#this is also why i turn my askbox off now because i’m just. i’m scared ? yeah i’m scared

[dekarios]

At first i thought: you are extremely intense and you stress your self out easily and that you need to chill with remaking constantly.

but after a while i understood you actually you are totally valid and like its non of my business if you remake or not i like you and your content and reblogs enough to hop around behind you from blog to blog! I do hope that you are not stressing yourself out too much though!

skshdkhdkdkd i think it’s quite funny how different people can view this. i’m used to communities where people remake their twitter because they joined a new fandom and wanna start fresh in it, so they could remake multiple times a month. i’ve remade twice in a year and to some people that’s a lot! so so interesting how different people view this …

[lettersfromaphrodite]

[9.54]

―pairing : Bang Chan x fem!Reader ―genre : angst + fluff ― content warnings : merman AU, strangers to lovers, ⚠️ mentions of death because reader almost drowns. mentions of murder. don’t read if you don’t feel comfortable with it ⚠️ ―word count: 4.350 ― prompt : WHAT IF mermaids are the women thrown off ships because of the common belief sailors had about having a woman on the boat being bad luck? And mermans are boys thrown off the ship for various different reasons? As they sink to the bottom, legs tied together, they start to change slowly until they can breathe and use their tied up legs to swim - legs which eventually would turn into a fish tail. They drown sailors in revenge, luring them in by singing in their husky voices still stinging from the salt water they breathed.

― notes : this fic looks familiar?it is! I’m reposting ALL my works on this brand new blog and therefore please, bear with me! as always, my new askbox is always open and feedbacks are always welcome 💌

«Some of my men,» the Captain’s lewd voice spat, lifting your chin with the hilt of his sahrp sword, «are saying that you bring bad luck. What do you have to say about it?» the never-ending mumble of the pirates made you feel nauseous. You were able to stand on your feet just because you were roughly tied up to the mast, but exhaustion was starting to cloud your senses since you couldn’t remember the last time you ate or even drank some water. Sailing in the middle of the sea during summer was dangerous, especially if you were forced to stay out in the open every day. You didn’t answer to his question, both because the words were dying in your sore throat, and also because you silently vowed to yourself that you’d never spoke to the pirate crew that sinked the harmless ship you were travelling on and took you as a prisoner. You were the only one they decided to take as their prisoner, and contrarily to your expectations, they never did anything to you; they simply tied you up and left you there, probably waiting for you to die due to the unbearable heat.

If you had to be honest, you surprised yourself as well for your unexpected resistance; besides feeling incredibly weak, you never completely collapsed; instead, you lost count of how many days you spent with your body tied up to the ship’s mast. No one among the pirates had ever tried to approach you, they’d settle for staring at you from a safe distance, nervous and uneasy gazes locked on your frame accompanied with low mumbles which you obviously couldn’t hear.

Today, the sun was up high in the sky and surprisingly enough, they all decided to gather on the deck and suddenly acknowledge your presence, making you feel nervous but also making you feel as if your blood was boiling with sudden rage. You were tired, you were thirsty and hungry and on top of all, you were scared; you heard many rumours about pirates and all of them made you shiver in fear, so you didn’t know what to expect now that they decided to act up on their status.

«I feel magnanimous today, I will let you choose.» the Captain slowly walked around the mast while playing with his sword, pondering about the suggestion of selling you to the first brothel they’d eventually found next time they landed. «You can become a prostitute, or let the sharks eat you.» his victorious grin was contraposed to your cold glare. You knew that pirates never said the truth, and you also knew about the superstition they had; apparently, having a woman on a ship brought incredible bad luck. That’s why, with incredible struggle, you managed to gather all the saliva remaining in your mouth just to spit it on the Captain’s obnoxious face.

Needless to say, few moments later you were surrounded by the crew shouting animatedly while two pirates were tightly binding your legs together by tying a large rope around your ochre coloured gown while another one was making sure you stood still; not like you had any strength to fight back. You simply stood there, manhandled like a ragdoll, wondering how much time it would take for you to suffocate; your eyes glanced to the rock placed next to your feet and neatly tied at the rope around your lower body and judging by that, you were sure it wouldn’t take too much.

Rage mixed with despair filled your senses as soon as they made you wear a pirate coat filled with smaller pebbles – too large for you, and way too heavy; despite the anger which was boiling in your veins instead of blood, you were too weak to react in any kind of way. You scoffed, silent tears threatening to escape your eyes, as you had to gather all the strength you had in order to bear the weight of a countless number of heavy pebbles hidden in the coat’s pockets; they really wanted you to drown as quickly as you could, and they weren’t doing anything to hide it. The skin of your wrists burned as one of the pirates that was tying up your legs few minutes ago, was now tightly binding your wrists together, not caring about the few droplets of blood escaping your bruised and irritated skin.

«Any last words?» the Captain spat from behind your shoulders, and you tried to ignore the loud yells of simply throwing you at the sea. It would have been stupid to hide the fact that you were scared and you didn’t want to die like this, but what could a young lady do on a pirate ship? You couldn’t fight or ask for help, you were definitely helpless and still, the whirlwind of confused emotions in your heart slowly began to dissipate, clearing your mind on what your soul really longed for.

“Revenge,” was all you could think about; you didn’t know how that silent hope could ever be fulfilled, but it was everything your soul asked for in that very moment; and so, all it took was a harsh push for you to fall into the cold and salty water, the weight of the rocks quickly bringing you towards the bottom of the sea.

Panic quickly flooded in your senses as you were fighting yourself and your resistance by trying to hold your breath as long as you could. Survival instinct had the best of you for a split second and when you noticed that no matter how much strength you used, you couldn’t move your legs nor your arms, you panicked even more, bringing your tied up hands to your throat and holding it in a in a silent prayer for you to be able to resist more, even if your lungs were burning from the desire and the need to breathe and your chest was hurting for the same reason. You squeezed your eyes as your vision began to blur, thinking that that was it; it was really your last moment, when you felt a harsh and unexpected tug on your wrist; you quickly opened your eyes, just to see a young, handsome boy with blonde hair dancing in the water staring at you with worried, yet gentle eyes.

Despite the thought that flashed into your mind, you didn’t have enough time to question him about how did he manage to swim so deep in the open sea without feeling the need to breathe and why was he shirtless, because said stranger quickly kissed your lips, his left hand holding your wrists while you could feel his right forearm pressing your body towards his by pushing on the middle of your back; you started to panic once again, when you feel him breathing some air into your mouth, giving you a little more time to breathe.

As quickly as he kissed you, he parted from your lips just to swim towards your feet, and as you saw a long indigo fishtail elegantly swaying in front of your eyes, you thought you were already dead and probably hallucinating while you were waiting for your next life. The blonde boy’s face appeared in your sight once again, and even if you felt incredibly lighter, the ropes around your legs were still preventing you from swimming.

«Take this off,» he said with a husky voice as he hugged your waist and gestured towards the pirate coat filled with heavy pebbles, and you were about to breathe out all the air he breathed into your mouth in shock because, how could he talk underwater?

He must have understood what you were talking about because he giggled, his eyes turning into two small crescent moons and dimples framing his smile. «I’m a merman,» he simply explained, before turning serious once again, «and you really need to take this off, unless you want to sink.» you furrowed your brows, feeling your throat starting to burn once again; this time, the pain confused you.

Your throat burned, your lungs did too, but it was a little different from before; you watched as the boy quickly cut the ropes around your wrists with the tip of the golden harpoon he was carrying around and let him help you taking off the pirate coat. You watched at how quickly it sinked to the depths of the sea, thinking that it could have been you.

Only because you finally looked below you, you finally took notice of the length of the harpoon that the merman was holding in his right hand, and the fact that the rock anchored to your feet was now gone; you owed your life to this nameless boy which was still holding you tight to his body, and silently hoped he would help you resurface and look for a ship so that you could get some help going back home and somehow trying to rebuild your own life after this terrifying experience.

You felt a weird and uncommon stinging sensation on the skin of your neck but you didn’t question it, instead, you gently tapped twice on the merman’s collarbone, as to silently say that you were running out of oxygen once again, when he simply looked at you with a bright and excited smile.

«It’s time! You can breathe, now!» he glanced at your neck, his expression was so gentle and cheerful that you almost believed him and tried to breathe underwater.

«What!?» you creaked, your voice rough and husky and your throat sore; realizing what you did, you immediately brought your hands to your mouth, looking at the boy – which was still giggling, his cheerful expression in stark contrast with your extremely alarmed eyes; if you weren’t so scared, you would have payed attention to the fact that your voice actually came out clearly instead of being absorbed by the water.

«Look,» he said, turning his head to show you his neck; you were about to touch the small gills he had on his skin, when your hand blocked in mid-water as he spoke once again, «you have them, too.» your hand flew on your neck, to find out that he was indeed right. You had two gills on each side of your neck, they were small and easily hidden by your hair since they were positioned towards your nape, but it was all it took for you to trust the blond merman enough to try and inhale a deep breath.

«I can breathe,» you mumbled, your eyes wide and surprised, «I can breathe underwater!» you exclaimed, a mixture between excited and scared.

«You’re turning into a mermaid.» the blonde boy said, and your eyes widened the size of the full moon. «I’ll explain to you later,» he quickly glanced to his left, «all you have to know for now is that your tail will soon look like mine,» he briefly detached from you just to quickly spin in front of you, before hugging you close once again. «and that we have to leave, the sharks are coming out for dinner.» he said, with a final wink. You let the boy – which introduced himself as Chris, take you away and teach you how to properly swim without moving your legs, contrarily to what you always did.

Two months later from your first encounter with Chris, you both were sitting on some rocks erupting from the sea, enjoying the warm morning breeze. The ochre dress you were wearing the day you’ve been thrown overboard had now started to cling to the skin of your legs at the point it seemed to merge with it, and the ropes seemed to be as well. You glanced at Chris, leaning on the rocks while supporting his weight on his hands while his head was thrown back and his tail was slowly moving up and down with languid and repetitive movements, occasionally splashing some water around with his tail.

He looked incredibly handsome, and you couldn’t help yourself but wonder why even when he saved you, he decided to stick around to the point where you spent every day together; Chris was gentle and careful, patiently teaching all he knew about living under the sea and you meticulously listened to him, managing to have fun as he helped you adapt to your new life.

Funny enough, you lived together into one of the countless underwater small villages populated by mermaids and mermen; some lived in the relict of old sinked ships, while others opted to live in underwater caves or houses built from corals. Needless to say, Chris’ dramatic behaviour suggested him to live in the relict of the ship that threw him overboard, and he asked you to live with him.

«It’s going to be easier for you to adapt to your new life.» he had said back then, not like you had any reason to refuse his offer. You didn’t regret it not once, since Chris was the kind of friend you always wanted to have. Your eyes curiously glanced at Chris’ wrists, noticing that some indigo scales had grown there as well in a rather curious pattern; somehow, they seemed to recall a rope. Your hands acted pretty much by themselves; as your eyes travelled on Chris’ long indigo fishtail, your fingers caressed one of the soft, pink flesh spots between its scales.

«I can’t wait for my tail to be complete,» Chris’ hoarse voice said, and your eyes met his; he offered you a gentle smile, his head tilted to the side as he remained in the same position as he was before, unbothered with your touch – on the contrary, enjoying it.

«Nevertheless,» you mumbled, secretly wondering if your throat will ever stop burning, «It’s beautiful.» your eyes focused again on the tail’s scales which thanks to the sun, seemed to shine in a somehow greenish colour which made it seem even more enchanting.

«I’m sure yours will be even more beautiful than mine.» Chris smiled, reaching out to hold your hand right above his fish tail. You blushed, adverting your gaze and feeling incredibly uglier compared to him: you were in the middle of your metamorphosis, therefore your legs were still slowly turning into a fishtail, and your dress was ripped and clinging to different part of your skin as a second, unwanted skin; Chris explained that all it took were six months, and then, you would have been completely ultimate your metamorphosis into a mermaid.

«Chris,» you mumbled, briefly thought about all the times, as a kid, you stared at the sea wondering if all the legends about mermaids were true, just to find yourself slowly becoming one. Chris hummed, his blonde hair now almost completely dry. «What happened?»

«I’m not really sure, either.» he confessed, «some say that it’s our desire of revenge that triggers the metamorphosis. All we know is that one moment we’re sinking towards the bottom of the sea, and the other we’re sinking ships.» he chuckled, before adding a quick

«I’ll show you, sooner or later.» in answer to your confused face; you simply nodded at him, before asking him how did he become a merman since you were driven by the desire to know him better but also, to hear his mesmerizing voice for as long as you could. Chris never let go of your hand, playing with your fingers as he told you about how he left his village in order to become a sailor, just to be thrown off the ship two years later with the false accusation of being a thief.

«What saddens me, is that I never got the chance to confess to my beloved one.» his voice said, looking at you with eyes as warm as the sun itself. Even if you felt a strange sensation of jealousy creeping into your soul, you decided to ignore it. Chris was handsome, funny, caring and gentle; it was obvious for him to have someone he loved.

«I’m sure she would have said yes.» you sighed, wishing for a second to be the one who held his heart even now that his life had completely changed for good.

«She didn’t even knew I existed» Chris chuckled, shaking his head, «She was the only daughter of a famous merchant in our village, and I was the blacksmith’s son.» you listened how Chris kept looking at you with a mischievous gaze as he provided you the description of a girl which not only looked exactly like you, but was also living the replica of your life. «I gave her a pin once, when we were kids.» the colour drained from your cheeks, remembering the scene of a young blonde kid handing you a white orchid pin during a festival, when you were around seven years old. Back then, the boy claimed it brought good luck, and that you were the prettiest among all the young girls so it had to be yours; since that day, you wore it every day. «It was a white orchid. She always wore it, even if she probably forgot about me during the years.» your heart was hammering into your chest, and with slow and calculated words you asked him the only question which really mattered, the only one able to dissolve your doubts; you took a deep breath, and asked him where he was from.

«Velia.» he answered, and suddenly, you were in a loss of words. Chris not only came from your village, but also was the little boy that many years ago had provided you with your lucky pin, the same one that the Pirates had snatched away from your dress. «I’ll give you an even better present.» Chris smiled, and you answered with a shy nod.

Chris’ unexpected confession made a whirlwind of emotion erupt in your soul, you never imagined that he silently had a crush on you for all these years but deep down, you were sure that you could return his feelings with the same intensity. Both of you had all your lives in front of you, and you knew that Chris had so much love to give and he deserved just as much, maybe even more.

That morning was the most the two of you have talked. The salty water you breathed while drowning still burned your lungs and you found it sometimes difficult to talk; this is why the two of you created a personal language mostly composed by hand gestures, which allowed the two of you to communicate and have infinite conversations without feeling your throat sting.

A comfortable silence fell around the two of you, and Chris never stopped gently running his fingertips on your still bruised wrists, the action making you feel as butterflies were soaring in your stomach; if Chris ever saw your skin erupt into goosebumps anywhere his fingers touched, he never mentioned it.

Therefore, you and Chris spent your morning on the rocks when, as soon as you heard another mermaid’s chant, he quickly lead you away. «It’s not time, yet.» he said, and you trusted him without questioning him further.

One year had quickly gone by and both you and Chris had completed your metamorphosis; your tail was dark orange, its scales would show golden reflections according to the light, dark orange scales also grew instead of the bruises on your wrists and, no matter what you said, Chris would continuously shower you with compliments which you immediately returned. You and Chris managed to make many friends – some that already completed the metamorphosis and some you just recently rescued from drowning, but still, Chris was the only one you spent the most time with; over the time, you naturally became a couple, even if nothing special changed in your relationship dynamics.

The two of you had always spent your time together so the only thing that you added to the mix were the kisses and more intimate touches. Sometimes, you’d lose yourself in his warm brown eyes, thinking how much you loved him and how you owed him your life.

You knew that you would have changed even without Chris’ help, but his presence helped you to face the metamorphosis with a little more courage – which you probably wouldn’t have had, if you were to face this all alone.

«Remember that excellent present I was talking about back then?» Chris asked with a wide grin and you nodded, knitting your brows in confusion, «Come with me.» Chris said, as he led you to the surface while holding your hand; you realized quickly that it must have been a special occasion, since he used his voice to express his thoughts.

Both of you keep the verbal exchanges at minimum; since you found out that your throat would never stop burning.

«It’s the salt water we breathed while drowning,» Changbin – a merman which turned many years before the two of you did, quietly explained to you few months ago. On his wrists, he had dark blue – almost black, scales matching the colour of his long tail, but unlike you and Chris, his scales enveloped his arms and part of his torso almost in a spiral way, making you wonder about how painful and horrible his experience must have been, «It will never stop stinging, reason why our revenge will always be as brutal as our death.»

You followed Chris as he diligently sat on some rocks erupting from the sea, gesturing towards a small group of mermaid sitting on the shores far away from you; some had their tail partially immersed to the water, while some were completely resting on the hard surfaces of the rocks. They all seemed to be waiting, but you still didn’t know what for, since the horizon was completely clear. As the mermaids saw you and Chris, you all waved at each other since you were friends; you were surprised to learn how everyone – unlike the human world, was genuinely sweet towards each other.

«I hope you’ll like it.» Chris’ lips whispering against your ear made it appear as his husky voice was dripping honey, and as your eyes saw a familiar Pirate flag on top of a ship, which was slowly coming your way, you froze up in fear, tightly holding to Chris’ hand; he quickly hugged you close to his body in the silent attempt to reassure you. You didn’t understand why Chris would have thought that seeing the ship of the people who threw you overboard could ever be considered a gift, when suddenly, the mermaids started singing.

It was a mesmerizing chant, and you immediately understood why it drove men insane by slowly hypnotizing them to the point they lose their will; as a mermaid, you knew the pain of using your voice and so, you realized what Changbin meant all those months ago. Part of each mermaid’s soul was filled with the desire of revenge towards the ones who choose such a brutal and despicable death for them, and so, no matter how their throat burned in the process, their husky voices would sing marvellous and hypnotic songs just to lure them in the water in a deadly trap.

From the distance, you saw how the pirates started to throw themselves off the ship, and that’s when Chris signalled you that it was time to get underwater once again; you were completely new to this, since Chris always led you away as soon as you’d hear a mermaid chant, but no matter what, you could have never imagine what you were about to see.

Underwater, there were at least a hundred mermaids and mermen skilfully armed with harpoons or smaller knives, and as soon as the pirates fell in the water, they’d swim quickly, plunging themselves at the pirates with the precise goal to kill them in the most brutal way they could, so that they wouldn’t have any occasion to trigger the metamorphosis and turn into mermen.

Chris kept holding you tight as the two of you assisted to that massacre, close enough to catch every detail but far enough not to get involved with the pool of blood that was quickly expanding in the water; your eyes casually caught the action that made your heart feel at ease once and for all. Changbin and Hyunjin – whose tail was probably the prettiest since it was a pastel light blue, were respectively sinking an harpoon and a short blade into the Captain’s chest, and as you saw him writhing in pain as he breathed out all the oxygen he had stored in his mouth, you breathed a content sigh, your silent wish for revenge was now fulfilled thanks to your friends.

As soon as the group made sure that no one from the pirate crew managed to survive, you all quickly swam away, knowing that sharks had a very sharp sense of smell and no one wanted to get in their way in the middle of a hunt.

Once you were back home Chris kissed you, the unexpected sensation of such an intimate gesture making you smile against his lips, pulling him even further to your body and swirling once or twice in the middle of water as you did so. Despite the salty water that constantly surrounded the both of you, Chris’ lips held an inexplicably different flavour. His kisses tasted like home, like you finally found peace.

The pirates hat threw you overboard had met their terrible fate, the same as many other men, and you were happy with the thought that they wouldn’t be able to harm anyone else.

Chris held you tight, placing his forehead against yours. «I love you,» he said for the first time, ignoring the pain in his lungs. «I love you too,» you mumbled right back, gently placing your hands on his cheeks, as the end of your tails swirled around each other’s.

all works © lettersfromaphrodite

Do not modify, repost, translate or plagiarize my stories. I only publish my works on tumblr & AO3.

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[naviavu]

hello !!! can i ask for hcs for obey me boys when they find out that mc is living in an abusive hosuehold? i saw that your askbox is open and i'm just in a really REALLY bad place right now

yes, dearest, you absolutely can <333 may i ask how you are, anon? my inbox is always open if you need someone to talk to. as someone who’s also living in a toxic household, writing this brought me a bit percent of comfort so i hope it also does the same to you, anon! 

warnings: self-harm, suicide attempt, overdose, abusive household, cursing, sexual assault, overall has very abusive themes (done towards mc), comfort (by the brothers) also not edited

part i (older brothers) // part ii (satan and asmo) // part iii (the twins)

Older Brothers finding out that MC lives in an abusive household

LUCIFER

He knows from the start, if there are any restraining orders or records in your application form. 

If there are no records, Lucifer is observant enough to notice the warning signs-- flinching when Mammon or Levi is too loud in the dinner table, your pulse picking up when Satan changes his tone from kind to menacing in a quick second, laughing uncomfortably when Asmo’s hands wander too close where it shouldn’t be, your eyes widening in every tight hug Beel gives, and being wary of Belphie in general even though you’ve made up already. 

Prideful as always, he told himself that it wasn’t his business until he started seeing you as family-- regardless if his feelings developed platonically or romantically. His family is his business and there’s no way in hell that he’s letting you go back to the human world if you aren’t safe. He shoots you a text to come meet him to have an important discussion.

Your heart hammered in your chest as you open the door to his private study. What could be so important to discuss at midnight? Has Lucifer... finally caught on? Gods, no no no.

“MC, I’ve noticed some things that...” Lucifer trails off, explains calmly, and it still catches you off-guard. You stutter. You ramble until you’re in tears and collapse on your knees on the polished floor, scared and terrified because you can’t lie or he’ll punish you--

You feel Lucifer’s coat on your shoulders. instincts kick in and you cling to him, feeling like a lost child over again.

Lucifer carries you to his chair, asking you if you’re comfortable enough to tell your story. “You don’t have to tell me, MC. I’m sorry if I pushed you with that question.” 

“But I hope you know that you’re precious to me, and I’ll protect you in any way that I can.” He says finished, determined, and you break out in sobs again as you finally tell him about your story: all the abuse, the pain, the unwanted touches, even the one you inflicted upon yourself just to feel something.

Lucifer listens. your abusers are sure not to see another day.

MAMMON

Let’s face it: Mammon is an abuse survivor himself. He might not be good in verbally comforting others, but trust me when I say he’s the best in listening and generally being there for you. It shows in his actions.

You were having your weekly Saturday movie night, sitting side by side when a scene scares Mammon and he shouts. Loudly. 

You jump out of your seat and run.

“Fuck, did ‘ya see that MC? Totally wasn’t scared-- MC? Where did ‘ya go?” Mammon looks at the back of his couch. Under the tennis table. On his bed. “Hey, human! Why did ‘ya leave me?”

Mammon hears soft sobs from his closet. He walks up carefully. “A-are you crying, MC? Why--”

“No!” It’s your turn to shout now. There are fresh streaks of bloody self-inflicted scratches on your arms and Mammon’s confusion turns to worry in an instant. “I’m sorry for running, f-for hiding, please don’t hurt me, I’m not gonna do it again I swear-- please!”

When Mammon grabs your wrists, you cry and beg harder and honey, it broke his heart in a million pieces.

He leads you to his bath, where he gently helps you wash your wounds. You won’t stop crying and saying sorry over and over again. Mammon always tried to be strong in hopes to impress you but fuck it.

He is now crying with you. 

After cleaning your wounds, he wordlessly led you to his bed to rest. The silence suffocates him, and Mammon knows he should comfort you but he is so scared of saying the wrong thing. 

“MC--” “ Mammon--” You speak at the same time. He urges you to go on, and his hands that holds you close shake.

“Mammon... do you also intend to... to-- ravish me?” You ask, looking down on the floor while Mammon felt like everything stopped. “Please let me go, I won’t tell anyone, o-or if not, just please be gentle,” Your voice cracks in the end and Mammon breaks.

“Never in a million years, MC! I-- Fuck,” he sobs, and your own lips quiver. “I didn’t know, MC. I’m so sorry for what happened to you, I didn’t mean to shout and hurt you in the process, I’ve been always like this around you and my brothers and...” Oh. Oh no. Does that mean that there were times that you felt unsafe around him without him knowing? “I’m so so sorry for everything.”

He moves to hug you but stops himself. “Can I... Can I hug you?”

He only does when you verbally say yes and you both sob in each others arms. The night ended with both of you in his bed, telling him stories of your experiences in the human world and your household. Mammon nods and listens, and you don’t see how his tears keep running, but you notice how his arms are snug against your body like he’s afraid to let go.

Mammon also doesn’t want you to go back when your year ends but he will not tell Lucifer immediately, not without your consent.

On RAD, he’ll hover closer when you walk beside him but not with his old greedy, possessive way but because he genuinely wants to protect you. Everyday, he’ll be outside waiting for you at the end of your class even though his own class is located three buildings away. 

Mammon would also try to comfort you in his own way: by showering you gifts and trinkets that remind him of you. He wants you to feel appreciated just for merely existing, and that he can see a piece of you in his world every where he goes.

Congrats, you now have a personal butler that would put Barbatos to shame <3

LEVIATHAN

You sometimes forget that this boy is the Grand Admiral of Hell’s Navy.

He knows the look in someone’s eyes when they are absolutely terrified and about to surrender their life, and that’s the way he sees you one night you were sprawled out on your bathroom floor.

You weren’t responding to your DDD when you’re supposed to be with him in an important raid. Since his Henry is the only person he is willingly going to go out of his room for (and because he’s worried) he barges inside your with no warning.

It’s canon that Levi uses his smell to detect people. So when he doesn’t see you lounging in your bed like usual, he enters the room further to search for you. Only then he notices the amount of anxiety and fear you radiated in the air and he panics.

He enters your bathroom and Levi saw his worst nightmare come true. His best friend is lying on the floor and-- where did you even get those hellsmoke sleeping pills? It’s lethal for humans! “MC! what did you do?”

“I’m sorry, I-I don’t wanna go Levi. I don’t wanna go--” You sob, body shaking and he wastes no time to scoop you up and carry you in his arms. He calls for Lucifer, for Mammon, for the rest of his brothers, and it’s a tone they haven’t heard from Leviathan in a long time-- the command of a Grand Admiral. In a split second, they were all in your presence and ready to help on whatever way they can.

You spend three days passed out on Lord Diavolo’s castle, but you survive. Every single day, Leviathan is by your side.

When you wake, you see him napping against a Ruri-chan plushie. You gently flick his forehead. “Earth to my Lord of Shadows?”

“MC?” Levi gasps, and he immediately holds your hand in his. “You’re awake! I was so worried, everyone was worried, I was too slow and why-- why did I see you in that state, MC?” He cries, and you cup his cheek to wipe his tears.

All Leviathan wants is honesty and answers, so you give him just that. You tell your story, your past, and how it followed you here in Devildom and drove you to purchase those pills in an attempt to overdose. He listens and cries by your side.

He’s not unfamiliar with those feelings of helplessness but it broke his heart to see you suffering from them too. “MC... please don’t go back. please. I-- I’ll do anything to make you feel safe, make you feel comfortable here in the House of Lamentation and I’ll even stop talking shit about myself because that’s what you want just please. Don’t leave. I can’t let you be taken away from me again.”

Leviathan starts going to face to face classes more instead of online classes just to spend more time with you. It’s not so bad going outside when he has you by his side. On the positive note, he gets more chances to make you smile every day. 

He gives you freedom to choose whether to tell Lucifer or not, but ultimately convinces you to do it.

You’re his Henry. and he’ll be damned if he ever lost you.

[khaotic-kitsunes]

Excuse you?! How dare, how fucking dare!

All of your requests are official, officially amazing and on an ‘immediately write this’ sort of schedule! Buttt on a serious note, wow it’s weird as hell seeing you in my actual askbox instead of my messages! I ALSO had to make a god damn header image for this too because I’m committed at this stage, which is a part of the reason why this took so long to post...the other part is I’m a procrastinating lil’ shit hahahah

As always, hope you enjoy this @himawari-senpaii​

May the angst be with you~

🥃 AO3 🥃 || ✉️My Askbox✉️ || 💬Discord💬

Cheeky Kitsune 🦊💋

.

Fatgum / Taishiro Toyomitsu

 .

🍡 It was over nothing. Something small and insignificant, but strangely neither of you could drop the argument. Instead of walking away to simmer off and apologise later, you kept disagreeing; you kept pushing.

🍡 Right up until Taishiro slammed his hands down onto the kitchen table that stood between the both of you, the sudden and terrifyingly loud noise silencing you in an instant.

🍡 Taishiro had been silenced by something else though. His argument had died off when he saw the way you jumped in response, nearly tripping over yourself to step away from him. To put distance between the two of you.

🍡 He could see the panic in your eyes, the fear.

🍡 No noise was made as Taishiro closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to calm himself of the stupidly unneeded anger that had been bubbling up inside of him; willing it to disappear until he was calm enough to right the fear reflecting in your eyes.

🍡 Despite being such a large man, standing at a full 8’2” inches tall, he was good at approaching frightened people. It came with the job.

🍡 And so, when he knew he would have the patience to help you, he opened his eyes and moved to approach. Slowly, with movements you could both see and understand; reaching out towards you with his palm facing up. Not quite daring to touch you until he knew you would be comfortable with it.

🍡 “Baby doll, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare ya…c’mere…you know I won’t ever hurt ya” – He spoke softly, the sort of tone someone would use for a lost or injured animal; the kind of voice that made you want to run into his warm embrace.

 .

 .

Lemillion / Mirio Togata

 .

🥞 Mirio rarely gets upset when he isn’t working as a pro-hero and even then, it’s an unusual sight; villains are the only ones that get to see his enraged moments.

🥞 Which is what threw you off most when you were arguing with the blonde bombshell of a man; it was over something silly. Unimportant. But in no time at all, it had turned into angry remarks and hurt feelings.

🥞 Shouting followed soon after. That’s when you had thrown in the towel, deciding it was better to leave the conversation for a time when Mirio wasn’t so wound up; but when you tried to leave the room, he had grabbed a hold of your arm.

🥞 While it hadn’t been enough to hurt you, it was enough to startle you into knocking over a nearby object. Though you had no idea what it was until you heard it; the shattering sound of your dearly loved vase. The one with sunflowers that Mirio had brought you as a present for your first anniversary with him.

🥞 Mirio had gone silent at the way you recoiled from the sudden noise, his grip on you disappearing and allowing you to flee the room before you had enough time to process what had happened.

🥞 It had taken Mirio longer than he wanted to admit before he went to check on you, he had actually left the shared home for a few hours; long enough for you to tidy up the broken vase.

🥞 When he found you in the house, you were sitting quietly in the kitchen with some glue and red stained fingertips; trying your best to fix the old anniversary gift with little to no luck and a lot of accidents.

🥞 “…(Name)…? I’m…I’m sorry about earlier, scaring you like that…” – Mirio’s voice was barely above a whisper as he approached the kitchen table, gently setting down a rather large brown bag before moving to kiss the top of your head despite the way you ignored his presence.

🥞 You hadn’t had plans to forgive him yet, the present had meant a lot to you and now that it was broken; you were left feeling strange. Upset. Confused and unsure as to what was going to happen next.

🥞 But that changed the moment Mirio removed the contents of the brown bag he had brought in, a replica of the broken vase now sitting safely in the middle of the kitchen table.

🥞 An apology given without needing to be asked for. It was all you needed to know that he really did care about you, that he hadn’t meant for things to get so out of hand earlier in the day.

 .

 .

Suneater / Tamaki Amajiki

 .

🐙 For Tamaki, loud arguments with you was something that never happened; he was too anxious for such things on a normal day. However, weeks of late nights and early mornings left you in bed without him most of the time and it was beginning to eat away at the both of you.

🐙 He had gotten home around lunch time for the first time in a long time and his mood wasn’t the best, then again, yours wasn’t much better. Especially when he announced that he had asked for the rest of the day off to come home.

🐙 That’s what had started it. You were hurt by the simple statement, not having realised that he could request to come home earlier than he was asked to; but what hurt most was how uncaring Tamaki seemed to be when you voiced such complaints to him.

🐙 It only took a few minutes before Tamaki was arguing back with you, his words short and sharp; the complete opposite to the usual Tamaki you loved. The Tamaki that was warm and gentle with you, the Tamaki that always seemed to be able to split up his time between work and home just right.

🐙 You had actually flinched away from him when he raised his voice, the loud command for you to shut up completely silencing you and while that was exactly what he had been after; you could see how horrified he was at himself for actually shouting at you.

🐙 It was an alarming change in pace for the two of you and when Tamaki reached out for you, his mouth opening to let out an apology you could see written all over his features.

🐙 You ran.

🐙 You left the house and in doing so, you also left behind your keys and phone by mistake; giving Tamaki no way of contacting you. Which destroyed him.

🐙 It was hours before you were found again and even then, Fatgum had been the one to find you; having been searching along with Tamaki and Eijiro. Though they had split up to cover more ground.

🐙 Once you had been checked for injuries, Fatgum took you back to his office with a casual conversation about how hectic things had been over the past few weeks and how grateful he was for Tamaki’s help.

🐙 A conversation you weren’t so keen to have, but one you ended up being grateful for. Giving out information that you hadn’t been aware of, leaving you feeling more than a little ashamed at how selfish you had been to be angry at Tamaki for not asking to come home early sooner.

🐙 He had been flat out helping Fatgum and doing his best to come home to you each day.

🐙 By the time Tamaki had returned to Fatgum’s office after getting the call that you were safe and sound, you were practically in tears and apologising to him relentlessly while he held you close. Mumbling about how happy he was that you were safe, his own apologies for shouting almost burying your own.

🐙 The goodbye to Fatgum and Eijiro was awkward, they had heard everything through the walls and were trying their best not to let you know that they had heard while you thanked them for searching for you.

🐙 With the stressful events of the day over with, you finally got to go to bed with Tamaki; safely snuggled up against his side, enjoying his loving embrace and soft mumbles of affection.

[kcabyap]

Could you do a demon brothers reacting to a normally feisty female MC, who goes all stoic when she bumps into an emotionally abusive ex? She is clearly trying to stay strong and handle the situation calmly but seems to lose her spunk

TW: emotional abuse mention

So! This one has been in my askbox for a couple days because I wasn't really sure how to tackle it at first... but, I do want to write it. I've been in an emotionally abusive relationship myself in the past, and so I'm writing these in the hopes that they may prove a source of comfort to someone out there.

Also, I know the ask used she/her pronouns, but this ended up gender neutral; I hope that's okay.

The Brothers Comforting An MC Who Sees Their Emotionally Abusive Ex

— Lucifer

Lucifer is perceptive, and even more so when it comes to the human who's captured his heart.

When they're out and about on a visit to the human world, he sees how they stop. How they seem to stare at one person in particular. How they suddenly decide to turn and head back the way they came.

He asks, gently, who that person was. His hand rests softly, delicately on their shoulder; not insistent, not demanding, just a silent offer of his presence.

And although he can see how they try to be their usual peppy self... he can see how they tremble lightly as they tell him who that person was. What they'd done.

He takes them far from that person, and he offers them his embrace. In soft, kind tones, he assures them that he will never allow anyone to treat them that way again... he will keep them safe; they are his wonderful human, and they always will be.

— Mammon

Now, Mammon gets called stupid a lot, but he's very emotionally intelligent; he can tell how people are feeling.

So when his bright, cheerful human suddenly clams up, and stiffens, and their eyes seem to go dark... he immediately slides a hand into their own, his silent way of letting them know he's there for them.

He doesn't ask, but he can see how their attention is focused on one specific person. Making up some kind of excuse, he takes his human away from there to do... anything else, as long as it isn't there, to distract them.

If they choose to tell him, he'll be trembling with barely concealed emotion. How could anyone do something like that...? How could anyone see someone so wonderful and want to break them like that?

But he won't shout about it, or declare how much he wants their ex dead, even if he does. He'll just hold their hands, and gaze into their eyes, and assure them that they never deserved any of that; their ex is a terrible person, who never deserved them.

— Leviathan

When Levi's partner, usually so bubbly and bright, suddenly looks ashen as they stare at their phone... he knows something's wrong.

He pauses the anime they were watching together, placing a hand over their own and gently asking what's wrong.

They explain it was a text from someone who... really shouldn't have their new number. Someone who treated them badly in the past.

If they explain everything, Levi will be more than happy to help them block their ex's number, change their own number, change the privacy settings on their social media, anything that needs to be done.

He feels sick at the thought of anyone treating his true friend, his true love, badly. He holds them close and securely, letting them know that he loves them and that he'll always protect them.

— Satan

This is another one who's perceptive, who watches and notices. And when his partner suddenly puts down their book in the library and asks to go home, he notices why.

He obliges immediately, an arm securely around their waist to comfort them, to let them know he's close.

Calmly and kindly, he asks who that person was; if that person had hurt them in some way. If they were scared of that person.

He won't react badly in front of them; of course not. He'll hold them close, and he'll run his fingers through their hair, and he'll assure them that they will always be safe with him...

But away from them, while they're sleeping peacefully in their bed... he'll slip away, and pay that ex a visit. He hates them more than he hates anyone, and he will make them regret ever saying an unkind word to his beloved kitten.

— Asmodeus

He loves his bright, sweet, cheerful partner so much... so when they suddenly stop listening to what he's saying, suddenly go rigid, suddenly lose that light in their eyes... he's very worried.

He waits until they get back home before he asks what happened, such worry in his eyes.

Although they try to stay cheery while they explain how that relationship went in the past... he sees their pain, and it brings tears to his eyes.

He takes their hands, and kisses each finger so tenderly. Holding them so closely, he tells them that their ex was wrong; that they never deserved to be treated poorly.

The rest of the day, he'll spend spoiling them and trying to make them forget ever having to see such a worthless excuse of a human being.

— Beelzebub

He's not always the most perceptive person in the world, really... but when he sees his human looking so fearful, he reacts immediately.

One hand rests over their own, his meal at the restaurant they were visiting completely forgotten, as he asks what's wrong.

They try to play it off as though it's nothing, as they quietly tell him that's their ex who said some cruel things to them... but to Beel, it's absolutely not nothing.

Since his partner has lost their appetite, he takes them by the hand and leads them out of the restaurant, away from their ex.

His strong arms hold them in a tight embrace, and although he's teary, he stays strong for them as he tells them that he will never treat them that way, and he will always keep them safe.

— Belphegor

He's blunt by nature, but when he notices his usually chatty and confident partner going rigid and quiet, he knows to approach the situation gently.

His hand slips into their own, his eyes full of concern as he asks them what's going on, if something's wrong.

They tell him that they saw someone they don't like across the street, but they're gone now; someone who treated them badly in the past...

If they choose to tell him everything, he will hate that ex, his eyes dark as he asks completely seriously if he can kill them.

He'll promise to protect his partner, assuring them that they never deserved to be treated like that, that they deserve to be cared for and loved forever; and he'll do just that.

[undertaker1827]

ooie! platonic 21 Halloween headcanons with Sebs and Under?

I AM SO HAPPY THAT OPENED HIS ASKBOX😀😀😀

Riiiiight so I completely missed the holiday (so sorry) hope you enjoy anyway!! Aww thank you❤️

21] Tell scary stories

Masterlist

-

Undertaker

Okay so Undertaker tells the best scary stories

They all kind of take place in the Victorian era going into the early 1900s (Industrial Revolution and such)

You’ve gone over to see him on Halloween, either preferring his company over others or just not having anyone else nearby to celebrate with

He’s in the front room of the parlour when you get there, the same one he’s lived in since the 1800s

You insist that a good half of the cobwebs in the place are from the same time, clearly incredibly old and so thick with dust in places that you couldn’t see through them

The grime covering the single window also concerned you, though the candles and oil lamp (all for the aesthetic, my dear) always provided a welcoming glow

The two of you were sitting on top of a coffin in the front room (mainly in case any more trick or treaters came by) with the oil lamp between you casting strange shadows over your companion’s face

Undertaker trusted you, quite a lot in fact so he had his bangs pushed back and those intense chartreuse eyes showing

This made his stories seem more scary, more real, which he knew full well

He would be lying if he didn’t admit that he enjoyed seeing you scared of something as small as his stories, finding something so uniquely human in the fear you tried to hide

It encouraged him to think of other tales to tell you, because god if he didn’t want to bring that emotion further out, to probe it just a bit more and see what you did in response

He told one about a graveyard he’d been tending to one night in the 1870s, just doing a round and making sure everything was in order - mainly checking for graverobbers

He explained to you that some graves in those days were fitted with bells - those who could afford them, that was - in case it turned out that the person buried was, in fact, still living

But as the reaper was walking, rain coming down in torrents and his hair plastered down to his head with a shovel held over his shoulder, he heard a bell ring

He glanced sharply in the direction of it, not having sensed any living humans in the area since early in the evening

He strolled over with a casual look on his face, one belying remarkable interest

The bell rang again, more incessantly this time, until it just kept ringing constantly, not letting up once

Undertaker took the final few steps to the headstone

As soon as his boot touched the ground next to it, the bell stopped dead

The mortician paused in his regaling of his tale, eyes narrowed and glowing with interest as your pale, wide-eyed face stared back at him intently

Your hands were clasped together in front of you and he could practically see the chill crawling down your spine

It was raining at this point, coming down in hard sheets that pounded against the window

You were leaning forward in anticipation, begging him to go on as you couldn’t stand the suspense a second longer

As the bell stopped, the reaper took a quick glance at the grave: Nicholas Chambers, beloved father, uncle, brother and husband

“Help me, pl-please!” A mournful voice wailed, disused and rasping as a result

A series of coughs followed and a dull thud against a rotting wooden prison

“I need help, I’m trapped down here,” the voice started again, though Undertaker simply narrowed his eyes and scoffed

“Don’t think I’m gonna let you up right now, lad,” he called down, receiving a long wail in return, followed by a cried out ‘why not?!’

“’Cause, Mister Chambers, you were left six feet under in 1698!”

He began sauntering away again, ignoring the pounded that started against the lid of the decaying coffin, the angry yelling that rang through the sodden graveyard

“Rest in peace indeed,” Undertaker muttered, “think we’ll let you stay put a while longer.”

The horrified look on your face when the story ended was enough to send the reaper into a raucous fit of laughter, making you jump so badly that you flung an arm out at random, knocking over the oil lamp and shrieking as it shattered against the stone floor

The room was plunged into darkness and you were temporarily blind with the sudden change in light

You reached around with your hands in terror, trying to find the mortician

You heard a light giggle to your side then felt his arms around you a moment later

You clutched onto him immediately, fingertips trembling

“Daft thing,” he murmured “didn’t scare you that badly, did I?”

Your lack of answer was enough to confirm to him that he had

Sebastian

Right

Sebastian is another one who tells absolutely brilliant scary stories

There was quite literally no one else you could see yourself spending Halloween with apart from him

I mean he is actually a demon, that has to count for something in terms of the quality of this holiday

You found that his apartment was tastefully decorated when you made it over there in the early evening

Well placed cobwebs hung in the corners and from the ceiling with dark candelabras positioned on various tables and shelves, black candles already burned enough to leave trails of wax down their sides

His adjustable lights were dimmed down and giving the whole place a warm, orange glow, one which was enhanced by the flames from the candles and the fire burning in the hearth

His curtains were drawn and the room was a comfortable temperature, a nice contrast to the freezing weather outside

He welcomed you in with a gentle hug, presenting you with a cup of tea moments later and elegantly taking the winter coat from your shoulders

He whisked it away to hang somewhere neatly, then you both went and sat down on the sofa together

It wasn’t like you came to the decision of ‘let’s tell spooky stories’, it just sort of ended up happening

Sebastian’s apartment was quite a long way up, meaning you could hear the wind howling loudly around the corners and battering the windows, adding a certain creepiness to the evening

The demon no doubt sensed that emotion on you and decided to use it to his advantage

He went so smoothly into his anecdote that you hardly even realised he’d done it, but your heart rate was picking up before you knew it

His story started on a barren Yorkshire moorland, with a young woman driving home from work late at night

It was the middle of winter and even with the heating on, she could feel the cold seeping in through every available join in the bodywork of the car

There were no other vehicles on the road, no pedestrians, no signs of life

As she drove on, a light mist started to roll in off the moor, soon coating the road and leaving her barely able to see a few metres in front of her

She simply slowed down and carried on, more than used to these sudden changes in weather

It was when she rounded a corner however, that she was forced to slam on her brakes

An old women was stood partially out in the road, hunched over and clutching a small bag to her stomach

She was dressed in black with a hood pulled low over her head, waving the car down

The young woman stopped, opened the window and asked if she needed a lift

In a few minutes they were off once again, the woman still with her hood covering her face

The driver seemed simply to realise something was off - a sixth sense, maybe - and took several discreet glances at her companion

It was only on the third or fourth that she realised; the ‘old woman’ had the hands of a young man

She continued driving on like before, waiting until the back window inevitably fogged up before apologising to her passenger, asking if she would be so kind as to get out and clear it so they could continue doing so

The old woman nodded, slowly getting out and making her way around to the back of the car

Only when she was well away from the door did the driver floor the car, flinching as the passenger door slammed shut at the sudden acceleration and glancing in the rear view to ensure the passenger was still standing in the road

She didn’t dare look back again when the man raised his hands to the hood of the cloak, terrified of what she might see

She sped on after that, a white knuckle grip on the wheel and mouth parched, though she would stop for nothing

She finally arrived home about half an hour later, breathing a sigh of relief when she pulled into her drive

Her back stiffened however when she saw that her passenger’s bag was still sitting on the seat next to her

Hesitantly, she picked it up and tipped the contents on the seat, only to leap backwards against the car door and gasp

The gleaming, sharpened steel of a meat cleaver reflected back at her and she was chilled to the bones as thoughts of what would have happened to her had she of thought any slower consumed her mind

Sebastian’s eyes were positively glowing when he finished, hearing your heart race and seeing the way your hands were trembling, even as you hid them in your lap

“Whatever is the matter, Y/N?” The demon asked with a smirk, “surely you aren’t that scared of a simple fable?”

He leaned forwards to pull you into a hug when you didn’t answer, shaking his head at how every muscle in your body was tensed and the way you held onto him immediately

This was another thing about humans that fascinated him; telling scary stories was one of the oldest traditions of All Hallow’s Eve that was still around, yet people scared themselves so much that they no longer looked upon it as a bit of fun, in some cases, at least

[c-c-cherry]

Terribly sorry for the wait, but I’m back and I’ve got some Fugo for y’all!! 

To be honest, its not that I don’t like Fugo, I just find his character really hard to nail down and write about which is why I haven’t written much about him in general. @jjadegreen​ helped SOOO much with this because I was so blocked when it came to writing this past week, so thank you!!

//content warning for whump-related shit (sickness, major injury, etc..)

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Pain Tolerance

-Out of everyone in the group, he surprisingly has one of the LOWEST pain tolerances Narancia comes in first though

-We all know he’s riled up pretty easily, so it's his nature to panic over minor injuries

-If there’s blood? You bet he will freak out

-It’s hard to take advantage of him because of how on-guard he is, but if he’s ever kidnapped or drugged, he’s absolutely the kind of person to kick into fight mode more than flight mode

-He tries his best to keep his composure, but if he’s backed into a painful corner and there’s nothing he can do about it, he will be loud

-Unlike Giorno or Mista, who tend to bite their tongue and shut themselves down during intense pain, you’ll know when Fugo is really hurt because of the way he carries himself

-He’s always really ashamed of the way he acts when he’s in pain because he’s supposed to be in Passione and shouldn’t be getting so worked up over minor wounds (or even major wounds at this point) :(

-Bruno always makes sure to remind his team that getting hurt does NOT equal being weak, but there’s always the lingering feeling in the back of his mind that he’s useless and nothing but a burden for the team for reacting the way he does

Injury

-He tries not to get injured, but when he does, it's not good :/

-He’s had his fair share dealing with inner pain or broken bones, but if its bleeding or an actual open wound, that’s when he starts to really freak out

-I headcanon that he has a fixation on being clean so to speak. He doesn’t have a problem if someone else is getting hurt, but he gets this shitshitshitshit reaction the moment he realizes that he has an open wound

-His mind can’t stop thinking that it’ll get dirty and infected

-It leads to him usually overcleaning them if he’s left to his own devices, which ultimately puts him in more pain and more strain on the injury

-If ANYONE tries to help him, he’s all “no no no, I can handle this myself, stop. Stop stop don’t get closer, I'll handle it on my own.”

-During times where he’s hurt pretty bad, he can’t “suck it up” as much as he wants to. He’s panicking because he’s terrified of someone being there and close to him when he’s at his weakest and most vulnerable

-He has no idea where his emotions will go and even more terrified of losing control of his stand

-He doesn’t like being touched without warning and it's even more amplified when he gets hurt

-If it’s “minor” enough to get past the gang without them knowing, he’s tense even after he tries to deal with it himself. No matter what, it just doesn’t feel clean or healed enough (and sometimes it really isn’t)

-Narancia’s usually the first one to notice and ask why he’s so pale, or gripping his side so much, etc,,

-People try to keep things on the downlow when Fugo gets hurt because they don’t want to wind him up, so it usually ends with one of them telling Bruno, who in turn gets Giorno if he needs to

-Bruno’s always been one to calm him down and he’s usually the one to patch him up (or hold him and keep him grounded so Giorno can heal if the injury is bad enough) :’)

-Even so, he’ll try to deny painkillers and insist on changing his own bandages regardless

Sickness

-On the contrary, he actually doesn’t mind being sick when the time comes

-No one likes having a fever, but he can take it. Throwing up or being so tired that you can’t move is an awful feeling, but he can take it

-Between vigorously studying how the human body battles illness thanks to purple haze, he knows the ins and outs of his own body and also knows that getting sick is just a normal human response to bad bacteria

-That, and years of Bruno’s constant reassurance and parental charm have rubbed off on him a bit :)

-Narancia freaks out a bit anytime anyone is ill because of the fate of his mother, which is why Fugo feels a bit of responsibility to act calm and collected when he’s sick so Nara doesn’t feel as intimidated or threatened by it :)

-When he isn’t feeling well, he tells someone. He knows that taking a break is important and when he’s sick, he already knows from the start that he can’t get the work done properly even if he tried

-He doesn’t mind people taking care of him in that sense, but if you try to coddle him, he will choke you

Emotional Stress

-Its not uncommon for anyone in the Bucci gang to suffer from nightmares once in while, but something crucial to know for Fugo is that only Bruno can wake him up

-Out of everyone in the gang, the two of them have the strongest bond (they were the first two in the bucci gang after all) and sometimes when things are too much, Bruno is the only one who’s able to ground him again

-If anyone else tries to shake him awake or try to get him out of his sleep, he’ll panic. He gets scared. When he’s scared, people get hurt

-Sometimes, he has no idea who’s in front of him and won’t hesitate to go for the kill if he thinks he’s in immediate danger

-Narancia tried to wake him up one night and he panicked, stabbing him in the stomach. Narancia could care less because he has another cool scar, but Fugo felt awful about it and wouldn’t sleep or see anyone for days

.

.

-Despite being a bit unstable himself, Fugo has a vast amount of knowledge and knows himself and his needs like the back of his hand

-If he doesn't like something or doesn’t feel comfortable, he’s learned to speak up about it as much as possible

-They all have an unspoken rule with him to ask before they touch him in any scenario. He doesn’t mind physical affection, but permission please :)))

-Also. He is the KING of stress toys. Don’t even tell me that he doesn’t have a giant box of things to do with his hands when he gets overwhelmed (yes Bruno bought them all for him)

-Also weighted blankets? Perfect for someone who wants warmth but sometimes not touch

-I headcanon that in my Storm-verse, he lends things out to Giorno all the time when he needs them

-He’s also the one who explains a lot of terms to Giorno (flashbacks, panic attacks vs anxiety attacks, dissociation, etc,,) and he and Giorno end up bonding a lot because of it

-Fugo isn’t exactly ready to fully confront his past and his traumas, but he knows that he’ll have people there for him when he’s ready :)

And some sad shit to leave y’all with, of course >:(

-Fugo is scared of people, despite his demeanor. People have science, but are overall unpredictable

-He feels the need to always prepare for the worst because people are the one thing he can’t analytically predict

-He trusts Bruno with his life, but sometimes, even he doubts that

-He’s terrified of death, which is partly why he hates getting injured so much. He knows where untreated wounds will get you and it isn’t pretty

-Sometimes the tiniest injuries can ruin you forever. He’s terrified of that happening to him and he takes advantage of that fear because it's something he can control the probability of

-His biggest fear doesn’t have to do with the unknown, though; he’s terrified of being a failure

-His entire life was planned out for him: the best academic scores, the best schooling...now look at him. A gangster. A criminal.

-He hates his past self as much as he hates his current self. The constant pressure in the back of his mind of being so hungry for praise still resides in him today and he hates it

-He knows he can’t disappoint Bruno, and would have to do a lot to disappoint the others but it still never left his head

-He knows he’s with people who love him now, and would treat him right regardless, but part of him doubts that

-How could they love him? What had he done to be worthy of something like that? Half the time, he’s so angry he can barely speak

-And beyond all that, beyond his fear of death, and people, and failure?

-He’s just scared of being alone

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Jade gave me the saddest shit to work with after that last line that involved canon character deaths BUT MY TINY LITTLE HEART CANNOT HANDLE THAT TODAY so I leave you on merely a bittersweet ending instead :3

Got an ask? Hit me up, askbox is open!! <3

[shoichee]

hello! thank you for allowing the askbox requests too. can i please have a scenario for kise with a writer s/o? like, she works very hard to become a better writer even though she is quite good and always ends up getting really tired and sad. she also writes kise a lot of love letters expressing her love and how thankful she is for having him there.

Hello, my anonnie!! Sorry it took a while! I wanted for this scenario to REALLY TURN OUT GOOD, so I have been racking my head in how to write this request for a while... hope you like it!

Scintillating

Kise x Reader

Word Count: 1985

»»—————　☼　—————««

I would love to open up today’s journal entry with the typical cliché I often read in books: “The setting sun was gorgeous, its rays burning and illuminating everything in the cloud-filled skies,” or somewhere along those lines, but when I look up, it's quite the opposite. The skies I am now accustomed to are dreary blank canvases, with the exception of scattered smog and smoke as clouds, mimicking splattered black paint.

The sun, in its atrocious highlighter-yellow glory, gave way to a blobby, deflated orange in approximately 23 minutes, which meant that I didn’t have much time left before darkness would blanket the whole city for the next couple hours.

You sighed. Dropping the lead pencil with a clank, silence pervaded the room once again, save for the unnerving ticks of the wall clock. Another sigh escaped from you. The pencil that was dropped haphazardly on the desk was now delicately grasped by calloused fingers. There was still much work to do, yet your mind always drifts to these dinky daydreams. Years of writing have done a number on your hands; they’re no longer the smooth, silky skin encasing aching bone, yet Kise always reassured you that your hands are proof of your hard work.

A break would do, you thought.

Strained eyes turned away from paper to squint even harder out the window, trying to hurry the skies to grow dimmer so you can see Kise soon.

The sunset... a collection of fireworks of color... so, why do they look so drab to you?

Your eyes turned away from the window back to the inked paper. A frustrated noise escaped from your throat. The last thing that paper saw was your glare before it was crumpled up and tossed away. The pencil soon followed after. You just can’t seem to have the same knack for writing like you once did before.

When you think about Kise’s phenomenal improvement in his basketball skills compared to your own lengthy rut, your heart thumps a dull pain that was slowly, but surely, eating the rest of your self-confidence away.

So what do you do to cope? You rested your head on your messy desk before dozing off into a numbing sleep.

———

“... cchi? (y/n)-cchi? (y/n)-cchi?”

“... Mmm?”

You drowsily opened your eyelids, not registering the fact that you had ink transferred from the paper to your pressed cheek but more hyper-focused on the feel of Kise’s lips on your forehead and his arms around your waist.

Wait… Kise?

“... Ryōta? Wh-where did you come from?”

“Practice was done a while ago, and you weren’t picking up your phone,” he chuckles, admiring your state of drowsiness. “So after looking around for you, I came to your house. Your parents let me in.”

You shot up and quickly shook your head awake, ignoring the surprised but amused look Kise gave you.

“Ah—I… I forgot to write you a letter!” you panicked, scrambling to look for the pencil you chucked across the room earlier and simultaneously pushing Kise out the room. You only meant to take a short nap before you started your customary love letters for your boyfriend. As much as you knew they were cheesy and that they pissed off his fangirls to no end, writing them was the only dependable way for you to express your feelings to him. It was how you confessed to him, and it was how you were able to be honest with him up until now.

“Wha—? (y/n)-cchi, as much as I love your cute letters, I want to spend time with you too—”

“B-but—!”

Kise sighed before he swiftly maneuvers your attempts to push him out and gently scoops you up to nuzzle against your neck. “You’re usually not in a hurry like that,” he murmurs. “Have you been overworking yourself?”

“... Not particularly,” you said, averting your eyes.

You knew that Kise didn’t buy your words.

This was where you sometimes wish Kise wasn’t so sharp and intuitive, because you could feel his intense gaze piercing through your soul and exposing your most vulnerable side.

He placed you down on the edge of your bed before he gently bumps his forehead against yours. All you could do was hold eye contact with him as he gives you a concerned gaze from such a close distance.

“You don’t feel sick,” he mumbled. “Your temperature feels just fine.” But as he continued to look into your eyes, he knew something was amiss. “(y/n)-cchi, what’s wrong?”

He immediately backs up and sits on the floor to give you space, patiently looking up at you as you continue to sit on the edge of the bed.

“I…” you started, and your inability to properly express yourself haunts you again. Kise reassuringly caressed your calloused hands, and you took a deep breath before you tried again. “I’m… feeling a slump. I don’t feel like I’m good enough.”

You expected Kise to immediately jump on you to reassure you with sweet nothings and kisses, but here he was, furrowing his brows in deep contemplation at your words. A heavy silence pervaded your room.

“... When?”

“Ryōta?”

He looks up at you again, capturing you in his gaze. “When did you feel this way?”

You widen your eyes in complete surprise. Of all things to say, of all things to ask, this certainly wasn’t what you expected. You were waiting to hear a “what?” “how?” a “who?” or even a “why?”

“Well…” you hesitated. “Just very recently.”

“I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to notice until now,” he said. “Things have just been really busy on my end—but it’s not an excuse for my negligence, (y/n)-cchi! I promise I’ll do better as your—”

“Ryōta!” you interrupted, slightly amused at his flustered state. “You’re already doing so much for me, silly. It’s not because of you.”

“Uh… it’s not?”

“I just… feel like I can’t get better at writing at all. I just want to… be able to better express how I feel about myself, about you, about the world around me… but words are just so… out of reach.”

“But I think you’re an amazing writer, (y/n)-cchi. I always adore your letters, and the teachers love your essays,” Kise said.

“I think your basketball skills are jaw-dropping, and all the coaches praise you, Hell, you’re known as one of the Generation of Miracles. But even so, when you can’t improve yourself, don’t you get frustrated?”

At your words, Kise crossed his arms with a pout as he averts your eyes. “Yeah, well… I guess when you put it like that…”

“What are you being so shy for?” you cocked an eyebrow at him.

“(y/n)-cchi, you complimented my basketball skills!”

“But I always do in my letters.”

“Yeah, on paper! This is the first time I heard you say it out loud!”

His ridiculousness never ceased to make you laugh, and at the sound of your fit of giggles, Kise moves his head back to you as he lets out a few chuckles of his own. “You finally smiled.”

“Ah? Well, you always seem to know how to cheer me up,” you smiled, but almost just as quickly, you resignedly sighed again at your current predicament.

In response, Kise stands up and deftly picks your figure up before settling you on his lap on the bed. You were face to face with him, and you placed your hands on his shoulders to steady yourself. His face grows serious again.

“I know cheap words won’t mean anything, but believe me when I say that I really do love everything about you,” he softly said. He brushes your stray hair away from your face. “... from the way you brush your hair from your face when you’re deep in thought.” He smooths out the wrinkle from your brows with the pad of his thumb. “... the way you furrow your brows when you read something challenging.” He moves to hover his thumb against the plush of your lips. “... the way you bite your lips or chew on your pencils whenever you’re concentrating.” He gently encases your rough hands in his own. “... and I especially love the way your hands flurry across the paper when you’re inspired.” He kisses your hands. “From your hands, I get letters that always make my day, (y/n)-cchi.”

“I know that this slump won’t be easy to overcome, but I’ll always be here to support you. You can always lean on me if things become too much, and I will always try to help you in any way if you ask. It’s never a burden for me and never will be. You always make me happy, so… I want to make you happy, too.”

You sat there, silently digesting his every word. His words struck a chord in your heart, and before you knew it, the ever-so familiar tears streaked down your cheeks.

“Wh-What’s wrong, (y/n)-cchi?! Did I say something that hurt you?! (y/n)-cchi, oi—!”

“A-ah, well,” you said, wiping the runny tears from your face. “You just made me very happy, Ryōta.”

“W-well don’t scare me like that! Aren’t you not supposed to cry when you’re happy?!”

———

It was another typical morning at Kaijo, but Kise’s mind was filled with thoughts of you. Were you feeling better? Are you okay? Were you pushing yourself too hard again? That was something he’ll see for himself when he’ll meet with you during break.

As he opens his locker to change his shoes, he mindlessly sifts through a plethora of fanmail and letters, until he sees a very familiar penmanship.

The letter was yours.

But you always send your letters before he opens the lockers again after school. That has always been your routine. Kise holds your letter like it was his lifeline and safeguards it in the inner pocket of his uniform blazer, and he manages to escape the clutches of Kasamatsu when he runs to a secluded corner of the courtyard to open your letter in childish anticipation.

Dearest Ryōta,

With nothing to do except to wait for school to start soon to see you again, I curiously peer out the window from the room, tapping my hands on the cool table, now that the sun was rising. It was breezy, windy enough to gently tousle a few flyaway strands of my hair. I remember constantly staring at the neighborhood, the familiar trees, the familiar streetlights, but now, they emanate a different feeling when I looked out this morning.

The sunrise, usually being a stale, flat orange, was now bursting with colors ever since I locked eyes with you last night, and it made the outstretched view I experienced from the room suddenly… bigger. I still remember how you made me feel much smaller, more vulnerable in just a matter of minutes of staring into your golden eyes. The sky became a giant bruised mango of various vivid reds, oranges, yellows, and purples, and it casted all of its glow onto everything below them. It made everything so surreal, like a painting, and I couldn’t fathom to see that even such a previously dismal place could have the potential to even look ethereal with just the effect of your words.

The sight truly reminded me of you, you who outshines everyone in my vision. You’re the one who truly captures my gaze.

I hope today, and the next few days, the next few months, and the next few years, will shower you in everlasting warmth. I hope I can become that source of warmth for you for a long time, just as you have for me.

In truth, I think your words have truly moved me so much that I’ve been inspired once again. I will continue to be relying on you, and I hope you can rely on me, too.

Thank you.

I love you.

(y/n).

….

Bonus: Kise was on cloud-nine throughout the entire day, including during practice after school. Not even Kasamatsu’s kicks snapped him back to reality.

[heretherebedork]

THE ENDING FOR OSSANS LOVE. WE DID IT THEY DID A NON-COMEDY KISS. INITIATED BY TIN TOO. WE WON FELLAS.

but seriously, this episode was wild from start to finish. i watched it live on tv so i was just an anxious mess during the ad breaks wondering whether the last 30, 20, 10 minutes could really tie up the story. and it did! i’m still amazed at how much happens in one episode. we really went from siu muk screaming about how tin should’ve thought through the marriage to them kissing on the couch? and i’d like to think the easter egg is a lawyer asking them these questions before letting them sign their marriage papers but i’m getting ahead of myself

so KK telling tin to go find muk was quite surprising to me. i thought even if deep down KK knew tin wasn’t genuine with his romantic love for KK or couldn’t reciprocate it the way KK wants, he’d rather play pretend than let Tin go, so truly, props to him for being the bigger man and being mature (if thats the term) and encouraging Tin to go find ah muk. i think it’s also partly because he does love Tin enough to want him to have a happy future and not be so selfish as to keep him when both parties aren’t gonna be 100% happy with it.

and then when muk tried to tell tin they wouldn’t have a good future together but obviously just saying without any fight in him? honestly i kinda laughed, it felt like he included it just as an inside joke like, hey remember how i said this and we broke up but here you are ditching your marriage? we ended up right where we left off! (i can’t articulate this properly but i hope you understand HAHA). and Tin going like, i’m a big boy, let me choose :( and it’s true! he has indeed grown (sure he still can’t pack but i’m sure he’s more in touch with his feelings towards siu muk)

honestly? i’m very satisfied with the ending, and LOVED it when carmen took out her own recording device. i was wondering why ping gor just stopped using it after the scam. so glad they brought it back, esp through carmen and it helps solidify their relationship. this couple is truly iconic, i love their dynamic.

i still have so many thoughts but here are some nice stuff from their zoom after party: (1) literally everyone (even the producer) wants to do a movie adaptation or a second season (movie felt more ideal amongst them, but any continuum is nice). (2) for the last scene/ kissing scene, edan and anson actually did three takes with varying degrees of intensity. the one that aired was the middle one, and when asking whether they’d release the most intense one (apparently more mouth/lip movement), both edan and anson lo said they shouldn’t release it because they want it to happen in the movie/ sequel. (3) the cast thinks KK and Darren has potential. (4) the cast also thought louis and francesca should’ve kissed. (5) the hk adaptation is airing in japan HAHA (in fall) as well as a few other east asian countries. that’s all i recall for now.

thank you, francis, from the bottom of my heart, for answering my asks and allowing me to have someone to vent to, laugh at, and get emotionally wrecked together. i know you watch a bunch of other BL series but this has become my favourite show (i don’t watch a lot but when i watch shows i completely spiral) so i’m so happy to get to talk about it with someone. something so dangerous about asian dramas is finding people who want to talk about it (in english as well!) i’ll probably be in your askbox for a few more days sorting out my feelings but i loved going on your blog and seeing new posts about ossan’s love!

We got a comedy kiss turned real kiss! Which was wonderful. It was so, so good to see. I was SO WORRIED when Tin panicked at the kiss again but YESSS WE GOT THE KISS. I might watch those last few scenes with them again, tbh. They're just so GOOD and SWEET and HEARTFELT. What darling boys.

That episode was definitely a wild ride. They held out for the last minute to solve things. Siu Muk yelling about Tin not making up his mind just made me wanna scream, though. I mean, come on dude! You did break up with him for 'his own good'. What did you want him to do? You knew he still had feelings for you when you broke up with him! Stop it! I really wish Siu Muk had been the one to go after Tin, truly, and not have the failed scene at the bridge... but it was good to see Tin chase him down though.

Oh, that scene hurt so much. Siu Muk was so unsure and so scared and Tin, for the first time, genuinely made up his mind. He said 'This is me and I know myself, stop telling me who I am' and he meant it. Is he a fully competent and independent adult? No, but who is? He's capable of running a business and choosing who he loves and if he can't pack a bag... well, everyone has a weakness.

Oh man, a movie adaptation would be great. A second season would probably make me twitchy because EVERY. SINGLE. SECOND. SEASON. EVER. is like 'miscommunication and possible cheating!' and I don't want that for our boys. I want them to just be happy together. I'd only like a second season if they let Siu Muk and Tin be the secondary happy couple and make someone else be in that weird love triangle position. I'd actually love that! They'd make an amazing 'happy in the background' couple.

I want that kiss. DAMNIT. I want that KISS. I wanna see all the versions of the kiss and also more kisses, pleases. Just... Tin and Siu Muk kissing in general would be great and ideal and my favorite thing ever. I just want their future to be happy and content and full of love.

Oh, I am always glad to get show-specific asks, or any ask at all, and happy to chat and natter and share! Please, always feel free to hit me up. It's hard to find a BL I'm not watching (if you do, feel free to tell me about it because it's probably an accident!) I have too much free time, no life and a love of BL that is all encompassing. I've been so glad to know that other people share this show and the same deep thoughts about it and enjoyed all the same bits!

You are always welcome to hit me up and to chat. I've got plenty of headcanons I'm still considering for these characters so I look forward to seeing and hearing your post-show thoughts as well.

[stupouid]

Unity (ATLA boys x reader) Chapter 2

Chapter 1| Chapter 2

A/N: this one has lots of cute sokka moments for Y/N!!!!! you go girl!!

I kind of edited this so yeah<3

Warning: like 3 curse words

Word count: over 3k words lelele

ask any questions in my askbox!

Chapter 2

The Swamp Meeting Sokka and Katara, formally, was… interesting, for Y/N. When Katara saw Aang walking towards the two siblings with Y/N, her first instinct was to freeze her, not even acknowledging the way Aang wasn’t even troubled by Y/N’s presence.

“Katara!” Aang shouted, as he unfreezed the ice that entrapped Y/N. “This is Y/N. She’s King Bumi’s granddaughter, and more importantly, she’s a friend. She defied Princess Azula, Zuko’s sister, to save me. If it wasn’t for her King Bumi and I would probably be fried.”

“I don’t believe you.” Sokka stated. “If you were really King Bumi’s granddaughter, we would have met you weeks ago, the last time we were here.”

“It’s a long story, but I can assure you I’m no threat. I’m not a fire bender or an earth bender, I’m already considered a traitor to the fire nation, and I left my sword and my throwing knives back home. The only way I could possibly hurt you is by chi-blocking, and I’m not even as good as Ty Lee!”

“Hold on. Why’d you say earth or fire bender? And why do we have matching necklaces?” Sokka questioned.

“She’ll tell us while we’re on Appa. Now come on, I have an earthbending teacher to find. Y/N, you wouldn’t happen to know any great earthbending teachers, right?”

“No, I don’t, but I’m tired. And your sky bison is so cute!”

Y/N told Sokka, Katara, and Aang the whole story. How her mother was the princess of Omashu and how she traveled the whole world and had many suitors from different nations (Y/N's mother had multiple water tribe suitors and her favorite had given her a necklace similar to Sokka’s, hence as to why they match), how Y/N's mother had Y/N with a fire nation noblemen which led to Y/M/N being disowned by her family, how Y/N grew up in the fire nation and how Y/N moved to Omashu after her mother’s death, and how Y/N was too scared to set foot anywhere near the royal palace. 

It was a lot for the watertribe siblings to take in, but they sympathized with her as they both lost a mother as well. Ultimately, they decided she wasn’t a threat to them and would help them out when navigating the fire nation and Ba Sing Se, as the girl traveled to many places due to her father and mother’s high status.Katara may have trusted Y/N right away, but Sokka was still suspicious of the girl, and most likely jealous too. 

Sokka certainly didn’t appreciate the fact that Y/N was a better warrior than him even though he was older than her, and he was jealous because of the way she had with a sword. 

Days passed and the four teens were flying over a large forested area, covered with a blanket of fog. Aang was in some sort of trance and Y/N was eyeing the swamp suspiciously, while Sokka sharpened his machete and Katara studied some scroll.

“Hey, you taking us down for a reason?” Sokka questioned. There was no reply from Aang, and Y/N didn’t bother to answer Sokka. The swamp was too… ominous. 

“Aang, why are we going down?”Aang must have snapped out of his trance because he then said, “What? I didn’t even notice.”

“Are you noticing now?” The watertribe boy retorted. Noticing Sokka’s harsh attitude, Katara moved up to the front of the saddle, and said, “Is something wrong?”

“This is going to sound really weird,” Aang started, “but I think the swamp is calling to me.”

Y/N interjected with, “I feel it too. I can hear some sort of… ringing, I guess. It’s weird and I don’t like it.”

Sokka ignored what Y/N said and targeted his next question to Aang. “Well, is it telling you where we can get something to eat? I’m starving!” At this, Y/N rolled her eyes. In the short time that she knew Sokka, she had pinned down three of his personality traits to be talking about food, girls, and his boomerang. Disgusting. 

Y/N tuned out the rest of the conversation until she heard Sokka scream, “You better throw in an extra yip! We gotta move!” And that was when Y/N saw the tornado.

Y/N had never liked tornadoes. She also wasn’t fond of lightning. As Y/N was panicking, she saw Sokka fly off Appa’s saddle. She instinctively reached out for his hand and he grabbed on to it. Y/N saw the look of panic on his face, since Y/N was the person who would decide if he would live or die. She could either let him go here and risk Katara freezing her to death, or bring Sokka back onto the saddle and have him owe his entire life to her. The princess went with the latter. 

As Y/N helped Sokka onto the saddle, Aang created an air shield around Appa. However, Aang was struggling with keeping it intact, and eventually the shield broke and Appa and the rest of the team fell into the swamp. Fortunately, Y/N fell right next to Aang, so he bended the air to give them a soft landing. 

Aang stood straight up and looked around, asking, “Where’s Appa and Momo?” When he didn’t find them right away, he shouted, “APPA! MOMO!” Y/N was laying on a tree root and had no intention of moving until Sokka appeared right before her with a huge-ass grin on his face.

“What? Did ya’ get too tired Princess?” Sokka teased. Y/N's face turned red, totally not from Sokka calling her princess. Her face turned red because he was teasing. Yup.

Fuming, Y/N replied with, “Funny, because I was the one who saved you. Now you owe me your life.” Y/N stood up and brushed off the dirt from her clothes. Sokka was left speechless by the girl, because everything she said was factual. 

Soon the four of them were united and Sokka suggested they start a fire. Aang and Sokka argued while Katara noticed that Y/N was just in the background. Walking over to Y/N, Katara said, “Hey. Are you, uh, okay?”

“What?” Y/N replied, “Oh no, I’m fine. Really. I’m just not a big fan of this place.”

“Oh, okay. Just… let me know if you need anything, yeah?” Y/N simply just nodded in response to Katara. The four kids had dinner and then went to sleep, huddled against each other for warmth. Or more like Katara and Aang were huddled together in the middle, and Sokka and Y/N were on the outside. Suddenly, Sokka screamed, and the rest of the three teens woke up, only to be dragged away by some vines. Y/N tried her best to get out of the vines, but with no weapon (it was with Sokka) or no bending, she was stuck. 

“Guys? GUYS!” she screamed, but no luck. Y/N kept wiggling inside of the vines until they randomly let go.Stepping out of the cage of vines, Y/N was met with a figure. Y/N could tell that the figure was most likely female, so she called out, “Hey lady! Could you uhh… help me find my friends?”The lady didn’t respond, so Y/N started walking towards the woman. Y/N was just about 5 feet away from the mysterious woman until she turned around, and Y/N was met with the face of...her mother.  

“Mom?” Y/N asked, with tears coming to her eyes.“Mom, is that really you?” The mysterious woman just nodded, and Y/N ran over to her, tears streaming down her s/c skin. “Mom!”

“Y/N,” the lady started, “I want you to know that… that the heart wants what it wants. The person you end up with may not be the person you expected. The person you may end up with may have crossed you many times before. But just know that they’re with you for a good reason, and that they love you for you. The person you end up with is an amazing warrior with an intelligent mind.” Y/N didn’t know what else to say. She wasn’t even thinking about love yet, she was only fourteen for spirit’s sake! Nonetheless, Y/N accepted her mother’s advice with a thank you. The young girl was about to embrace her mother when her image started shimmering.

“Mom? Mom!” Y/N called out. 

“Y/N! I love you so, so much! Don’t forget what I said!” Screamed Y/N’s mother, and then she disappeared into the night. Y/N stood there, processing what her mother had told her. Why was it important that she know who she would end up with? She had expected her mother to apologize for not telling her the whole truth, or some information on a powerful earthbender so she could help Aang with his search. 

Y/N shook her head and her h/c hair framed her face. The girl started walking, not sure of where she was going, until she came upon a large clearing. (in reality some vines pushed her until she reached said clearing.) She found a tree root and sat on it, thinking about whatever the hell her mother had just said, until Sokka appeared, along with Katara and Aang.

“What do you guys think you’re doing!?” Sokka shouted, as he put away his machete. “I’ve been looking all over for you!” 

Katara, obviously agitated, replied with, “Well, I’ve been wandering around looking for you! And you, Y/N, where were you?”

Y/N was about to speak, but Aang cut her off with, “I was chasing some girl.” Y/N couldn’t help but laugh a little.

“What girl?” Katara asked. Y/N couldn’t tell if she was jealous or just plain confused.

“I don’t know. I heard some girl laughing and I saw a girl in a fancy dress.” Aang replied.

“Well there must be a tea party here and we didn’t get our invitations!” Sokka screamed sarcastically. Y/N giggled. Who knew Sokka could actually be funny? “What are you laughing at, Y/N?” said the watertribe boy.

“Nothing!” the h/c haired girl replied. “Nope, nothing at all.”

“I thought I saw mom.” Katara stated. 

“Oh. I thought I saw my mother too.” Y/N uttered. Sokka frowned as he noticed Y/N didn’t seem too happy about it. 

“Really? Did your mother say anything to you? I tried to reach out to my mom but she disappeared before she could tell me anything!” Katara blurted.

“She talked to me about the person I be with in the future. She said they were a skilled warrior who was very intelligent. I don’t know anyone like that though. Except some people in the fire nation, but based on how things are going, that’s a no. But she also said that the person I end up with is not someone I would expect.” Sokka mulled over her words.

“You don’t know anyone like that? What about me? I’m intelligent! And I’m the best warrior in the Southern Water Tribe!” Sokka exclaimed. Hearing Sokka’s words made Y/N blush, but also made her laugh.

“Well, I’m sorry that you were so offended by my mother. I’ll admit, you’re smart, but you could work on your skills with a sword.” Y/N breathed. 

The two kept bickering until Sokka said, “Look, we were all just scared and hungry and our minds were playing tricks on us. That's why we all saw things out here.” 

Katara looked surprised. “You saw something too?” 

Sokka looked away, obviously thinking about what he was going to say next.“I saw… I saw Yue. But that doesn’t prove anything! Look, I think about her all the time, and you and Y/N saw your moms, who you guys probably miss a lot.” 

Y/N knew who Yue was. Despite constantly bickering, there were some times where Sokka and Y/N had deep conversations, conversations Sokka was too scared to have with Katara. They talked about Y/N's past, and how Yue’s death deeply affected Sokka. 

“What about me? I didn't know the girl I saw. And all our visions led us right here.” Aang started walking around, thinking deeply, trying to connect the dots.

“Okay ... so where's here? The middle of the swamp?” Katara questioned.

Y/n cut in. “I think… I think this is the heart of the swamp. It has to be the center. I think it was calling us.”

“It's just a tree. It can't call anyone. For the last time, there's nothing after us and there's nothing magical happening here.” As soon as Sokka said that, a huge seaweed monster appeared before them. 

Sokka screamed and ran straight to Y/N, wrapping his arms around her, while Y/N just stood there trying to understand what the hell had just appeared right in front of them. The monster started attacking the four friends, so they all split up. 

The monster got to Sokka first, picking him up and swinging him around like an infant would with a toy. Aang bended the air to chop off one the arm that was holding Sokka, only to become the next target for the seaweed creature. 

After Sokka was free from the creature’s grasp, Y/N helped the tan boy tear up some of the vines, as he gave her back her sword just seconds ago. Things were going smoothly until Sokka was swiped from the ground, (yes, again) but Y/N chopped off the arm that was holding him. 

Katara was using her water to slice another arm of the creature but the holes the water bender created kept on growing back. Aang was running around trying to lose the vines that were reaching out towards him. Sokka was randomly sucked into the chest of the creature while Y/N was trying her best to reach for his hand. 

Katara froze and then unfroze Sokka, allowing him to get out of the seaweed monster's chest. 

“There’s someone in there!” Sokka shouted to Katara. “He’s bending the vines!” Katara looked over to Y/N and the both nodded, signalling they were about to do something badass.

Katara ran to the left of the monsters body and sliced the monster’s head on using her water bending while Y/N hacked away at the right side of the monster’s body using her sword. The seaweed head of the creature slid off the body, and the man inside the seaweed was exposed. 

Aang shouted, “Why did you call me here if you wanted to kill us!?”

The man inside the monster said, “Wait! I didn’t call you here.” The man was wearing nothing but a loincloth covering his, you know, and a leaf hat on top of his head. 

Almost instinctively Sokka covered Y/N's eyes. Annoyed, she put his hand down and said, “I’m only a year younger than you. I don’t need your protection. I’m mature and I can defend myself just fine. I don’t need you.”

“Whatever. How am I gonna be a warrior if I have no one to protect?” Sokka started. 

“You can protect your sister-”

“The last time I tried to do that, she found the Avatar. Plus, she’s a bender. And the last princess I had to save turned into the moon. You may not be a princess yet, but I’m going to protect you. Think of it as my... redemption.”

At this point Y/N’s face was extremely red. 

“Well I think your redemption is a whole lot of bull. I’m not just some replacement for Yue, Sokka.” Y/N scoffed and started walking towards where the water benders were.Sokka reached for Y/N’s wrist tugged on it, pulling the s/c girl to him. Y/N couldn’t help but think of what happened with Zuko before she left. 

“I didn’t mean it that way, you idiot. You aren’t a replacement of Yue for me. We may fight a lot, but I care about you, Y/N.” 

Y/N thought about his words. She gave him a smile and said, “I guess,” then started walking towards Katara and Aang, who were following the weird swamp man. 

“So, who are you then?” She heard Katara say. The strange man started bending vines out of the way to create a path. 

“I protect the swamp from folks that want to hurt it, like this fella with his big knife.” 

Embarrassed, Sokka put away his weapon, but then said, “See, completely reasonable. Not a monster, just a regular guy defending his home. Nothing mystical about it.”

The strange man, who’s name turned out to be Huu, laughed. “Oh the swamp is a mystical place all right. It's sacred. I reached enlightenment right here under the banyan-grove tree. I heard it calling me, just like you did.” He sat down on the said tree. 

Sokka elbowed Y/N in the stomach and said, “Sure you did. It seems real chatty.” Y/N couldn’t help but giggle and Sokka looked over to the younger girl with a look of confidence on his face. 

“See, this whole swamp is actually just one tree spread out over miles,” Huu started. “Branches spread and sink, take root, and spread some more. One big, living organism. Just like the entire world.” Y/N was amazed. She looked around, her face filled with awe of the place. 

The princess didn’t bother to listen to the rest of their conversation, and rejoined the group when she saw they were all sitting down. 

“In the swamp, we see visions of people we've lost, people we loved, folks we think are gone. But the swamp tells us they're not. We're still connected to them. Time is an illusion and so is death.” Confusion washed over Y/N’s face. Was death really an illusion? Sokka noticed Y/N’s troubled looks and placed an arm on her shoulder, feeling pride in the way she relaxed against his touch. 

“But what about my vision? It was someone I had never met.” Aang questioned. 

“You're the Avatar. You tell me.” replied Huu. Aang mumbled something about how time was an illusion but Y/N didn’t pay attention. 

She was daydreaming about who-knows-what until she heard Aang shout “Come on! We’ve got to hurry!” 

The rest of the teens followed him through the swamp until he led them to Appa and Momo. There was a fight about the creatures, but eventually, Aang had his precious animals back.

Time passed quickly, and suddenly it was night time, and the GAang and the swamp benders were huddled around a fire. Y/N had complained about being too cold despite the swamp being normally warm and Sokka had wrapped his coat around Y/N’s shoulders. 

“How you like that possum chicken?” A swamp bender named Due asked. 

Sokka responded with,“Tastes just like arctic hen.” He shoveled another spoonful of soup into his mouth, then swallowed. “So why were you guys so interested in eating Appa? You've got plenty of those big things wandering around.” 

Sokka pointed at the catgator right next to the swamp benders. Due looked shocked. 

“You want me to eat old Slim? He's like a member of the family!” Due then grabbed a fish from wherever and tossed it towards the catgator. The catgator catched it and Sokka laughed. Y/N couldn’t help but smile when she heard him chuckle, it was like music to her ears. 

“Nice Slim!” Sokka cheered. He then threw a bug at Slim, but the catgator just growled. Y/N giggled.

“Catgators don’t eat bugs, Sokka.” The girl said. Sokka turned his head towards Y/N.

“And how do I know that you’re right, Princess?” Sokka inquired as he poked Y/N’s sides. By now Y/N was giggling like crazy and Sokka looked at the girl like she was the only person on Earth. 

“The girl is right! Bugs are people food!” Due laughed. 

“Where'd you say you was from?” another swamp bender named Tho, asked. 

Katara responded with, “My brother and I are from the South Pole. Y/N was born in the Earth Kingdom Omashu, but lived in the Fire Nation Capital for most of her life. And Aang is from the Southern Air Temple!” 

“Didn't know there was waterbenders anywhere but here.” Tho breathed. “They got a nice swamp there, do they?” Y/N giggled at his statement. According to her mother, Sokka, and Katara, there were zero swamps in the northern or southern water tribes.  

“No, it's all ice and snow.” Katara corrected. 

“Hmm. No wonder you left.” Y/N found this strangely funny for some reason, and she placed her face onto Sokka’s shoulder to stifle her laughs. The watertribe boy’s face turned crimson red, as he had never experienced something like this, not even with Suki or Yue. 

Sokka cleared his throat, and to Katara, he said, “Well, I hope you realize now that nothing strange was going on here. Just a bunch of greasy people living in a swamp.” This made Y/N laugh even harder and Sokka felt extremely confident. 

“What about the visions?” Katara countered.

“I told you, we were hungry. I'm eating a giant bug!” Tears were coming out of Y/N’s eyes, Sokka was acting incredibly stupid. And the way he ate the bug’s abdomen was disturbing and hilarious at the same time. Sokka placed his arm around Y/N in an attempt to be smooth. Y/N, just thinking it was a friendly gesture, allowed it. 

“But what about when the tree showed me where Appa and Momo were?” Aang added. 

Y/N had calmed down a few moments before and was currently sitting straight up, no longer leaning on Sokka, much to his dismay.

“That’s Avatar stuff,” Y/N started. “That doesn’t count.” Y/N fixed her h/c, h/l, and then asked Huu, “How did you make that tornado that sucked us down? It was pretty freaking awesome.”

Huu looked confused. “I can't do anything like that. I just bend the water in the plants.” 

Sokka stood up, then announced, “Well, no accounting for weather. Still, there's absolutely nothing mysterious about the swamp. I’m also tired, so I’m gonna go set up our sleeping bags. Y/N? Care to assist this handsome young fellow?” He held out an arm for Y/N to grab onto. With nothing else to do, Y/N took his arm and stood up. 

“I’m not sure that the term ‘handsome young fellow’ is suitable for you, but I’m tired, so why not?” The two started walking towards Appa, on their way to get their supplies. 

taglist: @emberislandplayers​ @eridanuswave​ @fandomobsessedlife​ @hopefuloperaangelnerd​

[aceandnancy]

FALL DRABBLEFEST 2020 NOW OPEN!!!

                                          THE GUIDELINES

The objective of the Drabblefest is to publish as much fanfiction as possible for a fandom that desperately needs it!

Find a prompt you like on the list and just write something. There are only two requirements: it has to be at least drabble length (but it can be as long as you want!) and the main pairing has to be Ace/Nancy. 

Anyone can participate at any skill level. Even if you have never written a fic before or if it’s been years…give it a try. 

You can use as many prompts as you want. You can also combine prompts. There is no limit to the amount of prompts you can use and more than one person can use the same prompts. Make sure you mention the prompt in your author notes.

Please tag your fics #nacedrabblefest so that they can be reblogged. 

If you cross-post to Archive of Our Own, please tag your fics as part of the 2020 Ace/Nancy Fall Drabblefest. You can also add a link back to the blog if you want. It may encourage more participation.

Comments? Questions? Comment below or hit the askbox. 

GOOD LUCK!!! HAPPY WRITING!!

                                      DRABBLEFEST DATES:

                      SEPTEMBER 29th- NOVEMBER 15th

         THE PROMPTS ARE LISTED BELOW THE CUT---------------

Detailed Scenarios:

Nancy is secretly pining for Ace while he's dating somebody else.

Ace buys Nancy a first edition copy of “All The President’s Men”. 

Nancy knows about Ace's whereabouts before Bess without even thinking.

Ryan gives Nancy unsolicited advice about not running from love even if you're scared...forcing her to confront her denial over her feelings for Ace.

Nick is concerned for Ace regarding his growing relationship with Nancy; he doesn't want Ace getting hurt because of Nancy's trust issues...but Ace knows what he "signed up for" and is okay with it.

Gilmore Girls-ish AU: Ryan raises Nancy in Horseshoe Bay cut off from his family and runs the ice cream parlor him and Lucy loved. Nancy and Ace grow up as best friends.

Nancy and Ace go undercover as newlyweds.

Nancy asks Ace for help with solving a case for Carson.

Nancy is annoyed/jealous when a new waitress at The Claw flirts with Ace...but doesn't want to admit it.

Nancy Drew's News starts posting anonymous gossip involving The Drew Crew leading to some interesting revelations.

When Ace is arrested for hacking, Nancy moves hell and earth to clear his name.

Nancy and Ace's PDA disgusts George and delights Bess.

The Drew Crew spends the day at the beach and Nancy low-key thirsts for Ace's body.

Ace and Nancy get trapped in an elevator forcing them to confront their feelings for each other.

Nancy goes speed dating with Bess, but all she can think about is Ace.

Bess cons George into helping her get Ace and Nancy together.

Laura returns at the moment Ace and Nancy's UST hits a boiling point.

Laura is getting married and wants the Drew Crew to attend her wedding.

George notices that both Ace and Nancy are very tired at work and comments on it.

Ace offers to give Nancy a massage when her neck won't stop hurting.

Nancy and Ace laugh over an inside joke and George thinks it's super weird.

Ace and Nancy dance.

Ace and Nancy have a secret relationship ala Monica and Chandler.

When their young daughter asks the moment they fell in love with each other, Ace and Nancy realize it's the same moment.

Ace gets a haircut.

Ace tells Nancy the story of how and why he was arrested for hacking.

Nancy and Ace stumble into a case on their honeymoon.

Ace realizes he's in love with Nancy, but decides to keep it to himself.

Carson witnesses a "moment" between Nancy and Ace and attempts to subtlety ask her about it.

The Drew Crew gives Lucy a proper burial.

Nancy goes over to Ace's place instead of Owen's on the night she discovers her true identity.

Nancy hates Halloween, but Ace loves it.

When a person dresses up as Dead Lucy at The Claw's Halloween party, Ace comforts a distressed Nancy (and also throws that person out).

Bess, George, and Nancy have an old fashioned sleepover for Bess's birthday. When Nancy gets a text from Ace, the girls tease her about her smile...but it turns into a serious conversation about her true feelings.

Nancy meets Ace's brother.

Ace and Nancy share their first kiss in the rain.

Ace and Nancy's first time is in an unusual setting.

Ace and Nancy have a stupid fight that leads to a super hot make-up.

Nancy talks to Ace about her recent traumas. He encourages her to make up with Carson.

Carson and Ace talk about Nancy. He thinks they're good for each other.

Ace and Nancy Facetime before bed.

Ace and Nancy go on a road trip that links to his past.

Ace and Nancy exchange earrings as a sign of their commitment to each other.

Nancy thinks Ace's hacking is a major turn-on.

When the girls are busy, Ace and Nick must solve their own supernatural case.

Ace and Nancy discover their fake elopement (for a case) was real! Comedy ensues.

When Nancy's fansite openly ships them, Nancy and Ace rethink their relationship.

Truth Serum is slipped into The Drew Crew's drinks.

Ace and Nancy share a moment before she's forced to flee town with Ryan.

Ace takes Nancy to an escape room for their first date.

Nancy sees Ace's scar from the crash.

After yet another near death experience, Ace and Nancy realize they can't keep ignoring their feelings and finally do something about it.

When the rest of the Drew Crew is out of town, Ace and Nancy must run The Claw together for the entire weekend with hilarious results.

George figures out Ace and Nancy's code word for sex.

After a fight involving Algaeca-related tension, the group fractures. Nancy flees to the Bluffs. Aces goes after her.

An anonymous love letter is found at The Claw and everyone thinks it's from a different person. Chaos ensues! Revelations come to light! Based on the classic episode of Full House [4x11: "Secret Admirer"].

Nancy's ex-high school friends comes back into the picture. Ace poses as her boyfriend to help her deal with them.

Ace watches Nancy as she falls asleep.

Nancy asks Ace out on a date.

Ace and Nancy's first date goes horribly wrong, but ends incredibly right.

Nancy learns Ace’s real name.

A jealous Nancy tries to win a date with Ace at The Claw’s charity auction.

Ace and Nancy confide in Bess separately about their feelings for each other but make her promise not to interfere. 

Nancy and Ace accidentally wear matching costumes to The Claw’s Halloween party.

Nancy and Ace have matching soulmarks. 

Nancy and Ace become friends long before working at The Claw.

To get a vital piece of evidence or scope out suspects/locations for a case, Ace & Nancy have to pose as a couple, or even if not, someone makes reference to them as such.

An evil spirit (possibly the Algaeca or something) infiltrates Horseshoe Bay & is able to take the form of its residents, namely Nancy (or Ace). It takes the other person to figure out it’s not them, & how to get the real person back.

A situation occurs where Ace has to protect Nancy from the Hudsons [physically and/or Nancy and Ace team up].

Nancy and Ace get high together (safely).

Dialogue Snippets:

“I don’t believe in regret.”

“Mmmmm...don’t leave this bed.”

“Kiss me and don’t stop.”

"I don't want to fight this anymore."

“I know I said I just wanted to be friends, but I can’t stop thinking about you. I’m not scared anymore. I want us.”

"Ace is the best. We all need an Ace in our life."

"I don't want to leave."

“You’re my inspiration Nancy.”

“So, you’re the famous Nancy Drew! All my son does is talk about you. I’m his mom.” 

“I trust you more than anyone else in my entire life, Ace.”

“I never thought I’d love someone this much.”

“I want you to be my partner.”

“I’m pregnant.”

“I’m worried about you Nancy. The Hudsons are dangerous.”

“I had a dream where we were together and it just felt so right.”

“Do you want to go back to my place?”

“Stay the night.”

“I wasn’t ready for us before...but I’m ready now.” 

“Do YOU know what missing frames are?”

“Stay.”

[unmanageable-day]

17. Between a friend and another friend

When you are friends for so long, and it has never come across your mind to date one of them. Until one particular guy friend of yours came to offer you a relationship, a new chapter of life like no other before.

prev | next

a/n: finallyyyy i can upload this chapter. i was literally lost on how i should carry the plot but anyway here it is, i hope you enjoy this chapter. please feel free to comment in my askbox. and to those who are rooting for TY, i hope you’re okay after reading this chapter :")

"I wish the pictures will turn out great," Doyoung groaned as he stretched his back. You and him spent the whole day doing your pre-wedding photoshoot. You had mentally prepared yourself, just in case Doyoung would surprise you with his sudden physical affection. Luckily he didn't. He stuck to the concept that Johnny suggested; basically following the concept of his Youtube channel and doing pretty much anything, and everything. Although you didn't have to change clothes many times, Johnny, the photographer insisted to go to various places to catch various moments. So, yeah, you were still exhausted because apparently Johnny was more excited than you.

"It's Johnny. What could go wrong with the photos?" You sat up, your back against a pillow,  joining him on the bed. "At least the weather was nice today. I wouldn't survive if it was sunny and we had to go here and there."

"You're right." Then he got up too to match your head level. He scooted closer to share his phone with you. "Look, he sent some preview. And some pictures he took with his phone."

Smiling genuinely, you gave approval nods. "As expected from John," you cheered.

Without you realizing, Doyoung fixed his gaze at your side profile. His lips formed a little smile. He was glad to see you at ease, and even have fun dealing with the whole process during and after the photoshoot. He felt accepted, embraced to be a significant part of your life. He made a right decision to have Johnny as the photographer.

"Thank you for today. You've worked hard," he said as he brought his hand to stroke your head, before brushing and tucking your hair behind your ear.

"So suddenly?" You chuckled.

"Oh?" His hand stopped at your ear. "Did you get a new ear piercing?"

"Yeah, you can tell?"

"Is that new earrings?"

"Yeah, I got it from Taeyong. I also went with Taeyong to get my ears pierced."

"With Taeyong?" Doyoung calmly parroted your words. He almost let out a freaked-out, disbelief tone. If there was one thing he failed to realize, it was the smile on his face that instantly disappeared once Taeyong's name was mentioned. He immediately pulled back his hand.

Okay. Let's calm down, Kim Doyoung.

No.

What? What is this?

What if this stupid marriage only leads you to Taeyong? Am I a fool? Did I unintentionally make you two get closer? Is this relationship actually benefit Taeyong? Is it only your body stays with me, but your mind and your heart all belong to Taeyong? What am I now?

"Doyoung?" you called, reaching his hands which curled into a fist without him knowing.

"Yeah?"

"Is everything alright? You... seem off these days."

"I'm fine. I just have a lot in my mind." He faked a stretching for his arms.

"Did something happen between you and Taeyong? You sometimes act weird when he's around. Did you really clear up everything with him?"

Just who is it that you care about more? Is it me? Or is it Taeyong?

"Let me ask you once again. Are we going to continue our marriage? You know you can always say no, and we'll still be friends. I promised you that, right?"

You let out a little gasp in disbelief. The corner of your lips showed a smirk, and Doyoung can tell that it was not a happy face of yours. "Are you joking right now?"

"I'm not," he mumbled.

"Doyoung, it's not funny when it's literally a few weeks left and, hello, I am your housemate who just moved not long time ago. I even share a bed with you. If you're going to kick me out this soon, I should never have considered accepting your offer and said yes in the first place." A heavy, frustrated sigh escaped your mouth.

Doyoung was stunned by the sudden emotion in your tone.

No. He shouldn't pick up a fight. He should not trigger you.

"You ask me that again one more time, I will go back to my parents house and I will leave everything behind." You didn't want to get worked up too much. But the more you being questioned 'are you sure?' and such, it would just make you more confused and you would start doubting everything. You'd doubt if this decision is right, if you could make it with Doyoung, if Doyoung had been playing around, if Doyoung finally realize his decision isn't right, if you two will end up like you and Taeyong.

"You're right. I'm sorry." He gripped your hands tight. "I think my mind got consumed by the stress and everything."

"You can always tell me. I will be all ears?" you offered sincerely. "And I will be here for you."

"No, it's not a big deal. But having your shoulders to lean on would be much appreciated though."

Without words, you opened up your arms, inviting him to rest on your embrace. He gladly accepted your offer. His arms immediately looped around your waist as he leaned his head on your shoulder.

Doyoung's pride was too huge to break off. He couldn't risk to break this relationship by telling you how envious he was of Taeyong. But he can't be sure of how much he could endure it. Maybe telling you the truth would do no harm.

"Actually, can I be honest? You can hate me, but promise me you won't leave me."

The stiff expression on your face finally softened as you began to feel concerned, wondering what he was about to say. "Okay, now you're scaring me. What is it?"

He lifted up his head to face you. His bunny eyes found yours, piercing into your soul like never before. "I think I love you."

You slowly raised both of your eyebrows. "Okay?"

"No, I mean it. I love you, like love love you. I've developed this feeling since.. maybe since your father gave me the longest advice in my life. I never thought I would feel this way. But, yeah, I catch feelings, Jooyeon."

Your slowly widened eyes can't lie that you were flustered. "Th-thank you, I guess? For telling me, and for loving me."

"I'm not finished."

You nodded, suggesting him to continue.

"I hate to admit this," he said as he snuggled back against your shoulder. "But I'm jealous of Taeyong. I'm uncomfortable if you're being too close with him, just like how he's uncomfortable looking at us." He buried his face on your shoulder. "I'm not saying you can't hang out with him. I understand that he's important for you. But if you go out with him, at least please don't let me know. I think it would be better, to know nothing. I hate this feelings too, but I'm sorry I can't help it."

You could feel he tightened his embrace on your waist. "Sorry, I didn't know all of that. I've been very insensitive." Stroking his hair and rubbing his back at the same time, you continued, "Truthfully I'm still figuring my feelings out. It would be nice if you could wait for me. But from now on, I promise I'll treat you better."

He suddenly sat up straight, facing you. "Wait, you don't hate me?"

You chuckled. "You don't know I've hated you since the day you got my English notebook wet it almost torn apart?"

He drew a wide, relieved grin as he cupped your cheeks. Right, he just needed more faith. If this would be worth the wait, then he certainly would wait for you. That alone made him happy enough although he still couldn't brush off the disturbing feelings regarding Taeyong. At least, this should be a good sign that you really accepted him and this whole relationship, and the upcoming new chapter of life you would be sharing with him.

This time he leaned in and without warning, he gave you a quick peck on your lips. Of course, it still startled you. And he gave another one.

You started getting nervous. "Doyoung?"

He kissed you once more before responding to you with a hum.

"Wha—"

He cut you with another smooch.

You were speechless. His moves were getting bolder that now he scooted closer, almost pining you down, slightly making you feel intimidated as the upper part of his body was on top of you. But eventually you gave in and kind of let him do whatever he was doing.

Maybe I'll just let it slide today. Your lips gradually curved a little smile as you kept receiving little kisses from Doyoung.

"Why are you smiling?" he teased.

You raised both of your eyebrows, taken aback by his sudden question. "I'm not." Blushing because he got you, a pout now was formed. But this didn't stop him being all smoochy and giggly.

"I'm so thankful that it's you. And you, for being you," he whispered, resting his forehead against yours, finally taking a pause from the non-stop little attacks to your lips.

"Me too. I should be more grateful because you've been putting up with me."

[alias-b]

Eros & Psyche: SOMY drabble

Billy Hargrove x Evie Fenny: Whump with a Happy Ending Drabble

~Evie contemplates her past relationship after getting together with Billy. ((No real fic spoilers, it’s no secret that Billy & Evie are soulmates & Endgame. Just some extra words for them to touch.)) TW: Talk of past grooming/Abusive student& teach relationship.

Whew, I wrote something, guys. Lol named is sorta after an existing chp bc I'm shameless. xoxo askbox open. Goodnight! :)))

He’s perfect.

Heaven carved her a prince from all her favorite fairy tales. Dash of charming. Sprinkle of classical good looks. A darling smile. Enough to melt any girl. Evangeline had no chance.

Fredrick always included Evie in his life. Well, the part of it no one else was involved in. That counted. She told herself it did.

Hawkins couldn’t know how much he loved her. She was sure that truly ached him. 

She was pretty sure.

Fredrick included Evie in what was under his mask. She told herself that was what mattered most of all. His true self and it was bared. All hers and hers alone.

She told herself.

Evie was telling herself lots of things these days. Fredrick called her a classic over-thinker. She didn’t need to think, she had him. He’d guide her along. Being wise and experienced of course. All she needed to do was let go and trust him.

But, he was perfect.

Fredrick took her to parties with other thirty year olds. Always held her hand. Said the right thing. Brought her under one arm. Introduced her as if he was thrilled and proud she was with him. Showed her off like a new designer watch. Fredrick liked to buy Evie designer things too in lace.

Things that made for a better pose in cotton sheets. Pictures she claimed she was too shy to let him take. 

He’d press a tight smile. Telling her it was enough to have her trapped in his thoughts. 

The, he’d unzip his pants. The sound prickled under her skin.

“This is Evangeline,” he boasted at parties, “my girl.”

Men and women extended their hands. Fussed over her. She just looked so youthful. She must have secrets.

“For now,” Fredrick said in the car once, “just tell anyone who asks that you’re nineteen.” He smiled and caressed her cheek. Fredrick always said the right thing. “You’re too beautiful. I love you so much.”

Slowly, he unzipped his pants.

All Evie wanted to do was please him. See that smile. See the lights behind it because he was hers and she was a moth drawn to them. Fredrick liked most that she was his too. He came to her upon a deathly white horse with a silken, red cape upon his back. Bought her lace and flowers.

Fed her only a certain amount and took plates away before she was finished. 

“There’s this silk nightie I want to buy you, but it’s just a smidge too small. Couple pounds should do it. Not that I think you need to lose it.” He cared so much. Evie welled and drank her cool water down. Swallowed the ice cubes when he went to the kitchen. 

They drank quite a bit. He liked her swaying and loose. Not alert. Not overthinking too much. Cause he cared. More than anything.

Evie always said no to coke lines. Yes to shots. Yes to the occasional pill that lit shit up inside her. Let her see the night sky in living color. 

Fredrick kept close. He always did. Especially if other men approached her. His arm pulled her back into his orbit. One sharp snap. Another prickle that made her skin pulse.

Europa trapped circling Jupiter and its great red storms. Clinging desperately maybe cause she’s scared and she doesn’t know it. She doesn’t have anywhere to go and no planet will love her or hold her like her Jupiter.

Fredrick could storm too. Could get snappy. Grip her too hard. Leave marks she had to hide from her mother and classmates. It’s all passion. That’s what he said. He loved fierce and unyielding. Just like a prince would, they’re supposed to love hard. 

Evie’s terrified to disappoint him. Terrified to leave the narrative because who would she be without it? She figured that was normal, growing up with the same dynamic in her household. Children wetting the bed cause their parents build these anxieties into them. Phantoms that never leave.

“Letting everyone down would be my greatest unhappiness.” She often repeated that to the mirror. Repeated it when Fredrick was slamming things around. Pretending he’s fine until she’s crawling to unzip his pants and then all is forgiven.

Evie loved being forgiven. Gentle pats and warm embraces into the night. Fingers to swipe her loose tears. Fredrick gave her everything she needed.

Even if he was the one telling her she needed it.

Prince Charming knew to force his kisses and wake the princess. Now she owed a debt. He knew she needed saving from her tower or dragon. She was too helpless to decide her own path. He knew that she had to love him in return to break the curse. She doesn’t get a choice, it’s destiny.

Evie believed in destiny when she met Fredrick. He certainly murmured it into her ear enough. Hushed tones that made her feel cradled. Made her feel found. Made her float.

But, she can’t tell people, “This is Fredrick, my prince.”

Once he screamed at her for even signing a little heart above the “i” in her name during class. All because he cares. Because he’s the prince who knew better. Because no one would ever understand them.

Maybe that was why she loathed Billy upon meeting him that windy autumn day.

Billy Hargrove was the exact opposite. He never pretended to know better. Not as far as Evie’s soul was concerned. Evie didn’t grovel. Didn’t beg his forgiveness for the slightest misstep or incorrect thought. They nipped at each other, but it was an equal exchange.

Billy’s not a prince. He didn’t try to be either.

He didn’t shake her hand when they met. Not until Neil made him. He doesn’t always hold doors. Doesn’t constantly have to have Evie under his arm. Under his eye.

Especially doesn’t start slamming things when she laughs at Tommy’s stupid jokes or shares her drinks with Steve. He didn’t tell her she couldn’t hang out with Heather or Carol without him. Didn’t steer her from her mother or friends. He also didn’t pry for secrets out of mistrust.

He doesn’t care what she does as long as she isn’t getting herself into deep shit. Without him. His words. He’s not perfect and he doesn’t try to be.

Billy drove like shit. He smoked too much. He got into fights. He could be a total sourpuss grump, but he doesn’t grab Evie to leave bruises over it.

He fucked hard though, he always made sure Evie got off. Never unzips unprompted. Girls hit on him and he says that he’s seeing someone. Easy enough. Sometimes gesturing to Evie if she’s in the room. No need to bother her with pointless shit.

They were always aware of each other even if they didn’t interact. Something magical there neither could place.

Billy knew things Fredrick didn’t care to remember about Evie as well. How she’s a talented roller skater. What she liked on her cheeseburger. Her favorite movie snacks. Her order when they grab Chinese. The articles of clothing that always comforted her on bad days. How to gauge her mood by the song she’d hum or the book in her hand.

How she tapped the rhythm of songs she wrote into flesh and hard surfaces. How she wanted to turn the radio up when her favorite song was on, but politely doesn’t always. Billy does it for her.

He doesn’t comment when she eats and doesn’t care what she wears out or to bed.

He’s often trying to piece together the bits of songs he hears her humming and creating. She’ll share them with him one day, he won’t make her.

Billy’s not a prince. He’s probably beaten up a few in his day. But, he remembers. He pays attention. He lets Evie exist as her own soul and take up her own needed space. 

They’re two equal stars twinkling pleasantly in the same shared constellation.

There’s plenty he didn’t tell her. About himself. About his life. Things he wanted to share, but he couldn’t. Not yet. Maybe one day. She needed to trust him enough in that light. And she did.

Before getting together, Evie thought of Billy too often when she was with Fredrick. Especially when she was under him. Counting the seconds before he finished with her. She hadn’t been warmed up enough and her prince was hurting her with his passion. 

She wondered about asking him to stop. If he would. If he’d ignore her and chase his end. If he’d bruise her wrists again. A lot could be said about Billy, but he’d stop.

He wouldn’t ignore this beautiful star he’s so well attuned to. Billy wouldn’t hurt Evie and call it passion. He’d own his shit.

But, they tell her Billy isn’t the prince and the princess always was supposed to end up with her prince. Billy was a lone, glittering god with his own marble pedestal. Unobtainable. Eyes that watch the mortals below.

Maybe he’ll grace them with his presence and a fresh set of shiny arrows. Messy, little Eros with a laundry list of issues and vices he’ll never outrun. Evie didn’t mind to carry a few vices if he’d watch hers too. She was just a mortal girl with dreams higher than stars could go. Piled with dead weight as Fredrick collapsed into her. Smothering her. 

And Evie’s first thought was always the shine of Billy’s eyes blaring into her after Fredrick dropped her at the end of Cherry Land so she could walk home. Defeated and wanting for more. They broke her heart.

Fredrick pushed down. Crushed her until Evie was gasping herself awake in her own bed. Eons later after she left him. After he shattered her already.

“Squirming more than usual.” A voice in the pillows next to her muttered. Billy groaned, turning over like he was annoyed. 

Evie knew he wasn’t. She didn’t feel her heart give an unpleasant clench like she’d upset him. One arm slung over her stomach as Billy stretched back out on his front, facing her. A barely there glow from the moon trickled between the curtains showing his lashes fluttering.

“Just a dream.” Evie reached out and traced a line into his shoulder. Let her finger trail up to tap his nose. Made him scrunch and look sorta adorable.

“Well, it’s over.” Billy closed his eyes. Nestled into her heat. “Try rolling for another.”

“I like this better.” She caught his lip twitching up. Billy remained silent for a while there. Almost lulling back to sleep. He shifted up. Revived Evie with a simple, cathartic kiss. Mapping more across her cheek as lazy as can be. 

They still felt carefully packaged. Billy had a way with careless affection that was still so striking and beautiful. Flaming arrows through her heart. 

They don’t hurt. So few things hurt with Billy. Evie liked to think she returned that.

His arm tightened.

“I’ll roll this time.”

And Evie could let him without sacrificing her own agency. Her own narrative.

Fingers reached up to draw select gold curls aside. She decided princes were small and overrated. Billy had wings and he had light and he had a swelter of carefully exposed nerves that he trusted Evie to pluck. A heart he let her guard. He wouldn’t ask but she’d give that back.

Love cannot exist without soul. Without trust. 

Evie pushed up to meet his oncoming kiss. Brought him back down to touch the soft earth with her. Where they felt safe together.

She realized it then as Billy shifted up to see her there. Fredrick never made her feel safe, he just used her to save himself. Sunk his teeth in to suck her dry of vitality so he could have it. 

She didn’t ask Billy if he trusted her. Didn’t tell him in this moment that she trusted him. That was destiny. Not the draining of your soul until you’re forced to give it over.

Sometimes it was just knowing the obvious placement of stars. Glittery dust might sprinkle delicately over them.

“Let’s roll later,” Evie nudged her head into his, “always time for dreaming. But, I think I want to be wide awake right now. Hope that’s not too disappointing.” Hands shifted around his shoulders. A fuller smile crossed and Billy matched it. Blue eyes glinting almost iridescent. He hummed in thought. Seemed to agree. 

“Evangeline,” he sounded out with some lazy amusement, “you couldn’t disappoint me if you tried, you know that?” Billy settled himself against her. Continued to map his euphoric paths. Stroking her cheek and hair. Sparking. Hushing. “Hope you know that much, Angel.”

“I know, Billy,” she sighed out to the forgiving cloak of night, “I do.”

[khaotic-kitsunes]

Disobedient

So, I have this old request right? It’s a good one, but I have two other Alpha villain requests as well and I think I could fit them together quite well. So I’m going to post them separately but they’ll be along the same events!

🥃 AO3 🥃 || ✉️My Askbox✉️ || 💬Discord💬

Cheeky Kitsune 🦊💋

.

 You whimpered out as Mirio dragged you into his office by your wrist, his grip tight as you clumsily stumbled in behind him; unable to resist. You could tell that you had upset Mirio, it was easy enough to see that with a single glance; but for him to actually drag you through the hideout and to his private office? That had been the moment you realised how badly you had messed up.

 Mirio didn’t take people into his office when he was mad, instead the Alpha usually preferred to be alone until his temper simmered down, that way he wouldn’t do anything he would regret; so, for you to be in his office while he was still upset with what you had done, meant that he had something planned in advance for you.

 “How many times (Name)? How many times have I told you not to interrupt my meetings?!” Mirio snarled out the demand, yanking on your arm so that you stumbled and fell down to your knees in his office while he moved to slam the door shut behind you; the sound making you wish that the ground would open up and swallow you whole, that way you wouldn’t have to deal with anger.

 The only problem with that plan, was that you knew you wouldn’t be that lucky, no, you would have to stay and listen to your angry Alpha.

 “What? Did you finally run out of things to say?” He narrowed his eyes at you as he moved to stand in front of you, tangling his large hand into your hair roughly and pulling back on it until your throat was on display for him. Unfortunately, what would humiliate and intimidate others in your position, only seemed to turn you on; having your Alpha force you into submission like that.

 Of course, you knew that it wasn’t the time nor the place for such needs, but you were completely and utterly unable to stop your mind from wandering to the possibilities of having your Alpha punish you. Though technically, he wasn’t your Alpha; he had merely shown a brief interest in you. Some flirting and a brief moment of lust in the hallway in the middle of the night.

 Your body shuddered at the memory of his hot mouth up against your skin, the man had been a beast and yet you still hadn’t had his knot inside of you. He had denied you that pleasure in the hallway that night.

 “Fucking Omegas…look at you, this isn’t a god damned punishment to you, is it? You like it too much!” He spat out the observation in annoyance, blue eyes dark with anger while you stared up at him silently; not daring to speak. You didn’t want to lie to him but you also didn’t want to risk enraging him more than he already was.

 “Get up. Bend over the desk!” Mirio snapped out the instruction loudly, releasing his hold on your hair so that you could scramble up to your feet and make your way over to his desk; eager to follow his orders. It didn’t matter if your cheeks burned with embarrassment, nor that the desk was just a little too big for you to bend over comfortably; Mirio, an Alpha that many others feared, had given you an order and you were going to follow it.

 “Why is it, when you’re alone with me, you’re so quick to follow my instructions” He paused, moving to stand on the other side of his desk slowly, not even bothering to spare you a glance as he rummaged through one of his many drawers.

 “But when we’re in public. When I need you to obey me the most, you refuse? It’s like you’re trying to challenge me in front of the others” He grit his teeth as he lifted his gaze to your confused expression; you could practically see the agitation rolling off of him in waves, all of it caused by you.

 You opened your mouth to answer him, to try and explain that you hadn’t meant to ignore his instructions, when suddenly, you found yourself unable to. Instead, there was something in your mouth, keeping your mouth open yet leaving you unable to speak. If you didn’t know any better, you would guess that there was a ball gag in your mouth, but there was no way that Mirio had kept a gag in his office just for you. At least, you hoped not.

 .

 “I’m tired of your little games”

 .

 He grabbed a hold of your chin tightly, leaning down to glare deep into your eyes, a grin spreading across his lips slowly, setting off a feeling of unease inside of you. Nothing good ever came from that smile, it was the smile of a man that cared not for the rules of the world; and why should he? When he could just as easily make up his own.

 “You’re going to keep that in your mouth until you learn to keep quiet. Which might be awhile little omega…because you’ve really done it this time. Setting off my instincts like that, challenging me as an alpha. As your alpha!” His voice raised as he listed off the ways you had screwed up, his free hand moving to stroke your cheek in an almost affectionate way, though you knew better than to fall for that. This was Mirio you were talking about, there was no way you would be forgiven so easily. Not even if he was already punishing you.

 “I’ve got a rather overdue rut to deal with (Name) and if you want me to let you walk around the others without that gag on, you’re going to have to take everything I’ve got without making even a single noise.” He smiled at the horrified expression that settled over your features, your eyes wide with fear at the very thought of having him finally claim you under such cruel conditions.

 If ever there was a time to regret something, now would be that time.

 “Shh, don’t be scared (Name), you’re gonna love this. I promise, my sweet little omega…” He trailed off quietly, brushing his lips against your forehead before moving to walk around the large desk, stripping himself of his clothes as he went. Mirio knew he didn’t have to worry about locking the door, his scent would keep the others away and if anyone was stupid enough to interrupt, he would just have to humiliate you a little bit more than he was intending to.

 “By the end of this I’m sure you’ll have learnt your lesson…now, remember, not even a single noise. Otherwise, well, let’s not talk about that until we have to” Mirio chuckled, taking a moment to admire the way you waited for him against his desk, you hadn’t moved a single inch and he would be lying if he said that he didn’t want to knot you right then and there for being such a good omega.

 The problem was, you weren’t such a good omega. Not yet, he would have to really fuck it into you, how he wanted you to behave for him. How you needed to behave if you ever wanted to have him touch you again.

 .

 “I hope you’re ready for this (Name), then again. Can’t say I care if you aren’t, you had your chance to be good and now look at you”

 .

 You gulped nervously, squirming against the table when you felt Mirio press up against you from behind, his hands moving to strip you of your clothes at a leisurely pace; you had no idea if you would make it through his entire rut without making a single noise. In all honestly, you highly doubted your chances considering the way he had you moaning with just his mouth.

 But either way, he was finally about to fuck you, to knot you and claim you as his omega. The alpha that everyone wanted but no one could get the attention of was behind you and ready to fuck you senseless as a punishment; you couldn’t believe your luck.

 Your body jolted, a soft yet still audible gasp filling the room as Mirio’s hands closed down on your hips, a deep chuckle following moments later.

 .

 “Oh baby, you didn’t even make the first five minutes. What am I going to do with you?”

 .

[lilywoood]

Small Bump 5/?

I know I still have a lot of prompts and request on hold, and I’m working on it I have two almost done that I’ll post later this week, also I’m still sick, so I’m concentrating on my recovery too and I can be a bit absent or non responsive, anyway as I promised yesterday here is part 5 with finally some Eddie in it, he’s going to be more present now I already have the beginning of part 6 ready sooo, I hope y’all like part five thought !

Tag List : @diazbuckleysworld @felicitous-one @cherishingstydia @translucent-bisexual @gxtop @profangirl1999 @zola9612 @impossiblealice @sergeant-barnes-and-his-captain @meloingly @shipping-queen @my-name-i-we @reecedaddario @fyeahhipsterdoctor @evan-diaz-buckley @duckcollectorus @gracieemma16 @snorlaxishere @fandomfullofgayness @zeethebooknerd @nilshki @adamngoodbuck @reenesie @hardychick89 @lovegiveortakefivethousandyears @peroquenotevean @thegreatgherkin87 @chrrlees

Once again if you want to be tagged on Small Bump just hit the askbox ♥️

Words count : 1062

Song : Small Bump- Ed Sheeran

Trigger warning ⚠️ : miscarriage scare

Something changed between them, something shifted, the dynamic wasn’t the same anymore, as if a glass broke, as if he punched a mirror and finally saw the possibility, the what if, the different versions of them, the better one, the happy one, something changed between him and Buck, and what he witnessed after that night, what he felt, what he discovered was too much too soon, he didn’t know if he was ready or if he wanted to be ready, if he wanted to jump through the looking glass.

He noticed the shift in their relationship, he remarked how it was more tense, different, awkward, he was aware that it was his fault, that he’d been the one causing the tension between him and Buck, he knew that Buck lied when he pretended not remembering that night, he knew it because he noticed the lingering look and the sadness in the other man eyes, he noticed how the light was gone in them, remarked how he missed it, how he missed being the only one able to provoke that glim, that light, that love, something broke between them and he wasn’t sure he was able or ready to fix it just yet.

Their relationship wasn’t the only thing that changed thought, he wasn’t blind he’d remarked how he seemed to be more tired, how he was getting thinner and thinner, how he wasn’t taking care of himself properly, how Buck started to draw himself away from the team, how he seemed more dependent of Bobby, as if they shared some kind of secret, Buck was slowly becoming a mere shadow of his former self and that what worried Eddie the most.

Still he couldn’t bring himself to have that conversation, couldn’t help but cowardly turn a blind eyes and act as if nothing happened, he wasn’t ready to tell Buck the truth, wasn’t ready to tell him why he left him that night.

———————————————————----

Sometimes when he closed his eyes Buck could remember it, remember that infamous the night that changed everything, the night were he’d been bold enough to try to further things with Eddie, the night where he mistakenly thought that they were on the same page, that he shared his feeling, that he felt it too, that burning fire in the pit of his stomach, those butterflies that were tickling him, the painful yet delightful heartache you feel when in love, and then he’ll open his eyes, turn his head left on his bed and remember how cold and empty it had been the morning after.

He’ll remember how he didn’t smell coffee and burned eggs, how for two days Eddie’s ringtone didn’t chime, how it had been awkward when they crossed each other in the locker-room, he’d remember the not so discreet relieved sigh Eddie let after he’d pretended not to remember that night, he remembered how he felt his heart explode in his chest and how a void took it place, waking up without Eddie at his side hadn’t be the painfullest, no what hurt him the most was the clear relief he saw in the older man eyes, the guilt, the remorse, that what destroyed him…

———————————————————----

However Buck was an hopeless romantic, a dreamer, and even though some parts of him knew Eddie wouldn’t accept him, wouldn’t accept them, he couldn’t help but imagine a life where they would have been a family, couldn’t help himself from wearing the other man shirt when he felt low and lonely, couldn’t help but look at his reflection at his growing belly and picture Eddie and Chris there with him.

As fast as that fantasy came it was already gone, shaking himself from his slumber he quickly dressed up keeping Eddies shirt under his flannel, he didn’t took it off after changing in his uniform, it was cold after all and nobody would notice it, he was wrong thought…

———————————————————----

It was supposed to be a quiet day, a calm one, it was Sunday after all, nobody was reckless on Sunday, the call they had were just minor emergency, cliché emergency such as a cat stuck in a tree, or someone accepting a stupid dare, it was a painfully long day and Buck couldn’t wait to go home, go back to his bed, to his wallowing, go back to worry about what he was going to do next….

———————————————————----

It was supposed to be quiet, it was supposed to be safe, he wasn’t supposed to be on field, Bobby specifically told him, promised him that he would only solicit him for simple and safe field mission, neither of them had predicted the massive car crash, none of them predicted that Jameson would be forced to take the day off due to his kids giving him the flu they contracted, nobody predicted that one of the car would literally explode in front of them giving them déjà vu feeling of months ago…

People were screaming around them, they were panicking, running in search of shelter and safety, in search of reassurance, they desperately were trying to control the crowd, trying to take care of them without noticing that among themselves they were a victim…

Buck couldn’t move, he felt panic and bile raise up in his throat, he saw himself stuck under the stuck, he could taste the blood on his tongue, the metallic and bitter taste of blood, he couldn’t breathe, couldn’t utter a sound, everything was blurry around him, he tried to regain his composure, tried to calm down, tried to convince himself that he wasn’t stuck, he wasn’t hurt, he looked at his feet to shake the bad memories out of his head, to ground himself…

And then he felt it dripping down his leg, he saw it, the first drop of blood hitting the ground, he felt the dreadful feeling in the pit of his stomach, and he knew something was wrong with the baby, knew that he had to get to hospital fast.

Bobby was looking at him slightly worried, following Buck sight, remarking the four little drops at his feet, his eyes immediately went from Buck to Eddie, wondering if the older man knew...

-Bobby, Buck croaked frozen in place, Bobby, he hyperventilated, you have to take me to the nearest hospital, he cried panicking, I can’t...I, he teared before everything went black.

[dhwty-writes]

Chapter 5 - A Broken Princess

This one is angsty like... all over. That was not the plan. I regret nothing. Feel free to shout at me in the notes and in my askbox:)

Also, thanks to @persony-pepper for betaing this chapter!

Summary: Ciri does neither trust nor like Jaskier, so Geralt has to try and talk with his old friend. 

Read on AO3

Part 1 | Part 5 | Part 7

He would lie if he said he wasn't relieved that Jaskier had agreed to him training Ciri. The week before had been nothing short of torture, and Geralt was slowly going mad without any task to set his mind upon. And it wasn't even like the winters in Kaer Morhen where there was always something to fix, always someone to train with, always some creature to hunt. The ancient ruin was a wild place with more than enough opportunities to keep a witcher occupied.

Lettenhove Hall was none of that. It was a well-kept castle with enough servants to see to every minor inconvenience. There were no monsters either and while the guards were friendly enough, they didn't seem to look forward to training with him.

He had found out that there were twenty of them in total, quite a lot for a castle as small as Lettenhove. Besides the occasional piercing glare, though, their interactions were non-existent. He could leave the castle, he had discovered, without so much as a blink from the garrison. 'At least I am no prisoner,' he remembered thinking relieved; but there wasn't really anywhere to go. He had ventured out a few times to explore Jaskier's lands but that had become boring quickly enough. Only once he had been reminded not to stray too far, as the viscount expected him for dinner in just an hour. Generally speaking, Geralt was fine with that. Only bored.

He was in the stables a lot, enjoying the quiet company of the horses and Wiktor. Sometimes the old equerry even asked him to take one of the noble horses for a ride, if the Pankratz siblings neglected them for too long.

Józefa still came by almost every day, trying to seduce him, but he could tell that she wasn't really trying anymore. He almost hoped she would. Instead their conversations had turned to playful banter from her part that he answered with silence, grunts and the occasional barbed remark. It might have been fun if it didn't emphasise the fetterless behaviour he and Jaskier had shared. Being treated quite similarly by his sister, who resembled the bard in everything but looks, made their estranged relationship all the more painful.

So, Geralt was glad that he could train Ciri now. He finally had something to do again, although that had not been his plan. He had hoped that Vesemir could instruct her, and that his brothers would help. That would have been nice. He also already feared the tongue-lashing that awaited him once Vesemir saw all the bad habits Ciri learned from him. It didn’t matter how many years passed since he had left Vesemir’s care and Kaer for good, his old teacher always found things to critique him for.

Now that he had a student for himself, he began to understand it. He had permission to chase her across the courtyard and snap at her for her sloppy poses and weak slashes for the entire morning, from breakfast until lunch — Jaskier had told him in no uncertain terms that he would have no repetition of that first day, though he didn't mention why. Geralt had suspicions, mainly having to do with the fact that Jaskier was very irritated when Geralt berated Ciri harshly. And that he was much more amenable when they didn't cross blades quite as often, reducing the noise to a minimum.

Geralt was fairly happy with standing at the sidelines, although he caught himself embarrassingly often mimicking Vesemir's poses. And his comments. And even his damned tone, Melitele's tits.

To avoid that, he had taken to tracing the buttercup carved into the pommel of his sword, wondering for how long Jaskier had gone by that ridiculous name. He didn’t know when he had started thinking of it as his sword. He also wasn't sure which of the two new habits was worse.

It was his third day of training Ciri. Shortly after lunch, from which Jaskier remained absent, Geralt was just changing into what had deemed his stable clothes when he heard some kind of noise next door.

Geralt sighed and quickly pulled the shirt over his head before knocking on Ciri's door.

"Fuck off," he heard her swear and he winced. The cuss words had been a bad idea; she was taking too much after him already.

"Ci- Fiona, it's me. You better be dressed, ‘cause I'm coming in." He turned the doorknob and cursed quietly when he found it locked. "Open up!" he demanded.

"I don't want to," she answered.

"You're supposed to go riding with Lord Julian."

"I don't want to!"

"He's even gifted you a new riding cloak-"

"I don't want it!" Ciri shouted. "I don't want any of it! Leave me alone."

Geralt sighed heavily and leaned his forehead against the door. 'What the fuck was I thinking?' he asked himself not for the first — and surely not the last time. He had just seen what disaster the law of surprise brought, why the fuck had he claimed it? From the Lioness of Cintra's son-in-law no less. 'If there ever was going to be a bratty child,' he thought glumly, 'it was destined to be this one.'

He took a deep breath and told himself: 'Remember Kaer Morhen. At least it's not snot-nosed Lambert.' That made him feel a bit better.

After a few moments he tried again: "Do you want to... talk about it?" Gods, what was this child doing to him? 'I really love you, Ciri. You better fucking appreciate it.'

There was a quiet sniffle. "You don't do ‘talking’."

"Hmmm," he made. "Not if I can avoid it. Gotta take care of my pup, though. Cub." There was a beat of silence. "I can go get somebody else-" Before he could finish that sentence, the door opened and the air was punched out of his lungs as Ciri dove in for a hug. "There," he said, awkwardly patting her back, "that's better." He looked around for passing servants and when he heard footsteps, he simply picked her up and walked over to her bed after closing the door behind him.

Geralt gently cradled his child surprise in his arms and held her while she cried. She hadn't cried for quite some time now, not since their arrival in Lettenhove, but now the scent of salt-sadness and onion-grief was overwhelming.

He had never felt so helpless as when the concoction had first startled him awake, not three days after finding her. Ciri had just laid on her side, quietly crying into her bedroll and Geralt had had no idea what to do. His first instinct had been to go back to sleep and leave her her privacy but then — and he firmly believed it to be an accident — she had weakly croaked: "Help- Grandmother- Geralt-!" He had never been on his feet faster, scrambling to her side, afraid to get too close, afraid to startle her, afraid to hold her. "What can I do?" he had pleaded. "Tell me, what can I do?" And then, to his never-ending surprise, she had crawled into his arms — 'No, that's wrong, children hate witchers.' — and hugged him close, drenching his shirt with her tears.

Once, after, he had asked her if she was still scared of their pursuers. There had been only one answer: "I'm not scared anymore. You're scarier than all my nightmares." That had been the day Geralt had discovered that he was a coward. He never dared ask why she didn't reek of fear, then.

He had never gotten better at comforting the little cub since that first night. Somehow, she still relaxed faster every time. 'That's wrong,' his traitorous head snarled, 'she shouldn't. No child should feel safe with a witcher close.' Only, this one did. She had never smelt of fear, not after she first set eyes on him. 'Like Jaskier.' And like Jaskier she had wormed her way into his heart way too fast.

After a while the crying stopped. "Are you alright, little cub?" he whispered.

Ciri looked up at him, tears drying on her cheek. "Geralt... do we have to stay here?"

Something in his chest tightened. 'Oh no,' he thought. "We're safe here," he said slowly. "Lord Julian will protect us. Until the snow thaws."

"Hmm," she made. Another bad habit she got from him and he felt his knees grow weak. 'What am I supposed to do when she wants to leave? I can't- We can't- We won't make it.'

"You can trust him," he tried again. "He-" He wanted to say: 'He would give his life for ours.' But then he realised that he didn't know if that was true anymore. "He is a man of his word," he said instead.

"I think he doesn't like me," she confessed quietly.

"Now that's just untrue," Geralt frowned. "Lord Julian adores you. And he's done a lot of nice things for you."

She shook her head adamantly. "I think he doesn't like me because I came here with you. He doesn't like you."

'Oh.' His heart clenched painfully. She was smarter than it was any good for her. He should have known that he couldn't keep it from her. "That's true," he admitted. "At the moment. He'll come around. Eventually."

"Why?" she asked earnestly. "I thought you were friends."

"I-" he faltered. How could he even begin to describe what they were? What they had been? 'What we are now.' He hung his head in shame. "We were. I think. And I've done a bad thing. That I know."

"And he's angry?" Ciri's eyes were blown wide.

"Very," Geralt confessed quietly, "and rightfully so."

"What did you do?" There was no reproach in her voice, no accusation. Only... compassion. Somehow that made him feel even worse.

"It's complicated."

"Did you cheat at knucklebones?"

That almost made him laugh. "No. Worse."

"Did you cheat at Gwent?"

"No, Ciri-"

She gasped. "Did you cheat on him?"

"I'm not- we're not-" He sighed. "That's not it either."

"What could be worse than that?"

"I... I wasn't very nice to him. For a long time. I said mean things. And I yelled at him."

Ciri frowned. "I don't understand. My grandparents did that all the time!"

"Yeah, me too, but- it was different with... with us. I hurt him. I don't think I can explain."

"Can't you try?" she pleaded.

"I am trying, Ciri. I'm sorry." Geralt sighed quietly. "I'll talk to him. Alright?"

"Good." She smiled at him, all child-like and innocent and naive. 'She is all of that,' he reminded himself. "I can hold you when you cry, too, you know,” she said solemnly. “You can't sit in my lap but I can hug you. My arms can fit around your chest, look!” She embraced him to prove it. “If you want to, that is."

There was a thick lump in his throat he didn't know what to do with. "I- thanks. That's very nice." He swallowed, hoping it would make the lump go away. It didn't. "Why uh- why don't you go find Marta to tell her you won't go riding with Lord Julian?"

She ducked her head. "Can you do that? Please? I'd rather be alone for a while." He nodded. That was better. That, at least, he could understand.

"Yeah, sure." Somehow the lump got even worse. "I'll- I'll be in the stables if you need me. I'll see you… later." Reluctantly he got up and placed her on the bed. She took a book from her nightstand — where had she gotten that from? — and smiled at him encouragingly before he closed the door.

It was surprisingly hard to leave her behind to hunt down Marta. Thrice he turned around to go back to her, to make sure that she really was okay and thrice he reminded himself that she would tell him if there was something he could do.

It was in the well house that he stumbled upon Marta, the poor woman in evident distress. "Witcher!" she said and he noted that the smell of fear had gotten less than last time. "I am looking for his Lordship's cousin, have you seen her?"

"She won't be able to go ride with him," he told her. "She is- indisposed."

"Oh." She faltered. "Is she quite alright?"

"I believe so. She just isn't in the mood for company."

"Oh," the serving girl said again. "Then, uh-" The scent of fear flared up again. "I guess I'll better tell his lordship."

"Hm," Geralt made. He could do that just as well. Get the whole conversation over with. Then again, he should probably go and- sort out all about the sorry state he was in. A few hours with the horses should do the trick. He would go talk to Jaskier later.

He shouldered past Marta and quickly slipped into the stables, relieved that Jaskier was nowhere to be seen. He needed some time to himself, too. 

The steady work of brushing down the horses granted him exactly that. It was easy for him to slip into an almost meditative state of mind, ignoring the busy stable hands walking about, going after their own tasks.

That was also why he didn't respond to the calls until a hand dug rather harshly into his shoulder. "Witcher," Janina Pankratz hissed, "I am talking to you."

He turned towards her slowly, immediately overwhelmed with the sour stench of fear and hatred like the smell of infected wounds. "My lady? I was caught up in my thoughts."

She snorted. "I could see that plainly."

He looked at her, waiting for her to continue. When she didn't, he asked: "Why are you here, my lady?" He hadn't seen her in the stables yet, and if he was honest, he hadn't thought she would go inside. No matter how well they mucked out the boxes, the place always seemed a bit too dirty for a lady as she was.

"I wanted to talk to you."

'Gods above, anything but that.' He swallowed the sour grimace down. "About what?"

"My lady."

"Excuse me?"

She pursed her lips. "My brother might let your lack of manners slide, but I won't. You will address me correctly."

He ground his teeth. "Sure. About what, my lady?"

"Gods, can't you even form whole sentences?" she sighed.

"I could," he answered. "But I won't. My lady."

Janina Pankratz sneered and for a moment he thought she was about to raise her hand at him. But then, she took a deep breath and said with a surprisingly calm voice: "Our cousin you delivered to our gates. You get along well with her."

"Yes, I do. My lady."

"How?"

His eyebrows twitched upwards. 'You don't have time for a tale nearly as long, my lady,' he thought. 'Nor do you care enough for it.' But even he knew he couldn't say that. So instead he answered: "I am kind to her, my lady. I do not laugh, nor scowl, nor raise my voice at her. I tell her jokes and stories and smile when she is funny. I listen to her." 'I hold her when she cries.' He didn't dare to say that. "That is all, I think. My lady."

She wrinkled her nose and for a moment it was as if he was looking at Jaskier's mirror image. 'If she smiled,' he caught himself thinking, 'they could be mistaken for twins.' But then again, Jaskier didn't smile either, at the moment. "That is quite a lot," she replied.

'That is nothing,' he thought. "I reckoned you wanted a true answer, my lady."

"Now, I do not have nearly enough time for that," she answered. "I need you to get her to like me. Starting with that she won't swear at me any longer."

He couldn't keep from snorting. "And why would I do that? My lady."

"Because else, I will ensure that your miserable life will be even more miserable from now on."

"His Lordship won't like that."

"His Lordship won't know that."

'Are you sure about that?' he thought and raised an eyebrow. "What have I even done to you? You have despised me from the moment I stepped over the threshold of Ja- Lord Julian's castle."

He felt a tiny bit of satisfaction when he saw her face twist into an offended grimace at the mention of Jaskier's claim over the fortress. "Maybe so," she responded, "the crimes your kind has committed against me and mine are more heinous than any human could imagine." She gave him an once over. "Not too heinous for you, tough, I reckon."

'Ah. That old song again.' He ducked his head obediently. "If you say so, my lady."

"Oh, so you do know respect. You really should teach that girl you have brought with you some," she said coldly, "Before Lord Pankratz will beat it into her."

Geralt paled. "He wouldn't-"

"He would. He knows the effectiveness of that particular treatment quite well himself, after all." She turned on her heel and left the stables the same moment he felt the brush crack and splinter in his hand.

Geralt had quite enough, he decided, as he threw the useless brush away and rushed out of the stables and up to his rooms to get his sword. He needed to put its edge to... something.

Followed only by the curious looks of the guardsmen, Geralt strode out of the main gates, his scabbard slung loosely over his shoulder. He left the road quickly enough, just fleeing from that wretched castle with that wretched inhabitants and that wretched atmosphere.

Just out of earshot, he pulled the steel sword free and swung it against an innocent tree with such a force that the whole trunk quivered. He didn't even know what exactly had managed to work him into such a rage, but at that moment he didn't particularly care. He just was glad that he had found an opponent who would neither complain nor break while he hacked away at it.

He didn't know how long he had been doing that before he was interrupted: "Ho, witcher!" There was the sound of a horse coming to a halt. "Shouldn't you rather use an axe for that?"

Geralt grunted and twirled around, his steel sword pointed at the poor soul that had picked that unfortunate moment to come his way. The guard on the other end seemed unimpressed and simply pressed the blade away. "What is it? Do you regret talking me into letting you in already?"

He blinked stupidly, before lowering the weapon. Of course, he knew the man. It was the guard who had opened the gates to them. Geralt grunted: "Immensely."

"And here I thought you— what was it you said? — 'a friend of his lordship's son'? Has your 'friend' scorned you?"

"We're not- on good terms at the moment."

The guard laughed. "Yeah, we are aware. You're quite the talk of the castle. But you've already been that before arriving." He shrugged. "Never seen Master Julian quite like this before."

"Me neither."

"Apologies. I have forgotten that you've known him longer than I do. So." He clapped his hands. "What has the little brat done now?"

Geralt stared in surprise, taking in the man standing before him. He wouldn't have judged him much older than Jaskier himself but then again, he had never been good at judging the age of humans. "Wasn't him," he snapped.

"Ah." A wicked grin spread on his face. "Lady Janina."

Geralt hummed his assent, wondering how he'd known.

"Don't worry," the guard said gleefully, "we've all been there before. She's not half as bad once you get to know her."

He snorted. 'I doubt that anyone really 'knows' her.'

"There's nothing you can do about it for now. Just take it and suck it up."

Geralt nodded. He knew how to do that.

"I'm Marin by the way." He stuck his hand out and Geralt wracked his brain, trying to remember where he had heard that name before.

"Geralt." He took the offered hand.

"Let me know if you ever want to swing your sword at something livelier than a trunk. I'd love to have fought a witcher once in my life."

The snort was out of his mouth before he could stop himself. "I'd wipe the floor with you."

"Bold words for a man who could barely stand upright a week ago," he teased. "Come back to the castle with me and we'll see about that?"

Geralt looked back at the tree he had massacred. Fighting a human guard was no replacement for his brothers in Kaer Morhen but at least he would put up a fight. He shrugged and sheathed his sword, turning to walk back to the castle with him. To his surprise, Marin fell in step beside him instead of mounting his horse again.

"How did you even find me?" Geralt asked.

"Poacher in the area," he answered. "Lord Pankratz asked me to track him down."

He grunted.

"Don't worry, Geralt. There won't be any consequences, most likely. Well, besides a stern talking to and the lad being sent home with a bag full of food for his family." He shrugged. "His Lordship's got a soft heart. Softer than most."

"Too soft," Geralt growled before he could stop himself.

The guardsman shrugged. "Probably. You're good with horses, yeah?" he asked.

Geralt hummed. "Not half bad, I guess."

"You must be. Wiktor won't let anyone ride their majesties. Not even his second in command. I guess I'll have to ask his Lordship for a new one in spring. This beauty won't make it much longer."

"Old?" he asked, trying to mask his surprise. With the fear Marta seemed to possess of her lord, he hadn't expected Jaskier's guards to be nearly as comfortable asking for something as expensive as a horse. On the other hand, most of the people in Lettenhove seemed to regard Jaskier with polite respect — not the blind fear that reigned almost everywhere else.

"And weary," Marin added. "Got him almost twenty years ago, when I joined Lord Alfred's guard, may he rest in peace."

"You've always been here?"

"Pretty much," he shrugged. "I was born up in the Hall, son of a kitchen wench and Old Lord Julian, his Lordship’s grandfather that is, if the rumours are true. And the rumours are always true when it comes to the bedwarmers of the Lord." He laughed. "Well, mostly."

Geralt shot him a look. He wasn't actually interested, he told himself, just polite.

Thankfully, Marin didn’t need much encouragement: "We expected half the personnel to end up in Lord Julian's bed within a moon's turn of his arrival - he’s got quite a reputation, after all. But he leaves the girls and boys alone. Good lad.” There was a slight pause before he continued: “And, well..." He grinned sheepishly. "I think we all lost a fair share of money with your arrival. Borys, the idiot, said you'd fuck him right then and there-"

Geralt felt his ears grow hot and quickly snapped: "We're not like that!" He was definitely not comfortable discussing- any of this, really, with anyone. The thought that there were not-so-secret discussions about them-

"Really?" The look of surprise on Marin’s face was genuine. "Could've fooled me. Well, I've got my bet still running, I said-"

"Marin..." he growled menacingly.

"Right," the guard answered and the tiniest smell of fear wavered off him. "Taking the hint..." They stepped through the gates and he handed the reins of his horse to a stable boy.

"Welcome back, captain," one of the other guards greeted him. 'Ah,' Geralt thought. 'Fuck.' "Any luck with the poacher?"

"Not yet, Borys" Marin answered and turned to Geralt. "So, about that spar..."

He shook his head. "Gotta talk to Lord Julian before," he answered. "Any idea where to find him?"

The captain of the guard made a gesture that Geralt roughly interpreted as 'fuck if I know' and shrugged. "His study?"

His study was usually a good place to start looking for Jaskier. He was there, mostly — no matter what time of day it was. It was quite worrying, if he was honest, how late the viscount still worked at times. And work he had to, for Geralt was now certain that no one in Lettenhove Hall shared his bed.

That was one of the many things that had changed since Geralt's return. Jaskier's unmistakable smell — as well as his apparent new-found aversion to frequently changing bedfellows. As long as Geralt had known him, the bard had smelt of honey-sweet happiness and cinnamon arousal and not much else. He hadn't caught a single whiff of that yet at his home.

When he stepped out onto the courtyard again, it was Borys who called to him: "Witcher! His Lordship's on the rampart if you're looking for him. Doesn't want to be disturbed, though."

Geralt ignored that council — he had made Ciri a promise after all and climbed the walls, taking two steps at a time. No one tried to stop him.

It took him a while to walk around the battlements, but he found Jaskier eventually on the west side facing the setting sun. He sat between two merlons and the sight of him dangling one leg over the side made Geralt's heart skip a beat and his feet tingle, his body burning with the pressing need to pull him away from the edge. But then the air carried over Jaskier's scent and for a moment the overwhelming scent of honey was like a punch in the gut.

Geralt almost turned around to leave Jaskier to his moment of bliss — he knew that there were not nearly enough of those in the viscount's life at the moment. The thought alone hurt much worse than any wound he had ever been dealt. Jaskier, the ever-laughing bard, who knew more ways to make Geralt smile than anyone else combined, who had spent hours pestering him for just a little bit of relaxation (not happiness, that would be too much to ask), who never failed to make anyone laugh until their sides hurt, whose smile was like sunshine on a rainy day — his bard Jaskier, had forgotten how to be happy. Who was he to destroy that precious moment of contentment?

'I promised it,' he reminded himself again and moved forward. He made sure to make the heels of his new boots clack on the floor (they had just appeared in his room one morning, the perfect size and fit as he preferred it, without explanation, and Jaskier had been absent for the entire day) to announce his presence.

"My lord," he greeted him, "is there room for one more?"

The effect of his words — his presence — was instant. Jaskier didn't even have to look at him, in the blink of an eye all the honey was washed away, instead replaced by salt and bitterness. 'The taste of tears and willow bark.' Jaskier opened his eyes, and for a moment, he thought there were tears on his cheeks. 'Please, no, Melitele have mercy. I can't go through this again today.' But then, his not-friend made an inviting gesture and the glistening in his eyes grew lesser. 

Geralt leaned against the merlon facing him, observing Jaskier’s placid expression. "I see you are enjoying the quiet, my lord," he said after a while. "I never thought I'd see the day."

"I'm not quite sure if I would call it enjoying, witcher." He closed his eyes again and shivered visibly when a gust of wind blew over the wall. 'He hasn't even brought a cloak,' Geralt noticed, vowing to bring a blanket the next time. "But I have to admit it has a certain crude charm. Just like the woods. I have grown fond of the wild it seems."

"And yet you have exchanged it for a cozy castle."

"I was under the impression the wild did not return my affection." The bitter taste of willow bark-pain grew stronger.

Geralt grunted to hide the anguish that flashed through his body. 'I never wanted to,' he thought, foolishly wishing for Jaskier to be able to read his thoughts again.

"Talk to me, witcher," Jaskier commanded. "I fear the quiet has lost its appeal."

"About what?"

Jaskier waved his hand dismissively. "Think of something. A story, perhaps. What did you do today?"

"Trained your cousin," he answered dutifully, "Been to the stables. Been threatened by your sister. Ciri as well. Your new horse is a bit slow, my lord."

“Oh, she will regret that…” he murmured. Then, after a while he said: "You have ridden Pegasus?" Jaskier cracked one eye open. "Wiktor won't let me go near him!" The indignation in his voice made Geralt sigh a breath of relief. He was always glad to see the remnants of the person he had known for so long under the stoic facade of the viscount.

"Well, you can ruin a new horse if you don't know what you're doing."

He opened his other eye, too. "Are you saying I am a bad rider?"

'I know you aren't.' Jaskier was a frequent face in the stables, either to sneak the horses too many treats while the stable boys stood uncomfortably to the side, unsure if they could reprimand their lord for missteps that would earn them a good beating from Wiktor, or to borrow one of the horses. He knew that Jaskier didn't have any real preferences besides always shunning his father's steed, Titan. He also knew that he liked to ride fast. And Geralt knew that his heart skipped a beat whenever he saw Jaskier leap into the saddle and speed out of the gates. He was, however, also fairly certain that Jaskier had no idea what to do with Pegasus while he was not broken to the bridle yet. "I am saying that you need to know how to train a yearling to ride a yearling."

"And you know how to do that?"

"Do you think horses just come trained not to fear most monsters and to follow a whistle already?"

Jaskier nodded. "Colour me impressed, witcher. Who would have thought a liar as atrocious as yourself could keep such a secret from the man who followed his every step for over half of his life?"

Geralt grunted, fully aware of the not-so-hidden reproach in his words.

"Use your words, witcher." 

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I'm not sure if that's an insult or a compliment."

Jaskier sighed heavily and the scent of sadness grew so thick Geralt thought he must choke. "Neither am I..."

Once Geralt had collected himself, he asked casually: "How's your cousin, my lord?"

Jaskier very nearly pouted. "She doesn't like me."

He snorted. "Funny. She's saying the same about you."

"What am I doing wrong?" He frowned. "She's a very frightened child, yet you and Józefa get to talk to her."

Geralt smiled softly. "Do you want my honest advice?"

"In this case, I fear I am in desperate need of it."

"Just be yourself. She likes... nice things. I thought you might bond over that."

"I tried that. But whatever I do, she is not overly impressed."

"Hm," he made.

Jaskier didn't answer anything for a while. But what he said then, made Geralt very nearly lose his footing and make him tumble over the battlements: "She doesn't like me because she thinks I don't like you." The viscount turned his face towards him. "Isn't that right?"

"Hmm," Geralt made. 'That is pretty spot on,' he thought. "When did you become so good at reading people?"

"Long before I met you." Jaskier looked over his lands again. "You were the only person I was ever wrong about."

"How so, my lord?"

"From the moment I saw you, I thought you to be incapable of hurting anyone wilfully." A sad smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Never have I regretted a misconception more in my entire life."

Geralt swallowed around the thick lump forming in his throat, unsure what to say or if Jaskier was even waiting for a response.

Evidently, he was, for he sighed a short moment after and got to his feet. "Good night, witcher," he whispered before vanishing down the stairs.

"Good night, my lord," he echoed into the lonely evening. What on earth was he supposed to do with that?