#the hunter x scarlet witch

[kyndaris]

Mother Knows Best

For someone that plays video games as much as I do, you begin to pick up on a lot of common themes and tropes that are often used in the medium. What took me by surprise was facing Lilith in not one but two games in such quick succession. It's not often that I face the exact same antagonist. After all, both were demonic entities seeking the destruction of the world. Both were referred to as 'Mother' throughout the in-game dialogue and banter. And both had a connection to the playable character.

But while Lilith in Diablo IV gave birth to the Nephalem, the progenitor to humanity in the world of Sanctuary, she could only connect to the playable character due to a ritual involving her blood petals. Lilith in Marvel's Midnight Suns has a much more direct connection to the playable character, known only as The Hunter, as their birth mother. The other major difference here is that in Diablo IV, Lilith is trying to rule over Sanctuary while in Midnight Suns, Lilith serves as the agent of Chthon, a slumbering Elder God hoping to destroy the Earth and recreate it in its image.

Coincidences aside, Marvel's Midnight Suns was a game that I picked up in December last year and was one of the many tactical role-playing games I'd intended to get through before reaching the meat of the 2023 gaming experience. Alas, travelling and being bombarded left, right and centre with lengthy games distracted me from it until about 8 months later.

And when I finally booted up the game on my PlayStation 5, I found myself asking why I was indulging Firaxis's attempt to recreate what they had with XCOM but with a Marvel skin. What immediately struck me were the character models that I felt were less than stellar. Nor was I that impressed by the voice acting.

True, it was not like the game studio were going to bring back the actors of the MCU films to reprise their roles for the superheroes (or use their likeness), but I wanted something more than the somewhat janky character models that we received. In fact, I almost put down the controller, unsure if I wanted to continue with the game.

But persevere I did.

With time, I grew accustomed to the character models and the voice acting. After all, the cast is pretty stack with the likes of Yuri Lowenthal (reprising his role as Spider-Man from the Marvel's Spider-Man games), Erica Lindbeck, Courtney Taylor, Josh Keaton, Laura Bailey, Steve Blum, Darin de Paul and Matthew Mercer to name but a few.

Once I managed to get over that initial hump in the road, I started to enjoy the time I spent hanging out with a few of Earth's Mightiest Heroes and their more supernatural compatriots, the Midnight Suns.

Like many Firaxis games, Midnight Suns is a tactical/ strategy game. One that would have been better, in my personal opinion, as a handheld game. However, given that the playable characters are heroes with a multitude of abilities, Firaxis mixed up the traditional tactical/ strategy gameplay with the use of cards to denote special abilities and skills.

Gone were percentages detailing whether or not my character would hit the enemy. Gone, too, were Overwatch abilities that would allow my characters to attack an enemy as they dashed across the screen. Instead, Firaxis introduced a card deck system which was drawn up to a maximum of six at the end of each turn. Cards could comprise of attack, skill or heroic abilities. Many of them also included a variety of status effects to buff or debuff both allies or enemies, bringing with it another layer of strategy as most of these ended within a round of combat.

But the most important ones were those that refunded cardplay like the 'Quick' effect. Other cards allowed you to draw additional cards and these were important especially if you didn't have a good hand. Redraw too, was a resource that could be expended to power up abilities or to replace unwanted cards.

While it sounds complicated in theory, the gameplay of Midnight Suns was simple. You played three cards each turn (occasionally four) and tried to defeat the enemy as quickly as possible.

What was important to note was that while you were limited in the number of cards that could be played each round, your heroes could also deal damage via the environment. Unfortunately, to perhaps balance the use of environmental attacks, such actions were gated behind another resource: heroism (which were also used for heroic cards).

This meant that players had to carefully consider which cards to use when and where to maximise the damage on enemy Hydra agents and Lilin creatures and reach objectives for each mission.

Firaxis, though, are not content to simply sit on their strategy/tactical gameplay. Like many of their other games, Midnight Suns also included base management. Simpler than their incursions into the XCOM universe, Midnight Suns allowed players to research particular upgrades that could give their heroes an edge for their next battle against the forces of evil.

More importantly, though, Midnight Suns also allowed for team bonding. And as someone that wants to be friends with everyone, I spent many hours trying to boost my friendship levels with each and every hero that was recruited to the cause of stopping the rise of Chthon by giving them gifts or hanging out with them in an activity that they liked.

Heck, I was even looking up a Steam guide to know which dialogue options that each character preferred.

What was most unfortunate, though, was that there was no way to romance any of the superheroes. Why did Blade and Carol Danvers have to get together when I wanted both of them to myself as The Hunter?

Admittedly, I did think the romance between Caretaker and Agatha Harkness was great. The Hunter and their two mums. Who could ask for more except for some more lesbian representation in media please. True, some might argue that it did have a 'bury your gays' trope since Agatha is dead, but she comes back as a ghost and seems to be fine chilling around in the library. Something that Caretaker doesn't really take issue with after the Grey Seneschal ritual that binds Agatha a bit more to the land of the living (though still in spirit form).

Beyond that, I liked being able to explore the Abbey grounds and uncovering the secrets of the past, along with discovering new chests that could present me with another cosmetic for either The Hunter or the other heroes in my roster.

Still, what didn't make sense was that although the Abbey had a Forge and CENTRAL ops, a training yard and pool to lounge by, it had no kitchen or bathrooms. Given that Robbie Reyes had installed a TV to watch movies and play video games on, WHY WERE BASIC AMENITIES MISSING?

The fact that there was no kitchen also made it confusing when an upgrade to The Hunter's bedroom left a plate of bread and fruit on their bedside table.

Why? What? How?

From a plot standpoint, I felt like much of the conflict came from poor communication skills between Hunter, Sara (Caretaker) and your mother, Lilith. If Lilith could have explained her plan better, maybe she and the Hunter would have stood beside each other from the start instead of fighting against each other.

Caretaker, too, needed to learn to trust the wards under her charge instead of holding grudges.

But without these factors, of course, there would be no central conflict. Which, in turn, wouldn't have brought all of America's Mightiest Heroes (with the occasional Transian witch and Russian mutant) along for the journey. It wouldn't have allowed me to simply chat with these characters and watch them grow. Nor would it present me with an intriguing plot to drive me ever onwards to the end.

And that's another thing that I take issue with. The fact that a majority of Marvel's heroes are Caucasian. True, we have Robbie Reyes's Ghostrider, Eric Brooks and Nico Minoru showing off minority representation but almost all of the other heroes are blue-eyed Caucasians!

And they're all American. Or, at the very least, live in America. With most of the missions revolving around New York and the American South-West with only the final act in the fictional European country of Transia.

Now, this isn't an issue with the game, of course, but rather the state of affairs when it comes to superheroes in general. Yes, I know that there are heroes and villains from all over the world but the vast majority of them are Americans. Which, in all honesty, is likely to stem from the fact that a vast majority of comic book writers are American. And consequently, they write from an America-centric viewpoint.

But I've noticed that in many of the games I play, America also serves as the be-all and end-all for settings as well. Take Horizon: Zero Dawn and its sequel Horizon: Forbidden West. Or even The Last of Us, Grand Theft Auto, Fallout, Days Gone, Saints Row and a myriad of other games.

In any case, Marvel's Might Suns was an interesting take on a mishmash of genres that worked well with its superhero aesthetic. While I feel like it might have been better if they could increase the cardplay usage or the damage the heroes dealt for certain (we are talking about superheroes here, not foot soldiers), I enjoyed trying to figure out how best to place my heroes to deal with the enemies before me so I could put an end to Lilith's plans.

Soon, I'll tackle Fire Emblem: Engage. I promise. Just a few short games and it's the long haul for me.

I swear it won't be for too much longer!

And then I can tackle all the other triple-A video games that released in 2023...

[vase-of-lilies]

❀ Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x Bunny Hybrid!Reader (F)

❀ Non-con, dubcon, use of a cage, captivity + using restraints, violence, mind manipulation/putting someone in a daze, guys - fun fact; ivory was chiseled and made into a dildo in the 1800’s. So, expect that lol, and more. Do not read if you are uncomfortable with very dark elements. 

❀ I am usually good with warning everything that is in my stories, but this time due to limited space and a lot of warnings, I will be only doing the harsher warnings. 

❀ Disclaimer and Authors Note: The pictures only represent aesthetic and themes. There is no certain skin color, body type, ethnicity, or description other than Y/n and “you”. Credit to who made the pictures in the banner as well. 

❀ Sigh… I feel like all of these are the same, just a little different each time. I try to change it up, but a lot of these are similar in plot, description, and ending. I want these to turn out well, but I can’t help but feel that people don’t like them because they don’t comment on them or give feedback. All I want is a funny comment, a detailed comment about something someone loved about the story, or something that they were confused about or just thought was plain stupid of Y/n. All I want is feedback! 

Hunting season. It was the worst time of year for the bunny hybrids, yet still, you were picking berries in a bright dress your mother made you. You knew it was dangerous. However, you knew that you were fast and agile like a real bunny. But even the fastest rabbit couldn’t beat the slowest tortoise because of the overconfidence each little rabbit held in their little head. 

While you gathered the berries into your basket, you hummed to yourself, not a thought in your mind. Every now and then, your tail would twitch, something it does when you are doing something you love or when you are scared. But you loved gathering, and you were not currently scared. 

Your humming immediately stops when you hear the straining of an arrow in a bow. It was a creaky sound that every bunny could recognize. Your ears shot straight up, your head turning in all directions to try and find the source of the hunter. One last turn and it was too late; the bounce of the bowstring snapping back into place came first, then the pain of the arrow piercing through your shoulder blade. 

Falling to the ground, you frown as your berries scatter around you. You can hardly think while you scramble into the bush in front of you, holding your ears against your head so you don’t bring more attention to yourself. Your body trembles, rustling the brush you are hiding in, and you silently curse yourself at your shaking. 

“Here, little bunny… come out, come out wherever you are!” A voice taunts from outside the bush. You see the boots of your pursuer from where you crouch inside the bush, whimpering as the arrow in your back snags on a branch. 

The footsteps stop and turn towards the bush. You freeze, and your ears slip from your hands, rustling the bush even more. The hunter steps up to the bush, and she spots your gray ears. With a smirk, she reaches into the shrub and grasps them in her hands tightly, causing you to tumble from the bush and onto the ground.

Blood streamed down your back, and you tried to crawl away, only for the hunter to chuckle and reach in her pouch for something else. You look behind you, screaming as she stalks closer to you, a tranquilizer dart in her hand. 

“Come on, little bunny. Don’t make this difficult,” She says, kneeling beside your pitiful form. As you beg her not to hurt you, she ignores you, pushing your head to the side and exposing your neck. “Stay still, and this won’t hurt!” She shouts at you, still struggling to get you to calm down. As the dart comes closer to your neck, you struggle even more, but she is powerful and quick. 

The needle punctures your skin, and the tranquilizer enters your blood flow within seconds. It was initially slow, just a little dizzy, so you tried to get up. The pain in your back was the least of your worries, only getting away from the hunter on your mind. But the drug was working fast, and soon, you found yourself on the ground again, your eyes closing and your mind succumbing to darkness. 

~~~~~~~

Wanda smirks as you finally fall unconscious in front of her, your fuzzy ears flopping onto the ground with a soft thump. Your fluffy little tail was twitching again, terrified of what would happen. Wanda kneels down by your sleeping body and moves the hair from in front of your face. “You’re gonna be my perfect little pet, aren’t you?” She gently brushes her fingers over the skin of your cheek and smiles at your breaths. 

Laying a small blanket over your body, she picks you up and takes you home to assess your injuries. As she enters her home, she shuts the door and lays you on her bed. She frowns at the arrow that sticks from your back and gently tries to pull it out. You whimper, the drug unfortunately not numbing the pain. 

Wanda sighs softly and grabs her knife, slowly cutting the skin surrounding the arrow. She dabs the wound with a small cloth as it starts to bleed again, and once the last line matching the shape of the arrow is carved, the arrow slides out of your back with ease. Reaching for the first aid kit, she unties your dress and slips it off your body, dressing your wound and healing some of it with her powers. She leaves you in the right amount of pain to become submissive to her, but enough that your death will not be on her hands. 

Tying the last bandage around your chest and under your arms, she lays you on your back and grabs the chain connected to a metal collar from under the bed. She sets it on the bed next to you and goes to the closet to bring the cage out. She smirks at the bars, knowing you will never escape from her. 

Lastly, she connects the chain to the cage's base and looks over at you on her bed. She sets the collar on top of the kennel and saunters over to your naked form. She ghosts her fingers down your belly and the mound between your legs. Shaking her head, she knows she wants to wait until you are awake to hold your wiggling ears while you struggle to escape her. She loves it when her prey struggles in her hands; it sparks something inside of her.

Picking you up again, she carries you to the cage in the corner of the room, opening the door and laying you down against the thin-blanketed bottom and laying your head against the straw pillow set at the top of the cage. Before locking you up for the night, she grabbed the collar and clasped it around your neck, matching the holes together at the back and looping a padlock around it. With the collar secured around your neck, the chain connected to the bars, and the moon rising, Wanda locked the cage and put a blanket over the top to cover the whole thing, leaving you in complete darkness.

~~~~~~~

When morning approached, your body started to wake up first. Your mind was still hazy, and you felt like you were in a dream. Your ears moved slightly, your tail wiggled just a little, and your eyes moved under their lids. 

It was raining. You could hear the raindrops outside. Outside where? Where am I? Your curiosity turns to concern the moment your eyes finally open. A dark, furry blanket covers the bars surrounding you, dimming the light almost completely. You try sitting up, but the pressure you put on your arm makes you whimper in pain. The arrow wound on your back was the only thing revealing where you were. 

The tranquilizer made you sleep, but it didn’t make you forget. You remembered where you were, and you remembered who you were with. That damned human. A simple hum or chuckle could force you into submission instantly, knowing what Wanda is capable of. She has the eye of a hawk when it comes to aiming her bow at the poor little creature she sets her sights on. 

Your soft ears twitched at the sound of shuffling from outside of the covered cage, pulling your attention away from the pain in your shoulder blade. Wandas walking caused the blanket to flutter, and your instinct was to lay back down and pretend you were asleep still. You wrapped your arms around your exposed body the best you could, closed your eyes and waited. 

In anticipation, your leg started shaking, as well as your tail. The little ball of fluff just above your bum was a radar for danger. If it wiggled, twitched, shifted, or moved an inch, you could sense danger was near. This was a time when your tail was not wrong. Not by one bit. 

There was a soft knock on the bars above you, but you didn't move. Another one, this time a little forceful- still, you did not move to 'wake up.' 

"Little bunny… I know you're awake. You're shaking this whole damn thing." Wanda laughed softly at the shivering cage before her, your anxious body practically causing an earthquake around you. Your hands went to the collar around your neck, and a tear fell from your eye onto the pillow below your cheek. I'm not getting out of here.

Wanda pulled the blanket from the top of the cage and looked down at you, curled into a little ball with your fluffy ears over your face. "Oh, come on, don't hide from me," She says, kneeling in front of your prison. Aggravated, she grabs the chain connected to your collar and pulls, forcing your face to come right to the bars.

A whimper escapes your throat, and your eyes stare up at Wanda with fear. She smiles sweetly at you, her pearly white teeth giving you a shite-eating grin. “I know you're scared,” she says, holding the chain tighter. In response to your desperate attempts at escaping the collar, Wanda laughs. She leans in, her breath brushing against your face. “But don't worry,” she whispers. “I'll take good care of you.”

Your face flushed with tears, and you began to speak in a trembling voice, "I wanna go home; my momma will be worried about me." You thought of your mother, who would be excited to see you and looking forward to the pie she made for you. You missed her embrace and the warmth of her love. You wished to return, see her smile, and feel her passion. You closed your eyes and thought about what it would be like to be home.

"Don't you dare close your eyes," growls Wanda, causing you to open them wide. She looked at you with dilated pupils, clearly craving something. Something only you could give her. 

She finally releases the chain attached to your collar, causing you to fall back into the cage. You push yourself against the back of the cage, trying to distance yourself from Wanda as the pain in your back intensifies. With a chuckle, Wanda opens the door and reaches for the chain to pull you out. Yanking you out of the cage, you fall to your hands and knees, forced to crawl forward to her. 

Once you get into an arm's length of her, she grabs your ears and pulls you to her. You yelp, trying to cover yourself, but keep yourself up too. You can't feel much pain from your ears, but as she pulls you closer to her, the fear builds up in your belly, and you pull back. Failing, she wraps her arms around you and holds you against her chest. The chain is long enough to reach her bed, so as she picks you up, the chain drags behind you. You kick your legs and try maneuvering your way out of her arms, your body only being hugged tighter. 

As Wanda sits on the bed, she holds you in her lap. Her body is much larger than yours, as your hybrid genes make you smaller than humans. She only needed one hand over your belly to hold you still, your legs being pinned open by hers. Her other hand roams your naked chest, tweaking each nipple in her fingers. She buries her nose into your soft ears and hums as she feels your little cotton tail rub against her clothed cunt. 

You whimper and throw your head back any chance, but Wanda is quick. The chain is already in her hand, pulling it up and choking you. You cough, your hands going to your neck, trying to find the chain to pull down. Your strength is nothing compared to Wanda's; her chuckles fill your ears again. 

Your breaths are short and shallow, and the lack of oxygen getting to your brain becomes dangerous. Your vision starts to cloud, and Wanda notices, giving the chain some slack. "You aren't going out on me just yet," she whispers in your ear. On the bedside table, she grabs a ring of rope she had put there earlier. Grabbing your wrists, she wraps the rope around a couple of times and ties a firm knot after. She then pulls the excess cord to keep your hands next to your chest, exposing your pussy. 

She smiles against your neck, and her teeth nip at your sensitive skin. "Mmm, my little bun bun, so soft and cute," She whispers again, "I am going to do nasty things to you, and you are going to like it..." 

Pulling your hands above your head, she wraps the rope through your collar to keep them still. 

With her hands now free, she cups both breasts, kneading the ample skin and pinching your nipples every second. You whimper as salty tears stream down your cheeks, only fueling Wanda to do more. Her hand moves down your belly to your wet petals, waiting to be played with. As her other hand follows, her fingers spread your folds to expose your quivering clit. 

Even though Wanda could not see your pussy, she loved how it felt. "So fuckin' wet, and its all for me, isn't it?" You shake your head vigorously, not wanting to fall into whatever trap she had set. Her index finger slowly rubs your clit in small circles, the burning of your bundle of nerves causing you to whimper and jolt. She holds you tighter, smirking at the warmth of the skin around your bud. 

Her lips press soft kisses to your head as she rubs your clit more, her other hand prodding at your hole. A breath is stolen from you as she enters two fingers into your pussy, pumping slowly. You cringe at the squelching you hear, and your legs instinctively try to close, but Wanda's legs hold them open. You reluctantly lay your head against her chest, your ears falling limp against your head. 

Wanda quickly jumped on the opportunity to hold your head up by your ears, pulling them to hold your head up straight. Wanda's fist clenched your ears tightly, not letting go as you tried to tear yourself away from her. 

As she rubbed your clit faster, your orgasm approached more quickly than expected. Your pulsing pussy squeezes her fingers as you cum, her finger on your clit not stopping. It burned, and it hurt, but in such a good way. She continues to rub, pulling a second orgasm out of you, smirking as your juices squirt from your hole. 

The blanket before you shows a puddle of your own spend, and you whimper as she pulls your ears up again. "Good little bun bun, cumming for your master like a good girl," She lets go of your ears and moves her legs, uncaging yours in the process. Before you can scramble away, she pushes you to your stomach, turning you to the bed frame. Grabbing the rope from your collar, she pulls your hands up to the bars and ties another sturdy knot. 

You struggle, pull, fight, kick, but nothing stops Wanda from getting what she wants. She finishes securing you to the bed, and her hand harshly spanks your ass. You squeal and try to curl against yourself, but she hits you again. "Legs straight little one, or I'll tie those too." You listened, not wanting any more rough rope on your body. 

She was unpredictable. She spanked you a couple more times before smoothing her hand over the raw skin. Or she would pull your tail and ears and, shortly after, softly squeeze your fluffy tail at the base of your back. The tears had not stopped either, the pillow beneath your face soaked with the salty water from your eyes. 

Wandas' abuse finally stops after a couple of minutes, her hands softly squeezing your ass in her hands. You hurt; your ass is raw, your pussy is red and puffy, and your ears are on fire. She enters the small kitchen, washes her hands, and gets a glass of water. Setting the cup on the table next to the bed, she unties your wrists and helps you sit up. You whimper as the soft yet rough blanket rubs against the skin of your ass. 

The cup's rim hits your lips, and you look up at Wanda in confusion. Why is she taking care of you? You think to yourself. 

Not wanting to seem ungrateful, you take a sip of the cool water, sighing as it goes down your sore throat. Your screams did a number on you. Finishing the glass of water, Wanda smiles down at you and gently pets your fluffy ears. They twitch in response to her hands and instinctively move closer to her warmth and gentleness.  

"Good little bunny..." She says, reaching down to hold your hands. "Listen to me," She commands. "You are going to be good and sleep in your cage tonight. Then in the morning I can get you some clothes. How does that sound? Hm?" Letting go of your hands, they softly rub up and down your thighs. You don't answer her, only giving her a nasty look, resulting in a disappointing sigh from her. 

"Come on, lets go." She says, helping you stand by picking you up by your armpits. Once you are on your feet, she gently leads you to the cage and pushes you down by your shoulders. Your hands and knees hit the ground, and her hand softly pats your bum, hinting for you to crawl inside. You comply, moving into the cage and lying against the pillow. 

Sleep hits you like a wall, unaware the water was drugged. You see Wanda shut and lock the door, reaching through the bars to kiss your fingers. 

"Run, my little rabbit, run and play in your dreams. And when you wake up, we can get to know each other a little better." She whispers, softly holding your fingers that fall limply by the edge. Pulling away, she moves back to her bed, cleaning up the blanket with a wave of a hand. 

Stripping off her dress, she lays down and watches your sleeping body, fantasizing about everything she wants to do to you. 

 Thanks to the sun's early light, the room was bathed in a soft, golden glow, creating a calm environment. With a contented sigh, Wanda stretches her arms above her head, feeling relief as her spine cracks into place. She sits up, allowing her gaze to drift towards the cage in the corner of the room. A beautiful scene awaited her under a soft blanket—the outline of her little bunny sleeping peacefully behind the bars. 

The whisper of a soft, melodious voice fills the air, promising adventure and connection. You follow the sound, your ears twitching with curiosity. 

You dash through the meadow, encountering a figure, a large shadow surrounding it. It's an eerie, ghostly presence shrouded in an aura of ice and hatred. The figure emitted a terrifying, irresistible pull, hypnotizing you to come forward. 

As Wanda took in her adorable pet, she couldn't help but smile, knowing that her bunny was safe and sound, nestled in its cozy cage, surrounded by a world of love and care. Of course, that is what Wanda wants to create for you. Your feelings were most definitely not mutual. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she approaches the door to your prison, unlocking the padlock and opening the door. 

This bewitching being extends a skeletal hand, fingers adorned with grotesque, withered elegance, beckoning further from the meadow behind you. You approach carefully, drawn by an irresistible urge. The hand reaches down, petting your soft ears on your fluffy head.  

Instantly, you are transformed into the hybrid you are now, the world around you turning into a dark abyss. 

As you whimper in your dream, Wanda can't help but wonder what you're dreaming about. Is it a pleasant dream or a nightmare? She knows she shouldn't disturb you, but the temptation to playfully interact with your vision is too strong to resist. 

Tendrils of black smoke shoot from the figure, twisting and writhing like malevolent serpents, suffocating the air with dread. Your heart drops to your stomach, your naked skin pebbling with goosebumps. The figure stands there, the wind around you starting to pick up. Smoke transforms into a massive tornado above you, picking you up effortlessly and spinning you around. It pulls you towards the figure, a featureless face other than a mouth meeting your eyes. 

Your heart races with terror as the figure's mouth opens wide, revealing rows of sharp teeth. The smoke swirls around you, suffocating you, tightening their grip, making it impossible to break free. The closer you get to its mouth, the faster your heart beats and the quicker your breath becomes. 

Carefully, she reaches out her hand and gently touches your shoulder, curious to see how you'll react in your fantasy world.

Screaming is useless now, as it will only be silenced by the dream realm. Even your punches and struggles are slowed down by an invisible force. The smokey tendrils bring you closer to the figure's mouth in slow motion, and you undoubtedly know the inevitable outcome. With a sudden, horrifying lunge, the figure's jaws close around you, yet no pain is felt. Your vision is surrounded by darkness- 

You jolt awake at the feeling of Wands fingers against your skin, and your breaths come fast. You struggle to shake off the lingering fear from the dream, your eyes darting everywhere to find the source of touch. Once you see Wanda staring back at you, you instinctively shrink back, unsure of her intentions since the night before.

"Calm down, little rabbit, I'm not going to hurt you," She says, holding her hands up in a false surrender. "Come on out, bunny," Your ears twitch as her hand enters the cage, her fingers wrapping around your ankle. She pulls gently, trying to coax you from your spot in the corner of the enclosure. You don't budge.

Getting frustrated, she grabs the chain of your collar and pulls you out. Once you are out, she holds you by the ears and pulls you to her bed. "You listen to me!" She growls, crawling on top of your trembling form. In the blink of an eye, her demeanor changes completely. Her eyes no longer glaring at you, her mouth no longer degrading your behavior.

Her right hand softly caresses your tear-stained cheek, wiping away any stray tears that have fallen. Her fingers smooth over your [length, color, texture hair] hair and behind your bunny ears, which are relatively sensitive to feeling good. 

As she scratches, she smiles at your foot kicking from below her. "Aw, what did I find?" Wanda asks, persisting in scratching behind your ears. Once she stops scratching, she gently pulls your ears together and holds them in her fist. "Gosh, look how cute you are..." she chuckles at the little wiggle of your nose and looks over your face. 

She let go of your soft ears, a tender smile on her lips. Leaning down, Wandas' lips met yours in a gentle, lingering kiss. At first, you struggled, protesting to be this close to your captor. But once Wanda's fingers reached your neck, you surrendered. She gently squeezed your neck, not choking you but asserting her dominance above you. 

She pulled away from your lips so quickly you had to suck in a breath, the kiss taking your breath away, her breath also fanning against your cheek. You hate to admit that the kiss felt genuine, as if she truly loved you. Your mind told you many different things, but "run" was not one of them right now. 

In the dim morning light, her green eyes lock onto your [eye color]-ed ones, silently telling you to let her into your mind. With great reluctance, you allowed her. You opened the gates to your consciousness, your deepest and darkest secrets showing themselves to Wanda. There were the little things, like your favorite food and color. And how you like your coffee in the morning or if you prefer quilted blankets over fluffy ones. If you like to sleep in or wake up early and if you read before bed or journal. 

As she takes in all of your mundane likes and preferences, she pushes herself into a deeper part of your mind that knowing loves what she does to you. Every pump of her fingers, every orgasm and moan she pulls from you, this part of your mind will show her everything. ‘Mmm, a little rope bunny, huh? You love being tied up… now thats cute.’ Wanda speaks in her head, and you subconsciously hear everything she says. 

Wanda smiles down at your dazed and confused expression, knowing full well that you are under her spell. She takes this opportunity to undo the chain connected to your collar, letting it drop off the bed and to the floor. On the bedside table, is the rope that held your hands to the bed frame as she spanked you. She smiles as she gets to use it again. 

She moves off of your frozen body, settling you at the top of the bed with your head on a pillow. Grabbing the rope, she wraps one piece to your right hand, pulling your limp arm to the corner of the bed. She does the same to the left arm, putting you in a spread-out position. Nowhere to go, nowhere to escape. She decides right now that this is how she likes you; all tied up and at her mercy. 

But Wanda wanted more! So she reaches under her bed to grab another two lengths of rope. She spreads your legs and ties both ankles to the bottom corners of the bed frame, looking at her work with a smug smile on her lips. 

Having you still and under her control was all she needed. But now she wants your full attention. With a snap of her fingers, you are back and aware of your surroundings. Your eyes immediately find Wanda at the end of the bed, tears beginning to form. 

“Please, I- I can’t do this anymore,” You say, tears pooling in your eyes as you pull at the rope around your limbs. She sighs and moves back to the head of the bed, sitting down next to you and gently wiping a tear from your cheek. 

“I want to make you feel good, little one. You know I can do that…” Wanda says, her hand moving from your cheek, down to your neck. Her fingers gently wrap around the delicate part of your body, and she chuckles as you try to pull away. “There’s no escaping me, bunny. You’re mine now.” 

You whimper, tears falling down your temples as you look up at the ceiling. Wanda strokes your hair softly and moves back on top of you, strategically placing her knee right against your wet folds. She gives you no room to move away from her, the movement you do have only makes you rub your clit against her knee. She smirks at your failed attempt to move from your current predicament.

 “Oh my little bunny, trying to escape,” She moves her knee up and down, your slick coating her skin. “You have no idea what you are getting into, do you little rabbit,” Her voice laced with malicious intent, her eyes unreadable. Dread fills your stomach as a puff of red energy surrounds Wanda's naked waist. A leather harness wraps the way around her, a pearly, white, penis-shaped toy hooked to the end of it. “This. This is what you are getting into. Im going to fuck you into oblivion, and you are going to love it. You are going to take every little thing I give you, do you understand?” You don’t respond at first, your eyes glued to the white toy in front of you. 

Wanda's hand squeezes your neck and your gaze shoots up to her face. “I said, do you understand?” She repeats. You nod your head and a whimper is forced from your system as she moves her hand from your neck down your chest. She scoots down a little bit, settling between your spread legs. Her cock sits proudly at your entrance, your slick already gathering from the sight of it. 

With a smile, moves both hands to your pussy, rubbing your folds and spreading them open. Her thumb rubs small circles on your exposed clit, the sensation overwhelming. A moan leaves your mouth, and you scold yourself internally. You were mortified at how open and unprotected you are, yet your pussy got wetter by the second. 

Wanda's other fingers entered your soaking hole, stretching you out to fit her cock. She wanted to make sure you were more than ready. Dragging spectral moans from your throat for a few moments, she felt like your little hole was ready for her. 

She pulled her fingers from your pussy and put them to your lips, forcing them past, and held them on your tongue. “Clean up the mess you made.” Her command made you shake, but you listened, not in a condition to disobey. You sucked on her fingers like your life depended on it, making sure that every drop of your juices were gone.

The humiliation of having your body betray you, the tears continued. Wanda enjoyed every bit of that, leaning down and licking the tears from your face after removing her fingers from your mouth. 

“P-please, please stop, I- I don’t want this,” You sob, trying to move anywhere, but are unable, due to the master rope work keeping you still. 

Wanda ignored you, spitting on her hand and rubbing it along her cock. The cold ivory poked at your entrance and she leaned over you, grabbing your fluffy ears in her fist. “God, I’ve been wanting to do this forever now…” She says, pushing into your tight cunt. 

A pained moan rips from your throat, tears falling down your cheeks as her cock splits you in two. Your arms and legs pull at the rope around them, trying anything to get free but nothing works. The breaths entering and exiting your mouth are fast and dangerous, panicking at the sheer size of Wanda's cock. 

“Hey, hey, look at me. Bunny, look at me.” Wanda says, letting go of your ears to cup your cheek. She stopped moving when the moan you emitted left your mouth, and her other hand immediately went to your clit to try and soothe the pain. It helped a little bit, but not enough. Your sobs were heartbreaking to her and she pushed in a little bit more. 

“Breathe for me, my little rabbit, breathe for me. I know you can do it,” She whispers, leaning down to meet your lips in a soft and gentle kiss. As you kiss her back, you whimper as she bottoms out inside of you. “You’re doing so good for me, baby, so good.” Her words flutter the butterflies in your belly, and your tight walls squeeze her cock lightly. 

“H-hurts,” Is all you can muster out, more tears rolling down your temples. Wanda shakes her head and makes you look into her eyes. 

“Bunny, look at me… this feels good, right? It feels so good.” Her eyes start to glow a deep red, pushing your mind and body into a euphoric hallucination. She rubs your clit and continues to talk to you. “You are doing so good, my love. This feels so, so good, and you love the feeling of my cock inside of your little pussy, don’t you?” You nod, her words of hypnosis causing the pain to feel pleasurable. “Good, you’re doing amazing…” she says, starting to move her hips, slowly pushing in and out of your pussy. 

The pain subsides, as does her power over your mind. The pleasure is becoming real, and quite enjoyable. You close your eyes, balling your hands into fists as she brushes her thumb over your cheek. “Hey, look at me, honey, can you do that?” You obey, looking up into her eyes. “Good little bunny, such a good girl,” She praises you, and your tail wiggles in response. 

Your heart is racing in your chest as she starts to move faster, her other fingers rubbing circles over your clit. She pushes you closer to your release, the feeling similar to running up a hill, only to jump and see the large drop on the other side. Reaching a good speed, she slows her fingers, wanting to make you cum from that sensitive spot right inside of your pussy. 

“I know your close, bun bun, I can feel it,” She whispers, moans falling from your mouth with every thrust of her hips. She is right, your orgasm is just within reach, and she wants to see you fall apart underneath her. “Cum for me, baby, you can do it,” the praises enter your ears and hit your soul, pushing you right to the top of that hill. 

You cum hard on her cock, loud moans filling Wandas' ears like music. With your ears flopping with every thrust, she smiles and takes a mental picture of this moment, wanting it to last forever. Soon, your orgasm washes over you, leaving you in a panting, tired mess. “You did so good my little bunny, so good.” Your cheeks heat up, submission being the only thing you can think of right now. 

“P-please,” you whisper as you pull at the restraints. You had never felt this much pleasure at one time, the need to be held and taken care of was the only thing on your mind. No escape, struggle, rage, fear, nothing was on your mind. Wanda could sense this, and without hesitation she gently pulled out of you, cleaning you up with the apron of her dress draped over the end of the bed. 

With care, she unties your limbs, kissing each of them after they are free. Once the rest of the rope was pulled off of your skin, you curled in on yourself. Your ears fall back in meekness and your tail wiggles struggling to calm down. Wanda smiles, lying down behind you on the bed. She takes you in her arms kisses your neck and pets your ears to soothe you.  

Her whispers are the last thing you hear before your eyes begin to droop in exhaustion. “Its alright, my little rabbit. You’re safe with me…” 

“I- Im- Im safe…” Sleepily, you respond, knowing deep down that you are safer than you will ever be outside of these walls. 

[comicwaren]

This week on Marvel Comics (17th July 2024):

Amazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt #003 (Finale)

Blood Hunters #004 (Finale)

Daredevil: Woman Without Fear Vol. 2 #001 (NEW!)

Dracula: Blood Hunt #003 (Finale)

Immortal Thor Annual #001 (One-shot)

Incredible Hulk Vol. 4 #014

Invincible Iron Man Vol. 5 #020 (Finale)

Namor Vol. 2 #001 (NEW!)

Phoenix #001 (NEW!)

Scarlet Witch Vol. 4 #002

Spectacular Spider-Men #005

Spider-Woman Vol. 8 #009

Star Wars Vol. 3 #048

Ultimate X-Men Vol. 2 #005

X-Men: Blood Hunt - Laura Kinney the Wolverine #001 (One-shot)

[wandamaximoffsbadgirl]

Ley's Kinktober Masterlist || 2024

Header image credit: @hopelesslygaysstuff

🕸 ⋆｡°✩ ⋆｡°✩🕸 ⋆｡°✩ ⋆｡°✩🕸 ⋆｡°✩ ⋆｡°✩🕸

🕸Coming Soon🕸

🎃 October 1st

Temp play (Soft!Daddy!Yelena Belova x bratty!fem!reader)

🎃 October 2nd

Piercing (Dom!Wandanat x sub!fem!reader)

🎃 October 3rd

Pet play (Puppy!Kate Bishop x Domme!Fem!Reader)

🎃 October 4th

Watersports (Mean!Mommy!Wanda Maximoff x fem!reader)

🎃 October 5th

Bondage (Domme!Maria Hill x subby!fem!reader)

🎃 October 6th

A/B/O (dom!alpha!Agatha Harkness x omega!reader)

🎃 October 7th

Markings (Agatha Harkness x fem!reader)

🎃 October 8th

Praise kink (Carol Danvers x fem!reader)

🎃 October 9th

Flogging (Dom!Scarlet Witch x subby!fem!reader)

🎃 October 10th

Overstimulated (Soft Mommy!Agatha Harkness x Mean Daddy!Rio Vidal x fem!reader)

🎃 October 11th

Knife and gun play (Mob!Boss Natasha Romanoff x fem!reader)

🎃 October 12th

Breath play (Bishova x fem!reader)

🎃 October 13th

Collaring (Stepmom!Wanda Maximoff x fem!reader)

🎃 October 14th

Gangbang (Mob boss!Wandanat, Carol, Val, and Kate x fem!reader)

🎃 October 15th

Hair pulling (Valkyrie x fem!reader)

🎃 October 16th

Lactation (Step Mom!Wanda Maximoff x fem!reader)

🎃 October 17th

Period sex (Wandanat x fem!reader)

🎃 October 18th

Shower sex (Mommy!Wanda Maximoff x fem!reader)

🎃 October 19th

Mirror sex (Wandanat x fem!reader)

🎃 October 20th

Stockholm (Dark!Agatha Harkness x fem!reader)

🎃 October 21st

Monster fucking (Tentacle!Agatha Harkness x fem!reader)

🎃 October 22nd

Thigh riding (Dom!Kate Bishop x subby!fem!reader)

🎃 October 23rd

Breeding (G!P!Natsha Romanoff x fem!reader)

🎃 October 24th

Somnophilia (Dark Witch!Agatha Harkness x fem!reader)

🎃 October 25th

Pussy slapping (Domme!Maria Hill x fem!reader)

🎃 October 26th

Edge play (Corrupted!Wanda Maximoff x innocent!fem!reader)

🎃 October 27th

Lap dances (G!P!Natasha Romanoff x stripper!fem!reader)

🎃 October 28th

Phone sex (Carol Danvers x fem!reader)

🎃 October 29th

Hunter/Prey (Stalker!Natasha Romanoff x fem!reader)

🎃October 30th

Aphrodisiac (Valkyrie x fem!reader)

🎃October 31st

Masks (Serial killer!Kate Bishop x innocent!fem!reader)

[fandomnerd9602]

Lost/Found

Wanda Maximoff x Stark!Reader

You lost her. The love of your life, snuffed out by Kang right before your eyes. In your rage, you supercharged your armor and sliced his head clean off.

Wanda Maximoff was your Scarlet Witch and you were her Iron Knight. A love forged first in adversity but eventually it gave way to a forbidden love. And now that love was all you had left.

You thought that was the end of it. But then the TVA showed up. They declared that you had left your path on the timeline by killing Kang. So you were pruned from the timeline.

The next thing you knew, you woke up in the Void. A vast empty wasteland full of broken buildings and trinkets.

Luckily the TVA didn’t think to strip you of your armor or toolkit. You quickly worked to get a near perfect Honda Odyssey back into working order. You just had to convert the gasoline engine into one that worked off repulsor tech. A simple solution that could only be thought of in the mind of a Stark.

You drove around, gathering up supplies and food. There was no way out of the Void. So you might as well try to survive. Surviving was really all you could do after losing Wanda.

Something pushed you to keep going. Detka. The word rummaged in your head. It was Wanda’s name for you. It spurred you to keep going.

You came to gather info about how the Void was ran by Cassandra Nova. A helpful fellow named Johnny Storm filled you in before pointing you in the direction of the so called Resistance.

You drove what seemed to be miles upon miles. Endless dunes and forests. Which way was it supposed to be? Straight detka.

You drove all night and into the early morning. Stop

You obeyed the small voice buzzing around in your head. Ahead of you was a small clearing with ruins stacked upon each other, forming a little makeshift base. Was this the resistance base Johnny spoke of?

You stepped out calmly, keeping your hands raised. A sai immediately hit the door of the Odyssey. You turned to see a woman dressed in red ninja gear drop down from a nearby tree.

“Who are you?” She asked firmly.

“(Y/N) (Y/N) Stark,” you state as you drop the briefcase that was your armor to the ground and kick it towards her.

Surprisingly she dropped her own weapons and looked at you a little surprised, “(Y/N)? As in the (Y/N)?!”

“Ihighlydoubtthere’sanotherone” a Cajun accent gentleman came up to you with a smile. “Remy. Remy Lebeau. TheycallmetheGambit”

“Stark” you shook his hand, “they call me the Iron Knight but my love used to call me her…”

“Detka!!!” A familiar voice called out to you. And there she was, looking not a day older than the day you lost her: Wanda Maximoff.

“W-Wanda” you whispered, tears forming in your eyes.

Tears were forming in her own as she ran to you. You ran to meet her. The two of you held each other close. Wanda grabbed your face with her nimble fingers and stares at you, just wanting to take in every little detail.

“Is it really you? My (Y/N)!” She cries.

You hold her own face in your hands, “it’s me, Wanda.”

The two of you kiss each other, like each one may be the last. Or maybe the first.

“Ahlookatthelovebirds” Gambit smiles.

“Finally” a well dressed vampire hunter joins the group.

A young teen steps out from the base, smiling at the scene before her, “you were like all she could talk about!”

“I’m never letting you go.” You whispered against Wanda’s lips.

“Promise me that,” Wanda begged quietly.

“I promise” you don’t hesitate to respond. You gently wipe away her tears with your thumbs.

You heard the horn of another Honda odyssey rolling up. “Hey you made it!” Johnny called out as two more colorful figures jumped out from the back seats.

“Ohmygoshf—k!!” The red clad man exclaimed, “Scarlet Witch and Iron Knight?! Disney did not cheapen out on us!!”

The other man, clad in yellow and blue walked up to Wanda and shook her hand, “Wanda. It’s good to see a familiar face. Even if it’s from another world.”

“Uh thank you?” Wanda says with a little smile.

You give her forehead a little kiss. You had your witch back in your arms. And thanks to Deadpool and Wolverine, you may have found a way back home.

Tags: @lifespectator @aloneodi @family-house-of-m @holiday-house-of-m @iiconicsfan25 @iamnicodemus @jacenradio7 @dudesweet17 @supercorpdanbeau @scarletquake-n7

[meownotgood]

let us live, if we must die. / chapter four: scarlet wings

You are a witch, and since the purging of all magic, you've been forced to live a life of solitude and secrecy. Your destiny was always beyond your control — until, by a pure twist of fate, you unknowingly fell for the kingdom's only prince. 

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pairing: prince!aki x witch!reader

word count: 14.6k

tags: fantasy au, royalty au, reader is fem, some very small mentions of violence, aki is getting better at flirting, way too many metaphors, two idiots who don't realize they're obvious being totally obvious

notes: this chapter is my favorite so far... I hope you'll enjoy it... thank you for your kindness and your patience as always! the next chapter may take a bit because I have some other writing plans for october, but I promise to return again soon :)

masterlist read on ao3 join the taglist here!

════════════════════

soft sky, bleeding sun

I'll cradle your fear until

the clouds make it theirs

—

Growing up in the kingdom taught you to fear the color red.

Red was a staple of the seals worn by the knights and soldiers — the men you needed to be wary of, in order to survive. It symbolizes power, fear, violence. Red served as a reminder of the empire's scarlet, mage-seeking birds, of the crimson blood that would spill after every war, each brutal execution.

The same sort of bird rests in your palms now.

Kneeling, you sit in the center of a clearing, damp dirt and blades of grass tickling your bare knees, the forest's trees whispering in the faint, post-storm breeze. The air is cool and humid; it tickles the back of your neck, making the hair on your arms stand on end. The sky is obscured by a canopy of trees, and by knots of thick, dark clouds. Rain will fall again soon, most likely. You should head home. Yet, you can't seem to move. Your gaze won't tear itself away from the small, red-feathered bird you have held in both your palms.

A scarlet songbird. They're harmless, although quite rare to find in this area. Your books have told you they used to be much more prevalent, native to almost every area with the right weather conditions. Since the kingdom tamed them, they've mostly been captured — sometimes hunted. It's unlikely to find them in a place like this, departed from captivity. To the kingdom, the songbird's affinity for seeking out magical traces is too valuable to let roam free.

A particular book you read on local wildlife noted how the birds like to nab magical items to decorate their nests. They were trained to spot mages for the kingdom's benefit, to follow the traces left by spells and trail them to their source. Normally, they are timid, and try to avoid predators whenever possible. The kingdom turned them into hunters themselves.

Though, in this forest, they are finally free. From danger and captivity, from the kingdom's everlasting grasp. And so are you.

This one has seen better days. The bird's tiny body barely dwarfs one of your palms: a juvenile, most likely. It can't be more than a few months old. Most of its right wing appears to be damaged, with clusters of feathers missing, exposing a deep, fresh injury. Its breathing quickens, causing its body to shake. You brush your thumb over the bird's head, and it coos quietly in response, nuzzling further into your hand.

"What's up? Why are we stopping?"

Aki's voice rouses you from your thoughts, and you glance up to see him curiously peering over your shoulder, leaning down, his hands on his knees.

Aki reminds you of the color blue. Like the sparkle of royal sapphires, with the same sort of gleam reflected in his eyes. Like the colored sketches of the sea you've memorized from your books, and longed to one day see for yourself.

A handful of days ago, he brought you a bundle of bright blue peonies, which he found near the edge of the clearing surrounding your cottage. You placed some into a vase on the dining room table, and took the rest with you to have in your bedroom. Your eyes caught on their vibrant petals each and every time you entered. Since you first met and came to know Aki, you've never noticed so much blue. The blue of the sky, the blue of the river, the blue of butterfly wings and puffy flowers and shimmering stars.

Aki is blue; he's become synonymous with the word. With the blue of veins, instead of the ache that comes with flashes of bright, red blood.

You sigh slightly, glancing away from him, and back to the bird.

"Her wing is busted," You explain simply, clear frustration present in your voice, in the way your brows slightly pinch. "I doubt she'll be able to fly again."

Aki's eyes narrow. "A magehunter bird," He muses, "I didn't know you could find them this far out."

"There's plenty in the forest, they just like to keep themselves hidden," You reply with a shrug, your voice remaining soft and low, to avoid startling the small songbird. "I think they avoid the cottage, mostly. They don't like people."

Your words are a half-truth; before Aki, you'd often spot the birds gathering close to your home. Perching in the trees and sometimes on the roof, singing their little pleasant songs, or pecking at the mushrooms that encircle the clearing, just to flutter away when you got too close. With the addition of your new guest, and with the lack of spells you've been casting lately, they've been reluctant to continue hanging around.

The bird in your palms, however, is completely pliant. She doesn't even attempt to peck at your fingers or flap her injured wing. Her sharp breathing would lead you to believe she's still fearful, but she lacks the energy to fight or run, to do anything but timidly watch you, and hope you aren't a threat to a creature who is already dying.

It makes your heart ache, truly.

Aki examines the sudden strain in your expression. He hums in thought, and he kneels down to sit by your side; the bird shudders, drawing its wings close to its body. Almost as if it's trying to shrink away.

"You're fond of birds, aren't you?" Aki says calmly.

You huff a playful breath, and reply with a lilt of intrigued half-sarcasm, "How could you tell?"

"I kind of guessed, with all those wood sculptures," He answers, taking the question completely seriously. You think back to your living room, to the shelf of wooden birds you've hand-made, and although you're already pre-planning your rebuttal — it was just to pass the time, that's all — Aki seems to see right through you.

"I figured you liked animals, but birds were probably your favorite." He brushes a palm over the back of his neck awkwardly. His hair is up and out of his face, but his bangs still fall in front of his eyes as he tilts his head. "When I saw all those little sculptures, I thought it was… I don't know. Sort of cute."

His compliment makes you freeze up slightly, your face burning with warmth. You should be used to this, considering how open Aki has swiftly become, especially in the past few days. Still, as though it's simply effortless, he always manages to make you feel flustered.

A thin droplet of rain plops onto your arm. You shiver. The air carries the scent of a coming storm; it has your heart feeling heavy, reminding you of the day you first met him. It hasn't stormed like this since then. This time though, you won't have to return to your cottage alone.

Aki glances at you, then to the bird in your palms. "Should we take her with us?"

You know it's unlikely for the bird to survive, even if you brought it home and attempted to nurse it back to health. If it cannot fly, if it can't regain strength and let its wing heal, it'll be doomed.

And what about you? Unless the birds are trained to sniff out mages, they aren't typically a threat, but it could be drawn to the magical items you have hidden in your cabin. Aki must know their purpose better than anyone — he's from the kingdom, after all. It could give you away, if you aren't careful. The logical side of you says you should leave the bird behind, regardless of what your heart might believe.

But since you met Aki, when have you ever done what you should do?

Rising to your feet, you cup one palm over the other to shield the bird from the falling raindrops. Aki follows, standing back up in turn. Your cottage won't take long to return to. The bird's wound will need to be tended to immediately, before you start preparing dinner. It'll be thirsty and hungry. You're sure you can root around and find something to feed it.

It's settled, then.

You're smiling on the way back home, and when Aki asks you why, you tell him it's nothing, instead of admitting the truth — that you find it amusing, to have already picked up another poor thing to nurse back to health. Another him. You can't catch a break, can you?

—

With each passing, precious day, trying not to become too friendly with your new cabin-mate has been steadily becoming more and more difficult. Impossible, even. Honestly, perhaps that plan was always doomed to fail.

Aki is easy to talk to, and conversations between you flow like a river's calm stream — despite your inexperience when it comes to such discussions. Part of you worried things might become awkward after the night he comforted you, but surprisingly, nothing seems to change. Aki doesn't bring it up, nor does he act any differently. It's as though you've been friends for years, not weeks. It's nice, actually.

Your days are spent gathering ingredients and herbs from the forest, leaving early in the morning to avoid crossing paths with any devils. While your nights are spent relaxing, talking, and eating together. He's learned to make plenty of meals with your assistance. Aki swears he'll remember how to prepare them for his next adventures, should he find himself in a forest like this one.

Your greatest hurdle, at first, was getting used to his presence within the magic circle; a constant source of energy, wavering between the sensitive threads of the spell you've learned to constantly maintain.

It felt — he felt — like a persistent coolness on your skin, a knot within you that couldn't be untangled. A rift in your heart, and in your mind. Now, the ripples surging through your spell hardly bother you. They're comforting, even. Aki's presence, formed by the inner shape of his soul's mana, is calm. Deep like the ocean, frozen over like ice.

Aki is tidy, but his corner of the living room quickly begins to flourish with his belongings. His cot is always made neatly, the pillows straightened.

Books are stacked up beside the cot: various stories he's borrowed from your collection, based on your recommendations. His notebook and the jar of ink you prepared for him are set precariously on top of the stack, a bookmark poking out from the pages. Crafted from a thin strip of wood and one of the songbird's stray crimson feathers, you made the bookmark and gifted it to him.

After Aki's wound stopped bothering him — for the most part — he suddenly forgot all of your previous instructions to rest.

He does relax somewhat, when it's at your request. As his health improves, so does his level of energy. He usually stays up reading when he can't sleep — which is often, you've noticed. And as you've come to learn, Aki is a fountain of energy, and he can hardly stand to be cooped up for long.

You blamed it on the elf in him, initially. The points in his ears don't lie.

Truthfully, you haven't interacted with many elves. They were quite a rare sight in the kingdom. They're known to be on the curious side, requiring little amounts of sleep. Either way, they tend to prefer spending as much of their time as they can on their own pursuits. Novels usually paint elves as cold and stern, often taking up leadership positions because of their intelligence and status, but Aki differs from most of those stereotypes. He isn't cold towards you, anyways.

He reminds you more of a playful side, like the nature-loving elves in adventure stories. The sort of person who gets themselves into all sorts of trouble with their unbound knack for adventure.

Recently, Aki has been promising he'll stay still for a while and lie down, but once you return to the cottage, supplies in hand, he's nowhere to be found.

The first time it happened, you panicked. You felt even more anxious when you couldn't find him outside. The darker parts of your mind decided to spin some story where Aki returns with knights to apprehend you, and an army to face you.

Yet each and every time, he'd return alone.

Sometimes covered in dirt, apologizing for his absence as he interrupts your dinner preparations, dropping a palm-full of the songbird's favorite berries on the counter. We were running out, he explains guiltily, glancing away at the sight of your pout. He's already expecting you to scold him. For acting recklessly, for possibly putting himself in danger. It took me a bit to find them. Sorry if I worried you. I won't get lost next time.

In other cases, he'd return much sooner. He's a sweaty mess as he swings open the front door, slightly out of breath. He runs a hand through his hair to push it back. I was exploring, lost track of time, he says, through ragged gasps. I ran home when I realized how late it was. Got some exercise, at least.

You believe him, because why wouldn't you? Aki is kind and polite, perhaps too much so. He has always been honest. About most things, at least. He's charming, in a way. Though, you'd never admit those things to his face. You have a hard enough time admitting them to yourself.

Aki radiates this strong, fiery sense of warmth that perfectly contrasts the sensation of his aura: cool, deep, and still. A glittering sun on the surface, and a somber moon within. It's incredibly, addictively intriguing.

At this point, you've known him longer than anyone, besides your own family. His presence in your cottage has begun to feel natural. And yet, you feel as though you haven't even scratched his surface.

Nevertheless, the days continue to pass — although they definitely feel faster than normal. Your time with your elven, secretly royal guest slips by effortlessly. Most of Aki's depth continues to remain hidden, but your talks together become longer, your moments shared are always treasured.

And between the gaps in your usual routine, you continue caring for the poor scarlet bird.

Turns out, Aki might be more fond of the little thing than you are. It's endearing, to see him frequently check up on her. He helps you out with her care whenever he can.

The two of you prepared a small area for the bird together, creating a makeshift nest near the fireplace with moss, leaves, and the leather scrap that remained of Aki's old bag. You gathered some seeds and berries, and you placed them close, along with a shallow bowl of water. She was lethargic at first, but thankfully, once the sun rose, the bird began to move and eat. Since then, she's been recovering gradually. You've woken up earlier than usual a few times already, roused by the sound of her pleasant chirping.

That's a good sign, at least. Even if she can't fly yet.

Today, you and Aki rarely separated. You spent most of the morning away from the cottage, and most of the afternoon outside, on the outskirts of the clearing. You've been attempting to grow a garden there, and it needs to be tended to. Hopefully, you'll have your own berry bushes once they're in season next year. It'll make gathering them for dishes much simpler. Aki learns the process quickly, and he has no problem helping you pull weeds and treat the soil.

Once the sun finally began to lower, the trees obscuring its fading glow, the sky hued in bright shades of orange, you both headed back inside, and followed the same routine you've built up over the past few days.

You sit near the fireplace, Aki close beside you. The both of you enjoy the fire's steady, flickering warmth. Today was hot, but the night has grown cold. Dinner was simple to prepare, as was the process of cleaning up, especially with Aki's help. You watch the bird take careful breaths as it draws its wings close, settles into its nest, and closes its eyes.

Cross-legged, you rest your elbows on your knees, and your chin in your hands. Aki leans back, getting comfortable; he glances between you and the fire, the same way he does when he obviously has something to say. Firelight frames his face warmly, his handsome features lit in bright hues, his long, dark hair gently brushing his shoulders.

You'll speak first, if he won't.

"How are you liking the book I lent you?" You're inquiring, your head tilting slightly with your question.

Aki raises a brow. He brings his glass to his lips, and takes a sip of the cherry-red homemade wine. It's more like juice, really. The combination of berries make it sweet and refreshing. Considering the limited resources you have in the forest, it's one of your most impressive recipes.

He sets his glass back down on the floor when he's finished, right next to yours.

"It's good," Aki replies simply, his tone completely earnest. "I'm about halfway through."

Recently, he's been reading one of the many books you recommended to him, usually making progress after you've gone to bed, when he can't sleep. You specifically chose something you thought he would like: an adventure book, about a traveler following his father's old treasure map. The story is carefree and whimsical. You'd hoped Aki might sleep if he read a book before bed, but when he gets terribly engrossed, it just seems to keep him up for even longer.

He reminds you of yourself.

"Are you at the part where he gets to the waterfall?" You ask, recalling the last time you read that particular novel. You've read everything in your collection hundreds of times, but it's been a few months.

"With the sirens?" Aki answers, placing his hands in his lap.

"Yeah," You hum, a stupid grin tugging at your cheeks. Your gaze sparkles, and you hardly attempt to keep it at bay. "With the sirens."

You aren't sure what makes you happier. The fact that Aki is genuinely reading and enjoying the book you chose, knowing he's currently reaching one of your favorite parts in the story, or the pleasant spark you get in your chest when you imagine talking about it with him once he's finished, finally being able to share something you love.

All of those feelings are lovely enough to keep, but nothing compares to the warmth you're drowned in as Aki flashes you a quick, gentle smile.

"You better not spoil what happens," He murmurs through a small laugh, "You've gotten me invested."

"I would never, I promise." You raise your hands in the air innocently. Dammit, his smile is so contagious. "We probably shouldn't talk about it until you're done, just in case. You've gotta finish all of it. The ending is the best part, for sure."

"What about your book?" Aki asks; his gaze stays on you, as he watches you take a quick sip of your wine. "Have you finished it yet?"

You swirl the contents of your glass. "The Holy Knight? Yeah, I finished it yesterday."

"Did you like it? Or, I suppose you said you've already read it, right?" Aki corrects. "How does it compare to the last time you read it?"

Thinking to yourself, you breathe a soft hmm, and tap your index finger idly against your cheek.

"It was good. I mean, I enjoy the whole story no matter how many times I've read it. The ending always makes me tear up."

You recall the final chapter, the book's somber ending. At the very end, the knight saves the land, and as the curse is lifted, flowers and trees finally begin to grow. He inherits the kingdom, he is surrounded by wealth and beauty. But even after becoming king and marrying his love, he isn't satisfied with his accomplishments. In one final battle, the knight sacrifices himself to save the princess. He departs from her with an embrace, and then kisses her hand, her cheek, and finally…

Aki's smooth voice breaks you out of your haze. "My brother owned that one. I've read parts of it to him before, countless times. Though I can't remember if we ever wound up finishing it."

"Maybe that's for the best. It's kind of a sad ending."

You shrug, your gaze drifting away from him, and back towards the fireplace, flames flickering and wavering. The small scarlet bird rests in her nest. She appears to be sleeping, her eyes closed and her head tucked close to her patchy wing. You adjust your position, sitting with your knees drawn up, your arms around them. The living room smells like the fireplace's crisp ashes, mixed with the lingering sweet scent of crushed berries and juice.

For some odd reason — or perhaps there isn't one — you change the subject to abruptly state, "The knight in that story. He reminds me of you."

Aki's eyes grow slightly wider. Then, he lets go of an amused huff, he points to himself with his thumb; "Me? Honestly, I haven't read that story in a long time. I think you'll have to explain."

He's glancing at you now, back straightened, pointed ears slightly perked up.

"Uhm, it's like-" You shake your head, trying not to stutter. "It's just with how he is around the princess, you know? You remember the scene where Vincent meets Edith, right? Before she gets captured?"

Aki's brows furrow, as though he's trying to remember. "Vaguely."

"Where Edith says she hates him, and swears they'll never marry, even if the entire kingdom was at stake. But Vincent vows he'll win her heart?"

"Ah. Well-" Reaching for his drink, Aki tilts his head back to take a good long sip. His warm, confident gaze meets yours. "I don't think I've won anything yet."

When you promptly elbow him, he offers you a slight, almost nervous grin. Thankfully, he gives your heart a bit of reprieve, glancing away to carefully set his drink back down.

"Not like that," You're scoffing, shuffling with embarrassment. You drop your knees to place your hands in your lap and fiddle with your thumbs. "It was just… with how he's so nice to her, and then their dialogue changes so much as they grow closer-" You shake your head. "Ugh. Nevermind."

"No, no. I'm listening." Aki peers at you, apologetic. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't tease you. I understand what you mean. We are similar."

Too similar. You're starting to wish you hadn't spoken, or even made the connection, because you can no longer stop yourself from picturing the novel's scenes with you in place of the princess — and of course, with Aki in place of the knight.

You imagine Aki hugging you close, his strong, safe arms around you, before he pulls back to kiss your hand, soft lips delicately brushing your knuckles. You think of Aki sweeping you into his arms to carry you away from danger. Aki reassuring you on late nights spent in one another's bed chambers that he wouldn't leave you, not even if the world deemed it so. Aki offering you his sword, so you can tap it to his shoulder as he says his vows, those pretty blue eyes on yours, his smooth voice echoing through your dizzy thoughts.

Miss Edith, I do swear for as long as I draw breath to never allow my fealty to waver. I do swear to offer my life for yours, and my heart for you to bear. If I am to fall, you will be my final thought, as you are my first and last dream before sleep, my love.

You've memorized so many lines from that damn book, and paired with how vividly you can picture Aki's voice, your mind is practically whirling.

You shake your head firmly, and give your flushed cheeks a couple light slaps. Aki cocks a brow, and casually leans closer as he glances at you, hoping to catch your eyes once more.

"Are you alright?" He murmurs, his soft tone not-so different from the one you were imagining, "Don't force yourself to stay awake if you're getting tired."

"Oh," You blink, and try your best to meet his gaze without looking away. Without picturing one of your favorite scenes from the book, a moment not too different from this one. The knight and the princess are in her quarters, sipping wine from fancy goblets. Suddenly, the princess suggests she's been hiding her true feelings all along, she believes she's fallen for him, and then —

"Yeah, I'm a bit tired," You mutter, clearing your throat. The fireplace is suddenly interesting enough to catch your eyes and keep them there.

Aki waits a moment, before he gathers both of your nearly-empty glasses, and reaches forward to set them on the edge of the fireplace, placing them out of the way.

All of those moments, those scenes, those dreams, often felt as though they'd be impossible. They are just fiction. Books to get drawn into, to take you somewhere far away from here, and nothing more. Because in your heart, you know those stories were never written with you in mind. Magic and mages would often be portrayed as what people thought of them — as the evil force the heroes needed to combat, as the villians that were meant to be vanquished. You accepted them for what they were, and accepted your loneliness. You had no other choice.

Perhaps you should start dreaming again. Perhaps this new dream, the one Aki has begun to lead you into, will pave a path to a warm, blossoming future. As long as you are willing to finally let yourself trust.

"You should get some rest," Aki encourages, his tone kept low. He gestures to the bird with a flicker of his gaze and a tilt of his head. "I'll keep an eye on her."

As if led by his instruction, you promptly stretch your arms up, and struggle to form an answer through a long yawn. "Alright."

Aki awkwardly rolls his shoulders back. He gnaws on his bottom lip, and avoids meeting your eyes as he rubs the tension from his own hands, squeezing his palms, flexing his fingers.

"There was… something I wanted to do," He begins, "But I wasn't sure if I should propose it."

"Huh?" You question, "Why?"

"I thought it might upset you."

Knowing Aki, it surely wouldn't. You don't hesitate, and barely fault your budding curiosity.

"Show me. And if I don't like it, I'll tell you." Your gaze on his is sure, unwavering. You reflect sparks of fierce firelight. "I'm okay with giving anything a chance, as long as it's with you."

Aki looks away, swallowing. He seems nervous, in a certain endearing way, in a way you're sure you haven't seen from him yet; he shifts uncomfortably, his palms already sweaty. Finally, he sighs, and forces himself to not only meet your eyes, but to get the words out.

"Do you remember this one scene from the middle of The Holy Knight? When they're-" He cringes, his teeth gritting. "Riding in the back of a carriage?"

Vincent and Edith had just finished tending to affairs at a fancy dinner party. The chapter leaves out most of the details, but describes them as they traveled back to the castle. They sat together in a fancy horse-drawn carriage, and as Edith's weary eyes began to droop, Vincent guided her to rest against his shoulder.

Oh. You don't answer, but you're sure you've made your realization obvious by the look on your face.

You watch him curiously as Aki takes a deep, motivating breath. He doesn't meet your eyes, but he does begin to shift a bit closer. He ever-so slowly and ever-so tentatively places his arm around you, barely touching. You follow the rest of the way, as he guides you to carefully lean your head against his shoulder.

It's stiff, a bit cumbersome. Your cheek doesn't quite rest perfectly on the bony, hard edge of his shoulder. You have to lean over a bit too much for this to be truly comfortable, and Aki is surely sitting way too straight, clearly still awkward.

But honestly, it's perfect. It's authentic, it's warm — and when you steal a glance up at him, his pretty expression makes it all worth it. Aki is smiling. He's flustered, perhaps more than you. You doubt the light from the fireplace is all that's flushing his skin in shades of red and pink.

You smirk, and nuzzle further into his shoulder, finally closing your eyes.

"Awfully bold of you," You're murmuring in a tired tone, trying your best to mimic the fancy cadence of the princess' line from the novel.

Aki shrugs. "It's probably the wine."

It isn't, it's fruit juice you've been calling wine, but your fuzzy thoughts begin to fade away as the fire warms you, and as Aki's faint touch comforts you — his arm around you, his palm brushing from your shoulder to your back — guiding your mind to drift off into a quiet, gentle slumber.

—

When the night sky meets the trees, the moon illuminating the clearing's whispering blades of grass, and the stars shimmering with their own faint promises, you find your favorite space to be alone.

It's been a few weeks since Aki first began staying with you, and a few days since you first took the bird in. Tonight, the foggy air that settles on your skin is cool and crisp. The forest is calm and quiet, save for the sounds of rustling trees and cooing cicadas. You sit in the clearing just in front of your cottage, cross-legged, gazing up at the brilliant canopy illuminating the surrounding darkness.

This was your usual routine, before Aki. You would spend each night looking up at the stars, when it was far too late for anything to disturb you. The night often gave you peace. It allowed you to think. When it was just you and the crickets and the wind, and the smell of the dirt and the trees, you felt as though you could finally breathe.

Inhaling slowly, and then exhaling carefully, you let the night's cool air fill your lungs. Wind brushes across you ever-so faintly. At first, while Aki was resting, you took every opportunity, slipping away to enjoy this whenever you could. When your mind was racing and you just couldn't sleep, the lonesome silence helped to calm your worries. This time, it isn't helping much.

Your mind has been a mess all day today, and the day before that. Perhaps it has never truly untangled. All the usual worries you've had about Aki and the kingdom and the future have been piling up, filling your head with no way to discard them. Quietness helps you think, but you don't want to think; you've been lost in your thoughts for way too long.

Nothing works. It's a lost cause, clearly. You sigh to yourself.

The best you can do is try to relax out here for a while, underneath the pale moon, and hope your mind eventually tires itself out enough to let you sleep.

Though, the night has other plans for you.

The cottage door opens from behind you with a wooden creak, and you swiftly turn around. Aki carefully closes the door behind him. He gives you a soft, acknowledging smile when your eyes meet, before he walks down the stairs of the front porch, and comes to sit beside you. He matches you, crossing his legs; faint breaths of wind rustle his crisp white tunic and flutter through the long, dark strands of his hair.

"I'm not interrupting, am I?" Aki asks smoothly, and you quickly shake your head.

"No, no. It's fine. You can stay." Your gaze travels back to the glittering stars, as they watch over the both of you with distant admiration. "I'd like it if you stayed, actually."

So, Aki does.

He folds his hands in his lap, and falls into silence alongside you. Once again, you are no longer alone. He stays while you stare absently at the moon and the sky, continuing to think to yourself. He stays when the night seems to grow colder, the breeze nipping at your arms and the back of your neck, your eyes heavy, while your heart keeps thudding in your chest.

Finally, you let go of a small sigh in frustration. It doesn't go unnoticed; Aki's gaze flickers back to you. In the corner of your vision, you can see him eyeing you up and down, carefully considering, calmly examining.

"Are you alright?" He asks, far too gently. "It's pretty late for you to still be awake."

You shake your head. You glance down, focused on your hands and the shadowy blades of grass tickling your knees. "I can't sleep."

"Why's that? Are you cold?" Aki's brow raises as he notes your small shivers. "I can move, if you want to be by the fireplace. I'll sleep on the floor or something."

"I'm not that cold." You rub your goosebump-filled arms with your palms, somewhat contradicting your words. "I've just been thinking. Thinking too much, probably. That's all."

Aki quiets. He runs a hand through his hair to push it from his face, he idly taps his finger against his knee.

Suddenly, thinking becomes so much more difficult. It always is, whenever he's around. Yet, this is a welcome change. The night feels warmer with him near. His presence alone helps your mind find its footing. You can breathe, but you didn't need the night to teach you — you just needed him.

Foolish, isn't it?

A few moments tick by. Your thoughts drift to lighter subjects. Dreams and soft hopes. He waits for you to speak, never pressing, never pulling. And so, you do.

"I've always liked how bright the stars are out here," You murmur, almost talking to yourself, with your gaze still caught on the sparkling array in the sky. "They shine brighter where the forest is darkest. Almost like they know there's someone out there who might need them to light their way home."

On your first night alone, when you escaped from the kingdom, when you ran as deep into the forest as your tired legs could take you, with only some books in your pack and a demon-warding amulet around your neck, the stars were there. They lit your path through the trees and into the clearing. Hundreds upon thousands of steady glowing lights watched over you when you collapsed, and they made sure to look after your rest until morning.

Aki listens intently. He looks only at you. When you're content like this, staring at the sky, your pretty gaze seems to sparkle, too.

"They're gorgeous. It gets harder to see them the closer you get to the city," He says. "In the kingdom, we have this phrase about stars. It's quite famous. I'm pretty sure some poet came up with it a thousand odd years ago, and now people use it in stories and plays and such."

You turn towards him. "And that phrase is?"

"Per aspera ad astra." Aki pronounces each syllable perfectly and purposely, with a certain sense of wonder. "It means, 'through thorns, look to the stars.' But phrases in old tongue can honestly be interpreted in a thousand different ways."

"The stars will never stop watching over us, even through hardships." You give your own interpretation, while admiring those very same stars. "What a beautiful phrase."

He smiles. "Yeah. I thought you would like it."

Those stars and this moon watched over your family ages ago. They foresaw the very first mages, they looked upon their devastating downfall. No matter what future they might hold for you, their presence above your head will never change, they'll never waver.

They've been watching Aki, too. When you were younger, young enough to gaze up at the sky and dream of a brighter future, where was he? Learning to fight the devils you'd soon have to run from, pacing the halls of the castle you dreamt of visiting?

You take another deep, grounding breath, taking in the crisp night air, and you draw your knees up, getting more comfortable. Glancing at Aki, you see him intently looking at the sky, this time. For once, he isn't staring at you.

"Could you tell me another?"

Aki glances towards you with a hint of surprise. "Another phrase?"

You nod. "I didn't know the kingdom still spoke in old tongue. It's interesting."

Aki hums, considering. He holds his chin, his brows pinching as he thinks. Eventually, he continues, allowing you to hear his smooth voice once more — just as you wanted.

"Okay… let's see. Fortis fortuna adiuvat. 'Fortune favors the bold.' All the knights in training have to learn that one." He smirks, his eyes rolling slightly. The kingdom's chivalry must fail to impress him. "Devil hunters prefer morior invictus. Death over defeat."

"I think I've heard the first one." You pause to dwell on his words, before you turn back to him, eagerly questioning, "And what about the kingdom? Could you tell me more about it?"

Aki pauses. He breathes a small laugh. "I'm… not sure what you mean. What did you want to know? Just…" He shrugs. "Anything?"

"Yeah. Can you tell me what it's like?"

For a moment, he hesitates. He takes a deep, thoughtful breath. A soft, clearly excited smile forms on his features. He gazes at you like you're sparkling more than the sky.

"Well, I- I thought you might like the kingdom's gardens," He explains, a bit awkward and stuttery at first. "The castle's garden, especially. The front entrance is surrounded by huge weeping willow trees. Each path is decorated with every bright color of flower you can imagine. They flourish in the spring, and in autumn, the trees turn the richest gold hue. There's rose bushes, daffodils, tulips, orchids. Orchids are your favorite, aren't they?"

When you brought home a bundle of orchids, he watched as you carefully trimmed their stems to place them in a vase on the dining room table, and he listened as you explained how you've always found them beautiful. They're a symbol of elegance and grace, a common motif in your favorite poetry books. You've always admired them. Aki promised he'd remember.

You nod shyly. "That's right."

Aki smiles. He places his hands in his lap, slightly fiddling with his thumbs. The moon and stars form a bright halo above him, glittering down onto both of you. "I'm sure you'd find orchids in every shade. Or if you wanted some for yourself, I could buy them for you. Ah, you'd like walking through the town square, too. There's lots of flower vendors."

"Flower vendors?" You're scoffing, donning a grin of disbelief, "People are spending gold on flowers when there's thousands they could pick without emptying their pockets?"

"Well, they're usually selling flowers you can only get in certain regions. They grow them themselves," Aki explains matter-of-factly. "Besides, it's tradition. You're supposed to buy flowers as gifts. For your loved ones or your family or your partner. Something like that."

You try to ponder the implications, your mind and your heart stuck on his specific choice of words; your partner. Does Aki have a spouse? Perhaps there's someone he's already interested in. He's royalty, surely he has admirers. Or maybe, just maybe, offering to buy flowers for you meant something more — but Aki stands, pushing himself up and rising to his feet, instantly halting your surging train of thought.

"Wait-" You glance up at him swiftly. "You're leaving?"

"Only for a moment," He answers. Your expression softens. The rush of relief that fills you must be palpable.

Aki gestures towards the cottage. "I was going to get a blanket for us. Unless you'd prefer to go back inside?"

"Oh. No," You murmur in response, shaking your head. "No, it's fine."

He isn't gone for long. Aki brings one of the blankets he was using for his makeshift bed: a large, handmade quilt, messily sewn from different patches of fabric. Delightful warmth fills your body as he drapes the blanket around you, but for good measure, he shifts closer. Close enough to let the both of you share the blanket, close enough to have your legs brush and your shoulder press to his.

And as the night stretches on, Aki tells you about the kingdom. He details everything you would want to know, he provides illustrations for all of the fantasies you have wondered and dreamt about — the luxuries you wished you could afford. He makes all of them seem real.

It's late. You need to sleep, you know you'll be exhausted by the time tomorrow comes, and you're sure he knows this too. But you stay as you are. You don't want this moment to end.

For as long as the night allows, you live through what he shares with you, as though this life were different, and you were much more fortunate. Honestly, you are more fortunate than you've ever been to have this, to have him.

Aki describes the kingdom's beauty to you. Cobblestone pathways, ornate churches, bridges that overlook the entire city. The castle is placed upon a hill; you can spot its grandeur from miles away. A river runs through the city, providing canoes you can take, pooling into a beautiful sea with an abundance of fish to catch. The streets are always busy. There's merchants and performers, vendors and dancers. Nightly parties and fancy outings, and a life you could only ever dream of.

If Aki offered to take you, to show you, to give you such a life, you can't quite decide how you'd answer.

At some point, the descriptions he's painting for you blend together. The bustling depictions of the ferry port jumble with his explanation of the town's most famous grand library. Your head slips to his shoulder, and you're fading away. You can't remember the last thing you heard before you fell asleep.

Briefly, you wake up while Aki is carrying you inside, but you drift off once again the moment he places you into your bed, drawing the warm, comfy covers over you, and quietly closing your bedroom door behind him.

—

Days pass. Nights spent looking upon the stars together become more frequent.

After a while in your care, the injured scarlet songbird begins to show some positive signs. She's been leaving her bed on her own to hop around the living room, or to perch on the end of Aki's cot. Although her wing still seems weak, she's been trying to flap it, stretching and waving both wings in the air at every opportunity.

An excited Aki drags you into the cottage a few days later. You were in the clearing, tending to the garden, but you follow along when he begins tugging you by your arm.

The songbird flutters around the room, floating freely from the edge of the fireplace, to the kitchen counter, to the top of a sculpture-filled bookshelf.

Look, Aki says, exuberant. She's flying.

—

The flickering fire in front of you radiates steady, calming warmth. As you carefully tilt the small chunk of wood in your hands, your sleeves rolled up, a blanket in your lap to catch all the shavings, you can no longer feel the chill of the night.

An almost-full moon watches over your technique. Your eyes narrow in focus. Your thumb presses to the blunt side of your blade.

You've been working on this sculpture for a few days now; you have to be careful, you wouldn't want to make a mistake when you're so close to adding the finishing touches. This sculpture has to be perfect. After all, getting the chance to study a scarlet songbird up close is hardly an everyday occurrence.

Slowly and meticulously, you refine the head of the sculpture, smoothing out the bumps in the circular shape. The end of the head is spiked slightly, to form the shape of thin feathers. You've recently learned from your hours of study that songbirds have large, thick beaks, perfect for cracking open the shells of seeds. You curve your knife, and refine the simple shape of the beak into a dull, triangular point.

Aki sits across from you, one leg crossed over the other. The both of you have already finished dinner, and you now rest in the middle of the clearing, in front of the fire, sitting on some large fallen logs you dragged in from the forest. His hair remains the way it was this morning: tied back to keep stray strands out of his face. He leans backward, head tilted up as he gazes silently at the glittering sea of stars.

Normally, you would join him. You'd set your sculpture down to complete later, and you'd come to sit beside him, so the two of you could count the constellations together. But tonight, your mind is elsewhere. You're focused on the pounding of your heart and the movement of your hands, because tonight, Aki finally won.

There's a game the two of you have been playing, ever since the nights have begun to grow warmer.

To your surprise, when you brought up the idea, you learned Aki has never caught fireflies before. He's hardly ever seen them, he explains, outside of a handful of times when he was a kid.

They're useful to light up the kitchen, so you can clean up after taking your time at dinner. Most of the time though, you'll catch them in your palms, you'll place them into jars and admire the performance of their synchronized glow, just to watch them all fill the sky once you set them free. You showed Aki how he could catch them, his own hands mimicking the cupped shape of yours. And now, each night, you've been playfully competing to see who can catch more.

At first, it was to decide who would wash the plates and pans. When a few days went by with no success, Aki decided to raise the stakes. If he wins, he gets to ask you three questions, and you have to promise to answer.

You were confused. Perhaps even the slightest bit shocked. You silently mulled over his proposal as the two of you washed dishes together, a jar filled with ten busy fireflies on your side, and a jar holding just two of them on his side — both fireflies conversing, gently flickering their bulbs.

I won't ask anything too personal, I promise. And if I ever did, you wouldn't have to answer, Aki explained. His expression was soft and reassuring as he glanced up at you, while scrubbing some silverware with a worn-down rag. I feel I don't know much about you, is all. And I'd like to.

You aren't used to someone wanting to learn more about you, nor would you know precisely what you should tell them. What if you wind up saying too much? Or perhaps, you would only be able to tell him far too little?

No matter how foolish, some part of you believes it wants to tell him.

In all honesty, you weren't expecting much to come out of the deal you just agreed to. You believe him; Aki wouldn't ask anything out of the ordinary, he wouldn't press you, or put you in a situation you can't get out of. He also happens to be particularly awful at catching fireflies. He's never caught more than you, and with his lack of experience, you wouldn't expect him to — until tonight, of course.

Once you lit the firewood and a fire began to spark, you both sat down to compare how many you collected. You counted, and as the fireflies fluttered around, you recounted. Aki counted them as well before you set them free, just in case you were mistaken. He met your gaze with a sure, satisfied smile.

He caught one more than you.

Now, here you are. You wouldn't call this feeling worry. As you sit by the fire, busying yourself with your diligent work on your wood carving, your heart comes alive — with warmth that burns the chassis of your chest from the inside. You swear your fear has been swallowed by the flames, because this feeling is more like excitement, unwavering and true.

You have never revealed what lies beneath your surface, not ever before. Not to anyone but the starlight.

Gods, how you have waited for this.

"So," You begin, breaking the silence first. You drag your attention away from your wood carving, glancing up at Aki with an eyebrow raised, "What would you like to know?"

Aki finally looks away from the sky, and you try not to falter when his deep gaze meets yours. He flashes you a small smile. Then, he breathes a soft, obvious hmm, as if he's pretending you'd caught him off guard.

"Your name would be a good place to start."

Ah. After all this time, you still haven't told him. You consider the possibilities, nervously running your thumb over the grooved shape of the sculpture's unfinished wing. Your family name would be dangerous for him to know, of course. In any other circumstance, you'd consider giving him something fake, or possibly your middle name, since it'd be more difficult to trace. But this time, your first name is fine. If it's Aki who knows it, you have nothing to fear.

So, you answer. Aki grins, lacing his delicate, scarred hands together, and resting his elbows on his knees.

One question down, two more to go.

"A very pretty name. It suits you," He muses, in a tone smooth enough to make you shudder. His words feel like thick liquid gold, tingling in your veins and dripping down your back. "You already know mine. But perhaps there's something else you'd like to know about me?"

"I- I mean, maybe," You reply, trying and failing not to stutter. There's plenty of things you've been wanting to know, but nearly all of them you couldn't just say. You can't suddenly blurt out, Are you really royalty? as casually as he just asked for your name. "But I thought you were the one asking the questions. Not me."

"It'd be fair to let you ask some too. Right?"

Your fingers drum idly against the hilt of your knife.

"Okay, uhm…" You glance him up and down, trying to come up with something. Your gaze catches on the pointed ears sticking out from his hair; "You're an elf, aren't you? Is your family from the kingdom? I heard there weren't many elves there."

That was two questions in one, but Aki doesn't seem to mind.

"Half-elf," He corrects. The firelight dances in his eyes, forming fuzzy warmth in the edges of your vision. "My mother was an elf, and my father was human. My brother and I were both born and raised in the kingdom, as was my father. But my mother was considered an outsider. She left her village when she was twenty."

Was. Your eyes widen. Although you already had your hints and suspicions, you can't help but note his specific choice of words. Still, your gaze drifts back down to your sculpture. You glide your knife forwards to thin out the delicate shape of the long tail feathers, and you move along without mentioning it.

"Ah," You reply, nodding, "Sorry. You're a half-elf."

Aki cocks a brow. "You seem surprised."

Half-elves aren't exactly common, considering the tension that can still linger between both parties. Elves have always been known for discovering magic; their magic lineage leads some to distrust them. They're often blamed for past troubles. Humans are the ones revered for stopping them. A half-elf would surely face judgment from both sides.

You know what that feeling is like. Has Aki also felt like an outcast, did part of him gnaw from within, promising he would never find somewhere he truly belonged?

"I thought half-elves were a rarity," You reply quietly, "But I don't know, maybe I'm wrong." You give a heavy shrug of your shoulders. "It's been a while since I left the cottage."

If only he knew.

"That's alright," Aki answers calmly, folding his hands and placing them in his lap. "Half-elves are uncommon, but in recent times, not so much. The, uh," He clears his throat rather abruptly. "The old king and queen set a new precedent, I suppose."

You squint as his gaze meets yours, matching his coyness with curiosity and confusion.

The old king and queen. An elf and a human ruling together was unheard of, at the time.

Unfortunately, your memories of the kingdom are vague. When you were much, much younger, you heard many stories about the famous king and queen, your mother's embellished retellings filling your mind each night before bed. A few weeks before you fled the kingdom, you learned of their passing. The details weren't revealed to the public, you'd imagine. You suppose you were too young to know what was true and what was just a tale.

Before you can ask anything else, Aki is continuing, as he nervously drums a hand against his knee.

"A lot has changed in such a short time. Elves have always been welcome in the kingdom, but it's rare for people to judge them these days. The king and queen were very well remembered."

Then, he breathes a short laugh. He points to his ears, his star-shaped earrings sparkling when they catch the flames of the fire. "In some other places though, these ears have gotten me into an awful lot of trouble."

This, in fact, does not surprise you.

Your eyes roll playfully. Setting down your sculpture and your knife in favor of resting your chin in your hand, you shoot Aki a teasing glance. "Really? What kind of trouble?"

"Mmm, you know. The typical sentiments. Lots and lots of dirty looks. Whispers about magic and mages and the like. Most half-elves have smaller ears, but you can't exactly hide these." Aki taps his pointed ear, making his earring rustle. "I owe you many things- my life, for one. But I'm grateful you've never judged me, even when you saw what I was."

You shake your head and scoff, your jaw tightening, "Come on, you don't owe me anything. You needed help, that's all. So I provided."

You've told those words to yourself at least a thousand times. Oh, but it's so much more than that now, isn't it?

Aki sighs. "Gods, you're sweet, you know that?" He smiles, his gaze sparkling with saccharine sweetness. "You could have turned me away, you could have easily kept me at arm's length. But when I'm with you, I never feel anything less than welcomed."

Your heart stirs, thudding within your chest like a performer's drum, fluttering like the flap of a bird's wings, and warming your face until it feels hotter than the flames of the fire.

"Stop, you're just…" You rub your arm shyly while you glance down at your boots. "You're only saying that."

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it," Aki answers softly. "There's good in you, more than most I've met these days."

Good? When was the last time anyone thought of you as good? Mages have never been regarded with anything but contempt, and you have embodied that fact for so, so long. It's become who you are. You have defined yourself as a witch, you've embodied the terrible things you've heard people say and do. You aren't allowed to be anything more than that. Your life isn't worth anything more.

Aki makes you think differently. He's reminded you of what you thought you couldn't have, he's made you think that you can be you — clipped wings soft, and outstretched.

You glance down once more at the sculpture. You hold it in your palms, and run your thumb over the details: the pointed beak, the smooth body, the small feet. Carefully, you take hold of your knife. Your eyes narrow as you guide the blade, adding faint notches to the bird's thin talons.

You sigh to yourself, your brows knotted in focus. "I'm sure not everyone you've met is terrible."

"You'd be surprised. A lot of towns are still pretty intolerant towards elves. Towards mages, in specific. Even if I explained I was there to help them, to fight devils for them, sometimes they'd simply refuse to listen." Aki huffs in frustration, leaning forwards, rubbing the tension from the joints in his fingers. "I felt lucky whenever they denied me entry. At least then, I wouldn't have to deal with them."

You can definitely sympathize. Quietly, you reply, "That sounds… unfair."

"It was. My mother often tried to rationalize it. 'Those people are afraid, Aki. They don't want to be hurt again.'"

His shoulders slump when he lets go of a weighty, built-up breath. His gaze has found itself drifting, first focused on the fire, and now stuck on his hands. "I understood that. I've known since I was young. It's just… you know." A choked bite finds its way into his tone. "Frustrating."

Frustrating is a light way to put it. You certainly, undoubtedly know. Aki doesn't realize how acquainted you are with that very same feeling of hopelessness.

He pauses, brows furrowed as he thinks, and you set your knife aside. Your fingers return to trace the curves of the nearly-complete sculpture.

When Aki speaks next, he's glancing back up at you. "Could I ask about your family? Or… is that…"

He trails off, but you know precisely where he's headed. It isn't too much, not if he's the one listening. You shake your head, glancing between him and your hands.

"No, it's alright," You reply, your voice weaker than intended. "There just isn't much to say. They've both been gone for… Gods, ages now. I wasn't as close with my father, but my mother was very important to me. Losing her was difficult."

Sadness lingers in your tone, along with something anxious, something uncertain. Aki watches your hands, fiddling uneasily with the small wood carving.

Like a quiet eclipse, there's meaning behind your words, a gentleness you prosper when you give Aki a knowing, pained glance. You know the pain he's felt. You've shared it once, perhaps without realizing.

When he speaks, his voice helps to ground you.

"I'm sorry. I understand. My mother and father are gone. I lost my younger brother with them. It's a terrible feeling."

You breathe deeply, steadying yourself.

No one knows about your family. You rarely even think about what happened, you prefer to move on rather than dig up old wounds; it's what you needed to do to survive. And yet, in the face of Aki's soft expression, his calm gaze meeting yours, the words seem to spill out before you can stop them — your breath catching, your hands clenching the sculpture tight.

"I lost them. And when I did, I… I lost everything," You're murmuring, your shoulders tense as you try not to shrink in on yourself. "I was alone for the longest time. I felt… afraid."

Aki's leg bounces. For a moment, as you glance up at him quickly, before avoiding his eyes to look down again, you think he might stand up. You wouldn't mind if he came to sit next to you. Against your better judgment, you might find yourself pulling him closer, latching onto his arm or dragging him into an embrace just to savor the way your heart would skip. Instead, he forces himself to still, his hands folded and his knuckles locked.

You sigh, and continue before he has a chance to speak. "Sorry. It's difficult to… to put everything into words. I'm not used to this. I haven't really… talked about it before. Not until now."

Aki glances you up and down, noting the discomfort in your posture. He swallows, and he leans back.

"Don't apologize," He says, his tone soft. "You're doing just fine. You don't have to speak if you don't want to."

As your reassured gaze catches on his own, he brushes a palm over the back of his neck, and hurries to fill the air with something other than the crackle of the fire and the chirp of crickets.

"My dad and I- my mother always said we were the same," He begins. The fire's flames wash over his face in faint orange hues. "Stubborn. Fearless. He was an adventurer when he was my age. The kind of man that never wanted to be stuck in one place. But when he married, he finally settled down. He was… a well-respected man. Many people disapproved of him marrying an elf."

You stay frozen in place, your eyes softening at the sound of his voice. He takes a deep breath, laughing a bit.

"You know, when I was young, I was one of those kids that never stopped to think before they spoke. Ardentis is what my mother used to say. It means… filled with fire. Impulsive. When I was ten, I asked my father why he would ever marry my mother, if it made things so difficult. Thank the Gods I said it when we were out on our own, visiting another province. I can't imagine how they would've scolded me if I said it in public."

Filled with fire. Aki always burns bright, but the outline of his soul — floating and flickering within your magic — feels cold, in comparison. Like pressing your palm to the smooth surface of a frozen lake. Like falling through to drown in deep, cool waters.

Aki can't look at you. "My father answered, when you love someone, you'll find a way to bend the world to fit their shape." He pauses. He clears his throat, his shoulders slack; he glances up at you, finally. "It was one of the last things I remember him telling me, so I guess it always stuck."

You listen in silence. Everything converges and stops, your entire world pinpointed on this singular moment. The songbird sculpture rests in your hands, your grip tightening, although your gaze is unable to tear away from his. The fire crackles gently, the wind brushes your skin like a kiss.

Leaning back, Aki crosses one leg over the other. "I'm onto my third question now. Right?"

"Yeah. Right."

And what of the shape of your own soul? Would his fit with yours? Would they press together like the softness of hands interlocked, or like the sting of a knife to your throat?

Aki flashes you a warm smile. "Which do you prefer? Sunrise, or sunset?"

—

Sunset was your answer.

You adore the beautiful hues the sun paints across the sky, dying light shining through the trees in desperate rays, only for everything to fade into the alluring darkness of the night. Sunsets mark new beginnings, before the sunrise returns to embrace them. Both are beautiful — and to be honest, you weren't sure which you preferred.

When Aki asked you that night, you put little thought into your answer. You've always had an appreciation for both, but you've never thought of picking a favorite. You pondered it for a moment, before simply choosing one, like flipping a coin, like relying on a hunch. Sunsets are your favorite.

The night was stretching on for a bit too long, and since the two of you still needed to get some sleep, you left it at that. Aki thanked you. He gave you a simple, you'll see, when you questioned where he might be going with this. You yawned, watching the fire flicker weakly, and decided it'd be best to call the night there.

You slept peacefully and dreamlessly. Busy with the chores of the coming day, you nearly forgot about the conversation and the night you shared — until Aki returned to surprise you.

He'd been out for a while. You had some cleaning to do around the cottage that day, and so he promised to tend to the garden while you finished everything you needed to. You cleaned your bedroom and the living room. You washed all of the blankets and linens, hanging them up on the line out front. When you glanced towards the garden, the sun high in the sky and a crisp breeze at your back, Aki was nowhere to be found.

At last, just before sundown, he returned — along with the scarlet songbird in tow. You set down the dish you were washing as he tossed open the door to greet you in the kitchen.

In just one day, the bird has made immense progress. She's been following me all day, Aki explained earlier this afternoon. The bird flew out of the cottage when he left, and proceeded to follow Aki into the garden, perching on his shoulder whenever she needed to rest.

The bird flutters back inside, settling in her makeshift nest, and Aki holds the front door open, gesturing for you to follow.

A faint pout forms on your lips, your brow raising, arms crossing. "You're letting all the warm air out."

Aki lets go of a half-laugh, half-sigh. His hair is tied up, his sleeves are rolled slightly, but his tunic is otherwise neat. If he'd been working out in the garden, usually he'd return with his shirt and his palms covered in dirt; he's cleaned himself up already, it seems.

"There's something I want to show you," Aki says simply, "It's a surprise."

You shift from foot to foot. "What about dinner?"

"I'll help you make something afterwards. It won't take long, I promise."

You give yourself only a moment more to consider.

Following close behind, you allow Aki to lead you behind the cottage, through the clearing, and into the edges of the forest. With the end of the day fast approaching, the air is cooling down; it nips at your arms and your neck with gentle, icy teeth. Your boots crunch on leaves and fallen branches. Shadows envelop the forest floor, the thick canopy above watching over you. A large hill rests just behind your cottage, and you spot it as the whispering trees start to thin.

"Aki," You murmur, staring at his back, your chilly hands shoved in your pockets. The hill is clearly where he's leading you to, but why? "How far is whatever you wanted to show me?"

"Not far. It's right here," He replies, turning around to face you, offering you a reassuring glance. "We're just heading up this hill. I scouted the area already, pretty sure the devils have no idea this spot exists. We'll be able to run back home if anything happens, okay?"

You come to a stop at the foot of the hill, and you glance down. You watch, as you delicately step over the line that forms your magic mushroom circle. The spell splinters, losing its shape, leaving your veins in a rush. Aki is already halfway up the hill, and you hurry close behind him, following him to the top — where the sky finally comes into full view.

The sight you're met with is brilliant.

From the very top of the hill, you can see the clearing and your cottage. You can feel the breeze rustling your clothing and floating through your hair, almost as if you could fly, if you had wings. You're surrounded by hues of bright orange and pink that color every inch of the sky, vivid shades pooling around the edges of the clouds. If you squint, you can just barely glance at the line where the sun meets the horizon, glowing brightly as it begins to dip into the endless line of trees. A fierce dot of radiant yellow, alighting everything it touches in the very same hue.

The wind tugs at your clothes. You place a palm on your forehead, shielding your eyes to look at the sky clearer. You remember climbing this hill when you first made your cottage, but Gods, you've never seen anything like this.

Aki walks further, guiding you to the furthest edge of the hill — and that's when you spot it. A large log placed for the both of you to sit on, with a few blankets draped across it, and a delicately-picked bundle of flowers placed on top.

"Oh- you-" You're talking without thinking, your breath caught in your throat, your eyes wide as you glance between him and the arrangement. Aki is smiling stupidly. He looks at you and then towards the horizon, as though he's still waiting for you to follow.

"You did all of this?" You sigh. "Aki, you didn't have to-"

"I know," Aki interrupts, soft and assured, far too tender. Of course he didn't have to, but this is what he wanted.

"Come here," He says, gesturing once more for you to follow. Your hands clutch the front of your shirt absently, but you trail close behind with unsteady steps. "Make yourself comfortable. Would you like a blanket?"

"I'm okay," You answer. You sit down on the log, awkwardly resting your hands in your lap. Aki swiftly sits down next to you, a foot or so of distance still kept in between.

You shake your head. "I'm not that cold."

"Alright. If you'd like one, just say the word."

Your heart pounds in your ears to a fervent melody. As you fiddle with your hands, you barely notice Aki reaching for the flowers that were resting on the other side of your homemade seat.

They're bundled delicately, stems secured by a thin piece of twine, tied into a messy attempt at a bow. Orchids. Exquisite white blooms, with petals splattered in shades of purple and pink. Your gaze catches on his, something unreadable but surely shy flashing in his expression. The sun's low light makes him look so warm. Aki's grip tightens on the stems, and he clears his throat quietly.

"I've wanted to show you this for far too long, now. And after you mentioned it yesterday, I thought this would be a good place to watch the sunset," He explains, his tone kept smooth, despite the unsureness to his movements as he sets the flowers in his lap. "Hold on-"

Aki chooses one of the smaller orchids. He pulls at the middle of the stem, breaking it off from the rest. Your gaze follows him, as he shifts closer, closing a few threads of distance between you. He reaches forwards, then up, tucking the flower behind your ear, his fingers brushing your jaw as he does so.

He smiles — a terribly soft, utterly lovesick smile. His fingertips linger on the side of your face for longer than they have to. He admires you, the wind pulling faintly at your hair, the flower's colorful bloom practically glowing in the vibrant light of the fading sun. You feel warm, down to your veins; you can hardly think, can't hear anything besides the pound of your own heart. Aki pulls away, his gaze still caught on you, and you find yourself missing the brush of his touch.

"You're so pretty." Aki breathes a low, calm breath. "Prettier than the sun."

Oh. In your vision, Aki seems to glow brightly, outlined by the blues and pinks of the sky. His unkempt bangs brush his eyes, his earrings twirling in the gentle wind. Your hands shake slightly when you take the bundle of flowers from him, your face feels warm — and he swears, more than the flowers, you seem to blossom. A smile crosses your features, fading into the faintest, most perfect laugh.

"You're ridiculous," You chide playfully, shaking your head. Holding the orchids in your lap, you brush your thumb over the soft petals of one of the blooms. You can feel the flower that rests behind your ear, tickling your face when the wind makes it rustle. "I can't believe you did all of this."

Aki hums, "It's nice though, isn't it? You can see the sky so clearly from here."

He's right. The moon is already visible — a thin crescent that plans to usher in the night to come. Crisp cool air fills your lungs with each breath, and as the sun dips lower, the horizon shimmers in fading shades of red. It's lovely on its own, but knowing Aki thought of you, planned this for you, has your mind in such a mess, you can hardly focus on the view.

Aki is no better. He rests his chin in his hand, his gaze on yours, his smile clumsy and endearing. The fading sun and the trees and the sky could never be as captivating as you.

You steal the smallest glance towards him, and when you see him still staring, your shoulders go slack with your light laughter. "You're not even watching…"

"Oh," Aki turns away, trying his hardest — and utterly failing — to hide his smile. "Yeah. I wasn't."

The sun blends into the distant sea of trees like butter melting on a skillet, and although he promised the opposite, Aki finds himself glancing at the sparkle in your gaze once more.

He rolls his shoulders backward. His voice sounds unsure when he speaks.

"I know this isn't much. But I hoped I could do something nice for you, to… I don't know." Aki sighs, struggling to put his words into place. "To thank you, for all the kindness you've shown me."

You glance towards him again, almost forming a rebuttal, but he promptly interrupts.

"And I know I didn't have to. None of this was necessary, I didn't have to do any of the things I've done. But you-" His hands are tense, and he squeezes his own fingers, trying to alleviate his growing tension. He seems so earnest, like his words are more than words, but shimmering stars simply begging to fall — "You deserve more than words could say. You're important. I thought this might be… something you'd find important, too."

Aki stalls, brushing his thumb over his own knuckles. You want to say so much, even though you're sure you shouldn't. Aki, it's lovely, this is beautiful. And this is so, so perfect. I can't remember the last time I felt so happy, if there was any time at all. But words come as stuck constellations whenever Aki has you like this; your heart skips, and you couldn't possibly pick out everything, you can only manage to utter some of them.

Your breathing wavers. "I'm important to you?"

Aki sighs, his gaze meeting yours. "You are everything to me."

Your heart thrums in your chest, iridescent in your throat, drumming firm against your ribs. You're speechless, for more than a few moments. The rest of the world — the shaking trees, the smoke billowing from your distant cottage, the dying sun — pleasantly fades away. Aki weakens, his expression soft and his voice gentle.

"And it's- it isn't just because you saved my life," He explains, "You are kind and thoughtful, and so, so special. There is so much I could tell you. Gods, every time I talk to you, the words- everything flows effortlessly. I've never felt that before. Not once."

Not once. Not with anyone. You shift, trying to catch your breath — trying not to let those words consume you.

Aki's hand rests at his side, mere inches away. His fingers nervously drum the rough wood.

"It's been a pleasure to share these days with you. To learn more about you, to talk and to just- to just be." He goes quiet, before he laughs, his gaze now focused on the distant view. You swear the lightest trace of pink dusts his face, his pointed ears. "You remember that word I taught you yesterday?"

You nod shallowly. "Ardentis." Your head tilts as you try to catch his wandering gaze again. "You aren't talking too much, though."

"Really?" Aki breathes a soft hum, almost in disbelief. "You did say you enjoyed the sound of my voice, once."

Once, and each time after. Your reply comes in the form of a slow, uneven breath, along with the subtle movement of your hand; until your pinky finger is able to brush his just slightly. Barely tender, nothing more than a faint touch, a silent promise. Still, you steady, savoring the feeling of him close to you, and melting in the heat of the thick, molten warmth inside your chest.

Glancing down, unable to face you, Aki hesitates for a fair stretch of time. You're barely able to catch the conflicted look on his features before he moves his hand away, like it'd been burned. His jaw clenches. Your hand craves more of his touch in his absence.

"That- that was too much, wasn't it?" His brows pinch, he almost sounds pained. "Maybe I should-"

He starts to stand, but you stop him halfway. You grab his hand and squeeze it tight — like the action is natural, like it isn't the first time you've tried this. His skin is soft, his palm is rough, his knuckles are ragged with crosshatches of scars. You refuse to let go, even as Aki follows your gaze, slowly sitting back down beside you.

"Don't go," You murmur simply. "Please."

Aki's expression goes terribly, dangerously soft. If you had planned to let go of him, if you hoped that your judgment could guide you and in the interest of caution, you would keep some distance — all of those ideas are rendered useless when he squeezes your hand back. Gentle yet firm, tight enough to make you think he never truly wanted to leave in the first place.

"Aki… I-" Oh, it's so much harder to talk when he's inches away, and when the only thing your mind and pounding heart can focus on is his hand in yours. His hand. You never want to let go. "There's so much I want to tell you, I just- I can't. I don't know if I ever can."

"You don't have to," Aki returns when you falter. "It's alright."

"I know, but I want to. I guess- I would miss you, if you left. So terribly. And-" You stop, sighing. Your bottom lip quivers, everything failing, converging, all of the feelings you shouldn't hold onto and the lies you've told; "I'm sorry."

Aki shakes his head, and softly coos, "You have nothing to apologize for."

You look away, glancing towards his hand in yours. Each inhale and exhale comes quick and sharp. The wind brushes the back of your neck, complimenting the heat that runs through your veins. Aki shifts. His hand is soft and warm, his palm is large, but his fingers are deft and delicate. When they lace with yours, fingers fitting perfectly between the gaps of your own, hands intertwining together, you can't help but wish they would forge. Like a stone statue. To always stay just like this.

"I would miss you more than you know," Aki admits, offering your hand a gentle squeeze. "The days have gone by so fast. It feels like I've hardly had a chance to savor them."

You nod. "I remember when we met. Like it was yesterday."

"Do you?" He smiles, exhaling with an ever-so slight laugh. It wasn't exactly the best introduction. "I was supposed to return to the kingdom that very same night. Ages ago, I should've been back. At every turn, I would tell myself… just a few more moments with you, and then I would leave. Just one more day. And now look at us."

"Oh," You glance back up at him. "Am I keeping you?"

"Of course not." Aki reaches up, and he doesn't hesitate to brush his free palm over your cheek, cupping it gently; the orchid's white petals tickle his fingertips. It takes everything within you not to lean into him. "It was my choice. Besides, I'm not going anywhere. Not without you."

The silence that begins to stretch between you is long and thick. Glowing in hues of orange through the darkening sky, you're illuminated by the almost-set sun. Aki's thumb caresses your cheek, and you give in; leaning close, you sigh, you press your hand over his to keep it there.

"If we went to the kingdom," You start; your gaze flickers up to meet his, your words trying not to tremor. "What would we do?"

Aki answers, his tone low, "Whatever you want to do."

"I'd like to visit the sea. And the town square. And the grand library."

"Then let me take you there." Aki's voice is full of conviction, laced with an intensity that strongly shudders through you, "I can show you everything you want to see. I won't leave your side, if that's what you want. We'll make things work- I'll do whatever it takes. I promise."

The impossible odds you've let define you seem meaningless when you let your gaze flicker across him, trying to put the pieces he's given you into place. Instead of the orange in the sky, the green in the trees, the red on the horizon and the red that has painted the back of your vision since you learned how to speak, you see in shades of blue. You dream of the ocean — white waves and rocky seas underneath your fingertips, as you lose yourself in the blue of his gaze.

In every romance book you've ever read, the novels you busied yourself with when you summoned them instead of something factual — sometimes on accident, but then, on purpose — this is when the two main leads would tilt closer. This is when the knight would caress the princess' cheek, whispering how fortunate he is to be together once more. His eyes would flutter shut before they kissed, lips desperately crashing together like sinking ships. Like this is the last time they ever would.

You almost grow lost in those daydreams. Almost. Almost is far too risky of a word, when it is the only thing that separates you from dragging Aki close, running your fingertips along his jaw, and forgetting all reason to press your lips to his.

Thankfully, Aki slowly pulls away. He brushes your cheek one last time, before he shifts back, letting go of your hand. Recognizing the both of you might've grown carried away, you don't attempt to reach out again. You place your hands in your lap, and look elsewhere to catch the final glimpses of the sun's vibrant edge.

You feel cold now. It'd be wise to return home soon, before the forest gets too dark to navigate. Aki seems to have the same idea. Yet, even as you glance back to him to watch him stand, you can't seem to convince your own legs to move.

"Come on," He gathers the blankets he'd brought and keeps them under his arm, before he reaches to you, offering you his hand once more. "We should head back."

Like a book snapping closed, fluttery pages pressed back together, the moment lingers, but fades. You take his outstretched hand, and allow him to guide you to your feet. You grab the bundle of orchids, holding them in front of you, staring down at the dainty, delicate petals.

"But-" You look up. "What about…?"

Aki continues once you trail off. "Don't answer. Just think about it, okay?" He drapes one of the blankets over your shoulders, carefully wrapping it around you. His gaze focuses on his hands as he ties the ends together to keep it in place. "About your choice, or about where you'd like to go first. Whichever comes easiest to you."

For now, you can ponder neither of those. When you head down the hill together, leaving the sky behind, all you can think of is how you were definitely, most certainly wrong.

Sunsets must be your favorite.

—

The scarlet songbird takes her leave a few days later.

Her wing has healed, and she's grown strong enough to fly wherever she pleases. After eating her fill of seeds and enjoying the warmth of the fireplace one last time, she patiently waited until morning, before she drifted out the front door and into the forest, her red wings disappearing amongst the trees. She didn't return, even once nightfall came. You're thankful. Her life will continue, as it was always meant to.

Tonight, Aki had promised to collect firewood and start the fire outside, so it'd be ready by the time you were finished with dinner. The cottage is quiet with the absence of his voice and the bird's chirping. The orchids he'd given you rest in a vase on the dining room table. You take your ladle, and continue to stir the warm, nearly complete pot of stew. Then, you reach up and into the cupboard, searching for the seasoning.

You ran out with the last meal you prepared, but you always keep some extra in the very back. Standing on your tiptoes, you fumble blindly, making the various jars clink together as you try to find what you're looking for.

You grab one, unsure if it's the jar you're after. When you set it on the counter, you unfortunately realize it isn't. This was where you were storing your last few shavings of white hazel.

The thin, white leaves have begun to crumble due to age. They're much less potent like this. They should be safer to handle, but a dosage of this size would be much less effective.

Gently, you pop the lid on the jar. A soft, thick scent wafts from the contents, before disappearing almost immediately. The leaves would need to be ingested to serve their purpose. And it would take all of them, most likely. You'd only have one chance.

If you touched them, infusing them with your magic, you could make their effects much stronger. All you would need to do then is dish out the bowls — one for him, and one for you — before dropping all of them into his dish, stirring for a moment until they dissolve. White hazel is tasteless. Besides, Aki never wastes your cooking.

You could make Aki forget all about you. About everything you've told him, and everything that's happened here. He'd forget your cottage, and each moment you shared; they'd all be lost on him. Meeting you, your gentle touches as you brought him back to life. Your late night talks, your days spent growing closer. Everything would be gone, even up to the bird, and that fateful, sunlit, all-too tender evening.

You sigh.

Grabbing the jar, you stroll over to the fireplace. You kneel down to dump all of the leaves into the flames. They crisp up in mere seconds, before they fade away into nothing but dust and ash.

The sea would be nice to visit first. It's the one thing you've always wanted to explore, more than anything else. The sea, and the castle. Briefly, you wonder if visiting the royal castle would actually be a genuine possibility. With the benefit of his royal status, Aki might be able to get you in — perhaps in a few months to a year, depending on when he can get the both of you a party reservation. Oh, but for a royal party, you'd have nothing to wear. Would the shops in town sell dresses?

Maybe you should save your first visit to the sea for a more special occasion. You wouldn't want to go without Aki. Would the harbor look more beautiful at night, with the lighthouses and boats casting glittering lights that rival the stars, or in the morning, when everyone is yet to wake, allowing you to hear nothing but the calm lull of the waves?

Or perhaps, you should see it at sunset.

[bits-and-babs]

✦ 𝐇𝐄𝐗 𝐂𝐎𝐃𝐄 ✦

– KINKTOBER DAY 9: WITCH!READER

din djarin x nightsister!reader | smut, 18+ | 1k words

summary: given the task to hunt down an enchantress renowned for her deviancy, din fails to understand just how hard this mission will be to complete.

cw: f!nightsister!reader. dub-con - seduction through enchantment. orgasm denial, threat of cumming untouched, fully clothed, grinding. very similar to something i've already written, but fancied revisiting it - still just as difficult the second time around!!

⇽ KINKTOBER MLIST | DAY 10: CHEATING ⇾

The coordinates handed to Din in the bounty puck Greef Karga had practically thrust into his palm like it carried a bad disease were cursed. The digits and numbers scrawled in blood red pixels across the screen of the Crest when he’d loaded the blasted things might as well have spelt out ❝ ur bantha fodder ❞.

In any other mission upon any other planet, the whole debacle might just have pulled a twitch of a smile behind the Beskar mask. But the crimson of the coordinate pixels are a dead ringer for the ruddy scarlet of your irises, and suddenly Din was struggling to find the humour in this lethal situation he’d miraculously and carelessly found himself in. 

Instead, Din watches a sinister smirk creep across your face, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. Dire straits were never straighter than a Zabraki Night Sister on her home planet of Dathomir. 

“I cannot claim to have seen your kind here before,” your velvety voice trickles down Din’s spine. Admittedly, there's an inexplicable agitation dancing in his fingertips, suddenly unsure to the extent just how precarious this fragile stand-off was. Clenching his fists, he steels himself against your probing gaze and reminds himself of the Nightsister’s proximity to the force, and their ability to wield it. 

“I–”

“I know,” you muse, approaching Din with balanced, measured steps. “A member of the Bounty Hunter Guild. You don’t have to state your business.” 

Din’s teeth ache under the pressure with which he grinds his jaw. An impossible foe, he should have considered the risks before arriving on Dathomir. A Nightsister was the last target he could improvise his battle strategy for… 

“I do appreciate your desperation,” you hum softly, practically stalking around Din and tracing the silver surface of his Beskar armour with the tip of your index finger, “I am sure that the occupation allowed for frequent travelling. In turn, it protects the child.” 

A purge bomb could drop in utter silence and Din was almost certain he’d miss it, a rush of blood roaring in his ears as his heart rate lept. Your eyes find his own through the visor of his helmet with unsettling ease, given it obscured his face. 

The moment Din comes to realise he was truly outmatched, he finds himself unable to retreat.

“Hm,” you smile again, a glint of something cunning gleaming in your eyes as you watch him struggle, “I wouldn’t bother, Mandalorian.” 

A grumble of indignation twists violently on Din’s tongue, curdling into a gasp of pleasure. It’s barely there, almost silent, but the victory that dances in the voids of your eyes tells Din you heard it. 

“I must confess,” you murmur, watching as Din starts to feel his knees beginning to buckle at the pleasure that was bubbling beneath his skin, “I enjoy your vulnerability. I never imagined a man as imposing as yourself would be so easy to make mewl.”

If not for the phantom palm applying pressure to his cock, Din would have snapped back with some snarky comment. Instead, he feels entirely tongue tied, eyes rolling back as bliss almost split him down the middle.

“Though it leaves me little fun,” you admit solemnly, your eyes not quite matching your dispirited timbre, “I need to establish a new objective. Perhaps steaming up that visor of yours?” 

Finally buckling beneath the weight of the armour and his shuddering body, Din’s knees hit the dusty, red Dathomirian ground. He groans softly, cock straining in his pants as he watches you lean over him, studying every twitch and writhe of his arousal-riddled body. You seemed to appreciate the pathetic whine that builds in the back of his throat as he rocks his hips forwards, grinding his crotch into the seam of his trousers for some friction, anything to ease the agonising throb. 

“I usually make intruders suffer– though it’s customary to torture them with pain, I find pleasure makes a person far more malleable,” Din hears you address him with such ease, as though you hadn’t reduced him to a blubbering, trembling wreck with the mere thought of doing so. “This… Greef Karga. He’s aware of the bounty you seek, correct?”

“Ohh–” Din breathes and it’s pathetic. Almost like a wail, the sound travels across the open, rocky Dathomirian plains. You raise an eyebrow, prompting Din to speak– and it’s though the words fall from his loose tongue before he can trap them behind his lips. 

“Yes– He-fuck-he knows it’s y-you–,” the sound startles Din. His voice sounds unlike himself, breathy and gritty and desperate to cum- stars, he’s so desperate to cum!

He tries to stretch his thighs open wider, praying it will alleviate some of the building pressure, but his pelvis seems to have a mind of its own and starts to grind against the inseam of his flight-suit trousers that lays flat against his cock. The friction causes a gut-wrenching groan to rumble in his chest.

“Karga. I don’t suppose he sent you because he was too fearful to face me himself? Tell me, what was I deemed a fugitive for?” You muse, circling Din’s writhing body and prattling off a long list of potential reasons for the sextuple digit bounty hanging above your head. “There was the jedi I killed, that sith who inquired about my services– to which I didn’t realise I was aiding and abetting Emperor Palpatine, for your informati–”

“The assassin, Ventress–” Din grit out behind his teeth, cock pulsing in his trousers and threatening to empty his seed like a teenager. “He’s looking for her.”

He watches you pause, chest heaving while observing the surprise at this revelation. Three months ago, the guild had issued the ‘hit’. The bounty was for information instead of your head delivered to Greef Karga in a basket. None of them had ever been stupid enough to believe themselves strong enough to take on a Nightsister. 

“Now,” you grin, crouching to face Din eye-to-eye. There’s that gleam again, the teasing look in your ruby irises sparking arousal down his nerve endings with another strained moan. The building pressure, threatening to spill over and causing Din to vibrate with need cut out almost instantly, the teetering orgasm dying away with the sudden slump of his exhausted body. 

“Why didn’t you inquire about Ventress in the first place?” You hum gleefully, amused by the orgasm denial and relishing in having such a strong man beneath your feet, much to Din’s utter embarrassment. “It would have saved you a very steamy visor.”

pedro pascal/kinktober taglist:

@xwing-baby , @mybugboy , @pansa-1-san , @pedrosprincess , @cosm1c-babe , @lil-stark , @heart-atttack @crybaby-blue-blog, @ssimelttilgniht @2pacacabra @pauldanosgf @leithatnight @kirsteng42 @dindjarinsmut @s0ftgabby @milly-louise @aynsleywalker @not-a-unique-snowflake-blog @uncassettodiricordi @howellatme @mortallyuniquepeach @maviee @eatingtheworldsoffanfiction @stvrlights-world @alloftheboysivelovedbefore @girlofchaos @s-u-t @pintsizedsunshine @djarin-dreams @solidly-indulgent @bii-aan-ckaa @casa-boiardi @maelstrom007 @nikisfwn @levi-llama @haunt3dh3art @lundenloves @rentaldarling @cyberpr1m3 @jedi-in-crocs @yunggoblin @spideyman-peter @iaur @cool-iguana @paleidiot

@bloodmoon-bites @wiltedwonderland @doggydale @limegreenbabx @namelesshumanperson @ninahhh-brahh @km-ffluv @decaffeinateddinosauronearth @domaniquessidehoe2 @arrozyfrijoles23 @amisouki @sleepysheepsstuff @chunguk @lundenloves @marylovesdilfs @ninahhh-brahh @namelesshumanperson @limegreenbabx @doggydale @wiltedwonderland @justsayk

[inaris-mage-of-storms]

}{ Poppy Petals in Whiskey Bottles }{ A Tumble Town western historical fantasy AU }{ Masterpost }{

While all of the scenes posted so far are rated T at most, the AU as a whole will eventually be rated M or E. Current warnings include swearing, alcohol use, and gun violence. Future warnings include mentions of past underage sexual assault and major character death.

file: western au

--

Ten-year-old Jimmy has some trouble adjusting to Tumble Town [x] [x]

fWhip and Jimmy admit their attraction to each other [x]

fWhip worries Jimmy's past will interfere with his duties as sheriff [x]

Jimmy meets Scott for the first time [x]

Jimmy goes to Scott for information, and gets more than he expected [x]

fWhip apprehends a particularly theatrical conman in Gobville [x]

Scott is chased down by someone from his past, but Jimmy steps in to help [x]

Scott begins to see the softness hidden inside Jimmy [x]

Sausage is there to catch him when Jimmy falls too far inside a whiskey bottle looking for answers [x]

fWhip puts on the deputy badge one last time, but he didn't expect to fall back into bed with his ex too [x]

Jimmy suspects Scott of unloading stolen goods onto an unsuspecting Katherine [x]

--

Spotify playlist [x]

--

Cast list under the cut:

Jimmy Solidarity, a former outlaw who turned his life around and became sheriff

Scott Smajor, a smooth talker with a colorful past whose charm and information frequently keep him out of Jimmy's custody

Bryce "fWhip" Conroy, Jimmy's former deputy and ex-lover who owns several successful mines, and Gemma "Gem" Taylor, his wealthy childhood friend who is practically his sister

Ángel "Sausage" Garrido Reyes, a cattle baron with extensive connections and owner of the Sanctuary ranch; Joel Beans, Sausage's business partner and owner of the Stratos ranch, and Joel's wife Lizzie who is the real mastermind behind a lot of the business dealings that happen behind the scenes

Katherine Elizabeth Grayson, heiress to the luxurious Glimmer Grove Hotel living a double life as a bounty hunter; her pretend beau "Pirate Joe" Graceffa, captain of the paddle steamer The Eversea; and Shelby "Shubble" Grace, Katherine's romantic partner and Joey's best friend who can't seem to escape rumors of being a witch

John Pictor "Pix" Riffs, an author and good friend of Katherine who always seems to know more than he should

Oliver Sound, a skilled but unsuccessful performer who is constantly in debt, and his fiancee Eloise Nox

Ryan "Scar" Goodtimes, a former gunslinger who changed his ways and now runs a mercantile

Cleo Burke, a former schoolteacher whose perpetual exhaustion and poor health has led to friends joking that she's actually a reanimated corpse; her partner "Scarlet Pearl" Moon, a vagrant with a poor reputation due to rumors she escaped from a penal colony; and Cleo's ex-husband Martyn Littlewood.

...and more to come!

Have questions? Want more details? Asks are always welcome!

[hopelesslygaysstuff]

The Art of Healing: Chapter 7

pairing: wanda maximoff x agatha harkness

summary: our two favorite witches confront an enemy and wanda discovers true control over her powers

content warnings: smut, cunnilingus, knife, blood, murder

word count: 2.4 k+

Series Masterlist

comments and reblogs are always appreciated! happy reading ♡

Complete Control

Brunette curls framed Agatha’s face, her brows furrowed as a pair of glasses rested lightly on her nose. She was seated in her office, seemingly unaware of the young redhead who lingered near the doorframe. Green eyes took in her stance, the straight back and elegantly crossed leg taking most of her attention, but the glasses were what really made her pause. 

Wanda was seconds away from stripping naked and crawling toward the dominant aura that encompassed Agatha when blue eyes flickered over to her. 

“Well don’t just stand there,” Agatha drawled, a single eyebrow raising. The corner of her lips turned up slightly when Wanda blushed and stepped fully inside the office. 

“I was just…” Wanda stopped herself, knowing that she didn’t have an excuse. “You look really good with glasses.” She offered instead, a warm feeling filling her up when Agatha’s smile widened. 

“Thank you, sweet cheeks.” The pet name made Wanda blush even further, the tips of her ears burning.

Clearing her throat, Wanda finally noticed the open laptop that Agatha had been so intently staring at. In an attempt to divert the intense focus of the brunette, she gestured towards it, asking, “What have you been doing all morning?”

A weary sigh escapes Agatha, the sound almost too soft to hear. Anyone less perceptive than Wanda would have missed it. Her fingers twitch, almost as if to close the laptop, before she removes her glasses and rubs the bridge of her nose. 

Wanda immediately misses the look of those glasses framing Agatha’s face and watches her set them down gently. Beckoning the redhead closer, she swivels the laptop around and begins explaining. 

“I like to keep an eye on witch hunters,” Agatha says, Wanda taking in the information from the page she was seeing. “This one,” She points to a picture of a man with long, stringy hair, “He’s gotten close to figuring out who you are.”

Green eyes widen in surprise before terror fills them. 

“Don’t worry, hun,” Agatha watches Wanda manually slow her breathing, the red wisps around her fingertips threatening to escape her control. “I’m going to get rid of him for you.”

“How?” Wanda hates the raspiness in her voice, her accent wrapping around the word as she locks her eyes on Agatha. There’s a desperate look in them, panic threatening to overtake her. 

“I’m going to kill him,” Agatha states, watching Wanda carefully for a reaction. “It’s the only way to stop these fanatic types, they won’t stop until they’ve either revealed us to the world or killed us.”

Wanda’s head moves, nodding slowly. Her eyes have a distant look in them, and with a single curl of her fingers, the red magic surrounding them disappears. 

“Good.”

A surprised look makes its way onto Agatha’s face. She hadn’t expected Wanda to agree with her methodologies, but considering the HYDRA base that was now a fine dust of concrete somewhere in the forests of Sakovia, she should’ve expected it. 

“I want to come with,” Wanda looks up, her green eyes blazing, a scarlet hue around them. “I want to help you kill him.”

Agatha doesn’t say anything, simply staring at the redhead seated across from her. She looks her up and down, assessing her. 

“I’ll do anything.” Wanda’s tone is firm.

Well, Agatha can’t say no to that. She doesn’t speak, simply gesturing with her hand. Wanda follows the unspoken instruction, moving from the chair silently and kneeling in front of the brunette. 

Sliding her pants off, Agatha watches Wanda’s pupils dilate at the sight of her nude pussy. Spreading her legs, she gently threads her fingers through silky red hair and pulls Wanda to her. 

A strong tongue swipes through her folds, massaging Agatha’s clit. A loud moan erupts from her and Wanda smiles as she looks up. Her tongue moves quickly, incessant against her as Agatha rolls her hips against the redhead’s face. 

The chair crashes against the wall, Agatha’s legs wrapping around Wanda’s shoulders as her heels dig into the redhead’s shoulder blades. Pulling her closer by her hair, fingers wrapping around soft strands, Agatha ruts her hips against her incessant tongue. 

Wanda smiles and moans against her, the vibrations causing the brunette’s hips to snap roughly against her. The only thing she can smell and taste is Agatha, her hands gripping the woman’s thighs as she breathes slowly through her nose while she wraps her lips fully around Agatha’s clit and sucks. 

When Agatha cums, it's like a rising tide that crashes into the shore over and over again. Her muscles contract, her hips jerking wildly against Wanda’s tongue as she practically convulses against her. The fingers in Wanda’s hair tighten, pulling painfully at the strands as she loses control over her limbs. 

The chair gently bangs against the wall, hitting it with each jerk of Agatha's hips. Eventually, she pulls Wanda’s head away from her over-sensitive pussy, her fingers trembling slightly as she runs them through strands of red hair. 

Cupping Wanda’s face, Agatha lets a slow smile spread across her face. Using one of her thumbs, she wipes away some of the arousal coating Wanda’s chin before slipping it past the redhead's sticky lips and enjoying the strong tongue that wraps around it. 

“You know,” Agatha leans back, teasing her hair slightly and enjoying the hungry look that appears in Wanda’s eyes at the action. “I was always going to let you come with me, but seeing how desperate you were really turned me on, sweetness.”

Wanda fights the urge to roll her eyes, choosing to send her mentor an exasperated look instead. Then, she glances meaningfully at Agatha’s parted legs and licks her lips slowly, savoring the taste of her. Dark blue eyes watch her, arousal swelling as Wanda speaks, “Well, since I’m already on my knees…”

She doesn’t get the chance to finish her sentence before Agatha’s strong hands are back in her hair and pulling her towards her still-dripping pussy. 

—

The moon shines brightly, a faint dusting of clouds reflecting its light as Agatha silently walks towards a warmly lit cabin. Wanda follows behind, her shoes gently hitting the ground with each step, the scarlet magic beneath her skin itching to be released. 

Looking back, blue eyes meet green as Agatha tilts her head. Wanda nods silently, pushing the plan for the night to the front of her thoughts, knowing that her mentor is reading her mind. Blue eyes flash in approval before Agatha’s attention is drawn back towards the cabin. 

They can see the witch hunter inside, his head bent as he frantically writes something down. Even from outside the cabin, Wanda can tell that his hands are shaking and his hair hasn’t been washed in a few days. Judging by the state of his clothes, he hasn’t washed much of anything in a while. 

Agatha steps up towards the door, fingers twisting as a purple wisp wraps around it. Looking back, she saw that Wanda’s scarlet magic was curling around her fingertips, a hungry look in the redhead’s eyes. 

The door clicked, the latch unlocking. Agatha swung the door open, a surprised squeak escaping the man, his hands freezing from where he had been madly scribbling in a notebook. Frenzied eyes darted between the two women, widening when he saw the magic twisting around their fingers. 

“W- Wi- Witches…” His voice cracked pathetically, and Wanda couldn’t stop the smirk that spread slowly across her face. 

Advancing slowly, Agatha stalked towards the man. His stringy hair partially covered his face, but Wanda could see his beady eyes fillingl with fear. He looked like a scared animal, and Wanda mused that if he was the prey in this situation, Agatha was most definitely the predator. 

Pens clattered to the floor, the man backing up and gripping the table for support. Agatha’s piercing blue eyes didn’t stray, her gaze locked on his trembling form. Wanda silently closed the door, sealing the windows and doors with her magic as she watched. 

Before the man could react, purple tendrils crept towards him, wrapping around his limbs in a way similar to vines as Agatha chuckled lowly at the strangled choking noise that escaped him. 

Tearing her gaze from the now-kneeling man wrapped tightly in purple tendrils, Wanda finally took in the cabin. Most notably, the pages upon pages of writing and photographs covering the walls.

She vaguely remembered watching an American crime show with Pietro, and them both laughing at the red string the cops had put in between pictures of different criminals. The walls looked eerily similar to that show, minus the red string, although it wouldn’t have looked out of place. Instead, lines of bold black connected different reports and security camera pictures. 

Scanning the writings briefly, Wanda felt her stomach turn as she began to understand his so-called ‘research’. One wall was completely dedicated to the best way to kill a witch. Different pages described in detail the most efficient methods, some of which caused an involuntary flinch to make its way through Wanda. 

Reluctantly turning her gaze toward another wall, Wanda stiffened at the sight of her picture in the center. It looked like her passport photo, and she wondered how he had managed to procure that specific picture before her gaze wandered to the other photographs and news articles around it.

Wanda’s heart dropped, a ringing sound making its way into her ears as she scanned the multiple articles speculating about the HYDRA facility that had crumbled to dust. Whenever magic was mentioned, the man circled it in red marker and drew an arrow towards her. There was a grainy photo of her and Pietro entering the facility, probably from a security camera, and Wanda’s heart clenched painfully. 

‘That’s her, the witch. The one from that building. The one that crumbled to dust. Shit. I have to run. Can I run? Is this actually magic keeping me immobilized? If I could just reach my knife…’

Wanda tore her gaze from the wall, catching a glimpse of metal. Turning fully towards the desk, she stalked forward, an eerie scarlet glow in her eyes. 

Agatha remained silent, watching as Wanda picked up an intricate dagger, buried beneath some papers. The man whimpered at the sight, his shoulders sagging as panicked eyes stared at her. 

‘Fuck. She’s going to kill me. My work isn’t done yet, I can't die yet. Not when there are so many other witches to hunt.’

“What do you mean,” Wanda asked, her voice deadly and low. The man paled but didn’t speak. Wanda didn’t need him to, choosing to instead read his mind as thoughts of him ritualistically killing different women flashed through his mind. 

A few of them weren’t women, they were girls. 

The image of a child flashed through his mind, her eyes glassy and wide as blood pooled beneath her, and Wanda wrenched her magic out of his mind. Scarlet tendrils whipped around her and Agatha lazily formed a protective shield around herself as she watched green eyes lock onto the man. 

‘How old was she?” Wanda asked, her accent making its way into her words. The man paled further, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to formulate an answer. 

“Eight.”

Scarlet tendrils knocked over a candle, the small flame eagerly licking at the dry paper covering the walls of the cabin. Agatha raised an eyebrow, glancing at Wanda. The redhead walked closer to the kneeling man, knife glinting dangerously in her hand. 

“She deserved it,” The man suddenly snarled, his eyes wild. “They all did. Witches deserve to burn in hell.”

He was panting, his eyes darting nervously around the room as the flames crept quickly up the walls. Smoke was beginning to fill the cabin, both Wanda and Agatha using their magic to breathe. 

A spike of anger shot through Wanda, her vision blurring as her hands moved. Her body seemed almost detached from her brain, her eyes simply watching as she slammed the blade into the man’s chest. She brought her mouth close to his ear, whispering the last words he’d ever hear. 

“And now you will too.”

Wanda twisted the knife, a choked cry escaping the man as warm blood poured over her hands. Her mind became sharper, and suddenly she was back inside her own body, a fizzy feeling worming its way through her. 

Feeling her emotions fade, compartmentalizing themselves neatly in her mind, Wanda let the fizzy feeling take over, filling her limbs with warmth. She felt present, completely in the moment as her sharp eyes watched a trickle of blood escape from the corner of the man’s spasming mouth. 

She’d never felt so aware, so focused. It was intoxicating, and Wanda immediately wanted the fizzy feeling to stay. 

The man’s eyes grew glassy, his chest no longer moving and his form slumped over the knife as blood continued to pour onto Wanda’s hands and wrists. She pulled the knife free, breathing heavily, and the fizzy feeling grew sharper. 

The feeling twisted deep within her, turning into something sharp and filled with jagged edges. It threatened to overtake her, seeping into her mind as green eyes watched the blood from the dagger drip onto the form of the dead witch hunter. Wanda smiled, and Agatha grabbed her arm. 

“We have to go now, hon.” Her voice was low, only a slight note of urgency to it. “The cabin is about to collapse on us, and I’d rather be long gone by the time the authorities show up.”

Wanda turned to face her, a small smile still cemented on her face. Agatha smirked at her, forming a purple archway directly back to her basement. Lifting her hand, Wanda let a wisp of scarlet magic play across her knuckles, Agatha observing silently as she pulled the redhead through the portal. 

The smile on Wanda’s face grew wider, the blood-soaked blade dropping onto the cold concrete of Agatha’s basement as the doorway closed behind them. Her magic floated lazily around the room, casting a soft scarlet glow on the two women. 

“See?” Wanda’s smile grew wider, her eyes sparkling. “I’m in full control now.”

The fizzy feeling grew stronger, twisting in her chest and threatening to turn into something sharp and dangerous. The jagged pieces of the hole in her heart started to soften, the chasm of her grief narrowing slightly as green eyes met blue. 

As their gazes locked, Wanda sensed the dawn of a new beginning, a flicker of warmth amidst the cold shadows of her past. It buried itself deep within her, nestling comfortably alongside the jagged chasm and swirling scarlet magic at her core.

Next Chapter

[beestriker015]

Scarlet Witch x male mutant s/o

S/o met Wanda after he became the newest member of Magneto’s Brotherhood of Mutants when the master of magnet found and saved him from a group of anti-mutant hunters.

“Y-you saved me? Who are you?”

“My name is Magneto, I am a mutant much like yourself. What is your name?”

“N-nice to meet you Magneto. I’m s/o.”

He says while still shaking in fear from almost being killed moments earlier.

“You need not be afraid of me s/o. Unlike those barbaric humans, I mean you no harm. In fact, I have an offer for you.”

“A-an offer?”

“Yes. I know what it is like to be discriminated against by humans, so I formed a team consisting of mutants to fight against the mistreatment of our kind. I can offer you a home, a family, a cause to fight for. What do you say s/o? Will you join us for the benefit of mutant kind?”

After thinking for a moment, s/o nods and accepts Magneto’s offer, making the older mutual smile.

“Excellent, welcome to the Brotherhood of Mutants s/o.”

Now a part of Magneto’s team, s/o quickly became friends with Pietro and Wanda Maximoff, aka Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch.

Attracted to his kind personality while also finding the way he stutters really cute, Wanda quickly became enamored with s/o and would vehemently defend him from the more rowdy members of the brotherhood.

Despite having a genuine friendship with the two Maximoffs, s/o soon came to regret joining Magneto’s group when he realized his leader’s intentions.

“Y-you lied to me Magneto! You said we were fighting against mutant discrimination! What you’re doing isn’t right! Subjecting humans to violence and oppression is not the way!”

Needless to say, Magneto did not take kindly to s/o’s words.

“Do not lecture me about what is right! If you value keeping your life, you will do as I say s/o! Now, since Wanda and Pietro are so fond of you, I’m willing to forget we had this conversation. Next time you question me though s/o, there will be dire consequences. Am I clear?”

He tells the younger mutant in a threatening voice, causing him to flinch.

“Y-yes Magneto.”

Unfortunately for Magneto, both Wanda and Pietro overheard everything and have secretly shared s/o’s dislike of being villains for a while now.

“How dare he threaten s/o like that! I have half a mind to-”

“Calm down sis, I don’t like it either, but what can we do? Magento saved us, we can’t just go against him can we?”

Wanda turns to face her brother with a serious expression.

“….Maybe it’s time we do just that. I don’t know about you, but I no longer wish to be a member of the Brotherhood! I’m planning on taking s/o and leaving Magneto for good. Are you with me Pietro?”

“….Alright sis, I’m in.”

With that, the two begin working on their plan as s/o heads back to his room in tears, walking past his two friends without noticing them.

Later that evening, s/o is laying in his bed as Wanda enters his room.

“Hey s/o, how are you doing?”

She asks in a sweet voice, making him blush.

“I’m ok Wanda.”

Taking a seat on the bed next to him, Wanda wraps an arm around s/o, causing his blush to deepen.

“Don’t lie to me s/o, I can tell you’ve been crying.”

Shaking off his blush for a moment, s/o proceeds to tell Wanda what happened between him and Magneto, despite her already knowing.

“I really don’t w-wanna be here anymore Wanda. All the violence, the hate, this isn’t what I w-wanted.”

“I know s/o, which is why my brother and I are planning on leaving….and we’re taking you with us.”

She says much to s/o’s shock.

“B-but Magneto will kill me if we betray him.”

“No, he won’t. I won’t let anything happen to you s/o, I love you too much.”

“Y-you love me?!”

Wanda smiles and kisses him gently on the lips.

“Does that answer your question s/o?”

He nods as Wanda chuckles at his flustered expression before telling him the plan.

A few days later during a confrontation with the X-Men, Magneto is furious that his children and s/o announced that they are leaving the Brotherhood of Mutants and will help fight against them.

“You three dare turn against me?!”

“We’re fed up with being criminals! You may have saved us Magneto, but Wanda and I will serve you no longer!”

“Pietro’s right! You claim mutants are superior to humans, but you subject them to the exact same horrible treatment and prejudice that the humans are guilty of! You’re nothing but a hypocrite Magneto!”

She exclaims with a cold glare as s/o stands by her side.

“Y-yeah! From now on Magneto, we will fight to i-improve human and mutant relations, not further worsen them like you do b-buckethead!”

“S/o! You turned my children against me didn’t you?! I will see to it that your life ends here!”

He orders the Brotherhood to attack as Wanda and Pietro stand protectively in front of s/o.

“No one is laying a hand on my boyfriend!”

“Yeah! Keep away from my best friend!”

Wanda blasts several members of the Brotherhood away as her brother deals with a few of the others.

“I should have let those humans exterminate you back when I met you s/o! Now I shall rectify that mistake by ending you right here and now!”

Magneto shouts in anger as he goes after s/o personally, but the shy mutant uses his powers to defend himself.

(I never stated what s/o’s powers are so feel free to use your imagination.)

Once the X-Men join in on the battle, Magneto eventually orders his mutants to retreat while swearing vengeance on s/o for both his and the Maximoff siblings’ betrayal.

“You may have won today, but heed my words that the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants shall return to make you all pay! Especially you s/o, when next we meet, your death by my hand shall be a slow and excruciating one!

While the Brotherhood make their retreat, leader of the X-Men Charles Xavier rolls up to the three now that the battle is over.

“While Magneto believes in mutant supremacy, I dream of a world where mutants and humans can coexist peacefully. If you three want, you’re more than welcome to join the X-Men.”

The three look at each other before turning back to Xavier as s/o speaks up on behalf of his girlfriend and best friend.

“We appreciate the offer Professor, but for now we’d like to politely decline. Even though yours is different from Magneto’s, we don’t want to be part of a group of mutants right after leaving another. Pietro, Wanda, and myself wish to find our own way, but if you ever need us we’ll be glad to lend a hand.”

He says as Xavier nods in understanding while both Pietro and Wanda are surprised at the fact s/o didn’t stutter even once while speaking.

“I see. Well if you change your mind, you’ll always be welcome to join us.”

The X-Men leave as s/o smiles at Wanda and hugs her.

“T-thanks for always being here for me Wanda. I love you.”

She smiles and kisses him before returning the hug.

“I’ll always be here for you s/o. I love you too”

“Um…hello? I’m still here to you know!”

Pietro says before being brought into the hug by his sister and best friend.

“Sorry Pietro. I hope you know that you’re the g-greatest friend I’ve ever had.”

“Heh. Right back at you s/o.”

Despite everything he’s been through, s/o knows he will always have his girlfriend and her brother to rely on, no matter what the future may hold for the three mutants.

[xjulixred45x]

What will be your next works/request?

Here they are, from the oldest to the most recient Request (but not exactly the publishing order, it will be kind of random this time)

Platonic Principal Yaga x Reader

Platonic Yandere Nanami/Higuruma x Necro Reader: reaction to safe adults

Hunter(Toh) x Fluttershy Reader

Platonic Yandere Nanami/Higuruma Drabble Angst

Hazbin Hotel crew with Bill Cipher Reader

Hazbin Hotel crew with Hunter TOH Reader

Yandere Mephisto Pheles x Willing! Witch! Reader

SatoSugu x Bully! Reader (continuation of a Drabble)

Mark Grayson/Invincible x Scarlet Witch! Reader

Lucifer, Satan, Mephisto and Shiro with a half demon Reader crushing on them

would react Rin, Renzo, Juuzou to finding out their crush is a half demon?

General Dating Headcanons of Higuruma

Yandere Nobara Kugisaki Drabble

Platonic Nanami x Adoptive Reader

Lancelot x depressed Luz! Reader

Yandere Choso x Rosa Reader (OC)

Amity, Luz and Hunter with an Angel Dust! Reader

Yandere Lucifer/Mephisto and Amaimon Headcanons with half demon Reader (individual)

Yandere Giyuu Tomioka x Kianna Reader (OC) Drabble

Platonic Winry Rockbell x aprentice Reader

Platonic Roy Mustang x Sibiling Reader Drabble

Yandere! Evil! Mark Grayson/Invincible x Little Sibiling! Reader

Mark Grayson/ Invincible x Raven! Reader

Mark Grayson/Invincible x Yui Komori! Reader

Edward Elric, Alphonse Elric and Ling Yao x Reader with a Twin

[questionableratatouille00]

ʙᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴅᴀʏ

Pairing: Sambucky (Sam Wilson x Bucky Barnes) 

Summary: A day at the beach never goes wrong. Right?

Bingo Fill: ‘Beach Day’ for the Vacation card in @sambuckylibrary’s summer bingo!

Warnings: Language, destruction of shoes, let me know if anything else needs to be tagged!

It was the perfect day for the beach. The sand was warm, but not burn-your-feet-boiling, the water was cool and refreshing but not cold, and Bucky was with his best guy. Nothing could ruin the day.

Well, besides the sun. Bucky sat, tucked away under the umbrella, as Sam laid in the sun. No matter how much Sam had tried to assure Bucky, he was adamant that no amount of sunscreen could protect his incredibly pale skin.

“And the metal on the arm will get too hot. It’ll burn my shoulder,” Bucky had reasoned.

Sam rolled his eyes. “I know for a fact that the vibranium doesn’t do that. If it did, the shield would be boiling half the time.”

Bucky grumbled something as he leaned back, his sunglasses making his grumpy face look especially goofy.

Sam glanced at his boyfriend as he felt the ground rumble. No way in hell was there just a random earthquake—it had to be something else.

Bucky sat up as the umbrella shook along with the ground. Readjusting his black sunglasses and purple Hawaiian shirt, he glanced at Sam.

Attempting to not be distracted by his boyfriend’s chiseled torso, Sam stood, trying to get a good footing in his flip flops.

When he heard screaming further down the beach, he pulled Bucky to his feet.

“Do you have the shield?” Bucky called as he slipped on his treasured HeyDude shoes (Sam thinks they look goofy), grimacing as he felt the sand in them.

“What, you think I bring it everywhere?” Sam snapped back.

“Do you have it?” He called again. Sam grimaced as he pulled the shield from its case, perfectly tucked away in the beach bag.

Bucky grinned as if he’d won a million dollars.

“I can’t run in flip flops.” Sam huffed as he settled the shield in his grasp.

Bucky, rolling his eyes, slowly slipped off his shoes. He kicked them towards Sam. “Give me your shoes,” he told his boyfriend.

Sam kicked off his flip flops, muttering a begrudging ‘thank you’.

Sam slipped Bucky’s beloved shoes on, dashing towards the danger. As he got closer down the beach, he noticed what the issue was.

There was three things Sam noticed immediately:

The first was that there was a man who was definitely made of sand.

The second was that Dr. Strange—the wizard—was using his weird magic to form a lasso around said sand man.

And the third thing was a young girl who’d Sam had definitely seen before—though he couldn’t remember where—who was currently being thrown around by aforementioned sand man.

Bucky quickly caught up to him, the former brainwashed assassin not being hindered by a pair of shoes.

“What the hell?” Bucky grumbled quietly as he glanced at the wizard.

“Strange, what the hell is going on?” Sam yelled, readjusting the shield’s leather straps in his grip.

“When the Scarlet Witch tried to kill America, she used these demons, sent out almost as bounty hunters. We thought all the remaining ones went back to wherever they came from after she died. Clearly, one didn’t get the memo.” He huffed.

“Christ.” Bucky muttered.

Sam got to fighting, and Bucky got to trying to get the girl safe.

Sam growled at the feeling of his—Bucky’s—shoes filling with sand, knowing his partner would throw a (somewhat serious) fit over it later.

Using the shield to slice through the sand man didn’t work very well, considering the man could just reattach himself as he pleased.

Finally, at just the right time, Sam sliced through the man as Bucky pulled the girl away by her arms. Seizing the opportunity, Strange opened a portal to send Sandy Satan away.

Sam panted, sweat dripping down his forehead. Bucky was checking over the girl, and once he realized she was fine, he quickly ran over to Sam.

“You okay?” He asked, gently grasping at Sam’s shoulders and pulling him out of his hunched posture.

Sam nodded. “Yeah. Just got a hell of a lot of sand in my mouth.”

Bucky smiled at that.

a/n: I’m gonna be posting a lot more (hopefully) in the summer, and here’s something I’ve been working on lately!

[bingo masterlist]

graphics by @saradika-graphics

[queen-of-deans-booty]

The Prisoner: Part One

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~2.1k

Warnings: canon angst and violence, extra angst

Summary: Now that Charlie is out of the way, you're getting your kids whether they want it or not. You're not asking this time. If they don't hand them over by sundown, Y/N won't be coming for them. The Scarlet Witch will, and they won't like what happens if she does.

Season Ten Masterlist

Author’s Note: I do not own anything from Supernatural. All credit goes to their respective owners. I love seeing any and all comments <3

x

The first thing Dean and Sam did was set up a hunter's funeral for Charlie near the Bunker. No words need to be said as they both work to set up the pyre with long wooden posts. Dean locks in the last log before looking at Sam. He has Charlie's body wrapped in a white cloth in his arms. With Dean's help, they place her in the middle of the pyre and set it on fire. As much as they love her, they'd hate it if she came back as a ghost.

"Charlie, we're going to miss you," Sam says with tears in his eyes. "I'm so sorry this happened to you. You were truly one of the best."

Dean stares at the note you wrote to them with hatred in his eyes.

"Either her soul is ready now or I'm putting her down," Dean says and crumples up the paper.

"You're going to kill your wife?"

Dean turns to Sam with fire in his eyes. He is so pissed that blue magic starts pouring out of his fists.

"That is not my wife. My wife is stuck inside my head. If killing Y/N means I can only see her in my dreams then so be it."

"Dean, the plan is to disarm her. How do you expect to kill the Scarlet Witch?"

"Brutally," he says without emotion.

Both brothers wait until the fire dies out before going back into the Bunker. Dean is so pissed that he doesn't know whether to drown his sorrows in alcohol or if he needs to kill something. Cas walks in with a sorrowful look on his face.

"Where's Rowena?"

"Locked up tight. I had to come here to make sure you're both okay."

"No, I'm not okay, Cas. Charlie is dead!!" Dean yells. "Y/N wasn't alone last night which means she's been making friends with the Stynes. I gotta take them down because I can't take down that witch!"

"Is that you or the Mark talking?" Sam asks.

"Does it matter?"

The metal front door opens and closes, and someone walks down the metal staircase.

"Lucy, I'm home," you sing. Dean sees red at hearing your voice. Not even Cas can stop him from storming into the war room. He takes out his gun and aims it at you with tears in his eyes. "What are you going to do with that?"

"You killed Charlie."

Sam and Cas walk into the room from behind him. Neither of them is stopping Dean from potentially shooting you.

"She was a lesson that needed to be taught. I told you what was going to happen if you didn't listen. If I don't carry out my threats, how will you ever take me seriously?"

"I'm going to kill you," he says, his voice shaking with rage.

"With what gun?" you laugh. Immediately, the gun in Dean's hands disappears. "Look, if it makes you feel any better, I never laid a hand on Charlie. She did it all herself. I'd know." You grin. "I watched."

"Why are you here?" Sam asks, trying not to choke up. "What do you want?"

"You know what I want. Where are my children?" Sam and Dean refuse to say anything so you have no choice but to read their minds. Both of them try really hard to block you out but it's clear they don't know. You look at Cas but he's a lot stronger than they are. You can't get past his walls. "I know you know something."

"So, what if we do? You're not going to get it."

"That's where you're wrong. I realize that I'm not going to get what I want if I resort to violence. So, I'm going to offer you a deal and be nice just this once. I'm giving you three until sundown tonight to hand over my kids, and then you'll never see me again."

"They're my kids, too," Dean glares.

"I know, but they'll be with the better parent. I already told you, you're a shitty dad. Like father, like son, right?"

Dean closes his eyes as he remembers the words the real you said to him.

"I want you to know something, Dean." You grab his cheeks and make him look at you. "No matter what she says or what she does, just remember I love you so much. You are my best friend, my husband, the love of my life, and the father of my children. There is nothing that I wouldn't do for you. I'd trade the whole world for a minute of your time. You are strong and brave and caring. I don't know what she said to you but just know my love for you is stronger than her magic. Please don't forget that."

No, he's not going to forget that.

"Great, so we're all in agreement. Turn them over by sundown tonight."

You turn to leave but Sam's words stop you.

"What if we don't?"

You turn your head so that all they're seeing is your side profile. You smirk.

"Then it won't be Y/N that comes for you. It'll be the Scarlet Witch."

As soon as you're gone, Dean yells out in anger. He sends a ball of blue magic into the wall so hard that it cracks and makes a huge dent. Dean turns to Cas with tears in his eyes.

"Please tell me her soul is ready," he begs.

Cas raises his hand and looks inside Dean's mind. Pleased at what he sees, he removes his hand with a smile.

"It is ready. It's pure now. I know if she gets it back now, she will be okay."

"Great. Look, she gave us until sundown but if she wants my kids, she'll have to do it over my dead body. You two come up with a plan. I have to avenge Charlie's death. This is the one thing I can control so please, give me this."

"Are you sure, Dean?"

"I need this, Sammy."

"Alright, we'll come up with a plan."

"Great."

Dean leaves Sam and Cas alone to deal with that while he goes back to the scene of the crime. He got the motel manager to hand over the security footage of last night and sent it over to a hunter he trusts. He can definitely kill the Stynes but no matter what, he can't kill you. He told Sam that he would but there is a chance of saving you now. He can't do it.

"Rudy. I just sent you some security camera footage of a black sedan. I need you to run the plates."

"Yeah can do, just give me a second here." A moment passes. "Weird. Uh, the vehicle's registered to Eldon Styne out of Newton, Kansas but there's no street address. Does this guy have something to hide?"

"Yeah, big time. I'll fill you in later, thanks."

"Yeah sure, but isn't that what Sam's for?"

"He's busy."

Dean gets into the car and starts the two-and-a-half-hour trip to Newton. Sam and Cas head back to the church where Rowena is to fill her in on what happened.

"Well about bloody time," she glares at them. "Where's Charlie?"

"She's dead."

"What happened?"

"Y/N happened. She killed her. She'll come after you, too if you're not careful."

"Well, what now?" Cas asks.

"I don't care what Dean says. He wants to avenge Charlie's death, that's fine. He's going to push himself over the edge. I low-jacked the Impala a few weeks ago so we should be able to track him."

Sam pulls out his phone and pulls up Dean's location. Seconds later, Sam gets a notification that he got an email from Charlie. He frowns and opens it, gasping when he sees Charlie's notes. She might have done it. She might have cracked the code before she was killed. He stalks over to Rowena and hands her the phone.

"Is this what I think it is?"

"Oh, that little minx. She's cracked the code," Rowena smirks.

"Can you read the Book of the Damned with this?"

"Every last word. We can cure the Mark of Cain."

"Okay, Cas, go find Dean and make sure he doesn't go over the edge, okay? I'll stay here and we'll figure out how to cure Dean and Y/N."

"Are you sure you want to do that? I mean, Charlie died because of this and we didn't even use any spells from it."

"Cas, I have to do this. I've been the one to be out there alone and scared, and Dean and Y/N brought me back. They saved me multiple times! If we don't remove this thing from Y/N, she will kill us. She will be too powerful to stop, and those were your words. We have the power to stop them once and for all."

"Fine," Cas sighs. "You need to come up with a plan about Y/N, though."

"I know, I'm working on it."

Cas leaves once Sam sends him Dean's location, and Rowena sits down with a smirk.

"Oooh, I do love a bit of intrigue."

"Right, less talk, more translating. Go."

"About that. I said I could read the book, I never said I would."

"We had a deal!"

"We did--we do, and it's time you held up your end. I want my son dead!"

"After--"

"Now," she cuts him off. "Once I cast the spell--and you need me to cast that spell--who knows what'll happen."

Sam slams his hand down angrily on the table.

"I don't have time for this!"

"You're right, you don't! Your brother and his wife are a walking fucking time bomb, and the clock is ticking. So, you will kill my son, and you will do it my way, now!"

Sam leaves in a puff of anger. While on the road, Dean is stopped by police officers. He pulls over on the side of the road and fishes for his registration. He pulls out a fake ID and shrugs thinking it's good enough to get him out of this one. One officer approaches Dean's window while the other officer stays at the back.

"What's the problem, officer?"

"License and reg."

"Yep."

He hands it over and, and the officer chuckles when he sees Dean's name on the ID.

"Ashley J. Williams, huh?"

"You can call me Ash."

"Out of the car, Ashley."

Dean complies and steps out to confront the two officers.

"Well, I wasn't speeding, I'm sober--mostly sober--so what's this about?"

"Blinker's out." The second officer takes his nightstick and smashes one of the taillights on the Impala. "That's a violation." The officer walks to the other taillight and Dean glares at him. He smashes it just like he did with the first one. "Two lights out."

"Son of a bitch!"

Dean lunges for the officer but the first one grabs him and shoves him face-first into the side of the car.

"Now we've got an attempted assault of a police officer. Looks like we're taking you down to the station, boy."

The officer handcuffs him and Dean willingly goes with them. He would easily beat their asses but things just got interesting because he knows this town is infested with Stynes.

"Oh, I ain't your boy, Cletus."

"Right now you are, so you best settle or you're gonna get an ass-whupping instead of a phone call."

Both officers take Dean and his car back to the station. The one who smashed Dean's taillights keeps him chained to his desk while the other one goes into his office to make a phone call. Deputy Boulton goes through all of Dean's fake IDs, reading off each of the names he's given himself.

"Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy Kilmister, and Freddy Mercury. Damn. I mean, they said you were a pro, but--"

"Who said that?"

"I'll ask the questions here. For example, you've got seventeen fake IDs and a trunk full of guns, knives, fucking ninja stars. I mean, who are you, man?"

"I'm the guy that's gonna get out of here in about thirty seconds."

"Yeah, right," Boulton scoffs.

There is a cup full of pens that Dean slowly knocks onto the ground like a cat would with a water bottle.

"Real mature," Boulton rolls his eyes.

Boulton gets up and rounds the table to pick up the mess when Dean grabs his arm and punches him in the face. He throws Boulton onto the ground, holding him tightly by his strong bow legs.

"Keys! Now!"

Boulton immediately gives them up and Dean kicks his face, knocking him out cold. He uses the keys to free himself before searching for the other office. He finds him in his office on the phone, staring out the window with his back to Dean.

"Yeah, he was driving a '67 Impala, just like you said. ... Sure, can do."

"Who are you talking to?"

Sheriff Landels turns around and pales when he sees the gun in Dean's hand.

"Nobody."

"Really?" Dean marches over to the sheriff and hits him in the face with his gun. "That's for lying to me." He hits him again. "That's for my baby." Dean, with all his strength, grabs the sheriff and heaves him onto his desk. He shoves his gun into his face, not caring if the sheriff looks like he is going to piss himself. "Who were you talking to?"

"Monroe Styne. He said if I saw you I was supposed to bring you in, and then call him."

"Any relation to Eldon?"

"That's his Daddy."

"Where can I find him?"

"You can't take on the Stynes. They own this town. They're practically Gods around here."

"I kill Gods."

x

Follow my library blog @aqueenslibrary​​​​​​ where I reblog all my stories, so you can put notifications on there without the extra stuff :)

[comicwaren]

This week on Marvel Comics (21st June 2023):

Avengers Vol. 9 #002

Betsy Braddock: Captain Britain #005 (Finale)

Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #005 (Finale)

Cult of Carnage: Misery #002

Edge of Spider-Verse Vol. 3 #003

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 7 #003

Hallows' Eve #004

Hellcat Vol. 2 #004

I Am Iron Man #004

Incredible Hulk Vol. 4 #001 (NEW!)

Miles Morales: Spider-Man Vol. 2 #007

New Mutants Lethal Legion #004

Scarlet Witch Annual #001 (One-shot)

Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #035

Ultimate Invasion #001 (NEW!)

Venom Vol. 5 #021

X-Force Vol. 6 #041

[wandamaximoffsbadgirl]

Okay, here is my tentative list for kinktober! If you want a certain pairing with any of these, please feel free to send it in!

Kinktober 2024

1. Temp play (Soft!Daddy!Yelena x bratty!fem!reader)

2. Piercing (Dom!Wandanat x sub!fem!reader)

3. Pet play (Puppy!Kate Bishop x Domme!Fem!Reader)

4. Watersports

5. Bondage (Domme!Maria x subby!fem!reader)

6. A/B/O (dom!alpha!Agatha x omega!reader)

7. Markings (Agatha x fem!reader)

8. Praise kink (Carol Danvers x fem!reader)

9. Flogging (Dom!Scarlet Witch! x subby!fem!reader)

10. Overstimulated (Mean Mommy!Agatha x fem!reader)

11. Knife and gun play (Mob!Boss Natasha x fem!reader)

12. Breath play (Bishova x fem!reader)

13. Collaring (Mommy!Wanda x fem!reader)

14. Gangbang (Mob boss!Wandanat, Carol, Val, and Kate x fem!reader)

15. Hair pulling (Valkyrie x fem!reader)

16. Lactation (Mommy!Wanda x fem!reader)

17. Period sex (Wandanat x fem!reader)

18. Shower sex (Mommy!Wanda x fem!reader)

19. Mirror sex (Wandanat x fem!reader)

20. Stockholm (Dark!Agatha x fem!reader)

21. Monster fucking (Tentacle!Agatha x fem!reader)

22. Thigh riding (Dom!Kate x subby!fem!reader)

23. Breeding (G!P!Nat x fem!reader)

24. Somnophilia (Dark Witch!Agatha x fem!reader)

25. Pussy slapping (Domme!Maria x fem!reader)

26. Edge play (Corrupted!Wanda x innocent!fem!reader)

27. Lap dances (G!P!Natasha x stripper!fem!reader)

28. Phone sex (Carol x fem!reader)

29. Hunter/Prey (Stalker!Nat x fem!reader)

30. Aphrodisiac (Valkyrie x fem!reader)

31. Masks (Serial killer!Kate x innocent!fem!reader)

[weeb-polls-with-pip]

Here is an updated list of competitors in need of fresh pieces of propaganda for their next round.

Remember, you can submit propaganda for any character still in the competition—these just happen to be the ones who only have 1 or 2 submissions currently, and I’d like to avoid reusing propaganda as much as I can (though I know I won’t be able to do this for everyone).

I’ll order them according to how soon propaganda is needed and bold the ones I feel are especially lacking currently.

Edit: I've crossed out characters who have since received propaganda. You can still send more for them if you'd like though. Full list and link to form are below the cut.

(Group 1 – currently competing)

Ayumu Kasuga (Azumanga Daioh)

Constanze Amalie von Braunschbank-Albrechtsberger (Little Witch Academia)

Athena Cykes (Ace Attorney)

(Group 2 – will be the week after above^)

Nico Niiyama (Kiznaiver)

Nagisa Furukawa (Clannad)

Nagisa Momoe (Madoka Magica: Rebellion)

Yellow (Pokémon Adventures)

Kuriko Saiki (The Disastrous Life of Saiki K)

Himiko Yumeno (Danganronpa)

Yuuko Aioi (Nichijou)

Tsubomi Takane (Mob Psycho 100) (her current propaganda is really strong lol, but she just has the one piece)

Maya Fey (Ace Attorney)

Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon)

Don Quixote (Limbus Company)

Miho Nosaka (Yugioh)

Ringo Andou (Puyo Puyo)

Alluka Zoldyck (Hunter x Hunter)

Izutsumi (Dungeon Meshi)

Sorawo Kamikoshi (Otherside Picnic)

Satsuki Minazuki (Liar Satsuki Can See Death)

Anri Sonohara (Durarara!!)

Nico Yazawa (Love Live!)

Ahiru Arima/Duck (Princess Tutu)

Miriel (Fire Emblem Awakening) (also has strong current propaganda, just needs more of it)

Yuri (Doki Doki Literature Club)

Biscuit Krueger (Hunter x Hunter)

Maria Inomata (School Babysitters)

Mai Minakami (Nichijou)

Ai Mie (The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses)

Nausicaä (Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind)

Sumireko Usami (Touhou Project)

Shizuku Murasaki (Hunter x Hunter)

Marcille Donato (Dungeon Meshi)

Anisphia Wynn Palletia (The Magical Revolution Of The Reincarnated Princess and The Genius Young Lady)

(Group 3 – will be the week after above^)

Kaoru Seta (BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!)

Kanna Makino (Tamako Market)

Chouko Shizuhata (Oddman 11)

Hikari Kagura (Revue Starlight)

Nafra Ampsey (Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun)

Sana Futaba (Magia Record)

Valerie (Pokémon)

Akashi (The Tatami Galaxy)

Miku Hatsune (Vocaloid)

Sayaka Kanamori (Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!)

Richeh (Witch Hat Atelier)

Saki Hanajima (Fruits Basket)

Konata Izumi (Lucky Star)

Ran-Mao (Black Butler)

Tsubame Mizusaki (Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!)

Franziska von Karma (Ace Attorney) (currently has 1 piece of strong propaganda)

Nico Robin (One Piece)

Penny (Pokémon Scarlet and Violet)

Sora Kajiwara (Sketchbook: Full Color’s)

Sucy Manbavaran (Little Witch Academia)

Kiyoko Shimizu (Haikyuu!!)

Mai Mishou/Cure Egret/Cure Windy (Futari wa Pretty Cure Splash Star)

Omoharu Nakanaka (Komi Can’t Communicate)

Yor Forger (Spy x Family)

Kirie Motoba (Himouto! Umaru-chan) (currently has 1 piece of strong propaganda)

Riza Hawkeye (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Miae Hwang (After School Lessons For Unripe Apples)

Lotte Jansson (Little Witch Academia)

Bulma (Dragon Ball) (currently has 1 piece of strong propaganda)

Power (Chainsaw Man)

Tooru Taki (Natsume’s Book of Friends)

Suzuno Kamazuki/Crestia Bell (The Devil is a Part-Timer!)

Submit new propaganda below.