#the timed write i’ll be ok for. the test? O-O

[mars-ipan]

guys wish me luck i have a test and a timed write tomorrow

[gahyunszn]

could you do best friend jinsoul (gp) teaching reader how to give head….? :3

helping hand

genre : smut

warning(s) : uhhhh none? idk!

note : rushed, terribly written, i’ve never sucked a dick in my life so i actually have no idea how to write dick sucking + this ask has been sitting in my inbox for forever i’m so sorry anon😞

you’d consider yourself to be pretty inexperienced when it came to sexual things and you were always down to learn more so you could become more experienced in life, but who would lend you a hand and help you out?

thats where your best friend, jinsoul, came into play. she was the most experienced person you knew, always talking about how good she made someone feel whenever you two hung out at your place. you always wondered just how good she made them feel, but it wasn’t your place as her best friend to just suddenly say something along the lines of “make me feel good too.”

however…who were you to deny if jinsoul was the one that brought it up?

something must have been in the air that one night that jinsoul came over, something insane was in the air…she came into your house with the most perverted smirk you had ever seen on her, you almost thought she was going to tell you about yet another body added to her fuck count, but this time was different.

“i was thinking…” she started off, staring at you while you finished up your homework at your desk as she was laid back on your bed.

“how about i give you some pointers on being experienced so that whenever you have your first time with whoever, it’ll be…special..” she trailed off, waiting for you to react, but you quite literally couldn’t. you were frozen in your seat after that, shocked at how your own best friend was suggesting such lewd things, but who were you to deny…you’d be lying if you said you didn’t wish for this day to happen, to finally feel what it’s like to have jinsoul in the way that others have had her.

“and how are you gonna give me pointers?” you asked, turning yourself around in your spinny chair, watching as her smirk grew.

“get on this bed with me and i’ll show you.”

and that you did, it took you barley any time to get out of the chair and sit directly in front of jinsoul.

“such an obedient thing already, you listen so well.” she said in a lewd tone and you could have sworn that if you opened your mouth in that moment, a butterfly would fly out due to how many butterflies you had in your stomach.

“now, whenever you get with someone, it’s important to make them feel good, yes?” she asked, to which you nodded. “so to make them feel good, it’s always important to start off with something to work them up.”

jinsoul started to shimmy her way out of her sweatpants, tossing them on the floor next to the bed, leaving her in only some loose fitting boxers.

“why don’t you slowly remove my boxers, hm? tease me a bit so i can see just how much you know, like a placement test.” and so you did, you moved from your sitting position to being on your knees, slightly hovering over jinsoul as your hands crept their way up her thighs to the band of her boxers. you looked at her with desperate eyes as you slowly dragged her boxers down, watching her slightly hard dick slip out of them. jinsoul wanted to ruin you in that moment, but she needs to go slow, to teach you of course.

“o-ok, now get closer and maybe even kiss my tip a little, maybe even make more eye contact to really have whoever you wanna please really weak in the knees.” she stuttered, feeling herself lose it slightly at the sight of you slowly lower your head down to kiss the sides of her shaft. jinsoul wouldn’t have thought you were as inexperienced as you say you are especially with the way you slightly fondled her balls while giving little licks to her tip, letting her precum settle on your tongue.

“like this, soul?” you asked, making eye contact with her as you licked a strip from the base to the tip of her penis, letting a bit of drool fall out of your mouth which ran down her tip.

“fuck, yes, just like that baby.” jinsoul said, gently grabbing a fist full of your hair, wanting to absolutely fuck your face until you’re gagging, but she held back.

“how about you suck my tip just a bit, really get it wet and coated with your saliva, for extra lubrication of course..” you listened, letting your lips wrap around her tip while swirling your tongue slowly around it.

“that’s it, just like that.” jinsoul praised, grunting slightly at the end. she slowly moved your head lower down her cock until she heard you gag about halfway and she just about lost it.

“cute, can’t go that far yet? it’s ok, i’m sure you’ll be able to take all of me after i’m done with you.” she said, lifting your head back up before anything else.

you looked at her with tears forming in your eyes, you wanted to be able to take all of jinsoul, but you just couldn’t, your gag reflex wouldn’t allow you…or at least you thought.

“god, i can’t anymore, i need to fuck that pretty face of yours…” jinsoul said quickly before getting a better grip of your hair before she forced your mouth on to her cock. from there, she fucked your face, only feeling herself get more desperate as you kept gagging around her length.

“oh fuck, i’m so close, just a bit more…” she whined, feeling your tongue go even more flat against her length with a bit of teeth added, both of those feelings just making her absolutely get lost in the feeling and eventually shooting load after load down your throat.

after she came down from her high, she slowly pulled out, closing her eyes and catching her breath before opening them again to watch you swallow the leftover cum that was on your tongue.

“thanks, now my throat is gonna be killing me for the next couple of days.” you said, hoarse, your throat completely ruined.

“that won’t be the only thing ruined after tonight.” jinsoul replied in a mischievous tone.

at least you lost your virginity to your best friend after that night!

[ilovecupcakesandtea]

My @steddiesummerexchange for the wonderful @skepsiss I had a lot of fun writing this.

As always thank you to @slippy-slip for being there and for beta reading this. I appreciate you <3

Word Count : 12075

Archive Warnings : Injury detail. (if i have missed something please let me know)

Rating : M

Pairing(s): Eddie Munson/Steve Harrington

Character(s): Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington, Robin Buckley, The Party

Ao3 link

“Just go!” Steve screamed trying to push Dustin through the still open gate. 

“But Eddie!” the curly haired boy shouted in response, trying his hardest to get back down off the older man's shoulders.

“I’ve got him ok, Robin can you grab Dustin please?” He asked loudly, shouting into the gate. 

“Yeah, I’ve got him,” she replied as she pulled Dutin up with the help of Lucas and Nancy. “You next,” she said, grabbing Steve. 

“I’m not leaving him, you guys all go. Get what help you can, I’ll get Eddie and get out,” he said, squeezing her hand once before running away. 

“Did he get out?” Eddie rasped out as Steve knelt down next to him. 

“Yeah he did. This is going to suck okay but we need to get you out of here so you need to move. I can do all the heavy lifting but you gotta work with me,” Steve said as he scanned over Eddie's body, trying to work out the best way to move him without causing any more damage. 

“Come on then big boy, let’s roll,” Eddie stuttered out as he tried to sit himself up, clearly in a lot of pain. 

Between the two of them they managed to get Eddie standing and he moved a few steps towards the gate, his whole weight against the other man. 

“Guys come on! We’ve got things ready but you need to hurry, the gate is closing!” They heard Erica shout from the open gate. “Move your asses!”

The pair moved as quickly as they could towards the gate but they could see it was closing up. Trying to move quicker, they almost made it before the last speck of light faded out and it shut. 

“Well fuck,” Eddie whispered. “We’re screwed. Stuck down here.” 

“For the time being, yeah. We need to get you somewhere where you can rest up whilst we think of a plan,” Steve sighed, looking around. This had to be somewhere close, Eddie was getting real heavy and Steve’s own injuries were hurting the longer he held the other. 

He noticed the bench close by in the trailer park and moved over towards it. 

“This isn’t ideal but it’s something for now okay,” Steve panted whilst helping Eddie sit down at the bench. 

“What’s up? Your big strong jock muscles not up to the task of holding lil ol me?” Eddie asked, giving the end of his sentence a Southern twang. 

“I could bench your weight easily any day Munson,” Steve laughed and then winced. “I’m just injured right now.” 

“We can put that to the test another time,” he hummed. 

“Alright, calm down,” the other man blushed and turned away. “I’m going to go and have a quick look around and see what I can find, o? Think you can stay out of trouble while I'm away?”

“I make no such promise. Don’t leave me too long though, yeah?” Eddie joked with an overly dramatic wink.

“Don’t miss me too much,” Steve laughed, walking away. 

Everything seemed to calm. Vecna was dead, he knew this, Robin having landed the killing blow. But he still couldn’t help but feel that this was too calm. The bats had disappeared and the red sky was now just a dull grey. He wondered where he could head to find something to at least drink, he figured the best place would be Benny’s. The diner was most likely to have things like bottled water and things in wrappers not out of date regardless of what time they were in or from. 

It felt weird to walk into Benny’s as it was before Benny had been murdered and the diner had changed hands. He was suddenly hit with the memories of the handful of dates he had brought here over the years. Fries and a milkshake making the perfect ending to a movie night. Sugar laced kisses under the lights of the sign outside.  

Heading straight to the stockroom Steve looked around to see what he could find. Small bottles of water were stacked up against the wall. He noticed a little cart also sat in the stockroom and filled it with bottled water and cans of beans he also found. He added a bag of salt that he figured they could use to make sterile water to the cart too. As he was about to leave he remembered that the diner must have a first aid kit and went on a hunt for that. Rummaging around the office he came across 2 bottles of vodka as well, those went straight into the cart. Finding the first aid kit he made sure everything was in the cart ok and left the diner, not before grabbing spoons and forks for them to eat with, as well as a pan to warm the beans up in if they wanted. 

The short walk back to the trailer park and Eddie was filled with anxiety. What if he got back and Eddie wasn’t there or he had been attacked again? What if he had succumbed to his injuries and there was nothing that Steve could do when he got back? All these kinds of thoughts raced through his mind until he saw Eddie still sitting at the picnic table looking around and very much alive. 

“Wow, did you get a full weekly shop while you were away?” Eddie laughed the best he could through the pain. Wincing and holding his side gingerly as he did so.

“I only managed to find water, beans, a first aid kit and vodka, nothing fancy unfortunately,” Steve joked back gesturing to various things in the cart. “But this does mean we can eat, drink some water as well as clean and dress the wounds.” 

“We should find shelter as well,” Eddie suggested. “I don’t think we should go far though with the gate being around here, at least for a few days, for when they come back for us.” 

“Yeah that’s a good idea. Any idea where we can find a tent or something like that around here?” the other man asked, looking around to see if he could find somewhere suitable. 

“There was one in the trailer, I’m not sure if that’ll have disappeared in the wreckage though,” Eddie answered, nodding towards what was still standing of the trailer he used to call home. 

“Okay, let me go and see what I can find,” Steve said, starting to walk off in the direction indicated. 

“Sit down and have a drink at least, you’ve just been in a battle. We’re not in immediate danger so take a second, please,” Eddie stopped him and reasoned with him. 

Steve nodded and sat down taking a couple bottles of water from the cart, handing one to Eddie and opening one himself. They sat in silence and drank the water, not feeling as though they needed to say anything. 

“Permission to go and see what I can find now?” Steve joked once he'd finished the water and stood back up again gingerly. 

“Sure, I’m not sure I can be of any help though. I’ll probably curl over and pass out if I move much,” Eddie sighed.

“Just sit there and stay alive okay? You’d be less use to me if you passed out or bled out,” Steve said sternly as he walked away. 

Steve walked over to the Munson trailer and stepped inside. Aside from half of it being missing, most of the trailer looked okay. He started to look through various big cupboards, finding a handful of blankets, a couple of old spare pillows and the mentioned tent. He also found a couple pairs of jeans, some underwear, t-shirts and a couple of towles. Grabbing it all together he headed back out to Eddie, hoping he could remember how to put a tent together. It had been years since he and Tommy had their obsession with camping and Steve smiled to himself at the flash of memories of his former best friend. 

“I’m back and I found a few things we could use. Not sure not sure how to set up the tent though but I'll work it out. I also found a change of clothes for each of us,” he announced as he walked back towards the table. 

“The tent will be super easy to put up, it'll have been a really cheap one,” Eddie explained. “Click the poles together and thread them through the holes,” he shrugged, attempting to lean forward to show Steve but stopping with a grunt. 

Less than 10 minutes later the tent was up.

“We should dress these wounds and get changed,” Steve suggested, laying all of the provisions for that on the table. 

“It's just my side really,” Eddie said, standing up and removing his t-shirt. As he removed the t-shirt he had to peel it away from dried blood on broken skin. “Fuck,” he screamed as his skin was pulled away from his body even more. 

“Shit, ok. Erm Eds you’re bleeding a lot ok. We really do need to get you bandaged up and quickly,” Steve said in a quavering voice, clearly panicked and rushing towards the other man. 

He opened up a bottle of vodka and poured some onto the towel he held. 

“This will sting but we need to get this clean okay?” he said, stepping into Eddie’s space and cleaning around the wounds as quickly as possible. 

Once the wound that was bleeding again had been cleaned around it, he opened the bottle again and poured some of the vodka directly onto the wound itself as Eddie let out a scream. He opened the largest of the dressings he could find and placed it over the wound. Once that was covered he started to work on cleaning the other smaller wounds and covering what needed. 

“You said there was more than one bottle of this?” Eddie asked, pointing at the vodka. 

“Erm yeah there is,” Steve answered, handing over the open bottle to Eddie who started to reach for it as soon as he started to answer. 

Taking a couple of big swigs from the bottle he winced at the taste and handed the bottle back to Steve indicating that Steve should do the same.

“Lets get cleaned up and in the tent before we drink anymore shall we?” Steve said through a cough after he had also taken a drink from the bottle.  

Steve took off the vest  he was wearing and undid the temporary bandage that Nancy had put around him. Cleaning himself up using a different towel and a new bottle of vodka, he put new bandages on. 

“Here, let me help with your neck, it’s much harder to see,” Eddie offered, reaching out for both the bottle and the towel. 

Stepping into his  personal space, Eddie was suddenly very aware of how attractive Steve Harrington actually was. It wasn’t just moles that he had, but also a light dusting of freckles too, or maybe it was just dirt, either way Eddie was transfixed for a moment too long. 

“Everything okay?” Steve asked quietly, the question startling Eddie from his thoughts. 

“Yeah, yeah, everything’s fine. Just a little light headed is all,” Eddie whispered, visibly shaking his head. 

Once Steve’s neck was cleaned up both boys set about getting changed. With no running water they could only do so much about getting clean but a fresh set of clothes was a start.

“Looks like you got some of Wayne’s jeans,” Eddie laughed, nodding down at the pants Steve was now wearing.

“Which is a good job because judging by how skinny they are I’d never have fit into those,” Steve laughed back, pointing at Eddies.

“It’s a good job I haven’t really grown much in the last 3 years, they’re a little short that’s it.” 

“Let’s eat some of these lovely beans and drink some water before we get some rest,” Steve suggested, grimacing at the idea already.

“Pass me a couple of the cans and I'll get them opened,” Eddie said, taking a Swiss army knife out of his pocket. 

The pair sat in relative silence, eating the beans and drinking the water, occasionally making a comment about the things they could see around them.

Once they had eaten and drank a couple of bottles of water they headed inside the tent with the mostly empty bottle of vodka. 

“What a day, ay?” Eddie chuckled, opening the bottle and taking a big swig from it. 

“Yeah, I’ve certainly had better,” Steve laughed, taking the bottle from the other and taking a drink. “I thought I’d told you not to be a hero though?” 

“It bought you lot enough time to kill Vecna right? You also told me not to do anything cute, was me being a hero cute?” Eddie asked, batting his eyelashes. 

“I would not call almost getting yourself killed cute,” Steve sighed with an eyeroll. 

They sat talking whilst finishing the vodka and then they set up the inside of the tent ready for the two of them to sleep in as much as they could on a hard flood with little padding. 

“Now that I’ve laid down, I'm exhausted. I haven’t seen anything to suggest that we’re in danger so I think we’ll both be okay to sleep,” Eddie said as he lay down. 

“I don’t sleep well anyway, I haven’t in years. Not since it all started at least,” Steve shrugged, like it was okay that as a teenager he had become used to not sleeping at night because of horrors that he had witnessed and that he knew lay under the town he lived in. 

“Just try, and keep your hands to yourself Harrington, I’m not one of those girls,” Eddie joked in a mock high pitched voice. 

“Damn, and here was me hoping I could get lucky in this hell space whilst wounded from an attack by bats,” Steve laughed, rolling his eyes. 

He joined Eddie laying down in the tent, pulling a blanket over himself and closed his eyes. The pair fell into an uneasy sleep, tossing and turning a lot and then ultimately just deciding to lie there talking but still resting. 

“Do we even know what time it is?” Eddie asked. “My watch broke as I dove down after the girls.” 

“Mines also broke so no, I guess we don't know the time,” Steve replied, looking at his own wrist. 

“Well that’s just great isn’t it?” Eddie sighed, groaning in pain as he tried to throw his hands up dramatically. 

“We may as well make the most of this seeing as we really can’t move far and we’re stuck here,” Steve suggested, sitting back up the best he could in a tent. “Let’s move from the tent and have a drink and something to eat. I don’t think we should be changing the bandages yet as we don't have many. Maybe I should go on a hunt to see if I can find some more.” 

“I think you may have to help me up from this hard floor before you go all hunter gatherer on me.” 

“Sure, I can’t pull too much though,” Steve pointed out, offering his hand. 

With a lot of grunting, groaning and more than a few curse words, Eddie was up off the ground and both boys were in a lot of pain. 

“So, we have plenty of time for you to tell me the story. What happened to King Steve? One day you’re all loved up with Nancy and the next Billy Hargrove is pushing you around on the basketball court and you’re doing jack shit about it,” Eddie commented, as he opened more beans for them to eat once they'd sat back at the bench.

“Well you know we explained all about the 3 previous rounds we’d gone with this place,” he answered, gesturing all around him. “Well, in between rounds 1 and 2, I stepped away from all the superficial bullshit because it meant nothing. It cost me Nancy and almost my life because of that. After that I didn’t really care. In comes Billy after round 2 and Nancy broke up with me. I had no reason to keep my appearance up,” Steve shrugged.

“I guess almost dying a handful of times does make you think of things differently,”  Eddie hummed. 

“What about you? If we're getting deep and personal right now, why Hellfire?” He asked, nodding to the other boy. 

“I didn’t have any friends when I first moved here. I was the new kid with parent issues, living with his uncle in a 1 bed trailer. So when I actually found friends and we started to play DnD together I wanted to keep that going, I wanted to make sure no one else had to feel that lonely again if I could help it,” Eddie answered before totally looking away, clearly upset by the mention of his friends.

“Makes sense. I guess we all find community where we can, when we can, especially in highschool. Your little band of misfits always seemed to have fun though. You’re little table top rants always made me laugh,” Steve said lightheartedly, remembering some of his favourites.  

“Which is actually really funny, seeing as they were mostly directed at you and other people in privileged positions like you.”

“I’d give up an empty house and parents who don’t speak to you for weeks on end for a home that has love and a guardian who loves me any day of the week. A lot of the kids like me are the same. Big empty, sterile house. Raised by a nanny or two until 14, then you’ve got to learn to cook, grocery shop and keep a house. I’m not saying I had it harder at all. The parties were fun. Having a big house with a pool obviously has its perks but it's a different struggle I guess,” Steve shrugged. 

“Damn Harrington, got me feeling sorry for you over here,” Eddie whistled lowley.

“Anyway, let me take this cart and go and see what I can find to keep us alive,” he exclaimed, maybe a little too loudly, and stood up, stepping away from the table. 

Steve helped Eddie get back into the tent and settled down so that he could get some more rest before he headed off towards Bradley Big Buy and Melvalds Drug Store. He needed to find all he could to help them whilst they were down here. 

Heading straight to Big Buy he found it closed and locked up. 

“Damn it,” he shouted and sighed heavily. Now what? 

He turned and headed to the drug store, hoping to at least find bandages for them both and maybe something to help keep their wounds clean.

Finding the store open and the door unlocked he headed inside and looked around and what he could find.  

He found more water, some packs of wet hand wipes so they could freshen up a little. Rooting through the aisles Steve also found bandages of all different sizes, sadly the antiseptic products all appeared to have sold out. Seeing if he could spot anything else that they may need he continued to wonder. He found a handful of cans of food that he added to the cart, already trying to count up how much food they had and how best to ration it out with them being stuck here for an unspecified amount of time. As he was walking down the final aisle he saw it, the door to the store room and went towards it. 

It was small but it was full. He found a lot more water, more cans and more bandages and cotton pads they could use to clean the wounds. His cart was almost overflowing when he left the store.

Heading back to Eddie and their little camp they had created he thought about Eddie, how they had just opened up to each other without really knowing each other all that much but had bared themselves so quickly, so easily, like they were discussing the weather and not childhood trauma that had changed everything. 

He finally made it back to the tent and opened it up softly to try and make as little noise as possible, looking inside he saw something that he wasn’t sure ever existed. Eddie Munson, completely still and as calm as they come. No fidgeting with his rings, his clothes or just generally moving, totally still. He was almost ethereal lying there with his hair fanned out and a peaceful look on his face, Steve wasn’t sure he had ever seen Eddie looking peaceful, a range of other emotions yes, but not peaceful.

“He looks so beautiful” was Steve’s last thought before he realised that it was actually really creepy for him to be standing there just watching the other man sleep and stepped back,closing the tent back up.

He sat at the table and tried to think of something to help them out of this situation. They could only survive down here for so long. Then what? Could they try to communicate with the other side? El couldn’t open the gate again, she was too far away and they couldn’t drag her back into all of this when she was finally free of this nightmare. The only saving grace of it all was that Robin, Nancy and Dustin all knew they were down here. Three people that would not stop before that gate was opened again and the two of them were found. Surly Dustin, Robin and everyone else would be looking for ways to get them back? He just hoped they would still be alive when that happened. 

A little while later he heard a groaning from within the tent and he went to investigate. 

“Good morning sleeping beauty, manage to get some sleep then?” He asked as he peered into the tent and noticed Eddie was awake.

“I think my body just shut down and decided it needed to rest I guess. I lay down one second and the next I'm waking up in a lot of pain. How long have I been out?” Eddie asked. 

“I’m not really sure but I don't think I’ve been back from my shopping trip long, so probably not all that long I guess,” he shrugged. 

“Did you manage to find anything?” Eddie asked as he tried to move towards the entrance of the tent. 

“A little bit yeah, some more water, some more food and most importantly more bandages so i think we should change ours soon,” Steve replied, leaning into the tent properly and helping Eddie to his feet outside the tent.

“Okay, yeah. Probably for the best. Erm we should move from this spot and drink something,” Eddie whispered into the very small distance between them. Their noses almost touching. 

“Yeah we should,” Steve whispered back, still holding onto Eddie's arm and still not moving backwards.

Eventually after a few more seconds, that felt like a lifetime to both boys, they moved to sit back at their bench.

Things were getting intense between the two of them already, sharing moments like that. Eddie hadn’t seemed too bothered by it though. He didn’t seem too awkward by them. Steve did need to get a grip on his feelings though. Things were going to be difficult enough down here without throwing any kind of romantic feelings into the mix. He wasn’t even sure where they had come from. He’d never really noticed the other man like that before.

“‘Shall I go and gather some wood so we can set a fire and heat some water up so we can clean the wounds with some sterile water?” Steve questioned wanting to get away and think about all of this.

“Sure, let's get this cart emptied and we can go and see what we can find. I’m sure I can help with that,” Eddie responded.

The two boys spent time sorting out all of the bottled water, all of the cans and all of the badges so they could clearly see how much they had to last them. 

“I’m really unsure if I can find other stuff to go with all of this easily so we may need to be careful with this lot,” Steve pointed out, gesturing to the piles. 

“Yeah we really do need to go easy on it,” Eddie agreed. “Let's go act like boy scouts and build a fire.”

Steve once again grabbed the cart and the two of them together, very slowly, made their way back into the woods. 

They searched the ground for all the odd twigs they could find before trying to get any that were actually attached to any trees. 

“Wait!” Steve exclaimed as Eddie reached for the tree. “Remember the hive mind, I think we need to be really careful that they're not all linked still. If something comes for us you get to safety and I'll hold them off for as long as possible okay? Nothing heroic this time Munson. Got it?” He ended with a raised eyebrow. 

“Don't worry big boy, you can have your sacrifice play should it come down to that,” Eddie replied with as dramatic of a bow as he could. He was sure there was nothing out there wanting to hurt them but he wasn't going to tell Steve and cause an unnecessary argument when simply agreeing with him solved everything. Plus he had to admit having that protective streak of the others turned on him was hot.

As Steve stood watching Eddie once again reached for a branch and got ready to run if needed. Grabbing the first branch he could, he waited to see if anything happened before he broke it off. 

“Can you hear anything?” He whispered to Steve. 

“No, I think we’re all good,” came the reply in a hushed tone. 

“I’ll snap one off then,” Eddie said, breaking the first branch off. 

Nothing came running at them, no loud noises could be heard in the distance and they weren’t attacked. Once the first couple of branches were added to the cart Steve helped to add more, the boys worked quickly and in a comfortable silence. 

“Erm, were any of us actually a boy scout?” Steve questioned with a laugh once they had returned and sorted the wood out into its own little pile. 

“I sure as hell wasn’t that would mean that daddy dearest cared enough to do something like that for me,” Eddie pointed out. “That doesn’t mean that I don’t know how to build a fire though, let's hope my lighter survived the hell that has been the last few days.”

“Alright, I’ll leave that to you then,” Steve gestured to the wood pile.

Rummaging through the wood pile, Eddie found some smaller bits whilst Steve went to see if he could find something to sit over it to rest their pot on in nearby trailers.

Eddie got a fire started and Steve found a piece of equipment designed for exactly what they needed. They emptied a couple of bottles of water into the pot, added some of the salt and placed that over the fire to boil up. Whilst they waited for it to heat Eddie opened a couple of the cans and they started to eat them. 

“So, tell me something about Steve Harrington that I wouldn’t have previously known,” Eddie pipes up, jolting the other from his thoughts. 

“Erm, wow, that’s a tough one. Okay, so, this is something only Robin knows but something tells me the secrets safe with you. I actually like men as well as women. She said there’s a word for it but I can’t remember it. But yeah, I also like men,” He ended with a shrug. This was terrifying, he could have read the whole thing wrong and he could have just revealed his biggest secret and was about to be ridiculed for it. 

“Bisexual, the um, word you’re looking for is bisexual. Thank you for telling me. You’re 100 percent correct as well, secrets safe with me because I too like men as well and women. Mines not so much of a secret in Indy though. The clubs there are a lot more liberal, we can go there when we’re out of here and all healed up.”

“Yeah, that sounds good. I guess I’ve never explored it, never really been safe for me to do so in Hawkins and there’s always been a girl for me to hook up with if I wanted to.” 

“We can take Robin too if she wants to come.” 

“Oh, I’m not really sure it’s for her,” Steve responded, a little panicked. He couldn’t out Robin.

“If she doesn’t want to go because it’s a club and they’re all loud and crowded we can find a quiet bar instead, but a friend knows a friend and I think she too could benefit from some Indy freedom,” Eddie soothed, seeing the panic rising in Steve.

“Thanks, I’ll mention it to her when I can,” Steve whispered, suddenly choking up. Robin had been accepted for who she was fully by some who she hadn’t had to come out too or explain that when it got too loud her skin felt too small for her and she needed to escape. 

“No worries and it’s not a big deal if she doesn’t want to join us for whatever reason,” Eddie smiled. 

They slipped into more of a casual conversation as they finished their food and took the water off the boil to cool down. Once it was cooled enough they took off the old bandages before using the cotton pads to clean them all off with. 

“This is the best we can do I guess. At least we know that the water is sterile, not just whatever it is in the bottles,” Steve said. 

Once they had cleaned the wounds and placed new bandages on them the pair got settled back into the tent and ready to get some rest for as long as they could. 

“Would you rather wake up as a worm or as a moth?” Eddie suddenly asked into the quiet of the tent. 

Steve let out a startled laugh “Erm probably a moth, I can move around quicker then. I’d be eaten as a worm I think.” 

“Hmm, yeah I agree, a moth would be better but also you can just bury yourself in dirt as a worm,” Eddie pointed out.

“That's actually pretty gross and I stand by my original answer of moth. Would you rather be a ladybug or a beetle?” Steve questioned.

“Ladybug, easy. They’re much prettier,” Eddie answered as though it was a fact and silly that he was being asked.

“But beetles are so much cooler, they can do some really fun things, so Henderson says anyway,” Steve squawked.

“But they’re disgusting, don’t listen to a thing that dweeb tells you,” Eddie laughed. “Okay, lion or elephant?” 

“Oh that's really easy, lion. Top of the food chain, ruler of the jungle and all of that,” Steve said, flexing his muscles. 

“Why did I even ask, of course King Steve was going to pick the lion. Tiger would have been more fitting though but it wasn’t an option,” Eddie giggled.

They continued to play would you rather for a little longer before they fell into a comfortable silence. Eddie couldn’t believe how comfortable he felt whilst he was with Steve. He normally had to  fill any silence with noise of some kind. Whether that be talking or random questions or sounds, he would fill the silence. He didn’t feel the need to do that with Steve around. 

“I miss the little shits,” Steve said suddenly, breaking Eddie’s thought process. “I hope they’re all okay. I don’t think anything from down here got up there so at least they won’t have to battle the monsters again.”

“Yeah, me too. This place would have made an amazing background for a campaign. Maybe I’ll write a new one for them when I’m home again. Wherever home is I guess,” he hummed, clearly trying to remain positive.

“Well, I do have a couple spare rooms and my parents left me the place to myself so if needed you and your Uncle Wayne can come and stay with me for as long as needed. I don’t mind,” Steve suggested.

“We’ll see,” Eddie replied. 

“I’m going to go and grab a drink, be back in a little bit,” the other whispered before moving away almost as though he had been scalded. 

Eddie was glad of the distance, he wasn’t sure he could have given Steve an answer if pressed for one because he wasn’t sure he could handle living with Steve Harrington and everything that would come with that. His heart would never survive it. Developing a crush on the other brunette was not something he should be doing right now. They were in a hell space with no means of escaping and feelings would only make things more complicated.

“So, you, erm, mentioned earlier about being openly bisexual in Indy. What’s that actually like?” Steve asked later that day once he had returned from his walk. 

“It’s a whole different world man, totally different out there than back in Hawkins. You’ll see some familiar faces when you’re there but it's never mentioned. There’s so much more freedom for everyone to be exactly who they want to be. You, erm, ever done anything with another guy before?” Eddie asked softly. 

“I’ve never had the option to try. I know I find men attractive though. I have wanted to kiss men and have sex with men. When I picture a future I can see it being with either a man or a woman.” 

“I’m sure we can find someone for you to experiment with if that’s what you want to do.” 

“Hmm maybe, we’ll see. I’m not really a huge fan of just sleeping around anymore,” Steve shrugged. 

The pair settled down into small talk, swapping stories of classmates past and present as well as stories about people within their town. Eddie laughed at how much gossip Steve had and how big of a bitch he was. Over time the two of them slowly fell asleep, albeit still fairly restlessly, the tent filling with the sounds of them both snoring and steady breathing. 

“What was that?” Steve shouted, sitting up right and feeling around for the axe that had been left with them both. 

“No idea but I heard it too,” Eddie replied in a panic. 

“We should at least leave the tent to see what’s going on and get somewhere safer,” Steve suggested moving ahead of Eddie and opening the tent up slowly, as quietly as he could. 

After checking their immediate surroundings and with as little disturbance as possible the two men made their way out of the tent. They could now see a lot further into the distance and couldn’t see anything of any concern. 

“Look, I’m the one with the weapon okay, stay with me and run if needed, please,” Steve pleaded with Eddie.

“Yeah as if I’m leaving you alone down here, especially when you have the best weapon,” Eddie joked, trying to keep the mood light. 

Eddie was not sure what he could do though. He wasn’t in any state to fight, there didn’t seem to be any weapons around either for him to pick up and use, Steve would stand a better chance if he wasn’t there. And then it hit him, how this beautiful man with his whole life ahead of him could potentially die because of him. 

“Whatever,” Steve snorted a laugh and shook his head. 

The noise was heard again. Almost like a screeching, neither could say if it sounded viscous or even hostile really. The walk over to the noise took the pair through the woods, past the lab and coming out by the quarry. Standing at the top of the quarry they looked down to see if they could spot what had been making the noise. 

“Holy shit,” Steve stage whispered. “Look down there,” he pointed. 

Down at the bottom of the quarry were a handful of demodogs which could only be described as playing, they seemed to be chasing each other around like actual dogs. It was kind of cute. 

“What the fuck are those?” Eddie asked, horrified. 

“Demodogs. Met them during round two with this place. One kind of saved us, it was really weird,” Steve explained.

“That doesn’t take away and from my what the fuck dude,” Eddie stressed. 

“I’ll explain all later okay? I don’t think they’re going to hurt us. We’d know if they were. This seems to be the cause of the noises we heard, I can’t see anything else around here. Can you?” 

“No, I can’t see anything else around here or hear any other noises. Let’s get the fuck outta here man,” Eddie suggested, grabbing Steve’s arm and walking away.

Walking back the way they came they fell into easy chatter with Steve explaining all about the demodogs and how they had been saved by D’art. Conversation had come easier and easier during the time they had been down here with the forced proximity of living and sleeping in a very small space and not having anywhere else to go due to dangers and injury. 

Conversations had been frank and honest at times. Talking about their hopes and dreams for the future, what they wanted to do and what they thought they would actually end up doing. Steve confessed his desire to do all he could to get into college and become an EMT. Eddie admitted that he really wanted to teach music to kids that couldn’t afford private lessons, that he’d like to work with a music shop to make sure that each kid he taught could get an instrument in an affordable way. They also had ridiculous conversations, all the silly stuff they had believed as children that now they think about it seems really stupid. All the rumours they had heard during middle school and high school that they could remember. Both confessed to having started a few of them each. 

“I’m going to sit outside tonight, just to make sure. You get some sleep,” Steve stated matter of factly later on in the day. 

“Alright then, you can come and sleep any time though if you need to,” Eddie pointed out.

Eddie lay down and tried his best to get comfortable. Something that was difficult for him to do with the amount of pain he was in with the bites, how every movement felt like it was opening some part of the wound up again. Finally he fell into an uneasy rest, already missing the presence of another person next to him, or maybe it was who that other person had been. 

Waking later on Eddie made his way out of the tent and straightened himself up the best he could. Looking around he made sure that all seemed safe. Nothing seemed to have been wrecked in the right and there were no other signs of conflict or anything else having gone wrong. 

He looked over at the table and saw Steve slumped over. Running as fast as he could over to the other man he feared the worst. Not only was Steve dead, Eddie himself was doomed. 

“Stevie, sweetheart, I really need you to wake up,” Eddie spoke as he shook Steve gently. “Steve please.” 

“Please what?” Came the sleepy response. 

“Jesus Christ!” Eddie exclaimed, pulling his hand back from Steve’s shoulder. “I thought you were fucking dead, and you were just napping.” 

“Oh, shit. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to fall asleep. Seems as though it was all okay though,” Steve smiled, looking up at Eddie sleepily. 

As he calmed down from the near heart attack he’d had moments before he realised just how beautiful Steve looked when he was all sleepy. It was obvious how attractive he was when he was wearing his preppy clothes and his hair was styled perfectly but this Steve was on a whole new level. Messy hair and a dopey smile across his face made him look less polished but more perfect in a way.

Time blurred and the two men grew closer. They spent time wondering as far as they dared around the surrounding area to see if they could find anything else to help them survive more comfortably down here. They even discussed actually moving into one of the houses that was close as both were suffering with sleeping on the floor, as padded as they had since made it. They ultimately decided that it still felt too weird to live in someone else's home that was stuck in a time capsule, however both did agree that they would revisit the conversation at a later date if needed. They had managed to add more food and water to their pile and had been able to change their clothes too a few times.

The ‘day’ started as normal, the two sleeping closely on the bed that they had made. Steve woke up and propped himself up on an elbow and looked down at the sleeping boy sort of beneath him. Taking a moment to admire how handsome Eddie actually was, he moved some hair from the other’s face and allowed his fingers to linger a little before moving them away. 

“Keep doing things like that big boy and I’ll start to think you like me,” Eddie hummed sleepily, eyes still closed.

“Maybe I do, is there an issue with that?” Steve whispered, without really thinking and then hoping the other hadn’t heard him.

“That depends if you’re going to do something about it or not?” he questioned opening his eyes and meeting the others.

“Oh, erm,” Steve gulped, moving backwards and making to leave the tent. 

“Stop,” Eddie insisted, wrapping his hand around Steve’s wrist.

“Let me go please?” he whispered, tears evident in his voice. 

“No,” Eddie replied. “I want you to do something about it.” 

“What?” Steve asked, shocked.

“I want you to do something about it,” Eddie repeated. “I like you too.” 

“You mean it Eds?” Steve spoke softly.

“Deadly serious sweetheart,” he answered, sitting up and closer to the other man.

Steve finally looked around and into Eddie’s eyes. He moved so he was facing the other again and they both leaned forward, meeting in the middle with a tending touch of their lips.  

Their ‘days’ continued as they had before. The Kiss as it would become known as, but now there was added intimacy. They cuddled at night, as best they could with wounds that didn’t seem to be healing. 

What felt like weeks later, the concept of time really gone by this point. The gate once again opened. 

“Steve, Eddie?” came the voice of Dustin from outside of the tent. 

The pair untangled themselves and raced out of the tent as quickly as they could considering they were both very weak from dehydration, malnutrition and prolonged pain.

“Dustin!” Eddie exclaimed, walking as quickly as he could towards the curly haired boy. “You’re here! Does this mean we can finally go home? I’ve had awful company, truth be told he smells a little, and I’m ready for a meal that isn’t beans from a can and drink something that isn’t bottled water. I’m still in a really bad way and I’m pretty sure Steve’s wound is a little infected so heading to a hospital might be the best thing for us both.”

“So I went ahead and called Dr. Owens and told him that none of us were signing another NDA until everyone had been treated and Eddie’s name had been cleared. We’re not children they can force into them now, I will happily write an article about this and send it to every major newspaper. I am sick of this bullshit,” Nancy declared, making her presence known.  

“This means that they’re actually on the way here. You two will be taken to a private suite and looked after around the clock until you’re able to go home” Robin added, leaning up from where she had been tucked under Steve's arm. 

“That’s amazing, “ Steve breathed. “We’re finally getting out of here, Eds,” he smiled at the other man. He didn’t miss the look Robin gave him as he said it. 

Getting both Steve and Eddie back out of the Upside Down was a struggle.

“You go first Eds, let's get you to safety,” Steve insisted, trying his hardest to help Eddie towards the gate.

Once both of them were through, they were to be taken to a private hospital. They were promised doctors and nurses would be waiting to treat their wounds and monitor them for any ill effects from prolonged exposure to the Upside Down.

Doctor Owens was waiting in Steve’s room when he arrived. 

“Where’s Eddie?” Steve demanded to know as soon as he saw the other man.

“He’s in surgery currently. He’s in a bad way, the surgeons, doctors and nurses are doing all they can to save him. It seems as though the Upside down was keeping him somewhat stable so once he was taken out of it he got rapidly worse.”

“Owens I swear if he dies I will be going to the press about this latest fight we had because you guys had to mess with shit you didn’t know. I’m standing with what Nancy said. None of us are signing anything until we’re all okay and Eddie’s name is cleared. Simple as that,” Steve stated, trying his best to not wince in pain. 

“I assure you, we’re already working on getting his name cleared okay. We’re going to say that Henry Creel came back to Hawkins and went on a killing spree but that we’ve got him and he’s heading to prison. We’re going to say that Eddie was taken from his trailer and managed to escape later on,” Owens informed him. 

“Speaking of the trailer, Eddie and his uncle are going to need somewhere else to live. Think you can make a nice little two bed or more happen for them?” Steve asked, raising an eyebrow. 

“Yeah, I’m sure we can arrange that. Can we just focus right now on making sure you’re both okay and get you both well again,” Owen replied with a sigh. He wasn’t surprised by Nancy’s demands when she spoke to him earlier, but he hadn’t expected this from Steve. 

“Dr. Owens, can I be left alone with the patient please? We need to get him assessed properly,” a nurse asked, walking up to the pair. 

“Steve, please. Mr. Harrington is my knobhead of a father,” Steve smiled as Owens left the room.

He sat on the bed in silence. The true horror of what had happened started to sink in. Eddie could potentially die because he didn't get him out of that hell quick enough. He was lying on an operating table dying because Steve failed. 

The nurses worked around him getting him to stand and sit, moving his arms and legs. Sticking him with needles, hooking him up to lord knows what and taking what seemed to be more blood than they should given how much he’d lost recently. They talked at him more than anything and his replies were short. He was sure he hadn’t answered half of the questions asked. 

He was physically and mentally exhausted. The nurses laid him back on the bed and he fell asleep instantly. When he woke up it was darker in the room and there was a quiet sobbing coming from beside him. Turning he saw that Robin was sitting at his bedside crying into his yellow sweater. 

“If there's any snot on that sweater you can get it dry cleaned,” he winced through a laugh. 

“Steve,” Robin gasped and leaned forward to grab his hand. “I’m so glad we got you out.”

“Hey birdie, me too. Thank you for helping get me out of there and Eddie too,” he replied, squeezing her hand.

“About him, anything you want to tell me?” Robin asked softly. 

“I really really like him, Bobby. We got so close in the time we were down there. He’s amazing. I really hope he makes it, I need to ask him on an official date.” 

“Oh dingus. I’m sure you’ll get to live out all of your gayest fantasies with him once you’re both out of here,” she laughed wetly. 

“Is there any news on him?” Steve asked cautiously. Her words were encouraging but that didn’t mean Eddie was actually okay. 

“He’s out of surgery and he’s in a room but he’s still critical. They’re hopeful though,” she explained. 

Steve spent a couple of days almost entirely in bed resting up and being treated for dehydration and a little malnutrition. He got updates on Eddie as often as he could which was mostly when his nurse needed to leave his room. There was also a steady stream of visitors over those first couple of days. They made sure he was okay and filled him in on what he had missed in the 3 weeks they had actually been stuck down there. 

“Morning Steve,” Nurse Nova greeted him one morning 5 days after he was admitted. “I have news from camp Eddie. They’re going to try and wake him up this morning. I do have to warn you that this doesn’t mean he’s better or that he’s out of the woods just yet. He is still very ill, I also need you to know that taking away sedation is a slow process and doesn’t always work. Not that they never wake up again but sometimes the body isn’t quite ready for it and we need to sedate again.”

“That’s great news! Will you let me know when he’s awake and I can go and see him please?” He asked, smiling for the first time in almost a week.

“We can certainly look into that, everything depends on Eddie is and how your day is going. You’ve got a lot that you need to do today, starting with a bit of light physio soon.” 

Hours later his wounds had been swabbed, cleaned and redressed again. He had another barrage of tests, another heavy course of antibiotics, and another bag of fluid before he was allowed to move around again. 

“Steve please stay in bed, you need rest,” Nova advised as he tried to get out of bed. 

“I need to go and see Eddie so either you can help me and make sure I get to him all okay or I can get up and go myself. I’m asking you to please help me. I need to see him, I need to make sure he’s okay,” Steve pleaded with her. 

“Okay, if I help, will you at least let me grab a wheelchair first? If I come back and you’ve moved without me I will be insisting on restraints on your bed,” she sighed before leaving the room. 

A couple of minutes later she returned with the wheelchair and helped Steve into it before taking him down the hall to Eddie’s room. 

“Hey pretty boy,” Eddie dreamily sighed as Steve entered the room. 

“He’s on some pretty strong painkillers right now,” the nurse looking after Eddie laughed. 

“Thought he was pretty anyway, me being high hasn't made me realise,” Eddie pointed out.

“How you doing Eds” Steve asked, trying to change the subject, already very aware that he was blushing. 

“I’m doing ok, I feel less like I’ve been hit by a truck than I did. They’ve taken bits of me away though Stevie. They stole bits of me!” He exclaimed, it was clear that the painkillers he was on had him higher than a kite.

“They had to remove infected flesh and some infected muscle. That’s all they took,” the nurse explained with a laugh. “He needs to rest a lot and will need a lot of physical therapy before he’s even close to okay again.” 

“You're going to be okay Eds, promise. Here for a few more days and then you can stay at mine for as long as you need or as long as you want,” Steve smiled, placing his hand on top of the other’s arm. He really wanted to hold his hand. To crawl into the bed beside him but he knew he couldn’t.

“Stay with you forever if you let me,” Eddie smiled back dopaly. 

“Easy there Romeo, calm it down,” Steve laughed. He really hoped the nurse wasn’t paying that much attention to what they were saying.

Over the next few days Steve spent as much time as he could with Eddie. Only being in his own room when either of them needed privacy for something or was receiving treatment. The doctors were very happy with how his wounds were healing and thought he could go home to continue to heal within a couple days. 

“What time is visiting?” Steve asked as he was finally being allowed home. “I want to be able to come and see Eddie,” he blushed. 

“10am until 5pm,” the nurse answered him as she gathered his paperwork together. He was given instructions on how to change his bandages, what movements he could make to help with his healing and what to avoid.

“They’ve released me Eds. I’m heading home. Nancy is coming to pick me up, I’ll be back tomorrow though okay,” Steve said, popping in to see Eddie before he left. 

“You don’t have to come back. Stay home and rest Stevie, you also need to heal and you’ve not got a lot of bed rest whilst you’ve been here,” Eddie argued. 

“I’ll be back in the morning,” he nodded, not leaving room for further argument. 

“Alright then,” Eddie smiled softly. “See you tomorrow.” 

The pet names and Eddie being over affectionate had stopped since his painkillers had been changed and he no longer spent his days high. Steve almost pouted about it every time, he missed them a lot. He was missing having Eddie on his own like he had for all that time in the Upside Down. He knew it was for the best but he still wanted to pout about it with Robin. Obviously she already knew about how close him and Eddie had got whilst in the Upside Down and trying to survive. 

Returning the next day Steve was walking through the foyer of the hospital when he saw them. Flowers and plants sitting outside a little gift shop, he walked over and took a look. Almost all the flowers were bright colours with a couple bunches of roses thrown in. None of these were particularly Eddie. He looked at the plants instead, maybe one of those would be better. These were boring and far too colourful but in the wrong way. Then he saw it, a tiny little succulent with purple stems leading into green leaves. It was small enough that he could get away with saying it was for a friend if needed but also something that he thought Eddie would like. Before he could think himself out of it he picked it up and brought it. 

Heading up to Eddie's room, he tried to hide it as best he could until he knew which nurse was looking after him today. He’d seen how a couple of the nurses looked at them whilst they sat close and talked. He wasn't bothered about people knowing he liked guys but he didn't want to give them anything else to talk about.  As soon as Steve turned to go into Eddie's room he noticed there wasn't a nurse in there. 

“Scared them all away finally ay Eds,” he teased as he walked into the room 

“You came back,” Eddie replied softly, a tone of disbelief in his voice. 

“Told you I would,” Steve smiled softly, walking over and taking the seat next to the bedside again. “Got you something,” He declared, taking the little plant out of its hiding place. “I thought the room could use some colour.” 

“My favourite colour! It’s cute, just like you,” Eddie smiled, taking the plant from the other and looking it all over before placing it on the locker beside his bed. 

The two sat close and whispered between themselves before the nurse got back from her break, when they reluctantly sat away from each other again. 

The days rolled by and Eddie got stronger and stronger. His blood work no longer showed signs of infection and he was able to start moving around without assistance. Walking was still an issue but he could transfer into a chair and back to his bed. The first time Steve walked into Eddie's room and saw him sat up in one of the patient chairs he could have cried. It was after this that the doctors and nurses started to talk about allowing Eddie to leave and have all of his physio treatment as an outpatient. 

“You will need somewhere to stay that's low profile. It also needs to have as few steps as possible up to it and no stairs that you have to go up or down to either sleep or go to the bathroom.”

“I can make that happen at mine, if you want that is?” Steve rushed to say before blushing. 

“Sounds like a good idea. I’m not surprised that the Harrington mansion has bedrooms downstairs,” Eddie laughed.

“Oh, it doesn’t. But I can turn my dads office into a bedroom for you,” Steve replied sheepishly, already thinking about what he would need to do to make this happen. 

“Okay then, as long as you’re both happy with the arrangement we can get things moving and get you out of here. You’re doing great Mr. Munson, all you need now is time and rest,” the nurse smiled as she left the room. 

“You, erm, sure about this?” Eddie asked nervously once the two were alone again.

“About what? You coming to live with me for as long as you want to? Yeah absolutely I’m sure, 100%. Never been more sure of anything in my life,” Steve grinned at the other before leaning forward and giving him a quick kiss on the lips. 

The look of surprise on Eddie’s face had Steve second guessing everything that had happened in the Upside Down. Had he misread everything and what they actually were having was a little bit of fun to make things bearable. Of course Eddie didn’t want anything now they were no longer trapped. He could go back to Indy and find whoever he wanted on a weekly basis. Why would he want some closest case that peaked in high school and had no hope of going anywhere outside of Hawkins. 

“I’m gonna go home I think,” Steve whispered into the deafening silence that felt like it was dragging on for hours. 

He grabbed his jacket and walked away, hoping the tears wouldn’t start falling until he was in his car.

“Please don’t,” Eddie replied, clearing his throat. “I wasn’t sure you’d still want me like that now we were out of there. My brain couldn’t comprehend the idea that the Steve Harrington wanted me.” 

“Why would I not?” Steve questioned, outraged. “I’m already more than half in love with your stupid reckless ass so.” 

“Oh yeah? Come back here and say that to my face then,” Eddie raised his eyebrow in a challenge. 

“And what if I do? Hmm, what are you going to do about it?” Steve asked with a teasing tone in his voice as he stepped back towards Eddie. “I want you Eddie. You’re reckless and do silly things when told not to but you’re also kind and funny, weirdly charming and I’m already more than half in love with you,” Steve breathed into the space between them. 

“It’s a good job I’m more than halfway in love with your perfect ass too then isn't it?” The other boy responded before leaning forward and capturing Steve’s lips with his own. 

The world seemed to stop still in that moment. This was by far not the first kiss they had both shared but seemed to be the most significant, this one tasted like hope. Not of comfort as those they shared in the Upside Down had but of hope that they were both going to be okay and of a future together. 

“Don’t mind me boys, I just heard they were talking about releasing Eddie,” Wayne said, interrupting the moment the two were having. 

“Wayne!” Eddie exclaimed, the grin on his face becoming impossibly wider. “Yes! I can go and stay with Steve because he has a big house with a whole bedroom downstairs and I won’t need to go up stairs for anything. Plus you’ll be really busy moving into the new place and starting your new job.” 

“Alright then, if that’s what you both want, who am I to stand in the way? Just remember that you’ve always got a place with me boy, as long as I’m alive you have a home okay?” He said, squeezing Eddie’s shoulder and his hand. “And Steve, he’s your problem now, you chose him.” 

“Don’t scare him off yet Uncle Wayne, I’ve only just got him,” Eddie sighed with a playful roll of his eyes. 

“Oh, I’m fully prepared for what a handful you’re going to be,” Steve laughed, poking the other boy in the cheek.

Eddie was released from hospital the following day with the instructions that he would be going back once a week to have physio. Steve was shown how to properly clean the wounds and dress them as well as what to look out for to make sure they were all healing nicely. 

Steve had done exactly what he said he would do and had converted his dads old office into a bedroom with the help of the party.

“Erm, the beds not the best, it's the one from the spare room. I didn’t think my parents' bed would fit in here with the new draws and wardrobe and things that will be coming in the next couple days.”

“Sweetheart you didn’t have to go through all this trouble for lil old me. I’d be perfectly fine on a pullout with a blanket and a throw pillow,” he responded, grabbing Steve and giving him a kiss.

“Those throw pillows are sacred Munson, no one rests a head on those,” Steve scoffed in reply before laughing. “It’s nothing, you need to be as comfortable as possible and I didn’t want you feeling rushed at all with your recovery. I want this to feel like home for you. I’ll give you a moment to settle in and let you have some time for yourself if you want? I’m going to go and cook us something to eat and we can go and sit outside with it if you want so you can get some fresh air.” 

“Yeah that sounds amazing, thank you,” he replied, smiling at Steve as he left the room.

Taking a seat on the bed Eddie took a moment to think about how much his life had changed in the last few weeks. Finding out that there was a whole different world below Hawkins, that the monsters he read about in his Dungeons and Dragons books actually existed was unbelievable. Coming so close to death, twice, and having a murder charge against him and then removed. But there was some good. He had a new appreciation for life and from the couple of chats that he and Steve had he had a boyfriend to live that life with. He didn’t want to keep Steve waiting for too long so he got up and left. Sitting in some fresh air really did sound like a good idea.

25 minutes later the two boys were sitting outside at the little patio table that the Harringtons had with plates full of pasta and meatballs with some garlic bread sat in front of them. 

“I’ve got some clothes that you can use for a while but as soon as you’re up for it we can head somewhere and fill your wardrobe backup. I’ve picked you up some basics like underwear and a couple sets of jeans and some t-shirts but that’s all I could get, sorry,” Steve spoke up almost suddenly. 

“It’s more than you needed to sweetheart, you’re amazing. Thank you for everything,” Eddie replied, taking Steve’s hand in his and giving it a slight squeeze. “Can we, erm, talk about that too? About us. Like what is this?” He gestured between the two of them. “I would very much like to call you my boyfriend but I understand if you’re not ready for that. If you want to see what else or who else is out there.”

“I want you and only you. I want a life with you Eddie, I understand that Hawkins will make this difficult for us but together we can get through it. We can see about moving out of this shitty town that’s been nothing but hell for us for years. I just want to be where you are.” 

“Sap,” Eddie smiled. Steve saw the tears in his eyes as he leaned forward for a kiss. “Lets eat though before this goes cold.” 

The rest of the evening was spent sitting outside under the stars laughing, joking, kissing and enjoying being free. Eddie yawning put a stop to the conversation and the two went inside.

“Good night then baby,” Steve said against Eddie’s lips as they kissed at Eddie’s bedroom door. 

“Yeah, like you’re going anywhere else other than into this room with me,” he replied, grabbing the other close by his hips and opening the door and pulling him inside. 

“Alright alright, I’m moving,” Steve giggled. “Be careful of your stitches and everything though.” 

Once they were in the bedroom and they spent a few more moments kissing and just touching each other in ways they had not been able to do before tonight. Neither boy being on death's door anymore meant that they could finally explore each other's bodies a little more than they were able to in the Upside Down. Kissing and undressing each other until they were both naked except for the bandages that they both wore. Nothing more was needed than just kissing and being close to each other. 

“You kept it,” Steve whispered, walking over to the plant that Eddie had set on the makeshift nightstand that had been made. 

“Of course I did sweetheart, you thought I’d get rid of it?” Eddie questioned, walking over to Steve and hugging him from behind. “Going to make sure it lives and keep it with me, just like I’m going to keep you if you’ll let me.” 

“Well I’m not letting you go either so I guess we’re stuck with each other,”  Steve laughed, turning around slightly to give the other man a kiss. “Let’s get you to bed though bambi, it's been a long day today and you must be exhausted.” 

As if on cue Eddie yawned. “That sounds like an amazing idea. Come cuddle with me until we’re asleep sweetheart? Like we’ve done before.” 

“Yeah, yeah lets curl up and sleep,” Steve replied, moving to get under the covers, reaching out his hands for Eddie to join him. 

The following days were filled with visits from the Party, minus Lucas who had taken up camp at Max’s bedside. Wayne stopped by a lot but was also really busy sorting out the new house, it quickly became apparent to him that he could have the biggest bedroom with the ensuite when he saw how close his boy and Steve were. 

Eddie regained more and more of his strength and barely spent a moment alone, Steve making sure that Eddie was doing as little as possible and resting as much as he could. 

Robin had taken Steve to the side, in a bathroom naturally, and had questioned him over everything that had happened since they spoke at the hospital. 

“Nurse Steve at my service once again?” Eddie joked as he sat at the breakfast bar in the kitchen one morning whilst Steve was sorting out fresh bandages. 

“How about I get a uniform to wear next time? Hmm?” Steve suggested. 

“Steady now big boy, we’re heading out for my physio soon, don't go talking like that or we won’t be going anywhere,” Eddie said playfully, pulling Steve towards him.

“And you almost tore a stitch last night so let’s keep everything pg13 yeah?” Steve smiled, kissing him lightly before stepping back and continuing to sort out the things needed. 

Eddie’s wounds were still healing, some weren’t healing as well as others, so they still had to be careful when their relationship took a physical turn a couple of weeks after Eddie got home. His twice weekly physico was also going really well. He was moving around the house a lot easier and the muscles that had been eaten away or had wasted from not being able to move much were growing back. He and Steve had been into Indy to restock his wardrobe and had made a stop at a shop that was known to sell books aimed at queer teens and young adults, Steve having thrown himself fully into learning the history of the LGBT community. They started to go out more and more around Hawkins as Eddie grew stronger and short outings no longer left him laid in bed for days afterwards like they had at first. 

The one thing they didn’t do was move Eddie’s, well theirs he supposed, bedroom out of the office. Steve had actually moved some of his things down into the room and they had made it more of a mix of both of them. Steve had enlisted the help of the Party to move everything that didn’t need to be in there out of there and into other rooms. Laying in bed one night they had even discussed a new colour scheme for the room. It was their room now, the first place they had made their own. 

“This should be your last bandage change bambi,” Steve shouted from their bedroom to Eddie in the living room a handful of weeks later. “Doctors said it’s all closed up now basically so as long as its dry when I take the old ones off this will be the last one.” 

“It’s about time!” Eddie shouted back, walking towards the kitchen “I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” 

“Ready to be seen now?” Steve spoke in a low tone from the doorway catching Eddie's attention. 

Turning around he was greeted with a sight he was sure he would never forget. Steve was standing there in a nurses outfit and a smirk on his face. He filled it out beautifully, yes it may have been a normal nurses outfit that was a little big on him but the sight was enough to render Eddie speechless. 

“Everything okay?” he asked in a voice filled with faux concern as he walked, no sauntered, into the kitchen and towards Eddie. “Feeling okay? Do I need to check your temperature?” 

“I don’t think things could be any more okay right now” Eddie replied breathlessly reaching out for his boyfriend. 

“Let’s get these changed and maybe I’ll let you take it off me,” he whispered before laying a few kisses on the metalheads neck in a spot that he knew made the other weak. 

And as if nothing had happened Steve stepped back and went about changing bandages, ignoring the fact that Eddie was hard as a rock between them. 

“And now for your treat,” he announced as he put all the rubbish in a bag and then into the bin. 

Turning around to leave the kitchen Steve opened up the dress and allowed it to fall off his shoulders, revealing a much sexier nurses dress that barely covered his ass and fit like a second skin. He was clearly wearing nothing underneath it. As he bent down, sticking his ass out, Eddie caught a glimpse of a butt plug nestled inside of his boyfriend. 

“Come here you, I need to get my hands on my treat,” Eddie growled as he followed. 

[jordanraye47]

Izzy headcanons that aren’t an entire fic🔥

Answers scam callers the best way possible “hi welcome to Pete’s roadkill pizzeria where yesterdays loss is todays sauce, how may o help you?” Like that’s her duty

Considering she’s a literal famous actor, she probably has a social media accounts, and even though she rarely posts, when she does, she’s on the damn edge of being canceled.

^ “damn getting arrested for no reason🔥 guess orangre really is the new black”

Speaking of spelling mistakes (no I don’t know how to spell organge), she has dyslexia.

She’s not th favourite kid we could all tell.

Regardless of how much she smiles normally, she can not for the life of her smile for pictures. So 90% of the time her pictures looks like an alien that hasn’t quite figured out where they are, or just a thumbs up.

Thst or that stupid Lin manuela (I think that’s his name) pose.

Speaks crazy many languages, including ASL

She has very good curls, just doesn’t care to take manage them (yes this is me being desperate for representation of girls with curly hair that doesn’t know how to mangene them)

That and the reason she wears the bathing cap is because chlorine FUCKS UP curly hair oh my gosh soaking from experience 🙏

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; Scarlett is her older sister.

dicorced nightgown porch cigarette mom and Texan truck motel dad that doesn’t give a shit what their kids do.

Always slightly thrown off when someone is nice to her bushes so used to Noah and Eva’s “mean love” or whatever you call it.

This girl did NOT have friends in school she BIT the other students

Favorite subject is art and sience (I have dyslexia you stuf don’t correct me)

So smart and also so stupid ^ “so what’s the square root of 589 iz?” “24.269.” “ok so do you think Pluto should be considered a planet?” “No of course not he’s a dog. Did you not watch Mickey Mouse”

“Parents got confused and chose daughter on anti-psychotics”

deadass i think her pshycosis is a genuine problem to her but it’s so easy to take it as a joke so she just goes along. (Read “artificial lawns” on AO3 by necrosys its very well explained there)

Has THE most vile t-shirts ever and she wears them in public with a pair of long ads jorts like she’d Adam sandler

Like these <33 - she lives on a farm it’s true she told me

She’s actually pretty funny she just can’t tell a joke without laughing at it herself

She is banned from the kitchen in every kitchen in the world

Izzy Cody and Duncan would be such a fucked up trio I’d love them

I got this from @kijosakka but she’s a really good braided us give her like 20 minutes.

Still has all her baby teeth in a jar

I wanna write some angsty ones so bad but I’m not putting you guys through all that.

I truly believe that Heather and Izzy used to be so good friends but after Heather got a teste of sweet popularity she didn’t hesitate to leave Izzy behind.

She has a secret room in her room

Snacks on yogurt and frozen fruit

She’s covered in freckles so badly like it’s top to toe

Can raise one eyebrow

her mother or herself are the only ones that cut her hair

^ and she has probably never been to a proper hairdresser

That’s all i have for today don’t forget to like and subscribe if you want morir epic content 🔥🔥

[drunkenpixie23]

HIIII I was wondering if you could write a Sally face fic of sal with a S/O That is struggling with sleep deprivation? If u cant I understand!!

have a good day/night!!! <33

-🫀

Sally Face x Sleep Deprived reader

Requests: open

Warnings: none <3

(I hope this is what you meant, if not, let me know and I can always re-write it :>)

(Art is not mine)

Sleep. You really needed it but with so much school work on your desk, you didn’t have time for it. Especially in the last few days and it was clearly showing. Not only did your partner comment on it but a few of your friends did too. Even Larry said that you looked like a walking corpse and that coming from someone who rarely notices shit, wasn’t a good sign whatsoever.

It wasn’t long before your partner came in, Sally Face. He raised an eyebrow from under his prosthetic as he watched you focus on the paper that was set in front of you, he chuckled quietly at your concentrated yet tired expression, “hey hun, you’ve been at this for a while now. Don’t you think it’s time you got some sleep?” he asked, beginning to approach you and placed a hand down on your shoulder gently.

You jolted slightly at the sudden touch and your attention was drawn to the male, a small smile graced your lips before you rubbed your eyes and shook your head, “this is far more important than sleep Sal, this is for that test I need to pass if I want to get into university,” you sighed, glancing back down to the paper and went back to working on it.

Your boyfriend frowned a little before looking down at the paper, the writing was messy and it also seemed to take you a while to write anything as well. He sighed then glanced to your face, studying over how you looked. You hadn’t slept for days, your eyes were quite red, you were pale, your eyes barely focused on anything and bags were beginning to show. Sal gently placed a hand over the paper and tilted his head, “you haven’t slept in days, come on, get some rest. If need be, I’ll come lay down with you, yeah?” his tone was soft as he spoke to you.

You stared up at him before nodding, standing to your feet and yawning quietly as you did so, “I’m only resting for a few minutes, nothing longer, got it?” you laughed weakly after you spoke, your eyes being set upon the male you loved. Sal chuckled then rolled his eye playfully, nodding not long after, “sure..now come on,” he gently nudged you in the direction of the bed that wasn’t far away from your desk.

You nudged him back before getting atop of the bed, laying backwards and sighing contently. You turned your head not long after, watching as Sal removed his prosthetic then laid down beside you, “hello there handsome,” you spoke sweetly, cupping the males cheek before placing a soft kiss upon his forehead. He smiled, a small blush appearing across his cheeks, “ok..go on, rest your eyes. I’ll wake you up in a bit,” he nodded as he spoke. It was obvious he was not going to do that as he could tell you hadn’t slept in ages but he said it to make you feel better about sleeping for a while.

It wasn’t long before you shut your eyes, that you fell asleep, wrapping your arms loosely around Sal as you did so and sighed faintly. The blue haired male held you close, running his fingers through your hair gently.

[mikisspeak]

When you’re ready

Summary: Transmasc! Reader feeling exposed and insecure during sex when their S/O takes their binder away.

“When you’re ready we’ll continue.”

Cw: Reader hasn’t done top surgery, sex (not too explicit), pet names, just fluffy sex.

MDNI

Insecure!Transmasc! Reader x Shanks, Rosinante.

A/N: This are more like an scenario than a whole sex round fic, so sorry if it’s short, ‘m not used to write too much but I’m trying.

Rosinante (LOVE THIS MAN SM)

-The moment got heated. Between kisses and soft whimpers Corazon ended up on top of you, kissing your lips as he helped you get rid of your clothes.

The moment came and eagerly tried to get rid of your binder. Your eyes snapped open and you pulled him away, crawling back in shock and with your binder half undone.

He looked at your expression and understood it. Looking down and crawling on the bed to you, testing the waters by stretching his arm to your hand and caressing it with an almost non-existing touch like asking for permission to touch you.

“It’s ok..I’m so sorry, i should’ve asked first.” He whispered sweetly, and once you gave him a look in approval to touch you he moved to hug you and cover your half exposed chest with his feather coat.

“I’m sorry too, i think i ruined the moment…” You said sadly as your hands gripped each side of the coat to keep your chest covered.

“Such a non-sense, when you’re ready we’ll continue, pretty..” He reassured you, holding you closer to his big body and wrapping his arms around your waist.

Once you gave him the ok to continue his hands were up to your binder, you breath in and out when he started pulling it off. He kissed your lips so softly and passionately so you wouldn’t feel so bad at the missing pressure that usually felt in your chest.

“There we go..I’ll make you feel good tonight, my love. I love you so much.” He whispered on your ear, kissing your ear shell so sweetly, how could you deny?

He was the most sweetest angel the rest of the night..Making you feel so good that you didn’t even thought on your forgotten binder, now on the floor of the room as the loving sound of skin clapping filled the room.

Shanks(Goofy old man)

Things between you and Shanks were going really good so why not try to have something more intimate? It started with wet kisses all over your neck as he slipped your shirt out of you, letting it hang from your shoulders as he gave a look at you as if you were a master piece, then, he took off your binder slowly while kissing you. When you looked down and saw your exposed chest you panicked a little and Shanks noticed this, pulling away and letting you have space.

“When you’re ready, we’ll continue. Don’t pressure yourself.”

“I-i want to, i just need..Time..”

He nodded with a slight smile, and sat at your side, being sure not to touch your chest by any reason, then kissed your forehead and mumbled an “I’ll be back” and stood up to walk out of the room.

Your first thought by the state you were in was that he just wanted to get a break from your dramatic attitude, and small tears threatened to appear on your eyes at the thought. But, to your surprise, he came with a small glass of water, handing it to you with a smile and carefully sitting back at your side.

A few minutes later you were feeling better and didn’t wanted to ruin the horny mood, so when you gave the “ok” to Shanks he made love to you in the sweetest way you could’ve ever felt before with anyone else. Leaving the binder on in all the act. He wanted to fuck you for who you were, not for what you had and what not.

[mara-and-its-the-same]

There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort 🌷: maybe a study session turned cuddle with tasm peter parker?

I don't know if you were expecting science but I just cannot. So r has a test on Othello and yeah, it's cute, I like it. thank you for requesting <3 I had fun writing it

WC: 910 (yay my first blurb under 1000 words, improvement)

The very second you sat back down at your desk, half convinced you’re focused enough from another session of pacing around your room, the buzzer went off. You’d almost be annoyed but you didn’t have the time with the half second it took you to realize it had to be Peter. Any other day you’d run over to the door, but today the exhaustion was getting to you. Settling for a rushed walk instead, you leaned down to speak into the little microphone. “Come on up, bugboy.”

“Actually,” you nearly screamed at the voice from outside your half open window. You had your hand over your heart and your back leaning on the wall while Peter watched, hanging upside down with that stupidly adorable smile. “Spiders are arachnids, not bugs.” He lowered himself to the floor and pulled the web down from your fire escape and you practically ran to open the window the rest of the way. You didn’t give him the chance to duck under the window on his own with the way you pulled him down with a hand to the back of his neck. He had to hold himself up with one hand on the sill and the other on the wrist of your hand in his hair. The kiss itself was much gentler than the way you wrapped him into it, but he was alright with that, though with how much he missed you he wouldn’t have minded more. “I haven’t seen you all day.”

“I know, it’s been too long.”

“Mhm, 12 whole hours, basically eternity.”

“If I remember correctly, it’s been 13.”

“Probably right,” he nudged you back a bit so he could climb in and shut the window without turning from you. “And how many of those did you sleep?”

“Hm,” you clicked your tongue while thinking of the best answer that wouldn’t get you sent to bed immediately, but decided the truth was enough. “Um, 5?” Wrong answer, you could see it on his face. “And a half, 5 and a half.”

“And what were you doing all the other 7.5?”

“I don’t know what it is about this essay but I can’t get it right.” You dropped your face into his shoulder and he tried scratching at the back of your neck in an attempt to comfort you.

“For your lit class? When’s it due?”

“That’s the thing,” you rested your chin on his chest and looked up at him with pleading eyes, not really knowing what you were asking for. “I’m just writing it as a practice for my exam, it’s in two days and if I can’t answer the essay question, what’s the point?”

“She gave you the essay question?”

“Yeah. Well, it’s just to analyze a scene and talk about what it means and blah blah blah whatever,” you talked while he pulled you into your room. “But I can’t focus and it’s like my eyeballs want me to fail.”

You stood behind him while he looked over your desk of loose index cards, open binders and notebooks with margins overrun with scribbles, and of course the half written essay on your laptop.

“You wanna sit down and I’ll quiz you on it? So you don’t have to strain your eyes anymore?” He started picking up the notecards before you even answered, just to organize for you if nothing else. You listened and sat on your bed with your back against the wall. 

“Yeah, that’s ok.”

“Good, ok, yeah. These ones?” He held up the colorful neon flash cards. 

“Mhm, Othello.”

Peter hasn’t even thought of Shakespeare since Macbeth senior year. Too wrapped up in more scientific studies and uh, spiderman-ing. But he’d do it for you. 

Three-quarters of the way through the set he could see your breath evening out and your eyes fluttering. 

“Here, lay down,” he guided you forward by the shoulder. 

“Hm?” 

“I’ll read to you.” He slid in behind you on the bed and pulled the blankets over both of you. 

“You don’t have your glasses.”

“I’ll manage,” he reached over to grab the book off the table then relaxed back down to pull you to his chest. 

“You’ll strain your eyes.” As if he didn’t arrive by swinging from building to building, that’s the danger you were worried about. 

“I’ll manage.” 

Your head was on his chest and he read over your shoulder. 

“Start here,” you pointed to the section your essay was focused on, half way through a passage. 

“She gave me for my pains a world of sighs: She swore, in faith, ‘twas strange, 'twas passing strange, 'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful: She wish'd she had not heard it, yet she wish'd That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd me, And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her, I should but teach him how to tell my story. And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake: She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd, And I loved her that she did pity them. This only is the witchcraft I have used: Here comes the lady; let her witness it.”

He looked down at you to find you sleeping, happy that you finally found a moment’s rest. He kissed your forehead, wherever he could reach. “I love you.” He wasn’t even sure you could hear, but he needed you to know anyway. 

“I love you,” you mumbled into his chest.

[risewriter]

Can you write a story of ROTTMNT: Bubble Bath for Raphael and Michael?

ROTTMNT: Bubbles

Tot Mikey rushes to Raphael with two towels in hand.

“Raphie, Raphie!” The box shell throws the towel in his big brother’s face. “It's bath time! You coming?”

“Yeah!” Though, as he takes hold of the towel, he can’t stop his hand from shaking. “Y-Yeah..”

“Raphie?” Michael bends down in front of the couch. “Are you ok?”

“Y-Yeah! Let’s go.” With a twitch in his smile, the two head to the bathroom. However, the nervous look on Raph’s face didn’t fade.

“Raphie?” Mikey trots beside his brother, eyeing the towel the little turtle gave being squeezed. “Do you not like that towel?”

He then steps in front of the snapping turtle, spreading his towel with little duckies on it.

“Do you want mine instead?”

Raph sighs, casting his gaze on the wall.

“It’s not the towel.”

“Oh..” Feeling a tad disappointed by his misjudgment, Mikey hides himself behind the towel.

With an uncomfortable silence, they let the bathtub fill with water.

Noticing his big brother getting stiffer and stiffer with each drop into the tub, it clicked in the little turtle’s mind.

“Oh! It’s the water?”

With a full body jolt, Raph’s movements become almost robotic. He turns his head slowly.

“O-Of course not! We’re turtles! Being scared of water is not possible! And stupid! And-“

Mikey’s piercing gaze cuts the lies short.

“And.. I’m scared of water, alright?! Happy?!” With a grumble, the big turtle plops down in front of the tub.

Mikey tilts his head “Why?” Is all he could think of to ask.

The big turtle deflates. “Remember swimming lessons with dad?”

“Yeah?”

“Leo pushed me underwater for a few seconds. I forgot to hold my breath and-“ Raph brings his knees in close hugging them to his chest. “I thought I was gonna drown.”

“Oh.” The small turtle looks back and forth between his big brother and the tub. “But this is a tub, Raphie! Not sewers!”

The snapping turtle lets out a pitiful laugh.

Raph shakes his head “It doesn’t matter, it’s still water.”

“Fine! I’ll show you!” The orange turtle grips Raphael’s wrist and pulls him upright. Testing the water, Mikey leans forward to close the faucet and jumps in the tub.

“See? Safe!” Michael smiles brightly. “Your turn!” He pets the surface of the water.

“I.. I can’t. What if I drown for real? Splinter isn’t here to help.” Raphael rubs the side of his arm.

An idea strikes the little tot. “Oh! I know!” Rummaging to the supplies for the bath, Mikey pulls out a bottle and adds it to the water. “Bubbles!” He keeps kneading the bottle. “More! More!”

“Whoa, buddy!” Wanting to take the bottle from Michael’s hands, he’s met with a cheeky grin. The orange turtle releases the bottle and grips his big brother’s wrist instead.

“Wah!!” With a mighty pull, Raph crashes into the bath with a loud sploosh.

“MIKEY!” He yells when he resurfaces. “I told you not to-!“

“Hehe~!” Like a shark peeking above the surface, Mikey stares at Raph.

“Why are you looking at me like that.” Raphael shoots back a disgruntled glance.

The box shell stands upright in the tub, pointing victorious at his brother.

“You’re in the water and not drowning!” Letting his hands rest on his sides, he huffs proudly with his chin to the sky. “You’re welcome!”

“Pfft!” Raphael snorts. “Ok, ok, you did it. You got me.”

“And look!” Mikey dives underwater for five seconds. With a big splash, he comes back up. Neither Raph nor the floor was spared from the flood of water that came with him.

“I teach ya how to hold breath now~!”

Raphael’s voice changes to a higher pitch. “Yeah, maaaaybe next time?” He snickers sheepishly.

“Okay! I’ll show ya a few more times!” A sparkle of confidence appears in Mikey’s eyes.

“Thanks, Mike.”

[yami-yomiel]

Hey gang im dropping my gay NMHs oc/self insert - i’ll dump the info i wrote about them on discord under the read moar -

Ok hey yyyy im gonna conceptualize the bio for my NMHs insert woooooo

“mid 20s college drop out; probably works as a cashier at some food chain - decent pay check i guess. Mama’s boy who def is a suck up and a pushover or something. How he got into UAA - my guess is as good as yours but i DEF thing he did it just because ‘i was bored, had nothing better to do, and i’ve got tons of time to kill’. Bro put his name down as ‘Big O’ and expects people to take him seriously 🙏 - no one does because he’s a CLoWN.”

”Personality wise; i’ve got like two , and i’m thinking it can be both if i know how to do it - One is the travis fanboy who is VERY much into getting offed by him because ‘it’s like a romantic horror movie!’ - and the 2nd is a whole tsundere, they like Trav a lot but acts like he doesn’t so he’s not called gay by the other assassins[this is a hj but there is some.. kind of queer undertones I MEAN HES’ A GUY WITH ACRUSH ON ANOTHER GUY IS THIS NOT GAY??]”

I took a test as to like, what type of dere i was - for like research, apprently i’m a kuudere so i guess i’ll use that to write his character ^^;

however i do that..

btw; caption for the 2nd image is and i quote: ”hey hot stuff, why doncha ditch those home videos and make our own xoxo”

I hate travis touchdown - imma touch him down like that football guy said he would.

[roseytoesy]

frick dude I’m brainrotting so bad…twst has my whole heart and my vore brain demands I write things for some characters… sorry not sorry if this makes no sense. It’s brain vomit.

Azul: “oh you want to make a deal?… o-oh a-are you sure about that? You’re sure you want that?? W-well a deals a deal… come on in?”

gulp! Gulp-

“a-ah! Please stop squirming so much! I-it feels… weird. are you alright?… what an odd human you are. Wishing to be in the belly of a monster- hey! stop hitting me! I get it I won’t call myself a monster! Please be gentle in there…” “you we’re surprisingly tasty and I will admit the weight you provided in my core was very pleasant… perhaps we could do this deal again?”

Floyd: “ne~ shrimpy wants to play? What are we playing? Oh? Hehe you wanna play in my belly? Sure just know I love to play with my food~”

slurp! Glurk! Gulp! Glk!

“Ahhh! Hmmmmm, shrimpys so tasty! Yummy yummy in my tummy! And your little squirms feel so nice. All mine, my little tasty squishy snacky! Hehehe that tickles! Urp”

“I liked squeezing you so close shrimpy! Made you all mine for a bit~ gonna haveta do this more often <3”

Jade: “oh is there something you wish to ask of me prefect? Oya? I’m sorry I must have bad saltwater in my ear. Mind repeating yourself? Fufufu~ I’ll be more than happy to fulfill your little request. On the house. I was in need of a snack anyway. Now come here my little morsel~”

slurp. Gulp! Glurk, gln

“Rrrp. Pardon me. You ok in there snack? Hmmmm. Yes do so keep wiggling, it feels wonderful. I’m sure azul won’t mind me taking my break a bit early tonight. It’s not often I get to indulge in such a tasty meal. A going to have to be careful you don’t fatten me up with how sweet you tasted. Fufufu~ I’m only joking. Wouldn’t want the headmaster to expel me. Relax prefect you’re fine I’ll release you in a few hours. I’m just having a bit of fun with my food. Oof! Hmmm yes always such fun reactions.”

“thank you for dining with us tonight prefect. Do come back soon. Fufufu. I look forward to some taste testing in the future~”

Jamil: “hmmm? Is there something you need from me perfect? Y-you what?! Let me get this straight, you want me to swallow you whole? But why? Ok, ok. You’re so weird.”

gulp! glrn

“I-urp, excuse me, please don’t move much in there… it’s, I don’t even know how to describe it. Just please don’t move. I have other things to do, yes other chores... I’ll let you out when you’re ready I guess.”

“I’ll never understand why you would want something like that, but lucky for you I won’t ask anymore. Your taste is quite divine, I might want to indulge in this in the future if your still willing~”

Kalim: “hi prefect! How are you today! Huh you want to ask me something of course go ahead! Huh?! Sorry I thought you asked me to eat you. Y-you did…. Uhhhhh, I mean… well yes I could I just don’t-I don’t want you to get hurt. Promise me you’ll tell me if anything goes wrong ok?”

glup! gulp!

“Oh wow, that tickles! Brup! Sorry about that. You ok in there? Oh that’s great to hear! What’s it like? Is it weird? I imagine it’s all dark, sorry I can’t help with that part. Hehe, glad you’re having fun in there. I do have to admire it feels rather nice! Thank you for letting me help you and letting me experience something so different and new!”

“glad you’re alright! Hey! Maybe we can go flying next time to see if it feels any different! Or add some spices onto your skin- what do you mean thats weird? It will be fine as long as Jamil doesn’t find out!”

[vodid]

I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS IF YOU DONT MIND—

How many words do you currently have on your next chapter of Vulnerability? If you’ve started it, of course, life can get rough sometime •~•

What inspired you to make your Vulnerability and The Obsidian King fanfictions? Personal experiences or seeing some other people doing some romantic stuff or maybe another fanfiction?

What’s the best part of writing these two stories? Developing the world, the actual characters, the romance?

What are your current favorite scenes in The Obsidian King fanfiction? Mine is when Prowl requests Jazz at that festival thing to welcome Prowl as king to play a piece that Jazz wrote himself. OH and when Prowl and Jazz stole sweets, that was really cute and adorable and omg I love them so much

Was there anything like really really big that you had to research for your two books that took awhile and maybe frustrated you a bit trying to figure out how to write that one scene or chapter?

Will you ever have a full cover design for your two fanfictions? I find it really interesting and cool when fanfiction writers put a cover at the beginning of their fanfiction as if it’s a real book! Of course if you’re never going to do that, it’s cool, I love all your fanart of them anyways and will just fan over it!

Where do you like to write? Like, in your bedroom, library, coffee shop? I personally like to write in my bedroom, all snuggled up and cozy. Except when I end up getting distracted by something in my room that takes me away from my story for a good 20 minutes or so -~-

LAST QUESTION I have so many, but a few of these are pretty big questions to answer so I’ll just send some more some other time ^-^

How does it feel knowing that people all around the world are reading your fanfictions and connecting with your story? Like, Vulnerability has 316 kudos and 4340 hits, and your Obsidian King fanfiction has 151 kudos and 1959 hits. Like- that’s a lot of people man, so how does that feel knowing you are pretty popular in terms of fanart and fanfiction writing?

WAH HELLO HSDGFHSDFS anon coming in clutch with these questions ok ok oh boy here we go. long ask, long answer \o/

currently, i'm at about 1.4k words. a big portion of that is the beginning/setup of the chapter and the rest is lots of dialogue. the average word count for the chapters seems to land above 6.5k words (ch2 was over 8k!) and since this chapter is probably going to be the most important of the entire fic, it may come out to be way more 🤔 we shall see

the obsidian king was purely because ppl kept getting curious if there was a fic, which made me think about it and it got me writing <3 it's not my proudest piece but i've had fun making it! it's an expansive universe and i'm afraid i may have bitten off more than i could chew and without the right prep, so i've lost a lot of confidence for it unfortunately

vulnerability on the other hand came after i binged the biggest blitzbee fics (such as roe, omtop, showstoppers). i told myself i probably wouldn't end up writing a fic for them but a good scene eventually occurred to me and i went with it. the more i fleshed out the setting, the more i realized how much i wanted to explore the raw concept of their ship that appears in many of their longfics. i wanted to dig into and challenge the typical "enemies in a life-or-death situation they must help each other get out of and end up in a secret relationship until blitzwing leaves the decepticons" — not because i didn't like that dynamic (are you kidding me i ADORE it) but because — copying and pasting an ao3 reply of mine — i wanted to take that and put my own huge spin to it. i wanted their growth to happen willingly and not out of necessity. a test to see, can this ship happen without a dire situation they're stuck in while staying true to their core characterizations? basically, is there a pattern to this ship for a reason or can it realistically work outside of that? it's been very fun :)

favorite thing about writing obkau is just all the idiots in love scenes. had me kicking my feet and smiling like a goof writing all that. the romance may be quick in that fic (speedrun!) but its for the shits n giggles n blushes — and on that note, my favorite scene also has to be the kitchen raid or perhaps the first time they were in the crystal gardens together :)

a lot of the research that's gone into obkau was more so for the au rather than the fic itself. things about crystals and their healing properties, names for ocs, city-states, lore doors to the lore mansion that needed a lore key to unlock, only obtainable through giant rants with my buddy mag until something clicks.

now, vulnerability is The Fic where the past 3 years of practice have been coming together and finally paying off. a lot of that practice was put into jazzprowl fics that unfortunately never made it out of my wips just yet, but they caused the many hours and days i spent studying plots, characterizations, natural and unique character dialogue, hidden details that circle back around... and that brings me to the next question: research! oh man...

i've brought up that i used suna_scribble's writing advice for reference, so i'll skip that part. that research did take me about a full month to look through and apply to my fic's plot, and i continued to develop it as time went on but it didn't particularly frustrate me. it did get tedious at times having to get certain points and details to come together but it was more of a fun challenge if anything. so along with that, in between chapters, i'd spend a couple weeks (legit hours a day straight) researching bpd for blitzwing. mounds and mounds of research. i looked at clinical sites, personal blogs of those with bpd, reddit/quora for outside (albeit very stigmatized but still important) perspectives, and admittedly, i glanced at fanfics to see how it was portrayed there (while still remaining critical of any inaccuracies). it is difficult to write an experience i've never had so figuring out that aspect probably took the most amount of effort to get through — and i'm still working on it! as the fic goes on, i hope for a better and more realistic portrayal of blitzwing's bpd, as it's pretty much become the driving force of the story and his character development

also i'm sure if anyone's been closely following my blog, they'd know i started learning german solely for the fact that i was trying to find a simple german phrase for blitzwing to say in my fic. and i now use my lil studies to sprinkle some more german into blitzwing's dialogue :)

i've thought about covers, mostly for one of the j/p wips i mentioned earlier, but not so much obkau or vulnerability. HOWEVER, i have thought of inserting illustrations into the obsidian king for certain scenes. like in between paragraphs or at the very end of a chapter. i never got around to exploring that more but with vulnerability, it could be a possibility too (i did make that comic but thats not something i'd insert in the fic itself)

i don't have many options for places to write but i've tried a good few spots. where i end up most is in the basement (basically our family room) with a bird video on for my cat. i've had a hard time writing in my bedroom and at places not my house (except back in high school, i would write ALL the time when i had the chance — if i wasn't already busy reading fic) but i once sat outside with my phone when it was drizzling and wrote out a good portion of chapter 1 for vulnerability. never been able to replicate that tho besides once bringing my laptop out on a sunny day. few times, i've done some writing in bed, typically before sleep, but most of it was reading over what i had already written and making small edits since i prefer to use my laptop for writing (felt that about the distraction tho lol guess in a way, it's easier to get distracted on my phone than my laptop)

in all honesty, those numbers pale in comparison to what my art and my old old writing back on ffn (no i am NOT showing you.) garnered (as well as other tf fics), but regardless of that, those are pretty big numbers and it will always feel weird if i think too hard about it. weird in a good way. it's easy to think of kudos and hits as just numbers but those are, in fact, people. individual people who decided to give your work a shot and drop a lil heart on it. out of the millions of things they could have possibly chosen, they chose yours.

call me humble, call me oblivious, but i really am not fully aware of my influence in the fandom. i don't know how i impact others, how many truly know me and like my work, how many find me to be cool or famous in our little corner of the world, how most even perceive me, and i certainly don't know the effects of my writing. i'm just a guy making art of stupid little gays and y'all are hitching a ride

feel free to ask more :)

[twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat]

MICKEY ☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

my angel my mickey my sweet pea FIRST OF ALLLLLLLLLLLL never ever ever apologize for taking the time u need to read my fics or respond to them etc etc i will Bite u . no apologies permitted in ariland OR loserville don’t test me ok ……. or else i’ll have no choice but to suffocate u w smooches LIKEEE you have no idea !!!! how much it means to me !!! that you took the time to read such a long fic and RESPOND to it?????? so thoroughly and sweetly too?????? u are not allowed to apologize ever i’m literally on my hands and knees worshipping u as we speak TYSM FOR UR TIME :(((((( ily did u know? did u know i’m hugging u as we speak ????

ok but . we have some things to Discuss i just need u to know how much this means to me T_T how much YOU mean to me …. i couldn’t have written this w/o u truly sincerely and reading this literally made my whole month/year/life it filled me w enough joy & love to fill a whole sea!!!!!! i loveeeee hearing ur thoughts seeing ur reactions like it’s my favorite thing ever ever ever. i’m giving u a fat forehead kiss + wrapping u up in a blanket + getting a ladder so i can bring u all the stars in the sky my sweet husband my lovely sunflower the light of my life (<- i just drank three cups of coffee in a row so i fear i have no control over what i do or say anymore sorry in advance if all my love for u ends up spilling out and flooding the whole website i can’t help it ok 😥)

ari/mickey hivemind goes crazy likee yessss make the king a real fucking piece of shit!!! yeah yeah yeah!!!!! ari do you think we should send our father to therapy yes or yes?

ARIMICKEY AND OUR DADDY ISSUES AGAINST THE WORLD FRRRR the king HAS to be a piece of shit it’s the law actually . imagine being a good kind fatherly king lolllll could never be in our fics where’s the fun in that smh..

WAITTTT HAHSAHSHASHGHAHHA THE READER CALLING THEIR KIDNAPPER HOT WTF THEY'RE LITERALLY MEEEE EEEE THAT'S SO FUCKING FUNNY GUSHING OVER HIS SCAR AND HIS BICEPS BRO I'VE NEVER FELT MORE SEEN THAN I DO RIGHT NOW TOJI MENTION TOJI MENTION WAITTTT JASHASFAHGSHAGSHA I DIDN'T THINK THE KIDNAPPER WOULD BE TOJI EHEHEHHEHE STOPPP THIS IS SO FUNNY I MIGHT BE A LITTLE STUPID FOR NOT THINKING THAT EARLIER BUT HEHHEH

TOJI MENTIONNNNNN i was so excited to see ur reaction to it phdkdjfjf 😭😭 snuck him in just for u and kairo i have to feed the fellow dilf lovers AND YES READER IS UNHINGED SO REAL OF THEMMM they have a thing for biceps i think i made that pretty clear in the fic tho …….

i just feel like toji was probably a little flirty a little teasing trying to sneak reader out and they were too busy oogling him to be scared <333 remember that they have daddy issues too are they supposed to see a hot mean dilf and NOT be a little enamored ?? 🤨🤨🤨 ofc not they’re just like us fr <33

and he's so charming it hurts but you KNOW it really is that sort of dangerous charm, the lying type, the masking type -  the type to attack when you least expect it

U GET ITTTTTT i also think ur so real when u say he Doesn’t Bite LIKE YES EXACTLY he’s smiling one second and biting the next… he’s unpredictable yk ?? makes him scary scary scaryyy but he would never bite unless he found it necessary he’s a little shit but he does in fact have a crippling hero complex <333 cares a little too much abt justice for his own good <3333

YEAHHHHH THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUTTTTT okay no i need to say it again.... i love him. and i love how you write him ari. he's never felt more alive than he is in everything you write. it feels like you literally know him, he feels so real.

mickeyyyyy :((((((((((((((((( sniffle sniffle sob u are always so so kind it makes me wanna cry all the time u alr know i care abt ur approval a whole lot and ur SUGU approval ???? it’s worth all the stars in the sky <333 knowing that u think he feels alive in my fics is literally the greatest compliment ever i’m kissing u kissing u kissing u <3333 i do in fact know him personally i took a picture of us actually here we are :33

ARIIIIIIIIII EEEEEEEEEEEE THIS READER IS SOOOOOO MWAH MWAH MWAHH I LOVE THEMM WE'RE HOLDING HANDSS THEY'RE DOING THE BARKING WHILE SUGU IS DOING THE BITING IT'S THE DREAM DYNAMIC 

HEHEHE U GET ITTTTTT gnf who Barks x bf who Bites <3333 our beloved doggies I’M SOOOO HAPPY U LOVE THIS READER BTW they’re the cutest brat ever to me :< all bark and maybe a lil bit of bite but they’re gentle it’s rlly more like gnawing. they’re a gnawer.

😐😐😐😐😐😐don't even have to read the next part to know what's coming.......................... oh sweetie.... oh you poor thing.... can't underestimate suguru like that...... he's literally the best guy around AND HE BROUGHT THEM A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHINGGG WHAT DID I SAYYYYYY ARI I'M GONNA RIP MY HAIR OUT I'M GONNA BE BALD BY THE END OF THIS YOU'RE INSANE ARI N SUGU IS A FUCKING CRAZY DUO WE CANNOT HAVE THE TWO OF YOU TOGETHER THEY'RE GONNA GIVE US ALL HEART BURNN

HELPPPO THE WAY U JUST KNEW NOTHING GETS PAST MICKEY FR 😭😭😭😭 laughed so loud at ur mental breakdown right after this like YES he is in fact the sexiest man on the planet <333 a knight, a wolf AND a homemaker <333333 i need to eat him alive

i'm sorry to bring up my prince!gojo again but i just keep thinking about him too yk.... how the royalties just want people to call them by their name.... to feel NORMAL for once aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

FEEL FREE TO MENTION UR BLORBOS ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS I LOVE THINKING ABT THEM AND COMPARING THEM it feels like we’re six years old and playing w our dolls <333 making up backstories for them <3333 but mickey we are connected always like . the inherent intimacy of a name …… i alr know that u get what im talking abt i don’t even need to explain. ohhhh to be seen as a person and not a concept ….. to be seen as an equal even though u were born in a castle so far from the ground and its people ………. 😔😔

the little lamb who feels the innate need to be mean, to act tough in order to live. what if i jump of a bridge ari hm i am in a desperate need of a refreshing little swim i'll be fine in a few years (what if i also say....... my knight!reader........................................)(but they had to sow the wolf's hide onto themselves while your royalty!reader will most likely be able to leave it behind or atleast throw it aside for the time being)(sigh)

OHHHHH MICKEY MY MICKEY THE WAY U ALWAYS MAKE ME WANNA BITE MY DESK UNTIL IT BREAKS that’s very oddly specific my desk has been annoying me lately maybe that’s why……. (<- REMINDER! this individual drank three cups of coffee in a row and doesn’t rlly know what they’re saying anymore) THIS MADE ME ILLLLL u get it!!!!! acting tough in order to survive!!!! it really is a coping mechanism to them :(( their life is just so suffocating. they have to make it fun somehow.

and ohhhh u alr know how much i love comparing my little dolls to ur lovely knight <333 BUT in this case !!!!! reader’s identity crisis is a lil more complex than u might think hehehe i’m so eager to share my thoughts w u i’m rubbing my hands together …. >:33

my baseline for knight!sugu and brat!reader is that sugu is a wolf inside a knight’s hide (or a dog’s hide!! or a lamb’s hide !!! all of them work bc i very much picture knights as domesticated creatures… they’re supposed to follow orders. basically attack dogs, guard dogs, born to herd sheep or to kill foxes….. just the usual…… (symbolism intensifies)) while reader is . a fox ….. forced into a lamb’s hide …… who crawls inside a wolf’s hide to Deal with it . at their core they’re a little fox <333 but they’re forced to behave as a lamb and so they rebel by acting like a wolf. and in this particular scene sugu still thinks they’re just a lamb — meaning he’s only seen through one of the hides !! hehehe i spent soooo much time thinking abt this hoping i’d get to tell u :333

and !!! so !!!!! basically !!!!!!!!! i picture it like this: knight!reader is forced to sow the wolf’s hide onto themselves, unable to get rid of it, unwilling to get rid of it — and brat!reader, rather than throwing their hides away, will eventually come to a point where they’re comfortable living inside of them. they’ll still act wolfy, still get treated a bit like a lamb, but they’ll have suguru there to see through them every single time and that’s enough for them!! as long as one person sees the fox, they don’t really care what anyone else thinks. and foxes are sneaky yk?? probably enjoy a good ol masquerade or two <333 those are my thoughts hehe i thought abt ur knight!reader a lotttt while writing this btw !!! it wasn’t intentional but i do kinda feel like brat!reader turned into knight!reader & prince!toru’s lovechild 😭😭 w a mixture of their own lil traits (as i was writing this fic i also came to the conclusion that they’re literally just teen gojo??? a soft brat <333 love them both so dearly)

him having a moment there omfg what if he also had a dream???? i mean why else would he have this little huh? moment right????? fuck i think i'm reaching lmao LET ME BEEE OKAY

I GIGGLED MISCHIEVOUSLY i can’t believe u called it ….. here is a special treat for my lil detective 🍬

CAR CRASH SOUNDS WEEEEWOOOOWEEEEWOO SOMEBODY CALL THE AMULANCE WEEWOO BEEEEEP BEEEP AND THE POLICE OH MY GOD IT'S GONNA BLOW EVERYBODY GET AWAY FROM THE CAR AAAAAAOOIUGHHHHHHH STATIC NOISE BEEEP HOSPITAL SOUNDS HEART MONITOR GOING AN EVEN LOUDER BEEEEEEEEEEP i died

mickey have i mentioned that u make me so happy i feel like my heart is abt to burst <333 U SILLY LITTLE GOOSE IM PICKING U UP AND COVERING U IN KISSES every time ur font goes all big i start giggling it’s like ur my own personal jester <3333 mwah mwah i am bringing u back to life immediately

suguru speaking so calmly, so smoothly while staring at them. taking in every little twitch, every little footstep, every little huff with a smile on his face i'm so fucking dead the reader feeling Seen and it just scaring the livining fuck out of them too aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa and then sugu holding back a coo bc He Knows he's beginning to understand them aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ari i need to kiss your knuckles one by one and your wrists you need to feel my love

YOU GET ITTTTTT HEHE as always !!!! and ohhhhhhhh mickeyyyyy understanding is such a big theme of their dynamic to me…… knight!sugu is kinda……. hm . ok so. i feel like he honestly doesn’t care abt reader too much at first? he sees them as his Lord and that makes him very intent on gaining their trust, but it’s more about his own desire as a knight than any real regard for them as a person. and it’s also kind of a fun little challenge for him. melting the icy shell of his new lil lord…. i don’t think he’s very fond of royals in general, but as a knight he has to serve them!! and suguru lives and breathes for knighthood… 

but obv he ends up genuinely growing fond of reader eventually <33 he just thinks they’re interesting and entertaining at first but before he knows it he’s just a little enamored. i think he has such a deep respect for acts of kindness that don’t demand anything in return: acts of kindness that no one notices. and that’s why reader taking the blame was so special in his eyes :((( smhhh they make me sick he knowsssss they crave love so badly but can’t ask for it ……….

OH FUCK OFF YOU CAN FUCK RIGHT OFF (affectionate) SUGURU IN A LITTLE FLIMSY BLOUSE???????? I MIGHT'VE JUST POPPED A BONER I'M SORRY AAAAND IT'S ALMOST SEE THROUGHAAA ND YOU CAN SEE THE SSCAR AND AND AND H-HIS BICEPS GULPP HAH AND THEN HE HE PUTS HIS HAIR IN A BUN BROOOO I CAN'T I HAVE HORNY TEARS IN MY EYES I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS A THING JADUDHWADWLAKHDHUHNSFIEFHAL THEY BITE HIM!!!! THEY BITE HIM!!!! I NEED TO DO THAT FUCK OFF THIS PERSON GETS ME SO WELL I LOVE YOU ARI YOU'RE A TRUE FUCKING BLESSING TO THIS WORLD AJHIDBKJAWDBANA WAITTT AND THEN HE GRABS THEIR FACEE AAAAUGHHHH AND OFFERS MORE SKIN TO BIIITTEEE AAAAA I'D SAY THAT I'M SPEECHLESS BUT THAT'S CLEARLY NOT TRUEE WHAT THE FUCKK

HEHEHEHHEHEHE MICKEY IM SMILING SO WIDEEEEEEEEEE lowkey this scene was w u in mind u are part of the target audience … one thing abt brat!reader is that they are 1) a biter 2) a lover of biceps like howwww r they supposed to resist … 😵‍💫😵‍💫 i drooled a lil writing this scene i wont lie to u. he’d let u mark him up as much as u want <3333 sighhhh he’s so . yeah . i’m just saying hypothetically if u bit him hard enough to bruise he would treat it as a trophy and trace his fingertips over it w hearts in his eyes <33 he’s a freak but it’s ok bc he’s also a sweetie a little silly wolf boy

MELTING MELTING INTO THE BIGGEST PUDDLE OF GOO I AM A RIVER I AM A LAKE I AM THE OCEAN I'LL SWALLOW YOU IN RETURN FOR WRITING THESE FUCKING LINES ARI OHHH HOW GOOD THAT MUST'VE FELT FOR SUGURU TO FINALLY HAVE THE READER CLUTCHING TO HIM TRUSTING HIM AAAAAAAAAAAAA + him guiding them with a hand on their back i have hearts in my eyes

MICKEY U UNDERSTAND HIM u best believe he was sooooo fucking smug so proud of himself such a happy little knight !!! w his lovely little lord clinging to him for protection <333 this is true for every single sugu no matter the au but like he NEEDS to be needed by u . so bad . i think it irks him like nothing else when his beloved can’t trust him or lean on him like it makes him insane. but knight!sugu isn’t that down bad quite yet so he’s mostly like :33 they called me their knight (giggles and blushes) i AM their knight arent i … (twirls hair and sighs dreamily) he’s soooo annoying i love him so <33

sighhhhh they just want to see the world ari:(((((( they're so sad they're so upset and they just. want. to. see. the. world. they're so used to hiding their sadness, so used to just acting annoyed at everything aaaaaaaaaaa it hurts ari it hurts they just want to feel the grass under their bare feet, feel the wind in their hair when they're running through the trees AAAAAAAAI'M GONNA CRY 

sobbing sniffling u get them mickey :((( they wanna see the worldddddd they wanna discover so many things …. imagine trapping a sneaky lil fox inside a castle like noooo let them out they wanna break into people’s yards and scare village children and run after squirrels !!!!!!! it’s what they deserve !!!

uh oh knight!sugu vs my knight!reader moment............ he got lucky n scouted and ended up a proper knight...... while...... mine wasn't blessed by luck...... but them both still having the "protect the weak" mindset the brainrot is so real i can't escape it

mickey this unlocked parts of my brain that human beings aren’t supposed to have u are so bad and good for my health NO BECAUSEE this got me thinking abt the knights meeting .. obv ur au has its own knight!sugu but i do see them as different based on the little i’ve seen (SPARE KNIGHT!SUGU CRUMBS PLS i’m so excited for the next part u don’t even get it)…. and it’s so interesting because i do see knight!sugu as very particular when it comes to his morals and choices . like… everything is very much thought through and hinged on his own beliefs…. and his view of knighthood dictates a LOT of his behavior.

i kept imagining him being there when knight!reader gets slapped (still traumatized btw i feel a little sick every time i think abt it <33) and his reaction would be very interesting i think……. because i don’t think he would step in to help? or even really sympathize with them…? i still don’t have his character fully figured out in every single way but the way i see it he has very clear morals and a lot of them exclude knights….. as a special exception…. like if knight!reader wasn’t a knight he would 1000% step in because he can’t bear to see someone get treated that way when they haven’t done anything wrong/can’t protect themselves/etc, but since they’re a Knight i think he views it as Fair.

like….. it’s fucked up but i really do see knighthood as a very twisted thing at its core and i think suguru sees it as a knight’s Duty to bear the pain of all the townsfolk and royals. i think that in his mind it’s fully fair that knight!reader takes the entirety of the blame instead of the prince. i think he’s honestly kind of unsympathetic to knights because he is one himself, and he sees suffering as a very real part of the job description. something that makes you a knight, even. he’s had more than his fair share of punishments and he thinks of it all as growth. very toxic mindset but AGAIN i see knighthood as a toxic concept since it’s literally impossible to achieve LMAO i rlly do see knights playing a similar role to sorcerers in this au… people who bear the weight of the world’s sins. they’ll all break eventually but they burn so brightly while they’re there. i love knights more than anything but i’m very firm on my interpretation that it either 1) breaks a person down into pieces or 2) turns them into a living Ideal and either way it’s a tragedy.

i got carried away PHDJFJF BACK TO SUGU like….. he’s not heartless yk? it still itches a little to see the light leave knight!reader’s eyes, he still feels a slumbering urge to step in and protect the defenseless, but he also views knight!reader as an actual knight regardless of official titles and therefore he (respectfully) allows them to face their punishment As a Knight. it’s cruel but it’s also a sign that he views them as an equal, not just a rabid stray pretending to be a knight.

…. i also think he’s a total hypocrite LMAO he’s like well what were u expecting mingling with the prince ? as if he isn’t cooing over his little lord and letting them kiss his jaw when they ask nicely smhhhh he’s kind of a scumbag tbh but he really is very kind at heart i just think duty is a poison lol (can u tell he makes me ill)

waiitttt hhihiihihi the reader is so funny actually sugu move along man i'm the new knight "like, as a bit?" hsjashahshagsga made me laugh out loud i nEEED to boop their nose they're so silly

THEY’RE THE SILLIESTTTT i’m so relieved that u like them i think they would love u sm too <3333 knight!mickey/royalty!reader fic WHENN

PLEAASEEE HAHSHASHAHSHA their banter is soo good wahhhh my babies my sweethearts i hope nothing bad happens to them .

:3 :3 :3 :3333 i giggled .

did you really think you could slip that little "your knight" by me huh???? you're not as slick as you think you are little iris I SEE YOU

HEHEHEHH ofc u caught that u little weasel ….. i got so giddy like YESSS they are indeed beginning to view him as Their Knight <333 getting a lil possessive <3333 they love him soooo much he’s their favorite !!!! their favorite lil guy !!!!!

him offering his hand and them FINALLLYYY TAKING IT ari i love them so much:(((((((((((((((((( they officially have a place in my heart next to the other knights and royalties hehehehe i'm so glad that we can share them i feel very honored 

ALL OF US + THEM ARE HOLDING HANDS IN MY BRAIN hhhhhh im so happy that they earned a spot in ur heart <33333 sugu will make sure reader behaves and doesnt gnaw at ur ribcage dw !!!!

OHHHHHHHHHHHH HE'S MEAN MEAN. HE'S VILE HE'S WICKED AND I'M IN LOVE WITH HIM THIS IS SICKENING "possessive little thing....." 🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴

PHDJFJFJFJF NO FRRRR READER WAS SHOOK LIKE ???????? WE JUSTTTT HAD A MOMENT WDYM IM JUST ONE OF UR SIDELORDS 😭😭😭 i do think sugu was kinda lying here tho. he wouldn’t sneak just anyone out of the castle…. but he doesn’t wanna lead reader on bc he knows They Can Never Be ….. (he quickly decides that he doesn't gaf but that's only after he almost loses them smh he’s that kinda guy 😒😒)

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEHEHEHEHEHEHEHHEHE PLEASEEEE THEY'RE SO FUNNY TOGETHER THEY FIT TOGETHER SO WELL LIKE PUZZLE PIECES IT JUST FLOWS SO FUCKING GOOD AND I LOVE THEM AND I WANT THEM TO BE HAPPY AND I MIGHT'VE CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF THE NEXT PART AND I AM NOW HERE HIDING BC I'M SCARED TO GO BACK THERE ARI PLEASE YOU'LL LET THEM BE HAPPY RIGHT??? I AM NOW VERY MUCH REGRETTING NOT READING THE CONTENTS FUCKK MEEE

MICKEY MY BELOVED JESTER i’m sorry for the scare but this was so funny PRHKDJD yk i had to let his inner alpha out <3333 PBFJFJ but aaaa mickey!!! ily i’m so overjoyed that u like their dynamic they’ve wormed their way into my heart T_T that dialogue exchange between them was one of my faves hehe i’m so happy u liked it !!

STOP STOP PAUSE PAUSE PAUSE PAUSE EVERYTHING I NEED THE TIME TO STOP I'M SORRRY???? "IF KNIGHTS BEGIN TO CRUMBLE WHEN THEY STOP FEELING ASHAMED." I'MMM SORRYYYY????????????????????????? LOOK ARI MY BELOVED MY SWEET LITTLE ANGEL I DON'T THINK I EVEN HAVE THE VOCABULARY FOR WHAT I WANNA SAY ABOUT THIS I DON'T THINK I COULD EVEN DO IT IN MY NATIVE LANGUAGE I DON'T THINK EVEN YELLING COULD DO THE DAMN THING 

TARGET AUDIENCE REACHED LET’S GOOOO i was sooooo hoping that line would make u insane it came to me in a vision and i had to take a breather bc of the Realness KNIGHTS MAKE ME INSANEEEEEEEEEE MY SELF-DESTRUCTIVE LITTLE ANGELS :(((((

i will give you the sun so you could always bask in its warmth i will give you the moon so you could always lie in its light i will give you the stars so you could always play connect the dots the planets will be yours so you may always count the rings when you're bored i will give you the world so you may always feel loved you are changing lives with your writing you know. i mean that. i know that for a fact as for i am here right now. i love you.

this reads like a shakespearean love letter it completely floored me is this a proposal bc i WILL say yes ………. my heart skipped a beat i think . ur too sweet mickey i fear we have to put u down if u continue like this 😞😞😞

 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I'M SORRY THAT I'M JUST PLUCKING LIKE CHUNKS OUT OF THE THING BUT I JUST HAVE TO OKAY THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME THIS PART ESPECIALLY FUUUCKKKKKK I'M CRYINGGG THIS IS SO SILLYY BUT I LOVE THEM SOOOO MUCH I LOVE THE READER I LOVE SUGU I LOVE THEM TOGETHER THEM SQUISHING HIS CHEEKS AND THREATENING TO BITE IS SO SERIOUS TO ME FUUUUUUCKKK SHOUDL I DO A FUCKING FUCK COUNT WAAAAHHH I SHOULD DO A TEAR COUNT INSTEAD BROO I'M SO DEHYDRATED NOW LOOK AT THIS LOSER CRYING OVER A FANFICCC MY SPOUSE IS JUST THE BEST ONE OUT THERE I CAN'T HOLD IT BACKKK 

🚫 APOLOGIES PROHIBITED 🚫 [ STRIKE: 2 ] better be careful mickey …. 🤨🤨 phdjfjfjf NO BUT THIS MADE ME SO HAPPYYY i loved writing this scene sm i was hoping it’d make u cry just a littleeeee itty bit <33333 im kissing u beloved spouse mwah mwah just a lil peck <3333 i love when sugu goes sad puppydog mode and reader has to knock some sense into him affectionately they’re both wrecks and they mean the world to me ☹️☹️☹️

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAITTTTTT HE HAD A DREAMMM ARIII HE HAD A FUCKING DREAM SABSAKJSAGSKJASGAHLSHAHSKU

U CALLED ITTTTT HEHEHE detective mickey on the case !! ranpo would be so proud <3333 

NO NO LOOK YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HE MADE. A DRAWING TOO. A KNIGHT. MADE A SKETCH WITH HIS HANDS. WITH COAL. OF A FOX. THAT HE SAW IT IN HIS DREAMS. OF A BRATTY LITTLE LORD. THAT HE SAW IN HIS DREAMS. AND IS NOW SITTING UNDER THE STARS WITH HIM. NOOOOO I CAN'T SEE ANYMORE AGAIN MY EYES ARE WATERY THIS IS NOT FINE BY ANY MEANS BTW ARI YOU WILL BE PUNISHED WITH KISSES AND HUGS AND PATS ON THE HEAD AAAUGHGHHG

i am basking in the kisses n hugs n pats this is so us rn 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

BUT YES U GET ITTTTT he’s not even an artist but he wanted to give u smth sentimental and special 🥺🥺🥺 the sweetest bf ever <333 and ofc it ended up being fire anyway bc he’s just a natural at everything i imagine it as the coolest lil sketch and i also imagine the tips of his fingers being all coal-y and black and he’s a lil embarrassed and nervous but he wants u to have it so bad :((((( wants to see u smile…. reader rlly does frame it btw they never ever let it out of their sight it’s their fave ever <3333 sugu still gets embarrassed seeing it esp after he gets more experience w painting and drawing he’s like fuckkkk i was so bad back then that’s so cringe do u have to have it in the middle of ur room </3 and reader is like . 🤨 yeah? . sigh…,,our cuties

"i can't remember what it felt like to not be yours." FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVE LINES FROM THE FIC IM SOOOOOO HAPPY IT MADE U A LIL INSANE smth abt big beautiful men proclaiming themselves as Yours 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 ….. sorry but i cannot STAND men who r all like … ”tell me you’re mine 😈😈” like NOPE no thank u ”i’m yours 😌” men are the standard !!!!

like how does one read this and not talk about it. the teeth and the biting. the wolf bringing you into the woods himself. the lamb sleeping in the wolf's arms. the smiles. the fond eyes. the hands - the way they refused to take his hand for so long and in the end they couldn't be away from it, glued against him. his hair and the way you describe it. sigh sigh sigh i got nothing but love and admiration for you. i think you were meant to write about him always always always. he lives inside you or maybe you just keep him alive, anyhow it's so good to read your art. we are all truly blessed i talk like i'm religious but the only religion i know is ari so to what you want with that

:((((( mickey u r so so kind this made me wanna weep i’m so lucky to have such a devoted lil follower <333 PLSSSS KNOW IT’S ABSOLUTELY MUTUAL i am part of the mickey cult always and forever!!! i just think u write abt love like no one else and i wanna eat ur art for the rest of my life <33333 catch me in a retirement home years from now shooing everyone away bc ”mickey just posted” and i need peace & quiet to savour it properly I RLLY AM SO OVERJOYED THAT U ENJOYED THIS I HOPE U KNOW THAT i was nervous abt this fic bc it took so longggg to write and it means so much to me so the fear of rejection is 10x stronger…  but ofc u always reassure me 🥺🥺 if u think this fic was worth the time it took to read and write this beautiful response even a little bit then that’s enough for me <333 mwah mwah MWAH

btwwwww have i told you that you were one of the two people who got me into writing? if i have then i'm just gonna repeat it. i remember reading that one suguru fic - the one where he cooks breakfast for the reader and i just... sat there staring at my phone thinking how is this a fanfic? what do you mean this is fanfiction? this belongs on a bookshelf in a cute little book store. the kind that's always so cozy and homey, the one that always smells sweet? the one where you can sit down by the window and read about love. i spiraled after reading it a little you know. i really did. so in love with the way you describe the surroundings, with the way you describe people and most importantly feelings and emotions. i definitely have said it before but your art makes me feel alive, makes me feel like i am there in the story - feeling everything they're feeling. you are amazing and i hope you know that. 

AND THEN U TOP IT ALL OFF WITH THIS???????? MICKEY STOPPPPPP :((((((( U KNOW IM SENSITIVE THIS ISNT FAIR may or may not have teared up a little genuinely i have no words i just feel so lucky that we started interacting!!!! it’s sappy but i am in fact a sap. i love talking to u <333 just seeing u on my dash makes me smile i think it might be pavlovian conditioning atp idk u just have this presence that feels so soothing and fuzzy and real and warm. i rlly do think of u as such a wonderful person!!! i’m also so honoured to be one of the ppl who were involved in ur writing process????????????? sorry i feel a lil shy i cant talk abt it any more than this or else i’ll start weeping i think JUST KNOW IT MAKES ME SUPER HAPPY…. and every word u say means the world to me :(((( tucking them all into my chest and i mean that sincerely!! the breakfast sugu fic is still one of my faves and knowing it was the reason u stumbled upon my blog makes me appreciate it even more <33333

mickey this turned out . Long but hopefully u got some enjoyment out of it ? T_T i was just so so eager to share my thoughts w u BUT lastly i just wanna say !! thank you so so much for your support and for being so lovely and for reading this monster of a fic <333 and ofc taking the time to write all of this out i hope you know it really does mean the world to me !!! brightened my day up so much and it’s gonna keep doing it every single time i read it again :3333 i love u my sweet mickey mwah mwah

the paint doesn't move the way the light reflects ; suguru geto

synopsis; when the king puts you under the supervision of a dashing knight, you promise to make his job as difficult as possible. unfortunately, suguru geto is the patient sort.

word count; 21.1k (this accidentally turned into a novella idk how it happened nobody look at me :’3 this is a love letter to sugu ok…)

contents; suguru geto/reader, gn!reader, knight!sugu x royalty!reader, royalty au (not accurate to any time period ever), technically a bodyguard au, slowburn, reader is a brat and suguru likes it a little more than he should, reader also has thinly veiled daddy issues, protective sugu :3, he goes feral in one part (descriptions of violence and bloodshed), reader gets briefly kidnapped lol, very fluffy overall though!!, includes shifting povs & time-skips, also lots and lots of devotion, knight!sugu is real & beautiful & loves you specifically <33

a/n; HAPPY late BDAY SUGU MY BABY THE LOVE OF MY LIFE this fic has been in the works for a WHILE now and means a lot to me much like sugu himself :’3 dedicated to my beloved @kissxcore for infecting me w this concept & also my dear @mossmurdock for bringing knight!sugu into my life, both of u have made the brainrot infinitely worse and i will never be free (and ofc @softgirlgonehaywire & @dollsuguru & @jtkys for being the sweetest always) I LOVE U ALL!!!!!!!!

like most things, it begins and ends with a dream.

images form in the depths of your subconscious, wild and vivid, splattering on the canvas of your mind. a dream of cold metal, dark thickets, iron-scented skin — and a knight. 

(or… a wolf?)

before you is a small clearing. trees sprout from the rugged grounds, blooming proudly, clogging up the wool-coated sky. all around you lie empty, discarded suits of armor, dirty with rust and something that smells of death. wilted sunflowers stumble under their own weight, and dragonflies buzz in a frenzy, manic, driven to hysteria. in the distance you think you hear the shrieking of ravens.

and there’s a knight, just ahead, tall and imposing, covered in steel from head to toe. holding a blinding sword, facing the sky, doing nothing to stop the pitter patter of raindrops ricocheting off his burganet. you stand by the entrance of the woods, and watch him in silence. 

he looks a little lonely. 

and in comes the wolf. gracious, growling, big and bad, snarling and showing off the white of its fangs. dragging its claws against the ground, unruly fur ruffled by the harsh breeze; widening its maw, a silent fury on its tongue. from this angle, it looks a little like a grin.

the wolf begins to chase the knight. or maybe it’s the knight chasing the wolf ��� you can’t really tell. they run in circles around each other, like the sun and the moon, an orbit of violence, matching their steps. almost in harmony — almost, but not quite, because suddenly they’re closing in on you, great and ugly, beasts wearing different hides, and —

and that’s when you wake up.

”your highness!” 

a groan pushes past your lips, groggy with fatigue, and your eyelids flicker open like the drawing of a flimsy curtain. a series of mismatched little blinks, until your vision clears. 

above you waits a familiar face; impatient. one of the maids, your foggy brain tells you. and she isn’t pleased.

but all you do is drag your limbs up to cover your pillow-creased face, sluggishly, muttering beneath your breath. ”a wolf…”

silence. 

the maid tilts her head, with a furrow of her brows. 

”… excuse me?”

”there was a wolf,” you echo, a dreamy exhale muffled against the skin of your palm. stifling a yawn. ”and a guy… he was cool.” 

she sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. settling back into her usual rhythm. mildy berating. ”did you have another one of your dreams?” she asks, a little irritated, and for a second you think you hear a tick-tock ticking down. ”at any rate — you need to get up. the king and queen demand your presence.”

ah. of course.

a huff, displeased, even as you force yourself into a sitting position. stretching your limbs like a grumpy feline. ”demands…” you murmur, a click of your tongue. ”they think they can just wake me up whenever they want? at the crack of dawn?”

”it’s 11 a.m, your highness.”

”early as hell,” you rasp, willfully tuning out her murmur of mind your language. letting your legs hang off the bed. ”what do they want, anyway?”

following your silent cue, she hums, walking towards the edge of the room. picking up your discarded blouse, and bringing it to you. ”i was told it was of utmost importance,” is all she says, lifting the fabric as if getting ready to dress you.

”i can do that myself,” you hiss, snatching the white silk from her outstretched hands. as always, she does nothing but sigh, sigh, sigh. it’s all they ever do. ”i’m not a toddler.”

from your position, still cozied up in bed, on messy sheets and fluffy pillows — you can see the view beyond your translucent window’s glass. a sky so gray it’s almost comforting, dark clouds forming in the distance, silently ruminating. when the maid pushes it open, and a cold breeze slips through the gap, you can smell the rain; heavy, earthy, daffodils and oak wood. in the distance, sunflower fields seek shelter from the downpour. 

but your eyes remain glued to the woods. far ahead, but still close enough to see — the woods you long for. the ones you’ll never get to see up close. 

a bitter taste blooms on your tongue. 

(spitefully, your teeth sink into the tender flesh of your bottom lip.)

”fine,” comes a heavy sigh, ruefully resigned. forcing yourself into compliancy. before you can change your mind, you hop off the mattress, running your fingers through tousled strands of hair. ”i’ll go see them.”

and she brightens, visibly, disapproving frown smoothed away with the breeze. for now. ”thank you. they are worried, i’ll have you know.”

a scoff, as you cross the threshold of your private quarters. humorous. ”i bet they are.” 

”your highness,” she calls, following close behind. her tone is reprimanding, now; you will yourself not to shrink. ”we almost lost you.”

”i almost got kidnapped,” you huff. ”not the same thing.”

again, that exasperated sigh. it’s a wonder her lungs haven’t run out of air. ”do you have any idea who that man was?” 

the question makes your mind still. shifting gears, a clockwork coming to life, repeating it inside your head — do you have any idea who that man was? 

”… he was hot.”

sigh. you hear it before it comes, and raise your lips on instinct. 

”no, i mean it!” you ensure her, throwing a fleeting glance behind you. ”he just had that rugged look about him, you know? the scar and everything…” a blissful little exhale, as you gush over your would-be killer. ”what a waste. if only he had gotten away.”

”with you in tow?” the maid quips, raising a brow. her words are steeped in irony.

”of course!” another disapproving glance. ”i mean, did you see those biceps —”

”behave.”

with a flutter of your puffy sleeves, you turn around to face her. and ah — there it is. the hardness of her jaw, those frosty pupils, the impending signs of her dwindling patience. you can see it, hear it, that eerie tick-tock signaling the breaching of her limit. all humans have one; a clockwork heart, of sorts, ticking down to the moment they run out of leftover kindness to give unruly heirs. 

over the years, you’ve gotten expertly good at making the clock tick quicken. a skill you’re very proud of.

”and what if i don’t?” you bite back, just barely restraining your growing grin. delighted at the attention. ”he had nice biceps! what, am i not allowed to tell the truth?”

and the tick-tock quickens. she stills, just behind you, hands on her hips. frustration bubbling beneath her sharp syllables. ”my god, you are impossible today!”

for a moment, you stop to look at her. weighing your options. should you reel it back in, try and appease her? or keep pushing? the answer, as always, is push. it’s all you’ll ever do.

so you turn on your heel, and take a step forward, a spiteful grin curved into your lips. ”deal with it, or leave.” a beat. ”i don’t remember asking you to accompany me.”

before you round the corner, your ears pick up on one final harsh sigh. she makes no move to follow you.

(hmph.)

”where is your maid?”

in front of you stands a throne, proud and luxurious, polished marble, two seats right next to each other. the quarters of the royal pair are the same as always, vivid paintings hanging from every wall in sight, wolf pelts thrown over tables and windowsills. the scent of dried lavender seeps through the air, suffocating you. 

and, of course, the king. speaking to you with the same judgemental voice as always; one you’ve grown painfully accustomed to. 

”i wanted her to get me breakfast,” is the lie you decide on, finely tailored in white. just to make sure she doesn’t get into any actual trouble. ”you didn’t exactly give me time to eat any.”

the king sighs, mild disappointment laced into the breath. nothing new. when he says your name, it comes out sounding like a bad joke. ” — you aren’t a child anymore. one day you’ll be ruling this kingdom; forcing the maids to do your bidding won’t win you any favours.” 

”mhm.” absently, you fidget with the sleeves of your blouse. not quite listening. ”so, what did you want? it’s not often i’m allowed here.”

an evil glint shines in your eyes, for a moment. you cast a meaningful glance at the maid by your father’s side — his personal favorite. 

”don’t you have, ah…” you taste the words on your tongue. ”more pressing matters to attend to?”

he doesn’t flinch. as always, he pretends not to know that you know — that everyone knows. 

yet he still gives you that cold, cold look, colder than the howls of wind beyond the castle walls, cold enough to send a shiver down your spine. it makes you want to push, push, push. break the clockwork in half.

but he’s wise enough to follow your lead. “let me get to the point, then,” he cranes his neck, showing off the fox pelt snug around his shoulders. ”the queen and i thought it best to hire a new knight for you.”

you blink. eyelashes fluttering. all you can hear is the pitter patter of rain against the windowpane. 

then you groan.

”another one?” you whine, barely resisting the urge to stomp your feet on the floor. ”please, no. it’s such a pain getting rid of them. you know they won’t last long!”

”we aren’t talking about any ordinary knight,” he tuts, as monotone as ever. ignoring your little temper tantrum. ”after what happened with toji zenin, we aren’t taking any chances.”

you tilt your head. confused, for a moment. ”toji?” the gears of your mind turn, clicking into place; zenin. a family of assassins, a man with a scar on his bottom lip. ”ohhh — the hottie.”

your father pretends not to hear you. 

”it was a close call,” he hums, and you muster the strength not to crack another joke about his biceps. it takes restraint. ”we need someone who can protect you properly. indefinitely, from even the stealthiest of assassins. so…”

your eyes meet his. gazes overlapping, the same colour, one above and one below. he’s always, always towered over you. for as long as you remember. 

that is what royalty means — absolute dominion. 

(it makes you want to curl into a ball.)

”today, you’ll be meeting with the greatest knight.” he says the words with an odd sense of pride, an inner satisfaction. ”he’ll be here any moment. i thought it best for you to get acquainted as soon as possible.”

a moment passes. you’re broken out of your bout of compliance, like a rubber band snapping. a clock tick quickening. ”wait, what?” you gape. ”father —”

”your majesty.” 

…

the correction is stern. gritting your teeth, you force the words from out your throat. ”… your majesty,” there’s a slight grumble to your voice, ”what the hell? now? i haven’t even —”

”you have no choice in this matter,” he cuts you off. coldly, coldly, coldly. ”behave, and there won’t be any complications.”

behave.

behave, behave, behave. it’s all they ever want from you.

(you might as well be a pet.)

the queen is silent, as always. eerily so, not saying a word, like a puppet on a string. she hasn’t looked you in the eye even once so far, not even a passing glance. not like you’d expect her to. her clockwork heart stopped beating for you a long time ago. 

automatons, the both of them. making decisions for you, like there isn’t a sliver of rational thought in your brain. how irritating.

you’re just about to part your lips, when —

”… am i interrupting?”

you still.

a velvety voice. silky, smooth, tailored by the finest seamstress — tucked between the slightest raspy vowel, a hint of something deeper. it sounds like honey, wine, a molten mass of spring clouds. 

the king ahead of you brightens, suddenly, lips curling up into a smile. it looks almost warm; you didn’t know he was capable of making that kind of expression. ”ah, suguru!” he calls out to the source of the noise. ”no, certainly not. forgive me for the short notice.”

when you turn around, you see a knight.

he’s beautiful. gorgeous, even. fair skin, sharp facial features, no scars to be seen. a sword hangs in a scabbard by his hip, and he’s wearing a set of armor, still glistening with the aftermaths of the rain beating down outside. his hair cascades down the metal like a black river, loose and silky, a single strand obscuring his pretty face. and his eyes are a soothing shade of brown; you’re almost certain they’d look warm, if there was any sunlight to engulf them. as it is, in the shadow of a murky spring morning, they’re a dark cedar, almost obsidian. but they look kind. 

and they’re fixed on the king. he’s smiling, too, a dangerous little tilt. disgustingly charming. he hangs his head in a bow, hand on his heart — reverent.

(ah. he’s one of those knights.)

”my king,” the strange knight greets, tongue wrapping around the vowels like a dragon curling around a pile of gold. ”not at all. i’m always grateful for an opportunity to see you.”

(oh god. it’s even worse than you thought.)

”i should say the same of you,” the king echoes, with a warmth that you’re wholly unaccustomed to. your stomach churns, swirling with discomfort. ”our nation’s pride and joy.”

the knight chuckles; muffled by his closed fist. he’s feigning embarrassment, you can tell. ”you flatter me,” he purrs, words flowing smoothly from his lips. too smoothly. ”i’m simply doing my duty as one of your subjects. but, needless to say — i’m honoured to have earned your respect.”

finally, his gaze shifts to you. and you think he must notice how disgusted you are, the reproach you feel for him, that silent contempt. because you aren’t trying to hide it; it’s there, clear as day, in the crease of your brow, your frosty pupils. lips pursed, like they’re aching to bare and to bite.

but he continues to smile. warm, still, like a mellow summer breeze. a well of pizzicato drops.

you feel a little nauseous.

”ah, and you must be the royal heir?” a tilt of his head, knowing. a shimmer of recognition painted in those ashen eyes. ”or should i say…. my liege.” 

he walks towards you, in long strides, slow and steady, only to get down on one knee. ew. ”forgive me; my name is suguru geto. your knight, from this day forth.” his palm unfurls, cedar eyes crinkling with feigned endearment. holding it out towards the subject of his newfound devotion. ”i’m delighted to finally meet you.”

(suguru geto. you’ve heard of him, of course. who hasn’t?)

his hand stills in the air, waiting patiently for yours; to bring it to his glossy lips. but you don’t do anything. nothing, other than studying his smile, picture perfect, tailor-made, sweet enough to melt on your tongue. so sweet you know it must be at least a little bit fake — the smile of a liar. 

it’s a smile you know well.

so you mimic it, a bitter glint in your eyes, only for your hands to retreat to your pockets. and out comes a purr. ”you’re a bad actor.”

silence. the knight doesn’t flinch, not even close, but he blinks, a flutter of his dark eyelashes. like a raven taking flight. that everlasting smile never falters, but for just a second, a clock-tick or two, you swear you catch the slightest hint of something flickering through his keen iris.

interest?

”forgive them, suguru,” the king is quick to chip in, finally stepping down from his throne to join you on the floor. the queen doesn’t move, but she gives suguru a fond smile, and it makes your grimace deepen. ”they woke up on the wrong side of bed this morning. and they’re a bit of a problem child — i’m sure you’ve heard.”

that makes you snicker, silently. maybe just a little bit smug. you’re sure it must be a headache for him to deal with.

”i can’t say i haven’t,” suguru chuckles, raising himself up from the marble floor. your smile falls. ”but it’s not an issue. i understand.”

he looks at you, really looks at you, and you give him an unimpressed stare. wholly disinterested. trying not to squirm under his scrutiny. 

”i’m sure it must feel suffocating — being under this kind of supervision.” he gives you a tilt of his head, strands of charcoal following the movement. smooth, like a waltz, one you didn’t agree to. ”isn’t it?”

ah. the sympathy card.

before you can answer, he bows; hand on his heart. knights and their rituals. ”i’m at your service, my liege. if i make you uncomfortable, at any point, just tell me.” once more, he meets your gaze, a sincerity in his own — reserved just for you. ”really.”

… ugh.

to your right comes a pleased voice, deep and satisfied, as self-affirming as ever. ”i knew i could entrust them to you,” the king speaks, placing a palm on your shoulder. you try not to flinch. ”aren’t you grateful? this handsome, kind man is all yours.”

a sharp scoff is all you can muster, nails digging into the skin of your palm. but suguru only chuckles, good-natured.

they continue to speak, about this and that. you tune out most of it, caught up in preparing for the long headache ahead. sure, you’re an expert at getting knights to quit, but it takes time. weeks, sometimes, just to make them finally crack, push and push until their patience reaches its limit. and suguru seems resilient. more than anything, he seems thoroughly loyal to the king; that really doesn’t bode well for you.

but before you can formulate a step-by-step guide to making his job a living hell, the sound of your name snaps you out of your trance.

it’s the king, of course, as always. you hate that you still instinctively respond to his call. like an obedient puppy. ”show suguru to your quarters. he’ll be accompanying you indefinitely, from now on. don't give him any trouble.” his voice finally sounds cold again; a warning. ”i’ll hear about it.”

(indefinitely.)

a moment passes. then you sigh, deep and heavy, haphazardly hiding a roll of your eyes. ”yeah, yeah, yeah,” you cross your arms. ”i got it.”

suguru meets your furrowed brows with something gentle, a soothing little smile. offering his arm, for you to hold on to. knights and their rituals. ”shall we?”

but you brush past him. stubborn in your independence, in your desire to make this as discomforting for him as it is for you. ”follow me,” is all you say, a dissatisfied huff. loud enough to pick up on.

to your great displeasure, he matches your hurried pace. side by side, as you walk down the halls, the clicking of his shoes echoing against the marble. a shadow you can’t shine away; one that’ll stay with you indefinitely. you feel his gaze burn into you.

”my lord.”

”don’t talk to me,” you sigh, sharp like the sword by his hip. a low click of your tongue. ”just so you know, i didn’t agree to this.”

”that was my question, actually,” he grins, ever so slightly. fingertips tapping against his scabbard. ”i am sorry, you know. i meant what i said — i’m sure it’s difficult for you.” he casts you another one of those meaningful glances, a meaning you have no intention of discerning. ”but i have my orders.”

you bite back a laugh. ”you guys love those, huh?” when you turn your head to face him, still walking forward, he’s met with a taunting smirk. ”your little orders.”

but his smile doesn’t falter. damn.

”not a fan of knights?” he asks, instead, a playful lilt to his syrupy voice. coaxing, accommodating. infuriating.

”nope.” your footsteps quicken — but he keeps up, effortlessly. curse those abnormally long legs. ”you’re all just bootlickers. especially you.”

”oh?”

”don’t oh? me,” you snap, practically growling, ”like you weren’t seconds away from making out with the king back there. it’s all so fake.” the comment makes the corners of his lip quirk up, but you don’t turn around to see it. ”now that you’re alone with me, you’re already acting way less uptight, see?”

he hums. ”i figured it’d make you feel more at ease.”

”god, will you just cut it out?” a hiss breaks out of your throat, sharp and exasperated. tired, drained. you just want to go back to sleep. ”quit acting like you care about what i think. you’ll do whatever the king asks of you — that’s all you really care about.”

suguru stays silent, this time. matching your steps, observing you silently, out of the corner of his eye. the frown on your lips, the crease between your brows. etching them into his memory. you’re pissed, that much he can tell. and you definitely, definitely don’t like him. 

(”you’re a bad actor.”)

the knight comes to a standstill. parting his lips, enough for his voice to flow through, silken sheets and molten honey. a raspy tilt he tries his best to hide.

but his words carry a sincerity he could never fake. 

”from now on, i serve you.”

when the clicking of his shoes against cold marble flooring fades away, you halt. turning around, hesitantly, quirking a questioning brow. rain beats on beyond the window to your left, flicking against the glass, droplets clinging to the translucent surface. marigold petals kiss the windows in a flurry of cream and orange, fluttering about with the harsh bites of the wind, carried from the castle’s orchard. the endless hallway you find yourselves in smells of rainwater and spring.

suguru looks steadfast, where he’s standing, immovable. a little like a pillar of salt. when he speaks it sounds like he’s reciting a scripture.

”i’m loyal to the king. i have to follow his orders.” 

there’s something about his words that you can’t quite pinpoint. is it guilt or pride? ”but i am at your service. certain things are set in stone, but not others. i’ll let you decide how this goes.”

the hallway goes silent. he smiles, again, smaller this time. somehow more genuine.

”from now on, i’m your knight.” the pitter patter of rain mashes with the steady beating of a clock; rhythmic, soothing, a lullaby of rust and time. ”that’s all. i won’t be anything else.”

you stare. lips pursed, awaiting a clarification, but it doesn’t come. he’s giving you time to respond.

(he’s your knight, now. indefinitely yours.)

an inhale. the clock hands of your heart begin to move. ”in that case,” you exhale, lips curling up into a taunting smile. pleased with yourself. ”i promise to be the most insufferable lord a knight has ever had. i won’t make your job easy for you.”

and suguru only chuckles. raspy, like the bark of a tree, claw marks on the ground. ”good,” he grins, eyes rich with mirth, golden pears hanging off the branches. ”i wouldn’t have it any other way.”

he looks sincere. sounds sincere. all you do is blink, a sense of frustration nibbling at your heart, but the knight before you doesn’t falter. he only offers his arm to you, once more; a silent step towards reconciliation.

you watch him, silently. 

then you’re turning on your heel, swiftly, a low grumble at the base of your throat. ignoring him and his offer, walking towards your room with irritated steps that fade as you turn the corner.

behind you, suguru’s smile only grows.

”good morning, your highness.”

blinking sleepily, still regaining your ability to form coherent thoughts, all you can do is stare. studying the figure above you, towering over your half-asleep form, the deadpan expression on your face.

black hair, and amber eyes. a disgustingly charming smile. 

the gears of your mind finally click into place.

a whine flows from your lips, meek and disapproving, and you roll over to your side. pulling the covers over your head, as if to protect you from the existence of your newly hired knight. so it wasn’t just a bad dream.

but he doesn’t fade away, like an apparition. he stays right by your bed, crouching down next to it. you feel the weight of the mattress shift when he rests his elbow on the cushion. ”still too early?” he asks, soft enough not to grate your sensitive ears. ”i was told you usually get up around this time…”

a muffled groan. ”leave.”

”i’m afraid i can’t,” he hums, but you don’t sense much remorse. ”i’m not supposed to let you out of my sight for more than brief intervals at a time… that’s one thing i can’t compromise on.”

”i don’t care,” you whine, petulant. tightening your grip on the blanket surrounding you, desperate to savour the leftovers of your fuzzy dreams. ”’m not getting up…”

a click of his tongue. quiet, contemplative. until he decides on a course of action.

”would you like me to bring you breakfast, then?”

…

slowly, your eyes flicker open, consciousness beginning to stir. the tasty temptation rouses you from your half-slumber, ever so slightly; because he sounds sincere. he sounds like he really will bring you breakfast, if you just give him the order. 

it’s tempting. dangerously so. 

(how long has it been since one of the maids actually bothered to serve you breakfast?)

”… whatever,” you croak, finally. weighing the value of your own response — putting effort into not sounding too excited. (but you are.) ”sure. do what you want, just let me sleep.”

a relieved little breath slips from suguru’s lips, as he watches the lump under the blanket stir. ”alright,” he breathes. ”what would you like, my lord?”

(suddenly, you get an idea.)

a smug grin crawls up to rest on your lips, fresh mischief on your mind. ”figure it out yourself,” you chirp, awfully pleased with yourself. 

silence. 

then, you hear him hum — rising to his feet with a quiet groan. ”understood,” he quips. ”i’ll be back as soon as possible, your highness.”

when you hear the creaking of the door, as he steps over the threshold, you barely restrain the urge to kick your legs in victory. now he’s sure to get you the wrong breakfast; and then you can be as difficult as you please, demanding something else, over and over. an ungrateful, spoiled little brat. that’ll definitely make him quit. 

— sadly, it seems you were underestimating him. just a tiny, tiny bit.

before you, on a silver tray, lays a wide variety of breakfast foods. everything from syrupy pancakes and buttery croissants to neatly cut sandwiches and porridge, slices of fruit and fresh lemonade, coffee with cream and sugar, tiny jars of marmalade and jam. sparkling, glittering, begging to be devoured. handmade, you can tell, meticulously crafted by someone who knows what they’re doing. with a gulp, you attempt not to openly salivate — you had no clue the kitchen workers were this talented. 

for just a moment, you’re entirely speechless. he really went ahead and got you some of everything.

stumbling for the right words, any words, the only thing that escapes your throat is a meek huff. meant to sound displeased, but coming out just a little awestruck. ”this is… way, way too much. are you insane?”

he only shrugs. a sweet smile on his lips, sharp jaw resting on the heel of his palm. ”well, you wouldn’t give me any specifics,” he reminds you, a bit too smug for your liking. ”just eat what you like. i’ll keep your preferences in mind.”

you want to protest, want to put up a fight. want to resist his charms, his little peace offering.

but your stomach growls, suddenly. loud enough that you’re sure he hears it, but you don’t turn around to see any silent laughter — just picking up the fork, embarrassed, eager to just get rid of the ache in your gut. eager to get a taste of the delicacies in front of you. with hesitance, you cut into one of the fluffy pancakes, slathered with syrup, trying to ignore his expectant gaze. biting into it with your eyes closed.

when the sweet taste curls around your tongue, you physically feel yourself perk up. letting your eyes flutter open, your eyebrows raised, a sweetness that makes you sit up straighter. it practically melts in your mouth, honeyed and buttery, and it takes all your willpower to withhold a blissed out little sigh. 

it must be evident, on your features. because suguru sounds amused when he asks; ”good?”

”... better than usual, i guess.”

despite your half-assed attempt at hiding how pleased you are, his ever-present smile extends. ”oh, really?” he leans back in his chair, right next to the bed. exhaling in relief. ”i’m glad. i was worried my cooking wouldn’t be to your tastes.”

…

you pale.

silently, both awestruck and horrified, you look up to meet his teasing gaze. ”wait. you…” a pause. silent, palpable, dreading his answer. ”… made this?” 

”yes.”

another pause. 

”… like. all of it?”

”mhm.”

your gaze falls down to seek solace in your lap. avoiding his own, biting down on your lip, not quite enough to sting. fuck — you accidentally complimented his handmade breakfast. not off to a great start.

wallowing in your silent loss, you simply dig in; desperate to savour it, despite the lingering taste of failure on your tongue. once you’ve sipped the last of your coffee, foamy and rich, the knight to your right speaks up.

”so, your highness,” he begins. tactful, careful. clearing his throat. ”now that you’ve woken up a bit… and, forgive me if i’m overstepping, but —” he searches for your guarded gaze, playing with the beginnings of a smile. ”i was thinking it’d be good for us to get to know each other better.”

”ugh.”

a chuckle — seriously, does nothing offend this man? — flits past his lips. ”oh, don’t be like that, your highness. don’t you think it —”

”cut it out.” you shoot him a glare, voice set to a shivering tilt. ”stop acting like some perfect servant. it’s so obvious you’re playing it up.” a tiny huff, as you pop an apple slice into your mouth. ”makes me sick.”

”… right. you called my acting bad, before.”

”it is,” you nod, a mocking imitation on your tongue. eyes fluttering shut as you bring a hand to your chest. ”oooh, look at me, i’m so humble and loyal! why, of course i don’t mind being summoned with no prior notice! would you like me to lick your shoes, my sweet king?”

and, honestly, you expect him to get at least a little bit angry. the last guy certainly was.

but suguru laughs, suddenly, from the bottom of his gut — a genuine sound. sunshine spilling from his lips, amusement laced together with the octaves. his eyes are crinkled at the edges, like the leaves of a golden ginkgo tree. ”okay, okay,” he puts his hands up, as if readying for a smooth surrender. still amused. ”i’ll try to be more… unguarded, then. would that satisfy you?”

you give him a look. 

he returns it with a smile. ”i’ll take that as a yes,” is all he croons, reaching a hand out. it hangs still in the air, waiting patiently for a response. a familiar sight.

you blink. looking at it, silently, as if trying to solve a puzzle in the pattern of his fingertips. 

then you sigh. ”for the last time, i’m not letting you kiss my hand, you —”

”a handshake,” he cuts you off. soft, a tilt of his head; awfully charming. reassuring you. ”no kissing involved.”

a handshake.

(come to think of it, you don’t think anyone’s ever tried to shake your hand before. it’s something you see other people do; maids, knights, butlers. people on equal ground with each other.)

after a moment of silence, you avert your gaze. there’s a slight, slight flush to your cheeks, one you hope stays hidden from his keen eyes. you grumble, intent on not appeasing him. ”… i’m not shaking your hand, either.”

suguru quirks a brow, smile yet to fall, waiting a few moments more until he gives in. ”you are difficult,” he chuckles, and it sounds almost pleased. ”kento was right.”

kento? now, why does that sound familiar…? 

”— but that’s okay. i look forward to getting to know you better, either way.” his hand retreats to his lap, pliant. ”eventually.”

”that’s not happening.”

”oh?” you swear that smile of his grows, just a little. a man who enjoys a good challenge. humming, closing his eyes for a brief second, switching tactics as if shifting gears. ”then, tell me — is there anything you’d like to know about me?”

hell no, is what you want to say. and you almost, almost do. eager to move one step ahead of him, stubborn in your desire to scare him off.

but then you remember the tale.

so you still, ever so slightly, and suguru leans forward. by a hair, noticing your expression, maybe, the curiosity simmering in your veins. seeping out, little by little, and even though you know you shouldn’t — you just can’t resist the temptation to ask…

”… is it true?”

he tilts his head.

”the … you know.” you move your hands, a bit, as if hoping they’ll say the words for you. they don’t. ”your sword. did you really…” a pause, as your eager gaze trails down to his hip, the scabbard attached to his belt. and then a gulp. 

”… pull it out of a stone?”

a series of silent blinks. then suguru chuckles — dripping with fresh amusement, a glimmer of teeth behind his lips. ”oh, so you’ve heard?”

and, like a pair of shooting stars, your eyes flicker over to meet his. almost gleaming with newfound excitement, a little erratic. ”is — is it true?”

”it’s an old folktale,” he’s quick to intercept. ”gets said about basically every great knight… or, what the public deems as good, anyhow.”

(ah. the humble facade slipped away.)

in a matter of seconds, you seem to deflate, slumping back until your spine meets the headboard. sulking silently. ”so you didn't pull your sword out of a rock?” you huff, mood souring again, a lemony flavour in your veins. ”lame.”

”stone,” he corrects, unperturbed. ”and i'm afraid not.” he gives you another one of his placating smiles, barely concealed amusement swimming in his amber eyes. ”i pulled mine from an oak tree.”

…

”wait, really?”

the gleam in your eyes is back. suguru almost, almost feels bad.

”depends,” he quips, shooting you a lazy grin. ”how gullible are you, my lord?”

(... oh. he was teasing you.)

an embarrassed heat crawls up your neck, rooting itself into the column of your throat, and all you can do to distract him from it is to scoff. sharply, as if hoping just the sound will be enough to cut into his smooth skin. ”whatever.”

suguru continues to smile, crows’ feet by his eyes, something deliberate in his silent stare. so you stumble for something, anything to say.

”also, can you quit the my lord stuff?” you settle on, taking a shallow sip of the lemonade. sour and sweet, nice and chilled on your tongue. ”it’s creepy.”

he blinks. a flutter of his dark lashes, fingers tapping at his bended knee. he looks contemplative, for a moment. ”does it make you uncomfortable?” he asks, tilting his head. ”i can stick to my liege, if that’s better. just say the word.” 

”god, you’re so annoying,” you groan, licking the lemony residue off your lips. ”just use my name.”

suddenly, suguru stills. fingertips frozen, for a moment, no longer tapping at his thigh. he traps his bottom lip between his teeth, a hesitant hum crawling up the confines of his throat. 

”that….” he trails off, thumb absentmindedly smoothing over the leather of his scabbard. ”seems a little much.”

when you turn to look at him, he seems a little put off. uncomfortable, maybe — or just caught off guard? it’s hard to get a read on him. for someone who smiles so often, his emotions don’t appear very bright.

a pang of something grasps onto your clockwork heart, and a frown pulls at your bottom lip. frustration gnawing at your veins. ”you’re here to service me, aren’t you?” you ask, with a shallow huff. ”just do as i say.”

”well, i still have my boundaries.” suguru leans back, crossing his legs, gazing at you with slightly lidded eyes. ”and, on paper — i’m only here to protect you. the servicing is my own choice.” 

a very, very judgemental look. he returns it with a tug of his lips. 

”… you really do like being ordered around, don’t you?”

suguru shrugs. playful. ”makes me feel needed,” he purrs, watching you wolf down the breakfast he made.

once you’ve had your fill, he’s quick to gather the silver tray in his steady arms, and you do your very best to hold back from thanking him for the meal. it aches a little, but you can’t give in — you don’t have a choice. you can’t allow yourself to be anything other than the most ungrateful, annoying royal in the kingdom.

anything to snap his clockwork heart in half.

— a week passes with no particular developments. you try your damndest to bother him, but suguru is stubborn. stubborn enough that you’re starting to doubt he’ll ever leave you alone, no matter how much you ignore him, or hiss at him, or whine at him to make you an annoyingly specific assortment of breakfast foods.

he never stops smiling, no matter how bothersome you’re being. the tick-tock of his patience remains unbroken. 

(so for now, you figure you’ll just have to adjust.)

a sense of contentment simmers in the open air, when suguru knocks at your door, waiting for a groan and a grouchy come in. it takes you a few moments longer to respond than what he’s used to, and he notes that you sound a little less irritated when you do.

as he steps over the threshold, bowing his head instinctevely, he’s met with the sight of you fully immersed. holding a paintbrush between your fingers, lifting it, movements delicate, self-assured. like it comes to you without thinking. you’re seated right by the window, enough for the would-be daylight to flicker in. as it stands, the weather is still sour. 

he walks up to you, as always, never more than a few steps away.

and, for a moment, all he does is watch you. silently, as you dip your brush in smeary cobalt paint, a splatter of colour on the white canvas. melting together with the indigo and obsidian. there’s a certain rhythm to it, a kind of dance between you and your mind and the painting in front of you — not even close to being finished. a dip of your brush blooms into a jaw, a flick of your wrist into a set of fangs. cobalt cream and silvery edges, an imitation of what you saw in your sleep. murky, blurry, a dream-like clearing in the woods. 

as you work, a sense of relaxation smooths along your sinuses. coaxing you into breathing out, into letting your clenched jaw rest for a while. turning all your irritation into brushstrokes. into a hungry, hungry wolf. 

finally, your knight opts to break the silence.

”you’re quite talented.” 

it’s an earnest comment. filled with respect, not the idle flattery you’re so used to. and despite yourself, you can’t help but grin — glowing a little beneath the praise. prideful, smug, almost giddy. he watches intently as your expression shifts, as those fleeting flickers of joy dance along the contours of your cheekbones. as you lap up his praise like the chamomile tea he served you this morning.

suguru smiles. you have a cute side, he thinks. for no more than a mere moment, he finally feels as if he’s getting somewhere; getting closer to breaking that thorny, thorny shell of yours. closer to meeting the little lamb beneath the wolf’s hide.

but your mind quickly catches up to your body, realizing that your lips are curled up into a pleased smile, and you clench your jaw again. mindful not to let him see it. painting makes you far too careless, too unguarded; you have to be mean.

stuck in a bout of frustration, you put a little too much force into the motion of your fingers, a small slip of the hand. but that’s all it takes. suddenly, the smooth, calm sea of fur on the canvas turns violent, a little more unruly, and you withhold a wince. doing your best to mend the damage. flick, flick, across the canvas, as if to appease the hungry wolf. 

from behind you, a tiny exhale. laced with a kind of stifled amusement, one that makes you snap your jaw in his direction. brows knitted in anger.

”what?”

suguru clears his throat. ”nothing, my liege,” he hides a smile behind his knuckle. eyes gliding across the murky smear of fangs and fur, interest piqued. ”i’m just curious… why a wolf?”

a huff. briefly, you consider ignoring him, but….

(something in his tone convinces you not to.)

”… i saw one,” you admit, absently, staring at the blue and gray of the canvas. flick, flick. violet, navy, a little more depth. ”in my dream.”

silence. your knight doesn’t respond. surely, he must think you childish; everyone else does. why would he be the exception? why did you tell him anything at all? 

a sense of regret mixes with the paint. the weight of a brush in your hand truly does make you careless, doesn’t it?

”… huh.”

a clenching of teeth. you muster the will to turn your head, just to give him a questioning look, a silent aggression. biting before he can. but he’s not looking at you; he’s looking at the painting, the wolf that isn’t quite a wolf yet, just blue and gray on paper. a blur of messy motions.

then he shakes his head. ”no, nothing.” 

you quirk a brow. 

but you don’t say anything. falling silent, falling back into the rhythm of it all, painting until you grow bored of it. the wolf looks at you both, still thoroughly unfinished, jaw half-painted, no trees or knights to keep it company. solitary, blurry; baring its fangs towards no one at all. a sorry spectacle of teeth.

— a couple days later, as you’re walking through the castle with suguru in tow, still adamantly refusing to curl your fingers around his bicep, a loud crash breaks you out of your hushed banter.

the two of you share a look. it came from farther away, just beyond the next turn, a certain hallway decorated with delicate vases. one the castle maids desperately tried to keep you from, when you were younger, worried about your habit of jumping around while pretending to be some sort of feral animal. worried, of course, about the safety of the porcelain rather than the safety of the child.

it doesn’t take a genius to figure out the source of the sound. and, lo and behold, what waits beyond the turn ahead is a crying boy and a broken vase.

fat tears cascade down his reddened cheeks, silent fear knit into the way his face is scrunched up. he can’t be older than six or seven; one of the maid’s children, you assume, the kind that doesn’t have the luxury of making mistakes. he looks panicked, down on his knees, holding a large piece of porcelain, painted flowers etched into the front.

what a mess.

when the clicking of your shoes reaches his little ears, he looks up at you with wide, shameful eyes. still sitting amongst the littered shards, the spilt water and irises soon to wilt. it reminds you of something, a memory you don’t quite want to recall; a different child, tiny and alone. taught to feel shame at the moment of their birth. 

it makes your pace falter, a bit, but suguru moves without hesitation. long, careful strides, one foot after the other. 

he crouches down in front of the boy, gentle as he takes the shattered piece of porcelain from his tiny palm. so he doesn’t hurt himself. ”hey, hey, it’s okay,” he soothes, speaking even softer than usual, his voice like a flurry of feathers and jasmine petals. ”are you hurt?”

he’s patient. smiling comfortingly, considerate, grounding, a blanket of wool like the one forming on the border of the horizon. but the child continues to sniffle and hiccup, curling into a ball as if readying for a strike. like an abandoned puppy.

you sigh.

after a moment’s hesitation, you’re stepping forward, figure slipping from the shadows and coming into view. joining the miserable pair, the jagged shards on the marble floor. 

there’s a cold, cold look in your eyes when the boy raises his head to meet them.

a flick of your wrist; you wave your hand once, then twice. ”shoo. hurry up.” 

he blinks. tears clumping his lashes together, cheeks flushed from the panic of it all. he stammers when he parts his lips. ”b… but —”

”didn’t you hear me?” comes a scoff, harsh, cutting through the air. right through the fear and panic. ”that was an order. just run back to your mommy already.” you cross your arms, shaking your head in disapproval. mimicking the king, though you think it’s lost on your spectators. ”all that crying is making my head hurt, geez.”

a series of hesitant blinks. crumbling beneath your commanding gaze, the child stumbles to his feet, sparing suguru one last unsure little glance before scurrying off. the sigh that slips from your lips is quiet, barely audible, tinged with relief. 

when you look down to the floor, you find that suguru is already looking at you; a furrow to his brows. angry, for once. just a tiny, tiny flicker of distaste. you reward him with a cold smile. 

(so this is how you get under this skin. cruelty, aimed not towards him, but towards the defenseless. 

what a picture-perfect, self-destructive little knight.)

just as the child turns the corner ahead, you hear the echo of a maid calling out from behind you. her voice is dripping with fatigue, exasperation, a flurry of sighs you’ve grown far too familiar with.

”your highness! what have you done now?”

there it is, you think; the curtain call you’ve been waiting for. with a swift turn of your heel, sheepish expression ready to go, your focus shifts onto one sole objective — act annoying.

”walked into a vase,” you chirp, proudly, just the slightest bit theatrical. gesturing dismissively towards the broken spectacle, as suguru raises himself from the floor. ”my bad. not my fault you make them so easy to break, though.”

she inches closer, with a disapproving stare, and you hear a tick-tock in your ear. sensing the limit of her patience. ”i’ll have you know these vases are expensive,” she clicks her tongue. ”do you truly think you can go around breaking whatever you please?”

”… well. i mean… i do kind of own this place, don’t i? or — i will.” you tilt your head, faux contemplation on your features, shifting into a spoiled smile. ”so — technically — i broke my own vase. no harm done!”

”… my lord —”

”quiet.” suguru stiffens, ever so slightly, following your sharp whisper. ”don’t fuck this up.”

he looks at you, silently. not saying another word.

(there’s a shame in his eyes that you don’t turn your head to see.)

it doesn’t take long for the maid to shoo you away, pinching her brow at your carefree laughter, bitter at the prospect of cleaning up your mess. she makes sure to give suguru a sweet smile, though, and doesn’t bother to hide the sympathy in it. sympathy for him, such a handsome, well-behaved knight, forced to service such a brat.

the smile he gives her in return is a stiff one. almost, almost cold. but he bows, and follows your retreating form, until you’re all alone together.

the walk is silent. maybe just a little heavy, as you try to ignore the stare burning into your skin, trying to swallow your own displeasure. it’s subtle, something you learned to internalize long ago, but it’s there; a slight sadness. you don’t enjoy getting yelled at.

a thick silence stretches on, before crumbling into dust. you aren’t sure how much time has passed when a certain velvety voice curls around your senses.

”your highness.”

he’s come to a standstill, again. you really should just ignore him and keep walking. but you still, anyway, following his cue, turning towards him with a look that says what now? — you aren’t sure what to expect. certainly not the sentence that ends up spilling from his lips, like a spring breeze through an opened window, tinged with something you fear may be close to fondness. 

(in your chest, your heartbeat tick-tocks.)

he smiles, gentle, with eyes that see right through you. and he speaks. 

”you’re actually kind, aren’t you?”

…

”… huh?”

he pays no mind to your stupefied expression. continuing, unperturbed, eyeing you with a look you distinctly dislike — as if he’s trying to glimpse into your mind. ”the vase,” he hums. ”you took the blame, even though you didn’t do it.”

a huff escapes you. face hardening, setting into firm lines. ”that wasn't intentional,” you grumble, defensive. ”i just wanted him to leave.” 

but suguru shakes his head. ”you could’ve left when the maid came. but you stayed, and lied, and got yelled at so he wouldn’t have to.” a second passes, silence thick with meaning. intentional on his part, you’re sure. ”is that not what you’d call kind?”

another moment gone, little tick-tocks of your heartbeat counting down. you part your lips, but no sound comes out, as you stumble for words to say. irritation stirring in your veins. or is it nervosity? you think your skin feels a little hot, suddenly. 

just what the hell is happening?

”i’m… i’m not — ” you bite down on your lip. harshly. stammering, voice cracking a bit, to your great dismay. ”… not kind. i hate all of them.”

”but you protect them,” he whispers, ”look after them.” his smile doesn’t waver, never ever, but you’ve never seen it look quite this knowing. and suddenly, he’s closing in on you, gazing at you with laughter in his eyes. 

you try to stand your ground, wanting nothing more than to flee, curl into yourself, scratch at him until he leaves. but your throat feels so dry, all of a sudden, a sensation that only deepens with the next words he breathes into life. 

”a little sweetheart who pretends to be all big and bad…” he eyes you up and down, a meaningful look, raven locks moving as he tilts his head. towering over you. ”is that what you are?”

nothing. no smart reply comes to you. all you can muster is a harsh glare, a low hiss crawling up your throat, like you’re preparing to lunge at him. it serves as a warning, but the amusement in his eyes doesn’t fluctuate. ”you…”

he chuckles. raspy, breathy, a shiver down your spine. ”your acting is even worse than mine.”

”shut up,” you snap, baring your teeth. it comes out almost like a growl, hot and heavy in your veins, and you don’t understand where all this emotion came from. strangling you, bubbling up within your bobbing throat. ”you don’t — understand me, okay?”

no one does. 

and that’s fine. you don’t want them to. 

(you just want him to stop looking you so fondly.)

”not yet,” he admits, eyes fluttering shut. a thoughtful hum on the tip of his tongue. ”… but i think i’m beginning to.” 

he’s looking at you, again, amber and honey and raven lashes, lapping up every hint of a tell in the way you shift from foot to foot. speaking like he knows you, like he’s known you all his life. ”you act difficult — scare everyone away… but deep down, you love them, don’t you?”

a scoff. desperate. ”no.”

”you want to loved,” he continues, not allowing you to flee. relentless in his pursuit of whatever he imagines must be hidden inside your soul, beneath all those layers of frost. ”understood. everyone does.”

”not me.”

”your highness.”

…

the knight continues to look at you, and you avoid his gaze like it could burn you into cinders — like it could turn you into dust. but he parts his lips, anyway, and speaks. so sincere it makes your chest hurt. words that echo through the endless hallways of the castle, against the surfaces of glass that line the walls. words that make your skin flush under the shadows of rain soon to fall.

he smiles, wide, teeth showing. and he speaks. 

”that was very, very kind of you.”

silence. so thick you wonder if you’re about to faint, or fall to the floor, or something equally embarrassing. a sentence so simple shouldn’t be making you feel this way, this weird. you don’t understand why it makes you feel anything, anything at all, and you don’t understand why your eyes suddenly feel a little glassy.

(someone saw through the act.)

”… whatever,” you squeeze out, at last, but it sounds a little meek. a tiny puff of air. turning around, sharply, blinking rapidly to shoo the tears away. ”i just didn’t want to hear that brat whining. it was hurting my ears.” 

suguru bites back a coo.

as he watches your back retreat, hurrying back to the comfort of your room, he’s almost certain that he’s making progress. that your walls are beginning to crumble, slowly but surely, bit by bit. the path before him clears — a thorny, foggy path through the woods, until a sunsplatter falls on the ground and tells him where to plant his feet. 

it’s not much, barely anything, but suguru’s always liked his hunts blindsighted. 

you turn a corner, and he follows suit. sparing a passing glance at the clouds on the boundary of the horizon, the sole ray of sunlight breaking through. and then he’s catching up to you with long strides.

(it’s his duty, yes, but he doesn’t think he’d mind it so much — getting to know his kind, misunderstood little lord.)

sadly, disappointingly, to your great shame — you begin to grow used to suguru’s presence in your life. constant, always close behind, always ready to be of service. as infuriatingly patient as ever. it’s a stretch, but you may have become just the slightest bit fond of it. 

maybe, possibly, you’ve even silently decided to stop trying to scare him away. stop acting so difficult with him, all the time.

or, well — sometimes.

”take me outside, please?” you whine, bottom lip jutting out into a deep pout, accompanied by a flutter of your lashes. 

the voice that spills from your lips is hopelessly meek, pleading, so sweet you’d get cavities if you didn’t know how fake it was. effortless, perfected, your one god-given talent; an irresistible pair of puppy dog eyes. 

suguru answers with a smile, tight-lipped. ”no.”

a beat.

”aw, come on,” you whine, barely resisting the urge to stomp your feet. frustration bubbles up inside your veins, trickling down to your wrist, nails digging into your palm. ”why not? you’re supposed to listen to my every command!”

”still no, sweetheart.”

a series of grumbles scratch at the base of your throat, but suguru pays them no mind. patient, patient, patient. he’s even kind enough to ignore the way you pointedly avoid his gaze after the term of endearment slips past his lips. ”sorry, but that part is non-negotiable. you know i don’t have a choice.”

you do know. but it still makes your mood sour, pulls a sigh from out of your lips. he moves closer, familiar silver tray in hand, dragging a chair to where you’re seated by the windowsill.

”i did bring you this, though,” he gestures towards a particular glass bowl, filled with red berries. they shine like rubies in the light. ”strawberries, like you asked for. wasn’t easy to get a hold of.”

he places the tray right next to you, smiling as he takes a seat. ”cheer up, hm? don’t be so grumpy.”

your pout remains, but you do settle down a bit. just the teeniest, tiniest bit. definitely not because he was kind enough to indulge your cravings.

”… thanks for breakfast.” 

suguru beams, and you avoid his gaze, like always. biting into one of the rubies, the soft murmur of thanks still burning your tongue, soothed by sweet nectar. he lets you flee, lets you continue on like nothing happened, like it isn’t obvious how much you’ve warmed up to his presence. 

”you’re welcome, my lord.”

…

(even after spending more than a month together, he still won’t call you by name. won’t even entertain the idea. why does that bother you so much?)

peacefully, your morning ritual continues. the same as always; you eat, while suguru watches, a sweet smile on his lips. the silence remains until he opts to break it.

today, he sounds a little hesitant.

”say, your highness…” he picks at a piece of lint on his cloak, absentminded. ”could i ask you for a favour?”

you almost drop your fork. gaze snapping up to meet his own, as a few silent seconds tick on by. tick-tock, tick-tock. then you clear your throat, regaining your composure. trying to sound nonchalant. 

”what is it?” you probe, cutting across the yolk on your fried egg. watching the orange seep out, trickling down, sinking into the crust of your toast. suguru hums. 

”a friend of mine — he’s also a knight…” he wrings his hands together, legs parted. tapping his heel on the floor. ”we’ve been sparring together for a while. once a week, at least. but ever since the king hired me, we haven’t been able to.”

you watch as his gaze flickers down to his lap, then up to you again. it’s smooth, charming, but you still think it seems a little out of place. he must not be used to asking for favours.

”i was wondering if you’d be willing to accompany me? just down to the training fields by the castle.” his fingers tap against his bended knee, slow and methodical, from pointer to pinkie. ”the king gave us permission to spar there, but i’m obviously not allowed to let you out of my sight…”

you bite back a huff. obviously. he waits for a response that doesn’t come.

”… so?”

you meet his gaze, expectant. hopeful, maybe. it’s a nice touch — matches with the amber of his eyes.

”would that be alright with you?” he inquires, again. you think he sounds just a tiny bit unsure of himself.

a moment passes. silently, you look down at your lap. folded hands, itching to do something. something fun, new, exciting. 

your tongue forms around a wish. it spills into the air like a shooting star, a meek little whisper. ”… i wanna swing a sword.”

suguru blinks. once, then twice. ”you…” he tastes the words on his tongue, turning the image of you around in his head. ”want to swing a sword?

you nod. glancing at him, coughing a little under your breath. summoning just a bit of audacity, eyes trailing towards the sword by his hip. longingly. ”… i’ll only watch you spar if you let me try it.” 

a brief pause. he studies you intently, a mystery he’s yet to solve.

then he chuckles, light and airy, full of mirth. a sound you’ve grown fond of. ”well, okay. that’s fair.” he rises to his feet, smiling down at you. ”thank you, my lord.”

you don’t respond. but your eyes glitter with excitement, as you dutifully finish your breakfast, wolfing it down. waiting patiently for him to head down to the kitchen with the tray, for him to change into his training gear. 

when he knocks at your door, he’s wearing a flimsy little blouse. almost see-through, if you squint your eyes enough, exposing his bare skin. you think you see a scar curling up from his chest, reaching for his shoulder, just below it by a hair. and you can see his biceps, the fat, the muscle, practically begging to be bitten.

(tantalizing.)

he’s speaking to you, saying something, but you tune him out. focused on trying to restrain your growing urges. when he reaches up to fix his hair, tied up into a bun, the muscle of his arm twitches.

and, suddenly, you can’t contain yourself. 

giving in to the salivating temptation, you grab hold of his bicep, sinking your teeth into it — gentle, but enough that he feels it, enough to leave a set of teeth marks soon to fade. gnawing at it like a dog with a bone.

suguru blinks. pupils wide, quirking a silent brow, quick to smooth over the surprise in his eyes. 

you don’t move. teeth planted against the fabric, the firm muscle beneath it, surprising even yourself; his arm just looked so biteable. you wonder if he’s put off. upset.

but, as always, he’s eerily placating. like nothing you say or do could rock the ship of his patience, an endless sea. smooth, airy laughter flits past his lips, giving way to an indulgent smile. he studies you with fascination, like you’re a creature he hasn’t encountered before.

ever so gently, he grabs hold of your jaw — and the warmth of his touch shocks you into letting it go slack. before you can say anything, he’s rolling up his sleeve. exposing the tender skin.

”go wild, your highness,” he grins, offering his arm up like a lamb to a hungry fox. a teasing mirth in his eyes, his voice coming out as a low purr. ”i don't mind a mark or two.”

to your horror — it flusters you terribly.

you cough. taking a step back, averting your gaze, suddenly disinterested. feigning indifference, anyhow; that was definitely a scar. and a cool one, too. you think you might even have caught a glimpse of a birthmark or two. 

”i’m… just keeping you on your toes,” you stumble for an excuse, still unable to look at him properly. missing the way he stifles a bout of laughter. ”for your training, y’know? gotta stay on your guard.”

”of course. i appreciate the help,” he quips, fond, as he gestures for you to take the lead. ”he’s waiting for us. are you ready?”

for a second, just a second, you consider grabbing his arm. letting him guide you. but the thought is fleeting, like a bundle of peach blossoms, brushed away by the sunshine seeping in through the window’s glass — illuminating the marble flooring. 

a mellow excitement simmers in your bones. 

you head down to the training grounds with a pep in your step, and your loyal knight follows suit. just behind, always, wearing a smile you can’t see.

”suguru!”

the man that greets you with cheerful fervour, seated cross-legged under a peach tree, isn’t quite what you expected him to be. 

when you heard knight, you imagined someone a bit more… intimidating. but this guy is far from imposing. a little shorter than suguru, brown locks stopping right around his ears, exposing his sunkissed skin. freckles scattered across his nose and cheekbones, a happy little grin curled right around his lips. 

he’s cute. a bit like a puppy. not very knightly, though.

”haibara,” suguru greets, a mellow warmth to his voice. the man in question shoots up from the ground, stumbling towards you both, excitement in his hazel eyes. suguru gestures towards you. ”this is the royal heir. the one who doesn’t like having their hand kissed.”

your head whips towards him, an angered flush to your cheeks — you’re almost sure that he’s smirking, giving you a teasing glance, but haibara’s exclamation prevents you from voicing any protests. 

”hi!” he beams, bowing deeply, so sudden that you jolt a bit. his head whips up instantly, brown locks stirred by the breeze, voice warm and smooth. like honeysuckle nectar. ”thank you so much for letting us spar, your highness! i’ve heard so much about you!”

”… um.” your gaze falls down to a pebble on the ground. unsure of how to act, murmuring under your breath. ”you — it’s… no need to thank me. i wanted to get some air, anyway.”

he continues to look at you, eyes shining with a pure kind of cheer. glittering, honeyed and sweet, too bright to look at directly. you hear suguru exhale amusedly to your left. he’s looking right at you when you glance towards him. 

his hand inches closer to his scabbard, fingertips trailing down the leather. ”should we get started?”

haibara brightens even further, if possible. ”oh, right!” he exclaims. ”you wanted to try swinging a sword, your highness? that’s so exciting! is this your first time?”

a blink. you aren’t really sure how to handle this guy; he’s a bit too sunny to be snarky to. like a fuzzy ball of sunshine given human form, bouncing on the balls of his feet, tail practically wagging behind him. all you can muster is a weak cough. ”uh, yeah.”

”well, you’re here to learn.” suguru speaks up. guiding you both towards the center of the field, hand still at the sword on his hip. ”let me show you.”

in one smooth motion, he’s pulling it out of its sheath, a stripe of silver absorbing the rays of the sun. glimmering, slicing the blue sky in half. 

you’re a little awestruck.

and then he’s facing you. leaning forward, with a familiar tilt of his head, offering the blade with a smile. ”do you want to try swinging it around a bit?”

barely containing your excitement, you nod. making grabby hands at it.

that makes him chuckle. he makes no move to stop you when your fingers curl around the hilt, only parting his lips for a quick warning, a split second too late. you take it into your arms. ”careful, it’s a bit —”

— the sword clatters to the ground with a thud.

silence.

haibara breaks out into laughter, sudden, fond and warm, but enough to have your cheeks burning. fresh with embarrassment, humiliation, before you even hear the breathy chuckle that slips from your knight’s lips.

”… i was gonna say it’s a bit heavy,” he hums, closed knuckle in front of his lips and obscuring his smile. ”i’m sorry, my lord. do you —”

”whatever.” a hiss escapes your throat, and suguru winces. he knows where this is going; knows a bundle of thorns just erupted from the stalk of your spine, knows you're about to get defensive. ”like i’d ever want to touch your dusty sword. get — get real.”

he tries again. patient, patient. the familiar tick-tock of his never-ending kindness. ”hey, we aren’t making fun of you,” he soothes, hoping it’ll make your edges soften. like scratching a feral dog behind its ear. ”it’s understandable. you weren’t expecting it. i’ll let you try again, hm?”

a tiny pause. 

(you’re being childish, again.)

brows furrowed, hanging your head, you kick at a pebble on the ground. having collected yourself a bit. ”… maybe next time,” you finally speak, still grumbling. after you’ve spent some time lifting weights in your room.

suguru tilts his head. speaking softly. ”you sure?”

”yeah.” taking a step back, you raise your head to meet his gaze. ”i’ll just watch you. it’s fine.”

”… okay,” he exhales. leaning forward to pick up his sword from the ground. ”i can spar with you next time, if you want. you’ll be a pro in no time.”

he gives you another sweet smile, bangs fluttering with the breeze; painted in cerulean sunshine. he’s so gorgeous it makes you angry.

a sharp huff. ”don’t patronize me,” is all you can mutter, meeting the eyes of the knight by his side. standing up straighter. ”haibara,” you call. ”knock him around a bit for me, okay?”

from the corner of your eye, suguru pouts.

but the puppy-knight only grins, as bright as the sun in the sky. ”you got it, your highness!” he salutes, cheeks flushing with giddy excitement. 

as you sit on the benches a little farther away, dragonflies buzz in the air. fleeting glimmers of chartreuse and cerulean, chirping happily, keeping you company as you watch the knights spar. the clangs of their blades, the elegance in the way suguru moves. a violent little waltz. he’s sweating, just a bit, but you can see it, droplets glittering in the sun. he looks like he’s having fun. 

he looks like himself. like he isn’t holding back, isn’t acting obedient or well-mannered for the sake of pleasing his superiors. like this, here and now, he looks wild, free, a dog that turns into a wolf under the glow of the sun. 

for a second, your eyes meet — just as he narrowly avoids a slash. 

and he smirks, ever so slightly, suddenly gaining a little more momentum. flashing a brief grin, sunlight reflecting off his white teeth. you huff. heat crawling up your neck. 

show off.

”excuse me, your highness?”

the sudden voice snaps you out of your stupor. mesmerized, by the spectacle before you, the glimmer of their blades and the sight of your knight’s smile. it’s an unfamiliar voice, close, close enough that your head turns to meet the stranger’s ugly grin — inching closer still.

(uh oh.)

— just up ahead, lost in their own worlds, are two knights; huffing and smirking and narrowly dodging each other’s strikes. suguru takes the lead, as always, guiding haibara into improving his swordsmanship. but they both learn from it. and it’s fun, lighthearted, a respite from their more gruesome duties. 

it’s helped suguru more times than he can count; those tiny flickers of normalcy, in a wholly unpredictable profession. a life of bowing and bowing and killing what needs to be killed.

slash, slash, and then two steps back. the same old dance. haibara’s starting to lose momentum, he notices, adam’s apple bobbing with his heavy breaths.

so suguru stills. ”alright, that’s enough for now,” he calls, stretching idly. craning his head, looking around him absently. he wonders if you’re still watching. ”i think i see what the problem is.”

haibara perks up, obeying without a word, wiping the sweat off his forehead and walking towards his friend with a sunny smile. ”okay, great!”

but suguru isn’t looking at him, anymore. 

he’s looking towards the benches, where his little lord is seated, speaking to an unfamiliar man. one who currently has his hand on their forearm, caressing it. you look guarded, irritated, a little like you’re about to bare your teeth. trying to pull away, but he doesn’t let you. and suguru recognizes that look — the one that means you’re about to start biting and hissing, inching your claws into whatever’s within reach.

(not to injure, but to ground yourself, he’s learned. like how you clutch onto the fabric of your clothing when you’re nervous, sink your nails into your palm. not to injure, but to feel safe.)

in the blink of an eye, he’s making his way towards you. beckoned by his duty, his natural instinct, a protective itch that curls around his ribcage and crawls up his throat. large strides, much swifter than usual. he moves without thinking, and he’s there before he has the time to form a coherent thought.

with as much gentleness as he can possibly muster, he grabs hold of the stranger’s arm. smiling, tight-lipped, cold. ”excuse me, sir,” he greets, ”i need to borrow them for a moment.”

the man meets his gaze with a sour look. bitter, ugly, oddly possessive — like he thinks he owns the arm he’s holding. it makes suguru want to teach him a lesson, show off his sword, but he resists the temptation in a way you never could. his expression is a warning, though, enough to scare most rowdy drunkards and snobby royals away.

and it works. the stranger looks to you, briefly, before finally letting go of your poor arm. something rigid in suguru’s jaw finally relaxes. ”who are you?” comes a question, as the man turns to face him with a look full of contempt. ”their knight?”

before suguru can say anything, you’ve hopped off the bench. clinging to him, with a firm nod; your arms around his bicep. ”yeah. he is.”

(suguru fails to stifle a smug smile.)

with a string of bitter mumbles and a silent frustration, the man scurries away. hesitant, only after being met with another warning glance from the knight in front of him. intimidating, far less subtle, towering above him like a predator over their prey.

as soon as he’s out of sight, your knight turns to you, scanning your face for signs of discomfort. loyal, attentive. ”are you okay?” he asks, a silent shame in his voice. if only he had noticed sooner. ”did he do anything to you?”

you shake your head. ”it’s fine. probably one of the king’s friends — stops by every now and then.” a sigh, a little fatigued, following your explanation. ”they’re mostly harmless. just creepy and touchy.”

”that doesn’t sound very harmless…” suguru lets you pull away, quick to hide the disappointment that flashes in his eyes as you do, waving haibara off with a silent gesture of give us a minute. ”don’t worry. i’ll keep an eye out, from now on.”

still a little guarded, you nod. letting suguru guide you by the small of your back, taking a seat on the solid bench once more. together, this time. 

”there are a lot of those types around the town square,” he exhales, weary, stretching out his limbs before leaning forward. elbows resting on his bended knees. ”they’re a pain to deal with. i’m sorry you have to.”

”are there?” you ask, tone laced with curiosity. ”in the town?” 

”well, i’m sure you’ve heard. that place is a bit of a mess, these days…” a click of his tongue. ”more work for the knights.”

a dragonfly settles on the bridge of his nose. suguru blinks, smiling gently, until it flutters away with a raspy squeak. fading away, melting into the blue paint of the sky. you bite down on your lip. 

”… i haven’t.”

he turns to look at you. raising a brow.

”i haven’t heard about it at all. the king told you, right?” you meet his eye with a rueful smile, before leaning back, nose turned up towards the sky. for a second, you think the air smells a bit of rain. ”i’m not allowed to go out into town.”

your knight falls silent.

so you continue. grinning, with no humour to it. maybe a bit eager to overshare, to break the silent rules you’ve been given. the secret tastes like honey on your tongue. ”i’m a bastard child. he probably told you that, too.” you wouldn’t be surprised. ”thinks it's optimal for everyone involved if i just stay cooped up in the castle.” 

closing your eyes, your voice drips with something close to longing. barely above a whisper. ”i haven't been to the town in a couple of years, now.”

…

he only hums. ”i see.”

(there’s sympathy, in his amber eyes, but you don’t turn around to see it. you don’t turn to look at him until he’s finished sparring, and haibara’s about to leave. 

you wonder if he’ll meet your gaze the same way as before.) 

— that evening, suguru knocks at your door right as you're about to fall asleep. three rapid knocks, the same as always, knuckle against wood. rousing you from your rest.

when you open it, he’s holding something out towards you.

”here,” he says, voice set to a mellow tilt. upon closer inspection, he’s holding a bottle. transparent, see-through, stuffed to the brim with sea glass. smooth little colourful pebbles, green and blue and pink and orange, like frozen little camellias. ”for you, my lord.”

blinking sluggishly, you take it into your arms; holding it up in front of your eyes. when the light of the moon flitting in through the curtains hits it just right, it blossoms with colour, sparkling with every shade you’ve ever seen. shining like a heap of jewels, in your hands, like something out of a picture-book. magical.

it’s mesmerizing. 

”i asked haibara to get it from the town,” he explains, drinking in your expression of awe. ”this one lady — she collects them herself. i see her by the beach nearly every time i go there.”

when you look up, his smile is serene. peaceful, if just a little bit tired. but he looks pleased, lips curling around silky syllables. ”i thought of you.”

it’s odd, you think. you aren’t a stranger to gifts; you get most of what you desire if you just say the word, an easy way for the king to keep you compliant. as if to make up for the plethora of experiences you’ve missed out on since your birth. and you’ve had more than a couple suitors, men and women, eager to gain your favour. 

but this — this particular gift…

…

”it’s pretty,” you murmur, finally, unable to voice even a sliver of the emotions clogging up your chest. shying away from his gaze, feeling your heart pulse against your ribcage. ”… i guess.”

suguru just smiles. always, always, always. no matter what you do. ”i’ll get you something else next time,” he promises, ready to go back to standing guard outside the castle. ”get some sleep, okay? be good.”

and you can’t bring yourself to protest. not even a tiny huff of don’t tell me what to do. you can’t bring yourself to do anything but nod, soft and pliant, still gazing at the bottle of sea glass in your hands. like you might turn into one of those transparent pebbles, if you wish for it enough.

that night, you dream of waves crashing against sand, the taste of seafoam on your tongue. every colour in the world. a newfound, reawakened wish — a wish to see more of it.

”are you trying to sneak out again?”

owlishly, all you can do is blink. propped up on the windowsill, immersed in the process of tying pillowcases and bedsheets together to form a rope. caught in the act — by none other than suguru, standing by the threshold, hand on his hip, watching you with silent disapproval. you didn’t think he’d come check on you this late.

a gulp. ”… no?”

and he sighs. walking towards you, brows furrowed, running a hand through his raven locks. you can tell he’s trying to be a little more sympathetic, this time, but it only makes the bitter taste on your tongue thicken. 

”look — i know it’s not fair to you, but the king and queen specifically ordered me —”

”i get it,” you cut him off, with a hiss, a little harsher than you meant to. you soften your voice before continuing. "i know. okay? i know.”

resigned, but frustrated, you clench the silken material of the bedsheets. glaring at them like it’s somehow their fault that the queen couldn’t bear an heir, that your father has a knack for sleeping around. like it’s their fault that he’s so ashamed of your existence that he doesn’t want you integrating into society on anything other than his own terms, until he’s dead and gone and doesn’t have to take accountability anymore. 

like it’s their fault that it’ll always be like this, forever, that it’s better not to hope for more.

(why can’t you just accept that?)

the knight before you exhales. troubled, watching your nails dig into the fabric, watching the way you bite down on your lip and rapidly blink. all signs of your frustration, your sadness, that you always try so hard to hide. 

”hey. how about this?” he tries to get your attention, voice soothing enough to coax you into raising your gaze. ”i’ll tell you a story instead.”

he stifles a chuckle, at the dubious look you send his way, teetering on the edge of a glare. slithering towards you. ”i’ve seen a lot of places. i can tell you about them, if you’d like.” he takes a seat right next to you, on the windowsill, a slice of the moon in bare view. ”what do you want to know?”

you’re silent, for a second. gnawing at your bottom lip, in contemplation, the tiniest bit of nervosity. like you aren’t quite sure if you’re allowed to speak your wishes aloud.

”… the woods.”

suguru blinks. a little caught off guard. 

his silence makes you want to bare your fangs, a bit. misinterpreting it as judgement. your voice comes out cold. ”what?”

but he’s quick to smooth over his features with a smile, as always, cocking his head amusedly. ”sorry — i was expecting you to say the sea, or something,” he stifles a chuckle. “it's the woods that you're so curious about?”

you pout. ”… you can see them from here.”

his head turns towards the window’s glass, squinting his eyes to see the sea of dark green in the distance, a cluster of thick trees. he hums. ”yeah, you can. well… that particular spot isn’t too bad. not many bandits or beasts.” your gaze stays glued onto his lips, every word that spills from them. ”there are wolves, though. this side of the kingdom is crawling with them.”

”they sell their fur,” you state.

(that’s one thing you do know. you spent more of your childhood around wolf pelts than your own parents. they might as well be your legal guardians.)

suguru nods. ”they do. it's a big portion of the kingdom’s exports… general market, as well.”

a frown tugs at your lips. you think of your fluffy childhood guardians, unable to howl or even make a sound; hunters turned decorations.

”isn’t that… kinda fucked up?”

he smiles, revealing no emotion. ”do you think it is?”

you only shrug. ”i’m not surprised that they eat us.” you think of all the stories you’ve heard, the fairy tales you grew up with. ”… if i was a wolf, i’d hate humans too.”

”would you, now?” familiar amusement, seeping from his tongue, soft crows’ feet by his cedar eyes. ”good thing you aren’t a wolf, then. we’re lucky.”

”mhm. you’d be my first target.”

that makes him chuckle, a little deeper this time, and you drink in the glimpse you get of his teeth, the fondness that dances across his face when he looks at you. 

a sudden urge overtakes you. 

”… i wanna know about something else.”

”oh?” he tilts his head, soft locks framing his kind eyes. ”and what would that be, my dear?”

”you.”

… 

for a moment, the mask falls. a silent, subtle kind of surprise, something in the way the tips of his fingers twitch that tells you he’s caught off guard. it coaxes you into continuing, following through with your question. swallowing the embarrassment. ”i wanna know more about you. how you became a knight, and… stuff.”

suguru looks at you with a strange glint in his eyes. undecipherable, unspoken, just watching as moonrays glide across your soft skin. ruffling your hair. 

a hum buzzes in his throat. he scratches at the back of his neck, resisting the urge to dodge your question. clicking his tongue. ”… well.”

anticipation blooms in your eyes, and you cross your legs, waiting patiently to hear him speak. he can’t deny you, when you look at him like that — so suguru simply exhales. a breath of indulgence. 

”it’s not a very interesting story,” he leads, closing his eyes in remembrance. ”they scouted me when i was pretty young…. a bit of a troublemaker, honestly, but i got lucky." memories flash behind his eyelids, fresh bruises, sliced fruit. bittersweet. ”ended up around some powerful people. they liked me. knighthood felt like the right choice.” 

he meets your entranced gaze, speaking with sincerity, devotion dipped in honey and holy water. sinking deeper still. ”it’s my purpose in life,” he breathes, a flurry of whispers on his tongue. heavier than either of you know. ”truly.”

you cock your head. ”being a knight?”

”protecting the weak,” he says. recites. like he’s said it a million times before, in the face of beasts, in the reflection of broken mirrors, a mantra to live and die by. ”protecting those who can’t protect themselves.”

the look in his eyes frightens you. deeper than the deepest lake, dark and murky, dragging him down. a devotion that smells of iron, tastes like steel. mania disguised as loyalty.

(knights love duty. almost as much as they love dying for it. that’s what your father always says.)

”but, honestly — this kind of thing isn’t bad,” he breaks you out of your trance, grinning sheepishly, almost boyishly. ”it’s been a while since i had so much fun on the job… thank you for that.”

he’s looking at you, right at you, into your eyes, an expression reserved for you and you alone. terribly earnest, grateful, a sincerity he wouldn’t show anyone else. ”honestly.”

you can do nothing but avert your gaze. swiftly, meekly, feeling heat crawl up your neck, blooming across your cheeks like the branches of a plum tree. suguru grins, gulping down the slightest coo — but he can’t resist the urge to poke fun at you a bit.

”… you’re a shy one, aren’t you?” he searches for your gaze, chuckling when he doesn’t find it. when you don’t let him. ”can’t even look people in the eye if they’re being nice to you… how precious.”

”oh, shut up,” you groan, glaring out into the night sky. blinking slowly, drowsily, biting back a yawn that your attentive knight still manages to notice. 

(he looks a little enamored.)

”ah… is my sweet little lord getting sleepy?”

”no,” you scoff, far too quick. ”i’m… tired.”

”of course.” he reaches out, carefully, to tuck a loose strand of hair behind your ear. ”tired — not sleepy. that would be outrageous, wouldn’t it?” 

a yawn. ”it would.” 

low laughter bubbles up at the base of his throat, like seafoam, melting roses. deep and summery. ”alright. that’s enough stories for tonight, i think.” and with that, he gets up. ”let’s get you to bed, hm?”

rubbing your eyes, absently kicking your legs, you give him a slow nod of your head. making grabby hands at him that you’re sure you’ll be embarrassed about in the morning — but it feels easy, to be greedy, to know that your wants won’t be ignored when you’re with him. ”carry me, suguru.”

an indulgent smile. he doesn’t say anything, only curling his arms under your thighs, lifting you up and cradling you to his chest. you can feel his firm muscles, like this, trace them with your fingertips, hear the beating of his heart. tick-tock, tick-tock. a lullaby. a sense of safety, when you can’t tell where your heartbeat ends and his begins.

lost in that fuzzy, sleepy feeling, a blink away from falling into dreamland, fatigue washes over you — but you cling to his sleeve, even as he tucks you in, dragging the blanket up to cover you properly. 

”suguru,” you murmur, so quiet you doubt he hears it. ”will you tell me more stories tomorrow?”

”of course.” right before sleep coaxes you into its cradle, you feel the weight of his palm on your head; ruffling your hair. ”as many as you want, your highness.”

he smiles, as your eyes flutter shut, at the soft little breaths that flow from your lips. before he slips out, he blows out the candle on the nightstand, a silent prayer that your dreams will be kinder to you than his. 

— one week of nagging later, suguru’s resolve finally crumbles. it’s progress, at last, a tiny crack in his clockwork heart. 

but for once, it works in your favour.

”do you really want to see the outside world that badly?”

he’s got an arm locked around your waist, stopping you from one of your numerous escape attempts. you’ve gotten bolder, sneaking away the moment he takes his eyes off you, but suguru isn’t easy to fool — catching up to you just as you stepped outside the castle, now stuck in place under the portico. it’s to be expected, with that sixth sense of his, the one that seems to alert him as soon as you think the thought to get him in trouble. 

but you still can’t help but pout, huff and puff, pushing at his chest in a helpless attempt to break free. he’s sweet about it, gentle, but entirely unmoving. like a big, annoyingly handsome rock.

”what do you think?” you scoff, narrowing your eyes at him. ”no, of course not. this whole time, i’ve just been trying to escape for fun. like, as a bit. how could you tell?”

he rolls his eyes, and you break out into a grin. ”mind the sarcasm, please.” he barely resists the urge to pinch your side; letting you loose, instead, trusting you not to scurry away. he’d catch up to you instantly, anyhow. "i’m just saying, it might not be as interesting as you think —“

”what are you, stupid?”

”what did we say about letting people finish their sentences?” he raises a brow, and you try not to cower. rolling your eyes, instead. suguru just sighs. ”i understand why you want to leave. but you have a good life, here. better than most.”

”… i know that,” you grumble, biting down on your lip. a resignation in your eyes that your knight can't protect you from. ”i just —”

you sigh. 

”it’s just so suffocating.”

suguru falls into a contemplative silence. weighing his options, studying the flicker of emotions in your eyes, the tapping of your idle fingers. hands eager to fidget with something. 

moments pass, one at a time, a familiar lullaby of pitter patter ricocheting off the ground just outside your vision. the air smells of marigolds, burning wood, wet concrete. the beginnings of summer.

finally, he makes up his mind. 

”okay, okay.”

when you look up from the ground, what awaits you is an outstretched hand. a familiar palm, and a familiar knight, with a familiar smile on his face. ”but don’t get used to it, alright?”

…

you part your lips, but no sound comes out. gaping like a fish out of water, hunting for the right words. suguru waits. patient.

”w — hold on,” you stutter, eyes blooming with hesitant hope, studying him intently for any signs of trickery. ”you mean — seriously? like, for real?”

he shrugs. ”it’s my duty to keep you happy.” devotion clings to his tongue, sweet indulgence. ”figure i can make an exception this once.”

another moment passes.

(there isn’t a hint of deceit in his features.)

a grin breaks out across your lips, like a joyous bolt of lighting, and you lunge into his chest — throwing your arms over his broad shoulders, jumping up and down, planting a wet kiss against his cheek. bubbly, giddy, heart racing with disbelief. you don’t even have it in you to be bratty. ”thank you, thank you, thank you!”

suguru makes a choked out noise, a little comical, breath hitching in the back of his throat. stabilizing you with a palm on the small of your back, patting it softly, once or twice, before retracting his arm and pulling away. clearing his throat. ”… you’re welcome.”

(his ears burn a cherry red.)

”but this is our little secret,” he reminds you, firmly, collecting himself. or trying to. ”got it?”

”yep.”

”if anyone asks, you —”

”yep, yep, understood.” you brush him off, still grinning brightly. ”don’t worry! i won’t tell a soul, i promise. swear on my mother’s grave!”

your knight exhales. worried, maybe, a little exasperated — mostly just trying to mask how infectious your joy is. how addicted he is to it, now that he’s seen it up close. he’s only caught glimpses in the midst of your painting sessions; to see it directed at him instead of the wolf on your canvas is a treasure he won’t soon forget. 

sneakily, stealthily, like a pair of bad dogs, the two of you begin your journey to the woods on the horizon. wearing cloaks, sticking together, until the sun begins to set and the sky drains of colour. 

and before you know it, it’s right there in front of you. a narrow path into the woods, a cluster of trees, a world you’ve always dreamed of. dark and gritty, beautiful, brimming with bugs and sights yet to be seen. creatures you could only ever see in picture books. a dreamlike world that takes shape before you, like paint splattered on a canvas, as you follow suguru’s lead — right behind him, clinging to the fabric of his cloak, excitement flooding your veins. heart thumping erratically in your chest. 

when you’ve made it to a tiny clearing, you stop in your tracks. suguru’s holding a lantern, a flicker of orange in the dark green world before you, attracting fuzzy moths. proud trees stand tall all around you, keeping guard, mushrooms and forget me nots scattered across the dewy patches of grass. keeping them company. 

everything smells of life, earth, oak wood and thinly veiled secrets. you want to live here forever.

suguru turns to look at you, noticing the way you’ve stilled. completely mesmerized, bewitched, eyes gleaming with childlike happiness. he tuts, doing a bad job at hiding how pleased he is. the sound makes you meet his eye.

”careful,” he croons, inching closer. fingertips ghosting over your wrist, right above your pulsepoint. ”could be wolves around. stay close.”

you tilt your head, feigning confusion. ”i’ve already got one right next to me, though?”

the comment earns you a flat expression, unimpressed, and it pulls a giggle from out your throat. the corners of suguru’s lips curl up, unwillingly, as he shakes his head; exhaling a tired breath. exasperated. 

then he hums. ”well, at least you're aware.”

suddenly, he’s walking forward, slipping away, cold air replacing the buzzing warmth of his skin on yours. hot blood, ever flowing, hidden within his veins — pumped out from his heavy heart. it’s there and then it’s gone. tick, tock, one step after the other, until he’s turning around to face you again. unfurling his outstretched hand, waiting for you to grab hold of it. 

his long hair sways with the breeze, smooth and unburdened, black like the night sky above you. a starry glint in his eyes. his voice comes out deep, a raspy lilt, like the scraping of metal against concrete. 

when he smiles, you think you catch a glimpse of sharp teeth.

”will you trust this wolf to keep you safe?”

under the web of shadows cast by the trees, barely illuminated by the shivering moon, all you can do is watch him. his gleaming eyes, the curl of a toothy grin on his lips. a knight, a wolf, a friend.

your protector. 

finally, finally, you grasp onto his offered hand. his fingers intertwine with your own, a puzzle finally solved, and his palm feels a little calloused. skin littered with tiny scars, years of training and killing, but it’s still somehow so soft. nice and smooth. 

he’s warm. and now he’s smiling at you, like you put all the gold of the world into his palm. 

”yeah,” you grin, a little cheeky. stepping closer, clinging to him without restraint, knowing he’ll indulge you. ”keep me safe, wolfie.”

his laughter rings out into the air like a cicada song, sweet and nostalgic. or a howl, maybe. it makes you want to gnaw at his bones; memorize his taste, so you’ll never quite be without him. it’s not your fault he looks so chewable when he’s smiling like that.

”i will,” he promises, vows, pledges, hand on his heavy heart. knights and their rituals. ”you don’t have to worry about a thing. not while i’m here.”

and you don’t. you know you don’t. because suguru is the greatest knight, the coolest wolf, and his clockwork heart never ceases to tick. it won’t break under pressure, no matter how much you push — so you don’t bother holding back. wrapping both arms around his bicep, cozying up to him, tugging at his cloak with a pep in your step. 

”c’mon, c’mon!" you beckon him forward. "i wanna see how everything looks up close.”

and he just lets you manhandle him, for a bit. following your lead. ”of course,” he croons. ”your wish is my command, your highness.”

the night stretches on, seemingly never-ending, like the branches of the oak tree you find in the heart of the woods. broken, beautiful, stretching out in all directions — as if wishing to engulf the world. a garden of forking paths, covered in jagged bark, but still somehow so warm to the touch. you’re sure there’s a heartbeat in there, somewhere. maybe a couple of swords too.

all good things must come to an end. but you refuse to leave the comfort of your mossy haven until suguru promises to bring you back, someday, maybe, if you play nice. it’s a deal that you’re willing to take.

only then do you begin your journey back towards the castle. having gotten your fill, for now, left to wallow in the newfound sights etched into your memory. still clinging to your knight like a child with their favorite doll, babbling into his ear about something or another. about how you’re almost sure you saw a wolf in the bushes, about how pretty the cicadas’ songs were. how you’re gonna convince him to take you there every single day.

the sun is yawning, stretching its endless limbs out, getting ready to rise and envelop the world. the sky is a calm blue, soon to be painted orange and pink, but you aren’t tired at all. you must sound a little incoherent, but suguru nods along to your every word. listening attentively.

so kind. so patient. sure, he’s a tease, and more than a little patronizing — but you don’t think you’ve ever liked anyone this much before. it’s weird. it’s fun. 

(you wonder if he feels the same.)

”hey, suguru?”

he keeps his eyes locked on the road ahead, but still spares you a brief glance, just to let you know you have his full attention. a second of hesitance is all your sleepy brain allows you, curiosity enveloping most of your functioning thoughts.

”would you… i mean. if i was, like… a different person —” you pause. suguru quirks a brow, and you suddenly feel a little flustered. ”um, what i mean is! like, if the king ordered you to be someone else’s knight… would you protect them like you do with me?”

he blinks. once, then twice, meeting your hopeful gaze. stifling a yawn, and parting his lips. 

”obviously.”

…

your face falls. lips dropping down into a soft pout, rich with disappointment, paired with a barely audible huff. suguru furrows his brows, playfully, smiling in the way he always does when he’s about to tease you.

”ah, my bad,” he croons. ”were you expecting something else? a… forbidden romance, perhaps?”

before you can begin to protest, warmth rushing to your cheeks, he stops walking. dropping down on one knee, dramatically, with a flutter of his cloak. theatrical. 

gently, he grabs hold of your hand, bringing it to his lips as his eyes flutter shut. you bite back a squeak. his voice comes out low, sultry, honeyed — so heavy with emotion that it’s obvious he’s faking it. ”the only person i yearn to protect is you, my liege,” his breath feels hot against your skin. ”i could never love another. i exist for you, and you alone.” 

suddenly, he’s smirking. you feel it against the knots of your knuckle, right before he cracks a single eye open. glimmering with deep amusement. ”… is that better?”

and you huff. sharply, doing all that you can to avoid getting flustered, his heavy gaze burning right into your own. it really, really doesn’t work. ”you’re so mean.”

”not mean,” he chuckles, rising to his feet. dusting off his cloak. ”i’m just… managing your expectations, my lord. they’d have my head on the chopping block if i so much as touched you without their consent — you know that.”

another little huff. ”i never said i wanted you to…” 

(you do, though.)

suguru hums. ”i’m your knight,” he reminds you, as always, until you get tired of hearing it. steadfast, irrefutable. ”that’s all. remember?”

something bitter settles on your tongue. 

but you nod. ”that’s right,” you hum. ”mine.”

a teasing mirth flickers through his eyes, like the first setting sunrays reflecting off cathedral glass. reverent, dyeing the world in all the colour it asks for. and he chuckles, raspy, amused. ”possessive little thing…”

that’s right, you remind yourself. he’s your knight. your lying, teasing, playwright of a knight. always wearing a mask, hiding behind a suit of armor, playing one role or another. only baring himself under the light of the sun, when no one is around to see. he’s infuriatingly patient, endlessly loyal, the greatest bootlicker you’ve encountered in your life. but he’s kind, too. maybe a little too kind. 

and he always, always kneels. 

such a large man, all toned muscle and tall stature, broad shoulders and a firm chest — kneeling at your feet. like a loyal dog. with a rustle of armor, a flutter of fabric, a sigh and a smile. as soon as you ask for it.

”c’mon. let’s hurry back,” you hear him say, biting back another yawn. ”before anyone finds out i kidnapped you. don’t want me to get in trouble, do you?”

”i kinda do.”

a silent look. unimpressed. it’s the most sincere expression he knows how to make, and also the most comical. ”careful,” he looks ahead, hiding his amused smile. ”wolves eat bratty heirs, you know? better stay on my good side, your highness.”

a bout of sleepy giggles. you curl an arm around his bicep, putting your weight onto him, but he doesn’t stumble. ”sorry, mr wolf! please, by all means, eat my dear father instead.”

”don’t be disrespectful.”

”sorry,” you quip, entirely unapologetic. ”i forgot you had a crush on him. that’s my ba — ow!”

suguru brushes by you, walking forward, hiding his growing grin. leaving you with an ache in your hip and two wide eyes. 

”hurry up, my lord. we don’t have all day.”

”wha — you pinched me!” you stumble after him, barely containing your quiet delight. ”they’ll have your head for this, you know!”

silent laughter. you don’t need to hear it to know that it’s there, just ahead of you, tucked into crows’ feet and a curl of his lips.

suguru always kneels.

but, sometimes, he talks to you as if you’re equals. sometimes he takes the lead, pinches your hip, tells you off a little. teasing, patient, but there’s an edge to him that he doesn’t always hide. sometimes, he lets you see it, and you figure that must make you at least a little bit special.

sometimes, he feels like your best friend.

careless, careless, careless.

how could he ever be so careless?

everything blurs into a puddle of red. murky, sticky, everywhere all at once. all he sees is red, all he feels is burning. his heartbeat pulses at the base of his throat, bottom lip bruised and aching from hours of sinking his teeth into the flesh, over and over — every single nerve of his body running on adrenaline and nothing else.

(adrenaline and fear, maybe, but they’ve always been synonymous. never one without the other.)

the slaughter is mindless. suguru knows that’s how they like it, anyhow — knights aren’t supposed to think. they don’t need to. 

suguru certainly isn’t. cutting his way through the bandit’s den, practically growling, sword painted such a dark shade of red that he doubts he’ll ever be able to wipe it clean. harsh slashes, pure instinct, wildfire inside his veins, iron on his tongue. 

suguru isn’t thinking, he’s hunting. sniffing like a bloodhound. eyes scanning the area before him like a hungry beast.

suguru is hunting — for you.

and when he sees you, at last, tied up and barely conscious, he’s almost certain he’s going to grow claws, fangs, matted fur. that he’s going to turn into a beast beneath the fading moonlight.

but he falls to his knees, instead, like a wounded dog. throwing his burganet off, with a clatter, crawling closer. heaving breaths, untying you with shaky hands, greedy fingertips hunting for a pulsepoint —

and only when he finds it does he allow himself the luxury of breathing again.

when you come to, veins dragged down by a fuzzy sensation, your vision is blurred. foggy, dull colours on the canvas of your mind, gradually washed away as you struggle for control. you stir, and finally see the figure above you. 

what you see is a knight, a wolf, a beast beneath the moonlight. a kind, kind man.

suguru.

bloodied armor. sweaty, messy hair, sticking to his forehead. pure panic in his bloodshot eyes. he cradles your face, cold metal on your cheek, dirty and smelling of iron. he moves his mouth; you delude yourself into thinking that his bottom lip is trembling. forming around familiar vowels.

he’s saying your name.

there must be something wrong with you, you belatedly realize. the last one to do so. because you’re hurt, scared, but you still feel a skip of your heartbeat. 

(he finally said it.)

you muster all the strength at your disposal, eyelids fluttering. and you try to answer, you do, reaching for that thread between your brain and your tongue — but it comes out as a garbled little thing, more air than noise. 

it’s enough. the tense crease between his brows melts away, and he sighs.

”oh, thank the heavens.”

another sensation. he’s touching your hand, now, cold metal on warm skin, bringing it up to his lips; a shaky little exhale brushing against the knots of your knuckle. his lips are chapped. 

then he’s scooping you up, cradling you close, as close as metaphysically possible, as if willing to cut his stomach open to fit you inside. a firm grip, comforting, stable. desperate, a mother wolf carrying her cub to safety, by the skin of her teeth. his hair tickles your skin, but you don’t mind.

only when he brings you back to the castle does everything fall into place. he explains everything, as you sit in bed, still recovering. a sudden attack, from within the castle, a kidnapping. some enemies of the king, a scandal to do with you and your blood. something, something, something. you’ve grown used to not understanding why you keep getting hurt. and you’re too distracted by the sullen face of the knight in front of you to pay attention.

suguru wasn’t there to stop it — wasn’t there to save you, be your knight in dashing armor. the king had invited him to a game of chess, and you had been adamant in your refusal to join them.

so you don’t understand why he’s apologizing.

he’s smiling, but it’s weak, as flimsy as a piece of paper. his lying smile, tight-lipped, betrayed by the redness of his eyes, the puffy skin beneath them. dark crescents. he sits by your bedside and looks a little like he wants to curl into a ball. 

”i’m sorry.”

and ah, you think; there it is. guilt. always, always clinging to him, a ghost haunting him wherever he goes. it’s been there since the beginning, in the scar reaching for his shoulder, the nature of his never-fading smile. guilt, guilt, guilt. you wonder if he's ever gone without it. you wonder if knights begin to crumble when they stop feeling ashamed. 

he looks sad.

with a breathless inhale, you part your lips. you want to tell him that he has nothing to apologize for, that you’re fine now — that you could never be mad at him. not really, never truly, never at him. you want to tell him that he’s your favorite person, not just your favorite knight, that he’s allowed to make mistakes without demanding that he suffer for them. 

you want to tell him that it’s okay, really. seriously.

but all that leaves your lips is a meek little sniffle. as the shock of it all finally settles, sinking deep into your bones, the fear of being captured, the dull ache of your skull meeting the ground. you can’t tell him any of the things you want to, and you feel so awful — 

because suguru’s face falls. like you just thrust a knife into his sternum and twisted it. he looks like he could cry, too.

”i’m sorry,” his voice cracks, right down the middle. like a broken vase. ”i’m so sorry.” it’s not at all what you want to hear, but you can’t tell him that either. he’s bundling you up before you know it, dragging you into the comfort of his chest, one large palm on the back of your head; tugging you closer still. he smells of soap and oak wood and peach blossoms. ”it was scary, wasn’t it?”

and you nod. into his neck, wet tears brushing against his skin. not stable enough to act tough. you don’t think he is, either.

suguru exhales, shaky, clutching you like he could lose you if he lets go. lose himself. he knows you’re scared, but you let him soothe you. it means something, he thinks. it means something that you let him come so close, closer than anyone’s ever been. so he swallows the guilt until it’s no longer clogging up the back of his throat, if only so his voice can flow out through the gap, give you the comfort you need. just rubbing your back until you calm down, apologizing silently — over and over again. manic, like the tick-tock of a clock.

until your voice breaks him out of it.

”it’s not your fault.”

he stiffens. still holding you, feeling your heartbeat settle down, hearing your voice break out of your throat. it comes out as a weak croak, with just the slightest hint of disapproval.

he gulps.

”don’t worry about me, right now,” he hushes you. a silent plea. ”i’m not the one who’s injured.”

”suguru —” you sigh, almost a hiss. ”i hit my head. once. that’s all.” you wipe away the wetness of your cheeks, biting back a sniffle. ”… you’re acting like i’m fucking dying. cut it out.”

(for once, he’s relieved to hear that sharp edge of your voice. it means you’re feeling better.)

a weak inhale. ”… they kidnapped you. it must’ve been terrifying. please, just…” and a tired exhale. ”please just don’t strain yourself.”

”it wasn’t your fault.”

…

”your highne —”

”i’m serious.” you’re pulling away, suddenly, clasping onto his cheeks with your tearstained palms. squishing his face together. ”it wasn’t your fault. it was mine.”

he shakes his head, eager to protest, so you squish his cheeks with more force, and shake his head for him. like a misbehaving dog. ”nope. if you even think about apologizing, i’ll start crying again.”

he lets out a huff. frowning, sadly, a downcast pair of eyes.

”don’t pout. i’ll bite you.”

it’s slight, barely even there at all — but you think the corner of his mouth twitches upwards, just by a hair, exhaling through his nose with just the slightest hint of amusement.

he places his palm over yours. 

a moment passes, slow and steady, both of you catching your breaths. calming down, letting the fear of it all seep out of your aching bones. you hope the warmth of your skin against his soothes him as much as it soothes you. 

”… you know, your highness,” he murmurs, softly. meeting your puffy eyes with his tired pools of amber gold. ”there’s something i never told you.”

you blink. he continues.

”just the night before the king reached out to me… i had a dream.” he musters a weak, exhausted little smile. ”dreams… i don’t have them very often. and when i do, they’re nothing good. but this dream…” 

his eyes flutter shut. a curtain closing, a raven taking flight, the tick-tock of a heartbeat. you can’t look away. ”it stuck out to me.”

silence.

your voice comes out soft, like the bedsheets beneath you, the man before you. a tiny breath of a question. ”… what was it about?”

he smiles. smoothing a thumb over your knuckle, reverent, as if memorizing every ridge and dip.

”a fox.”

…

”it had…” his hand slips from the small of your back, reaching for your cheek, pinching it gently. ”a cheeky smile.”

your skin heats up, beneath his touch. and you blink, not saying a word, because there isn’t any need to. all the words you could ever want have already been painted out.

(well, maybe not quite all.)

”suguru.” you lean close, just a little, drinking him in. and he listens, as always, so you don’t bother beating around the bush. swallowing any embarrassment your tired mind can still feel. because your knight is right in front of you, eyes still red from crying, and you want him to be happy. “i think you’re my favorite person.”

he stills.

then he’s burning up. 

”wha — where did that come from?” he stammers, a strawberry hue to his ears, his neck, the tips of his fingers. enveloping him like a blanket of warmth.

you only shrug. ”you told me the truth. figured i should return the favour, for once.” a giddy, exhausted smile. “we’re both awful liars, huh?”

suguru opens his mouth. then he closes it, again, desperate to collect himself. you think he must be a little too exhausted to, and you wish you could say you felt bad. ”you… you can’t just —”

he squeezes his eyes shut. sighing. giving up, the gears of his mind grinding to a halt. your grin blooms wider.

”hehe.” you poke at his flushed cheek, and he cracks a single eye open. ”you’re blushing.”

he huffs, leaning away from your touch, and you find yourself enjoying the reversal of your usual roles. very much so. he tries to smile, tries to get one up on you, but he only blushes a deeper shade of red once your words reach his ears. 

so he settles for using cheap tricks.

”you’re hallucinating,” he scoffs, shoving your head into the fluffy pillows all around you. ever so gently, listening to your muffled giggles. trying to stifle his own joy. ”go back to sleep.”

”my blushy knight,” you coo, and he drags the blanket over your head. biting down on his lip to stop himself from joining your bubbly laughter, blushing more than ever. 

(the word knight sounds very pretty, when it’s falling from your lips.)

”i swear,” he exhales, heavy and exasperated, but you can hear the smile in his voice. ”just what am i to do with you?”

it’s fond. delicate, even in his bouts of teasing, the light instances of manhandling. and you’re happy, because he’s not apologizing anymore, and he’s happy because you aren’t crying anymore. give and take. there’s a rhythm to it, a point where everything else becomes background noise, whether it’s memories of a kidnapping or a decade-old guilt.

he stays with you all night, even after you’ve fallen asleep. just watching you, safeguarding you, checking your pulse every now and then. content to watch as your chest rises and falls, with the tender ticking of your heartbeat.

that night, you dream of a kind, kind wolf, and a painting yet to be finished. 

before you lies a field of stars.

you’re seated on a blanket, with a pretty knight to your left, up on top of a grassy hill. daffodils bloom around you, sweet nectar hanging in the air, a field of sunflowers waving at you from below. dragonflies greet you with a scratchy song. 

everything is perfect. a midnight rendezvous, a picnic under the stars — suguru’s own idea. to celebrate the time that you’ve spent together.

(well, that part was your idea. but you’re sure he appreciates it, too.)

the basket next to you is filled with fruit and berries, marmalade and jam, bottles of herbal tea. suguru’s delicious sandwiches. you bite into one of them, humming happily, and he’s quick to brush the occasional crumb from the corner of your lip, ghosting over your skin with a smile.

there’s another basket, too, just in front of you, that you brought on your own. hiding a secret; one you're just about to unveil. 

you clear your throat to get his attention.

like clockwork, he’s looking at you. listening, when  you tell him to close his eyes, only giving you a questioning raise of his brow and an amused exhale. 

you’re quick to lean forward, uncovering the basket, revealing the secret you’ve hidden so well. suguru is still waiting, indulgent, patient. you feel a little hesitant, but still part your lips.

“… okay. you can open them, now.”

he does. instantly, two ravens taking flight, and the sight that awaits them is that of a painting; a painting of a wolf, in the middle of the woods, empty armors and wilted sunflowers all around it. dragonflies and dragonflies, a knight just out of view.

he stares, silently, and you do your best to hide your growing nervosity. even as he takes it into his lap, and your gaze falls to the blanket below you. ”it’s… not my best work, but —” his eyes stay glued onto the painting, as you stumble blindly for the right words to say. wringing your hands together, clutching at the fabric of your sleeves. ”i’d… like you to have it. i mean, unless you —”

”thank you.”

you raise your head.

suguru is gazing at the canvas with the softest pair of eyes you’ve ever seen. melting amber, crinkled at the edges, accompanied by a sweet grin. 

”i’ll treasure it,” he vows, meeting your eyes, voice dripping with warmth. hand on his heart, and you can’t even poke fun at it. ”always.”

his earnest acceptance is enough to fluster you, enough to make you feel as it your heart is about to collapse, but he continues to look at the painting with enough awe to fill an empty lake with water, and it makes you terribly shy. 

until his smile drops.

”uh, actually — i…”

now it’s your turn to stare, silently, as he fumbles with something in the basket at his feet. gentle, as he takes out glass jars and wrapped sandwiches. out comes a sheet of paper. 

then he’s clearing his throat. handing it to you, pointedly avoiding your gaze. ”i’m not an artist, so you know. i just…” he coughs, a little out of his element. “well. here.”

with delicate hands, you accept it, bringing it down to your lap. big, curious eyes taking it in.

it’s a sketch — made with coal, a little smudged, but awfully charming. pretty, delicate.

it’s a sketch of a fox.

wide-eyed, all you can do is stare. gaze flitting up to meet his own, his nervous expression, before falling back to the little canine. ”you — this…” back and forth, over and over again. ”for — ?” 

you point to yourself. 

suguru only chuckles. ”yes, it’s for you. who else?” he taps the pads of his fingers against the handle of the basket, watching you silently admire the mischievous fox. not saying anything; so he continues.

”like i said; i’m not an artist. you can always throw it away, if you’d —”

”i’m gonna frame it.”

…

”i'm gonna frame it,” you repeat, eyes shining with sincerity. a little manic. ”i’ll hang it on the wall of the castle hallway so everyone can see it. it’ll be there for centuries to come, passed down —”

”please don't —”

”d’you think a gold frame would fuck up the vibe? maybe a modest silver is best.” you turn to face him, ignoring his blatant embarrassment. ”oooh, hang on! father knows this guy who makes them with real minerals. i’ll just —”

”your highness,” the knight cuts you off, almost with a squeak. ”please. it’s just a dumb drawing. i just… wanted to give it to you. that’s all.”

a pause. you look into his eyes, flickering with hesitance, an earnest desire for your approval only. so you hum, albeit a little hesitant.

”… alright. if you say so. i’ll hang it in my room, then.”

he sighs; relieved. ”that’s better. really, you —”

”thank you.” you whisper, blinking away the wetness at your lash-line. staring at the sketch with a dreamy, dreamy smile. ”i love it.”

you grin, happily, practically beaming. suguru wants to keep it there, always, on those pretty lips; he wants to lay his life on the line to protect it. but something tells him that would just make it fall. 

finally, everything clicks into place. the air fills with the scent of herbal tea, fresh strawberries, acrylic paint and hushed whispers. your own ritual, repeated over and over, like a loving waltz. 

as always, it’s suguru who breaks the silence. shatters it with the tip of his tongue. 

”hey,” he calls, softly. “my lord.”

mouth full of bread, you simply look at him. chewing silently, attention piqued. swallowing with a gulp. he places his folded hands on his lap, exhaling a little breath. ”… i’ve been thinking.”

”uh oh.”

silently, he gives you one of those flat, unimpressed looks of his, and you quiet down with a grin and another mouthful of bread. he quirks a brow, exhaling amusedly, then shakes his head and continues.

”i retract my earlier statement.”

when you glance up again, he’s smiling. showing more teeth than usual, a little wider, a little wolfish. a little more himself. you want to paint it, keep it hidden away somewhere only you can see.

”if it was someone else — anyone else…” he trails off, tasting the words on his tongue. “i doubt i’d feel this way. i doubt i’d want to protect them as fervently.” his voice flows out like a river of gold, just a little scratchy. it always is, when it sounds this sincere. 

he meets your eyes, and everything falls into place. 

”you’ve become precious to me,” he admits. ”i can't remember what it felt like to not be yours.”

his tongue curls around a familiar set of syllables, and your name seeps from his lips like a prayer, a vow, a trickle of honey and wine. devotion sticks to his tongue, to the vowels, a heavy fondness — something devout. something you've only ever heard from the mouths of priests.

and then he’s smiling. 

”i think i’ll be your knight until the day i die,” he breathes, and deep down you know it’s a vow. “even if the king discards me of that title.”

silence. except for an increasingly loud mantra of tick-tocks, from the depths of your own chest, echoing in your ears. your knight is in front of you, and he’s yours, and he’s smiling like he loves you. like he always will.

”… suguru.”

he hums, eyes lidded, blinking slowly. serenely. he lets you cling to him, pull him close, practically dragging him into your lap.

”stay with me,” you plead, nuzzling into the crook of his neck. too desperate to feel embarrassed. ”forever. promise me.”

an exhale, right by your ear. it sounds so fond you could cry. 

“i promise,” he whispers, fingers intertwining with your own. a perfect puzzle piece, a functional clockwork. lifting your hand, bringing his glossy lips to your knuckle; where they belong. ”until death tears me away from you.”

”it won’t,” you deadpan, partly to distract him from the growing heat of your fingertips. mostly because it’s true. ”you won't let it.”

he smiles against your knuckle, breathing out an airy laugh. ”clever little thing…” his free hand goes to rest on your spine, as always, and you lean back to see him properly. knowing he’ll catch you if you fall.

“.. but yeah," he sighs. "i won’t.”

before you know it, you’re leaning back in. because his eyes are the warmest shade of brown you’ve ever seen, and his hair is just a little tousled, and he looks so kissable it aches.

his jaw trembles, a little, when you press your lips against the curve of it. his whole body seems to still, for a moment, and you pull back just to see if he’s blushing. he is. 

but he must have anticipated your teasing, because he’s tucking you under his chin before you can see it through. pressing you close. and he tuts, a click of his silver tongue. ”… you little tease,” comes a whisper. ”how am i supposed to hold back now?”

”don’t hold back, dummy,” you grin, muffled against the column of his throat. you just barely resist the urge to sink your teeth into the skin. ”you’re a bad actor, anyway. the worst.”

and he is. he’s been looking at your lips this whole time — he couldn’t be more obvious if he tried.

suguru laughs, breathy, overflowing with fondness. chest rumbling with the noise, blending together with the rhythmic thumping of his clockwork heart. ”okay,” comes a soft lull of his tongue. ”i won’t, then.”

a drowsy feeling overtakes you, just as you feel his lips meet the crown of your head. it’s not much, but it’s a start. and it’s tender, tender enough to get you choked up, to get you to close your eyes to stop any tears from forming. because one person in this kingdom understands you, and he tells you that he’ll never leave. and you think you can actually find it in you to believe him. 

one person’s clockwork heart never breaks for you, and maybe that’s enough to convince you to stop trying to push it there.

”you can sleep, if you’d like,” is whispered against your hair. soft, soothing, his palm on your spine. ”i’ve got you. always.”

(one person in this world can make you feel safe, with just four little words. and isn’t that something?)

so you doze off, on the shoulder of your very own knight. your favorite knight, always and forever, a sword at his hip that was forged to protect you. or so he’ll tell you, years from now, when he’s got you in his lap, when there isn’t any need for him to act anymore.

and you dream a perfect dream. a dream of a wolf, and a fox, and a garden of stars.

[mochiimadness]

Hello hello hello!! I really like your writing and hcs!! Made sure to check the bio if requests are open or not,, I can't find the rules so if I requested something that's not allowed or anything you can decline this request! ^^

If it's ok, may I request separate hcs for the rottmnt turtle bois with maybe a dinosaur mutant s/o?? I'm starting to see alot of dinosaur yokai s/os and I am absolutely obsessed with them!! If it needs to be a specific kind it could be a t-rex or velociraptor (I am very basic help) I hope this is ok though!!

Hi! My rules are in my pinned post :3 once I figure out how to use links and such on tumblr, I’ll add it to my bio so it’s easier to find!

The rottmnt boys with a velociraptor yokai s/o!

Neon Leon

Thinks you’re amazing

Admires your feathers and if you give him one, keeps it on a necklace

So you’re always with him!

He’s so cheesy

If you’re a tall yokai, he absolutely asks if you could give him rides

Please let him live out his dreams of riding an actual dinosaur

If you do, he may end up getting excited to the point of dramatically ‘fainting’ on the couch

He breaks out a cowboy outfit

“Ready to saddle up!”

He’s holding an actual saddle

He’s just joking

All in good fun ofc

If you help the turtles out in battles, he does beg you to ride into battle just once

“Please! I’ll look so cool- we’ll look so cool! Just once!!”

You two do look very cool

Being a velociraptor- with some training, you’d be an amazing fighter

Razor sharp teeth and claws, plus being built for chases?

No villain is going to stand a chance.

He also admires your claws

“Hey, you know- you could probably slice a pizza with these- “

Leo no-

He’s sneaking the pizza closer.

Leo.

They probably could though, just food for thought.

Don Tron

As a man of science-

He’s absolutely freaking out over you

Fanboying to the max

Not only are you an actual velociraptor (yokai)- you’re also his s/o????

He’s going to try the lottery again because apparently, he is the luckiest turtle in the world!

He’s going to be asking if he can run some tests on you,

“Can I take a quick DNA sample?? Ooo what about a test to see how many sheets of metal you can slice through! Oh wait- what about- “

Please be patient, he’s just really excited

You do have to remind him that technically, you’re not just a velociraptor- you’re a yokai

Which means your DNA is going to be a bit different from the standard dinosaur, and much more-

✨Mystic✨

Thankfully, he’s much more open minded compared to how he used to be on “mystic-ness”

Meaning- guess what, he’s going to try to run tests and data points on that too

Donnie

He’s trying.

When he’s not running a million tests, he’s standing nearby poking his fingers together nervously and asking if you could give him a ride

If you let him, he may just combust on the spot

Loves to gently run his fingers over your feathers

Loves how soft they feel

Whenever he’s anxious and needs to relax, he’ll ask if he can feel your feathers

One day, you give him a bracelet made of a few of your feathers so that way he could relax better even if you’re not around

He cries

Wears it all the time, and even builds a mini force field to keep it safe during battle.

Mystic Mike

He gasped loudly when he first meet you

“Oh my gosh!! You’re a real dinosaur!”

You two instantly hit it off

He may or may not slide down your back like a slide from time to time.

Loves your colors

He declares you his muse and immediately makes a painting of the two of you

You love it

He calls you his “chick-a-dee”

When asked why he responds, “Donnie told me velociraptors are the ‘ancestors of birds’- and chickens are birds!”

. . .

“Not that you’re a chicken-!! I just meant you’re adorable like one-!”

He’s so cute

He asks if he could paint you one day

If you agree, he paints all sorts of vivid colors on you- taking extra care with your feathers

You’re his masterpiece, muse and amazing s/o all at once!!

You two also color coordinate!

He’ll paint a few orange and yellow spots on you

Or paint some of your feathers orange

When he wants to match you, he paints his spots to match your colors!

If you go into battle with him, he trusts you so much that he asks you to throw him into battle

Literally

“Whip-o-rama baby!”

You use your tail to whip aside opponents with ease

He always cheers you on.

Big Red

He is in awe.

Especially if you’re larger than him

Not only are you this amazing velociraptor yokai-

You’re also his s/o??

He’s going to cry tears of joy.

He’s not as worried about accidentally hurting you with his spikes

Especially since you have razor sharp teeth and claws

Not to say that he’s not worried at all, he still takes care not to accidentally poke you

And you make sure to not accidentally scratch him

You two absolutely have a giant cuddle pile at least once a week

You usually have a pile of pillows with a blanket or two

But despite the pillow pile, you both mainly use each other as pillows

So adorable

His brothers have so many photos of you two cuddles up together

He loves to hold your face in his hands and press kisses to your snout

Loves when you let out loud, rumbling growls of joy

Thinks they’re the cutest sounds ever

In return, you wrap your tail around him and press kisses all over his face

He will let out loud churs

Which you think are the cutest sounds ever

You two ‘argue’ over who makes the cutest noises.

You’re ‘arguments’ are just you two going-

“No, you’re the cuter one!”

“No, you!!!”

In battle, he trusts you to hold your own and have his back if needed

And ofc he always has your back as well

Y’all’s plans usually consist of the two of you smashing through walls or smashing opponents

Between the two of you, no wall or villain stands a chance

Power couple

I hope you enjoyed!! Thank you for requesting!

Dino ‘purrs’ are my favorite thing right now afsgaha

Reblogs appreciated! :3

[modelbus]

Hi—I have a small request, and it’s ok if you don’t write it—I’m a pre-nursing student and I have my entrance exam coming up Monday and I’m freaking out about it. I was wondering if you could write something where Wilbur’s maybe comforting his s/o gearing up for the entrance exam, or maybe helping them study and making sure they don’t panic? Tysm in advance <<33

Good luck, you’re going to ace it!! <<33

Pairing: CC!Wilbur x Gn!Reader

Nervous (pre-)Nurse

“Take a break darling, this isn’t healthy.”

You barely lift your head from all the notes and books to look at your boyfriend try and reason with you. It was like you were in your own little palace of books and papers with how many things you had scattered around you.

“Just a little more and then I’ll come to bed.” You dismiss.

If you didn’t pass this entrance exam, you were doomed. Okay, maybe not really, but it sure felt like that. You were just trying to be a nursing student, and if you failed that meant you’d have to wait.

“You’re going to do great and we both know it. Please, take care of yourself.” Wilbur begs, crossing through your maze of stuff to stand behind you.

“I’m taking care of myself!” You protest, but think back on how many hours you’ve been studying and correct, “mostly.”

“And that’s not healthy.” He points out, hands falling to your shoulders. They start to lightly massage out the tension, warmth radiating outwards from him. Now that you’ve stopped focusing on words you realize just how cold you are. Wilbur always kept his flat freezing for some reason.

“I need to pass this.” You sigh.

“You will! I’ll even help you study tomorrow. But first, sleep.”

With another sigh, you make a mark of where you left off before closing the book.

“Alright.” You give in.

“Come on then. Bed and cuddles.”

“…you’re just touch-starved aren’t you?”

Wilbur shakes his head, denying your half-joking question. “It’s scientifically proven cuddles will help you.”

“Oh, if it’s scientifically proven.” Rolling your eyes, you stand up to head to bed.

Although you willingly settle down, resigning yourself to the fact that you’re done studying for the night, you can’t help but feel like shit. If you fail the exam, then it’ll be because of this. The night you took off.

Now that you’ve thought it, the idea won’t leave. It makes you restless, unable to close your eyes and relax.

“You’re thinking too hard.” Wilbur mumbles into your shoulder.

“Sorry, it’s stupid, I know-“

“Hey, no no no. It’s not stupid.” He quickly says, interrupting you. “Talk to me. The entrance exam?”

“Yeah. I just- ugh. What if I fail? What if I’m not studying enough?”

“What if you pass? What if you know everything on the test?” He counters. “Love, I know you. You’re smart and caring and going to pass.”

“But what if I don’t?”

“I’m an omniscient all-knowing being. You will. Besides, I have money. I have fame. What’s a little bribe?”

“Wil!”

“I’m kidding! You’re going to pass.”

“…thank you.” You say quietly.

“I love you. Pass or fail.” He reminds you.

He presses a kiss to the top of your head and you finally relax. Wilbur’s right. You’re going to pass. And if you don’t, then you’ll have his support for the next try.

“I love you too. Omniscient all-knowing being or not.”

“Good, because I’m not actually an omniscient all-knowing being.”

Unable to help it, you laugh. For the first time since you signed up for the entrance exam, you sleep at a reasonable time without dreaming of studying.

In the morning, when you cast a guilty glance to your study corner, Wilbur offers a compromise to make you eat breakfast.

“Let’s go out. You can tell me all about the mitochondria.”

“Is that the only thing you know from biology?”

“Maybe, maybe not. That’s why you should tell me all about everything.” He winks, grabbing your coat for you.

And when you finally sit down and take the exam, it turns out Wilbur was right. You pass with flying colors.

[base0h]

Hey!! I saw you write for op, so... Can i req something? 👀 Modern au but for kid & zoro with gn!s/o ✨ Thx!!

a/n - yes ofc!! Requests are welcome and greatly appreciated 💜 I hope that some headcanons plus a scenario is alr, ty anon! ✨

Warnings ⚠️ - g/n reader, modern au, I’m so sorry I bully kid 👍

Modern Kid & Zoro headcanons + scenario

Zoro

- I’m sorry this guy didn’t get good grades in high school

- he missed most of his classes bec he couldn’t find the damn room 💀

- he needs you to help him study

- ends up falling asleep during study sessions 🗿

- “Zoro are you even listening..?”

- “Hm? 1765 was WWII right?”

- “…no.” ._.

- He wears all baggy clothes, except for when he wears a white tank top

- He’s super intimidating, so at first he seemed a bit scary

- But once you saw how he literally got lost with directions right in front of him- he wasn’t that scary anymore 👍

- Back when he was crushing on you, he literally stared at you ALL class

- he blames you for all of his failed tests 💀

- When you catch him staring, he’ll make up an excuse

- “Oh there was a bird behind you.”

- “Zoro. We’re inside the classroom.”

- embarrassment ensues

- he’s lowkey possessive in a relationship

- gets really jealous too

- If someone starts eyeing you up and down, prepare for the bulky arm that’s about to wrap around your waist

- if he’s feeling ✨extra✨ then he’ll squeeze your ass and look back at the guy with a smirk

- Man doesn’t want anyone looking at you like that if it isn’t him 👌

- He actually really likes cuddles but will never admit that to you

- His favorite is when you’re snuggled up against his side, resting the side of your face on his (tiddies) chest

- His heart melts when you start hugging his torso and wrapping your legs around him 🥺

- No fr he’s going to die right then and there when you do that

- If you try to move, he will NOT let you move

- Like don’t even try- his arm will hold you there until the end of time

- he doesn’t openly give affection, kind of thinks it’s too “cute” for him

- He’s tough and he’s a moss head 👍

- And he gets so embarrassed if you ask for hugs or kisses in public

- His cheeks turn bright red, and I mean BRIGHT red

- He’ll look around to make sure not the entire crowd is looking at you guys, and he’ll give you kisses “discreetly”

- “Just- I’ll kiss you when we get home!”

- man didn’t realize he just yelled that out loud 💀

- Oh god. Everyone’s looking now-

- He’s grabbing your hand and literally running tf outta there 🏃‍♀️💨

- lowkey a bit of a tsundere lmao

- He wants to stay all tough and aloof, but how’s he supposed to do that with you-??

- He can’t go a minute without thinking about you 🥺

- ok but please help him graduate high school 😭

Scenario - Study Sessions 📖

You’ve decided to take on the challenge of helping your boyfriend, Zoro, study for the upcoming math exam next week. You knew exactly how Zoro wasn’t the best at studying.. But you wanted him to actually pass math with a decent grade this year. A lot of sulking and pouting came from him as usual, “Y/n, I can pass the test without studying..” He said, walking through the doorway to your room. “You’re just going to stare at me or fall asleep.” You replied, grabbing the math textbooks, as well as all of the different supplies you needed. Zoro blushed at your comment, trying to hide his flustered expression, I mean… Your comment wasn’t exactly wrong. “It’s your fault I fail the tests!” He replied angrily with red tinting the tips of his ears. “How is that even my fault-??” You retorted while dropping the textbooks on the table in front of you two. Zoro looked to be dreading this, his face looked like the world was about to end- “Oh come on- it’s not the end of the world if you at least try to study for once. Even I study! I don’t like doing it!” You said to him as he sighed, crossing his arms with a huff. “Fine.” He agreed, sitting down at the table in front of you both.

You started to explain the different things that were listed on the study guide. First off was calculating interest rates, Zoro was already dying inside. He loved spending time with you, but math ruins everything (it rlly does). “Ok, so then how would you do this problem?” You asked him, pointing at one of the word problems on the page. “I don’t give a shit about how Jonah has 45 apples that cost 3 dollars a month that increases by- whatever that number is.” He sighed with an irritated look on his face. You snickered at his comment, I mean he wasn’t wrong, these word problems were dumb as fuck. When he was writing down the process of the strategy of the problem, you peered over his shoulder, checking his work as he went. You were surprised, he was actually listening to what you were saying earlier! Is this a miracle? He hasn’t even fallen asleep yet 👍 Maybe all Zoro needed was some motivation? You didn’t have much to motivate him other than yourself, so maybe if you gave him some head pats it’d motivate him? You thought the idea was kind of dumb- but maybe it’d work on the moss head of a boyfriend. When he finished his work, he showed you the paper while you glanced over each number carefully. “Wow! Good boy Zoro.” You said, patting his head. You didn’t mean to say “good boy” it kind of just came out that way. You meant to say, “Good job” instead of good boy 💀 The room had a god awful moment of awkward silence. “What did you just say?” He asked, still wondering if you actually just said that. You didn’t answer, you just hid your face in the paper you were checking for him. Suddenly, his hand ripped the paper out of your hands and threw it across the room in a rush. He almost tackled you down, his movements were fast and strong. His strong arms pinned yours above your head, his waist nestling in between your legs.

“Good boy huh?” He asked you with a smirk, leaning down and starting to kiss along your collar, trailing up your neck, leaving little nips at your skin. He leaned towards your ear, laughing softly, his breath tickling your ears. His hand trailed down towards your stomach, holding your waist with his warm and coarse hands. “You’re the one that started this, are you gonna help me fix it?” He whispered into your ear, kissing your jawline softly. You nodded slowly, taken aback by his swift actions. When he laughed, it sent vibrations up your neck, making you shiver. “Good y/n.”

Kid

- He’s the guy who’s always heading to the principal’s office bec he said rude shit to the teacher 👍

- or he beat someone up

- or he “was being a dIsRuptIon iN cLaSs”

- all three tbh

- Yes you walk him to the principal’s everytime since the teacher trusts you more than Killer 💀

- No like he’s really smart! Just too angry lmao

- He could get literal straight As if he wanted to, but he doesn’t give a shit about school so-

- He doesn’t have to study for tests he already knows what’s on it, but still fails it bec he’s either busy bothering Killer or he’s saying rude things to the teacher

- “Not my fault you’re single- bitch.”

- “Office, now.”

- “Fuck this shit.”

- You always struggle to hide your laughs when this happens lmao

- he’s the guy no one even dares to look at, like they’re all deathly afraid of him

- Not only is literally fucking massive- he also has the angriest expression on his face 24/7 (rbf x10)

- Then you wave hello to him and he’s like: “oh- hey y/n.”

- Everyone: wtf. 🗿

- He’s soft only to you and sometimes killer

- He doesn’t yell at you as often as he does to other people lmao

- Oh and also I feel like he’d have this kinda dog

- His name is Cabbage (his fav food is cabbage rolls👍) idk why I thought of cabbage 😭

- He LOVES his dog sm- like when he gets home he’s like every dog owner

- “Ayyyy Cabbage!! I’m back boy!”

- It’s adorable I’m dying now 🥺

- Once you come over to his house, and you meet his dog, holy shit the dog loves you

- That’s a sign bro- 👀

- man instantly trusts you since his dog fucking loves you sm lmao

- You love cuddling with the doggy 🥺 it’s so fluffy and adorable

- It’s also 160lbs so be prepared :)

- Kid is kind of embarrassed about showing affection in public- like Zoro, he thinks it’s too “soft and cute”

- But if someone is like- eyeing you up and down? prepare for violence

- I don’t think that guy was ok after kid dealt with him

- Oh and you had to walk him to the office again 👍

- when he was crushing on you, his personality will completely change when he’s talking to you-

- “SHUT THE FUCK UP- oh hey y/n. I SWEAR TO FUCKIN-“

- ._.

- he turned tulip colored when he accidentally confessed to you

- “Oh yeah I like someone!” -you (let’s say you liked him too)

- “Yeah me too, it’s you- I MEAN- THE FUCK-“

- Man- 😭

- he even rehearsed this and it still went all wrong 💀

- oh and killer filmed the whole thing while hiding behind a pillar

- he got chased by kid for at least an hour after that 👌

Scenario - It all went wrong 💀

Kid was looking at himself in his mirror. He had a piece of crumpled up paper in his hands. He kept looking up and down, from the paper and then back to his reflection. “Uh- y/n- I like you. No fuck that sounds weird.” He’s been rehearsing his script for about an hour with Killer laying on the floor with a pillow over his face. Poor Killer had to endure all of Kid’s ranting about how amazing you were and how much he liked you. But, he was glad that his best friend had finally found someone like you, he thought you two would be perfect for each other! “I’ve liked you for a while… FUCK THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN ANIME- KILLER ARE YOU LISTENING?!” He threw the piece of paper at Killer’s stomach. Killer grumbled, moving the pillow as he sat upright, rubbing his eyes. “Kid. Just go do it. Standing here and talking to the reflection isn’t gonna help.” He said with a sigh, stretching his arms out behind him. “YOU’RE THE ONE WHO SUGGESTED I EVEN FUCKING PRACTICE-!” He yelled back, pacing back and forth, angrily stomping around with frustration. Good god he was so nervous to tell you those words. It was embarrassing for him, the huge, terrifying giant, Eustass Kidd. He wasn’t supposed to be feeling this way for you, not at all. But it was something about your smile, the way you carried yourself around, the way you’d always walk him to the office everyday. Those little moments made Kid’s heart flutter like it never has before.

He decided it. He’s just gonna go and do it. Not that hard right? He’s Eustass Kidd after all! As he walked down the stairs, his dog, Cabbage went to greet him happily, sitting in front of him with a visible smile on his face. “Ok, Cabbage, I’m gonna go finally tell Y/n. Do you think that’s a good idea?” He asked his dog, putting his hands on Cabbage’s head, ruffling his fluffy ears. Cabbage barked softly, head butting him gently as Kid laughed, “Alright, see ya Cabbage.” He said, patting his head before walking out the door. Killer peered down the stairway, gazing at the dog who barked at the door, seemingly saying goodbye to his best friend. “Do you understand him..?” Killer asked the dog. Cabbage whined inquisitively, tilting his head to the side as if he was confused. “Damn it now I’m talking to the fuckin’ dog..” He muttered to himself, walking down the rest of the stairs and opening the door. When Killer left, Cabbage laid on the ground, his head resting on his paws, his long ears almost covering his eyes. Now, he waited.

You were walking back to your house from some extra classes you had at school. Fatigue started to get to you, three more hours of math wasn’t exactly the most energizing thing in the universe.. Your head hung kind of low as you held both straps of your backpack. Kid saw you walking on the other side of the street, and he started to run across the busy streets. Horns blared as he jumped over several cars and dodged the approaching trucks. You looked in the direction of the ruckus, seeing Eustass Kidd sprinting towards you, barely escaping at least 6 car crashes. “Kid what the hell-?! The cross walk was literally over there!” You yelled, pointing at the intersection probably about four feet from where he decided to run across the street. Kid thought to himself, Ok- this is it- wait Killer said I’m supposed to lead into the subject. How the fuck do I do this-??? Kid asked himself, clenching his fists with anxiety. “Do you like anyone??” He finally asked, the awkward silence that spread in the air almost killed you both. NOT THAT SUBTLE IDIOT- he thought to himself, ready to die on the inside. “Uh- yeah why-?? do you like anyone?” You asked with a confused expression. Why was he asking you this? Was he going to tell you a crush of his?? You liked him.. But, you weren’t really sure if someone like Eustass Kidd could like you back.. “Oh uh- yeah, it’s you-“ He replied before stopping and realizing what he just said. His whole face turned bright red, What the fuck did I just say..?? He asked himself, internally panicking. He felt dizzy, he didn’t just tell you that on accident right? “You.. Like me? Really?” You asked softly, trying to confirm what he just said. Kid looked unbelievably frozen and lost, he was still trying to figure out how the fuck he confessed accidentally.

Killer was standing behind a pillar, holding his phone up discreetly, filming this entire situation for later. He’d make fun of Kidd afterwards. He almost couldn’t contain his laughter when Kidd accidentally confessed to you. He didn’t even know anyone could do that, but if it was Kid, anything’s possible. He didn’t realize that the direction of the sun was diagonal from his phone camera, so it slightly reflected some light in Kid’s direction. He didn’t even notice that it was shining right in his eyes-! “Where the fuck is that stupid light coming from-?!” He yelled, staring in Killer’s direction, squinting before having the most embarrassed, angry, and shocked expression on his face. “YOU FUCKIN-!” He started to yell, sprinting full speed towards Killer. He instantly got up from his position and started to run- what else was he supposed to do-?? “Wait- Kid! I- like you too!” You yelled to him, making him turn around with a blush on his cheeks. “Just wait there! I have to murder Killer!” He yelled, continuing to chase down his best friend. You couldn’t help but giggle, Kid always made you laugh, no matter how you were feeling. You felt so happy that he liked you back, maybe all those trips to the office weren’t so bad after all. <3

a/n - god this took me so long- school started up again for me 💀 I hope you enjoy angry man and moss head :)

<3

[soubiapologist]

seimei aoyagi meeting nisei for the first time: aren’t you tired of being nice

nisei: what

seimei: don’t you just want to go ape shitt

nisei: how did you pronounce the two ts out loud like that. that’s scary

(one month later)

nisei, frantically typing in his deviantart journal in a cold sweat:

d34r all muh Wacherz……. i am regretz 2 inform u dat i will be not online as much az yooj (dats da kewl kid spelling uv usual xD) bc i am running away with muh HAWT BF XD (YES i am BISEXAL fuk u if ur a homophoob btw get off muh page t(-_- lol kidding u can stay but U GOTTA WATCH AND FAVE AND COMMETN ALL MY STUFFS okay? XD)and ummmmmzzz well he did som crimezzzzzz loool xD he like burned down my skewl for meh cuz my teachers were SUXX and i didn’t wanna do my test anyway and he said he could get me owt of it and then OMG o_O;; well too late now lol XD ok also we aren’t bfs yet but omg i rly like him and once we get where we r staying i think he’s gonna make it OFFISHUL OMG O///////O anyway ya that’s why my update on my roxas/axel fic is gonna be late XD i was thinking of doing LEMON next time so make sure to stick around……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… KIDDING U PERVERTS XDDDDD weeeeellllll unless seimei says to write it…. mehbe then i will…… <_< XD that’s his name btw seimei isn’t it HAWT he’s such a irl bishie lol xD he doesn’t know kh but i think maybe we will play it together when we get where we’re staying omg isn’t dat kinda romantick? BARF well i hate romance it’s gay but with seimei it’s okay i guess XD oh btw i’m NOT friends with mimuro anymore cuz he’s too preppie and like he doesn’t like seimei OMG i think he’s just jealous and i KNOW we were working on that KH dating sim in flash together but i’m sozzy i just can’t do it anymore DO NOT support him u can even block him i blocked him also he said he was only doing the yaoi routes for me not cuz he likes yaoi so basically he’s homophoic too omgwtfbbq O_O who doesn’t like YAOI omg i hate his gay ass so mrrrrrch grrrrrrrr anyways okay well don’t call da cops on meh and DONT COME LEWKIN FOR MEH i’ll bring u Teh Updaytes sewn enuff so stay watched for more kh yaoi goodness x3 ok byebye ^_^

mood: 🤪 crazy

listening to: papa roach last resort

reading: the words i’m typing o_o

watching: myself typing XD

playing: kingdom heeeeeearts WOOP WOOP

eating: nothinggggg i don’t wanna get FAT omg it’s so close to FART

drinking: green tea ^_^

i think whatever happened with seimei and nisei is proof that edgelord scenemo kid shit is contagious