#the forgiveness of mistakes and a promise to never give up on each other.

[lukie17]

The Next Morning

Part two of

Caleb woke up looking for your figure next to him but he only found a cold empty space. Confusion was replaced by worry as he heard your cries coming from the bathroom, Caleb rushed to the restroom as anxiety cling on to him. Had he done something to hurt you? Was he too intense the night before? Why were you crying?

He felt his soul left his body as he saw you in the shower, cleaning your body until you left a red impression on your skin.

"Pipsqueak?" Caleb saw you jump but you did not turn to see him "Tell me was wrong" He did not understand what he did wrong, yesterday you were desperate for him in the same way he had been ever since he was a teenager. In your eyes Caleb could see the wave of emotions that were plaguing you: regret, fear and even pain.

Stupid idiot, he should have know better, he should have know you better. He should have stopped you, wait for you until your head was not acting out of instinct and anxiety. Slowly, as if he were testing troublesome waters, Caleb stepped into the shower. You were not running away, but you weren't looking at him, it pain him how you flinched when he raised his arm to turn off the shower.

"I am sorry" his movements fast and swift as he used a towel to envolve you "Forgive me, pipsqueak. I should have know"

Swoly his arms moved to your body, waiting for your rejection, when it never came he pressed himself closer to you. His hands drawing soothing patterns in the skin of your arms, letting you cry until you decided to face him. Unable to resist the urgency of his touch, your body betrayed you and you his in Caleb's chest, the same way you used to whenever you had a nightmare or were scared. It felt like home.

"I am sorry" your apology did nothing to tame Caleb's anxiety. Gently he lifted your chin until your eyes meet each other's "I didn't mean to... I got anxious... I didn't want to lose you. I had to do something to make sure you would never go" your hands grabbed his face digging your fingers on his cheeks "I cannot loose you again. I can't lose my Caleb" desesperation filling your voice.

How was he supposed to react? Caleb had loved every second you were clinging on to him, but was that one the only reason? Is that the way you saw what you have done? It hurted him, he had loved you for years, yearning and waiting for an opportunity, waiting for you to feel at least a fraction of what he felt for you to not olose the Caleb you once knew. The possessive part of him, that he tried to buried, made his way to the surface, his big frame towering your small one until you were merely a breath away.

"What?" Disappointment and anger filled his voice "Is that what it was?" His fingers make his way to your throat "Is this some mean to keep your gege?"

"Caleb? I didn't mean"

"Fuck" his embrace holding you even tighter "Do you regret it? I need to know" Caleb last thread of patience had spanned "If you regret, if you think was a mistake, tell me now. We can go back to where it was... I can be your gege again, but please don't give me hope for you to just take away..."

For the second time your hand met his cheek, leaving and angry mark, this time a bruise would form. Pushing him on the mattress, you straddled on his lap, your hands covering his mouth.

"I regret it the way it happened! I regret that I acted out of fear and anxiety and not out of love!" Tears falling on his body, how he wanted to brush them away but he was unable to move "I regret that I did not wait until your last name was mine, to cross that line before our promise"

Promise? What promise? He didn't know what you were talking about, he made sure to remember every singles promise that he had made to you, yet he was unsure about what you were referring to

"Dummy!" A smile making a way to your face. Freeing his mouth, you slapped him on the chest "You have forgotten, don't you?" Bringing your hands together in a pinkie promise you looked at him "I, MC, swear that will be the bride of Caleb..."

Memories flooded his mind, a hot summer and falling trees. Two kids with scrapped knees and full of mud. A warm breeze ruffling their hairs as they leaned together, a pinky promise taking place.

"...I, Caleb will be your broom, to protect you and shield you..." the anger and desesperation going away "... Together forever..." your voices mixing together "Caleb and MC will be married together"

"Dummy" even though you laughed, the tears kept falling from your eyes "Dummy, dummy, dummy..."

"I am such a fool" Gently, Caleb pulled you closer, whipping away your tears "I am so sorry, pipsqueak" his own vision becoming blurry "I forgot... I won't forget again.. I am so sorry...I should have know..."

Your hand rested on the crook of his neck, tracing patterns in the burn scar's in his chest, unable to say something else. Fear, anger, happiness, relief among other feelings were running free inside of you, but the steady beat of living heart calmed you down, Caleb was alive, Caleb was back.

Caleb's was battling against his own feelings, Caleb knew that you regreted what you have done, but you didn't hate him, and for that moment it was enough. Soon, you would need to address the feelings that you both had, to navigate where you were going from now on, but in that peaceful moment there was nothing that the both of you dared to say. Caleb was going to make sure that no one would tear him away from him, not again.

[newrelationshipgoals]

A happy relationship is about three things: memories of togetherness, the forgiveness of mistakes and a promise to never give up on each other.

[ladywhistlewrites]

Hiiiiiii can I request a wife x Anthony bridgerton story where they are newly married and back from their honeymoon so Anthony works a lot where reader nearly never sees him so when she goes to talk to him he snaps at her and takes his stress out on her and reader gives him the silent treatment until she feels like it’s enough. Pls make him work for her forgiveness 😭😭😭😭😭

hii thanks for sending an ask!!🩷 hope you like it :))

Anthony Bridgerton x wife! reader

***

The morning sun casts a golden glow through the windows of your shared home, a beacon of warmth and new beginnings. You and Anthony have just returned from your honeymoon, the memories and whispered promises still fresh in your minds. Every corner of your home feels infused with the love and joy of your new life together, a life that seems to stretch out before you with infinite possibilities.

The first few days are blissful. You and Anthony spend lazy mornings entwined in each other’s arms, sharing laughter over breakfast, and planning your future with excitement. His touch, his voice, everything about him fills you with an overwhelming sense of contentment. You are his, and he is yours.

But as the days turn into weeks, you notice a change. Anthony, ever the diligent worker, begins to spend more time in his study, pouring over documents and attending meetings. At first, you understand. You admire his dedication and are proud of his accomplishments. Yet, gradually, his presence becomes a rarity. He leaves early and returns late, often slipping into bed after you’ve fallen asleep and rising before you awaken.

One evening, after another long day of waiting for him, you decide to confront him. The house is quiet, the only sound the ticking of the clock in the hallway. You find him in his study, hunched over his desk, the dim light casting shadows on his face.

“Anthony,” you call softly, stepping into the room. He doesn’t look up, his attention firmly on the papers before him. You take a deep breath, trying to keep your voice steady. “We need to talk.”

He finally glances up, his expression a mix of exhaustion and impatience. “What is it, my love? I’m very busy.”

The endearment feels hollow, and your heart aches. “I know you’re busy, but I miss you. We barely even spend time together . It feels like you’ve forgotten about me, about us.” you murmur

He sighs, rubbing his temples. “I haven’t forgotten. I’m doing this for us, for our future. Can’t you understand that?” he says with venom in his mouth.

“I understand, but what good is the future if we’re not happy now?” The words tumble out, your voice rising with emotion. “You’re consumed by your work, Anthony. You’re neglecting our marriage.”

His eyes flash with irritation, and before you can react, he snaps. “Just mind your own business, will you? I’m doing what needs to be done.” he spats.

You stand there, stunned and hurt, his harsh words cutting deeper than you’d imagined possible. Without another word, you turn and leave, the sound of your footsteps echoing in the silent house.

In the days that follow, the pain of his outburst lingers. You decide to give him the silent treatment, unable to bear the thought of speaking to him. You avoid him, your interactions reduced to strained silences and cold civility. He tries to reach out, but you turn away, your hurt and pride keeping you at a distance.

Anthony, realizing his mistake, begins to make amends. Each morning, you find fresh flowers on your bedside table, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the dull ache in your heart. He sends you beautiful gowns, their fine fabrics a reminder of his thoughtfulness. Every day, he apologizes, his voice earnest and filled with regret.

“I’m sorry, my love,” he says repeatedly. “Please forgive me.”

A week passes, and you find yourself missing him more than you can bear. The sight of the flowers, the sound of his apologies, all begin to chip away at your resolve. One evening, as the sun sets and the house is bathed in the soft glow of twilight, you find him in his study once more.“Anthony,” you say quietly. He looks up, hope flickering in his eyes. “I forgive you. But you must promise me, promise me that you will never speak to me like that again.”

He pulls you into his arms, holding you tightly as if he might never let go. “I’ve missed you too, more than you can imagine.”

You stand there, wrapped in each other’s embrace, the world outside fading away. In that moment, you know that no matter what challenges lie ahead, you will face them together, bound by love and the promise of a future filled with happiness.

[almostwisegalaxy]

I take care of you

Lee Eun-hyuk x f!reader

..................................................................................

In a completely destroyed city, Lee Eun-hyuk finds himself captivated by his former love. Wherever she goes, he discreetly follows, watching her every move with admiration. Y/n, unaware of her secret admirer, goes about her daily business while Lee Eun-hyuk stays close by.

As the days pass, Lee Eun-hyuk continues his silent shadow behind Y/n, lost in his thoughts and dreaming of one day having the courage to speak to him. One evening, as Y/n leaves the nearly collapsed green house, she feels a familiar presence and looks up to meet Lee Eun-hyuk's deep gaze. Their eyes meet, and in that fleeting moment, a special bond is created between them, uniting their souls in an inexplicable way. In a way that Y/n Emma can't understand, but she doesn't dwell on it too much and continues on her way.

Through chance encounters and exchanged glances, Y/n begins to feel a strange familiarity with Lee Eun-hyuk, as if her heart had always followed his in silence. Finally, one starry night, as Y/n wanders aimlessly around the building, she hears footsteps behind her. When she turns around, she sees Lee Eun-hyuk.

"Why are you always following me? "she says without any emotion in her voice.

Eun-hyuk just smiles at him. He can't blame her, after all, a neo-human isn't supposed to feel emotions. He approaches her, but keeps a distance between them so as not to scare her away.

"I'll take care of you," Eun-hyuk finally says.

Ever since Y/n woke up, he's always been close to her. When she came out of the cocoon, he dressed her and made her comfortable before she regained consciousness. Even in the cocoon she had felt his presence, and he had left her only when necessary.

She stared into his eyes, not really knowing what to think. Of course, she remembered their past together. How they'd confessed their feelings to each other that winter night. That night when Eun-hyuk had promised to find her and her sister Eun-yu with Hyun su safe and sound, but never returned. Her conscience told her to scream at him or just run into Eun-hyuk's arms and kiss him. But being reborn, she didn't feel the urge.

"Why would you do that?" Y/n said.

"Because I want to."

"Why?" To Eun-hyuk, she sounded like a child who always asks her mother why. It was cute.

"Why would you do such a thing. You're a neo-human like me, so why do you act so irrationally?"

"Because I wouldn't be Lee Eun-hyuk if I went home without you. Princess, my world is pretty empty when you're not here."

Y/n looks at her sheepishly.

"I care about you. And caring for you gives me a reason to hold on, a reason not to live without a purpose, because my purpose is you".

"But you gave up again..." she says, disappointment clearly in her voice. Regret paints Eun-hyuk's face. He approaches her, his arms slightly raised in a gesture of appeasement. "I made mistakes and failed to keep my promise."

"Forgive me," he asks without anger. He knows he can't erase what he's done with a few words, but he feels the need to apologize anyway.

I understand your reasons, but that doesn't erase the suffering we went through waiting for you. You didn't see your sister cry. You didn't feel the fear we feel every day in a hostile world.

Lee Eun-hyuk said nothing, but continued to walk toward her.

"You're telling me that taking care of me is your reason for living," Y/n murmured, her eyelids fluttering as if she had to absorb what he'd just said. She clenched her head slightly, frowning with a hint of confusion.

"I... I don't understand. How can I be your reason for living?"

Eun-hyuk smiled slightly, his gaze tender.

"It's simple," he replied, as if explaining something absurd. "My life is empty without you. When you're here, when I see you, when I know you're okay, everything seems to make more sense. It's like the world regains its color."

"I can't love you on the road. I don't... I don't know how to do it," she says.

"I will teach you," he says now in front of her. He tenderly strokes y/n's cheek. At first she flinches from his touch, then she comes back under his caresses. She looks at him sheepishly, not understanding why this gesture warms her body.

"Did I scare you?" She nods.

"Well...It would be a shame to scare the person I love " and he smiles.

Y/n looks at him fascinated.

"Will you teach me that too?" She refers to his smile.

"I'll teach you anything you want."

Then Eun-hyuk took him in her arms. The longer the moment lasts, the more Y/N feels that this is where she belongs. In Eun-hyuk's arms.

Every touch of skin resonates with infinite softness. Hands search for each other, find each other, squeeze each other with infinite delicacy, as if each caress whispers a silent "I love you". Hearts draw closer, synchronize, and in that intimate moment, the whole world fades away to make way for their vibrant, eternal love, sealing their bond in an embrace that transcends time and space.

..................................................................................

Bonus :

Y/n is sitting on the roof when Eun-hyuk comes to sit next to her

“do you have any plans for today?”

"yes, world domination"

"ok, that’s ambitious” a silence settles between them before y/n continues

“you are my world”

Lee Eun-hyuk took a while to understand "oh... OH"

She kisses him on the cheek, smiles at him before finally leaving him alone blushing

[xielianlover2]

I want to talk about unconditional forgiveness and how crucial it is for Xie Lian to have someone who offers it to him with no strings attached.

Throughout Xie Lian's life, he experiences numerous falls from grace, each one more devastating than the last. He goes from being a beloved crown prince and a renowned god to a figure of scorn and bad luck. The weight of his past and the suffering he has endured often make him question his own worthiness and ability to protect others.

Which is why, for Xie Lian, Hua Cheng's forgiveness is a lifeline. Knowing that there is someone who believes in him, no matter what, allows Xie Lian to forgive himself and move forward. In a world where divine beings are often portrayed as infallible, we see by the end, that pretty much every god has their own flaws and that even those with immense power are not immune to making grievous errors in judgment.

I think Hua Cheng’s forgiveness also symbolizes a deeper, transformative love. It’s a love that goes beyond mere acceptance; it’s a commitment, a promise, a vow to stand by Xie Lian no matter what, and that's what makes his love so rare and beautiful. It's such a stark contrast to the judgment Xie Lian has faced from his people and other gods. While his own friends basically turned their backs on him, Hua Cheng remained his most loyal and devoted believer. His cheerleader, for a lack of better words. Hua Cheng embodies the truest form of compassion– understanding and embracing someone wholly.

Hua Cheng's love and acceptance allow Xie Lian to feel seen and understood in a way that no one else has ever provided. This kind of forgiveness is not about overlooking mistakes or pretending they didn't happen; rather, it's about recognizing the entirety of a person's journey and choosing to embrace them regardless.

Hua Cheng's acceptance allows Xie Lian to be vulnerable about his deepest fears and struggles. It also gives him the ability to ask for something he needs for himself:

"All right... don't say any more. I get it... but... but don't be like this, all right? San Lang? I... I've borrowed so much spiritual power from you that I haven't repaid. And I'm not done telling you all the things that I wanted to say; there's still so much. It's been so long since anyone listened to me talk. Won't you stay? Don't.. don't do this. I won't be able to take it. Twice, it's happened twice already-I really don't want there to be a third time!"

In this moment, Xie Lian’s plea reveals how extremely isolating his life has been. He has been perpetually misunderstood, and I believe that even before his first ascension, he has always felt profoundly alone. Throughout his life, Xie Lian has been surrounded by people who either see him through the lens of his past or view him as a mere symbol; a divine god, so therefore flawless and someone beyond approach. It strips away his humanity and the complexities of his true self, unable to be seen as a person with real feelings and imperfections. Even his Feng Xin and Mu Qing put him up in a pedestal, and no matter what happened, no matter how understandable it was, everyone still left him in the end.

Then, to have someone say they understand his everything, from his wisdom to his foolishness, and then also wholeheartedly support him and unconditionally love him? That they never, ever left him, that they've always been there, constant and unchanging in their love, in their devotion? That must have felt life-changing to him. Something groundbreaking and pivotal.

He is essentially begging for the one person who understands him completely—and who accepts him unconditionally despite everything—not to leave him. When Xie Lian begs Hua Cheng to stay, it is not just a request for physical presence but a desperate need for emotional reassurance and acceptance. For Hua Cheng is Xie Lian's safe haven where he can express his deepest fears and unspoken desires, a place of solace and affirmation that he has long been missing from everyone else.

[azriels-shadowsinger]

Could you pls do prompt #6 with azriel 🙏🙏🙏( “I don’t want to go to sleep with this hanging between us.” or “I can’t sleep with you still mad at me.” )

“I don’t want to go to sleep with this hanging between us.” or “I can’t sleep with you still mad at me.”

Azriel x Reader

wc: 900

a/n: i love when men grovel

prompt list

You were absolutely furious at Azriel. He had promised not once, but three times, that he would be home in time for dinner tonight. And yet, here you are, staring at his cold plate of food.

You hear the front door open and shut. Azriel walks towards the kitchen, seeing the pots and pans and realizing his mistake. Without saying a word, you angrily dump his plate in the trash and begin to scrub the dishes.

“Sweetheart…” he tries to approach you, but the furious glare you give him makes him pause. “Y/n, I’m so sorry. I lost track of time, and Elain needed help-“

“Of course, it’s Elain again! When am I going to be your priority, huh? I’m your gods damned mate, Azriel, and yet I always seem to come second to Elain. Get your fucking priorities straight, because I’m tired of the disappointment.” You snap.

“You know how she gets, y/n! Try to be understanding. She needs someone to help her through these bad days.” You roll your eyes at his excuses.

“I don’t want to hear it, Az.” You let out a frustrated sigh.

“You’re being unreasonable y/n. Stop being so sensitive and try to understand the situation!” He yells. He sees the change in your expression at his words and realizes he went too far. “Y/n, I’m-“ You cut him off.

“Go stay at the townhouse. I don’t want to look at you right now.” You say coldly before shutting the door to your shared room, locking him out.

You wait until you hear the front door open, indicating that Azriel has left, before you let the tears fall.

———

As if the gods knew you were having a bad night, a heavy storm pours down on Velaris. Any other night, you would enjoy the sounds of thunder while wrapped in your mate’s arms. Tonight, however, each clap of thunder makes you shudder.

You gave up on trying to sleep after hours of tossing and turning, so you decided to go make a cup of tea.

As you wait for the teapot to boil, you hear a banging on your door. You let out a heavy sigh, almost certain you know who is on the other side of that door. You open the door to see Azriel, completely soaked from the rain.

He is panting heavily, bracing himself on the door frame to steady himself from the wind. Cauldron, did he fly here in this storm?

“I don’t want to go to sleep with this hanging between us still.” He says breathlessly.

His eyes are bloodshot, and you try your hardest not to feel bad for him right now, but you can’t help it. Azriel is always so deeply affected by your fights, probably because he still believes deep down that he doesn’t deserve you. You can’t help the way your heart aches at the thought of him beating himself up so badly over this.

“Get inside you idiotic bat. You’re going to catch a cold.” You pull him in the door and shut out the raging storm. Water drips from him all over the floor. “Wait here, I’ll get a towel.” You mutter. When you return a moment later to hand him the towel, he immediately pulls you into a tight hug.

“I’m so sorry, my love. I am forgetful and horrible and you deserve so much better. You were right, I hadn’t been prioritizing you, but that stops now. I was so so stupid to ever take you for granted for even a second. If you want, I’ll never speak to Elain again, if that’s what will make you feel better. I’m so sorry. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness.” Your heart aches at the pain in his voice. You pull Azriel closer, and almost immediately he buries his face in your neck. You run your fingers through his hair in an attempt to calm him.

“I know you’re sorry, Az. You need to stop saying you don’t deserve me, though. You have such a big heart, that sometimes you stretch yourself too thin by trying to help everyone. Just because I get angry at you, doesn’t mean I love you any less. I understand that Elain has needed some extra assurance lately. And I’m not asking you to never speak to her again, that’s a bit dramatic.” Azriel sniffles and pulls away to look at you. “I just need you to make sure you make time for me, even when you are helping everyone else.”

“I will, I promise. I love you, y/n. I’m so sorry.”

“I forgive you.” He releases the tension from his body at your words.

Azriel spends a few more minutes drying off before following you to bed, immediately pulling you to his chest.

“I can’t sleep when you’re upset with me.” He mumbles quietly, pulling you closer.

“I know, Az. We’re okay, let’s talk more in the morning.” He nods sleepily.

———

The next morning you wake up to breakfast in bed, four bouquets of flowers, and coffee from your favorite cafe. You’re not even sure how he had time to do all this, but before you can question it, Azriel is bringing you another plate of apology pancakes.

I just want to hug azriel🥺

this is the last one for tonight. i will post more tomorrow!

prompt list

[f1amour]

✧˚ · . 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐀 𝐒𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐑

pairing: max verstappen x mexican!reader, charles leclerc x mexican!reader

word count: 4.4k

summary: being introduced to their once rival and falling for them was not what you expected but after struggling in your current relationship to feel loved maybe they were exactly what you needed

authors note: i feel like this made no sense lmao no build up but i tried my best i never wrote about a love triangle so it wasn’t my best interpretation of it therefore why i felt i didn’t create a good build up. also google translate was my bff so forgive me for any mistakes. highly recommend listening to sailor song by gigi perez some of the lyrics (hence the title) heavily inspired me <3

warnings: ANGST but happy ending :) no cheating, suggestive content, established relationship, takes place in 2023 — 18+, minors please do not interact!

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You knew what love meant. The definition behind it and you knew people who were in love, you knew everything about love. You showed your love to your friends by making memories with them or gift giving and with each friend it was something special. You paid attention to their likes and dislikes because you love them.

But you didn't know love as you grew up in a household filled with yelling and resentment. Now at the age of 23 you felt that you finally had someone who will love you the way you love others.

Someone who will love you loudly and proudly.

Being in a relationship with Charles for three years now you'd think he would be a bit more affectionate in public. You didn't expect to make out, you just needed his touch. You wanted to hold his hand in public without him scolding you that it wasn't a good look.

Our relationship wasn't a good look?

A question you'd always ask when he'd imply any public displays of affection wasn't a good look for himself and his team. You are being overdramatic. Would be his answer all the time and you'd go along with it. You loved him so much that seeing his flaws would fly over your head. You avoided all the red flags in the relationship because for the first time you loved someone and maybe if you loved them enough they could learn to love you.

It took Charles two years to say he loved you and you were fine with it. You never rushed him to say those three words despite you saying them first only a year into dating. Love took time and everyone had their own time to say those words. The two years with Charles before he said I love you was your favorite time together. He was affectionate (behind closed doors). Kind. Patient.

He was everything you ever wanted in a relationship but that all changed after he told you he loved you. In a way you thought the only reason he said those words was because of your argument after the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

He had finished in 2nd and was disappointed with the results at him still not being a world champion. Being asked by the press if there was anything that was distracting him that could have cost him the championship.

"Some distractions are definitely the reason both professionally and...personally. I think some personal distractions won't happen again for next year."

You were fuming when you heard that and what was worse you were standing right there a few feet away and like the good girlfriend you are, you couldn't show any emotion. Your smile faltered for only a second but then immediately a fake smile stayed on, unaware a pair of blue eyes watching wishing they could comfort you.

Giving Charles the silent treatment for a week he could see you were prepared to leave the relationship after his comment so he decided to plan a weekend getaway on a yacht while on the Amalfi Coast. During a romantic dinner he said those three words and promised he'd be a better man in the relationship. That lasted only a month.

─────────────────────────

You were back in the routine of being ignored by Charles while out in public and sometimes even at home. Tonight was no different as you guys sit in a secluded corner of a local club while he talks to Pierre while you sit there awkwardly hoping for someone to at least acknowledge your presence.

If Lando or Arthur were here you'd be ecstatic because at least they would actually talk to you. You don't know why Charles even invited you to come along for drinks with him and Pierre but you assumed he wanted to spend some time with you. Now you regret coming out seeing as he is doing what he always does at home; ignore you.

"Max!" Your thoughts are interrupted by Charles voice calling the name of a person you have yet to formally meet.

Max Verstappen. A name you heard from everyone, especially your boyfriend who shared his hatred for the man when he first came into formula one but recently it’s seemed like they’ve both been getting along.

But that’s all you knew seeing as Charles never even introduced you to each other despite sharing many podiums together and being at the same parties a few times.

“Hello.” Max waves awkwardly at you after Charles introduces you quickly before focusing back on his conversation with Pierre.

“Hi.” You smile awkwardly not really knowing what else to say. Being in his presence was a bit intimidating, always hearing stories of his tough demeanor on the track so you assumed he’d be the same off the track.

“I’m leaving.” You whisper to Charles and it catches his attention. He begins asking why you’re leaving so early when you’d just arrived an hour ago and you make up an excuse saying you don’t feel well.

You’ve ignored me this whole time. Why would I want to be here?

You wanted to say that but knew it would lead to yet another argument so he just waves you off and you grab your purse quickly hoping to avoid anyone seeing your tears.

“It was nice to finally meet you, Max.” You tell the man, avoiding his eyes and walking off.

And that was the start of Max’s plan; to never see another tear on your face from the man you love.

He started that right away by following you out the club where the streets were quiet and empty. You sit on the sidewalk head in your hands sobbing uncontrollably.

At that moment he isn’t sure what he will say but he knows he wants to be near you. To comfort you.

So he sits right beside you carefully so as not to startle you and you look over ready to move away from whoever was sitting next you but meeting those blue eyes you felt a pull.

His eyes were so bright and welcoming that with a simple look and hand to your shoulder, you’re crying in the arms of a man you had only just formally met 5 minutes ago.

But being in his arms felt so right, like you had known them for years.

So maybe it was that or the way his blue eyes had such a calming look to them that you spilled all your feelings to him. From your failed relationship to your family problems. You expected him to defend his friend who he knew more than you but instead he held your hand rubbing thumb against it, "I think if Charles loves you he wouldn't make you cry. He would not make you feel alone, unappreciated…or unloved. His opinion about being private can be valid for the media but with friends? Family? Even in your own home? He should be able to express his love."

You nod along and let out a shaky breath, "It sounds pathetic but I always thought he was my soulmate at one point. So if he was my soulmate I convinced myself that this was it. That my only chance at love will be him and that is all I will ever get. But sometimes I think it might be better to live my life forever alone than to give all my love to someone who could never reciprocate it."

Max shakes his head and looks at you, his eyes flickering to your lips for a brief moment then back to your eyes, "I don't think that is pathetic. It's called love and sometimes being in love with someone you know won't love you the same is soul crushing but you'll stay in the relationship hoping that maybe one day what you give them will be enough to change their mind." He tells you, almost as he had gone through the same (he did).

"You know from everything I see and hear from people about you I'm surprised how wrong they were. How wrong I was…you aren't the same guy you are on the track. I'm sorry." You tell him sincerely, an apology he tells you is not needed but feels a flutter in his chest receiving praise from you.

"Never judge a book by its cover, right?" He smiles back at you, your arm wrapped around his and head against his shoulder. Maybe you shouldn't be so close to another guy that wasn't your boyfriend but there was a pull Max had that you wanted to be as close to him as you could.

Just friends.

─────────────────────────

And your friendship with Max sure did blossom for the last three months going into the 2023 season and Charles was fine with it. Mostly because he still was not paying you much attention so you being friendly with Max and joining him and Lando on trips was fine with him.

Until he realized how close you had gotten to Red Bull's superstar driver.

"I don't understand why you want to go there this race weekend. I doubt the PR team would even allow me to let you go, it's not a good look." He shrugs driving through the streets of Miami with you in the passenger seat.

"Actually, Max's team talked to yours already. People honestly think me and you are friends so they don't think it would cause any drama plus I'm doing a video with Checo and Max to try some of my pastries!" You tell him excitedly, a smile on your face he hadn't seen in awhile. Only this time another man was the reason for your smile not him.

"Ah well…okay." He says before shutting down completely and staying quiet the entire ride back to the hotel after dinner.

Once you arrive at the hotel room you wash your makeup off then go off to grab some pajamas, "You wanna wear this?" Charles asks holding up a red sweater that had his name on the back of it.

"Oh thanks, Charlie." You smile at him sweetly and throw the sweater on with some black shorts.

"I love you." He says pulling you in for a passionate kiss, something you haven't received in a week so your hands go to his hair pulling him in for a deeper kiss. You were so deprived from his touch that you felt yourself pushing him towards the bed wanting him to give you some more attention.

"Wanna be inside you, mon amour." He whispers in your ear before kissing down to your neck, your moans a little louder than usual and as his hands reach to take your shorts off there's a knock at the door.

"Mierda. Esperame aqui." You tell Charles and he just nods with a smile not knowing what the last two words are but he loved seeing how needy you were.

You walk over to the door opening it to reveal Max and Lando holding a bag full of junk food, "Shit. I forgot we were going to watch the rest of the movies on our list…Charles is here."

Landos eyes widen while Max's are filled with disappointment, "Ah you getting it on with your man!" Lando jokes and you slap his arm.

"Shut up! I wanna spend some time with him while he is actually giving me some attention for once. I'm so sorry guys." You apologize and Lando nods in understanding and says goodbye before walking off.

"Max, come on!" Lando yells for his friend but he waves him off asking to give him a second.

You smile at him, "I'm sorry, Maxie. I know I promised we would finish up the movies this week but he's paying attention to me right now and I know it's pathetic being so desperate for just one–."

"I'm always gonna remind you that it is not pathetic. You are not pathetic. Don't apologize, it is okay. We will wait for you to watch the movies and enjoy your time with him." He tries to keep his smile when he says the last sentence.

"I love you, Max." You wrap your arms around him, giving him a tight hug before pulling away.

"I love you too." He says, those words having so much more meaning than in the friendly way you had meant it. You wave him goodbye before going back inside enjoying your time with Charles for the rest of the night, but your mind was invaded with one person and one person only: Max.

─────────────────────────

It was Media Day and you were spending it with the Red Bull Team and while you were excited for it at first you had noticed Max was acting weird not really speaking to you unless for the video so you felt a bit down throughout the day.

"Estoy seguro de que no mas no se siente bien.” Checo talks to you while you sit beside him and Max who was talking to Daniel happily completely ignoring you.

"Pero claramente está bien con todos los demás. Solo soy yo. Él no me quiere aquí, así que... me voy. Gracias por invitarme, pero no quiero hacer esto". You smile sadly at Checo and his wife who ask you to stay at the team dinner but you can't. Not when someone you love is treating you like this. You already got that from Charles.

But you were unaware that Max understood every word you and Checo had said.

So as you walk out of the restaurant you refuse to turn back around as Max calls after you, "Oh so now you want to talk? Well I don't, so leave me alone." You yell at him and keep walking down the empty street.

"Please, I'm sorry." He begs stepping in front of you.

You stop and glare at him, "You…you know how I feel about being ignored by Charles all the time. How shitty it makes me feel and now you're doing the same?" You ask, tears welling up in your eyes.

"No I…fuck don’t cry. I promised to never be the one to make you cry and-.”

"What do you mean by that? What promise?" You ask, confused as to what he meant.

"I never want to be the reason you cry." He whispers, wiping your tears away.

"Why?"

“Because…because I love you.” He confesses, in his eyes you can see he means those three words more than the platonic type.

And in that moment you want to say it back. You want to mean it the way he is saying it as well. But then Charles fills your mind.

“You…love me?” Is all you can say. You knew there was something there you couldn’t deny. But you were a loyal person so you pushed those feelings to the back of your head because you were with Charles.

Max 's hands are cupping your face, “Mi amor por ti es tan fuerte que aprendí un idioma para ti. Tu idioma para poder decírtelo y demostrarte mi amor. Aprendí tu idioma en tres meses. Porque eres mi amiga es lo que me diría al principio. Porque valoro nuestra amistad y te respeto pero ¿ahora? Me doy cuenta de que este sentimiento es más que solo amigos. Quiero... no, te amaré. Te amaré fuerte y con orgullo como te mereces. Quiero que todos sepan que soy tuyo y tú eres mío. Quiero que las estrellas y la luna sepan que te amo. Quiero escuchar tu voz por horas. Gritaré mi amor por ti cuando quieras. Quiero ser tu mejor amigo. Te amaré hasta mi último aliento en esta tierra. Y en el más allá te encontraré y te amaré entonces.Te amaré como a un marinero. Fuerte y orgulloso” (My love for you is so strong that I learned a language for you. Your language to be able to tell you and show you my love. I learned your language in three months. Because you are my friend is what he would tell me at first. Because I value our friendship and I respect you, but now? I realize this feeling is more than just friends. I want... no, I will love you. I will love you strong and proudly as you deserve. I want everyone to know that I am yours and you are mine. I want the stars and the moon to know that I love you. I want to hear your voice for hours. I will shout my love for you whenever you want. I want to be your best friend. I will love you until my last breath on this earth. And in the hereafter I will find you and I will love you then. I will love you like a sailor. Loud and proud) He lets out a deep breath after his confession looking at you for answers.

Your eyes filled with tears hearing him confess his feelings, in Spanish. In your language. He learned your language in three months just because he loved you?

“Max…I-I-I don’t know what to say. You…fuck, you learned Spanish for me. I can’t…I want to love you. I know I can and I do but I’m still with Charles. I know he hasn’t proved anything to me but I can’t say what I feel at this moment knowing I’m still in a relationship. He may not care about it but I need to be loyal until the end.” You tell him. He had hoped you’d say something other than that but he also understood.

“I’m gonna wait for you. You can decide what you want with him but…if you decide to stay with him I need to give you this before you leave.” He digs into his pocket and grabs his keys, taking a key off the chain and handing it to you.

“I’ll send you the address in a text but I hope you love it. I hope I see you again.” He says before kissing your cheek and walking off.

─────────────────────────

You walk into the hotel room and you see Charles sitting on the bed waiting for you, "What are you doing here?" Your tone coming off a bit harsh.

"Oh, well I wanted to wait up for you. I was thinking we could spend the night together again. I've missed you and-."

"Why?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean why do you miss me? Why do you all of a sudden want to spend time with me?"

Charles sighs, "I just miss you and well seeing you get so close to Max I…I felt like you haven't made time for us–."

"Oh fuck you! I haven't made the time? I am the one who left my home country three years ago to follow you around the world like a lovestruck little puppy. I have all the time in the world to be there when you want it but it is you who hasn't. I have begged and cried for you to give me love. To show me you love me. You havent done that Charles one night that we fucked doesnt mean it all gets better."

"I know that! I want to try though. I shouldn't have let your friendship with Max make me so jealous but I see how he looks at you, Y/n. He loves you more than a friend–."”

"Yeah, he told me tonight."You interrupt him and the color drains from his body.

"He did? And…what did you say?"

You sigh and sit next to Charles, "That I could feel the same way. I do feel the same way but…I'm with you. And you may not believe it but I'm a loyal person. So nothing happened he just said that and that is all…he said he would wait for me."

"What does this mean for us?" He asks.

What does it mean? You were conflicted, Max…he was a breath of fresh air. What he makes you feel is something you wish Charles could have made you felt. Love should be given because they love you not because you beg them to do it. And thinking in that sense is enough to give you your answer.

"It means I am not ready for any relationship with anyone right now. I need to focus on myself and love myself because I haven't for a long time. We need to break up, Charles."

But I love you. I may not show it but I want to communicate my feelings to express why it's so hard for me.

"Okay…we break up then. Where will you go?" He says instead of what he wanted to really say to you, sadness in his eyes.

"Home." You tell him looking down at the keychain.

─────────────────────────

THREE MONTHS LATER.

When you had received the address from Max you weren't sure what else to tell him other than thank you and after that you lost contact for some time. He had bought a piece of land in Mexico, "a place where you can create your biggest dreams." He bought you a space where you create a cafe the way you had always dreamed of but you assumed no one ever paid enough attention to you to know that the dream was to have this cafe in Mexico.

Now having the space open it was thriving and everyone was raving about it even some F1 fans have realized it was your cafe and despite your break up with Charles now being out in the public they were still showing their support.

The Mexican Grand Prix was coming this week and you had received a few messages from some drivers hoping to catch up with you. You hung out with Lando for a day showing him around the city and then had dinner with Checo and his family. You were sad to hear Max was going to be there but bailed out.

When dinner was over you were headed home when you got a notification from your security system sensing motion at the front of your cafe so you went straight there.

When you arrive your heart stops at the sight of Max standing on a ladder in front of your door, "What…what are you doing?" You ask stepping out of your car and Max turns around, almost falling off the ladder when he sees you.

"Max! You gotta be careful." You put support on the ladder with your hands as he gets back to what he was doing.

"You got a broken light, it doesn't work." He states.

"Yeah I know. I was gonna fix it tomorrow morning. Not like a crazy person at night."

"Well the crazy person just fixed it so you're welcome." He says climbing off.

You thank him before unlocking the door to the place, "Do you want to see it?" You ask him and he smiles following you inside.

Max was in shock seeing how beautiful it looked inside, filled with tables and comfortable couches with a small corner that had books that you can pick from while visiting and he's most excited when he looks at the menu hanging behind the counter.

Two lattes named after his cats Jimmy and Sassy (who you have met and love very much). Then beside the menu is a small note thanking the customers, "And thank you to my favorite sailor." The same word he used when telling you he loved you.

"I'm probably gonna botch this but I'm trying okay?" You tell him and he looks at you confused when you grab his hands and clear your throat, "Don't laugh if I mess up!" You tell him and he chuckles.

"Could never laugh at you if it's this serious, my silly girl." If you hadn't been practicing this for so long you probably would have kissed him right then.

"Ik hou van je. Ik wil dat je luid bemind wordt, net zoals jij van mij houdt. Ik voel dingen voor je die ik nog nooit heb gevoeld en dat maakt me bang. Zo hard van je houden is eng, maar het is iets wat ik met je wil doen. Ik wil je liefde en je beste vriend zijn. Ik zal zo luid van je houden dat de hele wereld stil zal worden. Het spijt me dat het zo lang heeft geduurd voordat ik me realiseerde hoe graag ik dit wil. Ik wil ons leven samen opbouwen." (I love you. I want you to be loved loudly just like you love me. I feel things for you that I have never felt and that scares me. Loving you so hard is scary but it's something I want to do with you. I want to be your love and your best friend. I will love you so loud that the whole world will go quiet. I'm sorry it took me this long to realize how much I want this. I want to build our life together.) It's like deja vu as you take a deep breath after confessing your love in his language, something you too had been practicing for the last three months.

His face was hard to read at the moment and you frown thinking maybe it was too late confessing your love now, "Fuck I know it wasn't the best dutch and maybe it's too late telling you I–."

His lips stop you from finishing that sentence, you can feel his heartbeat close to you pressed against each other. Your lips on his felt like they were always meant to be there the way you could taste the coffee that you had made him beforehand. His hands on your hips with your arms around his neck trying to get as close as you can to each other, you both however pull away to take a breath.

"I love you. Te amo. Ik houd van je." Max kisses you all over your face giving you one last kiss on your lips.

"I'm sorry it took me some time to say it but after breaking up with Charles I needed space to breathe and remember I can still live my life without needing a man to love me…but these three months without you have been fucking torture. I miss all the little things you do and I just miss you. I want to hold you forever." You tell him, you both are now sitting on one of the couches in the cafe. You sit on his lap with his arms holding you tight hoping to never let go like you'd just said.

"I was a bit disappointed at first hearing about the break up and that you had left right away but then I saw you here making this place exactly how you dreamed of and that was enough for me to understand you needed your space…even if I was miserable." He says the last few words jokingly and you giggle, shaking your head.

"I still don't know how I can ever thank you for buying me this space." You smile at him, your fingers playing with his hair.

"Let me take you on a date and that is enough."

You nod, kissing his cheek, "Bit weird we said I love you before our first date."

"Loving you is out of this world, I expect anything ordinary is simply not what our love is." Max was a true romantic, something he did not think was in him until he met you. Maybe that side of him had been hidden for so long because he was waiting for you all along.

Your lips meet his once again in a sweet kiss, "Thank you for loving me, loudly and proudly."

[azzibuckets]

Paper Rings [Part 2/10 | Paige Bueckers]

Paige Bueckers x fem!reader

summary/an: part 2 of the paper rings series… gonna be jumping around the timeline so bear with me

warnings: partying, drinking, angst

word count: 1.1k

masterlist w/ all parts

CURRENT DAY

You’ve been trying to avoid Paige’s gaze all night, but it was hard when you could feel her stare practically burning into the side of your face.

The room was getting suffocating, with sweaty guys jostling back and forth as they danced, flinging their damp hair back and forth. The heavy thumping of the music combined with the pungent smell of spilled alcohol was giving you a headache, and all you wanted to do was go home. But tonight you’d promised Azzi that you’d be the designated driver - a decision you were now severely regretting - and now you were stuck here in the din of yet another rambunctious college party.

“I’m gonna go take a breather outside,” you yelled in Azzi’s ear. She looked at you confused, not hearing a word over the grating music. After attempting to signal to her with hand gestures but still being unable to get the message across, you heaved a sigh and gave up, beginning to push your way through clammy bodies to get away from the sickening smell and noise.

Once outside, you breathed a sigh of relief once the fresh air hit your face, drying the sweat collecting at the nape of your neck. You found your way to a nearby patch of grass and sat down, resisting the urge to lie down all the way and take a much needed nap in the soft grass.

“Tired?”

A familiar voice floated out uncertainly from behind you, and you stiffened. All the peace in your body from escaping the party immediately vanished.

Without invitation, Paige plopped down next to you with a sigh. Her knee knocked yours on the way down, and you straightened your legs, trying to ignore the electric feeling of feeling her skin on yours for the first time in months.

You looked away from her. “Aren’t you supported to be taking a girl home right now?”

You hated the whine in your tone, how blatantly jealous you sounded. Yet you couldn’t erase the images from earlier from your mind. Yes, you’d been avoiding making eye contact with Paige all night, but that didn’t stop you from stealing looks as she flirted with every girl she came across. Typical Paige.

“Don’t say that shit.” Paige’s voice was rough and aggressive, taking you aback. Noticing how you went rigid, she cleared her throat. “‘M sorry,” she said in a more gentle tone. “It’s been a rough night.”

“Me too, so I’d appreciate it if you left me alone.”

“You still hate me?” Paige kept her voice light, with the corners of her mouth upturned, but you could sense her seriousness behind the mask. She was asking a real question, and she wanted to know the real answer.

“My ex best friend who slept with me then decided to ghost me after? Of course not,” you bit back. The tension between you two was strong, almost crackling at this point, and you didn’t know if you wanted to choke her or kiss her.

I felt her hand slide down and touch my wrist, but I kept my gaze focused straight ahead, refusing to give in. When we sat there in silence for a few more moments, with me refusing to look at her, she leaned forward and grabbed my elbow. Her other hand went to my chin, turning my head so that we were now facing each other.

“Please,” she whispered. Her eyes - have they always been this blue? - searched mine. “You never let me explain.” She swallowed hard. “I made a lot of mistakes, and I hate myself for it every day.” You weren’t used to this. Paige, all meek and unsure. For as long as you’d known her, she’d been all ego. She was smart and pretty, and insane at basketball, and she knew that. But now she was begging for forgiveness, something I never thought I’d see.

“You’ve always had a trail of girls following you around,” you told her. “And I didn’t care. Who you messed around with was none of my business.” Her teeth clamped down on her bottom lip, as she braced herself for what you were about to say next. “Until I became one of those girls.” You took a shaky breath before continuing. “And for some stupid reason, I didn’t think I’d become like one of those girls. Because we had history. You were my best friend, for god’s sake.”

You looked away. These were words you didn’t want to say, because they made you look pathetic. They showed how desperate you were, how you spent years pining after someone who never loved you in that way. But they were words Paige needed to hear. “I thought our friendship meant something. I loved you so much.” You were choking back sobs now, as memories resurfaced. God, it had been so long. Why were you not over it yet?

Paige’s eyes were shining now, and she rapidly blinked. She was trying to fight the tears away, and also resisting the urge to burst out and explain herself. You appreciated the fact that she was taking the time and effort to listen to you, though.

“But you took my virginity. You slept with me-,”you were crying now, tears falling down your face. Swiping at your cheeks with the sleeves of your sweater, you had to force the last words through. “And then you left. Like our three years of friendship was all just to get in my pants.”

The guilt in Paige’s eyes was almost enough for you to reach over and touch her, and assure her that everything would be okay. But you forced yourself to remember the pain, the fresh heartbreak of a year ago. Paige opened her mouth to respond, but suddenly you both heard a voice call your name.

“Y/N! Where are youuuuuu?”

Both of you turned around, spotting a completely washed Azzi. She swayed in her spot a moment before she laid eyes on the pair of you. Her face lit up, and she stumbled her way over to you. “I never thought I’d see you guys talk again,” she grinned enthustically, as if seeing you two within 5 feet of each other was the highlight of her night. “I knew you guys would talk it out!”

Paige toed the ground with the tip of her shoe. “Not really,” she mumbled. You took this opportunity of her looking away to really study her. Paige’s blonde hair was messy, but in a natural way that tumbled over her shoulders. She was wearing a white skin tight crop top that traced her chest and showed off her abdomen. Her cargo pants hung dangerously low on her hips, with the top of her boxers peeking out.

You bit your lip and dragged your gaze away, focusing your attention back on Azzi, who was now staring dreamily at the stars. Oh boy. “Let’s get you home, sweetheart,” you urged gently. You grabbed her elbow and dragged her along with you to the lot, refusing to look back.

[meow-meowism]

BG3 male companions and doing your hair

I had this idea stuck in my head for ages, and I finally have the willpower to write them! I wrote this with a GN! Tav with long hair in mind but if enough people like this I will write for Tavs who have short hair!!!! Also do not worry I will write for the fem companions soon!!! If you find any mistakes pls let me know this is my first non-request post 🥲🥲🥲 (No pronouns other than you)

Gale Dekarios

Gale doesn't know how he got lucky enough to meet you. Whenever he is reminded that his adoration, his devotion, his love for you is reciprocated he feels like the orb in his chest might just blow up from the rush of emotion that hits him. When you ask him to help wash and braid your hair he has to fight the urge to crush you in his embrace, settling instead on a eager yes. He met you by the side of the river close to camp and was met with the sight of you already half submerged in the water, turning to look at him at the sound of his approaching footsteps.

"And here I was starting to think I was being stood up." You teased, turning back to focus again on working some knots in your hair.

"Perish the thought! As if I would ever break a promise to my Polaris." Gale begins to remove his clothes, stepping into the water and immediately reaching out to help you with the knots.

The two of you sat in silence as you both worked to untangle the knots gently from your hair, and once that was done you took turns washing each others hair and bodies (with surprisingly little heated touches). Once you're both dry and clothed back on land you tug him to your tent where you sit down and begin to work oils into your hair, Once you are done you beckon him to sit behind you. He eagerly sits, giddily taking the band you hand him as he gathers your hair.

"Now my love, forgive me if there any imperfections in the braid I'm afraid I haven't had the joy of braiding anyone's hair before. And do tell me if I pull anything!"

After that you two sit in comfortable silence as he slowly and meticulously braids the sections of your hair together, with only a couple sharp intakes of breath and winces. Once he finishes tying the band to the end of your hair he is quick to project an image of you so you can see the braid properly.

"Oh Gale it's wonderful! Are you sure you haven't done this before?" You question as you turn your head from side to side, admiring the braid before turning around to look at the man behind you.

"I assure you, you are my first. In more ways than one." He says as he dismisses the image, raising a hand to your cheek as he places a kiss to your forehead.

Any other time you would take this as an innuendo, but you can feel how innocent the statement is. Knowing that he means such things as giving him the love he pours out back to him, seeing him as the wonderful man he is and not just Mystras chosen, adoring him as Gale Dekarios. You smile sweetly as you press a soft kiss to his cheek, and then his lips.

You'll have to try braiding his hair sometime.

Wyll Ravengard

Wyll thinks that if he could do it all over again, change not his path in life but who had set him on it, he would choose you. If he couldn't have you as a mortal, he would have you as his patron. He would sign the worst contract, everything weighed in your favor, if it meant being able to spend even a moment in your presence. But you are mortal, and you are here with him and he will never take that for granted. When you ask him to help wash and braid your hair he has to stop himself from falling to his knees in worship, opting instead for taking your hand and laying a kiss upon it as a form of agreeance. When he meets you by the river near the camp and finds you already in the water carefully detangling the knots in your hair he is quick to remove his clothes and come to assist.

"Come now my love, I know you have a hard time with the ones in back. Please, allow me." He says softly as his hands join yours in attempting to untangle a particularly stubborn knot.

Working it out of your hair is slow work, but once it is gone he is free to help you wash your hair and vice versa. Throughout the simple and welcomed task of washing yourselves he is always sure to leave a chaste kiss to your cheeks or your lips, never seeking for more than to convey how you make his heart sing. Once you both have washed away all the sweat and blood you make your way to your clothes on dry land, wringing the water out of your hair gently. Wyll grabs your hand and guides you to his tent where he pulls out a small bag of oils, setting them out for you to choose from.

"These are ones I use myself, so I can guarantee that they are only the best." Wyll provides as explanation, moving behind you to begin splitting your hair into sections to make applying the oil easier.

"Wyll, my love, you don't have to-" "I know I don't have to, but I want to. Indulge me and let me be your prince, please?" He says lovingly, placing a kiss to the space between your shoulder blades.

You cannot help but huff fondly and let a small alright fall from your lips as you lift a lavender oil and hand it to him before turning back around. He smiles at your choice.

"Lavender? Good to know we have similar tastes then. Tell me if anything hurts alright?" Wyll then begins to braid your hair, murmuring soft questions and stories to you as he carefully but efficiently works. Through it all you feel him braiding a trinket or two into your hair. Once he's done he hands you a small mirror and picks up one of his own, angling it just right so you could see the beautiful braids and the golden bands he had managed to weave into the strands.

"Oh Wyll...it's beautiful, all of it. Thank you for this, truly." You carefully set the mirror to the side, placing an adoring kiss to his lips as you wrap your arms around his neck.

"Of course, anything for the one I adore." He murmurs this lovingly into your hair, wrapping you up in his arms as he lays you both down on his bedroll.

Perhaps you could ask him to let you braid his hair next time.

Astarion Ancunin

Astarion was still getting used to being touched with no ulterior motive. You were always careful to keep your touches in chaste areas, even asking before touching anywhere in general, and it took him a while to become comfortable with it but he was getting better at asking to initiate simple things like holding hands or cuddling. He knew he adored you, no matter how afraid he was to admit that to anyone, and was grateful that you were patient. So when you approached looking shy, quietly asking if he would help wash and braid your hair, how could he say no to you?

When he made his way to the river near camp, he found you already in the water.

"Already naked an in the water, darling? Without me? I'm hurt." He pouted, the playfulness in his tone evident. He chuckled a little as he watched you practically jump out of the water.

"Astarion! I'm already cold don't scare me like that!" You huffed, turning back to face the water as you untangled the knots from your hair.

He laughed at that, beginning to undress and climb into the water with you. He had brought his own basket of oils and soaps (because he wanted to make sure everyone knew it was him who had helped you) and set it on a rock nearby.

You tilted your head towards, but you didn't fully turn around. Your voice was small, yet sincere when you spoke.

"Astarion...you know you don't have to do this right? Don't feel as if you have to." You had paused in untangling the knots to give him your full attention.

Astarions heart swelled, knowing that even when he was practically in the water next you you still made sure he knew he had an out. He moved closer, placing a soft chaste kiss to your shoulder.

"I know my sweet, don't worry your pretty little head over it. I know that if I asked to leave you wouldn't think twice on encouraging me to do so, which is why I want to stay" he turned you around gently to place another kiss to your lips, "now lets get these knots out of your hair. Frankly my dear I am appalled at just how many there are." He teased before grabbing a soap from his basket and getting to work.

It was quiet work after that, relaxing into his touch as he worked the soap through your knots and gently untangled them. He smiled at you and gave you another kiss when you asked him if it was alright to wash his hair in turn. Once the both of you had cleaned up and gotten yourselves dry, he practically dragged you to his tent so he could begin working the oils through your hair.

"Astarion, isn't this your signature scent?" You teased, recognizing his motive with a swell of your heart.

"Of course it is darling, everyone should know that you keep fine company." He replied quickly, but you could hear the warmth hidden in the layers.

You closed your eyes as he worked the oils in, and then began sectioning your hair into smaller braids to form one big one. You felt him braiding in smaller things but you couldn't quite figure out what. With the tying of the band around the end, he handed you a mirror and held one of his own so you could see.

"Oh Astarion, it's like an art piece!" You exclaim joyfully, taking in the sight of the bands and flowers made from gold woven into your hair.

"Please darling, the trinkets pale in comparison to you." He sets his mirror down and carefully, as if you'll say no, wraps his arms around your waist.

You turn in his hold, jostling his hands a bit before they can settle back around your waist as you lay gentle kisses to his cheeks.

Hopefully next time you can find some trinkets for his hair.

[crusty-chronicles]

A Mistake (Ging x Gon's Mom)

Chapter One: The Before

Synopsis: There was only ever one thing Ging regretted in his life, and that was what happened with you. You didn't think you had it in yourself to forgive what he did. Yet despite it all, you always end up finding your way back to each other.

It wasn't well known you'd ever had a husband. Just like it wasn't well known he'd ever had a wife. Only people in your closet circle knew about it. And even then, fewer knew you had a kid with him. It wasn't your doing, God no. If things had gone your way, your family wouldn't have been broken up. But as fate would have it, things were always complicated when it came to Ging.

—------------------------------

The two of you had grown up on Whale Island together. You were the only other kid besides Mito around. Yet despite that, you and Ging were never really friends. In fact, to most it looked like you hated each other. To a certain extent, you did.

Ging was standoff-ish, even as a kid. He never wanted you or Mito to hang around him. Often shooing the two of you away. His dismissive attitude sparking your hostility towards him. If he'd climb a mountain, you'd climb it in half the time. If he caught a monster in a lake, you'd catch two. 

Ging noticed your attempts to one up him, striving to get under your skin just a little more. If you discovered a new plant on the island, he'd undermine it with an even bigger discovery. If you made friends with some of the crew from a visiting ship, he'd connect with the captain.

Everything you two did was to spite the other. 

But somehow you'd ended up together anyway. 

—-------------------------------

W H A L E  I S L A N D: J U S T  B E F O R E        G O N ‘ S  A R R I V A L

Another letter had come in. Just in time for Gon’s 12th birthday. It was signed with your signature. Mito eyed it with dread. A sinking feeling in her stomach. Sooner or later, she'd have to give them to him. She promised you, after all. But what if he decided he didn't want her as his mom anymore? Wanting instead to chase after you like his father. How would he react knowing his real mother wanted to see him all this time?

With a heavy sigh, she stored it away with the others. The sound of knocking quickly catching her attention. And when she saw it was Gon on the other side, her worries temporarily melted away. He'd brought a friend this time. ‘They’ll probably be out the whole day,’ she thought with a fond smile.

With that in mind, she quickly put both boys to work. Making sure they were all cleaned up before letting them explore the island. Yet something unexpected had happened. Gon presented her with his own hunter license. The very same her cousin had gotten. The type you'd gotten.

She tried not to let her dismay show. Playfully bending the license, though she knew it was practically indestructible. A part of her still hoping it would tear. These things had taken enough of her family. She returned it back at Gon’s protests. Laughing at his pouty expression. 

One very reminiscent of yours.

Both boys left soon after they ate. All the while, Mito was eyeing the drawer she put your letters in. She knew it was time. Gon was an official pro hunter. There was nothing stopping her now from giving those letters, and yet… Yet she was still stalling. 

She was stalling on giving out a few things. Ging's included. She tried to get rid of Ging’s box. Tried everything to destroy it. And when she couldn't, she gave up. But she never tried to get rid of your letters. Never anything that was yours. 

It was getting late. The sun had barely finished setting. She decided she'd bring some food to the two boys. They must've been hungry being out for so long. 

It must have been a natural talent in the family. To always be able to find the person they were searching for. You and Ging would always find her when she would hide away. And he'd always go out of his way to find you when you didn't want to be found. Here Mito was some decades later, somehow knowing just where Gon ended up.

The two boys were near the edge of a cliff. A small fire burning to keep them warm. She went to take a step forward, stopping when she heard one of them talk. 

“You never told me what your mom does.” 

She could hear Gon let out a heavy sigh. Unknowing his mother had fallen into the exact same occupation as him. 

“It's hard to ask about my dad, but asking about my mom's even harder,” he responded.

As much as Mito resented Ging, she loved you. She would have answered a thousand questions about you.

“It's just that since Aunt Mito raised me all by herself, it feels weird y’know? Like it's wrong or something.” Gon continued.

He was ashamed to ask about you? She never wanted him to be scared to ask her anything. Especially if it was about you.

“When I was little, Aunt Mito told me that both my parents died in a traffic accident. She thought if I learned my dad was alive and a hunter, that I might end up just like he did. So…”

“She didn't know how right she was, huh?” His friend commented.

“When I found out about my dad, I dunno? I guess I kind of decided that if he was still alive somewhere, my mom must've been the one who died.”

Wrong. You were perfectly fine. And maybe a small part of her regretted telling that lie. But how could she possibly explain what happened? Tell him his dad had lost custody of him on purpose during court? That it was his fault his own mother couldn't get to see him? 

“Ever since then, I've thought of Aunt Mito as my mom. The only one I've got.”

She didn't know she was crying until her tears dripped down. 

“So there's nothing for me to ask. And I don't need to.”

Such a beautiful moment she was blessed with, and yet… it was tainted by guilt. 

You'd wanted Gon.

You never wanted to give him up.

You tried to get him back.

It wasn't fair.

Not to you.

All she could think of was how badly Ging had fucked up.

She made a decision the next day. To finally tell him the truth about everything. And if he still didn't want to learn about you after, then truly she'd done everything she could. The only one to blame would be her idiot cousin.

She started off with the easier stuff. Things she knew Gon wanted answers to. That wouldn't hold as much weight to recount. Everything pertaining to Ging. That stupid box he left which she had no idea how to open. Stories of their childhood. How she was always chasing after him. How she yelled and fussed after him, only for him to essentially brush her off. How as much as she resented Ging for leaving, couldn't help but feel like things fell apart as soon as he was gone.

She left it at that for a while. Giving Gon time to process everything while she psyched herself up to talk about you. He'd gone back to his room with his friend, and Mito found herself back at the drawer that contained your letters. Twelve of them perfectly sealed and unopened. Her hands were shaking as she picked them up. 

—----------------------------------

The two boys sat excitedly around the tape recorder, triumphant smiles at finally getting that damn box open. And as the tape started to play, Gon could feel his heart stop. Was that really what his dad sounded like? After all this time, it was Ging talking to him. Despite his crude words, Gon was brimming with fire. Wanting more than ever to find him now. 

“About your mother-”

He shut off the tape just as Mito entered. She was clutching something close to her chest. A regretful expression on her face.

“What are those?” He questioned.

“I told you everything I knew about your father. It's only fair I tell you everything about your mother, too.” She explained.

And before Gon could protest, she finally handed over your letters.

“I don't even know where to begin, but make no mistake, she never wanted to give you up.”

He looked up at her in shock.

“My mom's alive?”

Maybe it wouldn't have been enough by itself to make him care. But the letters in his hand and the way Mito spoke about you did. 

“I promised her I would give these to you. She sent one for every birthday. I think that if you ever wrote her back, she'd waste no time responding.” It was said with a bittersweet smile.

If she'd given them sooner, you probably would have.

Gon opened the first letter, he and his friend skimming over the text.

To Gon, 

Happy First Birthday!!!! (Or well, second, but I'll write that one after this.) I'm your mom, and although you can't read yet, let me tell you a little about myself. For starters, I'm a hunter. Just like your clown of a father and maybe someday you. No pressure, I'll be proud of you no matter what you become. Anyways- I’m an underwater ruins hunter. I study civilizations lost to the sea, recover sunken vessels, and occasionally discover some pretty gnarly sea creatures. (Unwillingly if I might add.) I was born on Whale Island and spent most of my childhood there. When I was twelve, I left to take my own hunter exam. Now for the elephant in the room…. I'm obviously not there with you. I wish I could be. But I trust Mito will raise you well. For now, I'll be writing you every year. You don't have to respond, but just know I love you very much.

Your Mom, Y/n.

He didn't know what to expect. Surely not for you to be the complete opposite of Ging. You wanted to see him? You didn't expect him to be a hunter? You encouraged him to reach out to you?

With every letter he read, he became more fascinated. Your words were gentle, often telling him to chase his own dreams. Sometimes you'd write about what you did. Things you discovered and what you hoped to find next time. He thought he'd be okay without knowing anything about you. Perhaps Mito being the one to bring it up changed that.

“My mom was a hunter too, huh? But she seems so different from Ging,” he commented, looking up when he finished the last letter.

Mito let out a drained sigh before speaking. 

“I don't know exactly what happened between them, but I do know your dad did something to stop your mom from seeing you.”

A curse, she thinks you called it. 

“She asked me to take care of you. I would have done it anyway, but something about her trusting me…”

She remembers hearing a knock at the door. Opening it only to see your broken expression. She wanted to be mad at you. Not only had you gone and gotten knocked up, you did it with Ging of all people. The man who she wanted nothing to do with at the moment. That wasn't what sparked this feeling of betrayal. This hurt. You didn't even bother to tell her anything.

You'd been absent from her life for at least two years. You used to visit every few months. And you never hid things from her. But this? A relationship with her stupid cousin and a two year old kid? She wanted to slam the door in your face. Then the feeling disappeared at the sight of you crying.

“Please,” you sobbed. The only person who'd ever made you cry was Ging.

“Please take care of my boy!”

She knew it wasn't your idea to give him up. Not when Ging left the boy without looking back, and you were right in front of her pleading to take him in.

“Raise him like he's your own. I … I wish more than anything things were different. But I can't fix it this time. So please, please love him. Make sure he grows big and strong. Teach him right from wrong-”

“I promise.” She cut off. Her own eyes tearing up as she watched you fall apart.

“My first memory of your dad was his back. My first with your mom was of her face. Smiling so sweetly at me,” Mito started.

“She was my best friend, and I loved her like a sister. She was always butting heads with Ging. Your dad thought she was a pain, and your mom thought he was a jerk. To anybody with eyes it looked like they hated each other. Even I was convinced.”

She could see both boys listening intently. Waiting for her to continue.

“But despite all their petty arguments, they really did care about each other. There was this one time…”

—-------------------------------

W H A L E  I S L A N D :  2 1  Y E A R S  A G O

You didn't know how many times you'd found her like this. Hysterically crying her eyes out because she'd lost sight of Ging. But you did know you were sick and tired of him leaving her to fend for herself. He didn't have a shred of sympathy for anyone but himself. You'd put him in his place one day. For now…

“Ging left you again, huh?” You asked.

Mito looked up at you tearfully. Little hiccups escaping her from her place on the ground.

“Yeah.”

You crouched down to swipe the tears off her face. Flashing a soft smile and offering up your hand.

“Well who needs him? C'mon, let's have our own adventure.”

She took your hand without hesitation, letting you pull her up and clinging tightly to your arm. She could always count on you to make her feel better. A smile of her own making its way to her face as you pulled her along. 

“Where are we gonna go?” She questioned.

“Mmmm. Oh, I know! But I can't tell you.” You put a finger to your lips. Eyes filled with amusement watching Mito pout.

“Why not!” She gave a small stamp of her foot.

Deciding you wouldn't tease her further, you responded truthfully.

“Cuz, it'll be a surprise.”

Something special for her. So maybe the person she wanted to spend time with could care less about her. That didn't matter now that you were here. You were absolutely right. She didn't need him.

You led her deeper into the forest. Stopping just short of a clearing with what had to be the prettiest flowers she's ever seen. Blues and reds sprouting from every which way. A small pond in the center with frogs sitting by the edge. Her eyes widened in awe at the sight. 

“How did you find this place?” She asked.

You plopped down on the grass. Laying back and spreading out your limbs.

“Well, you discover something new everyday if you look hard enough.”

You gestured for her to join you. And without fail she did. Laying contently besides you while looking up at the clouds. Her senses flooded by the sweet smell of flowers. You stayed like that for a while. Basking in the serenity of the clearing. An idea came to you then. You nudged her shoulder lightly.

“Hey…Let's come back here tomorrow and have a picnic.”

“Really!?!”

You laughed at her excited tone.

“Yeah! I'm getting better at cooking. How about I bring the food, and you bring the blanket?”

You looked over to see her beaming at you. Your bright grin matching hers.

“Sounds good to me. If I tried to bring any snacks, Ging would find them and eat them.” 

You sat up at that. Raising your fist to the sky with a shake.

“That jerkface. I'd give him a wallop if he tried that.” 

She sat up with you, not bothering to hide her giggles when she spoke.

“Are you gonna give him one today?”

“For making you cry? I'll give him two!”

Your conversation was soon interrupted by a loud growl. The two of you froze. You turned your head to see a foxbear stalking forward. Instinctively you stood in front of Mito. Trying your best to figure out a way to make a break for it. The girl behind you still on the floor unmoving.

It took another step forward. Teeth bared in warning. You could outrun it, you were sure you could. But Mito couldn't. And if you carried her, you wouldn't be fast enough. You had to get its attention long enough for her to escape. It lunged forward before you got a chance to speak.

You’d grabbed Mito and rolled as fast as you could out of the way. The foxbear slamming its head on a tree. You grabbed the younger girl by her shoulders.

“Mito, get out of here! I'll distract it!” 

She seemed to snap out of her fear for just a brief moment. Looking fast between you and the animal that regained its bearings.

“I can't leave you!” She cried.

You didn't have any time to argue, so you said something you hoped would get her moving.

“Then go get Ging! Hurry!”

You shoved her before she could argue. Watching as she broke out into a sprint. You let out a sigh of relief. It was gone as soon as it came, feeling the looming presence behind you.

Mito ran as fast as she could through the forest. Shouting for Ging as loud as she could. Once again crying hysterically the longer she looked. She bumped into something hard. Falling backwards and looking up to see what it was.

“I thought you gave up for the day? Well, whaddya want?” 

She sobbed harder at the sight of Ging. Doing her best to speak coherently through her tears. But all he could make out was ‘Y/n’ and ‘Help.’

He rolled his eyes at the mention of your name. Cutting off Mito from her panicked rambling.

“Look, whatever happened to Y/n is her problem. Besides, she's always running her mouth about how much better she is than me. She can deal with it herself.”

Right at that moment your scream reverberated through the forest. For the first time since Mito could remember, Ging went pale. His eyes widening as the blood in his veins froze. Then all at once he started running. Sprinting as fast as he could in the direction of your cry.

Mito did her best to follow after him. She'd never known Ging to be scared. And she never would have known if it weren't for the slight tremble in his hand as he aimed his fishing pole. His body stuttering upon seeing your crumpled up form. The foxbear looking up at him with a growl.

He ran to the side opposite of you, using the tip of his fishing pole to smack the back of its head. He signaled for Mito to grab you. Continuing his onslaught as the foxbear grew more frustrated. It made a lunge for him. Ging dodged at the last second and made a run towards you and Mito. Picking up both of you and sprinting back towards the village.

Your body felt light, and he tried not to notice the limpness of it. He tried to ignore the warmth seeping into his clothes. The houses were barely in sight when he started shouting for a doctor. For anyone to help.

And he internally cursed you. Just what the hell did you get yourself into. You were gonna die. You couldn't die. You were supposed to be here. For him. 

It wasn't long before you were taken in by a doctor. You were rushed in for surgery. The medical professionals stopping both Ging and Mito from entering the room. So they waited outside instead.

Mito eyed him from her peripheral. His shirt was soaked with your blood. She half expected him to yell at her for your condition. For being reckless. He was oddly quiet instead. She also thought he would have left by now, thinking you were the healer’s problem. But he was right outside your room.

The hospital wasn't really one. Not like Whale Island had much technology to begin with. It was a five room house with basic first aid. An old man with some medical experience and a few helpers. Still, it was better than nothing. The doctor came out after a few hours. The two of them looked at him expectantly.

“She lost too much blood. It's a gamble if she'll pull through. But as of right now, it doesn't seem likely. You two should go home and get some rest.”

With no other choice they left. Or rather, Mito left and Ging said he'd be right behind her. She didn't expect to see him the next day in your room, having cracked open the door silently.

He stood by the side of your bed. Watching the rise and fall of your chest unmoving. His hand clasped in yours.

She was sure what he said next wasn't for another soul to hear.

"If you die…I'll never forgive you.”

His hand tightening ever so slightly around yours.

“So get better. Don't be a wimp and just bleed out."

He didn't bring it up. Not even to rub it in when you made a full recovery. In fact, it was as if that moment of softness never happened.

—---------------------------

P R E S E N T

“So they still fought after that?” Gon questioned. 

He thought his dad would have been a little nicer to you after that. Seems he was wrong.

“Ooh yeah. A lot. I never told your mom about that either. So naturally they continued on as usual. That didn't mean she didn't have her own soft spot for him as well.”

—--------------------------

W H A L E  I S L A N D :  2 1  Y E A R S  A G O

Another day, another spat with you and Ging at each other's throats. He tried to walk away at first, not in the mood to be scolded right now. But you followed persistently behind him. 

“You can't just disappear for a day! Everybody was worried about you!” You shouted.

Everyone huh? He shot you a glare over his shoulder.

“Even you?”

He watched smugly as your cheeks puffed out in irritation.

“Oh yes. Totally worried and not at all annoyed by your reckless behavior! Can't you stop being stupid for one minute.”

His amusement disappearing at your insult. He turned around to face you.

“Then why are you here? Quit nagging me and just go away!”

“It's not like I found you first on purpose! You think I like wasting my time!”

His head started to hurt. Maybe staying in that cave overnight had been a bad idea. Not like he'd ever admit it, and surely not to you of all people. You'd never let him live it down.

“Funny. Considering your entire life is a waste of time!” He taunted.

“Real original. At least I'm not the one who doesn't know what a shower is!”

But the longer Ging continued to argue with you, the worse he started to feel. The ache in his head became a ruthless pounding. His vision going in and out. He doubted an animal bite was the cause. He must've been exposed to something.

“Another thing- hey. Are you okay?” Your tone immediately shifting upon seeing him struggle to stand.

You reached to put a hand on his forehead. He quickly slapped it away. Trying to create space between you two.

“M fine. Maybe if you shut up for once…. World wouldn't…be.. spinning.” 

He collapsed onto the ground. The last thing he heard was your concerned cry.

“GING!”

You rushed over to his side, panicking at his rapid breathing. You quickly hauled him over your shoulder and ran back towards the village. They stared at you in shock as you hauled around the unconscious boy.

You'd brought him to the same doctor you'd been at. And like you, the chance of recovery was slim. They didn't know what he'd been exposed to. You did your best to recall where you'd found him. Listing off whatever you thought would help. With nothing to do but wait, they'd sent him home on bed rest.

Mito would check up on him everyday. Surprisingly, you joined her. She'd never seen you so downcast. Especially over Ging. If anything, she expected you to brag about how you were right. How Ging was stupid enough to somehow get infected by a new sickness. Not you being the one to give him his medicine. (His own dad having been gone for some time now.)

He hadn't been getting better the past few days. And as she silently opened his bedroom door, she couldn't help but freeze in her tracks. 

Ging's hand was clasped tightly between yours. You were looking down at him with a frustrated expression.

"You're pathetic if you let this sickness win. Aren't you supposed to be strong?”

She was sure she wasn't supposed to be hearing this. But you didn't seem to notice her.

“Then beat this thing and get better! If you die…I'll hate you forever."

And when he made a miraculous recovery, you didn't bother bringing it up either.

—---------------------------------

P R E S E N T

She continued sharing stories about you and Ging. It felt like a weight was lifted off her shoulders. With every new fact about you, Gon’s eyes brightened. There was still a part of her that was worried he'd start chasing after you next. That he'd stop thinking of her as his mother. She knew it was selfish, but she'd raised him all on her own.

“I'd like to meet her one day. But she wouldn't be able to replace you.” Gon admitted.

She had nothing to fear after all.

—-----------------------------------

You don't know why you were thinking about him. About your childhood. You supposed the setting had something to do with it. You were currently traveling on a boat to get to your next sighting. Then you'd spend about a week doing dives. Truly you loved the sea. You could never get enough of it as a kid. Wanting more than anything to leave that island to explore it.

For so long you'd only ever stare across the horizon. You'd pick up whatever washed ashore and observe it. Try to figure out where it came from or what it was. You were able to spread your wings as a hunter. 

A damn shame the man who encouraged you to do it was a dickhead.

—---------------------------

W H A L E  I S L A N D :  2 1  Y E A R S  A G O

You remembered hearing the announcement and not believing it. Ging's dad was gone, lost somewhere out at sea. They weren't close, but it affected him all the same. You saw the way his eyes widened in disbelief. The way his hands clenched as people offered their condolences. How he started distancing himself from everybody. 

He'd go into the forest and wouldn't come out for days. You knew he wasn't taking care of himself. Seeing his disheveled appearance and sunken in cheeks. You don't know why you felt bad for him. All you two did was yell at each other. But you just couldn't stand to see him so dejected. 

Maybe it was because you could relate to him to some extent. You'd lost both of your parents when you were four. And although every family friend offered to take you in, you opted to stay by yourself in your home. The last thing you'd wanted was to be pitied.

You had a feeling Ging was similar. Too proud to accept any help or admit he needed it. He wouldn't want your sympathy. But you at least wanted him to eat. To stop neglecting his health. 

It wasn't hard to find him. Somehow you always managed to do it. He was slumped over up against a tree. You don't think you've ever seen him so…so upset. You approached him slowly, watching the way his head shot up at the sound of your footsteps.

“You've been roughing it up like a caveman for days. Don't you think it's time to go back home?” You asked.

He took note of the softness of your voice. You've never spoken to him like that before. 

“I'm fine.” He brushed off.

‘You don't look like it,’ you wanted to say. But you didn't want to push him. So instead you'd said-

“Well if you're going to be stubborn. Here.”

You extended out the basket you'd brought. A pleasant smell emitting from it. You could see the cogs turn in his head as he tried to figure out what was in there.

“Don’t go getting the wrong idea. I had leftovers is all,” you justified. 

He snapped out of whatever daze he was in and turned his head away.

“I'm not hungry.”

You frowned at his words. You always hated how stubborn he could be. Two could play at that game. 

“You look like garbage. You know you can't lie to me. And if you're gonna stay up here, at least feed yourself.”

The thought occurred to you that maybe he came up here because he didn't want anyone to see him grieve. 

“Or if you don't want anyone to see you, you could crash at my place.” You added.

Your hospitality didn't sit right with him. You of all people were being nice. Why? Because you felt bad? You were the last person he wanted to be pitied by. 

“Are you gonna tell me you're sorry too? That you're here if I need somebody to talk to? How you can't possibly imagine what I'm going through?” Frustration evident in his tone.

“I'm not-” You tired to argue, but everything had been too much for him.

“Well save it.” He snapped, eyes boring into yours. 

“I don't need your damn help and I don't need your sympathy. But you can never leave me alone, can you?”

You two were no strangers to arguing. But something about this one felt different. It felt more heated. More weighted. The venom of his words making you tremble.

“You're just an annoying thorn in my side that I can't get rid of. I hate you. I hate your voice. I hate the way you look. The way that you walk. I hate everything you stand for.”

He didn't know why he was so angry at you. But he couldn't stop. 

“Make yourself useful for once and get the hell away from me!”

You stood silently taking it. Nails pressing hard into your palms. For a second he thought you would cry. Instead you'd dropped the basket you were holding. Voice eerily quiet as you finally spoke.

“I can't wait until I get off this island. I'll have the pleasure of never seeing you again.”

You left after that, leaving him once again in silence. He thought he would've felt better after you were gone. He didn't. For some reason, he couldn't shake the look on your face. The hurt. You'd never let anything he said get to you before. So why this time?

He shook his head to rid the thought. But he just couldn't escape you. The smell of the food you'd brought wafted tantalizingly in his face. He could feel a small pang of hunger in his stomach. 

Damn you and your persistence.

The more he tried to ignore it, the more prominent his hunger became. Inevitably, he gave into the rumbling of his stomach. Not wanting to admit he was somewhat thankful you'd left the basket. Or that you'd been right. He froze when he saw what was inside it.

These were all his favorite foods. Packaged with care and enough to last him for the day. You didn't have leftovers, you'd actually gone out of your way to cook for him. A twinge of guilt coursed through him. 

He'd been awful to you, and yet you still made sure he was taken care of. Hadn't you lost both of your parents too? More than anyone, you probably did know what he was going through. But you didn't want it to seem like some charity case, so you tried to play it off instead.

And he'd thrown it back in your face.

Man, he really owed you one, didn't he?

Just like that his grief, his frustration was gone. In its place the want to make things right with you. So he spent the whole night trying to figure out how to make it up to you. You loved the shoreline, so he started there. Picking up things he thought you would like. Fossilized parts of starfishes, a few janky shells, pieces of coral. He overheard you talking about sand dollars once, so he found a few of those too. Maybe he'd even catch you a new pet. Everything he collected placed haphazardly into your basket.

He knocked on your door first thing in the morning. It was still early enough that nobody would see him give it to you. Why did it matter if people saw him?

He half debated just leaving the basket at your door. But he decided against it, figuring you'd just think it was Mito who left it. The silence stretched out before him. You sure were taking your time, weren't you? He knocked again.

He felt like an idiot standing out here. People would see him at this rate. How humiliating it was to apologize to you. He twisted your doorknob next, surprised to see it unlocked. He'd scold you for that later. For now, he let himself in. 

“Hey, you awake yet?” He asked softly.

Once again he was greeted by silence. He decided to just get it over with. No point in stalling.

“Look, maybe I went too far yesterday. I don't…I don't hate you…And uh- thank you for the food.” He quickly added.

Silence. He walked further into your home. Face burning a bright red. You were really gonna make him say it, weren't you? 

“You're really that mad, huh? Fine. I didn't mean to snap at you, okay?!? I don't even care about my dad that much. He's never here. Not like you. So just come out already!” 

And when you still didn't respond, his heart dropped. Something wasn't right. You'd never skip out on a chance to tease him. Something on your table caught his eye. A note. It shouldn't have shocked him to see it addressed to Mito. Though he never should have expected you to write him anything in the first place. 

‘I'm gonna be out for a while, so don't panic when you can't find me. I'll be fine. Take care until then.’

Okay. So he'd just have to wait until you came back. No big deal. He could wait here for you.

You didn't come back.

You'd been gone the whole day. Mito came by to see you. And when he showed her the note, she tried to wait for you too. But when it got dark out, she started crying. She always did when something happened to you. She loved you like family. It wasn't like you to be gone for so long. Still, he wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt.

By the third day, the entire island was searching for you. No stone left unturned, every nook and cranny you could possibly fit into was searched. There was no sign of you.

You left.

He was sure you did.

You always talked about getting off the island. Then there was what you said before you walked away from him. That you couldn't wait to leave. He asked all the crew members by the dock if they'd seen you. He checked every shore he could find at least twice. Asked if any boats had left recently. No luck. You'd made sure there was no trace of you.

How was he supposed to explain to everyone it was his fault you were gone?

He was scouting on the edge of a cliff when he saw something. A stone skipping in the water below. He tried not to get his hopes up. Tried to stop the pounding of his heart as he made his way down. Hugging the base of the mountain while scooting a few inches at a time. Finally, there was an opening. He never would have seen it if it weren't for the rock you tossed.

You hadn't seen him yet. Holding yet another small rock and throwing it across the surface of the water. You looked…fine. A canister of water by your side with a small fire going. He had no reason to be worried about you. 

You knew he was there. Even without seeing him you knew. You weren't mad at him, per se, but you were hurt. You could tell he was just lashing out. Taking everything negative and aiming it at you because it was easier that way. That didn't excuse what he said. It didn't mean you wanted to see him. Or anyone for that matter. 

You wanted to be alone for a while. Just to collect your thoughts. But since he was here, you couldn't help but be snippy with him. He had no right to bother you when he'd been so cruel earlier. 

“I thought you wanted me to leave you alone?” Sarcasm dripping from your tone. 

He stood shocked at your words. Regaining his composure only to scold you right after.

“Don't start with me! You've been missing for three days! What the hell is wrong with you!?!”

Had you been more observant, you would have noticed the worry in his voice. 

“Me? Says the idiot who leaves for weeks at a time! You can't get after me for doing the exact same as you!”

“Like hell I can't! The entire island’s been in a frenzy since you left!”

“Well you found me! Now go away!”

He was getting nowhere with you. So he tried someone who could.

“Mito thought you were hurt or worse!”

At that you went quiet. A guilty expression crossing your face. He knew you loved her just as much as she loved you. He took your silence as a sign to continue. 

“Look, when I do it, it's expected! When you do it, it's like her entire world ended. Damnit, you have people who care about you!” He cared about you.

“And you don't!?!” You snapped.

It was like his brain short-circuited at that moment. You cared about him? Was everything he had been feeling what you'd felt too? Worried about how the other was doing. If they were okay. 

“Why are you here Ging?” You asked.

You sounded drained. He couldn't blame you. He'd felt drained too.

“It should be obvious shouldn't it?” He rebuttaled. 

But as always you saw right through him.

“No. Why are you here?”

He didn't know how to answer you, so he didn't. You curled into yourself at his silence.

“I don't want to see you right now.” You said quietly.

He sat down next to you stubbornly.

“Too bad. I'm not leaving until I take you with me.”

You scooted away from him.

“Then we're stuck here because I'm never going anywhere with you again.”

You let out a scoff, directing your attention to the fire in front of you. It was an awkward sort of silence that filled the cave. You didn't want to speak to him, and he didn't know what to say. He looked at you from the corner of his eye. He had no idea how to fix this. He was never the best with people. He knew how to get on your nerves. Not how to soothe them.

So he sat there for an hour or two, trying to formulate a sentence in his head. He eventually gave up. Maybe being honest would help. And if it didn't, then you two would be stuck down here a long time.

“It was off putting, you know?” He started.

“Hmm?” You gave a small hum, still refusing to look at him.

“To have you be nice to me.”

He could see the way your hands clenched. Okay so maybe those weren't the right words.

“Well, it'll never happen again.”

Definitely not the right words.

“Not like that. Ugh!” He tried to diffuse. Face starting to burn with embarrassment. And when you finally turned to stare at him, it only worsened.

“Like what then?”

He took a second to collect his thoughts. Letting out a heavy sigh before speaking.

“I don't want to be the boy who was pitied.”

Your face scrunched up at his words.

“Who's father died so everybody better step on eggshells around him. All the ‘sorries’ and ‘we’re here's.’ I can't stand any of it.” He confessed.

You had a feeling that was the case. It was why you tried to be subtle about your kindness. Look how far that got you.

“Then for you to show up with food, to offer me your place to stay…It didn't feel like you. It felt like everyone else.”

At last, your features softened.

“I just don't want you to change. You don't tell me what I want to hear. So having you care about me just felt off.”

He turned his head towards you when he was finished. He was surprised to see you move closer to him. You didn't look mad anymore. You were trying to figure out how to respond.

“I just…” 

And he waited for you. Just as you'd waited for him.

“You're so strong, you know? So stubborn and determined. I thought nothing could shake you.”

You thought that highly of him, huh? It had him feeling a little worse for what he said to you.

“Seeing you so dejected….It was hard. You're always full of energy. The boy who can never resist a challenge. The sulking kid who sits in one place? That's not Ging Freecs.”

You met his gaze with a small smile.

“I don't want you to change either. And I know you didn't mean all that stuff. You don't have to say you're sorry.”

A feeling of relief washed over him. He decided he hated it when you were mad. Really mad at him. The silence was more comfortable this time. The tension in the cave not as thick. He'd almost say it was nice.

“I thought you'd run off the island. I don't know why, but it scared me. The thought of you not being here anymore.” He admitted.

You gave a playful nudge to his shoulder.

“I would have loved to see the look on your face.”

And once again he was embarrassed. He'd never tell you he was worried. He'd rather have his eyes gouged out than admit that.

“What look? The look of relief.” He taunted, but you only laughed the remark off.

He pouted and turned away from you. Through your giggles you could tell he was flustered. You knew he didn't like being vulnerable. Hell it was a miracle he'd told you as much as he did. You decided to humor him a bit.

“I was scared too. I thought you'd kill yourself up there. That's why I brought you food in the first place.” You explained.

He was grateful you'd somewhat changed the subject. Taking attention off him for a moment. But something in the atmosphere changed. Your amused expression was replaced by something more somber.

“I'm gonna leave this island eventually. I don't wanna be stuck here all my life.”

Eventually. Not yet. It was comforting to hear. He nodded at you to continue, sharing in your sentiment.

“There's something I want to do. Something I want to find.”

“What is it?” He asked.

“You're gonna laugh if I tell you.”

“Promise I won't.” Because truthfully, he wanted to be here with you. A part of him beaming at the fact you were telling him something personal.

“You know about the legend of Atlantis right? The lost sunken city? I'm gonna find it. Or a city like it. Most myths are based in some truth, right? At the very least I can discover lost pieces of civilizations.” 

You spoke excitedly, but when you met his gaze, you shied away. Preparing for him to poke fun at you.

Had it been coming from anyone else, he would have thought they were crazy. But something about it being you made him believe it. It made him want to root for you. Before he could say as much, you continued. This time with more determination.

“In two years, I can take the hunter exam. I'll be able to get the funds I need for dives. Maybe grants for research. I'll be able to start my life. But…I know people will probably think I'm crazy. I'll be underestimated for being so young. It'll be hard.”

He could see you were on the fence about it. Wanting to chase your dreams, but at the same time worried about what everybody else would think. He doesn't think he's ever seen you self-conscious before. You were always so sure with everything you did.

“If anyone can do it, it's you.” He encouraged.

Your eyes widened. Then all at once you beamed at him. 

“So you think I should go for it?” You asked hopefully. 

“Yeah. Besides, I'll be the one to leave first. If I'm going after what I want, why shouldn't you?” 

You were temporarily shocked hearing he'd wanted to be a hunter too. Then again it was Ging. He was always chasing something new. He fit the role perfectly.

“And what is it that you want?” You asked.

He couldn't believe what he was about to tell you. Something he'd never confided in anyone about before. He supposed it was only fair since you did it first.

“There are these ruins. I want to restore them. Well, not quite. I want to find out what's inside them. Nobody's been able to get in there before. Something about it being too dangerous and the ruins themselves being too fragile. I'll start up a nonprofit to get things going. It won't be easy either. But it's what I want.”

He looked at you with an unshakable resolve. The same one reflected in your eyes.

“Then you better make sure to get it.” You said.

He remembered what you said the day he snapped at you. Asking him to go back to the village. Back home. After being away for so long, no thanks to his own behavior and worry for you, he wanted nothing more. He stood up and offered his hand to you.

“I'm ready to go home now.” He prompted.

You smiled and took his hand.

“Then let's get going.”

You got back to the village by nighttime. Staring up at the stars as you made your way to your house. Ging followed right behind you. When you got there, you offered for him to come inside. Initially, he accepted your offer. That was until you found your basket on the table.

“What's this?” You asked.

Ging actively avoided your gaze while you looked through the contents of the basket.

“Mito thought you were sick and made you a basket.” He quickly lied. Face burning a bright red. 

You raised a brow at his flustered expression. 

“Well tell Mito I said thank you.” You already knew it was him who left it.

“I will.”

He went to leave, trying to escape what'd made him so embarrassed. And just before he opened the door, he hesitated.

“Don't ever do that again.” He lectured one last time. 

You gave a roll of your eyes.

“I didn't need you to find me. I was perfectly fine. And besides, I left a note.”

“Just don't do it, okay!?!”

Eventually the time came when he was supposed to leave for his hunter exam. He of course rubbed it in how he got to become one first. Very much enjoying how it got under your skin.

“Being a year older than me doesn't make you better! You know damn well I'd ace it on my first try!”

“Sucks to suck. It doesn't change the fact I'll be a hunter before you. Maybe I'll even get a head start on your search.” He teased.

“Don’t you dare! I'll kick your ass!”

“Oooh. I'm so scared. How's it feel to be in second place?”

“I hope you fail and have to take it next year with me! Then I hope you fail again!”

Your angry expression disappearing when he started staring point blank at you. It felt like he was observing you. You fidgeted under his gaze.

“What? Is there something on my face?”

At that, he continued his way towards the boat that would take him to the exam site. He flashed you a cheeky smirk over his shoulder before speaking once more.

“You're such a nag. You know, no man's ever gonna wanna marry you if you keep at it?”

You could feel your face burn. Chasing persistently at him while yelling.

“Oh yeah? Well you're a lazy bum! No woman's gonna wanna put up with you and clean up after your messes!”

“Psh! I could bag any woman I wanted.”

“Bag this!”

You put him in a headlock. Grip unrelenting as he pleaded for you to let go. Ultimately giving up and letting you rough him up. It'd be the last time he'd see you for a long while. He could feel it.

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

P R E S E N T:  S O M E W H E R E  O N  T H E A Z I A N  C O N T I N E N T

Gon didn't know what he was expecting, he should have figured it wouldn't be that easy to find Ging. Still he couldn't help but feel disappointed his father had sent him on another chase. On the bright side, he'd been able to meet Kite again. The man who'd inspired him to become a hunter in the first place.

It was a hectic reunion to say the least. And after a small scuffle with some ants, the three of them situated themselves around a fire. The conversation centered on Ging for a bit. What he was like, how Kite met him, small things that only piqued Gon’s interest more.

“Do you want me to tell you where Ging is right now?” Kite asked.

Gon knew he was testing him. Already knowing what he'd say without hesitation. He was sure of it now. He was right where he was meant to be. Ging had his reason for sending him here, and he'd do his best to see it through.

"No thanks. I'll find him myself.”

Kite seemed content with his response.

"That's a good answer.”

Gon’s determined look reminded him of someone. He just couldn't put his finger on it at the moment. Yet as the conversation continued, the image became clearer. It wasn't until Gon asked about you did he realize it.

“Do you know anything about my mom?”

That's right. He had your unwavering optimism and determination. He should've known from the start it was you. He may have looked like Ging, but his mannerisms were yours. It really should have clicked he was your son too. 

“Yeah, I know your mom. She's one of my closest friends.”

The way Gon’s eyes lit up, it was definitely you.

“Really!?! What's she like?”

He let out a small laugh at the boy’s enthusiasm. Oh where to start with you. There were so many things to say. More than he could about Ging because unlike him, you two had actually kept in frequent touch with each other. He knew the general vicinity Ging was in, but he knew the exact hotel you were staying at. That was one way to put it.

“She's the complete opposite of your father, for starters. Your dad struggles socially most of the time and he's extremely stubborn. He doesn't give up until he gets exactly what he wants. Your mom makes friends just about everywhere she goes. She compromises a lot when it comes to what she's looking for. But she'll always manage to find a way to get it anyways.”

Gon noticed his tone was a lot softer when he talked about you. Very similar to the way Mito reminisced about your shared childhood. 

“She's always going out of her way for others. I remember the first time I met her…”

—---------------------------------

S O M E W H E R E : 1 6 Y E A R S A G O

The situation wasn't ideal. The two of them needed a place to stay for the moment, and for whatever reason Ging led them here. A small house just outside of York New. 

Normally they'd take their chances with the elements, but the impending blizzard changed their plans. There was no way in hell they would be able to withstand it. Ging seemed pretty adamant about coming here, too. An almost excited look in his eye when the opportunity presented itself. 

When you heard knocking on your door, you couldn't have expected who'd be on the other side. Opening it up and staring dumbfounded. A sixteen year old Ging stood with a ten year old kid in the cold. 

“It’s been what? Four years? Nice to see you again,” he greeted.

“Die.” You quickly slammed the door in his face. 

Now from what Ging had been telling Kite, you were his friend. He said you would greet him with wide arms or something. Be more than willing to open your home. Clearly he'd been misled. 

“Wh-hey! It's freezing out here! Have a heart will ya! At least take in the kid!” Ging pleaded through the door. 

And his motives may or may not have been selfish. Staying here for a night would give him the opportunity to dump Kite off at your place. But you didn't need to know that.

“Stop trying to guilt trip me!” He heard you faintly through the door.

“One night? C'mon. All the hotels are booked up. Look I'll even pay you.”

You looked out through the peephole just in time to see him wave a five dollar bill. And just when you were about to shoo him away once and for all, you saw the little boy shiver. Clutching his arms tightly to himself to keep warm. 

Damnit. 

You hastily unlocked the door. A hand on your hip while you moved to let them in.

“You better clean up after yourselves. Got it?”

Ging gave a salute.

“Yes ma'am. Let's go.” He gestured for Kite to follow him.

The kid followed behind him obediently. Hanging up his coat and looking at your home in awe. Ging leaned down to whisper something in his ear. He gave a small nod when he finished, walking further into your home to explore. Perhaps if you'd been a little closer you would have heard Ging say-

“Told you she'd let us in. Now don't go causing trouble. She's scary when she's mad.”

You let the duo situate themselves in your kitchen. You eyed the smaller boy with curiosity. He'd been dead silent since he walked in. Looking everywhere but you. He seemed to curl in on himself, as if to look smaller. Nerves perhaps. 

“So who's poor kid did you abduct?” You questioned. 

Ging gave a roll of his eyes before answering.

“I didn't abduct him. He just started following me around. I figured it wouldn't hurt to keep him as a student.”

“You? A teacher? That poor boy.” 

“Hey! He's coming along nicely. He's already got the basics down. It's only a matter of time before I teach him nen.” He defended, crossing his arms at your jab.

You scoffed and continued on with cooking. You could see Ging enter your peripheral, a cheeky smirk on his face.

“Speaking of, how's yours coming along?” He asked.

“Like I'd ever tell you my ability. It's humiliating enough you recovered those ruins first.”

You knew those words were a mistake the second they left your mouth. Watching as he beamed before a smug expression replaced it. He used an arm to lean on your counter.

“So you were keeping up with me? If I didn't know better, I'd say you had a crush.” And to your horror, he wiggled his eyebrows playfully.

“Ha! Don't delude yourself. My department covers ruins too. It'd be weird if I didn't hear about it.”

He'd deny the slight disappointment at your words. 

“Besides, how'd you know where I lived?” You continued.

“I asked around.” He said matter of factly. And as he realized what he said, his face flushed.

“Stalker much. If I didn't know any better, I’d say you had a crush on me.” You mimicked.

“Tch. It's not like that! I just…”

“Just what?”

He internally cursed you out for throwing his taunt back in his face.

“We'll probably be colleagues one day, so it helps to know where you are,” he justified. 

You didn't believe him, but still you decided to give him a break.

“Sure. Now, go get cleaned up. Leave your clothes to thaw out. I'm sure I have something that'll fit you.”

“And him.” He gestured to Kite behind himself.

“Oh he can definitely fit in my clothes. Poor thing is so scrawny.”

You walked over to the smaller boy. Kite froze when you cupped his cheeks. Cooing softly at him. Your movements very much exaggerated.

“He's been starving you, hasn't he? C'mon, let's take care of you. It couldn't be easy living with such a brute.”

“Hey!” Ging called out.

You guided Kite to sit at the dining table. He didn't really trust you. And your overly friendly tone didn't help. But as soon as Ging left, he could tell it was for show. You smiled a little more genuinely at him.

“Hope you like soup, because that's what we're working with. Luckily, I should have enough for all of us.”

You didn't know whether to take his silence as a good thing or not. Who knows what Ging told him. Probably that you were a witch who'd put him in the oven.

“I don't bite, you know?”

He eyed you with a shy expression. 

“I've got plenty of food, so you can eat to your heart's content. And don't worry about the dishes. I'll make Ging do them. It's the least he can do for showing up unannounced.” You tried to sway, yet he stayed quiet. Although you noticed he started fidgeting under your gaze.

“Not much of a talker huh? That's fine. If you need anything just let me know.”

The difference between you and Ging was night and day. Your presence was warm and inviting. You didn't try to pry into his personal life or poke fun of him. Serving him a bowl of whatever you'd been cooking with an encouraging smile. 

He took his first spoonful. It was the first time you'd seen him show emotion since he'd been here. Eyes lighting up as he eagerly downed the entire bowl. You did your best to stifle your laughter, pouring him another serving when he was finished.

“You can sleep in my room, if you want.” You offered.

He momentarily looked up from his food. He was weighing the option in his head when Ging came out from your bathroom.

“And where am I gonna sleep?”

Your soft expression shifting into an annoyed one. Looking away from Kite to address him.

“The couch.”

“What!?! Shouldn't the host take the couch?” Ging argued.

“You should be glad I'm letting you stay in the first place. I get the spare room. My house, my rules.”

He huffed something under his breath. You gave a glare and pointed towards the sink.

“Dish duty. Go.”

“I haven't eaten had a chance to eat yet!” He complained.

“Well eat and then do them. I'm not your damn mother."

“No but you'll be a hag in a few years.” He mumbled.

“What did you say?!?”

“Nothing!”

He'd never seen his mentor so compliant. There was hardly any pushback before he was scrubbing the dishes. Ging liked to march to the beat of his own drum. So to see him do whatever you told him, it was shocking. Maybe he didn't want to piss you off. Though he had a feeling it was something else entirely.

Kite followed you to your room. You urged him forward, grabbing a few comforters and pillows from a closet. How long had it been since he slept in a bed? Too long. He practically sunk into the mattress. Smiling contently as he spread out. 

“Getting comfortable?” You asked.

“Mhm.”

“I got you some extra blankets just in case. Here, let me set things up for you.”

He watched mutely as you organized the pillows you'd brought in. Reaching over the side of the bed to swipe a small stuffed bear. You put a finger to your lips.

“Don't tell Ging. I kept this from home. If he found out he'd be a jerk about it.”

It'd been a gift from Mito when you were little kids. You couldn't take a lot with you when you left Whale Island. But you’d wanted some reminder of home. No matter how small it was.

Kite nodded in understanding. Knowing just as well as you how insufferable Ging could be. You were in the doorway when he stopped you. Building up his confidence to speak at last.

“Kite.”

His voice was quiet. Quiet enough that you weren't even sure you heard it.

“Huh?”

“My name is Kite.” He wanted to say thank you, but the words died on his tongue. You smiled brightly at him anyways.

“Well it's nice to meet you Kite. If you need anything, I'm here.”

He could see now why Ging chose this place. Why he chose you. Kite decided he liked you after all.

And while he slept soundly through the night, a certain ruins hunter found that he couldn't. Tossing and turning before getting up to use the restroom. He opened up the door and stopped in his tracks. 

You were snoring away inside the tub. His eyes softened at the sight. You'd taken care of them before yourself. It was just like you to be so stupid. So selfless. 

You never had a spare bedroom to begin with.

—--------------------------------

P R E S E N T

“I didn't find out until a few days later what happened.” Kite continued on.

“And when I did, Ging told me not to bring it up to her.”

“Why not?” Gon questioned.

“He said she didn't do it to be thanked, but because she could. And if she wanted to make a big deal out of it, she would've.”

“I get it.” Killua said.

“If you're friends, then there's no reason to be thanking each other. It goes without saying to help when the other person needs it.” He explained.

“I still don't really get it. Isn't it nice to show appreciation?” 

At the very least, Gon figured his father would have tried to do something nice for you in return.

“Think of it like this: I didn't ask you to come after me when Illumi showed up, but you did it anyways.”

“Well it was the right thing to do.” He said as if it were a matter of fact.

One thing was for sure, he was definitely your kid.

The sound of footsteps quickly caught their attention. Eyes trained to where the noise was coming from. They could see a figure emerge from the underbrush. A woman.

“I thought I'd find you out here. Not that I couldn't sense you, buuuut still.” You greeted the silver haired hunter, not yet noticing the two boys. 

“Hey.” He offered you a wave.

And while he was perfectly calm, he could sense the shock from the boy in green. The disbelief. 

“I figured I'd stop by to see how you were doing. I've got some spare time before my next job.” You explained.

As you came closer, you finally took in your surroundings. The grin wiped off your face when your eyes landed on Gon. You could feel your heart start to race. Stepping back instinctively and pointing at him.

“What's that?” You asked Kite. 

“I think you know.” He responded.

You shook your head rapidly. There was no way. Your nen was still intact so it couldn't be him. Unless…

“No. No I don't. I'm just. Hallucinating! That's it! Oxygen deprivation is finally kicking in!” Your attempts to find any excuse not going unnoticed.

“Why is your mom freaking out so much? I thought she'd be happy to see you.” Killua whispered to the boy in green.

Though he didn't respond. Still in shock to finally see one of his parents. He watched as you continued to panic. His own nerves in complete overdrive.

“Ha, this has gotta be a prank right?” You continued to question the silver haired hunter. But everything came to a head at one singular word.

“Mom?”

Oh shit.

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

AN: They could never make me hate you Ging 😞😞😞. Anyways, this'll probably be a three to four part mini-series. I underestimated how much I had to write. We will now return to our regularly scheduled program, i.e. Moon and Sun. Thank y'all for your patience!!!

[yaksha-lover]

Imagine being stuck between your not-boyfriend Leona and your dearest friend Malleus.

Things start out casual between you and Leona - you promise each other that you won’t catch feelings. There are endless reasons you two can’t ever be in a relationship: Leona’s the last person to want a commitment to anyone or anything, he’s a prince, you’re still planning to return to your home world. You agree to a few nights of fun whenever you both have time, eventually planning to go your separate ways without anyone ever finding out. Only things never work out that way.

One day, Leona stops leaving Ramshackle as soon as the two of you are finished. He stays and you make midnight snacks and actually talk. The late-night conversations show you a different side of Leona. You think the previous events of the night put him in a good mood, one where he’s willing to tell you stories of the Sunset Savanna, of his childhood.

Suddenly, the two of you are sneaking out of NRC on secret dates (neither of you call it that, but the dinners and sights he take you to are hard to dismiss as just a friendly get-together). It’s exhilarating while it lasts, the secrecy of this love affair. When it’s just the two of you, out where no one knows you, it’s like living in another universe where you could actually be together; there’s no mention of his royal status or your return home, there’s only you and him.

It’s hard to separate the ‘you’ that made the promise from the ‘you’ that knows the way Leona is when no one else is there for him to keep up appearances. You make a mistake; he’d huffed about holding your hand on a secret outing before, but ultimately he’d conceded and let you tug him along to places. This time, with an audience of the other housewardens, he isn’t so willing to forgive your little mistake.

Your attempt to take his hand and lead him out of the classroom is met with a fierce glare and him yanking his hand out of yours. You know it’s your fault - you should’ve known better than to break the rules that you agreed to, he’s not your boyfriend after all - but the sting of his rejection and the words of venom he spits at you have your chest squeezing tight enough to leave you rooted in place. Vil even stops to pat your shoulder on the way out, his pity at your rejection evident in his voice.

You think you might love him. The feeling is suffocating, nothing like you’d ever thought falling in love would be like. You’ve doomed yourself - Leona’s been clear about his intentions from the start - and still, you dared to hope that the sweet nothings he whispered in your ear meant something.

You never told Malleus about your relationship with Leona, but you never had to; he already knows. He’s far more observant than most give him credit for. What else can one do but listen when they have no one to talk to? No one, that is, until you. He notices the changes in you during each successive club meeting. The cycles of elation and heartbreak were easy to spot in your small grins and deep eye bags.

He’s a bit heartbroken himself when he first realizes it. He thought it was no secret that he was interested in you, but you remained oblivious despite his attempts. He comforts himself with the thought that this is just a temporary thing - a relationship never meant to last more than a change of seasons.

Eventually, when the sadness becomes too much for even you to hold in, you confide in him. That day, you cry into his arms and for the first time, he wishes to hurt Leona Kingscholar. Despite your insistence that this is not Leona’s fault, Malleus knows better.

It’s clear to anyone that Leona’s feelings for you run deeper than you know. Even before you two began this secret affair, everyone had known the way he looked at you, the way his eyes would linger. Now, his love for you is obvious in the way he takes care of you, the way he glares at anyone willing to come within a two meter radius of you.

It’s because he knows Leona has feelings for you that he hates him. Because his inability to express them sends you crying into Malleus’ own arms every time. You deserve better than someone who isn’t willing to show you how they truly feel. And yet, you never stop. You can’t resist him, Malleus supposes.

It hurts him, when you cry into his chest night after night. How cruel are you, to cry to him over another man when he has spent many nights simply trying to suppress his own feelings for you? He knows that you would never do this to him, if you knew about his feelings, but he can’t bring himself to tell you. He would rather stay by your side as a friend than lose you trying to become more. Malleus keeps that thought close to himself on the nights he’s alone and forced to wonder if you would’ve chosen him had you met him and not Leona first.

Malleus doesn’t know that you’ve thought the same, convinced that the dragon prince would never think about you that way. At first, you’d only really been interested in Leona, but the more he pushed you away and the more time you’d spent with Malleus, the more you began to see him in another light. You only become more and more confused about your feelings as time goes on.

The last time you’d seen Leona, you’d finally broken down and told him your true feelings. That you couldn’t do things casual anymore, that you’d longed to be with him as a real couple. You felt guilty also mentioning your growing feelings for Malleus, but in the end felt it was necessary to be entirely honest to him. You’d asked him to say something, to make a decision.

Leona hadn’t said a word, only staring at you in silence until you couldn’t take the feeling anymore and fled from his room. In a way, you felt that his silence had spoken for him and ended anything you thought existed between the two of you. You couldn’t even bring yourself to tell Malleus about it.

You have no idea how you make Leona’s heart ache. How much he cares about you and much it hurts to see your sad face when he has to pretend that he doesn’t. Old habits die hard, and Leona’s past makes it difficult for him to openly care about anything. He never wanted to make you feel like this - he wants to love you publicly, but his pride takes over and leaves him pushing you away.

He knows he sabotages all his chances at happiness, but Leona won’t let himself lose you. The next night, he shows up to your door, wearing a suit and flowers in hand (the most effort he’s put into anything in years), prepared to finally tell you of his feelings and ask you on a real date. He feels his heart sink when you open the door and he spots Malleus sitting at the coffee table behind you.

Only an hour earlier, Malleus had decided that he couldn’t live like this anymore, not telling you of his feelings. He’d also shown up at Ramshackle, asking you to talk. As he told you his feelings for you, you hadn’t said much, looking more surprised than anything. It was as he was waiting for your answer that the doorbell rang and Leona appeared on your doorstep.

The two men stare at each other and then back at you.

You have a choice to make: the handsome lion who’d won your heart during passionate nights or the beautiful dragon who’d been there for you all along?

[lady-pug]

The Ballad of Green Snakes and Honey Badgers

Prologue

Summary: When your former friend and current Triwizard champion Aemond Targaryen sends you a note asking you to meet him after years having last spoken to each other, you are left wondering what he could possibly want. So when, to your surprise, he asks you to be his date to the Yule Ball, you make a decision that will either mend your broken friendship with the Slytherin boy or irreparably shatter it forever.

Pairing: Slytherin!Aemond Targaryen x Hufflepuff!Tully!Reader

Word count: 2,1k

Warnings: none

Notes: Hello hello, dearest readers! How have you all been? 

I offer you the prologue to a new story I am now incredibly excited to write. The idea for this came from the lovely @peachysunrize, whom I admire very much and love her works (I’ve actually been saving Tangerine Dreams for when I have enough free time to binge read it, ‘cause I know once I start I won’t be able to stop), after Mr. Ewan Mitchell was spotted serving cunt looks at the British GQ’s Men of The Year last night. It was supposed to be a one-shot howeeeeever I ended up getting a little carried away and dicided to go for a slightly longer story (so I’m so so sorry, Aemond actually wearing the infamous outfit at the Yule Ball won’t show up for a few chapters, please forgive me).

Just to explain a few details of this story: Hogwarts is in Westeros, located in the Crownlands near the border between these lands, the Reach, the Riverlands and the Stormlands. Volaena Academy of Magic is situated in Volantis, houses female students from Volantis, Pentos and Lys (equivalent to Beauxbatons) and Green Grass Institute is situated in Braavos, houses male students, mainly Dothraki, from Braavos, Pentos and Tyrosh (equivalent to Durmstrang)

I never thought I’d write a Hogwarts!AU but here we are! Although the HP/WW universe was a very important part of my childhood, I haven’t consumed any content related to it in a very long time (except for random memes on ig I often trade with a friend) because that woman (you know which one) pisses me the fuck off. But since no one will be profiting from me writing this (at least I don’t think so), and I still quite like the universe even if my love for it got diminished somewhat, I decided to give it a try. I won’t lie, I had fun!

I’d just like to warn that the next update for this series will take a little while, as I have quite a lot of work to get done (the semester is ending and Uni is kicking me in the butt once more, what’s new) and I’d like to finish writing a new chapter of Written Between the Lines, the other Aemond series I have on going, first.

Although Reader is a Tully I didn’t write her with a specific appearance in mind, and the same goes for Kermit Tully, so it is up to you to imagine what she looks like. I really hope you, dear reader, enjoy this and have fun while reading it! And thank you so much @peachysunrize for coming up with the idea in the first place! If you spot any mistakes, please feel free to warn me and I’ll correct it right away, and feedback is always welcome and appreciated. I hope you truly enjoy this story.

Reader is female, but no physical descriptions provided

Next chapter | Masterlist | Read on AO3

When you woke up on that rainy morning, you had expected it to be just another normal Tuesday, only barely over a week into the school year. The day had started out like any other: you had met with Oscar for breakfast at the Great Hall, being joined shortly after by Kermit and Davos, and avoided at all costs glancing in Cregan’s general direction. Then you had headed for your classes of the day, being paired with Doreah, a lyseni girl from Volaena, for your year-long Herbology project. 

While Doreah seemed nice, and you believed you would find a friend in her still, it was moments like this when you found yourself missing Helaena the most. You had promised to write to one another, of course, with you assuring you’d keep her updated in all the latest gossip around Hogwarts, yet it just wasn’t the same. You had become so used to seeing her at the farthest corner of the Ravenclaw table, waiting for you at supper, or sneaking out of the Hufflepuff common room together and into the kitchens to arrange snacks for your late night study sessions that you didn’t realize how much you’d miss this small things until she was actually gone, only just starting her career as a Magientomologist. Still, all you had to do was survive one more year until you could take your N.E.W.T.s and leave this place to search for a career of your own, and perhaps achieve your dream of sharing a flat with your best friend.

It was only after you left your Defense Against the Dark Arts class, having been squished between two quite large dothraki students from Green Grass, that you noticed something was different. A small piece of parchment was sticking out from inside your book, yet you didn’t remember putting it there; while you often used random papers as bookmarkers, it didn’t seem to be the case here, as the pages holding the parchment were ones you did not remember having ever read. As you turned the paper around you realized it was not just some paper, it was in fact a note, and you wondered how someone managed to place it inside your book, as you hadn’t left it unattended at all. But as you read the words, it would soon become clear to you.

Meet me at the library after dinner ~ A. T. 

The note carried a neat, flourished handwriting, written in expensive green ink. And yet, as your eyes skimmed over the words once more your heart started beating faster and faster, the flow of blood seemingly thundering on the inside of your eardrums. A. T., the person had signed. 

Aemond Targaryen.

What could he possibly want with you? Him, of all people? After all these years? Why did he want to speak to you now? It made sense then, how the note had appeared in your book without you realizing it; Aemond was quite good at Transfiguration, one of the top students even (but was there anything he wasn’t good at?), he excelled in it so for him to conjure a note inside your book was a piece of cake. But that didn’t explain what he wanted.

Sighing, you crumpled the paper in your hand, pinching the bridge of your nose as you pondered upon a decision you were most likely to regret.

There was only one way to find out.

You were quiet during supper, deep in thought as you poked at your food. Kermit and Davos both believed it had to do with the fact that Cregan and Alysanne were sitting right in front of you at the Gryffindor table, choosing then to sit on the bench across the table from you to try and block your view from the happy couple. But only Oscar knew the real reason for your silent demeanor.

Even though Kermit was your twin, you often felt closer to your younger brother, especially after you and Kermit got sorted to different houses on your first year, him being a Gryffindor through and through and you becoming the true embodiment of a Hufflepuff, and Oscar being selected for the same house as yours a year later. In truth, Oscar just understood you better and the other way around was also true, so you ended up becoming one another's confidants, telling each other everything and anything. So once you got back to the common room you had immediately spilled the beans about the mysterious note you had received.

He had begged you not to go. He just knew that whatever Aemond wanted couldn’t possibly be good. Not after everything. But you were curious, and although he would never admit to it, his curiosity on the back burner in face of his concern for you, so was he. So he agreed to your plan of simply listening to what Aemond had to say and leaving. 

Or that would have been the plan, had what Aemond asked not left you completely flabbergasted.

Arriving at the library, now almost completely void of students, save for one or two first year nerds, you noticed Aemond was already there, punctual as ever.

“You came.” he seemed surprised as he raised from his chair, the book he had been absentmindedly flipping through forgotten over the hardwood table.

You shrugged, not willing to let him see how affected you were by his presence.

“Let’s hear it then.” you crossed your arms over your chest, trying to appear more confident than you felt.

“What?” 

“You called me here for a reason, right? What do you want?”

“Can I not just wish to see an old friend?” it was his turn to shrug.

You scoffed, gritting your teeth as you glanced away from him. Old friend my ass, you thought. You weren’t friends. Not anymore. Hadn’t been for a long time.

“Right.” he must have noticed something in your expression, for he dropped the innocent act “I need your help.”

What could he possibly need your help with?

“Be my date for the Yule Ball.”

What?

“What, why?” you were honestly dumbfounded by his suggestion, because that was what it was; it wasn’t a question, it was closer to a demand. And how dare he demand something from you?

“It is mandatory for the champions to dance at the Ball. And for that they need a partner.”

That’s right, Aemond had been selected as the champion to represent Hogwarts in the Triwizard Tournament against Green Grass and Volaena. The professors had explained what that entailed, and how dangerous it could be, and for a fleeting moment, your heart twinged in worry over him, before it was snuffed out and replaced by the usual cold indifference you felt towards him. Furthermore, they had let all students know that a special ball would be held at Christmas, and that all three champions were required not only to attend but to dance as well.

“I know that.” you huffed, feeling a little offended “I mean why me?”

His stare turned quizzical, as if he couldn’t quite possibly understand what you were implying.

“Why not take your girlfriend?” you asked, confused “I mean, she may have graduated already, but professor Mellos said we could bring dates from outside the school.”

He glanced away from you, his expression turning dark for a split second, before returning his gaze to you.

“Alys and I broke up over summer.” he said with a nonchalance you suspected to be fake.

You wanted to ask, you were desperate to know why, but you had to remind yourself it was none of your business. His life was none of your business and it was better that way.

“Why not some other girl then? They seem to line up for your attention nowadays. Floris has always had a thing for you.”

Aemond was already considered a pretty boy even for normal standards, always having one admirer or another. It lessened a bit after he started dating Alys, a sixth year student, in his fourth year in school, but you knew for a fact people still pinned after him in silence. But after he was named Hogwarts’ triwizard champion, a lot of girls and even some guys flocked around him, vying for his undivided attention. You knew most of them would die for a chance to be his date at the Ball, to be his even if only for one night.

“It would give them the false hope that something more could happen when it won’t.” he tipped his chin, staring at you from under his lashes, and something in the way he was looking at you was deeply unsettling “At least we know where we stand with one another.”

Ouch.

“Why would I ever agree to go with you?”

“Well you certainly aren’t going with Stark, that’s for sure.” the corner of his lip twitch in the tiniest of smirks.

A pang of shame assaulted your heart, heat spreading in your chest and settling in your cheeks.

“How do you know about that?” your voice faltered, small and almost afraid. 

His face fell, then, as if he didn’t expect this reaction from you.

“Everyone knows about it.” 

Humiliation burned in your chest, the sting of tears steadily brimming in your eyes forcing you to glance away from him to stop yourself from breaking down in front of him. Great, now the whole school (and perhaps even the other two guest schools) knew how your boyfriend of four, almost five years had dumped you and practically immediately after started dating your cooler, prettier, hotter cousin. He couldn’t even be bothered to show his face, he had broken up with you through a letter, a majestic white owl bringing the news one summer morning.           

“No.” you sniffled, daring yourself not to cry, and turning away from him, ready to leave and forget this conversation ever happened.

“Wait!” he grabbed your arm, halting your movements. His face was soft when you glanced back at him, something akin to guilt clouding his own features “Please. Just- please.”

That was new. For as long as you had known him, you knew one thing was certain: Aemond Targaryen didn’t beg. For him to stoop this low, at least for his standards, must mean he was indeed desperate.

“What’s in it for me?” you asked in turn.

He pondered for a moment, a surprised look on his face, as if he didn’t expect to get this far into the conversation.

“You’ll get to make Stark jealous?” he offered, and you chuckled mirthlessly in response.

“I don’t want to make him jealous.” and you couldn’t even if you tried, not in comparison to Alysanne of all people “I just want to move on from him.”

“Then you’ll get to show him just that. That you have moved on from him and are already seeing new people.”

His reasoning made sense and you were intrigued, sure, especially considering you weren’t totally over Cregan just yet. But it definitely wasn’t worth the hassle.

“And I’ll help you study for your History of Magic N.E.W.T!” he was quick to add.

Now that was a really tempting offer. History of Magic was one of the subjects you struggled with the most, having a really hard time memorizing all the dates and events, ever since your very first year. And you knew he was well versed in history; he studied the subject even when not required, just for fun. To have someone like him help you study would definitely help you not fail the test.

“Okay.” you sighed out between, biting your tongue “I’ll be your date to the Yule Ball.”

His face lit up then, almost bouncing in his heels from excitement, before feigning indifference.

“Good.” he nodded to himself “We’ll have to spend more time together until then.”

“I didn’t agree to that!” you squealed, the thought of spending any more time than necessary with him making you uneasy.

“We need to be convincing. Otherwise Stark will see right through it.”

He was right. Of course he was right.

“Fine then. When do we start?”

He smiled brightly then, and for a moment you saw that young boy he once was, the one who held your hand on the first train ride to school all those years ago.

“I’ll find you for breakfast tomorrow then and we can go to Potions together. After lunch we can start revising History. How does that sound?”

It could be worse.

“Alright by me, I guess.” 

Aemond grinned cheekily, and you knew then that you were screwed. 

“It’s a date then.” he sauntered away, but not before throwing you a quick wink to match his smirk.

Oscar was going to kill you.

[streets-in-paradise]

In These Arms - Achilles x (Fem) Trojan!Reader

Warnings: Paris dumped the reader for Helen before she gets to meet Achilles. Includes break up angst + discussion of cheating.

Summary: Heartbroken and publicly humilliated after being abandoned by Paris, you seek peace in the promise of giving up on men without realizing the consequences of his actions would find you one last time.

Turned into a war prisoner and handled to the leader of the myrmidons, the unusual comfort of your master offers you a second chance.

Note: Inspired by two prompt lists by my dear friend @alysinwonderland-at-tea

Angst list - Prompt 4 " Everyone told me you were going to break my heart. I should have listened to them. "

Fluff list - Prompt 2 "I think about you. Ceaselessly."

Tags: @lovelybaka

If everyone else in Troy had reasons for sorrow, on top of theirs you were the most damaged. The man you loved had returned home bringing someone else on his charriot. A stolen queen, woman you didn't have the slightest chance of comparing yourself to given the charm of her famously inhuman beauty. Even when Paris never made any expressed promises priorly, love confessions had once been mutually retributed and you believed in that.

You trusted him going against the advice of many people who attempted to warn you. His own brother had told you that no matter how much he spoke of it, Paris knew nothing about love. Blinded by your feelings, you didn't care, and it turned out the worst mistake of your life.

" Everyone told me you were going to break my heart. I should have listened to them. "

It took you all the strenght you had left not to cry, but at that moment of confrontation it was him the one sobbing in front of you.

" I never meant to! Dear, what I felt for you was real … But it wasn't true love, and I had no way to tell the difference untill I meet Helen. "

You couldn't believe the excuse that was being given to you.

" It was for me, Paris … and because of you I think I will never love again. I gave you everything, but turns out all I am wasn't enough. "

The assumption seemed to have offended him.

" You know I don't mean that! Please, try to understand! "

" What's left to understand? You betrayed your homeland and you betrayed me. You too deserve each other, indeed: a cheater for a cheater … Lovely couple to doom us all! And me the first."

He gave you a hurted look, as if after what he did he still cared for your forgiveness.

" My heart breaks for you, and i am ashamed of myself for the pain i'm causing you … But what can shame do to stop the intensity of love? I would have never accompanied Hector to Sparta if I would have known there I would fall like this for someone else. I couldn't return pretending nothing have happened, and making you live a lie would have been even more unfair than this. You deserve better, I still hold good feelings for you. I swear it on these arms that had comforted you countless times before. "

Paris attempted to pull you closer for a hug, but you stopped him ríght away.

" You humilliated me in front of the entire city! And how strongly I wish I could get granted the mercy of never seeing you again, but Troy is not big enough for that. Blessed is the king of Sparta, who gets the ríght of spreading hate without having to see his wife in the arms of other man every day! Me, instead? I get doomed to watch you smile happyly from afar in the balcony of the palace alongside your mistress for the rest of my life. Do you call that justice, Paris? If that is your mercy, I would rather get your hate. "

In the most twisted way possible, the gods granted at least one of your wishes.

Promising yourself to never love another man ever again after your first love had ended so bitterly, you took the first step into the only path allowed for a woman in your position. With the help of Briseis, who remained your friend despite what happened with her cousin, you seeked to get choosen to take vows in her temple. It was a quick way to restitute your honor in the public eye and be left alone as well. Unfortunately, you didn't get to even try on the priestess robes before the concecuencies of Paris' actions reached you once more.

Greek warriors brought to avenge the husband of his new lover destroyed the temple, killing the priests and taking you prisioner. You would never get to see the great city of Priam again and, despite the sorrow you felt when thinking of your family, that also caused you a dark sense of relief. Because of Paris you have lost everything, even the most bassic of goods such as your freedom. Only after loosing so much, of hitting rock bottom, you had a real chance to be free of him.

Enslaved to Achilles, but liberated from everything you were before, the worst part was having to stand the provocations. The myrmidon enjoyed himself attempting to seduce you, but wasn't forcing you into his bed, and that worked good enough for you in that context.

At one given time you did found his teasing going too far, and only then you became fully honest with him.

" Why did you choose to love a god? I think you will find the romance one sided. "

It made your blood boil, even if you could tell he spoke to you like that because he had no idea of who you were despite knowing your name. Achilles believed to be teasing a priestess and in the discoverment of his mistake you ended up laying eyes on him for longer than you should.

He was wearing the same type of long egyptian styled robes Paris would typically wear in the domestic environment, keeping arms and shoulders covered while fully exposing the torso. It was matched with the same sort of long skirt made of light fabrics opened at the side for more cassual expousure. You could vividly remember he wore a black outfit almost identical to that one during the first night you made love.

And yet, that man looked nothing like him. His sun kissed skin and the sculpted muscles were as contrasting as his blond hair and blue eyes.

" I have choosen nothing, fate forced me to seek shelter in the cult of Apollo after being abandoned by the love of my life. I told myself that, if i could never love again, I could at least give my devotion to the regent god of my city. Because of you I never got to become a priestess, so now i'm a double spoil: rejected for marriage and dragged out of the temple. "

Although standing ríght in front of you, disbelief faded some of the cockiness.

" You won't be rejected here, that's a promise. I had a minor altercate with Ajax because we found you so pretty we both wanted to keep you."

He sat on the ground ríght next to you and observed you with tenderness before taunting you once more.

" Did I ruin your life, or arrived just in time to restaure your faith in men? I don't understand how a girl like you could think of running to hide inside a temple instead of getting herself a better man. "

You answered with the truth, but carefully crafting enough disdain.

" There was nothing I could have done to keep him with me when the competition was the most beautifull woman in the world. The majority of men would have done the same, and that's why I have choosen not to believe in any other ever again. "

Achilles wasn't expecting to find out he was struggling for the attention of the woman that the trojan prince had left behind in his pursuement of the spartan queen.

" Will all mankind pay for the crimes of Paris? That bastard is not even a man. You are so much better without him, consider that perhaps the queen has made you a favor. If he is your reason to give up on men, I have to say it's quite offensive for the rest of us. "

You could tell where his speech was coming and you tried to stop him.

" You would have given me to Ajax if Briseis wouldn't have ran away. I didn't left with her only because I have nothing left to live for. Living in Troy is unbereable for me, but at least here I don't have to worry about seeing them and that's the only perk i expect. Don't try to pretend you could be any different, specially when I'm here because you couldn't find any other more beautifull slave girl to claim yours. "

His hand was then on your face, lifting up your chin so your eyes won't leave his as his thumb caressed your lips.

" I think of you, ceaselessly. If there is any daughter of trojan judged more beautifull than you, I don't need to know and I don't care, because I want you over any other. "

Your hand followed his and pulled down, rejecting his contact.

" Sweet lies won't win me over, not this time. "

It frustrated him, but wouldn't make him desist.

" Would you believe me if I bring you his head on a spear? I can make him cry a painfull death to pay for your tears. Whatever vengeance Menelaus dreams of would be called mercy compared to what I can do to that trojan bastard in your name."

The strange rush of passionate defense encouraged you to reveal yourself.

" Revenge is not on my interest, all I want is to forget. Can you make me stop thinking of the first man who made my heart beat? The moments when we were happy still haunt me like a disease of the spirit, but then I remember someone else occupies my place now and it's like my heart gets eaten raw inside my chest. Pain and regret is all I have for you, son of Peleus. Paris drained me of anything else. "

Achilles got rid of his black robe and wrapped your shoulders with it.

" One night in my arms is all i think that would take me to vanish the memory of that fool from your mind. You haven't yet been loved by a real man: whatever he gave you would taste like few once you would have tasted me."

The fabric was still warm from the contact with his skin and he was holding both sides of it on top of your chest in an attempt of wrapping you tighter.

You didn't try to escape him that time and he used the new proximity in his advantage to trap you in his strong grip, pushing your body against his.

" In this arms you will find happiness again, if you allow me to show you how good I can do just for you. "

[thoughtsfromlayla]

26 Ways of Taking You: F for Face Sitting

Summary: You've waited for 106 years for an apology. So an apology you shall receive.

Notes: ~1.4k words, not edited or beta read lol, we are raw doggin it

Warnings/Tags: MDNI - 18+, face sitting/queening, Sub!Dream, reincarnated reader, unexpected orgasm, strip teasing is you squint really hard, written at 4am do not come for me at grammar mistakes

Main Masterlist | Series Masterlist

E for Edging ⇆ G for Grinding

In the rubles of an abandoned kingdom, you have long since accepted your solitude. 106 years of solitude is something no person, mortal or not, should go through. And though, yes, you were mortal, each lifetime you have reincarnated you have always sought out Dream of the Endless as your lover.

When you came to be in your previous lifetime, you did not know that he would be captured and that you would die alone and cold in your bed. Here you are now, walking amongst the broken pillars and cracked shards of glass once more. The Dreaming is more broken since the last time you visited some decades ago. 

The once shared bed that you lay in brings little comfort to you. Its satin sheets have grown rough, the pillows flat, and even as you bundle yourself within the blanket, the familiar smell of him has faded. Soon enough, even that will be gone and you will have nothing left to remember him by.

You felt his presence before you saw him. It was like a pulse that rippled through the realm, a pulse that guaranteed the return of its king, a promise of rebirth. But, after being disappointed for so long, you stay put; waiting patiently for him within his castle walls. If Dream really has returned, then a few more minutes won’t change anything.

Melancholy turns to anger as you remember the day he was captured was the same day he left you waiting at the lover’s table. The waitress had come by several times to ask if your dining partner was going to come and every hour you insisted he would. 

Dream never did show himself, for reasons unknown to you at that time, and you drown your sorrows in the sparkling champagne they offered. You didn’t bother eating dinner and left embarrassed, hiding your face from the pitied faces of the other diners around you. 

Much to your surprise, he does show himself to you. He looked tired, skinner, and almost broken. When your eyes connected, it took him a few moments to read your soul. To know who you truly are in this new reincarnation. He came to you like a moth to a flame, his relief evident on his face as he slumped into your arms. 

If only you were in a better mood.

“How dare you leave me!” You pushed him away and smacked his chest. “You embarrassed me! You forgot about me! You let me die alone!” Each statement was met with another smack to the chest. You were positively fuming, brows furrowed.

“Forgive me for missing our last date,” He muttered and slumped back into your neck. 

“You should be sorry.” You sounded mad, but you were relieved that he finally came back home. 

You hold Dream’s head in your hands, and even when the situation doesn’t call for it, the way he looked at you with a downturn lip and pleading eyes sends signals straight to your cunt. It has been several years since you’ve last laid with him. 

“You should make it up for me, then I’ll accept your apology,” You stated with a smug look on your face. 

Dream only nodded as he let you lead you to the bed. You push him back until he is watching you on his elbows. After you back away from the bed did you begin to shimmy yourself out of your clothes. Morpheus watches intently as your fingers ghost across your waist, giving him a glimpse of your stomach. 

He swallowed as you discarded your top, the bralette does little to hide your figure. Your hands move down your curves and his eyes follow when your fingers trace the top of your pants. You walked to him and he sat up slowly, looking up at you with a plea. 

“Do you deserve this?” You asked as his hands cover yours over the rim of your pants. His finger traced across your knuckles as he memorized your body once again. 

Morpheus only nodded and with a satisfied smile you guided his hands to the button that keeps you from him. His fingers are cold against your skin, the gentle carasses tickling the sensitive skin the further he goes. The button pops open easily as his dexterous fingers opens the seams of your jeans 

You allowed him to be impatient, to take your underwear off with your pants. When you’re bare to him in nothing but your bralette, you push him down once more. 

With a slow and deliberate motion, you crawl over him, resting yourself high on his chest. Dream’s hands roam across the softness of your thighs, running his fingers down the expense of your legs. You stay there a moment, basking in his presence and the way his chest rises and falls with his vitality. 

“Please,” He begged, wetting his dry lips with his tongue. Your eyes dilate as you watch the wet muscle cross over his lips.

Your wetness was seeping through the fabric of his shirt and he was, quite literally, starved. Starved for food perhaps not, but for you and your taste alone? Yes. 

“Okay,” You whispered. “Lay down for me, my love.” You guided him again with a gentle hand. 

He does as he is told and waits like a good boy as you settle yourself above him. You feel the heat of his breath on your most sensitive areas and when you look down at him you see him already staring at you.

Morpheus licks his lips again and when you still don’t sit down on him, his impatience gets the better of him. He turns his head and sinks his teeth into the plushness of your thigh. Your hands shoot for the headboard to steady yourself as he sucks a blooming hickey where his lips part. 

He’s staring at you again, his eyebrows furrowed as you have yet to sit down on him. Dream’s hands keep your hips in place as he goes to your thighs once more, dragging his tongue in a long line until his head is almost off the bed. 

“Holy shit,” You gasped as the wetness of his tongue grazed over your pussy lips. Your breath grows uneven as heat pools between your thighs. 

“You are trembling,” He hummed in content, nosing your other thigh for attention. His cock was tented and growing uncomfortable in his pants and he shifts to gain any traction for himself.

“Oh, shut up,” You groaned, finally lowering yourself onto his face. 

Dream moaned as your entire being invaded his senses. In scent he adores you, in touch he connects to you, in taste he worships you, in sight he ravishes you, and in sound he hears the whispers of his name like a prayer falling from your lips. 

Morpheus’ tongue shoots out, licking the length of you. He circle’s your clit slowly and your hips jerk in place as his hands keep you steady. Your other hands run through the strands of his unruly hair and you grab at the base, steering him to where you need him most. 

Dream lets you take control, he will have his time, but for now it’s about apologizing. He tastes you deeply, pushing his tongue into your weeping cunt. The Endless’ eyes rolling to the back of his head as he feels you tighten around his tongue and your nails dig into his scalp. 

You’re a whimpering mess above him, grinding your hips down and in a corner of your mind, you’re glad to have an immortal lover. If not, you fear you might have broken his neck. 

But there’s no room for thoughts like that. Not when he’s back at your clit again, using the flat of his tongue to pleasure your bundle of nerves. He gulps down your arousal, tasting you in the back of his throat like honey.

His nails raked along the length of your legs, leaving rising claw-like marks on the soft skin. Dream does his best to taste you, all of you, but some of your arousal drips down the sides of his chin. He groans as his nose bumps against your clit and you jump at the sensation.

Your thighs tremble, your fingers tingle and your moans grow higher in pitch as your orgasm comes to you unexpectedly. You see the stars of the Dreaming dance across your eyelids and Morpheus helps you ride out your orgasm, his name singing from your lips. 

When you’re done and nothing but a panting mess and a slump of flesh and bone does his stop. His hands are still on you, rubbing the indent on your hips in soothing circles. 

“Forgiven?” He asks, looking at you with the rare smile that could make flowers bloom. 

“Forgiven,” You sigh happily.

E for Edging ⇆ G for Grinding

Main Masterlist || Series Masterlist

Here you go you thirsty people

♡ Yours, Layla6

[anonymergremlin]

Types of hugs

As promised, another piece of my thoughts and headcanons. This time about the gestures we learn in the game. I got really curious after receiving this one gesture after reading a certain sad letter. Is our boy learning from them? Is he curious about human gestures? Who knows.

Anyway, gender-neutral this time. For all you lovely people out there.

I hope you enjoy it and please forgive me for any mistakes. I am just a silly gremlin.

A heavy rainstorm rattled through the floors. Turning the once silent night into a restless one, keeping some of Hotel Krat souls awake. Step by step they approached the hotel's library. Perhaps a good book would help them through such a stormy night. Their fingers curled around the handle of the door. Slowly they opened it. To their surprise they were greeted by a brightly lit room. Another soul must have found its way into the library. "Oh... I didn't think anyone else would -" they stopped their own words as the other person came into view. It wasn't just anyone from the other residence, no, it was the puppet. Geppeto's puppet. The young man stood beside one of the many bookshelves. Fingers running through pages. He seemed to be quite concentrated on the writings.

“P?”.

As his name left their lips, he immediately turned. For a moment his porcelain face looked so blank, but it changed so quickly. The softest smile of all covered his face, his blue eyes lit up and his freckles almost seemed to shine like stars. It was impressive how much he had changed, he really had become more human.

"Have you found something interesting, my dear puppet? Would you like to show it to me?"

They took a few steps to close the distance between them, close enough for a quick glance at the book. To their surprise, P's finger pointed to a particular word.

Hug.

"Are you curious about hugs, P?" they asked him, eyes moving from the book to his blue eyes. He nodded. It wasn't unusual for him to be interested in human gestures. They had seen him mimic some of those described in books or letters before. Once he even mimicked a painting of a knight, his rapier close to his chest, the blade pointed to the sky, his back straight and a proud smile on his face. It was an amusing sight that brought a smile to their face.

"Well, my dear P, there are many kinds of hugs. You could say that one type of hug is never the same as another". They moved one of their hands up, raising their index finger like a teacher giving an important lesson. "In general, you can hug a person to show them that they are welcome, but you can also hug someone to say 'thank you'. You see? A hug can mean two completely different things." His mouth opened slightly and his eyes blinked, indicating his understanding. "A hug can also be a gesture of consolation. For example, when you see someone crying. You can go up to them and hug them, hoping that by doing that, you're going to comfort them through their sadness." For a moment, they stopped themselves and thought of all the people out there who deserve to be hugged. To have just the slightest bit of comfort in their lives. From the look on P's face, they had a feeling that the puppet probably had the same feeling. 

They shook their heads, trying to rid their mind of the thought of Krat's sad state. The people must continue to look forward to a better future. They brought their thoughts back to the hugs. With a slight blush, they remembered another important kind of hug.

"There's also... the kind of hug that lovers do," they said, almost whispering the words out of a slight sense of embarrassment. A fine blush rose to their cheeks as they thought about it more clearly. "Lovers hug as a gesture of their love. They embrace each other, body to body, to feel each other's warmth. Wishing they never have to let go." Their eyes closed for a second, imagining the feeling of someone holding them like that. Two hands gently touching their backs, arms wrapped around their frame and a chin resting softly on one of their shoulders. The thought alone left a good feeling in their chest, but to their surprise, it seemed to come from a real source. Eyes opened to find themselves in a hug. Two hands gently resting on the small of their back, arms carefully wrapped around their frame and a chin tucked between their neck and shoulder. P hugged them like a lover. He put just a tiny bit of pressure on them to pull them closer to him, wrapping his arms a little more around their frame and hiding his head in their neck.

They had only just told him about this kind of hug, but he was already imitating it so perfectly. And they knew from the softness and gentleness of his touch that he was serious about what the hug was saying.

Perhaps it wasn't a book that they needed in order to find comfort on this stormy night. Perhaps it is simply the hug of the person they love that they need.

[finalacts]

something i've been thinking about with pluto is how the core three--ai, oom, and may--all have prescribed "roles" in their tangled mess of a relationship and how that has made it incredibly difficult for each character to see themselves and each other as People outside of those roles. this is where i think their core miscommunication happens, because it's not that the characters don't talk, it's more that they are constantly talking at or past each other, not to.

aioon and oaboom are obvious--aioon's the dutiful older sister, selfless to the point of being self-sacrificial, and oaboom's the overshadowed younger sister, precious only because her "weakness"** requires more attention. for aioon, moving forward is going to look like figuring out how to be a good sister/granddaughter without giving up her sense of self, and learning that these two things are actually one and the same--as we've seen, every time she sacrifices her happiness for what she thinks others want from her, it actually comes back to bite her in the ass. for oaboom, it's unlearning the belief that she is a burden because of her illness and learning that her ability to be loved is innate and does/should not need to be externally validated. for them both, it's going to include forgiving themselves and each other for their parents' deaths and all of the childhood hurts that ensued.

may is a little trickier to figure out, and i think i've settled on hers being that her identity and worldview--her role, literally--is almost entirely defined by that first interaction (one that aioon doesn't even remember, mind you). not only is attaching your entire sense of self to someone else's love for you just unhealthy in general, i actually think she spends quite a significant portion of the series unable to see aioon in her entirety because of it (not to mention how it basically caused the mess that was her relationship with oom). to her, aioon is still that teenage girl who showed her she was worth fighting for and how to fight--she's her savior. may's attachment to aioon is all encompassing, and it is devastating. it's why may keeps making aioon promise to choose her over everything else, not realizing that aioon (as she is now) would never be able to deliver. it's why her manipulations (lovebombing aioon every time she tries to tell her the truth or leave) ultimately don't work--aioon is not driven by love the same way she is. for aioon, that first meeting is inconsequential. it's not her lifeforce the way it is may's.

given all of this and the breakup at the end of ep 11, i think the only way forward for may is to figure out who she is outside of aioon--specifically, outside of this need to be loved by aioon. who is may as a person, an attorney, a cousin, a friend, when she doesn't have aioon guiding her (physically or otherwise)? personally, it's the only way i can see their relationship balancing out: may needs to have other things driving her the way aioon is driven by her family and friends, or else they'll just end up back where they started--with aioon leaving and may devastated.

ideally, their reunion would look something like aioon, the writer, meets metavee, the attorney, rather than aioon, may's first love, (re)meets may, aioon's twin sister's ex. a core theme in pluto is how our fixation on the past makes us unable to move forward, and how we should learn from our mistakes but not be haunted and bogged down by them. what aioon and may need is a fresh start, a chance to build upon new foundation, and i hope the ep 11 >> ep 12 time jump gives them that.

**just a quick aside mostly for myself to say that oaboom being canonically chronically ill is very interesting to me!! and i will be letting the thoughts abt that and how disability in general plays out in pluto percolate some more