#the set up is simply: bed and paper pad

[marigoldthegamer]

Listened to music, got inspired. I feel weird posting my art but whatever. Worst it could do is ignorable hate comments ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

[lovelettersfromluna]

Lunch

Summary: it’s raining. Ellie misses you. Eating you out is her favorite pass time.

an: small smutty drabble heavily influenced by Billie’s song Lunch….yes this is rushed, yes I need this just as badly as you do. Hehe mwah 🤍

Warnings: for the love of god MDNI!!! 18+, SMUT!!! Porn with little plot, oral (obvi) r!receiving, Ellie bites readers thighs/leaves marks, she’s a bit rough, pet names, pls pls lmk if I’ve missed anything!

It was like you were on Ellie’s mind the entire fucking day.

From the moment she woke up in her empty bed, she was angry that you weren’t there, setting quite the tone for the rest of her day.

Usually you’d stay over, spending the entire day with Ellie only to spend the night as well, but you had an essay you needed to finish that you simply could not get done with Ellie around, constantly giving you the perfect excuse to abandon it to give her all of your attention instead.

Now, don’t get her wrong. You were on Ellie’s mind all the time anyways, lingering in the corners during lectures or work, daydreaming about your pretty smile or the way your eyes twinkled whenever you saw her.

But today…god…it was like she had an insatiable hunger for you that had her practically itching to be in your presence again.

So that’s exactly what she did.

The second her shift at work was over, she was storming out of the building to get to her car, so quickly that she hadn’t even noticed the rain pouring down on her, soaking her hair completely. She was far too consumed with thoughts of you, and getting to your house as quickly as possible.

You on the other hand, were consumed with other things. Your eyes were glued to your screen, the soft, warm lighting in your apartment drowning out around you, your eyes only focusing on the bright white light emitting from your laptop. You were so close, and as soon as you were finished you’d be able to get some much needed sleep, your poor back aching from sitting in the same position for so long.

You felt bad that you hadn’t responded to Ellie’s many texts, all of them either checking in on you or asking if she could come over. You had gotten to a point where you had to turn your phone onto do not disturb, knowing all too well that the second she gets pouty in her messages, you’d fold.

Soon enough though, your paper was finished. You sent it in without another glance, far too tired to proofread it, before shutting your laptop, tossing it onto your couch, and pushing yourself off of it to take a much needed shower. You told yourself you’d text your girl when you got out, maybe even call her if she wasn’t too huffy over you not giving her the attention she wanted.

What you don’t know, is that Ellie has perfect timing. And just as you’re laying in your bed, freshly showered and cozy in your favorite pajama set, thinking you’ll get some much needed sleep after a long days work, she’s parking outside your apartment building.

Just as you’re laying down, a soft sigh leaving your lips as you hook your thigh over your favorite pillow, looking out the window as you watched the rain patter softly against the glass, Ellie is jogging up the stairs to your place, tugging off her jacket, pushing her damp hair out of her face, and quickly opening the door to your home with the spare key you’d given her.

You hardly even notice it too, exhaustion quickly taking over your body, your soft blankets wrapping around you perfectly as your heavy eyes begin to close.

Ellie’s kicking off her sneakers in your living room, looking around the place as she hangs up her jacket. She silently curses herself, seeing that you’ve already packed up for the night, a clear sign that you’ve most likely gone to sleep.

It doesn’t stop her from making her way further into your home, crossing over the fuzzy carpet in your living room, her feet padding along the hardwood floor that lead to your bathroom.

You turn slowly when you hear her open up your bedroom door, a soft smile immediately gracing your lips when you catch the glimpse of her standing in your door frame.

“Ellie…” you practically sigh out, sitting up to greet the girl properly.

“Sorry….i didn’t know you were coming” you hum softly, opened arms greeting the girl.

She almost wants to laugh, you’re so sweet and welcoming, the only thing on your mind cuddling with your girlfriend after a long day…

But Ellie has other plans.

Her knees deep into the bed, fists pressing into your mattress as she cages you into her arms, nudging her nose against your neck before she began pressing soft kisses on your throat.

You instantly let her in, tilting your head back and giving her better access to what it was she wanted. It was the little things like this that told you loud and clear what your girlfriend wanted, when she’d walk in without a word, press her hand against the small of your back or pull you closer on her lap…

All of which screamed that she needed you.

Before you can even think further about it all, she’s pushing you back to lay against the bed, her body crawling over your own before she presses her mouth against yours without another thought. The second you moan against her, she’s taking the opportunity to slip her tongue against yours, the two wet muscles rubbing together, making your core tighten all too quickly.

You let out a soft gasp when she finally breaks the kiss, her lips moving down to press against your neck, your jaw, collar bones, any exposed skin that she can possibly get to.

“You didn’t answer my texts” she groans out, words muffled by the sound of your skin against her mouth, broke up by kisses and bites as she began littering your skin with marks of her lips.

You moan softly at this, melting at the way her hands grab you, at the way her teeth sink down into your skin, sure to leave a new set of pretty marks there for her to marvel at when she’s finished with you.

“I was…I told you I had to finish my paper…remember?” You manage to croak out between a plethora of moans and whines, keeping the girl close as she pushes your pajama top up so that it scrunched right about your boobs, leaving your top half bare for her.

She hums softly, momentarily giving either one of your pebbled nipples some much needed attention before she lets them go with a pop, and continues traveling down your body.

Soon she’s managed to haul off your pajama shorts and your panties, and she’s settled between your legs, either of her large hands sinking into your thighs as she pulls you closer to her face, looking awfully similar to a woman readying herself for her meal.

“M’not gonna make you beg, because I need this more than you do….” She hums out softly, and you can practically feel her warm breath fanning onto your sobbing wet core.

“But next time I won’t be so lenient” she finishes before she finally gives in, attaching her lips to your swollen clit and sucking it like she was starved.

You moan loudly, unable to fully comprehend her words, your head falling backwards as your back arches almost painfully, pushing more of your pussy against Ellie’s face.

And she fucking loves it. Moaning loudly as her eyes flutter shut, eyebrows furrowing in pleasure. You’d swear she was the one in your position with the way she was acting. You can feel the vibrations of her moans against your needy cunt, and it makes you moan loudly as your head finally repositions to look down at her.

She looks like a dream, so consumed with you, the pads of her fingers digging into your thighs to keep you close, forbidding you from even thinking of running away from the pleasure she had to give you.

Now, Ellie was not your first girlfriend by all means. You’d had flings and dates in the past, most of them slowly dissolving into nothing at the back of your mind. Sex was all the same with them, mediocre at best. You could recall no one ever really being into head unless it was you doing it, which was fine, you couldn’t complain.

But Ellie? Jesus fucking Christ….Ellie was like something out of an erotic novel.

When she first told you, you assumed it was another fuck-girl move of her to get you where she wanted, fill your head with all talk but when the time came to actually do the deed, it would end just like the others.

Ellie quickly proved you wrong.

The amount of times she’d simply tug your shorts off while you two were watching a movie, or slip under the covers while you were playing video games, you couldn’t even try to count them on all ten fingers and toes.

Ellie simply loved eating her girl out.

More specifically? She loved eating you out.

She was a certified fucking munch. Absolutely smitten with you in every single way possible, and she’d be proud to admit it to anyone that asked.

Quickly enough, you find yourself closing in on that delicious feeling. Your stomach starts to coil, and the grip on Ellie’s hair tightens as you grind on her face shamelessly, your slick almost making it impossible to not slide around and make a mess of Ellie’s face.

“M’gonna…you’re gonna make me cum, El…Ellie I…fuuuuckkkk” you drawl out, riding out your orgasm as you scream your girlfriends name like a mantra.

And her eyes never leave yours, watching as the rain splattered window casts patterns against your skin, your naked body like a fucking painting for her as she makes you come undone on her face.

You gasp out as she slows down, tongue drawing slow, lazy circles against your clit as you stare down at her with hazy, lust filled eyes, naked chest slowly rising and falling as you try to catch your breath.

“You’re gonna be the death of me, Ellie…” you pant out, watching her with a sleepy smile.

She smirks, finally pulling away from your swollen pussy, groaning softly as she stares down at the mess she made, the mess you made, fingers ghosting over your over sensitive clit.

You can make out your slick shining on her face in the dim lighting of your room, a sly smirk on her face as she slowly crawls up between your legs, her face inches from yours.

“I just can’t get enough of you, baby…” she hums out softly before she catches your lips in a lazy, sloppy kiss, the two of you moaning at your taste still lingering on her tongue.

And it’s that exact same way that Ellie almost always ensures that both you, and her, sleep very well at night.

[tadpolesonalgae]

Can’t Bring Myself To Hate You - Part 14

Azriel x Third-oldest-archeron-sibling!reader

a/n: small note because it’s a bit confusing, but az’s pov and reader’s pov are 24 hours apart—az is on the third day of her absence while reader is on the fourth :)

Word Count: 7,296

-Part 13- -🎇🎆- -Part 15-

——————————————————————————————————————————————

He knows he can withstand pressure. It makes no difference whether the weight comes from time ticking on, or the tension that coils beneath the icy bite of steel—he has withstood it all. But it’s been three days, and she hasn’t returned to her lonely room in the House. No light has flickered beneath the door’s frame, no soft taps of cotton-wrapped feet padding quietly through the halls, the corridors smelling blandly of wood and pine, lacking the sweetness he’s become accustomed to.

Maybe she’d run scared.

He should have kept a closer eye on her, especially after the fortnight had passed. Would it really have been so bad, he has to wonder. Hadn’t the years in Prythian shown her how wonderful magic could be? Why shy from it? The potential brimming from her fingertips, cauldron-gifted magic ripe and ready for use. He wonders how she sees it. It’s clearly something less appealing, if she’d taken to hiding.

Azriel stretches out, wings splaying taut at his back as sturdy muscle shudders with relief, shaking out the tightness of his shoulders, getting to his feet. He glances once more over the report Cassian had written from Day, still no closer to what they were looking for. Restlessness threads through his bones, jittery and in need of preoccupying. It’s only a matter of time before the tingling static sparks. The others may be managing on their own, but after everything that’s happened in such a condensed span of time, now with a baby to worry about—Rhys doesn’t need this too. None of them do. They may hide it well, but they all can sense that crackling undercurrent, hushed snicks of a second hand ticking down.

And now he’s scared her off, too.

For the third time in as many days, he makes the pathway to her door, spelled to keep sound trapped within, but also preventing it from seeping out. He’s no longer able to hear soft, even breaths when his shadows pass by, not even the crisp rasp of pages turning, nor the rustle of clothing as it’s moved about. He knocks thrice on the door, not bothering with calling out—the wards prevent that. He wonders not for the first time if she can even hear the knocks, he does’t know where the magic lies—if it cuts out the thud of wood. So, as usual, he slides the note under the door.

He has no idea if she’s so much as peeked at the others, has no idea if she’s even actually inside. With the noise cancelling of the wards, and the magic nature of the House, she could very well be remaining curled up in the room, eating what the House gives her, flipping through pages in her own world. He doubts it—he surely would know if she occupied the space behind the door, but remains unsure to the extent of the magic lining the dimensions of the room. It feels too quiet.

Scarred fingers raise to the handle, turning it with ease, and the door opens, left unlocked. He hears no words of protest after announcing he would be coming in, so opens it wider, revealing what he expected: she isn’t here.

The room is emptier without her sat at her desk, without the clothes strewn haphazardly across the floor and bed, without the stacks of book normally set beside her mattress—everything left neat and tidy. Hazel eyes flick to the desk, noting the absence of the bound volume, instead spotting a piece of parchment abandoned where the book would lay. He walks over but leaves it upon the surface, untouched, simply scanning the sparse note.

At Bas’.

I’ll be back shortly.

His brows narrow, at last raising the paper from the desk, inhaling lightly. The faint scent of gardenias clings to the edges, likely where her skin had brushed over the parchment, but it’s already fading. She probably wrote it that night, three days ago.

Azriel sighs, discarding the paper and turning for the door, scanning one last time over the room before leaving. They catch on the dusty red box, untouched and sealed, ribbon still wrapped surprisingly neatly over the rectangular box of the jigsaw puzzle, poking out from beneath her bed. He pauses then, eyes wandering over its form, thoughts passing idly. Then they’re shifting with purpose, glancing again to the desk, this time marking the purple and silver bookmark set aside at the edge, beside the ink pot. It’s been placed facing down. A small painting of starfall rendered in blues, yellows, and oranges in place of the irradiated greens and iridescent golds, positioned adjacent. The pendant he knows his brother chose—admittedly with a little guidance from Nesta, but no less meaningful—laying atop the bookmark. He hasn’t seen her without it since before she had it.

Some dried flowers lay separately.

His eyes shift warily to the singular shelf that’s normally holding borrowed books from the library, now only keeping the weight of one—a short romance, one he’s seen Nesta reading multiple times over. She must have returned them all before leaving to Bas’—but she would have no need to.

Turning to the closet, he pulls open one of the doors that holds a full-length mirror, smudge marks near the edges, and he notes the couple of crudely drawn smiley faces. A curved line and two dots, drawn with the tip of her finger. Inside the cupboard are the neatly folded clothes, all set tidily, and he marks the small bottle of crimson nail polish, still sealed. Beside it is the bright pink lipstick, and his shadows wrap around it, removing the lid. It looks like it’s been used a few times, though he’s never seen her wearing it. He closes the door heavily, returning the gift to its place.

That would leave only his and Elain’s presents unaccounted for, but this time he moves toward her bedside table, shadows once again in use as they lift the lid from the box, successfully locating the glimmering metal of the orrery she’d fawned over. Covered to keep it safe from dust. All signs pointing to her being gone for more than a little while.

Hazel eyes return to the underside of her bed, dipping down in search for the blue box they’d come in. The coloured ribbon that had been suggested, and remained unaltered. Instead he finds brown paper bags, and like almost everything else, they seem untouched. Left to themselves, as if trying to be forgotten. Shadows spool through the handles, neatly lifting them from the floor and carrying them out. Inside are some books, and a short glance at the first page reveals they’re owned, not borrowed. His lips push into a thin line—things from her trips with Mor.

Still no sign of that small, blue box.

He wouldn’t blame her if she’d found a way to return them. It would be better if she had, than if she’d chosen to hold onto them. To hold them dear. His jaw works, returning the bags to their selected place, standing to his full height, once again sweeping the room.

He hopes that she doesn’t treasure them. She doesn’t deserve that indignity.

Gloves lay atop her pillow, and he picks them up, once again inhaling incase they hold a more recent scent. Instead he pulls them away sharply.

The sweetness of flora soured by the damning scent of copper.

The metallic tang that’s impossible for him to forget, so soaked into his skin.

Something sharp tightens in his gut, instincts recoiling and he makes the walk to the windows, opening them to clear the stuffiness from the room. Clearing the smell, starting afresh. Right now, his next task is seeking her out, luring her from whatever burrow she’s found for herself, likely with the male she’d mentioned in the note.

Whatever happens, he tells himself she’ll have to return with him. What’s at stake is too important to risk, he’ll have to handle it delicately.

Make sure she doesn’t run at the first sense of him.

————

The silver bands gleam beneath the crisp afternoon light, crisp breeze fluttering through the free strands of hair at your cheek.

Twenty minutes, he’d given you. Glancing up at the clock tower, you can see you have closer to fifteen left, but it should be enough to at least look. You hardly understand what you’d been thinking, coming here on your own. Possessed by a abrupt urge to walk, and to move. To remind yourself of your ability to chose, the autonomy you have over your body.

Eyes run over the rings, a wonderful display of craftsmanship, intricate little designs human eyes might struggle to pick out. One band has tiny wings welded to the sides, feathers brushed with pearl wrapped around the ring. Another is encrusted with gems that glimmer beneath the watery sunlight, winking and swirling as people move at your back.

Your attention shifts to a new section of the jewellery, rings with raised platforms, holding small engravings on their perfectly smooth surface. Soft creatures bundled together, initials carved into the metal, icons carefully indented upon the ring’s canvas. Almost instinctively, as if guided, your eyes find those of a fox’s, its long fur blowing elegantly in a light breeze, snout raised to the air as it takes in what are likely the last few rays of sun for the day. It’s eyes are closed in concentration and pleasure, leaning into the wind as it wraps about the animal, tall grass swaying with the airways.

“It’s a precious one, that,” the welder says, breaking you from your examination. “Aside from its beauty?” You ask, meeting their gaze—heavy and tired. A faint smile gleams in his eyes, twinkling at the reply, nodding. “Did you make all of these yourself?” You question, re-examining each piece briefly. Again he nods, and you blink. “All of them?” You repeat, watching with furrowed brows. His features drop to displeasure, thick arms folding over a robust chest. “Think I stole some?” He retorts gruffly. “These are all mine. Not a single one you’ll find elsewhere.”

“I’m sorry,” you say hurriedly, “I didn’t mean to…” But he’s already waving his hand dismissively, “I didn’t think you did. Not the type to.”

Not the type to?

“I…thank you.” He nods his head sharply, roughly, and you wait to see if he’ll say more. When he doesn’t, you awkwardly return your attention to the ring, wondering how he managed to capture the moment so perfectly. How much time he must spend simply observing to be able to recreate it with its own sense of life—how he’s managed to contain that energy in cold silver.

“I’m sorry, but are we…I mean, can I…can I look more at it? Pick it up?” You ask the welder, anxiously tiptoeing. Again with a gruff nod. “Guards’ll be on you before you clear the yard, so no running,” he warns. “Fae have lost fingers over these pieces.” You blanch, and he chuckles at the expression, making you unsure of the claim’s truth. You have no idea whether he’s lying or not.

Either way, you swallow, plucking the flat-surfaced ring from the display, wondering. It slides down easily over your knuckles, hanging loosely from the base of your middle finger. Hopefully large enough.

“Bit big for you.”

You fumble, nearly dropping the ring as you remove it from your finger. “Careful,” the welder remarks, eyeing you warily. Blood pumps through your chest, skin warming as you hold the band carefully in your palm. “How…how much is it?” You ask, nerves squirming beneath your flesh, aware of how your throat is sticking together. “3,800 gold marks,” he responds, and your heart drops. “Oh,” you mumble, crestfallen. You guess it’s out of the question, then. “I’m just pulling your leg,” he chuckles gruffly, “it’s only 500.”

“Oh,” you laugh faintly, forcing the smile. It’s still far too much than you could possibly afford. What had you been thinking?

Your eyes drop to the carving, the fox, free in its lands. Wild and beautiful. At peace.

“I…” You lick your lips, setting the ring on the table to show you won’t steal it. “I don’t suppose…I mean, do you trade?” You manage, words bumbling out clumsily, heart stumbling in your chest, breathing a little jagged. The welder pins you with a hard look, bushy brows narrowing in inspection. “What about those rings of your own?” He asks, pointing a meaty finger to you.

You blink, gloved hands wringing together. “What…rings…?” You ask, unsure of what he means. The welder gives an impatient look, and your shoulders tense at the expression. “The rings on your ears. Those look valuable.” You blink, lips slightly parted as you thumb gently over the gold and pearl slotted into the lobes. “Would these work?” You question, a shade quietly.

The welder opens his palm, beckoning. “Let me have a look.” You swallow, but manage to unhook one from your ear without tearing, keeping the trembles to a minimum as you set it in his palm. He raises it to the light, examining it carefully, performing a series of some unknown tests. “Hand over both, and it’s yours,” he offers clearly, the gruffness faded, all business now, returning the earring.

You take it, peering at the tear-drop pearl that you’d treasured. Teeth pull at the inside of your lip, glancing at the flat-topped ring. It’s about time you made some choices of your own, even if they might be bad ones.

“Okay,” you say, a little breathlessly, mostly to yourself. “Both of them. That sounds perfect.” You unhook the other earring, pressing both into his palm a little shakily, heart pounding with exhilaration and uncertainty. But it’s done now.

The welder nods his head in confirmation. “It’s all yours then. Good doing business with you,” he says, scribbling on a small piece of card before handing it over. The title of the piece, the price, and the craftsman’s name inked upon it. A nervous smile makes its way onto your lips, and you take the ring. “Thank you, good doing business with you too,” you say, “have a nice day.”

And with that you pocket the ring and card, giving one last smile to the welder before turning back the way you came, heading over the neat cobbles. Feeling a little lighter than before, breathing easier as you make for the agreed meeting spot.

A strange feeling of pleasure tingling in your chest. Something like satisfaction; pride, and the smile stays with you for a little longer.

————

He knocks thrice on the door he knows belongs to the male, looming before it as he waits.

A latch clicks, and golden eyes pierce out from the relative darkness, marking who’s darkening his doorstep, pupils tightening warily. He opens the door a little wider, shoulder leaning into the thick, wooden frame, ankles crossed, propping his weight on one leg, foot keeping the door from opening any further—also preventing him from barging in. Deceptively casual while remaining cautious, defensive.

“I need to speak with her,” Azriel says, straight to the point, shadows peeking in through the lower windows from the garden. “She’s preoccupied,” Bas informs, unblinking as he takes in the Shadowsinger’s menacing silhouette, great wings towering at his back, capable of shattering bone with a single hit, if stood too close. “It’s important,” Azriel counters smoothly, “family business.”

“I can’t help. She’ll be ready by the end of the week, no sooner.”

Shadows sneak up the vines that have crawled over the light brick walls, but his curtains have been drawn so Azriel has no way of finding her or even catching a glimpse of her condition. “I said it’s important,” he repeats calmly, lowly, eyes flicking over his shoulder to the rest of the house—or what he can see. Bas tilts his foot, not-so-subtly bringing the door to a tighter close, blocking out the view. Bastard.

“And she’s still busy,” Bas repeats, unfaltering. “If it’s so important then I can pass on a message, but she’s staying until the end of the week. You can come back then, if it’s that serious.” Displeasure has his lips pressing together in a pejorative fashion, angling his head in a way that serves as a warning, more warrior than fae, staring down at the male despite there being a mere inch between them. “What’s keeping her busy?”

Bas keeps his expression casual, but replies with surprising adamance, “something important.”

“What?” Azriel repeats, warmth vacating his features, becoming hewn from rock. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” Bas remarks idly, golden eyes running with provoking analysation over the male. His mouth sharpens a little, as if finding something funny, and Azriel briefly considers the merits of roping his brother into this mess. Just by name, of course. Rhys doesn’t need the extra stress of knowing about this.

So the Shadowsinger matches the expression, cool amusement passing through cutting hazel eyes. “Would you be willing to explain her busyness to your High Lord, then?” He remarks.

Azriel doesn’t miss the tension that stitches the male’s shoulders tighter, a faint beat of pleasure echoing through his bones in response to the obvious discomfort. “It’s private,” Bas deflects, thick brows narrowing as his emotions begin to surface. “We’re her family,” Azriel reminds, “you’re an acquaintance.”

A wicked grin raises Bas’ lips, the taunt of instigation gleaming in his golden eyes. “Very well acquainted,” he drawls, peering at the Shadowsinger provocatively.

It’s enough to have Azriel pausing, considering the male before him, examining him. And then stepping forward, intruding into personal space.

Bas doesn’t yield an inch, and it has the Spymaster considering what a brawl with the male would look like. Whether blood would spray as easily as it did the last time he saw the golden-eyed male.

Bas stiffens beneath the look, pushing up from the door frame into a more secure stance. He doesn’t like the look in the warrior’s gaze, how he’s being sized up.

“Tell me why she’s busy,” Azriel commands softly, lower than a whisper and sweeter than silk, yet it has the hairs at the nape of Bas’ neck rising, warning him against something even fae eyesight is unable to detect. Instinct calling for him to back away from the fight.

The Shadowsinger marks the roll of the male’s throat keenly, attention cutting him down to size.

“She’s on her cycle,” Bas bites out at last, after a resentful glare directed his way. “So she’ll be staying here until she feels good enough to move again.”

“Do not,” Azriel whispers, “lie to me.” He steps forward, leather boots pressing hardly even an inch over the threshold, but he knows the male marks it, the blatant disrespect. The Shadowsinger’s nostrils flare delicately on instinct, as every fae’s do when entering upon a new area, and the scent of charcoal and freshly tilled earth enters his senses, along with the faintest hint of sweetness. A floral note hidden beneath the male’s scent.

Very well acquainted, the male had proclaimed.

Azriel’s features turn to ice, any previous amusement or satisfaction draining swiftly away, leaving deadly neutrality. “Find her. I need to speak with her.” Cold hazel runs over the male’s frame. “Promptly.”

“She doesn’t want to speak with you,” Bas replies sharply. “Whatever it is can wait until she’s ready. By the end of the week.”

“And I’ve told you it’s important, so either bring her down here or move aside.”

The very air crackles sharply, a pulse of magic thumping across the landscape, felt in the skies as it shocks through the land.

Gold and hazel blink at the same time, having both felt the shift, skin tingling faintly, like their limbs had fallen asleep. Pressure splitting as ears pop, feeling briefly disorientated.

Bas swallows, eyes returning to the Shadowsinger’s. “I think the fact alone she’s chosen to come here over staying with her family is enough. And I will tell my High Lord the same if you bring him.” Neither of them address the odd shift in atmosphere. “She’s come here, to my house, because it’s where she feels safe. Not with you, yeah?”

“She hasn’t spoken about you,” Azriel states coolly, staring down at the male. “So I have to wonder how honest you’re being.”

“That says more about you than it does about me,” Bas replies lowly. “Because she’s told me a lot about you.” The way he says it makes it clear exactly what he thinks of what he’s heard—and he is not impressed.

Hazel eyes narrow down on the male, pupils tightening with focus. “You’re meddling in Court affairs,” he says lowly, ice hardening his features, “bigger than you could understand. So I will ask you one more time to bring her down here.”

Rhys would have bitten into him then and there had he heard the command in his voice.

Fortunately, Rhys doesn’t have to know how his morals took a sharp turn around the time of the first war. Fortunately, Rhys believes them to still be mostly intact, not half disintegrated and little more than dust upon the cold, dark, cell-stones of his mind. There’s too much at stake for him to waste time with smooth words and idle talk, too much pressure gathering in the skies, a storm on the way at a pace none of them are able to gauge. He doesn’t need this inconvenience—not when his very life might depend on handling her correctly. As if she isn’t a clock ticking down to detonation.

The visions don’t lie, and he has heard what Elain saw, straight from the seer’s mouth. About that flash of vibrant, pale green light, then his body bleeding out on the floor. Fate exists, and there must be a reason for her magic to only now be making an appearance. There must be a reason for his death.

(There must be.)

And yet, as usual, it doesn’t feel like there’s enough time.

“Come back with someone else to verify that, and I’ll consider it,” Bas snaps lowly, hand resting on the side of the door, poised to shut it in the Shadowsinger’s face. “Until then, you keep your hands off her.”

The door shuts, and Azriel’s forced to take a step back, caught off guard. Had she told him about what happened in the library so long ago? Was that a comment about his warped palms?

Frustration burns through his blood but he knows how to temper it, attempting to calm himself despite the hurried tick of his heart. There isn’t time for this, every second is precious. He should be sending a message back to Cassian, discussing these new events with Rhys, filling the rest of them in on the vision and her magic.

Gods, he shouldn’t have allowed her those two weeks on her own. He should have put his foot down then and forced to tell her sisters at the very least. Fuck, he should have done it himself. But he’d let himself be swayed by her emotions, the deep-rooted fear he doubted she was even aware was in her eyes, shifting her scent. But it had been his own shitty way of trying to apologise, allowing her the time she needed, time Elain had insisted she needed.

He sighs roughly, hands flexing at his sides as he turns from the home, already instinctively making his way to the River House. He can’t wait until the end of the week, there’s already enough he has to deal with between her abrupt absence and having to keep monitoring everything, within other courts as well as his own.

He shouldn’t have been so lenient.

He should have pushed more.

Then she would have been able to see there’s nothing to fear.

Then there would have been more time.

————

“Like this?”

“Try it.”

Your brows furrow, but you reach forward, fingers hardly even brushing the rope before his hand is roughly gripping the nape of your cloak, yanking you back hard enough that you choke as something whistles through the air. You gasp, running your palm over where the material had dug in, oesophagus feeling swollen and large within your neck.

“Do you have a death wish?” He snarls, fingers still painfully digging into the material, inadvertently having gotten your hair tangled in his fist, making you wince, eyes prickling with heat. “Eris, ease up,” you grit out, wincing, “you’re going to strangle me.”

He releases you roughly, not missing the sharp tug he gives beforehand. “I should strangle you for being so stupid,” he mutters harshly, stepping back to let you get to your feet, take in what just happened.

You blink, heart pounding from the abrupt turn in attitude, breathing a little faster than before as you turn to peer at the ground a few steps away from the snare he’d shown you how to set—the arrow that’s lodged firmly in the soil.

“You said to try it,” you accuse, aghast at how close the projectile had come to slicing you open, spearing into your flesh. It might’ve gone straight through bone, piercing your skull.

“With a stick,” he snaps, “using a stick. Not your bare hands.” Flame blazes in his eyes, brows slightly narrowed, lips pursed in a terse, pissed-off line. “I thought you were pretending when you said your youngest sister did all the hunting,” he mutters, shaking his head lightly as his groups his long fingers over the bridge of his nose. “I can see why. You’d have likely shot her through.”

Your lips part in slight shock, a look of hurt and dismay marring your features. “Maybe if you were a better teacher that wouldn’t have happened,” you retort, getting to your feet, briskly brushing off the dirt that’s gotten stuck to the back of your cloak. “I didn’t know it would fire automatically.”

“It’s a weapon made to do exactly that,” he snaps, beginning to calm himself, though you can still make out the irritation in his gaze. “You aren’t stupid, despite what your actions suggest. It’s common sense to use a stick.”

“I didn’t know!” You reply sharply, feeling unfairly judged, walking over to where the arrow is lodged in the dirt, pulling it out with some difficulty. “Just because I wasn’t raised to kill…” you mutter.

Keeping your back to him, you pretend to examine the arrow as you wait for his reply, wondering if the comment will have gotten under his skin. But instead you’re met with silence.

“It’s common sense to use a stick,” he repeats lowly, intonation shifting. “Why didn’t you?”

You scowl at him, gripping the arrow as you fold your cloak tighter against the chill breeze. “I’ve never hunted before,” you remind him, sharply, “I didn’t even know it was called a crossbow until today.”

His gaze slices into you, feeling more invasive than usual. Like he’s discovered an opening you’d somehow missed, carefully concealed yet revealed in a subconscious lapse.

Eris stands straighter, angling his head. Cutting amber eyes pierce into you with a weight that’s unsettling, hairs rising at the nape of your neck. He’s made it easy to forget he’s as much as a warrior as the others are. As deadly.

“Do you have a death wish?” He asks quietly.

You snort, rolling your eyes, returning to the crossbow, making to reset it like he’d shown you.

The silence stretches, and you blink, spinning to face him. “Of course not,” you exclaim disbelievingly, staring at him with slight horror. “What on earth would I get out of that?” You mutter, returning to the bow, trying to remember where to fit each part, what lines up where.

“You’ve never thought it would be easier?” He says from nearer by, still in that slightly hushed tone. You frown, peering up at him sidelong. “What would be easier? Engineering my own death?” You ask humorously.

“Yes.”

You blink, hesitating. Fingers pause on the crossbow, attention shifting elsewhere.

“I suppose absence would be easier,” you murmur idly. “But the effort of ending myself would ruin things. I wouldn’t know the first thing about it.”

“About what?” He asks, moving to the other side of the bow, clicking back a part, allowing it to stretch, able to fit the arrow. “About how to do it the right way, I suppose,” you answer, slotting the small projectile in with a satisfying click. “How to keep it clean, or keep it painless. Probably trying to minimise the horror of whoever finds you—if you pass in place you’d be able to be found.”

“Sounds like you’ve given it some thought,” Eris remarks. “I’m giving you a comprehensive answer,” you retort, meeting his gaze. “Do you want me to take you seriously or not?”

“You need to close that up,” he says, nodding to the latch that will secure the arrow in pace. “Here?” You ask, clicking it down and pulling it back, tension rigid across the bow. “There,” he says, and you watch how he ties the rope to the trigger, setting it so the slightest tug will set the arrow free.

Eris steps back, and you peer at him. “What should I aim for this time?” You ask. He thinks for a moment, before a creature made of small flames appears above the rope, hovering—it looks like a deer.

“Anywhere on the main body would do, though the heart or the throat would be best. Equally through the skull, but that’s a smaller target,” he answers, and you grimace. “The legs would suffice this time, since the snare would keep it place. Though without it you’d have to go to the effort of tracking it down, which if you’re having to resort to a crossbow, I don’t imagine you’d want to waste time over.”

“So I just have to hit it?” You ask dryly, giving him an unimpressed look.

His eyes gleam, corners of his mouth sharpening, “if you can.”

————

“Would an arrow have worked on the…” you fumble, not sure what to call it, wrapping your cloak tighter to keep out the autumn chill. “On the creature…? Two days ago?”

“You’re not serious,” Eris muses from your side, piercing amber eyes darting from stall to stall, walking out through the market to get to the main shopping district. “A no would have sufficed,” you reply, laughing a little. “You don’t have to always put things in their coldest form, you know.”

“I thought I’d make you aware of what an idiotic question it was,” he remarks, pausing to glance at a table, lovely silks draped over various racks and hangers. “Weird how I don’t know about something I know nothing about,” you huff, pulling the fabric tighter. “It’s almost as if I’ve never hunted before.”

Eris rolls his eyes, and a faint smile tugs at your mouth at the open show of irritation. “Have they not even taught you how to fight?” He asks disapprovingly, tracing his fingers over the stitched hem of a scarf. “Why would I need to know how to fight?” You reply earnestly. “The war’s over.”

His fingers pause, and he glances at you sidelong. A beat stretching between you as he quietly stitches things together. “Indeed it is,” he says at last, gaze sliding back to the stall, though his attention doesn’t fully shift.

Your brow furrows at the odd exchange, before glancing elsewhere, wondering if you’d be able to spot the welder’s table from here. You peer about but don’t recognise anything, instead gorging your eyes on gleaming jewels and dazzling finery. Is this all second-nature to him? Does any of it amaze him, or will everything inevitably lose its potency when digested continuously? Would even perfectly soft beds, and heated slippers become part of the relentless drag of life?

You can’t imagine ever being unhappy with warm slippers, though. Maybe it’s a poor comparison.

“Take your hood down,” Eris instructs.

You blink, reluctantly lowering the fabric, shivering as a cool breeze bites at your collar bones; the tops of your shoulders. He pushes the scarf into your hands, already in motion as you start to keep in step. “Now put that on and stop looking so feeble,” he mutters. “Something as simple as the cold shouldn’t be bothering you so visibly.”

The silk is surprisingly warm beneath your fingertips in spite of its thinness, and you fumble for a second before neatly wrapping it over your shoulders, concealing the little skin that’s been left unprotected against the harsh chill of autumn.

“Thank you,” you say a touch faintly, almost scared to brush against the delicate fabric wrong, though it’s undoubtedly tough enough to hold up against your hands. As long as you don’t spark up, that is.

“I know I said I wasn’t surprised you hadn’t the foresight to think ahead, but not even a scarf?” He mutters under his breath, glancing down at you distastefully. “If you’re so easily affected by the weather you should have taken precautions. Why didn’t you bring something heavier?”

“I’m never accepting anything from you ever again,” you mutter back, tucking the end of the fabric beneath your cloak. “Especially if you’re just going to use it as an excuse to tell me everything I’ve done wrong. Surely by your logic it would be better to let me freeze as a way to learn the lesson.”

“I don’t need an excuse to tell you everything you’ve done wrong, but it’s embarrassing to have you shivering so obviously at my side,” he replies.

You stare at him for a moment, a little offended. “What do you mean, everything—”

“I mean, everything, because it’s a lot,” he says, cutting you off. “Really, had you even tried accessing your magic before coming here?”

“Of course I had,” you snap, sobering up a little as you remember the attempts. “But it’s a little hard to keep morale up when the results are so…” you trail off, subtly gesturing to your hands, ashamed to have them connected to your wrists despite the gloves you’d brought with you.

“Of course you’d bring gloves but forget a scarf,” he murmurs under his breath, making you grit your teeth against a scowl. “I didn’t forget a scarf, I don’t have any,” you snap at him. “Don’t have any?” He asks, doubt in his voice. “I find that hard to believe. Doesn’t Rhys keep you fully stocked on everything you could ever want?”

Eris marks the way you avert your eyes, head lowering a little as though there’s an invisible weight around your throat. “He does,” you reply quietly. “But none of that’s mine.”

“I’m pretty sure if he’s paid for it, and had it put in your wardrobe, that means it’s yours.”

You look up at him then, an indecipherable expression on your face. Conflicted.

“It wouldn’t be right, though,” you mumble, looking away again, shifting back to step in his footsteps. “Not when he’s done so much for us. Kindly given us a place to stay, and made our lives so much better in ways I hadn’t even dared to dream of before.” Your hands wring together, and he catches the slight flinch as you accidentally graze over what’s probably a new bruise or bump. “Especially not when he probably wouldn’t even… Not when I’ve…”

“…run straight into the enemy’s arms?” Eris finishes dryly, a wry look on his face. “Your words not mine,” you shoot back, before once again quietening. “But yes. It would be like spitting on his kindness, and I can’t…I can’t do that.”

He listens to your breathing, a little uneven. You feel quieter after that dive into your thoughts. “Good to know you’re fine if it’s my money being spent,” he remarks flatly, continuing forward. Really, you practically shrivel up and die whenever he brings any of them up. Maybe there’s a reason you’re so clueless to the larger picture.

“But I don’t owe you anything,” you murmur, hardly louder than a breath, and he’s so caught up in examining that angle he almost misses your reply. Possibly the root of all your problems. If not the foundation, then certainly the stem.

“Something tells me he won’t be charging you for every piece of gold you take up,” Eris replies, glancing back at you, slowing his paces to remind you to keep up. It’s plainly odd to have a conversation with someone trailing at your back.

“He doesn’t need to, but that doesn’t mean everything’s forgiven,” you counter, pulling the cloak closer, arms folding over your body, tucking in tight. “I can’t just accept everything he’s done—everything they’ve all done—and pretend like we’re all happy and equal. There’s a debt.” And it’s been a struggle to even keep your head above the water.

“So that’s what convinced you to come to me? So you can learn how to become useful?” He doesn’t seem particularly impressed, and something simmers in the pit of your chest. “A reason is a reason, isn’t it?” You reply lowly, brow narrowing. “Why not work with them? Save yourself the grief of having to face them when you return?” A faint smile sharpens his mouth, but it’s not of the ones you’ve become accustomed to. This one’s cold, the look in his eyes hinting at something vulpine lurking just beneath his skin. “I can’t imagine any of them being particularly pleased with your choices.”

“Is this another one of your tactics?” You ask abruptly. “Trying to make me anxious and tense so that I might lose control again and spark up?”

“We’re in the middle of a marketplace. I would hope not.”

“Then why are you bringing it up?” Again, that slow smile that has the hairs at the nape of your neck rising. The glint in his eyes as he guesses at the reaction—pleased with it. “Simply gauging the distance,” he muses, forging on ahead as you step to be at his side, pushing away from his trail of footsteps.

“Why? You’ve never show any interest in my relations before,” you point out, keeping an eye on him in your peripherals, now beyond the palace’s borders, moving for a road that will lead to the larger shopping district. “Haven’t I?” He remarks, something to his tone that makes you question yourself. Has he done any prying without you noticing? Your brows bunch a little, small worry lines creasing between them.

“You wouldn’t get anything, anyway,” you say defensively. You don’t have anything to give. “Don’t you think it’s strange how out-of-the-loop you are?” He asks, making you pause.

“No. I don’t.”

“You have no interest in the inner workings of your group?”

“I… Should I?” You ask, questioning yourself as you peer at him. Cutting amber spears into you, surprisingly intense as he pauses outside the defensive walls of the Palace.

The wind dies away, and you become aware of how still and silent the surrounding forest is, as if enchanted by something not entirely good. The world seems to slow to a eerie drag, black pupils contracting as they pierce into you, cold and experienced. You’ve never really considered any of them old, at least in the sense you’d grown up with, but now, as he’s stood before you with such horrific stillness, such an indecipherable look on his honed features, the sheer difference might have begun to dawn on you.

“Events happen in this world—it’s a condition of life. Of nature. Instinctive or otherwise, everything will naturally fall to chaos if left unchecked. Keeping yourself distanced, pulling away from the events of your life will not force them to remain a constant but instead facilitate that inevitable shift towards chaos.

“You have the potential for control yet choose to discard it, choose to avoid it. You allow things to happen to you, to sit back and put yourself at the mercy of external forces in being so complaisant. I don’t understand how anyone could be so content with inaction, and I don’t think you truly are, yet your choices suggest otherwise. You stay in your House, reading your life away, all in the pursuit of discovery, yet hardly seem to apply those interests to yourself.

“That’s not—"

“Shut up.” Pure ire blazes within his irises, and your mouth snaps shut of its own accord.

“You are idle and resigned. Too quick to accept what happens to you, and it’s pathetic.” The words smack across your skin, cracking down like a whip but he forges on. “I have told you before, and I will only tell you once more: you do not have the luxury of inaction. So don’t waste my time with a pretence of ambition when in the end you’ve already chosen to lie down and die.”

His words ring in the overwhelming silence of the forest, blaring through your world, resonating with a frequency that stirs cogs and sets wheels into motion, synapses sparking with powered charges as they snap and crackle.

“Use it,” he commands lowly, taking a step forward.

You blink, uncertain about what he means.

“Use it,” he repeats, rougher this time, gripping your wrists and holding them up. Thumbs slipping beneath the gloves, then turning them to ash.

“Eris, no— The last time—”

“Was for less than a second,” he says lowly. “Sustain it.”

“I don’t know how,” you grit out, hands bunching into fists.

“Use it or I’ll send you back.”

The fight drains from your body quicker than a millstone dropped in water. “What?”

“You heard me,” he says calmly, an intimidating ferocity underlying his words. “It’s been nearly a week, cygnet. I’m not going to parent you forever. Stand on your own two feet now.”

“I don’t know how.”

“Birds aren’t born knowing how to fly.”

You stare at him, wide eyed. Breathing shallow and stuttering. Hands shaking. But he does nothing without considering some sort of benefit. You’ve known from the beginning he’s manipulative; self-serving. Have been warned about his nature countless times.

He’s by no means foolish. Why place a bet if he thought he would lose?

You place a bet to win.

In his own way, he believes you’re capable of showing strength. Or at least harnessing it. With little to no faith in yourself, you’d never be able to make the leap, but with the trust placed in someone else, someone who has never pretended to be something he isn’t to you. It’s worth something, right?

Teeth bite together, pain creaking through your bones, groaning how furniture does when it’s on the verge of breaking. Aches sing through your palms, blossoming through your skin as pale green light flickers at your fingertips, irradiated and glowing. Gold shimmers at its edge, looking so familiar yet not. Like Starfall, but…more.

Either way, it’s enough for now. You’ve reached the bar he’d set, and can’t help but gaze in wonder at the view you’re presented with. How colour flickers and floats around your palms, glowing and waving with an unheard heartbeat.

“So you can summon it if you put your mind to it,” Eris muses, a hint of smugness to his voice that you would glare at if the cockiness wasn’t earned.

“You were trying to make me anxious,” you accuse.

“And it worked,” he counters, making you want to roll your eyes. “It seems to spark up in response to whatever imagined ending you think is coming along. An act of resistance before the fall.”

A faint glint of amusement sharpens his mouth, eyes gleaming. “Almost like a death surge.”

——————————————————————————————————————————————

general taglist: @myheartfollower @tcris2020 @mali22 @amygdtjhddzvb @sfhsgrad-blog @needylilgal022 @hannzoaks @hnyclover @skyesayshi @nyotamalfoy

az taglist: @azrielshadows1nger @jurdanpotter @positivewitch @nightcourt-daydreaming @assassinsblade @marvelouslovely-barnes @v3lv3tf0x @kalulakunundrum @vellichor01 @throneofsmut @vickykazuya

[pathologicalreid]

Spencer ordering breakfast in and serving breakfast in bed on readers first day of spring break!!! He knows reader has been working so hard and it being hard on the bth people while he’s gone on longer cases :,) reader would def send a pic to Penelope and she’d show the others 🤭

breakfast in bed | S.R.

your boyfriend surprises you with breakfast in bed to celebrate spring break

who? spencer reid x fem!reader category: fluff content warnings: fluff! fun fluffy fluff!!!!!! word count: 1.2k a/n: thank you for requesting!! it's my first day of spring break, so i figured today would be the perfect day to post this!!

At the click of the front door, your eyes fluttered open. The bright light seeping through the blinds of your bedroom led you to start squinting as you felt around the other side of the bed for your boyfriend, disappointment filling your chest when you realized he wasn’t there.

Rolling on your back, you sighed and let gravity press you into the mattress, letting yourself enjoy the comfort of your covers before sitting up and reaching over to your nightstand. You used your water carafe to pour yourself a glass of water, sipping it while you allowed your mind and body to wake up.

A rustling in the kitchen got your attention, and it wasn’t long until the door to your bedroom swung open, showing your boyfriend on the other side of the opening. “Good morning,” his voice chimed at you, “I thought you were still asleep.”

You shook your head softly, setting your water glass back on the nightstand, “Just woke up. What’s going on?” Quickly, you analyzed the sight in front of you. Spencer was dressed casually, definitely not his usual work garb – strange for a Monday morning.

He padded over to you and presented you with a tray, he extended the legs of the tray and placed it over your lap. “It’s spring break,” Spencer said matter-of-factly, pushing his glasses up on his nose.

Furrowing your brows in confusion, you looked at him. “Yes,” you said warily, “it’s my spring break.” Spencer hadn’t had a spring break since he finished his bachelor’s in philosophy, and even then, he had been working for the bureau.

“I wanted to make it special,” he told you, disappearing back into the kitchen before returning with a drink carrier and an unlabeled white bag.

Your lips parted in surprise, “You went to Moe’s?’

He nodded enthusiastically. “It’s your favorite,” he explained simply, setting the drink carrier on your nightstand before distributing your coffee and juice to your tray.

You reached for the coffee first, swirling it slightly in the cup before responding, “It’s all the way across town.” That was part of the reason you rarely went, the last thing you wanted to do at first light was commute through the district.

Spencer hummed in response, leaning over to press a gentle kiss to your hairline, “You’re worth it.” He set the white bag on your tray before climbing up on the bed with you, sharing the tray. “You look pretty,” he observed, slightly out of left field.

Setting your coffee down, you cleared your throat, “I just woke up, Spence.” Gently, you reached for the white bag, opened the crinkly paper, and let the smell fill your senses.

“The time that you’ve been awake doesn’t alter how beautiful you are,” he informed you, watching as you filtered through the food in the bag. You grabbed your phone off of the charger and snapped a picture of your breakfast in bed, quickly sending it to Penelope before typing out a message about being spoiled.

Putting your phone away, you grinned, “Maybe you’re biased by the fact that I wore your shirt to sleep in.”

He beamed at you and nodded almost imperceptibly, “There’s also that.”

As the two of you ate, you checked the time as it got suspiciously late in the morning. Crumpling your napkin in your hand, you looked up at Spencer, “When do you have to go in?”

You knew that sometimes, after particularly rough cases, Agent Hotchner would tell the team they didn’t need to come in until a little later in the morning, but it was pushing ten in the morning now and you were curious. Spencer perked up a little at your question, “I have to be there at ten tomorrow for the debrief, but I’m yours until then.”

“You took the day off of work?” Silently, you tried to remember the last time Spencer had taken a day off by choice, but nothing came to mind.

He nodded eagerly, “I wanted to spend time with you, while you don’t have work or school.” He reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind your ear before getting up and taking care of the mess.

When you weren’t at home or in school, you worked as a teaching assistant, so since classes weren’t in session, work wasn’t in session. “You didn’t have to do that,” you murmured, grabbing your coffee off of the tray before he could clear it.

Spencer smiled softly at you, leaning over, and pressing a chaste kiss to your cheek, “I missed you. We kept missing each other, I had to do something.” He slipped away to the kitchen, “I planned the whole day for us.”

A grin bloomed on your face, “You did?” You laughed lightly, “What are we doing today?”

Upon his return, Spencer paused in the opening, leaning on the painted wood of the doorframe. “We are going to go see the cherry blossoms, did you know I’ve never seen them?”

You cocked your head curiously, “You’ve lived in DC for eight years and you’ve never seen the cherry blossoms?” Really, you were surprised that you didn’t know that about him.

“Angel, I had to take the day off just to see you,” he reminded you, walking back to where you were perched on the bed. Tenderly, he cupped your cheeks in his hands, “Did you sleep alright? You looked tired last night.”

Nodding emphatically, you peered up at him, “Yeah, sleeping in felt nice.”

Spencer furrowed his eyebrows, “You’ve been working so hard lately, I want to make sure you’re remembering to take care of yourself. Especially since I’m not always here with you.”

You had to work hard, especially if you wanted to graduate early like you planned. “You’ve been gone a lot,” you concurred, “saving lives is a busy job.”

Carefully, Spencer sat down next to you on the bed, pushing the mattress down slightly under the weight of him. “I know it’s hard on you when I’m gone,” he whispered.

“I know it’s hard on you when you’re gone,” you echoed sympathetically. He had just been gone for two weeks, and when he came back, he didn’t have the energy to do anything other than rest his head on your shoulder while you worked on a term paper. When you finished for the night, he had fallen asleep like that. You didn’t have the heart to wake him up, so you both slept on the couch.

He hummed, dropping his hands to your waist, “I love you.”

Leaning up, you pressed a soft kiss to his lips, “I love you too, Spence.” You studied his golden irises, “So… cherry blossoms will take a few hours at most, what do you have planned for afterward?”

A sly grin spread on your boyfriend’s face, “It’s a secret. You’ll find out later.”

Confused, you watched as he turned around to the bathroom. Shaking your head, you reached for your phone to see that Penelope had responded.

Penny G: EEK Penny G: Morgan wants you to tell Spencer he was not aware of his game.

Rolling your eyes, you dropped your phone on the mattress and went to join your boyfriend in the shower.

[blood-red-ocean]

New Year at the Castle - Alcina x Reader

A/N: Happy new year! Please enjoy this oneshot of a celebration at Castle Dimitrescu - this one is a long one, so if you would rather read it on AO3, click here! <3

A/N 2: The reader is wearing a tux <3

Category: Fluff/Romance Warnings: None Word count: 3.1k

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

“The new year will be upon us soon, I think.”

The Lady’s voice brought you out of the world of the novel you had plunged yourself into. After her daughters had settled into bed for the night, the two of you had retired to the library where, such as was your tradition every night, you stoked the fire while Alcina piled the couch opposite with pillows and fluffy blankets. There, with the fire roaring and the snow falling gently against the library windows, you would spend hours upon hours reading, until you fell asleep with your head on her shoulder and woke up curled up beside her in her bed.

At this moment, though, she had lifted her gaze from the pages of her novel – an ancient tome written solely in Romanian – and was gazing pensively out of the nearest window.

“My love? Are you okay?”

“Hmm? Oh, I’m fine,” She responded, waving her hand dismissively. “It’s just… An emotional time of year for me.”

You placed your book down to your side, folding your hands in your lap. You looked up at her and ventured, “Would you like to talk about it…?”

Alcina started to shake her head, then paused, thinking. “That would be… Nice,” She admitted. She placed her book to the side and held her arm out to you, inviting you to nuzzle up against her side. She pulled one of the fluffy blankets over you and tucked it in, idly trailing her thumb across your skin. “New Year’s celebrations were a rather grand occasion, back when… Well, back before I met Miranda.” She sighed dreamily, letting her head fall back as she spoke. “Grand parties and balls, elegant gowns, smoking lounges, and of course, the singing. Oh, the singing. I haven’t sung since…” Alcina trailed off, then shook her head a little before continuing. “And the fireworks, of course. They were magnificent.”

She gazed into the fire with a faraway look, falling silent. You let the silence stretch on for a while, and then, your voice barely above a whisper, “Well… Maybe we can celebrate together, sometime.”

Alcina’s husky laugh reverberated through your chest. “That is sweet of you, draga, but we simply don’t have the space or resources for such an undertaking.” Her gaze fell back to the book in her lap, and that was the last she spoke of it. Book long forgotten to your side, you gazed into the flames of the fireplace, mind whirling with ideas. For the first time, you weren’t the first one to fall asleep. In fact, sleep evaded you tonight, as you laid beside Alcina and stared up at the ceiling. Her arm was thrown over your torso and her soft, purr-like snoring vibrated through you and while it would normally soothe you into a slumber, you were restless. Taking care not to wake her, you slid out from under her arm and softly padded to the door, heading towards her daughters’ rooms.

***

“A New Year’s Eve party?” Bela asked, her eyebrows raised. “Here, in the Castle?”

“A party sounds amazing!” Cassandra was practically bouncing off of the walls with excitement. “We’ve never had a party here before! Just dull meetings with Miranda.”

As you had hoped, the three girls were still awake in their respective rooms. It hadn’t taken much convincing to corral them all into Bela’s room, where the four of you now sat cross-legged on the floor.  Papers were strewn before you, some scribbled with brainstorming notes.

“Do we even have anywhere where we could set something like this up?” Bela asked. She picked up one of the pieces of paper, on which you had jotted down the key elements of a New Year’s celebration. “Food, we can do. Music, too. But… Fireworks? We would need to be outside for that. We can’t go outside in this weather.”

Your shoulders sagged a little. “Right. I’m sorry, I didn’t—”

“Wait,” Daniela piped up. She scooched over to Bela and read over her shoulder, chewing her lip in thought. “Not necessarily. There is one place in the Castle where we could do this. It would be like being outside without actually being outside.”

Bela’s eyes widened slightly. “You mean…? No, it won’t work. That place is a mess!”

“What? What place?” You looked between the three of them, hoping for some elaboration.

“The atrium.” Cassandra, who had been trying to do handstands against the wall, fell to the floor with a thud and a soft oof before coming to join the three of you again. “We haven’t used it for decades. It’s so dusty, and full of boxes, and probably spiders—”

“The new year is a week away, though,” Daniela interjected. “If we’re quick, we can get it cleaned out in a few days, and have the rest of the time to set everything up.”

The sounds of a pencil scratching quickly over paper joined the chorus of their overlapping voices as you hurriedly tried to jot down everything they said. By the time you had left Bela’s room and settled back in Alcina’s sleeping arms, the four of you had hatched a flawless plan to ring in the next new year with a bang. As your eyelids grew heavier, you gazed at Alcina’s sleeping form and your heart swelled with excitement and love as you imagined the look on her face when she walked into the biggest celebration the Castle had ever seen.

Over the next week, you and Alcina’s daughters worked hard with clearing out the Atrium. You didn’t even know the Castle had one – the door to it was hidden down the far end of a cobweb-covered hallway, and your feet kicked up dust from the carpet runner with every step. There was a moment of uncertainty when it seemed that the four of you might have to work around Alcina’s presence, but thankfully, Bela managed to talk to Miranda, who requested Alcina’s ‘invaluable assistance’ at her estate. You felt bad, in a way – you would normally never try to get Alcina out of the house for a day, let alone a week, but the thought of her joy as she walked into the party made it all feel worth it. With that in mind, the four of you worked as a team of sorts – Daniela carted old boxes and wooden crates from the atrium into the Castle’s dungeons, Cassandra and Bela dusted, swept, mopped and cleaned the large glass panels, and you walked around the space as it cleared out, jotting down notes and quick sketches as you planned out where to put what.

After three exhausting days, you found yourself laying on the floor of the atrium, staring up at the stars through the glass. Cassandra and Daniela were curled up together, Cassandra’s snoring echoing around the empty space, while you and Bela passed a bottle of water between the two of you. There was still much to do before the turn of the year, but the pride you held for the four of you clearing out this space was immense.

“So, hey, I’ve been meaning to ask… Where did this idea even come from?” Bela asked. She took a gulp of water and continued, “We’ve never had a celebration here, at least not for as long as I can remember.”

“Your Mother told me,” You responded. “She seemed kind of sad that she hasn’t celebrated for so long, and I wanted to surprise her. So don’t tell her, okay? Please?” As you grabbed the water bottle from Bela’s hand, there was something indecipherable in her eyes. She nodded, a small and rare smile on her face.

“I won’t. Promise.”

***

The Duke’s carriage was parked in its usual spot just outside the Castle’s doors, the doors closed tight against the chill of the snowy weather. Paper in hand, you rapped on the doors with your knuckles and stood back to wait. There was a shuffling and a clattering inside, followed by a long, pretentious, “Yes?”

“I have an order request.”

“I’m not taking orders until the snow thaws, I’m afraid. Too hard to get the carriage—”

“It’s for the Lady.” The clattering and shuffling noises became louder, almost frantic, and the doors to the carriage slammed open. The Duke poked his head out and looked directly at you, his usual smarmy grin pasted on his face and making you shudder with discomfort, just the very same as every time you saw him.

“An order for the Lady, you say?” He drawled. “Well come on, come on then, let me see.” You had barely held the list out to him before he snatched it from your grasp, eyes scanning the scribbled contents. “Hmm, I see… This won’t be easy to retrieve, not easy at all, and especially not before this date you’ve written here… Are you absolutely certain you need this?” The Duke’s eyes widened in glee at the bulging bag you thrust towards him. It was filled to the brim with packages of meat, Lycan teeth, some golden goblets from the village, and some harvested wheat from the nearby farm, along with some choice herb mixes from Donna. The Duke snatched it from you and slammed the carriage doors closed again, calling out, “I will return with the items you requested in no more than two days! Cheerio!”

An unpleasant shudder shot through you at his departure and you turned, not at all expecting to run directly into Donna as she stood silently behind you.

“Jesus!” You yelped. “Donna, hi. I need to put a bell on you.” The faintest of smiles flickered across her face, before she beckoned you into the Castle with you. You followed her unquestioningly as she strode through the Castle’s doors, winding her way through the halls.

“Dani told me about your plan,” She spoke over her shoulder to you, her low and husky voice barely louder than a whisper. “I hope you didn’t mind me adding a floral touch.” She led you to the atrium and pushed open the door, and the sight inside made you gasp. Gazing around in utter awe, you had to remind yourself to breathe as you admired her work. You looked at her, shyly standing near the door and awaiting your feedback.

“It’s beautiful.”

***

“Draga?”

While the last few days had been busy, they had been, admittedly, rather lonely. You missed feeling her presence beside you in your shared bed, you missed reading with her until you fell asleep, and you missed the click of her heels as she strode the Castle halls. At the sound of her voice, you sprinted out of your room and barreled into her, wrapping your arms around her. She let out a laugh, a sound that was rare to grace your ears but never failed to make your heart skip beats.

“I missed you!” You said brightly, relaxing into her embrace. “Gods, I’m glad you’re home. How was your time with Miranda?”

“Exhausting.” Alcina pulled the woolen scarf from around her throat and hung it up beside the door, her coat following suit. “I’m not even entirely sure what Miranda required my assistance with. It was all very disorganized. It was as if she simply just wanted me around.”

“Careful, love,” You teased her. “I’ll get jealous.”

“You know that I have eyes only for you, draga mea,” She responded, leaning down to kiss the top of your head. Her eyes roamed over you, drinking you in, before she added, “What in the world are you wearing?”

You blushed, completely forgetting for a moment that you were clad in a white tuxedo, something looking like it was straight out of the 1940’s. On the lapel was pinned a brooch, the three metallic flowers mirroring the three black roses she wore on her shoulder every day. The tux had a golden trim, and it shimmered under the flickering light of the torches that lit the entryway. Heart racing in your chest, you took her hand and slowly led her towards the bedroom.

“Oh, my,” She chuckled. “You really did miss me, hmm, draga?”

“I did, yes, but there’ll be time enough for that later,” You teased, blushing deeply. “No, there’s another surprise in there. I’m very excited to see your reaction.”

With a quirk of an eyebrow, Alcina entered the bedroom, closing the door behind her. You leaned against the wall beside the door and took a deep breath. Out of the corner of your eye you could see Daniela at the end of the hallway, giving you a thumbs up and a goofy grin. You flicked your hand at her in a shooing gesture – and just in time, too, because just at that moment Alcina emerged from the bedroom, and gods, was she a sight. Your eyes widened and your lungs forgot how to function as she towered over you, her golden dress clinging to her. It shimmered with her every breath, the gold the same colour as the trim on your tux and the white trim on her gown matching with you. She gazed at you quizzically, and it took immense effort to pull yourself out of your trance.

“You look absolutely breathtaking, my love,” You murmured. And then, more playfully, “And, if I may say, absolutely ravishing.”

Alcina chuckled at hearing the line you stole from her, reaching to take your outstretched hand. “This is lovely, draga, but I don’t quite understand.”

“Oh, but you will.” You took a few steps back, leading her along the hallway. “Do you trust me?”

“Of course.”

“Then close your eyes,” You whispered. “And trust me.”

As much as she knew the layout of the Castle like the back of her hand, you still made sure to say ‘doorway’ every time, just out of courtesy. There was a faint smile on her lips as you led her through the winding hallways, eventually reaching the atrium doors. Alcina hummed thoughtfully, brow furrowed. “Draga—”

“You can open your eyes now, my love.” She did so and gazed down at you with intrigue and confusion. She glanced around the hallway, behind her, and then back at you.

“Beloved, you do know this leads to the atrium? This part of the Castle hasn’t been used in—”

“Decades.” You smiled up at her and rested your hand on the door handle. From behind the closed doors you could hear the faint sounds of music and chatter, but you hesitated, gazing down at your watch. It was almost time. “Until tonight. I think it’s about time that my beloved Lady sang once again.”

And with that, you leaned back, pushing the doors open and stepping though, Alcina in tow. The chatter died down, everyone in the space turning to look at the two of you with bated breath. Alcina straightened up after going through the doorway and stopped in her tracks, looking around, her lips parted very slightly in surprise.

“Draga…” She breathed.

The atrium was glowing with the light of elaborate lanterns and sconces, the ceiling of stars visible through the glass covering of the atrium. Bundles and bouquets of flowers and vines donated by Donna lined the walls and decorated the tables and stage, their sweet scent permeating the air and strong enough to make one dizzy. The stage itself was adorned with gold and silver ribbons, and the jazz band that was playing onstage wore golden outfits that perfectly complemented Alcina’s. Everyone had arrived to join the celebrations – even Moreau had managed to swap out his usual green-grey attire for a formal emerald green tailored suit. Alcina looked as if she might fall as she took everything in, and you reached up to place your hand on her hip to steady her, drawing her attention back to you.

“Draga, it… how…?” She gazed down at you, her eyes filled with emotion.

“You told me that you hadn’t celebrated New Year’s for a very long time,” You began. “And I know that you said I didn’t have to, but, well… You looked like you really missed it. I got Bela, Dani and Cass to help me clean out this place – which, by the way, now its cleaned out we are definitely going to use this place more often—” Alcina laughed at that. “—and Donna brought the flowers. Everything else I got with the help of the Duke. Which reminds me…” You glanced at your watch again and hurriedly tugged Alcina’s hand, pulling her to the center of the room. “Right about… now.”

High in the night sky, there was a trail of sparkling light soaring towards the stars. As you all watched, it exploded into a ball of gold and white, fading shimmering lights falling to the earth again as another trail of fire zoomed into the sky, and another, and another. Alcina’s arms wrapped around you as you watched the fireworks, and as you glanced around at the small crowd, you felt a sense of pride and accomplishment – it was all worth it. All of the work, the long week of organizing and tidying and cleaning and decorating – all of it was worth it.

As the fireworks whistled and popped high above the atrium, you felt gloved fingers on your chin, turning your head sideways and upwards. Your lips met Alcina’s in a sweet, tender kiss, and when you pulled away you could see the barely contained emotion shimmering in her eyes. You kissed her again, and again, the fireworks in your sky becoming fireworks in your chest.

“Happy new year, my love,” You whispered when you finally broke apart, breathless and lightheaded, lips tingling.

“Thank you, draga,” Alcina whispered.

You could get lost in her gaze in this moment, and you very nearly did, until footsteps to your left caught your attention. Miranda, normally cold and impassive, had a smile on her face as she held something out to you. You took it with a nod of thanks and turned back to Alcina, holding it out to her.

“Now,” You murmured. “I do believe it’s time for you to reclaim your glory, my love. It’s long overdue.”

Alcina took the microphone from your hand with a smile, and kissed your forehead before turning to the stage. You fell in love with a new of her that night, somehow even more confident and bold than usual, as she led the band in a jazzy rendition of Auld Lang Syne. She sang long into the night, and looking around at the small crowd as the atrium filled with her throaty, husky voice, you knew all over again that this is where you were meant to be.

You were home.

[mymelodymia]

first period with dad!Tony?

Sorry I know it's kind of a weird topic I just thought it would be a funny and awkward situation haha 😄

First period Dad!Tony stark x tween!daughter!reader

summary: you get your first period......oof

Warnings: mainly everything involved in periods

A/N: this is gonna be so awkward to write oh my god 😆

+•°+*°•++•°+*°•+

You were extremely close to your first period, but you and tony did not notice this. Pepper definitely did.

she watched as you spent more time in your room. how your emotions could turn around so fast. She noticed the mood swings, and soon, the cravings kicked in. And tony being tony he did not notice all of this, and neither did you.

One day at school, you suddenly felt wet down there. You asked to go to the restroom, and you were greeted with a pool of blood in your underwear.

You gasped in shock, looking around frantically in search for something to help in the small stall. You only found the toilet paper as an option. So you rolled it up quickly and stuffed it in there.

You uncomfortably walked back to your class, blushing in Embarrassment, you sat down and zoned out quickly.

When tony came to pick you up, he noticed your uneasiness, and asked about it, "whats wrong kid?" He asked, wrapping his hand around yours for comfort. "....i got my p-period" you replied, not taking your eyes off the window.

"Oh......ill call pep to come help you when we get home, dont worry, she'll take care of it" the rest of the car ride home was silent.

As you got home you walked into the bathroom waiting for your mother to come, given that you sent her a text saying 'hey, i need you. Its an emergency'

She ran in as fast as she could, in a frenzy she panted out the words "what happened" she asked leaning on the counter.

"I...umm...got my period." You were extremely embarrassed and couldn't even look her in the eye. She simply laughed and walked out, returning a few minutes later as she got back from the store.

She had a few boxes of pads, some wipes, and a few other things as well.

You thanked her as she helped you through all of it. You sat in your bed for a while before tony came bursting into your bedroom, with lots of cookies, chips, snacks in general.

He also had a heating pad for cramps. And he had gotten you ice cream ❤️

You ate them up in the few days of this dreadful week. But luckily it was over quickly for you since you mainly slept through it.

Once your period fell into a track, he had Jarvis set a alarm ⏰️ so if you had a mood swing, he'd ask Jarvis like "hey J, is it....you know"

"Deadly week sir?........yes"

+•°+*°•++•°+*°•+

A/N: im sorry, my writing has been really far behind 😔

Tags

@animealways // @white-wolf-buckaroo // @tonystark-au // @zebralover // @carellmcu //

[weemssapphic]

hello, friend. I had a thought for a request, maybe <.< Could you do a Larissa x female reader with some accidental voyeurism, maybe? You know like the ones where someone walks past a door that maybe isn't closed all the way and ooooh noo they see something they really wanted to see 😂

hello friend! thank you so much for this request, I'm a huge fan of accidental voyeurism so this was such a joy to write - I hope you enjoy it 🥰

Caught

Larissa Weems x fem!reader

words: ~2.2k | ao3 link in title

content/warnings: nsfw - smut (pwp), accidental voyeurism, masturbation, vibrator-use, cunnilingus, fingering, thigh riding

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Knock, knock. Silence. Knock, knock, knock. More silence.

You let out a frustrated huff. It was a Friday night, fairly late at that, and the last thing you had to do before starting your well-deserved Christmas break was turn in a copy of your student’s graded midterms to Principal Weems. You were a bit behind the other teachers, you realized this, but as you’d been sick the week before, you’d only just finished the last of your grading.

And now, it seemed, you couldn’t even turn in the papers since Principal Weems didn’t appear to be in her office. Perhaps you could simply drop them off on her desk? You jiggled the door handle, surprised when the door swung open.

“Principal Weems?” You peeked into her office, surveying the room. Empty. Striding over to Larissa’s desk, you dropped the stack of papers right on the edge, deciding you would simply email your boss as soon as you got back to your quarters to inform her where you’d left them. Surely, she wouldn’t mind, she’d left her office open after all.

As you turned to leave, a faint vibrating noise made you pause. You turned your head towards the sound, noticing the door towards the back of Larissa’s office stood slightly ajar. 

“Oh, Y/N,” you heard faintly in Larissa’s voice, drifting out from her quarters.

You frowned. Had Larissa heard you come in? You padded over to the door, popping your head in - and your mouth dropped open at the sight you were met with.

Larissa Weems, the Larissa Weems, your boss Larissa Weems, your very hot boss Larissa Weems, was lying naked on her bed, legs spread wide open, holding a vibrator to her clit. Her hips were bucking erratically, her head was tipped back onto her pillow.

Soft, heavenly moans spilled out of her mouth, the most beautiful sounds you’d ever heard - though what ultimately held you rooted to the spot, transfixed, heat rising to your face, was your very own name, slipping out between the moans. Your stomach filled with heat and you could feel your panties grow damp.

You knew you should go - she hadn’t seen you yet. If you were quick and quiet about it, you could leave without her knowing you were there. Would you be able to make eye contact with her ever again? Hell no. But at least her dignity would be intact, and you’d spare yourself the humiliation of having to find a new job because you’d spied on your boss while she was masturbating.

“Right there, Y/N… Faster,” Larissa groaned, clicking the vibrator to a higher setting, and you couldn’t stop yourself - you whimpered, loud enough for Larissa’s head to snap up.

Sapphire eyes met your own, clouded with desire, pupils blown. For a moment, time seemed to slow down. Then the vibrating noise stopped and Larissa’s chest and face flushed a deep scarlet, her eyes widening comically.

She moved to cover her body with the sheets but you stepped forward, whispering a soft, “wait”.

Her brows furrowed and she cocked her head to the side, regarding you carefully as you made your way over to the bed, her breathing labored.

Up close, her body was even more beautiful than you’d imagined it, as if she were carved from marble. Your eyes roved over the pale skin, over her hardened nipples and pillowy breasts, down to the swell of her stomach which ended in a patch of blonde hair and soft, curvy thighs.

“You look beautiful,” you murmured, earning yourself a whimper from the blonde.

You settled at the edge of the bed, placing your palms on her knees.

“Is this okay?”

Larissa nodded.

“Use your words, please.”

“Yes,” she whispered, voice breathy.

You parted her legs, stifling a groan when you saw how her cunt glistened, how her slick coated her inner thighs.

“Is this all for me?” You bit your lip, looking up to make eye contact with the blonde. 

She swallowed thickly, eyes fluttering shut. “Yes.”

“Look at me,” you commanded, and Larissa must have been stricken by the force in your voice because her eyes snapped open, her lips parting as she let out a shuddering breath. “Do you really want this?” 

A heavy silence hung in the air. After a moment’s hesitation, Larissa lowered a hand between her legs, swiping two fingers up her slit to gather some of her arousal. She brought the fingers to your lips and you opened your mouth on instinct, allowing her to place the digits onto your tongue.

You closed your lips around her fingers, swirling your tongue around them and groaning at the salty yet sweet taste. A heavy throb had begun between your legs.

“Does that answer your question?” Larissa husked, regarding you with hooded eyes as you sucked her digits dry. You released them with a pop, lunging forward to capture her lips in a desperate, hungry kiss. They were even softer than you’d imagined, and so warm. You soothed your tongue over her lips and she parted them, allowing you to explore her mouth.

You leaned over her, placing a hand on either side of her head, kissing her until your brain was so deprived of oxygen that you had to pull away.

Your breaths mingled and you met Larissa’s gaze, struck by the hunger and desperation swirling in her pupils. “Fuck, Larissa, you’re gorgeous,” you panted, lips curving into a smirk as you watched her face redden.

“I want to see you, too,” Larissa breathed out, fingers toying with the hem of your shirt. Not wanting to keep her waiting, you rid yourself of the shirt, then your bra, watching Larissa’s pupils dilate as her eyes fixated on your chest.

“See something you like?” you teased.

Larissa responded by reaching out a hand, brushing the pad of her thumb so lightly over your nipple that you let out a gasp.

“Not yet.” You pulled away, ignoring the whine that Larissa let out and the throb between your own legs as you stood, unbuttoning your jeans and pushing them down your legs. Larissa propped herself up on her elbows so that she could watch you with rapt attention, whimpering as you tugged down your panties and kicked them off.

Crawling back onto the bed, you hovered over the blonde, pressing your lips to her jaw, her throat, her sternum. Finally, your lips closed around her right nipple and you flicked your tongue over the bud. Larissa arched her back, sighing softly at the warmth of your tongue as your hand came up to massage her left breast.

You switched sides, continuing your ministrations, and Larissa began to writhe beneath you.

“N-need you,” she groaned, bringing her hands to your hair and pushing your head off her chest and down her stomach.

“Someone’s impatient,” you purred, nipping at the soft flesh of her belly.

“Someone interrupted me as I was about to come,” Larissa growled, glowering down at you.

You grinned at her impatience and pressed a kiss to her mound. She bucked her hips up and twisted her fingers in your hair, pulling with enough force to make you whine and then pushing your head further down.

Finally, after what felt like ages to the blonde, your lips brushed against her folds. You ran your tongue up her slit, slowly to savor the taste of her arousal as you gathered it on your tongue, then circled her clit. 

Larissa rolled her hips in time with your licks, a series of breathy moans tumbling from her lips. It took next to no time to get her to the edge again, after you’d so rudely interrupted her before. Her thighs trembled as she came, and she cursed out a string of obscenities you never thought you’d hear from the usually composed principal.

You helped her down from her high, lapping up her cum and cleaning her folds. Pressing a gentle kiss to her clit, you trailed your lips back up her body, taking your sweet time until you reached her lips again and allowed her to suck her own arousal off your tongue.

“Good girl,” you whispered into her mouth between kisses, reveling the visible shiver that ran down Larissa’s spine.

A throb of desire at the apex of your thighs forced you to buck your hips down, your cunt coming into contact with Larissa’s thigh. She gasped as your slick rubbed against her leg. Placing her hands on your shoulders and giving a light push, she expertly flipped you around, as if she’d done it a hundred times before.

Now hovering over you, she closed her thighs around your leg and ground down. Her wetness coated your thigh as she rolled her hips, seeking friction on her clit. As much as your own sex was aching with want, you were frozen in place, unable to move as you stared up at Larissa. You were absolutely mesmerized by her; the way her eyes rolled back in her head, the way her jaw went slack, the deep flush that covered her heaving chest as she pleasured herself against you.

A wanton moan was drawn forth from her lips and it suddenly became too much to bear as you brought your hand down between your legs, gathering your wetness on your fingertips before massaging your clit. You were going to come so hard, so fast, this much you knew. 

Larissa’s gaze pierced your own, the deep blue of her irises barely visible in her aroused state. You felt her fingers brush against your own as she pushed your hand away from your cunt, taking over for you. Her thumb found your clit and the rest of her fingers teased your folds, dipping slightly into your entrance before retracting again and continuing to graze your slit.

“Larissa, please,” you panted, thrusting your hips into her hand. The thrust propelled your thigh upward and the sudden increased pressure on Larissa’s clit caused her to cry out, her fingers twitching against your pussy.

Without warning, she plunged two fingers into your hole, expertly curling the digits and beginning a merciless pace inside your cunt. 

The feeling of your walls fluttering around her fingers, her juices dripping down your thigh, the scent of her musk hanging in the air were all beginning to drive you crazy.

You rolled your hips against her hand, finding a pace that matched her own as she continued to rut against your thigh. In your pre-orgasmic haze, you found enough focus to flex your thigh, and the sinful sounds that tore from Larissa’s throat were nearly enough to send you careening over the edge.

“I’m s-so close,” you stuttered, gripping Larissa’s hips and pushing her down.

“Come with me,” she panted, doubling down on your thigh and increasing the pressure of her thumb on your clit as she curled her fingers into your sweet spot.

Pleasure began to wash over you in waves as you reached your high and, moments later, you faintly registered Larissa’s own body tensing up above you, her hips stuttering in their movements.

Larissa collapsed on top of you in a heap of exhaustion and your arms wound around her almost instinctively. She withdrew her fingers from your cunt, slowly, grinning lazily as you mewled at the sudden emptiness. Bringing her fingers to her mouth, she let out a low hum and she swirled her tongue around the digits, getting her first taste of you.

“You taste divine, my darling,” she murmured, before rolling off of you onto her back.

You forced yourself to roll onto your side, propping your head up on one hand and cupping her cheek with your other hand, brushing your thumb along her swollen lips. You watched the rise and fall of her chest, erratic at first then evening out, before lunging forward for a searing kiss.

“Thank you for letting me take care of you,” you whispered as you pulled back, your breath ghosting her face. 

Larissa smirked, nipping playfully at your bottom lip as her hands found your waist, pulling you fully on top of her.

“You didn’t think I was done with you?”

x

[bwabys-scenarios]

Fixer Upper

Part 26

Perv!Kurapika x Fem!Reader

!!REBLOGS APPRECIATED!!

part 25

part 27

warning: Kurapika spies on reader while she masturabates, non-consensual picture taking(just her face, but putting this just in case)

taglist: @fabitheraven @tsukilover11 @ashdownunderscorebeloved @lemonslut @homeinmydreams @superweeniehutjrsblog @bugmomwrites @heartsforseo @lixiawinter @altaircc @itszenava @fiightforlovee @mimi-sanisanidiot @monainanuttshell @wow-im-gay @whorermoviestar @lightshowerrr @mama-m1na @nenggie @wicked-binch @jamayah @themanicwriter01

If you’d like to be ADDED to the tawglist, please comment a red heart ❤️, make sure you’re able to be tagged/mentioned, and have your age in your bio(IF YOU ARE ALREADY ON THE TAGLIST, YOU DON’T NEED TO ASK TO BE ADDED AGAIN!!)

The next few days passed by in a cold silence. Never had (Name)’s house felt so icy, so devoid of warmth. Each member of the household felt a chill in the air, not a single day passing by without the constant reminder that their typically kind and warm (Name) was holed up in her room, not talking to anyone.

“Do you think she’ll come out today?” Kurapika asked as he prepared breakfast. It was one of the only meals he knew how to cook after learning from (Name) during the Hunter Exam.

“If I had to look at your ugly face every day, I would stay up in my room too.”

Leorio glanced up from his newspaper. “That was pretty weak, Killua. You already have to see him every day.”

Killua sighed, Leorio was right. He had been struggling to come up with good insults lately. His spirits were down, and he missed his mom.

“… well, breakfast is ready.”

Kurapika had also been struggling to stay angry at the halfhearted taunts Killua sent his way. It was hard enough to wake up in the morning and get out of bed knowing the pain (Name) went through for him, because of him.

Soft footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs, and for the first time in nearly a week, the three perked up. Alluka was out visiting a friend, there was only one other person it could be.

“Mom!”

Killua jumped up, about to run towards her. That was until they all felt the temperature in the room go down a few degrees. At least, that’s what it felt like when they caught sight of her cold, neutral expression.

“Good morning.”

A good morning from (Name) had never felt so bad. She didn’t say anything further, simply pushing past Kurapika to make herself a bowl of cereal.

“I… I made breakfast,” Kurapika said in a soft voice. (Name) didn’t even look up from her bowl, taking a bite before walking out to sit at the farthest end of the kitchen table.

“I saw.”

An awkward silence filled the room, even Killua feeling sorry for Kurapika. (Name)’s anger didn’t burn as hot as the sun like Kurapika’s did. No, her anger was as cold as an unforgiving winter’s night. Ice might melt in the presence of flames, but even a scorching fire was no match for a blizzard.

“Are you… feeling okay?”

Leorio was the first to speak up, setting his newspaper aside to give (Name) a concerned look. She was silent for a moment longer.

“No, in all honesty, I’m not. I… don’t want to talk about it. We have more pressing matters.”

This seemed to catch the collective attention of the group. Kurapika and Killua took their seats at the table, eating breakfast as (Name) continued. “As some of you know, I have a fall celebration planned that I invited all of our friends to. It’s happening a little under two weeks, so I’ll need everyone to start getting preparations ready.”

Leorio nodded, taking out a pad of paper and a pen. “Alright, tell us what we need to do, sunshine.”

“First, the house needs to be cleaned, and I mean cleaned thoroughly.”

Killua glanced around the house, seeing it had deteriorated while (Name) was holed up in her room. “Yeah… it’ll need a thorough cleaning.”

Kurapika mostly stayed quiet, eating his breakfast as (Name) explained their plans. He didn’t want to upset her after everything.

(Name) sighed softly, finishing her cereal. “It’s going to be a tough two weeks, but it’ll… be worth it to have fun with everyone. I… haven’t spent the holiday season with all of my friends before.”

This made Kurapika frown. He had left York New two years ago right before the holiday season. (Name) had texted him before he ghosted her that she was extremely excited to spend Halloween, the fall season, and Christmas with him. He hadn’t even stopped to think about how she felt being alone during the holidays.

“Thankfully I’ve had Leorio, and then Killua and Gon last year. Otherwise… I would have been all alone.”

Kurapika flinched, shrinking into himself. He was the only one that hadn’t spent any sort of holiday besides Halloween with her, and he was determined to change that. “… I’m taking some time off of work and… my mission. I’ll be here for the party and Christmas.”

This shocked everyone, especially (Name). She finally looked at him for the first time that morning, her eyes a little wide. “Oh… that’s… that’s nice.”

The air seemed to go up a few degrees. It was still cold, but not as chilly as before. Everyone relaxed, Killua leaning against (Name)’s shoulder.

—————

A few days passed with the group getting ready for their fall gathering. Leorio and Killua were on cleaning duty, while Kurapika, Alluka, and (Name) would be working on getting the grocery list and food preparation.

“Mama, mama!”

Nanika pulled at (Name)’s skirt, her smile wide. “Hmm? What is it sweetheart?”

She giggled, hiding her face in (Name)’s chest. “I’m excited! Want to bake cookies!”

(Name) scooped her up, balancing her on her hip as she pulled out some flour. “Mmm, I was planning on making cookies for our gathering, might as well practice, yeah?”

Nanika cheered, clapping as (Name) gathered all of the ingredients for their cookies. She glanced at a cab of peaches sitting in the corner of her cabinet, thinking back to Kurapika saying he would be staying for the holiday season, even taking a break from his mission to spend time with them.

‘… he’s trying, I’ll… I’ll make him some peach cobbler.’

Earlier that day, Kurapika had locked himself up in his room. (Name) had assumed he was either not feeling well or just tired from all the preparations they’d been making. He deserved a break, and she wanted to do something nice for him. Kurapika had been trying his best to be helpful, even if he often failed miserably.

(Name) made cookies with Nanika and worked on the peach cobbler. She sat the girl down with a few freshly baked cookies and a cup of milk, Killua sneaking a few before settling on the couch with his sister to watch a movie as (Name) finished up some baking.

Once the peach cobbler was done, (Name) waited for it to cool down to a warm temperature before placing some and a scoop of ice cream in a bowl. ‘He loves cobbler, Kurapika will be so happy!’

There was no light shining from underneath his door, and when she knocked there was no answer. ‘That’s… unusual. Is he not home? I didn’t see him leave.’

(Name) wasn’t the type to walk into Kurapika’s room unannounced(she didn’t want to embarrass him by catching masturbating or crying), but… she was a little worried. So, despite her hesitance, she opened the door and peeked in.

“Kurapika?”

The blonde was kneeling by his nightstand, which had been turned into a makeshift altar. Candles, flowers, and a bowl of fruit decorated the small table, with the newest pairs of the scarlet eyes (Name) got sat in the center.

Kurapika had his eyes closed in prayer when she walked in. He looked up, anger flashing across his face. “Are you trying to be disrespectful? Today’s the only day I can feel connected… to my clan! Get out!”

She flinched when he yelled, setting the peach cobbler on his dresser. “S-sorry, I… I didn’t know this day was… sacred.”

(Name) closed the door, hurrying away as fast as she could.

Kurapika took a minute to calm down, looking up to see the peach cobbler (Name) brought him. In his anger, he hadn’t even thought to ask her why she walked in, or considered that there was no way she would know about a Kurta only holiday.

He grabbed the peach cobbler, his stomach sinking when he saw she had shaped it into a heart. She was trying to make things better, to treat him to his favorite dessert after not seeing him all day. Kurapika placed the peach cobbler on the altar, sighing softly.

“I shouldn’t have yelled at her…mom, that’s the girl I like. She’s been nothing but kind to me, and I don’t know how she puts up with me. I also think if she were here right now, she’d offer you something to eat. I hope you guys like it.”

He kneeled back down, brushed off his tabard and held his hands together in prayer.

————————

It seemed like everything was going well. It was a few days before the celebration when Kurapika’s and Leorio’s phones beeped at the same time.

They had been taking a break, watching a movie while (Name) finished up cooking dinner. Leorio was the first to look at his phone, his shoulders slumping.

“Shit, this is the worst time for that…” Leorio mumbled, causing Kurapika to look at his phone too.

Chairwomen Cheadle: There will be a mandatory Zodiac meeting at 8 pm tonight. Apologies for the short notice, anyone out of town will be allowed to attend virtually. Anyone close by are asked to show up physically.

(Name) peeked into the living room when she heard the two groan. “What are you two whining about?”

Leorio handed her his phone. “Zodiac meeting, and it’s in an hour.”

(Name) tilted her head, handing his phone back. “Oh? What’s wrong with that? The meeting is taking place in town, so you won’t need to do anything but show up.”

Kurapika, who still felt bad for yelling at her the previous day, looked up. “It’s not attendance that’s the problem, it’s… the people. They can be… how do I put this?”

“Annoying?”

“Yes, very.”

(Name) smiled as she kissed them both on the cheek. “Well, you two better get ready. You’ll have just enough time to eat dinner before leaving.”

The two turned a bright pink before they jumped up to go get ready.

After a quick dinner of spaghetti and garlic bread, the two set off for the zodiac meeting. It was taking place in the same hotel Pariston used for the Halloween party.

Kurapika stepped out of the mom van and made sure his suit jacket was on straight before walking into the building. Leorio glanced back at the mom van, locked it, then followed behind.

There were only five other zodiacs present at the table, with a projector showing the faces of the other members.

The ones present were Cheadle, Gel, Pyon, Mizaistom Nana, and Kanzai. “Since everyone is now present, the meeting can begin.”

Cheadle took her seat at the head of the table, everyone else sitting when she did. The room went quiet as Cheadle organized a stack of papers. She handed the stack to Pyon. “Take one and pass it on.”

The stack went around the table, finally making it to Leorio, who paused. “… what the…”

Kurapika raised an eyebrow, glancing at Leorio. He was next to the dark haired man, so he hadn’t gotten to see the picture yet.

“What’s the meaning of this!? Why are you passing around a picture of (Name) with her personal information!?”

Kurapika’s eyes widened at Leorio’s words, the blonde quickly snatching the paper out of Leorio’s hand.

On the paper was a picture of (Name), information about her height, weight, family history, and current living situation written out below it. His now scarlet eyes scanned over the text before he looked up.

“What does (Name) have to do with this meeting? Answer me, Cheadle.”

His aura spiked as he stood up, causing a few of the other members of the Zodiac to stand up as well. Cheadle was quick to hold up her hand, signaling everything was okay. This calmed down the other members enough for them and Kurapika to sit down.

“As some of you may know, (Name) (Last Name) has been the radar of the Hunter Association since the Chimera Ant incident that caused her new nen ability to form.”

Kurapika shot a glare at Leorio, his eyes saying he’d have questions after the meeting. “She’s on our radar? That sure is news to me.”

“Me too, why wasn’t I told?” Leorio asked after Kurapika. Cheadle sighed, holding up the image of (Name).

“Neither of you were told because for one you are new members, and secondly you both have personal ties to the subject.”

Kurapika scowled, crumpling the paper in his hand. “That is precisely why we should have been informed. Both of us know (Name) well, what reason would you have to keep her under surveillance?”

“It’s not surveillance. There are no cameras in her home or people following her, she just has to check in regularly to be screened to make sure she hasn’t used… her ability. That is the reason she is on our radar.”

Kurapika knew she was able to speed up the growth rate of cells to destroy human tissue, but he couldn’t see why that was worthy of keeping her on their radar. “You let Hisoka run free, but (Name) is the one you’re keeping an eye on? Not the murderous pedophilic clown!?”

Cheadle groaned. “Listen, after the Chimera Ant incident, she-“

Cheadle glanced at Leorio, who was shaking his head ever so slightly. “After she… was found, the area around her was completely barren. The concrete, organic matter, and dirt was disintegrated into ash. Her ability can be incredibly dangerous and devastating if left unchecked. Just one attack was able to leave an area completely barren, imagine what she could do on a larger scale.”

Kurapika was silent for a moment. Leorio crumpled up his paper and threw it in the trash. “Larger scale? When has she ever given you the idea that she would use that power again like that?”

Mizaistom cleared his throat, placing his own paper down on the table. “Very recently, Miss (Name) used her ability again during a mission with Kurapika Kurta, the rat zodiac. That went directly against her orders from the forner rat zodiac and former Chairman Pariston. Although her order from him was null and void when he left his position, her defying it is indeed worrying.”

“Yes, it would be bad if our little (Name) went rogue, wouldn’t it?”

Everyone looked up to see Pariston standing in the doorway, a smirk on his face. Kurapika was held back from rushing over by Leorio’s hand on his shoulder. He inhaled deeply, staring at Pariston from his seat, taking a moment before speaking.

“(Name) would never hurt an innocent person, she’s…”

There was a softness in Kurapika’s expression that none of the Zodiacs had ever seen with him. “She’s the kindest, most selfless person I’ve ever encountered. I thought I lost hope in humanity after the atrocities I’ve encountered while searching for the scarlet eyes, but (Name) has shown me what true kindness is. To say she would hurt someone is blasphemous, and I won’t sit here and take you saying those things about the woman I-“

He stopped, a blush taking over his cheeks as silence filled the room. Pariston smirked, leaning against the wall. “And there’s the truth, Kurapika. You’re in love with this woman, aren’t you?”

Kurapika cleared his throat, folding his arms over his chest as he looked away. “That is irrelevant to the conversation.”

“I think it is more than relevant, Kurapika. How can we trust that your judgment isn’t biased when you’re in love with that woman?” Saiyu said through the projection screen.

“You can either trust my judgment or I can leave the Zodiac.”

This shocked even Leorio, who laughed nervously. “He’s just saying that, you know how irrational he can be when he’s-“

“Oh no I mean it. I’ll burn the entire association down if they even THINK about hurting (Name).”

Kanzai stood, narrowing his eyes. “Are you threatening us? I won’t let you do that!”

“That’s enough.”

Cheadle glanced at Kanzai, signaling him to sit back down. He did so with a grumble, keeping an eye on Kurapika.

“Kurapika, no one is going to hurt (Name). I gathered you here to inform you all that she agreed to reinstating her vow to not use her ability.”

Kurapika’s eyes widened, and he relaxed into his seat. “She didn’t tell me about that…”

“She doesn’t tell you a lot of things, Kurapika.” Pariston said, taking his seat across from the blonde.

Kurapika growled, clenching his fist at his side, his foot tapping away. Leorio patted his shoulder, taking out his phone and showing Kurapika a picture of (Name) snuggled up wearing a Christmas themed onesie with little reindeer ears on the hood.

Not only did this calm him down, it also made him blush, a soft smile on his face as he stared at Leorio’s phone. “Thanks, Leorio. That… that really helped.”

The rest of the meeting went as smoothly as it could, and the two got ready to leave. They were stopped by Pariston, who was still sat at the table.

“You hesitated a bit back there, Kurapika. What’s our girl been up to lately?”

Kurapika felt his eyes go scarlet, his blood pressure rising as he whipped his head around. “Not ‘our’ girl, my girl.”

Pariston only smiled, folding his hands under his chin. “You’re dodging the question, Kurta. What has she been up to that has you so worked up?”

“Nothing, besides working her ass off to make sure this fall gathering goes off without a hitch. You think she could hurt someone? She’s made sure to meticulously plan out every dish so that none of them has nuts them because ONE kid that’s attending has an allergy! Tell me, how the fuck is a woman as kind as her-“

Leorio covered his mouth, sighing. “We’ll be leaving.”

Pariston sighed, waving them away with his hand. He watched the pair leave, laughing to himself as the other zodiac members present glanced between him and Cheadle.

“Pariston… what are you planning?”

The blonde smiled, leaning back in his chair. “Something entertaining.”

——————

It was late when they got home, nearly 10. The kids were in bed by then, and (Name) was nowhere to be seen. Leorio tugged off his suit jacket and pants before collapsing on the couch in his boxers and dress shirt. Kurapika glanced at him with a raised eyebrow. “Are you just going to sleep like that in the living room? That’s impolite to Alluka and (Name).”

Leorio groaned and waved his hand dismissively. “Yeah yeah, whatever. They won’t care, and besides I have to be out of here before 7 to run by my apartment and grab my homework before classes. Alluka doesn’t wake up until 9, and (Name) has seen my dick.”

Kurapika turned bright red before smacking Leorio over the head. “Hey, what was that for?”

The blonde huffed, turning on his heels to climb up the staircase. “Hmph.”

He wanted to give Leorio another good whack, but decided going to talk to (Name) was a bit more important. Kurapika was going to ask her for more information on the Chimera Ant incident, and why everyone was being so secretive about it.

He was going to do that, until he saw that her door was slightly ajar, and could hear soft pants and moans coming from inside.

A tent rose up in his pants, his breath hitching as he stood still, just inches away from her door. ‘Is… is she..?’

He took a deep breath before peeking through the crack in the door, blinking a few times before his eyes focused on (Name)’s figure.

Her face was in the pillow, her ass in the air and pussy on full display. This was the first time he had ever seen her pussy, and Kurapika felt his cock leak through his boxers, getting his pants sticky with precum.

Her pussy was perfect, looking soft and chubby, just like her. Kurapika watched her spread her plump pussy lips, her index finger rubbing circles into her clit. Before he knew it he was leaning against the doorway, desperately fisting his cock to the heavenly sight before him.

She looked way too cute with her chubby cheek squished against the pillow, her eyes half lidded and lips glossy from drool. Little pants and whines left her lips as her fingers wandered to her entrance.

Kurapika stifled a moan when he watched her stuff her fingers into her pussy, having to cover his mouth with one hand as he jerked off with the other.

‘So pretty… god (Name) I want you so fucking bad…’

As he pumped his cock, he remembered the way she jerked him off just nearly two weeks ago. Kurapika wondered if he could just… walk in and… help her out.

Then another memory surfaced in his head, the image of her face when he wouldn’t tell her how he really felt about her. This was enough to make him go soft, his eyes flickering from her dripping pussy to her face.

She was crying.

There were tears in the corners of her eyes, a tremble to her lips. Her fingers moved faster as she sniffled and moaned.

Was she upset? Sad? He didn’t know, but he did know that her tears made his heart ache. She didn’t cry when he made her cum, was there some reason for this?

He was going to leave and let her have her privacy. After all, she feared he may only want her to fulfill his own sexual fantasies, and jerking off to her while she was obviously upset wouldn’t really help his case.

Kurapika began to step back when he heard something that had his cock getting so hard it pressed against his tummy.

“Pika… please… w-want you…”

He felt his heart race, all the blood in his body rushing to his dick. ‘She’s… she’s thinking of me while…’

He stroked his cock to the pretty sight, trying so hard to pace himself so he could cum with her, but it got hard when he watched her fuck herself with her fingers while whimpering his name.

He came, panting softly as he watched her orgasm wash over her, cum dripping down her thighs. More than anything, he wanted to walk in and clean up those plump thighs with his tongue, but Kurapika stopped himself.

Instead, he took one last glance at her sweet, pleasured face before pulling out his phone. He bit his lip as he took a quick picture of her soft face, making sure not to get her nude body in the shot, no matter how much he wanted it.

Her face was enough to get him rock hard again, the blonde barely making it to his room before his hand was shoved in his pants again, jerking off to her o-face.

(Name) moaning his name confirmed in his mind that she was attracted to him and wanted him. Kurapika couldn’t help but feel guilty, almost giggling in delight like a girl with a crush when he thought back to it. ‘She wants me…’

————————

Over the next two days, Kurapika became rather clingy with (Name), following her around like a lost, lovesick puppy.

“Kurapika.”

“Yes, angel?”

“… get out, I’m trying to pee.”

Kurapika stood at the doorway of the bathroom, tilting his head. “Oh, go ahead. Don’t mind me.”

“I most certainly WILL mind you! Out!”

He pouted, crossing his arms. “Why? I just-“

“Kurapika Kurta I can’t pee with you watching me! Go!”

(Name) threw a bottle of shampoo at him, causing the blonde to rush out of the door and close it behind him. ‘Geez, what has gotten into him? He’s been clinging to me like a needy child. Even Killua wasn’t this bad… when…’

She sighed, washing her hands. ‘Oh, Killua…’

Kurapika was waiting outside the bathroom, watching her. “Took you long enough. Now come on, I want some-“

(Name) pinched his cheek, huffing. “No, I need to cook. You’ve been so clingy lately, what’s up with you?”

His cheeks turned pink, but he didn’t move away from her. “I…”

Kurapika didn’t want to admit he overheard her moaning his name, because then he would have to explain himself more, and might tell her more than he wanted to. He didn’t like lying, so might as well not say anything. “… sorry. I’ll help with the cooking, if that’s alright with you.”

(Name) smiled, taking his hand. “That’s perfectly fine, Pika. I need all the help I can get.”

He let her lead him downstairs, his eyes soft. Every time her skin touched his, Kurapika could feel his heart pound behind his ribs. “(Name)… I-“

“Oh look it’s the blonde twink. Have you finished following my mom like a mutt in heat and decided to actually help out?”

Kurapika’s eyebrow twitched, a scowl taking over his face. (Name) glanced at Kurapika, trying to hold back an amused smile. “Oh stop it Killua, he’s just attached to me. Much like a little puppy.”

Kurapika huffed, pulling his arm away before crossing them both over his chest. “I just… wanted to make sure you’re alright. You… you were hurt during our mission.”

“Yeah, but that was nearly three weeks ago, Kurapika.” (Name) said, giving him a knowing smile. “You just like being around me~”

The blonde turned a bright red, even the tips of his ears going pink. “Y-you say that like it’s a bad thing. Of course… I like being around you. You’re…”

He trailed off, clearing his throat. “Anyways, what can I do to help?”

(Name) could feel her own face grown warm, but shook off the fuzzy feeling taking over her body to answer Kurapika’s question. “You’ll be making the macaroni! It’s very easy, so-“

“Pause.”

Kurapika and (Name) looked to Killua, who held up his hands. “Mom, do you really trust a blonde to get your famous macaroni right? The only thing he knows how to cook is pancakes, eggs, and bacon, he’s a one trick pony!”

(Name) waved her hand dismissively, shooing Killua out of the kitchen. “Shoo, your negative energy will ruin the food.”

Killua pouted, but walked out of the kitchen. “Don’t come crying to me when he messes everything up…’

(Name) turned to Kurapika, the blonde’s heart nearly slipping a beat when you smiled at him sweetly. “Come on, let’s get started.”

She gave him a quick run down of her recipe, writing down the details. “Okay, don’t overcook the noodles. I’ll be back in a few minutes, I need to go pick up Alluka from her date with her little girlfriend.”

(Name) paused for a moment, glancing at Kurapika before standing on her tippy toes and giving him a quick peck on the cheek. “Good luck, I believe in you.”

Before she could pull away, Kurapika turned and held onto her neck, keeping her in place as he leaned down to kiss her lips. “Thank you, (Name). I won’t let you down.”

Her face was hot, her eyes shining as they stared into his. “Kurapika…”

“It’s Pika, (Name),” he said softly, going back in for another kiss. Before he could slip his tongue into her mouth, she pushed him back, letting out a soft sigh.

“I’ve… got to go, Alluka is waiting.”

Kurapika nodded, pushing a piece of her hair out of her face. “Go ahead, I’ll be here.”

He smiled as he watched her leave, feeling giddy. Now that he knew she wanted him, his confidence had gone up a bit, allowing him to be more affectionate with her without fear.

‘Mmm…’

He licked his lip, his cheeks flushing when he tasted her strawberry flavored chapstick. Kurapika began to boil the macaroni, his head in the clouds. Everything felt so… warm and fuzzy. Was this what being in love was like? Kurapika wanted to bathe in this feeling, he had finally made up his mind.

He wanted to be with (Name).

No matter how he tried to separate himself from her, he was always drawn back, as if they were magnets meant to connect and stick by each other’s side.

‘And I can’t leave her, now that I know the Hunter Association is keeping an eye on her…’

It filled Kurapika with rage to know they believed (Name) was capable of causing destruction on a massive scale. The girl had a crisis over killing a man that was objectively awful, to think she could hurt an innocent was beyond comprehension for the Kurta.

Before, he wanted to leave to keep her safe, but now he knew even if he left, she would never truly be free from danger. The only thing he could do was stay by her side, protecting his angel to his best ability. He would die if it meant she would continue to live a happy, carefree life.

‘But…’

He bit his lip, watching the water on the stove boil. ‘My mission… I have to finish it first. I’ll hunt down the phantom troupe, then…’

He blushed, pouring the noodles into the water.

‘Then she’ll be mine.’

——————

“You seem to be in a good mood, big sis,” Alluka said, watching (Name) from the backseat. (Name) laughed, turning into the driveway.

“Yeah… I guess I am in a good mood.”

She felt happy for the first time since she killed that man, her heart fluttering at the memory of Kurapika’s lips on hers. The kiss had been so tender, full of a feeling that (Name) hoped was love. Maybe, just maybe, the two actually had something between them. She really hoped so, (Name) had never seen Kurapika look at anyone but her that way.

All of these fuzzy feelings were squashed when she walked into the kitchen to see Kurapika staring at a pot of… macaroni? At least she thought it was, but the noodles were over cooked and soggy, while the cheese was dry. “Kurapika…”

The blonde glanced at her, looking like a kicked puppy. “I… I really tried my best, (Name).”

She didn’t have it in her to stay mad at him, instead giving him a small smile. “Well, it was your first time making my recipe, don’t beat yourself up-“

“Mom, why does the mac and cheese taste like someone without a soul made it?”

They looked to see Killua spitting the bite of macaroni he ate into the trash. “How the FUCK did you make it so dry but overcook the noodles to the point they’re slimy?”

Kurapika grimaced, Alluka peeking at the macaroni. When she attempted to try a bite, Killua lifted it out of her reach and placed in where she couldn’t reach. “Don’t eat that, Alluka. It’ll hurt your tummy.”

(Name) rubbed her temple. “Killua, come on. It’s his first time making it.”

“Mom, if Gon did this I would understand, but Kurapika is only a year apart from you, and you can cook almost anything.”

“Baby, people have different things they’re good at and you know I already told you-“

“Yeah, yeah, I know. ‘People grow and learn at different rates’ or whatever…”

(Name) smiled, pinching his cheek. “Exactly. You’re never too old to learn something new or make a change. Never.”

Killua nodded slowly, before lightly swatting her hand away. “Come on Alluka, let’s go get my room ready for Gon.”

Kurapika watched with a fond look in his eyes as the two ran off, (Name) turning back to give him a patient smile. “Okay, let’s see the macaroni.”

She hummed as she looked over it. “Well… it’s not… awful. I’ll put it in the fridge and maybe we can salvage it later! For now…”

(Name) pulled out a container and a pie dish, setting it on the table. She pulled off the lid, the smell of cherries filling the air. “It’s cherry filling. All you have to do is poke some holes into the crust and pour this in, then bake for 45 minutes.”

She glanced at her phone. “I have to pick up Gon then go grocery shopping with Leorio. Oh, let me write down the directions so you-“

“(Name), stop. I’m not five. You can count on me for this, just take care of the groceries with Leorio,” Kurapika said, grabbing a knife to begin poking the the pie crust. She quickly replaced it with a fork, showing him how it was done.

“You poke it with a fork, silly.”

He blushed as she guided his hand, his heart thumping against his chest. “Like that, see?”

“Y-yeah, I’ve got it. Go on, angel, I don’t want you to be late.”

She gave him a nod and a gently squeeze to his hand before walking out. Kurapika sat at the table, poking holes into the pie crust as he thought about the meeting with the Zodiacs. He was supposed to ask her about why she was under watch, but he got a little… distracted.

‘What happened during the Chimera Ant incident? I bet that’s why… Killua gets those nightmares. Something bad happened, I just don’t know what yet.’

It made him anxious not knowing what could have happened to (Name) while he was away. If he was correct, Kurapika remembered having a small service and ignoring Leorio’s phone calls during that time.

‘I know some of them were for Gon, but I temper seeing (Name)’s name mentioned… the he deleted the message…’

Kurapika put the pie in the oven, sighed as he leaned against the wall. ‘Well, some of our friends and allies are coming over, maybe at least one of them will be willing to share some information with me.’

He looked at the fridge, his cheeks turning a little pink. “I wonder…”

Kurapika’s eyes scanned over the list of dishes (Name) planned on making, focusing on the dessert part. His face turned bright red when he spotted his favorite, peach cobbler with a little note beside it.

‘For my Pika <3’

She always managed to make his heart race with how thoughtful and kind she was, and now more than ever it angered him to to think of someone hurting her or thinking ill of her.

He glanced at the timer on the oven. ‘45 minutes…’

Kurapika jumped when he felt someone grab his sleeve. “Kurapika? Where’s mama?”

It was Nanika, her void like eyes staring up at him. When she was out, she would offen cling to (Name) like a child would their mother. “Oh, (Name) isn’t home right now, she-“

“M-mama isn’t home?”

Her lip quivered, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. “B-but… but…”

Kurapika froze, not knowing what to do. The poor girl was clinging to his tabard, crying. “Hey, hey now, shh…”

He tried to remember what (Name) would do to cheek her up. “Nanika, it’s okay. She won’t take long, I promise.”

He gently patted her head, his fingers running through her hair in a soothing manner, much like (Name) did for the other kids when they were upset. Nanika sniffled, but began to calm down, rubbing at her eyes sleepily.

“I think you need a nap, kiddo. Alluka stayed up late last night picking out her outfit for her date.”

He picked her up, letting her rest her head on his shoulder, and brought her to the spare room, laying her down before tucking her into bed.

“Get some rest, kiddo. If you need something I’ll be in the kitchen, okay?”

Kurapika smiled down at her, feeling very soft. She was already falling asleep, her eyelids drooping. Kurapika left the room, turning the light off on his way out and leaving the door cracked.

Killua was waiting for him in the hallway, looking less hostile than usual. “She wouldn’t listen to me, and kept looking for mom. Thanks… for getting her to sleep. She can get a bit fussy when she hasn’t slept well.”

Kurapika gave him a nod before being distracted from his job again with the ring of the doorbell. “Did… (Name) say anyone was showing up so early? The get together is tomorrow…”

Killua thought for a moment then grimaced. “Oh, yeah. That’s probably Menchi.”

They both scowled, the blonde letting out an annoyed sigh before opening the door. Menchi stood behind it, wearing an ochre colored sweater, with jeans. It was a far cry from her outfit during the exam, Kurapika wasn’t sure he’d ever seen her in anything normal.

“Where’s (Name)?”

She seemed to look at Kurapika with a look of distaste, like she was just served a dish with bits of cat litter in it. The blonde tried to keep a small smile on his face. “She isn’t here at the moment, she-“

Menchi pushed her way in and immediately headed towards the kitchen. “Who the hell is burning a cherry pie!?”

Kurapika’s eyes went. He sprinted into the kitchen, his eyes wide as he glanced at the clock then the plume of smoke pouring out of the opened oven. Menchi pulled out the pie and opened the kitchen door to fan the smoke out, coughing.

“I don’t understand, I did everything (Name) told me to! I set the oven to 350, then the timer to 45 minutes-“

Menchi raised an eyebrow. “Uh… the oven is at 450, not 350.”

Kurapika’s eyes went wide before he groaned and sat down to hold his head in his hands. “Fuck… the macaroni then this, what’s wrong with me?”

Menchi stared at the charred pie, sighing. “This poor, poor pie. I assume (Name) made the filling. What a waste.”

She pulled some rolling pins out of nowhere. “No matter, I’ll get to work. You’re banned from the kitchen, blondie.”

He didn’t argue, just standing up and shuffling to his room.

———————

Gon walked around, giving everyone hugs and saying hi to Menchi before he stopped. “Hmm? Where’s Kurapika?”

(Name) shrugged, hanging up her coat. “I’m not sure, but Killua said he burned the pie earlier.”

She sighed and rubbed her temple. “It was an honest mistake, but it’s still a little frustrating to be down two dishes now.”

Gon nodded, patting her shoulder. “I’ll go talk to him! Maybe we can work something out!”

“Yeah, you go do that. I have to make sure Menchi doesn’t get off track with the food again.”

Gon walked up the stairs and knocked on Kurapika's door. "Kurapika, it's Gon! I just got here.”

The door cracked open, the blonde looking a bit downtrodden. “Oh, Gon… happy holidays. How… are you doing?”

He hummed, walking into Kurapika’s room. “I’m doing alright, but how are you? I heard… you had some problems in the kitchen.”

Kurapika nodded, rubbing his arm awkwardly. “Yeah, I just… I got distracted and I messed up… and…”

Gon held up his hand. “Everyone messes up sometimes! What matters is trying to fix the mistake you made!”

Kurapika gave him a soft smile. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. You always know what to say, Gon.”

The boy grinned. “How about this, we’ll wait for Menchi to leave, then we’ll try and salvage that macaroni and cheese!”

The two spent the next hour really catching up. Kurapika had been hesitant to get too close to his friends again, but now that he knew he was sticking around, he wanted more than anything to be close with them again. It felt like he had become so distant from the people he cared for most, so it felt nice to be all caught up with what they had been doing.

“And you’re gonna ask (Name) on a date- Mmph!”

Kurapika covered Gon’s mouth as his face erupted into a blush. “Shh, she could hear you!”

Gon nodded as Kurapika pulled his hand away, now whispering. “I think she’ll say yes, you two have always been so close. When you were gone, she looked at your picture in the living room a lot.”

The blonde turned bright red, clearing his throat. “Is that so?”

Gon stood, peeking out the door. “Mhm. Now come on, Menchi just left!”

Kurapika followed Gon down to the kitchen and took out the macaroni. “You followed the directions on the box, right?” Gon asked as he looked at the soggy noodles and dry cheese.

Kurapika huffed, feeling a bit embarrassed. “Of course, why wouldn’t I? Boil for eight minutes, remove from- hey!”

Gon began to scrape off some of the cheese. “If we take off some of the cheese, we can mix some fresh cheese in and add some extra milk and seasonings!”

Kurapika relaxed, smiling. “Ah, I forgot, you said you knew how to make macaroni and cheese during the Hunter Exam, didn’t you?”

Gon nodded proudly, setting the macaroni and cheese aside. “Now, let’s shred some cheese and get some bread crumbs!”

Though the noodles were still soggy after they were done, the macaroni and cheese looked a lot better and smelled decent. Kurapika couldn’t help but feel a little proud.

“Oh boys, something is smelling great in here!”

(Name) walked in, putting away her phone. She had snapped a picture of the scene before announcing her presence. ‘That’s going in the Christmas card.’

Kurapika blushed as she swiped a bit of the macaroni and cheese, fiddling with his tabard. “Kurapika, Gon, this tastes great! This is definitely going on the table, along with my macaroni and cheese.”

Gon cheered, and Kurapika sighed in relief. “Now, you two come to the table and eat your dinner. It’s burgers tonight.”

Everyone gathered at the table to eat dinner, smiling and laughing. They were all full of excitement for the next day, though none of them were prepared for the chaos that would ensue.

[creative-caramel-coffee]

A Disastrous First.

Pairings: Wanda x nat x R (platonic)

Word count: 4.6K

Summary: Reader is on a mission with the team and it’s the morning before they leave to go into the bush for a bunch of days to camp to stakeout a base and reader gets her first period. Bad timing.

TW: periods (idk if that needs a warning lol), blood, vomiting, exhaustion, cramps, embarrassment, swearing (very little tho)

A/n this is based partly off personal experience lol

“So are there any questions before we leave?” Steve asked. A chorus of mumbled no’s came from the group and Steve clapped his hands. “Alright everyone go to the bathroom and then we’ll head off. The campsite has already been setup.” He continued to talk but your weren’t really paying any attention. You felt odd.

After the meeting ended you stood and followed the team out of the room. Everyone went back to their rooms to finished packing and go to the bathroom before getting on the jet. Fury would be coming with to pilot the jet back to the compound as it drew too much attention for a week long stakeout in the woods.

Hydra had a new covert based and Steve posed all the avengers come with the camp out in the woods. It really only needed about two people for the mission but Steve insisted after all it had a been a long time since the group did anything as a team.

You finished packing a bag with basic supplies. You were the youngest on the team. About half a year younger than peter who was fifteen which left you at fourteen and a half. After all the team couldn’t not accept you after your past. Hydra had given you powers that couldn’t be ignored. Fire and magic made it hard to fit in at times but after you met Wanda you grew better control over them. Not as good as her yet but still impressive. She had much more time spent training hers than you.

You set the duffel bag on the edge of the bed and walked to the bathroom.

“Shit.” You swore. Internally panicking. You knew you were a bit late and most of the other girls in your year had gotten their first periods but you hadn’t expected it now. You had no supplies, and you were about to leave. You got lost in your own mind. Could you ask Wanda? A knock came from your bedroom door.

“Y/n? Steve needs us all at the jet now he sent me to get you.” Nat called through the door.

Dammit. You folded some toilet paper and placed it in your underwear. You could ask Wanda once you get to the camp ground.

“Y/n?” Nat called again.

“Coming.” You said. Quickly you washed you hands and finished up grabbing the duffel and slinging it over one shoulder. Nat studied you for a moment and then without a word the two of you walked down the hall.

When you got to the jet Wanda sensed you anxiety and once you were in the air she pulled you aside to ask if you were ok. You had made an agreement for her not to look into your mind as it brought back memories of not being in control like at hydra.

“Y/n? Are you ok?” Wanda said rubbing her thumb against your bicep from where she held it.

“Y-yeah, I’m fine.” You said and Wanda frowned unconvinced.

“Y/n you can tell me anything you know that right?” She said softly.

“Well actually there is something but. Its dumb.”

“Im sure if its bothering you its not dumb.” She said and ushered you to sit with her away from the group.

“I- i- i got m-my first p-period.” You said not looking at Wanda. She smiled at you with understanding in her eyes.

“That’s ok. Do you need anything? Pads? Have you got cramps or anything?” She asked.

“I do need some pads. I don’t have anything. And i don’t think I’ve had any cramps yet. Im just tired.” You said.

“Well i can give you some pads and you can go put one in before we land. Its a tough time to get it with camping and all. Steve said there would be no real bathrooms.” Your head whipped up at that.

“W-what?” You said eyes wide.

“Oh sweetheart were you not listening again. Its kinda a pee in the woods situation.” Wanda said. You simply opened and closed you mouth and Wanda pulled you in for a hug. You felt her slip something into your pocket and pat your back.

“Thanks wands.” You said. Quietly slipping away you put in the pad before coming back to sit next to her. You rested you head on her shoulder exhausted from everything.

“You can sleep now y/n/n we still have a couple hours till we get there.” Wanda said and you curled into her and drifted off.

You woke to hands running through your hair and soft whispers in your ear.

“Y/n/n time to wake up lovely girl.” Wanda said and you opened your eyes.

“There she is.” Wanda said and patted your cheek. “We have about five minutes till we land. I though you should change again before we get off and start setting up.”

“Ok.” You mumbled and stood sleepily. Once you entered the bathroom you found another pad in your pocket and silently thanked Wanda. After changed again you went back and curled up against her again. This time with you head in her lap. Wanda traced patterns on you leg and soon you felt someone sit down on your other side. Nat picked up your legs and swung them into her lap.

“You ok y/n/n?” Nat asked. She had been observing from the other side of the jet. You mumbled and hid your head in Wanda’s thigh.

“Do you want me to tell her?” Wanda said and felt you nod against her leg. Wanda lent closer to nat and whispered to her.

“Y/n/n got her first period. Shes a bit exhausted.” Wanda said and nat nodded.

“Does she need anything?” Nat asked.

“I think she’s ok. I’ll ask.” Wanda stroked your hair again and softly asked if you needed anything. You mumbled a small no and went back to dozing.

“Yeah she’s ok for now but do a favour and keep an eye on her if I’m not with her for some reason?”

“Sure.” Nat said.

After dozing for another few minutes Wanda’s hands found your hair again and you yawned, stretching in her arms.

“Welcome back sleepy head. We just touched down, nat said she can carry your bag if you want sweets.” Wanda said. You sat up slowly.

“No I’ll be fine don’t worry.” You waved her off and grabbed you bag following Steve off the jet with nat and Wanda following behind you.

“Alright we’ll be in tents of three.” Steve started once the team was all in the clearing. “Wanda, nat and Y/n in one tent. Bucky, sam and myself in another. Bruce, tony and peter in the third. And lastly Clint and Thor in the last one.” Steve said and for once there was minimal arguing as everyone was happy with their tent groups. The team dispersed and began putting bags in tents and claiming sleeping bags.

Nat, Wanda and you were sat in the canvas tent. You had opted for the middle spot with nat on your left and Wanda on your right. But the three of you knew you would all wake up in a cuddle pile each morning.

Wanda placed her hand on your knee where you had your legs crossed under you.

“Y/n/n are you still feeling ok sweets?” She asked from where she sat on her own sleeping bag. Nat sat on your other side folding her clothes and placing them at the foot of her bed but you knew she was listening as well.

“‘M fine.” You mumbled feeling your cheeks heat. “Um. I do have a question though.”

“What is it lovely?” Wanda asked.

“Um, what do i do with the dirty pads if there are no bathrooms?” You mumbled again. Wanda slapped her forehead.

“Oh damn how could i forget.” She began rooting around in her bag. Soon she pulled out a plastic bag with four brown paper bags inside and a small container of baking soda. You looked at her confused as she handed it to you.

“Basically you put the pad inside the bag and sprinkle a bit of baking soda on it to keep … bugs away from it.” She said.

“Ew.” You said making a face and shoving the bag into your backpack.

“Yeah. Pretty much.” Wanda said chuckling.

“Thanks wands your a life saver.” You said and hugged her. She hugged back loosely worried about if you had cramps or not yet. When the two of you broke apart nat silently hugged you.

“I know i don’t have much experience in this but in want to help so i bought you this.” She said and pulled a chocolate bar from her bag. You took it with tears in your eyes and nat silently panics worried she had done something wrong. Wanda simply chuckled as you threw yourself at nat for another hug.

“There are the hormones.” Wanda said grinning.

“Oh shut up and come here sparkly hands.” You said and she raised a brow and sandwiched you between her and nat. After a few moments you pulled them down and now you all laid cuddling on your sleeping bag. After a few moments Wanda noticed the slow rise and fall of your chest as you had fallen asleep. It was at this moment the flap of the tent lifted and Clint poked his head in.

“If i knew it was cuddle time i would have come earlier. Can i join?” He joked and nat rolled her eyes from where she laid with your arm over her chest snoring softly. She lazily flipped him off and Wanda stifled a chuckle.

“What do you want Clint?” She said feigning annoyance.

“Steve wants us all to gather so he can go over what we are going to be doing for the next few days.”

Nat sighed “give us a minute and tell him Y/n’s not coming and we’ll catch her up later.” Clint grinned shooting her a thumbs up before disappearing.

Carefully the two girls extracted themselves from your grasp and slipped in a pillow for you to cuddle. You rolled over burying you face in it and breathing in deep. Wanda cooed and nat laughed softly.

“She really is just a big teddy bear.”

“Shes a cute teddy bear.” Wanda agreed.

“Alright lets go see what capsicle wants before he comes in and wakes up y/n/n” nat said and the two quietly left the tent hoping you wouldn’t wake until they got back.

Steve sat around a small campfire in the middle of the tents and was poking it with a stick. He looked up and frowned.

“Is there any good reason Miss L/n is not joining us.” Steve asked.

“Shes sleeping.” Nat said

“Not good enough go get her up.” Steve said and nat was about to argue when Wanda left to go grab you knowing Steve wouldn’t change his mind.

When she returned you were trailing behind her exhausted and rubbing your eyes. The team was all there now and watched your curiously.

Steve began talking but you weren’t really listening as you rested you head on Wanda’s shoulder.

“Are you ok?” She asked softly “your looking a bit pale sweets.” She said.

“‘M fine wands.” You mumbled shifting a bit and poorly hiding a wince. Wanda noticed and decided to bring it up after whenever this impromptu meeting finished. She shot nat a look and Wanda silently told her what was going on with her powers. Nat nodded and went back to paying attention so she could fill you in later as she could see you were half asleep and not paying attention and Wanda was more focused on you than Steve. She placed a hand on your cheek holding your head from where it sat on her shoulder. Your whole body was leaned into hers as you blinked and fought sleep.

After the meeting was over Wanda carried you back to the tent as you were still exhausted. Nat followed behind. Wanda moved carefully not to jostle you and spark any uanessacry pain as she knew the cramps had started.

She placed you down on her bed so you were more out of the way. Nat followed her into the tent.

“Are you sure she should be sleeping this much?” Nat asked a little worried.

Wanda shrugged, “I was the same on my first, it’s all new and exhausting both physically and mentally. Im expecting her to get upset at some point. When your not used to it and your hormones are out of whack, seeing that much blood can be scary and gross. Plus not having real bathrooms or anything makes that ten times worse. I feel for the kid, timing just sucks. And from what i can tell with how often she’s changing her pad poor things not got it light, i just hope its a short number of days.”

They woke you once for lunch and gave you some pain meds before the three of you relaxed but not quiet slept in the tent for the afternoon. You did some lazy doodles in your sketchbook not really paying much attention to the art. You must have fallen asleep at some point because your woke in Nat’s lap with braided hair. The three of you got up and had dinner which you ate curled into Wanda’s side. After you went to bed while Nat and Wanda stayed up for a bit with the team. And despite being an avenger tony had given both you and peter a bed time of ten. So the two of you went to bed in your own tents.

You woke to a sticky feeling between the sheets, it was still dark. And you laid annoyed at being away, huffing softly before a cramp hit hard accompanied with nausea. Knowing the feeling a little too well you hastily crawled over the sleeping lump that was Wanda, accidentally jostling her in your hurry. She sat up slightly with you laid across her lap with your hands frantically unzipping the zip. She rubbed her eyes and yawned.

“Y/n? What are you doing?” She asked and froze as instead of a response she heard you gag and start to dry heave. That woke her up quickly. She looked over at Nat who had propped herself up on her elbow with her eyebrows scrunched looking slightly tired. When they heard you whimper nat scurried out of her sleeping bag to beside you were you were now on all fours. Your back arched as Nat swept your hair up to hold it just in time as you began top throw up on the grass behind the tent. You breathed heavily coughing up the last of it while Wanda rubbed between your shoulder blades. You were panting and the two women held their breath in anticipation.

“You ok you gonna-“ nat was cut off as you brought up another round.

“Ok that answers it.” She said. “Shh bubs its alright. Its ok. We’re not mad just get it all up sweets.” She said. Wanda whispered similar things as she silently thanked Thor that nobody came to investigate the gross splashing sound of you being sick on the ground. When you finished you looked up with tears in your eyes. Wanda waved her hand the sick puddle disappeared as she pulled you into her lap where you curled up and cried. Wanda shushed you softly as nat dug around in her bag for a bottle of water, mouthwash and a cracker for you to nibble on as well as two ibuprofen.

“Shhh sweets it’ll be ok. Do you want me to come with so you can change you pad sweets i think you bleed a bit on the sheets. She said and your cried harder not having noticed.

You nodded into her stomach and Wanda used her magic to clean the sheets before nat handed you the things she grabbed. You used the mouthwash and drank some water opting to eat the cracker once you had changed and felt hopefully, less sick. Worried you couldn’t handle anything in your stomach at the moment. Nat nodded and Wanda led you by the hand to the patch of trees a little way off from the camp ground. She turned her back and used here magic to light the area for you with a soft red glow. After the rustling stopped and you told her you were done she walked you back to the tent where nat was sat patiently waiting for your return. She silently handed you the cracker and you curled up on your bed nibbling on it. Two strong pairs of arms wrapped around you from both sides and once you finished the cracker you drifted off again the pain medicine working wonders for your cramps which had settled to a dull ache.

The next morning Wanda and nat let you sleep in taking turns to sit in the tent for when you woke up. Not wanting you to be alone after last night knowing you would wake with more cramps. In the morning they wanted to give you the pain meds straight away to avoid another episode like last night.

Clint shot nat a look from where he sat making coffee on a pot above the fire.

“You look like shit. Did you even sleep last night?” He asked and nat rolled her eyes and flipped him off.

“Shut up Barton. Y/n kept me awake last night.” She said and Clint laughed.

“She kicking you again in her sleep.” He asked.

“No Shes sick.” Nat said and Clint’s laughing stopped and he stilled, looking worried.

“She ok?” He asked.

“Yeah she’s sleeping. Just… keep this between us, ok?” She said and Clint nodded knowing nat would have her reasons. He went back to stirring the coffee so it didn’t burn.

“You and Wanda can have the first cup.” He said and nat blew him a kiss.

“Life saver.” She winked and went to find Steve to tell him he needed to excuse you from activities and either her or Wanda for the day.

Nat soon swapped out for Wanda and moments after the young witch had left you began yo stir. Nat was by your side in an instance and you sleepily took the medicine she held out for you. What she wasn’t expecting was for you to curl back up as small sobs shook your body. Nat carefully placed a hand on your shoulder.

“There’s so much blood natty.” You whimpered with little tears rolling down your cheeks.

“Shh shh i know love its ok.” Nat said petting your hair.

“I wanna go home.” You cried and nat pulled you into her to give you a hug. You sat there a tangle of limbs while you cried into her shoulder while she stroked your head and whispered words of comfort.

“Its ok my sweet angel your alright.” She said before humming a soft Russian lullaby that sent you back to sleep. She sat back against her pillow with you laid on top of her. Which is where Wanda found her a half hour later.

“She doing ok nat? Did you give her the meds?” Wanda asked and Nat nodded. You were still clinging to her like a koala.

“Shes emotional and tired which is a hard combo for her.” Nat said and placed a kiss to the crown of your head from where it rested below Nat’s chin.

“Poor girl.” Wanda said. “At least Steve excused the three of us from activities. All it took was one mention of that time of the month for him to look sunburnt all of a sudden and turn into a stuttering mess.” Wanda chuckled.

“Yeah Steve’s sweet and he means well its just sex ed wasn’t really a thing in his time. He’s good at helping a girl out if she needs it but he’s still a bit uncomfortable with the whole thing. He’s trying though.” Nat said and you whined as you stirred before burning your face in Nat’s armpit. Wanda pulled a face and nat laughed.

“Im clean don’t worry she’s probably just looking for warmth.”

“I should take her and let you get so me breakfast before it’s all gone.” Wanda said as she carefully pried your sleepy form from nat. You curled into yourself before Wanda pulled you close and you immediately latched onto her and settled again. Nat chuckled slightly.

“She sure is clingy like this, that gonna have to be my new favourite time of the month then if we get this may cuddles.” Nat said and Wanda laughed slightly. Her chest vibrating against your cheek as she did. You hummed in sleeping content as she did and you smiled in your sleep.

“Now shoo, go get some food and maybe bring something back for the cuddle bear here.” Wanda said and nat gave a mock salute before hopping up and getting out of the tent. Nat smirked as Steve failed to meet her eyes and she quickly dished up some food before heading back to the tent.

When Wanda woke you for breakfast you looked confused which was adorable in your sleepy state with your messed up hair. That was something nat could fix for you later.

“I thought Steve said no food in tents? Something about animals?” You asked.

“I doubt Steve is in any state to say anything and what he doesn’t know cant hurt him.” You shrugged as Wanda laughed and you began to eat the bacon and toast. You didn’t like eggs.

Nat laughed as you pushed the eggs to one side. She knew you wouldn’t eat them and simply got them so her and Wanda could have more.

“Thank you guys. I know I haven’t been very easy to deal with” you smiled at them but it was more a half grimace. Wanda set her fork down.

“Absolutely not. You will not apologise for something you can’t control sweets. Nat and I are happy to help and not just this time. If you ever need us for anything especially this you can come to us no questions asked.” She said and you nodded swallowing back tears.

“I needed to hear that today. Thanks wands.” You whispered.

“Any time L/n” Nat said and you smiled before the three of you went back to eating.

“So what do u wanna do today?” Wanda asked and you frowned.

“I thought we had to do team activities.” You said.

“We did but we got us out of it. We are all your for the day.” Wanda smiled and you blinked.

“Is it ok if we just stay here and I can draw you don’t have to stay with me if you don’t want to.”

“Nonsense. You’re our get out of jail free card that’s too good to waste. Especially because I know Steve’s gonna want to go on a run at some point and will probably drag the whole team along. You have come in very useful my good friend.” Nat winked and you laughed.

That day was spent drawing the campground and anything interesting your could find in your sketchbook while Nat and Wanda relaxed. Chatting or reading. At one point Nat was sharpening her knives which she said she had been meaning to do for months and thanked you for getting them the time off.

“I didn’t really do much.” You smiled shrugging.

“That’s the idea.” Wanda laughed. “Can I see your sketches?” She asked

“Umm.. sure some aren’t finished yet.” You said handing her the book. She leafed through the pages in awe.

“Y/n these are amazing I never knew you could draw like this.” She said looking at the sketches of the campground there were even some portraits of the team which Wanda traced with careful fingers. “Nat come look at this.” She said and you blushed and she turned back to you. “If that’s ok?”

“Yeah that’s fine I’m just not used to the attention Peter caught me drawing on the roof once other than that not many people bother to look through my sketchbooks.” You shrugged.

“You have more of these?” Nat asked looking up from where she was studying the art. “They are very impressive y/n/n” she said.

“Yeah that’s my twelfth sketchbook.”

“I’d love to see the others when we get back to the tower. If that’s ok?” Wanda said.

“Yeah sure they’re not as good though.” You said. After a while the handed the book back along with a few more compliments which had you blushing unused to such honest praises.

The morning went quickly and soon you were having lunch with the team again who was sweaty and gross. You laughed as Clint chased Nat around with his arms wide threatening a sweaty hug. Her face has you in stitches as Wanda reminded you to breathe through her own laughter. Peter complained about never getting time off and tony playfully whacked him saying he shouldn’t ever wish for anything like girls anatomy. Stark shuddered thinking about pepper and her rage when on her period. Sometimes she was cuddles and joy and others she was threatening to give him the company back to manage. He still loved her though and held her hair back when the cramps made her throw up.

Later the team all went off with Steve again to do some survival training while you Nat and Wanda all went back to relaxing. Nat noticed you wincing later and silently gave you more meds and you thanked her.

“No problem kid you were due another dose to anyway.” She said and Wanda passed you a glass of water she had conjured.

The afternoon went off without a hitch and soon it was evening again. Wanda made sure to give you extra strength meds before bed this time so they would last the night and hopefully you wouldn’t wake up. You slept until late morning as Nat glared at anyone who tried to wake you up. Soon all the tents were pack down but yours and Nat pulled your sleepy form from the sleeping bag and placed you in Wanda’s lap. She packed down the tent and you snuggled into her stomach as you curled into a ball on her thighs.

Soon the quinjet landed and Wanda used her magic to block the noise for you so you stayed sleeping. The next time you woke you were in Wanda’s bed still on her lap. Nat was sat by Wanda’s side reading a book propped up on her bend knees.

“Morning sweets. Guess where we are?” Wanda said and you smiled recognising the room.

“We’re home.” You cheered and Wanda nodded.

“No go take a shower stinky.” She said and you grinned. “I left you some of my clothes on the sink and a new pad for you. We’ll have a hot water bottle, chocolate, snacks and a movie marathon waiting when you’re done.” She said and you gave her an appreciative thumbs up as you shut the door. As girls you didn’t mind sharing beds or bathrooms after all the three of you were very close.

That day was spent being pampered by your two favourite women and eating a boatload of chocolate. If this was what periods were like… maybe they weren’t all bad.

MASTERLIST

[hesbuckcompton-baby]

thank you to @xxluckystrike for her prompts - it's certainly been a while, but here's my response to the other one, since I couldn't choose between the two! (the first prompt is here)

sick -> gwen dastrup x john brady

Sweat-slicked hair plastered itself to John's forehead as he left interrogation, life jacket and parachute harness still hanging limply from his shoulders as he emerged into the afternoon sunlight, revelling in the feeling of warmth on his cheeks, savouring the feeling of simply being alive. The smell of fresh coffee hung thick in the air, meeting his nose with a welcoming inhale, anxious not only for the drink but the hand that delivered it.

The Red Cross women had set up their table as usual, handing out coffee and doughnuts to the returning aircrews. Always the same - always coffee and doughnuts, day in, day out. Brady could imagine one growing tired of the taste, but with Gwen handing them out, he knew he never would. He could always tell when she'd made the doughnuts that morning - he couldn't quite pin what was different about them, they just tasted better. But today was to prove disappointing.

Helen and Tatty stood alone, a marked gap in their ranks as he approached, brow furrowed. He could picture exactly where Gwen was meant to be, standing between the others, whisking up a fresh batch of coffee or stirring in the milk as requested. But she was nowhere to be seen. As John approached, Helen caught his eye, smirking slightly as she noticed his growing frown.

"She's out today. Sick."

"How did you-?... Is she okay?"

The two women stared at him for a moment, visibly suppressing their smiles.

"She'll be fine," Tatty shook her head, resuming her work as she handed out doughnuts to passing pilots. "When I saw her this mornin' she was hopped up on cough syrup and rambling about how she'd finally have time to read Beowulf," She chuckled, and even in spite of his concern, Brady couldn't help but crack a smile. That certainly sounded like Gwen.

With an appreciative uttering of thanks and an extra stolen doughnut for the road, he left the women to their work, striding purposefully towards the long rows of Nissen huts with a singular goal in mind.

Brow furrowed, Gwen sat hunched forward atop her mattress, eyes narrowed as she pored over the words filling the pages in front of her. Unbrushed hair scraped back into a loose plait, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, the foot of her bed was littered with half a dozen books, each open to pages of interest. A faint, steady ache throbbed somewhere behind her eyes, the waste basket on the floor beside her almost filled with used tissues as she attempted to blink away the bleariness that muffled her thoughts.

A sudden knock at the door surprised her, flinching so hard that she nearly knocked the medicine bottle from her bedside table. Scrambling to her feet, the floor cold through her socks, she padded to the end of the hut, fumbling with the lock for a moment before she tugged the door open, taking in the sight before her.

"Oh, thank God," She sighed. John was grinning slightly nervously, paper bag clutched tightly in one hand.

"You expecting someone else?" He chuckled.

"No, no - just glad you're alright," Gwen shook her head, too addled to notice the faint pink tint that coloured his cheeks at this.

"You look pretty."

"I look thirty seconds away from death. You wanna sit down? It's a plague house, but you're welcome to come in."

John smiled, following her inside as she wandered back towards her bed, the edge of her blanket dragging across the floor as she went. He pulled up a chair, maintaining a somewhat cautious distance but still reaching across to hand Gwen a doughnut as she sat down, the mattress springs creaking beneath her as she nestled in among the pile of books she had accumulated. Taking a bite, he craned forward, trying his best to read upside down.

"What the hell is a... Carthaginian?"

"Someone from Carthage. Duh," She teased, speaking around the chunk of doughnut in her mouth as she tugged the blanket tighter around her shoulders.

"Oh, yeah, I'm the weirdo in this situation. So, like... what happened?"

Gwen shrugged. "Went out with Michael over the weekend - walked around some old castle ruins and then got a drink. Must've picked something up."

Brady felt his jaw clench, his shoulders tense. Captain Michael Fenton of the Royal Air Force. From the moment he'd first met Gwen, the pilot had been smitten, much to John's annoyance. He was rich and influential and could afford to get the time off to take Gwen to fucking castles. It had been a while since he had declared the man a personal enemy, but she continued to indulge his kindnesses, seemingly ignorant of his intentions.

"Sounds... good," He said tersely. Reaching for a tissue, Gwen was just in time to raise it to her face before she let out a sneeze, grabbing the bottle of cold medicine as she tossed the tissue into the bin. "How much of that have you had?"

"Oh, I don't know."

"Gwen," John scolded, prying it from her grip before she could take a sip. "You're not gonna get better if you're off your head on this stuff. I need you back in action."

"D'aww, you miss me?" She joked.

"Absolutely."

"Well, I do make the best doughnuts."

"Exactly." He grinned as she let out a laugh, a little colour returning to the pallor of her cheeks. Even when she was exhausted and fogged from sickness, John Brady would've been damned to try and find anyone more beautiful. She sniffed, pausing for a moment before her expression contorted in distaste.

"You smell. By the way."

Bouncing up from his chair, Brady leant forward, their noses momentarily only inches from each other, the sheen of sweat covering her skin visible from up close.

"So do you," He spoke sweetly, bounding off towards the showers at the other end of the room. The other girls wouldn't be back for hours. It would be a shame to waste the opportunity. Gwen frowned in indignation.

"Hey!"

[multifandomfix]

Imagine your first morning with Niles at the Montana.

You wake up to the soft hum of the bustling city outside, barely audible through the elegant windows of Niles' apartment at the Montana. The early morning light streams through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room before the rain was due later that day. It’s your first morning here, your first morning with Niles after moving in together, and the sense of contentment fills you to the brim.

Niles is already awake, sitting up in bed, reading glasses perched on the tip of his nose as he reads the Wall Street Journal. He hasn’t noticed you stirring yet, his face relaxed and focused, the furrow of concentration endearing as ever. You watch him for a moment, enjoying the sight of him like this, the small movements of his hands as he flips the page, the faint scent of ink on paper and the remnants of his cologne lingering in the air.

“Good morning,” you murmur after a moment, your voice still soft from sleep.

He glances over, his face lighting up instantly. “Good morning, darling,” he replies, setting the paper aside as he reaches for you. You snuggle into his side, the crispness of the sheets contrasting with the warmth of his body.

“I could get used to this,” you say, resting your head on his shoulder.

“I certainly hope so,” he quips lightly, but there’s sincerity in his tone, a quiet joy that mirrors your own. “How does it feel? The first day officially cohabiting with a Crane?”

You laugh softly. “I think I’m going to love it.”

His arm tightens around you, and for a moment, the two of you simply bask in the quiet of the morning, no rush to get out of bed. You’re not sure when you’ve ever felt so at ease, the sense of belonging so natural.

“Shall we have breakfast in bed?” Niles asks after a while, the idea clearly appealing to him as much as it does to you.

“That sounds perfect,” you reply.

Niles slips out of bed, already talking about French pressed coffee and a selection of pastries he had delivered from that bakery you both love. As you watch him pad around the kitchen, still in his pajamas, there’s a sense of comfort you hadn’t expected. This is what you’ve been waiting for — the simplicity of mornings together, the ease of sharing a space, a life.

He returns with a tray, setting it carefully on the bed before joining you again. You both settle in, sipping coffee, sharing a croissant, and chatting about nothing in particular. It was the kind of blissful morning you’d always imagined.

For @msiecrane

Forever Tag: @baubeautyandthegeek, @ghostsunderstoodmysoul, @immyowndefender, @valencethefriendlychangeling, @crimsonwidow666, @rebelbossheart, @thedailyspiritualist, @orangeisnttheonlyfruit, @woman-simp, @aperol-with-izzy, @leonoralessoem, @ellepossum69, @lakita-fisher, @trexsuit, @analuw, @luvlesavyy, @malfoyfeed, @aliciabrower, @sparrowspixie, @imaginationismyworldlypleasure, @og-kxsh-420

Niles Crane: @myfriendtuvok

[anonbinaryweirdo]

"hopeful promises" childe x reader

(angst, hurt/no comfort.) major character death, one mention that captain guy, a bit rushed

gn reader, unspecified pronouns or descriptions for reader. this was in my drafts for two months. enjoy :}

you can recall every other time you were able to make it to the docks upon his arrival.

from the time you went to bed the night before, to the time you push past crowds of dozens just to reach his embrace, your heart exhilarated just at the thought of seeing his face once more--no matter how long the separation lasted.

and you knew that he, too, was always beyond ecstatic to spot you in the crowds of many. it didn't ever matter how many people in the crowd had similar traits as yourself or wore the similar clothes as you, as he would always make a beeline to you the moment he's off his ship. there could be a thousand identical to you around you both, but he'll always know where you are, amidst the crowd.

and so you waited today, waited for that familiar freckled face to disembark the large boat and become one of the many on land again. eventually, the sun started to set, and no more ships entered the harbor. disappointed, you went back to your home.

you checked the date again, and the last letter he sent you impending his return, which swore that today was the day.

but, alas, you knew of his job. you knew what you signed up for.

so you kept going back to wait, day after next, for him to come back to you.

today marks day eleven of stepping out onto that bridge, and the sun was already out of the sky, descending behind the hills over by the shielded horizon. you sigh, and drag yourself back home.

as you were about to stick the key into its keyhole, out of the corner of your eye, you spot a sealed envelope resting on the chair you two had planned to throw out. he had bought it for you a long while back, but recently decided to throw it out as he had planned to get you another one as, he says, "royalty only deserves the best reserved spot to rest their weary legs," he couldn't have you sitting on something uncomfortable.

you smile and grab the envelope, readjusting it so you can properly hold the key between the middle joint of your index finger and the pad of your thumb, pushing it into the knob and twisting it before making your way inside.

you kick off your shoes, and immediately work on unsealing the envelope, pulling out the paper hidden inside, for your eyes only.

to your surprise, it wasnt from him or his family. rather—from another harbinger—the one he would always tell you about.

your heart skipped a beat, but not in the way it usually woul whenever he had something to do with it. you didn't realize you were holding a breath, your eyes scanning down the words that read;

"to [name]; Ajax's partner,"

you didn't have to read far to have your heart stop beating in your ribcage, feelin like all beats were skipped entirely, as you read;

"we're sorry for your loss. but we are afraid that Tartaglia won't be making it home today, or any time coming forward. as you may know, the eleventh was always up for a challenge, always willing to push past his limits to proclaim victory against even the strongest of foes.

however, that wasn't the case this time — for he had lost his head in battle, and his corpse was frostbitten; hardly recognizable.

this was a battle that not even her highest, the tsaritsa's most loyal soldier could win. im sorry.

all regards,

Il C."

no.

that was—

... you simply couldn't believe it.

but even as you tried to fight reality, every teardrop that fell onto the trembling paper, which was now crumbling with wetness, brought you back again.

there was a reason as to why his eyes got more dull than present whenever he promised you—pinkie promised you that he'd be home. there was a reason he looked guilty everytime he promised his return would be set in stone, and you both knew that reason all too well.

and yet, you still couldn't believe it. how could you?

there was also a reason as to why he left that same, nearly torn up scarf with you, everytime he departed from home. he told you, "keep it. if there comes a day where I don't return to your arms, you'll still have something of me you can hold, even then."

maybe you could have taken this better if only he hadn't promised he'd be back.

no, no, that's not the case. it's not like.. it's not like he lied.

but..

that's exactly what he did.

he left you with hope every day, and each day that hope would turn to be true—each day except today, where you falsest of hopes were being forced to endure.

"baby," he would say, turning to you with a smile on his face—one that never seemed to reach his eyes. "im heading out now."

and you would respond, "for how long?"

"a couple of weeks." he heaved a sigh, already dreading being out of your reach for longer than an hour. "but it's alright.. I'll be back. it's nothing I can't handle."

you nodded, "I know." yet, there was a falter in your gaze that only he seemed to catch, reaching for your cheek to cup it as he pressed your foreheads together. "do you have my scarf?"

you nod again. "it's under your pillow." he laughed—and it would be the last you'd hear it.

"good.." he stared down at you, those blue eyes swirling with contemplation, before being replaced with the faintest of guilt as he holds up his pinkie.

you hesitate—just like all the other times—but link your own with his.

and always, he starts off—always, for—unbeknownst to you—he deliberately makes sure that the last line is yours to recite. everytime, without fail.

“you make a pinky promise, you keep it all your life."

"you break a pinkie promise, I throw you on the ice."

"the cold will kill the pinkie that once betrayed your friend.." he trailed off, and he can feel the pit in his stomach grow as he awaits your finish to the lullaby.

and now, that pit in your stomach was twice as big, now that you were thinking back on everything. oh, how you regret making such promises with him. ones that, even you knew would fail to be upheld one day.

yet, you foolishly finished; "and the frost will freeze your tongue off, so you never lie again.”

oh.

how true it turned to be.

[ametrictonofaudacity]

Hey I'm a huge fan and I saw you did a Stucky Yan dad and I was wondering if you write for Matt Murdock/Daredevil? If not it's totally cool but if you do could I get a Yan dad one with him and a reader he kinda just found one day, who has the ability to control others emotions? I love your DC work and didn't realize you also do Marvel so that's super exciting! 🥳

Absolutely!! I basically do everything on my rules list, and I’m sort of constantly adding fandoms and updating it lol 😅.

I think this is a super interesting ask, so thank you so much for sending it!

Warnings: snippet from yandere’s pov, blackmail and extortion to gain custody of a child, reader does not want to be there, themes of obsession and overprotectiveness.

When Matt closes the door behind him, the house would be entirely silent if it was for his enhanced senses. As it was, it takes only a moment of listening to reassure him that you were in the apartment, curled up in your bed as you so often were. The brown paper take out bag rustles in his grip, and he puts it on the counter, moving through the apartment and knocking gently on the door.

“(Y/N)? I brought home some food. Why don’t you come out and eat?”

The rush of apathy that floods his chest makes him wince, and he grits his teeth. Most wouldn’t be able to tell the difference, between your powers and their own emotions, but his training with the monks had taught him how to spot the mental or emotional influence of others. That didn’t mean he liked it, though, especially because you had very quickly tried to learn which emotions got him to leave you alone the quickest.

“(Y/N), the food is on the table.” He manages to grit out, before he retreats, sighing.

He could hardly blame you for not wanting to interact with him. As far as you knew, he was just some guy, who had swept into your life when you were at your lowest. Even though Matt had been nothing but patient, he knew well enough that you were scared. Why wouldn’t you be? Your entire life had flipped upside down, and this had been one of the more tame plans to get you somewhere safe and taken care of.

Not that you knew that. Although Matt suspected that you were, at the very least, suspicious of him. He wasn’t sure how in depth your powers went, whether you could sense the burning need he felt to keep you safe and out of harm’s way, but there were days when he simply couldn’t push it down. When the only thing that kept it at bay was going out as Daredevil and making the world that much safer for you.

He sets a pan on the stove, splitting his attention between you and his cooking. Foods with lots of spices, or even strong flavors, were often overwhelming to his tastebuds, thanks to the enhancement of his senses. Because you liked very heavily seasoned foods and strong flavors, he often had to cook himself a plate separate from whatever it is you were eating.

There’s the soft rustle of the covers, and he tries not to smile when he hears your bedroom door open, hears you quietly padding down the stairs to the kitchen. He keeps his focus on the pan, stirring the food constantly, and when you slip into the kitchen, you’re heart rate doesn’t go up. Good. You hadn’t thought he had noticed you.

There’s the rustle of a paper bag, and your heart rate spikes when he shifts, and he turns his head just slightly.

“You might have to heat it up in the microwave. There was an accident on 23rd street so I had to take a different route than my usual.” That has been…inconvenient. He had spent the entire walk back to the apartment anxious and tense, worried that someone had managed to sneak in or you had managed to sneak out.

“Thanks. I haven’t eaten today.” You mutter, and he feels you try and shove away the concern that wells up in his chest. It doesn’t work, and he sends a frown in your direction.

“You need to eat. It’s important you take care of yourself.” He moved the pan off the stove, and grabs a plate, setting his plate with a hum.

“I take care of myself. I just wasn’t hungry.” You say defensively, and he sighs. He had forgotten that you didn’t exactly respond well to being shown concern.

“So when am I starting back up in school? No offense, but this apartment has been driving me crazy.” You huff, and Matt nods, going to sit next or you at the table.

“It shouldn’t be too long. It’s difficult to find a decent school in Hell’s Kitchen, much less one we can afford, so in the meantime I spoke to your old school and managed to set it up that you would be attending online. Shouldn’t take more than a week or two.” He explains, taking a bite of his food.

While Matt did want you in school, he knew full well how important it was, it wasn’t the school that was the issue. It was the safety. How would he get you to and from school safely, what neighborhood was it in, what were the students and teachers like. Every factor and aspect went into whether or not he wanted you going to that particular school, and so far, all of them had been failing to meet his standards miserably.

You frown, and he shoves down the concern and the frustration and the overwhelming urge to protect. Your heart rate has picked up, your scent sharpening with the beginnings of adrenaline being released, and he needed to get a handle on everything before he managed to frighten you so badly that you decided to run off.

“Matt… can I ask you something?” You start hesitantly, and for some reason, your heart rate picks up even further. He nods, and he can smell the sweat that you wipe on your jeans. He does his best to come off as calm, and to be as disarming as he can.

“Of course you can. What is it?” He asks gently, and he hears your heartbeat slow, which makes him smile, just slightly. He was glad he was able to help, even just a little bit.

“Do you.. know? About me?”

It doesn’t take a genius to realize you mean about your powers. He nods, and he feels your breath hitch, heart rate picking up so quickly it makes alarm race through his veins.

“I knew since I met you. I didn’t want to rush you into telling me, or make you uncomfortable by telling you.” He explains softly, and your heart rate begins to slow.

“You knew… does that mean you knew when I was.. messing with you? To get you to go away?”

“I did, yes. I’ve worked with a lot of super-powered individuals, including some psychics and empaths.”

“And you weren’t mad?” You sound almost challenging, and he exhaled through his nose, trying to figure out just how to word what he was about to say.

“I was, for a bit. It’s never fun for anyone to be in your head, or tampering with your emotions, and I felt.. uncomfortable. But I also understood why you were doing it. You were scared, and angry, so you were defending yourself the only way you really knew how.”

“How do you know that? How do you know it was just that, and I’m not some.. some jackass who does it for fun?” You challenge, and you are terrified, panic in your scent and he feels the vibrations from your shaking in the floor and hear the speed of your heart.

“Your whole life had been turned upside down in a matter of days. I would be angry and upset to.” He says it gently, and for a second, fears that he said the wrong thing when he smells the salt of tears and something like grief.

He gets up when you start sniffling, and he feels you jolt at the warm hand on your shoulder. For a second, he considers telling you about his own powers. About the senses, and how he lived in a world on fire. He decides not to.

Instead, he just sits with you while you cry. The kitchen is silent beyond your sniffling, and when he finally wraps his arms around you, you lean into his arms and sob, burying your head in his chest.

You don’t notice when the arms around your shoulders tighten, and you don’t notice the way the tiny feeling of victory curls in his chest.

Matt promises himself that he is never going to betray this newfound trust. He wouldn’t let himself.

[batmenstrualcycle]

reflections; maki x reader

:"studying"

:master list

note: not my finest chapter lol, I'm SO sorry if maki's ooc </3

"The test isn't that hard, all you gotta do is go with your gut, but I know you don't have one, so I'm gonna be nice and help you."

"That part wasn't very nice," you rolled your eyes and plopped down on Maki's bed. Her sheets were so silky, it made you a bit jealous, and made you think your own sheets were incompetent in comparison to hers, seeing that you toss and turn every night.

Maki shrugs before she reaches into her drawer and pulls out a few sheets of paper, "These are the answers on that test," she says as she hands them to you. "They aren't hard to memorize, there's just quite a few."

"I didn't think this is what studying was," you mumbled as you looked at the sheets of paper. They were all the same test, each with different dates and scores no lower than a 92. Impressive, you would think, if you didn't know that Maki was already smart to begin with. She simply shrugs and sits down next to you on her bed. "That just proves you've never taken a test before."

"I have, just not a paper test," you begin to chew on your bottom lip as you look between the three sheets of paper. All the answers were the same, since they were all the same sheets just with different dates and such, and the spaces between the letters that joined to construct her name were obviously different, otherwise you'd think she's a robot. You wouldn't be surprised, with the way she walks: always in a straight line with seemingly perfect posture, her shoulders are always squared- or maybe that's just the small shoulder pads of her uniform; the way she trains, you've watched her do the same routine every day for two and a half weeks: waking up, breakfast, training, lunch, training, dinner, then it resets the next day. It's like she's in a circle and she doesn't realize it, probably because she lived that way back at the Zenin estate.

"Well, they're not hard, but there's a lot of questions so you might get confused on which answer is which," she sat up from her headboard which she previously leaned back against then looked down at the papers in your hand. Her sharp eyes switched from the paper to your focused expression, and kept switching for a moment before you let out a sigh. Then you narrow your eyes at the final question on the backs of each test, "Why the hell is Gojo trying to stroke his own ego?!"

"I ask the same thing every time I see that question. Imagine being that sad and lonely that you have to get the approval from teenagers about yourself," Maki shakes her head, a hearty chuckle leaving her lips as she does so. You follow, your shoulders shaking in sync with the giggles leaving the flesh of your lips.

"You could just take a sharpie and write down the answers on your hand, he won't notice," Maki leans back towards her nightstand then pulls a marker from the top of it. You looked up from the sheets of paper and found her holding the sharpie in between her fingers. "Take your time writing them down, I don't mind having you in here."

"I'll be as slow as I possibly can," you chuckle as you pop off the lid and set the tests down on her bed, flattening your hand right next to it and writing stuff down on your palm. You wondered how long the ink would last, but you figured since you wouldn't be doing much this weekend, you'd be able to keep them on your hands for that long.

"I wonder how Naoya would react to seeing this," Maki circles her finger in the air around her whole room. "Bet he'd have a stroke." she finished with a small chuckle before she looked at you, watching you write the answers down on your palms.

"Probably, he never liked seeing me interact with others," you shrugged before putting the lid back on the sharpie. You turned to her, handing her the sharpie, hanging it loosely between your fingers. She takes it back, setting it down beside her and staring at you, "Do you think Naoya had a soft spot?"

"Absolutely not," you frowned a bit with an embarrassed huff, completely ignoring the small warmth in your face. "I just know that man loathed me."

"You'll know he loathes you when he bullies you relentlessly every day," Maki hums as she scoots closer. Your face practically lights on fire when your arms and knees are touching. "It got boring after a while, but I got used to it. I remember I used to wake up thinking he wouldn't do it that day for a change, but he always found a way. Be it verbally or physically, he always found a way to bully the shit out of me."

"I don't get it, why did he hate you so much?" you ask as you look at her, now watching her lean back. She probably hit the marker that she set down, but she didn't care, there were definitely worse things to be hit with. She looks at you as she crosses her arms behind her head, "Because I don't have cursed energy. That marks me as a disgrace to the Zenin clan, let alone being born a girl," she shrugs afterwards. You hum before leaning back with her.

"I don't think you're a disgrace," you glance at her, sending her a grin which makes her blush profusely. She frowns, turning away from your radiant smile as she clenches her jaw. You keep a smug expression as you watch her turn on her side and listen to the curses she's mumbling under her breath. Despite the doubt that she's feeling, since you're a special grade and she's a fourth grade, you weren't lying, you really didn't think she's a disgrace. It's the clan that's the real disgrace, if it were up to you.

"Right, that's believable," she turned back to you, looking more confident than when she was looking away. You rolled your eyes and sighed, "It's true. I never once started to wonder, so this is the disgrace everyone's talking about? Her? Are they sure?"

"That's easy for you to say," she shrugs again. "I mean, you've had power sitting in your hands forever and you never used it, yet nobody bats an eye or looks your way." she looks at you, a blank expression present on her face. You sigh and chew on your bottom lip for a moment. That's true, you always had that power in your grasp- in your palms, even- but you never used it up until that mission (minus when Naoya would train you- that doesn't count), and nobody said anything. Maki on the other hand, was always harassed by anyone at the Zenin clan for not having cursed energy- you thought it was unfair. She's still a human, and you thought that's what matters, rather than cursed energy. Apparently that's not what they think, and they ridiculed her for that.

"Like I said before, I don't really care about it that much," you looked at your palms; you were having a hard time believing that the power is actually yours to use, you're starting to think it's all a fever dream. Maki frowned, her nose scrunching up and her eyebrows knitting together as she looked at you once again. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, I mean I never asked for it," you shrugged. "And this stupid power is what landed me as a servant back at that damned estate."

"That's true, but you would've never met me," she replied; you didn't see the smirk since you were looking the other way, but looking wasn't necessary since you could hear everything smug in her voice. You sighed reluctantly, rolling your eyes since you knew it was true. "Whatever,"

The both of you stay silent for a moment, the only noise in the room is Maki's ceiling fan going 90 miles an hour, and it was already cold outside, so you were freezing in silence. Your body was shivering, and you were sure your fingers had locked up from how long you've been keeping them there. Doing anything with them wouldn't be of good use at all, they'd be moving too slow. The silence is loud- almost uncomfortable, if it weren't for the ceiling fan- you want to say something, but you can't think of anything to say after that. Unfortunately, Maki came up with something for you.

"Can I, like, ask you something?" she turned to face you, eyebrows slanted downwards as her sharp eyes stared at you, waiting for you to face her. Eventually you do, looking at her with hooded eyes, clearly tired since you two have been in her room for about two hours now, the time hitting 11:09 on her alarm clock.

"What is it?" you finally say, your words relieving the pressure building in her throat. Maki bites her tongue to keep herself from blurting out what she wants to say, so instead, she slowly leans in, resting a gentle hand on the bottom of your chin to hold your face in place, and her lips barely brush against your cheek.

Your eyes fluttered for a solid minute, sitting there in shock for another two minutes before finally contemplating what just happened. Your eyes glide over towards her as you watch her lean back as if nothing happened, then your lips parted. "Does that involve the question?"

"I was gonna ask first, but I couldn't find the words to," she looks at you with a relaxed look on her face. You simply nodded, not knowing what to say afterwards.

"Um...how long have you been hiding that?" you finally look at her, your eyes still blown wide from earlier. Maki shrugs, but tilts her head slightly and gives you a knowing look, one that sends butterflies swarming in your stomach. "Do you want me to do it again?"

"Please," you don't know why, but it felt like something clicked, like the universe fell into place when Maki's lips miraculously landed on yours instead of your cheek. The both of you breathing out your nose to extend the kiss for as long as possible, both of your faces warm enough to start a fire in the room, tongues colliding with one another and before you knew it, you ended up lying flat on your back.

"I wonder how your mom would react if she saw this," you panted, hands holding her red face. Maki chuckled then leaned in to press a kiss to your forehead. "I think she'd have a stroke if she saw us doing this," she hummed before going back to making out with you.

[the-fiction-witch]

The Agency P2

Media - The Queens Gambit Character - Benny Watts Couple - Benny X Reader Reader - Y/n Rating - Sweet AF Word Count - 1428

I took my suitcases in hand and approached the stoop of the Brooklynn townhouse, Benny shut the door of the beetle and came up behind me, 

"Down here." he said as he headed down the stairwell to a lower apartment, 

"oh..." I was taken back but I followed a little sheepish, 

I walked down after him being careful on the dark stairs, before he headed down a second set so I continued to follow even if the place seemed dirty and smelt like odd socks. He unlocked a tall metal door and headed inside so I quickly went inside. 

"... oh." simply fell from my mouth as I saw the place, 

It was a basement, the door behind me,  a wall to my left with a few backlight switches and a hook where he hung up his jacket and hat, a railing to my right, a shelf of books just down the stairs, A door beside the shelf open that lead to a water closet, the apartment had maybe three lights hung overhead, one over the small kitchen that had perhaps four cabinets and an old battered fridge, a small lamp over the stovetop, one over the table where a vase with some white roses sat, and one above a small living space with no sofa just a pile of pillows on the floor, an old ratted rug, a small foldable coffee table covered in magazines, another two bookshelves filled with books, a round leather ottoman and a matching leather chair, a lamp beside it as well as a lighter stand beside a well-used record player. The furthest wall had a small desk with a stool by a wall of clippings and pictures, the back wall was just plane brick with a few trophies on a ledge, I was shocked to see the shower and bath sitting in the corner beside the fridge with a sink and mirror between the shower and the chair, An interior window and frosted glass door lead to the bedroom where the bed was made up.

I slowly walked down and did my best not to react as my face would give me away, Benny headed through fixing his hair and tidying the coffee table a little pushing the magazines into a pile.

My eyes for a moment caught the glimmer of the knife still on his belt, and one single thought ran through my mind.

'Oh god... He's gonna kill me. He has a knife. this is the basement of a serial killer. I am gonna be freaking skinned and made into soup!' 

"It's not much but... it's home," He said, 

"Mhm," I nodded, 

"What do you think?" he asked, 

I thought for a moment before squeezing on the handle of my suitcase and forcing out some words, "It... is... cosy."

he chuckled, "Yeah, that's uhhh one way to put it," he nodded, "Here let me," He took the cases from my hands and tossed them on the bed, "Did you fancy a coffee?"

"Ohh uhh yes please," I nodded,

"Alright, take a seat and make yourself cosy," he smiled indicating to the rest of the apartment, 

I nodded so he headed to the kitchen, I gulped but slowly headed deeper into the apartment, I smoothed my dress under me as I took a seat on the leather chair, having to put my feet to the side as the chair was so low. I looked around a little and caught my eyes on the box of records beside the player, so I flicked through them a little seeing the sort of music he had. "You mind I put some music on?"

"Oh no go ahead, you take cream or sugar in your coffee?" 

"Both, in decent helpings please."

"Hu, I'm a black coffee myself." he said, "I should have creamer in here..." he opened his fridge and I saw it was pretty empty with only some milk, some creamer, some cheese and a very battered pad of butter. "Ahh I do, and it... is in date that's surprising," 

I did chuckled a little until I found an album I liked so I took it from the dust cover and the cardboard sleeve sat it on the player and dropped the needle down to soon enough hear Waterloo Sunset by the Kinks playing from it,

"Ooohh good choice," he chuckled as he brought me over my coffee in a paper takeaway cup,

"Thank you," I nodded taking a tender sip, 

"You're welcome," He smiled sitting his on the table, he brought the Otterman over and took a seat on it.

For a while we each just sat sipping our coffee, luckily the music filled the quiet air. Until he broke it,

"So?"

"So..."

"I suppose we both have... a lot of questions," 

"I'm sure we do," I nodded, "One each?"

"One each," he nodded, "So, why did you sign up for the agency?"

"Loaded the first question," I blushed a little, "Uhh well... I uhh I had been unsuccessful for many, many years and frankly, I just got tired of trial and error, just sort of wanted to have an understanding of intentions." I explained, "Plus my parents... not so subtly pushed me," 

He chuckled, "Yeah, I get that. kinda the same reason I did. No dating, not messing around just straight to the point," He nodded, "You're turn,"

"Uhh well... why is there a window into your bedroom?"

He laughed, "I don't actually know, I promise I'm not a weirdo." He says, 

"You do seem relatively... normal,"

"Normal? My god I'm hurt." he joked, 

"Sorry," I laughed,

"It's alright, I'm sure normal is a compliment to most people,"

"I meant it as one," I nodded, "You're turn,"

"Ughh well... this is my kinda, first run with the agency, have you been with them long?"

"A couple of years, a couple of false starts but uhh..." I coughed as I didn't want to finish the sentence,

"I won't ask," he nodded, "That's your business,"

"Why do you carry the knife?"

"Ohh... this is for protection," he rested his hand on his hip, 

"From?"

"From whatever. Better to be safe than sorry." He smiled, "What do you do?"

"Ohh professional homemaker as of the moment,"

"makes sense," he nodded, "your turn,"

"what do you do?"

"Ohh," He smiled and picked up a magazine from the table and handed it over to me it was a magazine called 'Chess Review' and his photo was on the cover, "I play chess, professionally. Currently, US champion aiming for grandmaster and world champion down the road, Also wrote a chess book so that helps with the finances."

"They mentioned you were big into chess," I chuckled setting the magazine down, 

"Yeah, I figured they would," he chuckled, 

"I tried to dress accordingly," I looked down at myself,

"Well you look very beautiful," He smiled as he moved a little closer and rested his hand on my own, I blushed as our eyes met, "Sorry I-" he went to move back but I took his hand again and he smiled, 

"You're turn," I smiled,

"I know is early, we uhh haven't really known each other that long and this is a pretty BIG decision but can I ask... if you like me? At least the initial introduction of me?" 

I blushed but he was right we hadn't known each other very long, but we only had a week to make up our minds if we wanted to call this all off or if we wanted to go through with it so really we both knew our intentions, and we knew the clock was ticking on this decision, "I admit, I do like you benny, you seem very nice, and handsome and I'd really like to spend more time with you,"

He smiled, "Yeah I feel the same way too, I think this could maybe work out between us?"

"I think its possible,"

"Well... I'm happy to take a gamble Y/n," He chuckled, "Oh- shit-" He got up ran a hand through his hair, "I completely forgot," He muttered as he went to the table, he picked up the small vase with the white roses and brought it over, "I uhh I got these for you," 

"Awww thank you," I smiled happily taking the vase and giving the roses a smell, they smell so sweet and fresh, "You didn't have to do that Benny,"

"Well I wanted to get you something, and I thought it might make the place seem a bit more... cosy for you for this week," 

"Well thank you very much Benny that's very kind of you," I smiled giving his cheek a kiss, 

"You're welcome Y/n," he blushed a little, "I did book us somewhere tonight... for dinner? if you wanted too?"

"I'd like that," 

[wonderland-productions-blog]

Knight in Dulled Armor: Ch. 14

Chapter 14: A Sovereign Sponsor

Word Count: ~ 7,500 (~25 min read)

My day begins as every other now that I am back at the tavern; after heading to the bathhouse early morning I get dressed for work in my room. As I am pulling my hair up there is a frantic knock at my door. The first difference in my schedule, of course not by my choice. My mouth opens to speak, but before anything comes out my door is thrown open. Hidorah barges in, shutting the door behind him. 

“I didn’t say come in,” I let him know.

“First of all, the knock is for courtesy,” He says with a scoff and a flick of his wrist. He takes a seat behind me on my bed. 

“What if I was changing?” I propose.

“Then you would have yelled that as soon as I knocked. I’ve learned,” he briefly explains. “Anyway,” he goes on.

I roll my eyes, letting him continue as I straighten out any small wrinkles in my uniform. There must be some reason he came in so urgently, there’s at least a warrant to humor him. “So, I was at Marietta’s this morning,” He opens with. I let him continue, knowing he often meets Marietta before work and walks with her. 

“I convinced her to reach out to her parents to discuss aid for you about a month after you got here. We figured you’d have to get back at some point, or at least get some help with housing in the future. At first, neither of us expected a response,” he further explains.

My breath hitches, eager to hear more. The first sentence alone made my heart drop and my hair stand on end.

“She… told me there was no way she could rebuild those bridges, I don’t understand.”

“When did she tell you that? When she was smoldering with anger the day and night you cared after Val?” He points out. 

My lips purse, and my eyes avoid his. 

“Marietta was pretty vague with the details of our situation. They’d like to discuss the matter privately over dinner. We would have to travel into Aramoor to meet them at their estate,” Hidorah reveals. 

Flabbergasted with the amount of information I’d just received, I am unable to form a response. My mouth hung agape and my brows raised, simply staring at Hidorah. 

“The only reason I’m telling you now is because I’m not sure if she was planning on telling you,” he spits out. 

“Wait-” I gasp, “Marietta doesn’t know you’re telling me?” 

“No, but now that I’ve told you she has to address it. You deserve to know that there’s a chance they could help,” he tells me. 

“Now, I’ve gotta go act like I’m setting up in the kitchen! I’ll see you in a few at work!” He springs up and pats my shoulder before heading out the door in a hurry. I linger for a moment, dazed and paralyzed as I process what just occurred. I soon follow behind, stumbling over my own feet after deciding that I’m ready to start work anyway.

I barely catch Hidorah heading into the kitchen as I step out of my door. I pass a large, dark figure at the bar as I make my way to speak to Kenrik.

“Good morning, Elaine,” Val says, his voice a bit higher pitched than usual. 

Unable to respond with a chirpy greeting, I am cut off by Hidorah, “Good morning, Val,” he swoons. He appears in the order window, holding his chin in his hands and his elbows propped on the widow sill. I roll my eyes, and Hidorah retreats just as quickly as he had appeared. Though, not before sticking his tongue out at me, the edge of his mouth curling to a smirk.

I turn my attention back to Val. “Are you waiting for someone to take your order, by any chance?” I ask him.

“Now that you mention it, breakfast sounds great,” he tells me. With the morning light and the tavern lamps lit, I catch a glimpse of Val’s eyes beyond his helm. I let out a breath, and I can’t help but stare. My trembling hands dive into my apron pocket, fetching a pad of paper to take his order on. I rarely glimpse down as I write his order, checking just to ensure I haven’t written off the page and that it’s half legible. His deep voice sinks into me as he speaks, and some part of my mind makes a futile attempt to count all the shades of blue in his eyes. “And Elaine,” he chimes back in, “Order yourself something for breakfast, on me. And I’d love it if you’d join-,” 

My face flushes as he tears his gaze from mine. Light spills into the tavern as the front doors open. Once again, “Good morning, Val,” falls on my ears, with an eerily similar diction to Hidorah’s. Marietta had made it to work, that much is obvious. 

“Oh, I didn’t even see Elaine behind you!” she tells him as she makes her way to the bar. Despite acknowledging my presence, she says nothing to me. I decide to hurry and put Val’s order on Hidorah’s window. A hand quickly snatches the note, “Val’s ordering breakfast, huh? Don’t usually see that,” he mumbles. 

“Your food will be done soon, I’ll get it to you as soon as I can,” I tell Val, who had sparked up a conversation with Kenrik. Marietta had still been lingering near the bar, whatever reason certainly not making itself apparent to me. 

I begin heading deeper into the tavern, only making it a couple of steps before my attention snaps back behind me. 

“Hey, Marietta! Have you told Val the big news yet?” Hidorah shouts from the order window. 

I throw a hand over my mouth for a moment, shocked by Hidorah’s audacity. Marietta wouldn’t withhold this information from Val, even if I’m right here.

Val, his attention now piqued, naturally probes further. “Big news?”

“Oh, umm-” she mumbles, glancing back toward me for a moment. I fetch a rag and begin cleaning the tables closest to the bar. 

She turns to Val, fidgeting with her hands over her lap. “Yes, I’ve recently gotten news from family in Aramoor that they would be willing to discuss aid for Elaine,” she flatly states.

“That’s wonderful! When are you planning on leaving?” He bluntly asks.

I glance back at Marietta, and her eyes meet mine. Though, it’s only for a moment before her eyes dart back to Val. Just as I finish wiping down the table I am called back over. 

“Elaine, could you take a seat?” Marietta asks. 

I do as she says, taking the empty bar stool between her and Val. Her face scrunches for a moment before she clears her throat. 

“How do you intend to get there?” Val asks, wasting no time.

“Well, I don’t assume we can walk the distance to Aramoor,” she considers with a small sigh. 

“I could hire a carriage by the time we make it to Mercester,” Marietta mumbles, mulling it over. She stares at the floor, her brows furrowed.  “But… Who’s to say neither Elaine nor I will be recognized in Aramoor?” her eyes widen. 

I glance at Val. I say nothing, unsure of how to respond to Marietta. 

“I’d be happy to take you, it's just that my horse can’t seat three people,” he explains. 

“Elaine, do you think you could guide Kyzu on your own?” Marietta asks, her head cocked. 

I let out a chuckle, though she doesn’t respond. Silence stirs in the air before Val speaks up. 

“Do you know anyone who could assist us with Kyzu?” Val offers. 

I glance at the order window, recalling Hidorah searching for Marietta with Kyzu. Marietta’s eyes follow mine, and a pained expression creeps onto her face.

“Oh…” she softly groans.  

“That means it’s Hidorah, doesn’t it?” Val asks, crossing his arms. 

I snicker and give him a nod. 

“Hidorah!” Val’s voice booms throughout the tavern. I jump a small bit, though I try to pass it off as Val looks back at me.

A groan emanates from the kitchen, gradually growing closer until he emerges from the kitchen behind the bar. Hidorah says nothing, staring at Val behind the counter. He throws his hands up, already exasperated by Val asking practically nothing of him.

“Are you willing to accompany Marietta and Elaine on the journey to Aramoor?” He asks.

“Yes,” he answers. He tucks his hands in his pockets and assumes a more slouched stance. 

Val’s shoulders shift, and after a pause, he responds. “You are… awfully easy to convince,”

“And?” A smirk forms on Hidorah’s face, and he throws his shoulders up. 

“W-well. it’s decided then.” Val concludes. He turns to the bar.

“Kenrik, I’m sorry to tell you I have to borrow some of your crew again,” he chuckles.

“How long this time?” Kenrik follows up.

“Maybe a couple of days at most,” he shrugs.

Kenrik brings a curled finger to his lips and scratches his head. “I suppose I could close the kitchen and just offer rooms for now,” 

“It's not like the usual customers aren’t used to it, you just started dining every day recently,” Hidorah chimes in.

“Really?” I ask.

“Oh yes. Depending on how many rooms were taken and how many people were working, Kenrik would shut down the kitchen for days at a time,” Hidorah explains.

“I’m sure the boys in the kitchen will be happy to get a day off,” Kenrik laughs.  “And if they need the money, they can help me with the bar,” he adds. “Starting when?”

My family stated they are available and holding a dinner on the next full moon when I received their letter about a… fortnight ago” Marietta drifts into a mumble.

“You’ve known for that long?” Hidorah gawks. 

“Why hadn’t you mentioned it sooner?” I ask her. 

“How long is that again?” I hear Val whisper to Kenrik.

Marietta grows quiet, and her face flushes. 

“When is the next full moon, Hidorah?” I look at him.

Marietta and Val each do the same.

“Wha-” Hidorah scoffs, “Oh because every elf knows the moon cycle to the day,”

My jaw drops a bit and we all avert our gaze. 

“Tsk tsk tsk,” He fidgets with his fingers, presumably counting. “that’s in… That’s overmorrow!” Hidorah realizes. 

Hidorah and I look to Marietta in horror while Val looks to Kenrik, who merely holds up two fingers.  He straightens his back, and his armor clinks and grates together as it shifts. “We’ll have to leave tonight,” he states. 

“Starting tomorrow the tavern will just do rooming, then,” Kenrik says. 

Marietta presses her fingertips together just under her chin. “Yes, we’ll pack after work then,” her trembling voice spoke. 

The bell in the kitchen rings as Val’s food is set on the sill. Jumping up, I use the opportunity to leave the discussion. He takes his food back to his room, with him being the first of the group to disperse, with all but Kenrik leaving the bar within a few minutes. 

Marietta and I resume work, finding ways to occupy ourselves despite the lack of patrons. I find myself rolling napkins and dusting areas that hadn’t yet been reached to kill time. 

“So… If it had been so long since you’d received word from your family,” I begin, “when did you intend to tell me?” 

“W-well, I planned to. I jus-” Marietta stutters, “The thing- the moon cycle,” She sighs, and starts over. 

“I need you to know I had every intention to. Time just slipped away and…” 

“And, yay. Dinner with Hidorah. And you, and… my family,” she wheezes out. Her mouth drops into a slight frown. I watch her stare blankly at the table, saying nothing as she repeatedly wipes the same spot. 

“Are you alright, Marietta?” I place a hand on her back. 

She jolts back and slaps my hand away in one swift motion. Her eyes widen and she immediately spews out an apology.

“S-sorry, this is a lot,”

“All very suddenly, I’m sure,” I try my best to console her, keeping a bit more distance now.

“We watched them make plans right in front of us,” she says.

“I know! It’s nice having my schedules lined up for me again,” I laugh.

A sullen look forms on her face. 

“I’m sorry,” I say.

“Don’t apologize, it isn’t your fault,” she tells me, though her tone is dry. She moves, heading across the room to focus her attention elsewhere. 

“Only a few hours,” I tell myself as I bounce from one task to the next. Juggling orders and pandering to patrons all as I shove down a shaky breath thinking of the future. Marietta and I hardly speak the few times our paths cross, with conversation flowing exclusively to work. With that being said, time goes faster than expected. Before long I am told I can retire to my room; time to pack. 

Marietta would return to her own house to pack, giving me more than enough time for myself. I let out a sigh. Even with the new outfits I bought over the past few months all my clothes still fit in one drawer. While I don’t necessarily miss the excess, I do miss my options for clothing in Asteria. I pull my drawer all the way out and press my folded clothes down in a stack. Outfit upon outfit pressed flat against one another. In one motion I pack them down into my bag. 

It isn’t long before my entire life is packed away in just two leather bags. My fists ball up at my sides, and I release a trembling breath. Another chance. A slim one, but a chance at that. If my diplomatic skills come into play anywhere in my life, I hope it's now.

My linen is cool to the touch as I take a seat on my bed. It won’t be cold for long, I’ve accepted the impermanence of these tavern rooms. After I leave another stranger will settle on the same mattress, exchanging the warmth and providing a safe rest as it had done for me. Whether it will change their life as much as my own is up to fate, it seems. 

A knock at the door interrupts my thoughts. I’m glad to be pulled away from the thought of this being potentially the last time I set foot in this room. 

Hidorah enters, with Val following behind a few moments later.

“We’re done packing, how’s it coming?” Hidorah asks. 

“All done?” Val asks, pointing at my luggage. I nod, watching as he lifts everything in one arm. Val leads the way out and heads straight for the tavern doors. Hidorah’s clothes are placed in long black cloth bags on the porch. Unfamiliar bags sit beside them. Though with their sturdier shape, bright colors, and newer material it is obvious they must be Marietta’s. She appears from the bathhouse and retrieves her bags from the porch.

“Maybe it’s better that Elaine stays with me, Hidorah,” Val tells him. “She needs someone who can keep her out of harm in case she’s recognized,” 

“And the same couldn’t be said for Marietta? She is from Aramoor! And, just like Elaine, hasn’t exactly been seen around in a while,”  Hidorah points out.

“People would recognize Marietta there, it's best that you watch over her,” He says.

With Val seemingly convinced, he hesitantly braces a hand on my back. I look up, finding his helm already focused on me. I wish I could see his face. I wish I could tell what he wanted. My heart drops as Val’s hand slowly runs between my shoulder blades. He gently swipes back and forth a few times and gives me a small nudge over to Hidorah and Kyzu. 

Marietta had already been lumped with me, Val, and his horse. She simply moved closer to Val, replacing where I’d been moments prior. 

“Hello, Hidorah,” I give him a small wave. He returns my wave without taking his eyes off the others. I glance back to Val, who is already helping her onto the horse. “So, we’re taking Kyzu?” I ask, glancing at the colossal canine lying in the sand. 

“I’m not thrilled about it either, but Val was not going to let me borrow his horse,” He explains.

“Well then, you could ride with Val on his horse, and the ladies could ride together,” I propose.

“We’re not riding together,” they both say in unison.  I look at Marietta, seeing if she mirrored my shock at the tension between the two. Her face is stern with a small frown and a barely noticeable nose wrinkle. Her brows lift a bit, and she averts her gaze.

“Um, can you help me with this?” Hidorah asks after a few seconds of silence, taking two small steps toward Kyzu. He has the leather rein wrapped around itself and draped in his hands. I take the tangled mess and start separating the leather strips from one another. Hidorah by this point had snuck back over to chat with Marietta. 

With a small struggle, I figure out the correct orientation, bracing each side of the collar in my hands. Even with Kyzu lying down, I didn’t need to sit or kneel to put it on. I manage to squeeze the collar over her head, watching her long fur get sleeked back before popping back up in tufts. This she handled well enough, but as I move on I struggle to put her muzzle on with her twitches. She lets out a small growl, staring me down. 

The sound of dragging footsteps pulls my gaze up to Val, who is now right behind me. He kneels just behind me, tucking his head above one of my shoulders as he fixes the muzzle. Kyzu lets out a small huff, accepting Val over me. He lingers for a moment after his busy hands are finished, “Stay safe, don’t be afraid to grab the reins if you need to,” he tells me in a hushed voice. It doesn’t take him much longer to get Kyzu ready. Val calls for Hidorah and passes him the reins when he finally manages to trudge over. 

I swing my bag up onto my shoulder, with Hidorah following my lead. We each fasten our packs to the lower section of Kyzu’s harness near her haunches. Hidorah helps me up onto Kyzu’s back before sitting in front of me. Her shoulder blades twitch and her spine straightens as she lets out a yawn from her toothy abyss of a maw. 

“How long since you’ve been to Aramoor?” I ask.

“Not since the embargo,” he flatly tells me.

“So I suppose we’ll be following Val there?” I presume. 

“Starting now,” he announces, flicking the leather strips in his hands. Kyzu begins a steady pace following Val’s path. 

“So, why did you insist on having us ride together? Not that I mind, I just figured you would prefer sitting with Marietta,” I ask. 

“Honestly, I think I just got caught up in the moment arguing with Val, I realize now we’re going to be traveling as a group regardless,” he shrugs.

I chuckle, glancing at the two ahead of us. We are traveling at a fair pace, but I understand Aramoor is quite far across this unclaimed desert. 

“How long has it been since you’ve been to Aramoor?” Hidorah asks me in return.

My lips sputter and I mumble a few numbers under my breath. 

“Not since last fall,” I conclude.

“That’s at least somewhat recent, it hasn’t changed much,” he tells me. 

“Somewhat recent? That’s almost an entire year; it’s the end of summer now.” My words feel heavy leaving my mouth, and my jaw drops. I’d arrived at the start of summer, and spent nearly an entire season here. My wedding was set to be on the final days of summer or the first day of fall, I’m running out of time.

Hidorah pulls my mind from the thought, asking me what I think of the Aramoor market places, and wondering if they’d hold a candle to how they were before the embargo. We banter back and forth with our experiences in the city, each of us deriving entertainment in our own ways. As I would sit at dinner parties, plays and concerts Hidorah often found himself mingling with different crowds in every street and neighborhood as he peddled his wares.

A boom erupts through the silence, causing me to bump into Hidorah.

“You two okay with stopping for a while?” Val shouts.

“First time I've seen you jump from Val’s voice, everything alright?” 

“I don't like when any man yells,” I meekly state. 

“I'll…” Hidorah starts. I half expect him to poke fun at me. “Try to remember that,” he finishes. He juts his hand up, giving Val a thumbs up toward the short distance ahead. And so, a few hours into our journey we break at an oasis just past Mercester. The animals drink and we each stretch our legs. If my memory serves me right, on my map this is a good halfway point.

A set of large stones sat spaced a few strides apart beneath a few trees. A perfect shady spot in front of the water level just before sunset. 

“Well, that takes care of two people’s seats,” Hidorah says, taking a seat on one of the rocks. Val scoffs at Hidorah, walking off past him.

Marietta and I look at one another, neither of us ready to take the last seat. Val makes his way to a fell tree trunk on the other side of the pond. 

“That log is way too big, no way he drags it here,” Hidorah says.

I take a seat by Kyzu at the water, watching Val across the way. After lifting one end of the tree trunk off the ground, he takes a step backward. Then another. He trudges along, letting the log plow through inches of soft earth. He stops, dropping the log with a thunderous thud. He wipes the sweat from his brow, straightening his back. 

“Told you,” Hidorah says, his arms crossed. “Good on him for trying,” he shrugs, a smirk on his face. 

A crack whips our necks around back to the pond. Val had driven his foot down onto the log with a swift kick, then another. By the third it was clear the wood had been split, a jagged splintered gash cleaving the two chunks. A moment later one was on each of his shoulders, with Val making long strides our way.

“Well, you’re right. He didn’t drag it, he didn’t need to,” I laugh. 

Hidorah says nothing, his expression telling us everything we need to hear. Val drops the logs, lodging them in the soft dirt. 

“Thank you, Val,”

“You’re welcome, Elaine,” He tells me as settles near his horse. I inch over as he gets close, pulling something out from his pack. A few of the same item lay clumped together, he hands me one first. Wrapped in a thin wax paper, I feel the soft, hefty object in my hands. 

“Eat,” he offers, passing the same to Hidorah and Marietta. A fresh sandwich on a sliced bread roll, a perfect snack for the occasion. 

Soon enough our break must end, and we remount our rested steads. Hidorah and I continue jumping from story to story, recounting what we’d seen and places we’d been. As we spoke we found a common ground on our perception with Aramoor, despite our experiences differing so vastly. I delighted in the exotic people he met throughout his time.

As the sun sets and a yawn escapes my mouth, I finally ask, “How long do you think the journey will be?”

“Um… hard to say. We can’t exactly stop for the night and I haven’t tracked the journey without resting,”

“I’m going to guess we’ll get there by tomorrow afternoon, not that I have any solid reasoning,”

“I’ll go with tomorrow morning, not just because I can control Kyzu’s speed,” Hidorah laughs. “Care to put some coin on it?” He offers, raising a brow at me.

“Absolutely not, I’ve learned not to make any wagers with you,” I snicker. 

While conversation slows, it never fully stops with Hidorah. The world grows quieter and I am lulled by the heavy darkness and softly glimmering stars above me. Still, each time I nod off he sparks up another thought-provoking story, question, or tidbit of knowledge. Truly a master of conversation, Hidorah staves off my need for sleep for hours into the night. It is only after I am jolted awake by another question that he encourages me to rest.

A nudge in my ribs wakes me in an instant, an interrupted snore cut off by my own gasp. My neck cranes to see tall cobblestone walls just ahead on our path. At some point in the night, the desert sand had changed to lush grass and woven dirt paths. A few groups of travelers wait at the kingdom’s gates, their carts and horses crowding the sturdy double doors. With a small tug at the reigns, Val’s horse rears slightly as he comes to a stop. We hang back a bit from the gates, allowing those in front of us to pass through before we reach it.

I use the time to tighten Kyzu’s muzzle since it’s been much looser on the way for her to carry us. She’ll need to be seen as safe to enter the city, which is difficult given her stature. I take her over to the guard, moving her slowly with her lead short in my grasp. The guard’s eyes dart back and forth between Kyzu and me as he speaks, “This animal is classified as a… steed, yes?” he hesitantly asks.

“An emotional support animal, actually,” I deliver with a small smirk peaking through my lips. I hear the men chuckle behind me as I confirm his initial question. I give Kyzu a few scratches on her chin, with her trying to further press her face onto my palm. The man seems to relax a bit near her, with his shoulders falling as his mouth curves into a smile. 

“You seem familiar, do you come to Aramoor often?” He harmlessly asks, through the question makes my chest tighten. 

Hidorah immediately comes to my rescue as I feel pressure to cave and tell the man my name.

“Oh yes. We visited the city plenty before the embargo, just been harder to make the trip since.” Hidorah nods and throws an arm around my shoulder as he speaks. “With the cut funds from sales and especially these new border regulations, elves have got to make the most of Aramoor while they can,” he gushes and puts his other hand over his chest. 

“I apologize for any delays or inconveniences, I do hope you and your sister have a wonderful time here,” the guard offers, clearly wanting out of this conversation more than I did. 

We make our way to a clearing beside the path as they continue their routine.

“So… They went with that? Siblings? We don’t even look related Hidorah,” 

“I know. I’m twice as dark, half your size and you wish you could go this long without redoing your hair. But that doesn’t matter when they barely want to look you in the eye,” He shrugs with a chuckle. 

His laugh after such a comment elicits enough to raise goosebumps down my arms, yet tells me to say nothing despite this.

They run the same list of requisitions through each of us in the group, with them ending by asking if we held any weapons. Val is the last to finish questioning, with him and the guard chatting between answers. I piece together they are familiar with one another, with them recalling things that strangers wouldn’t know. Just before Val comes over to us, he reveals a small dagger hidden wedged at his waist. Rather than being confiscated, it returns to its place and Val meets us beyond the gate. 

“They let you keep it?” I ask, pointing at his waist.

“Of course, only because I’ve served as an escort here for years, I can be trusted not to harm anyone,” He explains.

We pass the gates and step into Marietta’s homeland. “Ah, Aramoor. A nation as rich in coin as it is in history and culture. As rare as that is, the land could be considered a treasure itself,” I gleam as we take our first steps back into this kingdom.

“You memorize that from your textbooks too? No wonder you and Arani get along so well,” Hidorah teases. 

“Cruel,” I mutter, gripping the leather in my hand tighter. A wide weathered stone path curves along rolling hills, with shops and alleys on either side of the street. Gas lamp posts dot the sidewalks and lanterns hang from people’s homes. The streets are dotted with pedestrians even in the night, but clean and well-maintained. Of everywhere I’ve been recently, this most resembles Asteria. In a way, it's nice to see the familiar decor and classical architecture. At the same time, it's nauseating even being this close to my home.

“Marietta, I expect you to lead the way to your estate,” Val says. 

“Oh! Yes,” she exclaims, heading straight down the road deeper into town. We trot along the cobble footpaths with our steeds in tow, drawing more attention than I’d like. People turn one by one as we make our way down the street. Faces with lined lips and wide eyes trace our tiniest moves while not budging themselves. Faces framed by tedious hairstyles and eccentric accessories.

“Perhaps the scenic route isn’t the best option for us right now,” I say.  

“Maybe we can slip through some alleyways?” Hidorah offers.

“Great idea, follow me!” She leads on.

In the narrow space, we form a single file line. And so with our new approach, we cut between buildings with constant jagged turns as we inch our way toward the heart of the city. Cool, clearings of the open street and marketplaces lit by moonlight are savored before we quickly delve back into the dim alleys once more. Time and time again we break into the clearings, watching the spires of her estate peaking over the tree tops slowly grow. 

Homes become smaller and more spaced apart as we reach the edges of town. Wild grass grows rampant in oversized tufts, and the sounds of civilization have faded into nothing. After what feels like hiking the distance to Braiewood all over again, we find ourselves in a grove with a fence stretching far in any direction.

“This fence marks the perimeters of my estate, if we follow the path through here it’ll lead right to my front door,” Marietta announces. 

Once more before we make it to the doors we are again stopped by guards. A similar situation unfurls and before long we are standing at her door. I let out a soft shaky breath, trying my best to hide it as her estate towers before me. 

“Oh! Guests are here!” A young man greets us at the door. A short and slim man occupies hardly any space between the double doors. I soon realize beneath his side bangs are pointed ears. He glances back at another servant in the same dark uniform, still a huge grin on his face. 

“Lady Marietta truly has returned, I see,” another chimes in behind him. 

We follow him into the foyer, and he closes the doors behind us. 

The servant recognizing Marietta steps forward, his tailcoat flowing as he moves. “I apologize, we weren’t expecting your presence so early,” he explains.

I note his use of early, signaling that sunrise may be approaching.

“I assume my parents are still busy for the time being?” She asks.

“At least your mother is, but I’ll relay your attendance to them,” he assures her.

The man glances at Val, and makes a subtle gesture, pointing at his own head and sliding his hand up. Val points at his head, imitating the motion. 

“Sir, would you mind taking off your helm inside? Feel free to unload your armor in your wardrobe soon,”

“Once I’m able to store it I’ll take it off,” He explains. 

“Very well, sir,”

“How’s my room, Bernard?” Marietta asks.

“We just had maid service touch it up last week,” He says with a nod. “Speaking of which, allow me to show you to your guests’ rooms,” 

Hidorah and I look at one another, obviously a bit excited. Gradually we manage to form a line as we walk down the hall rather than clumping and running into one another. 

“If I had known there would only be three guests I would have moved their rooms closer to yours,” Bernard tells Marietta.

“Yes, I apologize for not setting plans in place more. I should have written back with more details,” Marietta admits with a sigh. She sounds sincere.

Four arched doorways sat spaced across from one another in pairs of two in the hall. 

“Please make yourself at home and enjoy your stay,” Bernard tells us. By the time he’s made it partway down the corridor, the others have peaked into two of the rooms. 

“I want this one,” Val states.

“Aw, why? Because the bed is pink?” 

“Because it’s the big bed,” 

“Oh, you’re right! Nevermind, I wa-” Hidorah lunges for the bed, though Val catches him by the back of his shirt. A wretched sound chokes out from Hidorah before Val releases him. I peek into one of the closed rooms to find a red double bed. 

“Val, this one also has a big bed,” I tell him. Against one wall two doors sat on either end. The first is a closet, but the second reveals a full bathroom. “Hey Hidorah? Does that one have a bathroom?” Upon quick inspection, we find every room is a master suite.

Val takes the room I suggested, locking his door behind him. Hidorah settles into a room with a small bed with plain black bedding, leaving another untouched. I don’t mind the pink comforter, and it should be nice sleeping in a double rather than a twin. Though, another bonus is a laying chair I immediately become fond of. I drop my bags at the foot of my bed, and swing to my right, throwing myself back first onto the fainting couch. 

The first to reappear in my room is Hidorah, with him making himself comfortable on my bed and sparking up conversation. Next is Marietta, with her taking a few minutes to get back from her room. The door clicks shut behind her, and she sits beside Hidorah. There is a soft knock at the door before they let themselves in. 

A tall figure fills the door way, just barely not needing to duck beneath the arch.

“Uh,” the two utter in unison. 

A familiar orc meets my gaze. His expression of nervousness and confusion immediately turns to one of glee. A huge smile is plastered across Val’s face, and he makes his way to me on the fainting couch. 

“It’s so strange seeing you two clearly,” he says to Marietta and Hidorah. There is silence for only a moment between them. Marietta was wide eyed, unable to tear her gaze from Val’s face. A small smile forming on her face. 

Hidorah, on the other hand only took him in passing glances. “I figured you were an orc, I just didn’t expect you to look… like that,” Hidorah says, gesturing to Val’s face. 

Marietta shoots up, stumbling her first step toward us. “Let me show you around the estate! We’ll head through the library, music room, the atrium, and…”

“My garden!” Marietta exclaims. The heat drains from her face in an instant, “Who has been watering my plants since I’ve been gone?” She stresses. She sets out down the hall, each of us funneling through the door to follow her.

Hall after hall, we travel through the wings and marvel at monuments to her family’s legacy.  From the quartz columns lining the atrium glass to the faded painted portraits, everything is finely crafted and made with luxury as its highest priority. While the rooms we are shown are impressive, it's not unlike what I have at my own estate. A beautiful home, but I can’t shake the feeling Marietta is buying time. 

I catch myself lingering in the library as the others wait by a set of glass doors. A portrait hung well above my height seems familiar, calling me in. Perched in the middle of Marietta and her mother is a well-groomed, mature man somewhere between their ages. The same light hair and fair skin across the three of them, each dressed in dark formal attire.

“Any reason you’re lagging behind?” Marietta inquires. 

“Oh, I just seem to recognize him is all,”

“A cousin of mine; he’ll be at dinner tonight,” she informs me. I nod, catching up behind them. 

The garden follows a loose trail wrapping along a vast perimeter of the manor, enclosed in tall hedges. Bushes, trees, and topiaries pepper the open area of the garden, with plenty of seating space. Flowers and fruit add vibrant patches of color and scents in a feast for the senses as we peruse. Soon, the path narrows, and Marietta informs us of a small hedge maze.

I follow close behind, with her pressing through left and right turns she’d memorized by now. The maze thins and widens, making occasional clearings. I glance up at Val, who is focused on something not far ahead. I cock my head.

“I can see above the leaves,” he chuckles.

A faint voice pulls our attention in a vague direction. A direction that adjusts as Val’s does, with his eyes following where we’d been prior. 

Hidorah comes into view after a moment. “Sorry if I can’t keep up, after I’ve been walking for so long my knee starts to act up,” He says, a slight limp in his step as he grows closer. “It’s just a shame it never got to heal properly,” he adds.

“Oh gods, not this again,” Marietta sighs. She tucks her arms together, rounding a corner in the hedge maze. “I’m sorry I forgot to slow down,”

“If only Elaine were here sooner with her magic, then maybe I’d be able to travel with you guys without being a burden,” Hidorah says hopping on one leg over to her. 

She rolls her eyes, taking a few more steps away as he cuts the distance between them. 

Something between a huff and a growl emerges from Hidorah, hardly making it through clenched teeth. “I’m sure Val understands. Can’t imagine how many battle scars that clumsy orc has,” he huffs. 

The crown of her head bobs with each step, and she suddenly turns after hearing this. A thud is heard, and I can no longer see Hidorah. Marietta pushes on, refusing to even look back at Hidorah.

“Ugh,” he grunts. Val’s slow trudge behind him turns to a jog, apparently unable to watch him struggle to get back up.

“Let me go, you’re gonna break my arm if you help me up!” He tugs at Val’s hand wrapped around his forearm.

Val scoffs, dropping his arm in an instant.

“Last thing I need is you messing up both my left limbs,” Hidorah glares at him, dusting the dirt from his clothes. “That’s the only way you could make someone feel all-right.” he laughs, falling into ragged coughs.

“Hidorah! You’re nothing but a lying, delusive fool!” Val growls.

“Delusive? Ha!” Hidorah laughs, “I’m surprised an orc like you could get such a big word out from between those oversized tusks!” 

“You would have died Hidorah! Get over it!” Val scoffs.

“Not one sedative, or healing elixir, or even painkiller!” Hidorah screams.

 “It was an emergency! We couldn’t wait to get one from three nations away with the embargo that you practically caused!” 

“So it's my fault I was bleeding out?” 

“You know that’s not what I mean!” 

“Don’t act like you wouldn’t travel to Braiewood if Elaine got bit by that beast!”

“I don’t have to worry about Elaine needing healing in an emergency,” Val chuckles.

“What about for Marietta, then?” 

Marietta’s eyes meet at the same moment this leaves Hidorah’s lips. Our faces shared the same contorted look of distress. We’d each been consumed by anxiety, unable to do anything but watch as tensions mounted and we are drug into their argument.

“W-we don’t need to get into these foolish scenarios, Hidorah,” Val tells him. 

“I wasn’t the one who bit you, I don’t owe you an apology. I stopped you from getting an infection and cauterized your wound,” Val bluntly states.

“You’re not a hero! You left without knowing if I would have lived or died!” Hidorah yells, “Just like every other orc, you wanted an opportunity to rip an elf limb from limb!” He screams.

Val’s posture had straightened, and he seemed taken aback at Hidorah’s rage. There is a moment of silence, Hidorah desperately waits for Val to respond.

Val turns around and takes a step toward the way he came. He cranes his neck, looking back at Hidorah over his shoulder. “You’re not worth fighting,” he utters. 

A muscle in my forearm twitches, and my heart is pounding from the two in conflict. I could feel something about to happen, and I could only watch Hidorah’s reaction.

I watch his chest rise and fall, and he takes a step forward. Then another. Hidorah was cutting the space between them and picking up speed with every stride. Marietta and I can only watch as Hidorah leaps onto Val’s back. In an instant, the two are sent stumbling through the garden. 

Hidorah is on Val’s shoulders with his legs wrapped around his neck, though I can’t imagine for long. With each of their thrashing it doesn’t take long for them to crash back first into a tree. They each collapse onto the ground. Their bodies sprawl out across the grass, with Hidorah rolling a few times with the momentum he’d been flung with. With some distance now between them, there is a brief moment of uncertainty and shock. Val uses the time to bring himself to his hands and knees, still dazed from the impact. A deep, ragged cough bellows out from his chest, and blood splatters onto the dusty path beneath him.

Hidorah manages to get up in this time and takes a wobbly step toward Val. He closes the distance between them, and Val looks up at him, bracing his weight on one knee. 

“You wanna try that again or you want to say hello to your dad for me?” Val hoarsely laughs. Hidorah plants a fist against his cheek. Val’s head had been cocked from the hit, but he hadn’t budged since. Hidorah’s gaze darts up, and the two lock eyes.

Hidorah’s mouth opens, though only a syllable escapes. In an instant, his head is driven down into the dirt. Val hovers over him, staying silent. Hidorah’s foot twitches. Then a small kick brings a cloud of dirt up. Hidorah’s hands claw at Val’s arm, and I feel my chest tighten. He tries to push himself away, with both his legs shoving out from underneath himself. Still, Val persisted. Hidorah’s thrashing and clawing did nothing to break Val’s grasp. 

I’d been moving without realizing it, and I was now only a few steps away from them. I throw my body between them, wrapping both my arms around Val’s bicep. My heels drive into the earth, and my body sinks as I desperately attempt to pry Val’s unfaltering grip off of Hidorah’s throat. 

Finally, Val’s arm retreats and Hidorah gasps for air. His face was slightly discolored, and his eyes watering. Val and Hidorah look at one another, saying nothing. Tension hangs thick in the air as both their chests heave. Marietta shortly arrives at our side.

“Thank goodness one of us did something,” she utters. “I was just so… I didn’t-” she stutters on. 

“You two are so lucky none of our defense personnel saw that!” Marietta whispers. 

My weak, limp arms uncurl from around Val’s bicep. Dizzy, I can feel myself growing faint. I drop to my knees, knowing what comes next. My vision goes black, and my body hits the ground.