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oomfvia · 1 year ago

Text

come destroy my fragility

pairing: astarion/gender-neutral paladin tav/reader + the emperor/gender-neutral paladin tav/reader (kinda)

spoilers for act 3 + vampire ascendant astarion

sfw | established relationship | angst | hurt no comfort

this fic is not very nice towards both ascendant astarion and the emperor for the sake of storytelling. don't take it personally please!

also posted on ao3

likes/comments/reblogs always appreciated!

Turning your head, instead of The Emperor, Astarion sits beside you. Immediately, your body stiffens. But then, slowly, it releases its tension when he smiles at you. You recognise it as a smile of fondness — affection, rather than self-absorbed satisfaction. It was the Astarion you had woken up to just this morning, before everything was reduced to a putrid red. Your Astarion.

You allow your lover to become the Vampire Ascendant, and are forced to watch him grow delirious with a rush of newfound power. That same night, you find yourself in the Astral Plane in your dreams. You already miss him dearly.

word count: 3,490

You love Astarion, unwaveringly so. Your romance may not have had the best start, but it only made the fall that much more meaningful. Sharing the same tent, you wake up with your arms wrapped protectively around him every morning. Every evening, the two of you were now accustomed to reading quietly side-by-side, shoulders pressed together. You cherish the mundane routine of it all. Loving Astarion comes as naturally to you as breathing.

It’s in Cazador’s palace that you learn of the fact that you love Astarion so much, you would do just about anything for him. Even the most repugnant things.

You grimace in sheer, utter pain as your tadpole connects with Astarion’s. Both of your minds become one, sharing memories of runes marring pale skin in multiple flashes. For the first time, Astarion sees the Infernal poem detailing the conditions of Mephistopheles’ profane pact etched across his bare back.

A hint of a smile appears on the spawn’s face, and it brings a shiver of terror down your spine. The illithid connection is severed, releasing the two minds. It leaves your stream of consciousness to yourself, filled with a resounding thought: What in the Nine Hells have I done?

You vividly remember how the rogue had described the process of attaining his scars. Cazador had carved them into his skin painstakingly slowly, not missing even a single detail. In comparison, Astarion slices into his defeated master’s skin with urgency. Rather than savouring every scream, he only smiles, as if refusing to acknowledge them at all.

Even in a moment like this, Cazador calls Astarion a child. A wretched one, sure, but a child nonetheless. It causes you to forget the sting of guilt you feel for allowing Astarion to deliver such excruciating pain in front of your eyes, if only for a moment. You simply watch in silence as Astarion grabs the quarterstaff controlling the ritual, raising it above his head. It sinks into the centre of the floor, covering it in Infernal script that glows red.

“Ecce dominus!”

Leon, Aurelia, Violet, Petras, Dalyria, Yousen — they were the closest thing to family for Astarion. You remember how he had called them his siblings, and how it gave you a sense of relief. Even if said family was attained through cruel, corrupted means, it was a small bit of consolation that Astarion had not been truly alone all of those years. Now, they were all being reduced to a mere collective sacrifice. An obscene offering in exchange for the promise of power.

And yet, you cannot find it in yourself to lift even a single finger.

“Nunc volo potestatem quam pollicitus es mihi…”

You adore Astarion’s voice, in all of its velvety and rich tones. However, now that it was echoing loudly in the chamber, it only inspires feelings of dread, overriding any instinctual passion. Every single sacrificial spawn, including Cazador Szarr, bursts into thick puddles of blood. Astarion lowers his arms, breathing heavily as the ritual’s light slowly dims.

“I…I can’t feel it. That ache in my stomach, that hunger — it’s gone.”

Astarion smiles, unmistakably drunk on his newfound power.

“I’m free. I’m finally free! Oh, it feels delicious .”

You watch Astarion’s eyes gleam uncomfortably, opting to look downwards to your hands. Since when did your fingers start trembling? Since when were your hairs standing on end? You look back up at the newly emerged Vampire Ascendant, bitter regret coursing through your veins.

What remains of Astarion’s family is only a sickening shade of red, pooling all over the floor. You can only stare wide-eyed at the gorey scene, a wave of nausea threatening to rise in your throat. Suddenly, it’s also coupled with a heavy spasm within your chest. What was this feeling of devastating loss? Clutching at your chest, you shudder as your eyes sweep the room, only to notice that you’re the sole person undergoing such physical pain.

The pain then manifests itself into an armoured figure, its hands resting on its greatsword’s pommel. You swallow thickly, as the pain slowly subsides. While the pain was starting to leave, the ominous presence in front of you induces something else: fear. Metal shifts against metal as the armoured figure starts to speak in a gravelly timbre.

“You have broken your oath, paladin.”

The days of travel since the illithid abduction had been trying. Despite everything, you have always tried to be true to yourself. To your oath. Despite your best efforts to be righteous above all else, it all led up to this. Vows of higher morality, honour, and duty that had sworn years before were being turned to mere specks of dust. For a moment, you wonder if you were face-to-face with an executioner, who would deliver your lifeless body back to your deity. Instead, the armoured knight delivers nothing but a promise:

“At the close of day, I will be waiting for you.”

Astarion approaches you with heightened zeal, bringing you back to the harshness of reality. The consequences of recent events sink in, and you might even mourn the loss of that sinister knight’s presence. The newly crowned Vampire Ascendant speaks, and you attempt to listen. It’s no good — your mind is far too overwhelmed, far too dazed to digest every word. Astarion’s words only register as fragmented phrases about greatness, servants, and obedience. Even as your blade cuts through the Gur people, you sense yourself being swallowed up by numbness.

Outside of the dungeon, the rest of the journey back to camp is a muddled, disjointed blur. Midway, you turn to your left to see Gale, whose expression can only be described as crushing disappointment. On your right, you see Karlach. When the both of you meet eyes, the tiefling frowns, averting her gaze. You walk in front of their party as always, but your joints seemingly move for you automatically rather than being willed to. It’s only when you catch a whiff of the salty air of the harbour that the mindless trance you were under breaks. You were already back at camp.

You don’t want to speak with any of your companions. You don’t have it in you to face any of them — not even your lover. Instead, your slow, aimless footsteps find their way to the mysterious knight, tucked in a corner of the campsite.

Speaking with the Oathbreaker Knight is as intimidating as the first time. You listen to his words with a heavy heart, being reminded of what you had sworn. What you’ve now betrayed. With a slow turn of his head, the knight faces you with an almost scorching gaze.

“Tell me — why did you abandon your oath?”

“Out of…love.”

It’s a plain and simple phrase, and yet it’s uttered at a volume barely louder than a whisper. Your reasoning now sounded so silly and so immature to your own ears. The result of your misguided love makes it all seem so meaningless.

“An understandable sacrifice,” the Oathbreaker responds, contrary to how you were internally admonishing yourself for said sacrifice. Was it understandable to be so witless? So frustratingly naïve?

The Oathbreaker Knight continues to detail the greater implications of your actions, or your lack thereof. Halfway through, he mentions something about a new power slumbering within you, and it’s the exact moment when his words start to fall on deaf ears. The way things are, all you know is that you don’t want to hear any more of “power” and “strength” for the rest of the night.

“What’s past is past. We are here to discuss your future.”

“I don’t want any part of this. Let me remain pure. Please,” you answer with an almost desperate sense of haste, now afraid of what a future of unknown power could hold. Parting with a couple hundred gold coins is nothing in comparison.

Pacing as far away from the Oathbreaker as possible, you feel deeply on edge. The anxiety of it all is unbearable, and your instincts naturally seek out a source of comfort. Before you know it, your feet lead you to Astarion. Except this time, when looking into his eyes, you find someone else. Someone so incredibly similar, yet so incredibly foreign.

“I can’t believe you let me kill all those people…A pleasant surprise.”

You answer through gritted teeth. “I wanted what was best for you.”

“You sweet, sweet thing. I want what’s best for you too, of course. And one wicked turn deserves another.”

No, you don’t. Stop. Where is Astarion? Where is he?

“So, tell me what you desire. What can I do for my dearest pet?”

There was no need for any further words, your body reacting faster than your mouth ever could. You turn your heel, refusing to end the conversation properly. As you practically run back to your side of camp, your chest heaves and your breath escapes in shallow huffs. No, no, no, no, no. Whoever this is, he’s abhorrent. I hate this. I hate it all. You feel absolutely sick to your stomach, because you didn’t leave the conversation out of hatred for Astarion. You had left out of fear that you would be swayed by whatever he could’ve said next.

You know, in the back of your mind, that you have nobody to blame except yourself.

Lying on your bedroll, you shake off your feelings of disgust and self-hatred. You have an elder brain to deal with, and it wasn’t going to wait for you to figure out your relationship, of all things. All you want for the rest of the night is a restful, peaceful slumber. A sleep so deep and tranquil that none of your doubts and regrets can infiltrate your thoughts.

Of course, even then, you’re asking for too much. Even in your dreams, your loathsome love cannot seem to leave you alone. You find yourself among the stars, under a lilac sky. Turning your head, instead of The Emperor, Astarion sits beside you. Immediately, your body stiffens. But then, slowly, it releases its tension when he smiles at you. You recognise it as a smile of fondness — affection, rather than self-absorbed satisfaction. It was the Astarion you had woken up to just this morning, before everything was reduced to a putrid red. Your Astarion.

The last time you found yourself in the Astral Plane, you were faced with The Emperor, along with a choice that was all too easy. No matter the reward, you weren’t going to consume an astral-touched tadpole. The risk of it consuming you in return was far too likely, and you’d sooner fall on your longsword than have it take you. You had resolved yourself to speak with the mind flayer, sternly reaffirming that you had no intention of embracing any illithid potential in the slightest.

At the exact moment your eyes meet Astarion’s, all of those preconceived notions dissolve in an instant. You scoff in disbelief, blinking rapidly. Despite your expectations of him disappearing after every blink, his figure remains.

“Astarion,” you call out through the lump emerging in your throat.

“What has made you so sullen, my dear?”

What an unbearably loaded question, you think to yourself. Was it the overall gloom of Cazador’s dungeon? Was it those pitiful fools who had waltzed right into their deaths, who had loved a vampire spawn in a way that you understood far too well? Was it the way that Astarion looked at you after his ascension, devoid of any of the respect and trust that you had shared throughout your journey? The answer is a combination of everything.

But it doesn’t matter, does it? What matters now is that Astarion was here with you.

“I love you so much it hurts, Astarion. But now that I've doomed you, I’m…I’m so fucking scared.”

Except you know that this is too good to be true.

“I love you too. There’s nothing to be scared of. I’m with you, aren’t I?” Astarion says, with a tilt of his head. It’s so charming, so inviting, so comforting.

Astarion said many sweet things, but he's never proclaimed his love for you outright in this way. He was always too afraid, and knowing that, you never demanded it from him. So why was he saying this now? Something feels wrong, terribly so.

“I…I missed you,” you respond with a hesitant voice.

Something about this feels wrong to the point of perversion. Apprehension courses through your body, and you look into those familiar scarlet eyes, searching for an answer as to why. He stares at you in a way that pierces through your soul, boring into your flesh.

“But darling,” Astarion says, a warm smile on his lips. “I’ve never left.”

And then, it clicks.

Lies. Lies, lies, lies, LIESLIESLIESLIES —

You clench your fists, squeezing your fingers together momentarily. Gradually, your dull, broken sadness paves the way for unbridled anger. Heat rises in your stomach, reaching up to your chest. With a scowl, you raise your hand, slapping your palm against the man’s cheek.

“Who do you think you are, trying to fool me again? You’re deplorable.”

You watch with an icy glare as Astarion’s figure seamlessly transforms. Pale skin is dyed back into a piercing purple. Bulging veins emerge across his skin. The lower half of his face is covered with appendages. All of it reveals a hideous aberration.

“I thought you would have appreciated that form over this one. It seems that I was mistaken.”

“...You aren’t.”

Truthfully, as much as you are angry at The Emperor, you’re also angry with yourself. During those few initial seconds, you had allowed yourself to hope. Even if it was only a dream, you wanted to believe so badly that it was the Astarion you had helped to erase at the Black Mass. Even if it was for only a couple of hours, you wanted to see the Astarion who you’ll never get back.

The mind flayer hums in acknowledgment, as if he already knows. “We share the same mind. It is only natural that I know who you yearn for, more than anyone else.”

You take in a deep inhale, exhaling heavily with an open mouth. It was in the subtleties during times like this that you found yourself unable to fully trust him, regardless of his protection. Ultimately, The Emperor made you feel as if you were nothing but a mere pawn. Briefly, you recall Astarion as the newly rebirthed Vampire Ascendant. Suddenly, it all felt so awfully ironic. During that short conversation at camp, he, too, made you feel the same way.

“You’re repulsive,” you spit out. “What if I hadn’t noticed?”

“Then it would prove my point even further — that your current form comes with limitations.”

The realisation that dawns upon you only serves to fuel your disdain further. You were two individuals burdening the same brain. The Emperor knows everything that’s happened on this miserable day, and now he is using it against you. In your most fragile, most desperate moment, he was going to give you another sermon about abandoning your feeble form.

“Fuck. You.”

With another quick flourish, you’re met with Astarion again. It disturbs you how easily your heart can shift to feelings of familiarity and adoration, simply with a small reminder of the partner Astarion used to be.

“Now, now, darling. That’s very rude of you, don’t you think?”

The corners of the vampire’s lips curl upwards sweetly, the smile on his face just barely narrowing his eyes. You hate to admit it to yourself, but this form softens your heart, no matter how aware you are that it’s just a disguise.

Astarion takes your hand in his, tilting his head lovingly in a way that registers as equally seductive and sickening. He leans in towards you, soft breath brushing against your ear.

“You failed in preventing the corruption of your lover, despite your every intention to do so. Not only that, but you failed in protecting your oath. That moment of weakness leaves me with no choice but to presume that your present self is far from sufficient to deal with the elder brain.”

Cold and calculating words escape Astarion’s lips, making them sound like the most beautifully crafted prose. It’s so fucking unfair.

You wish you had your longsword at your side. If you could, you would unsheathe it from its scabbard, drenching the blasted illithid’s body in its own blood. But more than that, you wish you could rewind time back to when you were at Cazador’s palace, with Astarion’s dagger against Cazador’s throat. You want nothing more than to go back to when you could have cried out, ran forward, caused a fuss — anything to stop the Rite of Profane Ascension from completion.

In less than even a second, the Emperor returns to his illithid form, his appendages swaying as he speaks. With a flick of his wrist, he unfurls his fingers and presents you with an astral-touched tadpole. The same one you had rejected before. And yet, this one was much harder to refuse. You stare at the tadpole's faint, ephemeral glow.

What The Emperor says isn’t exactly wrong, and it frustrates you to no end. He was simply telling you what you had been trying to avoid telling yourself the entire day. What has happened has shaken you to your core, and you feel the seeds of doubt settling in the pit of your stomach. Astarion’s ascension aside, did you have the strength to surpass this setback and vanquish the Absolute? Could you assure that no cruel fate like that would befall upon your other companions?

You think of the worst. You imagine Wyll being consumed by his pact with Mizora. You imagine Lae’zel watching helplessly as Orpheus perishes, fulfilling Vlaakith’s wishes. You imagine Gale losing himself out of blind devotion to his goddess. They’re all things that you would never wish on your dear friends. Not after all that’s happened.

With a heavy, audible sigh, you let your shoulders run slack in resignation. You recognise yourself as an incompetent fool that has condemned your lover to a fate of single-minded lusts for power, and now you are going to pay the price.

“...Fine, you win. Have it your way.”

It takes only a moment for the tadpole to welcome itself into your body through just the smallest opening of your mind. You writhe and twist in anguish as you feel its essence coursing flooding into you. Every single bone in your body screams as your flesh contorts inhumanly and your veins turn a horrid black. Soon after, it settles. It’s so unnatural how natural it feels, once the wretched tadpole settles into your body.

“Are you happy now?” You ask, glancing up at The Emperor accusatorily.

“You are…exquisite.”

You don’t want to hear those words from that monster. You want to hear those words from him . If you still loved him ardently after his transformation, would it be such a stretch to hope that he would love you after yours? There must be some remnants of the way he had loved you before somewhere deep inside that unbeating heart. Tucked away secretively, so that it’ll never be fully erased. It’s somewhere, or so you tell yourself.

The Emperor must have picked up on your wishful thinking because in the next moment, you're once again eye-to-eye with your vampiric lover’s image. You know it’s all sheer delusion. A product of nothing more than your deepest regrets. The coldness of his hand against your cheek is heart-wrenchingly familiar, making you flinch slightly before your skin starts to adjust. When it leans in closer, you find yourself habitually meeting it in the middle.

When your lips meet, the illusion of Astarion gently holds your trembling arm, slowly tracing downwards until its hand rests on top of yours. It’s only when you feel a wet drop roll down your cheek that you realise you’ve started to cry. Shortly after, your lips part, leaving you with a devastating loneliness. You recognise it as the loneliness you’ve left buried under adamant denial, resurfacing after a single kiss.

“I love you, Astarion,” you whisper in a choked sob, trying but failing to convince yourself. Your declaration of love is out of a pathetic and pitiful need to reassure yourself, rather than spontaneous passion.

Memories of the Astarion you miss flit back into your mind. You had held him when he was at his most unsure of himself, lost about his place in the world. He had been the one to love you unconditionally, when you had thought you were nothing without your oath. Gazing into the imitation’s eyes makes it painfully obvious that you’re the only one still carrying such fervent affections.

“...I’m sorry,” the illusion whispers back. You don’t know if you have it in you to forgive it. You don’t know if you have it in you to forgive yourself.

#bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #baldur's gate 3 fanfiction #bg3 fanfiction #astarion #astarion ancunin #astarion fanfic #astarion x tav #astarion x reader #oomfvia.txt #oomfvia:\bedtimestories

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emocka · 2 years ago

Text

My loving queen

Tighnari x blind! reader (reader afab and slightly chubby) your also the cousin of kazuha

Side note I'm changing something as I have a piece called BITE ME coming out in a bit

Warnings: mention of blood, death (both small parts) slight angst fluff comfort

☆☆☆☆☆

You were born blind. No cure could be found so you learn to navigate the world by echo location. Clicking your tongue, you would hear the 'sound waves' bounce off various item and objects helping you walk around.

You had a good home growing up. Even learned how to dance something that was quiet challenging, but you managed it well.

That how you met him. Tighnari.

He first caught sight of you wandering around the forest. So, he went to help you.

'Hi. I'm Tighnari. What's your name?' He asked you. You looked over at him.

'I'm y/n. Can I ask for you to help me get home? I'm lost and this forest is throwing me off.' You said smiling.

He looked at you and noticed your eyes.

'Forgive my rudeness but...are you blind?' He asked.

You nodded.

'OK. Follow me.' He said then started launching into a lecture

Thats how the first meeting went. He found you again. This time you were returning home.

'Y/n? Returning home or lost?' Tighnari asked.

'Returning home now shush. I hear something'

He noted his surroundings then grabbed your wrist.

'Come on let's get you-OW!!!! Thats my foot!'

You stepped on his foot. The sound was bothering you. It was high pitched, and it made your ears hurt. You had to know what it was.

'The noise. Its hurting my ears.' You said covering them

'Oh, your other senses increase significantly, don't they?' Tighnari grabbed your hand 'come on. Ill investigate the noise later.'

You nodded and followed him.

'You should be careful when in the forest.' He started to say.

'I'm fine really. I may be blind but believe me when I say I can run. Now why don't you tell me about yourself? From the sounds I think you may have a tail.'

'Ah your hearing been enhanced. Yes, I do have a tail.' Tighnari started.

'Gimme tail.' You spoke. Tighnari looked at you bewildered.

No one ever dared asked to touch his tail much less demand to touch it.

'You're a strange girl.' He said quietly. 'Uh....sure.'

He held his tail out. You held it gently. As he studied your actions, he started to notice you more. You were slightly chubby but still healthy weight. Your (colored) hair gently flowing in the wind.

'So soft.' You said petting his tail. He looked at you.

'All right. That enough. Come on let's go home' he said. You nodded releasing his tail.

His heart stopped for a beat. Your smile was so angelic. So peaceful. He couldn't stop looking at you.

There was something about you. Something about your presences that made everything so serene.

'Let's go home.' He said again.

You nodded and followed him.

----

You both met up a few more times before everything stopped. You went missing. It was unusual for you to not cause chaos. So, when you didn't show up for the past week tighnari set out to find you.

Arriving at you place he noticed the door slightly opened. He grew concerned. Soon concerned turned into horror when he saw the scene.

You were surrounded by your dead family. Tied up You were unconscious. Tighnari checked to see if anyone else was alive but came back with nothing.

'Y/N. Hey you need to wake up. Come on' he shook you gently. 'I need to get you some help.'

You slowly came to. When you were fully able to process the heavy iron scent you cried. Tighnari carefully moved you. That caused you to scream. Some unknown person was carrying you.

'Hey, calm down it's just me. Tighnari. I'm trying to help you. It's ok. I promise.' With some convincing you were able to stop screaming. 'Ok let's get these off you.'

You ended up tuning him out while he took of the rope. After a few attempts to get the knots undone he succeeded and managed to get you free. He looked around and spot a blanket blood free. Walking over he grabbed it and walked back to you.

'Y/N can you stand up?' He asked. But you were still tuning him out. So, he tried again. Finally, you responded.

'Can you stand up for a second? Just one second, I promise.' You nodded and stood up slowly.

You started to fall after you got up but tighnari was able to catch you and wrap the blanket around.

'Come on. I'll take you to get checked up.' He scooped your legs up. Carrying you bridal style he looked around one last time and left the building.

----

'You want me to look into the murders of her family?' Cyno asked.

Tighnari nodded.

'I know it sound stupid, but I want her to have a piece of mind. She been sleeping so much lately. She says she doesn't want to wake up and face the reality.'

'I'll-' cyno stopped mid sentence and looked at you in disbelief.

Tighnari confused looked at you. You were still sleeping but next to you laid a vision. Suddenly a book fell from no where. Tighnari studied the vision.

'Celestia feels she meet the standards for a hydro vision' cyno stated. 'But how does a blind person qualify for a vision?'

'She did mumble about the world being an unfair place.' Tighnari said quietly.

You woke up.

'Tighnari?' You asked. You 'looked' in his direction.

He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. Picking up the vision.

'Hold out your hand.' He said.

You did as told. Feeling something drop in it your world suddenly exploded.

'What's going on?' You panicked. 'Why am I seeing lines?'

The moment the vision touched your hand it gave you an outline of everything. You dropped the vision but the lines didn't disappear.

'It must have sensed your condition and accommodated to it.' Tighnari said holding your hand. 'I think it's giving you a mental image of everything surrounding you.'

He looked at the book. Realizing it was a catalyst he grabbed it. Putting it in your hand you whimpered quietly.

'I'm hearing a voice' you said.

Tighnari pulled you into a hug.

'The weapon was also made to accommodate your condition.' He cupped your cheek. 'Hey let's calm down.'

You nodded as he pulled you into another hug. Cyno looked at the two and left quietly.

'Hey. You feeling better?' Tighnari asked.

He felt you nod.

'OK. You feel better enough to get out?' He rubbed your back.

'I don't want to face the reality.' You started to tremble.

'Hey its ok. I promise. We all have to face it. Come on. I have a idea. We can go to sumeru city. Get you acquainted to some people.'

You whimpered quietly. Tighnari looked at you. You were very beautiful...tighnari shouldn't be thinking about that now.

'Come on if not sumeru city then here will do.' He gave you a gentle pat on the shoulder.

You started crying. He stopped when he saw your tears.

---

After a few days you finally got out. Asking collei where the nearest shower was. She smiled giving you directions forgetting your blind.

'Collei? Can you just walk me there? I do-ooooh wait. I see it' you said as the vision drew a line in your mental map.

You collected your things and followed the line. You cleaned up. Feeling better you got dressed. Tighnari had gone out and purchased some new clothes. The other one were beyond repair.

After you finished you walked back to tighnari place. Sitting on the bed you started thinking.

'Well now this is a surprise. Your up and about now.' He said smiling. 'What changed?'

You shrugged. He walked over to the bed and sat next to you.

'So what are you going to do now?' He asked.

You faced him.

'Tail gimme' you suddenly demanded.

Tighnari looked at you bewildered.

'Why must you demand my tail?' He asked.

'Gimme.' Was all you said.

He sighed. Turning around slightly he put his tail on your legs. He watched as you gently picked it up and buried your face in it.

'So soft.' You mumbled. 'Soooooft'

He chuckled as he watched the scene. You petting his tail while burying your face in it. He admired your figure. You were a little skinny something that could be dealt with overtime. You lost weight during your greiving. Your hair was longer.

'OK times up. I know you like my tail but I need it back.' He said as he moved his tail away from you. You whined.

'Come on. You don't know what to do right?' He said taking your hand 'follow me. You can be a forest ranger.'

'How would I be able to do that?' You asked.

'Trust me on this.'

-----

From the distance collei spotted tighnari pulling you along. You had a smile on your face. The world's brightest smile.

During the next few months tighnari trained you to be a forest ranger. Lisa was brought in to train you to use a catalyst.

Then came the crisis. Someone asked a sensitive question which earned a head smack and a severe tongue lashing from tighnari.

During that time you hid questioning everything. Tighnari assigned said person to the city as a punishment.

After some convincing and a accidental kiss you came out. Your bubbly personality a little quieter.

You nearly gave him a heart attack when you showed up with a baby avidia leopard.

'Why do you have a leopard?! Did you kidnap it? Oh archons why?' He panicked.

'Hush dear she sleeping. And the mother entrusted her to me. She ran off.' You said.

'What?!' He yelled.

You shushed him once more. Taking a blanket for the make shift bed you had you set it down on the ground. Folding it you laid the baby leopard on it gently. Walking away you sat down on his bed.

He faced palmed then sat besides you.

'We need to have a talk about this leopard....dear are you ok?' He looked over at you. You had discarded the jacket dumping it on the floor. Crawling in his bed you pulled the covers over your body. He grew concerned.

'Dear?' He asked 'is everything alright?'

'I'm just tired. Socializing takes a lot out of me now days.' You said.

Tighnari discard his shoes and crawled in behind you.

'May i?' He asked tapping your waist. You nodded.

He wrapped his arms around your waist pulling you close to him. He draped his tail over your stomach.

*she's so cute and smells great* He thought. *I shouldn't be doing this.*

Right? Friends don't accidentally kiss. And they certainly don't cuddle while sleeping in the same bed.

Right?

---

'Traveler I assume you may know someone who can help nilou?' Dehya asked.

Aether nodded.

'What does the academy have against them?' Al haitham asked.

'She was spotted dancing in the city. They went after her but stopped when she ran off on water' aether said remembering the whole fiasco.

Tighnari was laughing hard when it happened. Aether was laughing too when one of the guards fell into the water going after you. The leopard made the other guards shrink back in fear.

'Together the two can buy us time.' He said.

'Are you talking about y/n? If you are she would be useful then.' Cyno said.

So with the plan in motion dehya and aether went out.

----

'Hey y/n?' Tighnari asked. 'Can you try working on the girl again?'

You nodded standing up from the ground. You were growing a sumeru rose. Your cousin kazuha who you met by chance had sent you a seed.

'After I'm done I'm heading to the city. I need to purchase a few things' you looked at him. Leaving the area you went to go heal the patient.

After that things went out of control.

----

Lighting was everywhere. Ruinsguards somehow got close to vimara village and to top it all off you had to fight those and the fatui agent sent after you.

There you stood in the middle of the river breathless.

You wanted to give up but you couldn't not with the children and eldery at risk.

'You are really testing my patience here.' You said.

The agent didn't answer instead sending its blade at you. You blocked it. You knew help wasn't coming anytime soon. So you did the unthinkable.

'Test my patience again' you muttered. With the rivers help you were able to defeat the agent taking the ruin guard down.

'Oh good.' You started 'I just want to...'

Everything blurred then went black.

----

'Is she ok?' Tighnari asked. The leopard had rescued you from the river. With a little assistance you were brought back. Straight to pardis dhyai.

'She's unconscious. How did she get this injury?' Dehya asked as she examined your hand 'why is she soaking wet? Did she lock weapons with someone?'

Tighnari walked over to you. He felt your forehead and sighed.

'She's running a fever too.' He began but piamon rushed in with aether behind.

'Ruin guards were activated! vimara village was under attack!' She began 'we don't know who or how but they took out eight Ruin guards and two fatui agents. The traveler went to help.'

'Calm down piamon. Calm down' Aether began.

'But i have to tell them about the river!' She said. 'The river! That the part they need-'

'What about the river?' Tighnari asked looking at you.

'When we arrived someone had managed to move the river that runs through vimara village.' Aethe said. 'Its back in place....'

He trailed off as he looked at you. You were soaking wet. Everyone stared at you. The tighnari broke the silence.

'So....I should probably send a letter to Lisa. Ask if she knows someone who can help her hone her skills. Preferably someone with a hydro vision.' He sat on the edge of the bed. 'Can everyone leave?'

Everyone left.

'You did all that by yourself. You were probably scared out of your mind.' He cupped your cheek 'you must have been terrified. Yet you managed to take them out. Even managed to control a river too.'

'It was. No back up, and I was new to combat.' You said. You woke up.

You sat up wincing.

'Im so proud of you.' He said.

He leaned in close. You followed suit. The both of you kissed. After a minute you pulled away.

'Tighnari? What are we?' You asked him. You remained close to him.

'I don't know. All I do know is that I feel the need to protect you.' He rubbed his nose against yours. 'And the feelings I get being close to you makes me warm. I know friends shouldn't kiss or cuddle but we do. Everything we do I get so happy it makes me purr'

He pulled you in his lap.

'I want to be something different with you. I want to be in a relationship with you.' He nuzzle your cheek.

'But I'm blind.' You said quietly. 'I'm a chubby per-'

'I don't care about those.' He murmured in your ear wrapping his tail around you. 'Your beautiful.'

He brushed his lips against your cheek. It became silent. You both listened to everything going on around you. Piamon could be heard in the distance.

Then you heard a strange sound. Listening carefully you realized it was coming from in front of you. Burying your head in his neck you listened.

'You do purr' you said.

Tighnari nodded. Readjusting your position he managed to lay down with you on top.

'Tighnari?' You said into the bed. 'Do you really love me?'

'Yes.' He tightened his grip on you. It went silent.

'I love you tighnari.'

'I love you too'

#yaepublishinghouse #genshin #genshin impact #tighnari fluff #tighnari x reader #tighnari #emocka blind series #emocka.writes

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musubiki · 1 year ago

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What were the Lime and Mochi/Coco and Taffy “oh….. OH” moments for the both of them?

OH GOD!!!!!!!!!! mochi and limes are harder to pin down.....i will try to speculate how i see it right now:

mochi @ lime: happened when they were younger, middle school maybe? up until that point her and lime would occasionally talk and were forced to walk home together, but were nowhere NEAR best friends. at some point mochi started getting bullied since she was so weird and quiet, lime stood up for her and got into a physical fight with the other kid. anyway afterwards, after they both got sent home my the principal, mochi was like "maybe he isnt so bad?" and the crush developed and RAPIDLY grew since after this they actually became friends for real

lime @ mochi: THIS ONE IS HARDER TO PIN DOWN!!!! theres no single moment, its a BUNCH of "yeah shes cute but i dont like her." "yeah shes nice and cool but i dont like her." "yeah i mean if she wanted to kiss we could i guess but i dont like her." over years and years slowly descending into madness,,,,.....the thing that started tipping him over the edge is RIGHT before the witch thing started, theres a night where she was staying with his family (in the webtoon, its right where we left off), and fell asleep with him where thats the first time he stayed and cuddled with her for the night. it started as "yeah yeah comfort mochi while shes crying and sad" but they both fell asleep, and when lime wakes up in the middle of the night to mochi snuggling into him he CAVES!!!!!! his whole mindset, within the span of like 10 minutes, starts shifting to "maybe mochi as a girlfriend isnt a bad idea.............................". in the morning he tries to rationalize himself out of it with "no way, im just touch starved. no way, i just need a girlfriend and would feel like this for any girl. no way, if i was gonna like her at all i wouldve liked her by now" and from then on its a constant battle of "god DAMN i want her bad" and "FUCK no shes my best friend, the fuck?!"

taffy @ coco: this moment happens relatively fast. basically, theres a period of a day or two while she is currently kidnapped by taffy who is trying to lure mochi out, but he has no intentions of hurting her or anything else beyond holding her there until mochi arrives. at some point he hurts himself (humerously) like fucking cuts his arm by accident on something and its PROFUSELY bleeding and he sees nothing wrong with that, probably says something like "Its just blood." coco, who is absolutely about to vomit, rips a sleeve off her jacket and wraps his arm with it and taffy is instantaneously confused, shocked, and emotionally attached. this man does not experience kindness regularly. any time after this when he runs into her at random times he is NERVOUS. (he hold onto that ripped sleeve for like. forever. after he joins the guild coco is like "why do you still have that?!! did you at least get the blood out?????" and hes just silently protectively sentimental about it)

coco @ taffy: for coco, there is ALSO not a single moment, its a slow and growing process of learning who he is and what he is and how she can help him. its probably one of those things where you spend so much time with someone you care about so much emotionally, and then one day (during the timeskip when theyre living together, he just comes back from his day job and walks in the door and coco realizes shes in love with him (this is long after she already knows he loves her like crazy)

#ive been thinking about coffy today #how much he is willing to just die for her #even when she doesnt return his love at first hes still just (I dont care. Ill love you forever i dont care just let me stay by your side)#coco is a special girl #everyone wrote off taffy so fast except for her. including mochi #lime coming in hot with the (its stockholm syndrome)#and coco has no response because sure i guess it might be #(but he did save me.)#he did. during the first fight with mochi he lost because he saved coco instead of fighting mochi #and coco from that alone knows hes not an absolutely horrible person

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alexsfictionaddiction · 26 days ago

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Alex Recommends: August Books

I hope you're all having a wonderful summer. I have been wholly consumed by my dissertation but I'm happy to report that it seems to be going well. I am really enjoying the process and I don't know whether that's normal or not! I'm definitely going to miss being a student once this is handed in at the end of next month but it's not like I don't have plenty of other life things to keep me occupied.

Work is going well. We have recently had a new library management system implemented and we're all still learning how it works. It's nice being as confused as everyone else for once! It definitely has its teething problems but I'm sure we'll figure it out eventually.

Mark and I are settling into our home and slowly acquiring furniture and accessories to make it our own. As its a rental, we can't do much to it in terms of decor but it's a lovely comfortable house with everything that we need in it. We also love the town that we're in and at the moment, we're planning on staying here long term. So, I guess I am starting to feel quite settled now. Mark is getting ready to start his first year as a teacher and I couldn't be more proud of him. I think he's equally nervous and excited but that's to be expected, of course.

I've also managed to enjoy some time away with some family members in Cornwall, which is one of my favourite UK holiday spots. This means that I've also been able to read some great books while juggling my dissertation deadlines, so good news for you -I've got some recommendations for you. I'm sure there's something here for you to enjoy! So until next time,

Love, Alex x

FICTION: Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo

Flor can predict the exact day that someone will die, so when she announces that she wants to hold a living wake for herself, her family are suspicious that she knows something about her own death. It turns out that her sisters also have their own secrets as do the next generation of Marte women. In the days leading up to Flor's wake, the family's past and present interweave and teaches everyone how to cope with the future. I have really enjoyed Elizabeth Acevedo's YA verse novels, so I was really intrigued to see she had written an adult novel in prose. Family Lore has a large cast of interesting female characters and the book really is a trip through their history, giving them an authenticity that means you can't help but really care about them. Acevedo is a master at scattering generational magic and wisdom through the chapters of this story of migration and sisterhood. Issues such as fertility and sexuality are touched on and unlike the author's YA novels, there are some graphic descriptions of bodily functions, which some readers should bear in mind. A fantastic, intricate, well thought out literary novel with more than a sprinkling of magical realism.

ROMANCE: The Situationship by Taylor-Dior Rumble

When journalist Tia's long time crush returns from a trip abroad with a new girlfriend, she decides it's time to try dating apps. She's surprised when she immediately clicks with Nate, a handsome photographer. However, the dating game now requires couples to have 'the talk' about what they are. Are they friends? A couple? Or simply a situation? My favourite thing about The Situationship were Tia's friendships. She has some of the best friends ever and I really enjoyed the commentary on how Black women are treated in journalism. Both of Tia's love interests are trash, so I had great fun hating both of them! The ending was very satisfying indeed and not at all expected. I've got to a point now where I feel pretty sure I always know how a rom-com will wrap up, so to be pleasantly surprised by this one was a real treat.

MIDDLE-GRADE: The Best Sleepover In The World by Jacqueline Wilson.

After the events of Sleepovers, Chloe is desperate to win her friends back by throwing the Best Sleepover in the World. With a swimming pool, professional makeovers and guest appearance from a huge social media star, everyone is invited except Daisy. But Daisy's sister Lily also wants a sleepover party and Daisy is determined to make Lily's sleepover the actual Best Sleepover in the World. I have been a huge fan of Jacqueline Wilson since I was very young and I love that I am still such a fan of her new releases. Sleepovers also happens to be one of my favourites, so I was insanely excited to learn about the sequel and I'm delighted that it lived up to my expectations. It's a quick, light-hearted read that is brimming with nostalgia. I enjoyed it enough to dismiss the continuity issue of it being somehow set immediately after events of the first book and yet also having very contemporary elements! Wilson still manages to depict girlhood friendship struggles so well and it really illustrates how some things really don't change. It was also fantastic to see disabled representation in children's fiction through such cool, kind characters like Lily and her friend Natalie. These girls are included and treated exactly the same as able-bodied characters and it was such a joy to read.

YA: Bite Risk by S. J. Wills.

Not much happens in Tremorglade, other than the monthly night where all the adults turn into werewolf-like creatures called Rippers. It's up to the town's teenagers to keep their adult relatives caged and safe and it's been this way since the Disruption, which happened before Sel was born. But strange things are happening and Sel and his friends start to suspect that there's a reason no one ever seems to leave Tremorglade. Bite Risk is a unique werewolf dystopian, which straddles the line between middle-grade and YA. I think the violence and strong horror aspect probably tips it towards the younger YA point but it is definitely suitable for mature 12-year-old readers. There are some tense scenes and some big twists, while the writing is very engaging and the world-building is really interesting. It's the first in a series, so I'm intrigued to see where the story goes next.

THRILLER: The Only One Left by Riley Sager.

In 1929, 17-year-old Lenora Hope was accused of massacring her family in their home. The police could never prove it but the locals widely accepted that as the sole surviving family member, she must have been responsible. Lenora has never spoken about the murders or left Hope's End, her ancestral home since that night. In 1983, Kit takes up the job as Lenora's nurse after her predecessor left suddenly. Kit finds Lenora paralysed and mute, only able to use her left hand to communicate via a typewriter. One night, to Kit's surprise, Lenora uses it to express to Kit that she wants to tell her everything. I have read almost all of Riley Sager's books and I have to say that The Only One Left is my favourite so far. It's highly addictive and atmospheric with some gorgeous Gothic Agatha Christie vibes. Hope's End cast such an ominous shadow and held so many horrific secrets that it took on a life of its own as I turned the pages and became very much a haunting, chilling persona. Even at the very end, the crazy twists kept coming and I was thoroughly consumed by the lives of these characters. A deliciously, dark mystery.

#august books #book recommendations #recommendations #books #bookworm

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moosekateer13 · 5 months ago

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Chapter 6: Play On

1 month later…

They've got some leads. The latest details we've gotten have done nothing to ease our worries. Since we found the company, my late fiance Arthur borrowed from. Is owned by the mafia that Gen's family was once a part of. It took a good hour to convince Jared that it wasn't his or Gen's fault for this taking place. She did not know her family had mob connections. I also reminded him that Arthur never did his research before jumping into things. Jared tired himself out and now is asleep with his head in my lap.

I gently wake him up since my legs have since gone numb from sleeping on them.

He slowly opens his eyes and looks at me. Then he sets himself upright.

“I'll draw us a bath. We need to relax.” I replied I exited the room before he had time to process what I just said.

I call for Jared, and he meets me in the master bathroom wearing nothing but a towel. I motion for him to join me in the tub.

“I feel both relaxed and aroused at the same time. Jared said with a smirk. I feel the heat rising in my cheeks at his words. We playfully splash each other. Once we close the gap between us and share a kiss things quickly turn heated. I find myself having sex with him in the tub. Something I didn't intend to happen when I filled the bath earlier. Now something else is filled to the brim with me. In between the heated kisses and the orgasms. I've never felt so wanted and cherished. This feeling between us is something I never thought I'd have. We haven't said the Big L word yet. It may be unspoken but actions are louder than words. It has been clearly the case since we first met.

10 days later…

D&N training facility

Making the right choice. I figured I'd learn how to protect myself. I know Dasan and his crew are taking shifts watching us but it doesn't stop me from wanting to learn how to defend myself. Jared protested at first but he soon understood. That the skills might come in handy. So while Jude is at preschool I'm doing another training course held by Dasan. Today we are starting off at the gun range.

“ Come Y/N let's see what you've got,” Dasan said.

I stand with let's shoulders apart. My gun is tightly gripped in my hands and my eyes are square right on the target. In rapid succession, I emptied the clip into the target only missing the center once. I put the gun on safety before turning to look after Dasan.

“Damn Y/N you are faster than some of the security team. It's been less than two weeks.” Dasan said.

“Thanks, that means a lot to me,” I replied.

Now we head off to the gym.

Dasan has been teaching me the hardest of the 7 defence techniques since growing up in the foster home. I knew the basics.

He grabs me from behind.

To set myself free, I quickly bent back and hit Dasan with the back of my head. With one of his legs now forward. I duck down, grab it, and get up while pulling it with me. I hear a loud grunt followed by a thud. I feel a sense of pride in taking the 6-foot native man down. He's got quite the height advantage on my 5’4” ft frame.

I quickly bolt to the other side of the room.

Dasan unsteadily gets back on his feet.

“Good job Y/N you've got down packed now. You should go get changed back into your street clothes. We are done for the day. Your husband should be here to pick you up soon with your son.” Dasan said with a smile.

“Thank you for the compliment and session today,” I replied. I don't bother replying to the last part of Jared being my husband. The first time he said I told him it was not yet.

Jared is out there to greet me. He unlocks the door of his Volkswagen Tiguan. Jude is there in the backseat. I climb into the front seat. We made our way back home.

While I take a much-needed shower. Jared gets Jude ready for a much-needed nap. Before he gets started on the fried rice. He plans to cook for dinner.

Jared's kids are at Gen's parent’s house this week. So it's just the three of us today.

I settle in on the couch while Jared finishes cooking. I snapped a picture of him cooking. I love seeing him in his element. Jared really loves cooking and he's amazing at it. No wonder why his company gets so many jobs.

“Dasan called before I went to pick you up. He says you are a natural Y/N. Y/N you are amazing. You really can do everything Princess of my heart.” Jared said.

I feel the heat rise in my cheeks in response to Jared’s compliment.

“Jared, well I don't know about everything Prince of my Heart,” I replied.

Jared just simply smiles at me and shakes his at my retort as he sets the table.

Jude comes bounding just in time for dinner. It's like he always knows when dinner is ready. He's getting pretty good at climbing into his chair without our help now. It makes me smile. When did the time go? He just turned 4 last month. We did nothing big for it just a small intimate family birthday at our place. Jared's kids were there, and so were Jensen and Holy. To my surprise, both Gen and Jared's parents came over too. They've really welcomed us into the family.

It warms my heart to see Jude surrounded by so much love. It's something I didn't have past the age of 10 family-wise. I can't wait to see where everything goes with Jared and me.

Chapter 7:

#piece by piece #jared padalecki x reader #moosekateer13 #supernatural fanfiction #angst #smut #violence #criminal activities #mention of death #mention of murder

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astradinalove · 2 years ago

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Love’s Lore

Chapter 1: Beginning a Legacy of My Own

As a princess, I had everything from servants to maids but the responsibilities were too much to take over. My mother had a lot of expectations that I was not able to abide by and so, I was kept away to be taught. In our family, the women are seen as the most powerful, my poor brother was always left to the side to do his own thing, but in a way, I envied him. When you’re alone for a long time with your thoughts, there are different shades of thought that seep out. Some are gray, some are light, but some can be very, very dark. Most days were dark and I knew I had to leave. Every night, I had 20 minutes of free time and that’s where I met my first friend, a panther which I called Spade. There was only silent communication, but enough for us to understand each other. Spade understood that I wanted to leave and start anew.

It was time to make that thought a reality, and one night, I vanished with Spade with a little souvenir. Just a note, my mother has an abundance of weapons, so I don’t think she’ll miss this one. It was her time scythe, she taught me all the inner workings of it, and honestly it was the best decision to take it.

Spade and I had finally made it into the city, it took us about a week to get here. I knew I had to do something about finding a place, food, disguised clothing, and something called a job. I bought this thing called a condo and realized I needed furniture; living is not cheap, sucks for humans. Spade and I hunted for food in the nearest forest at nights, that’s where we found a young man who was bleeding out. I was not able to control my urges which made Spade have to fight me off the boy. Annoyed, I leapt back and thought back to how my dad became a vampire. I took a deep breath, bit him, and injected my venom. I quickly gathered some food and when I got back, there was a girl that looked similar to the boy. She was also looking in pain and bleeding out. Spade bowed to me, almost like pleading to save her life too. In a swift motion, she and her bother were both withering in pain. Spade and I only watched.

After some time, they both remained still. Spade slowly approached them and sniffed, the girl grabbed Spade and growled. I forced her to bite me instead and she relaxed. I moved some of the animals closer to her and she took the bait. The boy was different waking up, he seemed confused that he was still alive and his hunger wasn’t going berserk like the girl. He quietly picked up an animal and ate. After they were fed, they both followed Spade and I back to my condo. I asked their names and they didn’t reply, so I decided to call them Clover and Diamond in return they call me Love. We don’t share real names but we stick together no matter what. Diamond warmed up to me quite quickly but Clover was very suspicious. I learned that they were twin siblings, Diamond is hyperactive and a bit crazy and Clover is quiet, observative, and quick on his feet.

Knowing that I will be hunted down my mother’s guard eventually, I had to make the scythe useful. In a ritual, I made Spade my familiar and since both Clover and Diamond have my venom in them, they are officially a part of me. To sync them with the blade, I would need them to consent to my command. Diamond and Spade were easy but Clover refused harshly. He was upset that Diamond agreed to it without thinking. Not waiting on him to change his mind, I had to move fast. After the syncing process, we practiced everyday without fail. What I have learned is that when Spade cloaks the blade I’m able to slow down time for any human or creature, which made it easier to capture our prey for food. Diamond posed more of a problem, when she cloaked the blade, she made the blade heavier and crystalized, almost like a shield. Wielding took a while to get used to, but after a while I was able to work between the two. Clover was still being a pain but I guess I didn’t need him for the moment.

A month went by, I started a streaming channel because Diamond said it was a good starter, but I wasn’t making money right away. I guess it didn’t matter because I took some money from my mother and we were ok for a while. I was also surprised by how talented Diamond was at making clothing, she was able to make new outfits for us. Clover read and built things, how was I so lucky with these two.

#pngtuber #lore #twitch #streamer

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zivazivc · 3 years ago

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Pinocchio AU

Okay people want the explanation for this comic so here it goes. It’s long and complicated and MESSED UP because of course it is, this is me. I’m going to write in points because my small tired brain can’t handle good english atm but basically to sum up the Adrien was a sentimonster theory or Pinocchio AU as I like to call it:

Young married Emilie and Gabriel can’t have kids. Gabriel reluctantly accepts this fate and even brings up adoption as a possibility once, but Emilie doesn’t want to hear any of that. She’s a bit of a Marinette in the sense that she pictures this romanticized ideal life for herself and a child—her flesh and blood—HAS to be in it.

They keep trying to get a baby while other young families Emilie knows keep growing. She feels left out and hurt and depressed, then her newlywed twin sister announces she’s expecting a baby too and something within Emilie just unhinges.

She eventually lies to some of her friends, who she was out for coffee with, that she’s pregnant too. She mostly does it just to see their reaction and feel what it would be like but it quickly spirals out of control where she just starts pretending she’s pregnant until you can’t even tell if she believes it herself.

Gabriel is confused at first because he hears the news second hand (a friend/family member congratulating him) so he’s apprehensive when he approaches his wife but she convinces him that they really are getting a baby and Gabriel is ecstatic.

It’s only later at a doctor’s check up that Gabriel learns that she indeed is not pregnant. The doctor even speaks to him alone explaining that his wife is in denial and that he should make sure she goes to see a psychiatrist, something she definitely wouldn’t do alone.

Gabriel is unsuccessful with that because he’s not entirely persistent, doesn’t want to be the guy with the crazy wife having to tell everyone she lied about being pregnant, and hopelessly believes she’ll just get over it eventually.

That is until her “pregnancy is near due”—her sister already had Félix in England a few months ago—and he stumbles on her transformed with her peacock miraculous (they already have both of them) creating a sentimonster newborn.

They have a huge fight about it but because Emilie refuses to destroy it, won’t tell Gabriel where the amok is, and Gabriel can’t just hurt the baby with his hands, Emilie just… wins. Fucked up, yeah?

Now she tried creating kids before this one, using her imagination to try and blend her and Gabriel’s looks but it just wasn’t working. So she decided to copy of photos of baby Félix because he already looked almost like a copy of his mother, and Amélie and Emilie already looked alike so it’s not so weird?—is what her mind was telling her.

She didn’t dare alter his looks but she decided to give the baby Gabriel’s eye color to include the “father” in some way. (Yes in that comic I made I gave Adrien a mix of green and gray but that was mainly to get the point across to the perceptive readers)

Now we got Adrien, a normal baby boy to the whole world except for Gabriel who’s forced into his wife’s fantasy through social expectations.

Why are we only at this point and this post is already so long AAAAAAAA!!!

Adrien physically basically grows in a way where Emilie just keeps changing his appearance to match what Félix looked like a few months prior.

Mentally he’s like a robot just taking in information without really needing to learn it. So Emilie decides when he says his first word, she decides when he learns to walk,… He knows how to walk, he just wasn’t given the command to do so yet.

But even so he does develop a personality over time, just slower, because unlike a normal child who’s always testing his boundaries, how far they’re allowed to go until they’re in real trouble, Adrien just can’t misbehave. At all.

But he does have his favorite foods and favorite toys, and jokes that make him laugh the most. The problem is just that Emilie could just decide that his favorite food is strawberries and he’d just start acting accordingly, rewiring his belief.

He also isn’t allowed to argue or be mean to others which is why Félix thinks he’s a goody two-shoes weirdo while Chloé the brat adores him.

This behavior isn’t so hard to hide with a toddler who’s fickle but it’s harder and harder as the kid grows. Which is why the family becomes very secluded over time.

Gabriel always keeps distance with his “son”. He’s not Dad, he’s Father, he doesn’t do hugs and cuddles, he doesn’t say I love you. But Adrien knows he loves him because his mom told him so and he loves him back unconditionally because Mom said that’s what families do.

Now even though Gabriel is traumatized by this whole ordeal and knowing Adrien “isn’t real” freaks him out he does soften a bit over time. I’m going to give an awful example but like someone who hates cats softening for a cat that their partner/roommate decided to get/had from before. Continuing with this example: But still becoming appalled when the cat starts acting odd/unusually.

Okay I think you get the gist. Let’s move on…

Emilie loves her son more and more as he grows and his sentimonster behaviours start bothering her more and more too. She hates being reminded that he’s not a real boy by people mentioning he looks young for his age because Emilie forgot to make him grow for a while. She hates when he does everything like he’s told. She hates that he has no real friends because they’re afraid to expose him to the outside too much and without supervision. She hates to think about his future.

Her desire for him to be real keeps growing and is what drives her to search for a solution in the miraculous spellbook.

She cracks the script after years, when Adrien is nearly a teen, and finds a way to transfer the creators soul into a sentimonster.

It’s a long process that takes time and while she falls ill to everyone around her, Adrien becomes more real.

Gabriel starts realizing what’s happening when he notices Adrien hesitate for a second when he’s playing a video game and Gabriel wants him to do something, groan when he gets bothered watching TV, huff, complain, have slightly opposing opinions to his and Emilie’s, when he argues with his mother when she tells him she’s feeling fine; when he notices his son’s eyes are greener. Or is it all in his head?

He confronts his wife too late, when she’s extremely ill already, her normally vibrant eyes dulled match Adrien’s bluish gray, and he pieces together in his head what she’s doing.

Before Gabriel could properly think what to do to stop the love of his life from turning into a lifeless doll, in a fit of panic he tries to take her wedding band (where he knows Adrien’s amok is) to get rid of Adrien instead, but is unsuccessful in getting it off her so he snatches her peacock brooch instead (which she needs to complete the spell obvs) and breaks it. (Heyoo! broken peacock miraculous. things are coming together)

Because the spell was almost complete anyway it’s Emilie who falls unconscious. But she doesn’t disappear because she’s not a real sentimonster, she just becomes dormant like one.

This is the point in the story where Gabriel makes it seem like Emilie ran away or something like that—basically disappear. Now he’s living knowing he has an almost sentimonster wife in the basement, knowing he almost killed his son (or her), and having to care for a son that suddenly became much more alive, questioning, arguing, angry, screaming, not accepting, crying, grieving, staring at him with Emilie’s eyes.

Instead of becoming a real parent, Gabriel shuts him out.

Soon Adrien evolves desires for socializing, company, getting away from the suffocating home which eventually leads to him going to a public school.

He slowly starts to live life freely without the restrictions that were put around his thoughts.

Gabriel has an even stranger relationship with Adrien now because he still loves him in a way but also holds resentment toward him. But mostly he sees him as something valuable.

The show happens here… And now finally we get to the comic…

Gabriel gets a hold of the ladybug and black cat miraculouses. (There’s no epic fight in his lair as you see there’s no Ladybug in the comic but that’s not really important)

What’s important is that Gabriel had deciphered the miraculous spellbook with the help of Emilie’s notes and had decided to use the unification’s “wish” power to awaken Emilie.

He’s aware he’ll need to sacrifice something for the wish to come true and he’s certain Adrien should be enough because the soul inside him is literally the one thing Emilie is missing.

✨Adrien (poor boy just lost his miraculous) is taken to Gabriel’s lair, where he finds out his father is Hawk Moth, sees his mother, learns he’s a sentimonster, and that he’s going to become a sacrifice ✨

Of course the last part is not what happens. It’s Gabriel who ends up being sacrificed.

I can’t decide if Gabriel ends up sacrificing himself because he changed his mind in the last moment while Adrien was screaming for him to stop, OR because he didn’t love Adrien enough for him to be considered an equal exchange for his wife… O.O

But anyhow…

Emilie wakes up with Gabriel’s soul within her (hence the bluish gray eyes in the comic).

Adrien is traumatized for life.

This took me hours to write… I knew there was a reason why I didn’t want to do it. I hope I didn’t forget anything and my brain made sense of it all

Well there you have it, peeps. The Pinocchio AU. It’s as messed up as my sleep schedule. Good night.

#and they all lived happily ever after. the end #ml #miraculous ladybug #sentimonster adrien theory #sentimonster!adrien #adrien agreste #emilie agreste #gabriel agreste #pinocchio au #answered #my art

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jaesvelvet · 3 years ago

Text

scariest night — hamada asahi

warnings: grammartical errors

words: 1.8k words

pairing: husband! asahi + fem reader

notes: hi!! before you read this, i didn't study about medical so i didn't know if it make sense or not and enjoy reading!! <3

You open your eyes when your throat feels dry, you turn to your left— not surprised when Asahi is not there, beside you. He must be sleeping in the studio... Again.

You didn’t realize when you let out a sigh from your mouth, it’s been a month he didn’t come home often. Of course, you understand his work as a producer. He is completely busy in comeback season, and you wouldn’t mind if he sleeps in the studio for a day or two, not for a month. You want to talk to him about this but every time you want to speak up he is either asleep or playing with your daughter, Aimi.

It’s 2 am now, he didn’t even bother to text you or call. You get annoyed at his behavior, leaving you and your daughter alone.

Grabbing the water bottle from your nightstand, you take a sip for your dry throat. The sound of the door creaked, making your eyes look up to the door, hoping for Asahi. Your eyes soften when the person who opened the door is not Asahi but Aimi, pouting while hugging her teddy bear tightly.

“What’s wrong baby?” you asked, get out from the bed you shared with Asahi, walk towards your daughter.

“There’s a monster under my bed,” she said slowly, showing her puppy eyes to you. You smile, it’s not the first time she said there’s a monster under her bed, this is one of her tricks to sleep with you and Asahi.

“Really? Do you want to sleep with mama then?” you asked, caressing her brown silky hair.

Aimi nods her head

“And papa too!”

“Honey I’m sorry, Papa is still at work, tonight you sleep with me okay?” you said earning a pout from her.

“Why is Papa always not here?” she asked

“Well, Papa needs to raise us so he needs to work hard for money”

“I miss Papa,” she said

You kiss her forehead and carry her to bed

“I miss Papa too” you murmur, making sure the little girl didn’t hear.

+.*

You toss your phone to the couch, cursing under your breathe as Asahi didn’t pick up your call. You wander around your living room, having no idea how to reach your husband. Aimi has been coughing nonstop this week, you wouldn't bother to call Asahi if it’s just a normal cough, but when she said her chest pain whenever she cough, that made you worried sick.

Your phone rang making you flinched, you sigh when you saw your mom’s name on the screen instead of Asahi’s name. Lazily you press the green button and put your phone to your ear

“Hello, mom”

“Y/N I hope you do not forget about today’s dinner!” your mom said excitedly. Your eyes shut tightly, you did forget about today’s dinner. Your mom has planned this dinner for a month to celebrate your sister’s graduation from Seoul University.

“Of course not mom haha” you laugh awkwardly. You don’t want to come, you rather stay home with Aimi, but you hate seeing your mom’s disappointed face. She has been planning this for a month, she also said that she misses Aimi so much, how could you not come?

“That’s great! Don’t be late, I can’t wait to smooch my granddaughter” that is the last word your mom said before hanging up.

You sigh for the nth time. Like it or not, she needs to come to the dinner, she could ask her dad to send them to the hospital after dinner.

You enter Aimi’s room, her face a bit pale and shivering under her thick blanket, holding your tears, you slowly caressing her hair, waking her up from her sleep.

“Honey do you want to go to grandma’s house?” you ask

She looks at you for a second, processing your words maybe before giving you a wide smile from her chapped lips.

“Yes! I miss grandma so much” she said

You kiss her forehead and helps her to get up from her bed

“Grandma also misses you so much, but you need to shower first okay?”

“Will Papa be at grandma’s house too?” Aimi asked, her eyes full of hopes, making you scared to lie to her.

“Yes Papa will be there too,” you said with a reassuring smile.

+.*

“Grandma!” Aimi runs to hug her grandma, she laughs when your mother starts kissing her face. You thanked your sister for booking an Uber for you if she weren't here, maybe both of you didn’t come for dinner.

“Why are you so thin, did your mom's food taste bad?” she asked

Aimi laughs and shook her head, she wrapped her arms around your mother’s neck

“Mama food taste the best but can’t beat grandma’s!” she said

“Hey!” you frown, making both your mother and your daughter laugh.

You let your daughter stick around with her cousins while you waiting for Asahi to come, he texted you that he will make it to the dinner, you didn’t put your trust in his words so much as he seems to love his work more than both of you.

You feel relieved when you see his car in front of your mother’s house, you called Aimi to inform her that Asahi is here, she wastes no time and runs towards her dad. Asahi smile when he saw her daughter, he immediately wraps his hands around her small body and carries her towards you.

“I miss Papa,” she said, pouting to her dad, Asahi let out an apologetic smile to her and kiss her cheek

“I’m sorry pumpkin, Papa is very busy right now, but I promise, I will take you to the funfair if my works are done, okay!”

Aimi nods excitedly, Asahi kisses her forehead for the last time before letting her down to play with her cousins.

“Why do you never answer my call?” you asked, glaring at him.

Asahi sigh, he silks his hair back and looks at you.

“Seriously Y/N? I just came back from work, and this is your first question? No ‘how are you?’ or ‘did you eat yet?’” he asked

You scoff, crossing both of your arms on your chest

“You’re the one who should ask me that, you left us for a whole month Sahi”

“I left you for a reason, I have so much works to do, I thought you agreed with me for staying in the studio?”

“For a couple of days, not a whole month!” you nearly scream, you try your best to control yourself, not wanting to make any scene.

“You know how am I when it comes to work right? I need everything to be perfect, you should be more understanding”

“Leave, then”

“What?”

“I said leave! If you love your job more than—”

“Don’t twist my word Y/N, I never said—”

“Y/N, Asahi! Aimi faints!” your sister screams

Both of you immediately run towards Aimi, your whole body shaking when you see Aimi on the floor, her face pale, worst than before. You quickly carry her and making your way to Asahi’s car, he starts the engine and drives to the hospital.

“You still need to call an ambulance, you know how deep your mom’s house right? I’m afraid we didn’t make it to the hospital as soon as possible” he said

You nodded and dialed 911. Your mom's house is deep in the woods, it would take half an hour to get to the main road.

“What happens to her?” Asahi asks

“S-she’s been coughing this whole week, and today she said her chest pain whenever she cough and I tried to reach you, but as I said you love your works more than your own family,” you said

Asahi sigh. Talking back to you can’t make Aimi recover, he realized that he gives his attention to his works more than his family.

You are at the back seat, caressing your daughter’s pale face. You couldn’t stop praying, hoping she would be alright. Your hands that caressing her pale face, moves to her neck, your eyes getting bigger when you feel her pulse getting weak, you scream and softly tapping on Aimi’s cheek.

“Aimi, please don't leave mama yet” you cry, your hands cold as ice, your heart beats faster than usual and your tears couldn't stop from falling. Asahi cry on the spot, is this really the last moment for them?

He presses the gas pedal more, the car getting fast through the crooked road.

“Aimi, please” he prays

The loud sirens making both of you guys sigh in relief, Asahi stop the car in front of the ambulance, you quickly getting out from the car and pass your daughter to the paramedics. Asahi pulls you into a hug, your knees weak at the side of your daughter lay on the bed while the paramedics take out the defibrillator and place it on Aimi’s chest.

You bury your face on Asahi’s chest, you are reluctant to watch the scene in front of you.

“Aimi would be okay, she is strong” Asahi whispers to you, he rubs your back and kisses your forehead to calm you down. A moment later, the defibrillator success ending the dysrhythmia, Aimi’s heart begins to beat slowly. You slowly push Asahi’s body away and enter the ambulance to accompany your daughter. Asahi gets back to his car, follows the ambulance, he harshly hit the steering wheel, how could he ignore your call? If he could turn back time, he would rather spend time with you and Aimi than at the studio. For now, he could pray for nothing to happen to Aimi.

+.*

You and Asahi sit silently on the chair, watching your daughter breathe with the help of an oxygen mask. The doctor said that Aimi suffering from Pneumonia. Coughing, Pain chest, and hard breathing are symptoms of pneumonia. Luckily it is not worse yet and still can be treated, Aimi needs to stay in the hospital for a couple of days.

Asahi licks his lip, he softly rubs your hand.

“I’m sorry,” he said

You didn’t give him a reaction, you were too tired to deal with anything after your daughter almost died in your arm.

“This is all my fault, I should know my limits when working, I- if only I pick up your calls— gosh I hate myself so much” he starts sobbing, covers his face with his palm and his shoulders bounce since he breathes in and breathes out in quick succession.

“Everything is okay now” you whispers, tapping on his back

He shook his head

“Y/N, love I'm truly sorry,” he said, facing you, you could see his red and swollen face from crying earlier.

You give him a reassuring smile

“I hope you learned your lesson, please come home, babe,” you said. He nods and hugs you tightly, tonight is the scariest night for the both of you.

#treasure imagines #treasure scenario #treasure blurbs #treasure asahi imagines #treasure asahi #hamada asahi #asahi imagines #asahi scenario #treasure angst #asahi fluff #asahi angst

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50-percent-winchester-sister · 3 years ago

Text

Just Get Out

Prompt: After John dies, Dean and Sam take it upon themselves to look after you, but...

Dean: 18

Sam: 14

Y/N: 7

Word Count: 2,030

It's just been a month since your dad, John Winchester died, and all you have left family wise are your older brothers Sam and Dean. You didn't know what death really meant since you are so young, but your brothers knew, and they knew too well. Since you were seven your dad didn't really let you in on what he and your brothers did, all you know is that you and sometimes Sam get left at a motel for a while and they come back bloody and bruised. So when John died, Sam and Dean don't really talk as much as they used to, but for you, they really do try.

What you did know is how to practically annoy the hell out of them...well...sometimes. You are mostly a good kid according to Sam, who decided to take on the 'motherly' role, and Dean the 'fatherly' role. When Dean turned 18, he decided on his own to drop out of high school, but you and Sam are still in school, and Sam plans to keep it that way.

Okay now onto the story

Its 7:36pm, Sam went to the library for homework, so tonight is just you and Dean. You and Dean are in the kitchen and hes making dinner while you sit on the kitchen table. "Alright Y/N, we don't got much tonight, so I'm making mac and cheese...the good kind, not the kind Sam makes," Dean says with a tiny smirk.

"But De, I don't want macky cheese, I want chicken!" You say with a small but excited voice. Dean turns back to you, frowns and says "Y/N, we dont have chicken, this is all we got until Sam goes to the store."

"Wait what!?!?! But De I want chicken now!!" you say filled with whine and a little bit of sass. 'geez I really don't want to deal with this right now,' Dean thinks to himself "Y/N please, just reason with me tonight, I'll make Sam go to the store tomorrow," He says sounding defeated. Oh but hell no, in your tiny seven year old brain, you knew what you had to do

Step 1: Be quiet and wait like a good sister

Step 2: Once De is done and sets food in front of you

Step 3: PUSH IT OFF ON THE FLOOR

Step 4: Wait hold on-

Step 5: Why does De look like hes about to ye-

"Fucking hell, really Y/N!? You cant be fucking serious, what the hell was that for?" Dean yells at you. "De I said I wanted-" But he cut you off and said "I JUST TOLD YOU THIS IS ALL WE GOT" He says louder than his first statement. Now your'e shaken, but you know it takes more to make you cry.

"I don't care! I don't want macky cheese De!"

"Y/N, just get out"

...This is the calmest hes been all week

"Wha-"

"JUST GET THE HELL OUT" Dean practically screams.

Okay now that there is starting to make you cry

You quickly get off of the kitchen chair and you bolt to the stairs where all the bedrooms are. But of course you have to turn around and yell

"I WISH DAD WAS HERE, HE WOULD GET REAL MAD IF YOU YELLED AT ME!" and then you run up the stairs and slam your door shut, locking it in the process. _______________________________________

'Great that's just fuckin' perfect,' Dean thinks to himself. 'What the hell am I supposed to tell Sammy? Oh yeah, I screamed at Y/N because she wouldn't comply, and now foods all over the floor and I think I'm having a meltdown!'

'Sometimes I wish I never came here!' you think to yourself, pretty much sobbing while laying down on your bed. 'wouldn't be surprised if he didn't want me here too-."

You fall asleep shortly after the thought and Dean couldn't be any more relieved when he hears the door open and to see Sam with his backpack in one arm and a couple books in the other hand.

"Hey whats-...what happened?" Sam says slowly putting his backpack on the floor. Sam staring at Dean and all the food that's on the floor around him "oh, haha, this? oh, its nothing Sam, just a minor fuckin' mishap!" Dean says laughing through each word with eyes that look like hes about to sob any minute.

"....Dean?" Sam asks. Its been a while since there was major conflict... well since the whole situation with Dad anyways. "Was it Y/N?"

"What? No of course not, this is just a normal Friday fuckin night....yeah just, don't worry 'bout it" Dean says with his voice dying down a little bit.

"Should I go talk to her?" Sam asks. such a small voice but its filled with a lot of concern.

"No, she's asleep...maybe later?" Dean says back to him. 'He seems tired' Sam thinks to himself. 'Well I did leave her here with him...' _______________________________________

You wake up pretty early... well early for you anyways, its 9:30am and you got woken up to puffy red eyes and really messed up hair. You go ahead and leave your bedroom and when you enter the kitchen you get greeted by Sam, who is making breakfast.

"Morning sunshine," Sam says with a slight happy tone, but still pretty monotone. 'he's trying, that's a good thing' you think to yourself.

"Morning..." you say back, rubbing your eyes and climbing up onto the chair near the kitchen table. "So...wheres De?" you ask in a sleepy tone. "He's more or less still asleep" Sam replies. Sure enough right when Sam says that, Dean walks in all sleepy-like too. 'so similar' Sam thinks. "Morning to you too sunshine" Sam says with a pretty wide grin afterwards. "Bite me, princess" Dean shoots back, also with a small smirk.

You look at Dean, Dean looks at you, and a couple seconds later you two look away, but the stare you two gave felt like it was forever.

"Hi" you managed to squeak out. Without meaning to, you were quiet and a little bit nervous.

"Hey" Dean replies, but not looking at you, instead looking at the table, then to his hands, and then to Sam.

"Hey Sammy, do you think dad had any hunts that he wrote down in his journal for us to do?" Dean asks. Looking around Dean finds your dads journal on the couch in the living room. He picks it up and skims through the pages.

"I...don't know? Dad never talked to me personally about hunts, just you" Sam says as a matter-of-factly. Sam sets your breakfast down in front of you, and a plate for Dean on the other side of the table. "Why?" Sam asks.

"Because I want to hunt? We haven't in a while and you know dad will tear us a new one if he sees us on our asses doing nothing," Dean proclaims, in a slight aggressive manner, though it was almost accidental.

"But he's...not here," you say out loud without meaning to. You look up to see Sam and Dean both looking at you, and right then you look back down. While looking down you hear footsteps, and right when you look back up, you see Dean staring right at you. 'The eye contact is unbearable' you think to yourself

"Just because hes dead, doesn't mean we can just fuck around and do nothing," Dean says with so much venom you begin to shake a little.

"Dean. Back. Up." Sam says, looking at Dean with an angry look and his teeth practically glued together. Sam takes Deans shoulder and yanks him back, and he makes Dean bend down so he can whisper something into his ear.

"I know you and Y/N have this personal issue going on right now, but I'll be damned if I ever hear you talk to her like that again, hear me?" Sam whispers, he lets go of Dean shoulder and looks at Dean. Dean looks back at him, looks at you, looks at Sam again, and nods, running his hand through his hair.

"Good," Sam says quietly. Sam walks towards you and bends down, "When you're finished with your breakfast, head on up to your room, you're not in trouble, but I'll talk with you later, okay?" Sam tells you,

"Okay" You say, looking at Sam. You finished your breakfast rather quickly. During that time, Dean went into his own room, and Sam went out into the backyard to do whatever he does, you're not really sure. You put your dirty plates into the sink and you fast walk to your room, and you quietly shut your door. _______________________________________

Waiting.....sucks. You have no clue how long you waited for Sam but it felt like forever. In reality it was probably like thirty minutes, but thirty minutes to a seven year old is all day.

You begin to space out when you hear a small knock on your door. You jump a bit because you didn't really expect it since you didn't know when Sam would come by.

You get up off your bed and you begin to walk to your door when the door was already opening. you stop and look up

"...Dean?" You ask. 'uh-oh' you think to yourself. You walk back a little bit and he sits down on your bedroom floor and holds his arms out for you to come sit in his lap. He hasn't said a word yet you heard exactly what he is wanting to ask.

You look at him. He looks at you. Both have no clue what to say to each other.

You slowly walk towards him, and you climb into his lap, both getting comfortable in the process

It had to have been like five minutes before Dean starts talking. "I'm sorry" he says to you. Smiling, you start talking too. "Me too" you say and you look up to see Dean beginning to tear up.

Okay now its time to panic

Dean crying is something that you never see so...you begin to tear up too.

"De? Are you okay?"

"I wish Dad was here, He would get real mad at me if he saw the way I was acting" Dean says. "Wouldn't be surprised if he beat my ass, just because I'm eighteen, doesn't mean shit to him" he says with a small laugh after the comment.

"Well I think you're doing a good job" You say to him quietly, but loud enough for him to hear. "Just because you're eighteen, doesn't mean you aren't bad at being a brother, neither is Sam" You add.

Dean, trying not to just sob in front of you, breaths in and breaths out a couple of times.

"You're seven, when did you become so smart?" Dean asks hugging you rather tightly

You giggle at his comment and say, "I'm your sister, I had to have learned something from you."

"Good answer" Dean says.

Without knowing, Sam is leaning on the door frame, with his arms crossed looking at you and Dean with the biggest smile ever. "Hey," Sam says and makes both you and Dean jump slightly, Sam giggles and that and continues,

"The garage called, they want you to come in and help fix a 67' Mustang," Sam says.

"Oh whaaat," you whine. you begin to get off of Dean so he can go to his job when he quickly snatches you back up, gets up off of the ground and throws you over his shoulders.

"How do you feel about coming with me? Who knows maybe-"

"Will Seth be there?" You ask excitedly. (For some backstory, John's long time friend Seth works where Dean works, and ever since you met Seth, you've practically 'fallen in love' with him)

"More than likely, he likes old cars like we do," Dean replies. "Yes! okay come on, lets go, come on, come on, come on" You say, trying to hurry up Dean,

"Okay, okay, lets go" Dean laughs while replying. You two leave the room, and Sam closes your door. Again, with a big smile on his face, Sam starts thinking to himself, 'Yeah, everything will be okay'

#dean and sam #sam and dean #sam winchester #dean winchester #supernatural #sam x sister!reader #dean x sister!reader #sister!winchester #winchester sister #winchester!sister #winchester

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perperam · 3 years ago

Note

Do you have any Harlivy fic recommendations? Preferably something that is already completed?

OH I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE

okay okay so quick little tangent fact !! I actually just finished my undergrad degree in "english literature analysis & writing" and reading fics is so fun bc I get to analyze them and break them down and if it's particularly well written the stars align and it's just UGH so good.

ratings are: E (explicit) M (mature) T (teens and up) and G (everyone) anyways here is a HUGE list of my favorite fics to date, their stats/details/plots, reasonings as to why they're on the list to begin with, and a short analysis:

SHORT STORIES (less than 30k words)

for your convenience they’re in order of length bc I’m focusing on this super hard rn

KISS YOUR BEST FRIEND CHALLENGE (T) STATS — 340 words, shenanigans, fluff PLOT — Harley, TikTok and general Social Media queen, decides to do the trending challenge to kiss your best friend. The best friend? Her roommate and the woman she’s been crushing on for fucking ever: Poison Ivy.

AM I TOO CLOSE? (CAUSE YOU FOLD INTO ME LIKE A HEART WITH A BEAT) (G) STATS — 839 words, fluff, shenanigans PLOT — Harley genuinely wasn’t looking for trouble, but it’s hard to just have a day out when you’re one of Gotham’s most wanted. Running into Ivy, she takes drastic measures (and her hoodie into the mix) to distract the police from looking in their direction.

I’M HOME (G) STATS — 892 words, domestic fluff PLOT — After a long and rough day at work, Ivy comes home to Harley. Relaying the details of her day, she basks in the comfort of her girlfriend, who provides gentle questions and is a phenomenal listener. General cuteness.

CONFLICT DIAMONDS (G) STATS — 990 words, wedding shenanigans, banter, humor PLOT — Batman and Renee Montoya respond to a break-in at a jewelry store, except even though the owner is duct-taped to the wall, it isn’t really a break-in; Harley’s just trying to shop for a ring for Ivy, and that’s difficult to do when the owner is screaming in the corner. Batman and Renee both pitch in to help pick something nice for Harley’s girl, resulting in hilarious banter.

OF COURSE (T) STATS — 1.1k words, hurt/comfort (kinda), harley quinn animated tv show centric PLOT — In the aftermath of Ivy’s death, rebirth, and the fall of Joker Tower, Harley collapses onto the ground. Since she never mentioned that her parents are the reason for most of her injuries, Ivy isn’t sure why she’s so out of it.

PERFECT MORNINGS (T) STATS — 1.1k words, domestic fluff/bliss PLOT — Ivy, who usually wakes up early and before Harley, takes a moment to look at the countless muscles, ridges, scars, and tattoos on Harley’s body as she sleeps. General cuteness.

I’D LOVE TO CHECK YOU OUT (T) STATS — 1.7k words, university au, fluff PLOT — Harley visits the library virtually every day, and it’s definitely not because she needs to work on her university courses and homework. She finally works up the courage to speak to the alluring redhead she sees there every day while absentmindedly looking at a book on sharks.

I’LL LOVE YOU IN THE MORNING (NOON, NIGHT) (T) STATS — 2.1k words, angst, hurt/comfort PLOT — A snapshot look into Ivy and how she comes to know, care, and love all the sides of Harley—from psychiatrist to criminal to girlfriend. She loves her throughout it all.

DAY-DREAMING (T) STATS — 2.2k words, shenanigans, psychiatrist Harleen PLOT — Ivy’s falling for her psychiatrist—her humorous, intelligent, caring, and downright gorgeous psychiatrist. It’s difficult, to say the least.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THEMYSCIRA (DOESN’T) STAY IN THEMYSCIRA (T) STATS — 2.3k words, humor, wedding shenanigans, angst with a happy ending PLOT — In a surprise twist of events, Harley and Ivy were drunkenly married at Themyscira. When asked at the wedding if anybody had objections to the union of Ivy and Chuck, Wonder Woman and the Queen of Themyscira herself come to object. Ivy, for lack of a better word, wants to die a little.

NOT A ROCKER CHICK (T) STATS — 3.1k words, rock band au, fluff PLOT — The last thing Ivy wants to do is go to a rock band concert with her best friend, Selina. Despite her best efforts, she can’t help but completely fall into the rhythm of the band and their music, so different than her own norm. And okay, maybe the singer (who Selina was friends with and called “Harley”) was also kinda hot...

A TENDER HEART AMONG THE GREEN (T) STATS — 3.2k words, gotham city sirens raise Lucy au, domestic bliss PLOT — Harley and Selina come back home to the apartment to find Ivy passed out asleep with Lucy cuddling into the crook of her neck and Selina’s cats cuddling her legs. Knowing that Ivy would rather be caught dead than in such a compromising situation (after all, she is the Poison Ivy, who “hates humans”) the two take a photo, since it lasts longer. Shenanigans and cuteness ensue.

BUILDING YOUR GIRL’S SECOND STORY (M) STATS — 3.3k words, university/grad school au, angst with a happy ending PLOT — Snapshots of Harley’s battle with her violent and abusive boyfriend, Jack, and the way in which Bruce, his boyfriend Clark, and her best friend (and potentially lover) Pamela all love Harley and will do anything, anything, to make sure she gets the help, care, and love she needs.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF NORMAL (T) STATS — 3.6k words, coronavirus pandemic/quarantine au, family au PLOT — Ivy is requested by the Justice League to help create and manufacture a vaccine for the COVID-19 virus. As she works on the vaccine, she video calls Harley and their daughter Lucy, both of whom miss her very much.

RABBIT IN THE GARDEN (T) STATS — 4.4k words, implied suicide attempt, hard angst PLOT — Winters are difficult to Ivy. When Harley comes home one day to see her submerged fully in water in the bathtub, the only thing Harley can do is cry and take her out. Ultimately Ivy is alright—but it doesn’t make it any easier.

WE WILL BE (EVERYTHING THAT WE’D EVER NEED) (T) STATS — 5.8k words, high school au, angst, hurt/comfort PLOT — Harley and Ivy are best friends from high school, living in the middle of Arizona. Ivy is absolutely head over heels for Harley, but the latter is in a growing and increasingly abusive relationship with the older “bad-boy” (literally) Jack. Eventually, the two grow together in more ways than one.

WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS (EXCEPT NO DOGS DIE) (M) STATS — 9.7k words, domestic bliss, no powers just botanist & psychiatrist au PLOT — After her abusive ex-boyfriend tries to maniacally tear down the front door of her apartment with an ax as her best friend, Selina, pushes the table against the splintering wood, Bruce recommends that Harley gets a dog. She gets two German Shepard brothers—Bud and Lou—who lead her one day on their walk to the most beautiful flower shop owner Harley’s ever seen. The story of Harley and Ivy, told with Bud and Lou present to witness every moment.

THE MOMENT I AWAKEN GHOSTS (T) STATS — 11.7k words, falling in love, feelings & realizations PLOT — A deep look into Ivy’s feelings and how they evolve from general hatred against Harleen the psychiatrist at Arkham to a blooming, kind and gentle love towards Harley Quinn, the crown jester of crime.

HARLEQUIN’S ISLE (T) STATS — 17.5k words, hurt/comfort, happy ending, shenanigans, humor PLOT — Harley and Ivy decide to go on a vacation on Bruce Wayne’s new eco-friendly plane, but in a surprise twist of events, things go terribly wrong, Ivy falls out of the plane, and the two (as well as all the other rich and wealthy big-name CEOS on the plane) get stranded on an island with someone actively trying to rob the investors. Harley and Ivy will fight them, god damn it, because they deserve this vacation and they will have it.

LONGER STORIES (30k words to 100k words)

YOUR LOVE (DÉJÀ VU) (G) STATS — 33k words, slow burn, mild angst, canon divergence PLOT — A what-if-Harley-found-Ivy-first fic, YOUR LOVE wonderfully illustrates Dr. Harleen Quinzel treating Ivy in a wonderfully humane and kind way, including learning floriography, the language of flowers, in order to better relate to her. Ivy is taken aback by her doctor's genuine care and begins to develop feelings, all the while Harleen falls hard and fast which wholly confuses and frightens her. The one caveat is that while this is happening, Harleen is also treating the Joker as well, who tries (keyword: tries) to manipulate her. Ivy and Harley dance a timid tango around one another as they try to navigate this new playing field of romantic feelings for one another, and things come to a breaking point when Harleen realizes that, perhaps, all of her patients have a point and that the real villains are not the ones inside the asylum, but rather the ones running it. FAVORITE DETAILS — I just love the way this is written. It provides a wonderful and almost skinny-love like romance (except this takes place in an insane asylum) as Harleen and Ivy both try to understand their strong feelings for one another. The way in which the rogues and other inmates/patients all look out for one another was very heartwarming, and Waylon and Eddie's thinly veiled camaraderie with Ivy—and her thinly veiled appreciation for it—were both lovely and created a really warm environment. It really underlined why Harley loved them because you love them too in the process, and see how she reaches her breaking point. CHARACTER DEPICTIONS — Harley, as she is in all of my favorite fics, is depicted as an incredibly intelligent and talented psychiatrist. Her caring nature is wonderfully outlined in this fic as she helps Waylon, Eddie, Ivy, and everybody else in the asylum be treated with genuine respect and care, going as far as to get them personalized gifts. Her psyche fracturing slowly never once makes her seem unintelligent to the reader, even as she actively places a ditz persona in order to fool the rest of the asylum staff (and the Joker). Ivy, on the other hand, is illustrated in a way that perfectly shows how all she genuinely needed was someone to listen. She's sometimes harsh and crass but you can see how she begins to soften as Harley helps her and treats her with: you guessed it, genuine respect. FINAL VERDICT — I would get this tattooed on my ass if I could

NOVEL LENGTH WORKS (100k+ words)

ACROSS THE WAY (M) STATS — 128.7k words, slow-burn, tattoo artist & flower shop owner au PLOT — Botanist and flower shop owner Pamela Isley moves to Gotham from Seattle in search of a new life. Her shop is located directly next to a tattoo shop—one that is incredibly loud and bothersome. Upon walking in to give the shop a piece of her mind, she meets one of the resident artsits, Harley Quinzel, and cannot get her out of her mind. The two become best friends, and feelings slowly start to develop. On a night when Harley is most vulnerable and in need of a place to escape, Pam offers her apartment as a refuge, and from that point on things are never the same again (in the best way possible). FAVORITE DETAILS — The SIT sessions were a wonderful touch and I loved seeing the recovery of both Ivy and Harley, because it was so real. I also loved how once Harley got out, she did everything in her power to protect both herself and Ivy from Jack, and we got to see her and Ivy grow into their wonderful, healthy romance. CHARACTER DEPICTIONS — I love how all of the characters are illustrated; Selina, who is the caring best friend and genuinely does her best to help others around her all the while being her cocky, usual self. Pam, who escaped Seattle and started anew in Gotham and is the crass botanist and also the insanely kind and caring lover. Barbara is the adorable coffee shop owner, Floyd is the caring figure for Harley that she never had, and everyone is just wonderful. FINAL VERDICT — literally go read this rn, what are you even doing

MAD LOVE: THE BEGINNING & MAD LOVE: THE FINAL CHAPTER (M) STATS — nearly 400k words total, angst, canon divergence, domestic fluff, slice of life PLOT — imagine YOUR LOVE except this is much longer, much more heart-wrenching, a whole lot more angsty, and Harleen's break with Harley is a lot more prevalent. Another what-if scenario of Dr. Harleen Quinzel meeting and treating the illusive Poison Ivy instead of the Joker, MAD LOVE shows an interesting depiction of the way they manipulate, hurt, care, and love one another. The entire story is riddled with well placed metaphors, recurring themes, and both Ivy and Harley's characters are illustrated in the most complex and interesting way. All throughout both the initial and the sequel, Ivy and Harleen play a metaphorical chess game in manipulation as a means to gain the upper-hand on the other, which creates a dangerous foundation for their following love story. In the sequel, "The Final Chapter," the story starts with Harley and Ivy—already married near the end of "A New Beginning"—having two kids and the entire piece spans over Harley's lifetime until she's on her deathbed, with Ivy still stuck at 33 years old beside her. I personally stopped reading the story after Harley died (I was too emotionally vulnerable to continue on) but if you continue reading on, you get to see Ivy move on and appreciate Harley's impact on her life as she finds love and happiness again after the loss of her wife. FAVORITE DETAILS — We get insight into both Ivy and Harleen's trauma, and how not everything can be fixed with love. Neither Harleen nor Ivy (or their actions for that matter) are characterized as perfect in any way, and the story never excuses any of their more-than-questionable actions; in fact they make MANY mistakes and manipulate one another throughout the story, and both have power over the other (Harleen is her psychiatrist, but Ivy could easily kill her, so emotional power over someone with immense physical power). CHARACTER DEPICTIONS — Harleen is depicted as an incredibly intelligent and capable psychiatrist, and the story somehow wonderfully mixes Harley's desire for violent chaos with Harleen's desire to help others. v Ivy is illustrated as the epitome of "I hate you and will not be nice unless you're literally either my wife or kids." She is seldom kind to others, is often crass, but an entire softy when it comes to Harleen and their children. She's a hard worker and is heavily involved in her research. Harleen, on the other hand, is equally cunning but more lighthearted, extremely athletic and active, the "fun" mom, and less into power trips (unless it's about Ivy). FINAL VERDICT — definitely the most interesting fics I've ever read in my entire fucking life, it's so complex and wonderful and a literal minefield of analysis worthy literature, I'd also get this tattooed on my ass if I could

#mryanswers #harlivy #jfc #this is a long ass post #please I spent hours on it #literally

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the-insomniac-emporium · 3 years ago

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Crimson Ties (Bela Dimitrescu/Reader, Soulmate AU) Pt. 2

Fandom: Resident Evil: Village

Rating: T for language and mild medical drama

Warnings: Typical Vampire shenanigans

Genre: Hurt + comfort

Summary: Bela is somewhat unprepared to deal with a soulmate who has no clue about her condition, her family, or any of the village's secrets. Thankfully, her sister Cassandra is more than willing to be a bad example. Also there's some fluff.

Notes: For reference, each of my soulmate stories take place in their own contained timeline, since they each involve different types of soulmates. So in this one, Cass doesn't currently have a soulmate.

Previous Chapters: 1: Stem the Flow

2: Tangled Strands

A gentle humming fills the space around you, as fingers slowly run through your hair. As far as you can tell you had fallen back asleep, for several hours, and you were just now waking back up. No longer holding you down, your soulmate is curled up next to you. There’s still a needle in your arm, much to your irritation, but now you can finally see what it’s connected to: An IV for a transfusion. Explains why I’m feeling so much better than before, you think. Then you’re turning your head to the other side, eager to finally get a good look at your soulmate. Instantly you’re blushing, tongue tying itself into a knot, because wow are you lucky.

“Feeling any better?” She asked, as soon as your gaze met hers. You try to stutter out a confirmation, but you’re too distracted by the soft curve of her smile to speak, and barely even manage a nod. That beautiful smile grows wider in response. “Good. I couldn’t stand the thought of you suffering more, after what you’ve already been through.” Now her smile fades, and she looks away for a few moments. Watching it makes your heart ache. So you swallow the lump in your throat, willing yourself to relax, before trying a little comforting of your own.

“I am safe now, am I not? Moreso, we have too much to talk about for us to dwell on the ill circumstances of our introduction. Let us cherish this time, in respite, with our hearts open wide to one another,” you said, donning your softest smile. Somehow your words fulfill their purpose, and your soulmate is once again grinning. Slowly she leans forward to rest her forehead against yours. Then she’s speaking, voice as smooth as the sheets you lay on.

“You are right, of course. I simply wish I could have saved you sooner,” she replied, tone betraying the sadness that her expression otherwise hid. Before you can protest, she continues talking, and you soon forget all about your qualms. “To think I don’t even know your name yet… nor you mine, I suppose. Let’s remedy that, yes? I am Bela Dimitrescu.” Something about her last name feels familiar to you, but not to the point of clear recognition. Instead of inquiring, you return her favor, giving her your own name. She repeats it back a few times, letting the syllables roll off her tongue, and you feel your heart skip a few beats. “A lovely name for a lovely soul, perfectly paired.”

A pause, followed by Bela reaching out to examine your IV. Following her gaze, you turn to the metal hook adjacent to the bed, where a blood bag hangs. Only a few drops remain inside. Just as when you first awoke, Bela gives a soft hum, then rises into a sitting position. Your first instinct is to copy the motion, and you’re relieved when (this time) she doesn’t push you back down. Both of you quietly inch your hands closer until they’re laid on top of each other.

“I wish I knew more about medicine, but unfortunately my family is more experienced in the creation of wounds than the treatment of them,” Bela said, scowling. Confused, you tilt your head at a slight angle, watching her with interest. Am I supposed to know who she’s referring to? My memories of the past couple days are still hazy, you think. “Do… do you remember how you ended up in the dungeon? I know you wanted to speak of happier things, and we can, soon. It’s just… Knowing how you arrived here may help me deal with the consequences of freeing you. Mother will be dreadfully upset that I’ve interrupted a draining, even if we are soulmates.”

“Wait, are you saying…? The intimidating giantess who strung me up and attempted to bleed me dry… is your mother?” You asked, jaw nearly dropping to the floor. This was an unexpected development, for sure.

“You didn’t know?” Bela replied, eyes going wide for a moment. Clearly she wouldn’t have said anything if she realized you weren’t already aware. Suddenly the tension in the room is palpable, with an uncomfortable silence overtaking the two of you. In the moment, you cannot even bring yourself to look at Bela, too stunned by this new knowledge. Eventually she breaks the silence, voice sounding unsure for once. “I realize that this is a lot to take in, if you need time to process it, I… I can go. But you need to understand that our situation is far more complicated than it might appear. We cannot survive without the blood of others- it is what sustains us when nothing else can.”

Now you’re staring at her like she’s crazy, and she’s standing up, moving to the other side of the room. She draws back a curtain, gazing out into the snow covered hills. Every muscle in your body is urging you to run while she’s distracted. Thread of fate be damned, this went far beyond anything you had ever imagined having to deal with. You come so close to ripping the IV right out of your arm. But a gentle tug on your soul string makes you pause, remembering all the times this bond gave you hope in dark times. Had she felt the same way, all these years? What had she gone through, in this absurd castle, on the very edges of civilization? You pull on the red thread, feeling a wave of composure wash over you.

“It appears there is much I need to learn. But is that not the very nature of our connection? We know, simply, that we are bound to each other, though we know not what shapes our souls take so that we might put them together, nor even what roles we must play. I cannot say that I understand your plight, my dear, but I will try, as is my obligation, and my honor,” you said, wishing you could hold her, and cursing your IV. As soon as the first word leaves your mouth, Bela is turning around, watching you with a bittersweet expression. Once you’re done she’s moving closer, as if reading your mind, extending a hand to cup your cheek. Then she leans forward to press a brief kiss to your forehead. “Oh, how I have longed for this- to be with you, to get to know you.”

“As did I,” she murmured. You can’t help but lean into her touch, closing your eyes and enjoying the moment. “Perhaps I should introduce you to my family? I imagine you’ll be needing breakfast anyway, and bringing human food back to my quarters would raise more suspicion than I’d like.” Well, the moment couldn’t last forever, could it?

“Only if you promise that your mother won’t suspend me by my wrists again. Or by any other part of me. Shall we simply put suspension off the table altogether?” You asked, half teasing. To be entirely honest, you were equally worried about Bela’s sisters. Well, the people you had heard other prisoners whispering about, who were the daughters of the giantess, and by connecting a few dots were also, presumably, Bela’s sisters. Apparently they preferred to play with their food. Unless, of course, Bela was one of the daughters you had heard about, and would have easily torn into you if not for your connection. Let’s not dwell on that concept, you think, glad to be distracted by your soulmate.

“I will not let anyone harm you anymore, my beloved. My mother would not stand so firmly in the way of my happiness,” Bela reassured, though you detected a hint of uncertainty in her tone. Still, there wasn’t much you could do other than trust her. “Now, let me take care of your bandages, then we’ll head downstairs…”

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

“Who the fuck is this?” An unfamiliar voice asked, as you meandered down the corridor, arm around Bela for support. As soon as she hears the person speak, your soulmate is freezing in place, casting a worried glance over her shoulder. When you turn as well, you spot someone dressed almost identically to Bela. However, the woman wears a yellow pendant, as opposed to a red one, and her hair is a dark brown. It feels safe to assume that she’s one of the sisters you’ve heard about. Which understandably makes you nervous, to the point where you almost want to hide behind Bela. Instead, you stand tall, attempting to seem unfazed by either her presence or her vulgarity.

“Mind your manners, Cassandra,” Bela hissed, taking more of an aggressive stance than you had anticipated. “This, dear sister, is my soulmate. And if you even think about harming them, or getting in our way, I will tear you apart.” While you’re downright shocked at the intensity of Bela’s statement, her sister doesn’t look at all impressed, and eyes you with minimal interest. Better than looking at you with hatred, right? Apparently not, as Bela moves to stand between the two of you, eyes narrowed. There’s a clear stiffness in her posture that leaves you anxious. Cassandra seems to notice it as well, and laughs, before taking a few steps in your direction. Then your soulmate mimics the movement, forcing you to do so as well.

“They’re human,” Cassandra snapped, pausing to sniff the air and scowl. “Here I thought your soulmate would have to be special, if they’re to compare to your ego. You’re disappointed, aren’t you? Having to settle for this.” With that she shifts, flesh writhing, making your stomach churn as you watch her disintegrate into a cloud of… flies? What the hell is wrong with this family? Can Bela do that too? I hope not, you think. Soon you’re pulled from your thoughts, however, as the swarm circles around you, single insects occasionally surging forward to cut at your skin. But Bela is grabbing you by the sleeve and tugging you to her chest, moving against a wall so that her body shielded your own. Your eyes clamp shut as you shake in her arms. When the buzzing stops, it is quickly replaced with cruel laughter. “That fragile, hmm? I can’t wait to see what mother thinks. See you at breakfast, sister!”

Then the two of you are alone, still pressed against the wall, staying still until the sound of footsteps fade. You’re stunned, unsure of how to react. The fact that a few drops of blood roll down your cheek only makes things worse. Still, Bela managed to prevent you from getting too hurt, and the few wounds on your body are negligible. Ever filled with gratitude, you hold her close as you try to stutter out a few sentences.

“Is she always this hostile, or am I truly not what you had expected? No, pay me no mind, it hardly matters. Thank you for protecting me,” you whispered. In response, Bela gives you a little squeeze, then pulls back enough to wipe the blood from your face. There’s a hint of something odd in her expression, which you interpret to be related to her apparent ‘need for blood’. Thankfully, she is in perfect control, and does not frenzy the same way you had read about fictional vampires doing. But she does hesitate, words dying on her tongue, like there are a thousand things she wants to say, and no words to say them with. “It’s alright, my dear. Let’s just go to breakfast, like we planned, and hope your sister behaves better when supervised.”

Bela nods, quickly, before taking your hand in her own. Whatever awaited you in the dining room, the two of you would be ready. Hopefully.

#babe why aren't you this nice to ME #bela dimitrescu #bela dimitrescu x reader #resident evil: village #re8 village #soulmate au #imagine bela's soulmate meeting cassandra's #they'd be very unlikely friends #cassandra would HATE how well behaved her soulmate would be #like #tumblr keeps rearranging the order of my tags???#I'll fix that later

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pot-of-terv · 3 years ago

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Disclaimer: This starts soft but very quickly goes to a place I did NOT expect it to go so, just, be prepared. I guess there were some things my muse just couldn’t leave untouched :_D There’s also an additional drawing in there somewhere among the text. The ending is kind of a cliffhanger (dun dun duuun... part three is coming!!) but it’s happy (hurt/comfort y’all, MY BRAND)!

Also I have to say- oh my goodness this ended up having over 2,000 words and I’ve never written a fic this long! This feels pretty amazing but also, very scary, because as you know I’m a Finn so English is not my first language and this far I’ve stuck to just writing itty bitty things. Writing a story with multiple parts is also new to me, so wow, actually, thank you PuzzleJune for making me challenge myself in fresh and exciting ways 🥺

tw: breakdown

PuzzleJune2021, Week Two: Space (Quiet)

It is mesmerising. Intoxicating, even, Atem muses as he reaches up to rub his own sleep-soft face, eyes never leaving the still sleeping figure beside him. He shifts to lay on his side, slowly, with deliberate movements, trying to not disturb the quiet of the early morning.

Watching him sleep like this... I can feel the bed move when he moves and his warmth whenever he's close enough. I never had that before, he thinks and his heart clenches. I have it now.

Yuugi snorts in his sleep and Atem can't help but smile. That boy... no, that young man, has been through so much, too much, and yet he still sleeps so soundly. It's nothing short of incredible and the pharaoh wonders if he's ever met anyone more deserving of respect and admiration. Their journey thus far has only lasted for a couple of years and during that short time, the former spirit of the Millenium Puzzle has had the first-row seat to witnessing Yuugi's strength, his growth - how he slowly but surely had begun to trust himself.

Atem turns his gaze away from Yuugi and mulls over that thought. It hurts him somewhere deep in his core to remember how little worth Yuugi had seen in himself during those first months after Atem's consciousness awakened. He touches his chest where his heart is and leaves his hand there, feeling the slow rhythm beating under his palm.

That feeling of self-doubt could as well be his own, for he did think he was Yuugi for a while back then. It's a troubling realisation and he frowns at the ceiling. Despite not having any memories, how many of those insecurities had been Atem's own that he subconsciously reflected towards Yuugi's heart and by doing so unknowingly meddled with Yuugi's self-image as a whole? Objectively he knows that his emergence helped Yuugi gain confidence even though he didn't remember those first few times Atem took his place, but subjectively...? Atem's brows knit tighter together and he balls the hand that rests on his chest into a fist.

To call these thoughts troubling is an understatement. Suddenly Atem feels uncomfortably restless, he can't keep still, he needs space, he has to move. But moving would mean leaving the warm blankets and the even warmer form next to him and risk waking him in the process.

His chest feels so tight and it aches in a way Atem hasn't felt in millennia and he squeezes his eyes shut, holds his breath and with one swift movement pushes the blankets off of himself, sits up and rolls to the side to plant his feet onto the floor. The wood is cool under the bare soles of his feet and that sudden feeling makes him pause for a moment. He releases the breath he was holding.

It's almost funny how he already feels better. He glances over his shoulder to see if he had woken Yuugi up but the other youth seems undisturbed, still fast asleep. Relieved, Atem stands up... and doesn't know what to do. It's still practically night time and the house is silent. Mama Mutou and Grandpa will be getting up in one to two hours and Yuugi much later than that if his previous findings are to be trusted. Normally he would happily snooze the morning away with Yuugi but he doesn't want to go back to bed, the restlessness still buzzing under his skin even though that unpleasant tightness in his chest has ebbed and is now just a nuisance instead of actual, painful anxiety.

He turns around to face the bed so he can take another look at Yuugi, properly. A glance wasn't enough. Will never be enough, he realises all of a sudden. I want to be looking at Yuugi, and only Yuugi, forever. How can his heart feel so big and full but so small at the same time?

Atem is overwhelmed, not yet used to the absolute link between his feelings and his physical senses, and he lifts his hand once more to his chest, almost desperately grasping his shirt and pressing his fist against his heart, to feel the beat of it, and the warmth of his body.

He has this body now and he should be so, so thankful for it, but at this moment he can only feel guilt. He loves Yuugi but has still put him through so much and he knows, oh how he knows, that the trip to Egypt broke him. Atem had felt Yuugi mourn him weeks beforehand, felt his grief he so valiantly tried to conceal - too bad their bond at that point was the strongest it had ever been and Atem knew. It took everything in him to keep on going, to keep on telling himself that this was the right thing to do, this was how he could repay Yuugi's kindness and let him go on with his life, let him be free. He had heard the modern phrase “if you love them let them go”, and wouldn't that have been so grand? To prove his love in such a poetic, profound way?

All that in spite of Yuugi's feelings screaming at him that to be separated was the last thing he wanted.

Atem chuckles, a bitter taste in his mouth. Despite having shared such an extraordinary bond, communication had never been their strongest point, duels usually excluded, and talking about their feelings was not an exception. Still isn’t. They both had just kept on doing what they thought was the best for the other and in the process ended up wounding each other in ways that Atem isn't sure he can ever truly understand. Yesterday he had come down to the kitchen to find Yuugi folding laundry, eyes puffy and red, yet when he talked he sounded so happy. Atem had left it at that because there's nothing he could do when confronted by that smile that can put even the Sun in shade.

Slowly he realises that he's been staring at his partner for such a long time that it must be bordering on creepy. How did he get here from that warmth he first woke up to, from that love he so deeply feels for Yuugi? Why hasn’t he thought about these things before? It's like all he has in his head are questions with no answers to calm his mind. It's only been a week since... since it all should've ended, but didn't, all because of Atem's selfishness. Selfishness... and love. His own heart had broken when his life points counted down to zero and he saw the utter hopelessness he felt surface in his heart reflected right back at him on Yuugi's face. The memory of it is still so strong that he has to grit his teeth together to keep his jaw from trembling.

He hadn’t been able to stand that expression, to stand the knowledge that he was the cause of it. He wasn’t good enough. He wasn’t good enough. The pride he had felt toward Yuugi's skill was completely overshadowed by the grief that hit him in waves, his legs feeling like lead as he slowly walked to Yuugi, his own voice distant to his ears as he offered words of consolation and praise. Empty words, they were, he knew it then and he knows it now. How could he ever leave this person who had gone through so much for him, because of him, who had loved him so fully, who had risked it all to be there for him in his quest to regain his memories even when knowing that the price for that would be too steep to consider if Yuugi ever stopped to do that?

Atem had never wanted to leave. He had learned to live again, to have friends, and grow as a person, no matter how minuscule that growth might have been. Yuugi had been him and then Yuugi had become his world. There's no other way to explain it. As much as Atem had longed for his memories, for those people he loved and lost all those thousands of years ago, he couldn't bear the thought of losing another family. Even when the prize would be to regain his first one.

But he had to. He had thought he had to.

Yet when he was just about to take the last step, he had faltered. Had wondered - does it have to be this way? What if there's another choice he could make?

And the gods had answered him. He didn't have to beg, he didn't have to fight, he just had to ask.

Just ask.

It had been so simple, in the end, so effortless. Of course, Atem asked for that third choice - or didn't really even ask, he didn't dare, he wished for it, his heart on the verge of breaking a second time. He had been painfully aware of his friends behind him, holding their breaths, waiting for the end. Atem felt their feelings wrap around him like a cloak and he bore the weight of it, accepted it, as he couldn't quite believe that it would be that easy to stay. So he had wished.

And that wish had been granted.

And now he is here.

Standing in the middle of the floor in Yuugi's room while Yuugi sleeps, hands closed into fists, both grasping his shirt now, holding back tears that threaten to spill forth. Wondering why did he even put Yuugi through all that, when in the end, it was for nothing? Oh, he thinks, oh, how it hurts. His own shortcomings, his own pain, the pain that he had caused others. Especially the pain that he had caused Yuugi. He hadn’t deserved it, he never deserved something so cruel and insincere as Atem's decision to leave had been.

A sob wrangles itself up and out of his mouth, he's not able to stop it in time and that breaks his resolve. He sways on his feet as tears force their way out and streak his cheeks, fall into his shirt and seep into the fabric as he hiccups and tries half-heartedly to stop it. He shouldn't be crying, not after everything he’s done. He doesn’t deserve to feel so sorry for himself - he should be the one to take responsibility, to carry that burden without a hitch. But, the thing is… at this moment, he’s no longer the prince-then-pharaoh from 3000 years ago. He’s no longer the amnesiac spirit occupying the Puzzle. He’s not the King of Games.

At this moment, he’s just a 16-year-old boy who is desperately trying to deal with every responsibility he’s imagined are only his to bear and failing spectacularly. So he cries, and cries, and he can no longer see with how blurry his eyes have gone. He prays Yuugi won't wake up to it, he just has to suffer through it and he'll be fine. Crying is fine, actually. He would laugh at himself if he could - aren't tears an actual luxury, after all? He wasn't able to cry his own tears with his own body before, but now he can.

There's a hand on his shoulder and Atem's heart drops into his stomach - oh no, now he's woken up - then another on the other side, then a tug, and Atem follows blindly. He's guided back to the bed and coaxed to sit down where a warm body presses against him and he's enveloped in an embrace.

Atem finds that he can't talk, he tries to draw breath to get the words out but sobs are the only thing he can produce and finally, he hears a voice call his name. It's so soft and warm and loving that Atem somehow feels worse and buries his head into Yuugi’s shoulder, his chest heaving and he almost wails from the struggle of it.

“Shh, other me. Cry it out. It helps. I know.”

He listens to Yuugi and does just that. It’s not easy to give up the reins but with Yuugi by his side, he finds the will to allow himself to succumb. He clutches his partner's shirt, holds him and is held in return, and lets himself cry. Lets his tears come like he's never done before and faced with the force of them, he feels like there's no end to it.

But there is an end. After a period of time that feels like an eternity, his sobs subside, his tears slow down, and he feels like he can finally loosen his hold of Yuugi's shirt to let blood flow into his fingers again. His nose feels snotty and he's sure there's no dry spot left on his partner's clothes and somehow that thought makes him laugh.

“See? All better now,” Yuugi murmurs against his temple and presses his lips there. That sign of affection almost makes Atem's eyes well up but he squeezes them shut, refusing to start crying all over again. He feels drained and empty and he's pretty sure he should be ashamed. He had woken Yuugi up and made him comfort him without asking but all he can feel is gratitude. Gratitude and love and endless adoration.

“Aibou,” he sniffles, voice congested and raw. He means to thank him but his throat closes up, yet Yuugi seems to catch his meaning.

“No need,” the shorter of the two says and Atem can feel his smile against his skin, “it's okay. You're okay, we're okay, everything's okay.”

Atem wants to argue but finds no energy for it. And - as he thinks about it, he realises that Yuugi is right.

They're okay.

He wraps his arms properly around Yuugi and squeezes, sighing softly. His mind is comfortably quiet now and he presses his ear against Yuugi's chest, listening to the beat of his heart (his heart's heart?) and feeling his own fall smoothly into the same rhythm. It's natural, it's right.

“I think,” he manages to croak out, “that we need to talk.”

Yuugi holds him closer and nods before pressing his face into Atem’s hair.

“Yeah,” he replies, sounding relieved, “we sure do, other me.”

#ygo dm #yugioh #puzzleshipping #puzzlespace #puzzlejune2021 #puzzlejune #puzzlequiet #atem #yuugi #tervdraws #tervdrabbles #fanart #fanfic #this bad boy can fit so many headcanons and projection in it #i am in the possession of the crybaby beam and i'm not afraid to use it (for real though. my agenda is to Normalize Boys Crying)#(no i will not be taking criticism)

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