#thank you for blessing my eyes dear iris.

[outlying-hyppocrate]

crispin. look at @beanthebugboi ideas for their prom because. ough. /vpos

which one

HOLY SHIT I AM ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED WITH BOTH OF THESE AND I WISH I COULD STEAL THIS IDEA. i may be called plain for my answer but i do honestly prefer the second as it is. very charming. {:

[bvidzsoo]

Underwater

The first star of Cosmically divine...

☆ Author: bvidzsoo

☆ Pairing: Choi San x female reader

☆ Warning: nudity, smut, blood, mentions of war and threats to kill someone

☆ Word count: 6.9k

☆ Rating: nsfw

☆ Genre: Greek mythology, San is Ares, forbidden love

☆ Summary: You knew that your love would never be fulfilled as the man you loved belonged to another woman. But can you help your poor Naiad heart when San, the God of war himself, seeks you out again and again when he is most vulnerable?

☆ A/N: Hi, lovelies!^^ I totally didn't write this piece in one sitting, naaah, yes I did. I hope it's good and enjoyable as I have my doubts with it I was so hyped up but anyways. I appreciate all your feedback, it is very welcomed, so let me know what you thought of it! If you'd like to join the taglist of the series let me know! I'll point out a few things before you start reading the story:

★ This is inspired by Greek mythology, but I took creative liberty and adapted it to my likes, so keep that in mind while reading, thank you! ★ Ares is the God of war ★ Artemis is the Goddess of hunt ★ A Naiad Nymph is a female spirit that preside in fresh water ★ Aphrodite is the Goddess of love ★ Hermes is the messenger of Gods ★ Iris is the goddess of rainbow but was also considered messenger of Gods ★ Atë is the goddess of mischief ★ Dion is a village and municipal unit in the municipality of Dion-Olympos in the Pieria regional unit, Greece; it's known for its sanctuary of Zeus and its ancient city (it's so beautiful over there guys, if you get the chance, you should definitely visit the village, and Mount Olympus too!!) ocean divider; greek divider

☆ Taglist: @patchofblue @sthwaaberry @constipatedcorgi @holytidalwavechees3cake @cheolliehugs

@slowitdownmakeitb0uncy @hoeforsungie

༄ ҉ Series m.list ༄ ҉ 　

            On the outskirts of the ancient city called Dion, just by the foot of Mount Olympus an enchanted forest vivid with Nymphs of all kinds encompassed the land, offering a much-needed sanctuary and protection to those who were in need of tranquility and a piece of quiet, away from all mortals, and even Gods that had their watchful eyes on everyone and everything at all times. The small Lake of Naia, springing from the top of Mount Olympus, rushing down rapidly the rocky side of the mountain only until it became merely a gentle stream was the place I referred to as my home. It wasn’t just my home, it was the home of many Naiad nymphs that have been birthed and then raised on the shores of Lake Naia by their elderly sisters, naiads that have been here for centuries, having witnessed atrocities, but so many beautiful life-changing events as well. We were fond of this place, and we protect it ardently. No foul soul was allowed in the vicinity of our sacred Lake, Artemis herself having blessed our sanctuary.

Men who were desperate for enlightenment, or were feeling lonely, would often find solace in our presence, grateful for an eternity to us, making promises, which, due to their fragile lives would never be completely fulfilled. But that was alright, my sisters and I never expected too much from them as long as they honored and cherished our land, our Lake, our home. After all, mere mortals wouldn’t be able to offer us what the Olympian Gods could. Warm bodies and warm souls that we could often lay upon our hardships, our fears, and our future ambitions. I have never stepped too far away from my home, walking barely a few feet away from the Lake would make me feel restless and unnerved, unsafe and exposed to the not so kind men that liked to haunt and torment us when the Gods weren’t on the look out for their dear naiads.

Besides Artemis, not many came often to Lake Naia, its location too close to Olympus and yet too far from Dion for the Gods that were rather lazy, like Apollo. Zeus always had his eyes on his children and kin, however, if they travelled far away enough from Olympus, he’d certainly turn a blind eye to whatever shenanigans they deemed fit on their travels on Earth, disguised as something they were not. Even Artemis liked to change her features when she came down to bless our Lake and show gratefulness for guiding and protecting the maidens through their hardships, however, there was one God that never bothered to hide his true self. All bloody and gory and authentic, brute yet hands gentle as if they were afraid to bruise those innocent, eyes sharp and menacing upon first glance, yet warm and intense on a second glance. The mortals liked calling him Ares, but I preferred his birth name, the one Zeus had given him, San.

San had always been a gruff and intimidating man, as the God of war, he was strong and vigilant, quick on his feet and cutting with his words. Very few naiads had the courage to approach him, scared he’d hurt them if they displeased him in any way, and so, the task of looking out for him whenever he visited Lake Naia fell on my hands. And despite the stories that I have heard about the fearless man, I couldn’t bring myself to find him terrifying or mal-intentioned, not when his lips quivered when he whispered the names of those fallen in battle, not when tears would escape his beautiful eyes before he’d submerge in the crystal-clear water of Lake Naia, desperate to rid himself of all the blood, suffering, and screams of those that have perished underneath the sharp blade of his sword. San was a man with a delicate and soft soul, yearning for a connection that was simple, a connection in which he didn’t have to explain himself nor feel guilty, a connection where one simply listened to his burdens and coaxed him further inside the warm and tranquil waters of Lake Naia.

Being immortals, it’s been too long and I wouldn’t be exactly able to pinpoint the time and date of when San decided that he’d choose Lake Naia as his piece of heaven and peace after a long and exhausting battle, but ever since then, his visits became more and more frequent. Perhaps it was due to the rising tension between the settlements as the mortals were never quite thankful with what they’ve got, so, they challenged each other to a war that only lead to disaster and suffering, dividing families and scarring individuals for a lifetime. And despite the real reason as to why San was here should have saddened me, as a protector of maidens that have fallen victim in these wars, I only found my heart gleeful and quickly beating the more often he showed up. There was something majestic, captivating and divine about San, and my poor Naiad heart stood no chance against a man whose walls crumbled the second his armor was off his body.

            Times were dire, nature had a way of silently absorbing everything the mortals felt. And as part of nature myself, I found myself quite volatile lately. Even the quietest snap of a twig sent us back deeper inside the lake, ready to submerge and watch from underneath whatever fool decided to approach our sacred place. My sisters grew restless and they refused to step out of Lake Naia, whispers of the forest surrounding us carrying word that a war not too far from our home was brewing as the military forces of two settlements failed to see eye to eye. Artemis visited more often than before, blessing our humble abode and promising a new location that would be even safer if the events would turn grimmer, but my sisters and I refused to flee. This is our one and only home, the only place that we’ve known since eternity, since the cosmos has birthed us, and if it came to it, we’d rather perish with this place than abandon it and leave those who love it as much as us behind. Artemis did not like our refusal, but her word couldn’t go against our eldest sister’s, and once we’ve put our hearts to something, we rarely changed our minds.

Due to the sun hiding behind the clouds, the Lake failed to stay as warm as usual, but our songs kept it idle for a quick dip. My sisters have disappeared somewhere deep-down underneath, their absence coating the surroundings in a serene silence, perhaps a little bit even eerie. I knew what this meant as I lurked just above the surface, eyes set on the steadily approaching figure. Its outline was harsh and looked to be almost vibrating as his heavy footsteps echoed in the silent forest, the animals just as reluctant as my sisters to be in the vicinity of the God. Pushing my head above water, I took a deep breath and slowly swum towards the shore, the soft water clinging to my skin like a second skin. The sword that was gripped in the God’s hand glinted in the light, despite the sun being hidden, and it left a red path in its wake as he came closer to the Lake. Something salty and nauseating hit my nose as my feet touched the fine soil of the Lake, the water up to my neck as the sword slipped from the God’s hand, clanking loudly against the grey stones that littered the path that led towards Lake Naia. Heath flooded my body, and it wasn’t from the Lake as I walked further out, water below my chest, it was from the God’s body heath as red veins swirled underneath his pristine and tan skin as his arms were left exposed. The miniscule cut on his right bicep was the first thing that caught my eyes as the water of the Lake finally reached my ankles, white dress heavily clinging to my body and failing to hide anything as my black hair looked almost molded to my back as it wetly stuck to it. A soft exhale and the deep furrow of his dark eyebrows was the first sign that my God felt exhausted as we came to stand face to face, his body tense and vibrating with the remnants of adrenaline, meanwhile mine felt lax and tingly as I bowed my head, curtsying.

“San, my possessor.” I didn’t need to speak loudly, there were no sounds around us, just San’s breaths coming out in short puffs, chest rising and falling rapidly underneath his black steel armor. The stench of death would make anyone run away, but as I raised my head up and laid my eyes upon my possessor’s face again, I could only feel pity seeing the regret and exhaustion whirling together in his sharp eyes, clouding his mind and I could almost hear his thoughts.

“Y/N, my nymph.” And the God’s voice that roars and shatters in a battle was now shaky and soft, warm to the point that it made my heart beat faster, “I have missed you dearly.”

I didn’t dare smile as I extended my right hand, eyes stuck to the swipe of dark blood underneath his right eye, trailing down to leave the impression of a bloody tear. I swiped at it with my thumb, and San’s eyes closed as he gulped, sighing loudly.

“Let me take away your burdens.” I whispered as I stepped closer, the heath almost devouring me as the red veins seemed even more alight underneath his tan and soft skin, heart beating out of the God’s chest as his eyes slowly opened, black eyelashes fluttering as they settled on my face.

“Please.” A God never pleaded, never fell to their knees in front of anyone. A God was strong and fearless, ready to devour anyone who dared disobey their command. I offered San a small smile as I leaned forward, lips parting just slightly before they made contact with the cut on San’s bicep, a whimper leaving the man’s lips upon the contact. And his eyes were glazed over as I pulled back, the taste of salt tangible on my tongue as I caressed his now healed bicep. San knew what to do, and with a deep breath he fell to his knees, hanging his head low as my hands caressed his cheeks before his jaw, settling around his neck. His skin was hot, flaming almost, gushing with life underneath all that heavy muscle and flesh, desperate for a gentle and understanding touch. I allowed my hands to travel lower, onto his shoulders, nimble fingers unclasping the harsh steel from around his defined shoulders. A pause, another sigh, and San stood tall once again, a calloused hand settling on my hip as he oh so gently pulled my body closer, my fingers itching the more blood they touched, which was now rusted onto his armor, the same armor that Hephaestus had designed for him upon the request of Zeus so that it would make San, his bellowed son, invincible. San’s sharp, but softening, eyes remained on my face as my hands first went around his middle, leaning my fragile body against his. It was sturdy, unmovable like a mountain, but it was also warm and gentle, a quiet promise that it would keep you safe from any evil. San’s fingers twitched before they dug into my hip, his armor sharp and cold against my own body, but I welcomed its closeness as San seemed to melt into the embrace, his tense muscles finally easing up at last. He could finally be vulnerable, bloody or not, in my eyes he was perfect and benevolent.

“Your battle must have been strenuous.” I spoke up, breaking the comfortable silence, as I gently peeled myself back from the embrace, fingers latching onto the clasps at the God’s middle, undoing them and letting the bloody armor fall to the ground, looking like it’s been broken in two. But it wasn’t, it was unbreakable just like its possessor.

“I have not had the opportunity to close my eyes for six days as of today.” His deep voice lost all the malice it usually carried, and my eyes remained focused on the dents and marks the armor has left on the poor God’s sun-kissed skin. My warm fingertips gently traced against them, the muscles flexing underneath them as the God hummed in content, both hands holding firmly onto my hips. I smiled as he leaned forward and gently rested his chin on top of my head, allowing me to trace the scars left by his ruthless armor, knowing that they’d disappear if I touched them. I closed my eyes as my fingertips reached them hem of his trousers, which weren’t made of steel but were magically enhanced so that there wouldn’t be a repeat of Achilles, and I leaned just a little bit forward to press kisses tracing his collarbones. The sighs the God let out were of pleasure and he hummed in appreciation as I untangled the knots of his trouser and gently pushed them down his hips, caressing his loins firmly as San groaned, nails digging through the thin fabric of my white translucent dress.

“Then we shall get inside the Lake.” I proposed and San hummed in agreement, grip not faltering as I stepped back to steer us inside the water. When our eyes found each other again, his were ablaze with want and need, but he knew he had to wait until we got inside the water. And so, he reluctantly released me and eagerly took my extended hand as I interlaced our fingers, a small and charming smile appearing on his face for the first time today. I chuckled and lead us back to the water, walking backwards as the smile only seemed to stretch on San’s lips, red veins ablaze and whole being glimmering in the light of the small clearing the Lake resided in, the clouds slowly uncovering the blazing sun as the weather reached my thighs, San’s body convulsing as it was overheated from the battle and the Lake would cool it down. I walked further inside, my body welcoming the familiar feel of the soft water brushing against myself, like a cocoon forming a protecting layer over it, my own armor.

San’s body shook when it was finally submerged, underwater, and I released his hand as I giggled and took a deep breath, to tease him, and dipped my head underwater. I opened my eyes and grinned as his legs kicked out to stay above water, never having been keen of having his head under the clear water of the Lake. His naked body looked almost translucent underwater and I swum around it, playfully nipping at the skin of his back, thighs, abdomen, calves, and chest, my teasing cut short when a strong hand seized me around the neck and yanked me above water, dark brown eyes coated with lust and cheeks flushed as our bodies pressed together, legs wrapping around his middle subconsciously.

“Rest now, my San.” I whispered, eyes fluttering shut as his hot breath fanned my face, heart thundering underneath the hand pressed against his chest.

“I’ll bring you a star on our next rendezvous.” His words were rushed, almost desperate before hot lips pressed against mine, devouring them with fervor, with desperation and a neediness that I fear will never be satiated.

            The forest was loud for once, animals buzzing around, a deer timidly coming down to our Lake to hydrate itself, and Yeri, our youngest naiad, lay giggling on the shore as she teased the deer by leading it around in circles with a string of water, until our eldest sister chastised her for tormenting the innocent creature. As our youngest sibling, she was rather mischievous and loved to play around whether it was with animals or humans. Younger men especially loved her, but she only enjoyed their company as long as they remained on land and her in water. She was the least trusting of anyone other than her naiad friends, thus why she had refused even Artemis’ offer of finding her a lover that would dearly cherish her.

I was laid back on a larger rock by the Lake, resting back on my elbows, my white dress almost completely dry as I swirled my toes around in the water, humming in contentment as my sisters voices meddled with mine as they were gathered towards the middle of the Lake, playing a tagging game. I smiled as I listened to their giggles and cheers, which were mixing with the beautiful songs the birds were singing, echoing our voices almost perfectly. The strong, divine, presence first gained our attention as everyone perked up, sensing it come closer as my body grew jittery. I curiously stood up, not expecting a visit from Artemis so soon, or another deity for the matter. But when my eyes fell on the approaching form in the distance, I instantly knew who it was. My eyebrows furrowed and my heart jumped in joy, but I couldn’t help feel concerned at the same time. San never visited unless he went to war, to a battle, and he had told me truce was laid upon the two settlements after they lost many men. He had no reason to visit, yet he was here. And my sisters shared my unease as they all grew warry, stopping their game as the eldest one called Yeri over, deeper into the water. I scrambled onto my feet and offered them a calm smile, not wanting them to panic and do something rash when it came to San. Understanding my request, they swum further away from the shore, only their eyes and the top of their heads visible as my feet touched the soft grass, San’s face now visible as he came closer.

Expecting complications and even a summoning to Olympus, instead, a bright smile decorated his lips, eyes crinkled and a skip to his confident steps as he hurried down the path having spotted me. Feeling confused but glad to see him nonetheless, I returned his smile and gasped when I was swept off my feet, his arms firm around my waist and twirling me around. I clung to his neck, lips brushing against his ear as I giggled, a similar sound leaving San’s lips. My heart skipped a few beats before it started beating faster altogether, every vertebrate in my being jittery as I realized this was the first time I have seen San so happy and relaxed, his sword nowhere in sight, and his armor polished and clean, glinting and carrying the scent of pine and musk instead of the salty stench of blood.

When he was done twirling me around, he placed me down on my feet, but kept his arms around my waist and leaned down hastily, warm and red lips pushing against mine. My eyes fluttered closed and I allowed myself to melt into him, cupping his cheek as our lips moved together softly, making it feel like it was the first time I was kissed by him. I felt my head whirl around and fingertips grow warm as San smiled into the kiss, apparently refusing to pull back just yet as he kept pressing little pecks against my plush lips. There was something about his demeanor that brought tears to my eyes, a side of San that I was seeing for the first time despite us knowing each other for an eternity now. I had dreamed of what a happy and free San looked like, a San that wasn’t tormented by a battle where he had to slay mortals and swallow their screams, feed off of the pure madness, hatred, and rage. I have prayed to Artemis to see a San that was so happy his whole body glowed from it, and now that I had him in my arms, laughing and kissing me, I couldn’t contain my own emotions.

“Why are you crying, my little nymph?” His voice carried worry as he caressed my cheek and swiftly wiped a stray teardrop from underneath my eye, eyebrows furrowing, “Have I made you sad? Perhaps even mad by showing up so unexpectedly?”

“No!” My voice raised without me meaning to do so, and my arms tightened around him as I pushed up on my tiptoes, ours noses grazing together as I stared inside his dark and soft brown eyes, “No, my San, I am beyond delighted to see you in such light. I have only dared to dream of seeing you one day happy and carefree.”

“My little nymph,” San whispered, expression faltering for a second as pain clouded his eyes, but it was quickly gone as I traced his high cheekbone with my forefinger, eyes taking in his beautiful features only a God was gifted with, “I had not known you harbored such wishes; I should have known seeing me always all roughed up after a battle brings you pain.”

“No, San,” I shook my head, a small smile appearing on my lips, “It brings me peace of mind and solace that I am the one you seek out after such feat, that I am the one you come to, to chase away your pain and fears after a battle.”

“Sometimes I see the stars in your eyes, Y/N.” San’s voice was merely a whisper as his hand gently brushed a strand of hair off my face and behind my ear, “When you look at me so deeply like right now, they sparkle with life and I see the cosmos in them. You are majestic underwater, but it will never come close to how you look when your eyes land on me.”

I gulped, feeling speechless as my cheeks grew hotter and darker in color, fingers tangling into the small hair on San’s nape. It was the first time his black hair wasn’t pushed back to make his eyes look even more piercing, but was rather soft looking and fluffy, hanging into his eyes as a dimple formed in his cheek as a wide grin made it onto his face again, “If my heart stops beating one day, I wish you to be the last thing I see before I must go.”

San shook his head, eyebrows furrowing again as he held onto my face, leaning so close his lips brushed against mine when he spoke, “You shall never leave me first, I promise you’ll be here until my last worshipper perishes, and even then I do not wish to take you with myself into the Underworld.”

“We won’t go to the Underworld, San.” He gulped as our gazes bore into each other and then he nodded, wordlessly and looking a little defeated, releasing my face as he cleared his throat. Sensing that he had something important to say, I released him and stepped back a little bit, watching him curiously as he reached inside his armor, pursing his lips as if he couldn’t find what he was looking for. I took my time to pay close attention to him, to take in his all like this, so that I could replay it when I missed him most. The way the sunlight fell on him made his caramel skin glow even more, face relaxed and a smile almost always present on his red lips, eyebrows unfrowned for once and expression serene as his muscles remained lax, not even a bit tense. When he finally found what he was looking for, he made a sound of triumph and I smiled a little wider, looking at him with big eyes as he pulled a collar out of his armor. I couldn’t determine what it was for, or whether it was a necklace or a collar, but when he opened his palm and raised it up for me to see better, I gasped in shock. There, worked into the steel that looked a lot like the one his armor had, was a little glowing star shining almost blindingly up at me.

“I promised to bring you a star,” San said quietly and then turned me around gently, pulling my black hair from around my shoulders to one side only, “I wish you keep something of mine on yourself, for protection.”

My lips pulled into a small grin as the cold steel touched the base of my neck, “You wish for everyone to know who I belong to upon one glance, don’t you, my greedy little possessor?”

San chuckled behind me as I felt him secure the clasp, his voice just a little bit deeper when he spoke up again, “You know me too well, my little nymph.”

His lips brushed against my ear and I turned my head to look up in his eyes, heart beating out of my chest, “Thank you, San, like the star around my neck, I’ll continue gazing at you as if you were my own personal star.”

A beat of silence passed between us before I felt San’s body press up against mine from behind, hand coming up to cradle my jaw and hold it firm as he leaned down into a searing kiss as reward for my words, as reward for allowing him to claim me in front of all Gods and Goddesses.

            Not long after San’s visit, another deity seemed to be keen of visiting our humble Lake Naia. Albeit, this Goddess has never been too fond of our existence right at the feet of Mountain Olympus as she had claimed we’ve been charming her men away from her. She could have anyone, she had everyone, us mere Naiads could never live up to her beauty and charms, but she failed to see and understand that. My sisters and I had been gathered around the rocks, just by the shore, giggling about the latest gossip we have heard through Hermes’s secret lover, having been accomplice to the kidnapping that he had planned for Iris. We have sworn secrecy to her and Hermes, and swore to keep her safe and hidden from Zeus as long as she sometimes indulged to our gossipy nature and came down to the Lake for a bath where she’d share all her stories as she lived in the closest settlement, Dion. An outcast Goddess had been wreaking havoc lately there and Iris was trying to find ways to warn men without the other deity catching on, but Hermes is too scared Atë would tell Zeus of his once prized seer’s whereabouts and thus had forbidden Iris from meddling with the other Goddesses shenanigans.

The birds songs grew louder and the foxes ran out of the bushes as a light breeze entered the clearing the Lake resided in, and the strong scent of roses and pomegranate invaded our senses as my sisters and I became alert to the presence of a deity other than the two we would welcome here so often. The lower half of my dress was soaked as I had dangled it in the water prior, and due to Yeri, my long black hair was now tangled into intricate twists with flowers secured in it. The cold steel necklace sat snuggly against my neck, the star softly buzzing at all times and sometimes humming along to my songs. The giggles and laughter died down as the approaching presence took its time apparently, taking in everything our humble abode had to offer her. My eyes stayed on her, closely watching her every move, and I felt the strength leave my legs upon realizing who it was. I felt my cheeks heat up all of a sudden, the steel necklace too heavy around my neck as my lungs seized up, almost suffocating me. Yeri, always quick to catch the change in someone’s mood, intertwined her fingers with mine and squeezed them gently, offering comfort in the subtlest of ways.

“Ah, Lake Naia,” The Goddess’ voice was melodic and soft, yet it carried over the space between her and us, “I have heard so many stories about this place, but never truly had the itch to come and see it for myself. You have bewitched quite a few men, my little nymphs, both mortal and immortal, do you know?”

Her piercing eyes fell on me as she finally reaches us by the rocks, making me gulp as I averted my eyes, looking at our eldest naiad as she stood gracefully, a pleasant smile on her lips as she approached the Goddess.

“Aphrodite, my Goddess, what brings you to our humble home?” The naiad curtsied and Aphrodite chuckled, looking around. A dove flew overhead and I felt goosebumps erupt on my skin underneath the white dress as the star became a little bit too hot against my skin.

“I have come to bathe in the Lake that chases away all your fears and terrors.” The Goddess said, suddenly unlacing the top of her yellow tunic, leaving her bare to our eyes, “At least that is what everyone claims this place accomplishes.”

“My Goddess, we would love to have you bathe in our lake.” The eldest naiad smiled, stepping aside to let the Goddess walk towards the lake, “We’ll take away all your worries, just as you wish.”

“I want her to bathe me.” A perfect milky finger was pointed towards me and my lungs seized up again, a lump suddenly forming in my throat as I opened my mouth to speak up, but my vocal chords felt like they were being crushed. Yeri grew tense next to me, her grip on me tightening as she stood in front of me protectively, glaring at the Goddess. She was fearless, she looked the lions in the eyes and challenged them without any fear for the repercussions.

“Aphrodite, my Goddess, I am afraid she will not be able to bathe you.” The eldest naiad tried to save the situation, the air growing tense as my vocal chords started to burn and I gasped, grasping at my neck helplessly.  

“She has been claimed by Ares!” It was Yeri’s shrill voice that tore through the clearing, making our sisters gasp around us as finally the pressure from my vocal cords was gone and my lungs also eased up, forcing me to intake large gulps of air, “She cannot touch any other deity than San himself, my Goddess, but you knew that already, did you not?”

“A Naiad with a sharp tongue, how refreshing.” Aphrodite chuckled as I yanked on Yeri’s hand and gave her a harsh stare for being inconsiderate and rude to a Goddess that could turn her into foam within a blink of an eye.

“I apologize, my Goddess, for her rudeness, she is still young and has to learn much.” I bowed my head deeply as I went to stand next to our eldest naiad sister, “I promise to teach her some manners myself, do not punish her just yet, I beg of you—”

“Like you have begged my husband to bed you?” A malicious smile grazed her lips, “Well…bed you, figuratively speaking as you seem to lack of beds in this place, pity, he fucks hardest when he has a headboard to hold onto.”

My jaw clenched as her comment felt like a punch to my ego, tears threatening to prick my eyes as Yeri came to stand next to me, standing just slightly more forward, but when she opened her mouth to speak up, the Goddess beat her to it, “You thought you could fuck my husband and I wouldn’t know? I know everything that happens inside and outside of Olympus, you little minx.”

“Then why does it bother you just now?” I gulped down the fear that bubbled through my system, and looked the Goddess in the eyes as I continued with my question, “Why just now when you’ve known all along what your husband was up to?”

For a second, Aphrodite seemed to freeze, but then slowly, her eyes fell onto the necklace that sat securely around my neck. He’d claimed me, San he had claimed me, meanwhile Aphrodite never quite loved any of his secret lovers to the point that she’d claim them. It hurt her, because it showed San was devoted to me, that he had given me a piece of himself, that he promised of a little particle of his heart that didn’t belong to Aphrodite anymore. Her ego was bruised and she couldn’t deal with the thought of a nymph stealing something that was once hers. She didn’t need to answer the question, her silence spoke volumes like her answer could never.

“Stray clear of my path if you do not wish to turn into foam, little nymph, or perhaps pray to Artemis to keep you safe from Zeus.” My sisters gasped as my lips quivered, dread filling my body at the thought of getting touched by Zeus. Even if a God claims you, Zeus can still do whatever he wants to you. His word and power were grater than any other Gods. I did not wish to come across Zeus, ever, terrified that he’d break me.

And just as quickly as Aphrodite had appeared, the foxes ran through the bushes one more time, a white dove flying over Lake Naia, and then she was gone, her sweet scent carried away by the wind that seemed to bring rain clouds with itself.

            The days and nights passed by sluggishly, almost as if to taunt me, fear rooting deeply into my bones as I preferred to stay underwater most these days, not keen of coming across any deity. Artemis managed to coax me outside and blessed me, promised protection once again, having heard of Aphrodite’s visit, whispering that San has been at war for a month now. Nobody knew anything about him as he just disappeared one night, but they knew he was alive, he’d send scrolls to his father, Zeus, and updated him about the advancement of the war. When the evenings started feeling lonely, despite the presence of my sisters, I felt my little star humming just a little louder for me to hear and burning warmer, warming my chest from the inside out. I found it my only solace as I yearned for my God, but was scared of what would happen if I allowed him close again.

The stars had been long up on the night sky, high up and shining down brightly, almost as if calling out to its kin that now shimmered in the dark around my neck. I continued to gaze up at them, floating on the dark surface of the Lake, crickets creating a serene cacophony as my sisters’ hums have long subsided as they have gone to sleep. I have found myself grow more restless than usual tonight, the stars calling out and coaxing me to stay awake as if to look over our home, protect it from unwelcomed guests. And when the clearing grew eerily quiet and the stench of death invaded my senses, I gasped and submerged, watching as a dark figure approached the water with almost sluggish moves. My body yearned to feel his warm touch and my heart started racing in my chest, but I did not move. I watched, not too far from the shore, as he came to an abrupt stop just before the water could reach his feet, and he gently placed his sword onto the ground.

“My little nymph.” His voice was quiet, tired, and rough sounding. Tears pricked at my eyes but I forced myself to go just a little bit deeper underneath, the star around my neck pulsing ferociously. My body felt on fire from it, but I refused to act upon my desperate wishes, “Y/N, my little star, where are you?”

My lips quivered and I turned, clutching the star desperately as it started calling out faintly, whether for its kin or for the God that had gifted it to me, I couldn’t tell. The swift clinking of steel and its clasp being undone echoed loudly in the silent clearing and the water was suddenly disturbed as I whirled around, eyes growing wide as I watched my God rush inside the water. It colored the water red around himself, more so than usually, and my heart clenched upon noticing the countless bruises decorating his legs and the gash close to his groin. Who dared wound up my San like that?

I felt helpless as my body acted before I could consider my next actions, and I quickly swum closer, lips touching the large gash underwater, eager to heal his perfectly sculpted body. San’s gasp was loud above water, and before I could swim away, large and calloused hands gripped at my shoulders and yanked me above, making me gasp out loudly as water dripped from my hair onto my face. San’s eyes were wide and streaks of tears made his cheeks shine under the starlight, and I gulped, eyebrows furrowed as I helplessly traced his forehead, wiping the excess blood from there and from his temples.

“My little nymph, why would you hide from me?” San sounded breathless as his eyes desperately searched my face, grip growing stronger as it slipped to my arms, “Do you not love me anymore?”

My eyebrows furrowed and my heart squeezed as I pushed at his hard chest, fury licking at my insides all of a sudden, “How dare you doubt my love for you, San?!”

“You refused to show yourself to me,” His voice grew hard, but his dark eyes remained soft, “You weren’t waiting by the Lake for me, you didn’t undress me, you refused to bathe me. You must not love me anymore—”

“I allowed you to claim me!” I hissed, gripping his jaw tightly, his eyes finally hardening as I got closer to him, “I allowed you to claim me with something of yours, and you doubt my love for you after you disappeared without notice?!”

“I must hear your reasoning before I forgive you.” My eyebrows furrowed and I bit my lower lip, Aphrodite’s words echoing in my head. I’d be turned into foam, and then, all the love I harbor for my God will be lost, felt in vain, unfulfilled.

“She will turn me into foam, you have angered her, my possessor.” My voice was merely a whisper, but loud enough in the silent clearing, in the serene Lake. I didn’t have to name her; San knew who I was referring to.

“Once a God claims something as theirs, nobody is allowed to touch it, not even a Goddess out of spite, my little nymph,” San’s tone was strong and confident, carried no room for an argument, “And I, Y/N, I love you with my whole soul and promise to protect you until my last worshipper dies and I perish with them.”

“Then you shall never perish,” I cupped his cheeks, my legs securing around his hips as San’s hand slipped to my back, holding me flushed against himself, “Because I am immortal like yourself, I shall never die and you shall never perish with me.”

A strong emotion that could be only described as adoration crossed San’s features before his eyes closed and his lips pressed against mine, making me cling onto him as our lips moved in a dance that made my heart thunder in my chest, rhythm syncing up with his heartbeat, beating together and for one another. The stars shined perhaps brighter that night as San carried us out onto the rocks, laying me down gently and reassuring me that I would be alright, that as long as he was by my side nothing and no one would hurt me. And his lips sealed the promise as his warm body covered mine, sinking slowly inside me, our souls uniting as my back arched and the star around my neck hummed louder than ever before. San’s each and every single kiss carried a whispered promise as it traveled from my jaw to my neck, nibbling at my collarbones as his thrusts stayed sharp and deep, my fingernails digging deeply into his shoulders, marking him up for everyone to see, for Aphrodite to find tomorrow and rage in her pretty bedroom as she isn’t able to do anything about it.

San’s name left my lips almost in a mantra, almost as if I was praying to a God that answered all my prayers and fulfilled all of my wishes, head thrown back and tears trailing down by cheeks as I saw the stars behind my eyes. San feared no God and he had no fear of breaking me as his thrusts became ruthless, pelvis slamming against mine, making me cry out his name repeatedly, finding anchor in his black messy hair and on the rock I was laid onto, the sounds he made growing louder within seconds as he grew closer to his own release. His hands found purchase on my hips as he threw his head back, losing himself in the feeling of pure bliss and euphoria, glazing up at the stars that never shined brighter than my own eyes.

And with my name undyingly on his lips, I knew if I were cursed to become a star one day, I would do so gladly knowing that he saw stars in my eyes, loved me enough to bring down one for me, cherished me enough to promise a death where we’d flicker away at once.

❱❱ Next star

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[selfaware-bungou-stray-dogs]

He can't hurt anyone

Self-Aware! BSD x SAGAU Imposter crossover

Self-Aware! Saigiku Jouno x GN! Reader

Description: In Creator's Cathedral of the Mondstadt found a helpless blind man was found. There is no way said man can hurt anyone.

Warning: OOC. English is my second language. Mentions of torture. Non-descriptive violence. Mentions of killing. Mentioning of fanatism. Jounou is a protective yandere(ish)

Sequel to For your safety

_____

From diary of Guy, New Cathedral Captain of the Holy Knights of Mondstadt

~~~~~~

I

Creator's Cathedral of Mondstadt is a holy place. Everyone can find help and sanctuary here. If you're a pure at heart, believe in Blessed Creator and haven't sinned, you can come here and ask for help.

Beggars and homeless, sick and healthy, can find help here.

Tomorrow I will become a Captain of Cathedral's guards. I can't find wait!

It will be much more interesting, then guarding the northern side gate.

I wish father would see me. If only he wasn't cursed by Impostor's lies.

~~~~~~

II

I love my new title. Other guards respect me. I have become someone.

The Cathedral is beautiful.

I even noticed an afterglow inside the Cathedral through the day.

There are many beggars in the Cathedral. Some of them live on Cathedral grounds.

They are quiet. They either pray for All-Creator or share stories about Dreaded Imposter.

This thing is still talked about. Some stories are quite amusing to hear about.

Tomorrow, Their Holiness will visit the Cathedral.

There will be more beggars.

And I will make sure, that no one will hurt Creator.

~~~~

III

Creator are magnificent. Truly magnificent. Perfect in every way. Without any flaws inside or outside.

The visit went fine. The new beggar was allowed to live in the Cathedral.

A young man. The man has white hair with red tips, he was dressed in rugs. He wore an earring with a small bell attached to it. And he is blind. Milky-white eyes, with a hint of reddish iris, lacked the pupil. Man was starring in the nothingness. He didn't pay attention to anything around him.

Their Holiness stepped closer to the blind man. Creator spoke. Their voice sounded magnificent. As it should be.

"My poor dear creation, you must be starving. Come with me. I will order giving you a warm bath, a warm meal and a new home."

The blind man raised his head. And reached his hand towards Creator.

And Their Holiness ordered to take a blind man with them.

I am not even worry about this one. A blind person can't hurt anyone.

The lucky bastard was hugged by an All Creator. Their Holiness are so kind!

___________

When you disappeared two months ago, Jouno felt lost. No matter, how hard he looked for you, he couldn't find you. You have disappeared without a trace.

For a whole month he and others were searching. Skipping lunches, without sleeping. They were looking for you.

Jouno remembered, how kids were crying in their pillows all night.

One month of search, tears and darkness passed.

And you finally returned home.

Tortured. Starving. Scared.

Almost shattered.

*******

Mouth has passed after your return.

There were no scars on your body, thanks to Doctor Yosano.

You weren't hungry anymore.

But you still were shattered.

Always quiet. Scared of looking anyone in the eyes.

You had nightmares every night. Jouno heard your screaming or crying. Begging to be let go. Begging to be left alone.

And every night all of them would go to your room. To held you close. To calm you down. To assure you, that they weren't sleeping, and you didn't wake them up.

But, no matter, how many nightmares you have had, you never spoke about where you were and what happened to you.

Jouno felt, that you wanted to open up to them. But you couldn't. You were afraid. Terrified.

*******

And then, Capitano came here, to look for you.

*******

Saigiku Jouno was thinking. He was playing with his earring, and a small bell was jingling.

There were a man in the basement. Capitano. But, Jouno agreed with Tetchou, and called it a different name.

An abomination, that dared to hurt and scared you.

Hunting Dogs and Doctor Yosano just finished interrogating it. And Jouno didn't like what they have learned.

They broke the news to others.

Lovecraft left for a few minutes. He wanted to check the barn. Maybe, there was something else here. Something, that would hurt you.

Fyodor Dostoevsky and Dazai Osamu were whispering to each other. They spoke in some kind of code, and Jouno wasn't interested in trying to decipher it.

Captain Fukuchi, Mori and Fukuzawa were discussing what to do with Capitano, who still was in the basement, chained, with his limbs amputated.

Everyone was discussing with someone what to do next.

All conversations came to an end, when Lovecraft returned. He was holding a bucket, full of water. Jounou heard, that some sort of fish was swimming in it.

Steinbeck, who was standing next to the door, take a look at the fish. He raised his eyebrows.

"Where did you find this fish? I have never seen a fish like this."

Lovecraft put a bucket on the floor and answered.

"On the other side of the portal. In Teyvat."

Well, isn't it just great? They have a portal in a barn. Portal, that leads to the world, where His Firefly was tortured.

Dazai and Fyodor looked at each other. They exchanged a few more coded sentences. Dazai spoke, talking to everyone.

"Gave Fyodor and I a day or two. And we will have a plan. A plan, how to make them all pay..."

*******

That's how Jouno get here. He volunteered to spy on one of the Cathedrals. To understand this strange faith better.

_____

IV

Today was a nice day. Nothing strange has happened. Except for one incident.

The blind one, Jouno, fall into the compost pit we had in a Cathedral's fruit garden. What a klutz.

_____

Jouno's senses betrayed him. He couldn't focus on anything else, besides this horrible smell.

The stink, that came from "Creator".

This thing was hideous. Jouno wanted to puke, when they came near him. And almost thrown up, when it hugged him. Only a strong stomach and an ability to control himself didn't let him do it.

To cover that smell, Jouno jumped into the compost pit and now was taking a bath. The water was hot, almost boiling. He scrubbed his skin raw. To get rid of Creator's filth.

He tried to focus his thoughts on you.

On your heartbeat. On the sound of your breathing. They sound like a music to his ears.

On your scent. You always carry around a sweet aroma. It reminds Jouno of fresh fruits.

On your warmth. On nights you spend cuddling each other. On movie nights, when you were sandwiched between him and Tetchou. When your head was on his chest, and he can feel you near him.

Jouno sighs.

He should focus on finding new information.

He hoped, that it won't take much time.

_____

V

Today we had a visitor.

Kaeya Alberich, Calvary Captain of the Holy Knights of Mondstadt, visited the Cathedral. He was pleased with my job as a Captain.

Captain Kaeya brought gifts from Creator. With guards, he shared a few drinks. And some stories. My favorite one was about Captain Kaeya's involvement in punishing Dirty Sinner.

The alcohol made me see things. I saw the afterglow again. At night.

____

"Tell you about an Imposter? Why not. It was the day before their execution. The good people of Mondstadt did their best in showing Imposter it's place. But, there were one thing I couldn't stand. It still has two eyes. So, I came to them, took a dagger, and..."

_____

Jouno's blood boiled. He left the room, guards were in, and returned to a room he was allowed to stay. He deactivated his ability.

Doctor Yosano was the only one, who knew, what scars and wounds you had, when you returned. Jouno could only smell your blood, heard your weak heartbeat.

He wanted to learn about your injuries. So he can infect them on them.

But, Doctor Yosano refused to tell any details about your wounds.

And now, Jouno realized, why.

He wanted to do something.

Good thing, he hid some knives, before his mission truly started.

_____

VI

Two guards were found dead. They were disemboweled and left to lay on a throne, Creator sat on during their visits.

I don't understand, who could do this. None other guard have noticed anything suspicious.

Did someone from the inside did it?

We look through everyone's belongings. Search all rooms.

Nothing.

We couldn't find even the single clue.

~~~~~~

VII

Three sisters were found dead.

The room they were found was closed.

From the inside.

There's no logical explanation.

It would be impossible for a human to do this.

And who would dare to soil holly place!

Maybe, an Abyss Order isn't that loyal to Creator?

~~~~~~

VIII

Creator called for me. They are worried about what is happening in the Cathedral.

I accused Abyss Order.

The only reason I wasn't torn to shreds by an Abyss Lector was Their Holiness.

I am alive.

I am not a Captain anymore.

... two more corpses were found...

~~~~~~~

IX

Another corpse. Eights one this week. Still, nothing suspicious has happened. No one walked in, no one walked out.

Captain Kaeya has arrived. He will take over duties.

Interrogated everyone. Look through everyone's stuff.

Nothing suspicious.

Didn't bother to look through Jouno's stuff. He is harmless.

~~~~~~

XIX

Killer can't be stopped. They can get even in closed doors.

How? Why?

We didn't do anything wrong!

We are good people! We believe in Creator!

We have punished Dirty....

/The rest of the page is soaked in blood/

_____

Up. Down. Left. Up. Right. Down...

Two swords clashed again and again.

Kaeya's breathing was hard. He was tried.

Yet, he can't even land one hit on Jounou. Blind man was a skilled fighter. And he managed to dodge every Cryo attack.

Jouno was playing with Kaeya.

The Cathedral behind them was burning. Jounou wasn't attacking. He was only blocking Kaeya's attacks. Kaeya growled.

"Where did you come from, demon? How dared you to soil the holy land?"

Jouno didn't answer. He blocked the next hit.

'I am not a demon. I am a soldier. Besides, Fyodor won't like me taking his title.'

Up. Left. Up. Down. Right. Up. Left. Right. Kick. Cryo. Up. Down.

A loud shattering sound.

Kaeya didn't realize, that he got too close to the Cathedral. The same moment, the stained-glass window (the main decoration of the façade) shattered due to the heat. Glasses fell on Kaeya and Jouno.

Both became disorientated for a moment.

And Jouno recovered first.

______

Kaeya can't move.

His legs were pierced by Jouno's sword.

Jouno was sitting on Kaeya's chest. He had a dagger in his hands.

"Listen, to what I will say, Captain. Look at me, Captain. Scream, Captain. It is the last time you will see, hear or talk, Captain."

Jouno pointed a dagger at Kaeya's mouth.

_____

"Their name is [Y/N]. They are the kindest person in the world. They are interesting to talk with. We love to spend time with them. Yes, they aren't perfect. They aren't fake as this thing you put on a throne. They are real. They have faults. Sometimes we argue. But we will always make up. And we will burn everyone, who dared to touch them."

______

Jouno left Kaeya at the Cathedral's remains.

It was time for him to return home.

After getting his backpack, full of stolen holy texts and fruits he picked up in the wild, Jouno was on his way to the sea shore.

Lovecraft was waiting for him.

Together they will get back to the portal.

_____

You heard loud stomping sounds behind you. The next moment, a pair of hands hugged you from behind. Jouno pick up a habit to be loud, when he approaches you. He didn't want to scare you.

"Hello. I missed you, My Firefly."

You tilted your head slightly and rubbed your nose against Jouno's cheek.

"Hi... Are you okay?"

Jouno nodded.

"I am. Don't worry. Up for some Bulle Fruits, Apples and Sunsettias?"

You nodded and let Jouno lead you to the kitchen.

"I will do anything for your safety. Even if it means to do something drastic."

_____

In the next few weeks, near Creator's Shrine of Liyue a blind man was found.

A harmless blind man named Jouno.

______

Tag list: @withered-blossoms , @myluckymoon @cocodrilofeliz

[iamdarkness]

Iris

Chapter 6.

Friend.

Alfonse and Sharena meet a dear friend and teacher.

Zacharias carried Alfonse into one the infirmary tents, followed closely by Feraht who carried a protesting Bel. She had been hit with various spells and was unaware of her bleeding from various places besides her twisted ankle. He could hear Feraht quietly telling her that her ankle was already too swollen to put weight on it and that it was not a problem to carry her as she was not heavy at all.

Zacharias laid Alfonse on one of the cots next to a blond girl that could not be too much older than his own sister Veronica. She looked feverish as well. He felt a knot in his stomach at the mental image of his little sister laying on the cot hurt and in the same condition. Without giving it too much thought he sat in between the cots and brushed away the blond hair sticking to the feverish face. The green eyes tried to open but failed. If they had not arrived in time , those monsters would be in possession of these children and who knows what they would be doing to them. He had been told what the cult had done, including child sacrifices. His breath caught in his throat and he swallowed hard.

-Sharena too?- He hears Bel ask worriedly.

-Yes Mam and Bertha. You were lucky to only get the scrapes and cuts. Although the foot does look very bad. - Said the lancer Aleen to her. Indeed the foot looked so swollen , the healer was having trouble taking her boot off. It had a bump the size of a tomato. Zacharias wondered about the familiarity the servant talked to the Lady. Bel nodded at the lancer, then looking to the healer who was checking her for internal bleeding. She asked.

-Can you please fix it enough to walk a little? I need to check up on my daughter if you don’t mind.

- I can go ask Lord Andreas my lady. I also need to report.- Said Feraht.

-My lady since you are being tended to. Please give me leave to take Gudrum to the healers. He was hurt in the posses of defending the young lady Sharena and refused to be seen until you arrived safe.

-Please take him to the healer!- Bel exclaimed. Aleen went out the tent.

-Your retainer is right My Lady.- The healer said after a magic scan.- You are lucky. All your wounds are superficial and the ankle will heal in a short period after I fix it. It is a blessing it is not broken.-She paused and looked at the lady smiling.- And the best of all is that your pregnancy was not affected. Congratulations.

-Eh..mm…Pregnancy? How…how long…how far along?

-You did not know? Let me see…Umm…Ah! It is still very early… Little wonder you still did not know. I would say three weeks. I am surprised you are fine after falling off of a horse my…My lady?- The healer stopped. Bel was trembling like a leaf and an instant later she hear her sobbing.

-A baby…He left me a baby…Thank you…- Bel said but the healer was not sure if she was talking to her or her fallen husband. Being Emblan, the healer had forgotten who her husband was and what had happened to him. Now she felt awkward and a little ashamed to have just blurted out the information.

-My condolences Lady Andreas. I... Am so sorry...- The healer finally said and after checking on Alfonse and tending to his needs exited the tent to help with the rest of the patients. As much as she would have wanted to stay and help the lady there was a lot of work to do.

Zacharias watched saddened, as Bel turned to the sleeping Alfonse and changed the cloth on his brow, still crying softly. She then turned to watch Sharena and figured she wanted to do the same to her but was too far away and across the boy Alfonse and in her state she could not.

-I can take care of her. Do not worry.

-Thank you. You seem very good with children.

-I have a little sister. I am sorry about your husband. I met him days before the last battle started. He was a great warrior and a good man.

-Yes he was…and a good parent too.

-Yes. He was talking about you and your little girl. Seemed to miss you a lot and I could tell he was happy to be able to see you again.

-Ah…it was that night. What are you to Lord…

-Zacharias? - The both of them turned when they heard the voice coming from the tent entrance. It was the Baron.- Lady Andreas. Lord Andreas need to talk to you both together.

-The children need to be taken care of.- Said Zacharias with a knitted brow.

-Of course.- Said the Baron and in that instant he looked almost servile. He looked back outside of the tent and called out to the healer.- You will care for the children and Lady Andreas exclusively. Do you understand? They are not to be alone for any circumstances! Who knows if there’s still vermin around.

-Yes My Lord.

Saying this the Baron and Zacharias helped Bel out of the tent and into one of the rooms of the nearest houses that turned out to be an Inn. Inside Lord Andreas waited for them.

The baron and Zacharias helped her into a chair and made to go outside but was stopped by the Lord.

-Please stay. It is better to get on with this matter first while we are in a better state of mind.- The Lord of the Mountains said to the two. They looked at each other and sat around the table that had been placed in the room. Lord Andreas then turned to Bel.- Daughter. I… I apologize for having to bring you here in your state and making the Lords bring you. I am sure you will understand this is a delicate matter that can not be discussed where other people may intrude.

-It is fine father. Go on.

-This matter was discussed with Alfonse and his Majesty King Gustav before the attacks. This young man presented to you as Zacharias is in truth one of the heirs to the Emblan throne Prince Bruno. He was the one that closed the gate so the attackers would not pursue Deana and Oly. Indeed as illegitimate as his birth is, he along with his sister are the only hers with the gift of the Goddess Embla. This is what matters in Emblan Society to legitimize the claims to the throne. As it is only the line of the first Queen and King that can carry the gifts.

-I see…Wait…Alfonse …- Bel started confused, but stopped as it may be a delicate matter. Bel remembered that Alfonse had said that he had fought at the last battle and it had been him who had struck the final blow that killed the late emperor who would have been Bruno's father and first cousin to the Empress. This had been the reason Alfonse had been made general of all the armed forces of Askr so early in his life. The Empress had married obscenaly fast to a noble and had bore him a daughter soon after. She remembered Alfonse telling her the late man had a bastard son product of an infidelity and Bel understood why the Empress was not so sad by his passing.

- That is a talk for later times daughter.- Adrien told her thinking she meant to ask why her husband and himself could open portals. He cleared his throat and went on.-As I was saying the situation of his birth and the gift had made for conspiracies among the rest of the line to the throne, has put at risk his life.

- Some of the nobles think I want to harm my own sister for the place on the throne, which is the furthest from the truth. They think that because I was the result of my late father’s indiscretion I have no familial link with her and no love between us.

-With this in mind a plan was made to hide him away. As he has lived most of his life in province with a handful of people as company. This include his sister to whom he has served as a magic teacher and the Baron; so most nobles have never seen him. This helps his situation greatly. The plan was to say that he was exiled by the Empress to appease the nobles. While he is safe in our care. Gustav agreed with this plan and Alfonse volunteered to host him in our home as if he was one of our distant relatives.

-Oh! If Alfonse agreed then, I agree. I saw you with Sharena…- She said to Bruno.- I can see they do not know you. Of course they still would want you out of the way. Does this mean you forfeit your place to the throne?

-If it was up to me, it would my lady, but the gift ensures the place even when I do not desire it and I will use it if it means saving my sister.- Those words were said in a solemn tone but Bel could see the sentiment behind them in his expressive violet eyes.

-For now it is better for you to be out of harm’s way. Welcome to the family. Alfonse may be gone but father and I will make sure you are safe.- She says smiling. Bruno thanks her smiling.- He is going back to the mountains with us then father? And the Baron as well?

- Yes. For now only Zacharias will remain with us. Having the Baron as guest may attract suspicion, but he is going to be living close by.

-Yes my lady with your father’s help I will be able to buy a state near the sea on the East side of the mountains. It will be close enough to the border…for appearance’s sake.

- Oh…otherwise they will think you were truly a spy…- The man nods.

-And I can keep an eye on the situation in Embla and the prince. In other words: Spy.- He says smiling.- But for a good reason. After all. I have known the Askr nobles and the idea the people have of them in the empire is preposterous. I trust them, but those who do not know them believe all kinds of lies told to them by the late Emperor’s sympathizers.

- I am afraid the Empire has fallen under a wave of corruption that will make it difficult to wash away. War seems more imminent as time goes by.- Says Zacharias and he looks troubled and sad.

- We will have time to plan something your Highness. Your safety is the utmost importance as of now. I will go and prepare for our departure as soon as you think if most convenient Lord Andreas.

-There are not many wounded and as much as I do not want to move the children they will be better cared for at the castle; so you will be going back as soon as possible. Do you agree daughter.

-Yes. Henriette and Gustav need to know and be there for them as much as they can.

-Then that matter is settled.

-We will be on our way. Your Highness?- The Baron said and indicated for both of them to leave. Bruno nodded and followed him out.

- A question before you go?- Bel asks turning to the retreating pair.- What does Embla know about what the Hel Cult wanted with us?

-The official report I sent to the capital was that they wanted to help Hel get revenge on both kingdoms. I have already talked you your late husband and Lord Andreas about what we knew. - At this the Baron looked at Lord Andreas. They bad discussed the matter previously. The Baron and the prince had realized the truth of what it meant to the late General, that the target was his wife and his young cousin and had made away with the evidence and had silenced the people who knew about it besides themselves. They knew how volatile this information could be and how it would be used in Embla against these innocent people.- We decided to leave the information about you and the heir of the King out of the report. We do not want more trouble to come to you from the sympathizers in the Empire. - At this Bruno assented. He hated to lie but he had been told that the Lady was not aware of who the real heir of Líf was and what it meant for her. He had agreed that all of the information about it had to be hidden away or destroyed.

- Do not worry my lady. You are safe and so will your dear ones.- Said Bruno.

-Thank you…Zacharias.- Bel said to get used to the name.

After the pair left, the Lord made a long pause before speaking.

- Daughter. I have been briefed about the incident…there is no easy day to inform you.. - He sighs and Bel could see he looked…defeated? Sad? Nervous?. Bel was worried. The man never showed so much feelings.- We do not know where Deana went.

- What? You didn’t have this planned? I though…- She started. She was crying now and was trying her best not to fall into hysteric. She knew her father was smart and would find out where Deana had gone. At least she wanted to believe so.

-No. I was not informed she could open portals. Henriette failed to tell us if you remember.- Bel nodded but she had thought he at least had been informed.- I sent Feraht and other mages to check the residual magic and I will go as well. After all… If I can open the portals I may be able to tell where the portal led...Deana may still be able to return…although…

-Feraht said she could not have made it…My poor baby…alone…in a strange place…Father we can not leave until we find out!…But the children…

- I will stay. Worry not.- The man said kneeling by her feet and taking her hands in his.- I will do all it takes to find our little girl. Go with the children. They are in our care and I know you will protect them. I do not expect another attack this early with so many of them killed.

-I will take care of them father. I gave my word and I want them safe…besides we have Zacharias to keep safe as well….- She paused and then added.- Father…please do find out where Oly went… I want her with us when the baby is born.- She said and smiled through the silent tears. Adrien looked surprised and then overwhelmed by the different conflicting feelings he cried silently. He had lost his only son whom he had resented all of his life for the death of his wife. The gilt he felt and sadness at not being able to make it up to him had consumed him the last coupled of years and now he was lost and in the worst possible way. He knew his son was not only dead, but he suffered and there was nothing he could do to help him. And now he had lost his granddaughter. He had promised his son that should something happen to him, he would keep his daughter safe. He had failed at everything. Yet here her daughter has given him hope. The hope of a new life. A blessing.

-Daughter. We are blessed.- He said and embraced her.

[Line break]

Bel went back to the castle at Djuprgat. Zacharias and her were caring for Sharena and Alfonse. Her foot was useless still but she could manage by sitting by Sharena inside the wagon on the way back. It took them less time because they were not resting at all. They all knew the importance. They reached the city the next day. A messenger had been sent and Henriette was waiting for them.

Even in the infirmary Bel and Zacharias would not leave the siblings. Gustav had come to see them a couple of times and Henriette passed all of her free time with them. It was not much and already the preparations were being made to depart to the capital where other matters were waiting for the royal couple. Bel and Zacharias would stay along with the children and Lady Klara.

Henriette had informed Gustav about Deana and he who had always been courteous to her, but never warm had understood Deana’s desire to remain hidden, he still had lamented not knowing her better.

Alfonse woke up completely on the third day. Bel had gone to get evaluated again when this happened. Zacharias who was reading a book about local history had felt the stare and turned to see the boy looking intensely at him. The gaze seemed to be signalizing him. Zacharias arched an eyebrow.

-You are in the infirmary.

-I know.

-..because you were attacked and were feverish for days.

-Are you a healer?

-No.

- I saw your face…many times… in dreams…

-You were coming in and out of your unconsciousness frequently. My name is…

-You felt warm…- Alfonse said almost in a whisper mostly in recollection.-You stayed with me all this time. Why?

-I..with you and your sister. You are correct. Cousin Bel has been…

-Sharena? Is she alright? Where is she?- Alfonse suddenly exclaimed looking around until his frenetic eyes landed on the figure on the bed across the room. He tried to get up but was still too weak to do so.

-She has not come out of her sleep but is otherwise in good condition. You were more hurt by the fall and the spells. We still don’t know what they hit you with. What do you remember?- Alfonse seemed reassured by the news. He turned and remained a while with his eyes closed.

- I…I don’t remember much…Except that we were going to the mountains I suppose to visit cousin Alfonse, Bel and Oly. - The boy said trying to remember. Zacharias’s brows furrowed at the mention of the fallen general.- No…he… he died, didn’t he?- Zacharias nodded but the child had his eyes still closed.- We were attacked in the castle but I do not know by whom…..He died by our tree…Then we were attacked on the way to the mountains…but I can’t remember…What happened?… Was it Embla?… Are we at war with them again so soon?…I just…The only thing I remember is …your face telling me I would be alright… That I was safe…

- I suppose, the theory was right. You were hit with multiple spells before Cousin Bel covered you with her body. Probably a combination of memory and stunning spells. She was not hit herself by sheer luck.

-I see…Who are you? You have called Lady Andreas “cousin” twice.- Alfonse now looked at Zacharias with suspicion.

- A little late to ask names. Don’t you think? - He says eyes twinkling. Zacharias was not the kind to be joking lightly but Alfonse had just woken up from a horrible experience and he wanted to make him feel at ease.- But I suppose there were more pressing matters and no room for courtesy from the prince of our nation.

-Prince..I…I apologize. I was worried about my sister.- Alfonse blushed a little.

-Understandable. I was jesting your highness. My name is Zacharias. I am a distant relative of Lord Andreas. - Zacharias said smiling and proceeded to tell the boy the story they had come up with as cover. On the telling Zacharias argued with himself about whether to tell Alfonse all the missing memories about the incident. He decided to talk to Bel before doing it.

-So you will be living with us now?… I mean with cousin Bel?- Alfonse amended and he blushed again by the mistake.

-Yes. By the way. I will have to leave you for a while she has been gone too long and may need help coming back.

-Why? Is she hurt or Oly? Is Oly alright!?

-I…-Zacharias saw the boy seemed alarmed and decided to try and calm him down.- Cousin Bel twisted her ankle very badly but she is fine. I am not sure where Oly is right now.- He said avoiding Alfonse’s eyes.

-Oh…I suppose she is playing somewhere. She is always so happy…

==I do hope so too…wherever she is.== Zacharias thought but said nothing as he went out the door to talk to Bel.

[Line break]

Alfonse stood looking at the distant mountains. His father figure was gone, his best friend had disappeared and his memories were not back. Cousin Bel and Uncle Andreas had explained to him what had happened.

Bel had not agreed on not telling at least Alfonse the truth about Hel but the boy was still not her child and so she had to help lie to him about the attack. Gustav and Henriette wanted their kids to grow up nightmare free and Bel could understand that but she also understood that cultists would not give up on their efforts and and she was sure there were more and very powerful members still around. She wanted them to be ready like she always did. She was a worrier and her motto was always “Hope for the best and prepare for the worst”.

Alfonse had been told that it had been a rouge Emblan revel group who supported the ideals of the late Emperor. He was a war mongering man who wanted to gain more land and was partial to hostilities with Askr. The war had waged for years. Bel had been a newly wed when Alfonse had gone to the last battle and had killed the late Emperor.

Adrien had come two days after Alfonse and Sharena who also had forgotten many details about the attack and told them, Oly was lost in where he thought was the World of Steel. This was later confirmed when Zacharias who had been very close to the attacker had seen something inside the portal that after drawing a sketch turned out to be, the rear end of a car with a licence plate that as Bel had said, was of European origin.

Bel had been inconsolable and her only outlet was to take care of Sharena, Alfonse and Zacharias whom she had taken as her protegee. Alfonse would have felt jealous if he had not seen her cry so long and him console her so tenderly, just as Alfonse would his own sister.

The only good that had come out of this in Alfonse’s opinion was that Bel was having a baby. He swore to himself to get stronger and protect the child, since he had not been strong enough to protect his best friend Oly.

He looked back at the training ground where Zacharias was instructing his sister on how to use the lance. Zacharias was a mysterious youth. He talked about himself seldom and Bel had hinted it was because of the situation of his birth. Alfonse understood even thought he had no problem with it, but he thought that given time Zacharias would come around and open himself to them. After all he seemed like a lonely person who cherished the right company. Zacharias was ever close to either Bel, his sister or himself. Even more than his now retainer and instructor Einar. Bel had asked his mother before they had gone away to the capital, if it would be alright for Sharena to be trained not just as a hobby like most members of high society were but, just like Alfonse had been trained. Trained to be a warrior. Her mother had agreed but Sharena had not wanted another instructor that was not Zacharias. Zacharias had agreed to train her himself.

The youth had proved to be a very proficient and patient instructor in Alfonse’s opinion. He new well how to deal with Sharena’s extra energy and enthusiasm. Specially now that she wanted to train physically but was limited to theory and strategy because of her resent ordeal. He made the teachings fun and engaging so the princess was always attentfull and even Alfonse himself would be interested in the lessons. So much so in fact that he had asked for sparring cessions with the blond man when he felt wholly recovered.

- Thinking of Oly?- Alfonse heard Zacharias’s voice behind him. He turned to see Bel and Sharena’s retreating backs Zacharias then added.. - We are taking a break. Sharena is very enthusiastic but she needs to take a rests. They have gone to bring lunch and tea.- Alfonse nodded.

- Yes. I am still thinking on how we are going to rescue her. Great uncle Andreas has taken fault at her disappearance…but I know it would not have been him who opened the portal to the world of Steel. I do not recall much but I know he was not with us and he would have known where he had sent them. So who opened the portal? Was it Oly? That would make sense. Cousin Alfonse could open portals and she should be able to do so too. And if it was her…where did she go? How are we ever to find her location even if we know she is in the World of Steel? How would we know at what point in modern history she arrived to? And even if we open the portal at the precise location who can guarantee that Oly would still be anywhere near?- Alfonse sounded more desperate with each question that came out of his mouth. Zacharias felt very bad about it and considered telling him what he had heard by mistake when he was going to the infirmary to take Bel to have breakfast. He looked back at Alfonse and saw the unshed tears and the strength he was using to not let them fall. Zacharias looked back and then around to see if no one was hearing him.

-Alfonse. I know we have met but recently; yet the circumstances of our meeting have been …special and I consider you, Sharena and Bel to be very dear to me already. I have not met much people with such good heart towards me that were not part of my family and all of this despite of the tragedies you all have lived through and your titles. You have taken me in as part of your family; so I feel that you are becoming part of mine own…indeed…at this time you are all I have in this Kingdom.- Zacharias said and he was not lying. The children and Bel had taken him in as if he had always been part of their circle or immediate family. This was something that not only moved him personally but that gave him hope for the future of both nations, but also scared him much. He felt that he needed to protect the children and teach them about the world. It was great that they were this good but it was a danger for people in their position. He had decided that these children were a light that needed to be protected for the world to be a better place and that they needed to become the regents of the land, not only for Askr but for Embla as well. So at that moment he swore to protect the children even from himself. He only lamented that his sister would not grow up with such influence and company.

-I…have never had a friend that was not someone who wanted influence or was part of the family…indeed I have never have and actual friend. Cousin Andreas was my mentor and cousin Bel is more like an older sister and mother figure and Oly- He sighs and pauses.- .…I confess I am not much for being close to people…exactly for this reason. It hurts so much when they leave you or when they disappear…but I too feel…a bond of sorts with you… as does my sister of course. I may be bold enough to say I see you as a true friend. -Alfonse said blushing because it was taking a lot for him to confess such feelings to Zacharias. Something that were it some one else he would not have voiced, but Zacharias had proven in the short amount of time to be not only a good person, but a hones one too. He had passed Alfonse’s scrutiny and he had seen the sincerity of his feelings for them. He also saw how he treated others who were considered beneath him and his kindness to them pleased Alfonse.

- Friends then?- Asks the older male and offered Alfonse a hand. Alfonse looked at it and felt something inside him that he never felt before. Trust. The trust of one friend to another. A kind of brotherhood he never thought he would feel given his title and situation. And fear. A fear that he felt was worth the risk.

-Friends.- Alfonse said taking Zacharias’ hand and smiled shyly. - And… I talk for my sister who I know quite well feels the same way I do.

Zacharias smile broadened. - In the name of this new found friendship I want to ask if you could accompany me tonight. There is much I would like to talk to you about and I need for you to listen to.- Alfonse nodded and agreed to meet later that evening after dinner. Sharena would not be able to go of course being younger and having to go rest by the healer’s advice.

[ Line break]

Zacharias’ mind kept coming back to Bel’s words as he walked along the paved garden road and he could not help but agree with them.

= We should tell Alfonse at the very least father. This is going to come bite our butt…rear in the future! Mark my words. I do not believe Hel will stay with arms crossed or that her followers were all defeated. You know it as well as I do. If they come at a point when Alfonse is in a vulnerable position it will be a disaster father!Whatever Henriette will come to talk about tonight regarding Oly should be known to him as well.== Bel had said.

-Alfonse This morning when I arrived at the infirmary to accompany cousin Bel to breakfast I noticed the maid had left the door open and…I accidentally overheard something. I am not one to overheard conversations but as I was leaving I heard cousin Bel arguing very passionately with uncle Andreas about something that may concern Oly and the others may not want you to know. I confess I was rooted to the spot and could not move for the impression of her words.

-What was it?

- I do not know and neither do they. What I heard was that tonight there will be a meeting in the small office in the Library. The one near the secret study, they found not long ago. Your parents will come to talk about something they know about, that will help the efforts to rescue Oly. Cousin Bel wants you to know but uncle Andreas said he was sure your parents would not want you to know. I may be wrong for telling you this, but I am of the same opinion as cousin Bel and think you are responsible enough to know whatever secret they have to share. I know no more but that piece of information I heard…I …could not stay and hear more as you can understand. As soon as I recovered my wits I left.

-I see. They came all the way from the capital…It must be very important. When will this take place?

-At midnight, When you and Sharena are sure to be asleep.

- We better go to bed early then.-Alfonse said and proceeded to plan their move.

[Line break]

-Alfonse…I should not be here. - Zacharias said quietly behind Alfonse who slowly walked through a darkened tunnel guided by a dim crystal lamp. Said tunnel had started in the garden and it was damp and mouldy. It branched a couple of times in different directions some downwards and some upwards. It was just big enough for three persons at start but now that the tunnel had branched upwards the walls looked dry and dusty and big enough for just one big person to fit. Zacharias had seen various places where the wall had some designs carved unto them and some of them looked like they could move but had not been used in a long time.- Where is this place? Inside the castle?- He whispered afraid of the amplified sound.

-Don’t worry. No one will hear you here.- Alfonse said.

==That is not reassuring in the least.== Thought Zacharias. Bruno as Zacharias had adopted a way of talking more informal so as to seem more like a person that had grown in the country and it made him feel more freedom to express himself.

- These tunnels run along some of the wall of the castle and were designed to be sound proof by my ancestor to be a escape route in case of invasion. Except the tunnel collapsed long ago before going far enough to be safely outside the castle. That is why we could not have used it during the Emblan attack …but mostly they have been forgotten by everyone and this makes them secure enough to navigate.

-Wait no one knows about these? How did you find them out?

-I..- Alfonse paused.- I found an old map in the secret library. The day they found us I think. As soon as I could, I came to investigate.

-By yourself? When?

-The days before and after the funeral. Everyone has been too busy to notice I was not practising violin.

-Now I understand why cousin Bel is always checking up on you…- Zacharias said between his teeth and a little grumpily. He was starting to understand why his parents may not want him to know something that may peek his curiosity. Alfonse seemed a little too adventurous for a prince. In a way almost careless. - What if you had gotten yourself lost?

-I had my map.

-What if there was another collapse?

-Unlikely. The collapsed part of the tunnel was built in a less sturdy kind of rock and probably collapsed due to corrosion of the wooden pillars or some other cause.

-But Alfonse… still! You could have run into something …dangerous like a…- Zacharias started but stopped when he heard a quiet laugh.

- You sound like cousin Bel.- Alfonse said looking back at the teen with sparking eyes.

-She is rubbing off on me is she not?- Zacharias said smiling fondly.

-She worries…but it is understandable…- Alfonse started and went quiet.- Here. We are almost there…mm…behind this panel.- He added and clicked on an ornamental carving in the middle. There was a pop and a grumble and a piece of the wall opened to reveal wooden paneling and a mechanism to open a door. On it there was a smaller one that looked like a peeping hole but big enough to put a hand through. When Alfonse opened it, they found it was blocked by a material that looked like canvas but was actually see through. - They are not here yet.

-We better keep quiet just in case they can her us now.- Said Zacharias sitting himself on the floor next to the dim lamp, while Alfonse kept watch. He took this moment to think about how he was going to tell Alfonse who he really was and what he was doing here in Askr and explain to him that his feelings for him and his sister were sincere despite the falseness of his meeting. He wanted Alfonse to know everything about him and never lie to him ever again. He felt like a hypocrite sitting here on the floor while Alfonse was confiding in him such secrets.

Zacharias was lost in thought when he heard voices coming from the other side of the wall. He reincorporated himself to stand by Alfonse who scooted away to give him room to see inside.

The first one to enter the parlour was Henriette followed by Bel and Adrien. Behind them walked Gustav. The man looked grim and pale and was holding his left side as if he was in pain but as soon as Henriette turned around he composed himself and let go of it and closed the door. When he turned around he looked stern and cold as if he had never felt pain. Zacharias saw this and noticed Alfonse had not because he was busy inspecting the canvas-like material.

The group in the parlour exchanged some pleasantries as Gustav had been busy and had not been able to meet with Bel and Adrien to discus the situation. This had angered Alfonse who thought his father was starting to act like his late grandfather and perceived Oly’s disappearance as a lesser problem. In truth Gustav was afraid to face the two. Shame was still fresh inside his heart and although he had felt the loss as much as everyone else he felt himself responsible for not being able to do much and felt he had failed his cousin once again.

-Bel. Adrien. We have called you here to offer our help. Henriette has told me Oly has been sent to The World Of Steel. Although I could never fathom the depth of your loss I want to reassure you both that I feel it as well in my heart. My dear cousin did not need to tell me to look after you for me to take a vow of responsibility and I have failed him once again.- Gustav said gravely and Alfonse’s mouth opened a little by surprise.- I am sorry.

-It wasn’t your fault Gustav. But I know how you feel. He…asked me to protect her and I could not…I was the one who failed him and the children…The only thing I have left is to search for a way to get to her…and care for the baby inside me. Father says he can’t open a portal to the world of Steel because it has never been done by anyone before.

-That is correct. No living human can open a portal to that world. It is forbidden and impossible for us who can open portals. However there is a way.- Gustav said, then added.- But I must have your word that this information will not leave this room.

-A way?- Asks Adrien with furrowed brows.

-Yes Adrien. A way not even you know about. A way that is forbidden for anyone else to use …Indeed it is forbidden under penalty of death to know about… Only the direct heir of the King and their spouse shall know along with the Guardians of the Way. The sentinels.- Gustav paused and then added.- Given the unique situation of our family and the promise I made to myself and my cousin to care for you; I will share this information. Bel you are as of now a heir to the throne via Alfonse.

-Gustav!- Henriette said and covered her mouth.

Zacharias had read the report about Bel and prince Alfonse. He knew just like Adrien and the late general that the Hel cult believed the two to be soulmates; so hearing this he understood what the King meant. He also Knew Alfonse and Bel themselves did not know this. He looked sideways at his friend and saw surprise on his face but knew it was at the title being given to her.

-And you Adrien as her father.- He added without looking at Henriette. Bel looked confused and Adrien looked angry. Zacharias knew the general knew what Gustav meant but as much as both of them hated it, they needed the help now. He also knew that the older man was just not ready to tell Bell the truth. He also knew Bel would be furious with the idea of becoming the young prince’s wife.

- I don’t understand. Is it because Alfonse and Adrian can open portals like the heirs of Líf?- Bel asked clearly confusing “Alfonse” for her husband. Gustav looked surprised at her. He looked reluctant to speak and Zacharias wondered if Gustav had planned on telling her the truth at that moment.

-Yes dear. Generations ago twins were born and both of them had the gift.- She said quickly, seeing the blessed way out. Gustav turned then to his wife, anger in his eyes, but said nothing. This proved to Zacharias that his theory was right. The King wanted Bel to know the truth but was thwarted by the Queen.

-Our family had the same right to the throne as the first born twin’s, but the the law was written so that when twins are born; the first born would be regent. To dissuade any risen conflict the second born twin acquires the title of Guardian of the Crown and thus his claim to the crown is forfeited and passed as a auxiliary regent in case of emergencies or death of the Original line. Which we are in charge of defending. This is the reason every single member of our family has had military training and is considered the Royal bodyguards. It is a great honor to us.

==So the part about the twins was truth. Seems a better system than the Emblan one.== The thought of making this into a law in the empire was but a quick passing one against all the information he was privy to.

-Oh! I see. No one better to def fend the original line than the brother bound to serve the crown by honor and family pride. That way there is no backstabbings.

- Bluntly put but correct.- Said Gustav nodding.- And now your line will be given our most guarded secret. I hope you are aware of the amount of trust we are bestowing upon you.

-I will guard the secret with my life as you well know it.

- I completely understand Gustav. Askr is my home and I love its people. I will keep the secret with my life.

Zacharias backed away from the peeping hole stunned by the sudden realization of his situation. He felt guilty about being here, privy to secrets not meant to be heard by other people. And under penalty of death. His position in the line of the Emblan throne would not help his situation but make it worse still for himself. He would be branded as a spy and taken into custody and put in jail. His sister would be left unprotected and made a puppet to the other nobles. He would loose the trust and friendship of the people that he had come to love as his family; and what was worst is that his imprisonment would be used to start the war even when the nobles hated him.

- I should not be here…- He whispered. He tried walking away but was held up by Alfonse’s hand.

-You will get lost.

-We should go Alfonse.

-Shh…They will hear us!- Alfonse said and turned back to the hole. Zacharias backed away to the edge of the light , sat down and as he was about to put his hands on his ears he heard it.

- …it is imperative Bel that the Emblan prince does not acquire this knowledge… Or Alfonse. He may be your…- Gustav paused when Henriette placed a hand on his arm.-…friend but he is too young and too adventurous to know right now. He will know when he comes of age or when the need arises to make use of it. Which I hope it’s never. - The stern voice of the now King said with an edge to it. Zacharias’ eyes widen with fear and surprise. Of course he was the least person they wanted to inform. It was obvious, but that was not what he was afraid of. He was afraid they would say who he was and he had to explain to Alfonse now that he had heard such a thing. How would he explain to Alfonse? His friend would never believe anything he said anymore and it would looked now like he had used Alfonse to get to hear this information. He knew how it looked like now. He sat on the floor as far away from the “window”as he could,waiting for Alfonse to confront him about it, while inside the room the secret he was not supposed to hear was told. He covered his ears and closed his eyes hoping for the best.

-What do you mean two portals to the World of Steel? I thought it was impossible?

-Not impossible. Forbidden. Let me explain. Back in the time of the First King Líf when our ancestor had just been crowned King by his people. Lord Askr himself walked the land and they were friends. This was the time Lord Askr himself gave his most beloved of friends the way to defend this land and the people he loved so much. He gave the now King the sacred weapon Breidablik. With the sacred weapon Lord Askr himself reached to another world and called the person who would become new guardian of the land. That person would be the only one to be able to wield the sacred weapon and call an army of heroes to defend the new kingdom. She was the first Summoner of Askr.

-Like me.

-Yes. And like you this person came from a world not tied in fate to ours. It is said that the World of Steel guards the lore and secrets of the Gods and so it is forbidden to go there. Those worlds we can open portals to are the worlds tied in fate to us. Lord Askr then opened two ways to her world so that she may come and go if she so pleased. He asked of us to guard them and to never open another portal to this world. We guard the portal we know about. The other has been lost for a long time. The new capital was build with the thought of guarding what used to be the Northern Sanctuary of the Way. The portal is next to the throne room…and not one person knows it is there.

-So that is why the capital was moved?- Asked Adrien.

-It was attacked centuries ago by Embla. They thought we guarded the sacred weapon there.

-I see…Wait…if no one of you can open the way to the World of Steel why was Deana able to open the portal there?

- According to our research. The World of Steel can only be reached by one who has already been there or by Lord Askr himself. The reason we are not permitted to go or to open portals to that world any more is of course because every portal opened is a liability to your world since we can not close them and we can not guard them all. This is the reason I have never gone, but it seems Deana went inside herself in secret. Which must have been a very difficult task given the magic and human guards in place. We are still investigating her intentions and Deana was not an adventurous woman. As my bast…-Gustav paused and closed his eyes; then proceeded.- As my half sister I suppose it was out of curiosity rather than actual malicious intent.

-I wholeheartedly agree.- Adds Henriette placing a hand gently over Gustav’s arm. Alfonse paid no attention to that part. He was too stunned to do so. Deana was his aunt and they had never told them. He thought it was so like his grandfather to hide such a thing and thank Lord Askr that he had had the chance to know her. She had always been kind and loving to them and now he knew why.

- So if father goes once, he can open portals there after, but is forbidden to do so?

- Correct. But Bel there is no need for more portals to be open either way. There is a post in the World of Steel. The Guardians of the Way take turns to live there and they report to us, but of course they do not divulge any of this information to anyone else. They will be the ones to search for Oly but you are welcome to go as well as you Adrien. Just remember. I advise that you let them search first. If they are not successful and you are safe to travel then you can join them. I tell you Bel not only because you are the mother but because unlike Adrien you are in a better position to navigate the world and their technology.- Bel nodded at this. Adrien did not like it but he agreed as well. He was not fit for that job and he was needed here in case of another attack.- I warn you. At the beginning we were told to guard the way to protect your world, of our magic, but now…

-I understand.

-So now you understand why we do not want Alfonse to know about this or for more portals leading there to be open?

-Damn Gustav! If you have heard half the stuff I know about our world you would know I never in all my life would let Alfonse step on the World of Steel! Or anyone there to know about Askr…Magic and all…You would not last long…

-So I have heard.- He nodded solemnly.

In the tunnel Alfonse was no longer listening. He backed away and looked down to Zacharias in horror. Watching his now friend sitting on the floor, eyes closed and hands on his ears Alfonse felt a wave of relief wash over him. For a moment he was afraid for him. He knew that if it was known that they had heard the conversation he would surely be in trouble but Zacharias would not run with the same luck. Alfonse carefully closed the window and then the mechanism in the wall. All along Zacharias did not move. Once Alfonse knew they were safe he approached his friend and touched his arm to get his attention hoping he did not look as scared as he felt.

Zacharias’ eyes widen in surprise at the gentle touch.He looked up at Alfonse with trepidation but did not see anger in the boy’s eyes, only fear.

-Alfonse…- He started but pause to make sure it was safe for them to talk.- I should not have been here!

-We should not have…but it is done. At least you did not hear the rest…

-Nor do I want to know.Alfonse. Look at me.- Zacharias said and took Alfonse’s shoulder in his hands to look him in the eyes.- No matter what happens to me. I swear to you no one will know what I know. I vow to you that I will not only take this information to my grave but I will do whatever I can to keep you and Sharena safe from anyone, including myself. You have my word.

-Zacharias…I…I thank you…I swear no one will know you heard it. You have my word. As long as I live you will be safe I pro..- Alfonse started but was cut short by Zacharias.

-NO.- Zacharias said firmly and sternly.- You can not promise me this Alfonse.

-But…

-I thank the sentiment, but you are now a prince. Promise me that if it comes to choosing your people, Sharena, you or I… You will choose always you and your people. Promise me.

-I…I promise you.

[Line break]

Days pass and Alfonse can see the strain Bel is in with the pregnancy, and the weight of the search she can not talk about. It breaks his heard to see her try to be as normal as she could to make their lives happy. He knew she was wearing a mask mostly around Sharena who was younger and had had resented the loss of her favorite playmate. He still had not analyze his own loss. He could not. Every time he tried to let himself mourn her loss the image of his grandfather saying he was too weak to be his heir came to his mind. But mostly he could not bear the pain he felt every time he remembered her and the thought of never seeing her again came to his mind.

Zacharias’s presence helped him a lot even when Alfonse could see the teen had burdens himself. Alfonse did not want to bother his friends with questionings as he was afraid he could lose his friendship and tried to let him come and talk to him on his own time. Still he wondered at his sadness and the way he had clung to Sharena and himself as if they had been a salvation to the older teen. He could sense the same kind of loneliness he himself had grown up with. This made him appreciate Sharena’s presence in his life even more.

Every day since Sharena could exercise they would train with Zacharias under the watchful eye of his cousin and her two retainers Aleen and Feraht. They were constantly visited by one of the guards. A man he had heard Bel call Gudrum. Lord Andreas would come often and stay a few days. Alfonse had grown to love him and rely on him as much as he had done his cousin Alfonse.

Around that time Alfonse had noted something strange with all of the people. He had ran into some of the guards and some of the servants talking in hushed voices about something they were too afraid to voice. He started paying more attention and learned it had something to do with the attack on the manor. He went to ask one of the servants once about it and the servant had blessed herself and refused to talk no matter his coaxing. By this time Bel’s pregnancy has four months along and her belly already swollen. She had made plans to ‘visit’ his parents for some days but a messenger had come for her and she had stayed. When Lord Andreas came back Alfonse was ready to investigate what was happening with the search.

He was watching Sharena train with their friend when the servant had come to tell cousin Bel her father had arrived and wanted to talk to her. Alfonse and Zacharias shared a knowing look. Zacharias sent him an almost pleading look but Alfonse just excused himself and left.

- Excuse me. I forgot I needed to practice violin today.- And he left. Zacharias watched him go with a worried expression. He did not like one bit for the child to go into the labyrinth of corridors by himself but he also could not accompany him. If something happened he did not even have a map to search for him.

Alfonse navigated the corridors as quickly as he could until he reached the one that reached his cousin’s room. This time the door to the room had no peeping hole and he had to strain his ears to hear. Knowing the door opened to the hidden walk in closet , he opened the door carefully to enter the closet. Carefully he maneuvered the parcels on the floor. They were new items his cousin had been acquiring for the baby. This door did have a keyhole but it was always left unlocked so if he wanted to open it he could. There was no need; he could listen and see perfectly.

-So there is no new clues… I am afraid for him…-Bel said with a worried expression. They had been talking about Alfonse and Sharena’s memory loss and how it would affect their safety.

-So am I daughter; but this is why we need to stand by him.- Adrien answered. Alfonse assumed they were talking about his father.

-I had news from the capitol. A letter. The lockdown is still in effect but as you know they were going to have means to access the internet. They bought one of the computers I told you about and a connection for my phone. They told me I have to stay put until they quarantine themselves for at least a moth. I can wait. I do not want the sickness to spread. The guardians do not even want to approach the gate father.

-Is it really that bad daughter?

-I do not have the whole information, but what may not be that bad there, may as well be lethal here. Last time we had a pandemic this big; around one third to one half of the population died.

- That is horrendous. I am afraid for you daughter. Do not go.

-Don’t worry I would not go if I did not think it would be safe. After the quarantine It will be safe for me to go and research from the post. I would not need to go out into the world. The actual post is a large portion of land. A closed off Hamlet of people that live without any sort of outside technology or help. But they really are just a port. The actual family owns a businesses that makes them quite wealthy and powerful in the small city they live in. They utilize their power to keep the secret of the Kingdom. They will provide the technology needed and the detectives who will look for Oly. But I need to be there since they do not want to send a technician to the actual post because of the disease. I will be able to teach the guardians how to use technologies that will help them be independent in this trying time. They could use at least my knowledge for their gain.

-I see. Then I will support you on this task. Still I urge you to be careful.

-Of course father. For me and for Askr.

[Line break ]

Alfonse kept watch of the situation and said nothing to anyone. Zacharias had asked him not to share any of the information. Alfonse needed his point of view but understood that Zacharias would be in more trouble if he shared details even if he did not share the important parts. So he watched alone with a knot in his stomach every time he thought Bel would leave. And leave she did. When she has around five months pregnant she departed for the capitol for “some days” to be checked out by the royal healers. Or at least that was what she had been told to say to them. Alfonse saw the pain it caused her to eave them but he knew the pain she was in without her child. Oly was dear to him and so he understood and wished her luck from afar.

The days turned into months. They were told there were complications with her pregnancy and that was the reason she had not come back.During this time Zacharias became their most trusted and beloved friend. Sharena learned fast her lancing lessons and Alfonse was happy to see how strong she was becoming. Zacharias was a great teacher and would help him with his own sword training. Bel came back after some time and Zacharias offered to teach her how to use a grimoire which she agreed to. By now she was almost eight months along.

Alfonse still remember the conversations he had heard when she had come back. As usual he had snuck into her closet to listen to the update.

-…and it took some time because the government offices are mostly closed; but we found the car the plaques belong to and the country it was located. From then on it was more difficult. The difference in language took us time. It was a different country and laws so searching for news became a slow process. I made friends from afar with the detective in charge of the case and we are paying him to search for Oly, but without giving him all the details of course. I am sure he will find her eventually.

-That is good news daughter. How is the situation with the pandemic?

-Not good father. There are so many people in the hospitals that I pray I will not need a surgery for the birth.- Bel’s words became gloomy and Alfonse worried about what this disease may do to Oly herself. If it was that bad would Oly be strong enough to survive it? He did not need to voice his worry.

-Daughter…would Oly be strong enough…

-He has your blood father. She is strong enough. Besides this disease seems to be worse on older people and people that are already sick. I am worried of course but…I am sure things will be alright.

[line break]

The news Bel had brought had given Alfonse hope and she even looked happier. They made good of the time before the birth of the new baby. Sharena had wanted to help Bel knit the baby a blanket and her enthusiasm had driven the other two to try the task themselves. Alfonse saw with pride that he had done the best effort of the three.

- I suppose the violin practices helped me with the finger dexterity. - Commented Alfonse looking at the square of yarn he had knitted. He scowls when he hears his friend Zacharias scoff.

-Those violin practices have helped you a lot in many ways friend.- The older teen says smiling at his younger friend. Alfonse takes the hint and blushes a little. After all he regularly disappeared to “practice violin” to hear any news on Oly.

- I wish they would help him put away his dirty socks.- Pipes in Sharena pinching her nose and laughing. Alfonse turned beet red.

-It was one time and it was because I was in a hurry…- Says Alfonse pouting. Zacharias laughs loudly.

-Aww don’t bully my baby boy. He is a very tidy guy. Right Ponchito?- Says Bel trying to pinch his check and failing because he moved away just in time and she was to big to lean closer t him. Alfonse “hated” being called Baby Boy by her and having his cheeks inched even more.- You did do a great work Alfonse. If you make it bigger I will add it to the blanket.- She winks at his blush.

- If I make it better Will you add mine as well cousin?- Ask Sharena whose work resembled a spider web.

- Of course. And yours too Zach!- Zacharias work was better but he had missed a couple of stitches and had four holes in it.- Come on we better get to work. This child wants to get out soon. -Bel helped Sharena with her work and at the end she did added the three parts to her blanket.

Days later she went into labor.

-Are you sure she is alright?- Asked Zacharias. He was not much for understanding how childbirth worked outside of books and he thought that since it was a painful endeavor Bel would be practically screaming. Instead he only heard whimpers. His heart constricted when they heard her call out to her husband once. Alfonse looked very worried too.

- The healers and midwife are doing their best. I am sure she will be alright.- Said Adrien but his face was grave and his eyes red. They were in the parlour adjacent to Bel’s bedroom around the fireplace where a table with now cold tea was served of the finest china. Zacharias was sitting on a love sit with Sharena by his side while Alfonse and Adrien sat on separate chairs. Aleen and Feraht were standing by the window by themselves since Bertha and Gertrude were assisting the healers.. The door opened an a healer came out. All of them turned to her.

- She is doing fine.- The healer said to the worried people.- It is unusual for us to request this but the Lady has asked for her father to be present….she needs the emotional support. I agree with her sentiment.

-Of course! I will gladly enter.- Adrien says and his face betrays the torrent of emotions he was feeling. He takes a deeper breath and follows the healer.

-Can I come too?- They hear. It was Alfonse with a determined face. Adrien looks at him with an unreadable expression on his face.

-Let him in. I will watch Sharena.- Comments Zacharias and his gaze reflects his emotions on the matter. Adrien nods at last and both of them disappear inside the room. Zacharias was ready to suggest Alfonse to go practice violin if the man had not agreed.

Inside Bel was counting her breathing. Her face lit up when she saw the two of them come in. The healers told the both of them to stay at each side of the “birthing chair” the way Bel suggested. Alfonse was fascinated by the “chair ” it was a new design Bel and her midwife had perfected when Oly was about to be born. The chair was leaning enough to support her weight but straight enough to be almost standing to let gravity do her job. There were legs and arms supports and handles for her to grab each time she had to push. There were also levers on the side to lean it back the same way the gynecologist chairs worked for the midwives and healers to check the patients.

Bel was bleeding too much in Alfonse opinion. He also saw concern on the midwife’s brow. His uncle looked white as a sheet and he knew he looked the same. In fact he felt like he was about to faint at some moments and found that Bel would take moments between contraptions to take his hand and reassure him. This realization shamed him and he then remember that Bel had said that during labor she had to remember to breath correctly and had told them how it was done. So he started to count between contraptions and help her breathe right. After this Bel even smiled between contractions.

The boy was born and shown to Bel, then it was taken to be cleaned. The baby kept crying during all the ordeal, while Bel was checked up. This was their cue to leave.

-She was bleeding quite a lot.-Says Alfonse quietly to Adrien. Sharena is now fast asleep on the love-sit. Zacharias had been pacing around the room but stopped when he heard the baby cry.- Is it normal?

- No…- The man looked about to crumble. In that moment he looked not like the great Lord Alfonse had always known and Alfonse imagine he had been once when his own wife had died at childbirth. He was about to say something else when the midwife came out again.

-Is she alright?-

-Although we were able to stop the bleeding, she is still very weak. We are keeping her awake…She bled too much. Much more than it was expected.

-Does she need a blood transfusion?- Asks the Lord. Blood transfusions were not unknown in Askr but were rarely used and only on very carefully monitored conditions, since blood types were still not completely understood. On this occasion it was an easier and safer option since the royal bloodline was known to have the same type of blood. What Bel came to understand as O-. It was her same blood type.

-We can use the blood replenishing potions but it is my opinion that she will recover faster with a blood transfusion.

-I can be a donor too. - Says Alfonse standing strait.

-I do not think it wise, to donate at your age Alfonse. Let me do it. I share the same kid of blood.- Says Adrien.

- I promised Oly I would protect her mother and I will. Donating a liter of blood will not harm me. I will donate.- Says Alfonse respectfully still but firmly.

-You are certainly the right weight if I remember correctly.- Says the healer looking Alfonse from head to toe. Then she turned to Adrien.- Worry not. I do not require so much blood and with the both of you as donors it will be easier for the both of you. Adrien nodded and they both left.

As the process was done Adrien could not help but analyze the interaction between Bel and Alfonse. They were close and after this he felt they would grow closer still. Yet he could find nothing but the interaction he had always seen. That of an older sister to a younger sibling or even a maternal one to her child. The same way he had always know Bel felt. At this he felt like a great weight lift from his shoulders, but at the same time it saddened him. What would happen once Alfonse came of age and his parents told them the truth?

The man stopped his musings to listen to his daughter sing a song he had often heard her sing to his son.

- All I ever needed was the one. Like freedom fields where wild horses run. Where stars collide, like you and I. No shadows block the sun… You’re I ever needed, baby you’re the one.- She sand and the man saw she was trying not to cry. At the end of the song Alfonse looked at her and said he had liked that song a lot.

-Remember it well then. Some day you will meet that one heart that will be your one. You may want to sing it to her.

-I…I don’t think I…who is that Cain the song talks about?- He asks avoiding the topic. Bel smiles.

-That is a tale for another day…

[Line break]

- What do you mean you are taking Adri with you?- Asked Zacharias. Bel sat down next to him. The child in her bosom was sitting comfortably on a baby carrier she had used on Oly as well. It had been around seven months since she had given birth to little Adrien. Zacharias was the first to call him Adri and he had become very dear to the 15 year old.

-Don’t worry. We will be back before your birthday.

-That is still months away.- Says Alfonse furrowing his brows. He had to feign surprise at her news. He of course had listened to her talking to uncle Adrien about the new development on the search for Oly. She was going in case the lead proved true and they find the missing girl. Alfonse was ecstatic but he also did not want her to go. Yes he had a mother, but Bel was the closest he had ever felt as one in normal life sense of the word. She was his older sister and confidant. Even after the birth of little Adrien, her treatment and their relationship had not changed.

-I said before his birthday Ponchito.

-I don’t want you to go.- Says Sharena and she pouts.

-Honey. I will be back. I promise you guys. Come here my little chipmunk. Don’t give me that face. Look…I need to go because it is very important. I do not know how to tell you this…but I swear I would not go if it was not important. Someone has news of Oly and …

-Oly? Is she alright? Is she coming back?- Sharena asked eagerly. Sharena did not know Oly had been sent to the World of Steel of course so she thought she was somewhere in Askr but lost. She often feared Deana had kidnapped her . Once she had voiced this to Alfonse and he had said to her that Deana had always been a good person to them and did not believe her to have done something so awful. Sharena of course never took into account why Deana had been able to open a portal as she was not old enough to know or understand.

-We don’t know yet honey. The people searching for her just have a lead. It means they think someone has seen her and we need to go and see if it is her or not.

-Oh…I miss her.

-So do I honey…

[Line break]

-What do you mean they disappeared?

-I am so sorry Adrien. We have no idea what happened. They are going to inform the authorities. They let us know as soon as they discovered the two were not in their room and searched the whole property.- Alfonse heard his uncle’s strangled cry. He himself was shocked to the spot. He looked on as his mother was trying hard not to succumb to tears as well. She had come from the capital mere hours ago. As soon as he had heard she was back he knew she had come to talk to uncle Adrien so he readied himself to listen to their conversation as soon as his uncle came back from the fields where he was overseeing a military operation. Zacharias had helped him distract Sharena and their instructor so he would go investigate.

-Were they taken?

-The room was locked from the inside and no one was seen on the property. It’s like they just banished…I…

That was all Alfonse was able to hear. He sat down on the dusty floor. He did not even register the cold of it’s stone surface. He buried his face in his hands and felt himself tremble with the force of holding back the sobs that were threatening to come out.

==They will come back…She promised…She can’t leave us alone…She will come back…I will look for them and I will find them…==

-I do not know how we are going to tell the children…How am I going to tell Alfonse…- He heard Henriette say among her tears.

At that moment Alfonse decided it was time to grow up and return to the capital to train. It was time he took responsibility as the prince that he was. Perhaps then he would be able to hear something about them and in time demand to be sent to find them.

[ Line break]

Years later he heard about the renovation of the castle in the northern city and the Order of Heroes. The Emblan empire had finally declared open war against Askr and the Royal Army needed the extra help.

He had not had any leads about his cousins and he had lost hope so he talked to Zacharias about joining the Order and to his surprise Zacharias had agreed. Even Sharena had agreed to join. Their father of course had objected but being as Gustav had almost entirely divorced himself from his kids Alfonse decided to discard his order and join. At this show of blatant disobedience Gustav was in the verge of disowning Alfonse. If it wasn’t for Henriette’s and Adrien’s pleas for Gustav to think better of the situation it would have come to pass. Gustav then let Alfonse go but retreated his society and asked to not be called father by the teen.

Alfonse had no problem with this after Gustav’s blatant abandonment.

Then Zacharias was lost in one of the Order’s missions and was never found again. His heart broke in what he felt was an unfixable million pieces. He decided loving people was too painful and they always left him. He had only Sharena in his life and he was going to make sure she was safe. He did not need anyone in his heart and no one else would get close to him and hurt him anymore.

[Line break]

-Brother!! Commander Anna has gone to perform the ritual!

-What? Alone?- Alfonse said visibly annoyed. He had jus arrived from a mission to find this problem and a problem he was sure this would turn into.

-She took a small platoon but you know Embla may attack any time.Alfonse you have to go! Take the squad I will get there later when the men get ready in case you have trouble. I hope I can get to see the summoning.- She said excitedly.

-I will. The Commander should have waited for our return. - Alfonse sighted as he took his sword and shield that he had just discarded again and left his room.- Be careful Sharena.- He said to his sister and left. What if the Summoner turned out to be his cousin? After all she had been summoned before. He did not dare hope but he still felt elated.

Alfonse ran as fast as he could as soon as he heard the tale tell sounds of a skirmish ahead. His people following close behind.

-Lord Takumi! Behind you!-He heard the Commander shout.-The Summoner! Protect the Summoner!

Alfonse arrived in time to see the Commander’s men trying and failing to keep Emblan soldiers away from two figures that were surrounded by enemies. One of them was a lean man with long silver hair who very efficiently felled soldier by soldier that got close enough to try to take them on. The other was a figure clad in a what looked to be a white coat that went in tune with the Order’s uniform. He ran towards them and ordered his men to follow. He saw in slow motion as one of the enemy soldiers got past the archer’s guard and tried to strike the smaller figure. Surprised by the unseen attack the figure tried to get out of the way and use the weapon on their hands at the same time, which caused them to fall backwards. He was all this while fighting his way into the circle the two figures were standing in.

When the enemy struck again Alfonse was there to block the blow and parry of the attacker. He made quick work of the soldier and seeing as his men were blocking the rest of the attackers off he turned to the fallen figure of who he now understood to be their new Summoner.

The person looked disoriented by the fall but more than than that he paid no attention tho them. He offered his hand in help and the other took it and stood up. Alfonse made sure they stayed between who he supposed was Lord Takumi and himself as protection.

-Grazie! Questa cosa può sparare come una pistola vera?- He heard a voice say behind him. It was a sweet melodious voice that took him by surprise. He could hardly understand what they meant but it sounded a bit like the ancient tongue to him. He looked back and was met with a beautiful mouth set in a very determined look. - I mean. Do this gun shoot like a normal gun?

-It should.- He said a little at a loss for words. As soon as he said this the girl with the oversized hood started to shoot at the soldiers carefully avoiding the Askran men.

[Line break]

- I am prince Alfonse of Askr. It is a honor to finally meet the Hero of legends and you Prince Takumi of Hoshido. I thank you for your agreeing to help us in our hour of need.- Alfonse said to the two people he stood next to. He had remembered reading about the prince of Hoshido not long ago, but the other person was still a mystery to him. He could not even see her face from the hood of the Summoner coat she was wearing. Now that he was able to see her he saw the coat was indeed too big for her lithe body and short stature. The Commander had ordered it made in a big size thinking the great hero was a big man.

- The honor is mine. I will do my best to help your kingdom. Upon my honor I swear this.- Prince Takumi answered shaking Alfonse’s hand. He then looked down to the Summoner who expended her hand in to take Alfonse’s own. The hand was small and delicate as dark in color as Zacharias’ and as soft as and warm as the memory of Sharena’s before she took up her lance lessons.

-Mmm I will do my best to protect your people Prince Alfonse of Askr. My name is Emma.

Notes:

I always wondered about how life in Askr was with Zacharias and how they met. After all Bruno was already a teen when he arrived as he left a girlfriend behind. I am sure Alfonse and Sharena looked up to him but Especially Alfonse since they are both males and Alfonse got to feel like he did not have to be the protector to Sharena as much and feel like he was protected in a way. No wonder the loss of Zacharias hurt him so much. He was the older brother he never had. It seemed to me that the empress of Embla has had more than one husband by what they say about her and Veronica's was the latest she had since there has been no talk about a new emperor.

[heartelysia]

call me if you get lost

"i'm tryna buy my neighbour house, dogtooth" ; in which you require some help from your dear friend.

cw ; semi-public sex, library sex, ooc alhaitham, breeding, mention of kaveh, yandere behaviour from alhaitham, rough sex?, creepy alhaitham, bubbly reader, frenemies, dubcon?, slapping (1)

note ; last repost from ao3 :3 i promise ill pump out a new work someday!! psa, im only tagging it as dubcon bc i have no idea, it borders on dubcon and implied consent 🤷‍♀️ its going into the dark content master list for that reason!!

IM CRINGUNG SO HARD I HATE MY WRITJNG FROM THIS ERA

his eyes glaze across the page full of complex words, dragging his iris past each word. locked in his own world, his vision full of words, as if sentences and phrases were floating around him. yet his little word-filled fantasy world was broken thanks to a pair of hands slamming against his table - which may have caused the librarian to hush them - either way, his attention adverted from his book to a bubbly grin.

oh dear, it was the person who he oh so 'dreaded', y/n. he totally 'hated' how bright and jumpy she was despite all the work she had to pile on as a student of the akademyia and nevertheless how she only bothered him and kaveh - expect kaveh enjoyed gossiping with her - a heavy, exasperated sigh escapes his lips as alhaitham holds his forehead. "what is it?", he deadpans, his eyes darting from the girls sparkling eyes to the folded ladder in her hand, "cant get up to get my book, can you hold the ladder for me 'haitham?", y/n beams, just a bit too loud that other students glare at her.

"its althaitham to you, cant you bother kaveh?", the scribe mumbles, unwilling to leave his seat, "i cant find kaveh, hes been gone for the past few days... and plus! youre already here 'haitham", the girl grumbles but still dragging out the m in alhaithams name. the scribe grumbles something under his breath before begrudgingly pushing himself our of his seat and snatching the metal ladder out of the girls hand, causing it to rattle and have a few stares shot at him.

a light giggle erupts from the females throat before she skips over to the unbelievably tall bookcase towards the back of the library. to be completely honest, althaitham didnt hate y/n despite how he treats her... maybe it was a way to hide how he jerks off to the idea of breaking her bubbly personality or just leaving her in his filth, he just hated seeming vulnerable to others. alhaitham was a little pervy when it came to the student, he may or may not usually send a few threats here and there to kaveh anonymously just so y/n would 'bother' him instead of his blonde roommate.

"'haithammm...", y/n whined, poking at the males side, his attention switches to the female, gazing down at her smaller frame, "what?", cold as always, "promise me you hold the ladder tight okay? dont shake it either!". the scribe just nods before watching y/n push herself onto the ladder and reach up to the next step with her hands, a rather boring sight yet the gray haired just couldnt pry his eyes off of her.

a soft creak ricochets off the bookshelves as y/n steps onto a new rung, getting closer to the book she deemed to be so important. the scribe internally cringes at the irritating noise of the creak before peering up at the girl, attempting to shoot a glare at her before his eyes trail.he swore it wasn't intentional, his eyes just.. wandered, right? alhaitham swore that it didn't mean to stare at your panties, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the way your panties were so flush against your sweet cunt. maybe it was a blessing you came looking for him instead of kaveh, maybe you wanted this to happen, the man feels his cock stir in its confinements.another creak sent a tingle down the scribe's spine, pulling him away from the lewd thoughts that slowly creeped into his mind. he adverts his gaze back to the bookshelf behind him, peering through the gaps of the books.

"'haitham!", the girl hisses, glaring down at the scribe as she held onto the fly section for dear life. alhaitham looks back up at her, quickly trying to catch a glimpse of her lower regions before realising her uniform was draped over it, he glances back at her, holding onto the last string of restraint he had left. "what."

"you promise you'd hold it still! don't be distracted...", she hisses, her grip on the fly section making her knuckles turn white. the scribe just sighs before humming, holding onto the base of the ladder whilst y/n slowly lowers herself down each rung.

as the girl finally makes it to the ground, she hops off the ladder with the thick book in hand. "thank you 'haitham!", she beams giddily, her smile stretching ear to ear as she held the slab of a book to her chest. the scribe simply hums, avoiding her gaze as his stomach began to stir with the familiar feeling he knew so well.

"oh! its the wrong book! i needed the 3rd edi-"

a guttural groan bubbles in his throat as he slaps a hand over her mouth, glaring at her with a predator glint in his eyes as his free hand made quick work of his pants, unzipping his fly and forcing his stiff cock out. the girls eyes go wide as she tries to protest, her cheeks warm against his palm. "shut up. stop fucking talking.", alhaitham growls, the tip slapping his clothed abdomen as he hooks his arm underneath her thigh, lodging one of her legs over his shoulder.

his hand slowly releases her mouth before it snakes down to the bottom of her uniform, flipping it up to reveal her soaked panties. the scribe's eyes darken with lust as he pulls it down just the slightest bit, just enough for him to slip his slippery cock into her. y/n bites down on her lip, restraining her noises as she runs her eyes hungrily up and down the scribe's figure, "alhai-", she spoke to only get cut off, a soft stinging ache on the side of her cheek.

alhaitham growls, his fingers running up and down her sensitive slit, causing her to throw her head back against the bookshelf, a broken whimper leaving her throat as she feels the scribes thick fingers penetrate herself. his fingers plunging deep into her insides as they curl up to softly press against her g-stop.

y/n silently gasps, her eyes twitching open as her cheeks flush a deep red. instinctively, her hand flies down to wrap around his wrist, peering at him with pleading eyes. "just- just put it in...", she hisses, her voice hardly above a whisper but full of need.

this elicits a low, soft chuckle from the scribe, he moves in just the slightest bit, his throbbing cock now merely inches away from her sopping hole. with one arm wrapped around her waist, his other hand gently grabs the base of his thick length, slowly slapping the soaking tip against y/n's clit, sending shivers all over her body.

without hesitation, the scribe shoves his entire cock into her tight cunt, forcing a strained moan out of her throat. y/n slaps a hand over her mouth before glaring at alhaitham, realising she was too loud. the scribe merely peers down at her, smirking softly as he slowly begins to move in and out, moulding her gummy walls around his cock.

y/n bites down onto alhaithams shoulder, softly moaning against his hot skin as she feels his thick cock throb against her insides, thrusting in and out of her with lazy thrusts to reduce the amount of noise. the scribe leans down, his warm breath fanning her neck, "good, stay quiet. can't have people knowing that you're getting your pussy pumped full.", he speaks, his voice lowered to a hushed tone.

his free hand trails up to her neck, wrapping his hand around it so perfectly, like a piece of a puzzle. alhaitham's grip on her neck tightens further, his fingers digging into her flesh as he feels y/n cunt spasming around his cock. he relishes in the sight of her desperate attempts to hold back her lewd noises, her hips bucking against his relentless thrusts.

alhaitham leans closer, his voice a low growl in her ear, "that's it. hold it in. let those sweet sounds stay trapped in your throat. i wanted to hear you whimper and beg, but not here, not now." His pace quickens, his hips slamming into hers with a force that borders on rough.

the girl softly whimpers, straining her throat to keep her noises in check, her tight cunt clamping down on his cock like a vice. a wicked grin spreads across alhaithams face as he watches her desperate attempt to stifle her dirty moans. He relishes in the way her pussy tightens around him, evidence of her arousal. he whispers in a husky voice, "you like it, don't you? the thought of getting caught, of being so close to the edge." His words are laced with a mix of dominance and desire. alhaithams increases the pace of his thrusts, his cock plunging in and out of her relentlessly, pushing y/n towards the brink of ecstasy.

he growls, his voice low and rough. "cum for me, let me feel you clench around my cock." he picks up the pace even more, his hips slamming into hers with a force that leaves her breathless. finally, y/n lets go, her sensitive body convulsing in orgasm as she cums around him. alhaitham continues to thrust into her twitching cunt as he chases his own release. "fuck, I'm close," he grunts, his hands gripping onto her hips tightly as he pounds into her. finally, he cums inside her, his hot seed spilling deep inside her.

[fortune-fool02]

Fate is a cruel Mistress

Tsukiyama Shuu x female reader

Warnings: Themes of stalking, slight obsession, mention of blood.

Summary: Fate was as much of a cursing as it was a blessing. And it handed [Name] a very cruel hand of cards, involving loss, bitterness, and a ghoul who thought the world of her. 

This is a practice scenario to see how well I can write for Tsukiyama. Feedback and comments are highly appreciated for this. 

Thank you. 

Going to that coffee shop that day had been a mistake. One that she wished she could take back and prevent from happening in hopes to change her present. Sadly, such things were only fiction and her reality ever more real. Anteiku was the closest coffee shop to [Name] and she was a little thirsty. She should have kept going a few minutes and grabbed something from the shop. 

It was in that very coffee shop that her Fate became intertwined with the roots of another’s. Tsukiyama Shuu. A man of many talents and a flamboyant individual who could make a show simply by walking into a room. Something that brought a smile to her face at first, given how dramatic he was and how even the simplest of things were turned into grand pieces of art by his words. The glowing light that lured her in, turning her attention away from the gaping jaws that closed in around her, like an Anglerfish luring its prey. 

The second biggest mistake she made was introducing herself to him, from there on, he became her shadow, and she could never escape his thoughts. 

In his eyes, she was orphic; mysterious and entrancing, her blood called to him like a harpy’s charm, and how could he ever refuse such a delight? He would use everything, every trick he had, every sweet lie from his honeyed lips to fill her head. To twist her to him. This [Name] was an oddity to him, but one that he wished to keep, and he intended to. By any means. 

When she would wander around town with her friends, he would smile from a distance, just out of her line of sight. Lavender eyes scanning her form, 

“Oh mon tendre, how wonderful you look today in that outfit.” he muttered to himself, sitting on a bench as his eyes remained locked on [Name] sitting at a café, talking to her friends. The way her [Eye colour] eyes sparkled in the morning light, how she smiled as she laughed. A warmth flourished in his chest at the idea of making her smile like that, of her eyes sparkling like that when she looked at him. Well, if he desired so, he needed to be with her more. But he was not going to risk rushing it, else he would lose her. Patience was the key. 

[Name] regretted meeting up with him all those times. When they would go to the library or bookshops, when they would sit together at cafes and parks. She hated how close she let him get; no, how close she let herself get to him. She felt foolish for how safe she would feel with him, how relaxed and open she was with him. In a span of months, he learnt everything about her. Both when they were together, and not. He learnt how the backdoor of her house had a single lock to it unlike the front door, making it easier to open and catch without causing too much noise. He knew her bedroom was the second door to the left from the top of the stairs, and which floorboards would creak and which didn’t.

And just like that, [Name] was now the property of Tsukiyama. Her disappearance was questioned and investigated but she had vanished without a trace. 

Soft humming was heard coming from the large bed, the silk drapes pulled back lightly to allow light to spill into the bed. Tsukiyama sat there, smiling as he held the [Hair colour] woman close, his fingers petting her hair as he would press a feather kiss on her head every now and again, taking the moment to inhale her lovey scent. 

“Why do you look so sad, mon tendre?” He questioned, his voice lightly sprinkled with soft concern. [Name] blinked before turning to him, a surprising flash of anger on her face. 

“Are you serious? That is your question? You kidnapped me! You broke into my house and kidnapped me! And you wonder why I look sad?!” The fire in her words, the spark flaring up more as she spoke. He doesn’t believe he has seen her angry before, not like this anyway. He found it appealing. 

“You see, my dear-” His words were silenced as a sharp snap was heard, followed by a stinging sensation growing in his cheek. The slap was certainly a surprise, catching him off guard like that. “Now, that was not very nice.” 

Like a switch, his entire aura changed. Darkness filled his eyes as his iris glowed a haunting red, stripping [Name] of her anger and replacing it with a biting coldness that latched down all the way to her bones. Fear. She moved quickly, attempting to jump off the bed and flee but his grip on her latched on, pulling her back down onto the bed, arms wrapping around her, preventing her escape. 

“So cruel, after I do so much for you, you repay my generosity with harsh words and even physical harm. Ungrateful.” He hissed, words once sweet with honey now bitter with venom, how could one man hold such two polar sides? His hold remained form despite her attempted thrashing about, trying to squirm out of his grasp, a mouse trying to escape the hold of a serpent. 

“Get off me, Shuu!” [Name] shouted, escape the only thing screaming in her mind. Her head turning and biting down hard on the ghoul’s hand, earning a chuckle from him. 

“Oh? Is that what you call a bite, my dear? I will show you a proper bite.” Before she could do anything to protest, the material around her shoulder was ripped off and a burning pain was felt as his teeth sunk down into her flesh. Blood stained his lips as something akin to a soft moan rumbled from him at the taste of her blood and flesh. Such a divine texture! Such a sweet taste! Finer than anything he had tasted before, more tender and wonderful! She was divine! 

Before the rush of it all could get to his head too much, he pulled back, his tongue quickly lapping up the sweet crimson liquid from the wound and his lips, savouring the flavour, and revealing the wound on her shoulder. A mark. 

“Let this remind you, my sweet. You are mine now. No one else will dare try to take you from me.” He smiled, kissing the wound as if it was a gesture of affection. A churning sense flipped her stomach, sending another wave of coldness through her body, brushing under her skin and scraping against her bone. 

And people said Fate was a blessing. 

[write-like-wright]

Oh my goodness, I simply LOVE your Herlock fics! Poor guy has virtually NO x reader fics and I'm desperate for more! Could I request a one shot of Herlock x reader, falling in love at first sight?

Thank you, anon! I'm here to quench the overwhelming Herlock thirst on this hellsite.

Pairing: Herlock Sholmes x gender neutral reader

Warnings: falling in love with Sholmes in spite of his human disaster status, fluff, Iris being babey

Word count: 1,005

Today by some blessed chance is one of those days when the sky is almost blue, the air almost clean and warm enough to be enjoyed without a coat. London autumns are rarely ever so kind to the inhabitants of the great city and you're absolutely determined not to waste the opportunity. You decide to take a stroll through your local park, a book in hand and some snacks carefully packed in your basket. Rarely do you get the chance to soak in some sun in the foggy capital of the British Empire, therefore every such occasion must be used to the fullest.

Unsurprisingly, the park is brimming with life. Young couples excitedly strolling through the grass hand in hand, children running around and laughing, even some elderly gentlemen who seem to have forgotten their beloved curmudgeonism for a day to enjoy the warmth. You settle down on a bench under the shade of a tree and open your book, hand digging through the basket for a snack to enjoy. Aha, a freshly baked cupcake with some pink strawberry frosting! You decide to take your time and enjoy your afternoon, nibbling on your delicious cupcake between paragraphs.

"Good afternoon!" A cheerful, high pitched voice pulls you out of your food-induced haze. It's a little girl standing before you, a wide smile on her face that reaches her bright blue eyes. "My name is Iris, Iris Wilson! I am ever so sorry to bother you, but the smell of those delicious looking cupcakes made me come over. I'm quite an avid baker myself, you see. Would you be so kind as to share your recipe with me?" How could you say no to that sweet little face?

The girl joins you on the bench and you give her the recipe and some of your cupcakes too, which she accepts eagerly. "Oh, thank you so much! They're ever so delicious! I'm sure Hurley would love them if he were here!" Hurley? Just then, an exasperated male voice reaches your ears. "There you are, Iris! Where in the devil did you wander off to?! We were meant to be playing hide and seek! I've been waiting in my ingenious hiding spot for a century now! There are thorns in my thigh, Iris!"

You are speechless. Is that her father? The resemblance is... certainly not there. "Hurley," Iris sighs, her head bowed. "We were meant to be playing catch... You just disappeared on me, so I assumed you got distracted by a case or such. I'm ever so sorry." Her eyes perk up then, "I've made a friend while waiting for you! How kind of them, to share some food and a recipe with me!"

"Oh." The man stills, as if only now noticing your presence. "How do you do, my dear? Pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Herlock Sholmes. You've heard of me, no doubt?" Silence. "Well, how peculiar! I thought all the residents of our fair city knew my name!" He joins you on the bench through some bizarre twisting motion. "Nevertheless, I must admit, the sight of those cupcakes is making my mouth water. May I?"

You blink, utterly dumbfounded. "B-be my guest," you blurt out, offering him the sweet treat. He's an... interesting man, truth be told. His clothes are strange, odd trinkets hanging around his waist and... goggles? resting on his deerstalker hat. He certainly has a way with words you decide, listening to him blab on about his great accomplishments, Iris occasionally jumping in to correct or supplement his memory. "By God, what a pleasantly lovely day it is today, wouldn't you agree?" With that, he strips off his coat and hat, letting them rest over the back of the bench. He's quite handsome, you must admit. There is a certain boyishness to his look, face youthful but obviously not still a lad. His blonde curls are messy and falling into his blue eyes and he brushes them back with his gloved hand every once in a while. You just nod, hoping that you're not blushing and that he hadn't noticed you staring.

"I must say, my dear, as a connoisseur of all things sweet, you certainly know how to hit the spot!" You blink, definitely blushing at this point.

"E-excuse me?" He laughs, holding up his half-chewed dessert. "Why, these cupcakes of yours. Absolutely divine!"

"O-oh. Thank you, sir." You can't help but sound a bit disappointed. At the same time, you wonder what exactly is wrong with you.

"Quite welcome! Although I must admit, my dear Iris and I seem to have relieved you of quite a fair share of your food, yes. You must allow me to make up for it! Shall I treat you to some lunch? Perhaps dinner? I insist!"

You look at him, quite surprised by his boldness. Could he be... No, certainly not. "That sounds... lovely, Mr Sholmes. But really, I'm quite happy to share. You needn't concern yourself with paying me back or the like."

He laughs. "Nonsense, my dear! We won't take no for an answer. And please, call me Herlock, won't you?"

You smile then. "Well, in that case, I suppose I must accept. Thank you, Mr- Herlock." Mr Herlock. How foolish I must look, you think, the blush back in full force.

"Excellent, then! It's settled!" He looks around frantically for a piece of paper and something to write with. "Do stop by our address tonight at 8. I do quite look forward to seeing you." He adds, a bright smile gracing his youthful face.

I do? He does? Goodness gracious.

They bid you farewell soon after and walk off, the girl excitedly babbling about her new friend and the feast they must prepare. You stare at the back of the blond man, confused by the events that just transpired. As if feeling your gaze on him, he turns his head and shoots you a quick smile. You feel your cheeks burning.

Good lord, what a disaster I am.

[x0401x]

Violet Evergarden Short Story

Please feel free to message me about possible corrections. If you can, consider supporting the creators by purchasing the official releases. In case anyone is feeling generous: Ko-fi | PayPal. ( ╹◡╹)っ’･*

The ingredients that led me to my current self were:

A teaspoon of queen’s pride.

Two tablespoons of love for my husband, a one-sided feeling now required.

Plenty of tears shed in a forest capital where I had no supporters.

Mix the tear batter with the stubbornness of a princess from the country of white camellias, then put it in the oven. Once it bakes until it becomes tough enough to give one a hard time cutting it even with a knife, it is done. No one can tear a bite off it so easily.

My adult self was reborn this way.

But then, what about her? I wondered what kind of adult my favorite girl was by now.

Just as I was curious about this, good news arrived.

   The Queen and the Auto-Memories Doll

   The marauder came around the time when the red roses were in full bloom.

Said doll, whose lustrous golden hair fluttered in the wind, had jewel-like blue eyes that nailed people down. A dignified young woman, intimidated by nothing. That was the kind of marauder she was.

If I were to talk about my relationship with her, it would be a long story. If I were to explain it leaving out the many stories that happened between us, I would probably say that she was a key figure who became the mediator of my love story in the past, as well as an Auto-Memories Doll engaged in the ghostwriting business at a certain famous postal company.

Although she was the kind of girl who seemed like she could live in solitude forever, she was different when she appeared before me.

“It has been a while, Lady Charlotte.”

I had invited her into our kingdom as a guest of honor because I heard that she was taking a long vacation and traveling around the world – so the passage of time could change people this much.

“I will rush to anywhere that my clients desire...”

The girl, who used to be so ephemeral in the past, had grown up and brought a man to accompany her on the journey, so was it not fitting to call her a marauder? At the very least, she had opened an air hole in my unchangeable royal palace life.

“No, pardon me. This is Violet Evergarden on break from duty, Your Majesty, Queen Charlotte.”

I whispered with the dignified gaze and voice tone of a queen, “It’s been a long time, ghostwriter. No... Violet. Thanks for coming even though you’re on vacation.” I then fixed my stare on the man standing next to Violet.

My adorable ghostwriter possessed a beauty that shone distinctly even in within the palace, which congregated fine-looking women. Therefore, it would not be strange at all if she eventually had a deep relationship with some gentleman, but by no means could I tell if he had that sort of relationship with her.

He greeted me after Violet. Apparently, his name was Gilbert Bougainvillea.

“What’s the relationship between you two?”

As I asked straight to the point, Violet and Gilbert looked at each other’s faces.

Violet then opened her mouth, “He is my former superior officer.”

“So you are related through work.”

“Yes, but I am no longer registered in the military, so maybe I should say that he is my benefactor, whom I am on close terms with nowadays...”

“So you’re close to your benefactor... enough to go on a trip with him, huh.”

“Well...”

Perhaps unable to precisely define her relationship with him, Violet fell silent. But from this, I was able to catch the glimpse of a womanly shyness that I had the feeling I had gone through before.

“The word ‘benefactor’ alone indeed does not cover it.”

“Dear me.”

“I would like to use a more suitable word if there was any, but even I, who work with ghostwriting, do not know an appropriate term for it...”

“Hum, Violet, I’m sorry.”

“‘Reverence’ is not enough and ‘adoration’ might be too trivial...”

“I’m sorry; you can stop there. He’s also embarrassed. You don’t want other people to ask too much about those things, right? It’s under development, isn’t it?”

He smiled, seeming a bit awkward. He was an adult man but looked slightly childish when smiling.

——Isn’t he a fine man?

Hair the color of dusk, blessed physique and virile facial traits. There was some elegance in him. His looks had a male allure that was capable of exhilarating the courtiers of the palace.

——Such a pretty emerald iris.

He was a stunning man. The look in his eye was grievous and had a darkness to it. A mysterious man with an eyepatch. The hardships that he had been burdened with until now oozed out of him. His scent was different from the one of the palace’s knights, but I could feel a similar air coming from him. His build seemed reliable, which looked even more remarkable as he stood next to Violet. I wondered if he had not been quite the pretty boy in his younger years.

He appeared to be apart from Violet in age. I suddenly recalled that I had asked her in the past about what she thought of age gaps between men and women.

——Did she not say no back then because of her relationship with him?

I had many guesses, but I did not voice any of them. I was an adult now.

“Erm, there was an introduction before you came into the room, but I’m going to introduce myself again. I am Charlotte Abelfreya Fluegel. The queen of this country.”

I was Charlotte Abelfreya Drossel before. My lips were finally used to the greeting ever since my name had changed. Even so, I did not want Violet to call me a queen.

“Violet, you put the title of honor ‘Your Majesty the queen’ on me earlier, but you can refer to me in the same way as before. I want you to do that.”

“Is that not disrespectful?”

“It isn’t. I’m asking for it, after all.”

Silence.

“I will punish anyone who opposes to this. Got it, Violet?”

“Yes, Lady Charlotte.”

Right, that was better. After all, when you called me that, I could feel as if I had returned to the times when I was in my homeland where white camellias bloomed. I asked the same thing out of Mr. Bougainvillea, but he refused it due to it being discourteous. Well, this was our first meeting, so maybe there was no helping it.

   After that, Violet and I were left on our own. Mr. Bougainvillea took his leave, saying that we must have had things to talk about. I also drove all of the ladies-in-waiting out of the reception room and was at last actually able to breathe.

The suffocation I felt from my daily life in the royal palace did not come only from wearing a corset. When I thought that there were no longer any stares keeping watch on us, I made merry like a little girl.

“Violet.”

“Yes, Lady Charlotte.”

“Violet, Violet! You’ve become an adult, huh!”

“Yes, Lady Charlotte.”

We had first met when we were both girls, so when we reunited, I could feel as if we had gone back to those days. But I did not know if she, who was always expressionless, was happy about it, yet just when I thought this, Violet’s lips were faintly forming an arc.

——My, she laughed.

Much too surprised, I forgot about conducting myself like a queen and opened my mouth wide. “Violet! You...!” I touched her cheeks with both of my hands.

I should not be doing something like that to her, as she was a lady and no longer a girl, but I felt like confirming if such a natural smile was not my hallucination. I kneaded her cheeks pliably. Violet let me do as I pleased.

“Lady—Char—lotte—” Violet spoke, sounding like having her cheeks kneaded was inconvenient.

——How soft; so you had such soft cheeks? No, more importantly...

“Wh-Wh-What’s gotten into you? You’re the one who pinched your cheeks saying you couldn’t smile that one time!”

“My per—formance has im—proved.”

At first, I could not catch what she was saying very well. “My performance has improved”. After ruminating for the words in my head, I finally understood it.

“Huhu—hahaha!”

This mood. This sensation that almost felt like a toy doll was talking to me. I could actually feel that, yes, Violet was indeed in front of me.

Overjoyed, I let out a high-pitched laughter, just like a little girl. Then, I took Violet’s hand. I squeezed it tight, putting into it my sentiment of deep affection for her, the possessor of mechanical arms. “Hey, I’m truly happy to see you. Have you been doing well?”

“Yes. Lady Charlotte, you also appear to be in good health.”

“I became a bit of an adult too, right? How do I look?”

“Yes, you have become an adult woman.”

When I said that I was currently pregnant, Violet blinked, and then told me to “please sit down”. Her attitude was as if she were protecting me almost like a knight. But I shook my head. I invited her to a stroll. Once I told her that walking a little was best for a mother’s body, as expected, she offered her arm in a knightly manner and escorted me.

That part of her had not changed.

“My husband is in the middle of government affairs, but you should be able to see him tonight.”

As there was also the fact that I was carrying the child of King Fluegel, I had changed residences from the royal palace and was resting in the royal villa for now. A garden spread out outside of the villa, which was a good place for a walk.

In Fluegel, nicknamed the Forest Kingdom, both the royal palace and the land surrounding it were enclosed by trees and green meadows. The garden also had a feel unlike that of Drossel, its atmosphere somewhat idyllic. If I were to describe just the environment, I would say that it was a nice place for children.

“A dinner party... is too ceremonious, so I’m thinking of just having a banquet in the royal villa. You’ll stay over, right? I also want you to meet Lord Damian...”

Violet’s eyes went left and right, as if searching for vestiges of Mr. Bougainvillea, who was nowhere to be found. “If that person says it is all right...”

He was supposed to be having a tour around the palace’s interior with the chamberlain by now. I had told the latter to convince him to agree, so there would likely be no problem. The chamberlain was a capable person.

“Please. Just one day is fine. One day is fine, so... Violet, I want to spend it with you.”

“Will you not be bored in my company?”

“No way. If I were, I wouldn’t have told you to ‘come here because I want to see you’.”

“Are you still unused to life here?”

“Yeah, I have clashes from the smallest to the biggest things. It’s gotten better in comparison to the beginning of my marriage, but in the end, I’m all alone in this country. It’s probably hard for you to understand how happy it makes me to be able to see a face I know... but I’m really glad.”

Hearing these words, Violet made a face that looked like she was giving it a thought. “Will you not summon Madam Alberta?”

Alberta was the woman who had influenced my life the most – the courtier who had acted as my foster mother. She was also in the position of chief of the ladies-in-waiting, so she could not go so easily to the princess who had married off to a different country.

“I’d like to. Lord Damian is making sure that she’ll come if my child is born safely. After fulfilling my role as a queen, I can finally... finally ask for what I want.”

“So it could be said that the more valuable the person’s circumstances, the more inconveniences they face.”

“Yeah. Besides, Alberta probably doesn’t want to be away from her country...”

“It did not seem like it to me. Though this is my own speculation.”

“Is that true...? Hey, speaking of which, you were in Drossel before coming here, right? Why did you go see Alberta before coming to me? Was it a geographic issue? Did you have plans to come here?”

“No, we did not have plans to come to Fluegel.”

My mouth distorted. Were my feelings unilateral? That was what I thought, but as she added, “It would be a problem if civilians carefreely came to visit someone from the royal family”, I was at a loss for words. It was just as Violet said.

She said with a face that feigned ignorance at my complicated maiden heart, “In a way, there is a reason. Madam Alberta once interceded for me to take the job of private tutor of a certain lady from the nobility, so I also went to the royal palace in order to report it to her.”

“My, you’d started doing that kind of work?”

“No... she... that person was an exception.” Perhaps remembering this person, Violet looked into the distance for a bit and then closed her eyes. “After that, too, she would introduce jobs to me whenever possible... so my company’s president also told me to express my gratitude if I ever had a chance to see her. Even if I had not... I wanted to show Major – my companion – the beauty of that country.”

“Is that so...? I’m happy. The beauty of my country is my pride.”

“Yes. I could not have thought that we would come here as per Madam Alberta’s arrangement.”

“S-Sorry.”

The courtier Alberta was once my wet nurse, and to Violet, she was a work intermediator. Alberta had persuaded Violet, saying that, since she had come nearby, she probably wanted to see me.

Having received the news about Violet’s visit from Drossel, I had sent a carriage from Fluegel to pick her up without thinking about her convenience. As a result, I had hindered the vacation that this much-demanded Auto-Memories Doll probably was finally able to have... as well as the time that she was getting to spend with her significant other.

Calling her over in a way that bordered forcefulness might be an arrogant conduct coming from the royal family.

“Violet... did you not want to come to Fluegel?”

“That is not the case.”

“Really...?”

“Yes; it is the country that Lady Charlotte married off to, after all. I had interest in it.”

“Thank you... I’m not free, so... I can’t go anywhere on my own... I had no choice but to bring you here.”

As I said this, Violet nodded with an “I am aware”.

   Afterwards, we talked about what happened in the meantime that we had not seen each other. About how Lord Damian and I were able to properly fall in love with each other after marrying. About how Violet had managed, through ups and downs, to find the most beloved master that she had been looking for. About the fact that he was Mr. Gilbert. About her wish for two of them, in the life that they would have from now onward, to go to the countries that she had visited as an Auto-Memories Doll, because she wanted him to become acquainted with them as well, even if it took some time. We talked about such things quiet and lightly.

I was so happy for being able to have this kind of conversation with her that I could not help myself.

“Speaking of which, Lady Charlotte, it seems you are funding an orphanage.”

“You think it’s hypocritical of me?”

“No. To tell the truth, a girl who is being taken care of over there is supposed to work with us in the future.”

“Eh, is that so? I... built that orphanage because I was influenced by you.”

We opened our eyes wide at each other’s information, hearts pounding, and then broke into giggles.

Aah, when was the last time that I had been so free of wariness with someone? It was really fun. How many more times would I get to see her like this?

“By the way, how’s the Auto-Memories Doll that was with Lord Damian during the Public Love Letters doing?”

Even though we had barely just started chatting, I suddenly thought about that. It was a bad habit of mine. I was quick to picture the end of things.

“She is doing well. It seems she is... always having fights with her lover, but...”

Life was short. Many things passed in a blink of eye.

“Is that okay?”

I spent my time burying down the intervals in which I could not see her.

“It is. Our company is the same as ever. Everyone is doing fine.”

Even so, we could not be together forever.

We would spend time together today and tomorrow, and once we parted, there was a possibility that we would never meet again. After all, I was a queen and Violet was an Auto-Memories Doll. A woman who could go nowhere and a woman who could go anywhere. As one would expect, our social positions were different.

——Aah, Charlotte, stop thinking, I reprimanded myself. Although this moment was unbearably fun, I was conscious of its end, which caused my chest to tighten somewhat.

I was together with Violet in the time when red roses blossomed. The hours we spent talking in the garden would probably become irreplaceable to me. I might recall it over and over.

——This might not be the case for Violet, though.

Friendships could also be unrequited. That was exactly why this moment was both too happy and too painful.

“Lady Charlotte.”

Having my name called, I frantically raised the corners of my mouth, which had gone down before I realized. A queen had to be always smiling elegantly, as to not make the subjects uneasy.

“Wh-What is it?”

Even though I excelled at faking a smile, for some reason, I could not do it properly right now.

“What is the matter?”

I would end up accidentally showing her my original, anxious self when she was in front of me.

“Nothing; it’s just that my heart is filled to the brim.”

Being overcome with emotion at the irreplaceable “present” out of the blue in the middle of a conversation and feeling sad about it was incomprehensible and nothing but a bother to the other person.

“I simply... thought that I was indeed lonely.”

Violet. I might be no more than a character that had not even amounted to a single page of your life.

“I really wanted to see you.”

But you had played a huge role in mine, so you would always be in my heart.

“Because I’d been remembering the things you said to me whenever I was having a hard time.”

Whenever I was sad and about to burst into tears, your face would appear in my heart and you would speak to me.

“Weird, isn’t it? If you think about it, we aren’t that close. I’m just a client to you anyways. Just one person in a crowd. But...”

But I had never forgotten the things you had done for me.

“But, y’know...”

You had supported my love. Allowed me to be selfish. Told me that I was a crybaby. You were the only girl about as old as me that I could be myself when interacting with.

“But...”

To me, you were my girlhood itself. A symbol of the time when I lived in Drossel, fell in love and was simply Charlotte. It was almost as if I were embracing my child self.

Could you tell? My chest was hurting a lot. What a pain. Why did people become like that when growing up?

“I like you.”

Why did we think that these moments in which we became weak were so bad?

“Lady Charlotte...”

In that instant, Violet came closer, and just when I wondered if she was going to kiss me, she reached out a hand.

“‘I want to stop your tears’.”

And then, the tip of her finger scooped a drop of the tears that were about to overflow.

“If I am certain, I had once told you this, Lady Charlotte.”

I was a bit dumbfounded. I did not think she still remembered that.

“Are you still a crybaby...?”

When she gently asked me that, I felt like one more tear would leak. I suppressed my eyes in a panic. “No way I’d be. I’m a queen already.”

“Yes.”

“I have Lord Damian too. I’m his wife.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve become strong. I... got a bit weak just now, but it was a temporary thing.”

“Yes, I am aware.”

Aah, you. Violet.

“Lady Charlotte, if you like...”

You were extremely insensitive sometimes.

“...if you ever have a chance to travel to Leidenschaftlich...”

And cruel.

“...by all means, do call me. I will hasten to join you.”

But kind enough to make me cry.

“I want to show you that city one day...”

You had no idea that you were saving me with your casual statements.

Before I noticed, Violet was offering me a handkerchief. I accepted it, and while hiding my crying face but making at least my voice sound all right, I said, “I’ll go; I’ll definitely go there one day. And when I do, show me around!”

Violet replied, “Yes” with a tone that indicated she was probably smiling.

“Definitely.”

Surely, even if I managed to meet Violet again someday, the same thing would happen. It was precisely because we could not see each other that I would be both happy and pained once I managed to see her.

“Of course. If it suits you, I can draw up a written oath... Ah, Lady Charlotte. Major is back.”

The contents of our conversations had changed from before. We were no longer talking about one-sided love letters. I would not sulk or curl up on my bed in front of her.

“No way; I can’t show him a face like this.”

Still, it did not matter how many years passed.

“You look beautiful.”

It was not as if my feelings would be gone.

——We were able to meet today like that. Even if we part ways tomorrow, you’ll surely be on a voyage somewhere around the world.

“Aren’t my eyes red?”

“No, Lady Charlotte.”

When I thought about that, I started looking forward to it. Should I try to write her a letter telling her that I wanted to see her by the time that the tales of our journeys had piled up?

“Your Majesty, may I also join Violet?”

“Of course; here, sit down.”

I had already decided on an opening phrase for it.

“Major, I was told a wonderful story. Is it all right to talk about it?”

“Aah, tell me, Violet.”

“The orphanage that Lady Charlotte built is...”

   Dear Ms. Violet Evergarden, Are you doing well?

I want to see you.

[inthehausofholbein]

23 for the prompts :) - iris

23. I'm trans.

I think this “kind of” derailed from the prompt, but didn’t know what else to write. Also, I don’t really have any specific gender hcs for the characters, but I do sort of like the trans! Maxi hc, so I used it.

“We’re almost done!”, Violetta exclaimed as her group was nearly finished on a project Pablo assigned to all of them as they were approaching graduation. Unlike their group composition assignments the previous years, this one was to be uploaded to the internet. The students in Vilu’s class were supposed to both make a music video and release it as an audio single.

“This is almost done for you?”, Diego asked, chuckling. They still had a whole music video to film and edit, after all. And with eleven people involved, of course, they’d still have a lot of work to do.

Vilu giggled, but answered. “We’ve done music videos before, haven’t we? And Pablo set the deadline, like, a week away from now.”

“Well... true.”

“So, we’ve finished all the recording.” León said after. “Thanks to Maxi, who’s saving all our asses by editing the whole thing—may God bless your soul.”

“Trust me, I don’t mind.” Maxi chuckled.

.

“So”, Francesca asked, “What are we gonna do for the music video and album cover?”

“Uh... let’s start with the album cover since that takes less work.” Natalia replied.

“What do we do with the theme?”, Diego asked everyone. Their assigned theme was “How far we’ve gone”, which only makes sense. It is, after all, their last year in the studio.

“We could just…”, Camila suggested, “Put in a picture of all of us and put the title like most pop and indie artists?”

“Oh, but that’s kind of boring.” Federico admitted, sighing. “This is our last year. We need to make it unique!”

“Oh, you are speaking my language.” Ludmila added. “I agree. If we can’t make it grand, we can at least make it memorable.”

“TBH, anything we do is memorable.” Cami replied sassily, closing her eyes and adding a small giggle.

“Did you just say t-b-h out loud—?”

“Hey, wait!”, Vilu exclaimed as she got an idea. “What if I make the album cover? I’ll draw all of us. We’re all still 19 and 20, but the art style’ll be like that of a child’s.”

“Are you calling your art style that of a child’s?”, Ludmi teasingly asked, furrowing her eyebrows and laughing.

“Well…” Violetta then giggled. “No. But, I’ll adjust it a bit. Maybe I’ll add some hearts and music notes.”

“Hmm… I think it’s a great idea.” Diego said. “How ‘bout everyone else?”

“I think it’s a great idea too.” Andrés responded.

“Uh huh, same here.” Broduey added.

“The rest?” The others also nodded their heads in agreement, giving the responsibility of the album cover to their ombre-haired classmate.

“I just wanna make sure you’re okay with doing it yourself, Vilu.”

“Ay Diego, it’s fine. I like drawing.”

“And ranting in your diary.” Ludmi muttered after a quick cough.

Violetta then giggled and rolled her eyes. “I’m sure my dear sister would love to help me out too.” She teased.

“Ugh, fine.” Ludmila replied with an eye roll and a reluctant smile.

.

“Okay girls, now Violetta’s handling the album cover. What about the music video?”

“Hm… that’s gonna be a little harder.”

“Well, maybe us nine do most of the work since Vilu and Maxi already have stuff to do besides the recording.” Cami suggested.

“Yeah, but… what do we do?”

“Well, the theme is “How far we’ve gone”, no?”, Naty said after a while of everyone thinking. “What if we make, like, a slideshow of moments throughout our lives?”

“Ooh! I like that!”, Diego replied, smiling.

“So, like, how far are we reaching? Like, just our years in the studio… or when we were children?”

“Ludmila, is this just an excuse to show off all your pageant photos?”, Diego teased, letting out a few chuckles, making the girl playfully roll her eyes.

“Wait wait, what are you suggesting, Ludmi?”, Maxi asked, sweat about to roll down his face.

“Just that we’ll add on to Nat’s idea and make a slideshow with pictures throughout our lives to really hammer home the theme.”

“Oh, I think she meant like: baby photos, childhood photos, studio photos, and a final group photo.” Broduey added. “Right, Ludmila?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

“Uh… baby photos?”, Maxi asked for confirmation, really displaying his nervousness to his group mates.

“Yeah!” Broduey replied.

Maxi then swallowed his saliva and paused, giving no reply.

Ludmi waited until he said something and added, “We’re not gonna judge if you were ugly—“ Natalia then hit her blonde companion on her arm, making almost everyone in the room laugh.

Maxi, though, didn’t chuckle much and Camila seemed to notice. After having a laugh herself, she went to check on him. “Hey, are you fine with this?”

Before Maxi could reply, Ludmila took notice of him and frantically said, “I-I didn’t mean what I said—”

“No, I know.” Maxi replied, assuring the girl. He then muttered to Camila, “It’s about time they knew, anyway.”

“Yeah. Hey, everyone’ll be supportive.”

“I know… It’s just that you were the only person who knew besides my family.”

A little while later, the students had already come up with the full concept of their music video. “Okay, so:”, Violetta reminded everyone after the planning was done. “Everyone bring a bunch of childhood photos so we can start doing the music video tomorrow. Maxi will edit the audio recording and I’ll do the album cover.”

“Just make sure not to draw me the same way you did in your diary.” León told her, chuckling and making Vilu do the same.

“Wait wait wait, you showed him your diary?”, Ludmila asked in disbelief.

“Well, yeah.” León responded. “We dated, for God’s sake.”

“Wow, and you were very much like “Ugh, no one can read my diary! It’s top secret—!”, Ludmi said mockingly before her step-sister started to rapidly rub her head.

“Yeah, and you were also my biggest rival! Why would I show it to you?”

.

“What is happening here?”, Pablo chuckled as he leaned against the doorway of the classroom his students were in. “It’s getting late, the studio’s about to close.”

“Oh, yeah. Don’t worry, Pablo, we’re gonna leave soon.” Fran replied.

“Well, good.” Pablo then left the room and everyone prepared to leave.

.

“Okay, well, we’ll start the music video tomorrow. Just remember to bring the photos.” Vilu told everyone before they all nodded.

“You better show me all your bitchy diary entries later.” Ludmi teasingly said to Violetta.

“You’re showing me too!”, Fede also exclaimed to Violetta.

“Okay, but you’re both helping me with the album cover in return!”, Vilu said before putting an arm around both of them and walking out of the room.

.

While the three housemates were talking to each other, everyone had already left while Cami and Maxi were left in the classroom. 

“So...”, The redhead asked her friend, “How’re you feeling about telling everyone tomorrow?”

“Well... relieved. Relieved that I don’t have to be worried about being outed.”

“But...?”, Cami asked him as she noticed a look of slight worry.

“But... I don’t know, there’s still this worry at the back of my mind...”

“Maxi, don’t worry. Now that Ludmila has become a better person, I know that everyone will accept you.”

“Yeah, I know...” Seeing the expression on the boy’s face, Cami then gave Maxi a quick hug. That made him feel better and definitely more looking-forward to telling everyone something he hadn’t yet.

.

The next day, everyone met up in the same classroom to start off the music video. 

“Alright, Ludmila, can you collect all the photos?”, Diego asked the blonde girl who was next to him.

“Sure.” She replied before putting her hand forward and smirking, non-verbally asking Diego for his. “Wow, what an... interesting-looking baby.” She sarcastically said as she stared at Diego’s, honestly, normal-looking picture.

“Oh, shut it!” He exclaimed back, playfully rolling his eyes. “Now, which of the thousand pageant photos did you use?”

“I was gonna bring all of them, but Vilu and Fede told me to just use a few.”

“Honestly not surprised they still had to remind you.” Diego said after letting out a small chuckle.

Ludmi scoffed, but then moved on to collect everyone else’s photos. Some received interesting comments from her, some didn’t. Then, she finally reached Maxi who gave her a small smile before handing his.

“Wow...”, The blonde muttered while continuously staring at the picture in her hand: Maxi as a toddler with longer hair and very feminine clothes, smiling to the camera taking a picture of him. “Your parents are surprisingly liberal.”

“W-what?”

“My mother would never have let me even touch anything remotely boy-ish.”

“Well...”, Maxi said while looking towards Camila who gave him a thumbs up. “I’m trans.”

“Wait... what?”, Ludmi asked, sort of lost.

“Transgender. I was born in a girl’s body, but I... felt like a boy.”

The others had overheard what Maxi said, so they approached him, saying all sorts of nice things, making him smile.

“Hey, look”, Ludmila quietly said to him, “I may be a little new to this, but I just want you to know that I support it and you.”

Maxi smiled more. “I know you are.”

“I just have one question, though.”

“Yeah?”

“What kind of a dork chooses the name Maximiliano?”, Ludmila teasingly asked, crossing her arms.

“Ludmi!”, Cami exclaimed, chuckling a little.

That made Maxi giggle. “Look, I was quite young and I thought that name was cool. And honestly, I still do.”

“Huh, suit yourself.” Ludmi chuckled.

As she walked away, Camila approached her friend and hugged him with one arm. 

[holmes-cringe-compilation]

That last fluff fic was SO GOOD and I agree Herlock doesn't conform to gender roles So How about a Tailor S/O who models Dresses on Herlock With Iris Cuz I'm a Simp >:)

-✨

a/n: ✨ ANON YOUR BRAIN IS HUGEEEE HE'D FUCKING ROCK DRESSES !!!!!!! i had so much fun writing this one because cough cough my little meow meow. hopefully this is good enough !!

sherlock with a tailor!s/o who gets him to model dresses for them

i think sherlock has a thing for sewing too, he just doesn't do it often because he's so busy.

he used to have to rely to sew any holes he had in any clothes he has.

but now he has you !! and you're more than happy to sew anything up for him. he can't thank you enough so he peppers your face with kisses whenever you finish sewing up a hole in his favourite dress shirt.

but as soon as you tell him that you're a tailor, he's pleasantly surprised ! he wants to know what your work looks like and everything ! you must be so talented..

he's right about that ! your clients are extremely happy with your work, you even let sherlock see the little shop you have downtown and he's enamoured by everything in it. from clothes to decor you sure have taste.

he's even seen some clients coming in to pick up things you've fixed for them and with the tone of their voices he can tell that they're beyond happy !

he's so happy to have a s/o who cares so deeply about their job.

as summer in london approaches you realise you need to restock and change the clothes on the mannequins in the windows to lighter clothing like summer dresses and shorts.

the idea to have sherlock model for you came to you on a whim as you were closing up for the day, and it lead to you bolting down the street back to 221b with all the things you needed.

"i-i just think you'd be a good model for this dress i was thinking on making.."

"oh~? my sweetheart ! i think so too ! i'd be happy to model anything for you !"

i think he'd be kinda mellow and happy when you asked him to be your model at the start but he'd get soooo invested as time went on.

he'd ask to see if you're working on your fabric like twenty times a day.

it's cute of him, really. it tells you how much he loves your work.

if you're having a bit of trouble with the measurements (i know i sure would. fuck numbers) he'd be there to cheer you on, kissing your head as he sat in front of you.

you're his little tailor, he loves you even if you mess up on some measurements and have to take them again.

once you double check to see if the measurements are correct you announce that it's time to properly start sewing and sherlock can't wait. he's been waiting to put on your tailored dress and it's almost time !

he's always making sure you try to get enough sleep every night, bringing you hot chocolate to you so you could relax for a moment with him.

i think if you develop eye bags he'll give them small kisses..... he once again fell head over heels for you.

he's excited to see the end result and when the day comes he literally can't contain his excitement.

he'll boast about it very loudly in the apartment, which catches iris' attention sooner than later.

"my dear and sweet y/n ! they've made only the best article of clothing in the world and they're asking me of all people to try it on ! i am forever blessed !"

you blush and shove him into the bedroom so he could change in peace.

iris walks up to you to see what all the ruckus was and you tell her to wait and see because there's a surprise on the other side of the door.

soon after, sherlock walks out in your very adorable sundress and it's a look.

he can make anything look good, it's part of his genetics.

both you and iris gasp at the sight, you burning bright red as sherlock shoots a wink at you.

"how do i look ? this dress is quite comfortable y'know !"

iris runs up to sherlock, hugging him by the waist and telling him how pretty he looks. to which he boasts some more about you being the designer of his dress.

iris turns around to you in awe, asking if you could make her a dress as pretty as that and you can't help but say yes at such a cute request.

sherlock takes advantage of your vulnerability in this situation, giving you affection tenfold ! it all makes you so so red that he can't resist.

seeing sherlock in such a dress makes you wonder if you should make some gowns and have him model them for you.... but that's a story for another day~ ♡

[oloreaa]

2020 WRAP UP!

Okay here we are!! Hopefully I have not missed anyone because I truly dont mean to "snub" anyone, so here is a list of people who I feel very thankful for knowing this year, where I started out on tumblr, you have been truly bright presences and I love you very very much.

First off here are some people I don't know very well (or at all, but I admire their work) but I think have excellent vibes and I would love to get to know better/let them know that I appreciate them very very much:

@maxlordd @ollypopp @opheliaelysia @honeymandos @concussed-to-pieces @pikemoreno @huliabitch @mitchi-c @hansoulo @browneyes-djarin @cinewhore @max--phillips @din-damn-djarin @ezrasarm @dishonouringmycow @keeper0fthestars @dadolorian @dindjarindiaries @cobbvader @leo-moon @justrunamok @frannyzooey @miranhas-art @keethus-arts @hdlynn @zeldasayer @qveenbvtch @softpedropascal @marvel-and-mischief @datmando @stubbychaos @di-kut @themangolorian @vercopaanir @mcfreakin-bxtch

and so, so many more that I cannot think of right now (and tumblr doesnt let me tag more than 50 people)

And for those I know a bit better, under the cut❤:

@binggrae-banana-milk : You're the first person I really talked to on tumblr, and I cherish every single one of our interactions so much. The one time where we had watched Revenge of the Sith together and had a full on BLAST, it was incredibly fun and every time we just kind of scream at each other in dms it's so funny, how we both are freaking out simultaneously!! Also before you I never really keysmashed and now it's a part of my vocabulary lmao, ily!!!

@mndalorians : Cass. Oh, my dear Cass. Listen, you have brightened up my year by SO MUCH. I don't even want to know how many tens of thousands of words our chat consists of dhdhdh, from discovering cultural differences with each other, to yelling about the same stuff, to planning fics and telling each other of our ideas. We share a brain cell and we are literally the embodiment of Zwei Dumme, ein Gedanke. If I'm glad for anything in this year, it's starting to talk to you. You're literally one of my closest friends and I never hesitate in hitting you up, from absolute crack to heartbreak, you have the range, darling. I love you so much, you don't even know❤

@agirllovespancakes : Iris baby, oh my god. I don't even know where to start. The way how we just started talking without even KNOWING how we started talking is the funniest thing, EVER. This friendship came out of fucking NOWHERE and I am so glad for this. I can always count of you to stand by my side in so many things, and you're the other chaotic one in Tender Roasting, I adore you. The way we just go "kskssksks" and "dhddhdhdhd" at each other for literally hours because we are just losing it over each other is amazing. Ich hab dich so lieb!!!

@adikaofmandalore : Holy shit, Adi, the only thing I can think of now is that you literally deserve everything good and sweet in this world. You're one of the kindest souls on here, and I've never met anyone who is as sweet as you. I don't even know how you are real. Everytime we talk I'm literally smiling so bright, your enthusiasm for Ven is unparalleled and the way we just go bonkers at each other with ideas?? You're so supportive?? And your razor sharp wit and sarcasm is AMAZING to witness in action. Your writing is incredible and incredibly underrated and your stubbornness is admirable. You manage to power though Everything and that's so impressive. I love you very much!!!

@teaofpeach : lee babe DAMN I've never met anyone who is as funny as you. Like whenever we are talking it's just, it ends with me cackling and having the biggest smile on my face because you made me laugh so much. Such a bright presence on my dash and your TAGS are always sending me. So witty and smart and your vocabulary is unparalleled. Filthy hoe but I love you for it. You taught me so much tumblr lingo just by texting me and I always feel Educated afterwards dhdhdhd I love you so much and I trust you with every single one of my attempts at Spiciness

@mandolovian : DEV BABY my love from tomorrow🥺🥺 the time difference of HELL had never stopped us from being hoe af in the dms lmao, I vividly remember one of our first convos spiralling into thots SO FUCKING FAST that was the funniest shit ever. It's always fascinating to see what you do on the other side of the planet and I admire you so much. Like, you TRULY have big brain. How do you remember so much??? Like all these conditions and facts and like WOAH I just feel like a plankton next to you💀💀💀💀 ily SO MUCH

@goldafterglow : iris babe omg okay first of all you're the prettiest bitch I've ever seen, such a nice presence overall, you have GALAXY BRAIN, your writing style is so smooth and full of descriptions that are so amazing to read, like its. Amazing. You have unfortunately witnessed several times where I typed faster than my brain would proceed and I ended up saying the DUMBEST shit and you make fun of me because of it. Like bro I dont even mind bc any interaction with you is worth it🥺🥺🥺🥺

@chibi-liz05 : Liz oh my gosh I just love you so much. We don't talk as frequently anymore but you just have a place in my heart, you're incredibly supportive of everything and you're always there for me, no matter for what, offering thoughts and conversation about everything. You're such an absolute sweetheart and a sunshine person and I just adore your positive attitude and the way you talk, you're literally the sweetest. I love you very very much and consider this me giving you the biggest forehead kiss

@pisss-offf-ghostt : you're one of the first ones who read my fics when I first started out, and your continued support for everything I write is absolutely AMAZING. Like I enjoy every single one of our conversations and discussions, and I feel completely safe to hit you up for anything, no matter what. You're an incredibly kind and hardworking person and your heart is just so big, I cannot even comprehend it. It's amazing how much you care, how you interact with people on here, and I care for you SO MUCH. Love you🥺❤❤

@maybege : you're literally the KINDEST PERSON around?? And we are weirdly connected through cosmic forces whenever it has something to do about Lebkuchenherzen lmao, its uncanny. We have started out in fics in such a similar way it still makes me chuckle, like we experienced the same amount of cringe lmaooo, and now you're just here, blessing us every day with your amazing content, being the most organised person I know, and just an absolute SWEETHEART. everytime we write I have such a big smile on my face, and you BET we would have found each other irl if it wasnt for Corona🤡🤡

@kiwi-the-first : oh kiwi you're such a nice and thoughtful person, whenever I feel down youre the first one to send asks and nice messages and cute photos to make me smile and that is absolutely adorable of you🥺🥺 you're such a vocal and passionate character and its absolutely amazing to see you in action, how you go all caps screaming in the dms. You have a special part in my heart and its just so nice to be able to talk to you

@corvueros : MEG we are literally sharing one (1) brain cell and they are oscillating between "horny", "yelling at each other in all caps" and "oh my god that's such a good idea" 💀💀💀 whenever we talk I have the biggest smile on my face and I absolutely ADORE you, you're the absolute best. Such a sweet and thoughtful and excited person who can spew the filthiest thots in a manner of 0.1 seconds. You're such a bright person and I could not imagine not being able to talk to you bc you're so supportive and just the literal BEST, I LOVE YOU BITCH, I AM NEVER GONNA STOP LOVING YOU, BITCH

@blacksquadron-rougetwo : okay Hailee you have absolutely excellent vibes. Like you're always so bright and sunshiny and just so damn fucking gorgeous I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU. Filthy and tender at the same time, the QUEEN of soft horny fics like woah, and the way you talk is just so wonderful to witness. Your reaction pics are always on point and no matter what the topic is our convos always end up in all caps screaming at each other how unfairly hot the character of the week is lmao. You're such a sweet being and I am grateful for you!!

@over300books : holy shit Estela I have not known you well for a long time but you're such an incredibly supportive person with the funniest of commentary, everything you write makes me smile, ESPECIALLY all those comments in the docs!! I completely trust you with all the writings I manage to finish and everytime you help me with it you make me see my work with new eyes. You're just so damn amazing and sweet and super cheery I just love you so much. I am so grateful that we are friends and I am SO PROUD of you for finishing your degree!! Like girl WHOOOO!!!

@anxiety-riddled-mando : listen not only are you an absolutely fantastic writer, you're such an amazing person and someone who just screams "safe" at me. Like I completely trust you with my thoughts and even if we are not talking directly very often (our communication is more reblogging and telling each other in the tags how much we love them lmao) I just absolutely adore you and I just am so incredibly thankful that we stumbled across each other!!! You're such a bright presence on tumblr and every single one of your works is so incredibly amazing!!

Aaaand that's a wrap!! Thank you so much for making my year brighter, I love every single one of you so so so so so much. Happy new years!!

Love, Rea

[thesolitarystripe]

The knights of Lumina were posted outside the main city gate; arming gleaming beneath the hot summer sun. Each one sat atop a night warhorse, varying in color and size but matching in the same obedient stillness. Not a single living being moved within their formation. Every so often, a necessary tail flick to ward off the relentless flies could be seen but otherwise, it was as if the gods had left a magnificent painting as a gift, by the city entrance. At their front was Thomas Grey. Sir Thomas Grey. He was the right hand of the king, protector and personal guard of the kingdom’s princess, and a peasant by birthright. A bastard. It was odd to find one of his lineage within the knighthood and of the highest-ranking position but, his history within Lumina’s royal family spanned from the first year or his life, to now. Twenty-eight years. The young knight rode atop a bright palomino whose coat shown as brightly as the golden stalks of wheat their farmers grew. Its mane was a striking cream color. One dark brown eye, like most equine creatures, and the other an eerie crystalline blue. The mare had been gifted to Thomas as a boy for he too, was crafted uniquely by the gods. Hair as brilliant as the sun, white gold, and eyes as different from one another as night and day. Thomas bore one azure iris and the other a vibrant verdant. It was a rare condition, one seen perhaps between one person every few cities over. Some thought it a blessing, others a curse.

“Sir, dust from the East there,” a voice stated from behind Thomas whose head had turned to take note.

“Our guests have arrived, look sharp men.” Thomas squeezed the belly of his horse, urging her forward. The creature obliged and took Thomas forward with the rest of his men in his wake. Presently there were fifty of them on horseback, only a sliver of the knighthood. They were to greet and escort a small caravan of royalty from the Eastern kingdom of Stalwert. It was an admirable city whose trading routes and exports were undoubtedly some of the best. Lumina’s king sought an alliance by way of marriage. The princess, while not opposed to the arrangement had her reservations—all of which Thomas was acutely aware of. Many did not know his full history, they simply knew that Thomas was a babe dying on the streets when he was found by the royal family during one of the kingdom’s festivals. He was taken in, under what circumstances or pretenses they did not know. Thomas was raised within the castle walls, groomed to be a knight, and fast became the young princess’ most dear and trusted friend.

There had never been thought to anything more. Thomas knew, while his station was admirable, his birthright made him unsuitable for any romantic pursuits when it came to the princess of Lumina. Therefore, the idea never entered his mind though many teased them as children. One was never without the other unless stolen away by their mentors and tutors. It was easy for King Marcus Abraya to assign the young Thomas to be his daughter’s guard, even at the young age of sixteen. Most nights she stole him into her chambers to make her laugh rather than stand guard at her door. They were fast friends. As such, Thomas took today very seriously. He would be this prince’s harshest critic and report any concerns regarding his character to King Abraya himself.

The fleet of knights swarmed the royal caravan, introducing themselves well and offering their protection as they entered the city. The King and Queen of Stalwert greeted him warmly but there was no appearance made by the prince. Offense number one was noted. Thomas led the way back within the city walls, lines of commoners formed all of them trying to gain a look at the potential future king of Lumina. They would see no one. The man kept himself hidden away within his carriage. Only when they were within the sprawling courtyard, just in front of the alabaster castle, did Thomas bring his men to a halt. All of them but Thomas stays on horseback while the blonde dismounted and tended to the royal family. He stood at the carriage door and offered his arm, seeing the Monarchs safely to the ground. It was now, that he beheld the prince. He was of a modest build but clearly untrained in the art of war. The prince was of average height and looked quite small standing beside Thomas who was six feet and six inches more. This prince appeared soft, a man of the arts perhaps with caramel colored hair and deep brown eyes. Thomas would’ve given his honest remarks—the prince was handsome, devilishly but wouldn’t last a day within the ranks of any knighthood Thomas knew of. It wasn’t a prince’s job, however, to wage war with his own hands. Thomas was sure the man was likely a brilliant mind, expert at strategy, and adept at making treaties. Thomas was eager to speak of such topics with him as Lumina got to know their potential ruler over the course of the next few days.

“Prince Robert,” Thomas bowed deeply, the crown of his head exposed. “Might I speak for the knights of Lumina when I say it is a great honor to have you within our kingdom. Please let me know personally if there is anything I can do to make your stay more comfortable.” Thomas stood upright again and found those dark eyes regarding him.

“Thank you, knight, what may I call you?”

“Sir Thomas Grey, my lord,” he replied, bringing his gaze up to meet the prince’s.

“That is a wild look within your eyes, Sir Grey. A defect at birth?” He pointed between his own two eyes as he observed Thomas more closely.

“Indeed sir, I was born with it.”

“Interesting,” Robert sighed before he turned on his heel. Ending the conversation.

Thomas felt a strange sensation wash over him. Something in his gut churned. The skin on his arms pulled up and away from his bones and he had to stave off his urge to frown. The knight led the royal family within, only to be greeted by King Abraya within the great hall. The three flocked to the King and Thomas stood quietly behind, surmising what it was his gut was telling him. Every move Prince Robert Winsley made, ignited Thomas’ nerves. Distrust was already being sewn within the belly of the knight whose hands were clasped in front of him, face expressionless as he watched the greeting of two kingdoms unfold. Their ruler of Lumina ushered the royal families into the throne room, his knighthood in tow behind him. At the head was Thomas, to his right, Belor, and his left, Edward. The three highest of rank and the ones trusted to enter the throne room and stand guard within. Outside, lower ranking knights took their posts and waited behind closed doors. Thomas took his stand beside the elevated slab of marble that held three ornately decorated thrones. The largest in the middle was made of solid cherrywood, a deep red in color and carved with the Kingdom’s crest: an ivory horse, rearing back on its hind legs, mane whipping behind its muscled neck as if the wind blew against it. The background was black while the sides were embroidered in intricate floral patterns. While there were no other colors, save the natural hue of the wood, the marking was unmistakable on the backing of the king’s throne. There were two others, lesser seats but still beautifully made of strong oak. Within the smaller ones sat their Queen and beside her, the princess. The moment Thomas’ gaze lifted and he met the eyes of his childhood friend, the princess smiled. Her eyes hadn’t yet sought out her suitor before they landed on Thomas who was as reserved as ever but offered a half upturn of his lips. The Knight took his place beside the royal ladies while King Abraya waved a hand grandly through the air and motioned to his kin.

“I am pleased to introduce you to my lovely Queen, Amina, and my daughter.” Both women stood with the grace and poise of a swan, their dresses flowing around their bodies to accentuate every luscious curve and dip. Thomas stood with eyes forward, hands crossed in front of him.

“It’s a pleasure,” they both said in tandem as they curtsied and then sat again. Prince Robert flicked an eye over his potential wife and merely nodded his head. The second offense. Thomas wanted to scowl but kept his expression smooth. The royals fell into conversation as King Abraya brought their company to sit and rest; over his shoulder, Thomas heard a familiar clearing throat. Mismatched eyes found the princess who was already looking incredibly bored; she was obscured by her father’s commanding height so she could not be easily seen. The princess rolled her eyes. Thomas smirked.

He puffed out his cheeks and made an exasperated expression.

The princess smirked and stuck out her tongue.

Thomas’ eyes grew wide as if offended. Then he returned the gesture, tongue poking out of his lips and eyes crossing lightly.

The princess bit her lower lip and dropped her chin, desperate to hide her giggling.

Thomas straightened, happy to know he hadn’t lost his ability to make their princess laugh. Even after all these years. The two exchanged glances across the room, every time Thomas looked, his princess had turned away; as soon as he averted his gaze, she was peeking back at him rosy-cheeked and coy. When their eyes finally did meet, each one couldn’t stop the break of a smile across their faces. Children at heart, surely. Thomas clasped his hand over his wrist more tightly, with more resolve than ever to ensure Robert Stalwert was worthy of Lumina’s princess.

[mar-bluu]

My dearest Jaelynn,

I witness you longing for a passionate, homosexual anonymous love letter, through a post that appeared on my dash. I could not stand to see you in such despair, and hence I am writing to you on this fair morning.

My dear, your beauty grows every day I am graced with your presence, the birds sing only for you as the sun rises to illuminate your allurement. Your eyes, in their pigment, reflect the very nature surrounding us, the dirt and sea and forest all held inside your iris. A world to get lost in. Your skilled hands make magic, exquisite ideas and words brought to life. You bless this world with not only your creations, but your presence makes the sun shine brighter.

I hope this letter finds you well, and I hope your days are joyous.

Sincerely,

A friend.

Akejakrnoafnlajd ohmygosh???? Oh nonnie this is so sweet im!!!! Ahhh holy shit you word things so poetically lm in awe!!! Im literally just reading and rereading this over and over again, youre just too sweet!!!

Thank you so so so much for this, this is the highlight of my day!!! Remember to stay hydrated nonnie, hope you're doing well! <3

[originofjaehyun]

Interlude: No More Drama | Part 8 | Love Me Now

Interlude: No More Drama Masterlist

Word count: 4,985

Warnings: Angst, language

Part 8 | Love Me Now

“Now I realize those shining days, those days left alone being stuck in the dark you disappeared.”

Prev • Next

The clinking sound of the spoon touching your cup of tea can be heard. It was not the usual prototype of a cafe that you would come to. It’s even too grand to be called a cafe. Butlers are stationed nearby, and although their presence is to make sure you’re at ease, it does exactly the opposite.

You’re worried about your table manners, your speech, and the way you dress up. You’re choosing a nude-colored coat, pairing it with a black turtle neck to keep the theme neutral. You complete the look by wearing a minimal gold layered necklace over it, with few stacks of thin rings on your fingers.

The steps from oxford shoes snap you out of your daze. There, you saw how this tall man gracefully walks towards your direction. Two men can be seen walking next to his side, to which he dismisses when he’s about to reach you.

“Good afternoon, Ms. [Y/L/N]. I hope I didn’t take too much of your time.”

Mr. Jeong took his seat, immediately crossing his legs and clasping his hand together.

You straighten your back, trying hard not to look nervous, “No problem, uh, Sir. I already make sure I book my calendar for this so please be at ease.”

After what Jaehyun has told you about his father, you could not believe that man in his story is the same person as the one who’s sitting in front of you. Sure, he looks intimidating by his prideful aura, but he is the perfect epitome of a gentleman. A posture that is so perfect that it must be from years of keeping his manner on check.

Not long after, the butler brought his share of tea. He never ordered, so you wondered how the waiter would know his choice of drink. Perhaps he was a regular here, or his men ordered it for him.

The butler poured his tea, left immediately afterwards. You were about to take a sip of your tea because the silence kills you before he suddenly speaks up.

“So, how is your company running along? What was it called again?”

“The Paper Plane, Sir.”

“Ah yes, that one.” He took a sip while fixing his gaze on you.

You gulped, “It’s been doing well, Sir. Our project with NCT Corporation is on track so that’s great. Johnny has been nothing but wonderful, he’s been a great help.”

“What do you do again at your company?”

“I’m the creative director, Sir. I oversee the general artistic direction of a brand or company, making sure everyone has a shared vision of the direction things should be moving in.”

“I see,” He placed his cup back on its saucer, seemingly impassive about the topic. 

“So, Jaehyun.”

Your heart drops at the sudden change of topic. Although you want to remain calm, you can feel the anxiousness start to creep in and you unconsciously press your lips together. 

“How long have you been together?”

“Sorry sir?” You are taken aback by his sentence, clearly didn’t expect him to be so direct, skipping the unnecessary chit-chat. Furthermore, you’re not sure whether Jaehyun told him about your relationship. Presuming from the story Jaehyun has told you, it doesn’t seem like he did.

“Indeed, Jaehyun introduced you as our client,” He took a glance at his teacup, leaving it untouched as he diverted his pupils to you. “But I know you’ve been dating Jaehyun.”

You widen your eye, revealing more sclera. “Uhm…” unsure how to answer, especially in front of Jaehyun’s father domineer aura.

But you decided that you don’t want to lie.

“We’ve only been together for almost four months, Sir. But I’ve known him for seven months.”

“Ah, young love.” He twirls his spoon on his tea, “Must be great, I assume?”

You gulped nervously, not sure whether you answered correctly. 

“Jaehyun has been treating me well, Sir. Even though he is working hard at the office – which I heard from Johnny he’s always a stellar performer, he always make sure he spare some of his time for me. He’s gentle, and appreciates my opinions too.”

“I see,” He breaks your sentence, taking another sip. “Then, I take that as he would listen if you asked him to end it with him?”

You almost drop your spoon, “Sorry?”

“Jaehyun is an excellent young man, Ms. [Y/L/N]. He would face more challenges moving forward, and surely you’d rather be free with your creative field.” He holds his cup, putting a sarcastic tone especially at the word creative.

“Well, I think it’s up for Jaehyun to decide, Sir. He’s a full-grown man and I think he’s excellent at making his own decision.” You tried to keep your calm, debating with him.

“Ms. [Y/L/N],” He lets out a cold snicker. “I do not like to repeat my words.”

You hold your breath, surprised at the sudden change of personality. 

“Our Jaehyun already has his life crafted for him. His future is bright, and I know he would continue doing well. You lived in a world, completely opposite of his. It would be difficult for you to carry on with the relationship.”

“Thus my advice, Ms. [Y/L/N], since it’s only been a short while since you started seeing my son, I would suggest you would end it soon. It would make the parting more bearable.”

He clasped both of his hands, elbow on the table. He gives you a smile, and a dimple appears on his right cheek, probably where Jaehyun inherits his. However, his smile was monochromatic, dark and cold. 

“Sir, with all due respect,” You unconsciously formed a fist, clawing yourself for a grip. “Both of us can decide what’s the best for our own, and Jaehyun is more than capable of deciding his own path. He would be happier if he could walk on the path that he chose.”

“If.” He shrugs his back to his chair backrest. “My dear, you don’t know anything about his life. And believe me, it’s time for you to no longer be a part of it.”

You could no longer stay in the suffocating air, you rose from your seat. He remains unfazed, as if he knows you would react this way.

“Sir, I apologize if this may come off as rude.” Even at the tip of your patience, you tried to be polite to someone who shares the same blood with your lover. “But I’m a woman of my own decision and I love Jaehyun as much as he loves me. I think you just crossed the line by telling me that I’m unsuited to be a part of his life. I don’t even think you even asked Jaehyun about this. Please think more about your family’s happiness if you truly care.”

You grabbed your purse, storming outside without even trying to say goodbye to the rude man. You saw in glances that the butlers seem uncomfortable with your conversation, but you don’t give a damn. You don’t even care even to split your bill, that man probably has the fortune to purchase the entire building anyway. 

You took a march outside the tea salon, and after you judge you’re far enough, the walls that hold your tears finally break down like a broken dam. You squatted because you don’t want anyone to see the sight of you crying, even though you’re sure people would still take a peek at you crouching down, sobbing.

You cried because you feel insulted, not at the way he talks to you. He looked you down, and it hurts your pride. You built your career from the ground and you’re very proud of it. So for a father of the person whom you love refused to give his blessings to you merely because he sees you as unbefitting as his son’s partner is devastating.

“Hey, are you OK?”

You’ve heard that voice before. Although the overall tone of his voice was cheery, he tried his best to calm you down.

You look up at the owner of the voice, eyes are still wet from crying. As if the stars were trapped inside, his eyes were full of sparkles. The gaze that gives a spoiler of his innocence and purity. From the way he looks at you, you know behind his iris lies his kindness.

“Ah, you’re… Jaehyun’s brother?” You’re quick on your feet, standing up so he doesn’t have to stare down, ending your sentence awkwardly because you don’t know how to address him.

“Just call me Mark.” He said in a friendly tone, “Uhm, I realize you’re just from the tea shop, but would you like a warm cup of hot chocolate?”

You realize how awkward he is, his hand keeps scratching his non-itchy scalp. He probably never asked someone out, so he doesn’t know what to do. But you know he did so because he wished to calm you down.

“Hot chocolate sounds fantastic, Mark.”

--

The familiar sight of the cafe makes you comfortable. The smell of the fresh pastries and grounded coffee fits you better in comparison to the high-end tea setting just now. 

“Here,” Mark handed out a warm towel.

You stare at him confusedly, and he immediately answers your unspoken question, “Oh, it’s from the kitchen. One of my friends is the staff here. It’s fresh from the sterilizer, so it’s clean, don’t worry!”

Finally, the feeling of discomfort starts to fade at how genuine he is in trying to cheer you up. You took the towel out of his hand, “Thank you.”

You patted the towel over your swollen lids. Mark took his seat, fidgeting on the cup’s handle before he talked about the elephant in the room.

“So, uhm…”

“Was it my, uhm, father who did this?” He stutters as he is very careful about touching the sensitive subject. 

You paused, trying not to recall the bitter memory. But you see Mark glancing at you like a lost cheetah cub, and you don’t have the heart to ignore his question.

“Well, sort of, I guess. He’s not entirely on fault, I think.”

Though you know deep inside he is, you tried to keep your statement as democratic as possible, avoiding to hurt Mark’s feelings if you bad mouthed his father.

“It’s OK, you can be honest with me.” He leans forward so you can see his sincerity.

“Truthfully I saw when you talked to Father. Sorry, I overheard my father at home, he said he’s meeting you today. I realized he was talking about you, hyu…”

“I mean, elder brother’s girlfriend.”

“Just address him comfortably, Mark. I realize you forced yourself to call him that way. Also, it sounds overly polite.”

He lets out a warm chuckle, “Ah, you got me. Father asked me to call him that way, so I want to make sure I’m used to it.”

“Why do you have to force yourself? He is your brother, no family does that.”

Your statement causes the lines on his face to appear, forming especially near his cheekbones, showing how prominent they are.

“Anyway,” You swirl your cup, melting the marshmallow on top. ”Jaehyun never mentions that I am his girlfriend, how does he know?”

Mark almost choked on his share of chocolate. He cleared his throat, “Well, Father has his own connection…”

You furrows your brows, demanding him to elaborate his statement.

“Please don’t be offended? I think he did a background check on you. It’s just the way he does his thing, and I know it’s wrong and I oppose it.”

“Also, you did steal the show on that night. Not only are you linking arms with hyung, but you’re different from the rest of the wannabes on that event.”

You laughed, but it dies down instantly as the thought of their father investigating you makes you uneasy. “Well, he could’ve just met me and get to know me. That is some illegal shit he’s doing.”

He then asks you whether Jaehyun has told you anything about him. You did tell him the snippets of the story that Jaehyun has told you, telling him that you know the situation between them through Johnny initially.

You keep it nice and short before he proceeds to tell you a bit of Jaehyun’s childhood. About how Jaehyun always acted like the ideal older brother but you’re almost out of breath when you laugh at the story on how Jaehyun sulks because he wanted to eat his cereal with a cold milk, but they were out of it so he sobs while saying that all he wants is just some milk.

“Hey, bro. Sorry it took me a while to clean off the stain.” You are equally as surprised as him, who just skipped his way to where you and Mark is.

“What is she doing here?” Taeyong openly showed his hostility.

“You know him, Yong? Oh no, wait, yeah you told me she came with hyung during your class.”

“Mark just asked me for a cup of hot chocolate, to cheer me up.”

“Why?” He furrowed his brows, directing that question to Mark like he didn’t want to engage a conversation with you. 

“She met father, Yong. And I, uhm, happened to be there so I took her here.”

The explanation seems minimal but it seems enough for Taeyong to grasp the situation. “Hah! Let me guess, the meeting doesn’t go well, does it?”

You fidget with your fingers, not sure how to answer him. Mark took your place by giving his friend a nod.

“Well I guess it's bound to happen. The Jeongs are always overprotective with their old money business. Thank God you kept your mother’s last name.”

“Yong!” He rose from his seat, moving his palm to cover Taeyong’s mouth.

“Oh shit, his man could be around, doesn’t it?”

“No, no, no!”

You’re confused with his statement, especially when Mark became so alert at the sudden piece of information.

“What business, Mark?”

“Wait, she doesn’t know?”

Mark shook his head lightly, trying to keep his movement minimal so Taeyong aware that he just landed on a minefield. It was like a scene from a movie, where both of them slowly looked at your direction.

“Answer me.”

“He doesn’t have the obligations, though.” Taeyong tried to ask you to let this one off.

“Mark.”

“[Y/N], I’m sorry can you just pretend you didn’t hear it? I-”

“Mark, your father just insulted my career or basically just me as a human being for loving your older brother. I’m about to move in with him and I think I deserve to know the truth if there’s anything that he’s hiding.”

The way you demand makes Mark flinched, “But, if Jaehyun-hyung didn’t tell you then I don’t think I have the rights to do so.”

“Mark, please.” You beg, and you can feel your vision start to blur. The water that starts to collect on your tear duct instantly made Mark’s decision.

“Yong, can we borrow the classroom?”

Taeyong nods, and with that he swiftly walks to the classroom direction on the second floor. You and Mark followed right after.

“I’ll wait outside. There’s no more class today so take your time.” Taeyong said gently to Mark.

“Sure, I owe you bro.”

Mark then took a seat next to you. With no table in between, you can now see the frustration in his eyes. You know you don’t want to force him to tell you anything, but you’re just tired of this new information that keeps appearing with every breath you take.

You just want to know the truth.

He looked left and right, making sure there’s no extra pair of ears that could listen to your conversation except for Taeyong.

“[Y/N], I really don’t think I should tell you any of this...”

“Mark... Jeong? Wait, Taeyong did say that you kept your mother’s last name.”

“It’s Lee. Mark Lee.”

He is fidgeting with his fingers, vexed with the fact he has to be the one who deliver the news.

“Please, what I about to tell you is suppose to be a secret. And please, please I beg you don’t let this change the way you see hyung.”

You tilted your head to one side, confused with the sudden warning.

He then spoke softly, “My adoptive father, and grandfather. Well, mostly my grandfather... Uhm, I guess there’s no way he could build an empire like what we have right now without… a little bit of help.”

Lines appeared on your forehead you might get wrinkles as you frowns harder.

Mark looked down, took a deep breath before he looks at you, “The Jeongs have been doing underground business.”

He looked at you and immediately regretted that you have to hear it from him, and not Jaehyun. But there’s no way you letting him go after that piece of puzzle he just revealed.

“Grandfather knows in order to fulfil his dream to live with power, it would be nearly impossible to run just a property business. Long story short, he made connections with people from higher ups to do business behind the scene. Father, as the only child, has no option but to…”

“What business, Mark?” You demanded him to cut to the chase, frustrated because he keeps on concealing the truth.

Worries are stamped all over Mark’s face. He pressed his lips together, wishing that he could seal this information forever, but your eyes told him to unfold the truth.

“Gamblings, drugs, prostitutes.” 

You closed your eyes in disbelief. Breathing in trying to not let another tear fall.

“As a company, NCT Corp. is doing great now. Of course as the founder we’ll get a lot from there but once Father tasted how much it triples with his side business, Father just couldn’t stop.”

“Also, it’s even easier to do their business because Father is the founder of NCT Corp.. As a property company, he can easily conceal where the transaction happens. We are the biggest in our sector, and with Father’s connection, that he inherits from grandfather, boom, easy as a snap of a finger.”

“Hang on,” You push your palm to Mark’s direction, interjecting him. “Is Jaehyun the heir?”

He widens his eyes, “He is the next in line for NCT Corp..”

“Mark, you know I’m not talking about that.”

Mark constantly grips his jeans, visibly anxious. “I swear, [Y/N], Jaehyun-hyung don’t want this,”

Before Mark could continue his sentence, you quickly grabbed your purse, ready to leave.

“Wait, [Y/N], please!”

Mark holds your arm, begging you to stay.

“You’re not leaving hyung, will you?”

You squeezed your lips together, as the next sentence that you’re about to say feels like a thousand needles piercing your heart. 

“What is there left to make me stay, Mark?”

He rose from his seat in panic, “No, no! Please don’t, I beg you! This is all my fault, I shouldn’t have told you! I just ruined hyung’s happiness. Please don’t leave his side, you don’t know the look that he gave you that night. He truly cherishes you and he will continue to do so, I promise!”

He hold your arm, begging you to listen to his explanation.

“Jaehyun-hyung will try his best to protect you, I know that, so don’t leave him, [Y/N].”

You pull your hand, escaping it from Mark’s grip. “Your father,” No matter how much you tried to be collected, the droplets finally fell down from your eyes. “Done a background check on me. Insulted me to the bones, and he is a freaking mafia? Tell me, Mark, would it be wise for me to stay?”

He wanted to argue, but he couldn’t because he knows if he were in your shoes, he would probably do the same. He knows the thing that his own father would probably do, so he can’t really defend his own argument.

You gave Mark one last look before opening the sliding door, exiting and ignoring Taeyong who just called you rude.

—

Thank God you took a half day leave because the last thing you would’ve wanted is to deal with work. You finally reach home after sobbing inside the cab.

“Hello?”

There’s no way Doyoung would reject your call, so he answered after a few tones. 

“Doyoung, where are you?” You called him, meekly.

“Hey, are you alright?” He noticed that your voice is shaky, and he knows that you’ve been crying.

“I… don’t think I am.”

“Hey, hey, stay with me.”

“Who’s that? Your girlfriend?”

Another voice alerts you. You saw the clock, it’s past seven and it should be over his working hour.

“Doy, should I end the call? I wanted to call Hanbyul but she’s currently vacationing with Mingyu.”

“No it’s fine, I already clocked out but I planned to have dinner with Yuta – no, this is not my girlfriend. Remember her? The one I told you about before you got drunk?”

“Ah! I remember! The one who’s dating The Jeong, right? Man, she’s dating one powerful guy!”

“Wait, Yuta, you know Jaehyun?”

“Who doesn’t? It’s a wide-known fact. Nobody messes with The Jeong – even with all of their doings, they got the higher cops backing them up. My friend back in Osaka, he got connected to a yakuza group, you see, told me that they wouldn’t even dare to come for them. Taka’s yakuza group is pretty poweful, too.”

You can’t see Doyoung, but after eavesdropping their conversation, you can imagine how Doyoung’s face turned pale.

“Shit, [Y/N], is this what it's all about?”

You break down at how perfect he hits the target.

“Fuck, and you just move in too.”

“I can’t stay Doy. I’m fucking scared right now. I don’t feel safe.”

He sighed, “Shit. Yuta, I have to cancel our dinner.”

You can hear Yuta whined in disappointment, but you’re glad on how Doyoung always prioritizes you.

“Is Jaehyun at home?”

You struggle to reply to him, as you’re choking from your tears. 

“I was planning to drink tonight so I didn’t bring my car. I’ll go back home and pick you at your place. I’ll stay until Jaehyun’s home, then hopefully we can make peace with him.”

—

Strange.

Usually by now Jaehyun would see you in front of the TV, with any snack available from the pantry. You would watch a drama while waiting for him to return. Sure, it’s way past drama prime time, nevertheless you would always wait for Jaehyun no matter how late he’s coming home.

But all he heard was noises coming from the master bedroom.

“Babe?”

After he called for you, he noticed your movements become faster. He automatically looks up for you, only to find you just finished packing your stuff to your suitcase.

“Baby what’s going on?” He is confused with your action, colors start to wash out from his face.

“I…” You’re nervous because he caught you red handed, and Doyoung is probably still on his way. It’s partly your fault because you didn’t check your phone, which you left in your handbag in the living room. “I can’t stay, Jaehyun. I’m sorry.”

You quickly grabbed your suitcase, didn’t have time to check whether you left anything behind. You couldn’t care, when all that matters is the sight of Jaehyun’s puzzled face. It breaks your heart to see him, knowing that you love him so dearly but you have to leave.

He grabbed you before you could leave, “You can’t stay? What do you mean?” His voice was shaking, you can tell that he couldn’t catch the situation clearly.

“Please let me go, Jaehyun. It is as I said, I can’t stay here anymore.”

“Are you going back to your apartment? Did you leave anything important? I can drive you there.”

“No, Jaehyun.” You closed your eyes, fighting the tears that were about to come, “I can’t stay with you anymore. I’m sorry.”

You drag your suitcase, turning your back from him as you couldn’t bear to look at his face any longer, which is painted with disappointment.

He rushed out of the room, halted you by standing in front of you, “Don’t joke with me, [Y/N],” He finally drops the nicknames he gave to you, “This doesn’t make any sense. Why are you suddenly leaving? What did I do?”

You look at him in the eyes, to see how his eyes start to turn red. You know it’s not his fault, but you also know that it wouldn’t be wise to stay with him, when his family just screams danger.

But Jaehyun deserves to know.

“I met your father this afternoon,” His eyes instantly grew wider, “He told me that you and I live in a different world. He asked me to break it off with you.”

“Bullshit, [Y/N]!” He grabbed your arms. “You know I’m trying to win this battle with him. I promise I will, don’t worry about that fucker and stay. Stay with me.”

He tightly gripped you, tears welled up in his eyes though he did not cry. He’s angry, and you know it.

“Let me go, Jaehyun. Please.” You begged him, pushing the last bit of energy you had left. You’re tired of crying, and you feel like you could cry again anytime soon.

“No, I won’t. If I let you go, you’ll be gone forever. Don’t do this to me, [Y/N]. You’re precious to me and I will not let that goddamn father of mine ruin my only happiness.”

His sentence makes your defense collapse, teardrops left their trails in your cheeks, “Winning what battle exactly, Jaehyun?”

He looked at you confused, not sure which part that you don’t understand. You broke the silence, “When will you tell me that you are an heir to some fucking underground business?”

His jaw drops, clearly blown by the fact that now you know. “[Y/N], I swear to God I never meant to hide it from you,”

“This again Jaehyun? You keep hiding things from me! You tell me a lie, but not exactly. The truth, but not entirely! Which one is it?!”

The aftershock lingers, Jaehyun unable to speak back to you.

“Your family is doing illegal stuff, Jae. And you hid it from me! I can’t believe you asked me to live with you without telling me about this! What do you expect, me obliviously living in danger?”

“No, baby, of course not. Please listen to me, there’s a reason why I didn’t tell you.”

“No reason would be good enough, Jaehyun. Let me go.”

He blocks your way, desperate to make you stay.

“[Y/N]?”

Doyoung suddenly came in, relieving you. Jaehyun, on the other hand, is baffled with the fact he could enter your place.

“How did you come in?”

“I asked him to pick me up, Jae.”

He turned his attention to you, perplexed.

“Please, I have to leave. Let’s go, Doy.”

“You’re leaving me for another guy?” Again, Jaehyun took a grip at your upper arm, refusing to let you go. This time, his grip was tighter. Confusion and anger, as well as disappointment mixed together.

“Jaehyun, that hurts.”

“Answer me, [Y/N]!”

The sight of Jaehyun losing his calm shocked you, as well as Doyoung.

“Bro, let her go. Let’s talk about this…”

“You stay out of this!” 

Jaehyun reactively pushed Doyoung away, causing him to fall. He hit his back to the nearby coffee table, and that is enough to fill your eyes with rage.

“Jeong Jaehyun, you don’t fucking hurt my best friend!”

You immediately rushed yourself to Doyoung, checking whether he received any injuries. Although he hissed in pain, there are no visible cuts or wounds.

“Fuck,” Jaehyun murmurs, “[Y/N], I’m sorry, I didn’t meant to, I…”

“Don’t fucking apologize to me! Is this how you're going to treat people, being all violent? How are you different with your father, Jae?!”

As much as Jaehyun wants to deny it, he knows that your words are true. 

“We’re leaving, there’s nothing else we could talk about. We’re talking doesn’t change the fact that you are doing illegal business.”

You helped Doyoung to get up, before taking your suitcase and ignoring Jaehyun who just stood in his place.

Before you could leave, he took your hand again, taking every chance he got to change your mind.

“[Y/N], please.” 

And as if he just lost all of his hope, a single tear runs down his face. 

“I love you, and I know you love me too. I would do anything in power to protect you, I promise.”

You took a glance at your lover – the one that you have to leave soon. Your heart shattered when you saw the desperation in his eyes. 

“I beg you, [Y/N].” He entwined his fingers to yours, “You are the most wonderful thing that ever happened in my life. The day you come and fill my day with joy, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Please don’t look at me like that. Look at me like you did that time. Please come love me once again.”

You wish you could stay. How you wish you could return to his embrace, removing the trails of his tears.

Then it strikes you. How you staying means you have to live a life in constant fear. Knowing you have to come home to a person who his family sells women for pleasure.

You could not help but to shake your head. Telling Jaehyun that your decision is final.

“Jaehyun, I’m sorry.”

Your heart breaks into million pieces, for you to leave the love of your life behind.

You love him, so infinitely, and you never sought to hurt him.

But you know continuing your relationship will be a vain.

So you left, leaving Jaehyun there, staying rooted on the same spot.

A/N: I’m sorry...

[kittleskittle]

Nil is an advice columnist for a Meridian newspaper and Aloy writes into him...about Nil. A short little drabble thing for one of our obnoxious shipping discord ideas

Dear Mr. Voice of Your Teeth,

There's this man I keep running into on the road. He's very attractive and charming, but he also has some very questionable habits of the murder variety. The people he kills are bad people, don't get me wrong - I just think he enjoys the actual killing part way, way too much. Despite all of this, I'm still intrigued by him. I think about how pretty his eyes are and what kissing him would be like a lot. What should I do?

(Your name sounds very familiar, but I can't put my finger on why. Oh well!)

-Confused Nora Seeker

Dear Confused Nora Seeker,

When faced with this kind of conundrum, my advice is simple: embrace your desires. As long as he's of the honorable sort(and he sounds like he is!), why does what he does in his free time matter? A little killing here or there never hurt anyone, after all. Who knows what you're missing out on? Take up that call to arms from your inner desires - the next time you see him, greet him with a kiss, then see where it goes. I have a sneaking suspicion this man may want to kiss you as well. Just a hunch, though! Anyway, go after what you want, when you want it - life's too short to waste on waffling.

Yours,

Mr. Voice of Your Teeth

Dear Mr. Voice of Your Teeth,

Wow, your advice really worked! Just like you said, I walked up to him and grabbed him, then pulled him in for a kiss. He seemed really caught off guard, but that might have been because he just asked me to duel him to the death. But he kissed me back! Instead of dueling, we participated in other, more enjoyable activities. ;) Thank you so much for your advice!

-(no longer)Confused Nora Seeker

With a content sigh, Aloy placed the Carja feathered quill down and leaned back in her chair. The ink would have to dry, but after that she'd be able to drop her final response off at the drop box for editorials and queries like hers helpfully located directly outside of the headquarters for the Meridian Daily Gazette.

On the bed beside the desk she was occupying, Nil stirred, his eyes cracking open blearily.

"Huntress? Why aren't you in bed?"

Flashing him a pleased grin, Aloy rose from her seat and sauntered to the bedside, skimming a couple of fingers over the markings decorating the roughened curve of his cheek. With a content noise, Nil closed his eyes and snuggled back into the pillow.

"I just wanted to finish my letter to Mr. Voice of Your Teeth. You know, that advice column personality. He's the reason any of this happened at all, you know."

Her lover's eyes shot open, and he sat up so quickly he nearly smashed his face into Aloy's on the way up. She reared back with a startled yelp.

"Woah, watch it! Nil, what's wrong?"

A flush had settled over the pale span of his face. "Oh, uh, nothing. Just...just a spasm. " He cleared his throat. "Now that you're done, why don't you come back to bed with me? It's really late, and you should be resting."

Aloy's eyes narrowed while she looked him over. In her suspicion, a thought occurred to her - one she hadn't considered before, but really should have. "Wait a minute. Mr. Voice of Your Teeth...your bow...your bow's name is Voice of Our Teeth...blessed All-Mother. I'm so stupid. Fuck."

A sheepish grin split Nil's lips. "Well, you caught me, little huntress. I pen an advice column in my free time."

"Did you know it was me?" Aloy asked flatly.

Nil shifted with a grimace, and he rubbed at the back of his head. "There aren't many Nora Seekers who have run into men with hobbies of a more...visceral nature."

"You told me to kiss you!" she shrieked. Before he had a second to react, she lunged at him. Her fingers wrapped around his wrists, and she pinned him to the bed. Even in the low light, Aloy could make out the way Nil's pupils dilated, eclipsing the silver of his iris almost entirely.

"Yes, yes," he replied lowly, his gaze sweeping appreciatively over the curves and angles of her body. "But really, can you find it in yourself to be that upset with me? If I hadn't told you to, we'd have missed all this."

Twisting one of his hands out of her grip, Nil grabbed her arm and pulled her down for a scorching kiss that left her breathless and more than a little eager for more, much to her chagrin.

"Come to bed." The heat in his voice was enough to set the coals simmering in her gut aflame, and Aloy shivered.

"Fine." With the last of her rapidly fading self-control, she fixed him with a stern glare. "But we're talking about this later, Mr. Voice of Your Teeth."

"Later, Confused Nora Seeker," he murmured, bringing her in for another kiss.

--

(I know how ridiculous and cracky this is. WHATEVER. Also I wrote this in like ten minutes so forgive any mistakes.)

[marjansmarwani]

94 for Owen/Michelle (idk if you write them). if not, I could totally go for that same for Tarlos! Love you and thanks for writing! 💜

I don’t normally write Owen/Michelle, but this prompt seemed kind of perfect for them so I guess there is a first time for everything!

I hope you enjoy dear!

Prompt: “I need a date for this wedding.”

Want your own? Send me one of these prompts

don't let your lovin' show

[Read on ao3]

Owen was working his way through a stack of reports he had been ignoring when the sound of footsteps in his doorway made him lookup. He glanced at his door to find Captain Blake standing in his door, looking uncertain. That alone was enough to make this an odd interaction: Michelle Blake never looked uncertain. 

“Captain?” he asked by way of greeting. 

“Captain,” she responded. 

The silence stretched for several long moments before Owen spoke again, “Can I help you with something?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. 

“Actually, you can, Or at least, I hope you can.” 

Owen gestured for her to take the seat opposite his desk and she did, finally crossing the threshold into his office and settling into the chair. He watched her fidget for a moment before he spoke again, brow furrowed in concern, “Is everything okay Michelle? Is it about your sister?” 

“Oh, Iris is fine, that’s not it,” she replied quickly. 

“What is it then,” Owen asked pointedly when she showed no signs of continuing. 

Michelle sighed before leaning forward in her chair, “I need a favor. I don’t even know if it’s fully appropriate to ask; if this is crossing some boundary or something and I completely understand if you say no…” 

“Michelle,” he said, cutting off her rambling. She looked up at him and he gave her a smile, “Just say what you need to say.”

She took a deep breath before finally spitting out the words; “I need a date for this wedding.” 

Oh. Oh.

“Oh,” he said, not sure what else there was to say.

“I know this is weird and I am so sorry, but it’s my cousin’s wedding and my mother has threatened to disown me if I show up alone again and she has to spend all night listen to all her sisters lament about how tragic it is that I am so single and I really don’t have many friends outside of work - except Carlos but I’m pretty sure your son would have strong feelings about that and also I’ve already brought him as a date to at least two other family events and I think they might catch on soon and…” 

“You’re rambling again Michelle,” Owen informed her. 

“Am I? I’m sorry.” 

Owen chuckled, “Don’t be. I know how family can be.”

“You too, huh?”

“Let’s just say being divorced twice is not what the busy body aunts like to gush about.” 

She nodded, glancing back down to her hands folded in her lap, “I completely understand if you don’t want to go. It’d be weird and like I said I’m not even fully sure it’s appropriate. Actually you can just forget that…” 

“Michelle,” he interrupted again. When she looked up he continued, “When’s the wedding?” 

---

Two weekends later found Owen surrounded by three of Michelle’s aunts at the bar. He was smiling politely as aunt on the right (Sharon?) went on about the bride while aunt between him and the bar (Susan? He was probably making that up.) interrupted with whatever additions or corrections she thought necessary. Aunt on the left (Julia, he was almost certain about that one.) listened silently, studying him intently. Owen Strand was a man of many talents - one of which may very well be charming people - but even he was no match for this trifecta of aunts. He kept his polite smile pasted on as he scanned the room with his eyes, looking for any sign of Michelle. He had offered to go get drinks, but that had been at least an hour ago. Surely she had noticed he was missing by now. 

“Well you know,” aunt on the right was saying, “the poor dear had an overbite until she was 8, bless her heart.” 

“No Sharon,” aunt between him and the bar corrected, “she was 9 when they got that sorted out.” 

Owen was going to drown himself in his own drink.

A hand on his arm and a familiar voice interrupted his plotting, “Excuse me ladies, would you mind if I stole him back from you?” 

Michelle. Owen could have kissed her right there and then. “Sorry ladies,” he said with a beaming smile, “can’t keep my lovely date waiting!” Then he grabbed the drinks and allowed himself to be led away. 

“Have I told you lately how much I appreciate you?” he asked Michelle as they made their way back to their table. 

She hummed, “probably, but it never hurts to hear it again.” 

“Well, Michelle Blake, you are a savior. An hour with your aunts is more than one person can be expected to tolerate.”

She huffed out a laugh, “An hour? Owen, you were only there for about 5 minutes, maybe 6.”

He shook his head, “Not possible.” 

“Hate to break it to you Captain, but it’s the truth.”

He shook his head in amazement, “Your aunts must have power over time itself then, because that felt like a lifetime.”

Michelle chuckled as they reached their table, “You just got caught up in a bad combination. Sharon and Suzanne are more than one person can handle. Julia is fine, but she likes to watch the fireworks too much to actually try to stop the other two. Just be glad it wasn’t Margret and Sharon - we’d both be stuck over there now.”

Owen gaped at her, “These are all your aunts? How many sisters does your mother have?”

“Five, and one brother.”

Owen shook his head in disbelief, “I see what Carlos meant now.”

Michelle looked at him sharply, “What do you mean?”

“Carlos tried to warn me about the aunts, I didn’t fully believe him.” 

That wasn’t quite true. Carlos had in fact sat Owen down with charts to run through the lists of relatives and cover which ones were fine and which ones were to be avoided at all costs in a very serious tone while an amused TK looked on. But he wasn’t about to blow him in. Plus, he had apparently forgotten all of it - a fact he was going to conveniently neglect to mention when they spoke next. 

Michelle shook her head, “The traitor!” she exclaimed with a laugh. 

Owen waved her words away, “Don’t blame Carlos - he’s dating my only child, he’s just trying to stay on my good side.”

Michelle rolled her eyes, but Owen could tell that she was fighting off a smile. He grinned at her, “Since I’ve already had the Carlos Reyes run down of the Blake family, do you want to give me the official version?” 

Michelle rolled her eyes and took her drink from him before launching into the story of her mom and her five sisters (and one brother). She told him about all the aunts and the embarrassing stories. She talked about her cousins and the trouble they used to get into when they were younger. She talked about her sister, about her dad, about how things were before. 

At some point, they left the table and found their way to the dance floor. Somewhere in dancing and swaying and wine and hazy lights, Owen realized that maybe he was starting to see the paramedic Captian in a different light. He admired Captian Blake; she was talented, commanding, compassionate, and confident. But tonight he was starting to realize just how much he liked Michelle Blake too. She was softer, funnier, more open. She made him laugh and he enjoyed the sparkle in her eye when they bantered. 

Somewhere in between the nights spent at the bar and the late-night chats in the kitchen, something had started. Something that he was just now starting to realize. Something that before this moment here on the dance floor, he had never fully put into context. Something that may be worth exploring further, just to see. 

For tonight though, they would just dance. 

----

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