#the next intertwined chapter is basically done it just needs to be looked over

[yeehawbvby]

Falling Away With You | Ch. 11

Sebastian x F!Reader and M. Rasmodius x F!Reader

Rating: Mature/Explicit

Chapter Summary: Confession time!!

Author’s Note: ;3 Almost up to the spice. Enjoy x

Table of Contents + Work Summary

Check it out on ao3! 

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When I first got to the mountains, Robin was basically all, “Hey girl, did you fuck my son last night?” She just wants her Sebby to find a nice person to settle down with, understandably. And that person happens to be me. It’s whatever, it’s fine, I’m quite obviously not complaining.

But I am going to complain about this:

My back is pinned against the armrest of the couch, Seb caging me in place with one arm and holding my face close to his with the other.  Not doing anything scandalous, basically just absorbing the essence of one another. Deciding whether or not it was the right time for bustin’ moves, if I had to guess what the hell was going on…

And Robin just fucking barges in on us, no knocking or warning or anything. We don’t even hear her come in. Seb mentioned at some point once that she always knocks before entering, at the very least – not this time, that nosy bastard!

We’ve only been like this for, like, a minute or two, maybe less. I dunno, everything feels like slow motion. What are the odds she decides now is a good time to come in? Was she eavesdropping? 

“So,” she startles us, “you kids having fun down here?”

Seb jumps back and yells, “Ma, what the fuck!” as I let my body fall limp over the edge of the couch, hand over my heart. Staring at the wooden ceiling. Wondering, why?

I hear a feminine giggle. “(Y/n)?” Robin calls out to me, leaning around Seb, who’s standing in the way of our line of vision with his hands on his hips.

“Yes, Mrs. Byrne-DuBois?” 

I only address her by last name (she just had to hyphenate Demetrius' onto the end of her’s… that lady loves being difficult in every possible way) when I’m annoyed. She knowingly chuckles at this, that little shi—

“Sorry, sorry, nevermind!” She puts her hands up, defensively.

I lean up fully. “No! Please! Continue!” I urge her.

“Nope! Have fun, be safe, love you!” She laughs making her way to the door. 

Before he can shut her out and as I call out to her again, wanting to hear what stupid little comment she has up her sleeve, she makes sure to remind Seb that he needs protection. He practically shoves her through the doorframe.

“I am so sorry oh my fucking god,” he breathes, leaning against the closed door.

I can’t help but laugh. “Y’know… maybe it’s for the best that she rammed her way in here,” I admit. 

He tilts his head, looking a little hurt. “Why, what d’you mean?”

I breathe heavily, preparing myself for a big ol’ ~official~ confession of sorts. I’ve done this plenty, bless my poor, hopeless romantic heart. Still isn’t easy though.

I cross my legs, nerves catching up to me. “We’re moving kinda quick, don’t you think?”

Seb sits back down in front of me, nodding. “Are you against moving quickly?” he asks.

“No, it’s really exciting actually,” I blurt out. “But I don’t want to, like, mess anything up, or whatever.” 

Seb reaches out for my hand, which I carefully place in his, intertwining our fingers. He props his elbow onto his leg and brings both our hands to his face, leaning his cheek onto them, his eyes still focused on me.

“I fucking like you, dude,” I mutter shakily, refusing to look at him directly. “Like, a lot. I started crushing on you the day we met and I knew it was silly since I didn’t even know you then but it just kept building up into this.” The more I talk, the faster my words spill out.

I uncross my legs and tuck them into my chest, hoping to find safety in hiding behind them, but not wanting to remove my hand from the comfort of his. 

“And I don’t expect you to feel it too. It’s totally okay if you don’t. But, like, if we were to just go ahead and kiss, or more , ya know... or… whatever the hell we were going to do there, I don’t want to get hurt because I’m the only one who–” 

I trail off from my tense rambling because he just kissed the top of my hand oh my god? It’s a tiny gesture, but my heart skipped a beat.

He leans his face back onto our woven fingers, smiling so sweetly, so genuinely, before placing another kiss, this time against my palm. When he departs, he leans down to my hand with his forehead, almost nuzzling into it. 

My eyes are brimming with tears, not like I’m hurt or something, but because I’m just feeling so much right now. Embarrassed? Absolutely. Loved, but also like I’m falling in love, really fucking quickly? Maybe! I don’t know what to say, so I wait for him to break the silence.

“(Y/n),” he eventually beams, “That’s so fucking cool.” He laughs into my hand. As if he, like, worships the damn thing. 

I obviously haven’t known Seb for long in the grand scheme of things, but I haven’t felt this safe with anyone , friend or romantic interest, in years. Maybe over a decade. And not only does that person feel safe with me too — the highest honor, to be honest — but it seems like he reciprocates these stupid little butterflies, the dumb serotonin hits when we’re together, and all that other lovey-dovey junk too, if his reaction is anything to go by.

Probably too good to be true, but hey, I’m fine with riding this out. 

I start fucking crying like a big dumb baby, not knowing how to handle these feelings. Seb looks worried when he sees the tears rolling down my face, but I shake my head, smiling, and just lean forward into the crook of his neck for comfort. 

“You ok?” he asks as he pulls me in closer. I untuck my legs from my torso and retuck them underneath myself.

A muffled “yeah” spills out of my mouth as I continue to shove myself into him, not knowing what else to do with myself. “Overwhelmed,” I sniffle. I feel him chuckle.

“How much time do you have to hang around?” 

I wipe my eyes before looking up at him, in a haze, shrugging. “Not like I have anywhere to be.”

That’s a half-lie. I was still considering going to the saloon, but after all this emotional overstimulation I’m dealing with, I don’t know if a lot of people and loud noises and boozy drinks are a good idea.

“How do you feel about bikes?”

I furrow my eyebrows and sniffle. “Like, bike bikes, or motorcycles?” 

“Motorcycles.”

”They look scary. Never been on one.”

“Do you trust me?”

So much. I simply nod.

“Cool, c’mon,” he gets up, returning his hand into mine to pull me up with him. “I wanna show you something.”

__________________

My legs feel absolutely boneless as I step off of the motorcycle and onto the dirt clearing Seb drove us to. I use his bike for support, while he laughs at me. I probably look ridiculous — struggling to find my land legs, wearing his helmet, which is far too big for my head.

“Not a fan?”

“No, I am, that was fun,” I shakily reply, “just uh… new.”

He’s visibly amused, but looks ready to help me anyway. Not this time, buddy , I can handle myself! I take off Seb’s helmet and carry it in my arms. I imagine that, to him, it probably and unfortunately looks the same as when you go to a state fair or something, and spot a bunch of kids carrying gigantic prize plushies that their parents likely won them. 

I look around, not seeing much. Just trees, some lightning bugs emerging into the young night, and other forest debris. All I can hear is crickets singing and some distant frogs croaking. Hmm…

“This is sketchy, no?”

He slowly begins walking up the small incline we’re on. I take a big step to catch up, now syncing up with his relaxed strides.

“Absolutely, it is,” he agrees. “ Perfect spot for me to kill you .”

He whips out an evil laugh. It’s pretty good, actually. Gave me goosebumps, but not from fear. I mentally spray myself with water. No horny, (y/n)!

“Impressive,” I chirp out. Fuck.

“Oh, that earned me one of your squeaks?”

I bring the helmet to my forehead for a moment, in lieu of a facepalm. He takes it from me while I have it lifted, and replaces it by weaving his fingers into mine. I look at his face, sassily squinting my eyes — but his view stays forward. He has his signature look , clearly proud of his influence on me. Ugh.

“Bro,” I complain, “I can’t help that I’m easy to read.”

“It’s not a bad thing. Quite helpful, actually.”

“Helpful how?”

He doesn’t answer. Another, more calm but just as sinister, chuckle escapes him. 

“Asshole…” I mumble.

“Yeah, but you love it.”

“Whatever.”

“You ready?” he asks, coming to a halt in front of a bunch of bushes. Ready for what, I think to myself? Leaves and twigs and bugs?

I go along with it, morbid curiosity taking control. “Sure…” 

He steps through a small gap between two of the hedges, clearing the way so I can get through more easily. When we emerge, we’re on a cliff, overlooking a distant Zuzu City. 

“Holy shit, Seb,” I whisper, taking in all the lights speckled across the horizon. 

He lights up a cigarette and gets himself cozy on a nearby log, invitingly patting the spot next to him. I join him. 

“I can’t believe I lived there… feels strange. It’s kinda sad to look at, almost.” 

“I feel the same.” He puffs out some smoke, making sure to blow in the opposite direction. What a sweetie. “I come here to clear my head, usually. Think about life without the distractions of other people around, if that makes sense.”

I hum and nod.

A few moments of silence go by, he finishes his cigarette and puts it out in the dirt before storing it in his pocket. I nagged him for littering his cigarette butts in front of the Stardrop once. I meant it mostly jokingly, but as far as I’ve seen, he’s actually making an effort not to do it anymore. Maybe it’s for me, maybe it’s for the environment and the frogs, but I’m not mad about it either way.

“I don’t normally bring girls here…” he speaks quietly. “Don’t think I’ve brought anyone here, actually. You’re the first.”

I tuck my feet onto the log and my legs into my chest, resting my chin on top of my kneecaps. “Yeah?” I smile.

He nods. Breathes out. Does that thing where he gets nervy and picks at his nail polish… I want to hold his hands, maybe calm him down, but if he’s peeling off the paint because he needs to fidget, I don’t want to interfere. I wonder if he’d let me give him a manicure sometime?

Seb looks up at the sky. Not sure if I should look at the sky with him or at the city, I look at Seb, instead. I hope I don’t seem creepy. He’s a prettier view, so it’s really not my fault. 

I observe the curve of his adam’s apple, the point at the tip of his nose, the light stubble from a patch he seemed to miss while shaving, the dark bags under his eyes that give a little extra edge to his aesthetic… aaand, he caught me. My eyes go wide as his narrow.

“(Y/n),” he sings teasingly, in his stupid seductive tone, with his stupid eyebrow wiggles.

“Sebastian,” I challenge pointedly and with confidence.

He scoots closer to me, and I match his movement so that I can lean on him. I’ve come to the conclusion that Seb’s shoulder is my favorite place. He puts his hand on my lower back, and I can feel him fidgeting with the fabric on the hoodie I’ve tied around my waist.

“I… fuck,” he laughs. “This is hard.” 

I smile and nudge him with my head a little. “What is?”

This would be the perfect timing for a “ Haha is it you? Are you hard right now?”, but I exercise restraint.

He stares at me, gnawing at his lip. My eyes dance around his face, eager to find out what he’s going to say. I’ve never seen him look so nervous. 

“You… you meant what you said earlier, right?”

“What?”

“Sorry,” he nervously laughs, “about your feelings for me, I mean.”

I laugh, blushing, and firmly nod. “I really, really like you Sebastian.” Does he not believe me?

“C-cool,” he mumbles quietly under his breath, looking away for a moment, with a smile creeping up on him.

When his eyes return to mine, he tries again. “I’m, like… uh… fucking… oh fucking god damnit are you kidding me Yoba why can’t I fucking speak right now?”

He puts both hands behind his head and stretches his back. I feel bad for laughing, but his frustration is adorable. So many profanities. So little time. 

In the midst of his frustration, he cups my face hard, turning it up to face towards his. Gets my body tingling a little bit, to be honest. He doesn’t say anything, and I’m trying to figure out if I should say something. I put each of my hands on top of his corresponding ones, not quite knowing how to handle the situation. 

He exhales and closes his eyes. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I’m freaking out so much.” 

“It’s okay,” I giggle. 

After another few breaths, he says, “I have something important to say and I’m just...” he grunts in place of words.

I pull my hands away and reach one up to brush his hair out of his eyes, gently cupping his sharp jawline for a moment after. “Take your time, it’s not like I’m going anywhere.”

He rests his forehead against mine. I gasp. My heart feels like it’s about to burst out of my frickin’ chest. I reach back up to his cheek again, pacing my thumb across his skin.

“You… you know what I’m trying to say, don’t you?” he pleads, as I feel his face heating up beneath my touch. 

“I think so, yeah,” I whisper. He visibly relaxes, closing his eyes again. When he opens them, his attention directs straight to my lips. When he refocuses onto my eyes, there’s a glimmer of hope in his own.

“(Y/n), can I kiss you?” he whispers.

I nod, and barely a second later, Sebastian’s lips collide with mine.

_______________

“I’ve been falling for you so hard, you have no idea…” Seb happily whispers onto my lips between kisses. He begins to kiss a little harder, feeling bolder, weaving some more compliments together when he can. “You’re incredible,” “This is so sick,” “I can’t believe you feel the same way that I do.” Etcetera. Stroking the shit out of my ego.

“Hard to believe you were struggling to say anything affectionate just a few minutes ago,” I muse, my lips still brushing his as I pull away briefly.

“Whatever, nerd,” he growls, tugging at my lip with his teeth to reel me back in. Once he’s got me, he slowly lowers my body against the log so that I’m lying beneath him. 

My fingers tangle through his hair as he licks my bottom lip, hinting that he wants in. I oblige, like the good gentlewoman I am, and bro, I’ve never felt so much bliss from tongue-wrestling someone in my life. 

I don’t know how long we’ve been wrapped up in each other on this log, but it has to have been a bit. Now that our feelings are out in the open, it’s like we’re both lingering onto every second that passes, not wanting to risk it coming to an end.

Seb trails his fingertips from the back of my head to the front of my throat, and clamps his hand on with a light squeeze. Luckily, I quietly moan instead of my usual squeaky tic. Still embarrassing, but at least I don’t sound like a frickin’ dog toy. Plus, if his pleased humming is anything to go by, he enjoyed the reaction. Yoba, I don’t want this to end… 

As if the universe is telling me to go fuck myself, Seb groans into my mouth in frustration and pulls away, feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket. He pulls me into his lap as he answers the call. Rather than waiting patiently, I decide to play his game. I want a turn to fluster him for a change. If that’s even possible. Only one way to find out!

I lean my head into the crook of his neck, and just when he thinks I’m simply getting comfy, I lift my lips to his jawline — I swear, this shit could cut diamonds — and trail soft pecks down to his neck. I feel his hairs raise and he breathes in heavily, promptly clearing his throat to sound more natural in his conversation. 

I smile against his skin before giving it a lil’ bite. The ol’ razzle dazzle. But before I can sooth it with another kiss, he takes a tuft of my hair and tugs on it. I guess it’s time to stop. That was nice while it lasted.

I rest onto his shoulder and fiddle with the same loose thread I’d played around with while on his couch earlier. This time, I tear it free, and zone out on the sky while twirling it around between my fingers. Following what seems like an eternity, but was likely closer to a few minutes, Seb hangs up, and rests his head onto mine. 

He whines. “Sam and Abby are pissed that I ditched them.”

“You didn’t tell them you weren’t going tonight?” 

He shakes his head, “I was just… really excited to spend some time with you.” We both chuckle. “Fuck, that was cheesy, wasn’t it?”

“Way too cheesy.”

“Fuck you.”

“I didn’t say it was a bad thing!” I defend.

He gives me a suspicious look. I return it. He rolls his eyes and delivers a big smooch to my forehead. I go back to work on his neck while he has it in the open again, attacking it with more kisses. 

“Having fun?”

“So much,” I admit, smiling against his goosebumps. “I can stop if you want.”

“Yeah, I’d like that, actually,” he challenges, pulling my face up to his and giving me a short but passionate snog. “My turn,” he mumbles as he kisses his way down to my neck.

I roll my head to give him a bit more room, subconsciously rubbing my legs together. I don’t notice this until he does, his hand gripping my thigh; and predictably, he has something to say about it.

“You like that?” Seb seductively murmurs against my skin. He swiftly figures out the spot I respond to most and sucks there, hard — that’s gonna leave a mark, but I couldn’t care less right now.

I nod and hum a quiet “mhm” at his comment, not trusting myself to be able to form words while he does this to me.

“Seems unlike you to not even try denying it.”

“Don’t wanna,” I blissfully sigh, “Feels nice.”

He laughs while leaving another love bite, and because I’m extremely A Bottom, I moan at merely the feeling of his voice reverberating through my body.  I didn’t think I could ever be this ravenous, but I am, so I change my position from being politely seated in his lap to a full straddle.

As my crotch makes contact with his hips, he audibly swallows. I squeak when I notice the hard-on beneath me, ‘cause holy shit that thing might be huge. I wonder if he can feel my wetness through our jeans…? I don’t think I’ve ever been that soaked before, but there’s a first for everything. 

Cupping his cheeks, I hone in on his mouth, ever so slightly gyrating my lower body in his lap. I’m not wonderful on top, which he may unfortunately discover soon enough, but I can at least act as a good tease. I open my eyes and inhale in shock as I feel him slide his hands from my lower back to my ass. He plants his palms against it, hiding them in my back pockets and holding me in place.

Seb pulls away from our kiss. “What do you think you’re doing?”

I’ve never seen his eyes look this dark. He’s clearly enjoying this just as much as I am, which on its own is exhilarating.

I grin and coyly ask, “What do you mean?” as I move some hair out of his face.

He narrows his eyes at me, starts going to town on my neck again, and harshly grabs two large fistfulls of my butt from within my pockets. He lifts me up slightly, adding a little more force to his squeeze, biting the skin where my collarbone meets my shoulder hard enough that he might’ve drawn blood. Fine by me, I think to myself, sighing in pleasure.

Seb weakens his grip when he’s satisfied, gravity forcing my body back down to its original position. In unison, we make a small noise in response to the feeling of our clothed cores crashing together.

“Holy shit, (y/n),” he rests his forehead against mine, his chuckles dusting hot breaths onto my face. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

“In, like, a good way?” 

“The fuck do you think?”

I chuckle menacingly, giving him a soft peck on the top of his nose. A dreamy – albeit mischievous – smile forms across his face.

“What?”

He goes in for more kisses, and I happily accept. “You’re adorable,” he murmurs against my lips. “Makes me feel guilty about all the thoughts I’m having right now.” 

“Not my problem,” I tease.

“It’s about to be,” he threatens. 

“What do you mean by that?”

Seb stands, lifting me with him, and gently plants my feet back on the ground.

“Time to go!”

…

What?

“What?”

“You said something about us moving too quickly this afternoon,” he smirks.

Oh, you bitch!

“Well, yeah, but—”

“But nothing.” he shoots finger guns in my direction. 

“Ugh.”

He starts walking back to where we emerged from, and I follow. “Do me a favor, darling?”

I’ve never been one to find that term of endearment very… endearing. But oh my GODDD when he says it, it’s a whole new story. 

“W-what’s up?” I fucking stutter.

“Think of me while you take care of yourself tonight, yeah?” He smiles wide . Little bastard.

“Sebastian.”

“Yes?” 

“Fuck yourself.”

“Gladly,” he looks back at me and waggles his brows. Grabbing my hand and directing his attention to his pocket with the other, he continues, “Speaking of which, I’ll delete that picture of you now, before I forget to.”

I think for a moment. It is risky to tell him not to, but… the fact that he’s openly implied that he’s going to use it to jerk off makes my heart race.

“Nah, keep it.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “Really?” 

“Mhm,” I hum. 

“Is there a catch to it?” 

“No, I just…” I trail off, realizing I was about to say something scandalous and feeling my body physically stop me from doing it. Why am I so bad at this shit?

“Just what?” Seb prods.

I take a deep breath. “I, uh… it’s really hot to like…” I stumble over my mumbled words a little more, of course. “Imagining you getting off while looking at me or thinking of me or whatever is really sexy,” I blurt out, chest puffed like I just earned a medal or some shit.

He laughs , hard. Oh no. This is painful.

“Dude I’m bad at this dirty talking shit or whatever, leave me alone!” I defend myself as we approach his motorcycle.

“I didn’t even say anything!”

“That laugh said it all.”

“I was laughing because I was surprised . Didn’t expect such a bold statement out of you,” he says, settling his helmet on my head and tugging me onto the bike behind him.

“‘Didn’t expect such a bold statement out of you’ shut the fuck up.”

[yoongsisbae]

Handshakes of a Lifetime - Chapter 4

You snag exclusive fan meet tickets, but as you shake hands with your favorite idols, something strange happens…

BTS soulmate AU. OT7 x reader / Jin x Reader focused in this chapter.

Yay I love handshake Jin, he just wants you to love yourself and give you mind blowing orgasms :D. Thank you for reading and commenting, it makes my whole day to read your comments, I go back and read them all the time, it’s the best motivation!

Trigger Warnings: death, allusion to suicide kind of, natural disaster, sex with Jin, multiple orgasms, kinky feet things briefly, a warning since I know some people find feet gross, but we love a man who can worship even your toes :). ANGST it was pretty traumatizing in my dream but I tried to spare you, and I added a bunch of fluff, which I don’t know if that made things just more sad D:

Word Count: 6.9k

--

Jin waits for you to move in front of him. Jin has kept half his attention on you from the first moment you entered. You looked so familiar he wondered if you had been at a previous fanmeet, trying to rack his mind on something you might have done to make your face so memorable to him. And then he watched as you jolted away from Jungkook and the subsequent odd reactions you had with his bandmates and now he didn’t know what to think. You looked like a frightened deer, he thought, and that’s the last thing he wanted one of his fans to feel.

“Hi, I’m Jin.” He tries to think of easy English phrases to say to you. “Nice to meet you. Are you okay?”

You pull yourself away from your thoughts at his sweet attempt at conversation, giving your full attention to the devastatingly handsome idol in front of you. ‘Okay, it’s now or never,’ you think. You know the boys have probably heard it all before, but you needed them to hear it from you too. You take a deep breath and speak in your rehearsed Korean.

“I’m happy...I’m so happy to meet you. I’m a big fan of your music, your songs-your lyrics helped me in so many ways to become who I am today. Being your fan has made my life better; I’m a better person. I want to say thank you.”

Your words were basic and accented, but seeing the way Jin smiles so sweetly at you, you’re thankful for all the hours you spent teaching yourself Korean. Months of studying amount to a few moments of shaky Korean, but seeing the happy surprise on his face makes it all worth it. You don’t know it, but your speech gained the attention of all the boys.

“Tssk, you’re Korean is very good!” Jin says in English. Pride swells inside you. You think you finally have gotten control of the situation, you’re starting to feel more like yourself.

“What’s your name?” Jin asks, as he extends his hand.

“Y/n!” You answer, and you extend yours as well.

It comes back, that vertigo, pulling at you. But this time, you’re not falling, you’re floating. Floating away from everything and everyone but the singer who becomes your only warmth in the cold nothingness that consumes you both.

You and Jin are hand-in-hand. Jin stands on the edge of a cliff. You stand next to him, fingers intertwined. You grab his hand tighter as cold rain slaps you in the face. Atop the cliff, you both face your reality: the world is harsh and unforgiving. Strong winds shriek in your ears as gusts pummel your bodies. Searing fear courses through your veins, twists around your muscles, leaving you immobile; horror struck at what you see.

“I love you!” Jin screams at the world. He doesn’t look at you, he can’t, instead he watches the chaos unfold below him.

You turn to the man you’d die for and scream over the rumbling mayhem looming ahead, “I love you!”

You float aimlessly atop the sea, enjoying the calmness of the still ocean. Sunlight warms your face, and seawater hugs your body like a blanket. The only sounds you hear are the ripples you create as you lazily move your hands and feet to keep afloat. You feel weightless, and free, like one of the birds you watch fly overhead.

You smile, feeling the water flow between your fingers. You try to memorize every tiny detail, unsure when you’ll be able to visit this paradise again: the way the sea sparkles as if it were full of tiny diamonds under the sunlight, the lush green mountains in your peripheral, the wet ringlets of Jin’s hair as he bobs through the water, the way his arm muscles flex as he gathers water behind the force of his palm and, wait a minute-

The roaring sounds of his laughter carries even underwater.

“Hey!” You yell as you come up for air, and so your watery battle begins. The sun is warm and bright as you splash your lover, playing together like kids without care.

Jin splutters, grabbing your hands to stop your watery assault. “Okay, you win!”

He pulls you closer, and you let your legs move around his waist. You float in his lap, and ease back into your earlier calmness. You lean back into the sea, enjoying the cold water against your warm skin.

Jin pulls you in circles around him, enjoying the way the water cascades over your curves. He holds you like treasure. Since the day he met you, he felt a pull so undeniable, the force wrapped around his heart and weaved itself between you, linking him to you. It was pure, like your unwavering trust in him. You pull when he pushes, indulge his quirks, and make him feel heard for the first time in his life. With you in his arms, he feels complete.

His strong hands massage your sides and you relax into his touch. Or you try to, before he’s pulling you under with him. You let him hold you underwater, and hug him closer to you, trusting him to bring you back up for air when he’s ready.

Above water, you rest your head on his chest as Jin’s lips drop to your shoulder, nibbling on your wet skin. He moves his lips across your neck slowly, gently, like the waves around you, until he captures your lips in a kiss. You had planned to leave days ago, on to your next destination, but being in Jin's arms was not something you only wanted to commit to memory anymore.

You swing in Jin’s hammock. Quiet patters of rain fall from the blue sky above you, shaking white petals from the trees that support you, water droplets and flowers litter the sand beneath you. You lay next to Jin, cuddled against his side, as he swings you back and forth softly.

You pull off the straw hat covering Jin’s eyes and lay a tender kiss to the side of his jaw. He turns his head and kisses you without hesitation. You love the way his soft lips drag along yours as he kisses you slowly, like you two have all the time in the world.

“I think I loved you from the first moment I met you.” Jin whispers as he pulls away from your lips.

“You can’t do that.” You feel shy under his gaze. “That’s not how it works.”

“Says who?”

“You just can’t fall in love with someone you’ve never met before.” You feel self conscious where Jin’s hands lay on your stomach, you pull his hands away and interlock your fingers instead.

“And you didn’t feel anything for me the first time we met? Not even for this face?” He smirks at you and you scoff.

“So you got on a boat with a complete stranger you had no feelings for?” He looks at you disbelievingly.

“Yeah, I probably shouldn’t have done that, you could have been a murderer.”

“Ahh yes, all part of my master plan. Get a poor unsuspecting woman on my boat, and then five years later kill her. You’re on borrowed time, beautiful.” You roll your eyes and try to hide the smile that creeps over your lips.

Jin plays with your hand, matching each fingertip to his own. “When you walked into my life, it felt like I had found what I was looking for. I can’t explain it.” Jin whispers, speaking seriously again. He doesn't need to explain, because you understand him.

“I feel so lucky.” You hum into his chest, a white petal lands on his shoulder.

“I don’t believe in luck, I believe in fate.” You laugh at his persistence.

“Okay, I guess we are fated lovers then.”

“Damn right!” He silences your laughs with a kiss, as he rolls his body on top of yours.

---

Your heart races as the smell of sea salt fills your nostrils, icy wind stings your face and lips, the man next to you looks far into the distance, his eyes filled with unshed tears. You wish more than life itself you could save him.

--

You hear a voice call out to you as you walk down the pier.

“Hey! I haven’t seen you around here.”

“Because it’s my first time here.” When you turn you’re shocked at how handsome the man in front of you looks, wide eyes replace your smile. The stranger is tall and lean, and his face is intimidatingly beautiful. He wears loose shorts that accentuate his long legs, his shirt barely buttoned, you try not to stare at his broad chest as he stands on his boat eyeing you curiously. It’s embarrassing how self conscious you become in his presence.

“You’re a tourist.” He says so matter-of-factly. He looks you up and down, you think you feel hotter under his gaze than you do the rays of the sun.

“Something like that…”

“Well, Miss Tourist, want to go on a tour?” You hesitate, you don’t even know this man’s name, but something compels you to take him up on his offer, maybe it’s his welcoming voice, or trustworthy eyes. He puts one foot on the dock and extends his hand and before you know it, he’s helping you settle into his boat.

As you travel along the coastline, you listen to him point out different landmarks, and he tells you old treasured memories he holds for each place. You like listening to his calm voice, you’re a good listener and he’s a smooth talker. He’s easy to talk to, and makes you laugh, you feel like you’ve found an old friend.

Jin brings you to his final destination, the grand finale, he says. While you spent the day getting to know each other, the bright yellow sun above you had transformed into a glowing orange orb, and now you have front row seats to its majesty.

“Are you hungry?” For the first time today, Jin acts hesitant. He wasn’t great at a lot of things, but he was great at cooking, and he wants to impress you. You nod, realizing your hunger now that you didn’t have Jin’s stories to focus on.

He brings you an array of tropical fruit, meat pies, veggies and seasoned rice. “I made it myself.” Jin watches you take a bite of the savory pastry and you light up. He smiles and joins you, satisfied by your reaction.

“This is a lot of food. You made this all for yourself?”

“I guess I can eat a lot...but I don’t mind sharing, especially with a beautiful woman.” He winks and passes you his bottle of beer, you take a sip and focus on the sunset feeling embarrassed by his words.

You sit together in peaceful silence and watch the sky become dazzling shades of orange and red. After a while the colors begin to shift into pastel pinks and purples, transforming the sky into a kaleidoscope of warm tones. The water reflects the colors and you feel like you’re drifting in a painting, the most beautiful art you’ve ever witnessed. It makes you want to cry.

“Not so bad for a tour, hmm? Dinner and a movie.” Jin gives you a bright smile and you return it.

“It’s breathtaking.” you whisper. He nods at you.

You sit at the local bar in your favorite red dress. You feel the familiar warmth of your lover as he hugs you from behind, “Happy Anniversary, Princess.”

You turn around to hug him, burying your face in Jin’s chest to hide your embarrassment, but you indulge in his cheesiness for the night, “Happy Anniversary, my Prince.” You hide back into the comfort of his arms as he laughs and squeezes you tighter.

This is Jin’s favorite bar, full of locals, you like it too because the atmosphere is calm, conversations aren’t too loud and don’t take away from the ocean sounds you love. A sweet melody plays from the live band of guitars and flutes.

With Jin with you, you relax enough to let yourself enjoy the night. You grab his hand and lead him to the near empty dance floor.

Jin goes red. “I’m not good at this!” he whines.

“No way, you’re a natural!” you laugh and sway around him, letting the melody move your hips. You can’t help but burst from happiness, fueled by alcohol and the meaning of the night, you really do feel like a princess who’s found her prince charming.

You wander along the shoreline next to Jin, the waves flow over your feet with each step. Grey storm clouds provide shade from the sun. Jin swings your hand in his as you listen to the waves crash on shore and Jin’s soft voice as he tells you another story of his childhood. The air is fresh and salty, there’s an intense calmness that signals the beginning of a storm. You and Jin don’t mind the sprinkling of rain, used to summer showers during the afternoon.

Jin picks you up in his arms bridal style and turns to the ocean, “C’mon, we are already wet,” he says much to your dismay. You enjoy the ocean too much to put up a real fight. You swim beside him, the fabric of your clothes floats around your body, you love how you feel weightless, like you’re defying gravity. Rain droplets clash against the ocean, open like umbrellas, and the sea throws back tiny gems of water. It’s mesmerizing to you. You swim with Jin until you hear a thunderous clash.

Jin pulls you under a tree, waiting for the rain to subside. He shakes his hair like a dog, making you laugh. The storm becomes louder, bright white bolts flash through the dark clouds above you. With the sun no longer out, the chill of the air on your wet skin makes you shiver.

Jin notices and pulls you to him. You feel shy in his arms. Another clash of lightning makes you jump.

“Should we look for more cover?” you ask.

Jin looks down at you, the way your dress clings to the contours of your body makes his heart race. Raindrops weigh on your eyelashes and roll over you lips as you smile up at him brightly, ready to follow him wherever he takes you.

“Can I kiss you?”

Your eyes go wide, you must look like a wet dog, you think, but the way he looks at you, against your better judgement, you feel pretty. You nod your head.

Jin cradles the back of your head in his hand, holding you foreheads together. He has wanted to kiss you since the day he met you, now he draws the moment out longer, never wanting to let you go. Your heart pounds in your chest so loud you worry he must feel it too as he presses his body close to yours.

When your lips meet his you feel the shock of lightning through your bodies, you wonder if it was a bolt that struck you or electricity you feel inside. Your first kiss with Jin is electric.

Jin plays a soft melody on his guitar and sings to himself. You hum along, your head rests on his leg.

“I admire you.” you admit.

“Hmmm?” Jin strums the strings looking for the right chord, even his fiddling sounds like sweet music.

“I wish I was confident like you.” You confess as you study the perfect features of his face. Sometimes you wonder why Jin even wanted to be around you. You can’t strike up a conversation like he does, or make friends everywhere you go like him. Jin is effortlessly charming. In contrast, you try your best not to stand out, you over analyze everything, you rather shrink in the background. He’s a main character, you're a set piece. “You’re never scared to try anything, I wish I was like that.”

He smiles down at you, ���But you are. You’re brave. You traveled here all by yourself, didn’t you? You put yourself in uncomfortable situations all the time and you thrive, can’t you see how strong you are?”

“I’m not strong.” You sigh, “I just couldn’t stand it anymore, living for others and not myself. I just wanted an adventure.”

“People live all their lives wanting an adventure and never go looking for one.”

You hum.

“You’re strong, and beautiful. I think you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.” That makes you really laugh.

“I guess what people say is true, love is blind.” You joke, but Jin is frowning at you.

“You are! Yes, you look beautiful, you caught my attention, remember?” You hum. “But more importantly you are beautiful, you’re kind and nurturing, you make me feel like the best version of myself. You shine, y/n. You shine so bright, how can you not see?”

His words overwhelm you. You’ve never heard someone speak about you in such a way, you want to believe him.

“I don’t think I am.” you look into his eyes, “but I believe you think I am beautiful,” you say running your fingers over his knuckles, “that’s enough for me.”

Jin sighs and sets his guitar in the sand. He stands up, wiping the sand off his pants and grabs your hand to pull you up with him.

“Say it, ‘I’m strong and beautiful.’”

You look around the beach, you’re far away from the crowd, but you still feel shy. You give Jin an uneasy look.

“C’mon, we are not going anywhere until you say it.” He holds you, waiting.

“I’m strong and beautiful.” you mumble.

“Louder!” He yells and you duck behind him.

He pulls you to face him, smooshes your cheeks in his hands, “Say it!”

You realize you’re not going to win this battle, so you take a deep breath and look to the ocean. ‘Okay, you can do this, y/n.’ You’ll do this for him.

“I’m strong!” You look at Jin, his eyes are sparking. “And Beautiful!”

Jin cheers. You don’t want to admit it feels good.

“I’m strong!” You scream, “And Beautiful! And a better swimmer!” You start to run.

“No she’s not! She’s not!” Jin yells after you.

“I’m the best at fishing!” He heaves you over his shoulder.

“Now you’ve done it!” he walks into the ocean while you laugh.

You finish plating the dinner you made for Jin. He comes up behind you, wraps his arms around your middle, caging your arms to your sides and lifts you up. You squeal as he swings you around.

“I knew there was a reason I loved you!”

“You might want to try it first,” you laugh. Jin grabs the plate and starts shoveling spoonfuls in his mouth. “So?”

He takes another bite, “Mmm not so good.” You groan. You mope as you watch him finish the entire plate without even taking a seat. He kisses your temple. “Do you want me to lie to you instead?”

“No,” you mumble. “I appreciate your honesty,” you give him a side eye, “I guess.”

“I can honestly say, I’m the luckiest man in the world. And the chicken is overcooked.”

‘Dammit,’ at least you didn’t burn it like last time.

“I’ll cook more later.” He says, “For now-“ he cages you to the counter. “-let me show you my appreciation.” The way he looks at you makes your chest tighten in eagerness.

Jin presses himself against you, his muscular body feels so warm against yours. He leaves soft kisses down your neck while undoing your apron. Goosebumps rise as his lips roam over the skin of your exposed shoulder.

Jin’s hands are everywhere, rough caresses distract you as he walks you to the table, lifting you to sit against the wooden surface. “Right here? Where we eat?”

“I am going to be eating something,” He winks at you.

You punch his shoulder, “You’re embarrassing,”

“You love it.” he growls into your ear, shivers run up your spine.

“Mmm I love you in spite of it.” You say as your hands wander the expanse of his chest, pulling him closer to you.

“I’ll make you eat your words.”

“Please stop,” you laugh.

“I will,” he pulls away from you, “when you lay down.” he lowers his voice, his eyes admire the needy state of your body.

“At least turn off the light,” you hide into his chest, he smells like the ocean you love so much.

Jin’s expression softens, lifting your chin to face him. “Hey, you’re beautiful.” You search his eyes, Jin would never lie to you. He looks into your eyes until you pull him into another kiss.

“Also, I love watching your pretty face cum for me.” He whispers in between kisses. You moan into his mouth. Your legs widen for him as his hands find their way under your skirt.

“Wet already for me, princess?” His fingers linger at your entrance, “Told you you love it.”

Your retort dies on your lips as he seizes your mouth with his, his hands work to remove your clothes in between heated kisses, until you're lying naked before him.

“Lie down now.” You watch him pull his shirt over his head and acquiesce to his command. He places a hand on either side of your head, leaning over you, lustful eyes drinking you in. You wrap your arms around his neck and arch into him, you want him closer to you.

His lips travel along the column of your neck, rougher in his affection, leaving tender bruises along the way. His mouth sucks marks into the sensitive skin of your breasts. You start to feel a heat build in your lower stomach from the doting attention he gives your body.

He stands again, his fingers weave into your hair, pulling tight, keeping you down. You whimper as his warmth leaves you. “You’re mine, say it,” he growls.

“I’m yours.” you moan as his fingers push inside you. His fingers set a punishing pace, he’s ruthless in proving to you just how much he knows your body, how you belong to him. He feels you pulse around his digits, his grip on your hair tightens, “Let go, princess.” Pain and pleasure course through you as you let go. You scream as your vision goes white, heat spreading over your entire body.

His rough touches become gentle caresses as he kisses you again. You reach for his belt and you can feel how affected he is, he groans when you grab him through his pants, but he pulls your hands away and places them on the surface of the table. His fingers intertwined with yours as he curls your fingers under to grip the table's edge, “Stay just like that, beautiful.”

You hear a chair scape, you lift your head up to see Jin take a seat in between your legs.

“Really?” you say breathless. His arms wrap around your thighs as he lays his head against your leg. He nods, grinning at you, he is absolutely shameless.

You jolt when he brings his mouth to you again. His arms lock your legs to him, the perfect position that makes you all his. He pushes his tongue into you, gripping you tighter. Jin takes his time enjoying his meal as he sets out to ruin you.

His tongue explores every inch of you until you're a shaking mess. The taste of you makes him harder, his erection throbs in the confines of his pants, and he presses his face into you deeper, sucking on your bundle of nerves. The way you shudder and cry for him is addicting, as Jin watches you fall apart on his tongue. He devours you until you go limp in his arms.

Your entire body buzzes. “Oh, I’m not done with you yet.” Jin grins, he pulls you into his arms and carries you to the bedroom.

Jin finishes undressing as you lay in bed obediently for him. The moonlight from his window illuminates the room, the shadows of his muscles contour his body; the sight makes you melt, already boneless from his previous torture. He pumps himself watching you, eyes roaming over the marks he left on your body. If you keep looking at him like that, he thinks he’s going to have to leave more.

The way he gazes at you gives you jitters, he looks into your eyes and down your body, his eyes sparkling in the moonlight. He makes you feel special, he makes you feel beautiful.

Jin lifts your leg and brings it to his shoulder, dragging his tongue along your ankle. He watches you intently as he massages your foot with his strong fingers.

He kisses the arch of your heel and you shudder. It tickles and makes your heart race, and your core heats up again with desire. He continues to devote his attention to the sole of your foot, biting softly at your skin. He places brief kisses on each of your toes, and licks the side of your bridge. You bite down on your lip almost drawing blood as you watch him in awe, the sight of your toes disappearing into the wetness of his mouth makes you feel wanted in the most filthiest of ways. You move your neglected leg to his front, letting your foot run along the hardness of his stomach until you reach the rigid length of his cock. He groans at your touch, it snaps something inside of him.

You yelp as he grabs you by the waist and drags you to the edge of the bed in one swift motion. He places both legs on his shoulders and you grab at him to bring him closer to you. You kiss Jin with all your strength, overcome with desire. He kisses you back desperately, with tongue and teeth. He bites your lips and swallows your moans as your bodies grind on each other.

Jin brings himself up again as he positions himself at your entrance. “So fucking pretty, and all for me,” he hums, gripping your body to move you how he pleases. The hold he has on you is savage, but the way his lips kiss your legs is gentle; the duality drives you wild and the pressure inside you builds. Jin's thrusts are hard and fast, needy for release, he brings a hand down to your center, overwhelming you with pleasure.

You shiver in ecstasy. Jin moans and slows his pace, feeling you pulse around him. His thumb slows down but continues to stroke your aching core. You whimper in overstimulation.

“One more, princess.” You cry in pleasure as he rolls his hips into you slow and hard. You shudder around him, you whole body tingles. You feel him expand inside you as his body stiffens against you, his fingers pinching at your sensitive hood. Your next orgasm crashes down upon you. You let out a silent scream as Jin releases deep inside you.

Jin falls against you, holding you tightly as he catches his breath. He cuddles closer to you, “I love you.”

You run your fingers through his hair, as his eyes grow heavy and breathing steadies, “I love you.”

As Jin falls asleep in your arms you wonder how you’ve become so lucky, to find the love of your life in the most unlikely of places.

---

Chaos surrounds you and Jin, a storm so final in its answer, it must be controlled by the Grim Reaper himself.

You shiver, cold and afraid. You stand at the edge of the world with Jin, waiting for his decision.

The town below you crackles and rumbles as metal hits metal, buildings crash into each other as water rushes through the street. The home Jin lived in quiet serenity for so long is now home to the ocean. You watch everything you’ve grown to love become obliterated by brutal currents, nothing and no one could survive such destruction.

You and Jin had tried to run to higher ground, but the landslide in your path prevented his vehicle from escaping any further. So you stand with him, your last means of fight.

Jin watches black water rip through the broken buildings below, ascending higher and higher.

He squeezes your hand harder. He can hear the fear in your voice as you call out his name. You cry helplessly. Jin says goodbye to his dreams drowning in the catastrophe below: the question he will never get to ask you, the children you’ll never have, the long life he wanted to live with you.

The water swells, a colossal wave reaches heights far above you.

Jin grabs your shoulders, speaking quickly, he can’t accept this is the end. “No matter where I go, who I am, I will find you again. I’ll never stop loving you, even if I live a hundred life times!”

Highwinds roar signaling the end. It sounds like a freight train, blasting in Jin’s ears. He looks at your shaking body, holds your hands to his lips in one last kiss.

“A thousand life times,” you yell as loud as you can, “You’re the one for me, my love. Find me.”

The ground leaves your feet as he pulls you closer. It’s only you and him. And the world goes black as the last tidal wave crashes down upon you both.

---

You are still holding his hand as your eyes become watery, tear after tear escaping, you silently cry to the idol in front of you. Jin’s eyes are red and glassy, two tears escape his eyes before he quickly wipes them away with his free hand. He is at a loss for words, just staring into your crying eyes.

You remember the white petals, the sand under your feet, the cold rain on your skin; visions with Jin were clear as the day in your mind. Before your thoughts were echoes, memories like a dream, whispering in the back of your mind, but this was different, it screamed in the front of your consciousness, and the howls felt deafening. You couldn't deny how your heart felt like it was breaking in half for no reason. It was too much. You needed to leave now.

You loosen your grip on Jin, but the singer doesn’t let go. Tears well up in his eyes, your own body shakes with silent sobs. Jin won’t let go. So you stand there, wondering if you’ll ever stop crying. At least you’re not screaming, like you want to do, at least you just look like another crying fangirl too overwhelmed by meeting her idol.

Jin doesn’t let go even when the spot in front of V opens, instead he grips your hand tighter. You don��t know what to do, so you awkwardly step to the side with Jin still holding your hand. Taehyung also doesn’t know what to do.

You flex your fingers to make it clear you’re not trying to kidnap the idol. The three of you stand in deafening silence. Finally, Taehyung reaches to separate your hands, which makes Jin finally let go, grabbing onto Taehyung's hands instead, committed to keeping Taehyung from touching you.

“Hyung, what-”

“Don’t-”

You watch Jin and V quietly argue. You’re still crying, you can’t seem to stop, your hands are behind you, clasp together. You’ve made the decision for them already, you’re done. You do a quick bow to V, who is still being held back by Jin, and say a soft thank you to the pair as you step away.

The singers turn back to you, Jin’s eyes are red, his lips are parted ready to spill words he holds back on his tongue. Taehyung looks between the two of you conflicted, he was curious about you and now he lost his moment with you. Taehyung doesn’t know whether to be angry at the eldest member or concerned for him, as he still tries to shake him off.

You move to the empty spot now in front of Suga, the rapper stares you down with an unreadable expression.

Yoongi watches you try to hold yourself together in front of him, you could just be another fan, just too emotional in front of their favorite idols, but he knows better, too attuned to his members to know what was happening was not a normal fan encounter in the slightest.

He is a bit scared to touch you himself if he’s being honest with himself, after he watched his bandmates fall to pieces only minutes before. Something about you is dangerous, he thinks, so when you give him a slight bow and quick hello, he mirrors your actions. The rapper gives you a small grateful smile and bows as well.

Last is RM. Kim Namjoon, all the perceptive leader, noticed immediately the chaos unfolding itself around a particular fangirl who seemed to have a lasting effect on all his bandmates. He secretly divided his attention, trying to understand why.

Unfortunately for him, he discovered the answer before even getting his chance with you. As you stand in front of him now, he doesn’t dare think about the fact that when you said your name to Jin he already knew it, already heard it so many times whispering in his dreams. So when you don’t even give him a glance, bow your head quickly and say a quiet greeting as you make your way quickly to the exit he calls the security next to him and tells them in a hushed voice, “Don’t let her leave no matter what.”

--

You need to leave, go home, get in bed and hide under your covers and stay there until you wake up from this horrible nightmare.

You don’t want to process what happened, you don’t want to think about it, actually you just want to pretend nothing happened, ignorance truly is bliss. Did you tell anyone you were going to a fanmeet? You try to think about this morning, anything before the moment when you first held hands with the youngest member, but fake memories run through your mind instead; lies, hallucinations; and you can’t stop them no matter how hard you try.

As you make your way down the exit hallway, you hear a booming voice tell you to stop. You take a glance over your shoulder to see 3 large men, obviously security, heading towards you.

No, no, no, no. You turn back around pretending you didn't hear them, they couldn't be after you, right? Why would they be, it's not like you made a horrible scene, made one of the members cry, no no. You quicken your pace, staying out of reach of the ascending security brigade.

You spot a door marked bathroom and yank the handle open, “I have to go to the bathroom,” you call without even a glance over your shoulder.

You lock the door behind you, passing by each stall to make sure you’re alone, run into the farthest one and lock it quickly.

The pounding of your own heart thumps in your ears, the sound of your ragged breathing echoes in the tiny stall. You shut your eyes tight trying to get a bearing on yourself, you let the cold door against your forehead ground you as you pull the edges of yourself back together.

But behind your eyelids dance every vision that assaulted you before, over and over again, and you start to feel like your sense of self is getting lost and replaced by these distant feelings, by personas you don’t recognize.

You're losing yourself, but you know for damn sure those dream girls are not you, you’re you, who are you? Breathe. It’s not real.

The muscles in your body are buzzing and prickling with adrenaline. Your arms have been hugging your body in a vice, scared you’d fall all the way apart if you didn’t. You slowly relax.

You lift your hands and place them on the metal door before you, ‘what is happening, what the fuck is happening to me?’ you think.

You sink your body closer to the cold metal barrier, slowly your breath steadies itself as you feel the warmth of your breath bounce back onto you.

Images of them still dance in your mind, Jin’s desperate eyes full of love and pain, Jungkook’s pleas to love him, Hoseok’s protecting embrace, Jimin’s laughter, the warmth of his hands holding yours as you laugh in a field dancing in circles, you can feel the ghosts of their touches still, but no, you tell yourself to think of the cold metal against your palm instead.

That’s what’s real, what are those visions? Fake delusions. Perhaps meeting them in person just snapped something in you. You never were an obsessive fan, but maybe just being in the same room as them did something to you, and they reacted off your reaction. That makes the most sense.

You’re no better than any other delusional fan, thinking if she just had a chance to meet them in person they’d fall madly in love with her, your lips curl at the ridiculous thought, and you let out a weak bitter laugh.

You open your eyes slowly and stare at your blurry reflection in the metal door...and remember Jin's glassy eyes as the idol’s hand held yours.

Remembering the frantic reactions of each member made it undeniable, so naturally, you try not to think about it.

You move further into the stall, step onto the toilet, and sit on the top tank. You bury your face in your knees and cry. Maybe security will forget about you.

---

After the fanmeet, the boys shuffle into one of the waiting rooms in stiff silence. Tired and drained from so many interactions, the four idols first in line had endured the most. Whatever feelings that had surfaced from being around you, they forced themselves to suppress it all, acting professionally until their jobs were finished. Hoseok tried not to jump every time he gripped a new hand, Jin tried to laugh when he felt like crying. Now alone again except for a few staff tending to things around them they had a chance to unpack the anomaly that occurred.

Jin was first to speak. “That fan…”

“Yeah,” Jimin squeaks. “What-“ he runs a hand through his hair trying to gather his thoughts, “What was that, you felt it?“ Jimin turns to Jungkook, “When we touched her hand...” He looks around the room for confirmation, he didn’t want to say his thoughts out loud.

“Yes, I felt it too, but I don’t know what it was.” Hoseok buries his face in his hands.

“Can someone explain to the rest of us what’s going on, since I wasn’t even allowed to touch her.” Taehyung huffs, eyeing Jin.

“When I grabbed her hand,” Hoseok is animated in his explanation, “it felt like I was transported into another body. We lived an entire life, together. I-I can still feel it.” Hoseok grips his knees. He tries to read his member’s faces, especially Jin who has become so uncharacteristically quiet.

“So you imagined a life with the fan, like in your mind you married her and lived happily ever after?” Taehyung asks. Hoseok winces, shaking his head.

“We were married...” Jimin offers.

“I wanted to marry her, but before I could ask...” Jin tries to bite back tears welling in his eyes, laughing into his hands at how affected he acts over a story. Jungkook stays silent, chewing on his bottom lip.

“Maybe you all just need to get laid.”

“You didn’t even touch her hyung, how could you say that!” Jungkook whines to Yoongi.

Silence drifts over the group once again.

“Do you think she’s my soulmate?” Jungkook speaks softly, his doe eyes widen a bit, looking around at his bandmates.

“What do you mean your soulmate? I touched her and the same thing happened to me, wouldn’t that make her my soulmate then?” Jimin scoffed.

Jimin bumped his elbow into the youngest’s side. “Do you think people can have more than one soulmate?”

Jungkook grimaced. He felt the whispering pang of jealousy. No, what they shared together was special, a moment he only saw in romance movies, he didn’t want to think about the others also experiencing it with her.

“Soulmates? I don’t know about that.” RM takes a deep breath, contemplating his next words, “Do you believe in reincarnation?” He chews on his next words, “maybe...” speaking his next words so softly his bandmates can barely hear, “you met her in another life?”

Yoongi scoffs.

“I’ll explain...Carl Jung explains metempsychosis as a transmigration of souls. In theory, your ego moves into a new body once your old body dies and your personality continues on, evolving and growing with each new life. So with that in mind, I think there is a potential to remember previous lives-”

“Here he goes,” Jimin groans, already seeing Namjoon going off on one of his tangents again.

“Can you explain to us like we don’t have an IQ of 148.” Taehyung offers.

Namjoon pinches the bridge of his nose. “For some reason, when you touched her, I think, you’re both able to remember your past lives because your souls have already met.” He could barely believe the words he was saying himself.

“That’s if you believe in reincarnation in the first place.”

“But Hyung, you always said you wanted to be reincarnated into a rock.” Jungkook speaks up. The rapper crosses his arms, looking away.

“Well, can someone offer a better explanation?” Namjoon jabs, “I don’t believe in an afterlife, but I have been reading some interesting stories about reincarnation: people remembering themselves dying and finding marks on their skin from that experience.”

“So all four of us?” Jimin speaks, “The ones who touched her, we all went through a past life? I guess that would be too much for a coincidence...” He still feels skeptical.

Namjoon keeps his dreams of you a secret, not wanting to make the situation even more convoluted until he learns more. He tries to say his words a bit more lightheartedly, “I mean, it does sound crazy,” Namjoon laughs, “but it seems to be the most logical explanation for now. I’ll ask staff to check carbon monoxide levels in the meeting room just in case. But can anyone else explain what the hell happened?” the leader challenges, looking around the room.

The group stays silent.

“So, you think if I touched her, it would happen to me too? Is that why-” Taehyung turns to a defeated Jin.

“I don’t know.” He can’t stop thinking about you, his body hurts, his chest hurts.

“Well I want to try, this is so unfair," Taehyung whines.

Namjoon sighs, “Well…”

---

You hear a knocking at the door. Your legs feel numb. How long have you been sitting here? You were too lost in your thoughts, reliving moments that weren’t yours.

“Hello? Unlock the door.”

You know that voice. No way.

So who do you think wants you to open the door hmm hmm? It might not be who you think it is! Fun fact: In my dream, the cliff scene happened in its entirety, and then the other scenes came to Jin and y/n, that was one of the reasons he didn’t let go of her hand, he wanted to see more, but I found it was not a satisfying reader experience writing it in that way.

So I was a philosophy student once upon a time (see what I did there), but I can barely remember what I ate for breakfast, so I'm throwing down the poetic license card at that Jung analysis lol. Also, DON’T WORRY, all the boys will have their moment with y/n and more ;) Let me know what you think!

[uwuwriting]

A little early for that w/ Todoroki, Shinsou and Bakugou

Request: hii can i req a hc of todo, shinsou, and bakugou seeing y/n taking care of eri then they’ll be like “i want a baby with you” :D - anonymous

Don’t get me started on the latest BNHA chapter. I just don’t want to talk about it. I’ll try to make a double upload today so maybe expect a song fic after this one Love ya.💖💖💖

masterlist II rules

warnings: fluff

Todoroki Shoto 

-It was during Eri’s visit during christmas that it hit Todo. 

-You were dressed in a Santa costume just like everyone else with Eri gripping your hand as you took her around the room explaining all about Christmas celebrations. 

-It was a very mundane moment if you think about it. 

-You were being kind and caring to a child who had suffered immensely at the hands of Overhaul and you wanted to show her what the holiday was all about. 

-Now that he thinks of it, it shouldn’t have struck him like it did. 

-His chest became warm and fuzzy, his cheeks heating up a bit as he stared at you and Eri. 

-Then you kneeled down and brought Eri into a hug, raising her into the air so she could place an ornament on the class’s tree and it was game over for him. 

-He prides himself in being a rather collected person but at that moment he lost all sense of control over his emotions. 

-His mouth hung open and his chest started to squeeze, knocking the breath out of him. 

-He couldn’t help the thoughts of the both of  you owning a house somewhere not very far from Tokyo, waking up to you every morning , making breakfast with you and enjoying all the moments you shared. 

-Then other images flooded his mind. 

-Sitting in the living room as you steadied your toddler, a perfect mix of the two of you, helping them waddle towards him. 

-Him helping them place the ornament at the very top of your Christmas tree every time you decorated.

-He could see your smile so vividly he almost thought it was real. 

-It was a ridiculous thought for a 16 year old to have and he knew it but in that moment he let himself imagine it. 

-Before he knew it you were standing next to him, Eri running off to Aizawa excited to share what she just learned about christmas,  arms crossed over your chest as you let out a happy sigh. 

- “My santa work is done for the day.”

- “You would make a great mom” 

- *pikachu meme*

-He sensed your confusion *and so did your dead ancestors*

- “I want to be next to you when that happens.” 

-Girl you got whiplash from this whole conversation. 

-You couldn’t decide if you were soft and giddy since he basically said that he wants to start a family with you or if you were terrified because he said he wants to start A FAMILY WITH YOU WHEN YOU’RE BARELY 16. 

-In his defense he didn’t say he wanted to start now. 

-So you kinda calmed down. 

- “I-um thank you Sho. I think you would make a great father too.”

-Blushy blushy baby after that one. 

-Some denial sprinkled on top because trauma but blushy blushy boy. 

Shinsou Hitoshi

-Okay now third year Shinsou is a stressed Shinsou. 

-A third year you is a stressed you. 

-And a field day with your now ten year old somewhat trauma free adopted by your homeroom teacher child was what you both needed. 

-Shinsou is like a big brother to Eri at this point. 

-He has babysat her one too many times to not be considered at least a stable figure in her life. 

-You had decided to take a stroll in the park, the autumn air and all the pretty leaves making it a sight to behold. 

-Plus it had a pond with ducks. 

-And you love ducks. 

-Shinsou had brought some bread crumbs so you could feed them and that’s what you were doing when it hit him. 

-That weird domesticity. 

-You were crouched down on Eri’s height, one arm wrapped securely around her small waist so she wouldn’t fall into the pond and the other was outstretched with a piece of bread, motioning to the ducks to approach you. 

-It was a nice scene, picture perfect if you asked him and it did something to his heart strings. 

-Just like Todo he imagined walking home with you after a tiring day at your agency, your hands intertwined, matching golden bands circling your ring fingers. 

-He imagined a little Y/N being next to you and not Eri. 

-Vibrant purple hair sticking out at every which direction as they would throw bread at the ducks maybe even calling him over when one got too close. 

-He was so lost in his own thoughts that he hadn’t noticed you standing in front of him, waving your hand over his eyes so you could get his attention. 

- “Earth to Toshi!” 

-You giggled when he shook his head, his eyes wide as he stared at your smiling features. 

- “Eri is hungry-” “You are hungry Y/N-chan!!!” “- and she wanted to go get some good old onigiri from that new shop that opened down the street.” “Lies…”

-You side-eyed the little girl who outed you, her own eyes staring right back in accusation as you let out a sigh saying under your breath “I’m hungry”

-He couldn’t control his laughter as it bubbled from his lips, ruffling Eri’s hair while giving you a kiss on the lips as he circled his arm around your waist and took Eri’s with his other one. 

- “Can’t say no to my girls now, can I?” 

-It was later that night when he voiced his thoughts. 

-You were asleep in his dorm, laying basically on him with your head tucked in his neck as you breathed evenly. 

- “It’s a little early to think of kids but I can’t wait to have one with you.” 

-And with that he fell asleep his dreams being filled with images of you.

Bakugou Katsuki 

-You managed to get him to say that???

-Mister tough as balls?

-Mister imma roundhouse kick you if you look at me with affection in your eyes?

-Someone get this girl a medal. 

-But in all seriousness it was a very motherly move. 

-You were in your second year, the events of the war with the villains still haunting all of you so everyone was keeping an eye on their loved ones and their classmates. 

-Bakugou was no exception .

-Seeing people getting hurt severely, seeing himself so defeated and hurt during those battles had rattled him and he would always linger close to you, a slight paranoia having taken his place in his heart the past few months. 

-You understood why he did it, why he hovered next to you most of the time and if you were being honest it didn’t really bother you * except from that one time you went to the bathroom and he called you three times in a row bc he couldn’t see you and panicked*

-Eri was running around with Kaminari and Sero, the three of them playing tag with the one brain cell they all shared at the moment. 

-Suddenly, Eri tripped and fell, scraping her knee on the pavement, small tears forming in her eyes but she didn’t let them fall. 

-In a flash you were next to her, a hand massaging her knee around the area of the wound while the other one was cupping her cheek, your thumb making small circles on the girl’s cheekbones. 

- “It’s just a scratch. See? It’s not that bad.”

-Bakugou was just staring at the scene unfolding in front of him, his immediate thoughts being that you looked so motherly in that moment. 

-The concern and the reassurance reminded him of his mother when she would calm him down after he got hurt, before she became a pain in the ass *as he likes to say*.

-Without him even realizing it he made a mental image of your shared family. 

-A house in the outskirts, with a yard, maybe a dog running around. 

-But most importantly a little demon that looked like you, climbing onto your shared bed on his day off, nestling in between you two as it went back asleep.

-You making breakfast while having them in your arms. 

-He really wished he could see that now. 

-But he’s a little young and you wouldn’t really like having a baby before finishing high school sooo he kinda buried it. 

-He told you about it when you both were in his dorm getting ready for a movie night. 

-It was a more aggressive approach but you got the point of his little rant. 

- “I want to spend my life with you too Katsu.” 

- “SHUT UP SHITTY WOMAN!”

- “OI!”

TAG TEAM AY:

@the-arcana-fan-fic​ @angelwritings​ @axerrri​ @reinyrei​ @dnarez​ @storage11037​ @wolfkid22​ @letscheereachotheron​ @ezoyscorner​ @luluwiie​ @threeamwriting​ @dark-thoughts-and-red-roses​

[randomshyperson]

The Scarlet Witch Prophecy - Chapter 23 - The Witch's Cabin (Part Two)

Thanks to my gif maker and friend of course, @abimess.

Summary: As the youngest daughter of Howard Stark, you have ordinary expectations for your years at Hogwarts. Little do you know what adventures await you when your destiny is intertwined with the legendary Scarlet Witch.

Warnings: +16. Adaptation of the Harry Potter Saga, Magical Thematic, Prophecies, Mentions of Violence, Torture and dark magic, Language (swearing and minor/major offenses), manipulation of will, Underage kissing, insinuation of smut with minors, Smut (overage), descriptions of death, aggression, obscurity, angst, fluffy, soulmates analogies. || Chapter Warnings: +18, smut.

Series Masterlist ||  Read on AO3 || All Works Masterlist

Chapter 23 - Part XXIII - The Witch's Cabin (Part Two)

You weren't sure if Wanda wanted some time from you as well, as you watched her walk through the garden, sit alone on one of the benches while looking at the rocky mountains in the distance.

What you were sure of was that she was distressed. So much so, that even as she blocked out her emotions, strands of her discomfort escaped, and you felt your body shiver slightly.

Sighing, you put your hands in your pockets, resisting the urge to join her as you watched her from the balcony.

"Here, Miss." It is Charles who says beside you, with a mug of reheated tea. You raise your eyebrow in confusion, and he smiles tenderly. "I thought a hot drink would bring you some comfort." He explains, and you mutter a thank you as you accept the cup.

Charles stands beside you, watching the landscape in silence for a moment. When you take the first sip, and sigh lightly, he asks, "Did it help?"

"Not much." You reply. "I appreciate the intention, but I won't feel good over tea until she is."

It's a simple statement. And Charles just murmurs in understanding, not needing you to explain further.

There is another pause, before he speaks again.

"Then I think you should talk to her." He says.

"She said she needed some time alone." You retort, scratching the back of your head with your hand quickly, and placing the cup on the large one on the balcony. "I'm giving her space."

"Oh, I see." He murmurs. "Are you sure that the alone time included her protector?"

You give a short humorless laugh. "You know, people have weird ideas about this whole thing. We're still two separate people. Wanda can have her time without me."

"Of course she can." Charles agrees quickly. "Forgive me, I think I expressed myself badly. I didn't mean to say that you two aren't independent, or to put me on the same level as sensationalist wizards who don't know anything about ancient magic." He speaks, causing you to frown. "I only meant that it is my understanding that scarlet witches and their patrons have a special relationship. If I remember correctly, it is written that the patrons bring a profound sense of safety and comfort to their sorceresses when present."

You feel your cheeks flush, and you look away quickly. Charles doesn't seem to notice, or if he does, he says nothing.

"So...do you think she'll like it if I talk to her?"

" Well, she's your sorceress, you know her better than I do, Miss Stark." Jokes the man. "Don't let an old book tell you what you must or mustn't do."

You bite the inside of your cheek, lingering your gaze on the crestfallen figure of Wanda meters ahead.

"Thanks for the tea, Charles." You mutter before starting to walk toward the gardens.

To avoid frightening her, you make a noise with your steps, but Wanda only lifts her head when you are practically at her side.

And you swallow dryly when you notice the tears on her face, approaching calmly to sit beside her.

You don't have to say anything really, and you don't mind waiting for her to tell you whatever she needs to. But Wanda just waits for you to sit down, and then she leans against your body, sinking into your embrace as you run your hands around her.

She relaxes immediately with your touch, sighing. You think Charles was right after all.

Her tears cease, drying against your shirt, and she inhales deeply against you.

“Thank you.” She whispers, making you smile shyly, as you run your fingers through her hair.

"For what?" you whisper back, half-joking, not knowing exactly what you've done.

"For staying."

You sigh, hugging her tighter as your fingers gently scratch the back of her neck, and Wanda shivers against you, before relaxing completely. "I told you I'm never leaving."

You stand like that for a few more moments, until Wanda starts to move again. She pulls her face away to look at you, and you just smile at the intense way she does so.

"I'm sorry." She says, and you frown in confusion. She straightens up before continuing, taking a deep breath, as if she is finding the right words. "With everything Agatha showed us, I finally understood that I never had a choice on my fate. And before, when I was going to erase your memory, how angry you got, I didn't understand why. Because to me, I was making the right thing, sparing you somehow. But now, I understand." She confesses quickly, gesturing as her eyes fill with tears. "It was your choice. And I don't think you would ever forgive me if I moved on without you, when you chose to stay with me. And as much as I hate how dangerous this is, and I don’t want you to get hurt, you have the right to choose to stay by my side if you want, because those are your feelings and I had no right to try to take them away from you."

You nod, sighing, and raise your hand to her face, caressing her cheek.

"It's okay, darling." You say. "I haven't been angry in quite some time. But I appreciate that you apologized."

You move closer, kissing her softly on the lips before pulling away. "I guess in the end I broke my promise about not touching you before the apology." You joke making her smile. "I couldn't help it, you're just too irresistible."

Wanda laughs shyly, raising her hands to your neck, looking at you fondly.

"Do you want to talk about what we saw?" You ask next, and she sighs, nodding.

You spend the next few minutes talking. Wanda feels bad about the whole thing. About all the lies, schemes, and about never having had a real choice. No matter what would happen, she was always going to become the Scarlet Witch. And no one asked if she wanted that.

She didn't talk about Natalya, and you respected her time.

"I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive Agatha completely for the things she did." Wanda confesses a moment later, you two are sitting side by side, looking at the mountains. "But a part of me will never be able to hate her entirely. And I detest that."

"It doesn't bother me that she matters to you, Wanda." You say. "Even with everything that happened, she really believed she was doing the right thing. And now she's helping us. And I know you've spent a lot more time with her than I have." You clarify quickly, and Wanda looks at you with a slight frown. "I just mean that even with the pain she caused me, it's okay for you to still care about her. I won't hold a grudge over it."

Wanda nods, reaching your hand up on the bench. She entwines your fingers together, and moves closer to lean against you, resting her head on your shoulder.

"Can we stay here just a little longer?" She whispers. The sunrise is approaching. You were going to say you would stay as long as she wanted, but your speech becomes a yawn halfway through, and she laughs softly. "Maybe the bed would be better."

You laugh softly too, and Wanda squeezes your hand before moving to pull you back into the house.

When you go through the kitchen, Agatha is there. She and Wanda exchange a look, but neither of them says anything, and you just follow the brunette in front of you upstairs.

You think you'll sleep until lunchtime at least.

//-//-//-//-//-//

You grunted in pain as you fell to the ground.

"Everything okay there, Stark?" Agatha's softly teasing voice made you give a wry laugh.

"Perfect." You grumbled as you stood up, wiping the dust from your pants. "Again please, and try something stronger this time, Agatha, I think you're starting to go soft on me."

The witch laughed, raising her wand quickly. The next spell hurt more than the first.

It had been eight and a half weeks since you had been in Agatha's house.

Things were going well, if you could put it that way.

After that day when Agatha showed the memories out of the pensieve, she and Wanda were on thin ice, and no memories were shared again. They treated each other politely, with occasional sharp pins, but nothing ever too aggressive.

Meanwhile, Agatha was really helping the two of you to become better sorcerers.

You think you never learned so much magic at once, but you weren't complaining.

Even Charles was helping you with potions, a passion he seemed to share with Erik.

And with the intensity of your studies, Agatha hoped that soon you would be worthy of pulling Rowena's diadem out of the hat, but she never seemed to find the right spot, and it was making everyone slightly frustrated, even if no one would admit it.

You haven't heard from the order.

With Fury's death, the radio went silent. You believed that no one but him had been arrested, or killed, because nothing was said in the Daily Prophet. But it wasn't easy to ignore the tightness in your chest at not knowing for sure.

Now that you were practically considering yourself a master at dueling, even if Agatha wouldn't admit that you had far more knowledge in defense against the dark arts than any other witch your age, you expected her to continue the lessons in Occlumency and Legilimency that Erik never managed to finish.

"You're not ready for that yet." She replied, for the third time you brought up the subject, and you sighed impatiently.

"But professor-"

"Erik taught you the basic level of that magic, Y/N." She interrupts, moving her hands so that the objects in the kitchen begin to prepare lunch around you. Wanda is in the house library, studying with Charles, and you had spent all morning practicing dueling spells, and learning to become more resistant to them as well.

Your whole body was sore from the times you fell to the ground when you were hit by stupefy and the most common duelling spells , but it was better than being knocked out at the first attempt if you had never practiced before.

"A master of legilimency would be able to dominate the minds of an entire city at once. You're not ready for that kind of magic yet."

"But I don't need to control an entire city, Agatha." You argue back, following her through the kitchen around the house. "You can just continue from where Erik started and-"

"Enough." She interrupts by turning to you, but she doesn't look angry, just impatient. "You won't leave me alone if I don't agree won't you?"

"No."

She sighs. "I can teach you Occlumency, Stark. But I won't teach you Legilimency, it's...against my vows."

You frown in confusion, "Your vows?"

But Agatha gives you only an insinuating look, and you understand.

As Legilimency is directly considered a forbidden, and dark magic, it would break her vow to only do the right thing by the scarlet witch, her promise to Natalya.

You've never been more curious to know how Agatha got around the perpetual vow for so many years, but the way she’s back walking tells you she's not going to share that with you anytime soon.

"Charles is a master legilimens." She continues talking, moving downstairs where the library is. You in her trail. "He can teach you."

"Really? That 's great!."

As you arrive at the study room, the huge piles of enchanted books surrounding you, your gaze immediately seeks Wanda's.

As Agatha tells Charles to teach you, you approach the girl, finding her distracted with a reading. You smile at how lovely she looks, and can't help but move quickly closer, and steal a surprise kiss from her that makes her sigh.

"Hey, you." You say as you pull away, and she giggles as she relaxes.

"Hey, you." She repeats as she stops you from moving away by holding you by your arm, pulling you back to kiss you properly.

"Hey little love birds, your first lesson in Occlumency is going to be tonight." Agatha warns in a tone of teasing, as you give an embarrassed chuckle breaking away from Wanda, leaning on the pilaster next to the chair she is sitting in. "And you, Miss Maximoff, can practice your natural legilimency skills with Charles on the same schedule as well."

"Yes, ma'am." You and Wanda answer together, and Agatha gives a warning sneer before turning, squeezing Charles' shoulder gently before leaving.

The man turns to you. "Miss Stark, please do not spill mud on my parchments."

You look down to your clothes immediately. Well, it wasn't your fault that Agatha had knocked you to the ground so many times. You were a mess, and you raised your hands in a sign of surrender.

"Sorry, Charles." You mutter as you walk away. "I just came to give my beautiful girl a kiss, I'm going upstairs to take a shower. See you two at lunch."

You give Wanda a wink of goodbye before walking away, being careful not to bump into books along the way.

//-//-//-//

You grumbled softly in pain as you removed your tangled sweater, realizing that perhaps you should have asked Agatha to go easy on the spells instead of challenging her.

Distracted, you startled when you heard knocking on the bathroom door, but relaxed completely when you saw that it was only Wanda, who smiled and leaned against the doorframe, looking up at you.

"Hey, babe." You greeted her, working to remove your shoes. "Do you want anything?"

"No, I just decided to take a break from the books." She replies. "But I would like to know how you convinced Agatha to teach you Occlumency so easily." She comments in a mixed tone of teasing and impressiveness and you laugh softly as you kick your untied shoes away.

"With my charm of course." You return, making her laugh.

When you motion to remove the shirt, Wanda bites her lips. "Allow me."

You stand still then as she steps up to your front, looking at you with the same tenderness that you look back.

Wanda works on the buttons of your shirt, and when she is finished, she pushes the material away, sliding it down your arms until it falls to the floor. You blush slightly under her curious gaze, but say nothing, letting her move the straps of your bra, and then open the clasp, soon the garment falls too.

She moves her fingers down your waist, to reach the zipper and buttons of your pants, and unzips them. You move timidly to remove the item as well, taking your panties with it.

Wanda gives a soft giggle, and you look at her curiously.

"What?"

"It's nothing." She says shyly. "It's...I just realized that it's the first time I've seen you naked."

You blush, but respond. "I wish I wasn't covered in dirt."

"I wish you weren't covered in bruises." She retorts sharply, and you swallow dryly. The purple marks around your body are a result of the spells, but you don't care about that. The pain isn't exactly strange after all.

"It was worth it, though." You retort softly, and think that part of you is really referring to getting stronger, learning new magic. But the other part, the part that knows it's all for the girl in front of you, adds, "You're worth all the effort."

Wanda looks away, swallowing dryly as well. "Don't say that."

"It's the truth, Wanda." You say simply, and she sighs, straightening her posture softly.

"But you don't have to say it."

"You want me to lie then?"

"I just don't want you to say it so proudly." She retorts almost scoldingly, and you bite the inside of your cheek, not wanting to argue. She sighs, and puts distance between you, turning toward the exit.

You clear your throat, and call out to her. "I don't want you to be angry." You murmur. "I can't help it to say things like this, you know that."

Her expression softens. "I'm not angry, darling." She assures you. "I'll just get a towel for myself."

She leaves before you understand what that implies. Wishing you didn't look like a complete mess, you quickly step into the tub you left ready as soon as you arrived in the bathroom, and sink against the hot water, waiting for Wanda to join you.

Wanda doesn't take long. She leaves the towel in the sink, and smiles at you before she starts to undress, right there in front of you, as if she had done it a thousand times before.

You blush, but don't look away. And she doesn't seem to mind that you follow every movement of her hands, although her cheeks redden when she has her breasts exposed in the air.

Soon, she steps into the tub with you, taking the seat in the opposite corner, smiling softly as you hug your legs, looking up at her.

"I'm sorry I said that, I know you don’t like it and I shouldn’t have." You mutter. But Wanda just shakes her head, steeling herself to move closer, her hands touching your forearms.

"Don't worry." She says. "It's the truth after all. You are my knight in shining armor, and I can't do anything to change that."

You laugh softly, and Wanda smiles, stroking your skin with her thumb.

"I want to try something." She says next, making you look at her curiously. "Something I read about it this week. Can I?"

"Of course, darling." You say, and then she is pulling your forearms gently so that you stop hugging your legs, and you sink your hands into the water, waiting, as Wanda moves her fingers, guiding you so that you sit properly, and she sits between your legs. "What are you going to do?"

You ask curiously, even half embarrassed to have her so close, but Wanda just smiles, moving her hands out of the tub, where she makes the soap magically fly to her.

"First, I'm helping you get clean, babe."

She says, dipping the soap in the water before bringing it to your skin, lathering your shoulders gently. You relax under her touch, looking at her intently.

"Can I do the same to you?" you ask in a whisper, and she smiles.

"Of course."

Wanda raises the soap at face height, and with a flick of her hands, the item doubles itself to another. You raise your eyebrow. "Show-off." You tease, making her chuckle, as she hands you the other soap.

For the next few minutes, you help each other soap up amidst giggles, and stolen glances. Wanda's touch is as gentle and affectionate as her gaze, and you are so comfortable that you don't even have time to think about how intimate the whole moment is.

As you finish washing off the soap, Wanda begins to run her fingers along your shoulders. "Will you stay on your back for me?" She asks lowly, and you murmur in agreement before shifting to obey.

Without seeing her, your curiosity makes you tense up, and Wanda smiles as she moves closer, her hands on your waist. "Relax, darling." She asks against your ear, her fingers moving up your skin slowly as you obey.

"Do you remember last summer?" She begins, and suddenly you are feeling soft twinges on your skin. It's Wanda's magic. You don't know what she's doing, but it feels good. Little shocks around your back.

You just murmur, relaxing against her hand.

"When Papa taught you about mirroring magic, I mean." She continues, her tone low and soft. "So that you could take my damage from possible attacks."

"And you were so upset about my wrist breaking when you fell off a broom that you put me to sleep in Pietro's bed." You complete making her laugh.

"But I didn't send you away because I still wanted you in my house." She retorts and you laugh in agreement.

"Yes I do, darling." You say next. "I remember everything I went through with you."

Wanda bites her lips, blushing at your statement. But she continues to talk beyond that.

"There is another kind of spell like that." She says. "Charles was reading with me a line that said If the protector can take the pain, the witch must learn to heal the pain as well. You understand what I mean?"

You sigh softly as you feel the pressure of her fingers increase on the points where you knew you were injured. But it's not discomfort that you feel. It's a different sensation, like an electric shiver that turns into a gentle tightness.

"Yeah, I think so. You'll be able to heal my wounds now, right?" You ask with your eyes closed, instinctively leaning even closer against her hand as the pressure increases, and Wanda just murmurs in agreement, concentrating on her task. "That's pretty cool."

"I still need to learn it properly." She continues. "And I don't want to have to practice."

You chuckle softly at the comment. Of course she doesn't. For her to learn to heal your wounds, you would need to hurt her so she gets to practice, and that possibility is horrible for Wanda.

"I'm sure we'll find an alternative to that, Wands." You murmur lazily, so relaxed against her touch that you begin to feel sleepy.

Wanda continues for a few more minutes, and when she finishes, she goes around your waist with her hands pulling you gently against her, making you sigh.

"How do you feel?" She asks with her face resting on your shoulder, her arms hugging you as you relax against her.

"I feel incredible, love." You reply with your eyes closed. "Thanks to your magic fingers."

Wanda giggles, turning her face to kiss your neck, her lips touching your skin softly and making you smile and sigh.

"Can I make you feel even better?" She asks as she returns her mouth to your ear, playing with the lobe between her lips and teeth, making you hold your breath. "I could use my magic fingers."

You bite back a smile, nodding. Wanda inhales softly, settling herself better against the tub.

Her hands go around your belly with her fingertips, moving upward. You gasp when she reaches your breasts, stimulating your nipples between her fingers.

You let out a satisfied murmur, and your body gradually warms up.

When your nipples are hardened enough, and Wanda has you shivering, she wraps your breasts with her full hands, pressing the flesh against her palm, and you gasp, throwing your hips forward unter water.

"Wanda." You sigh softly as she continues to play with your breasts. "Don't tease."

"I'm not teasing darling." She murmurs back, returning the gentle caress against your nipples. "I'm just getting you wet."

"Just... touch me." You whisper, starting to move back into her, the tightness in your belly growing, and all she did was touch you softly. "Please."

Wanda lets out a sigh, like a giggle, and you don't have to look at her to know she's smiling. "I didn't know you were the begging type, babe."

You grumble under the teasing, but Wanda finally lowers her hands, and you shiver in anticipation, forgetting to respond.

She runs her hands down your inner thighs, but never where you want her. And when you sigh impatiently, she chuckles against your ear.

"Say pretty please again." She teases and you feel your cheeks burn, quickly turning your face to the left, putting distance between her mouth and your ear. All Wanda does is chuckles again, but this time, her fingers go straight to where you want her, caressing your entrance and you gasp.

“M-more.” You ask but she just stands still, her fingertips against your clint while her mouth kisses your shoulder and her other hand goes up to your breast, to repeat the moviments from earlier.

You have trouble keeping your eyes open, and when you try to force her finger against you, she just moves them away with a giggle while you grumble of dissatisfaction.

“Wanda.” You warn, but her hand just rests against your thigh.

“C’mon, babe.” She says. “You sounded so hot when you said please. Do it again.”

“No.” You retort stubbornly, but your affected tone makes her smile, her fingers moving closer to your warm center but still not touching and making you clench your closed fists.

"Say, please fuck me." Wanda whispers against your ear, and you feel a sharp, tightly pulsation in your belly, sighing heavily. "And I will."

But you didn't want to give Wanda a taste of victory, even as you came so close to begging for her touch. All you did was press hard against her, your ass fitted against her hot core, and she gasped in surprise and arousal, digging her nails into your thigh.

"Cheater." She murmured breathlessly, making you smile, but your advantage was short-lived when she pressed your breast into her palm, and without any warning, slid a finger into you, entering easily through both the water in the tub and your arousal.

"Oh." You moaned loudly, one hand gripping the edge of the tub as Wanda moved slowly inside, making you squirm. "More, babe. Please."

Wanda chuckles at your hopeless tone, but obeys, inserting another finger now. It slides between your edges with ease, and you bite your lips to avoid being loud. But when Wanda presses her palm against your clit as her fingers move in and out of you in a slow, torturous rhythm, you whimper, squeezing your hands on the edge of the tub until they turn white.

"You're so tight." Wanda whispers against your ear, her hot, wet breath sending shivers throughout your body. "My sexy baby taking my fingers so well."

You moan softly, becoming even more aroused by Wanda's words. She sighs against your ear, quickening the pace of her thrusts, and you begin to feel the tightness under your belly reaching the limit.

"W-wanda... I'm clos-oh" You can't maintain a coherent sentence, thrusting your hips in the same rhythm as Wanda's fingers move in and out of you, and Wanda grunts against your ear, her fingers sinking into you.

"Show me how it feels, Printsessa" She asks and you need to concentrate beyond pure pleasure to be able to share your sensations with her. When you do, Wanda moans loudly against your ear, the hand on your breast squeezing firmly, pulling you against her and making you gasp. "Is this how you feel with me, baby?” She asks with a breathless whisper. “It’s so fucking good." She whimpers, increasing the pace of her fingers, and now stimulating both you and herself, and you use your free hand to keep yourself from screaming, knowing that the noise would attract the attention of the other residents.

"I can't hold it." You whimper, your body beginning to spasm out of rhythm with the strokes, you are so close.

"So don't." She gasps back against your ear, and it's the next second that you come, your walls clenching against Wanda's fingers, and you see stars, your loud moan is muffled by her hand on your mouth when you can't keep the gesture and clench your hands under the water.

And you are barely recovering from your orgasm when Wanda reaches hers, sharing it with you, and you moan deeply, turning a complete mess against her, feeling your body explode with pleasure again.

You stand in silence, trying to normalize your breaths, Wanda's fingers slip out of you, making you sigh, but she keeps her hand on your thigh, until she joins the two at your waist, smoothing you better against her.

"I can't feel my legs." You mumble breathlessly, your body tingling completely from the intensity of the orgasms. Wanda just gives an equally affected laugh, moving one of her hands up to push her wet hair out of the front of her face.

"Too bad, I still want to taste you."

You grunt softly, feeling your face heat up. But you sure as hell won't protest when Wanda's hands start coming down again.

//-//-//-//-//-//

“It really worked.” You murmurs impressed, as you button a clear shirt up, getting ready for having some food since you and Wanda skipped lunch, being busy with things. The bruises that you once had, are all gone. A few red spots were seen, but nothing too remarkable as before.

Wanda bites her bottom lip, kneeling in the bed, still naked. The vision was a gift from heaven you could say.

“If you feel any pain, tell me.” She asks as she watches you dressing. “I could try to ease that too.”

“You’re too good for me baby.” You commented with a shy smile, getting closer to her again. Agatha liked well dressed manners, she said. That’s why almost every set of clothes she gave you had ties, and sweaters. You and Wanda teased her about being old.

And that's why you're knotting your tie, and Wanda is unbuttoning your shirt. Wait, what?

"Hey, hey." You quickly warn, holding up her fingers, as Wanda giggles with her gaze gleaming in mischief. "We can't stay here all day, sweetheart."

"Can’t we?" She retorts in a mixed tone of defiance, making a pout that makes you want to kiss her.

"You know we can't." You retort with a smile, caressing her cheek before buttoning the buttons she has opened. Wanda bites her lips as she watches you. "I can bring you something to eat, but eventually we have lessons."

"No, that's okay, I'll come down with you." She says but doesn't move from her spot, and you raise an eyebrow curiously, but Wanda was just waiting for you to finish buttoning your shirt before pulling you up by your poorly tied tie, rising to kiss you on the mouth.

You smiled against her lips, bringing one of your hands to her neck, kissing her firmly.

"Are you sure we need to go downstairs?" She murmurs breathlessly against your mouth, and you sigh.

"Maybe another ten minutes."

It takes another half hour for you to leave the room.

Wanda accompanies you, straightening your crumpled clothes before you head to the kitchen.

Fortunately, Charles had saved some lunch for you, and between smiles and stolen glances, you ate in silence.

And when Agatha asked you to join her upstairs, for her occlumency lesson, Wanda kissed you on the cheek and wished you good luck.

Agatha's private study room was dark.

Unlike the library, or Charles' offices, which were extremely cozy.

Here, you felt almost intimidated. But Agatha seemed relaxed, and you felt confident enough with your magic to enter.

"You know the fundamentals, Miss Stark, so let's not stall." She says as she walks over to one of the cabinets, working to remove her rings and place them on the wood. "Sit back and relax. And know that I'm going to try the real thing, Y/N. Just like an opponent would."

You swallow dryly, but murmur in understanding, walking over to sit in the armchair that Agatha seems to have left ready for you.

She turns around, and takes the seat in front of you. With a flick of her fingers, one of the books on the bookshelves in the room comes flying toward her, floating in the air, open at eye level.

She grumbles softly as she reads, probably checking the spells correctly, and then the book closes and returns to the bookshelf.

"In a fight, a wizard's mind can be their greatest enemy, Miss Stark." She begins, rolling up her sleeves, and you hold your breath in anticipation. "That's why you need to protect yours as best you can."

"Professor Erik taught me a few things." You mutter, but Agatha raises her eyebrow in disbelief, and you are almost offended. "Hey, I'm not that helpless."

"Is that what you think?" She challenges. "Look closer."

You frown in confusion, and try to understand what she means.

Then you notice the other figure in the corner of the room and almost jump out of your chair.

An illusion, Agatha never sat next to you, and she disappears the same second you noticed her.

"What the fuck....?"

"Illusions, Miss Stark, will be the least of your problems if the dark lord has access to your mind." Agatha warns as she moves from the shadows of the room, her hands folded on her belly, looking at you, who was still in shock from the last trick. "But I will teach you to recognize and escape false images first."

The first lesson is not easy.

Honestly, it is so exhausting that by the time Agatha frees you, you are stumbling sleepily to your room.

You fall into bed still in your study clothes, and are almost closing your eyes when Wanda walks in.

"Hey, sweetheart, aren't you going to dinner?" She asks, but you don't even open your eyes, muttering that you were going to sleep.

Wanda walks over to you, gives you a kiss on the cheek, and turns out the lights.

//-//-//

It takes another three weeks for something to happen.

Technically, a lot has actually happened.

You have learned to break illusions, create them, protect your mind from mid-level invaders, lie in a way that rings true in your mind and fools any invader.

Agatha won't admit it, but you are a very talented Occlumens.

And Wanda, is quite the opposite of that.

Charles often comments that maybe it's the power of scarlet magic, but he''s never seen someone who could manipulate the mind of others so easily. Not since Agatha, and the witch makes a sarcastic remark, but has a proud smile as she goes out to harvest carrots.

Where you are expert at protecting the mind, Wanda is at attacking it.

She doesn't have the same strength as you in blocking Agatha, but you can't invade anyone's mind without putting in a lot of effort.

"I think it's an interesting thing, actually. " Charles comments next to you, in the fourth week of studying mind magic, with the four of you sitting in the room, and Agatha in the armchair in front of you, while you have your wand raised and try to get into her thoughts. "You balance each other perfectly, you know? Y/N can protect your mind while you attack, Wanda. It's quite useful."

"Great observation, Charles." Agatha congratulates impressed, not seeming to have any difficulty blocking you even while talking to someone else.

"Does that mean I can get inside your head through her magic?" Wanda deduces in curiosity, but didn't expect anyone to confirm, her eyes glowing red and connecting with your mind.

You choke, firming your touch on your wand, and because you were already trying the spell, you manage to get into Agatha's mind without any problems with Wanda’s magic.

A small girl is running down a hallway; it's Hogwarts.

"Freak!" " Weirdo!" are the whispers of the crowds of children she is passing through.

And then the whispers change to "watch out, she's the principal' daughter" "I heard she killed that Ravenclaw boy"

A mirror. Agatha must be sixteen now, she looks young. She stares at her reflection, and then punches the glass.

"You are a disgrace to this family." A woman says in front of her as the memory fades to another, looking at her with contempt. "A scandal like this. Our coven will recommend your expulsion."

"I never wanted to be a part of this, Mama!" Agatha exclaims in a mixture of anger and hurt. "I hate those old backward women, I want to learn everything I can and -"

The slap is loud. "Rules exist to keep everyone safe, Agatha. You're too selfish to realize that."

It gets faster, the flashes. You watch Agatha grow up, study in hiding, kiss a girl behind the candy store who pushes her away when the older schoolmates laugh, you listen to the cruel comments, watch her buy the cottage, meet new people, and many colored lights, the spells she has already cast blending throughout the memories.

"Please, daughter, forgive me" She pleads in a crying voice, but Natalya looks at her with contempt. "I will do the right thing this time, please, I-"

"Swear it."

You see a flash of the day she took the perpetual vow, her hands entwined with her daughter, and then you see more quick flashes of lost moments, until you focus on the day she was alone in Magda's house again, her hand on the cheek of baby Wanda, now asleep.

"Forgive me, I have failed again."

The memory shifts, you watch Erik crying at a memorial service, many other people dressed in black beside him.

She talked to Erik about the girl, asking if he had noticed anything strange.

Visiting a mansion, your home. You see yourself, about five or six years old, playing in the backyard with your brother, the emaciated image of your father talking to her in a low tone, delivering a letter.

More unclear flashes.

Agatha writing the acceptance letters from the school that year, the name Wanda Maximoff emblazoned on the paper.

The day Wanda and Pietro enter Hogwarts, Agatha rummaging back into her old journals and books.

Agatha starts to resist then. You see two more flashes of class, before she pushes you and Wanda out of her thoughts, and you choke breathlessly, stumbling away.

The teacher gets up quickly, aggressively throwing herself at you two, and you cover Wanda with your body immediately, but she calms down, because Charles puts his arm around her waist.

"Agatha, breathe." He asks softly, and she seems to come to her senses, shaking her head, and casting an almost embarrassed look at you, before muttering apologies and leaving the room.

You and Wanda are wide-eyed, in shock at all you have seen for long seconds, as Charles sighs and moves to organize the books you had messed up when the lesson began.

"She's going to need some time." He says turning to give you a tender smile. "But don't worry, I can continue the lessons with you two. For now, I suggest a cup of tea to everyone, and we can continue tomorrow."

"S-sure, that sounds great." You mumble awkwardly, turning your face to Wanda, who looks troubled. "Everything okay?" You whisper to her, and she forces a smile, nodding.

You won't push it, so you even squeeze her hand gently before following Charles into the kitchen for tea.

//-//-//-//-//

Agatha doesn't leave her room for six whole days.

Charles just says that she is tired, and brings her meals.

You only study next to Wanda; it's not as if you can feel guilty about something she has done to you so many times.

And then, as if no time has passed, the former headmistress comes into the kitchen in travel clothes, while you are eating lunch.

"Good morning?" You exclaim in surprise, and the teacher only murmurs with a nod, picking up an apple from the fruit tray and turning toward the front door.

You exchange a confused look with Wanda before the two of you quickly stand up.

"Agatha, where are you...?"

"Hogwarts." She replies without stopping walking, as you follow her down the hallway to the exit. "Stephen has hidden the darkhold in the spiritual plane of the castle. I'll get it, and read it to Miss Maximoff as promised."

"I-" Wanda starts half uncertain, but Agatha gestures quickly.

"I'll be back as soon as I can." She clarifies. "We'll need him to perform the ritual as well. Please help Charles with the house, and if possible don't damage my vegetables."

And on the porch, she apparated.

You and Wanda stared at the empty space for a long moment.

"What just happened?" You mutter.

"Did our spell drive her insane?" She retorts back, and you sigh, turning to go back inside, and close the door, Wanda following you inside.

"I have no idea." You say. "Let's let Charles know she's gone, and try to keep him from blowing up other cauldrons while she's out."

//-//-//-//-////-//-//-//-//

Tag list > @imapotatao / @aimezvousbrahms/ @ensorcellme/ @helloalycia || @mionemymind / @abimess / @stephanieromanoff / @yourtaletotell / @tomy5girls / @thegayw1tch / @idek-5 // @helloalycia // @ensorcellme // @aimezvousbrahms // @drpepperobsessed // @sighsam // @olsensnpm // @sxfwap // @table57 // @madamevirgo // @causeitswhatjesuswouldfreakingdo // @emptysince18x // @xastrydx || @yuhloversxx || @ymzki-haruki || @wouldirunofftheworldsomeday || @lostandsearching || @lezzzbehonesthere || @musicinourlips || @chaekhan || @diaryoflife || @nervoustrack || @aquamarinescarlet || @cristin-rjd || @idamaemann || @fortunatelynerdylight || @iliketozoneout || @blackwow34 // @spongebobtentacles || @cyberbonesworld ||

[space-helen]

Back to Vegas - Chapter 7

Words: 1907

Pairing: Nick Stokes x Reader

A/N: There’s one more part after this! Thank you for all of the support to far it means a lot

CH1   CH2   CH3   CH4    CH5   CH6  CH7  CH8

_______________________________

Nick rested his forehead on your bed as he clutched your hand within his two as he listened to the beeping of the machinery around you. He’d been waiting around the hospital for three hours before he was allowed to come and sit with you.

It’d been nine hours since that point. Nine long hours of him sitting by your side as you slept and he talked to you. The Doctors said you’d pull through and would wake up in your own time but there was no telling how long that’d take and only you could decide that for yourself.

They’d told Nick in detail exactly what Hannah had put into your body but the only thing he took away was “You were extremely lucky to get Y/N here on time. Any later and the result wouldn’t be the same.”

The opening of the door had Nick sitting upright, he moved one hand but kept the other intertwined with yours. Greg, Sara, Catherine and Grissom all filled into the room taking various positions around your bed.

Catherine sat opposite Nick while Sara sat at the end of the bed with Grissom at her side and Greg took a seat not far from Nick. Nick angled his body slightly so he could see all of them. They instantly noticed his disheveled complexion and very red eyes from crying.

“We heard she’s going to make it.” Catherine was the first to break the silence

“Yeah.” Nick nodded to himself and looked at you before looking back at Catherine. 

“She’s strong Nick. She’s out of the woods.” Sara added as she looked over you. She could see the bruises littered on your exposed skin from the struggle and from the force at which Hannah had injected you, your hand that Nick wasn’t holding was also bandaged up.

“She still needs to wake up though.” his words were barely audible and his eyes began to tear up.

“Nick I know you want to stay by her side but you haven’t eaten in hours. Let one of us sit here while you get a bite to eat” Catherine tried to persuade the man.

“I have to stay with her. She stayed by me.”

“We really don’t mind.” Sara added.

“You don’t understand.” he looked around the room “She didn’t leave my side so I won’t leave hers. I know it’s not as severe but I just can’t. What if I leave and-” he stopped to try and compose himself by taking in a deep breath and letting it out.

“The case?” Grissom broke his silence.

Nick looked at the man with shiny eyes and nodded “Word has probably got around to you guys about a case Y/N and I worked that really brought us together. I think only Greg knows the extent of the case really and even I spared him some details.” He looked at you and started to rub a pattern on your hand with his thumb and he teared up a little but was able to keep his emotions in check. 

“To cut to the chase we ended up in a shootout. We were hiding together and trying to keep calm. Some punk found us and shot me twice, once in the leg and the other in the shoulder. Luckily the guy was shot down before Y/N was shot otherwise we wouldn’t be here now, either of us. She tried to stop the bleeding the best she could and just stayed with me and re-assured me I’d be ok while we waited for the EMT’s.”

Nick’s voice was starting to get wobbly and show emotion, Greg moved to sit on the edge of his seat and put his hand on Nick’s shoulder and squeezed it comfortingly.

“She didn’t leave my side the entire time. She got her injuries checked out and that was about it. I nearly bled out, hell I was even dead for a short time in surgery. Y/N sat by my bedside for God knows how long until I woke up. After that she still barely left my side until I ordered her back to work. I didn’t want to tell any of you guys because I didn’t want to worry you.”

Greg moved his hand from Nick’s shoulder “We understand but you should have told us.”

“I know I know.” Nick took in another breath “She stayed with me through recovery and rehabilitation, I had to basically re-learn how to walk for a little bit because the bullet had torn through my leg badly. It’s all fine now. It really took me no time to build back the strength. There were a couple other incidents after that and then we were going on our first date.”

He sucked in a breath “I really don’t know what I’d do without her.”

The room stayed silent for a moment while Nick just looked at you, eventually he let go of your hand and he twisted for his coat which was laid over the back of his chair and rummaged through his pockets “I guess it’s just my luck.” 

He pulled out what he was looking for and clutched it in his hand “I was just about to ask her to marry me and everything. I nearly did last night but… I changed my mind because I wanted to tell you guys first. I’ve had this ring since way before we even came to Vegas.” a tear rolled down his cheek and his throat was sore with emotion “In hindsight I really should have just done it. Last night was perfect.”

Catherine was soon standing up and moving around the bed and opening her arms to give Nick a tight embrace “It’s ok Nicky. She’ll wake up soon.” the woman could feel her own tears threatening.

Sara approached the pair in the embrace and joined in with Greg soon following and Grissom approaching the huddle and putting his hand on Nick’s shoulder. Grissom looked down at you before looking back at Nick.

“I really think she’s going to make it Nick. I know my words mean nothing but she’ll wake up, even the Doctors said that.” he tried to reassure.

The huddle was soon breaking up as Nick completely composed himself and flopped back in the chair by your bedside. Grissom and Sara had offered to feed Sam and go back to the lab to continue working the case and Greg offered to bring him some food before going back to the lab.

Catherine was the last to leave a short while after the others.

“I should head to the lab but I want you to know something.” She moved to the edge of her seat and grabbed Nick's hand from across the bed. “I could just see how well you were made for each other as soon as you walked in through the door. You know I’ve had my fair share of love stories and after a while you just know when someone’s relationship is heading for trouble or destined to be happy. You guys are made for each other.” She squeezed his hand and gave him a smile.

“Thanks Cath.” he mustered a sad smile of his own “That really means a lot.”

She stood up and grabbed her belongings “I mean it Nick. I thought she was pretty good when I met her but I think she’s an amazing woman now. I’ll catch you after my shift. Please message me if anything happens.”

The man nodded and made his promise to Catherine to message her if anything changed.

The room was not silent but after Catherine left it felt as if it was. He sadly smiled at you and leaned forward to give you a quick kiss to the cheek before leaning back in his chair.

It’d been long enough for Greg to stop by with food and Nick to eat and clean up before you woke up. Nick was getting comfy in his seat after using the bathroom when you began to stir.

“Y/N” his voice was full of enthusiasm and excitement. “You’re at the hospital.” he tried to comfort you knowing how weird it could be to wake up and not know where you are.

“Nick?” your eyes were fluttering open and trying to focus on the man “I feel dizzy. Where am I?” your words slurred.

“The hospital Darlin’. Let me go grab a Doctor.” he stood in a scramble and soon was returning with a Doctor who made him wait outside the room.

Ten minutes later he was back at your side. “Hey.” you weakly spoke

“Hey.” he lowered himself into the chair next to you and smiled. “How you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been hit by a truck.” you admitted, there was a dull ache in your head and your body hurt all over. 

The man nodded in response and let a silence hang for a moment. “I was so worried.”

“I know.” you reached for his hand and curled your fingers between his. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about. I’m sorry for bringing you to Vegas in the first place.”

“Never apologise for that. It isn’t your fault. We did the right thing coming back and I don’t regret it. I should have just been more careful at the scene.” 

“You remember what happened?” he asked curiously, secretly hoping that you did so he didn’t have to recount the moments.

“Yeah. It gets hazy after she got me the second time and I have patches of memory of a car journey.”

He nodded sadly “Yeah. I rushed you here. I really thought I’d lost you. I don’t know what I would have done if I-”

“I’m here now. I’m ok.” you reassured the man “The Doctor said I needed to stay in for another couple of days to monitor me because they really don’t know what other effects the combination of drugs she gave me will have.”  He looked you in the eyes, relief and emotion present in his. “I love you Nick.”

“I love you more.” he said leaning forward to place a kiss on your forehead “promise me you won’t go alone to a scene again.”

“I promise.” you yawned and felt yourself getting tired.

“Am I really that boring?” the man teased

“Of course not.” you gave him a weak laugh “You look pretty tired and I could really do with a cuddle.” you admitted’

“Y/N I don’t think that’s possible.”

“Why not?” you pouted slightly “Look here.” you started to try and shift over in the bed.

“Hey, slow down. It’s alright I’m comfy here.”

“You might be but that doesn’t stop me from wanting a cuddle.” you adjusted yourself over in the bed so he had some room “Get up here why don’t you.” you said tapping the bed.

“If we get caught-”

“I’ll take the blame.” the man lay down next to you and you cuddled up to his chest and let your eyes fall closed.

The man felt himself get slightly emotional when he wrapped his arms around you and brought you to his chest. He placed a kiss on the top of your head and rested his head down on the pillow. He couldn’t even begin to express the way he was feeling right now. A tear rolled down his cheek as he closed his eyes 

“Thank you for saving my life.”

Next Chapter

Tag List: (open)

Nick Stokes: @wanniiieeee  @pumpkinfriend

CSI:

[somewhatgreatexpectations]

Another One (Wanda Maximoff/ Reader)

Hello! Pre-Civil War (but getting much closer). Inspired by Sam Smith’s “Another One”. Let me know your thoughts! Also, I do have the next part done as it was the first one I wrote a while ago, would you all be interested in me posting it earlier or should I save it for usual post time on its own day?

Summary: A look at the aftermath of heartbreak and the first interaction with Wanda following the incident.  Good old fashioned angst.

“Congratulations, you found the one, another one. I think I can finally face it, I’m not the one, never was the one.”

The sunlight that slowly began seeping into your room came as no surprise. You sat up with a sigh. Sleepless nights were more common than not these days, not that sleeping was easy before, it’s just been much more difficult to put your mind at ease lately. It had been a few weeks and the adjustment hadn’t been easy. 

Dealing with a heartbreak never got easier. 

Figuring there was no point in staying in bed, you got dressed in your usual training attire and headed down to the kitchen. Maybe you would finally take Steve up on his offer of an early morning run.

A quiet curse escaped your lips when you saw a lone figure sitting at the counter already. The one person you’ve been avoiding. As quietly as you could, you slowly began to back out, hoping you hadn’t been seen yet. “Hi, Y/n.” the figure said quietly, not turning to face you. You’d been caught.

The sound of her voice still hurt, but you knew you had to face it eventually. Might as well be now. “Wanda.” You replied flatly as you once again began to walk into the kitchen to make coffee. All the while trying to ignore the way your heart pounded heavily against your ribcage. 

You didn’t look at her long, but long enough to see the look of surprise cross her features when you responded. 

She cleared her throat which caused you to turn to glance at her again, taking note of how she spun a ring on her finger nervously. You wondered if she did that before meeting you. “Do you think we could talk?” she stuttered timidly. 

A heavy sigh escaped your lips as you leaned against the counter behind you. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

The way that her eyes filled with sadness made you want to take her in your arms and hold her until they shone with happiness again. You fought the urge. “I miss you-“ She began anyway.

You quickly interrupted her. “Don’t.”

A hint of desperation slipped into her words as you tried to block them out. “I do though. We were best friends before everything. I don’t want to lose you completely.”

It took everything in your being to not cover your ears and scream like a child so you wouldn’t have to listen to her words. All each word accomplished  was cutting deeper into your still bleeding wounds. “You moved on immediately, Wanda. You can’t just expect me to be okay and accept second best after that.”

Her head dropped. “I know, but I just… You were never…” her words were jittery, as if she thought better of each sentence. Conflict was clear in her eyes. “I never thought of you as-”  

“You’re with Vision now, yes?” You asked seemingly randomly. She bit her lip apprehensively but nodded nonetheless. “How do you feel about him?”

A small shake of her head was your only response from her. “You wanted to talk, I’m talking. I think I deserve a little honesty.” 

“We have a connection, I feel like he understands me.” You bit back a bitter laugh because once upon a time you would’ve described your relationship the same way. “I think we are meant to be intertwined because of how we developed.”

“Well, congratulations, Wanda. You found the one.” You couldn’t help the sarcasm that laced your words. “Another one.” You mumbled as an afterthought. 

She just stared at you for a moment, her lips trembling. You pretended you didn’t see the way her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Y/n-“

Already over the conversation, you interrupted her. “Honestly, I’m happy for you. I’d never, ever, wish you harm. Just make sure you treat him like someone. I wouldn’t want someone else to feel how I’ve felt the last few weeks.” You told her honestly. 

It looked as though she was about to say something else when Vision phased through the wall, starling you both as he looked between you. “Am I interrupting something?” he questioned.

You wanted to laugh at the sheer irony of his words because it wasn’t long ago that you were the one asking that same exact question. “Not at all.” You huffed as you started to walk out the kitchen, your coffee long forgotten. 

You chanced one last glance at Wanda who simply looked down and leaned into Vision. “Wow, I dodged a bullet.” You muttered with a bitter laugh as you exited, not sparing either of them another moment.

Deciding you didn’t need to go with Steve anymore, you quickened your pace as you left the compound, taking off in what was almost a sprint as soon as the fresh air hit your face. 

Flashbacks of moments with Wanda kept racing through your mind, making you want to scream. Each time this happened you just quickened your pace. You hoped that maybe running from your thoughts would work just this once (it didn’t). 

You must have been running for over an hour when the sounds of heavy footsteps approached, “On your left!” With a groan you came to a halt as Steve sprinted passed you, looking back in confusion. “Giving up so easily, Y/ln?”

Without a word you walked over to a grassy area of the park and rolled onto your back, flinging your arm over your eyes. “Not in the mood today, Rogers.”

You felt him take a seat next to you, staying silent for a moment as he just observed you. “Wanda again?” he questioned gently. 

The arm over your face shifted so you could meet his worried eyes. “I spoke to her today.”

It was clear he was surprised, but tried to mask it. “It’s been weeks. How’d that go?”

“Not well. She basically told me she wants to be my friend again and how her and Vision are meant to be.” Your defenses fell around Steve and you couldn’t contain it anymore. A tear fell down your cheek and you shook your head angrily at yourself. “Why am I crying? I shouldn’t be crying.” 

“Hey,” Steve said, his voice gentle. “You have every right to feel like this okay. You didn’t deserve what she did. Just take it one day at a time, okay?”

At his words, the tears began flowing more steadily. “That’s what I used to tell her.” You said with a laugh, your heart clenching. 

He slapped a hand to his forehead at his poor choice of words. “Alright. No more moping. We’re going to take your mind off this.” Without warning, he picked you up and began jogging back in the direction of the tower.

“Rogers!” you shouted, pounding on his back. “What the hell? Put me down, right now!”

Despite your words, Steve kept jogging, laughter in his voice. “No, I don’t think I will.”

After a few hours of Steve’s idea of a distraction (which was just hours of extra intense training) F.R.I.D.A.Y’s voice came on over the speakers. “Ms. Y/ln, you have a phone call.” 

“Patch them through.” You answered as you wiped the sweat off your brow with a towel that Steve offered you. He gestured that he was going to be back, and you merely nodded back at him. 

There was static for a moment until an all too familiar voice sounded. “Y/n, I was hoping you had a moment.” Nick Fury began formally.

You took a deep breath, Fury rarely ever called. This must be serious. “Go ahead.” You replied.

                                             _______________

“Okay, repeat that back to me because I feel like I’m imagining this.” Steve told you, the look of disbelief from when you first told him the news still present as ever.

You shrugged. “Fury wants me to help run an undercover mission to get victims out of several Hydra facilities and aid in their adjustment with training once they’re out if they need it. Similarly to how I got here. Then possibly help establish a branch overseas like what we have here.”

“How long would you be there?” Steve questioned seriously.

Again, you shrugged. “Fury said it could take a year or two. Possibly indefinitely.”

Heavy silence hung in the air between you as Steve took in your words. “Are you going to take it?” he finally asked.

For a moment, you didn’t want to answer, but you knew you couldn’t avoid telling him. “I think I am.” You finally replied quietly. “I think I’ve fulfilled my purpose here, Cap. Maybe it’s time to start a new chapter.”

Steve understood he couldn’t argue. If leaving meant you could finally heal then he wouldn't stop you. No matter how much he’d rather you stay. “Just consider all your options is all I ask.” You simply nodded and tried to offer a reassuring smile. 

As you were both exiting the training area you crossed paths with Wanda and Sam who were entering for a different training session. She met your eyes and offered you a small wave. You nodded in response, searching her eyes. Searching for something that you knew you might never find again. Her brow furrowed questioningly as she sensed you analyzing her. You finally tore your gaze away, silent understanding between you two was a thing of the past now. 

“You okay?” Steve asked with a frown of concern once you were both far enough away.

Hesitantly, you nodded. “I think I’m ready to face it… I’m not the one.” Your words were steady. The tone of acceptance.

“Y/n-“ 

You shook your head. “I never was the one.” You said in a neutral voice, trying to ignore the tears welling in your eyes.

“You just made your mind up, didn’t you?” Steve questioned quietly, knowing the answer but needing to ask either way.

A weak smile covered your lips. “I think that I’ve been offered different chances for what I need in life. You offered me a hand to save me from drowning before and I took it. I think this opportunity is the hand that’s going to keep me afloat. To get me through this broken heart. I need to take it.” 

For a moment you thought back to the conversation you had with Wanda once on the roof. The conversation that opened your heart to her and revealed your scars. The true beginning of something beautiful. That moment was a thing of your past now, just as she was. Maybe it was time to let go. Time to try and stay afloat once again. After all, there was nothing else left for you to fight for here.

And there is part 6! The paths are beginning to take form. As always, hope you all enjoyed and remember thoughts and comments always welcome. :)

[ashcrimson-is-writing]

I´m here with you (Bucky x Reader)

Fandom: Marvel Pairing: Bucky x Reader Words: 2374 Summary: Even though Bucky feels better being with you, his nigthmares don´t just vanish and there are more nights he startles awake from his sleep than he doesn´t. To Buckys luck you´re there to comfort him whenever it happens, even if it isn´t always easy. (Fluff/Comfort)

~~ Nightmares were Bucky's constant companion.

They didn't come every night, and on some days they weren't as bad as on others, but they came intensely and often enough that most of the time you could tell he was having trouble sleeping and was exhausted by just looking at his face.

When he got up in the morning, pale skin and still dark shadows under his eyes, it especially hurt you, because you knew it was his own past that kept him up all night. Even though the WinterSoldier's programming was no longer part of his mind, nothing of what happened was undone, and even though you didn't know what exactly was going on inside him, you could still understand why he couldn't simply get over the past.

After all, how would anyone be able to just finish up with a chapter that they had barely been conscious for?

Bucky's nightmares were also not reduced by your presence and usually not less intense either, but at least you had quickly learned how to calm him down, how to deal with the aftermath of them and in most cases the smartest thing to do was to give him his space when he woke up and it was even better if you could get him to calm down in his sleep. However, that was often impossible.

Sighing, you closed the book in your hands while sitting in bed and looked next to you at your boyfriend Bucky, who had already fallen asleep, his face half buried in the pillow and his right arm draped over your legs, his hand gently cupping your thigh. His breathing had been irregular for several minutes and every now and then a whimpering sound left his throat.

You observed him for a few seconds before carefully running your fingers through his hair, very lightly so as not to wake him, and you began to hum a melody as well in the hope that he would simply slip back into a dreamless sleep. His brows twitched restless at the touch and you breathed in deeply. If you could take the pain away from him the slightest bit, you wouldn't hesitate for a second.

Some time passed in which you tenderly brushed his face, pushed strands from his sweaty forehead and whispered soothing words next to the melody, but Bucky only seemed to get more nervous, too deep in his dream to notice anything else. You were already sure that today was one of those days when you wouldn't be able to lead him into a calmer dream, and a moment later he exhaled shakily, tightened his grip around your thigh so that it hurt and then opened his eyes wide.

With a gasp, he had startled awake.

You stopped your humming as Bucky lay motionless with open eyes, finally turning his gaze with a scared expression to your face and then all at once sitting up, sliding away from you and settling on the edge of the bed, his feet on the cold laminate and his fingers tangled tightly in the sheets.

With your lips pressed together, you looked at him as he turned his back to you and heard the shuddering sound he made before putting his hands to his face and burying it in them. It wasn't unusual for him to pull away from you right after a nightmare and needing the silence around him for at least a few moments to fully regain consciousness and get his breathing under control.

Still, it wasn't easy for you to see him like this, helpless against his own thoughts, body tense and cold sweat on his skin, and you were even more helpless than he was.

As silently as you could, you put your book down on the nightstand to your right.

Bucky lowered his hands, turned his head towards you upon the noise and while you returned his gaze with a sad smile you felt a heavy pressure building up in your chest.

There were shadows under his eyes and a few hairs stuck to his forehead. Quietly he watched you, jaw clenched and the look in his eyes stung your heart.

He had been through more things in his life than a single soul should have to endure, and it hurt to know that nothing you would do would ever lift the burden of those memories from him.

Swallowing, you held eye contact with him: "Nightmare?".

Immediately he turned away from you and stared at the ground, but you could still see him nod slightly: "Do you want to talk about it?".

At first it remained silent, then he raised his head a little and propped his hands on the edge of the bed, seemed to slump a little and then shrugged his shoulders. A sign for you to approach him.

Slowly, you flipped back the covers and then carefully slid towards him until you were kneeling on the mattress to his right and, after a moment of hesitation, placed your hand lightly on his back.

A shiver went through him. His shirt was damp. The pressure on your ribcage increased.

Exhaling, Bucky's gaze flew back to the floor: "I-" he uttered and immediately fell silent, only to begin again with what had happened in his dream: "I was the WinterSoldier again". A guaranteed element of any of Bucky's nightmares.

Even though the WinterSoldier programming had been removed from him and the trigger words no longer had any effect, it was hard for Bucky to always remember that he was now a completely free man. Especially in his sleep, when his mind was running uncontrolled, he forgot all that and so basically every one of his nightmares involved him lapsing back into the WinterSoldier.

Tenderly you began to slide your hand up and down his back, eventually even slipping it under his shirt.

Bucky proceeded to look at his palms: "I was on another mission for Hydra.... I shot some people and when I got to the last target the bullets were empty and that's why-" again he paused and had to take a deep breath and as he continued to speak his voice quivered unsteady and his shoulders trembled: "That's why I broke his- his neck" he paused and put his fingers together: "With my bare hands."

His features hardened and you could only imagine what must be going on inside him while his voice cracked during his last words.

With the intention of making him feel better somehow, you slid closer to him so that your knees pressed against his thighs and dared to put your arms around him gently and after a moment of resistance, he turned to you, his eyes tearless but full of pain and let you pull him into an embrace.

Exhausted, he leaned against you, wrapped an arm around your waist, rested his face against your shoulder and seemed to melt into your touch. Silence enveloped you and Bucky's breathing calmed with each passing moment and finally he closed his eyes.

Your whole body seemed to hurt for him and his agony and softly you caressed his cheek, pressing your lips to his forehead: "You're not the WinterSoldier."

"I know."

"You never really were him".

To that Bucky didn't reply and you hugged him tighter as if that would change his mindset.

Again neither of you said a word and you were engulfed in silence because you had nothing more to say and to him your presence was more than Bucky had ever dreamed of. Your love for him was more than he could have ever imagined having after everything.

If they hadn't freed him from the trigger words in Wakanda, he wouldn't be with you now, Bucky would never be able to let anything happen to you. Especially not if he would be the one to hurt you. And even then, it sometimes was hard for him to believe that you loved him despite all the thingds he´d done.

In a somewhat desperate motion, he ran his hands under your t-shirt, feeling the warmth of your skin and focusing on the soft feel of your body close to his, giving his full attention to your existence and letting you guide his mind into sweeter thoughts.

It was impossible for you to tell how much time passed with you sitting like that on the bed, holding each other, but when you broke the silence and whispered: "We should try to get some more sleep", he seemed a lot better.

Bucky could use every minute of sleep he could get and immediately, although a little reluctant, he broke away from you, instantly seeking eye contact again and giving you a weak smile: "Y/N, I-" he began and then stopped with his mouth slightly open, searching for the right words and losing himself a little.

Quickly you returned his smile: "I know," and intertwined your fingers with his to pull him back to bed. You crawled over to your half of the bed and Bucky followed, dropping down beside you heavily and following your movements as you turned off the light and then turned to face him.

The darkness reminded him of how tired he was and yet he was at once afraid of another nightmare.

Sympathetically you told him to come closer to you, whereupon he snuggled up to you and brought you close to him.

"I'm here with you" you promised, running your fingers over his torso, feeling the cool metal of his dog tags and staying awake until Bucky's breathing had calmed and become regular enough that you were absolutely sure he had fallen asleep.

Gently you placed another kiss on his forehead before going to sleep as well.

Maybe nightmares were Bucky's constant companion.

But so were you.

[makeste]

BnHA Vol. 29 Cover Reaction Post: Emergency Can't-Wait-Till-Tomorrow Edition

so thanks to reddit, which has a spoiler-free post dedicated to the volume 29 cover leak, I was able to check out the cover image without being spoiled for anything in tomorrow’s chapter. now, I knew chapter 285 was going to be in this volume, so I was expecting something Bakugou-centric from the get-go. I was not, however, expecting Horikoshi to launch a fucking grenade of feels at me without warning! but that’s just how the man rolls I guess.

anyway, the cover isn’t a spoiler for anyone who’s read up to chapter 285, but I’ll put the image and the rest of this post under a cut just in case.

rarely have I witnessed such a casually devastating flex of one man’s ability to annihilate an entire fandom with feels. simply brutal. set phasers to ‘curled up in a fetal position’

I cannot believe he chose this scene. this scene, again. I didn’t sign up to have my weaknesses so viciously exploited like this. oh wait but actually I did

imagine taking a dozen years to figure out that your best friend literally just wanted to help you and make sure that you were okay because he loves you, and that in response you were all “IS THIS THE ULTIMATE AFFRONT TO MY HONOR?” and spent the next decade wanting to kick his ass. smdh

and now imagine that the dumbass who did all of that is also your favorite character, like seriously he is your favorite SO MUCH, and his relationship with that other kid is also your favorite ever. so what does that say about you. congratulations, you stan the world’s most emotionally dense person!!

but also imagine how proud you would be of said emotionally dense dumbass for finally figuring it out though. jfkdk I need to hug him, STAND ASIDE

there is just. so much regret in this one image that it’s just insane to me?? look at his face??? just imagine how much he must be berating himself. “why couldn’t you have just accepted it when it really mattered. why did you have to go and ruin everything. he just wanted to help you.” ffff

and that’s ten years they can never get back. ten years of pain he caused. ten years he can never undo. look at him. he’s not four anymore. Deku is still a child in this image, but Katsuki is sixteen going on seventeen here. all grown up. because he can’t turn things back no matter what. he can’t undo it. the child Katsuki never accepted Deku’s hand. and now the almost-grown Katsuki wants to more than anything, but it’s too late. he can still take the almost-grown Deku’s hand! but this child Deku’s hand, it’s forever out of reach to him. this child Deku will grow up lonely and sad and hurting because of the person who should have been his friend. and Katsuki cannot take that back, and I cannot get over this, this is fully destroying me right now. jesus.

but there is also hope there! because there is growth! there is maturity! there is acceptance! he knows what he’s done. he’s trying to change. he’s trying to be a better person. and he’s trying to be a better person for Deku’s sake. flkdslkhl I am really out here letting myself be murdered by some cover artwork because I can’t stop being dramatic about it. wouldn’t choose any other way to go

no amount of words can begin to express the array of feels that I have over the fact that “Bakugou Katsuki: Rising” -- his moment of becoming a true hero, his moment of ascendance where we catch a glimpse of that person he is going to be someday -- is now forever linked to this image of him looking with regret at Deku’s hand. the two of them are just so... intertwined. Horikoshi never gave us that “you’re my image of saving” moment with Kacchan like he did with Deku and his image of victory, but it’s there all the same, isn’t it

basically what I’m trying to say here is that yet again, Deku is at the core of it. just like he’s at the core of every other fucking thing Katsuki ever does. this is my all-time dynamic folks. this here is what it’s all about. STEP ONE: “BAKUGOU KATSUKI: RISING.” STEP TWO: [PUTS DEKU ON THE COVER]. STEP THREE: PROFIT/UGLY CRYING

I’m almost mad that there wasn’t a scene like this in the actual manga now. I need Bones to make sure this makes it into the anime somehow. maybe in one of the opening or ending themes. but they gotta do it. make it happen

notice that for these really dramatic moments, Horikoshi is clearly aware that the grenade gauntlets are too ridiculous, and so he’s gotten rid of the one on Katsuki’s left hand for no reason. yeah that’s right, I see you there. just do it permanently you coward

and he’s not wearing the mask either for that matter. Horikoshi you clearly understand aesthetics then, so why?! such a fucking troll

Deku’s lil four-year-old cheek is so chubby... gotta pinch it. it’s a primal urge. wittle cheeks

he also needs a hug. fuck. it’ll be okay baby Deku. you’ve just gotta wait TEN WHOLE YEARS and then All Might will show up and it’ll all be good. nothing to worry about but all of your bones being broken and the League of Villains trying to murder you and all of your friends. :’) why did I start reading this manga again

anyway so this is ROUGH. I AM SWEPT UP IN IT. I AM DESPAIRING lmao. oh man. but it’s like... it’s a deep sorrow, but it’s also a good, cathartic sorrow as well. powerful, soul-cleansing feels. that’s the good stuff right there

anyway so I’m in ruins, but it’s nice. Crust gives this cover two thumbs up. bless

[robininthelabyrinth]

Tedious Joys - Chapter 7 -

- Ao3 link -

“You could have mentioned that your father likes to kiss his saber,” Lan Qiren hissed at Nie Mingjue, who flailed helplessly as both of them tried to whisper outside of Lao Nie’s hearing – a task only rendered possible from the fact that he was currently scrubbing his hair extremely vigorously to get rid of all the dirt and grime, Lan Qiren’s extended hand firmly on his back. The jade pendant was back to hanging at his waist, since hasty experimentation had revealed that the physical contact with Lan Qiren was the key aspect, although the jade pendant seemed key as well - removing it appeared to make the contact less effective.

“He didn’t, did he? Are you all right?” Nie Mingjue asked, and he looked so serious and earnest about it, like he was going to march up to his father right then and there and challenge him over Lan Qiren’s honor or something if Lan Qiren implied that he should, that Lan Qiren’s irritation faded away at once.

“Only on the hand,” Lan Qiren assured him. “He didn’t take any liberties.”

That last part was more of a joke than anything else – however intimate Lao Nie was with her, Jiwei was still a saber – but Nie Mingjue looked alarmed. “You’ll say something if he does anything you’re uncomfortable with, right?” he asked anxiously, and Lan Qiren stared at him.

“Nie Mingjue,” he said stiffly, attempting to quell a little bit of possibly hysterical and definitely inappropriate laughter. “Is there something you need to tell me about you and Baxia…?”

“Tell you – oh! No, no, nothing like that,” Nie Mingjue said, turning bright red. “That’s not what I meant, Teacher Lan! Really, I swear!”

Lao Nie poked his head out of the water briefly to look at them both suspiciously, but accepted it when Lan Qiren shook his head at him and turned back away.

Nie Mingjue waited until his father was distracted to continue whispering. “I just meant – our sabers may be our partners, but it’s not…it’s not an equal distribution of authority, you know? In the end, they’re the weapons and we’re the masters.”

Lan Qiren frowned, finally understanding the nature of Nie Mingjue’s concern, and it was much more astute than he’d initially thought. “I see. So if Baxia refused to cultivate with you…?”

Nie Mingjue shifted uncomfortably from side to side. “Well, I mean, I wouldn’t, personally,” he said. “She’s my friend. But A-die’s always saying I’m too soft on her, that I need to take her more firmly in hand, so…I don’t know. It’d definitely be a few days before he forces the issue – uh, that is – I mean – not that he’d ever –”

“It won’t come to that,” Lan Qiren assured him. “A few days will give us enough time to come up with a plan, and at any rate I would not allow him to mistreat me.”

Nie Mingjue looked relieved, which was a flattering if perhaps not entirely accurate reflection of how strong he believed Lan Qiren to be.

“A good night’s rest will help more than anything,” Lan Qiren continued. “For him, and for you. I suggest you take advantage of it at once – actual sleep, not meditation.”

Nie Mingjue nodded again. “But he’s going to be all right?” he asked, anxious. “Eventually?”

Lan Qiren glanced at his friend, happily humming some bawdy song and appearing likely about to break out into actual singing at any moment, and felt a pain in his chest at the thought of what might be necessary.

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I really don’t know. We’ll do everything we can for him.”

Nie Mingjue accepted that, taking a deep breath and centering himself, then striding away – he would probably go and do some work before he actually retired, rather than actually go straight to sleep, but Lan Qiren did not call him out on it. There was still a chance that Nie Mingjue would end up as sect leader, and then he wouldn’t have a choice in it at all.

After being tormented briefly by some rather off-key singing and extremely dubious lyrical choices, Lan Qiren found himself bundled off to Lao Nie’s quarters and into his bed, with Lao Nie curling up quite happily against his back.

“There are rules about judging other people,” Lan Qiren mumbled, staring at the wall and ignoring the feeling of Lao Nie’s chin on his shoulder. It was pointy, and they didn’t quite fit – Lan Qiren was the just barely taller of the two, although Lao Nie was broader, and his arms were heavy around him – and all in all Lan Qiren was not especially enjoying the experience of sharing a bed any more than he had any of the previous times it had been forced upon him by necessity, luckily small in number. “I am currently breaking it. I will need to think of a suitable punishment for myself later.”

“Judging me, sweetheart?” Lao Nie said into his ear, sounding amused. “What did I do?”

“Sleep in the same bed as an extremely sharp and angry blade, apparently.”

“Only when you’re angry at me,” Lao Nie said, completely shameless. Lan Qiren really didn’t know why he’d been expecting anything different, really. “You know, it’s much easier to hold you in my arms when you’re like this, all soft, even if your hips are a bit knobby. I like it.”

Lan Qiren sighed.

The next morning, Lan Qiren woke at the prescribed time and performed his morning ablutions in the time before Lao Nie woke, settling himself down beside the bed to play calming music and think about what could be behind Lao Nie’s current fixation on believing that he was Jiwei.

He thought it must have something to do with the jade pendant he had cultivated on Lao Nie’s behalf. Indeed, now that he thought about it, that might in fact be the problem – he had cultivated the pendant, not Lao Nie, and he had done it using Jiwei’s spiritual energy. A Nie saber had only one master, but he had apparently won enough of Jiwei’s respect for her to allow him access to some part of her; just as Lao Nie had intertwined himself with his saber, so to had Lan Qiren, albeit unknowingly and at a distance. There was certainly no overly intimate sharing of qi between them, but they had an undeniable connection. That might explain it.

There was also the ongoing mystery of why the pendant burned so fiercely. It had always been reactive to Jiwei’s anger, full of her spiritual energy and spillover rage as it was, but Jiwei was gone – shattered. Whose energy was powering it now? And how could it maintain such a high level of energy, so hot as to damage someone like Lan Qiren, who while not martially inclined was still a powerful cultivator in his own right?

He had more questions than answers.

Unfortunately, he did not have a great deal of time to find answers. If Lao Nie’s condition persisted – he hoped that it wouldn’t, that his friend would wake knowing who Lan Qiren was and not in a horrible rage, but he wasn’t optimistic – they would need to find a solution, and fast. Lao Nie was the unquestioned master of his sect and even he’d only managed to leave it behind for a month and a half before his duties forced him to return; Lan Qiren was a substitute for his brother, a pale and inferior custodian put in place solely to fill the time between the generations, and his sect elders would never let him forget it. There was no way he would be able to stay away so long.

And if he left…

“Jiwei,” Lao Nie murmured in his sleep, which had become restless. His face had gone from a neutral expression to a frown, twisted in anger and pain, and when he opened his eyes, they were once again red. The music was not helping. “My saber – Jiwei…where is my saber?” Lao Nie struggled to sit up. “Where is it? Give her to me!”

Lan Qiren stopped playing and reached out his hand, interlocking his fingers with Lao Nie’s as if they were back once again to all those years ago when he had been a slow, stuttering child and Lao Nie a kind young adult, taking him in hand to show him the basics of night-hunting without worrying about him falling over his own feet.

He watched as the red slowly faded out of Lao Nie’s eyes – not gone entirely, still there, a thin pink film that seemed as though it could be blinked out of existence.

He sighed.

“My friend,” he said. “I am going to need your help with this.”

“Anything,” Lao Nie said, then paused and amended to, “Anything that won’t cause undue harm.”

“It involves research.”

“…one could argue that that would be undue harm to my ability to enjoy my free time.”

Lan Qiren shook his hand lightly. “You are in need of healing. Do you understand what I am saying?”

The humor slowly faded out of Lao Nie’s face.

“You had a qi deviation,” Lan Qiren said bluntly. “The one you’ve been afraid of, the one you always knew was coming – it happened. You went mad, years before your time. But you did not die, and so there is still hope…but I will need your help. I will need you to try to get better. I cannot do this without you.”

Lao Nie looked at him, lips pressed together tightly.

Lan Qiren waited, patient. Whatever the reason for it, Lao Nie regained much of his clarity when they were in contact – and if he could think, he could be an ally in this. He would have to be.

“The strangers weren’t strangers, were they,” Lao Nie said abruptly, and it wasn’t a question. Lan Qiren looked at him. “A-Jue…I was the one who did that to him, wasn’t I? I was the one that hurt him. That’s why you wouldn’t tell me about it yesterday.”

Lan Qiren nodded.

Lao Nie looked away, angry – real anger, this time, and entirely self-directed – but it was only a few moments before he collected himself and looked back, his eyes bright with tears but fiercely determined. “What can I do to help?”

“For now, answer my questions, no matter how unusual,” Lan Qiren instructed, and Lao Nie nodded. “First question: who am I?”

“…Jiwei.”

They were still there, then, although Lao Nie sounded much less sure about it than he had the night before. Lan Qiren fumbled for the pendant at his waist. “Can you sense the spiritual energy in this? Whose is it?”

Lao Nie reached for the pendant and focused. “Also Jiwei.” This time, he sounded more confident.

“The energy in the pendant exceeds what I previously put in there,” Lan Qiren said. “Do you know why?”

Lao Nie frowned down at the pendant. “I’m not sure,” he said. “Have you cultivated with it recently?”

Lan Qiren arched his eyebrows, think that that would be rather difficult without Jiwei around to transfer energy from. “No, I haven’t. Why?”

“There’s something strange about it, that’s all.” He shook the pendant lightly. “Familiar. Same as you, but not; same as me, but not. It wants to fly.”

Lan Qiren stared at him blankly.

Lao Nie shrugged and scratched at his beard. “What did A-Jue say about it?”

“…Mingjue?” Lan Qiren asked blankly. “Say? About what?”

Lao Nie blinked at him. “Well, he’s the only other one with a similar pendant, right?”

Actually, Lan Qiren had made one for little Nie Huaisang, too – he used it as the base of his fan tassel, transferred from one fan to another – but it wasn’t really relevant to him yet, weak cultivator that he was. But that was a good point: in his fear for Nie Mingjue’s health, his worry for his safety, he had forgotten that Nie Mingjue was the closest thing they had to another perspective on the connection between pendant and saber.

Lan Qiren frowned at his oversight. “I’ll ask Mingjue to join us.”

Nie Mingjue looked better already, even if Lan Qiren’s heart hurt at how cautious he was around his father, at how Lao Nie could barely stand to look at the colorful bruises littering his son’s face. “What can I do?”

“Take this pendant,” Lao Nie said, holding it out.

Nie Mingjue extended his hand in return and Lao Nie dropped the pendant into it before Lan Qiren could intervene and point out why it was a terrible idea to just hand it over to someone who was both unprepared and little more than a child, however talented a genius he might be. The second it touched Nie Mingjue’s palm, he yelped and nearly dropped it, Lan Qiren snatching it away from him with his free hand before it could fall to the floor.

“It hurts!” he exclaimed, as Lan Qiren might have expected.

What he did not expect, however, was that Baxia abruptly drew herself, hurtling out of her sheath to hang in midair, emanating the distinct sensation of rage that was the characteristic of a Nie saber.

The pendant abruptly flared up, the heat in it rising as if in response to Baxia’s challenge, and Lan Qiren had to temporarily free himself from Lao Nie to quickly loop a guqin string through the pendant, letting it dangle away from his flesh, and then returned his hand to his friend before the red got too far into his eyes.

“What in the world is going on?” he demanded. “Lao Nie – explain.”

“I have no idea,” Lao Nie said, rubbing his eyes as if he realized something had happened to him in the brief interlude where they were separated. “They’re…fighting. I think? How can they be fighting? Why would a saber start a fight with a piece of jade?”

“Can you ask Baxia?” Lan Qiren asked Nie Mingjue, who was still clutching at his hand and looking blankly at them both. “I know it doesn’t exactly work as cleanly as all that, but your father always said you had an unusually strong connection…”

Nie Mingjue reached out and caught Baxia by the hilt, brow creased in a frown. “It really doesn’t work that way, Teacher Lan. All I can tell is that she’s angry.” He hesitated. “She feels betrayed.”

“Betrayed?” Lan Qiren asked, surprised. “But – how can she be betrayed? That would imply an initial association, familiarity, that something changed…”

“Jiwei,” Lao Nie suddenly said. He was staring at the pendant swinging in Lan Qiren’s hand. “Jiwei’s in the pendant.”

Nie Mingjue glanced at Lan Qiren, clearly concerned that his father had simply started seeing Jiwei in everything, but Lan Qiren bit his lip, thinking it over seriously.

He had initially thought that the reason for Lao Nie’s mistaken impression of him was because he had cultivated with the pendant using Jiwei’s energy, acting in Lao Nie’s place, and thereby he had been imprinted with the qi of the saber, that it had been that shadow upon him that Lao Nie had recognized.

But what if he had thought about it backwards?

“Is it possible,” he said slowly, wishing he knew more about the saber spirits, wishing that he’d had more time, wishing even that his Xinfei could speak as clearly as a saber could, “Mingjue, is it possible that Jiwei’s spirit is in the pendant? The saber spirit itself, I mean, as opposed to the physical saber?”

Nie Mingjue goggled at him. “In the pendant, Teacher Lan? A saber? But how?”

“I tied the two together using resonance,” Lan Qiren explained. Poor tone-deaf Nie Mingjue had never really understood what he was doing with his music, which Lan Qiren couldn’t blame him for – it was esoteric even by musical cultivation standards. He’d more or less made the entire thing up over the past few years. “Adjusting the internal music of the jade to match Jiwei, so that the two recognized each other – and, once recognized, forged a connection between them. That’s what allowed me to continue to draw out Jiwei’s anger even from a distance.”

Both Nie nodded, listening intently. Good students, both of them, for all their occasional faults; if only he had three dozen like them. As a teacher, it was the highest compliment he knew to speak.

“The unusual heat started, as far as we can tell, when the saber shattered,” he continued, now thinking out loud. “If Jiwei’s anger can transfer from one container to the other through the pathway forged by the resonance, why couldn’t the rest of her spirit do the same? Why couldn’t she come to possess the jade if she so wished?”

He wasn’t sure what to do with that idea, in all fairness – he might speak of questioning the sabers, might have reluctantly accepted them as having some form of sentience, but the idea of an entire spirit transferring from one body to another within the same lifetime in a method not unlike possession was rather disturbing. But at the same time he couldn’t imagine any other reason for Baxia to try to challenge a jade pendant to a duel.

Proud, strong Baxia, the only match to Nie Mingjue’s matchless talent, so fearsome that even other saber spirits yielded before her…

“But –” Nie Mingjue glanced sidelong at his father. “Teacher Lan, he also thinks you’re Jiwei.”

“Because I cultivated the pendant,” Lan Qiren said, because it made a certain amount of sense. “There are two types of spiritual energy in there: Jiwei’s and my own. Perhaps when I offered him the pendant, he recognized Jiwei in there, and also me, and thereby conflated the two…”

“I’m right here, you know,” Lao Nie interjected. “Being talked about as if I’m not.”

Lan Qiren leveled a quelling look at him.

Lao Nie gave him an arch look in return. “Just reminding you that I understand spoken speech, in the event you’ve forgotten.”

“Very well,” Lan Qiren said tetchily. “In that case, who I am again?”

Lao Nie paused, eyes traveling between Lan Qiren, the pendant dangling from his hand, and Nie Mingjue.

“You feel like Jiwei,” he said hesitantly. “But – the strangers felt like strangers, and weren’t. So you’re – not Jiwei. You’re…” He glanced at Nie Mingjue again, seeking external confirmation that his senses were misleading him; Nie Mingjue nodded eagerly. His gaze slide back to Lan Qiren. “Qiren?”

“Well done,” Lan Qiren said, full of relief. “Full marks, passing grade. Would it be possible for you to stop calling me ‘sweetheart’ and ‘darling’ now?”

Lao Nie – despite being the shameless scoundrel that he was – abruptly flushed bright red, while Nie Mingjue covered his face with his hands.

“I understand, of course,” Lan Qiren assured him. “What passes between a man and his spiritual weapon is very private, and –”

“Stop talking,” Lao Nie growled. “Just – stop talking.”

[frzntrx]

The Frozen Heart Saga book 1:

The Frosted Diamond part 1

(A/N: yes I’m doing two “bridgerton” sibling love stories at once, I’m making them intertwining in the same year in a sort of love… rhombus? Idk. anyway Loki x Elsa Anna x Kristoff in this??? Hint of Hans because I needed a Lord Berbrooke and yes I know Anna is basically Edwina and Daphne combined in this story plot wise I’m sorry LoL)

Chapter 1: Tis the Season for Elegant Ladies

Elsa stared sadly out the window as she listened to her sister rush down the hall giggling excitedly, “ELSA!!! We MUST make haste!!! We’re going to be late!!! The one who needs primping is ME!!!” She teased as she passed Elsa’s door.

Anna might be excited that she’s to marry… she has hope that love will find a way… but she doesn’t realize how important this alliance could be, Elsa thought.

The kingdom was going broke…

The mines where they mined silver had run out… and Elsa was forced to pawn her little sister as a marriage prospect to nobles of their Allies… including the big one… the Realm of Asgard itself.

As queen of Arendelle,a kingdom in Norway near where the asgardians once ruled Eons ago, she’d be preferable as a marriage candidate… but her secret… her powers that even Anna didn’t know about… that could literally kill someone. Her powers were too volatile. No one could know… the kingdom and her very life could be at stake.

They’d call her a witch… a monster.

So she was better off alone…

Her sister was the only viable option.

So she had to make sure that any suitor Anna took a fancy to was just right… she owed that to the kingdom, and to her sister… she deserved better than being stuck with a frigid distant sister for the rest of their lives.

She needed a love match.

She sighed as she heard her sister who had rushed back to her room next door to her own, as she sang cheerily to herself,

“This is only the beginning of the life that I’ll be living!!! I’m dreaming of a match for love! Just like mama and papa had done! So mama papa if you’re looking down from above”

Elsa winced as she heard her sister trip over the edge of her gown and fall to the floor.

Then she sighed in relief as Anna giggled,

“I’m marrying for love!” Anna finished, and Elsa grimaced.

She needed to find a wealthy suitor for her sister… but she also owed it to her sister to find her a love match…

How was she going to pull this off?

Meanwhile on the other side of the nine realms a very different family was getting ready for the arrival of the two sisters, as well as other hopefuls.

“Thor where is your brother?!?” Queen Frigga asked, it seemed like her beloved son was always disappearing off to some unknown corner to avoid expectations… for someone who claimed he wanted to prove himself to his surly father he sure didn’t make an effort. Or so it seemed to her… Loki confided in her a lot about how his father preferred Thor… and when he realized he wasn’t who he thought he was… it got so much worse. Because then he had a reason WHY Odin doted on their oldest son. And after Thor found a bride the previous season in a young mortal named Jane… it got worse. Because he knew his status as next in line after Thor goes away after Thor and his new wife produced an heir.

At least Hela isn’t here to put the boys in even more turmoil, Frigga thought and winced, then she looked at Thor again.

“If your brother is to be respected as prince of Asgard he must ACT like prince of Asgard and show some responsibility! Thor WHERE is he?!? He promised he’d look for a bride this year!”

Thor shrugged,

“I do not know.”

Frigga groaned.

At the other side of the palace, a pair of lovers had secreted away from the hustle and bustle, and the responsibilities and expectations.

The young woman giggled,

“Just hold me closer now! Our time is running out!”

The young prince laughed,

“Oh Wanda… you know it’s half past nine!”

“Then my love stop the time! Just put it in your pocket and lock it away!” She teased and he smiled gently,

“Wanda you know I cannot stay! My royal duties await!” He frowned sadly, then kissed her forehead,

“So I’ll see you Saturday.”

The young woman sighed,

“Okay.” And then he was gone…

Back at the throne room Frigga sighed with relief as her son approached,

“Loki where were you? We were worried you’d backed out on your promise!”

Odin humphed, and Loki grimaced,

“No of course not mother…”

The ceremony of Frigga and Odin meeting all the marriage candidates was entirely too long and boring…

Once it was finally over Loki needed to get out of the palace and clear his head,

Dark cloud started forming, a crack of Thunder, and he stroked his horse’s neck, soothing it,

“Easy boy… storm coming.”

He had been riding on his black horse in the hills outside the palace towards the woods for about twenty minutes when he was startled by a flash of white, blue and silver rushing by.

He blinked and saw a young lady taking off like a bat out of hell on her white horse.

She had the purple hood of her cape up, so he couldn’t really see what she looked like, but when she turned and looked at him in alarm because she almost ran into him not paying attention all he could see were the most beautiful big blue eyes he had ever seen in his life.

She turned back around and started going even faster down the hill towards the forest,

“Miss are you in trouble?!?”

So he did what any gentleman would do… he followed her to make sure sure she was alright.

But then he saw the small hedge towards the bottom of the hill in front of the forest.

“Ma’am be careful!” He called, but she couldn’t hear him…

She wasn’t going to stop in time!

“WHOA THERE!!!!” He yelled.

And then something amazing happened.

The horse leaped over the hedge, clearing it with ease, the young prince sighed in relief, the young lady and her horse stopped, lowered her hood, and turned and looked at the young man following her.

He was stunned…

Long blonde hair in a braid over her shoulder,

Large sapphire eyes…

The cutest little lips. Then they curled up into a proud smile, and she carried on her way.

That and her spectacular horsemanship pushed him over the edge of just being curious and concerned for this mysterious young woman.

It was then he knew he was a goner.

Little did he know their paths would cross again…

Sooner than he thought possible.

[theshamsandherzahraat]

(untitled frank castle ff) I

word count: ~1.4k

warnings: none i guess? please, let me know if there’s something i should mention here ._.

note: this might come off as pretty dry because our main man will not make an actual appearance yet but that’s how i operate; i work up to things and i like to dive in deep :) and i must be honest: writing this first “chapter” made me realize how little attention there was given to amy’s character fandom-wise. someone protect that small bean. though i cannot blame anyone – we are basically all ready and grilled exclusively for frank. bye.

(honestly, this would have most definitely stayed “unposted” but i want my inspiring and favorite castle writer to read this because otherwise i wouldn’t have dared to write this. to the lovely @bunnywritesmarvel – enjoy! and also, please, don’t expect much in terms of continuation. transitioning from writing in the head to actual writing is the hardest thing ever and everything is so much better up there than when i attempt to put it outside of that. i’m everything but not a writer, folks.)

–

“Dinner was A-MAZING!” The blue-eyed girl sitting infront of you exclaimed gleefully. “Thank you so much! You just go ahead and relax, really, I'll do the dishes...” She got up in an instant and started to gather the dirty cutlery into one bowl. “GOSH! SO FRIGGIN' YUMMY!” You heard her comment on your cooking for the third time since you were left to a twosome company. She slipped into a couple of yellow gloves and had a frown painted on her childlike face. “Urgh...I can't believe our Mr. Punisher gets to eat like this all the time. Probably the only thing I envy him for.“

“Haha...Sweet. You're absolutely welcome, dear one. Sometimes a warm meal is all you need for the time being.” You readjusted your right leg on the chair right next to Amy's and crossed your arms in a satisfied manner, thinking aloud, while the relentless pain subtly shot up your lower body. “But you shouldn't be too jealous of Frank. He doesn't eat much of my food. As a matter of fact, he doesn't even eat that much food in general. Sometimes I think that man's just a walking coffee container.“

“True. Who drinks coffee to calm down anyway?” The youngster rhetorically asked into the room filled with clattering sounds coming from the sink. “But how come he doesn't get to enjoy your cooking that often? I mean...You two seem pretty close.” You could hear the genuine tone in her voice as she unknowingly invoked some of the repressed feelings you were shoving aside for the past few days.

“We do?” You tilted your head not just in a way of questioning her statement – No, you were about to question everything at this point. Heat was rising up within and your chest was enveloped in a raging fire that fueled your anxious thoughts. You didn't move a muscle.

“The way you guys look at each other...Seems pretty close to me.” Amy turned around to place some of the clean yet dripping dishes on a laid out kitchen towel. She presented you a suggestive smile of hers before reaching out for a glass of water.

“I'll let that pass I guess.” You shifted forward to put your elbows on the table, cupping your cheeks in the process with a heavy sigh escaping your lungs. This very moment seemed to reveal how terribly exhausted you were. You let go of any filtering sensors and decided to become vulnerable. You didn't know who would benefit from that eventually but you absolutely knew that you were done with every load of crap that came with speculative behavior. “I don't know. Sometimes I feel like we are million miles apart and sometimes, yeah, I feel like we are basically one and the same person. Life is all about paradoxes I suppose.“

“So...”

“So…?”

“Well,” Amy made an effort to copy your posture, though quickly realized that she didn't want to touch her face with those gloves on. She settled for intertwined fingers held out over the edge of the counter and trustingly locked eyes with you. Her sincerity was about to leak from her mouth next. “I don't know if I'd be too nosy, especially how Frank always responds to my questions – jeez – but...do you mind telling me about how you two met in the first place?”

“You want to know how I got involved with Castle?” You leaned back in your chair and diverged your gaze on to the pathetic décor of Madani's dining space. Were you ready for that kind of recount?

“Only for statistical reasons, I swear. 'Cuz so far his meeting new people somehow always backfired at him. Maybe you'd be the exception to the norm...” This unfortunate girl has been shifting into so many versions of herself as a self-proclaimed defense mechanism since you got to know her. And this might have been your one shot at helping her with relieving a portion of the stress, lending her some ease through distracting mellowness that coated the bitter conclusions you drew for yourself from what you were going to tell her.

“Maybe. It depends on which encounter you're opting for your 'research'.” Was this going to hurt you and become an addictive pain to the most beautiful moments in your life?

“You guys met more than once?? Like how?!?” She asked before you made up your mind to reconnect in terms of eye-contact. It was going to be fine.

“I met a fully bearded stranger, called Pete, the first time. And the second time I got to meet Frank who thought I didn't know him as Frank. That night at the bar...Well, I don't really know what the hell that was but I guess we're well past remembering all of it. So, yeah. And I guess somewhere in between those I occasionally met with his ghost after he left. Twice.” You started to loosen the imaginary tension as you felt more and more comfortable in your very own, for a change also audible narration that made you relive each moment in such vividness – Your excitement almost synched up with Amy's.

“Holy shit! You guys have like actual history...I suppose not a Bonnie 'n Clyde type of one but real stuff nevertheless.” A mixture of surprising fascination and open curiosity, alongside other indistinguishable impressions, was plastered on her otherwise stoic complexion. Could you really pull this of though?

“Honestly, sometimes it tends towards the surreal. I wouldn't want to bore you with any wild details.” You chose to leave your current seat in an attempt to avoid further confrontation and made a miserable effort to walk over to the couch area. Damn gun wound.

“I will finish cleaning” said she who rushed to your redundant aid with her perfectly functioning legs “and then I'm going to order some milkshakes from like THE best place I know here. You literally have to tell me everything before Frank gets back.” You were met with a pair of glistening blue eyes which enchanted you under the dimmed cold lights of the apartment.

“But you told me to relax...” You protested in a pre-defeat to her unwavering determination of getting what she wants, namely mere entertainment, though secretly initiatory healing. Healing for the both of you perhaps.

“I did. And you can still do that until I'm done here...Please?”

You had to blink in humorous perplexity.

“Huh...We never thought you'd come around saying that word like ever...” A giggle escaped your mouth before you reached out for a pillow to hug.

“Wow. I cannot believe you two were already ganging up on me like that.” The irritated teen went back to her original occupation in the kitchen with a hunched back, not knowing that she already had a place in your heart the moment she expressed her innocent joy over your food.

“Hhmmm...Instead of milkshakes,” you prompted in an upbeat voice “how about some apple pie, you know, fresh from the oven? Do you know a good place like that?” You didn't turn your head in a way to tease her with your reassuring suggestion that you wanted to express nonchalantly in vain.

“I guess I do, grandma.” ...What a nasty remark that oddly made you laugh to yourself as you did not expect that kind of response at all.

“Well, dear one, you can make the call whenever you're set and we'll see about those 'wild details' then...” For a moment you were thinking of turning on the TV but instead you bent over in your seat to grab Amy's notebook that was buried beneath various magazines on the coffee table.

“GOT IT!”

You quickly found a pen that was about to roll off in all that mess and made yourself comfortable as far as the half-numbing pain in your right leg allowed it. You took a deep breath and closed your eyes. A smoldering fire was what you saw. Warmth – Amy should be reminded of that whenever she was going to open this book. Soon enough the tip of the pen was practically dancing on the blank page, helping you to focus on line after line before you dozed off and found yourself dreaming.

“Stop. Go to sleep.”

“I want to draw you, Pete.”

“What the...Cut it out...Sleep...”

“I believe you're very beautiful,...Frank.”

“…”

“And I think I want to kiss your nose...”

[osamiiya]

"It's a date then" - 02

Summary; Tomorrow comes and goes, and a week passes. And Atsumu gets antsy because as time passes Osamu gets better at Kissing and Atsumu still hasn't left the staring line.

Note: Slightly shorter chapter sorry :(

Masterlist for "First Kisses..."

---

Previously;

Atsumu just leans against his window, “It’s important to me, and you might be the only person who will agree.”

There’s a sadistic glee in Atsumu’s eyes as he watches your eyes widen in fear.

He’s lying of course, Atsumu has many fans who would agree in a heartbeat to practice kissing with him, but believe it or not he’s a sap, and the thought of having his first kiss with someone he doesn’t care about doesn’t sit right with him.

Call him a romantic or something.

---

The next thing you know, Atsumu’s glaring at the back of your head in Math.

It’s been a week since you’ve agreed to hear him out, but it seems like every time he has time to talk, you don’t, or you’re simply not around.

Talk about timing.

He glares throughout Math, Science, and History. Atsumu probably would’ve kept glaring after the bell for lunch hadn’t rung, but as soon as the bell rang, much like the other kids in your class, you were up and out of your seat almost instantly.

Atsumu mutters apologies and greetings as he tries to push his way through the crowding students in the hallway, eyes trained on your head through what seems like the entire school population until he gets close enough to where you might be able to hear his voice.

“Y/n!” Atsumu’s voice is loud as ever, and you turn to see a mop of yellow hair make its way towards you through the crowded hallways.

His hand grabs yours before you can get any further, and pulls you into a side hall, mostly empty except for the occasional kids passing through trying to find their friends for lunch.

“Y/n, tomorrow was like a week ago.” The pout on his lips is pink and exaggerated, hand still intertwined with yours.

From an outside perspective, it might look like a couple getting away from the masses of students in order to have a private conversation.

"I've been busy."

"Too busy for me?"

The sigh from your lips draws Atsumu’s eyes to your lips, which he's been thinking a lot more about since he had come up with the plan in the first place. Of which had probably been the cause of a few embarrassing dreams about kissing and perhaps a relationship.

Atsumu shakes his head slightly enough to get rid of his thoughts, which doesn't escape your view.

“Fine, what did you need to talk about?”

If possible, Atsumu’s smile would’ve been glowing.

“First off, you can’t object until I’m done, or interrupt.” He waits for your agreement before continuing, “So, basically, Osamu’s had his first kiss before me- don’t give me that look, and I got to thinking. So what if Osamu’s had his first kiss with-” Atsumu catches himself from outing his brother and Sunarin’s relationship by gaping like a fish as the image of his brother right hooking his chin comes into view.

“well, it is not important who he has his first kiss with. But it won’t matter if I have my first kiss after him, if I get better at kissing than him.”

“And who are you going to rope into this?” Atsumu’s eyes narrow at your interruption slightly, in a somewhat playful way.

“What did I say about interruptions? Anyways, thats where the favour comes in.”

It’s your turn to narrow your eyes at a fidgeting Atsumu, gnawing on his bottom lip, making it slightly red.

“See, I don’t want to kiss just anyone. So I was wondering if you could…”

“Atsumu are you asking me out?” Your question sounds more like a statement than a question and Atsumu groans internally.

“No, it’ll just be” He pauses to think of the word he wants to use “practice.”

“Just… practice?”

Atsumu holds his breath as you think, eyes darting over your shoulder to make sure that nobody was eavesdropping.

And he nods, rather stiffly, but a smile cracks on your face and the tension in his shoulders loosens a little.

“I mean, it’ll just be like stress relief, kissing helps with stress and stuff y’know?” The smile on your face prompts rambling to hopefully convince you further.

“Sure.”

Atsumu blinks a couple times under the blue school lights, and Atsumu swears that you look like an angel underneath the usually unflattering lights.

His savior.

“It’s a stupid idea, but you are cashing in your favor and I won’t owe you after this.”

Your words are contrasted by the soft smile on you lips, and Atsumu swears his heart dosen’t skip a beat.

“Yeah, um, my place after school? I’ll walk home with you? ‘Samu’s going to Rin’s ‘cause we don’t have practice. My Ma won’t be home either.”

At your nod, he smiles.

“It’s a date then.”

---

Taglist;

@yatoatyourservice

[guiltydumpling]

The Guard: Chapter 5

[KUVIRA X READER ROYAL AU]

Summary: “I called you all here to announce that we have a guest arriving sometime later today. Princess Y/N of the Kingdom of Elysian” The people in the throne room looked at one another confusingly. “Their palace was under sieged and the king had to send the princess away to keep her safe from any assassination attempts. Their kingdom has done a lot for us and has proven to be great allies for generations. She’s come a long way and has been traveling for a week, I expect nothing less than for all of you to treat her as you do a member of the royal family and to attend to everything and anything, she might ask for… This poor child has already been through too much.” There was silence in the throne room for a while, as they let the information sink in. “Dismissed.”

A/N: Hi beautiful beings <3 Holy crap i’m back and I know it took me like a thousand years to update and I really have no excuse for that but I’ve been receiving messages and question about whether or not I will continue this story and guess what... YES I WILL! there’s only about 2 chapters left after this and an epilogue so watch out for that and thank you so much for the support! This is my first ever fic so I never expected to get this much love from the readers! anyway... Enjoy ;)

Word Count: 4.7k

~ ~ ~

He’s dead… your father is dead. They told you he was poisoned by the wine that was served during the peace negotiation meeting, that the poison didn’t take effect until he was brought into his chambers for the night and his mouth started to foam, blood coming out of his nose and ears, before he collapsed on the floor and that his body wasn’t discovered until the next morning when his servants would usually get him ready for the day. You were saddened by your father’s death but mostly angered.

You were sat on the training grounds on the bench where you first opened up to Kuvira about your kingdom’s situation. You felt your eyes burn from all the tears you have shed for not only your father but your home. You stared at the stars that lit up the dark sky and all you could think about in this moment was your sister. How different things would be if she were still here you thought.

A few moments later and you did not move from your position when you hear someone walking towards you. You didn’t have to turn around to see who it was because you already knew who would be stupid enough or brave enough or both, to follow you when you clearly wanted to be alone.

“I’m sorry about your father” Kuvira spoke a few feet from where you were sitting.

“Why are you sorry? You weren’t the one that killed him” you said coldly. All manners and sensitivity abandoned.

She didn’t speak for a while and you turned your head to finally meet her eyes. They were sad and full of worry for you and somehow you felt a pang of guilt, she just wanted to be there for you. “Sit with me?” you ask her in a softer tone, and she does. You grab her hand to intertwine your fingers with her and you place it on your lap turning your attention back to the stars as you both sat there quietly.

Kuvira loved to banter and tease, it was basically her form of endearment not only towards you but to everyone around her that she cared about. Despite that, she knows exactly when you just needed silence and her presence alone. This was one of those times and you were so thankful for that.

“I guess I’m a queen now” you say as a matter of fact and she hums in response.

“I would be lying if I said that I never wanted to be queen. I’ve thought about it once or twice when I was a stupid child, but I would always push the thought back when I would come to the realization of what exactly being queen would cost me.” And you were right. It cost you everything. Your sister, your father, your home, your happiness, your freedom, everything.

“Have I ever told you about my sister?” you asked her, not tearing your eyes away from the sky.

“No. But I know you two were close” She says

“We were.” You gently smiled at the memory of you and your sister running around court, hiding from your guards because all you wanted to do was play in the garden all day. You two were inseparable.

“My father would often joke about how we were practically joint at the hip.” You continue and you see Kuvira smile gently from your peripheral.

“We were both opposites in everything. From our duties, to our skills, even to our aspirations. You see, my sister loved being a firebender. You should have seen her when she first discovered her gift, she nearly burned down the garden.” You say with a slight laugh.

“Our father had her trained by the best masters in our kingdom and she became a master herself. She was stubborn as well, that’s what made her a great fighter. She was outspoken and rowdy and very much like my father when he was in his youth. Or at least that’s what our servants would tell me. I on the other hand took from my mother, I was quiet and timid, I devoured book after book, practiced the discipline of art and music, and I wanted pretty much nothing but to be able to see the world and its beauty and culture. That was my destiny. To share my gift of knowledge to the people around me, and hopefully contribute to it. However, my sister, was destined to stay in Elysian and be responsible for our family’s line and heritage. But she had other plans in mind. She wanted to become a soldier, she wanted to fight, and that meant having to renounce the family name and her title in order to do so, and you can only imagine how furious father was when she told him. They got into a huge fight after that conversation and they barely talked afterwards. That’s when their relationship started to wither. She would often escape at night to go to town and observe civilians living their life according to their will, she told me it was fascinating, and she was jealous of them all, then she met this man. He was just a farmer’s son and he didn’t know the real identity of my sister, so he pursued her, and they fell in love. But one of the roaming soldiers caught them half undressed in one of the stables behind the man’s home and they dragged the man away for violating her highness.” You paused for a while, remember the poor man’s face, he was so terrified and clueless at the time. Dragged in chains, when all he was doing was spending the night with the woman he loved and thought he knew.

“They sentenced him to be exiled and had his family’s land stripped from them as payment for dishonoring royal blood with peasant hands. I heard his father was killed in an alley by angry citizens because of the deeds of his own son, and that his mother died from a disease that could not be treated because they no longer had the means to pay for medication, leaving his little sister to sell herself to desperate low-life men just to be able to fill her stomach. My sister had every right to be furious. She was put under supervision the entire day and had the guards stationed in her chambers doubled at night. Chantou ordered the exile sentence of the man and told my father that he should find my sister a husband soon so that this kind of thing does not happen again. And that’s what my father did. He wrote a proposal to one of our allies and they agreed that marrying their offspring would make a better knot than any treaty would.” You shake your head in disapproval of the memories and let out a sigh of pity for your sister.

“Months passed and her marriage was nearing. She barely left her room so I only saw her once a week at best, and whenever she would have conversations with my father it would end in a screaming match or at least one of them storming out of the room. My father believed that what he was doing was for the best, or at least that’s what he told himself when Chantou was basically gaslighting my father into forcing my sister into submission… The night before her wedding, she didn’t leave her room the entire day. It was late at night when I heard a crash in her room since I was only across the hall from her. When I tried to check on her myself, she was being held down by two of the guards and she was thrashing around, blood on her feet and knuckles while her handmaiden tried to calm her down. She was having a meltdown basically. When she saw me enter the room, she settled down quite bit and just started crying hysterically while her handmaiden looked at me with pleading eyes not knowing what to do anymore. The room was a mess, there were shards of glass on the floor and flipped furniture but all I could think about was how I barely recognized her. She was much thinner, her eyes were circled dark, and her hair was all over her face. I felt so bad for her.” You say feeling your chest tighten.

“I told the guards to let her go and that I would take care of her which immediately got her to finally settle down and I had her handmaiden and guards leave us alone so I could personally attend to her. Which I did. None of us spoke as I cleaned her up and put her in bed before I attempted to clean up the mess, she made in her room. I didn’t want to leave her just in case she woke up and had an episode again, so I decided to sleep on the couch of her room. A few moments later I was woken up by a cold breeze and when I opened my eyes, I saw the balcony window wide open and I immediately searched for my sister on her bed, but she wasn’t there anymore.” You feel the tears start to brim in your eyes, but you held it down not wanting to cry anymore.

“I immediately got up and went straight to the balcony and that was when I saw her… just standing still on the railings, wind blowing her nightgown and unkempt hair. I didn’t know what to do and I… I was frozen in place. But I called her, and she looked back at me with tears in her emotionless eyes as she told me she loved me. I told her I loved her back and that I would always be there for her… I was begging her to come down from the railing, but she just stared at me…then she asked me if I really loved her, which of course I said yes to, and then she smiled, for the first time since the day of her lover’s exile she smiled… the only reply she gave me was “good. Then take care of everything for me okay?” those were her last words and she just… jumped. And I don’t remember much but I think I was screaming? Or maybe I was trying to, but nothing seemed to come out. But I passed out on the balcony and woke up in my room with my father sitting on the foot of my bed only to tell me that my sister committed suicide.” You finish, and you swallow the lump in your throat as you held Kuvira’s hand tighter.

“Is that why your sister’s death took such a big toll on your father? Perhaps he felt like it was his fault?” She asked carefully and you nod your head to confirm.

As much as Kuvira felt bad for your sister she couldn’t help but feel her blood boil. How could your sister do that to you? Leave all the mess she created to you? Even the audacity to take her life in front of you while you were begging her not to. Why did everything have to fall on your shoulders?

And now your father is gone, your home is in a civil war, and you were blaming yourself for everything when none of this was ever in your control. You had such big dreams, and you had such a big heart. Why is that all being wasted on a mistake you didn’t make?

Call Kuvira biased, but you absolutely did not deserve any of this.

After a while you chuckled lightly at the stars before you, causing Kuvira to raise an eyebrow at you. “What’s so funny?” she asks, and you simply shrug

“When my sister died, I was so angry… I wanted to lash out on everyone and everything but my father… He was silent. I would often catch him sitting on my sister’s balcony at night staring at the sky and when I asked him why, he told me that he used to do that too when my mother passed away. He said that our ancestors used to say that when somebody we love crosses the afterlife, they become our guardians… and the stars we see are actually their eyes looking down on us from the heavens.” You explain

“That’s beautiful” She comments

“It’s bullshit” you state abruptly. “I always thought it was stupid, something old people would say to comfort the young when they would lose someone” you paused, eyes still searching the stars. “But why is it that all I’m trying to do right now is look for their eyes?” you wonder out loud. Desperation perhaps? You wanted a sign, anything, that will indicate what to do next. If the stars were really your loved ones watching over you, then why has nothing in your life worked out for you?

You felt alone. Then you turn to the person beside you. The person who was still holding your trembling hands and sat beside you in your darkest moment and will continue to do so as long you allow her to. You weren’t alone. You had her. She was the only one you had.

You turn to her, taking your free hand, you bring it to her face and slowly caress her cheek. She looks at you with a slight confusion at the sudden affection but places hand above yours anyway.

“Promise me something.” You whisper to her “Promise me that your different. That you’ll stay… Promise me you won’t leave me?” you whisper in a desperate tone, tears threatening to fall from your eyes and Kuvir smiles gently at you. “I love you. Spirits know how much I do… I promise I’ll never leave you.” Kuvira whispered back, lump forming in her throat.

She promised you that she will never leave you and she knew in her heart and her soul that she never could even if she tried. But everything’s different now. You had duties; you were queen. No amount of love in this stupid world could ever provide you a legitimate heir with her. It was you who had to leave her.

She pulled you into a hug and you pressed your cheeks against her chest, letting your tears flow freely once more. “I love you so much” you sniffled.

~ ~ ~

You were now seated on the edge of your bed with Kuvira sprawled on the sheets beside you.

“I think the Avatar may be paying us a visit tomorrow” She stated

“Yeah?” You asked unconsciously eyes glued to your lap. You feel Kuvira shift from her initial position to crawl over to your side on the bed before snaking her arms round your waist, resting her chin on your shoulder. “hey…” she whispered gently, and you hummed in response, still not moving a muscle.

“You need to rest” she said her tone laced with concern for you.

You did need rest. Your eyes were sore from crying and you simply don’t have enough energy to even hug Kuvira back. You were so tired.

You nodded you head and turn your face towards her and kissed her cheek as you smile gently at the woman. “Scoot over” you say, and she does exactly that.

You laid under the covers in the dark, your legs tangled with Kuvira’s arms wrapped around you as you rest your head on her chest feeling her calming breath.

“What are you thinking about?” you asked after a few moments of silence.

“Honestly? Your guard.” She said with a slight chuckle

“What about him?” you asked in curiosity

“He must be wondering why I still have not left your room” she responded, and you gave a light laugh

“Don’t worry… He’s a great secret keeper” you assured her, and she simply nodded, trusting your judgement.

“Stay with me ‘til I wake up?” you asked her, and she lets out a sigh causing you to look up and meet her emerald eyes. “Please?” you pleaded, and she looks at you sadly, already giving you the answer to your question. “It’s fine.” You simply say turning away from her once more and you feel her hand gently caress you.

“You know I would if I could… please don’t be upset.” She explained and you simply shook your head

“No, I’m not upset… I understand you have your duties, it’s just… sad.” You explain

“Damn… love sucks.” Kuvira mutters and you couldn’t help but give light chuckle nodding your head in agreement.

“Yeah… it does.” You responded.

After a few moments you started to feel your eyes go droopy and you felt Kuvira’s breathing slow down as well. “Stay beside me in the meeting tomorrow, okay?” you muttered half asleep earning a hum of acknowledgment from Kuvira as you both gave in to the comfort of sleep.

~ ~ ~

You woke up the next morning from the sunlight peeking through your curtains and you slowly open your eyes. Instinctively, the first thing your body does is stretch your arm across your bed to Kuvira’s side only to feel a pang of disappointment when she was no longer there. You knew she wouldn’t be. But you couldn’t help but hope.

As per usual, Zhu Li helped you get ready for the day, dressing you in all black as a sign of grief and the next thing you know you were seated in the war room across the Avatar. Your guard and Empress Suyin were in the room as well, with Kuvira seated beside you.

“We received a message from Elysian, it’s addressed to you, your majesty.” Your guard starts, retrieving an envelope and handing it over to you.

The room was quiet while they patiently waited for you to finish the letter. It was from Chantou. And he was asking your hand in marriage. Why were you not surprised?

Chantou was not a nice man. He was greedy and always wanted what he could not have, but even though, he was smart about everything. All his moves calculated from the very beginning or you wouldn’t have been in this mess otherwise.

You knew exactly why he was asking your hand in marriage. Your marriage would make him legitimate because as of now, to the eyes of your people, he was a usurper, which was exactly what he was. But with you as rightful heir, Elysians will accept him. Your people loved the royal family and for a traitor like Chantou who did not have any claim to the throne, it was no question if the Elysian people might kill him themselves. He needed you. And as much is made your stomach churn, you needed him too. At least for now, as you try to claim your birth right. You needed the nobles on your side again, and right now, they were loyal to him.

You look up from the letter to meet 4 pair of eyes on you, eagerly waiting for you to tell them what was on it.

“Chantou’s asking my hand in marriage” you finally say, and their reaction were exactly what you expected. Confusion, anger, disgust, and for the woman beside you, fear.

“Like hell you would!” The avatar exclaimed but you simply kept quiet.

“He must be crazier than I thought if he thinks you are ever going to agree to that!” Kuvira commented but still, you remained silent. “Right?” she pressed, her eyes trying to meet yours, but you refuse. Instead, your eyes meet Suyin’s. She knew exactly what you were thinking, and she knew exactly why he was asking your hand in marriage. In her time as an empress, she has probably seen all kinds of tactics people use just to gain the power they didn’t deserve. This was one of them.

“Your majesty.” Kuvira speaks once more, this time in a lower more demanding tone and you finally meet her eyes.

“I’ve decided to accept it.” You finally say and together with the avatar and your guard, Kuvira give you a look of disbelief.

You decided to explain yourself and your decision to them. Talking to them about why he asked your hand in marriage and why you were willing to accept such terms. The Avatar, being her usual brash self, told you to just take Elysian back by force. But you rebutted by arguing that you did not have enough men or resources to do such thing. Meanwhile, Kuvira was kept silent.  Her jaws were clenched and was breathing heavily but you tried your best not pay much attention to it as you stood by your decision.

After a few moments of discussion Suyin finally speaks up. “Maybe we should give this a little more thought and process… Of course, I’m not suggesting that you have not your majesty” She said, careful to not offend you. “But perhaps its best if we let ourselves clear our heads and we can come back maybe later in the day to discuss your final decision. If you still wish to accept his proposal… then I personally will support, you.” She finishes and you give her a gentle smile.

You doubt you were going to change your mind but for everyone’s sake, you agreed and had dispersed.

~ ~ ~

You were near the training grounds shooting arrows to a target with your guard a few feet behind you. Shooting arrows used to be an activity that got your mind off of things, but now it just achingly reminds you of your father. A few shots later you heard steps coming towards you. You didn’t bother looking when you knew exactly who those footsteps belong to.

The footsteps came to a halt and you saw Kuvira’s figure in your peripheral. You already knew her purpose for finding you and you just honestly did not have the energy or the heart right now to tell her that you were going to push through your decision. Choosing to ignore her, you continue shooting arrows.

“Leave us.” Kuvira states, tone filled with authority. No wonder why the other guards around here are terrified of her. You thought.

The look at your guard to give a nod for approval and he distances himself from the two of you, far enough for conversation privacy but close enough that he can still keep his eyes on you.

“What do you want Kuvira?” you ask in the most neutral tone you could muster as you shot another arrow.

“Don’t act like you don’t know why I’m here Y/N” she answers, tone still laced with authority.

You took a deep breath before shooting another arrow. Bullseye. You put the bow down and turned to finally look at her. She was fuming. You couldn’t quite put your finger on the exact emotion she was expressing just yet, but you knew it was anything good.

You took a deep breath before answering her, “I’ve made up my mind. I’m going through with my decision. If you don’t like that, then leave.” You say, trying your hardest to not show any emotion. You couldn’t.

“How could you say that? To me, of all people! Do you honestly believe that marrying that son of a bitch is the only way out of this?!” She raises her voice taking a few steps towards you and you almost stepped back, but you held your ground.

“No! It’s not the only way! I can just easily declare a civil war right now and hold on to my pride and title as I let nameless soldiers die on the field while I sit in my chambers drinking tea waiting for a victory, I didn’t take part in! Or I can stop it. Right here. Right now. Without anybody else getting hurt!” You challenged her. It was true. You thought about the options you could take and it all just ended up either more people dying or simply losing. This wasn’t the only way to win back your kingdom, but it was the best way to do it.

“Then don’t.” Kuvira states and you raise a brow in confusion. “That’s what I just said… I don’t underst--what? Haven’t you been listening to what I’ve been saying since the meeting?!” you groan in frustration. Kuvira takes a step towards you not turning her eyes away from your evidently confused features.

“Don’t declare a civil war. Let us do it.” She explains and you feel your breath hitch. You shake your head and take a step back trying to process what she’s saying. “This is madness Kuvira… even for you…”

Having Zaofu declare war on behalf of your family was a huge risk to their empire. You can’t say the thought never crossed your mind when you arrived in Zaofu and you saw the thousands upon thousands of elite soldiers, bender and non-benders alike, not to mention the resources they have remaining stagnant. You knew that you had nothing to lose and that’s what makes declaring a war yourself moot, you had nothing to bargain with but your claim to the throne. How selfish do you have to be just to claim back your kingdom? Your home?

“You’ve seen Zaofu yourself your majesty, we have more strength and power than the wealthiest kingdoms combined. Declaring war on your behalf won’t even cost us half of our excess” She explains, basically confirming your theory. “And what of the empress? What will she have to say about this rash decision you are proposing to me?” you ask as a matter of fact. Your heart was racing, and your palms were getting clammy from this conversation. Why? You’ve yet to figure that out yourself.

“Su just lost one of her most loyal and strongest allies and her best friend. She’s not about to let the remaining daughter of the two people she cared about the most, to sell herself to a usurper when she gave her word that she will protect you at any cost.” Kuvira states and she takes your hand into hers eager to see your face to give her a hint of what you’re thinking right now. Your hands were trembling, and you were feeling guilt eat your heart and soul. Is this the cost for salvation? Selfish drive and wishful thinking? What would your father do? What would your mother say? What would your sister tell you?

You lightly shake your head, still not fully accepting this decision “no… I don- ugh! Spirits, I don’t know what to do!” you let out in frustration. And Kuvira put her index below your chin to gently tilt your head up to meet her gaze. “You are the smartest woman I know. You always know what to do…” She whispers and you feel tears forming when you let out a sigh.

You knew what to do. You just didn’t want to admit it. Your first plan had a lot of flaws in it to start with. Chantou could just easily poison you like he did with your father and declare you died of illness to your people after he gains their favor. You would’ve never ceased the throne back, not to mention you had to have eyes at the back of your head 24/7 knowing that nobody was loyal to you in the palace anymore.

Kuvira’s proposal was exactly what you needed. A display of external power and allies. A reminder to Chantou that his claim to Elysia threatened our close powerful allies, and that they would not sit idly by as they watch their sister kingdom perish. It was the right thing to do.

It’s the right thing to do.

Kuvira cups your face into her hands, and you are forced to look at her once more. “Su loves you. Your people love you. I love you. And I know that your father would never want you to go through your original plan because he died to save you and Elysia. Please… Let Zaofu fight for you… Let me fight for you”

You feel the tears forming in your eyes cascade down your face and you give her a gentle smile. The first time you did anything for yourself was when you confessed your love to Kuvira. And now… you’re letting yourself be selfish once more.

“Okay.” You finally answer.

[martialstories]

Tape to tape - Intro

Coops - High School AU

All credits for the world & the characters for @lumosinlove . Truly obsessed with SW and Coast to coast so this is my shot at writing something in that world. English isn’t my first language and this is my first time posting anything so I’m kinda nervous but here we go!

Coops High School AU. Takes place in Montreal, Canada and the age difference is the same (1 year, Remus being the older one). I hope to write more parts to this but we’ll see.

I have no idea how the Canadian high school works, but I googled, so Remus is on grade 11 and Sirius is on grade 10 during this fic. (Basically Junior and Sophomore) On other chapters they might be on different grades.

Happy reading!

___________________________________________________

Tw: mentions of child abuse

”Loops! You coming?” Sirius shouted from the bench. Remus was on ice practicing slapshots in rapid sets.

”Jeez, calm down! Five more and I’ll be there with you.” He shouted back and skated over after the shots. ”Let’s go. I need to stretch before shower.”

”I know you do. Plus, we always stretch after practice. You still up for teaching me how the First World War went down?” Sirius asked while walking towards the locker room where the music was playing loudly.

”You really are hopeless at history. You know that right?” Remus turned his back to Sirius to hide his smile. He knew Sirius wasn’t stupid but most of the time hockey just came first and school second.

”Oh come on Re! Please, please, please! I’ll fail if you don’t help me!” Remus glanced at pleading Sirius in the stall next to his. He was looking back at him with wide eyes. The rest of the locker room continued to buzz in the background as the two locked eyes.

”Of course I’ll help you. Now, let’s go to the gym.” The clock was already 4.30 p.m. so if they wanted to get everything done and have time to relax in the evening they really should get going.

After cooling down for about 15 minutes the locker room was starting to empty out. Remus and Sirius said bye to the players leaving the rink as they made their way towards the showers. After stripping from their under armours the locker room was completely empty.

”Boys, you are the last ones. Can you turn off the lights and lock the door after you?” coach asked from the door.

”Of course, coach. See you tomorrow!” Remus answered for the both of them. ”Thank you, Remus. Tomorrow at 10 a.m.” Coach reminded them and left the doorway.

Immediately after the door closed Sirius grabbed Remus’s hand and dragged him into the showers startling a little laugh out of Remus. ”Pads! Are you in a hurry somewhere?”

”Yes”, Sirius answered shortly before turning around, slinging his arms around Remus’s neck and pecking his lips. ”Finally alone.” Sirius whispered with his lips against Remus’s.

Remus kissed him back for a while before pulling back. ”I know. But the faster we are done here the faster we can get home and behind closed doors.”

”Good point, Loops”, Sirius quipped. He turned around and stepped under the shower causing Remus to tense in pain at the sight of his back. Sirius turned back towards Remus, hiding his back again. ”Hurry up, Loop- Shit, I forgot about those.”

Remus walked towards him until he could wrap his arms around Sirius’s shoulders and press close to him under the spray. Carefully he slid his arms over Sirius’s back where there was a couple of purple bruises. A year before Sirius would have just laughed him off, saying that he just bruised easily from hits on ice. These days Remus knew which bruises were from ice and which weren’t.

”You could come stay at mine for a few days, you know? My parents wouldn’t mind”, Remus suggested quietly.

”I don’t want to be a bother, I was at yours last weekend.”

”You are not a both-” Remus tried to argue before Sirius cut him off. ”I know, I know but it isn’t even as bad as it usually is. Father was too drunk yesterday so it wasn’t that bad.”

Remus just hugged him tighter while letting the water fall on them.

”So when are you going to get your license Pads? Soon you’ll be 17 and I’m getting tired of being your personal taxi driver.” Remus teased the dark haired boy while they walked towards Remus’s car. It wasn’t big or new but Remus didn’t need much and he was happy with it.

”Hey! Don’t bully me, you old man! Plus, I know you really love it.” Sirius smirked at Remus before getting into the car.

Remus threw his phone at Sirius. ”Be grateful, and I’m only a year older than you! Now call my mom and tell her we’ll be there in 20 minutes.”

”Yes, sir!” Sirius pushed the call button as Remus started the car. ”Hello, Hope! Thanks, I’m fine. Yes, we’ll be there in 20 minutes. Okay, see you!” He ended the call after Remus turned towards their homes from the traffic lights. He placed the phone on the cup holder and grabbed Remus’s hand. Remus smiled at their intertwined hands and raised them to his lips to give Sirius’s hand a kiss. Sirius blushed and turned the music on louder.

After dining with the rest of the Lupin’s Remus and Sirius went up to Remus’s room to study. 5-year-old Jules wanted to come with them but after realising they were just going to study he got bored of the idea and decided to watch cartoons instead.

“If we study now for an hour and a half and get everything done, we can relax afterwards. How does that sound?” Remus planned out loud as he threw his laundry off a chair and pulled it to the table for Sirius to use.

“That sounds good. Can we cuddle afterwards?” Sirius made puppy dog eyes at Remus. “Of course we’ll cuddle! But first we’ll have to study. Now, can you tell me when did the First WW start?”

At 8 p.m. sharp Sirius closed both his and Remus’s books and flopped on the bed. He had been determined to go home for the night but he wasn’t so sure anymore.

“You sure you don’t want to stay the night? We can go get you a mattress now and if you have to get something from home we can drive through yours before morning practice.” Remus proposed softly.

Sirius let out a little huff and after pondering it a while he let out a little sound of confirmation. “I need to call Regulus to check on him but he should be okay since Linda is there. It’s Friday so my parents are out for the night so they won’t care if I stay here.”

He drew his phone from his pocket to call his brother. Regulus answered after a couple of peeps and confirmed that indeed only he and their maid Linda were at home. Sirius told him that he would stay at Lupin’s and closed the phone after wishing good night.

“Now let’s get you a mattress that you won’t need.” Remus said and helped Sirius from the bed.

“Mon dieu, I’m so tired.” Sirius said yawning as they walked down the stairs towards the storage.

“Boys? Is that you?” Could be heard from the living room. They turned towards the living room where Hope and Lyall were watching the news. “Hey, it’s getting quite late. Are you Sirius staying or do you need someone to drive you home?” Lyall asked kindly.

“I’d like to stay, if that’s okay.” Sirius answered.

Hope smiled at him, “Of course that is fine, hun! Just remember you have morning practice so don’t stay up for too long.”

“Yep, we won’t. We are just going to get Pads a mattress and get something to eat before bed.” Remus answered over his shoulder, already continuing towards the storage room.

“Okay, sleep well!” “Good night!”

After Remus and Sirius had set up Sirius’s mattress just in case someone checked on them they made their way to the fridge. Training usually left them really hungry before bed and this night wasn’t an exception.

Their successful heist to the fridge eased their hunger and they got ready for bed. Brushing their teeth was a bit messy ordeal as it included the usual elbow-knocking and the toothpaste marks on their cheeks from kisses.

Remus spooned Sirius from behind as they laid on his bed. The sky was clear and the moon shined through his window creating a soft glow around them.

“What are you thinking about?” Remus’s whisper sounded almost too loud in the quiet.

“You. I truly don’t know how I got so lucky finding you.” Sirius twisted in Remus’s arms to see his face.

Remus smiled softly and leaned forward to kiss Sirius’s lips. The kiss was broken off by Sirius yawning.

Remus chuckled quietly. “Good night.” “Good night.” Was muttered by Sirius before he burrowed his head to Remus’s chest and closed his eyes.

[s1st3r]

Coincidence (Fives x f!Reader) Part 1

Author Note: This was originally a super basic idea that I just got really carried away with and before I knew it I had 1666 words and was like “welP. We’re doing multi chapter stuff now”. Bit of a slow pace at the moment. Part 2 will have more action.

Summary: You and Fives are assigned on a delicate infiltration mission. 

Warnings: None.

Word Count: 1666

Rex’s POV

“Are you sure it’s a good idea to have them working together on this mission?”

I had to admit, I too was second guessing. It was a risky move, but I had faith that Fives and Y/N could pull this off.

“Yes sir,” I affirmed, “their specialised training accommodates for missions of this nature.”

“I’m well aware of their training Rex.” General Skywalker replied as we entered the bridge and approached the holotable. “I just wonder if things might get too… personal.”

“Sir, they’re the most dedicated soldiers I’ve ever met-“

“You mean the most stubborn,” Ahsoka, whom had been waiting for us on the bridge, supplied with a grin.

The general nodded his head reluctantly as though not completely convinced. He brought his hand up to rest on his chin as he contemplated.

“The communications have been established sir,” interrupted Admiral Yularen as he joined those of us surrounding the holotable.

A crackling sound came through as Fives and Y/N’s comms came online.

“Y/N comm check.”

“Fives comm check.”

General Skywalker leaned forward, overseeing the map of the multi-level mansion before him and the two red bleeping icons that signaled their positions.

“You’re clear to proceed,” he advised.

“Copy that,” rang Y/N’s clear voice.

I turned to face the general.

“They know what needs to be done sir.”

Skywalker considered my words carefully. He sighed, “I don’t know Rex. What if they’re not prepared to do what needs to be done?”

  Your POV

Heels echoed throughout the dimly lit hallway as I followed the sound of distant music and murmuring that spilled from the ballroom. As I drew closer, I held my breath in anticipation.

Or was that just this ridiculously tight corset?

I fluttered the fan in my hand in a feeble attempt to act like the lady everyone thought I was, while forcing some oxygen into my lungs. I took a deep gulp of air and compelled a graceful smile to my lips before I stepped into the light and glamour of the ongoing party.

Swiftly, I made my way over to the far side of the room where small tables covered in fine white tablecloth were dotted about for guests to rest at when their feet got tired of the dancing. Since it was still early in the night, many seats were yet to be occupied.

As inconspicuously as I could, I seated myself at a table displaced relatively far from the crowded dance floor. Casually, as if simply admiring the grand space, I surveyed the area. The room itself had to be at least three stories high with massive columns reaching up from the marble floor and curving to intertwine at the center of the ceiling, creating an arched effect. A magnificent chandelier was strung from the heights of the room and casted a beautiful reflection upon the floor’s surface and her dancers.

Hundreds of strangers in expensive clothing mingled below, constantly switching partners through the course of the dance. Swirling skirts and glimmering jewels were all that could be seen as I observed the onslaught of people.

All of this I saw in only a glance before my eyes found our man across the dance floor from me. He stood tall in a suit, cane in hand, as he conversed with other young men. Unfortunately, my eyes failed to find my man who was meant to be already situated at the main hall’s back exit.

I noted to my right, an approaching butler serving crystal glasses filled with rich red wine. Effortlessly, I reached out, seized a glass from the silver tray as he passed and brought the goblet to my lips as though to drink.

“I’m in position,” I muttered. “Eyes are on the target and ready to engage. Fives where are you?”

Small static sounds could be heard through my comm as the audio came through.

“Relax,” came the smooth reply, “I wouldn’t want to miss the party.” I resisted rolling my eyes at the slight tease in his tone. “Besides,” he continued, his voice dropping low, “I would love to see you in that dress again mesh’la.”

“Focus Fives.”

A small smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth at the General’s curt interruption.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Fives slip through a side door clad in the guard uniform he had stolen. My smirk grew. He looked so cute in the dress uniform; little epaulettes and all. Clearly Fives wasn’t the only one distracted. I forced my attention to the task at hand.

“Ready when you are.”

“About time,” I breathed as I left my cup on the table and stood. “Approaching target.”

 The Jedi Council had heard of a new Separatist general joining the fray.

Yavaros Tai.

Rumour had it that Tai was finalising his designs of a deadly weapon that he was revealing to his Separatist sponsors tonight. Clearly, the surrounding men he spoke to were his said benefactors. Wealth dangled from them.

Edging closer, I noted that he looked far younger than I had anticipated. No older than his mid-twenties.

The dark blue floral dress I wore dragged along the floor, so much so, not even my heeled shoes had given me the height I needed, and I resorted to tug the front of my dress upward to refrain from tripping. I hoped that all would go to plan, and I wouldn’t have to try and run in this thing. My only comfort was that I was well rehearsed in these kinds of missions and, on more than one occasion, proved myself to be surprisingly sufficient in improvising… and running.

As I approached the group of men, I planned my next steps carefully in my head. Now, with them only a few feet to my right, I looked over my shoulder as though entranced and distracted. An oblivious dancer, close to the edge of the throng, accidently collided into me and sent me tumbling. Before I could even register the surprised shouts of men, strong arms caught me, and I looked up to see the bright blue eyes of General Tai. Perfect.

  Fives’s POV

She was beautiful.

I knew we were in the middle of a mission, but my eyes were completely spellbound as they intently traced her movements. She moved with a grace and sophistication I had never seen on her before and, despite being dressed to fit in for the event, she stood out like a rose among thorns.

From my position near the doorway, I spied the envious looks from the surrounding women as she walked the expanse of the hall. I didn’t fail to realise the visible admiration from the men nearby either, but my brief jealousy was quickly replaced by pride. I couldn’t help the smug smile.

That’s my girl.

I wished I could be beside her. Show those men she was mine. Maybe ask her to dance. We could dance and laugh until our feet got tired and then leave the party, running down the empty corridors. We would find a way to climb up to the roof and spend the rest of the night under the stars like I know she loved to do.

My smile faltered. Not for the first time, disappointment and love fought for control as I struggled to come to terms with reality.

Because standing alone on the outskirts, I was again reminded anew.

She may love me, but I could never give her the life she deserved.

  Your POV

My mouth gaped open in false shock.

“Oh, excuse me!” I exclaimed. “My sincerest apologies!”

The corner of General Tai’s eyes crinkled in amusement as I gathered myself and pretended to act gushed and embarrassed. Smoothing out my dress, I noted his hands still rested on my shoulders. One of them still held onto his cane. Almost reluctantly, he let his arms fall to his sides as he took in my appearance. I blushed as his penetrating eyes slowly raked down and back up my form.

“My my,” he hummed, “what a beautiful specimen.” His hand caught mine and gently lifted it to brush his lips against my knuckles. His eyes stared intently into mine. It made me uncomfortable. In many ways he was generically handsome, blue eyes, blonde hair, high cheekbones, and a refined posture. Nothing like Fives with his dark features, rugged look, wild smile, and-

“Ehem.” My thoughts were interrupted when a man to our side leaned closer to the general. “We have important matters to discuss sir.” His narrowed eyes flickered over to me. I could tell he was trying to intimidate me as he squared his shoulders.

“Nothing that can’t wait Cronan.” Yavaros’s eyes never left mine.

“But sir- “

“Cronan,” Tai interjected, finally tearing his gaze away from me to focus on the man beside him. “This is a party, is it not? Enjoy yourselves this evening gentlemen. We will discuss business later.”

Cronan shot me daggers as him and the other men dispersed and weaved themselves among the partygoers. Some opted to dance, while most continued to converse with other diplomats.

“Looks like a fun crowd,” I remarked sarcastically, drawing the general’s attention back to me.

“Ah yes,” Tai smirked as his piercing eyes turned to fix on me once more. “I should like to apologise for his curtness. Cronan is… ambitious, and very keen in his handling of business.”

I look of hunger flashed in his eyes.

“Perhaps in some ways, I am no different.” I tried not to squirm as he edged closer to me.

“Oh?”

Ahhh man.

“Mmm.” I felt his breath ghost my cheek as he whispered in my ear. “I’m ambitious to gain your affections Miss…”

“Miss Y/N,” I supplied in a breathy tone. While he mistook it for admiration, I tried to steal my nerves.

He leered. “Miss Y/N,” he murmured, as though playing how the name felt on his tongue. The tension in the air tangible. “Would you join me for a walk?”

To be continued...

~ Sister

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