almost touching. "I know," she whispered, her voice rough. "But that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt me to see you like this."

You took a deep breath, your eyes searching Olivia's. "I'm sorry," you said quietly. "I didn't know it would hurt you so much. After all, you broke up with me, remember?"

Olivia ran her fingers over your wrist, then your arms, until she reached your hands. "I don't want to lose you, y/n. I can't bear to see you with anyone else, even if it's just for a mission."

The tension between you was almost palpable as Olivia leaned even closer to you. "I need you," she whispered before pressing her lips to yours, possessive and desperate. You returned the kiss, your hands grasping Olivia's hair as the passion between you ignited.

In that moment, everything else was forgotten - the separation, the mission, the world outside that small room. There was only the two of you, your love, and the incessant longing that drove you to each other. Olivia pulled you closer to her, her kisses intense and demanding, as if to make up for lost time and broken promises.

You parted, panting, your foreheads leaning against each other. Olivia pulled back a little, her hand sliding to your neck, encircling it with a determined gesture. Her thumb gently stroked your skin while her dark, sparkling eyes searched your gaze intensely. "You're mine," she murmured, her voice deep and possessive.

You trembled under her touch, a soft gasp escaping your lips. "Yes, Liv," you whispered, the words full of desire and devotion. "Only yours."

Olivia pulled you closer again, her lips found yours once more, the kiss stronger this time, even more demanding than the one before. Her hands slid down your back, reaching for you as if she never wanted to let you go again. She pushed you against the wall, her body pressed tightly against yours.

"Tell me you want me," Olivia demanded, her voice dark and rough, gasping for air. "I want you, Liv," you answered, your pupils blown with desire. "I only want you."

Olivia's mischievous and dark giggle filled the small room and she continued to glide her hands over your body. Her lips found your neck, leaving hot kisses on your skin.

Your breathing quickened, your hands grabbed at her shoulders, holding her tight as Olivia continued to kiss and touch you. The world around you faded, there was only the two of you, your love and the burning desire that drove you to each other.

The intensity of the moment seemed to stop time, every touch, every kiss was a promise, a proof of her unbroken love for you. Olivia's hands slid down your sides, finding their way under the dress you wore, leaving a trail of passion on your skin.

"I need you," Olivia whispered, her voice hotter with pure desire. "Now." You nodded, your eyes closing as you surrendered to her. "I'm yours, Liv."

The heat between you was overwhelming, the passion you felt was all-encompassing. In that small room, shielded from the world, you and Olivia found yourselves again, your love and desire for each other stronger than ever.

[lost-in-lamentation]

sharing a bed was a fleeting thought in his mind; who would have thought it'd have to happen so soon?

content: when there’s only one bed, what will the demon brothers do?

no warnings, really; just a lot of fluff. non-established relationships and some subtle confessions.

after being sent back to the human world, you spent some time gathering research materials and inspiration for diavolo's upcoming RAD event. the excursion left you tired enough that you were dragging your feet to your hotel with your paired exploration partner just behind you. you checked into the hotel with ease, tension finally leaving your shoulders at the thought of going to bed. but the hotel seemed to have forgotten to tell the both of you about the sleeping arrangements of the room you were booked into. when you got to your room, you hesitated to enter, but when he asked you what was wrong, the words slipped out. “there’s only one bed.”

belphegor. ═  ˎˊ˗

“oh, really?” belphie slips around you, tired eyes surveying the room in front of him. he shrugs a few moments later, sliding his bag off his shoulder and onto the ground. “i’m fine with it if you are,” the demon hums. 

you raise an eyebrow at him, shuffling to the other side of the room to place your own belongings down. “you don’t seem very concerned about this situation.”

“would you rather i be excited?”

“wh- no!” pouting, you turn away from belphie, rummaging through your bag as an excuse to not face him. “just go shower already. i’ll probably take longer than you, so i’ll go after.” he hums again in return, and you hear him enter the washroom not long after. with him out of earshot, you sigh quietly to yourself, pretending that you don’t feel the tips of your ears burning

by the time you finish your shower, you half expect belphie to be knocked out. instead, you find him lying on top of the covers, eyes fixated on the ceiling before they flicker over to look at you. “you’re still awake?”

he shoots you a smile, and your heart skips a beat. “didn’t feel like sleeping.”

“that’s rich, coming from sloth himself.” you stifle a laugh at his excuse, throwing your daytime clothes onto your bag before hopping up onto the other side of the bed. the pillow belphie had set in the middle of the bed as a border felt more like an obstruction rather than a guidance. “so what? couldn’t sleep without me around?” you croon, strangely delighted at the blush that spreads across the youngest’s face. 

but belphie is quick to control his expression, and he’s smirking not more than a few seconds later. “didn’t want to sleep without you,” he says, parroting the tone that you had just used. your jaw drops as belphie laughs, and when you finally decide to say something, he beats you to it. “sweet dreams, MC,” belphie murmurs, features soft under the light before he flicks the bedside lamp off.

“g-goodnight,” you manage to stutter out, turning away from belphie to face the other wall. a subconscious habit of yours, you begin to clench and unclench your fists, making rustling noises under the blankets. you continue for a while, until you feel a hand on your back and hear a gentle voice calling to slumber, eyes falling closed as belphie strokes you softly.

beelzebub. ═  ˎˊ˗

ever the considerate demon of the bunch, beel gives you the most steadfast look he is capable of. “i can take the floor, MC.” 

you quickly shake your head in response. “beel, i don’t want you doing that here.”

“i sleep on levi’s floor whenever i fall asleep while watching him play games. it’s okay.”

a grimace forms on your face at his reasoning. “that… doesn’t exactly make me feel better about it.” you give the demon one more look, but when you see how determined beel is, you back down. “fine. but you’re taking the comforter.”

seemingly happy with the exchange, beel grins at you, his eyes nearly sparkling with victory. you sigh at him, but with his famous puppy-dog look, you can’t stay mad. with a hand on his wrist, you pull him into the room, unaware of the way his eyes widen at your touch. eventually, the blush on his face dies, and the two of you get all your things sorted before freshening up for bed. as beel walks out of the washroom, towel draped around his neck, you tug the comforter free from the mattress, placing it at the foot of the bed. 

the sixth born frowns at the comforter, and then at you. “you’ll get cold at night.”

you wave your hand at beel, smiling at him despite feeling the chill settle into your bones already. “don’t worry, i never get cold,” you say, hoping he buys your act. 

the demon is reluctant, but nods and takes the comforter in the end. you watch as he sits down and spreads the fabric across himself, waiting until he finishes. when he does, you bid him goodnight, reaching over to turn off the light before curling into yourself underneath the bed sheet. it doesn’t take long for you to start shivering, and you internally curse at yourself when your shaking makes the bed frame groan. silently, you pray that beel has already fallen asleep, but he does not possess the same aptitude for it as his twin. your hear him stand up, and he softly taps your shoulder before saying anything. “actually… can we share the bed?” 

you swallow your chattering, turning your head to face him, even if you can’t see in the dark. “floor isn’t comfy enough?”

“it’s fine, but you’re really cold, aren’t you? you’ll be warmer if you have the comforter. and if i’m there too.” 

your heart warms at his sincerity, and you flip yourself over to wave him closer to yourself. 

the dark serves well to hide beel’s burning face from you, and he’s glad that the lights are off right now. he swiftly throws the covers over the both of you, settling into the bed close enough that you feel his warmth, but aren’t touching.

you’re confused when you hear him holding his breath, so your hand feels around the bed until you can find his.

beel nearly flies out of the bed when he feels your fingers lock with his, but it’s his hunger for you that keeps him still. “goodnight MC.” 

you want to say goodnight back, but you feel lips brush over your knuckles in the dark, and you no longer have the courage to say it. instead, you tighten your grip, relaxing further until you fell asleep.

asmodeus. ═  ˎˊ˗

asmo practically squeals in delight, and you immediately slap a hand over his mouth to quiet him down. “there are people in the other rooms!” you hiss, taking your hand away from his face and dragging him inside the room instead. with a sigh, you dig your fingers into your temples; but you suppose that asmo not being picky about sharing a bed is a nice surprise. “just- go get ready for bed,” you grumble, throwing your bag into a corner before flopping down on the nearby chair. 

“we’re gonna do skincare together after, okay MC?” you haphazardly throw a thumbs-up at asmo, waiting for him to disappear into the washroom before you gather your things. 

surprisingly, asmo finishes his regular routine in record time, and a part of you wonders if it’s because of the fact that you’re sharing a bed. you shake the idea away, trudging into the washroom to clean yourself up. when you finish, asmo is laying all his different products out onto the desk next to the bed. you can only stare at the sight, and find a seat next to him on the bed as he debates what brand of toner to use. as soon as his decision is made, asmo places one bottle onto the desk, and the other gets thrown into his luggage. finally, he turns to you, eyes sparkling with excitement. 

“first, we wash our faces with this!” 

you blink at the bottle in his hand. “i just washed my face with the bar of soap they gave us.” 

asmo looks at you incredulously, stuck feeling something between disgust and amazement at the lack of effort. “well, you’re going to wash your face again!” 

the avatar of lust lives up to his name; you spend over an hour going through the perfect skin care routine until asmo finally gives the word that you’re done. 

“that was a lot,” you breathe out, flopping onto the bed with a relieved sigh. “you do that every night?” 

the demon laughs at your question, but his answer catches you further off guard, “of course not! my routine at home is much longer. we just didn’t have enough time to do all of it today. i still need my beauty sleep, MC.” you do your best to hold your expression, but you can’t help the slip of shock that flickers across your face. “you know, i’ve never done this with anyone,” asmo begins. “my brothers all run away either halfway or even before we start.”

“really?” you turn onto your side to look at him, and asmo smiles at the gesture.

“really. so, thanks for doing this with me.” he ruffles his hair into place as he walks to the light, switching it off before climbing onto the bed next to you. “good night MC.” he doesn’t wait for your response before pulling the blankets up to his chin. “i hope i can spend more nights like this with you,” he whispers to himself, part of him hoping you heard it, and part of him praying you didn’t.

satan. ═  ˎˊ˗

the avatar of wrath immediately turns on his heel and walks away, stalking towards the elevator with a determined look on his face. panicked at what he might do, you snatch his wrist and yank him back towards you, matching his glare with one of your own.

“where do you think you’re going?”

“front desk. i’m going to get this fixed.” 

you wince at the idea of satan yelling at the hotel receptionist and getting yourselves kicked out. “what you’re going to do, is take a shower and calm down. i’ll head down and see if they can do anything, but i’m not risking you lashing out at them. got it?”

satan twitches uncomfortably at your scolding tone, but nods nonetheless. wordlessly, he marches into the room, leaving you to venture downstairs to the front desk. 

much to your dismay, and not so much surprise, there were no more rooms with two beds available. the receptionist confirms that there was an error during the information transfer between booking sites, so you say your thanks before asking for an extra blanket and heading upstairs. when you return, satan says nothing, only giving you an inquisitive look. you shake your head in response, also remaining silent as you grab what you need to freshen up. you finish quickly, exhaustion too prominent as you realise you don’t have the energy to be mad at anything. on one side of the bed, satan sits against the headboard, legs straight in front of him as he reads through a book he had bought yesterday. as you come out, his gaze follows you, eyes narrowing in confusion when he sees you grab the extra fleece blanket you got earlier and sit down on the floor. 

“oi, what are you doing?” satan’s curiosity always has the better of him, asking questions before he can even think about it.

“you seemed very adamant about not sharing a bed,” you reply curtly, draping the blanket over your shoulders. “so i decided i’ll sleep on the floor.” 

“th-that’s not…” you glance up at the blonde, lips itching to smile as a blush spreads across his face. “i thought two beds would be better because i like to stay up reading, and if we share a bed, i might keep you up. that’s all.”

you feel your heart swell, even if you know the excuse is made up on the spot to cover up his embarrassment. “i’ll fall asleep easy, satan. you don’t have to worry about that.”

“is that so…” satan mutters to himself, weighing his options briefly before extending a hand to you. “just get up here. my brothers would kill me if they found out i almost let you sleep on the floor.” 

you place your hand in his, fingers curling around his palm as he pulls you up to join him. “thanks satan,” you beam, squeezing his hand tightly before rounding the corner of the bed to the other side. he mutters something you can’t hear, placing his attention back on his novel. “goodnight,” you hum quietly, turning away from him and pulling the covers over yourself.

a few minutes later, on the verge of sleep, you feel fingers threading through your hair and hear a gentle “goodnight, i love you,” before losing yourself to sweet dreams.

leviathan. ═  ˎˊ˗

“i can sleep in the bathtub.” 

you whip your head around to stare at levi, who is uncharacteristically serious. “come again?” 

he throws his hands up in defence, against what, you’re not really sure. “it’s not like it’s different from back home.” with your jaw hanging open, you continue to stare at him. “stop making that face! what’s wrong with sleeping in the bathtub?!”

you drag your hand down your face now, unsure if this idea is smart or stupid. “levi, this is a hotel bathtub. you don’t know who or what has been in it!” 

“i’ll clean it with soap before i sleep,” he protests.

“that’s besides the point!” you sigh in defeat, thinking that you’re too tired to argue about this right now. “fine, fine. but i’m casting a cleaning spell.” you see levi’s shoulders relax immediately, and you wonder why he refuses to share a bed with you in the first place. 

the both of you finish your nightly routines rather quickly, and once you determine that the bathtub is dry enough for levi, you cast your spell on it. you watch with a frown as he clambers over the side, still mostly against the idea of sleeping in the hotel bathtub. somehow, levi catches your discomfort, and quickly slides in against the walls of the tub before saluting to you. 

“feels good in here,” the water demon declares, trying his best to get you to relax. 

although it doesn’t exactly work, you resign anyway, telling levi you’ll be right outside if he needs you. with that, you bid him goodnight, leaving the door to the washroom ajar just in case. in the dead of the night, you last only around 15 minutes, before the guilt gets the better of you. angrily, you throw covers away from yourself, stomping towards the washroom and jerking the door open. you can only hear levi’s splutters of confusion as he flails around. you inhale sharply, flicking the light switch before locking eyes with levi and saying, “bed. now.”

levi flushes immediately, his face scarlet red with confusion and embarrassment. “y-you won’t be able to sleep if i’m there!”

“i’ll fall asleep faster with you next to me instead of in this godforsaken bathtub!”

he freezes at the statement; of course, initially he wanted to share the bed, but he was too afraid of being seen as weird for wanting to do so. levi swallows his fear, pulling himself out of the bathtub just slightly. “... you mean it?” 

you sigh again for the nth time that night, but reach your hand out to him as you do so. “yes, levi. now please, just come to bed.” 

levi is reluctant, but he takes your hand in the end, allowing you to pull him away from the washroom and towards a proper sleeping surface. when you feel him sink into the mattress, you feel relief flooding your body, tiredness making its appearance now that levi is next to you. “sleep well,” you murmur, knocking out as soon as your head hits the pillow. 

unbeknownst to you, levi does not fall asleep until at least 2 hours later, but he takes comfort in the fact that you’d rather have him by your side than far away. he’ll have the courage to hold you while you sleep another day.

mammon. ═  ˎˊ˗

mammon peeks into the room, his face unreadable for a fleeting moment.

"guess there's no helping it. we're sharing." 

the white haired demon spins to look at you, disbelief written across his features. "sharing?!" 

"what about it?" you ask, exasperated. lightly, you push against one of his shoulders, turning him back around so that you can escort him into the room. the door shuts behind you with a click, and despite the room being dimly lit, you quickly notice the red dusting mammon's ears. "mammon? you don't want to share a bed with me?" 

mammon trips on his words, fumbles with his sentences. eventually, he manages to get out an "i'll just sleep on the chair." he moves in full speed, suddenly grabbing his sleeping clothes from his bag and rushing into the washroom a second later. 

too tired to press him about it, you let the matter go, scrolling your phone while you wait for your turn in the washroom. when mammon steps out, refreshed for the night, he pulls the chair out from under the desk, dropping himself onto it rather gracefully. you give him a look, but mammon has his eyes on everywhere except you. sighing, you give up for the second time that night. but as you head into the washroom, you tell yourself that the third time's the charm. mammon won't feel comfortable in that chair, and you don't feel great about letting him sleep there either. 

your mind is made up, and by the time you're ready to sleep, mammon is now tucked into himself on the chair, knees pressed up against his chest as he attempts to make use of the tiny space. you wait for him to look at you, but when he does, he tears his gaze away and hides his face in the crook of his elbow. you grow soft at the sight, seeing the way his blush reaches just to where you catch it. stifling a giggle to yourself, you switch the light off, hopping up onto the bed just after. once you get comfortable, you burrow into your side of the bed, flipping over to be able to see mammon's figure in the dark.

"goodnight mammon," you call out.

it takes him a second, but he brings his face up so that he isn't muffled. "... g'night, human." 

you smile to yourself, forgetting that mammon can see even without the light. luckily for him, you can't see the way his blush deepens, and how his gaze looks over you with such stark affection. meanwhile, you wait 15 minutes, listening to the way mammon shifts on the chair, and when you think he's also had enough of pretending to be okay with it, you call out to him again.

"mammon?"

"oh, you're awake?"

"come join me." you hear him inhale sharply, so you push yourself up onto an elbow. "i don't want you sleeping in that chair." 

mammon feels his sin surge up, greed entering his nerves and pulling him to join you under the covers. he wants to hold back, but then he sees the way you hold the blanket up, inviting him closer with no strings attached. finally, he gives in, crawling in so that you face each other while lying down. the space between you and him is infinite, and yet, so short at the same time. mammon feels his heart jump into his throat when you cross the boundary first, your hand reaching up to scratch his chin. he relaxes instantly, and before he knows it, he's murmuring out an apology before his arms wrap around your back and tug you into his chest. to his delight, you don't pull away, instead tucking yourself closer. 

perhaps he can be greedy for you just this once.

lucifer. ═  ˎˊ˗

"will you be alright by yourself?"

you blink in surprise at the question. "eh? i mean, yes, but, where are you going?" 

lucifer places a hand on the small of your back, guiding you inside the room while he stays outside the doorway. "i'll go around the city and find a hotel with another room. after all, it would be impolite to have to force you to share a bed." 

"wait- huh?" you squawk in confusion, turning on your heel to face the avatar of pride. you have a feeling that being impolite is just an excuse. 

"i will text you when i've found a hotel. for now, go and clean yourself up. it's been a long day, and-"

"and that's exactly why you're staying here." you reach for the cuff of his sleeve, fingers holding tightly despite the glare you receive from lucifer. 

the demon makes no move to tear his hand away, and instead sighs into his other one instead. "MC, really." 

"lucifer, it's almost past midnight," you hiss, now trying to tug him into the hotel room. "you won't be finding any hotel rooms at this time, and i'll be too worried about you out there that i won't get any sleep anyway." keeping your grip steady, you pull on his sleeve again, waiting for lucifer's next move with bated breath. 

between the look on your face and the iron grip you have him in, lucifer can only give up, begrudgingly following you into the room. to his surprise, your eyes light up when he finally agrees, and he thinks that maybe he made the right choice if you were this happy. he doesn't say much else, instead hurrying you into the washroom to wash up. once you're inside, he groans to himself; lucifer can't deny the fact that he's also somewhat elated at the situation, and yet, he can't help but feel nervous about it. the mere fact that a human like yourself has such a big impact on him has him wondering if he should have agreed to this trip in the first place. but when you come out of the washroom, ready for the night, lucifer also can't help but think that he's glad that this side of you is reserved for him on this trip. 

you send lucifer a smile, tilting your head towards the shower to tell him it's his turn. a gentle hum makes its way towards your ears, and before lucifer disappears from sight, you see a ghost of a smile gracing his features. 

by the time he finishes, you're already tucked into one side of the bed, scrolling your phone for text messages that you missed during the day. lucifer watches you with careful eyes; his pride is too great to admit to himself that he loves to see you so relaxed around him, but his racing heart speaks a different story. carefully, he climbs into bed next to you, waiting until your gaze matches his to speak. 

"if you are uncomfortable at any time, please let me know." 

"oh, please. if i'm going to be stuck in this situation, i'm glad that it's you here." you set your phone down, turning onto your side to face him. as you roll over, you reach up to brush away the hairs that have fallen onto his forehead, giggling at the way lucifer stiffens at your touch. "goodnight, lucifer," you practically sing, turning away again to leave your back exposed to the demon.

lucifer, now that you're facing away, allows himself to smile. just as you feel yourself falling asleep, he drapes an arm over your waist, pulling you close. his chest rumbles as he says his goodnight, and you fall asleep immediately in the safety of his arms.

a/n: i really wanna do a 500 follower thing but uh... what do people do for those-

reblogs are really appreciated (´ω｀) ♡

[leggerefiore]

cw: fluff, alternate idea for bw game ending where n wins kinda, drabble

pairing: N/Reader

You fell to your knees.

N stared down at you.

The legendary dragon stood menacingly at his back — Reshiram's wings spread out as it, too, glowered at the sight of you. You had put in everything you had to desperately convince the already doubtful man that his convictions were not going to help anything; not pokemon - not people! But, despite Zekrom awakening and coming to your aid, you had failed. Horribly, terribly — You felt like your throat had swollen closed. Tears burned your eyes. Was N's willpower simply more than your own? You felt equal, but he had still won out in the end.

Before your concerns swelled any larger, he knelt down to your level and brought a gentle hand to wipe away your tears. That eerie smile was on his lips again. His determined expression having faded with his victory in toe. You fought back an urge to sob. Ghetsis's cane on the floor brought you both to reality. His harsh glare at the sight of your closeness with N apparent. The dragon behind the green-haired man took a defensive posture and let out a cry. This brought the supposed king to alert as his eyes went wide. You knew somewhere deep down, N was just a ploy in the grander plans Ghetsis held for himself. Yet, even to protect him from this, you had failed.

Whatever concern you may have had for N was vanquished when the man defeated Ghetsis rather quickly in a battle. The weakness from their battle with you seemed to matter not. You swallowed as Ghetsis looked horrifying. For a moment, you feared that he would attack either you or N, but the dragon was steadfast in guarding you both — Even calling back its defeated brethren back from unconsciousness. You found yourself behind N as he stared down at the man he viewed as his father. Betrayal was etched on his face. How could it not be? A pure heart like N's own would not dare doubt those around him. Alder and Cheren's entry brought reality back. Despite your loss, the league was still making moves to protect the sanctity of the region.

Ghetsis was quickly detained by the two, leaving you alone with N again.

Reality seemed to have hit him hard. His eyes went to the throne that he was to claim as his own and you. Finally, a hand was offered to help you back to your feet. Something twisted in those blue eyes of his. The sparkle in them was never there. An ominous void always lingered. He pulled you into himself, embracing you to himself. His long hair tickled you. Hands grasped tightly onto your shirt. A shaky breath left him. You perhaps would have expected tears, but nothing was to follow. He clung to you for the longest time in silence. It was a torturous moment of facing your own feelings for the man and what would follow.

Eventually, he pulled away, eyes meeting your own again.

“… I wanted you at my side,” N's words caught you off-guard, “Please, won't you support me? Don't you see the truth I bear?” He sounded desperate. His dream… To liberate pokemon from humans. There was truth that there could be positives… Cruel humans existed. But… You shook your head. There was no way you could help in good conscience. His eyes narrowed. Hands grasped your wrists tightly. He nodded. “… What follows this…?” His gaze turned to the light pouring in beyond the throne. You followed him as he walked to it. Somehow, your heart still called for him.

“… Will you join me then?” he held out his hand to you, “There is a lot out there to learn… I see now.”

You took it without hesitation.

The way his eyes lit up drew you in more.

You wanted to see it more.

~

Sunlight drifted in through the leaves above. It was spotty and distant under the shade provided by the trees surrounding you both. Your head rested on N's chest as his arm wrapped around your waist. The air swirled the smell of the late afternoon. Wild pokemon wandered around, unbothered by either of your presences. It seemed they almost viewed N as one of their own most of the time. A hand came to gently stroke your hair as you shifted around. You lifted your head to meet N's eyes. He gave you a gentle smile. Your lips met his own. The arm tightened around you.

If only this peace could last forever… The dragons rested nearby together.

Perhaps, in each other, you found the balance that Unova needed.