#the ball chapter can't come soon enough

[arrapso]

For best girl @doriana-gray-games c: , year 2

[lilacgaby]

‧₊˚truth bomb!‧₊˚

getting hit by a truth quirk? not so fun. dealing with it while having a huge crush on bakugo katsuki? even worse.

- ღpairing. 3rdyear!katsuki x reader. tags. friends to lovers, truth telling quirk, wingmen, kissing scenes, confessions, fighting, miscommunication trope, U-A girls love you, she/her pronoun use, fem!reader, earthquirk!reader. wc. 8k

- ღnote. i win the slowest writer ever award! anyways, i wrote this in chapter form here, this is a rework of my first work ever, and i completely changed the plot for anyone who might have read itt

this wasn't how your mission was supposed to go.

the thought ran through your head as you resisted the urge to bang your head against the concrete. that fate would probably be better than whatever you'd face having to confess, out of your will, to your longtime crush, katsuki.

but, the day started out normal enough. you were on a patrol, randomly scheduled as all your patrols usually were because of your mentor, mirko. she lacked the traditional agency and took missions as she pleased, which meant you'd usually be along for the ride.

which entailed things like this, walking boredly along the streets, running your fingers along metal pipes, trying to find something- anything to quench your eternal boredom.

it didn't work though.

you finally groaned, rolling your eyes as you looked at mirko, who seemed oddly determined. “we've been walking in this place for like– what? an hour? it's so boring!” you kicked a rock, making it clash against a random trash can.

“a deserted town is perfect, it's exactly what an up and coming villain group would want to start up. think before you speak for once.” she chided, not even looking over at you as she continued walking forth. “anyways, you should be able to feel it, can't you? they're close.”

sure enough, you could. the vibrations of their movement, the reverberation of their voices bouncing off the walls of the random alleyway of where you two stood felt as you focused your stance.

they were close. you sighed, though now of relief that you'd finally be able to beat them and get out of here as soon as you can, you stretched your hands and fingers, getting ready to manipulate the ground below you. “well then what are you waiting for? let's go!”

mirko nodded, and wordlessly followed you as you two positioned yourselves on a rooftop above the rowdy group of villains. they were laughing heartily, seemingly unaware and full of glee as they continued down the city streets. the sun was coming down, golden sunlight illuminating your figure as you closed your eyes and focused in on their positions, trusting your quirk more than your vision.

you stomped lightly and closed your eyes, feeling their positions out perfectly, as well as mirko’s readied stance beside you. nobody was around for miles, on the ground at least, so you focused in to hear their words.

mocking cries of innocent civilians left the mouth of the biggest one. “oh, please don't hurt me!” he cried, a fake squeaky voice cut off by his laughter. “oh man, what a pathetic excuse for a human.”

“fleeting the town completely in what? two days? we're the shit man.” another replied, high-fiving amongst themselves as they snickered and giggled.

they held bags of money and prized belongings in their grasps, smirks and sneers as they lugged them down the city. the one they seemed to think they ‘owned’ now that the civilians fled to safety. one that they were making a mess of.

you felt mirko’s figure, the growing hostility in her stance. the balling of her fist and her legs that were ready to pounce at any given moment.

“i'm all clear.” you whispered. “on your call, i'm ready.”

you could even feel the twitch of her ears, the wind blowing a spare leaf of the ground, but most importantly,

you felt the millisecond where she lowered to jump.

in response you launched the ground underneath you with a flick of the hand, landing yourself perfectly next to mirko. she held out a fist to the group, who jumped at the sight of you two.

“listen up losers!” she began, pointing a daunting finger at the biggest of the group, who had a literal screw growing out the base of his neck. a shiver went down your spine at the sight. “you can beg for forgiveness now, or later! which is it?”

a moment of silence passed, before one of them declared, “how about never? attack!”

half of the group focused on mirko, while the others were now facing you. you sighed, fixing yourself in a relaxed stance, before swiftly punching up to launch chucks of rock and steel out of the ground, into the bodies of the offending men coming towards you.

a few of them dodged, making you repeat the same attack again, since you really didn't feel like going full strength for villains at this level. your eyebrows furrowed as you realized one of them had taken the opportunity to make a break for it, but ignored it for now as the final guy stood against you.

mirko stole your spotlight though, landing a kick in his hand that rendered him unconscious.

“hey. i called dibs.” you whined, before walking over to her. “alls fair in love and war.” she said, before pointing to the almost comically large bags of money and jewelry. “we need to clean these up and get these guys locked up. round up the bags and i'll get the corpses– uh. bodies.”

with a reassuring smirk, she threw around the bodies into a pile, making you wince at the sound of their groans. you went to move all the money and things into an area for the collection agency.

you moved a bag or two, onto your third bag when a sound was suddenly heard behind you. “freeze.”

an unconfident, shaky, and out of breath voice filled your ears. you froze, not knowing who it was.

“n-now turn around. slowly.” he ordered. you did as he said, noting that his hand was pointing towards you in a handgun motion. the tips of his fingers were glowing a strange light green color. “o-okay. you’re gonna leave all the money there, just for me. okay lady?”

you shrugged, looking back at your work. “i mean, that was the plan anyways. a collection agency is gonna come for you and your friends soo–.”

“no, they're not.” he cut you off with a snarl. “i don't think i gave you permission to talk.”

“but you're still talking to me anyways!”

“why you– teenage brats are the worst. i tried not to kill kids, but you're annoying.” the green light emitted even brighter.

“bye.” the ray was about to shoot at you. you didn't have time to block, but mirko last minute shoved the guy to the ground.

his hand still managed a shot, though with his arm up in the air, it moved from being aimed to your heart, to..

shooting towards your mouth.

you didn't dodge in time, not expecting to get shot in your mouth of all places.

it didn't hurt, but it did feel tingly. the guy was slammed to the ground, his face flat with the floor as your hands shot up to feel the skin around your mouth.

you were.. fine?

“hey!” mirko cut off your thoughts. “you okay? what did he do to you? fuck i should've been quicker.”

“i'm fine. honestly you should have been quicker, i was really stalling here.”

“oh.. well im glad to hear you're fine at least.”

“you heard that??” you were shocked to hear her response, you only meant to say that mentally. you really were just going to say it was fine like always, so why..

why wasn't your mouth listening to you?

“no. like you don't understand mirko, i didn't mean to say that-”

“we all slip up sometimes.”

“no. like, it left my mouth before i realized it.”

her eyes widened, before thumping on the guys head below her. “hey you. what exactly did you do to her? huh?”

at no response, she wacked him against the ground again. “hellooo? i'll do it as many times as i need to-”

“no! please, fine fuck- i'll tell you!”

the collection agency finally was heard in the distance. mirko glared. “talk. fast.”

“okay, okay!” the man was once again shaking. “my quirk is enhancements, but I control how exactly it enhances the body–”

“i didn't ask for a life story. get to the point.”

“well! i wanted to aim for the heart and enhance heart rate, which would of killed her! but– um. i accident aimed for her mouth, and enhanced.. honesty.”

“i see. for how long will it be?”

“uh.. a week i think.”

“huh, why would you become a villain with a quirk like yours anyways? final question before you're shipped off to jail.”

“well, i wanted to bring out the best in the worst, to show that even we villains can triumph!”

“..okay.” she left him on the ground and walked away with you by her side. you were heading back to the U-A dorms to drop you off.

“so, you can't lie to me, huh?”

“nope.” your answer left you before you could process it, like a mental disconnection between your actions. “don't do that, it isn't funny!”

she raised her hands up defensively. “okay, okay. i won't.”

…

“so am i your favorite hero or what?”

“yes.”

“really? since when?” she chided.

“since your debut, i was a hardcore fan for a long time.”

“was?”

“learning the real you killed the rose-tint in my glasses.”

“oh..” she put a hand over her heart. “ouch?”

“you wanted the truth.” you sneered. which wasn't really the right choice at this point, since she took that as liberty to start questioning your every move.

the worst 20 questions of your life was played as you walked home, your legs burning with ache of exhaustion was nothing over the mental anguish of being around a happy-go-lucky mirko.

you finally made it, the dorms in view as she decided to ask you one final question.

“so, my darling apprentice [name]. got any more ideas for questions?”

“no! so stop asking them!”

“you're no fun. hmm, let's see. oh! do you have a crush?”

don't say it, you repeated mentally in your mind, but you felt the oddly numb sensation of the answer leaving you.

“bakugo katsuki.”

her eyes widened and jaw went slack. “seriously? i thought i raised you better.” she joked, poking your side as you went to cover your face with your hands.

the church bells welcomed you as the golden staircase was opened from the clouds. step by step you took, angels singing and a halo over your head as you were greeted by loved ones past–

but your peaceful departure wasn't peaceful for very long.

“well, as long as you're happy [name]. i'll be going now, text me!”

she walked off with a smile that made you feel sick, but you couldn't resist the urge to wave goodbye anyways.

you leant up against the gate of the opening, your arms basically clung around the pillar. catching your breath as you prepared yourself for a week of hiding, of intense planning around your crush–

“hey, you okay weirdo?”

the voice of said crush filled your ears, making you realize that it indeed can always get worse.

“no, i'm not okay.” she said, letting go of the pillar and shakily standing on two feet, feeling like a fawn standing for the first time.

his eyebrows raised like he didn't expect you to say that, his mouth hung open for a second, before he decided to just retort. “oh, sucks to be you then.”

“yes, yes it does.” you say of your own will, dragging a hand longly against your face.

face-to-face with him, the guy you'd randomly became close with over the years, the one that you'd harbored and now openly spoke of your crush on, and the one who you shared an affinity for romance manga with.

“are ya ever g’nna get up properly? or you just gonna stare like a dumbass?” he asked, which made you answer begrudgingly.

“everyone who falls has to get up, unless they're dead.

…

but uh– don't wait on me!”

“...right.” he shrugged, moving back towards the door to walk inside. acting off after a mission wasn't anything crazy after all, they all had weird days. at least that's how he rationalized it.

“oh, and i borrowed some shit from your room. i'll give it you tomorrow.”

“be gentle!”

“whatever.” he closed the door after him, leaving your with your thoughts alone. after the sun had fully left you alone, you decided to bite the bullet and just go inside. taking a deep breath, you walked in, trying your best to just make it to your room.

mina came up to you, a pint of ice cream in her hand. “[name]! you're back! how was it?”

“bad.” you answered, wordlessly asking for a bit of her ice cream.

she gave it to you, before joining you as you walked up the stairs. “wanna talk about it?”

“not really, but it'll be forced out of me.”

“what??”

you sighed, explaining what happened to you in between bites of your ice cream. “truth quirk. talk too much. can't shut up.”

mina made an ‘o’ shape with her lips, pondering it over mentally. “but it's not like you're a crazy liar, what's the big problem?”

“my crush on katsuki. i'm so scared that i'm gonna accidentally be forced to confess because of this.” you admitted.

mina, thankfully didn't overreact. for a second. until she smiled gleefully and shoved you into your room. “wait here, i got something for you.”

she left you with the pint of ice cream, your favorite flavor, which kept you good company until she came back with the girls of the class.

“i hope you don't mind.. well it's too bad if you do, because i told them all already. whoops!” she said, leading them all in and shutting the door.

“so, you're finally confessing?” momo asked, making you almost choke.

“no! this is against my will! i'd never confess in my life! the embarrassment of getting rejected is something i couldn't recover from.”

“really? i mean- i think it's pretty obvious the two of you have something special. ribbit.” tsuyu added, looking up at the ceiling of your dorm thoughtfully. “well, its not like you have a choice now. might as well just do it.” jirou shrugged.

“if you're here to make fun of me you can just leave!” you whined into your hands. “im already making myself miserable just fine!”

the girls exchanged glances, before they sighed. uraraka started, “[name] we were here to try and encourage you to do it out of your own will, but if you really don't want to.. we can help.”

“help? like how?”

mina jumped, “by making sure you don't accidentally confess of course!”

“but it won't be easy.” yaoyorozu chimed in, “we'll have to plan this out well, it's a week isn't it?”

“a week from today.. that's saturday.”

“okay guys, let's do this for [name]!” mina cheered, placing her hand in the middle of the group. the other girls all moved to place their hands on top of hers, and waited for you to finish it off.

“come on!” uraraka encouraged, making you sigh and place your hand on the top.

as you raised your hand on the count of three, hearing their cheers and hopes in encouragement for you and for their plan, you felt a bit of hope that it just might turn out alright.

they shuffled out afterwards, patting you on the back and making tiny promises as they moved out. with a final wink from mina and a whispered, “good night [name], i promise everything will work out!” they were gone.

as you laid in your bed, staring at the ceiling that never changed no matter what did in your life, you allowed yourself to rest.

7 days to go.

when will this end? you thought, all the optimism from yesterday ripped from you.

insomnia arose from the anxiety that implanted a pit of dread in your stomach, it didn't let you sleep, no matter how sleepy you had gotten.

horrible scenarios played one after one, like a record player made of your nightmares. what if he rejected you in front of your school? no, what if he has a secret girlfriend and you look like a total homewrecker for confessing?

or even worse, what if he doesn't like women at all and you missed all the signs?

you squealed into a pillow, trying to escape your sorrows as you realized,

you were probably just hungry for some actual food. when was the last time you ate properly? who knows.

you slipped on house slippers and made your way down the stairs to the kitchen. you prepared a pot of chai, greeting iida and other early risers who were up out of instinct, since it's a sunday.

yawning, you scroll mindlessly on your phone while you wait for your tea to finish. a familiar voice takes you out of your bubble.

“yo.” is all he says, sliding by you by causally placing a hand on your waist, letting go only a second later.

“uh.. hey. want some tea?” you managed, ignoring the spiraling of your soul as you were met by the close proximity of his face. “yeah, sounds cool.”

you pour him a glass, letting him put the sugar in by himself as you fix one for yourself too. he looks to see if anyone was in earshot of the two of you, before whispering into your ear.

“did you see when usui jumped off the building for misa?”

“yes. its one of my favorite scenes!” you answer before you realize it, but you're slowly starting to get used to the feeling of it. “i mean, he's so cool for that.”

“yeah, but his legs would be fucked. or he'd be paralyzed for life after that fall. would've been an easy choice to make him break a leg and have ‘er take care of him.”

“but isn't that so predictable? it's better to take a unique route-”

“no spoilers.”

“it's not really a spoiler though! man, i really loved that scene. i think it's my favorite.”

“why?” he asked, an odd tonal shift in his voice.”

“i like usui.”

“no, like. do you imagine someone doing that to you?” he was close, way to close. your mouth was opening, your answer was so clear to you, it was about to be ruined, until–

“oh [name]! may i have some of your tea please?” yaoyarozu saved the day. you thanked her mentally, getting her a glass and smiling at her small wink. she hung close by, you didn't notice before, but she was within earshot.

“anyways, what were we talking about katsuki?”

“..'s nothing. see ya.”

he left her there, knees weak in worry or affection? both probably. she mouthed a thank you to momo, before going back up to her dorm to get ready for the day.

sunday, not much to do thankfully. you decided to hang out in your room for a while, drawing and relaxing, managing to catch up on a couple hours of sleep as you tried to avoid katsuki as much as possible.

though, even in this brief moment where you were attempting to avoid him, you couldn't help but notice that he tended to come to you first.

greetings and conversations started by him, fleeting touches initiated by him, small nods in the hallways of the dorms given by him, and even-

a text message left by him, asking if he could come to your dorm for just a moment. for the books.

you wondered now if he was solely coming for that reason.. could there be an off chance he was coming for you?

..no. no way, you thought. you brushed it off, and opted to make it seem like the girls were already in your room, just so you wouldn't be alone with him. can't take chances anymore.

you texted the girls the news, and the ones who weren't at the mall or busy came to see you, leaving uraraka, tsuyu, and hagakure.

you welcomed them in, “thanks for coming guys. we can actually paint each others nails since we're already here?”

they all nodded with excitement, you pulled out the limited colors you had, though they were all your favorites. they began to paint each other’s nails, while you finally texted him back. telling him to come, but that the others were here too. he only reacted with a thumbs up.

“what did he say?” tsuyu asked.

“oh, he just responded with a thumbs up.” like you summoned him, a knock was heard at the door. you went to open it, making the girls laugh quietly behind their hands. greeting you was the sight of katsuki in his usual baggy attire holding two bags of books from what you could see. you stepped outside of your room, the door behind you. “hi katsuki.”

“hey– uh, [name].” he greeted. he held up a bag and handed it to you. “thanks for um.. lending it to me.” a hand naturally went towards the back of his head, rubbing it as he averted his eyes away from you.

he waited for you to set the bag down inside the room, before holding out the second one to you.

“what's this?” you asked, accepting it as you looked into red eyes.

“well– it's some of my collection. you haven't read it before, it's so we could talk about it. or something.”

a soft smile overcame you. “i think i'd like that.”

hagakure made a casual remark, they'd been eavesdropping from behind the door, muffled remarks not quite coherent enough to be a worry. but one question had managed to reach your and his ears.

“they're so cute together! aren't they literally dating?”

his face tinged pink, but you knew you'd say your thoughts.

“i wish.”

his face looked incredulous, as if he couldn't believe you just said that. “wait- what did you just–”

but before he could finish the question that would seal your fate, the door was opened quickly behind you, uraraka placing a hand over your mouth before smiling nervously. “um, she's not in her right mind today bakugo! don't mind her.”

his eyebrow raised. “really? why?”

“because.. it's that time of the month?” she managed, making him reel back and look apologetic. “oh. ill be.. going now then. bye.” you two waved him goodbye.

he left quickly, leaving his books next to the door as he speed walked away.

you were conflicted, not knowing whether to glare at or thank uraraka, but you closed the door behind you anyways.

“are you guys serious?”

“sorry!” hagakure pleaded. “i didn't think you two could hear me, the door wasn't closed all the way!”

“i mean, we were kind of close-”

“guys! all that matters is that i fixed it!”

“what do you mean fixed it?” you cut in. “you told him im out of my mind right now.”

“it'll be okay, he likes you too much to hold it against you.” she waved it off with a smile, and held your shoulders gently. “what you really should

he worried about is school. missions come at the end of the week, but how are you gonna deal with monday through wednesday?”

“i feel like you're changing the subject. and i'm going to avoid him. easy as pie.”

they all glanced at eachother, then back at you. “sure [name]. whatever you say.”

they all bid their goodbyes soon after, hagakure still apologizing profusely as the other two patted themselves on the back for speedy thinking.

the door shut and once again you were left to plan, only this time you managed a good night's sleep.

your life wasn't completely over, at least.

you dreaded the next three days. thursday and friday were safe for you, the only person you'd have to deal with being mirko since agencies tended to schedule students at the end of the week.

you woke up and prepared yourself. it was alright eight, so you'd only have an hour before heading to school.

you'd showered and changed, fixed your hair and fixed your bag.

unfortunately, katsuki is a really good guy.

a good friend, caring too. thats why you were startled by the sight of him at your door. you didn't have time to prepare, no time to call your backup or report, because he caught you right as many of the girls just woke up.

you were still rubbing the sleep out of your eyes as you looked up at him, “katsuki?”

he held a bag in his hand, something that was oddly reoccurring lately. “hey, about your 'time of the month’ shit.” he placed the bag safely in your arms, and averted his eyes from you once again.

“i brought you some stuff i thought might help, since we got class today.”

“really? you shouldn't have.” you peeked in the top, seeing a stuffed animal, chocolates, a heating pad, and some ice packs.

he sighed, almost dreamily. “i wanted to. i hope you stop feeling so fucked.” a beat passes, his eyebrows scrunched as if he wants to say something more, but he chooses not to.

“see ya.” with that, he left you alone with a warm feeling spreading throughout your chest. the pink bag gripped tightly in your hands and set gently onto your desk.

the warm feeling was soon gone, replaced with a feeling of guilt. guilt for basically ignoring him.

you slumped onto your desk in the middle of the class, scribbling down notes like there was no tomorrow, taking sips of a drink you enjoyed while ignoring the growing ache in your wrist.

mr. aizawa was just going over the basics of hero courtesy again, a refresher for your on hand experience at the end of the week. you really didn't need to take notes, but you found it got your mind off the red eyes you felt looking at the back of your head.

you were almost tempted to look back, almost. but with a determination that rivaled even midoriya’s, you just kept going.

finally, the lunch bell rang. you got up and stretched, everyone got their bearings and followed suit. they all piled out, leaving you as the last one there, though you couldn't help but notice a lingering gaze stare at you, before he finally followed suit and left the classroom.

you stood there, trying to figure out what you should do for lunch, when a ‘ahem’ brought you out of your thoughts.

“[name]. i appreciate your hard work in class and all, but id like to nap this period.” mr aizawa said gruffly.

“oh! sorry! i was just leaving.” you grabbed your lunchbox and ran out the room.

now came the issue of figuring out where to sit.

it was no secret to anyone that you and katsuki would usually spend the entire lunch period on the roof together most days, you'd even go up there by yourself on days he wasn't here.

so to be in the cafeteria again was a bit unnerving for you, but you took a spot besides jirou and got out the lunch you made.

she seemed surprised to see you, but then remembered why you were here. “it's cool to see you down here [name]. you're only ever up on the rooftop making out with your boyfriend.”

“we don't even make out. and he's not my boyfriend!”

“sure. that's why he's staring over here right now. and he stares at you in class too, does he ever get tired?”

“i don't know, why are you asking me like i know him in and out?”

“okay, let's just calm down you two.” momo cut in. “[name], happy to see you.”

you nodded, “yeah? i'm happy to see you too.”

you tried your best to ignore katsuki’s eyes boring into your soul, but you accidentally glanced over at him, quickly averting your eyes away.

you finished your lunch quickly, moving to be in between jirou and momo much to their dismay. you really just wanted this day to be over.

going back to class you rested your head against the table, only participating when you actively had to. you just felt so guilty about ignore him, especially after what he did for you this morning.

you realized just how much of your day you spent with him, because when it came time to walk back to the dorm, you felt alone for the first time in months even.

he'd always been by your side, maybe even offering to go out for a small treat with you, you felt the lack of his presence like a withdrawal.

you did everything you could just to avoid him in the halls, basically even running away at one point. everyone knew now of how weird you had been acting, but it wasn't really your fault, you had a master plan to enact!

the next day was just like the last, keeping your head down and turned completely away from katsuki, turning the opposite direction when you'd so much as see his hair, partnering with someone else just so you wouldn't get stuck with him.

going home to eat dinner in your room, ignoring his texts altogether. he even called you at one point.

you shoved a pillow over your head, though it didn't serve to silence the voices screaming at you that it wasn't fair what you were doing to him, that you should man up and just confess already.

but what you didn't expect was for him to take it into his own hands.

wednesday started easily enough, same way as the last two. silly for you to think you could go 3/3, no problems encountered.

you were walking in the halls, choosing the lower floors you knew he wouldn't be in, trotting down to the cafeteria to third wheel momo and jirou.

you were almost there, when you were suddenly pulled into a vacant classroom by the hand. a hand that you'd felt many times against yours, but never with so much intent behind it.

there stood katsuki in front of you, eyes low and waiting as he looked you over.

“[name].” he started, still holding on to your hand. “we need to talk.”

“talk. about what exactly?”

“you know what. you've been ignoring me.” he let go of your hand, crossing them into his chest as he looked you over. “did.. i do something wrong?”

“what? no! it's me!”

“you?”

“yes, it's me. not you. well i mean it is you, but not like that!”

“it's my fault?”

“yes– wait no. yes and no? listen-”

“so, you're ignoring me?” he stepped closer to you, eye contact fierce as you could see the mixed emotions in his eyes. betrayal, even.. insecurity.

“yes. well, i mean i don't– you don't understand!” you tried to reason, but he scoffed.

“save it. i know when im not wanted.”

“katsuki! no-” you grabbed his hand before you even realized it, pulling him closer to you.

“i..” your brain was screaming at you to just admit it now before you would do so accidentally, but..

you couldn't.

“i can't tell you why right now, but it's not what you think.”

his eyes rolled, he took his hand out of yours forcibly. “i don't think i even want to hear that shit. shove it.”

with his hands now shoved in his pocket, he left you alone in that classroom. you walked to the table with wide eyes, never thinking you'd ever miss the feeling of being watched, but admittedly you grew used to it.

you acted that way out of fear of rejection, but did you just get rejected anyways? you hit your head against the lunch table in frustration.

“i'm an idiot.” you muttered, muffled by the material of the tables below. momo patted you on the back.

“i mean, i called it.” jirou said, taking a bite out of her food. “no way this was ever gonna work out.”

“it really wasn't the best idea [name]..” momo finally agreed, still soothing your back. “i mean, there was better ways of going about this. you just ended up pushing him away.”

“i know that now. ugh!”

“it's not too late, there's only what? three days left? you can make it up to him on saturday.”

“it's too late, i'm ruined.”

“right..”

you don't remember the rest of the conversation. you didn't remember even walking up to class, or walking out of it to your dorm. you were in a state of mourning, dreading ever seeing him again. at least for the next two days you wouldn't.

that was the only thought that could let you sleep peacefully, but it made you wake up early regardless.

sulking as you got ready in your hero outfit, walking slowly to the train station with a bag you packed the week prior. mirko texted you the location in tokyo where you'd meet up this week, standing on one of the sides of the train station that seemed pretty busy today.

as the train came to a stop in front of you, you noticed that when the door opened, a familiar face was on the other side.

katsuki.

your eyes widened and looked away from his as you shuffled in, all the seats were full to you hanged onto the bar.

you didn't look at him, though you were jealous at the fact that he got a seat and you didn't. you sulked internally, feeling your knees buckle at not only your exhaustion, but the proximity to him.

there was only a small space next to him now, the kid who'd been next to him getting off at this stop. you eyed it, and he noticed, sighing and gently pulling you towards him.

you were shoved against him, though he said nothing to you.

“kat–”

“it's nothing. don't think about it.”

he barely spared you a glance, though you felt you deserved it now. you sighed, instinctually leaning a head on his shoulder and dozing off. he didn't move you off of him.

you felt him lay his head on yours, the music from his outdated wired headphones leaking into your ear as you took a nap.

the time felt like nothing as you laid there, feeling like only a split second when you felt katsuki shaking you. “yo, [name]. wake up.” he called to you. your eyes fluttered open, squinting at the fluorescent bright lights of the train.

“hm?” you mumbled, moving off of him to get up.

“we're at our station. or mine at least.” he slung his bag around his shoulder.

“oh, this is mine too. coincidence.”

“yeah.”

at the news he grabbed your bag and held it. he waited for you to stretch you legs and neck, before walking beside you. “so, where are ya going?”

“to mirko.”

“duh, i know that. but what is she doing in tokyo of all places?”

“oh, she just tells me places to go and i get there day of. she can't tell me anything, i think it's confidential?”

“mhm. well i'll walk you to your shit, i'm a future number one hero, not an asshole.

“well..”

“then walk by yourself.” he threw your bag at you, walking faster and leaving you a bit behind.

“no, wait!”

you chased after him, and kept by his side. no matter which direction you turned, it was the same way he was going. until you finally just look at the address, and sure enough..

mirko decided to work at best jeanist’s agency.

you felt a mix of emotions wash over you. annoyance, dread, anger.

“what's up?”

“mirko chose to work with best jeanist.”

“what?”

“i know.”

“she only did it to piss me off. ugh!” she kicked a can in the alleyway. they were in eyeshot of the huge agency.

“really, why would she even do that?”

“because of you.” a hand slapped over your mouth.

“me? really?” you could hear the smirk on his face, he waltzed over to you. you were nearing the entrance now, only a staircase keeping you alone with him. you could even see the familiar white ears of your now enemy.

“what?

do you have a crush on me or something?” it was just a joke, you could hear it in his cocky demeanor.

but that didn't stop the hands that shot off your face involuntarily, as you let out a meek. “yes.”

the smile was wiped off of his face now, shock filling his expression. you ran into the doors, standing beside a mirko who greeted you warmly. a hand reaching out to grab you was now left in the air.

it felt like the air had left his lungs too.

because it turns out his feelings were reciprocal after all.

the meeting would start in a small moment, that's what the receptionist told you as you stood next to mirko, who you pulled aside to talk to.

placing your hands on either side of her shoulders, you let her have it.

“mirko, why would you choose to work here of all places?”

“i wanted to play wingman for my favorite partner. sue me.”

“but– this is making everything worse! why couldn't you have just done this in a week! or better yet- never!” you cried, stomping a foot on the floor. “

i didn't want or need any help- any now i'll have to spend tomorrow on some awkward random patrol!”

“it won't be so awkward, remember that me and that best jeanist guy will be there too.”

“like, third-wheeling? thanks a lot. that really helps me feel better.”

“think nothing of it. anyways, this is for the better. i caught wind of you and the girls’ plan. it really sucked. maybe my plan will end up working. you never know.”

“so? and what if it doesn't?”

“then what? you already got rejected didn't you?”

“yes.” a beat passed, your glare only getting stronger. “you're so annoying.”

“you love me though, anyways it's time.” she grabs your hand and guides you to the meeting room. you're sat right next to katsuki, though you do your best not to look at him. it's awkward enough just thinking about how you'd even salvage the relationship you had before, so you try not to.

you realize way too late that you'd managed to zone out through the entire mission. the map displayed virtually might as well had been in another language, the suspects and victims melting into each other, the objectives not clear.

the only notable thing to you was a random, large red circle over a part of the city. but besides that you had no idea what was going on, and based on the look on mirko’s face, listening along was vital.

you brushed it off. not thinking that it was that important, and your instincts hadn't failed you that horrifically yet.

you exited the room besides mirko, who had gotten the two of you a hotel for the two nights you were staying here. a penthouse suite awaited you. you would've been more thankful, if not for her betrayal of you earlier.

the night was swift, faster than you wanted it to be. you found yourself already in your hero outfit at the crack of dawn, trudging alongside mirko.

one word described the streets. busy, full of life. something you weren't really used to.

stealth missions and random outposts were where you were usually sent, nobody seen for ages. so maybe you should have spent a bit more time paying attention to the mission debrief..

“is it always like this?” you questioned to bakugo, who stood right next to you.

“what do you mean?”

“like. busy.”

“oh, yeah it is. always pretty boring though. no smart villain would make an attack with so many people around. at least one hero would be stationed over here.”

“guess you're right.”

“i know i am.”

and he was proven right. the side of town you two were stationed to, seperate from mirko and jeanist, was completely fine.

the only thing you two had done the whole day was save a cat out of a tree, handing it to a little girl who looked up at you with stars in her eyes as you did.

it was afternoon now, and your shift was officially over. you slumped against a wall dramatically, slipping down onto the floor as you breathed a sigh of relief.

katsuki sat next to you, a close proximity between you two not foreign usually, though with the weird back and forth that had been going on thus far, it was nice to know he still considered you to be close.

“‘m fucking hungry.” he finally said, making you laugh. “that's what you're thinking of right now?”

“no. not really.”

“well, then what is it?”

“it's you, [name].”

he takes a breath. “let me talk, okay.” he moved to face you, and at your nod, he continued.

“you confuse me. for years we've gotten close, comfortable. but all of a sudden you avoided me like the plague. i hated it.” his face changes with a mixture of emotions.

“i.. i really fucking like you. and i'm confused as if you feel the same way, you seemed pissed to even be with me right now so. it's just odd. you're acting odd.

because sometimes you're like fucking into me. you even brought me lunch at some point. and now with the ignoring me bullshit? i just don't get it.” he dropped his shoulders, eyes widening slightly.

“so do you like me or not? or should i just leave you the fuck alone?”

“yes and no.”

his face scrunched up in confusion. “so-”

“ugh! just shut up! i like you- okay? is that what you wanted to hear?”

“yes, actually.” he breathed a sigh of relief, a joking hand laid over his chest. “you're confusing.”

“i know.”

“you're close.”

“i mean you sat here-”

“can i kiss you?”

a crack of sunlight dawned through the small corridor, illuminating his eyes, and to him your body. you knew what you'd say for yourself, but you didn't mind this time.

because it's what you truly wanted.

“i thought you'd never ask.”

you felt his lips on yours in an instant, his arms wrapping around your lower back and caging you into him, the buzzing of your phone going unnoticed as he tilted his head against yours.

breathless. the only real word you could use to describe how you felt right now, after having pulled away.

you didn't have a chance to wipe your lip gloss off his face, not before mirko and jeanist stood behind you two, her hands on her hips as a smirk came over her face.

“i see someone was having fun.”

oh right. the mission..

“not like it matters anymore, but we caught the villains. i texted you about it, but when you didn't respond jeanist over here told us to come

quickly.”

she gestured over to a face-palming jeanist, who only said, “it seems you two had more pressing matters to deal with.” katsuki wiped the lip gloss off his lips, wincing at the sticky feeling left on his face.

mirko snorted, while you hung your head in embarrassment, and katsuki looked away from the two of them.

“you know what? stay out as long as you two lovebirds would like. i'll cover for the two of you.”

“what? really?”

she winked at you, and mouthed “wingman”, before turning to leave. “if you're really questioning me, i'll just not let you g-”

katsuki cut her off. “it's cool. thanks, see you losers.” he grabbed your hand, pulling you effortlessly off the ground, a bit into his chest as he led you to start walking off.

“'got somewhere cool to show ya’.” is all he said, before taking you to a restaurant he frequented, or so he told you. he ordered the spiciest plate, and you chose one to your preference. you got a dessert, he skipped out though because of his disdain for them.

“katsuki, i really should tell you something.”

“go ahead.”

it was your turn now to breath, looking up at the ceiling and shutting your eyes as you blurted out, “i was hit by a truth quirk, i avoided you because i was scared to confess to you, and now i feel guilty.”

no sound was heard other than the clacking of utensils and movement in the background, you opened your eyes to see a bakugo who looked as if he was holding in his laugh.

“seriously? that was it?” you could hear the smile in his voice, his hand moved to cover his mouth. “no- i mean that's super crazy [name], very justified response.”

“you're rude.”

“no, no i'm being real.” he could barely hide the casual giggle being let out, “like, it's crazy how hard that must've been. no immediate solutions at all.”

“well, i'm emotionally invested so obviously it was harder for me to think!”

“why didn't you just tell mr. aizawa, he could've canceled it out for you in class.”

“.. i didn't think of that.”

he couldn't help it anymore, he burst out laughing, having to cover his hand with his mouth to keep from cackling.

meanwhile, you crossed your arms and looked straight-faced. “this isn't funny at all by the way.”

he finally calmed down enough, grabbing your hand from across the table and still smirking slightly.

“sorry, sorry. fucking sore ass subject, i got it. let's get out of here already.”

“right, you ruined the atmosphere.”

“sure i did.”

he paid, and for your last stop of the day, he got you ice cream at a park. you just wanted to sit down, legs tired from the amount of walking you did today.

licking at your favorite flavor, he holds up his ice cream to your mouth to try. it was a sour, savory flavor. but you ended up liking it.

the moon was out now, greeting the two of you as you sat side-by-side, illuminating your bodies with the reflected rays of the sun.

it felt late you realized, and you looked down at your phone’s time, sighing in happiness.

it was 12:00, you were free.

“hey katsuki, ask me something.”

“uh.. did you enjoy our day today?”

“no.” a face of annoyance grew on his face, while one of excitement adorned yours. “see? it's over!”

“you can say that.”

“no dumbass! i lied, i really did enjoy today! the quirk is over.” you leaned back raising your hands in glee. “i'm free!”

he laughed, leaning back with you and looking at the constellation’s in the sky.

“well, since you're free now, i'll ask you one final question.”

“hm?” you turned to look at him, his hand rose to grab yours in his. his fingers ran over your knuckles.

“can i be your boyfriend?”

you paused, before a smile erupted over your face once again.

“you could've asked me earlier, and my answer would still be the same,”

so, obviously yes.”

he grinned, pulling you into him.

you sealed your answer with a kiss. soft, endearing, long, and truthful. his hands were tangled in your hair, your hands around the upper part of his back.

as you pulled away, you could only hope this would last forever, that the feeling of honesty and security would be forever eternal as you laid against his chest, pointing out things you'd saw in the stars.

but looking at him once more, you knew it'd be alright.

it was the truth written in the stars, after all.

end.

tags: @k0z3me @darhinadadragon @maddietries @exoticrasin @lavendarstarz @hisonlyobsession @i-the-fluffo @cookielovesbook-akie @frosted-flakes @irenne-stans @lulumi1u @bakunis

[dough09]

Spoiled

Y/N and her period.

(chapter: Sae Itoshi) //If you want more chapters//

All day he didn’t receive a moment of peace. All you did was whine. Every single second he saw you going by your day.

Technically he expected this would happen. You were on your period. This was your month. He knew it'd be coming because lately you’ve been getting more and more agitated at everything he did.

He forgot his socks on the bed and you glared at him for half a day. Just because of a pair of socks.

You also craved more snacks lately. He noticed these things and always knew it better than the palm of his hands. Sometimes you’d ask him when did the last one end and he’d without thinking just answer. Like it’s nothing.

The man knew you better than you did yourself at this point.

He loved paying attention to the little things. But really you never understood how he knew your cycles better than you yourself of that stupid app on your phone.

You always required more attention on your month and that wasn't different now either. Your head was in his lap as he kept stroking your soft and freshly washed hair.

His jersey hid your form as the size simply was for you. Regardless he’d always request two more. One to have a spare one and the other just for you. His girlfriend.

“This is so boring they aren't even going anywhere! “ The anime that was supposed to be distracting enough failed. As the night was beginning to rise he decided to watch something so time would fly faster. Not that it ever worked for her.

Her cramps and whines engulfed the room making her curl into a small ball. “Oh come on, it can't hurt that bad” he sighed as you flinched and crumbled even more.

“Want me to get a period simulator for you?” “Nah, I'll be fine without one.” He said as he got up and walked to the kitchen. You frowned. “Where are you going?” “I’ll be back.” He said from the end of the hallway.

To his absence you stopped the show and just layed down on the bed. You were squirming on the bed. At this point you were cramping just like on the day you started.

Not that you didn't feel it coming while being in his embrace. It's just that.. he calmed you. His touch was so warm and it made you fuzzy inside. So you could only focus on that.

Soon he came back with a period cramp heat pad. Your eyes widened. “How did you-” “How did I know? Your toes were curling and you were turning into my chest more mi amor.” He sighed and smirked. He gently placed the pad onto your stomach and sat down, pulling you into his arms.

His hand slipped under your shirt and his hands moved in small circles around the belly. “You’re spoiling me~” your grin made its way to your face and he only squinted his eyes at you. “You like it, and it's not like I can't!” He made a fair argument.

[suguru-getos]

| Bully!Satoru Gojo x F!reader | Part 2 |

-> Part 1

Summary: You had just transferred schools, and your first day was an encounter with your new bully. He’s mean, terrifically hot & absolutely a menace. Though there’s more to that personna. Chapter Summary: After humiliating Gojo in the cafeteria, he has better ways to force pay-back. Hey! That shirt you ruined, was expensive.

Warnings: Oh he is a real piece of shit here with a barely there moral compass. Mentions of humiliation, bul!ying, belittling, teasing. The reader is slowly getting into an auto-pilot mode.

New chapter every week, comment down below if you want to be tagged! ^^

Taglist: @mc-reborn @tvdumarvelhpsimp @alula394 @getoxmahito @knanamii @he4rts444mi @localginger22 @animeisforkings @ran6ia @creative1writings @lenaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa @nerdiel-has-no-braincells @zoemaelol @shoutascoffeepot

It feels like pure humiliation, the way you walked off from the cafeteria. Satoru stood there, the warm, sticky gravy sticking to him. It feels like a sensory nightmare. White hot rage simmering through the very marrow of his bones. He exhales, glancing up just to see if there was anyone dumb enough to enjoy his misery he could stomp on. Nobody had the balls to, nobody has the balls to until you come across.

What was your fucking problem?

He walked away from the cafeteria, long strides eager to seek you out and punish you ruthlessly for your deranged and depraved, bratty behaviour. Satoru Gojo is worshipped like the literal god, who the hell are you? Meanwhile, you, amidst all your molten courage flowing in your veins, were the epitome of anxiety. You can't mistake his blazing steamy rage filled blue eyes greying… to be anything but merciful. You're not delusional.

A veiny, pale hand gripped your hair, the other wrapped around your mouth as you were dragged through the lonesome corridor. You whimpered at the burn in your scalp and before you could register what was happening, Satoru was standing in front of you. Baring his hostile teeth as he grits. "You've done it." He's almost amused, contemplating what more he can do to you, what more can you really handle… then again, does it matter if you can or can’t handle?

"Here's what's going to happen…" He pushed himself against your chest, unrelenting at how disgusting you might feel, transferring the filth on his shirt to yours. You struggled like a fish out of water. Satoru is taller, bulkier, stronger and you realize that soon enough.

"You will be my silly little pet, because guess how much this shirt costs?" He chuckled, whispering gravely against the shell of your ear. "1800 dollars, missy."

You feel shocked upon hearing the price, eyes widening as he slowly leaned his hand away so you could speak.

"Either you fucking pay me back, with interest for each day. Or you shut the fuck up and be my silly little pet for a month I will stomp on, my little useless errand girl. Sounds fitting to someone who looks like you, no?" He smirks, watching the colour fade in your eyes. He is sort of impressed by himself, the way he instantaneously thought of such a brilliant idea. That money means nothing to him, but not everyone is that blessed.

Once you finally gathered what was happening, you raised a brow. "Why should I be an errand girl to someone who collided against me and is now begging to be paid for his filthy shirt? Learn to walk properly asshole!" You spit back, eyes siren and jaw gritted.

"Kay then, I will ask your mommy and daddy to pay for their daughter's bullshit." He left your hair, the pain subsiding into a dull ache.

He wasn't fucking serious was he? You and your parents weren't essentially on the best terms, they have just shifted to Tokyo and while they would be willing to pay, your self-respect wouldn't allow you. Your mother would keep taunting you about this for the rest of your life… you really don't want that.

Satoru noticed the shift in your behaviour when he mentioned your parents - "Heh, guess they don't like you either huh?" He smirked, not caring how hard it would jab you. It kinda did.. but you couldn't care less. Not coming from him especially.

"10 days, of me being your errand girl." You wanted to be ploughed down into death once you uttered these words. There was nothing you could do anyways. Parents involving, not so much…

"A month." Satoru shrugged, smirking. He has you exactly where he wants. His sole goal is to make you cry every single day and make sure you apologize for being a little shit to him.

"And, you do whatever the fuck I say you to. If I tell you to clean my shoe with your tongue, you 'fucking' clean my shoe with your tongue."

Oh it felt like dying, like you were stabbed endlessly by a thousand swords when he said that.

"How do I know after a month you wouldn't bother me or my parents with the money?" Satoru raised a brow, smirking. "I'm a man of my word, little bitch." He squeezed your face in a single hand, watching your puckered lips. "I say you're free after a month, then you're free after a month, though you'll wish every single day that you paid me back." He chuckled, rolling his eyes as he let go of your face with a jerk, letting the back of your head collide a little with the wall.

You were so cute, small, stompable…

"See me when the school ends."

Satoru walked away with that, and your shoulders slumped. This is what it has truly come to? You needed some time to yourself after this, why are you always so pushy and so cocky? What if you didn't humiliate him… a month of sheer torture is what you've signed up for, just to not be tortured by your mother. Besides, it's a lot of money and you don't think your parents owe you because a shitty ass senior got pissed.

You dragged your feet to him, after the school ended. His whole group was present, they were busy chitchatting. Satoru perked up like a spoiled brat the moment his eyes glazed through you beneath the glasses. "My little lap bitch is hereeee~" He perked, walking towards you and smirking at how you grimace when you see the way he was treating you.

"Go, fetch us popsickles." He grinned, giving you the money. You didn't say anything, trying oh so hard not to slap him across the face and breathing out. "Mkay."

You looked up, counting the number of people, "Excluding yourself, no popsickles for you." He simply shrugged.

Oh he was getting beneath your nerves so bad. "I wouldn't buy them for myself." You explained anyway, "Don't wan' em." With that, you walked away, getting to the vending machine and getting those fucking popsickles which you rather wish were poisoned so he dies for good.

When you're back, he made sure you give them to everyone, made sure you give it to him- after opening the packet- and then dropped it.

"Whoops, gotta run again lil girl." He chuckled, his friends were… stunned too. Satoru is a cunt, they all know that. He pushes people through their limits but he's never been this much of an asshole towards any girl. Maybe because none of them did anything except slither around him and worship him.

You tear up, you have never… felt this humiliated in your life ever. Nanami gives his popsickle to Satoru, "Here, Gojo san. I don't want it. Please take it." He is so polite, kind… but his Senpai had other plans.

"Didn't you hear what I just said?" He raises his voice a little, and you are left with nothing but a reminder of him demanding this money from your parents. Your feet are stoned to the ground though, unmoving. "Okay." You managed to say again, taking a deep breath as you force yourself to the vending machine yet again, bringing back his popsickle.

You thought highschool would be fun, you would make new friends, go to karaoke parties, excel in subjects, in extra curriculars, whatnot.. you never expected yourself landing into the clutches of rich asshole Gojo Satoru.

Once you're back, you unwrap it again and give it to him. For fuck's sake he finally accepted.

"Kay, gimme your number." He extends his hand with his phone on it, letting you reluctantly add your number and saving it as 'Servant'. Showing it to you to rub salt on your wounds. "Off you go, see you tomorrow." He smiled. You were relieved you don't need to see his face for the rest of the day.

Once you reached home, you cried. All the emotions overwhelming you all at once. Guess he was right, he will make you cry everyday..

The rest of the day passes by in a haze before you find yourself back in school again.

"OH good morning little errand girl!" Satoru's presence looms, he was waiting for you at the entrance, you looked up at him. Not responding for now. You needed to get to class. OH so you're being indifferent now? Satoru is pissed…

"So eager to go to class, I have a job for you though!" He snickers, watching your stompy feet come to a pause. Good, you were still listening. He will push you a little more. "During the lunch time, go and bring my lunch for me, kay? You won't eat unless I finish." He smirked, walking away.

The problem is… it's not fun anymore. At least… not how it was when you retaliated. Maybe he shouldn't have used the money thing and just teased you when you had the means to push it back. You just nodded and left.

During the lunch time, you did as directed. Bringing his plate to him in front of everyone… oh it satiated his silly little ego so much.

Though he wonders if you will snap… finally. If not, he can just push it. No? He extends his hand to Haibara who reluctantly gave his water bottle to Satoru.

Before you could process what happened, you were drenched. The white shirt now translucent, showing your bra. Everyone laughed, some of them were gawking at how the shirt does no justice to you, now that it sticks to your skin, you look much more delectable. "Oops, my hand slipped." He says again, though he knows he's pushed this one too hard. Today was only the second day. Besides, a vile feeling erupted beneath him when he felt others gawk at you. Look away. Look. THE FUCK. AWAY.

Rolling his eyes, he puts his blazer on you, "Here, go get changed.." He mumbled, your silence was not helping. Not fucking helping when you shivered at the coldness of your body, how you just… took it. You didn't even cry, this was to be expected from him anyways.

You nodded, walking towards the infirmary alone. "For fuck's sake…" Satoru snarled, whatever left of his inner conscience slapping him hard as he followed you to it. Making sure you change your clothes and gave you a juice.

You were silent again, taking it from him. "Got nothing to say?" He raises a brow, "I thought you were all big and mean…" He emphasized again.

"Nothing to say. I expected worse." You shrugged, walking away. You expected 'worse'? What kind of worse…

"What the fuck do you mean?" He holds your wrist, "You know, like beating me the fuck up or something." You looked at his eyes. Wow… you truly think of him as vile and disgusting don't you? Why does it pinch him so hard? He's done nothing but bother you and made you believe he is trash.

"Kay." He mumbles, walking away. He's the one bullying you and he's the one being bullied at the same time.

Satoru Gojo doesn't bother you for the rest of the week and the weekend after.

Monday… he asks you to hold his bag for him all the way to his home. Watches you cutely manage both yours and his bag when he could easily hold your bag and you…

You're panting softly when you reach the Gojo estate, cutting the call from your mother and texting her you'll be late. "Here's your bag." You gave it to him and he took it from you easy peasy. "Alright, well.." He can see the sweat beads on your forehead, the way you are twisting your shoulder for relief. Suguru has already stopped talking to him because of this behaviour. You look cute, even when you piss him off so bad.

"Go run home." Satoru scoffs and leaves. Maybe he should just shorten the duration from a month to 15 days… but then, would you become the rebel he liked you to be or would you just ignore him…. contemplation, contemplation… and lots of contemplation.

[fruittt-punchhh]

Pop My Cherry!

all parts

Synopsis: your dad's best friend is none other than Toji Fushiguro, and you can't help but wonder what he could do with his hands.

Characters: Toji Fushiguro x reader.

Content: Minors Do Not Interact! smut, afab! reader, fem! reader, dad's best friend! Toji, suggestiveness, cursing, inexperienced (ish) reader, reader is a virgin but has done things ya know, female masturbation, male masturbation, mutual masturbation, getting caught in the act, reader smokes weed, alcohol usage, pet/ affectionate names, age gap (reader is 24, Toji is in his 30s), Toji calls reader (doll, slut, bitch, etc.), big dick! Toji.

Word Count: 3.6k-ish

Notes: hi again cuties!! I hope you’re enjoying it so far, I am loving it tbh! please enjoy the filthy smut in this chapter❤️‍🔥🗣️🫶. Lemme know what ya think! pt. 4 may take a minute but trust I gotchu covered. enjoy!!

Your heart dropped to your stomach as you stilled your movements, hoping he didn’t notice what you were doing. You quickly close out of the app and pull the blanket up to cover whatever shred of dignity you had left.

“What the hell are you doing in here?” You blurt out. You attempt a laugh to play it off, but it comes out as a nervous sounding chuckle if anything. Your dad and the rest of the boys were supposed to be out all day, you thought. Your phone said it was only 4:30, yet here Toji stood in your room with a look on his face that you’ll never forget.

His expression was dark and his pupils were blown. You would have thought he had taken some sort of drug, had you not seen his gaze go directly towards your tits.

“I should be askin’ you the same thing, sweet girl. I’ve got work in a few hours so I had to come back early.” He says with a smirk. He takes a step into your room and shuts the door behind him. The package was discarded on your dresser. He traipses towards you, never taking his eyes off of you. “But imagine my surprise when I come down the hallway to hear you saying ‘mm, y-yeah, just like that Mr. Fushiguro’. Then better yet, I open the door to see your poor attempt at pleasing yourself. I mean can you even call it masturbating at that point?” Toji is now sitting on the edge of your bed, with his arm supporting his weight behind him. His muscles are nearly ripping the sleeves of his shirt as he balls up the blanket in his fist.

“W-What are you talking about? I was ju-“, you feign innocence hoping that god will hear your lies and smite you to save you from the embarrassment that is this moment.

“Cut the shit, doll. You think I have to see what you’re doing to know what you’re doing? It’s painted all over that pretty face of yours. You look like you’ve been going at it for hours. Your lips are all swollen and your face is red. Let’s be fucking real, sweetheart” he inches closer to you, knowing you have no where to hide. He’s now sitting back on his legs, awaiting your response with hungry eyes.

“I-okay, fine. I was… touching myself or whatever. But I wasn’t ‘going at it for hours’! I’ve been really stressed with school, and I thought I had the house to myself today. Plus I smoked and that always makes it feel better so I figured I-“

“That’s enough. You don’t have to make up any more excuses. I know it was because of last night. Why would you be in here whining my name if it wasn’t, huh?”

There he goes again, making your face feel as if it’s on fire. If you could die in a hole and never be seen again, you would gladly take the chance with a smile on your face. There was no way you could get out of this one.

“Why are you so quiet all of a sudden? A few minutes ago I could hear you as soon as I walked through the front door. Did I embarrass you or something?”

Truth be told, he did, but given his cocky attitude, you knew you couldn’t let on. “pfft- I’m not embarrassed,” you bluff, “everybody does it. B-But nobody likes being caught in the act so to speak.”

He smiles almost ear to ear. Did you really think he was stupid? From your shaky voice to the blush rising up your face, he knew you were bullshitting. “I mean some people might like getting caught. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you wanted to. You could have at least locked the fucking door.”

Shit, he was right. I mean, to be fair, you knew no one was home. But locking the door would have taken two fucking seconds! Were you so pent up that you couldn’t take any extra precautions?

“I-I guess I thought no one would be home for a while. I’m really sorry Mr. Fushiguro, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

Your headphones had been out for a bit at this point, so you aren’t mistaken when you hear Toji laugh at you. Like full-blown, hearty, laughter. He regains his composure, and he is suddenly much closer than you think you can handle. At this point, you can smell his musk from being outside all morning, and the scent makes your legs feel weak.

“That’s precious, but just call me Toji, yeah?”

You nod feverishly awaiting his next words.

“Doll, the only one here that’s uncomfortable is you. I’m just fine. Like you said, everybody does it.” He’s now sitting directly in front of you, with eyes that are drilling holes into your skin. You feel like prey in his eyes and you’re not sure if being scared is an appropriate response.

He adds, with a grin, “how about I show you how I do it?”

————————————————————————

Did you hear him correctly? Show you how he… how he masturbates? At this point, you’re starting to think your weed was laced. There is no way this man that oozes sex appeal is offering to touch himself. In front of you. You take a few breaths to ground yourself and try to think of anything that you could say back to that.

“H-how you do what, Toji?”

Regrettably, you let your eyes travel down the man before you. He was wearing the same black compression shirt from the night before, along with a pair of loose, gray sweatpants. My god was he big. He didn’t even look fully hard, and yet, it was about to bust the seam of his sweats. You could even see a wet patch forming at the tip of his cock if you squinted. You felt your mouth watering at the sight. You thought about how big he would feel in your tiny hands, how it would feel down your throat. How he would tell you how to take him best since you weren’t the most experienced. You blinked a few times before you gained the courage to refocus your attention on his face.

“Don’t play dumb with me little girl. Lemme’ show you how I make myself feel good, and you can do the same for me.”

At this point, he was crawling towards you. You had no choice but to lie down underneath him, retreating into your mattress as best you could. He was now hovering over you, eyes peering into yours. You had no where to run.

He continues, “and then when we’re done, we can use everything we learned on each other. How does that sound huh, sweet girl? I know you’re real smart so this shouldn’t be hard for you at all.” He brings his hand up to play with the thin strap of your bikini top. He slowly slides the strap over your shoulder, and plants a wet kiss where it once resided.

You shiver in response, ultimately petrified as to what will happen next. You were excited, sure, but Toji didn’t know you were a virgin. You didn’t want to disappoint him with your lackluster skills. On top of that, you weren’t even sure if you could take an average sized dick, let alone a monster like Toji’s.

“Don’t get quiet on me now, woman. You were begging to be fucked like a slut just a minute ago. Use your words.” He lowers himself so he can whisper what you’ve been wanting to hear since last night, “Tell me what you want, and I’ll fucking give it to you”

“T-Toji, I can’t, it’s s-so embarrassing. I don’t know if we should.”

“Look, doll, we already know what’s going to happen. Besides, you’re the one in here wearing next to nothing while you play with your sweet pussy. All you have to do is ask, girl”

There’s no turning back now. A little heavy petting and making out won’t hurt anyone, right?

“You, Toji. I-I want you.”

“Ask nicely and I’ll think about it.” He says as he peppers sloppy kisses on your collarbone. He sucks and nips at the skin on your neck, making you writhe underneath him. He adores watching you come undone for him.

“Please, pretty please, I want you. I need you, Toji.” You couldn’t believe you were saying this out loud. Yeah, you’ve been wanting, no, dreaming for this to happen. But why are you begging him like he’s the last man on earth?

“Oh it’s a need, not a want huh? Guess I better fucking give it to you then, right? Wouldn’t want to deprive your filthy cunt anymore than she already has been.”

You whimper as his vulgar words fill your ears. You knew Toji had a foul mouth, but you had no clue to what extent. The way he was talking now had you scared for what’s to come. You felt red hot whenever he touched you, and you couldn’t help but moan when he was licking stripes up your ear and telling you to sit up for him.

He throws the blanket off the bed as he helps you sit up against your pillow. He pushed you up against the headboard as his lips crash into yours. You whine into the kiss and he plunges his tongue into your mouth. You nearly lose it when he bites your bottom lip and sucks on it, easing the pain. You can taste the alcohol on his breath, and he can smell the weed all over you. He’s pulling away all too soon as he sits back at the end of the bed.

“Now I want you to be a good girl and do everything I say, ya’hear? I would hate if your daddy found out that you were smoking today, ya’know, since he’s a cop and all. We can keep this between us and he won’t hear a thing, okay doll?”

You furiously nod your head in agreement. Your dad would make your life a living hell if he knew you smoked. Plus, even without the threat on the table, you were anxious to see what Toji would do with you next.

“I already told you to use your words once. Don’t make me say it again.”

“S-sorry, Toji. I won’t tell anyone I promise.”

“That’s what I thought. Come sit on my lap, pretty girl.”

As if you were under his spell, you shift your way towards the end of the bed and do as you’re told. You can immediately feel how hard he is underneath you. It doesn’t help that the material of these bottoms are paper thin. You swear you can feel his member throb and if you weren’t wet enough before this, you definitely were now. You were just about to rut your hips forward to help relieve the ache between your thighs.

Until Toji pushes you back so you’re sitting on his big thighs, legs spread impossibly far. His thighs were so toned and big, and it didn’t help that he had his legs crossed. It was all you could do to not fall into his chest searching for your balance.

“Gimme some room, brat. You’re not gonna learn how to make me feel good if you can’t see this dick now will you?”

You nod in anticipation and you anxiously await his next move. He palms himself over his sweats and you can’t help but whimper. He tosses his head back and groans, gripping on his leaking tip while he bites his bottom lip. He’d never let you know it, but he could have cum just from you sitting on his lap like that. Your big ‘fuck me’ eyes staring back at him as you grind all over his throbbing cock. Your sweet clit getting hit in all the right spots while you soak his pants. He knew he’d have to edge himself before he had his way with you or else he might cum before you even take your bikini off.

You watched Toji grunt in satisfaction as he rubbed the tip of his cock through his sweats. Your face grew a shade darker as he bit his lip and whined your name. You couldn’t help but look away as it felt too sinful to look upon someone so lustfully.

Wait, did he just.. whine? For you? Surely you were hearing things. You couldn’t have, though, right? It was clear as day:

“Fuck, y/n. Look s-sooo… pretty f’me, baby”

A smirk forms across your face as you realize he’s just as needy as you are right now. And did he just call you baby? This was getting too good. At this moment, you felt like you had regained some semblance of your confidence back. That was, until he was quick to rebuke your cute little smirk with his downright pornographic words.

“Watcha’ smiling for, huh? Think it’s funny that you’ve got me so hot for you I bet, heh.” He chuckles at you, “You’re lucky I didn’t just make you suck this cock so I could blow my load down your throat and be done with you, slut.”

A moan escapes your lips as you bite your bottom lip, trying to maintain any sense of composure you had left. It was disconcerting how quickly he took that little shred of confidence and flipped it on a dime. All the while, he’s still stroking himself through his sweats and you see a small bead of sweat form at his temple (should you lick it off?) As you look down at what was once a small stain on the outside of his pants, you see the wet patch has grown much larger. It was more than enough to show that he was desperate for stimulation, just as you were.

You felt yourself cringe at how exposed you felt as you straddle him. He looks up at you with dark, hooded eyes. Some of his hair is starting to stick to his forehead, (since when was it this fucking hot in the house???) and he looks so domineering, in spite of the fact that he was underneath you. You stifle another moan as you look down at your hands, trying to break eye contact before you explode.

“Don’t be shy, baby doll. Look at how hard ya’ got me, yeah?”

He finally grabs the waistband of his sweats, dragging them slowly off of his length. To your (non)surprise, he wasn’t wearing anything underneath. His cock springs forward onto his clothed stomach with a loud smack. He was even bigger than you thought. He was so hard it looked painful, almost. His tip was red and weeping precum, and his dick twitched as you gasped. It was so veiny and girthy. I mean it had to be at least ten inches. There was no fucking way that was going to fit.

He hisses at the cool air. He had to grab the base of his cock to stop himself from painting your stomach white. You looked so hungry for him as you gasped, and the sight was enough to send Toji reeling.

“When I came in here and saw you in that slutty little swimsuit, it took everything in me not to take these bottoms off and fuck you right there.” He says as he runs a hand under your bikini bottoms, grabbing your ass so hard you’re sure it’ll leave a bruise.

His words make your pussy hot, and you can’t help but grind into nothing. Toji wouldn’t let you sit on just one of thighs, no. He wanted you straddling both of them, pussy spread out right in front of his cock, but without any contact so you couldn’t get any sort of friction where you needed it the most.

“Aw,” he coos, “I bet you would like that huh, baby? I’m sure those guys back at uni never made you finish. Is that right?”

You scramble to say something believable. No guys at school had made you finish but they also never got the chance to. When it came to your sexual experiences, you were more of a giver.

“Uh, I-I mean, I guess technically not, but it-“

“Oh wait, don’t tell me. Is today my lucky fucking day?”

Fuck. You couldn’t help but hide behind your hands. It didn’t help that he slowly started to work his hand up and down his length. He let out a throaty groan as his thumb ran over his slit, gathering the excessive precum and using it to tease his cock head.

“What do you mean, t-toji?”

“You’re a virgin, aren’t ya’, y/n?”

The only sounds that could be heard were your heavy breathing and the sounds of his dick being stroked ever so slowly. There was no point in lying now. He could read you like a book.

“Y-yeah, I am. I’ve just been so busy with school, and like, I-I’ve done stuff before it just never got to the point where-“

“I knew it. Shh, it’s okay baby doll. You just wanted to save that pretty cunt for a real fucking man, right? You knew those college boys could never give some proper dick.” You can’t help the grin that grows across your face, because he honestly wasn’t wrong.

“Don’t worry. Toji’s gonna take real good care of you. Why don’t you spit on it f’me, huh doll?”

Jesus Christ, he was so fucking nasty. You’re sitting in this man’s lap, ogling him as he pleases himself. He was moaning now, going at a steady pace as he kept his eyes planted on you. You gathered as much spit as you can before you hovered over his cock, letting it dangle out of your mouth before it completely covers the tip.

“That’s it, good fucking girl. You’re doing so good f’me already.”

You watch as he takes your spit and uses it to slide all the way down his length. The sounds he was making were downright evil, and your pussy was aching with want. You wanted his fingers inside you so bad, but he was currently occupied. He was big enough that even three hands wouldn’t cover all of him, so he was going at it with both hands now.

As if he could read your mind, he spits out, “touch yourself for me, doll. Show me what you were doin’ before I interrupted, hmm?”

He had to be joking. You were already embarrassed enough after he caught you in the act, but now he wants you to reenact it? You were desperate for anything at this point, but couldn’t he just do it for you?

“But, t-toji-“ you whine.

“Don’t but me. I know you want to sweetheart. Now don’t make me ask again.”

You don’t even respond, instead reaching your hand down and to start rubbing little circles on the outside of your bikini bottoms. You let a moan slip past your lips. You didn’t realize how badly you needed this until now.

“Girl, if I wanted to watch some soft core I would. Take that little number off so you can really feel it, yeah?”

“A-are you sure?”

“What do you think?”

He releases his dick from his vice grip to help you undress. He undoes the bow behind your back, then he unties the sides of your bikini bottoms. He comments under his breath at how easy it would be for him to sneak up behind you and untie your bottoms so he could fuck you by the pool, as a breathy moan leaves both of your throats. He rips both of the pieces off in a flash before they were discarded to the floor. You suddenly felt so barren in front of him, being that he was still nearly fully clothed.

“Goddamn, if I would have known what you looked like underneath I would have walked in on you a long time ago. You know I’ve heard you doing it before right? I’d just listen then go take care of myself later. Wouldn’t want to ruin my special girl too soon, now would I?” He asks as e grabs a handful of your plump tit and kneads it in his hand.

You feel your neck turned red as you watch him eye you up and down. He reaches forward and starts to suck on your nipple, making you moan above him. He’s stopped stroking himself at this point, instead wrapping his hand around the base of his cock to keep from cumming. I mean he hadn’t got laid in a while, but shit. This was getting ridiculous. He jerked off plenty, but something about seeing your pale, soft skin all bare for him was making his stomach do flips. Your fat tits, your sinful hips, and god your fucking pussy. It was so plump and wet, it was practically begging for his cock. He needed to fucking ruin you.

His words went right to your pussy, and you continued to touch yourself without instruction. At this point, you were too desperate to care about embarrassing yourself. If he wasn’t going to make you cum, you were going to on your own.

You didn’t even need to lick your fingers before you continued toying with your clit. Given that the masturbation session turned into an impromptu mutual masturbation session, your pussy had been wet for god knows how long now. You were chasing your climax at a rapid pace, but you couldn’t quite tip over the edge. Maybe it was the position, or the previous embarrassment. But regardless, you couldn’t think about cumming without Toji’s fingers deep inside you.

“T-Toji, please. Need.. h-help”

“T-Toji, pwease!” He mocks, causing you to stop your movements.

“I want you Toji, pretty please?”

“What is it that at you want, huh?”

Is he really going to make you spell it out for him?

“I want you, I-I need you to make me cum, p-please Toji, fuck”

How could he say no to that?

pt. 4

[animasolaoriginal]

INFATUATED ♦️ THREE

CHAPTER ONE ♦️ SERIES MASTERLIST ♦️ AO3

He finds out the girl he picked up on a whim is the perfect candidate. So innocent, so submissive already, with just the right amount of Daddy issues. But she still has a lot to learn, and he's determined to teach her everything.

ruthless nightclub owner ❌ innocent young woman with a crush

WARNING: NSFW! Explicit sexual content. Age gap. Size difference. Dubcon elements. Dom/sub dynamic. Sex toys. Fingering. Cunnilingus. Orgasm denial. Oral sex/deepthroating. Anal play. Creampies. (For more tags, check it on AO3!) // WORDS: 4.9k

TWO 🟥 THREE 🟥 FOUR

He's surprised how quickly she adjusted to her new surroundings, to the things he's asked of her, forced on her. Maybe she's still feeling the after-effects of the drug he's given her last night, maybe she doesn't understand the situation just yet, maybe she's simply the perfect candidate for this. To stay here, for him. She's barely putting up any fight, only seems embarrassed most of the time, but the way she's sucked him off has shown him how eager she really is.

Even though she still has a long way to go. Too fucking innocent.

She's that little ball of hair and limbs on his lap, curled up, melting into him, small hands that have been around his cock now gripping his shirt. Feet tucked under his thigh, deep little breaths against his chest. It's been only a few hours, and she's already so submissive. He's almost disappointed he didn't get to break her first. But maybe her defiance is yet to come. He's certainly looking forward to it.

His phone chimes on the coffee table, and he throws a quick look at the display. The courier is here. Good. Without a word, he stands, picking her up effortlessly. She hums against him, leans into him as he carries her into the bedroom. When he puts her down on the bed, leaning over her for a moment, he meets her hooded eyes. So pliant, so innocent. He can't help but lean down further to press his lips to hers.

She melts into the mattress as he pushes her deeper, putting his weight on her, elbows on either side of her shoulders as he gives himself a few minutes of a bit more much-needed pleasure before he has to leave her. She's hesitant at first, but as soon as he slips his tongue between her lips, her own jumps into action. A groan escapes him as she kisses him back with more and more confidence. His fingers dig into her hair, their tongues wrestling, his cock stirs back to life against the fabric of his pants.

He leans back abruptly, breathing a little harder, the girl beneath him panting as well, her lips parted and red, glistening. Her eyes on him. “I gotta take care of something,” he tells her quietly. She only blinks. “Be a good girl and wait here for me, okay?” The way her pupils dilate when he calls her that makes his stomach tense up. He's noticed it before, how she reacts to his praise. It's an intoxicating sight.

He crawls off her and stands, looking down at her small frame. White lace was a good choice, accents her innocence perfectly. Those little embroidered flowers barely cover anything, but it's still enough fabric to keep it interesting. She's beautiful, the way she lies in front of him, chest rising and falling, that flutter to her stomach, the little twitch to her thighs as she presses them together and tries to hide her sex. He raises an eyebrow at that.

“While I'm gone,” he says, a smirk growing on his lips, “I have a little task for you.”

He steps towards the nightstand and pulls open the first drawer, randomly picks some of its contents and throws them onto the bed next to her. Her eyes widen when she follows the gesture and stares at the colorful toys. He picks up one of the smaller dildos and braces himself on one arm as he leans over her.

“I want you to be very wet when I come back,” he whispers, gently taking her hand and placing the object onto her small palm. “Understood?”

She still looks at him in shock, and he can already tell she's never used any of the things he's presented her with. Another challenge, another thing he's willing to change. He leans back and looks down at her, head cocked to the side. His eyes narrow slightly when she doesn't reply.

“Understood?” he repeats a little harsher.

A tiny gasp escapes her and she sits up, nodding frantically. “Yes, sir.”

His hand finds her cheek, a gentle caress, thumb running over her bottom lip. He watches her intently. “Good girl.” The shiver that runs through her amuses him immensely. Patting her cheek, he then turns away and leaves her to her own devices.

Returning to his phone, he sends a message to the courier, and minutes later there's a chime on the door. His men are good, and fast, and when he looks through the things in the box that was brought up to his place, he nods in contentment. The things she left in the club, a jacket, a phone, case stuffed with some money, some keys and her ID. He's surprised that she's actually 19, when she looks quite a bit younger. Not that it really matters. His eyes scan her name, memorizing it. Fits her.

There's a folder tucked into the side, all the information they could gather on her, and the more he reads, the wider his smile gets. She is perfect, a random pick, an instinct, and it has still been the best choice. Alone in the big city. He checks her phone, swipes through pictures and messages. There's only one new message, someone congratulating her. Not many social contacts, no Mom or Dad or other relatives. Does explain a few things though. The girl definitely lacked the presence of a proper authority figure in her life, or at least someone who could give her the attention she needs, someone to hug her even, guide her through life, tell her what's right or wrong. No wonder she's so overwhelmed with his advances, yet strangely compliant at the same time.

Daddy issues.

What a perfect little thing that found her way into his clutches. He turns the phone off and puts it back into the box, then locks it securely in the safe in his office, before he focuses on the bag that came with the delivery. Clothes he ordered for her, more underwear mostly, some dresses, shoes. He doesn't plan to take her out much, not yet, so she won't need too many clothes anyway. They're just an illusion of safety for now, something she feels more comfortable in, before he'll take that away as well.

Grabbing the bag, he returns to the bedroom – and freezes. The bed is empty, except for the array of sex toys on the blanket. Untouched, unmoved. And the girl is gone. Something hot rises inside him, his hand tightens around the straps of the bag. He checks the bathroom, also empty. When he opens the door to his walk-in closet, he hears a soft little gasp, before his eyes move down to the far back where she's curled up on her side, wide eyes staring at him from under her lashes.

Like a beaten animal – and he hasn't even done anything to her yet. Not really, anyway.

He puts the bag down on a shelf and approaches her slowly. The dildo he gave her lies in front of her, just as untouched as the rest. She curls up even more, a little ball of hair and limbs, white lace in stark contrast to the dark rug she's lying on. He crouches down, hands resting on his knees as he watches her.

“What are you doing here, baby?” he asks quietly. “Are you hiding from me?”

She sniffles, shakes her head. “No,” she mumbles, wide eyes following his every move. Why is she so skittish all of a sudden? The drugs probably wore off. Poor thing.

He doesn't care. His hand reaches out and grabs her elbow, pulls her closer. A little yelp escapes her. He sits down on the floor and pulls her between his legs, she struggles against him but his fingers close around her arm, squeezing harder than he intended. She winces, a deep shudder rushing through her small body when he drapes her legs over his thigh, making her lean against him. One arm securely around her, holding her with enough authority that she stops squirming, he raises the other hand and grabs her chin, makes her look at him.

“What happened?” he asks, looking at her, scanning her face, fear and shock evident on it.

She averts her eyes, chewing on her lip. He squeezes her chin.

“Look at me.”

She does, with a soft little whine, blinking rapidly, eyes glistening as she meets his gaze. “M'sorry...” she mumbles.

“For what?” His voice is stern, and she frowns at his tone.

“For... for not... doing... what you told me...” she whispers, the first tear falling from her lashes. “I... I couldn't...”

He raises an eyebrow. “Why not?”

Her cheeks are bright red by now, her eyes moving over his face in frantic little flutters. “Felt... wrong...”

He watches her, letting go of her chin to move his hand straight between her legs. She flinches and yelps when his fingertips brush against her panties. The fabric is a little damp, warm against his touch. He doesn't hesitate and slips a finger under the hem, testing the waters. She turns her head away, whining softly as her blush spreads over her shoulders. “Do you need my help?” he whispers.

She only stiffens in his hold as his finger glides along her slit. Warm, wetter than he expected. He doesn't know why she was so stressed about this task or thinking she failed him. She's perfectly responsive. His lips brush against her temple.

“Tell me you need me to help you...” he breathes against her.

Her thighs twitch. “I... I need you to... to help me...” she mumbles out, burying her face in his chest in a little gesture of embarrassment. So fucking cute.

“Good girl,” he hums and kisses her forehead while his finger slips between her folds, gathers her slick and promptly dips into her entrance.

She flinches, but keeps quiet, leaning into him as he nudges her legs apart with his thumb. His finger slips in and out of her, her tight walls gripping him in a way that makes his cock throb. Her wetness gathers around him, quiet squelching sounds filling his ear. She lets out little noises of discomfort, barely-there whines, almost-sobs but in a way that doesn't seem too distressed. She's slowly adjusting, relaxing in his hold, her breaths deeper.

His thumb finds her clit, and when he pushes gently on it, she wails a little louder, her legs trembling, her small hands gripping the front of his shirt as she melts into him more. He keeps drawing tight circles around her nub, his digit pushing deep, in and out, faster, her wetness runs over his hand. The moment she becomes really still, a sharp inhale cutting through the air, he stops, pulls away, and she looks up with her lips parted, almost pouty, eyebrows furrowed, disappointed.

He smirks at her and brings his wet finger to her lips. She doesn't fight it when he slips it into her mouth, rubs it over her tongue and along her gums, pushes deeper. She freezes again, stares at him, but then she closes her lips around his finger and sucks, her tongue flicking around it, licking up her own juices. He pulls it out with a wet pop and leans down, capturing her mouth for a quick, deep kiss, sucking on her tongue, tasting her. She melts into him, clinging to him, but as soon as she starts to relax again, he lets go, leans back, leans around her to grab the dildo still lying behind her on the floor.

“Here,” he says and puts the small pink object into her hand. “If you want to finish it, do it with this.”

She stares at him, eyes wide, fingers curling around the toy, her face flushed. And then she shakes her head, catching him off guard.

“No?” he whispers, raising his eyebrows. “Are you sure?”

Her breaths are loud through her nose as she holds his gaze, not saying anything.

He narrows his eyes. His first instinct is to grab the toy and shove it deep into her tight pussy himself, but he refrains, pushes her off his lap and stands, then grabs her wrist and drags her out of the closet. She stumbles after him and yelps when he throws her onto the bed.

Scrambling to her knees, her lips parted and trembling, she stares at him with her eyes wide in shock. He ignores her for now and walks to the bedside table, rummaging through the drawer until he retrieves a little teardrop shaped object, bright pink as well, smooth silicone with a little antenna.

A high-pitched squeal escapes her as he grabs her and pushes her onto her stomach, one large hand on her lower back, holding her down as she starts to squirm. “Stay still or this'll be more uncomfortable than it should be,” he tells her through gritted teeth. She stiffens, her breaths loud and frantic as she white-knuckles the sheets.

He moves the toy between her ass cheeks, pleased to see the butt plug is still in place. Nudging it slightly, he makes her wince. Pushing her legs apart a bit more with his knee, he slides her underwear aside, grabs her thigh to steady her and lets the small vibrator glide between her slick folds, and it's only a little push of his thumb before it slips into her, swallowed up by the tense muscles of her pussy. She lets out a strained whine. He wipes his palm over her mound gently, then tugs on the fat string until he finds the thicker bit at the end. The button clicks audibly when he presses it, and she gasps when the first vibrations shake her body. It's low, but still definitely overwhelming for her.

He puts her thong back in place and grabs her elbow, dragging her off the bed. Her legs are trembling, the low hum between her twitching thighs barely audible, but he hears it, sees her reaction to it, feels his blood pumping into his cock, the throbbing almost painful, and he wonders why he's taking his time with her. He could have had her last night, this morning, any time he wanted, fucked her hard and mercilessly, any hole he desired, and yet he waits, eases her into it, with a patience (or restraint) that surprises himself.

Sighing loudly, he grabs her hand and leads her out of the bedroom, she follows him on shaking limbs, too stunned to protest now. They reach the open kitchen, and he grabs her waist and sets her on the island, hears the faint clanging noise when the base of her plug hits the marble top. Spreading her legs, he steps between them, braces one arm on either side of her, stares down at her darkly.

Her eyes are wide, glistening, shock and uncertainty on her face, but there's also a deep blush and a tightness to her lips as she fights the sensations pulsing through her small body. Her hands fidget between her legs, a nervous little gesture. He rips them away, tells her to sit on them. She does with a bit of hesitation as she watches him with bated breath. He leans in, lets his breath fan over her cheek, then kisses the corner of her mouth, and there's a jerk in her neck as she turns her head, trying to meet his lips.

He pulls away before that, exhaling through his nose. His hands move over her legs, thumbs brushing along her inner thighs until he pushes them against the damp fabric of her underwear. Her wetness seeps past it already, staining the white satin bit, and he licks his lips at the sight. His restraint is slipping, he can't help it, he can smell her arousal, and it's driving him insane.

In one swift motion he grabs her hip, pulls her to the edge and leans down to press his mouth to her inner thigh, quickly kissing up the soft skin to where the little pink antenna pokes out of her. His free hand tugs at it, then he drags her panties aside and closes his lips around her folds. She yelps softly, body jerking against him. His fingers dig into her flesh, hold her in place as he laps up along her slit, gathers her sweet wetness on his tongue, drinks her up like a man parched.

She whimpers when he sucks on her clit, teeth grazing her soft, sensitive skin while he fumbles with the toy and presses the button a few more times, feeling the vibrations increasing, her hips jerking, thighs pressing against his head. Her noises are getting louder, helpless whines and mewls as she squirms on the counter, hands still squished under her legs while he continues to eat her out with a passion that he hasn't felt in ages.

Holding her with one hand, he tries to counteract her uncontrollable twitches, while his other hand rubs over her thigh before his index finger pokes at her entrance, following the toy inside. It's thrumming hard against her tense muscles, and he pushes it around a little with his finger before he finds the right spot, and that's when she really wails, body spasming against him, the heels of her feet thudding loudly into the cabinet as she tries to ground herself somehow.

He holds the toy pressed to her g-spot, still sucking on her clit, eyes moving up to watch her lose it in front of him. She's arching her back, head tilted upwards, chest pushed out, arms trembling before she can't keep her composure any longer and pulls her hands from under her legs and grabs his hair, two sets of small fingers with an iron grip that surprises him. Either to push him away or hold him right there, he isn't sure. Whatever the case, he lets her, gives her that one moment of control.

Her walls tighten around the toy and his finger, rhythmic clenching, her orgasm is so close, she's right on the edge, and it's that moment that he hooks his finger around the toy and pulls it out, leaning back, slipping from her suddenly limp fingers, and leaves her throbbing and panting, watches her deflate as her orgasm slips away again. A whine escapes her, and she falls backwards onto the counter, body convulsing without release, hiding her flushed face behind her shaking hands.

He straightens himself, licks his lips and then his finger, puts the vibrating toy on the counter before he turns it off. She's sobbing now, overwhelmed and left hanging. Poor thing. But it's not over yet.

Hooking his hands under her arms, he hoists her off the counter and pushes her down on her knees in front of him. She's too surprised to react, slowly lowers her hands and looks up at him, tears streaming down her red cheeks. Without a word or command, he unbuckles his belt and opens his pants, then snaps his fingers at her. Despite her trembling state, she follows the order instantly, automatically, that inborn desire to please stirring within her, when her small hands move up to push his pants and underwear down enough to free his erection.

The initial touch is almost enough to push him to the edge and over, but he braces himself, puts his hands on his hips and watches her as she closes her fingers around his length, slowly stroking up and down like he's shown her. Her eyes stay on him, watching him closely, and he tilts his head, pressing his lips into a thin line, a slight furrow between his eyebrows. He sees her swallowing, and barely a second later, her lips brush against his hot skin, the contact enough to coax a little groan out of him.

He watches her closely as she moves her lips up and down his shaft, tongue licking along his bulging veins, circling his tip, flicking over his slit, before she opens her mouth and takes him deeper. She's a little hesitant, careful, one hand still on his girth, the other braced against his thigh as she slowly bobs her head, lips closed around his tip, cheeks hollowed, the little suction really tempting his self-control. He wants her to find her own pace, get better on her own, learn to pleasure him properly, but he also really wants to fuck her throat and make her choke on his cock. The struggle is real.

His hands move to her head, a gentle little caress, fingers sliding through her hair, slowly nudging her closer, she shifts on her knees, the hand on his thigh pulling her into him. Her eyes are closed now, and he can see tears forming under her lashes as she keeps moving her head back and forth, the hand that's tight around his girth keeping her from taking him deeper. He feels her warm mouth, that little tongue flicking around his tip, hot and wet, sucking softly, almost meditatively, and he can't help it, he bucks his hips slightly against her, his cockhead poking into her cheek when she turns her head with a little muffled whine.

One of his hands moves down to grab her chin, holding her in place, head slightly tilted, as he repeats the same motion, pushing into her mouth, watching her cheek bulge. He hasn't noticed it before, but she's a natural at keeping her teeth out of the way, her jaw opened wide enough to allow him to slip in and out fairly easily. Her eyelids flutter open, and she meets his gaze, her eyes glistening, pupils dilated more than he has expected. She's enjoying this, huh?

He smirks at her, moves her head a little and tilts her chin up before he pumps his hips a little harder against her, more of his cock slipping into her small mouth. She stiffens, both hands now gripping the fabric of his pants, bracing, a sliver of panic in her eyes. He watches her closely, the grip on her chin hard as he concentrates, holds back, fights the urge to just fuck her cute little face. His breaths are quick and loud through his nose.

She holds still, doesn't fight it, and he uses that submission to move faster and eventually slips deeper, feeling his tip prodding the back of her throat. She gags almost immediately, a sudden reflex, her body convulsing against him, fingers digging into his legs, and he lets her pull back with a deep cough, saliva dripping from her lips. But he only lets her relax for so long, before he pushes his cock back into her mouth, deeper, to that spot once more, and she gags again, spit filling her mouth, coating his tip, yet this time he holds her head in place, and she lets out a pained little howl, muffled but clearly distressed.

Sighing, he grips her hair and pulls her back again, lets her catch her breath, swallow the excess spit. Tears stream down her face, her eyes are red, eyebrows furrowed, a helpless expression mixed with something like indignation looking up at him. A low laugh escapes him, and he grips her chin and pulls her back, cock slipping into her mouth, her tongue scraping along the underside, frantic little breaths through her nose, warm on his skin.

“Relax,” he tells her, and strangely enough it's that command that lets him slip deeper, past her gag reflex, further into her tight throat. It's only a few seconds though before she gags yet again, fingernails sinking into his legs, that little uncontrollable twitch as her body fights the new sensation of having her throat stuffed. She gurgles, desperate to breathe, too panicked to relax anymore. He pushes her away, and she splutters, spit and precum flying from her trembling lips, her shoulders shaking.

It takes all of him to loosen his grip on her, but when he lets go of her chin and her hair, inhaling deeply, she looks up almost surprised. Bracing his arms on the counter behind her, he closes his eyes, fighting the urge to make her choke again. That feeling when her throat tenses around his tip, squeezes him, it's something he enjoys a little too much, almost as much as watching her suffer through it, with her tears streaming down her face and her hands digging into his legs, that desperate struggle for control.

He'll force that urge right out of her, soon. Another time.

“Suck,” he grunts instead, standing still as he leans over her.

She resumes her ministrations, one hand around his girth, pumping and stroking, while she closes her lips around his tip again, sucking and licking it, keeping it far away from the back of her throat. She's shaky and sloppy, her wet slurping noises echoing through the room, her body still trembling, but she somehow manages to bring him right to the edge after all. He feels his balls tightening, his stomach tensing up, his cock throbbing in her hold. His hands itch, clenched into fists on the counter, his body shivering. So close. So fucking close...

A deep groan escapes his throat, and he leans back abruptly, grips her hair and pulls her off him, a sharp inhale coming from the girl beneath him. Her eyes are wide as she looks up at him, and he just ignores her, hooks his hands around her elbows and pulls her to her feet. She's that tiny body he can manhandle however he wants, and she ends up on her stomach on the counter, short legs dangling off the edge, feet kicking before he cages her in, one hand on her lower back, the other moving straight to the little shiny knob sitting between her plump ass cheeks.

Before she can comprehend what's happening or try to fight him, he drags her panties aside and pulls the plug out with a plop, puts it on the counter with a clang, before he grips his throbbing cock and pushes the tip against her sphincter. She lets out a surprised wail, her hands reaching back to swat him away, but he only grabs them and bends her arms behind her back, held by one large hand. She still struggles as he pushes further, forcing his tip deeper. He doesn't have time to prepare her properly, he's close to exploding.

She whines, writhing on the counter despite his unrelenting hold, and he watches her tight muscles give way to him, the grip almost as good as her tensing throat. His crown slips in, and he stops, letting it rest there as he strokes his shaft hard and fast, until he feels that tension finally dissolve. He comes with a deep grunt, arching his head back, feeling his cock throb and twitch in his hand and in her ass.

Spurt after spurt shoots into her tightness, filling her up until the first drops seep past the tight ring of muscles that clench around him involuntarily as she squirms helplessly, sobbing softly. When he relaxes against her, shoulders sagging, the grip on her arms loosening, he wishes he'd prepared her better, made her more pliant, open her up properly to take more of him. But this'll do for now. Once the twitching subsides, he gently pulls his cock out, watching her ass gape for a moment, his thick seed slipping out almost immediately.

He pushes it back in, feeling her tense muscles close around his finger. Then he grabs the plug and brings it back into position, holding her down again as she starts squirming more, the cold metal slipping into place, plugging up his warm cum. He exhales deeply once he is done, and when he lets go of her and steps back, he can't help but slap her plump cheek once for good measure.

She sobs louder, but remains lying on her stomach, legs dangling off the edge, immobile, all the fight gone from her body. He watches her as he puts his spent dick back into his pants. “What a good girl you are,” he whispers, noticing a wave of goosebumps rippling over her skin. His hands are on her round rear, gently sliding up and down, thumbs teasing between the cheeks. He fixes her thong, nudges the plug, smirks when she flinches at the motion.

Then he grabs her waist and pulls her off the counter, turning her so he can scoop her up into his arms. Despite her reluctance and the fact that she's still crying softly, she leans against him, needy little fingers digging into the collar of his shirt. No matter how hard she fights him, fights the sensations and experiences he gives her, she is clearly craving this, his attention, the care he gives her afterwards, the gentle moments after however rough he treats her.

It's a good dynamic. It'll work, he's sure. She will be absolutely perfect.

He carries her into the bedroom, carefully putting her down on the bed. She immediately rolls onto her side, knees pulled up to her chest, wiping at her wet face, avoiding his gaze as he watches her closely. When he leans down, she flinches, but he only grabs the edge of the blanket and drapes it over her small body.

“Rest now,” he tells her, straightening back up. “I'll order us some food.”

TWO 🟥 THREE 🟥 FOUR

End notes: Just a little side note on where this story is set: it could be literally anywhere (where there are skycrapers or a downtown area with taller buildings). I did not have a specific place in mind, could be any major American city, could be a bigger European city, anywhere you like to think of. It doesn't really matter anyway. (And if it is set in America, just imagine his club to be one of those more lax ones where the drinking age isn't 21 or at least nobody cares about it.)

Also, you may have guessed it, but our male protagonist is a little bit more than just a nightclub owner. I won't go into too many details, just know he's influencial, if you'd like to call it that. And definitely intimidating enough for anyone to bow before him, not just our poor girl who might just be a little in over her head at this point.

Thank you for reading! Next chapter on Monday!

TAG LIST: @qmsvpx @cyan1decandy @bimbos-are-angels

AO3 / / / MASTERLIST

CHAPTER / / / ONE◾TWO◾THREE◾FOUR◾FIVE◾

SIX◾SEVEN◾EIGHT◾NINE◾️TEN

ELEVEN TWELVE◾️THIRTEEN◾FOURTEEN◾FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN◾SEVENTEEN EIGHTEEN◾NINETEEN◾TWENTY

[talesofesther]

what once was mine | ch 2

Loki x Reader

Series Summary: When watching what once was supposed to be the rest of his life, in an empty room in the TVA, Loki sees someone he can't recognize; a girl who's all tenderness and loose smiles, and most importantly, she was smiling at him.

A/N: I was kinda putting off writing this chapter because I was forced to write a scene I don't like to relive lol. But anyway, it's here, and I hope you like it. <3

Masterlist | Read ch 1 here

When you lost Loki, you didn't have time to grieve. The whole universe was being threatened, there was no time for tears.

It all had happened so fast. One minute Loki stood between you and Thanos, his hand holding yours and keeping you away from harm; and the next, Thor was dragging you away from the body of the person you loved the most, while you screamed until your throat burned.

And then you lost, again; half of the universe turned to dust. It was only one year later that a strange man came knocking at the compound's door with a solution, a hope. But not for you. After all, Loki wasn't one of the blipped ones, though a part of you wished he had been.

In the end, you won the war, and you brought everyone back; but you lost a piece of yourself.

You felt numb, hollow. Now, looking down at your hands, under the cold running water of the bathroom sink, you could see red even when it wasn't there. It stuck on your skin and under your fingernails. For the tenth time this week, you felt as if there were cotton balls in your throat and you couldn't breathe.

The sight was burned into the back of your mind, returning each night to haunt your nightmares. His bloodshot eyes, bright yet so lifeless; his hand still outstretched on the grounds of New Asgard when he'd last reached for you; dried tear tracks on his cheeks when he realized the inevitable; the crimson red blood dripping from his nose and mouth. That was the last image you had of your Loki, as you screamed—you couldn't even recall what exactly you had been screaming—and thrashed against Thor's strong hold on your body, dragging you away so you wouldn't meet the same fate.

You splashed water onto your face, making it hide your tears even though you could still taste the salt in between your sobs.

It's been over a year, and the pain has yet to subside. You've been living on autopilot since the last battle, helping rebuild and only eating enough to keep you going, barely speaking to anyone. There was a hole in your chest that you couldn't fill, a part of your heart that stopped beating the same day that his did. The year following The Snap had gone by in a blur, with everyone working incessantly trying to find a way to undo what happened, and part of you had a hope that you'd be able to bring Loki back as well; but when the solution was found, and he didn't come back, that last bit of hope was snuffed out like a candle, leaving you in the darkness.

People would look at you funny when you walked the hallways of the Avengers compound, you didn't know if it was because of the evident scar running from your forehead to the beginning of your left eyebrow, or because of the dark circles under your eyes.

You finally reached the kitchen and grabbed a mug with a sigh going past your lips. Steadily, you poured yourself some black coffee. Was it your second, or third mug of the day? You weren't sure.

"You drink a few more of those, it'll soon be running through your veins."

Thor's voice made you close your eyes, your back still turned to him. Despite loving the guy, you really didn't feel like talking right now. You brought the mug to your lips and took a generous sip before facing him.

"Here's hoping." You tried smiling, but it came more like a grimace.

A strong hand found your shoulder and squeezed. "Tony says he's worried about you... everyone is," Thor said quietly, trying to catch a glimpse of your eyes with his own.

You bit onto your lower lip, nearly drawing blood. When you looked up at Thor, you could see a reflection of your own pain in his kind eyes. "I just wish I could see him again. Just one last time." You shrugged weakly, watching as your vision turned blurry yet again.

In the same beat, Thor pulled you to him. His chin came to rest on top of your head as he hugged you tightly. "Yeah, me too," he whispered. "Me too."

It was on this same night that you woke up yet again covered in cold sweat and with a scream lingering on your tongue. Each beating of your heart against your ribs was a punch. The last image you had of him burned behind your eyes.

You got up and walked to your bedroom door, hands shaking when you turned the knob and when you filled a glass with water.

When you lost Loki, there was no time for a goodbye, there was no time for you to lay a last kiss on his forehead and promise to find him again in another lifetime. He was taken from you—abruptly, and without remorse—leaving behind a gash on your heart; an open wound that still bled.

Maybe that's why, on this same night, you made your way to Tony's lab, grabbed one of the few remaining pym particles, and pulled yourself through time.

Just one last time. You had to see him just one last time. You had to say goodbye, and make a promise.

The TVA found you before you found Loki. You never got back to your timeline.

⋆* ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

Read ch 3 here

Thank you for reading this little story. Feedback and reblogs are literally what keeps me motivated to continue posting here, so I’d appreciate it if you could take some time to reblog and comment. <3

You do not have permission to repost, copy, or translate my works on any platforms (even with credit), please respect.

Loki’s taglist: @iamlokisgloriouspurpose @justaproudslytherpuff @justanotherkpopstanlol @chronicallybubbly @chaoticqueen33 @7minutes-tomidnight @uncle-eggy @oliviaewl @dd122004dd @tani725 @lokihaha34 @levanneisdumb @innebulae @mochminnie @mayemperess @alyeskathewave @buginktsworld @cremebruleequeen @wyvernthekriger @cheshire-salvatore-mikaelson @avengersfan25 @mischief2sarawr @yokolesbianism @arunabrak @athenasproverbs @h-l-vlovesvintage

[papasbaseball]

The Wizard x Reader (Wonderful Wonderful Girl) | Chapter 3

Pairing: Wizard x F!Reader

Rating: Teen (Rating to Increase)

Warnings: Power Imbalance, Boss/Employee Relationship

Summary: Being a maid in the Royal Palace of Oz is not half so bad. Despite the meager wages, everything else is provided for you for an honest day's work. It can be unnerving working for the most powerful man in Oz, but you are able to avoid him most of the time. This changes during Lurlinemas, your paths soon becoming inextricably intertwined.

Word Count: 2,306 of 7,390

Start | Prev | Next

AO3 Link

Being dealt with consists of yanking me from my bed, having my nightstand ransacked, and being plucked like a chicken down at the most expensive salon in Oz. After thorough torment and torture via wax strips, I get tossed into a room that I have never seen before but was on the same level as the Wizard's apartments. The better to keep an eye on me, I think.

The room is small but fit for perhaps a noblewoman staying a night or two at the palace: plenty fanciful with sage-papered walls but bare enough to discourage overstaying one's welcome. It consists of a small fireplace, a grand wardrobe that almost reaches the ceiling, a brass bed that is twice the width of my old one, and a vanity with a little note on top. I ignore the note, heading for the wardrobe. It's well past noon, and I'm sure there are still chores to be done. As much fun as this little excursion has been, I would like to eat dinner tonight.

The wardrobe pours out a scent of fresh citrus and I have to turn my head as my eyes and lips pucker. As the burst of cleanliness subsides, I go through the wardrobe. There is an embroidered green floor-length dress, some clothes that are suited for summers that are too hot, and some risque lingerie that makes me slam the doors closed with a wooden clatter. This room was meant for a noble lady, but I didn't think that they would have stuck me into one that was already occupied. Obviously, there has been a mistake.

When they had stuffed me in here, they hadn't given me any instructions and refused to answer any of my questions. The only answer I was able to get out of them was “I am not able to share that with you”. I open the door to see if I can find some help and am met with two palace guards who bark some threats that cause me to stumble back into the room. I shut the door again. There's a thick metallic slotting, and when I go to try the handle, it doesn't budge, instead rattling in futility.

My lip curls and I bear my teeth. I have to fight the urge to slam my balled-up fists on the door and scream obscenities, but I know they'd probably just come in and hit me over the head with the end of one of their swords or do something worse to get me to shut up. The Royal Palace guards were not exactly known for their kindness and compassion. I add “intelligence” to their not-list for refusing to even listen to the fact that I am occupying someone else's room.

Making a closer assessment of the space, I look for any potential doors that might have been missed. There is a bathroom door with a peacock carved into it, but nothing else of note. The only other exit is a window. I approach the paned glass, flipping the latch, and am met with a dizzying drop. From up here, the stretched-out cotton balls that make up the clouds wrap around the jeweled spirals of the royal palace like heavenly moss.

"It's a long way down."

I yelp, my palms slipping from the window sill. The fear cuts up through me with the air as I fall, standing all of my hairs straight up. I'm jerked back and I tumble to the floor, scrambling back to the wardrobe as I try to catch my breath. The Wizard is there, standing in front of the window with a barely concealed smile on his face and a glint of amusement in his eyes. I want to scream as anger rips through me. It's not right to feel that way towards our Wonderful ruler, but I can't see what he finds funny about the fact that I almost just died. All I'm able to get out is a strangled cry that sounds nowhere near close to "thank you".

"Were you trying to get some fresh air?" he says, offering me a hand.

I try to still my face as I put my trembling hand in his. "I'm... I'm in the wrong room," I say.

"You were almost on the ground," he says, pulling me to my feet. I find myself way too close to him, too aware of the way the cotton of his shirt is rising and falling with each breath. My brush with death is causing me to lose my head because – even though I know he is all-powerful and a blessing to us all – I feel like the person standing before me is a normal man with a beating heart just like the rest of us lowly citizens of Oz.

I clear my throat, trying to get my voice back to normal. "I was trying to find a way out."

The Wizard laughs at this, deeply and heartily. Despite my trembling, I can't help but let out my own breathy laugh too. It was rather silly to think about escaping out of a window that was closer to the sun than the ground. My hands and arms are slowly getting some of their warmth back in them, only moments ago having felt so numb. I can't help but feel thankful that I can share this laugh with him, and that I am still alive.

Whether from the adrenaline or all of the laughing, my stomach grumbles, reminding me of the pressing issue that is earning my dinner. I'm breathless, but I tell him that I'm in the wrong room, again.

"What?" he says. "Is there something wrong with your room? I had it redecorated." He goes to the wardrobe, smoothing a hand over the glossy oak finish of the doors. "Used to be all cobwebs and dust in here." He swipes at the air as if to bring down one of these supposed cobwebs.

"Your Wonderfulness," I start, "There are some lady's clothes in here. I am sorry to say that I went through them, but I-"

"Did you think that you would find something good to steal?" he says.

My cheeks heat red at the reminder of yesterday. I throw open the wardrobe doors to show him the clothes that someone had obviously left here during their last summer. "See for yourself," I huff.

Those amber eyes lock onto mine, a warning about my tone, but they quickly land on the dresses as he swipes the hangers along the rod. "I don't see anything out of place."

"These are not my clothes," I protest. "How am I supposed to go about cleaning?"

His "Ah" is almost inaudible as he fishes all the way back into the wardrobe and pulls out the sea-green gossamer dress. It looks ridiculous, with great puffs of tulle across the breast and shoulders, the skirt clearly meant for summertime the way I can see through it. I snatch it from him and shove it back into the closet.

"That is someone else's!" I say, feeling guilty that we are still going through the poor woman's clothes.

"No," he says, "that is the price for stealing."

I scrunch my brow together, utterly confused. I did not steal any of the garments. I even showed them to him! They were all here, 100 percent accounted for, and they could be shipped back home to whatever unfortunate countess had left them here and was probably not missing them. And what did I care what they cost?

The recognition on my face as the wheels turn in my head turns his benevolent features into a hellish delight, a grin that seems too sharp, the way he stands a little too comfortably. He takes the dress back out and puts the hanger into my hand. "I almost thought I was going to have to beat some sense into you," he says.

There is a knock at the door. I shove the see-through dress back into the closet just in time for the guards to open the door. It’s Emily on the other side of the threshold.

"Ah, yes!" he says. "Come, come in!" He pushes past me to usher in the unsure girl. I can see that there are charcoal stains on her apron from today's work, her palms ruddy and cracked with a dried trickle of blood creeping up her wrist. My stomach twists in a knot, wondering if I might be able to take the window exit after all. Here I was complaining about everything, but hadn't I been excused from the hard work of washing the floor and changing sheets? Hadn't I been getting primped and preened like a fanciful cockatoo in the finest salon in Oz? Emily seems to have the same idea, her mouth set in a hard line that tells me she is not happy about having to pick up my slack.

"I got you your little friend to help out," he beams, pushing her forward. "Not with your work, of course, but for dressing." He goes back to the closet and pulls out the offensive dress for what seems like the billionth time today. When he's not looking, I think, I'm going to burn it. He hands the wisp of a garment to Emily.

"Our friend here is confused," he tells Emily, "she had a little run-in with the window. Just make sure that she gets dressed. When you're done, set some wood on the hearth for a fire for later."

Emily's face scrunched up at the last part, "Your Wonderfulness, I'm afraid I can’t do that. Receiving has put a limit on firewood for the whole palace. They said something about a shortage? I'm not sure."

His eyes narrow and he knits his brow. He says, "Just get her dressed and bring her to my room when you're done." He leaves the room, checking his pocket watch as he steps out the door.

When the door shuts, any politeness Emily might have had leaves her features. She tosses the dress onto the bed, looking for a zipper. "So how'd you do it?" she bites.

"What?" I ask.

"Did you sleep with him?"

The suggestion knocks the wind out of me and I can't help but scoff for breath.

"Is he any good in bed?" she asks.

"That is our Wizard you are talking about!" I protest in a whisper, afraid that he will hear us if I speak any louder. "I did not sleep with him. I was at the market with you and then-" I stop myself, not wanting to admit that I got arrested for stealing. That would surely go over well with her that somehow I got all of this for trying to shoplift. "and then I ended up here, okay? I don't know."

Emily finds the zipper and slides it down, taking the dress off the hanger. She comes over to me and sneers. "Come on, off with it. Or are you too lazy to undress yourself too?"

I hesitate, but the need to prove that I'm not some layabout wins over any shame I might have at her seeing me naked; we had shared a bed after all and she had seen me dress in the common room before. I pull off the simple but warm shift they had given me at the salon, and she slips the dress over my head. I have to stop myself from running my hands over the airy ruffles and puffs that cover my chest and shoulders. The fabric was softer than any of the sheets I'd ever put on the Wizard's bed, and so light that I wondered if it was woven from the room’s old cobwebs.

"I saw you getting hauled off yesterday. When I came back you were in bed. What happened?" Emily asks again.

"I can't say," I lie. "They told me it was a secret." No, that's not true either. But I can hear his wails so far removed from this little and polite room. The wails of the boy that Emily had pranked and bullied and set up and framed because he was good at his job. I don't know why she did it. We all got paid the same, but if I had to guess, I'd say that she was afraid that he was going to make her look bad. "I don't want to be here," I add as an afterthought.

"Yeah, right," she says, zipping the dress up. I yelp as the zipper pinches a bit of skin on my side. If my arms weren't turning into gooseflesh from the cold, they were now.

"Well, what do you want me to do?" I almost genuinely want to know. Maybe she had some ideas that could get me out of this dress and room, and back into the comfort of my own clothes and our shared bed.

"Try throwing yourself out the window again," she says, hanging the hanger back up. "At least you won't have to worry about anything after you go splat. Try to aim for the officer's balcony. I don't want to be called to scrape up your puffy remains." She flicks a puff on my shoulder to emphasize her point.

I slam the door to the wardrobe and she locks eyes with me. She walks to the door in silence, never breaking eye contact, and quickly knocks on it. "You're not the first dummy to try and sleep her way to head maid," she says. The door opens. "Come on, let's go. I need to take you to his room." I follow after her, the gown doing nothing to protect me from the cold hallways of the palace. "Plus, that dress is offensive to the eyes. I don’t want to look at it any longer than I have to."

[athenaswisdoms]

𝑩𝑬𝑵𝑬𝑫𝑰𝑪𝑻, 𝑫𝑨𝑹𝑳𝑰𝑵𝑮

𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒏𝒆

benedict bridgerton fanfiction (more chapters coming soon)

MASTERLIST

"...and as for Mister Benedict Bridgerton, one cannot be so sure. He has spent the last two seasons focusing on his artistic talents, according to the Viscountess Bridgerton. As the beginning of the season is upon us, there are countless young ladies and anxious mamas on the market for a handsome, and not to mention wealthy, eligible man of status. I will be keen to see if the second-eldest Bridgerton brother will follow in his older brother's footsteps of marriage. Dear reader, you shall be hearing from me."

I roll my eyes, tossing the most recent issue of Lady Whistledown onto the sofa beside me. I knew it was a waste of time, but I'd rather read it than allow my anxiety over the coming evening's ball to come to the surface.

Tonight was Lady Danbury's annual Four Seasons Ball; the first of the season. Not to mention that this was my debut into the eyes of the public in hopes to find a husband. At least that's what my mama liked to say. I more thought of it as a missed opportunity. A failure to indulge in an education and adventure. As much as my parents denied it, the search for marriage was an auction, and I was about to be led by the neck right into the ring.

Still lost in my worries, my maid, Clara, opened the door to the drawing room, startling me slightly.

"Sorry, Miss. I didn't mean to disturb you," she said formally, "but we must start preparing you for the ball."

I walked towards the door, sighing just quietly enough so that my father, looking over his business papers, wouldn't notice my dread. As soon as the door shut behind us, I looked to Clara and swore under my breath.

"My goodness, get that language out now because you'll need to be on your most 'ladylike' behavior for tonight," Clara joked.

Clara was just a few years older than I and we had developed a closer bond than my parents were aware of, and she had been consistently reassuring me for weeks that everything would be fine and to look for the positives. As much as I tried, all I could see was Clara striving to live vicariously through me, as I know all she had ever wanted was to fall in love. If we could switch places, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

After slipping on my gown overtop the numerous undergarments of frills and laces, I sat down in front of my vanity as Clara began on my hair.

"Love, once you arrive and get through the first dance you will feel much more comfortable. I assure you that all of the other young ladies are just as nervous," Clara comforted, " - and I'm sure some of the men are too."

I laughed, "I know, but I wish my mama and papa would've waited another year for my debut. I know that they support my studies and yearning for adventure, but I can't see why I must do this now."

"They only care for you and want the best life for you. I'm sure there's a man out there that will support your desires."

I shook my head slightly, thinking about the housewife I would be destined to become through the values of the men I know of.

"In our dreams, Clara."

. . .

The constant bumps of the carriage were the only thing keeping me steadily awake on the way to the ball. A coachman assisted me down the steps and I was forced to take it all in - the arched doorways underneath pillars atop a grand balcony, patios on either side, and tall windows that allowed light from inside to peek out from between the curtains.

The inside was stunning. Decorated to perfection with cascading carnations and crystal champagne glasses that reflect the candle light to allow the drink an even more golden essence. Priceless diamonds were cast upon the collarbones of young ladies, sparkling almost as much as their excited expressions. A shudder of hope ran through me, but only for a moment. Until the ribbon of a dance card was slipped over my gloved wrist by my mother. I looked down at the empty name slots, already plotting ways to circumvent the inevitable small-talk and stiff dances to come. Before I could become serious about a plan, Lord Clarke began to approach.

Lord Clarke shook my father's hand, then greeted me with a curt bow. I stood still until my mother reminded me to curtsey with a swat on the back of my arm. His name was promptly added to my dance card, reminding me of my previous plotting that I was becoming more serious about by the second. As I scanned the room for unwanted approaching Lords as well as a way out, I noticed the Bridgertons walk in the door to the ballroom. The new Viscountess Kathani Bridgerton on the arm of Anthony, Colin Bridgerton scanning the area, Eloise Bridgerton looking all but disgusted, and Benedict. I had practically forgotten about his presence in the Bridgerton family whatsoever until my Lady Whistledown endeavor this morning. He gave the impression that he preferred being out of the ton's line of sight. He didn't look ill at ease in any way as his other eligible siblings did - but instead, curious. I watched Benedict a moment longer before the orchestra began to play and I realized I must face my most dreaded moment of the last month: dancing.

Being the first name on my dance card, Lorde Clarke approached me once again. It's not that Lord Clarke wasn't a decent man. In fact he was just fine with his wealthy lineage, strong business, and perfectly acceptable character. He just wasn't what I was looking for. In fact I wasn't entirely sure what I was looking for. As soon as the dance began, I had suddenly forgotten my last five years of dance lessons; stepping on toes, falling out of rhythm, missing cues - it was dreadful. As soon as the dance ended I apologized to Lord Clarke for my clumsiness. Feeling overwhelmed, I scanned for the nearest hallway and hurried in its direction.

The dimly lit hallway was peaceful and quiet aside from the muffled music and chatter from the ballroom. I plopped down on the floor anything but gracefully, crossing my legs underneath my dress. I allowed myself a few deep breaths as I craned my neck to stare up at the patterned ceiling, counting the grooves of the decoration. The sound of footsteps broke my concentration and I attempted to pick myself up from the floor unnoticed.

"Oh, I'm sorry," a voice started. "No need to get up."

My gaze pierced through the soft lighting and into a pair of apologetic green eyes.

Benedict Bridgerton.

Despite his insists I still rose to my feet.

"Mister Bridgerton - sorry I-, uhm-," I stuttered.

"No, no. I had no intention of disturbing your peace, Miss... Jackson, yes?" he questioned.

"Yes, that's right. I only needed to get away for a moment," I explained.

Benedict walked towards me.

"I was doing the same. Since my brother, Colin, and I are the last unmarried and eligible Bridgerton brothers, we are being all but harassed by every eager mother here."

I laughed a bit more comfortably than I should have, but Benedict didn't seem to mind.

"I know Lady Danbury's home quite well as her and my mother have been close friends my whole life. I like to come look at the art she's collected over the years," he explained.

I hadn't even noticed the grand paintings on the walls until Benedict pointed it out. He was now stood next to me looking up at a large depiction of a Trojan battle. He continued to speak as he admired the painting.

"It was ridiculously difficult to get away from my family for a moment. Social events aren't really my scene, but I go to please them."

"I've been trying to convince my parents to let me wait another year to be out, but clearly my efforts were in vain," I replied.

Benedict pulled his eyes away from the artwork to look at me, his eyes studying my face.

"Are you uninterested in marriage?"

"No!" I exclaimed, blushing at my unintentional volume. "Sorry. No it's not that, it's just that I would rather have more time to live a more adventurous life. I wish for spontaneity and excitement before I devote myself to tending to a household and a family."

"Is that what you believe marriage to be? A never ending chore?" This was not an accusation, Benedict was genuinely curious.

"Isn't it?"

Before he could answer, the opening latch of a door sounded in the near distance. Neither of us had yet considered the scandal that would certainly emerge if the two of us were to be found alone and unsupervised, but our newfound commonalities felt so comfortable that the topic never came up.

"We should get back before..." I started.

Benedict cleared his throat, "Yes, that would probably be wise."

"Until we meet again, Miss Jackson. And we shall."

Benedict nodded a goodbye, making his way back into the ballroom.

[riphobisbraces]

The Lucky Seven | BTS ot7 x reader

Hybrid/Royal AU

~ Chapter 1 ~

[ word count 3400+ ]

❀ genre: dark royal core, hybrid au, royalty au, hybrids/knights!ot7 x human/ princess!reader, afab (she/her) reader, polyamory (mostly ot7 x reader), strangers to lovers, daddy dom, smut and sexual sometimes. tiny bits of horror

❀ warnings: smut, swearing, murder, death (not the reader or ot7 though, I'm not evil), mentions of inbreeding (not between reader or ot7) some unsettling horror depictions, it won't be every chapter though or the whole story, just little bits here and there. (I'm willing to re write chapters for you to read if you can't do horror but still wanna follow along, just ask!🖤)

——— summary ———

In a world of hybrids and humans, following each other closely to extinction, you are one of the last full humans, Princess y/l/n of the emerald nation. humans are essential for the survival of hybrids so why are assailants hunting you and your family down? because of this, the court has decided it’d be best for you to be guarded at all times by the nations strongest knights, you’ve only ever heard of them but have never seen their faces. What will happen once you come face to face with the infamous “lucky seven”?

[ chapter 1 ]

“you will not go.”

Your father states lowly but firmly. The voice sharp enough to slice the chatter amongst the servants into silence. you were having lunch with your mother and father when you made the fatal mistake of bringing up the possibility of you attending tonight’s annual masquerade ball and thereby making your debut to the kingdom.

Ever since you were a little girl you had been sheltered your entire life. You’re told it’s for your own protection, for your people. you have to stay safe and alive to be able to nourish your nation.

being one of the last full blooded humans, you are a target. No one knows what you look like and you don’t know what anyone else looks like as well. Aside from your staff and servants, no one has ever seen your face. The kingdom and nation knows of your existence of course and they love you nonetheless but because of the scarcity of humans, your father has hidden you away in fear of you being kidnapped or worse.

Your father sees you as a priceless pearl, something he has the strong urge to protect. You were his treasure and he himself had a dark past he never got into as to why he was so overprotective. “but father… I’m 22 years old..” you say but as soon as it leaves your mouth, you wish you could take it back.

“Daughter, I know your age. And to question me is to disobey me, please leave your mother and I at once and make your way into your chamber” your father ends the conversation with that, wiping his mouth with his hanker-chief. He’s always been strict and what he says is always final. As you sat across from your mother, you stood up, placing your hands on the cold grey marble table.

You give her a look, furrowing your eyebrows as to say “please say something” but to your dismay she does the same as your father, wiping her mouth then clearing her throat before looking down to finish her meal. You sigh before you give in with a feeble “yes father”. standing up, you make your way out of dining room, feeling sympathetic glances from the staff as you leave the room.

Walking to your chamber you notice the marbled white floor feels a bit chilly today. you walk through the corridor, onto the white stairway, feeling the relief of warm velvet carpet beneath your chilly feet. Walking up the stairs, one by one, you reach the halfway mark.

The sun from the large glass windows on top of the staircase beams through, tickling your eyes. you squint and use your hand to shade your eyes before looking up. You see two birds fly by, disappearing as quickly as they appeared, almost looking like as if they flew into the clouds.

You feel your heart fall heavy, filled with desperation to be like one of those birds, even just for a second. how lucky they were, to be able to go anywhere, anytime they want. no responsibilities.

It’s a little cliche but people are right when they say they wish they were birds you think to yourself. You’ve read hundreds of books and definitely have come across some descriptions of people wanting to be birds. Never understanding though as a child, you would think to yourself “why on earth would one want feathers? And to have a beak? How bizarre” But as an adult, you understood why now. It was about the freedom.

“Your highness, are you alright? Is your heart okay?” No it isn’t. You snap out of your thoughts before you realize you were still standing halfway up the staircase, clutching your chest all the while an old male servant by the name of Lloyd, looked at you with a face of concern. How long did you space out for, you thought.

“Oh yes, thank you. I guess I just got lost in thought” you give a half smile to your servant. His face of concern turned to relief before quickly turning sour again. while waiting for his response you realize he was one of the servants that was in the dining room when that whole theatrical happened with your father.

“Your highness, please forgive me if I’m speaking out of turn but I do feel sorry for you and your predicament. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do to lessen your grievances.” He tries to smile before dismissing himself with a bow and turning away. this of course isn’t unusual, your servants do seem to pity you a lot, which you find ridiculous and kind of ironic, that your “sheltering” has gotten to the point where servants pity a princess!

you’re grumbling as you think and make your way through the upstairs corridor, before eventually finally reaching your room. the oh so familiar two large and tall, white doors stand in front of you. you’ve seen these doors more often than you’ve seen your own face you thought to yourself.

reaching for the diamond knobs you turn them before pushing your way in. The breeze of the outside immediately hits your nose. It’s so fresh and delightful.

Your maids know how stuffy it gets in your chamber and how much you love fresh air so they leave your window open whenever you’re away from your chamber. Your room is cream coloured and filled to the brim with gold accents. High ceilings and lots of books.

Walking towards your desk by the window, you feel your mood start to shift. you feel a bit better despite the little argument you had with father this afternoon. you take a seat in your chair, it’s plush seating immediately coaxing your back into comfort and relaxation.

Inhale… exhale… you look up to your painting above the desk. it’s of two women, dancing in glee at some sort of outdoors festival. you always loved this painting, the happiness they seem to exude, the freedom and love.

They look like they don’t care about the past nor future, they are just focused on the present and what’s in front of each other. Oh how you longed to be that free and content. you feel the familiar heaviness sinking into you chest once again.

you have to feel that freedom, you have to have that happiness at least for one night, dear god, please, just for one night. The desperation in your chest starts to grow more and more. The desperation turns into fear and anxiety.

You feel your palms sweat and your face get hot just at the very thought. Your hands start to shake once you come to the very obvious conclusion. you HAVE to sneak out to the ball tonight.

—

“But Lloyd, you said you would do anything” you whine with a pout to your servant. “Your highness I-I might’ve of offered but I didn’t think you would need this! And your father- ohhh no, your father is a very scary man and I don’t think if I-“ you shush Lloyd, the same old male servant from before from the stairway. “shhhh. Keep it down! you aren’t doing anything you aren’t supposed to be doing, just play along. Just- Please.. “ You reply with hopelessness at this point, looking down.

you had hatched the perfect plan. You made it as though you were sleeping in your bed, forming your pillows to the shape of your body underneath the comforter. You were all dressed and had your mask on but even so, you would just have to avoid your personal staff and your parents, no one knew you were the princess and what you looked like.

Your father had luckily assigned Lloyd to sit outside your chamber with the guards. The routine is usually a servant will come in and out, checking on you from time to time making sure you are okay before letting the guards know. they would sit there all night which you had gotten used to over the course of your life.

You were always being watched and protected. a sigh interrupts your thoughts “if you’re caught, I knew nothing.” he says in defeat. your eyes widen with a bright glow and you feel your heart skip a beat before jumping into his arms “thank you, thank you, thank you” you whisper. he knows he shouldn’t be doing this but he can’t help but feel for you and your situation.

But the way you lit up and how fast he heard your heart go at his answer, he didn’t regret agreeing. Suddenly he pulled away from the embrace to face you, “Okay princess but you have to promise me not to leave the castle! please stay within the ball and please don’t get recognized. If you’re in danger please just run back to your chamber and reveal yourself to the servants so we can help you. And-“ the old man was about to continue before you cut him off “I promise I’ll be safe. just leave it all to me” you smiled at him.

He sighed out before he looked down at you and tried to return the smile but couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. “Okay your highness” He replied. You give him one last smile before you let go and he dismisses himself.

Hearing your chamber door closed, you slowly walked up to your mirror, taking one last look. you were adorned with a long black dress, thin short sleeves resting on your shoulders, décolletage exposed wearing a pearl necklace with a dark green emerald laid in between your collarbones. your bangs were slightly pinned back just enough to show off your black lace mask.

Wearing your silk black gloves, you pulled up your mask to your face. this was the night. Tonight would be the night of your life. you feel yourself start to shake, before you suddenly feel the urge to throw up from all the adrenaline already.

you swallow it back holding your stomach. You thought this would be easy, thinking of it so many times before but now that you’re actually doing it, you are very frightened. You’ve never been by yourself, you’ve never been in public and mostly, you’ve never disobeyed your father.

You start to rethink your decisions. It’s not too late to undress and head to bed your good conscience says. father would never know. no. something snaps in you saying “it’s now or never”.

you shake your hands breathing in and out walking back and forth from your window before looking out to check for the outside night guards. You planned on jumping out your window and making your way to the ball since you’re only up on the second floor. There was also a small tool-shed in front of your window so you decided that you could easily make that jump to on top of it.

Once you’ve noticed that the guards finished their round near your window and were out of sight, you decide you have to just do it, or else you never will. without thinking, you opened your window ever so slightly before making the jump to the top of that very shed you’ve thought about jumping onto for years.

—

breathing in and out while looking up at the stars, you just lay there, on top of the tool shed. “I did it” you thought. You start to quietly giggle to yourself.

Even if you didn’t make it to the ball, this was enough. this was the furthest you’ve ever been outside the castle by yourself and it was simply outside your window. you catch eye of the Big Dipper, noting how prettier it looks outside.

You’ve seen the Big Dipper many times before from your window but to be apart of it outside, feels different. there are no walls surrounding you, just miles and miles of horizon. you feel like you’re in space.

“wow..” you say. You’re enjoying being in this new space before you’re brought back to reality with the sound of a snap of a twig. you quickly sat up and gasped.

you looked around into the darkness, squinting in hopes that would somehow improve your night vision. you quickly climb off once you decide that the coast is clear, making your way into the night. you can’t shake the feeling that someone or something is watching you though so you pick up your pace to the entrance.

Turns out your feeling was right. someone was watching you, not a threat though. the hybrid watched in the dark with curiosity as you made your way to the front of the palace. “Hmm” a low voice grumbles from the dark as you’re already long gone.

—

“woah…” you say in amazement at the crowd. You made your way to the front entrance where every hybrid of all ages were laughing and chattering. everyone looks beautiful and exquisite, definitely fit for a Royal ball.

You can’t help but smile like you never smiled before in your life. in awe of the different faces and smells, you find yourself all of a sudden getting pushed inside as everyone makes their way in. the crowd forming a moving wave toward the entrance with you in it so you decide to just go with the flow hoping you won’t trip.

As the crowd moves towards inside, it doesn’t take long before everyone starts to disperse into a large and grand ballroom. You gasp in astonishment, why haven’t you ever seen the ballroom when it was decorated like this?

Yes you’ve passed by it many times but the room was always empty and plain. It always felt spacious and dark, a lonely room. but tonight was different, the room had come alive with warmth and gold.

It was as if what was missing were people, smiles and laughter. It felt like an another dimension, the layout was your home but you were somewhere completely different. You made your way to the side of the room, leaning against the wall and just taking in the scene before you.

The sound of trumpets startle you from your bewilderment, panicking and immediately ducking down because you know that could only mean your father is going to make his entrance. “Woahh there miss, it’s just the horns for the king” a deep voice makes you turn your head.

A tall man standing in front of you makes your stomach drop. Looking him up and down real quick you realize, he’s a knight. you’ve never been this close to anyone but your servants, let alone having to speak to them. “o-oh yeah. I know” you quickly say before trying to hide again.

You look at the grand staircase in the middle of the room where it looks like your father will be entering from. Feeling your heart beat faster you turn back to get another look at the man’s face beside you before realizing he hadn’t broken his eye contact on you since he’s spoked. he was wearing a black eye mask but you could tell that he was handsome.

His heart shaped lips and angular jawline. He had dark hair and dark eyes to match, you could feel your palms getting hot and a weird fluttering feeling go off in your stomach just by looking at him. “is there a reason why you don’t smell of hybrid miss?” he broke your thought whilst smirking.

Wait what, smell? “what do you mean?” you question. He continues “well it’s just that, every hybrid has a certain scent that others can decipher as hybrid but it seems that…” he leans closer to smell you as you shiver from the sudden close contact “you don’t have a scent. Not a hybrid scent anyway, and as a hybrid, I shouldn’t even be having to explain this to you as you should know this… right?” He smiles. Shit, you are screwed.

You didn’t know that. otherwise you would’ve stayed in your chamber. Humans and hybrids have differentiating scents? your father never really told you these things as he thought you wouldn’t need to know them.

God damn it, father, you thought to yourself. “I just-“ you were about to continue when you were saved by the bell, or at least you thought you were. It was your father speaking. “Welcome to the 34th annual masquerade ball! please help yourself to refreshments and dance to your heart's content! please enjoy!” He finishes with a bow.

Everyone begins clapping as you find yourself sneaking away to get back to your chamber. Making your way out, you suddenly feel your wrist being grabbed, you gasped before your turned to face the same man you were talking to before. “I know you’re the princess, and I know you shouldn’t be here” he admits with a soft voice.

You feel your knees turn into noodles as you’re caught. “Please oh please don’t tell my Father, I was just about to go back into my chamber-“ you’re cut off when something quickly partially covers your sight. the room went quiet from the sudden fast flying object. you look above the thing partially covering your sight before you realize what it was.

An arrow. in between yours and the man’s face. You gasp, breath hitching, trembling as you look at the man in front of you who also has wide eyes. he suddenly covers you and picks you up bridal style without a thought and yells “THE PRINCESS IS BEING ATTACKED” everyone starts to scream and duck once everyone registers what’s going on.

“the princess?” “What is she doing here” screams and confused chatter quickly spread amongst the ball all the while, your father is standing on top of the stairs frozen in bewilderment.

What were you doing here? Who was attacking? Who’s going after his little girl? Why can’t he move? He can’t do anything but watch everything unfold in shock, still like a statue.

The voices of servants and knights trying to get orders from him, just registering as ringing in his ears. His mouth slightly agape, amongst the chaos, one of his best knights pulls him by the shoulders. “MY LORD” suddenly a loud voice abruptly brought him back from his frozen shock.

He looks up before realizing it’s one of the lucky seven. Ironically, he feels lucky because of this. “get my daughter out of here” is all the king could muster before the knight gave him a stern nod.

Running down the stairs, the knight yells out to his pack member carrying the princess “HOBI, GET HER TO NAMJOON” hobi nods while running to the front to where the said knight named Namjoon resided. The aforementioned knight running down the stairs then took out his sword and quickly looked for his other pack members to take down the asalients.

—

you’re frozen. You can’t do anything but watch the horror unfold. This is all your fault, it had to be. People were pushing each other, screaming and crying.

Everyone was running for their lives all the while you were being carried by this unknown knight. You could feel the regret and fear in your stomach churning together to create this whole new awful feeling. You just wanted to go home, you regretted ever coming out.

Your train of thought is broken when the two of you finally made it outside. An even taller and buff looking man ran up to you guys. “Hobi, what’s going on?” he asks concerned while looking back at you both and everyone running past you guys. Who you guess is Hobi, puts you down and replies “this is the princess, she’s being attacked. We need to hide her until the others calm everything down, king’s orders”

Namjoon looks at you in shock “the princess?” before quickly shaking his head, snapping himself out of his own shock before saying “alright, I’ll take her from here”. The buff looking man quickly shape-shifts into his animal form, a large dark grey wolf.

Hobi quickly puts you on top of his back before saying “hang on tight your highness” you do as your told and hold onto the wolf around its shoulders, not being able to wrap your arms fully around because of how truly large he was. Letting your hands sink into his fur, you grab on before he suddenly starts running.

You turn around as the palace behind you becomes smaller and smaller and the screams become quieter and quieter. You turn back to face forward before letting yourself succumb to your adrenaline, now feeling safe. This fur is warm you think to yourself before drifting to sleep, all the while you somehow held onto the hybrid tight the whole ride, too scared to let go or be alone even whilst asleep.

a/n; okay so I know I said I would start writing chapter one tomorrow but I couldn’t wait, I wanted to get the story rolling before I started writing tomorrow again. anyway what did you think? why didn’t Lloyd tell y/n about humans and hybrids having different scents? who was watching her while she was on top of the tool shed? and how did hobi know y/n was the princess 🤔 also who was the knight that broke the king out of his thoughts? So many questions unanswered but continue reading to see what happens! we will be meeting the boys properly next chapter :)

Next chapter:

[jazjelspen]

leaving on wild charted waters [pt. 6]

(what if our mc just got tired of Night Raven College and it's inhabitants?)

(what if mc's Cinderella night just-- had to be ruined?)

(not really filler chapter anymore shits getting real‼️‼️/angst/not proofread/injuries/mc will be happy again soon I promise TT-TT/very, very light swearing)

(requested tags!: @chxrry-blxssxm-tea @missotaku34 @aprityormarj )

if you want to be tagged in future chapters please comment or message me! I will only tag you if you directly ask for it and I will only tag you once unless you asked to be tagged on all future chapters of a particular series. now let's wrap this up and head straight into part 6!!)

the ball: the clock strikes 12

(follow the white rabbit)

your breath hitched as the head the body that held you then started to scramble back from the embrace yet held your shoulders in their hands. those green eyes, those fangs, the horns, the outfit that correlated to the dorm of a powerful fae. yeah, as you feared.. it was Malleus.

"oh how I've missed you my dear.." Malleus's mouth widened into a relieved and joyous smile, his fangs out and all and his eyes full of adoration. "you have no idea how bad it's been for me, for all of us since you left us.." he let out a small sigh before he brought you in for another hug, squeezing you a little tighter this time but knew to be careful of his strength.

"Malleus.. stop it--" you attempted to push him off with your arms on his chest yet he wouldn't budge. You continued to squirm under his arms to part from him and when you finally were able to push him off all you could see were his eyes widening in heartbreak "fuck Malleus.. I said stop it!"

"I..." he took in a deep yet shaky breath "why did you leave..? I've dreamt about you since the day you left, why would you go?.." he then held your hand in his, trying to get some sort of answer from you. "I mean I understand why you'd go but.. why not at least bid all of us.. bid me a farewell my dear?" you could see his face slowly get desperate as his vibrant green eyes got misty with the longer he looked at you "if you come back my dear I promise no one will ever hurt you again, I will always listen to you, I'll take care of you-- I'll do everything you need or want just-- please come back to me."

"then you clearly don't understand well enough as to why I left." your face subconsciously formed a scowl "I am not obliged to say goodbye to you or anyone else at that school, not when you all just kept dragging me in the mud whenever you all felt like it." you scoffed "I can admit that I have missed you all, I've missed all our good moments and trips but I can't forgive any of you for breaking my arm or cutting me or--or scarring me in more ways than one" you could feel your voice slowly raise in volume.. little by little. "I do not owe any of you an explanation as to why I left, I don't owe any of you an apology for doing what's right for me."

Malleus stared at you as you kept on talking, his mixed feelings swirling on his face, his features contorting into phases of emotions that you have never seen before. It could've been almost terrifying to look at but the thing was that-- you weren't scared, not anymore. you had more people, better people, people who never forced you into chores or missions you didn't want to do, people who didn't dump everything on you without first asking you, people that actually fucking cared about your feelings.

Malleus cared, oh he did and obviously still does. It's just he's never cared enough the way your new friends do, he never truly has.

"I don't owe you an explanation as to why I left Malleus since it's clearly obvious- that even a blind man can see it-- that I'm better off here." you stared him down in a way that sent him chills down his spine, in a way that made him feel small instead of vice versa. "I'm closer in finding a way home than I ever have at Night Raven where I wasted months of my life for people that just liked dragging a magicless human to feed their own little and fragile egos. and if you can't except that I'm better off here and better off at finally going home then you clearly have not learned anything from your overblot."

oh how you, a magicless human prefect, astounded the fae prince of briar valley. you may not have power in magic but hell did you have power in words. whether you yourself thought your sentences were powerful or not either way it astounded Malleus since it seems he's gotten used to the quiet and almost obedient version of you. his features were almost unreadable, it was unclear if he was even angry or upset. the hair on your body raised up when you sensed a few distant thunderclaps in the background and the sound of a few stems of sharp thorns grow and reach out from the floor and beneath his feet. in the end all Malleus really did with that blank expression of his was reach out to you but you flinched away from his touch.

"you look stunning tonight my dear, shining brighter than any star in the sky." his soft comment was almost random and out of place, but he seemed genuine when he spoke with that true yet strained smile on his face. he slowly pulled his hand away when the stoned room you two were in started to be filled with various large stems of every size and shape, littered with the sharpest thorns you could think of. the stems popped out from cracks in the wall, the window from the ceiling, to even more below his shoes. as they moved the thorn decorated branches all seemed to reach out to you as you backed away slowly. all this whilst he sang a gentle tune under all the ensuing chaos..

“I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream..”

“I know you that look in your eyes is so familiar a gleam..”

"tsunotarou-- " you quietly begged as you continued to back away until you felt many sharp pricks on your ankles which caused you to scream and fall down to land on your rear end in pain. Malleus had to immediately cut short the tune he sang as he desperately reached out to you with a panicked look when he saw you fall but kept himself from moving any further since it seems that all he ever does to you is hurt you, even when he doesn't mean it.

also because a curious, rabbit-chasing blonde already ran to your aid.

"_____! hold on I got you!!" Alex exclaimed as he picked you up, one arm behind your back and the other under your legs. The room quivered and the stems of thorns grew into bushes, slowly reaching out for Alex's legs as well. You looked over to face Malleus who is seen clenching his chest with fistfuls of his uniform, as if he's clenching his heart.

Tsunotarou looked at you with pain and concern with quiet tears rolling down his face from seeing how he just-- keeps hurting you. Even so, he lets you go.

Luckily Alex was fast enough to jump over the growing thorns to then quickly exclaim a spell you couldn't exactly hear well with how the rumbling and stones from the ceiling started caving in.

your last view of Malleus was his sad and pitiful face before the stones started piling up and covering eachothers views. officially ending this short yet aching encounter.

Alex ran headfirst into the wall where you first came from. once you two were now on the outside of the entrance you were both hit with cold and harsh raindrops from the sky. Alex continued to run and run as far away from the collapsing structure as possible, the tower being wrapped and hugged tightly by many large stems and branches of thorns and the roof of the tower now halfway caving inside the building. Alex huffed and puffed as he dodged a few rocks of the tumbling rubble from the building before dropping down to his knees to use the wet grounds to slide against the back exit of the school dance, not entirely protected by anything but a small roof that hovered over the back door but it was much farther away from any falling debris and awful rain. as the tower continued to roar in destruction Alex basically used himself as a shield as an attempt to cover you completely, holding you close to his chest and covering your head under his chin so if anything attempted to hit your head it'd hit his instead. he held you tightly until everything went quiet and all you could hear was just a few rolling rocks.

Alex slowly turned to look behind him with you following suite. as the dust slowly started to settle and the rain just getting more violent as time went you could see that the building was on the verge of completely collapsing, there were no longer any walls up with only the many and bushes of thorns holding onto the halfway collapsed ceiling and the rest of it's stone body. there were many stones of all sizes that held up the building now on the grass floor or stone path now ruining the recently polished or beautified lawns and floors.

Alex was panting and catching his breath before he finally faced you with a very exhausted look on his face and sweat and rain dripping under his chin, the adrenaline rush slowly sinking down now that everything is somewhat quiet except for the voices of afraid or shocked students running out from all openings of the ballroom to see the scene. "are you alright?.." he asked.

you nodded while also slowly coming out of the adrenaline high. "sorta.." you paused to catch your breath "how'd you know.. that I was there?.."

he lightly shrugged as he then slowly forced himself to get back into a normal breathing pace. "I noticed that the magic you were following felt-- more sentient than it seemed at first glance..." he slowly let you down on the ground gently whilst explaining to let his body rest "when you went through the wall-- I had only gotten more- curiouser.. and eventually walked in a bit after you but I hid in the shadows." he paused to finally get himself to breathe properly, his body shaking now that the energy high was now at it's last drop. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop I really didn't but-- I felt that if I left that something terrible would've happened. I guess it's good that I stayed, plus!..." he let out a light chuckle "the bathrooms are inside the ballroom, opposite side from the back exit so-- "

you let out a breathy 'hah' as a way to still laugh with him despite the lack of energy. your ankles were stinging and pulsing with blood that was coming out from small holes decorating your skin. Alex noticed how much blood was dripping from your skin to the ground and he prepared his body to pick you back up the same way he did before. and as if on cue right when he properly held you close the chime of a large clock rang against your ears as a way to announce that it has now struck twelve. you felt your now tattered, drenched, and dirty attire now fade off of your body and back into your previous outfit. same happened with Alex with his attire shining and poofing off of him to show his school uniform yet despite these sudden outfit changes Alex immediately started walking to get you help from anyone nearby. all the students that jumped and ran out to see the commotion all gasped. some stood in shock, some were asking for both of you and Alex's physical health, and some were even offering help. Alex would accept the help but would immediately ask for anyone to get Raps over here so that he can heal you with his unique magic. The rest of whatever was happening around you slowly got a bit blurry since as you laid in the arms of the young man you slowly felt your eyes slowly close, not because of bloodloss or any of the sort, but because everything you felt in those fast and short moments just emotionally and mentally tired you out, you were feeling incredibly exhausted after the shock and adrenaline finally now had it's run on your system and you couldn't help but feel safe enough to fall asleep in the warm arms of your friend.

when you let yourself fall asleep, all you dreamt about was sleeping back in your home world while laying in the softest covers you owned. the covers in your dream were so warm and cozy as if they just came out of the dryer. you heard distant yet familiar voices of family members in the background outside of the room you were sleeping in and the soft orange light from the outside peaked into your room while gently kissing your sleeping face. the air was filled in that specific smell your home always had. your bed and covers smell just the way you remember them, your room looks exactly the way you left it and the pillow under your head seemed to hug and warm you back to sleep.

for a moment you felt that you really were back home.

Back in Night Raven College......

Malleus teleported back to the school, Lilia awaiting him inside the Diasomnia dorm after accompanying him to RSA awhile ago. Sebek and Silver beside their father while watching the prince brush past them and ignored them while opening and slamming his room doors shut. There was an eerie silence before the slams and shatters of glass and wood were heard, roaring and shouts of frustration were booming from the creaks of the doors yet boomed throughout the halls as well. The three couldn't do anything but watch, they did everything they could to get Malleus back to himself to even getting him to see the former Ramshackle prefect again. but it seems as if it only made him even more bitter and frustrated. In this moment as a group Lillia, Sebek, and Silver accepted this temporary defeat. they won't give up on the young master, but they have given up in trying to get him back to his former self. now they will attempt to still bring in his favorite things, items, and hobbies-- but they know it wouldn't be the same anymore.

meanwhile the entire rest of the school was in disarray. everyday the students had to use umbrellas or raincoats with the never-ending storm hovering above them constantly, P.E was cancelled for a whole week with how bad it's gotten and the people you left behind mostly all have a sour attitude towards the mention of you. Heartslayul, Pomefiore, and Octavinelle students were pushed on harder than they were before, the dorm leaders of those particular students basically almost, just almost going back to their former ways. they still try to keep the lessons they learned from you and their overblots but their pettiness and the grudge they now hold against you holds them back from their true good potential. Savannaclaw, Scarabia, and Ignihyde were unique cases in it of themselves. Savannaclaw's dorm leader continued to try to stay on top of his responsibilities somewhat but due to your absence it's like he's neglecting the dorm even more than he ever used to. Scarabia's dorm leader was still generous and kind as usual, maybe even more! he held you close to his heart and continued to do good and more in your memory. Ignihyde's dorm leader.. basically neglected his position fully, he's almost on the verge of falling out of the title of house leader of Ignihyde yet his younger brother continued to be his shining and motivational light to even keep this stupid title. then of course, the dorm leader of Diasomnia, not fully neglecting his responsibilities but it's clear how much he's missed out due to his constant naps to fade away into a world with you in it.

people tried to fix all the issues that have smacked the school into rock bottom but no matter what their efforts are always fruitless. some students think they can keep on going without you, that you aren't needed to keep the school running again.. while others think that the only way to revive this place is if you're back in it.

(hopefully everything here made sense! I'm not the best at describing dramatic ongoing environments so I hope it all was understandable somewhat. thank you all for the excitement towards this part! I hope to excite you all with this series even more with the stuff I have in mind for future chapters.

also this is kinda random but I also draw too! and just for the funzies I may or may not draw my version of mc’s RSA friends that don’t have an official design. maybe tho.. depends on motivation..)

[ikeromantic]

Punishing the Belle

A Chevalier Michel fanfiction. Approx. 3900 words. This scene takes place in Chapter 22-23 of the romantic route and is told from Chevalier’s POV. Part 20 of a series. Contains smut!

Chapter List

Chevalier was pleased with his prosecution of the war. Obsidian's forces were stretched thin by the multiple fronts of the attack, just as he'd planned. And as predicted, they signalled a willingness to sign a treaty of non-aggression. He left the details of the event to Four-Eyes and his brothers, though he kept an eye on intelligence reports. He read them every day, from his spot on Emma's couch. 

She was healing from the poison, but not as quickly as he'd like. Her delicate frame did not endure as well as her steel spirit. Emma was getting stronger each day, a fact that both pleased and disturbed him. Soon enough, she would be ready to announce her choice for King. Then she would leave the palace, and his life. As she should. As he wanted her to. 

"Ah! That brought tears to my eyes," she sighed from her bastion of pillows and soft, fluffy blankets. The book in her lap fell shut and Emma leaned back with a smile.

Chevalier felt his own lips curl up in response. "A royal romance with a twist, right?"

She nodded. "Yes! There are many kinds of royal romances, you know? But this one seems like the type where different people would have different opinions on whether the ending is happy or tragic. Love was the reason for their separation. A commoner and a prince." Emma gave a wistful laugh and then winced. 

He closed the cover of the report he was reading. "I didn't think it was tragic at all. 'I'll hope for your happiness even when we're no longer together,'" Chev quoted. "I found it satisfactory."

"Well, I can't say for sure either way. I mean, in the end they both marry other people, have families, and are happy. But I can't help feeling that it still wasn't exactly a happy ending for them." She hugged the book to her chest and sighed. "I am conflicted about the ending, but I loved the scene with the dance party. It was wonderful!"

Chevalier nodded. "I knew you'd like that."

She glanced at him curiously. "Really? How?"

"Remember the ball you attended some time ago? The look in your eyes changed the instant the dancing began. I assumed you had a strange longing for it." Strange indeed, thought Chev. Dancing was pointless. "The reality of a ball is that it's a social occasion full of political intrigue and scheming."

Emma shrugged. "In stories it's a wonderful moment where love blossoms and you can share feelings with your dance partner." Her gaze turned nostalgic. "Wearing a beautiful dress and dancing with the one you love. Ahhhh, that is what dreams are made of."

"Ridiculous," he snorted.

"I knew you'd say that." Her smile faded as she set the book on the nightstand. Then she slid out of bed, standing unsteadily on her feet. "I'm thirsty so I'm going to make some tea. Would you like a cup?"

He studied her with a critical eye. "Are you sure it's alright for you to be moving around?"

"Yes. I got permission from the doctor when he examined me earlier today." She took a wobbling step, like a small child just learning to walk. "The poison is completely gone and so is the numbness in my limbs. Emma spun in place, holding her arms out for balance. "See?"

Chevalier opened the report folder and pretended not to notice her display. He felt conflicted, just as she had at the end of her book. "I'll have what I always do."

"Okay!" She pulled on a robe and tottered out the door. 

He watched her from his lowered gaze. The Belle's time in the palace was coming to an end. As early as next week, in fact. His chest gave a fierce pang, one he ignored. Such feelings were beneath him. Like the prince in her book, he would marry another. And she would as well. She would be happy. Happier with another man, one that came without the troubles of a royal scion.

When Emma came back pushing a tea cart, she sat down beside him on the couch. She poured his tea and then reached for a new book. 

"We're holding a peace conference with Obsidian next week." Chevalier said, the words unexpected. 

"Oh!" She swallowed, reached for her tea and then changed her mind. The import was not lost on her. 

Chevalier continued. "If you're fully recovered, you should know what I'm trying to say." He forced his voice to a coolness he did not feel. Feel. How that word came into the lexicon of The Brutal Beast he still did not understand. He willed his heart to its former hardness. 

Emma nodded. "The time has come for me to choose a king, then."

"Once a king is selected, Clause 99 will go into effect. Immediately." His ice blue gaze met hers. "No matter who you choose, you cannot have any further contact with him. You aren't permitted to stay in the palace beyond that point. Consider the day you choose a king to be the last day you spend in the palace."

For a heartbeat, he thought she might cry, but his Emma was stronger than that. She squared her shoulders and took a breath. "I understand." Her lips parted to say more. She paused, then, "Could I make one selfish request?"

Chevalier was curious what she might ask for. More time, perhaps? "You can make the request, but it doesn't mean I will grant it." He took a sip of tea, trying to quiet his roiling emotions. Such inconvenient things. 

Her lips curled in a tremulous smile. "Prince Chevalier, would you dance with me?"

The request surprised him so much that he froze, nearly choking on the tea. Dance? She wanted to dance? Of all the things she might have asked . . . his mouth twisted into a grimace. "That sounds like a bother."

"I see." Her hopeful expression faded to resigned disappointment.

"What could possibly be the point of dancing with you? There's nothing to be gained."

"As thanks for the dance, I could entertain you in some way?" She didn't sound optimistic, but still determined to try for the slight possibility she could convince him. 

Chevalier considered. Her persistence was one feature of her that he found endearing. Emma was always willing to try, even when she expected to fail. "You say that as if there is something meaningful about it. But entertainment is a very small price to pay for daring to have me dance with you." He gulped the remainder of his hot tea and stood. 

"Are you leaving then?"

He didn't answer. He didn't want to. Dancing was an annoying activity. And worse, because he did not dance at any ball, to give her this one gift would mark her out as special to him. As good as painting a target on her back. Another poisoning attempt. A fire at the bookstore. A random alley-way attack on her way home. Chevalier paused after a few steps toward the door. Despite all that, he did want to dance with her. To give her that one special romantic memory. He glanced over his shoulder. "What are you just sitting there for?"

Emma perked up, her eyes wide. "What do you mean?"

"Do you want to dance in a confined space like this?" He gestured to her room, crowded as it was with piles of books, the tea cart, and a myriad of medicines. 

"Oh! You - you mean you will dance with me afterall?" The joy in her voice was worth everything. Anything. Chev felt a fool, but he could not regret it. Not now, anyway. 

He held out a hand to her. "It's a bother, but the nerve it took for you to ask me is something I hold in high regard."

Her hand fluttered to her chest and her smile was so bright it hurt to see. "Thank you," she breathed. 

"I think you must be the only woman in the world with this strange desire to dance with me." He gently cupped her hand in his and walked her to the ballroom. The setting sun set scarlet glimmers dancing across the floor from the swaying crystals in the high chandeliers. Gold light spilled from the wide windows and made everything glow. 

Chevalier stepped into the light, leading her to the center of the marble floor, to the heart of the rose of Rhodolite. He could not help but feel Emma belonged here as he gazed at her now. Mussed hair from time abed, wearing no fine gown, only her comfortable day robe and simple satin gown beneath. She was so beautiful. Precious and fragile and entirely his. Could he truly release her as duty demanded?

He pulled her close in a formal position for a slow waltz, one hand in hers and the other at her back. Though there was no music, he led her in the steps of the dance. Movements ingrained in him since childhood, for a prince must be as good in the ballroom as on the battlefield. 

Emma's expression was rapturous. Joy suffused her face and lent grace to her limbs. She followed his lead, seeming to grow stronger with each step. "Prince Chevalier, you're really good at dancing. I assumed from what you've said that you never danced before."

"I haven't, but I do know how." He smiled down at her. "I never imagined that knowledge would be put to use to entertain you, though." He pressed closer to her, closer than a proper dance would allow. "You're a simple woman if you find such joy in something so minor."

She shook her head slightly. "I'm not simple. Having the opportunity to dance with you is a treasure to me. More precious than gold."

He scoffed. "Maybe that's true for a simpleton." Despite his words, he found himself enjoying this dance with her as well. Her closeness, her beauty, her happiness all infected him with a warmth that spread out from his chest. He found his smile grow, making his cheeks ache. He wanted to draw this moment out, but all good things must end. His steps slowed and they came to a stop. Still, he looked down at her, unable to tear his eyes away.

"Prince Chevalier." She let go of him and took a step back. "I intend to choose the second prince to be king."

His brows rose, though he wasn't truly surprised. "Oh? Your ideal king isn't a man who meets the people halfway? Like Black?"

"Naturally, if Leon became king Rhodolite would become a wonderful country where many people could smile." She studied his face, her gaze seeing more than just him. "In spite of that, I want to entrust Rhodolite's future to you."

"Why?" He stepped close, erasing the distance she'd put between them. 

Her smile grew, and it was full of her hope and love and loss. "You're the kind of person who can do anything, Prince Chevalier. If you wanted to, you could be successful at so much more than just foreign or domestic affairs. I'm sure you could also promise happiness to the people of your kingdom."

"Of course," he replied slowly, absorbing her words, her expression. "I have outstanding aptitudes but have you forgotten the reason many people keep their distance from me?"

"That's in the past." She placed her palm to his chest, right over his heart.

Chevalier looked away, unable to meet her gaze any longer.

"Before the war, you swore to the anti-war faction. You promised that you would bring peace without fail. That you would protect our kingdom so that their loved ones would find happiness. And you fulfilled that promise. Pressing Obsidian for a peace treaty, uniting our allies to fight for that dream. " Emma took a trembling breath. "You even convinced those that took the enemy's side. The people in the anti-war faction that you saved are enjoying peaceful lives now, with their loved ones beside them."

She waited for a response, but Chevalier didn't have one. He'd expected she would choose him for his intellect. Or his warrior's nature. Worried she might choose another for the same reasons. He didn't expect she would pick him for the qualities no one but she saw in him. His humanity. 

"Without your help, the situation could not have been resolved peacefully. I think that now, you're actually listening to your people. It's my firm conviction that you'll become a king who will surpass generations of kings, past and future." Her voice was full of faith in him. Trust.

"What a foolish reason for a selection," he breathed, the words hollow. His gaze narrowed as he looked out at the setting sun. "You believe that I won't return to the way I was?"

She tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

Chevalier finally turned back to her. "What I did for the people was on a whim. I was curious about the value that you claim love has. However, when the need is no longer there, I will return to my former ruthlessness. The beast that horrified you when we first met hasn't gone anywhere. He's right here." He tapped her hand where it still rested above his heart. "Knowing this, do you still chose me as king?"

Emma smiled. "I'm not worried about you returning to the way you used to be."

"Why not?"

"Because you've recognized the value of love, haven't you, Prince Chevalier?" Her eyes locked with his, denying the coldness he presented there. "If you hadn't, you would have gone ahead with another purge. And you know the kingdom is better for it. I can't imagine you would ignore that fact."

She was right, of course. Chevalier could see the bonds between his people strengthen from his merciful choice when confronting the anti-war faction. The loyalty his choice built. It had been the right decision, even though it relied on the inconsistent hearts of men. 

"I believe in your human heart, Prince Chevalier."

"I see." He wasn't sure what else to say. 

Emma's hand dropped away and she took another step back. She curtsied low, as a commoner to royalty. "Thank you for dancing with me. I'll never forget this day. I will treasure it for the rest of my life."

Chevalier wanted to respond with some callous remark, something to defend the tender heart her words bruised. No words would come. She was saying goodbye to him, as she should. And he was letting her go. 

She turned and began to walk away. "I guess it's almost time for dinner," she called over her shoulder in false cheer. "I know you always have it in your room, but perhaps sometime before I leave, we could -"

He closed the distance between them in a heartbeat and found his arms wrapped tight around her before he understood what he intended. Chevalier buried his face against her hair, inhaling her scent, her warmth. 

"Prince Chevalier?" Her voice was breathless and surprised.

"You . . . reminded me. I haven't given you your punishment," he said, his voice husky and low.

"What punishment?"

He kissed the edge of her ear, pressed his lips to the racing pulse in her throat. "I said before I let you go to war. Getting hurt wasn't permitted." He nipped her earlobe. "I'm sure I told you that you would receive appropriate punishment if you broke your promise."

"O-okay. What's the punishment?" Her face tilted so that she could look at him. 

Chevalier's hands caressed her curves, and pulled her back against him until she fit tight to his body. "I find myself feeling . . . famished. Would you join me for dinner?"

"What," she gasped as his teeth scraped the delicate skin beneath her ear. "That's my - my punishment?"

His tongue traced the line of her neck and flicked against the sweetness of her lips, tempting. Taunting. "Indeed. Even after you leave the palace and we never see each other again, I won't allow you to forget me." Nor will I ever be able to forget you, he thought, but did not say.

Chevalier was almost surprised when she turned in his grasp to face him. Her lips invited a kiss, and the prince obliged. He let his passion, long suppressed, bubble to the surface. It was dangerous to let go of control, but it felt so good. He captured her mouth with his, plunging the sweet depths of her with his tongue. His hands caressed her body through the thin fabric of her night dress and robe. 

Emma didn't pull away. She wrapped her arms around him, and when his hand cupped her rear, she let him lift her. Her legs wrapped around him, her nightgown rode up to her thighs. It excited him to see her nearly disrobed. He felt hungry for her, needy in a way that was strange and exhilarating. He wanted to touch and taste every bit of her. Chevalier wanted - desired - and for the first time in his life, he allowed it.

In just a few steps, he had her pinned against a column, his hands hiking up her gown and robe. She tugged it over her head and let the garment fall to the floor. Moonlight bathed her bare skin, and for a breath, all Chevalier could do was look. She was more beautiful than he'd imagined. Lush and soft, delicate and firm, he knew there was no such thing as a perfect body, but she was perfect to him. 

His lips and teeth left a trail of little marks down her throat and collarbone. He lavished her breasts with attention, enjoying the way the nipples hardened against his tongue. Chev wanted her so badly that his body ached with it, a tension as sweet as it was unendurable. 

Emma undid his shirt buttons, sliding her cool hands across his chest, running her nails down his sides. Her hips rocked against him as she arched under his ministrations. She was enjoying him as much as he delighted in her. Matching his desire, his hunger. Her hands slid down his belly, leaving a wash of coiled heat behind them as her fingers found his belt, and the button of his trousers.

Chevalier knew they should not be doing this here, in the midst of the ballroom. A passing servant could carry tales, or a messenger. They should retreat to her room, his room, any room with a door that closed and locked. But he found himself unwilling to pause, to stay their shared desire, and besides, the risk was small. The ballroom would not be in use for weeks, especially not at this late hour. He was free to indulge, and he would. 

His pants slid to the floor, joining her gown and robe. Chev gasped at the sudden touch of cool air on his cock and then shivered as Emma's warm hand wrapped around him. Her touch was gentle, uncertain, and he let her direct his pace though he wanted nothing more than to bury himself as deep in her as their joined flesh would allow. 

Instead, he channeled all of that hunger into his kisses. He devoured her, licked her, bit her. There was no exposed skin that his mouth and hands did not know. And she teased him with her gentle touches, running her satin palm against his length. Letting his aching head rub against her slick cleft. Chevalier groaned, and muffled the sound with her soft shoulder. 

Her movements were becoming more desperate, hips bucking at each pass of heated flesh. "Can I," she sighed, pushing him up to her opening. He could feel the pulse of heat, of lust, between her legs. 

Chevalier replied without words. He pushed slowly up, guided by her soft moans of pleasure. At half depth, he pulled back, letting his cock relish the feel of slowly pulling away as she clenched tight to hold him there. 

"Oh god . . ." Her words were thready with pleasure, barely coherent.

He found that he liked pleasing her. Enjoyed the sounds she made, the look on her face. Right now, her expression was pure ecstasy, and he thought his might mirror it. She felt like heaven. Better than any book could describe. His body trembled with euphoria, and he thought he might lose himself in this one, deep thrust. But he held tight control. She would peak first. He would bring her to her peak again and again, until she could think of nothing but him. 

Chevalier left just the tip of his cock inside, barely moving - just enough to tease the opening. Emma tried to wriggle against him, to push him deeper, but he refused. Not yet. He would bring her to the brink, but not over, not until she was a quivering mess in his arms. 

"You like that, do you?" Chevalier smirked. He bent to swirl his tongue over her pert nipple, expertly wringing another moan from her as his mouth clamped around her breast. His hips moved to thrust into her again, still moving slow. Still teasing them both. 

"Please," she gasped. Her nails dug into his shoulders and he enjoyed the sudden, sharp hot heat of them. 

He went deep this time, feeling the walls of her close around him until her juices were soaking his balls. The sound she made nearly undid him. Chevalier pulled nearly out and then thrust again, watching the way every motion of his hips dissolved her to senseless bliss. He found a rhythm, one he paused every few strokes to tease her. To tease himself. The discipline it took not to simply surrender to the feel of her, the scent of her, the sound of her breathy voice. 

Emma's hand drifted to his cheek, trailing her fingers lightly over his cheek. "Prince . . . Chevalier . . . I'll always adore you. Even when we're apart."

"I know." He kissed the palm of her hand and nipped at the pad of her thumb.

"I'll be like the woman in that book I finished to - to-" Her words dissipated in a moan, but she held onto the thought. "Even when we're not together anymore, I-I will wish for your happiness."

Chevalier was surprised, but then, he knew how strong her heart was. How determined. Still, he wanted this to be their one moment. Afterward, she could not harbor these feelings for him. Neither of them should want that path. "You can do whatever you want, but I am a heartless man. I'm sure I could easily forget you." 

The words were a lie, but the kindest one he could offer. It would only hurt her more to admit that he would treasure the moments with her for the rest of his life. The woman who saw him as a man. Who did not fear him. The woman who'd fallen in love with him despite every warning and obstacle in her path. Chevalier knew he did not deserve her affection. He was a cold man with a hard heart and a soul stained scarlet from the lives he'd sacrificed for his cause. She should forget him and find a kind man to love. The thought only spurred him to want to give her more, to lavish her with what love he could give on this one night. 

"You don't mean that." Her eyes closed with a shudder of pleasure. 

Chevalier did not reply with words. His body spoke for him, busying his lips with her soft skin, his hands with caresses, plunging into her with abandon. 

Her breath came in gasps and sighs, but she still managed to speak. "I hope . . . you find . . . happiness." Emma's hips lifted to meet his, her entire body shaking as the orgasm rippled through her, stealing her breath and her thoughts. 

"A king doesn't need happiness," he whispered, his words lost in the sound of her climax. The feel of her shuddering against him was too much for even his self control to hold against. His thrusts became more wild, erratic, a brutal beast of another kind. He pounded into her until he felt he might come apart at the edges. His groans of pleasure mixed with her breathy exclamations. The peak hit him in a burst of sensation, a storm of ecstasy that made him shake like a maiden. His hips pushed him deeper still as his cock bucked against her trembling core. 

I love you, he thought, kissing her forehead where her hair stuck to sweat soaked skin.

[flametrashiraarchive]

You are the mistress of a house which proudly serves the demon slayer corps. Sanemi is a frequent visitor and likes to come to you for rough stress release... you're not supposed to catch feelings for him.

Content Guidance: NSFW. This story literally starts mid-bang. There is a bit of degradation and explicit sexual content.

Chapter One.

If you didn't know every bit of your anatomy before, fucking Sanemi Shinazugawa whenever he feels like it has definitely taught you. Over the past six months he's made damn sure that you know– and feel the ache in– every muscle in your body.

"Had enough?" He gasps against your spine as he pulls out of you and finishes on your ass for the second time this afternoon. His mouth is hot and vicious, leaving bruising kisses across your flesh.

"No." You twist your fists into the bed sheets as your aching pussy throbs needing his cock again. It's been a long time since you could pinpoint where one orgasm ended and the next began. It's all just one painfully pleasurable blur. You glance over your shoulder to meet the Wind Pillar's wisteria-purple stare. "Keep going. Keep fucking me."

He bares his teeth in a feral grin, snapping his hips against your ass as he pounds into you again. "Needy little slut, aren't you?"

He always takes you from behind.

If it were up to you, you'd watch him throughout; that firm, taut body of his nothing less than a thing of beauty when he's glistening with sweat and growling in pleasure.

But it isn't up to you. Your view is dictated by the callused hand in your hair, pushing your head down until your whimpers are muffled by the mattress. He's always so rough with you. If it didn't feel so damn good you'd think he was punishing you for something.

But, if he ever gave you the choice, you'd like to face him once, clawing like a demon at his firm flesh and sinew, kissing that cruel mouth of his like you've craved since the moment you laid eyes on him. Sanemi never, ever kisses your lips. Every other inch of you, yes, but never there.

As the mistress of the house– a house which so happens to proudly display the wisteria crest, inviting members of the demon slayer corps to stay and rest while their needs are tended to– giving in to these particular whims of the wind hashira isn't strictly required, but they feel far too good to deny him.

"Say it!" He barks at your back as he pounds into you, his heavy balls slapping against you as though they're somehow pissed at you too.

He tugs your hair, lifting your face from the mattress long enough for you to groan, "I'm your needy little slut."

"Yeah," he grunts before a quiet laugh escapes him. "Yeah. My cock feels so fucking good, doesn't it? You can't get enough of it, huh?"

You nod as his thrusts send goosebumps down your back. A fresh wave of pleasure crashes through you as you climax again, crying out in pleasure as he reaches around your hip to strum your clit with his rough fingers.

You cry out, "Oh God, Sanemi! Never stop fucking me."

He laughs, letting your head fall back down onto your forearms before he pulls his dick out of you and drags a desperate whimper from your lips.

But you needn't worry. As much as he likes to tease, this man prides himself on your pleasure. No sooner has his dick left you than his tongue takes its place, feasting on your pussy as though your orgasms are the key to eradicating demons from the earth. He fucks you with his tongue, as he reaches his hands around you; one pinching your nipples, the other stroking your clit when his tongue is inside you.

This fucker with his magical dick and clever, cruel tongue. You could swear that a couple of hours ago you were bickering; some petty verbal sparring match over something trivial. And you know deep down he can't fuck you forever (although he seems to have the stamina for it). He's leaving just as soon as he's through making you come. He'll be setting off on a new mission… but tomorrow just so happens to be your birthday.

Your heart clenches at the thought of spending it filled with worry that Sanemi is off dying in some forsaken demons' lair. Not that you care… honestly. There's really nothing between you. Just sex. Mind blowing, meaningless, addictive sex. Right?

You let out a sigh, and Sanemi stops licking you.

"What's wrong?" He demands, slapping your ass cheek and leaving his hand right where it lands, cupping your aching flesh. "You pass out or something, huh? I don't hear you whining for once."

Placing your hands beneath you, you lift yourself until you're kneeling, before shuffling around to face him. A flutter in your chest stirs up as you drink in the sight of him: scarred and undeniably handsome, wild, white hair, the familiar ferocious look in his eyes which most likely means he's confused, affronted or both. You'd never say it aloud, but you're pretty sure God denied him eyebrows because he already looks permanently pissed off enough as it is.

"It's my birthday tomorrow," you say.

"I know." He licks your slick from his lips, turning his head away from you and staring at the floor beside the bed. "What do you want me to say? Happy fucking birthday?"

Reaching out to cup his jaw in your hand, his name leaves your lips. "Sanemi…"

He catches your wrist, fury flashing in his eyes until he looks away again. "What the hell are you doing?"

Good question. To be honest, you aren't entirely sure. Your fingers flex against empty air, craving the touch of his skin. This…is new.

Every other time you’ve been together, you’ve been perfectly content with just sex; he barges through the door, cursing as he slips off his belt, you bend over and gladly give him the stress relief he needs. Sometimes you might share a post-coital sake, or make small talk over dinner before he heads back out on the road. You’ve never wanted to touch him before. Not gently like this.

His throat flexes. "Do you want me to make you come again or not? If so, get your ass back in the air. If not, I'm leaving."

You chuckle, suddenly, somehow finding yourself endeared hopelessly to this man who's about as adept at expressing himself as a rock. "How about… How about we try it face-to-face one time before you go?"

He grimaces. "What the fuck? Why?"

"Because I think you're hot," you say gently coaxing his face back toward you. "And I want to look at you."

You might've missed the twitch of his lips if you weren't so fixated on them. For a moment you think he might smile, but it's quickly replaced by his familiar glower. "No."

"Not even for my birthday?" You say with a slight pout. "Don't you want to look into my eyes while you're fucking me?"

"No." He gets off the bed and stands, putting space between you. A moment later he's collecting his discarded clothes and hurrying to dress.

It's hard not to be offended by his urgency. "Why not?"

"Because I don't want to. That's reason enough."

You nod, dropping the subject. As rough as he can be, he's always respected your boundaries, and he deserves no less. "Okay. You're leaving right now?"

"I don't want to look at you. You're just a hole for me to fuck, understand?"

Your lips snap shut at the same time as his, the room seeming to tilt on its axis as his words pierce through you.

That's a new level of shittiness, even for him. A crackle along your spine accompanies your rage, your proverbial hackles raising. But before you can say another word he's gone.

As the days pass by, your anger bubbles away beneath the surface of your skin, a thousand retorts finding their way to your tongue far too late.

But before long, the anger fades giving way to something you could never expect.

Fear.

Fear that he won't be back, that you'll never get to retort. Fear that he's gone.

As much as you need to tell him that he was never anything more than a cock to you, and that there's nothing he could give you that can't be replicated with your own fingers, you need him to be alive to hear it.

But months pass and hope fades. Other slayers come and go; mostly polite, tired, and grateful for your hospitality. You ask about the hashira, trying to be as nonchalant as possible, but you’re met with nothing but disappointment and the occasional fearful gasp at the mention of his name.

Sanemi Shinazagawa seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth.

Until the day a Kakushi arrives, gasping for breath and spattered with blood.

"Fetch a doctor," he commands you from behind his veil. "We're bringing in a wounded hashira. He needs urgent medical attention."

You don't need to be told twice. Your home and your family have long served the corps, the wisteria crest painted on the door letting all demon slayers know they are welcome to shelter, rest, and request whatever they need from you. All slayers. Even the arrogant shitheads.

Your heart pounds as you run through city streets, and down back alleyways where the dawn's light has barely reached.

A hashira. A wounded hashira. In your home. Could it be him?

You both hope and dread it's Sanemi. It's a maelstrom of feeling; a desire to see him, even though you despise him, and although you've seen him bloodied and bruised before, you can't help but fear that this time might be worse. And yet, the thought of him needing you as something other than "a hole to fill" gives you a sort of satisfaction.

As you beat your fists against the doctor's door and wait for him to answer, you try to organize your thoughts. Above all else, you are the mistress of the house, and duty bound to tend to this hashira, whether or not they turn out to be that vile, obnoxious, eyebrowless son of a–

"Ready," the doctor announces, snapping you from your reverie. "Let's go. It sounds like there isn't time to waste."

Confusion furrows your brow until you notice the kasugai crow flying out of the house and after him.

Cold fear pools in the pit of your stomach. Maybe the hashira's condition worsened after they sent you. Maybe they didn't think you'd make it in time to save the wounded slayer.

"Hurry! Hurry!" the crow squawks. "There isn't time to waste."

"This way." You lead the doctor back through familiar paths back to your home , through shortcuts you've known since you were a child.

Your heart races as your home comes into view.

Chapter 2

[dare1pon]

The Peacock and The Crow

(Chapters 9 & 10)

Word count: 5,898

TAGS:

Reyno - @radkatzzstuff

Elaine (character who finds june in forest) - @lordofthefrogs11

Author's note: chat I forgor it was the 25th today lmao anyways (UPDATE LIKE 5 MINUTES LATER AFTER POSTING THIS I JS REALIZED THAT CHP TEN IS KINDA DONE SO I DECIDED TO ADD IT HERE)

CHAPTER NINE: Can't wait to tell this story to my grandchildren.

The next day was the same as yesterday, a horn woke us half bloods up and everyone headed out. I yawned and stretched, hearing the loud cracks coming from my joints and my back, sleeping on the floor wasn't ideal, it was stiff but at least I had somewhere to sleep. I saw Rey already at the hermes table, talking with some other camper who looked to be the same age as him.

“morning Junie!” Rey got up from his seat after giving the camper he was talking to a small goodbye wave. “morning.” I grumbled, rubbing my eyes as he went up to me. Its energy like this that I wonder if he photosynthesizes this energy. We sat back down at the table, waiting for the food to be served. Rey went to talk about more on his life, the wolf house, Lupa, and other stuff until Keaton came by and did the same thing as yesterday. Make some big speech on how he was gonna save us all.

”I have a question, what is this prophecy Keaton’s talking about?” I looked to Rey, already tuning out Keaton in the background. “oh, it goes like this!” Rey let out a cough before speaking out this prophecy. “A child, one feared but one most cheered. Be the one, the prophecy neared.” Rey continued, this seems interesting. “through the deepest depth, lay a great name, find the one who attains this fame.” Rey ended with that, the breakfast soon came. Reyno had gotten eggs and bacon, I got a grilled cheese sandwich. “so thats what Keaton’s been on and on about? never really did get that ‘most feared’ part from him.” I told Rey, he was already shoveling the bacon into his mouth as if it was the last meal he’s ever gonna have. “Same here but the moment Keaton heard of this, he immediately started acting all special.” 

“Well, I guess whatever happens, we’ll find out soon enough, huh?” I said, taking another bite of my grilled cheese. It was comfort food, and right now, I needed that.

Rey nodded, his mouth still full of food. “Yep. Whatever the prophecy means, it’s probably going to make things interesting around here. Hopefully, we don’t all get dragged into whatever chaos Keaton’s convinced we’re about to face.”

“Let’s just hope that ‘great name’ in the prophecy isn’t referring to him,” I muttered under my breath. 

Me and Rey finished breakfast, after that he took me to do the camp activities. The first thing he wanted to do was fighting so we went to the arena. “here! I’ll teach you how to wield a sword!” As we walked in, there were already people sword fighting, some in the actual arena itself and others off to the side. I followed Rey to the rack of wooden swords, he tossed me one. It felt light in my hands, I held it on my right hand. Rey stood across from me, grinning widely. He wasn’t holding a sword, though. Instead, his eyes twinkled with mischief, and I noticed his hands were flexing, his nails beginning to elongate, sharp and claw-like.

“Ready for this?” he asked, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet.

I blinked, taken aback. “Uh, you’re not using a sword?”

Rey laughed, a deep, easy sound. “Nah, I’m good without one! Watch this!” His hands fully morphed, the claws extending from his fingertips in a smooth, almost graceful movement. “I’ve got my own weapons.”

I swallowed hard as he flexed his claws, giving me a wink. “No need to worry. I’m not gonna bite... unless you really deserve it.” He gave an exaggerated growl, showing off his teeth.

I chuckled nervously. “Right... okay, let's do this.”

With a sudden burst of energy, Rey lunged, his claws swiping through the air faster than I could react. I raised the wooden sword in front of me just in time to block the strike, the sound of wood meeting claw ringing through the air. The force sent me stumbling back a step, my arms buzzing from the impact.

Rey straightened up, grinning ear to ear. “Whoa! Nice block! You’ve got some good reflexes! But you gotta think quicker, yeah? You can’t just wait for me to come at you.”

I tightened my grip on the sword, trying to shake off the initial shock. “Right, thinking. Got it.”

He bounced on his toes again, clearly enjoying himself. “Good! ‘Cause I’m gonna come at you fast. Don’t blink!” Without another word, Rey darted forward, claws slashing at my side. I tried to dodge, but I wasn’t fast enough—his claws grazed my arm, a sharp sting that made me grit my teeth. Everything seemed to just stop for a moment, I could hear my heartbeat louder then Rey’s voice. The blood from the slash on my arm only seemed to grow bigger as I stared at it, the metallic blood now filling my nostrils. My breath grew deeper while I felt the heat from my blood drip. I could only stand there, and hold my stance, sword still in hand. Last thing I saw before passing out was Rey lunging towards me, concerned.

It had probably been hours since I passed out, now I was in the infirmary. It was quiet in the room where I stayed, too quiet for my liking. My arm was not wrapped up in a bandage, there was a slight brown stain on it. I could still recall the smell of blood, metallic. That was the first real time where I felt just, scared? It really wasn't fear that I felt, I didn’t know what to feel. Looking around the room, Rey wasn't there. He probably felt bad for attacking me by accident.

”oh, your awake.” I heard a voice enter the room. It sounded calming. The first thing I saw was a tray of food, then I knew exactly who it was. “Keith?” I mumbled out, he must've heard it “how do you know who I am?” Shoot, I probably sounded like a creep “Uhm, a friend told me? Reyno. I don’t know his last nam-“

 “wolf guy? I saw him rush you here in a hurry, after that he left” I watched as Keith placed the tray of food down by the table to my right. As he got closer to me, I started to notice things I didn't yesterday: he had a mole on his upper cheek, right underneath his left eye, Keith also had an earring, it looked like a peacock feather. “how are your bandages, not to tight?” He snapped me back to reality as he touched my arm.

”Oh! yeah yeah, not too tight” I sat up while Keith was making sure my bandages were just right. Keith finished adjusting the bandage on my arm, his touch gentle but precise. I could feel the warmth of his hand linger for a moment, and I couldn't help but notice the careful attention he gave to making sure I was comfortable. 

Keith then turned around to place the tray of food on my lap. It was bread, some fruits and soup.”You should eat something. It's not much, but it's better than nothing.” “thank you” I mumbled, picking up the bread to eat.

Keith nodded before heading toward the door. "Take care of yourself, June. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask." He left, I was alone again. As I picked at the food, my mind drifted back to Rey. I wondered if he felt guilty about what happened—he must’ve been worried. I couldn’t blame him. It was my fault for freezing up like that. I should’ve reacted faster. 

I stayed in the infirmary, it had probably been a few hours since Keith had left me alone. I wonder how Rey’s doing, I should apologize to him, I should've been faster, should have countered his attacks. 

Then I spent the rest of my afternoon just at the infirmary, soon will came in and checked up on my arm before telling me that I could go back to cabin 11. He gave me the same yellow liquid from when I first arrived. It still tasted like mango pudding cubes. Leaving the infirmary with a new scar, the first person to run up to me was Rey.

He hugged me so hard I swear to you he would have broken my ribs. He was saying sorry a thousand times for his earlier actions, saying that he should have just used a wooden weapon rather then his claws. I just said that I forgive him and that it was my fault for not reacting faster. “WHAT?? but it was my fault that I slashed you an- and you didn't even know how to fight!” He rambled into my shirt, the anxiety prominent in his voice. “I know I know but, I should've dodged your attack. Reflexes, am I right?” I tried to lighten up the mood by smiling in the way that Will does, but Reyno just looked at me worried. I knew that look too well. 

We continued training, but Reyno was a lot more cautious than before. He watched me carefully as we fought, moving a lot slower. Reyno flexed and unflexed his claws, gripping the wooden sword he grabbed from the rack beside the training dummies. The scar on my arm stung a little, not fully but just a little. It felt like an ant bite, or a jellyfish one.

Reyno and I trained for awhile, we trained until it was dinner time. Same routine as yesterday, except Keaton walked up to me.

 “Hey, you! You’re the other new camper  that arrived here, right?” He gave me a look, the same look that one gives you before they start being mean for no reason at all. “Yeah…?” I mumbled, Reyno had left me by myself because he needed to talk to some other friends, maybe something important. I fidgeted, averting my eyes uncomfortably from his gaze.

 “What? You think you’re too  good to look me directly in the eyes?” I looked at them, just for a second. They pierced into mine like bright rubies, the moonlight reflecting off them menacingly. The effect made him look more threatening than how he really was. I winced, turning my head away. “Ha! So you do, huh?” He slowly stepped forwards, which a “Well, listen up, okay? I’m not gonna let you upstage me just because you’re also new. If you do anything remotely fancy like become some child of the big three!” He exclaimed, almost as if he was saying that I was gonna upstage him. “Stay in your lane, four eyes.” Keaton turned away right after flicking my forehead, it didn't hurt really. It felt like a fly just flew right into my forehead. That was a weird interaction, thankfully Rey came back and sat next to me. “Sooo, what did I miss?” “nothing really, Keaton just told me to stay in the background.” I shrugged, not really knowing what to say. 

The next day came by faster than I expected and Rey was called to go on a quest with some other campers. I recognized one of them as the camper I saw at the arena, the one who was practically beating the hell out of that training dummy. I wanted to go with him of course, but…

“It's better if you stay here at camp, Junie.” Rey put his hand on my shoulder, looking at me with a serious expression rather than his silly sunshine one. “But why?” I asked him, a bit confused. I know I didn’t know how to wield a sword or a bow but. I didn’t want to be alone. “You need some more training, but don’t worry! I’ll try and finish this quest as fast as I can!” He soon slung his bag over his shoulder, walking away after he ruffled my hair. I watched him leave with the others, he disappeared into the foliage of the trees, walking farther and farther away from where I stood.

This felt familiar somehow. 

“You look lonely” I hear someone remark from behind me, I quickly fixed my hair as I turned to see who it was, it was Keith. “Don't worry, I've seen Reyno finish a quest as fast as hermes, he’ll be fine.” I nodded, not really wanting to speak after Rey had left. The next day felt short, it passed, one blink and it was gone. All I could remember from that day was…Keith?

I woke up early, before everyone else. Shuffling through the covers of my sleeping bag, I found my glasses and stared at the small clock the person beside me had, 6:30 am. I got up, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. It was extra cold that morning, almost freezing. I pulled the covers of my sleeping bag off my legs, the cold hitting them. I shivered, even with socks on it still was cold for me. Honestly I don’t get how the campers here can wear shorts in the morning. 

The only and last clothes I had left that I had found in the lost and found were just some plaid white and blue pants and a black and red nirvana shirt. I wanted to go back to bed but my mind was telling me to take a walk outside. Quickly and quietly I left the cabin, looking around the place. It was plain, no campers running around or training. The slight sound of the trees and the wind whistling felt calming.

My eyes scanned the area, looking left and then right. Something, more specifically someone caught my eye, I saw a camper sitting by the campfire, wrapped in a blanket. It took me a second to realize who it was, Keith. I wondered why he was awake at this ungodly hour of the morning. There was something about him that felt somehow mysterious? I couldn't explain it but it was drawing me in.

Before I knew it, I was standing right behind him, Keith must've heard my footsteps. “I see i'm not the only one who wakes up this early” Keith looked at me, turning his head. 

He looked tired, almost like he’s never slept a day in his life, “what time did you wake up?” I asked, sitting next to him. 

“around 5? 5 or 5:20” I nodded, “I woke up at 6:30” 

We sat there in silence, just enjoying the warmth of the fire, Keith broke the silence “is your arm okay? you should probably change the bandages soon.” He said, looking down at my arm. It still stung a little, felt a bit numb, “oh, okay.” I replied, looking at my arm too.

“not much of a talker, are you?” He commented, “Your name's June right? June Manalo was it?” 

“yeah, how'd you know?” I was a bit surprised at that. I mean sure a few days before when Rey rushed me to the infirmary he would've said my first name but even I haven't told him my last name… 

Keith looked at me with a small smirk. "Rey mentioned it, when he was panicking about you getting hurt. It wasn’t exactly hard to piece together." He stretched, adjusting his blanket around him. “He talks about you a lot, you know. How you’re quick to forgive him and all that. Kind of cute, actually.” I let out a small chuckle “did he ask you to watch over me while he was gone?”

 Keith chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Nah. I just like the quiet. It’s peaceful, you know? I don’t get much of that during the day. And I’m used to being awake when everyone else is still asleep.” His eyes flickered toward me for a moment before he added, “I’ve seen you around camp. You don’t look like you fit in, not yet anyway.”

I frowned, not really sure how to take that. “What do you mean?”

He shrugged, his expression unreadable. “You’re different. You haven’t really found your place here, have you?” His gaze softened as he looked at me. “But you will. It takes time.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond. I didn’t know Keith had this way of seeing through people, like he understood something deep down that no one else did. And honestly, it kind of scared me.

“So, what about you?” I finally asked, breaking the silence again. “Do you feel like you belong here?”

Keith looked at me for a long moment, his expression blank. Then he exhaled slowly, pulling the blanket tighter around him. "Not really," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "I’m just here because I have to be. But I don’t really fit in with anyone either." He glanced at me, as if deciding whether or not to say more, but then shrugged it off. “It’s complicated.”

I didn’t push him for more, though I was curious. There was a lot about Keith that I didn’t understand, and something told me that if I kept digging, I might end up finding more than I bargained for. But for now, I was content with the quiet.

The fire crackled between us, and the silence felt less oppressive as the minutes ticked by. It was strangely peaceful, being with someone who didn’t feel the need to fill every moment with words.

Soon the breakfast sound rung, all the campers now leaving their cabins to eat food. 

Keith stood up, wrapping the blanket around him like a cloak, and stretched his arms above his head. "Guess it’s time for breakfast," he muttered, I started to follow him as he walked to the pavilion. It was the same old crowd, one I've gotten used to over the past few weeks. Separating from Keith, I felt his hand catch my wrist “Why don't you come sit with me at the hera table, June?” 

“...okay” I said, letting Keith pull on my wrist to his table. I watched him sit down and pat the seat next to him, I just kept my silence and followed. 

I followed Keith that day, wherever he went I went too, whatever he did I did too. I followed him like a lost cat or his shadow, Keith would pop in from time to time, saying something about the activity we were doing. He was pretty good at a lot of camp things, archery, arts and crafts and sword fighting. I sat off to the side most of the time since my arm still had to heal. I was able to do some camp activities though, like arts and crafts.

There was still that same feeling that someone was just watching me, my every breath, move, and speech. Looking around, nothing was out of the ordinary. That apollo camper and nico were hanging out, probably just chatting, younger campers were running around and playing some game, and others just doing what they wanted to. I shook my head, must be paranoia, but the moment I looked back to nico and that camper to check again, nico was staring at me as if I had some answer to a question he was burning to ask. 

Before I could even get up to ask nico to stop staring, keith tapped me on the shoulder. “do you want to head to the pavilion early?” I nodded, I'll just ignore nico. Maybe he’ll stop.

Dinner was just the same routine, except I had keith to sit and talk with me. We chatted about today’s activities or just some campers, “did you hear that demeter kid’s on her fourth boyfriend this week?” Keith whispered to me, I looked in the direction he was pointing at and saw a curly haired brunette hugging a dude’s arm “oh damn…how old is she?” I asked, she didn't look older than 13. “somewhere around…14 or 13 I think, her boyfriend is like 17”  I was surprised that a thirteen year old had a boyfriend who was 4 years older than her, was that not reverse pedophilia? 

Soon after dinner ended, keith walked me to go get more sleeping clothes in the lost and found. I didn't find much except for long baggy pants with stars on them and a t-shirt with a cat. He waved me good night after He walked me to the shower rooms.

I prayed to whoever and whatever gods that the shower rooms where empty, surprisingly they were. Turning on the shower valve, the water came out hot. The hot water felt good against my skin, its warm enveloping me like a warm hug I'd get from my friends. Showering was quick, I wanted to get out and onto my bed immediately. 

I was in and out of the shower rooms quick, putting on the clothes as fast as I can before bee lining to the cabin. The door was closed as I reached the foot steps of the cabin. “damnit!” I semi shouted to myself as I tried knocking, no answer. It was freezing outside and my sleeping bag was in there. Not wanting to cause a whole scene, I just laid down on the ground and curled up like a cat would. I pulled my arms into my shirt, crossing them for warmth. Why was it always so cold during the nights?

I felt sleep soon take me over, my eye lids getting heavier and heavier by the second. The last thing I saw before succumbing to the slumber was the moon…

CHAPTER TEN: The calm before the storm

The sound of laughter rang through my ears, eyes staring at me in every direction. I felt the void around me close in, taking every breath I had. When I looked up, I saw Keaton laughing at me, pointing to my shoes and my outfit. He laughed like a hyena, being joined by his group of friends. All of them surrounded me, predator and prey, pointing and whispering stuff unintelligible, their eyes were pure white with a black dot. 

I couldn't think, couldn't breathe out a word to say something. My mouth was covered with a piece of red tape. Their voices became louder and louder, filling up my ears. I tried running away, to find anyone or anything besides them. It was a dark and empty void that followed me with every step I took. I covered my ears to block out the sound of their laughing but it was no use. I soon stopped as a hooded figure, boney in structure appeared in front of me. He held his staff and lifted his hand up to point at me…

“your next, little crow.” His voice was raspy and hagarred, sounding like nails on a chalkboard. I stared at him and before I knew it, I was being dragged down into the depths of where I stood. It was red, blood red, I looked down to see what was pulling me and it was a white string that burned like a thousand fires. I tried to swim up but the surface only seemed to get farther and farther away. I just gave up, letting the blood red liquids seep into my lungs, the laughing stopped.

Is this what death felt like? Was this the freedom I needed? Death isn't something to be afraid of, it happens once and once only. Death is a beautiful thing, for it lets you be released from all the sins you have committed.

But soon, I woke up to a sharp pain to my stomach. “wake up four eyes!” I heard a familiar voice say, I jolted awake to see Keaton kicking my stomach as hard as he could. I winced but didn't do anything about it, “I said get up!” He yelled at me, I flinched. I got up as fast as I could, dusting myself off of the dirt Keaton had kicked onto me. “Sorry” I looked down to my shoes, feeling embarrassed that someone saw me sleeping outside on the ground like some dog. “Next time at least find a tree to sleep in, little bird.” Keaton scoffed and walked away, his entourage following him behind. My stomach hurt like hell after Keaton kicked it, all I could do was clutch my stomach with my bandaged arm as I walked to the pavilion for breakfast. I didn't want keith to see me right now, I looked pathetic, I looked like a homeless man. 

I headed straight to the hermes table, sitting beside two tall campers to avoid Keith seeing me. They didn't notice me sitting in between them, maybe it was because I was short. 

The two campers beside me were talking about something—probably the latest prank that had gone down—but I wasn’t really paying attention. I grabbed a piece of toast from the tray in front of me, the crunch almost too loud in my ears, and forced myself to take a bite.  The bread was dry, barely tasting of anything as I chewed. My mind kept drifting back to the nightmare, the feeling of suffocation, of being dragged deeper into that suffocating red abyss. I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment, trying to push it out of my head. I wasn’t sure if the pain in my stomach or the memories from the dream were worse. Maybe they were both a sign that I wasn’t really awake yet. 

"Hey, you alright?" A voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I turned to see one of the campers beside me looking at me with mild concern, her dark eyes studying my face. I hadn't even noticed her sitting there until now. I blinked, caught off guard. "Huh? Oh, I’m fine."

She gave me a skeptical look, clearly not buying it. "You sure? You look... off."

I forced a smile, though it felt more like a grimace. "Just tired. Bad night."

She nodded slowly, her expression softening a little. "Yeah, I get that. The camp can mess with your head sometimes. Just don’t let it drag you down."

Her words hung in the air like a distant echo, and for a moment, I couldn’t decide if they were comforting or just another reminder that I wasn’t really fitting in here at all. Still, I appreciated the gesture. She wasn’t Keaton, who seemed to take pleasure in making my life more difficult.

"Thanks," I muttered, trying to sound more at ease than I felt. 

As I finished the last of my toast, I forced myself to stand and blend into the crowd, pretending to be like everyone else. My eyes wandered for a moment, and that was when I saw Keith—his usual calm demeanor as he sat by the fire, chatting with a few campers. He didn’t seem to notice me right away, and for a second, I almost let the chance slip away.

She gave me a small smile before turning her attention back to her own breakfast, and I did the same. But my mind didn’t settle. It never did anymore. Every second was a battle between the familiar chaos of camp life and the unsettling thoughts that kept creeping in.

I didn't realize it at the time, but the more I looked at the campers around me, the more I felt like I was on the outside looking in—again. No one knew what I was really going through. No one understood. Not even Rey. The day continued on as normal, like everyday but I tried my hardest to hide away from keith. Every activity I did I made sure keith wasn't there or looking my way.

The activities were a blur, each one slipping by faster than the last, but the weight in my chest never quite lifted. Every time I thought about Keith, I felt a knot twist tighter. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was watching me, even when he wasn’t. That constant, gnawing sense that I was always on the edge of something terrible, something I couldn’t control.

I still followed the same routine, after dinner I showered and got a new set of clothes. The sun was starting to dip low in the sky, casting long shadows over the campgrounds, but I hardly noticed the change. The unease gnawed at me, crawling beneath my skin like a bug that wouldn't leave. I couldn't escape the feeling that someone was always lurking just out of sight, waiting for me to slip up. My thoughts kept drifting back to Keith. He was there—somewhere in the back of my mind—like a shadow, just out of reach but always there, like the echo of a bad memory. 

The sun sank lower, painting the sky with streaks of orange and pink, I found myself walking toward the edge of camp, away from the laughter and the noise. I needed to breathe, to get away from everyone and everything. I felt bad, not more or so depressed but bad, I didn’t do anything wrong though? Why am I feeling this way if all I did was wake up? Maybe that was the problem, maybe me just being here was the problem all along. I didn’t even notice when I walked up to a tree somewhere on the outskirts of camp. 

I let out a long breath, hoping the air would clear my mind, but it didn’t. It never did. My eyes shifted to the campfire, far off into the distance. It was cold. I missed the warmth from the campfire, the heat from the flame warm against my skin.  There had to be something else, something I could focus on that didn’t tie me to this dark place. But every time I tried, my mind circled back to the same fears, the same dread. It was like a storm inside me, relentless and impossible to ignore. The feeling of the shadows wrap around me, covering me like some shield. I pulled my knees up to my chest, hiding my face in my arms.

I want to disappear.

“Hey is anyone over there?” I looked up to see a camper, she had blunt bangs and glasses. Her hands were cupped against her mouth, making whatever she was shouting louder for me to hear. I immediately got up from my spot, brushing myself off as I walked over. “oh hey, just uh…needed some air to breathe?” I said, my voice a little higher pitched then normal.

The camper blinked at me, clearly not expecting that response. “Yeah? Well, you might want to breathe a little quieter next time, or someone’s going to think you’re dying out here.” Her voice was sharp but oddly casual, like she wasn’t fully invested in the idea of small talk. I had expected her to keep walking, maybe even roll her eyes at my awkwardness, but she just stood there, watching me with a raised brow.

“Not dying, just... drowning in my own thoughts,” I muttered, quickly regretting it. "But hey uhm…I mean, it's not like anyone cares about that anyway, right?"

She raised an eyebrow, her lips curling slightly, but she didn’t shoot back some snarky remark like I expected. Instead, she just gave me a look that said she wasn’t entirely convinced, but also not entirely interested in making me feel worse. Right, 'cause it's totally normal to just let your brain run wild like that. Must be so easy to ignore the chaos," she said, with a sardonic edge. There was a moment of silence, before she sighed dramatically, almost like she was annoyed with herself. “Look, I'm not here to lecture you, but whatever mess you're swimming in, don't think you're the only one who’s drowning.”

She paused, and for the first time, her gaze softened, if only just a little. “But hey, everyone needs air sometimes. Just... don't stay out here too long, or you might catch a cold. And then you’d really be miserable.” Her voice was still blunt, but it didn’t feel quite so harsh anymore. I walked with her back to the campfire, she waved me off before going to sit somewhere else. I didn't see Keith, surprisingly.  I sat back down by the fire, I tried to push the feeling of unease away, but it lingered, like a shadow I couldn’t shake. The embers crackled in front of me, casting flickering orange light over the ground, but even their warmth didn’t seem to reach the cold that had settled in my chest. I glanced around the fire, noting the others talking and laughing, the familiar sound of camp chatter that I’d been trying to avoid all day. But nothing felt normal anymore, not even the crackle of the fire.

I wasn’t sure when it happened, but at some point, my mind slipped back to the events of earlier that morning. The sharp pain in my stomach still throbbed, a reminder of Keaton’s kick. The way he’d smiled, how his laugh felt like a weight sinking into my chest. And then there was the red tape. I could almost feel it pressing against my mouth again, suffocating me, as if I could never speak, never escape. I could still hear his voice echoing in my mind, mocking, taunting.

I swallowed hard, trying to push the thoughts away, but they clung to me, like dirt on my skin I couldn’t wash off. Maybe if I hadn’t been sleeping outside like that, maybe if I hadn’t looked so... weak, he wouldn’t have done it. Was it my fault? The fear of being seen as less than, as not enough, gnawed at me. But what did Keaton see when he looked at me? Weakness, probably. An easy target.

I rubbed my stomach absentmindedly, feeling the bruise there, trying to ignore the shame creeping up. I shouldn’t have let him get to me. I shouldn’t have let him laugh. But I hadn’t been able to stop myself. I hadn’t been able to do anything.

It didn’t matter. He was gone now, and I was here, still stuck in my own head. I could almost hear the laughter again, reverberating in the back of my mind, like an echo that wouldn’t fade. The shadows of the fire flickered, and for a moment, it felt like I was sinking again—like I was drowning in the feeling of it all. That same helplessness. I didn’t even know if I wanted to fit in here. I didn’t know if I ever had. All I knew was that I couldn’t keep pretending it didn’t matter. That maybe it didn’t hurt.

But even though I knew I wasn’t the only one drowning, I couldn’t help but feel that my weight was heavier than anyone else’s. Everyone else seemed so sure of their place, so sure of who they were. And here I was, stuck in this endless loop of self-doubt, of fear, of wanting to disappear.

The fire flickered one last time, the warmth barely brushing my skin, and I found myself standing up, walking away from it all, needing space, needing air. Away from the noise. Away from everything.

I didn’t know where I was going. I just knew I needed to go. To find something, anything, that would take away the feeling of suffocation, even if it was just for a moment.

And maybe that was all I could ask for. Just a moment. A moment where I didn’t feel like I was always drowning.

[tea-potato-gt]

A Borrower at the End of the World part 5: Shadow of a man

Word count: 3100ish

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***

Three Years ago… 

“No, no! You have to strike quicker than that. And don’t press so hard, you’re snapping them!”

“I’m TRYING!” Jace spat back, irritated.

“Ugh!” The voice sounded exasperated and exhausted. “How can a Bean be so helpless?”

“Well if you’re so great at it, why don’t you come out and do it yourself.”

“I already told you, I CAN’T.”

“Then why don’t you just shut u–”

“Stop fighting!" Layla finally shouted. Both Jace and the voice in the wall went silent. “I’m cold.”

Watching her brother argue with a disembodied voice was entertaining at first, but now their shouts were tedious and annoying. They had been going in circles for what felt like hours trying to start a fire with the matches and lint their mysterious friend had brought them. At this point Jace had broken two out of the three matches given. Now they were on their last match. 

Within the old fireplace, on the other side of the room, the voice instructed Jace to place the sticks and logs of wood in a triangular formation. The logs were almost upright leaning against each other. But having a good formation meant nothing if they couldn’t get a fire started. 

“This is harder than it looks,” Jace sighed. “Our mom said we weren’t allowed to play with matches... I’ve never done this before.”

“It’s alright, boy.” The voice said.

"Our father used to say, 'can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs'." Jace sighed, "I guess that applies for matches too."

Even if the boy breaks the last match, (which is highly likely. Ugh.) Briar could still try to walk Jace through starting a fire with friction, but that might take too long and this Bean child would surely grow tired quickly.

Briar noticed that Jace had smooth hands, no scars or calluses. He’d evidently never had to work a day in his life. Not for food, not for travel, and not to survive. Borrower children half Jace’s age would already know how to start fires and hunt for food, instead of relying on the kindness of a tiny man to feed and teach him the basics of survival. 

The life of a bean is a privileged one. Briar thought. Or at least it was before everything went to hell for them. He took a deep calming breath.

“Alright, focus,” The voice encouraged from the walls. “You can do this.”

He has about a 50/50 chance, Briar thought.

Jace sucked in a deep breath. Strike quickly and don’t press too hard, Jace repeated the voice’s advice. He placed the match on the box and struck.

A small flame accumulated at the end of the match. 

Layla gasped.

“I did it!” Jace could hardly believe it. 

“You’re not done yet, The voice said excitedly. “Use the fire starter I gave you.” 

Jace nodded as he carfully bent over the fire and held the small flame to the ball of lint within. It took a few seconds, but it slowly began to catch.

Layla cried out with joy.

“Now feed the flame like I told you.”

Both Layla and Jace gently began to blow on the small flame. They watched in astonishment as the fire began to grow and lick the surrounding logs. 

Soon enough the children had a roaring hearth in the fireplace. 

“It’s so warm,” Layla contently sighed.

“Yeah,” Jace agreed as he placed another log on the fire. They hadn't felt this warm in a long, long time. 

“Thank you, Mister!” Layla chirped towards the darker corner of the room where the voice resided.

“Yeah, thanks.” Jace agreed.

“O-of course.” The voice sounded surprised.

***

Very soon, the trio had a comfortable fire with two pots heating up over it. A few weeks ago, Layla had found a couple old pots in the rundown kitchen. Some were rusted and a little cracked, those were left outside to catch some of the light rain that had been plaguing the area for the past week. Now they had a large pot of water boiling over the fire. 

The voice informed the children that boiling your water was the safest way to drink, it gets out any bacteria or nasty things that might make the kids sick. 

On Jace’s part, he held a smaller pot over the fire that contained the contents of the canned corn their mysterious friend brought them earlier. The kids hadn’t had warm food in a while. They had been eating straight from the tin cans. This was a nice change. 

When the corn was ready, Jace split it between himself and his sister into two bowls. Then got two spoons, he claimed the broken one for himself. 

Layla quickly took a corn kernel and popped it in her mouth, before immediately regretting it, “Hot! Hot!” Layla cried as the corn burned her tongue. She spat it back into her bowl with the rest of the hot food.

“Of course it’s hot, you goober.” Jace laughed at his impatient little sister.

Briar couldn’t help but smile too, watching their antics (from the saftey of the walls) was quite endearing. 

“You got to blow on it, child.” The voice advised.

Layla did as she was told. Jace did the same, though not as aggressive as Layla. Corn juice slashed a little out of the bowl as she huffed. 

Now they have a roaring fire, cooked food, full stomachs, and clean water. Briar saw the kids unabashedly smile for the first time. The older man couldn’t help but smile too. Jace especially grew nicer with food in his belly. He was a very hangry child even before the collapse of society.

“So,” Jace started with a mouthful of hot corn, looking towards the darkness where the voice spoke from. “Do you want some?”

“No, thank you,” The voice said, “I had rat jerky earlier.”

Layla made a face, “Ew.”

“It might sound unappetizing to you beans, but it actually doesn't taste that bad. Especially when food is scarce.” The voice laughed, “‘Waste not want not,’ as my Ma would always say. I use the pelt to make clothing or leather shoes. The bones can be used for furniture or tools. Then the guts, sure some can be cooked, but some I use as bait for other rats. And of course, the meat, smoked or stewed. With one rat I can eat for about two weeks if I salt the leftovers to finish later.”

“You have a mommy, Mister?” Layla piped up after pushing past her sick stomach. 

“Everyone has a mother, child.”

“You have a family?” Jace asked. 

“I did once.”

“I’m sorry,” Jace said honestly. Jace set his food down and listened, really listened. Even in voice, the man seemed tired and the years of pain and loneliness seemed to chip away his life.

“It’s alright… Well, not alright, but I’ve been alone for a long, long time now… I'm just... used to it.”

“You don’t have to be alone anymore, mister.” Layla chirped, “You got us now!”

“We lost our family too.”

“I’m sorry.” The voice said.

“Eh,” Jace shrugged off the pain festering in his heart, “we’ve been getting along just fine without them.”

“You two almost starved to death and couldn’t figure out how to light a fire.” The voice deadpanned.

“Well, that was before YOU showed up.” Jace conceded. “That further proves Layla’s point! Ever since you showed up, good things have happened. You don’t have to be alone anymore. You got us.”

“I…” Briar was speechless. It was a weird feeling, having people to talk to. The most bizarre part to Briar was the fact that two beings, so large and strong compared to him, actually listened to what he had to say and they wanted him to stay. The Borrower had not led the children astray yet. He has fed them, gave them means of warmth, and now they could have safe to drink water. What reason did they have not to trust me?  If they trusted him, maybe they could respect him. Maybe he could show them some trust in return. 

“Boy, you see that old candle on the mantle?”

Jace looked up, indeed there were a few candles up there. Some scented, others were probably religious candles for the house’s previous owners. Jace hadn’t considered using them before now, because they weren't able to start a fire. “Yeah?” Jace stood and grabbed a candle that was a little shorter than the others. 

“Can you light it… and bring it here?”

“Uh… Sure.” Jace hesitated.

“After you bring it, place it behind the crate. A-and you must go immediately back to the other side of the room.”

The voice sounded nervous, though Jace couldn’t fathom why. “Okay.”

Jace lit the end of a stick by placing it in the fire, then he carefully lit the candle. It took a couple of tries for the wick to light, since it was old, but it eventually caught. A new light source entered the room, though not as bright as the fireplace, but it still made the boy happy to finally have things go right for them. 

As instructed, Jace walked carefully towards the darkest corner of the room. He placed his hand in front of the candle wick to keep it from going out. As he made it to the corner, the boy bent down, slowly illuminating parts of the room that had never seen light before. He set the candle behind the wooden crate, he noticed a large rat hole in the wall he had never seen before. Hm.

The boy knew not to linger there. He backed away and joined his sister across the room near the fireplace.

After a couple of minutes of silence and stillness, a shadow slowly grew against the wall behind the crate, gaining height as he seemed to walk in place. The kids eyes widened and Layla let out an audible gasp.

The Borrower was actually walking closer and closer to the candle till he was standing right in front of it. Briar felt the warmth of the candle light as it sat before him. He looked behind him to his shadow being cast on the wall. 

I’m the size of a Bean. Briar thought in awe. 

It was a foreign entity, of massive size. It took up so much space on the wall. Normally, if Briar saw a silhouette like this, he would immediately hide. But this massive form followed his will and copied his movements. He had never taken up so much space before. 

“Woah,” was all Briar could think to say. His voice sounded smaller than in the walls, he didn’t have the closeness of the tunnels echoing and amplifying his voice anymore. He was in a wide open space, where he would have to project just to be heard by the children. He never liked wide open spaces, it felt too unsafe and exposed.

Why am I doing this?

“Do you have any arms?” Layla asked wide eyed.

Briar's silhouette did looked very odd, the man just looked like a head, with shoulders that extended all the way to his knees. The wooden crate blocked anything below that. (Including the small man next to the candle.) 

Briar looked down at himself and barked a good natured laugh, “Of course I do.” He untied his rat skinned cloak and tossed it aside. 

Jace took note, the shadow clearly looked like an older man. He had muscular arms and legs, and when he turned his head, they could see the outline of his crooked nose. “So this is what our mysterious friend looks like?”

“More or less.” The shadow said.

“I’d probably say less.” Jace said sarcastically. “I don’t know if I should have been over or underwhelmed.”

“I think he looks nice,” Layla smiled.

“I could say the same thing about you, girl.” The Shadow seemed to smile back.

“Well, I think he looks funny.” Jace japed. 

“And I’d say you’re pretty funny looking, boy.” The shadow deadpanned. “You know, I could just stop bringing you food.”

“I’m kidding!” Jace conceded. “Wait. If you have access to all that food, why don’t you take some for yourself?” The voice mentioned earlier that in the dead 'bean's' shed, there were hundreds of cans of food.

“Do you want my honest answer?” The Shadow asked

“Yeah.” Layla chirped.

There was a long pause before the shadow spoke again. The voice was too soft to be heard properly. The kids looked at each other, neither heard what he said. 

“What?” Jace leaned forwards. 

The shadow’s shoulder’s fell slightly as he spoke louder “I-I can’t open them myself.”

“Oh.” was all Jace could say. 

“Yeah.” The shadow nodded. He seemed embarrassed.

The children looked at each other, they seemed to have an entire conversation between the two of them without any words.  

Jace had a suspicion their mysterious friend might actually be small. Though how small was a mystery to the boy. He couldn’t fathom a grown man being small enough to cook a rat and still have leftovers for a week. Someone who could hide in plain sight or traverse the walls. But their friend being small was the only explanation.

Unfortunately, Briar could not see either child at all. He could only hear their voices, but that also went both ways. Neither kid could see him on the other side of the crate. If either child tried to get a glimpse of him, Briar was confident would feel the vibrations in the ground and be able to duck back into the walls quickly. 

Eventually, the moon made its trek across the sky, Layla’s eyes began to droop and her head bobbed.  

“Lays? Is it time for bed?” Jace nodded towards the old mattress they slept on in the corner of the room. 

“No!” Layla quickly sat up. “I’m wide awake!” She tried to stand, but her body clearly was so exhausted that she stumbled in her attempt. 

Jace held out his hands to catch her, but she righted herself. “Come on, Lays!” Jace smiled and stood and wrapped his arms around his 5 year old sister. Layla squealed with delight as she was lifted into his arms like a princess. Jace mentally noted that it was getting heavy, they might not be able to do this for much longer. “Off to bed with you!” He carried her to the mattress and promptly dropped her on top. Layla giggled as Jace wrapped her in the quilt like a burrito. 

“Jace!” Layla chirped from her blanket cocoon. “Tell me a story.”

“Sorry, sis,” said Jace dramatically. “I’m fresh out.”

Layla sat up and looked at the shadow on the wall. “Do you have a story, Mister?”

“I don’t think you want to hear any more of my tales, child.” The Shadow laughed. The stories Briar grew up with as a borrower usually involved a child who didn’t listen to their parents and died in a horrible way. Not exactly what a young child might want to hear before closing their eyes. Borrower tales were mostly told as cautionary stories to keep kids in line and to not do something stupid like... talk to beans.

Pot calling the kettle much? Briar thought.

“I do! I really do!” Layla nodded earnestly. 

The shadow sighed. “Alright.”

“This better be good.” Jace sat beside Layla on the bed, she shushed him. 

***

Once again, Briar decided to trade in a borrower of the tale for another small creature, this time a mouse. Briar retold the story his mother would say to him and his brothers when they were young:

The little mouse who did not listen to his mother and wandered too far from home and died.

As the title suggests, the mouse did not listen to his mother when she said don't wander too far from home or he will get lost. The Little mouse was swept away storm and washed down river far far from home. He was then almost eaten by a menagerie of large animals, a hawk, badger, a snake, and then he was taken away by a wolf.

Now, here Briar was at a crossroads. He could keep the story as his mother told, where the little borrower (mouse) was taken away by the bean (wolf) and eaten. A simple story about why you should listen to you parents and not stary from home or you die. When Briar's mom told this version of the story his little brother started crying, he was so scared of beans. Mission accomplished I suppose, but did he have to end the story he same way?

This was Briar's version. These bean kids didn't know how it was supposed to go, maybe just one time, he could make the ending happy. Just for Jace and Layla. Just for himself.

He continued the tale, The wolf carried the little mouse over hill and mountain, night and day. The mouse was terrified. Then suddenly, the wolf dropped the little mouse and left.

The little mouse looked around and couldn’t believe what he saw. There’s the stream! There’s my favorite jumping rock! There’s the hole that leads to my home! There’s my front door!

The little mouse was nervous as he knocked on the door. Will my mother be cross with me sine I disobeyed her warnings?

The door opened as Momma Mouse stood in the doorway. She reached out and pulled her son into a deep hug. The little mouse cried tears of happiness as he was once again cradled in his mother’s arms. Momma Mouse was joyous that her son had come home. 

From that day on, the Little mouse always listened to what his mother had to say. 

***

“Did you like it?” The Shadow asked. 

“Uh-huh. I did. Thank you, Mister,” Layla nodded sleepily to the shadow. Then she turned to her brother who was still sitting on the mattress. “Are you going to sleep, Jace?” 

“I can’t. Someone’s gotta watch the fire, Lays.”

“I’ll watch the fire, you kids get some sleep.” The shadow said. 

Layla let out one last sleepy cheer as her breathing evened out and she grew quiet. 

“You really care for her, huh?” The Shadow said after he was sure the child was asleep.

“Yeah.” Jace nodded. “She’s all I have left.”

“May I ask, why are you two alone?” The shadow hesitated. “That is, only if you want to tell me.”

Jace was quiet for a long time, he picked up the picture frame that sat on the table next to their bed. He stared at it, then sighed, “Our grandmother was one of the first to die when people got sick. A-and we got separated from our mom while running from those… creatures... And our dad was long gone before people started dying. We haven’t seen him in years.”

“Do you know what became of your mother?”

“She didn’t make it.” Jace’s frown deepened and he seemed to age a decade in a matter of seconds. “Layla doesn’t even know. How could you tell a five year old that her mommy isn’t coming back?”

“I… I’m not sure.”

With the drastic height differences between Jace and Briar, the borrower had forgotten that Jace is still only 11 years old. The boy did not ask for the responsibility of keeping himself and his little sister alive. The kid was woefully unprepared. Jace and Layla were not ready to survive in a world turned against them. A feeling Briar knew all too well. 

Another long pause. Jace sniffed and whiped his nose with his sleeve. “I really did mean it…" he said to the shadow, "You can stay with us.”

“Thank you… I’ll consider it.” Briar said honestly. “Now rest boy, tomorrow is a new day.”

“Thanks, Boss.” Jace smiled as he got comfortable on the mattress. Layla snuggled into her brother’s arms. 

After a moment of silence The Shadow spoke, “I’m not your boss, don’t call me that.”

“Well, what else can I call you, when you refuse to tell us your name?”

“Fine.”

“Alright.” Jace smiled. “Goodnight, Boss.”

“Goodnight, Jace.”

***

Thanks for reading! See you next time (Update Mon & Fri)

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[janetbrown711]

Songbirds in the City Air (i'm not gonna make it)

Prologue

Zhu Li Na was forced into servitude for her cruel step-mother and step-sisters since she was nine years old, and she craves nothing more than a night away from all of them. When an invite from the royal palace comes saying all eligible women are invited to the palace's New Years ball to meet the Princess Xiuying, she can't help but think that maybe this could be her moment.

AKA the cinderella au for my freenoodles fankid, Li Na, that literally nobody asked for

Prologue Chapter 1

Ao3 Link

Li Na laid resting with her head on her older brother’s lap, the latter combing his fingers through her hair and the former messing with the fabric of his robe. It was a quiet day on their farm, everyone moving around with hushed voices and next to silent footsteps so as not to disturb the little family of four, soon to be three– though of course Li Na didn’t like thinking about that. Frankly, no one did, but as the days passed and Pigsy only got worse and worse, everyone knew it was only a matter of time.

It almost made Li Na furious. The doctor had lied and the medicine water hadn’t worked and now her dad was– it wasn’t right! However, the flame of her anger turned into waves of sorrow and she kept her head low on her brother’s lap. She prayed this could be over like a bad dream and she could wake up with her dad just as happy as he was three weeks before.

MK used to promise her their dad would get better, but now he’s silent. He still rubbed her ears and stroked her hair, but the silence almost made her burst out into sobs. It was never this quiet around home. She was right, this was all backward, it wasn’t fair– but it was going to happen anyways. Now, the entire farm held its breath and waited.

“Li Na..?”

The girl sat up and looked at her baba standing by the hallway. His smile was so soft, but tired, and his eyes were puffy and red. He held out his hand for her, but Li Na almost wanted to keep laying here, thinking if she stayed away, this moment would never end and her dad would keep living.

MK rubbed her back encouragingly. His eyes were red and puffy too. He still didn't talk, but she could practically hear him telling her to breathe and that it'll all be okay. She hardly believed him, but got off the bench anyway, taking her baba's hand as he led her back into their bedroom, stroking her hand with his thumb the entire way there.

They stopped right before opening the door. When Li Na looked up at Tang, he looked like he was going to cry again, but instead forced a smile.

“I'll be waiting right here, okay? All you have to do is say the word and I'll be right there,” he squeezed her hand.

Li Na nodded.

“Alright. He's ready for you,” Tang kissed her head and opened the door for her, and so the eight-year-old slowly crept in.

Immediately, the girl noticed the heavy aura of the room. It was absolutely spotless for once, which Li Na was smart enough to know it hadn't been in quite some time. In fact, the only remaining signs of struggle and disease were a bowl with a rag soaking to help cool her dad– her dad.

He was laying in the middle of the bed, numerous pillows from all over the house propping him upright. He was pale– too pale– and had lost a lot of weight, his eyes looking sunken with dark circles. However, when he glanced at her, they lit up, and he smiled.

“Hey there, bao bei,” he croaked, and Li Na instantly ran and jumped up on the bed, giving him the tightest hug she could manage, already crying.

Pigsy wrapped his arms around her as best he could and kissed her head. “I've missed you.”

“Please don't go, dadsy– I don't want you to go,” Li Na pleaded, nuzzling her face in his chest.

“Oh, kiddo… you're so brave and strong…”

“I don't wanna be brave and strong, I-I want you,” Li Na cried.

Pigsy smiled sadly. “My little bao bei, I’ll always be with you.”

“S’not the same, I-I-I've missed you so much, Dadsy– please don't go,” she begged with all her might.

“Li Na, I know it’s hard… but you’ll be okay. Your baba and MK will take care of you,” Pigsy urged, stroking her hair lightly.

“I don’t care! I want you,” Li Na shook her head furiously. “I hate this! W-why didn’t the medicine work? It’s not fair, dadsy, it’s not fair.”

Pigsy sighed weakly. “I know, bao bei, it’s not. I’m sorry… I wish it was, I swear I do…”

Li Na hugged her dad tighter. “It’s too quiet without you and baba laughing all the time. I hate it here.”

“I know… but I promise you your baba’s laugh will come back one day… and you and MK will be able to laugh with ‘im too, just like old times,” Pigsy chuckled, but Li Na shook her head again.

“No, I won’t– I’ll never laugh again if you leave us, I won’t, I won’t, I won’t.”

“You will, Li Na. I know you will. You’ll find happiness after I’m gone, I promise,” Pigsy placed a weak hand on her cheek.

Li Na pressed her dad’s hand closer. “I don’ wanna be happy when you’re gone.”

Her dad chuckled again. “‘Fraid you don’t get a choice, kiddo. Good things will happen whether you want ‘em or not.”

Li Na looked away from her dad, quickly readjusting herself so her dad’s arm was wrapped around her and she was snuggled next to his chest. “How–... how do you know that?”

Pigsy kissed the top of her head once more. “I know that because… despite everything… you’ll still be the same sweet and kind girl you are now.”

“What if I’d rather be mean and bitter?” Li Na asked, bring his arm tighter around her.

“You won’t, you’re too good– like your baba and brother,” Pigsy stroked her arm with his thumb.

Li Na went quiet, tears still streaming, but completely out of words. Despite everything, it was good to snuggle with her dad one more time, so instead of talking she worked to memorize the feeling as best she could. She memorized how warm his skin was against hers, how soft his cotton robe was, how it felt for him to breathe normally, how his thumb stroked her hands, how she could feel him relax when her tears lessened, and how he shook with the effort to express his love. She embraced it all, pressing it deep in her mind so that she’d never, ever lose this feeling.

Her dad was quiet too, except for the occasional harsh breath and weak cough. It scared Li Na every time, but she would just hold her dad’s hand with both of hers and squeeze tight, and when the coughing fit was done, he’d squeeze right back. It made her cry harder, thinking about all the pain he was in and then how he wouldn’t be in pain soon but only because he’d be gone, and then–

“It’s just… it's not fair,” Li Na croaked.

“I know, kiddo… I’m so sorry,” Pigsy apologized and Li Na leapt up to hug him again.

“I-I’m gonna miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too, bao bei.”

“...You promise not to go to the spirit realm too soon..?”

“I'll always be with you, kiddo. I promise.”

Li Na slowly nodded, sitting upright and wiping her face with her sleeve. Her dad instantly tried moving his arm up to her cheek, which Li Na helped him with.

“I love you, Li Na.” Her dad smiled, tears of his own streaking down.

“I love you too, dadsy.” Li Na tried her best not to break again, though she certainly leaned into his touch as best she could, trying to memorize this feeling too.

It was quiet again for a minute, before her father slowly croaked, “C-could you get… your baba and MK for me, sweetie?”

Li Na nodded and hopped off the bed, opening the door for Tang. He didn't hesitate to burst in, meanwhile the girl lingered at the door.

“Honey? What is it? How are you feeling?” Tang rushed to his husband’s bedside and grabbed his hand, kissing it twice and stroking his forehead.

“Get MK, please?” The demon asked.

“Of course. I'll be right back,” Tang bent to kiss his husband's head before running and calling for MK.

While he did, Li Na slowly made her way back onto the bed to hold her dad’s hand again, which made him smile ever so slightly.

“So sweet… so kind, my Li Na…” he whispered.

Li Na kept her eyes low. “Thank you, dadsy… I-... I won't change that, I promise.”

“That's my girl.” His smile grew when MK and Tang returned.

“Dad, You– you said you needed me?” MK asked, hand going to the demon’s shoulder.

Pigsy’s eyes could barely stay open at this point, but he looked at MK with quiet relief. “Son… I’m so proud of you…”

MK stepped closer. “I-I know, dad, you told me earlier–”

“I love you, son.”

“I love you too, dad,” MK assured, squeezing Pigsy’s shoulder tight.

Pigsy’s eyes wandered to his left, where Tang was now standing. “Tang…”

“I’m right here, Pigsy, I’m right here,” Tang held onto Pigsy’s other hand.

“I love you too, Tangy,” the demon said.

“I-I love you too, Pigsy.” Tang sniffled before kissing his forehead, allowing Pigsy to finally close his eyes.

“I’m lucky… I love you all… m’so lucky…” His voice grew even quieter.

“W-we’re lucky to have you, Pigsy,” Tang insisted, laughing and crying harder.

“M’lucky… love you…”

Tang didn’t say anything back this time, just kissing his cheek long and soft, while time slowly but surely came to a stop.

The first thing Li Na noticed was her father letting go of her hand. The second was how his shoulders sagged, his head rolling back ever-so-slightly. The third was when Tang pulled away, her dad’s smile didn’t grow like it always did, his face completely still. The fourth was that his chest exhaled and stayed, and stayed, and stayed. The fifth was that his chest never rose back.

“No… no– dad– dad wait– stop! No– please– I’m not ready– Dadsy please!” Li Na begged, going to shake her dad’s shoulders, before she felt a pair of arms wrap around her midsection and pull her away.

“Let me go! Let me go! Dadsy!” Li Na shrieked, kicking and flailing but never once looking away from Pigsy, whom her baba was now draped against and sobbing on. Whoever was holding her had a strong grip though, as even with her clawing and scratching and shrieking and kicking, they managed to hold strong and drag her into the hallway. She protested even stronger out there, shrieking and shrieking and kicking and wailing and hitting the arms holding her back until the futility of it crashed over her and she broke down.

The person holding her sank to their knees instantly, quickly wrapping her in a hug, and– MK– MK hugged her tight before letting out a loud sob of his own. Li Na collapsed in his arms, trying to hug him but every inch of her body ached and burned with emptiness. Thankfully her brother was stronger than her, hugging and holding her close and tight, like he was afraid to let go.

Li Na hoped he never did.

Li Na’s whole body shook and shuddered until she suddenly felt another pair of arms wrap around her and MK– Baba…

“I-It’ll be okay, you two… one day, it’ll be okay, I promise,” he croaked, kissing both MK and Li Na’s heads before he squeezed them tighter.

Li Na couldn’t disagree more. She had so many things she still wanted to do and say to him, but now she can’t and it just– it hurt, it hurt so bad, and—

Pigsy was dead, and nothing was going to change that.

.o0o.

Her dad ended up being right, Li Na didn't like being mean. It wasn't like she didn't try, she wanted to hate all the doctors and medical scholars that stopped by the farm or she saw in the village, but she just couldn't do it. She knew they tried their best, but it just wasn't good enough. After all, she could've done and said more, but she wasn't enough either, so…

Tang made sure the funeral was held on the most auspicious day possible, and found the best monks and scholars for the procession and rituals. Li Na clung to his side whenever she could, but when he was busy, she was immediately glued to MK. The funeral was beautiful with white everywhere, and with beautiful music. It was quiet, like it had been before, but now it seemed like even heaven and earth were mourning, as even the plants and animals hung their heads low in respect. It was too dreary for spring, but her baba said it wouldn’t last forever.

He was right too, in a way. It took weeks, but eventually the flowers started blooming and the chickens started clucking, and the ducks started quacking. But… still. It was more muted than before, like it was covered in mist and haze.

It didn’t help that with her dad gone, Tang had to run the place, and while he certainly tried his best, Pigsy had always been more suited for managing it all– especially the rougher seasons. While her baba never said anything, Li Na knew money was tight, evident by the shrinking meals and struggling staff and the chicken coop never getting repaired.

She couldn’t cling to her baba as much during those days, but MK wasn’t much better. There was something weird with him– this kind of energy he couldn’t seem to shake. He was on high alert at all times, constantly observing the area around him and going out back to practice with his old wooden sword from ages ago. Sometimes Li Na would watch as he slashed and hacked away at the target, but other times it was just too much and she’d rather find her baba.

She hated being alone. If her baba or MK weren’t in her line of sight, an uneasy feeling would start consuming her until she’d suddenly burst into unstoppable tears that none of the staff could fix. She could only be soothed by MK or Tang picking her up and hugging her tight, and she’d fall asleep in their arms.

She dreamt of her dad often, almost every night. She could hear his gruff voice, feel his gentle touch, and would be consumed by his warm hugs that disappeared into nothingness when she woke. At first it made her weep, but now it was more of a weight in her chest that she had to carry as she moved on. It was hard to keep up her chores like this, but after a few months she managed to press on.

However, one winter morning, everything came crashing down.

“MK… Li Na… I–... I've been thinking,” Tang spoke up around the dinner table.

MK furrowed his brows but said nothing.

“...The harvest was obviously less than ideal this year, a-and well– you both know I wasn't raised in this kind of environment and without–... without him here, I just… I don't think I can manage this place on my own,” he confessed, and Li Na saw MK's posture stiffen.

“So what're you suggesting?” He asked sharply.

Tang looked towards the fireplace. “I… I can't bear the thought of selling this place. It’s been in your father's family for generations, it should be yours one day… but I am not the person who should be running this place in his absence.”

MK's shoulders relaxed. “Okay… then what? You're gonna hire more help? Where are we going to get the money?”

Tang clenched his eyes shut tight.

“I… I was thinking I should remarry.”

Li Na's eyes widened. “Wh-what?! What about–”

“The matchmaker informed me of a widow with two daughters who lives nearby, says she needs a husband to help support her family and she has ties to the schools in Chang'an. If I can get hired to teach there, it would give us enough money to keep the farm and hire all the help in the world,” Tang explained with a tone of desperation.

“B-but what about Dadsy? I-It hasn't even been a year, a-and– You said you loved him a-and that you'd never love anyone else, you promised,” Li Na started to sob so MK dragged her into a hug.

“I know, Li Na, but trust me when I say this is strictly a marriage of convenience and the only way I can think to help preserve his memory.” Tang reached forward across the low table, but Li Na stayed curled to MK. “I loved and still love your father with all I am, bao bao… but for your sake and for MK's and this farm, I have to.”

Li Na wanted to refuse, of course, but one look at her baba showed her just how heartbroken and desperate he was, so she glanced up at MK before making her decision.

“I… I think you should do it,” MK said. “It'll be good for you two to have someone else to help you take care of things,” he looked up at Tang, who looked like a boulder was lifted off his back.

“Yes, of course. Did I mention she has two daughters? They're just a bit older than you, Li Na, and I've heard tons about how polite and sweet they are. I'm sure they'll be great friends for you,” Tang rambled.

Li Na got a little closer to MK. “I don't need friends, I have you two…”

MK sighed and stroked her hair. “Everyone needs friends, Li-Li. Plus, one day soon I'm gonna be out on my own, ‘making it as a man’ as they say. What will you do then?”

Li Na stiffened. “You– you wanna leave..?”

MK winced. “Not too soon! Like– not this year, but… but maybe after baba's married again and you're all settled into your new life, you know?”

“What?! That's not fair!” Li Na protested.

“Li Na, I'm sorry but– but I have to do this. I need to find a way to make it on my own, but I promise you I'll write every week– every day if I can, alright? You aren't going to lose me too, I swear.” He hugged her closer.

“No! I don't want you to go! It's not safe out there!” The girl shook her head feverishly.

“Li Na, it's okay, I'll be safe, I just–... I gotta do this.” MK glanced at their baba, who was obviously shocked by the revelation too.

“MK, I… I don't know what to say…” Tang sank down slightly. “Goodness, you really are eighteen, aren't you?”

“Tell him he can't go, baba! Please,” Li Na begged.

Tang and MK looked at each other in a way that made Li Na feel worse.

“Li Na, I won't go until you're good and ready, okay?” MK held her head in his hands and made her look at him. “Until then, I'm not going anywhere.”

“But… why?” Li Na sniffled.

MK sighed. “I can't explain it… it's like… destiny is calling me and I've been itching to answer.”

“You’ll get to experience that one day for yourself, bao bao,” Tang added, finally going to her other side to join the hug.

“Besides, you’ll have two new sisters to get to know and bond with. Plus, I’ll be writing letters to you whenever I can to keep in touch.” MK smiled softly.

“What if my step-sisters hate me?” Li Na asked, picking at her nails.

MK laughed. “They won’t, don’t worry. You’re too nice to hate.”

Li Na snorted a little, before her eyes fell low. “What if I’m never ready for you to go..? Would you stay?”

MK rested his head on top of his sister’s. “I’ll stay as long as you need, Li Na.”

Li Na let out a long sigh, because despite that being what she wanted to hear, it certainly didn’t make her feel any better.

“Li Na, I know this is a lot of change, but you aren’t alone,” Tang spoke up, tucking a strand of her hair back before cupping her cheek. “I’ll be adjusting to this new life right there with you, okay? I’ll always be here for you.”

Immediately, Li Na winced, a dark thought crawling into her mind.

“But… what if you get sick..?” She looked at both of them.

MK and Tang both froze a moment, eyes wide and jaws agape before they suddenly snapped out of it to embrace Li Na tightly.

“We’ll take it one day at a time, Li Na,” Tang whispered. “One day at a time.”

Li Na melted into the embrace of her family, her mind full of uncertainty but her heart wanting desperately to believe them. As much as it felt like everything sucked, she wanted to believe it could get better. If MK and Tang were telling her it was possible, she’d do her best to believe them.

“Okay, baba.” She nodded, glancing at MK. “I’m sorry for yelling, I didn’t mean to–”

“It’s okay, Li-Li, it’s okay,” MK insisted, hugging her tighter. “I didn’t mean to drop it on you right now. I’m not going anywhere for a long, long time.”

“Good.”

.o0o.

The wedding was set for the second week in spring, with them only meeting up in person one day before the ceremony for paperwork. Tang admitted the arrangement was less than ideal, but Lady Zhang Jenai, as they came to know her, was a very busy woman. It meant they got to spend the anniversary of their father’s passing alone as a family though, which was something Li Na was very grateful for. However, shortly after that, most of their things were packed to be moved to Lady Jenai’s large estate in the city, meaning she had to say goodbye to the only home she’d ever known.

Tang constantly assured her Lady Jenai’s place was better, that it was bigger and there were many children she could meet and mingle with out there, but she strongly disagreed. She had only ever gone into the city once with her baba, and she hated all the noise and shouting. The farm was quiet and peaceful, with rivers and ponds in abundance for her to relax and play in after all her chores were done. Tang said Lady Jenai had a duck pond in her courtyard, but Li Na doubted it would feel the same.

In better news, Li Na had stopped crying whenever MK or Tang were gone, though the loneliness and anxiety she felt still lingered. She managed to cope with housework and picking up where staff and servants dropped off. Granted, being nine-years-old meant she was hardly skilled, but it was worth it if it helped her get over her separation anxiety.

Of course, she wasn't perfect, as the closer it got, the more nervous she got about meeting her future step-family. Nobody really knew anything about them other than they were around her age and very proper, which made her wonder if her own etiquette skills would be lacking compared to theirs. She wondered if they'd look down on her for being from the country instead of the city. She sometimes even worried they'd dislike her for being a demon (although technically she was only half, but she didn't look like it). MK told her not to worry, that she’d win them over eventually, and before she knew it the day had arrived.

Li Na did her best not to, but ultimately she cried once the carriage was pulled away from the farm, which got her a side hug from Tang.

“It’ll be okay, bao bao, we’ll be back someday soon,” he assured, rubbing her arm up and down.

Li Na slowly nodded. “Yeah… you’re right, baba. We’ll be back.”

Her baba seemed satisfied at that, and so Li Na curled up to his side and let him stroke her hair until she fell asleep, wiped out from all the packing and with quite a few hours ahead of them.

It was a quiet journey, up until they reached the city, where the hustle and bustle of guards and markets and horses and shouting disrupted Li Na’s little nap, and she grumbled back to life. It still took some time to reach Lady Jenai’s home, having to pass through several grand city walls before they arrived.

The moment the carriage stopped, servants dressed in red immediately approached and offered a hand to help the three of them down, before more people in red came and took their trunks of goods into the truly formidable home.

It was taller than any she was used to seeing, not to mention stretching wide with beautiful trees and landscaping to boot. It made Li Na’s eyes sparkle as she noticed the birds and other wildlife, before her baba suddenly spoke.

“Lady Jenai, thank you for allowing us into your home.” Tang quickly bowed, MK and Li Na short to follow.

The lady in question was standing right by the grand door, her face covered by a fan. The woman was tall and grand in her stature, her face was as pale as porcelain and hair as black as the night. In her hair was a bright gold qixiong ruqun that sparkled like the sun, so elegant Li Na briefly wondered if her baba got engaged to a princess and forgot to tell them. Jenai also wore bright red paste on her lips, rouge on her cheekbones, and a red plum blossom on her forehead, giving a soft and heavenly look to her face– if it weren’t for her eyes, which were dark and sharp as they looked towards her baba.

“The honor is mine, Lord Tang.” She bowed, her long silky gown flowing with pure elegance as she did. “Come. Let me introduce you to my daughters.”

“Of course.” Tang nodded, and Li Na quickly grabbed his hand before they headed in.

Immediately, the girl was struck by the opulence of her new home, jade and gold decorating every wall and pillar. There was all sorts of artwork everywhere, whether it be expensive looking vases or paintings of nature or of Lady Jenai’s family. She couldn’t wait to get an official tour, as they were moving way too fast toward the courtyard for her liking. Then again, she was going to live here, so she’ll have all the time in the world to get to know the place. She could tell it made her baba excited too.

The courtyard was stunning. It was everything Tang had described and more– a pond with little ducks swimming, a gorgeous, large peach tree ripe for the taking, stone paths to hop along, a small stream to meditate by, and a bench to sit and enjoy the breeze. Li Na was so lost in the lavishness, she practically forgot about her step family until Tang squeezed her hand and her eyes landed on the two girls in front of her.

The first was taller than her, and thin as paper. She wore the same makeup as her mother and sister, though had a flame instead of a flower marked on her forehead. Her dark raven hair was twisted into four buns, two on each side of her face, and were decorated with golden flowers. She wore a dark blue hanfu with red accents and scarves, likely to match the red in her makeup. If Li Na had to guess, she would figure this sister was three or four years older than her since, while she looked more mature, she clearly hadn’t had her coming of age ceremony yet.

The other sister was roughly the same height as Li Na, and while her face wasn’t white, she still had a little red lotus on her forehead. Her hair was split into three sections and twisted into buns that resembled chain loops that were remarkably well kept. She wore a hanfu similar to her sister, except green with red accents instead. If Li Na had to guess, she was a year and a half older.

“These are my daughters: Sujia and Peili,” Lady Jenai announced, the girls bowing when their name was spoken.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you girls.” Tang and company bowed. “These are my children, Xiaotian and Li Na.” He gestured.

When Li Na finished bowing, she immediately noticed both sisters were staring at her with wide eyes, the younger with a raised eyebrow that made her face turn dark red until their mother spoke up.

“It’s a pleasure to have you join our family,” Jenai looked at MK and Tang. “Come now, we have a lot to discuss for the ceremony tomorrow, and there’s tea waiting in the library,” she told Tang. When they started to go, Li Na naturally followed, until the woman suddenly stopped in her tracks and looked at her.

“This is an adult matter. The children should stay in the courtyard,” She spoke to Tang, not even so much as glancing at Li Na.

Tang and MK looked down at her with pitiful smiles that told her all she needed to know, and she let go of her baba’s hand.

“Thank you, bao bao. We’ll find you as soon as we’re finished,” he vowed, and before she knew it, he and MK were both gone.

It was okay, though. She was okay if they were gone. She was okay. She was just going to go relax by the pond and–

“Wow, your skin really is pink, huh?” A voice from behind made her jump.

“I– uh– yeah!” Li Na laughed nervously and turned around, finding Sujia and Peili staring at her. “It's what you get being half a pig demon.”

Sujia laughed. “That is what you get. You like mud too?”

Li Na laughed too, though her stomach was kinda tight. “No, no mud for me, just water.”

“That must be the human half,” Peili added with a giggle.

“What else do you do, little piggy?” Sujia asked, circling her.

“Oh, well, I mostly help baba around the farm–”

“Farm? Isn’t that confusing?” Peili interrupted.

“Well, they would have experience raising pigs, it makes sense,” Sujia snickered, while Li Na shifted awkwardly.

“We don’t have pigs on the farm, just cows and birds and stuff,” Li Na spoke up.

“Good, then there’s no mix ups,” Sujia patted her shoulder. “What else?”

“W-well, I help pick apples, when they’re in season. I also do a lot of sweeping and cleaning where our workers can’t since I got ‘young joints’ and all,” she explained further.

“Ever been to the city's Lunar New Year festival?” Peili questioned next.

“Oh– uh, no. Baba and I don’t really like the noise,” Li Na admitted.

Sujia snickered. “Really? That’s too bad. The celebration is just about to die for. But then again, I can see how it can be too much for simple people like you.”

“Yeah, I– I guess so,” Li Na half agreed, confused by her tone.

“So have you ever done anything cool or fun?” Peili cut in again.

“Oh, well MK and I play a lot games together and practice sword and staff fighting sometimes–”

“Really? Isn’t that kinda boyish?” Peili raised an eyebrow.

“Not for her, dummy.” Sujia elbowed Peili with a snicker.

“Right! Yeah, I like sword fighting, I think it's cool.” Li Na smiled and both girls laughed.

“You're really cute, aren't you?” Sujia tilted her head in a way that made Li Na blush.

“I… I've been told.” She looked at the ground.

“You are cute! You look like a fat little piglet,” Peili snickered, getting her another elbow from her older sister.

“She is a piglet, Peili.” Sujia rolled her eyes, before suddenly snapping her fingers. “You should let me give you a makeover some time, I can make you totally beautiful.”

Li Na took a step back. “Oh, I don't know–”

“Oh c'mon! It would be so fun,” Peili insisted.

“It would be so cute to see you walk around like that,” Sujia added. “I bet Mama would even let you go with us to New Years.”

“I don't know, Baba says I shouldn't worry about makeup til I'm 15.” Li Na scratched her arm.

Sujia rolled her eyes. “What would he know about makeup and fashion and society?”

Li Na looked back at the ground.

“I think you should think about it since it would be totally fun.” Peili shared a look with Sujia. “And it would be a good way for us sisters to bond.”

Li Na lit up. “R-really? You want that?”

Sujia smiled sweetly. “Of course we do. We're going to be family tomorrow, after all, so the least we can do is teach you how to be pretty.”

“Besides, you really can't go out in public like that,” Peili added.

“Right, yeah.” Li Na blushed again.

“You should dance for us some time, it would be fun,” Peili suddenly suggested.

“Oh– I don't really know how to, though.” Li Na shook her head.

“That's half the fun.” Sujia smiled with her arms crossed. “I can get all of the girls from the area and we can all watch you dance for us.”

“Wait– Just me?” Li Na blinked. “That's kinda… weird, isn't it?”

Sujia and Peili laughed.

Li Na would've asked more, but right the door opened and MK returned.

“Li Na, did you know Jenai's husband w– oh, hello you two,” MK realized his sister wasn't alone and bowed.

“MK,” Li Na smiled and hugged him tight. “Why're you back so soon?”

“It was all just boring financial talk, don't worry, Li-Li.” MK waved off.

“MK… Didn't Lord Tang say your name was Xiaotian?” Peili asked, head tilted.

“Oh, yeah, but I prefer to be called MK,” he explained with a grin.

“I see,” Sujia nodded. “Well, welcome to the family, MK. Care for a tour of our home?”

“Oh-! Sure, that sounds fun, right?” MK looked to Li Na, who nodded (getting a grimace from Peili).

“Let’s go then.” Sujia turned on her heels, and the tour began.

The rest of the day went off without a hitch, Li Na feeling much braver and safer with MK by her side. They reunited with Tang at dinner, and things were finally starting to feel good by nighttime.

Li Na was unfortunately not part of the wedding procession, since she wasn't allowed to be with the men and wasn't considered family to the bride, which was fair. Besides, MK told her she’d just get bored at all the rituals and that she could be with them at the dinner. She did catch a glance at her baba briefly as he went across a hall, and gave a small wave he returned before he disappeared once again.

Thankfully, MK was right and she joined the family at dinner, which was truly magnificent. Granted, the noodles were nothing compared to how her dad used to make them, but the rest was delicious. There was shark fin and fish roe soup, roasted duck, crab, sea cucumber and abalone, and sweet buns– she felt like a princess having it all laid out in front of her. It was great to sit and talk to her brother and Baba again too, and while it made her wish she could have seen the ceremony, she was perfectly happy to be at the dinner.

And so the day ended, and the Zhang and Zhu families were now one.

…And one month later, MK had packed his bags and was ready to venture out on his own.

“Alright, the boat’s here, I guess we know what that means,” Tang laughed nervously as MK picked up his bags.

“I'll be okay, Baba, I promise.” MK smiled softly. “And you will be too, with your job and your books and your studies.”

Tang's eyes filled with tears. “I know, MK, I know… just make sure to write, okay?” he wiped his face.

“Of course,” MK gave his baba a quick hug before turning to Li Na, who immediately hugged him.

“Do you really have to go?” she whispered.

“I know, I know, I'm sorry but I do.” MK stroked her head.

“Just checking,” she sighed.

“Hey, you've been doing okay with Sujia and Peili, right? You'll be just fine,” MK assured softly.

“Still.” Li Na sniffled. “It won't be the same.”

MK knelt down. “Well then, it's a good thing I got you something then, hm?”

Li Na perked up, making MK laugh as he turned around. He teased her for a moment, hemming and hawing and searching through his bags before he suddenly turned around with a tiny blue kitten in his hands.

“What?! Where did you get that?” Li Na jumped and immediately started flapping her hands in joy.

“Found him at the back end of a street yesterday, and I think he'll be the perfect pet to keep you company while I'm gone,” MK grinned, handing the kitten over.

“Oh he's so cute, MK!” Li Na fawned. “B-but–”

“I know he's no me, but I hope you two can be friends.” MK's smile went sad.

“Thank you, MK, I– I'll take good care of him,” Li Na promised, and the kitten in her hands meowed.

“Cute little guy, isn't he?” Tang chimed in, giving the kitchen a scratch under the chin.

“He needs a name though,” MK pointed out. “Li Na?”

Li Na thought about it long and hard, studying the little thing up and down, taking in its orange stripes and white spots with much thought.

“What about… Mo?” She proposed.

“I love it! It's perfect for him,” MK ruffled her hair, and she giggled.

“Sir? Are you getting on?” asked the captain.

“Right, yes! Be right there!” MK swore, but right before he was going to pick up his bags, he gave Tang and Li Na another hug.

“I'll write at least every month, I promise,” he whispered.

“I love you,” Tang and Li Na whispered back.

“Love you guys too,” MK sniffled. “Take care.”

“You too,” Tang laughed sadly.

MK squeezed them tighter before he grabbed his bags and ran onto the boat.

As Li Na watched, Tang placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it tight.

“He'll be alright… he's a smart boy, he'll be fine,” he said, his eyes distant.

“Yeah, MK'll be okay,” Li Na agreed, and Mo once again meowed, taking her attention away from the boat. “Hey, little guy. Let's get you nice and cozy before we go home, hm?” She brought him closer to her chest.

“Yes, yes, let's go home.” Tang seemed to snap out of his trance, gently guiding Li Na away from the dock and back to the carriage.

However, just as she was about to obey, a voice shouted from the boat. The pair spun around to find MK waving as big as he could while the boat sailed away. Li Na and Tang immediately waved back, and continued to do so until MK was a blip on the horizon and they had no choice but to go home.

.o0o.

Life without MK was as lonely as Li Na had expected, though Mo was a nice distraction. He was a fierce little guy, constantly pouncing on any suspicious shadows or bugs or mice– though he was too little to win his fights with the latter. He was also very loyal, preferring to stick by her side whenever possible, or else he'd just stand at the door and cry until she came back.

Lady Jenai didn't like Mo very much, though. She agreed to keep him because he'd one day be able to hunt mice and rats, but in the meantime she asked for “it” to be out of her sight.

Sujia and Peili were similar, though a bit mean about it. They called Mo names and made jokes about throwing him out. One time Peili even tried to pick him up, but stopped when he hissed. Li Na tried to not let it bother her, since maybe they were just jealous that MK got her a cat and didn't give them anything.

It was… hard, though. She felt like she barely saw her baba anymore except at dinner due to him working all the time in the city. It left her with very little to do except practice her embroidery and writing.

The best days were when MK's letters arrived. She treasured each of them dearly and kept them in a box under her bed. When one would arrive, she'd read all about his adventures over and over again until she found the time (and paper) to write. She’d then write about all the little things Mo had done recently, about how the summer heat was starting to get to her, how she thought of him every time she ate a peach, and how she'd look forward to his next letter. Then it was off to the postman, and she'd return back to her day-to-day routine.

It wasn't all bad though. Sometimes Sujia and Peili actually wanted to hang out with her and it would be fun. She didn't quite get them or their jokes yet, but she liked them and wanted to know them better, since they were now sisters and all. Granted, it was a little weird they were always asking her to clean up whatever mess they'd all make, but she was happy to help. Plus, it was worth it when one day the girls said they were thinking of actually taking her out to the city.

“Sit still, we need a lot of this stuff to make you pretty,” Sujia warned, putting on more white rice powder all over Li Na's face.

“Sorry.” Li Na blushed and closed her eyes again.

“Wow, you really are using a lot of mama's makeup,” Peili commented.

“That's the plan,” Sujia replied, dabbing on more.

“Oh– I don’t want to use all of your mama’s stuff–”

“It’ll be fine, you’ll see,” Peili interrupted, rummaging through the drawers for more makeup.

“O-okay, if you’re sure,” Li Na gave a weak smile.

“Close your eyes, I need to get the eyelids,” Sujia snipped, and she obeyed.

“Found it!” Peili then announced, slamming a drawer shut.

“Just set it on the counter,” Sujia huffed, applying the makeup a tad more aggressively, hurting Li Na’s eyes. She kept quiet though, not wanting to make it worse.

“Oo! Can I do her lips? I got a plan to make em really–”

“No. We're sticking to how I planned it,” Sujia immediately shut down, practically hitting Li Na with the bristles full force.

“Ow,” Li Na let slip.

“Oh shut up already!’ Sujia snapped, setting down the rice powder and switching to the rouge, startling Li Na.

“Peili stop, you're upsetting her,” Peili whined.

“It's fine, calm down.” Sujia rolled her eyes and started applying the red makeup to her cheeks and nose. It stung, but Li Na endured, since “pretty hurt” or something like that.

“Ugh, fine. But if she cries, that's your fault,” Peili huffed and slumped on a chair.

Sujia huffed, but managed to apply the rest of Li Na's makeup with ease, stepping back with a grin.

“You look… special, real special,” Sujia said, dusting her hands off.

Li Na couldn't help but smile. “You really think?”

“Oh yeah,” Peili giggled. “Like a real–”

“Wait here, okay? We'll be back after we get mother to agree,” Sujia interrupted.

“Oh! Okay,” Li Na agreed, sitting up properly.

“We'll be right back,” Peili grinned too as Sujia took her arm and they quickly left the room.

A wave of anxiety washed over Li Na as she sat there, and she immediately started fidgeting with her sleeves. She knew she wasn't really supposed to go in Lady Jenai's room, especially alone, but she was invited here! So it was okay!

Besides, when she looked into Lady Jenai's big polished mirror, Li Na thought she looked beautiful– like a fairy or a princess. Her baba would be so proud to see her all dolled up and ready to go shopping in the city. The only thing she was missing was a fancy hair comb, and her hair to be all done up.

With a smile, Li Na took her dark brown hair out their simple buns and ran a brush through them, giggling at the fancy feeling of the much nicer brush. She brushed her hair until it was all nice and neat before she attempted to do her hair like Sujia– or even Lady Jenai. She really wanted to impress her, and prove she could be high society like her too. Maybe if she proved herself worthy, Lady Jenai could mentor her in manners and such– and maybe she could even be like a mother to her, like MK said she could be.

Li Na's never had a mom– at least, not in the traditional sense. Tang was certainly more feminine than Pigsy, but he wasn't exactly an expert in etiquette and fashion and makeup. Li Na knew he came from a fancy background like Lady Jenai, but he always said he was “too shy” for big social events, and “too awkward” for etiquette. As for Pigsy..? He may have been born a girl, but he was a farm boy through and through, always joking about how lost he would've been at formal events. He taught her things like how to recognize a good radish, how to successfully collect chicken eggs without getting pecked, and how to catch crickets with her bare hands– which, while very cool, weren't exactly helpful in high society.

Lady Jenai could teach her how to adapt in this new life– how to be pretty like her step-sisters and maybe even be someone worth admiring. She could adapt to this new life with her help! She could make MK and her dadsy proud! She could almost see it now, her in a silk robe and fan attending court at the palace–

A loud gasp sent Li Na scrambling up, and she was startled to see her stepmother's face so repulsed.

“You,” she seethed. “What on earth do you think you're doing here?”

Li Na looked around, confused. “I-I– Sujia a-and Peili– they said–”

“See, mother?” Sujia interrupted. “I told you she was a little thief.”

“I should have known,” Lady Jenai sighed. “Now I have to get the room inspected for ticks and lice and any other parasites your kind carries around.”

Li Na stepped back, heart pounding in her chest. “M-my kind?”

Sujia laughed. “Wow, you really are stupid, aren't you?”

“You're a halfling, chun zhu,” Peili snickered. “You're not like us.”

“Wh-what? No! I– Lady Jenai, they said– I'm still a person!” Li Na shouted.

“Please,” Lady Jenai rolled her eyes and slowly walked towards her. “You may wear clothes and tie your hair up however you like, but you will always be nothing more than a farm pig.”

“A chun zhu!” Peili cackled. “That can be her new name– Chun Zhu the fat, dumb pig girl.”

“Chun Zhu– why didn’t I think of that?” Sujia laughed right along.

Li Na shook her head and stepped back against the wall, tears threatening to spill. “N-no! Sujia– she said– I-I can be pretty! I-I just– I need some help learning, I promise.”

Lady Jenai raised an eyebrow. “And what on earth makes you think I'd want to waste my time on something like that? Especially to a bratty little thief such as yourself,” she snatched the comb from Li Na's hair.

“I-I didn't steal anything! Sujia put it all on! She said it was okay! I swear– I-I would never–”

Lady Jenai slapped Li Na across the face. “You really are a pest, you know that? And a foolish one too, expecting me to believe you over my own daughters.”

Li Na froze with shock. She desperately tried to scramble words to defend herself– to make her stepmother see reason and explain her innocence, but the stinging in her cheek broke something in her.

“Quiet now?” Lady Jenai huffed. “Good. First order of business is to take that whorish makeup off. Then you will go to your room, where your bedding will be stripped and your personal possessions– every toy, every book, every ink pot– will be taken away.”

Li Na's eyes widened. “W-wait–”

“From there–” Lady Jenai shot an icy look– “you will be given servants' clothes and you will work in this house as a servant for a month as a punishment for your lies and thievery, is that understood?”

Li Na couldn't believe what she was hearing– this couldn't be real, right? This– this was just a nightmare– one she would wake up from any moment now.

“I said, ‘is that understood’?” Lady Jenai yanked Li Na's ear, making her cry out.

“M-my baba won't stand for this,” she protested with what little courage she had left.

Lady Jenai just laughed though, the sound making ice run through Li Na's veins.

“You really think that yutao of a man is in charge here?” She pulled on Li Na's ear harder. “He will be thanking me to no longer have such a hideous creature every day.”

“No!” Li Na cried. “M-my– baba–”

Her stepmother twisted her ear so hard she yelped, before dragging her out and down several hallways before she was thrown into a dark, damp stone room with bits of straw strung about, somewhere nearby the servant’s quarters.

“You will be locked in here for the remainder of the day. Keep up your attitude if you wish to make your stay longer,” she seethed.

Again, Li Na's mind scrambled for a defense– any defense, but the way the woman she had wanted so desperately to approve of her glared down like she was a filthy animal. It made her want to break down and apologize so things could go back to the way they were.

Instead, she curled up and held her sides, choking out a weak, “B-baba–”

“Your father cares nothing for you,” Lady Jenai snapped. “He will be delighted to find you rotting away in here, as will I and every other person who has had the misfortune of looking upon your face.”

Before the girl could even think to speak up, the door slammed shut, the lock turned, and Li Na was left alone in the dark.

Immediately, Li Na let out a loud sob, begging for someone to let her out and that she promised to never bother any of them ever again. She went on like that for hours, and hours, and hours, but either nobody heard or nobody cared (Li Na wasn’t sure which one was worse). Eventually she was too overcome with weakness to continue crying, her stomach tight with hunger. However, even then nobody came.

She tried speaking up whenever she thought she heard steps, but nothing ever came of it (other than the lonely feeling crawling up her throat). Li Na was alone now, just like Lady Jenai promised. Her baba– wherever he was– wasn’t coming for her. Her brother was gone. Her dadsy was dead.

She was alone.