#you also occasionally collapse from exhaustion so she takes care of you | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

beth--b · 2 years ago

Text

Take Care

Steve and El

In the aftermath of Starcourt when everyone was reuniting with loved ones, El lost her father.

Steve watched the moment she found out.

He had been wrapped in a blanket as a paramedic tried to convince him to be seen to when El had stumbled past him, looking so lost and alone that he had wanted nothing more than to wrap her up in her own warm blanket and take care of the poor girl.

He had watched as she saw Joyce with Will clutching onto one another in the middle of the parking lot, no Hopper in sight. Steve’s own heart had clenched at the realisation of what that meant but his own horror was quickly surpassed by his concern for their resident supergirl who had now lost the man who had taken her in as his own.

He had shrugged the paramedic off and made his way on unsteady legs over to her. He had taken his first thought of wrapping her up and made it reality when he had shrugged his blanket off his shoulders and wrapped it around the trembling girl.

“I’ve got you. You won’t be alone,” he had whispered to her as she had collapsed into his arms. He continued to whisper soothing words into her hair while he held her until her sobs tapered off.

He was hurting and wanted nothing more than to go sit down but this was more important. So he stayed with her until her sobs turned into the occasional stifled cry and held her even then.

Once she was finally ready to pull away, she looked up at him with red rimmed eyes and asked softly, “Promise?”

Steve just nodded and she buried her head into his chest, holding onto him until they both sank to the ground, too hurt, too exhausted to stand there any longer.

Eventually Robin and Mike came and found them, hugging them and helping the pair to their feet. Mike led El over to one of the ambulances and Steve remembered the horror of witnessing the girl remove part of the mind flayer from her injured leg. Once he was sure she was being looked after he allowed Robin to drag him back to the paramedic who had originally been trying to get him in the back of an ambulance, letting them take over so he didn’t have to think anymore.

read it on ao3 here

Steve and Max

It’s no secret that Steve’s family isn’t around much.

It’s also pretty well known that Steve’s dad is an asshole.

Maybe that’s why Max calls him in the middle of the night when her mom is drunk and shouting at Max about how their lives have been ruined, how her husband left her because Billy died and now they can’t even afford to live in a real house anymore. That she hates her shitty job and hates this town but they can’t afford to leave either.

When Steve gets a call on his walkie at 12:30 in the morning he’s mostly asleep. Mostly because he never sleeps well and spends a good chunk of his nights in a semi-doze or half awake. At the first crackle of the walkie coming to life he’s sitting up in bed and fumbling for a light so he can see what he’s doing.

Max's voice comes through small and shaky. She asks if he can come get her and how could he possibly refuse.

On the drive over he thinks about how when he was six his father shoved him into a wall so hard he thought he’d broken his cheek bone. The bruising had been awful and it had swollen up so much he could hardly move his jaw.

Later that same night he had been pulled from his bed and dragged outside by his arm. His mother wasn’t around, she might have been asleep or perhaps she was out, he wasn’t sure, but he knew there was nobody to help him so he stayed quiet.

Once they were outside in the freezing cold night his father had sat him down beside the pool and told him that if he ever told anyone that he was the one to cause the bruising on his face that he would regret it.

Even at the tender age of six Steve knew that his father was deadly serious. He knew his father was important and had lots of money and travelled a lot. People respected him, or so he said. Steve was pretty sure that people were scared of him.

So he nodded his head and sat in the cold until his father nodded and dragged him back inside.

He stayed home from school for a few days until the bruises faded and the swelling went down, went to school with a note from his mother saying he’d been ill and had fallen down the stairs when he woke during the night feverish and upset.

His teacher had looked at him with sympathy, said she hoped he was feeling better and offered to help him catch up on his missed school work. Steve had smiled politely and thanked her, said he was feeling much better and his parents had been taking good care of him.

Steve might have been young, but he knew enough to keep his mouth shut and stay out of his fathers way.

The drive passed by quickly, lost in thought as he was. When he arrives at the trailer park he sees there are still lights on at Max’s trailer, he gets out of the car but before he can knock Max climbs out her window and runs to him.

Steve wraps his arms around her before guiding her towards the passenger door. With Max safely in the car he walks back around to his door and catches a glimpse of movement in the corner of his eye. He turns to see what it was, thoughts of demogorgons and Russian soldiers running through his tired mind, only to see Eddie Munson looking out of his window.

He hadn’t had much reason to interact with Eddie at school, they ran in very different circles after all. Regardless they locked eyes for a brief moment before Eddie nodded at him and closed his curtains, drawing away from the window.

Steve shrugged it off and got in his car, turning the engine back on and blasting the heater to warm a shivering Max up.

“You want to talk about it?” Steve asked her once they were back on the road.

Max shrugged, “Not really. Mom was just drunk, yelled a lot. I just needed to get out.”

Steve nods, glancing over at her briefly before turning his eyes back to the road. He reaches out a hand and grabs hold of hers, squeezing it tightly.

“Well I’ll come and get you anytime you need alright Mad Max. Parents aren’t always perfect, sometimes they can be downright shitty, but just remember that none of this is your fault. Promise me that, ok?”

Max takes a long moment before she reacts, finally just as Steve is about to repeat himself he sees her nod and she squeezes his hand back. “Ok,” she finally whispers.

Steve and Dustin

If someone had asked Steve the moment that he had practically adopted Dustin Henderson as the little brother he’d never had he wouldn’t be able to tell them. Apart from the fact that nobody would ever believe that he had helped the kids deal with fucking interdimensional monsters, one of which he’s taken as a pet, he honestly wasn’t sure when it had happened himself. Somewhere between fighting Demogorgons, defending the kids from Bill Hargrove, and dealing with Dustin and his well meaning but honestly awful pet Dart.

He loved all the kids of course but if he was honest Dustin was probably his favourite. Kid needed a damn attitude check but nevertheless Steve wasn’t sure what he’d do without him.

Even after the kid had befriended Eddie Munson of all people, and then after Vecna…Steve knew Dustin loved him like a brother as well.

So of course when Dustin was sick and his mom needed to work Steve was happy to be the babysitter once again, which is how he found himself at Dustin’s house at 7:30 in the morning on a Saturday.

Steve went to knock on the door only to find Claudia Henderson opening it already to his raised fist. She ushered him inside, thanking him and letting him know she'd be home by mid afternoon. The thermometer was in the bathroom and there was food in the fridge that he was welcome to.

Despite the frankly overwhelming amount of information being thrown at him he nodded alone and waved goodbye as she walked out the door.

Dustin was still asleep so Steve sat on the couch and made himself comfortable, television on in the background playing whatever cartoon the kids were into these days.

It was about an hour later that Dustin came stumbling out bleary eyed and sniffling. Steve hopped to his feet and ushered the kid to the couch he had just vacated.

“Morning kiddo, how’re you feeling?”

Dustin shrugged and leaned over to grab a tissue from the coffee table.

“Been better,” he croaked, voice hoarse.

“Yeah ouch, sure sounds that way. Want some tea with honey? Should help your throat.”

Dustin nodded before closing his eyes and laying back on the lounge. Steve ruffled his curly hair and headed into the kitchen to make tea.

Ten minutes later he was back with a steaming mug of black tea with lots of honey for Dustin and a cup of tea with a splash of milk for himself.

He set both mugs on the table before sitting down beside Dustin.

They sat in silence, watching an episode of Thundercats that had come on. By the end of the show Dustin had finished his tea and was dozing on Steve’s shoulder.

The day passed by easily enough. Dustin was a bit of a grouch when his fever spiked later that morning but after some tylenol and some more sleep he was much more amiable. Steve warmed up some soup that Dustin’s mom had left for lunch and by the time they had eaten Dustin was a little more awake so they spent the afternoon playing board games.

Dustin had beaten Steve at Guess Who, Scrabble and they were half way through a game of Monopoly that Steve was sure he would also lose when Dustin’s mom arrived home.

“Oh sorry I’m late boys! Dusty you’re looking a little better honey. Steve, I hope I wasn’t keeping you from anything?” Steve gave her the smile he always used on parents and shook his head, “Oh of course not! I’m sure you’re tired from work, go and sit, rest. Dustin and I are good here, right buddy?”

“Yeah we’re fine Mom. Stop worrying!” he turned away to smother a cough in his sleeve before focusing back on Steve and the game.

Dustin’s mom watched them fondly for a long moment before she took her own seat, patting Tews when he came to sit on her lap.

“I really appreciate your help today Steve,” she said when they took a break from the game.

“It’s honestly no trouble, happy to help out,” he shrugged.

“You probably have plans alright seeing as it’s a Saturday night, but would you like to stay for dinner?”

Steve glanced at Dustin, the kid looked so much better but still too pale. Despite that he looked at Steve hopefully, and how could he say no to that?

“Yeah sure thing, as long as it’s no bother?”

“None at all dear! I’ll get dinner started shortly.”

It was almost 8 o’clock by the time Steve got back into his car and drove home. Despite the full day of Henderon’s company he still dreaded going back to that empty house. There was nothing for it though. Robin was busy tonight and Eddie was at a concert with his band mates.

He pulled in the driveway and with a sigh, got out of the car and headed inside. Turning the radio on for background noise as he walked past.

He hated the quiet.

Steve and Eddie

Before Vecna, Steve had not known Eddie Munson well. That's not to say he hadn't known him at all. It was a small town after all, Steve had thrown a lot of parties and Eddie was a drug dealer. They could have had a great partnership if they'd ever thought about it. Nevertheless, they had not been friends.

During the Spring break from Hell, as Steve had dubbed it, he had grown to like Eddie. Had grown to care for him. Somehow amongst all the crazy they had become friends. If Steve was honest, he'd like to perhaps become more, but that was not something he could worry about right now.

For now he just needed to help the guy out.

Eddie had spent the last two weeks in hospital, recovering from his near fatal injuries. During that time his name had been cleared and it had been made abundantly clear to the people of Hawkins that Eddie was also a victim, that anyone who went after him would find themselves behind bars. Hopper's return had certainly helped in that respect.

Today Eddie was finally going home.

With all the time Eddie's Uncle Wayne had taken off work the older man wasn't going to be able to pick Eddie up himself, having worked the night shift and taking on a day shift as well for the extra money. Steve had readily volunteered for the job instead. He had also offered to stay with Eddie at the government appointed housing the Munson's had been set up with now that their trailer was destroyed until Wayne returned home.

Steve made his way to the room Eddie had spent the last week in, after being moved out from the ICU, with ease. Between Eddie and Max, he had been visiting every other day at the very least so he knew his way well enough.

"Ready to bust me outta here?" Eddie said in lieu of a greeting.

Steve laughed and moved to sit in the chair beside the bed. "Sure thing, at least once the doctor clears you."

"C'mon Stevie. I am sooo tired of these four walls!"

"I know, I know. But I'm not going to risk the Party's wrath if you leave without everything you need. I know we haven't been friends long but I'd hate to see you wind up back here with… I don't know man, infected stitches or some shit. So stay put for a little longer yeah?"

With the most over dramatic sigh Steve has ever heard, Eddie throws himself, gently, back against his pillows.

"Ugh, fiiine," he whines.

Steve has gotten to know Eddie well enough by now that he knows he's just covering up his own nerves with his theatrics. With this in mind, he moves to sit beside the older boy on the bed. "Hey, I'm going to wait right here with you, alright," Steve reaches out a hand and Eddie grasps hold, squeezing Steve's hand tightly.

"Yeah, ok. Thanks Stevie," Eddie mumbles.

The nickname makes Steve’s insides feel like they are full of butterflies but he swallows it down and smiles instead.

Steve waits at Eddie's side for the next hour, until finally the doctor comes to confirm the details of his discharge. Instructions on when to come back to have sutures removed, medications to take to prevent infection and others for pain in hand, Steve wheels Eddie out of his room and eventually out of the hospital. Having parked near the door it's easy enough getting Eddie into the car.

The drive is fairly quiet, Eddie makes a few sarcastic comments about Steve's taste in music but then they drive in silence. When they arrive at Wayne's new place Steve gets out first before rounding the car and helping Eddie out and up to the house.

Steve unlocks the door and helps support Eddie until they reach the couch.

"Alright Eddie, you hungry?"

"For something that's not grody hospital food? Hell yes!"

Steve chuckled and nodded, "Yes,for some non-hospital food. What do you feel like?"

"A burger and fries if you don't mind?"

"Of course. I'll go get lunch and be back soon. Need anything before I go?"

"No, no, food is fine. Thanks man."

Despite Eddie's reassurances, Steve gets him a glass of water and turns on the small TV before he leaves to get their food.

He returns half an hour later to find Eddie passed out on the couch. He can't help but wish he had a camera to capture the moment. After spending a minute or two just watching the boy he was steadily falling for sleep, he puts the food down and wakes Eddie.

"Rise and shine Eds, lunch is here."

Eddie wakes slowly, a soft smile on his face when he sees Steve and the paper bag filled with cheeseburgers and fries.

"Ah thank you Stevie. Good ol' fashioned American burgers! How I have missed thee!"

Steve rolls his eyes and helps Eddie up, passing him his food.

They spend the afternoon together until Wayne gets back from work. While the two catch up, Steve makes his exit.

Steve and Robin

It was too early for the doorbell to be ringing on a Sunday and yet he was woken up by the persistent chiming of it.

With a groan Steve hauled himself out of bed, threw on a shirt and half ran, half stumbled down the stairs.

He opened the door only to have Robin practically throw herself at him.

“Steve!” she yelled, wrapping her arms around his neck, “What am I going to do?”

“Robs what the fuck? It’s like 6am. How did you even get here?”

“Bike dingus keep up! Help me Steve, you were like the king of dating once upon a time, I need your help!”

“Slow down, what do you need help with?”

He pulled her off him and grabbed her hand instead tugging her towards the kitchen with him while he put a pot of coffee on.

“Steve. I need your help. With a girl.”

Steve burst out laughing before taking in the serious expression on her face.

“Robin, you are a girl. Surely you know what girls like better than I ever could!”

“Nooo I know what I like, not other girls. Not this girl. I ah…may have ended up hanging out with Nancy last night.”

Steve’s eyebrows shot up, “Nancy? As in Nancy Wheeler? That Nancy?”

“I’m sorry, I’m a horrible platonic soulmate, the worst best friend-”

“Stop. I don’t care if you like Nancy, we were over a long time ago. Besides things are going pretty well for me in the dating department so don’t sweat it yeah? I’m not sure how you think I can help you with dating advice for Nancy though,” he took a long sip of his coffee and Robin sat down at the breakfast bar, dropping her head to the counter top.

“Because you already managed to get her to date you Steve!”

Steve burst out laughing only to have Robin punch him lightly in the bicep.

“Robin, Nancy and I were not great together. If you think there is something there though you should talk to her. Maybe start by coming out to her though?”

Robin just groaned and dropped her head down once more.

“Why do you have to say logical things like that huh?”

“I thought you wanted my help? I’m helping,” he moved away from her and leaned back against the kitchen cabinets, arms crossed over his chest.

“Fine. Thanks then I guess. Hey, since I’m here and we’re both awake, any chance you can make some bacon? Or pancakes? Pancakes would be really great.”

With a long suffering sigh Steve silently turns away and starts pulling ingredients out of the pantry to make pancakes. He might not be able to help much with her love life but he could feed his best friend when she needed him.

Eddie and Steve

Steve has spent a lot of the last few years trying to be a better person.

He looked after his friends as much as he could in whatever way he could because they were good people and they deserved all the love and kindness he could give them.

It was hard at first, he hadn’t exactly had the best role models in how to show kindness. His dad was an abusive asshole and his mother just didn’t seem to care either way.

But he had fumbled his way through, giving the kids rides when they needed them, talking girls with Robin, fighting fucking monsters with them all. Despite that he didn’t really expect anyone to show him the same kindness in return. Nobody took care of Steve, other than Steve. He didn’t always do the greatest job.

Luckily he had Eddie.

He had finished his shift at Family Video and he was tired, his head was pounding and he knew he needed to take his migraine meds and sleep it off, but he had plans to see Eddie and didn’t want to cancel.

Their relationship was still so new, he didn’t want to tarnish it with cancelled dates. Even if said date was just hanging out at Eddie’s place and watching movies.

So he put on a pair of sunglasses despite the fact that the sun was more down than up, and took off towards the new Munson home.

By the time he made it to Eddie’s he wanted nothing more than to go to bed. He probably shouldn’t have been driving, and there was no way he was driving home now. He grabbed his meds from the glovebox and shoved them in his pocket. He’d take them if things got worse but he knew he would hold out as long as possible.

He felt queasy and almost dizzy as he made his way to the front door, and with a cursory knock he let himself inside.

“Eds?” he called, wincing at the sound of his own voice.

“Stevie!” Eddie crowed, coming out of the kitchen, I missed you baby.” Eddie stopped and looked at Steve, taking in his too pale face and shaking hands and immediately changed his demeanour. “Shit Stevie, migraine?” he asked, voice full of concern.

Steve wanted to deny it, but as the pain in his head only intensified he knew there was no use. So instead of trying to brush it off he just nodded slowly, features tight with pain.

“Oh honey, got your meds?” Eddie moved in closer, wrapping his arms around Steve in a gentle hug.

Steve buried his face in Eddie’s neck and gave another slight nod. Pulling the pills out of his pocket.

Eddie pulled away enough to steer him towards the couch, and once Steve was seated he headed to the kitchen, reappearing a few moments later with a glass of water.

Steve took the water gratefully and took a sip before taking one of his pills, chasing it down with more water.

Eddie sat beside him, pulling Steve into his side. With a sigh Steve let himself be held and stayed there for a long moment until Eddie quietly asked if he wanted to stay on the couch or go to bed.

“Bed,” Steve eventually replied, knowing that although he may not want to, he should listen to his body for once.

Eddie silently helped Steve up and steered him to the bedroom, pulling the covers back and helping Steve remove his shoes. He grabbed him a pair of sweats and a t-shirt and let Steve change before helping him onto the bed. With Steve situated, Eddie turned the light out and then climbed onto the bed beside him.

“You don’t have to,” Steve started.

Eddie shushed him and pressed a kiss to his forehead and another to the top of his head.

“I know sweetheart, but I want to.”

Steve knew he should argue, Eddie would be bored, it was too early to sleep. But the part of him that craved affection and just wanted to be held made him still his tongue.

Eddie settled down further on the bed, pulling Steve into his arms until Steve’s head was on the older boy's chest.

“Now, time to get some rest Stevie. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Steve could do nothing but obey, letting the steady sound of Eddie’s heartbeat lull him to sleep.

#steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things fanfiction #steddie fanfiction #my fics #steddie #steve x eddie #robin buckley #dustin henderson #max mayfield #Steve Harrington needs a hug #5+1 things #soft steve harrington #soft eddie munson #platonic soulmates robin and steve #hurt eddie munson #hurt steve harrington #tw child abuse #stranger things

51 notes · View notes

i-feel-strange · 2 years ago

Text

Promise

When you returned home tired, you immediately collapsed onto the bed. An exhausted groan passed through the upholstery of the sofa.

The sound was suppressed, but he still heard it. Jack walked surprisingly quietly, despite his huge, clown shoes. He squatted down and gently stroked your back. The feeling of strong, warm hands on a tired back caused pleasant goosebumps.

-Hard day, huh?

You mumbled in agreement.

- Well, then let me take care of my sun?

It doesn't seem to be a rhetorical question. Slowly turning your head, you looked at him. Jack covered the entire viewing angle, so that you could not see anything but him. The sunny guy was dressed in his usual clothes, except for he was not wearing his vest, but from somewhere an apron appeared, which you definitely did not buy.

Either way, your boyfriend was looking at you expectantly.

-Yes please Jack...

He gladly picked you up in his arms, carried you to your room, and there helped you change into your home clothes. You again rode on his hands to the kitchen and treated you to dinner there.

Already on the couch you were watching some soap opera. Another film about love with a hackneyed plot, but it seemed to Jack that it was interesting - so everything is fine. You stuck to his right side, spreading more and more over his body. Jack would hold you tighter and occasionally kiss you on the top of your head or cheek. You decided to thank him for the pleasant courtship with a kiss. You were so close to each other that nothing seemed to exist except the two of you.You shifted position so that you were on his lap and his hands were on your waist. The air ended and you took some oxygen for a second act.

Thoughts mixed up in my head, he loves you so much, he gives so much warmth, comfort, care and protection. It took you a long time to decide to tell him this tirade, collecting all the phrases of tender feelings piece by piece. And breaking the tenth kiss in a row, she threw out in a hoarse voice all her feelings for Jack:

-Jack, I need to tell you something...

-What is the sun?

He spoke as if he knew what you wanted to tell him. There was a self-satisfied smile on his face. Soft eyes continued to watch your lips eagerly.

You swallowed awkwardly. Come on! You are a couple, he needs to know that you love him.

- Jack... I love you.

-Oh sunshine, I love you too and-

- I didn't finish.

Your lover gave you the opportunity to finish.

-I am telling you this so that you know and do not forget about it. If necessary, I can repeat a thousand times more about how much I love you! You are very dear to me and mean a lot to me. Jack, you give me an insane amount of happiness that I don't think I deserve, but know...

Jack looked at you with bated breath. It seemed to him that if you continue, he will cry with happiness!

-If you feel bad and want to speak out, I will always be there to help you. I not only have a need to receive love and care, but also to give it to you in return.

You put your hands on his face and continued, pulling Jack closer.

- I love you Jack, and I will never leave you, do you hear? I need you.

Joseph couldn't help but cry in your arms. He babbled words of gratitude and love to you as he feverishly kissed your hands.

- It's okay, Jack. You can cry, there's nothing wrong with that, I'm glad that you show your real emotions.

He muttered something unintelligible into your hand and you asked him carefully.

- Do you promise, (Y/N)?

You slightly laughed at his naive question, but decided to answer seriously.

-Yes I promise.

He swallowed hard. This time it's your turn to care. You took napkins and very carefully wiped his tears.

-Sunshine, you are so strong. Even after a strong blow from a loved one, are you not afraid to give me love?

-Jack, giving love and care does not become less, especially if a person is ready to answer you the same. You make me stronger

As you finished wiping away the moisture, you kissed the dried rivers of tears.

He loves you and will never let you go. After all, you love him too, you are perfect for each other. He won't let anyone come between you...

-I love you sunshine.

- I love you too, Jack.

Sorry in advance for possible errors in the text, I use a translator. But anyway, I hope you enjoy it 💮

#something wrong with sunny day jack #sunny day jack shaun #sunny day jack #joseph haberdae #swwsdj

43 notes · View notes

tokusmuts · 2 years ago

Text

My Holiday (Chapter 5)

Characters: Hidden Male Character x Yume Shinjo

Category: Miniseries

Words count: 1,8k

P/s: Although I'm only posting this series with the intention of giving everyone an appetizer before I get back to the main projects, but the series is completely free to continue if you want. So send me a message whenever you want this series to continue and I will continue this series

Read chapter 4 here

Enjoy!

By the time the clock hit 3:00 A.M., the house was filled with Yume’s moans and skin clacking sound as I was still forcefully stabbing my dick inside her ass.

“Aahhh…it's still midnight…ah…mou”

"But I'm so hungry"

I don't show any signs of wanting to slow her down as she's on her stomach and I'm on top of her back and my dick is deep inside her. I grabbed her hand tightly and kept pushing on top of her. Those sticky sounds appeared again, the feeling of being fucked in the middle of the night when she was still naked was really interesting. Her face became more lustful than ever, and her breasts bounced back and forth with every push I gave her. Then I got on my knees and she put both hands and feet on the bed and I continued to push her into a Doggy position.

“Ah…Kimochi…Hurry up honey…ah”

"Didn't you just lament that it's still midnight?"

“But now I'm so happy…ah…so I can't take it anymore…ah”

The clicking sounds became more frequent and more intense as I increased the speed of my thrusts, while also slapping her butt a few times. That slapping sound along with the bounce of her butt excites the viewer. With one hand I held her hips and nudged her while the other reached her breasts and squeezed, occasionally twisting the tips of her nipples, making her groan. I want to suck her breasts but I have to shoot a bunch of sperm into her ass first. So I increased the speed to maximum and made her half groan and half scream

“Aahhh…shoot me….shoot more….aahhh…i want….AAHHHHHH”

Immediately after that, I shot a large amount of sperm at her while she also screamed in satisfaction and collapsed on the ground. I also followed and lay on top of her. I used the last bit of strength I had to pull my dick out of her butt, turned her around, and then stabbed my dick straight into her cunt causing her to let out a groan in her throat, and then I didn't warn her. but went to lick her breasts right away.

"Ah...let me take a break...I'm so tired...ah"

"But I also want milk from your breasts to restore energy"

Her nipples were now fully erect thanks to my previous passionate care. Her plump breasts were filled by me and even though her breasts didn't have any milk at all, sucking on it for a while restored my energy considerably and I continued to push her cunt while still sucking on her breasts.

"It's already 3 o'clock...ah...let me sleep a little bit tomorrow...ah...we can fuck again...ah"

"But I'm so hungry...um...I can't take it anymore," I said while still sucking on her nipples.

Normally, I wouldn't be able to fuck her in the middle of the night like this because we were both tired after a long day of fucking. But today somehow I never feel enough when I fuck her. Although it wasn't the first time, these midnight hunger pangs drained both of us. That's why we usually spend the night resting and spending our energy so that we can fuck as much as we can tomorrow. Returning to that bed at 3 a.m. it seemed that after driving her crazy I had finished the last batch of sperm, the two exhausted lying next to each other and hugging each other.

Time went on like that until noon that day. After I shot her at 3 am, I was still sleeping. It was only when she jumped on the bed and sat upon the blanket to wrap me around that I started to show signs of waking up

“What’s up, dear? Why are you up so late?"

"I ran out of strength last night, how can I get up?"

"That’s because you were too hungry in the middle of the night!"

"But…."

I had to stop talking midway when I looked up, she was only wearing a thin shirt, her white breasts were pressed and held together by a thin silver bra. I really wanted to separate them and bury my face in her cleavage, but as soon as I lifted my head she jumped out of bed, went to the window, and opened the curtains, the sunlight shining on made me blind for a moment, but as soon as I successfully acclimatized to the sunlight, my eyes met her wonderful body, thanks to the sunlight shining through her thin clothes, I could see her fully admire her back along with the 2 knots of her bra, and 2 bowknots on the sides of her panties. Today I will have to work at full capacity with her again, but to do that, I have to recharge my energy, just as she turned to look at me and smiled.

"Come out for breakfast and then come here with me!" - she said

I walked out of the kitchen neatly disposed of the pate she had prepared and returned to my room. As soon as I got up from the kitchen chair, I heard the monotonous groans in the bedroom, I went in and found her curled up in the single chair by the bed, her legs glued together and fully folded on the chair, next to a glass of wine that was already drunk, her mouth constantly panting and her hands constantly stroking the wet place while being clamped by her thighs, anyone could see from a glance that she is masturbating.

“I…ah…I can’t take it anymore…ah”

One hand still caressed the outside of her panties enthusiastically while the other continued to slide over the flesh of her breasts. That scene made anyone want to come in to fill her up. I want to do it even more in the name of her lover.

“Aahh…quick…come here…honey…ah”

I couldn't wait any longer, but rushed to hug and kiss her immediately, she also coordinated to spread her legs so that I could enter her lap and clamp it, one hand continuously squeezed both sides of her breasts, the other hand there was constant friction against the outside of her panties, moans caught in her throat. My hands leave her cunt from time to time to stroke her inner thighs, causing her to feel uncomfortable again, and put my hand back in the right place to caress. I don't know what was in that glass of wine that made her so excited. It was obvious that just using my hands to care for her breasts wasn't enough so I let go of her lips and went down directly to her breasts and looked at it for a moment, while reaching behind to unfasten her bra, using a free hand. It took a lot more strength, of course, when my other hand was now directly fingering her cunt right inside her panties. As soon as the laces were untied, the silver bra fell, and the breasts began to bounce, her free hands squeezed them excitedly right in front of my eyes.

“Aahhh…suck them up honey…aahhh…i want…aahhh”

Returning to the room that was still resounding with those sticky sounds, after I had filled her breasts, I stopped for a moment, looking at her face that was becoming wilder than ever but still not forgetting to take good care of her while my hands are still working continuously on her body. The two fingers where her cunt was still creating a feeling of lack, so the 3rd finger entered and filled her cunt slit, the moment the 3rd finger entered it was also when she was starting to show signs of having an orgasm, from then on every click left her with nothing to do but moan continuously.

“Aahhh…I am going to cum…I am going to cum…aahhh”

And then, with just two more clicks, she emptied all of her vaginal discharge, part of it splattered all over the chair and the rest of it all over her panties as well as my hand. I reached out my hand and licked the liquid that was on my hand. That flavor has never lost its inherent deliciousness. But it seems she is still very enthusiastic. She continued to rub her whole body with her hands, her mouth constantly begging:

“More please, honey…this is still not enough”

"I know"

I carried her sweat-soaked body to the bed and took off the entangled panties, but before I threw it on the floor, I was able to lick all the liquid that remained on the panties. And then, without hesitation, went straight to her cunt, then sucked with all her might, her whole body began to contort again and again with each sucking from my mouth. Her moans got a little hoarse after the first climax, the more I sucked, the more her pussy spewed out. There was a time when I choked when she spat too much but if it was fluid that she has, I enjoy them all. After a period of non-stop discharge, she showed signs of fatigue but still felt itchy inside, she continued to beg:

“Please satisfy me, honey…I want…aahhh”

My cock, which had been hard for so long, was released from the chain and shoved right into her still very wet cunt, and began to push. Her hands gripped the back of the pillow as I prodded her cunt and sucked her nipple at the same time. I changed positions to fuck her repeatedly, sometimes the missionary way, sometimes folding her legs and fuck. Each time my dick just got out of control and just shot sperm straight into her cunt, then I turned her around, still letting her lie on her stomach, and shoved my dick straight into her butt to push. Then I turned her over again, while her mouth was still breathing heavily, I immediately put my dick in it, she used the little strength she had left to hold my cock while I copulated pushing in and out to let her recover a little more energy. Sperm just kept pouring out inside her mouth

After I had splashed enough, I gave up the game to her, let her sit on my crotch, and at the same time stuffed my dick back into her cunt, clicking and riding again, her bending phase could make everyone excited, her speed gradually increased and she did not stop moaning excitedly

“Kimochi…ahh…I’m going to cum baby…aah”

“Me too…aah”

The two of us just fell in love together and hugged each other and lay there breathlessly

"Why are you so excited today?"

"On the way back to the home, I found and bought an aphrodisiac that I heard was safe, so I bought it to try it out, who would have thought it would have such a strong effect."

“I see…but it should be good if sometimes you take the initiative to warm up like this, right?”

“Please…so tired”

#yume shinjo #新條由芽 #toku smuts

92 notes · View notes

a-fluffer-nutter · 2 years ago

Text

Approachable

A/N - A lovely prompt from an anon that wanted Ingo to be tickled by Joltik while at the station. While he isn’t battling anyone, everyone is going to see this predicament of his. Please enjoy and reblog if you like it!

Word Count: 1,634

It had been unusually quiet on the Singles Line as of late. Emmet had been incredibly busy with the Doubles Line, however. Every time Emmet and Ingo had returned to their home in the evening, Emmet would collapse onto the couch in exhaustion. Ingo didn't mind making dinner every night, he quite enjoyed cooking. He didn't like that it was the only mental stimulation he received each day though.

"Maybe they aren't going on the Singles Line because you're ugly," Emmet chimed in one night, leaning back in his chair as he had swiped Ingo's left over crust. Ingo enjoyed making pizza from scratch, but he couldn't stand the crust.

"Emmet."

"I am Emmet."

"We're identical twins," Ingo shot him a glare before taking a drink. "No one would battle you either."

Emmet let out a playful laugh, running a hand through his own hair before tossing the last piece of crust to Durant, who was sitting on the floor beside him. Durant always begged for food, despite the twins training all their pokemon not too. Durant didn't care, he just wanted table scraps and would do anything for them, so Emmet would always give him some. Ingo was a stickler for table side manners but would occasionally oblige as Durant could be quite adorable when pleading.

"I don't look approachable, do I?" Ingo mused, then was pushed forward into the table as Haxorus rammed into him from behind, hugging her trainer with her stubby arms.

"Someone's being a grumpy boy," Emmet let out a laugh, glad the nickname he has used on Ingo since childhood provided him with another glare.

"I'm not grumpy," Ingo said as Haxorus licked the back of his head. "I'm being realistic. People are probably avoiding the Singles Line because of me. Because of this."

Emmet watched as Ingo pointed to his permanent frown. Unfortunately, this was a regular conversation that occurred about once every month or so. The twins were both very upbeat individuals, though Ingo would occasionally fall into a bit of depression whenever something like this has triggered it. Emmet also had bouts like this, but he would normally get more irritable and snappier, than downcast.

"Anyone that doesn't go in the Singles Line because they don't like your frown is a jackass," Ingo let out an irritated huff, though Emmet just shrugged. "People like you, Ingo. Hell, most people like you more than they like me. Don't say anything, you know I'm right. You're kind and care about everyone that shows up at the station. Maybe it's just a verrrry weird time of year where everyone just wants to do doubles. There's not many places in the region where double battles happen, maybe people just want to do something different."

"I hope you're right," Ingo replied as Haxorus purred in his ear, trying to ease her trainer's anxieties. Ingo wasn't entirely convinced by Emmet's words, but his eyes shown a bit brighter that night.

---

Emmet had a plan that Ingo would loathe, which is why Emmet knew he had to do it. Once he had woken up, Emmet beat Ingo out into the living room as he normally did. Ingo hated waking up, but Gear Station could not wait any longer in the morning; the commuters needed them.

"You three will be great," Emmet whispered, leaning over his little soldiers. He had chosen three precious Joltik for this mission, out of countless many that resided around their home. Emmet quite enjoyed the little pokemon, so whenever he heard that one was lost or injured, he would take it in and raise. These Joltik would eventually be given to Gear Station workers or new trainers at Elesa's gym nearby. Thankfully, Ingo enjoyed the little pokemon as well, though even if he didn't, he couldn't say no to Emmet.

"Mornin' Em'," Ingo slurred, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as Chandelure mimicked him from behind. She took after him in dreading mornings, though some days she would have to use Psychic and levitate him out of bed when he was especially tired.

"Good morning, my dearest brother," Emmet shoved the three pokemon in his pocket before turning around, eyes wide.

"Are you alright?" Ingo mused, though didn't really want an answer. He was too tired to care.

"Just peachy!" Emmet replied before grabbing a carton of eggs from the refrigerator. He held the carton out to Ingo with a wide smile, "Omelets?"

As Ingo was preparing breakfast, Emmet managed to slip away in the guise of going to the bathroom. Instead, he went over to the door where both of their hats and jackets hung and dropped the three tiny pokemon into one of Ingo's pockets.

"Do great, little ones," He whispered, beaming down at the trio as the nestled into the small space.

It was an hour into their mission that the Joltik had their time to shine.

Ingo sat on one of the seats on the train car he frequented, his usual spot when he was running the Singles Line. According to the workers, who, on slow days Ingo would contact nonstop for updates, only three trainers had been on the train today, but they only managed to make it up for car 7. The train stopped for a moment, to let the third trainer off, though none got on. Once hearing this, Ingo let out a long sigh and slipped onto his back so he could lie, staring at the ceiling. Craving interaction, Ingo reached down to his belt and grab at a random pokeball, then popped it open.

"Hello, Princess," Ingo drawled as Garbodor emerged, letting out a deep gurgle. Neither Emmet nor Ingo enjoyed nicknaming their pokemon. Emmet was horrible with names, so they didn't ever want the confusion of Emmet learning twelve important names and misremembering them in battle. Garbodor, however, was an exception for Ingo. Whenever his brother wasn't around, he would give her adorable nicknames to make her feel special. After her horrible upbringing being abused by humans, Ingo wanted her to receive as much love as he could devote to her. "How's my pretty girl?"

Garbodor cooed and stomped her feet, grinning for the two of them.

"I need to take you to Galar soon. I heard I could teach you to Gigantamax there. Isn't that something special?" Ingo's eyes lit up as Garbodor screamed in delight, flapping her arms like both twins would do when excited, “Here, let me show you."

Ingo sat up and reached for his phone. However, in that moment, Ingo felt something skitter across his ribs and he froze. Eyes wide, he looked up at Garbodor with confusion pooling in his eyes. Then, he felt it again.

"What's happening?" Ingo giggled, hand shooting up to his mouth to conceal the slowly crumbling dam growing inside him.

Garbodor leaned over him, gurgling in confusion. She tapped him gently on the shoulder when he suddenly let out a bark of laughter, having felt something furry slip down his spine. He leaned forward and fell into Garbodor, using her to support himself as he began feeling these same sensations across his body.

"Princess, help," Ingo laughed, his neck angled so he could look up at her. He had wrapped his arms around his body in a hug, trying to suppress the sensations zigzagging along his torso.

"It tickles," Ingo choked out between bouts of loud laughter, something was circling the section of spine between his shoulder blades, and it was driving him up the wall. It didn't help that he felt the same sensations along the lower part of his ribcage and at the center of his belly.

Garbodor furrowed her brows and let out a whine, frantically looking back and forth, examining her trainer in attempts to find a way to stop the sensation. An idea suddenly struck her, and she pulled Ingo's face against her body tightly, and used Poison Gas on the inside of his coat.

The sensation quickly stopped and after a minute of holding his breath against Garbodor's body, he finally pulled back to breathe.

"Thank you, sweetheart," Ingo said has he pat her chest, which is when she noticed his smile. Ingo smiling was a rarity, as it was something he could never intentionally do. He had to be provoked to get the smile to form, and even that was rare. Even if he was laughing at a joke, the smile wouldn't really appear, the frown always present unless he has fallen into hysterical laughter by whatever means, which was hard to do in general. Thus, his pokemon always made a big deal about seeing him smile.

She wrapped him into a hug, which resulted in a quick gasp in surprise. However, Ingo was quick to melt into the touch and leaned into his beloved pokemon quickly, giving her pats along her body.

"How peculiar," Ingo mused as he untucked his dress shirt, still partially enveloped by Garbodor's embrace. Three small Joltik rolled out from beneath the fabric, all unconscious from the poison. Letting out a quiet sigh, he scooped the trio into his hands and rose to his feet. "Very funny, Emmet."

"My soldiers worked perfectly," a disembodied voice sounded from the speakers along the tops on the windows on the train car. Ingo glared up at the security camera that every train car had, this one was pointed directly at him.

"What purpose did this serve?" Garbodor gurgled behind Ingo, having the same question.

"To catch you smiling. I filmed it. Now, I'll send to everyone. You look more approachable when you're laughing."

"Emmet, no!" Ingo exclaimed, then heard the intercom click off. Slumping his shoulders, Ingo looked back at Garbodor then brought up the trio of Joltik to her face. "I'm going to kill him."

#pokemon #pokemon black and white #subway boss ingo #subway master emmet #submas

64 notes · View notes

alwaysmarveling · 3 years ago

Text

Call Me Back

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x reader

Warnings: death, a small sexual innuendo, and lots of commas and long sentences

Word Count: 3.4k

Summary: You and Wanda promised each other you would always call to check in, and Wanda’s going to do her best to keep that promise, no matter what.

The first time you met Wanda was… well, when was the first time you met Wanda? Was it when wisps of red flashed in front of your eyes, projecting images so horrific and lifelike that you all but collapsed in a heartbeat? Or was it when she stepped forward to shake your hand timidly, grief and determination filling the witch as she promised to make up for it?

“I- I wouldn’t have done it if I… we were just trying…”

“Don’t worry about it,” you had told her with a smile before confiding in her about your own missteps, how you’d wreaked havoc on all of New York with your powers of body modification after your own parents died, how Fury finally got the Avengers to catch you, and how they quickly became your new family.

“You mean they really almost burned the kitchen down trying to make you a birthday cake?” The brunette giggled later that night as you recounted the story of your sixteenth birthday, the two of you sitting comfortably beside each other on the living room sofa.

“Yup. And when Nat showed up with an ice cream cake fifteen minutes later to find smoke in the living room, Sam told me she freaked on everyone.”

“Excuse me, Y/N, I did not do any ‘freaking.’ God, is that what you teenagers are calling it now?” The two of you erupted into laughter, and the redhead could do nothing more than shake her head, a smirk playing on her lips no matter how hard she tried to conceal it.

---

Much like Nat and Steve predicted, the two of you became fast friends. You sat next to each other on movie nights, sang karaoke in your room when you thought everyone else was asleep (if they weren’t awake when you started, they certainly were once you were thirty seconds into Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”), and, much to Steve’s dismay, when you finally became confident with your ability to grow wings on your back, snuck out regularly for late-night flights around the compound.

But you also insisted on being there for Wanda’s training sessions, even if it meant you had to wake up an hour earlier. You cradled the witch in your arms when she woke up night after night with an aching hole in her heart before you eventually insisted you guys just share a room. And you promised her, above everything else, that when you went out for anything, whether it be a quick grocery run or a month-long mission, you’d let her know you were okay.

You knew the promise she pleaded you to make was a result of the anxiety she suffered. She’d lost everyone she cared about; if a simple text or call was enough to put her at ease, you’d do it in a heartbeat.

---

“Wanda,” you’d whispered, the teen immediately sitting up straight when she’d heard the cracks in your voice. “I- I don’t know what to do. I’m safe, but...” She told you to stay there, don’t move, she’d be there in minutes. And, with your brain unable to function enough to think of any other option, you listened.

Her heart broke at the sight of you, your arms wrapped tightly around yourself and your head hung, you feet occasionally kicking the wet sidewalk. The neon sign of the restaurant your date had promised to meet you at illuminated one side of your face, allowing her to see the tears that you had tried but failed so desperately to hold in. But the witch didn’t let you see her emotions, instead whisking you away from the unfamiliar section of the city, brushing the tears off of your cheeks and bringing you to the twenty-four-hour diner for milkshakes. She made a fool of herself in front of the waitstaff until tears flowed from your eyes once again, but this time, the crystalline drops rolled down your raised cheeks, aching from smiling too hard.

When you had a panic attack during training because you couldn’t get one of your body modification attempts to reverse—”Wanda, I cannot be stuck with claws for hands, I can’t!”—she refused to let you hang up until the steady sounds of her own breathing calmed you down, the sharp nails receding and making way for the soft pads of your very human fingertips.

And when she called you after the mission in Lagos, you worked tirelessly to complete your own solo mission as soon as you could. You returned to the tower to find her holed up in the bedroom, news broadcasts playing nonstop on the television to remind her of the horrors she’d committed; accident or not, she told you, she needed to hold herself accountable. You simply shook your head at her, holding out your hand without another word. She didn’t take it at first.

“You can’t fix it, Y/N. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called you.” She was expecting you to fight her back on it, yell at her and demand that she take your hand, or perhaps you’d go the complete opposite direction and leave her alone, let her be swallowed by guilt and anguish, rip open old wounds and form new ones as she thought of how she tore apart families that were probably much like her own. You did neither.

Wanda’s green eyes remained fixed on your outstretched hand. You stayed silent, one eyebrow cocked as if daring her to see what would happen should she choose not to take it. It was only then that she realized, for once in her life, the person she most loved wasn’t leaving; the support she so desperately needed wouldn’t be yanked away from her when it was mere centimeters from her grasp.

So she rested her fingers in the palm of your hand, and you pulled her out to the balcony where the two of you had spent night after night watching the stars instead of sleeping, making up funny names for each of them and rolling in fits of laughter that only came to those delirious and sleep-deprived enough to understand just what was so funny. Except, this time, instead of dropping into the oversized beanbag chair that was the usual spot of your stargazing shenanigans, she watched curiously as you removed your shirt. Her mouth dropped as you closed your eyes and allowed the white feathers to emerge from beside the ridges of your spine. Although it was a process she’d seen several times before, your modifications had never ceased to amaze her, and your angel-like wings had always been her favorite. The witch admired the additions as you allowed them to flap slowly, once, twice, before turning back to her.

“Let’s go,” you finally spoke, the order gentle but leaving no room for negotiation.

“Where are we going?”

“Away.” That was enough for the brunette, who squeezed your hand before following your lead. She allowed you to guide her through the maze of clouds and couldn’t help but smile softly as the sun’s rays hit your face at just the right angle. You wore the exhaustion from your recent mission on your face, and streaks of dirt covered the bruises that she was sure littered your body. But she was content, in awe, because you were you. You didn’t put up walls to hide your scars from the world, didn’t use passive-aggressiveness to hide the passion that burned in your heart. At the end of the day, you were good, purely and truly good. You were an angel; even the sun knew it.

What Wanda didn’t realize, but what you taught her that night, as she sat surrounded by sunflowers, the moon, thousands of gleaming stars, and the tickle of your feathers as your wing pulled her close to you, was that she was one too.

“I’m glad you called me,” you whispered, your eyes not leaving the open sky as you pointed out a particularly bright spot. “I’m gonna call that one… Philip. He looks regal, real proud. Look at him, so much brighter than the others, and he knows it too.” The witch breathed out a soft chuckle, stroking her fingers over your feathers as she responded.

“I’m glad I called you too. And I think Philip is a good name for him. What about that one?”

“Hmm… Walter? He’s a bit more serious, I think. But you see the one next to him?” You waited until you got a nod from the girl before continuing. “That’s his sister. She makes sure he has fun, even when he says he doesn’t want to. But you name her, Wands. Naming stars is a two-person job, you know.” She squeezed the elbow that you nudged her with before giving in.

“Alright… that’s Delia. And, yeah, she’s the best. The life of the party. Walter keeps her grounded, though,” Wanda added, to which you agreed to with a hum. You two fell quiet after that, enjoying the comfortable silence and looking up at the twinkling lights, some of them gaining names and stories, others waiting to be named another night.

“Wanda?”

“Yeah?”

“You call me if you ever need me, okay? I know we started this with me calling you, but I’m here for you too.” The witch met your eyes with a firm bob of her head, but you continued, desperate to make sure she understood. “And if I don’t pick up at first, you call me back, okay? Call me until I respond, promise?”

“I promise,” Wanda soothed gently. “I will.”

“Okay, good, good. Because,” Wanda felt a brush of your feathers against her upper arm as you fluttered your wings, slightly agitated, “because I think I love you. I mean, um, I know. I know I love you. I love you. Yeah, I-” Wanda shut you up with a kiss, her lips pressed urgently against yours. And if you hadn’t lost your breath from your rambling or your declaration of love to the girl of your dreams, then you most definitely lost it as your lips melted into hers, in the comforting warmth of her palm against your cheek, and in the words that left her mouth as you finally pulled apart, breathless.

“I will, Y/N, I promise. Because I love you too.”

---

People thought you were inseparable before you started dating, but they all realized how wrong they were after that night. The two twin beds quickly became a queen-sized mattress, sideline support during training sessions became fierce yet playful spars, and the private giggles you guys shared grew tenfold. Fury wasn’t exactly happy that his unofficial daughter was now dating, but he was pleased by how efficiently the two of you worked together, which led you to this moment, the two of you covering the Quinjet while waiting for the rest of the Avengers to finish their business inside the massive Hydra base. With Wanda covering the ground and you in the sky, flying with the white-feathered wings that Wanda loved so dearly, the two of you held off the swarms of Hydra agents relatively well. With a small break in between incoming agents, Wanda looked up to check on you, but she was a moment too late. Before she could even think to warn you, the pure feathers she loved to brush her fingers through fell from the sky, the white stained with red, your screams ripping through her eardrums.

No one, including Wanda, had time to think as she exploded with a new rage, one that hadn’t run through her in years. One that she hoped she would never experience again, but here she was. And there you were.

While you were held in the air by her signature red mist, the opposing agents fell to the ground. She didn’t care about their screams, only yours. And with them all dealt with, she could turn to you, rushing you both into the Quinjet and yelling for the other Avengers to get back here, now.

But her efforts were futile. She could press down on the wounds all she wanted, beg for you to come back until her voice was nothing more than a whisper, but nothing would work. You were gone the instant the missile had hit you, and as much as Wanda wanted to deny the truth, she knew it just as much as your other teammates did when they rushed onto the Quinjet. You were gone before you could say a single goodbye.

---

The first time Wanda called was from your shared bedroom. She dialed your number before tracing the pillow where your head would have laid, running her fingers over the cartoon carrots that covered the comforter. The yellow bedding set was a gag gift Tony had gotten the two of you when you got your new bed.

“You know, since I figure the two of you will be going at it like rabbits,” he winked before getting immediately smacked in the back of the head by Steve.

“They will be doing no such thing,” the supersoldier had chastised him with a roll of his eyes. “God, Stark, sometimes I forget you have a brain when you say such stupid things.”

But you loved it, telling Wanda, “The carrots remind me of you, Bunny.” And how could she return the present when you were being so sweet about it? But the sheets didn’t make her smile in the same way they once did because you were gone. No one was there to tease her about the way her nose wiggled much like the little white fluffy creatures or promise to get her carrots from the market the next day.

The call went to voicemail, and as bittersweet as it was, Wanda savored it because it was you. Your voice. But the beep came far too soon, and your turn was done. So she spoke.

“Y/N, hey, it’s me, Wanda. I, um, I love you. I’ll always love you, yeah?” The witch put the phone down, thinking that was all she could bear to say as the lump in her throat ballooned in size and hot tears filled her eyes. But just before time was up, her hand shot up to press the device against her ear again. “Call me back, milaya.”

---

The second time Wanda called was from the balcony. The brunette eyed the sparkling diamonds that filled the sky, wondering how you could be gone when, the last time she was here, you were right there beside her, laughing over the boys’ latest shenanigans and Ned, the newly named star.

Now, the beanbag chair felt too big, too empty without another person sitting next to her. Without you. So she dialed your number, the only number she bothered to learn by heart, and waited for the dulcet tones of your voice. As the dial tone rang, she ran one hand over the white feather that laid gingerly in her lap. Natasha had given it to her along with several others a few days after your death. Each of the team members had one to remember you by, but the spy had picked out the biggest and most brilliant ones to give to Wanda.

“I know how much her wings meant to you-” Natasha stiffened as Wanda threw her arms around her. But the witch didn’t care, her tears soaking the redhead’s shirt as she tried to find the words to thank her. She couldn’t, but it was okay. Natasha knew anyway. Wanda had little time to reflect on the memory before her face brightened at the sound of your voice.

“Hi, this is Y/N-

“And her girlfriend, Wanda! She’s taken, so don’t even think about it, you jerk!” Wanda smiled slightly at your jubilant laughter, remembering how you’d pushed her away for interrupting you.

“I’m not available right now, but leave me your name, number, and message and I’ll call you back as soon as I can, okay? Talk to you soon.” The witch’s eyes closed slightly as the greeting ended with a spell of your giggles before it was interrupted by that damn beep. God, how she hated that beep. Nevertheless, she took a breath and spoke out into the clear night sky, looking up at the stars as she did so.

“Hi, lyubov moya, it’s me. Wanda. I’m calling you back, just like you told me to. I’m not okay. I need you. I love you.” Her breath caught in her throat, forcing her to pause for a moment, but she forced herself to keep going a second later. “Sam and Bucky did the stupidest thing today. Nat and Steve were all over their asses. You should’ve seen it. I miss you. Please, call me back. I’ll tell you all about it.”

---

The last time Wanda called was from the sunflower field. The two of you hadn’t been here since the night you told her you loved her. In fact, it took Wanda several hours to find it since she hadn’t been paying much attention to the route the first time you came.

Once again, the night was clear, the stars lighting up the dark canvas with their radiance. She missed the feeling of your wing wrapped around her, of your presence next to her. But she had one of your feathers in her fingers and your voice in her ear, and to ask for more would be greedy, right?

“Hi, angel. It’s Wanda. I’m calling you back to leave a message, but I can’t do it again after this because I don’t want your voicemail to fill up, okay? I’m sorry, I know I’m being selfish, but I need to be able to hear your voice, so I can’t let it fill up. But I haven’t forgotten you, I promise I haven’t. I never will. I’m still-” Wanda swallowed, a fighting effort to calm the waver in her voice. “I’m still not okay, but I’m trying. For you. But I’m not okay, I need you to call me back. I’ve named one up there Halia, but her twin sister needs a name. And naming stars is a two-person job, you know.” The witch sniffed once as the corner of her lip curved up slightly, remembering the playfulness in your voice when you’d first said the line. “Call me back, Y/N, please.”

With the message over, Wanda clutched the phone to her chest, her breaths becoming faster and shallower as she closed her eyes, trying to accept the knowledge that it’d be the last time she’d ever leave a message, the knowledge that she was really losing you… the knowledge that she already lost you.

---

Months went by. Wanda wasn’t sure how they did, but they did. The first sign of it was the first Halloween without you, as she saw the other couples dressing up in matching costumes that you would’ve loved, costumes you would’ve pointed out to Wanda with an excited bounce and told her you’d have to wear next year. The next was Thanksgiving, when Wanda ran through the list of everything she was thankful for and came up short when she thought about the people she still had left. And then it was Christmas, and Valentine’s Day, and the first day of summer.

And while Wanda did her best to move on, she always found herself under the stars, dialing your number. She sat on the balcony, in the sunflower field, wherever she could see the sky, and she listened to your voice telling her that you’d call her back as soon as you could, always forcing herself to hang up a second before the beep could cut you off. Wanda named every other star she saw, leaving the ones in between for you and hoping that you’d approve of the names she chose.

“I’m naming that one Angel for you, Y/N,” Wanda murmured. “It’s even brighter than Philip. It’s the brightest star in the sky. I know you think it’s silly to name things after people, but this one’s just special, so you’re gonna have to make an exception, okay?” The brunette’s lips stopped moving, but her eyes stayed wide open as she watched the star as if, if she watched it long enough, studied it hard enough, you would materialize from its luminescence. As if you would come back to her. But when you didn’t, she finally allowed her watering eyes to rest, her eyelids drooping to surround her in darkness.

“I’m not okay, Y/N.” The witch’s voice was softer than it had ever been, more tired. But this time, there was no one to whisk her off and make her forget the heaviness of it all. “I need you so badly. I love you so much. I always will. But, please, angel, call me back.”

#wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maximoff x fem!reader #wanda maximoff x you #wanda maximoff imagine #wanda maximoff #avengers x reader #marvel #mcu #I wrote something #alwaysmarveling

484 notes · View notes

penddraig · 1 year ago

Text

drained of almost all his strength and energy as he is, howl can only watch eivor’s back as she makes her weak way inside. her hair is scattered all about much like a bird’s nest might be, strands of hair ripped from her braid and scattered every which way. she stumbles so clumsily and so off-balance that howl is sure she’ll pitch all the way over and collapse before she can reach the door. by all account of luck, calcifer’s had the good sense to stop the castle from moving, patiently awaiting the pair to move in through its door. howl thinks, for now, that eivor should be the only one through. he bides his time on the ground, waiting with exhausted patience to regain enough of his strength to vanish his wings and retract his feathers. that, too, he fears, will hurt.

calcifer is taken aback at the sight of eivor and, while he’s at it, at the discovering amount of magic still radiating from her body and the runic sacrifice that bleeds its way into the floorboards. not a few moments later, michael comes bounding down the stairs, having heard the commotion and, on account of his atmospheric delves into magic during his lessons, felt the shift in calcifer’s limits. for what it’s worth, the floorboards aren’t quite as seared through as they could be, with the demon protecting its integrity.

eivor is out cold before either of them can ask. the fire and boy exchange a look. then michael is over to her side, awkwardly hoisting her up on one of his arms and dragging her to the hearth, as close as he can take her. calcifer knows better than to try and reach out for her, especially in her current state, so instead, michael takes to dampening up a rag, cleaning what blood he can from her stained hair and face. he's exceedingly cautious as he does it, occasionally moving back to recover from the magic that sears the very air inside the castle.

a few minutes later, howl strides in, looking ragged and dishevelled and tired and bloodied and still taking great care with the weight on one of his ankles. he shuts the door, turns the knob blue-down until sunlight streams in from a different part of the country entirely, and makes his way up the steps, where he begins to gather crude material to clean the god's surface wounds. he also grabs a vial from a shelf by the window. ❝ i’ll need a paper and pen as well, ❞ he says to michael, who scurries off without question to find it and bring it to him.

sitting next to the unconscious god, howl begins the task of wiping down every visible part of her that he can. once michael brings the material, he dismisses the boy, leaving only himself and calcifer in main room as both work in tandem to energise her magic. her rune he allows to linger, casting a moderate ward of protection over the floor and ceiling and walls. when he's through cleaning up what he can on the outside, then grabs the pen, marking out a winding symbol on the paper. he presses the pad of his thumb to his tongue, wetting the page around the mark, then presses his palm on the paper and mutters a word. when he lifts his hand, the symbol is carved into his skin.

❝ she said you were attacked, ❞ says the fire demon.

❝ we were, ❞ comes howl's answer, as he sets his clean hand on the stone edge of calcifer's little furnace. ❝ and she took the brunt of the attack, too. i daresay she was the only one who fended them off. and don't start, old thing. i did plenty myself. but she's clearly in a worse state than i am, and i'm in no mood to make jokes about what happened. wait a week, at least, before you start poking fun at me, and maybe then i won't be so quick to frustrate as i will be for the next few hours. now, will you help me with the rest of this ? ❞

calcifer nods his flickering orange-and-blue head. they need only share a look before howl sets the hand with the symbol in his palm over eivor's throat, beneath his chin, and gently curls his fingers around her neck in a loose hold. he murmurs a few indecipherable words. then the spaces between and beneath his fingers glows a gentle blue. he stifles a grimace, channeling what vitality he can into eivor. the amount he and calcifer thread through her skin and ligaments and bones and bloodstream would be enough to kill most regular humans. in this case, he feels it's hardly enough to keep a fly alive if, of course, eivor were the fly.

by the time they're finished, howl has broken a third sweat. a droplet, tinged a translucent red from a bit of leftover blood, runs down his cheek, and when he removes his hand, the symbol looks slightly burnt into eivor's skin, like a brand. in several hours, when it's finished trickling out the rest of the energy that howl put into it, it will fade and vanish. slowly, the wizard stands, and calcifer says something about taking it easy himself. howl doesn't listen. he retires up the stairs, then returns a few minutes later with sheets and a pillow. those, he places beneath the staircase. then he moves eivor from her spot by the hearth, carrying her carefully to the bed there and placing her down. he covers her halfway with a sheet, looking down at her with a pained frown, then turns away.

this feathered beast, she’s seen before. once in a vision — before they ever met, and once much more recent. then there is now, and it has not lost its splendor. what a magnificent creature howl is ( a different type of beauty than the one he is otherwise. howl is both a saint and a monster, but the god dares to love all forms. she cannot, will not, differentiate between them despite his own feelings ), and just as mysterious. it has taken all the raven’s willpower to not pry when he seems so determined to avoid confession ... but now is not the time for any of it. eivor absorbs what she can as she watches, unblinking, the gruesome metamorphosis. what a violent transformation, borne of blood and groaning pain. this acceptance, she respects. at times there is no avoiding agony, one must simply endure it, and endure it he does. howl seems so accustomed to it his face hardly twitches. at first they run to get a head start, and when she is swept into his feathered arms ( and her breath along with her ), she clings to howl instead. for dear life, she holds him and thinks to herself : i will never forgive you if you drop me, now ! the ground leaves them too quickly. she tries not to look, but coils both her arms and legs around him as though she might die a terrible death if she does not. scarred cheek is reddened by the stain of his life as crimson flings off his feathers in the wind - whip of the skies — and she, cradled flush to this bestial form, finds a kind of intimacy here. not one she would have chosen, but the hum of his magic and the beating of his powerful wings pound in the same way as her heart.

🙶 no. 🙷 wolfsmal tells the honest truth, voice muffled against the spines of his feathers. at times a lie might be better, but there is no benefit to it now.

she does not know for how long they fly. she does not know how she endures the pain, either, as her battle - blood wanes from her muscle like an ebbing tide. with each inch that leaves her, the agony reaches further deep. to her marrow she can feel the tendrils of shadowy claws, though they do not mar her any more, the injury is very real and the violent magic that wrought it has been driven deep. she loses consciousness, at one point ( briefly, head lolling. it lasts but a breath. a heartbeat, before eivor jostles herself out of it to the best of her exhausted ability ). it has been a long time since she has been wounded so severely, and that does not change even as they reach his home. a place the wizard so graciously shares, which keeps her safe and hidden. howl lands ungracefully, and eivor crumples at the same instance her feet touch the ground and fail to support her weight — the harpy collapses not far away, but she still hears the relay of information about the door. gods, it's so far. and eivor groans as she rolls over onto her good arm and uses it to push herself up.

a fine image of clumsiness she is as she stumbles. bloodied fist barely strong enough still to grasp the doorknob and turn it. eivor falls to her knees once more as the threshold swings open, met with the spooked fire in the hearth. the raven god's weight tumbles forward, palm clapping unceremoniously onto the wood as she tries and tries to pick herself up again. crimson handprints stain any surface she touches, but it is a chair, and finally the tabletop that get her up once more, with slick blood dirtying even the prints of her boots and imprinting itself into the memory of this castle. eivor's sacrifice still hums with magic, and it sizzles into the floorboards. it is burning her inside, too.

🙶 cal— calcifer, 🙷 eivor rasps. she is weak, and pale. ghastly. all color has drained from her flesh, leaving only ashen grey and the stark black contrast of her ancient tattoos. 🙶 we were attacked. if you sense any- any disturbance. tell me. 🙷 but that is all eivor has left to muster. strength now sapped, gone.

for the last time, the wolf - kissed falls onto the ground. the light has left her to comforting unconsciousness. she will sleep ... until her body decides once more to wake.

#notodin #( ;; sorry for writing 3 pages of a novel in response. )#( ;; it was NEEDED. )#long post //#.゜–– iv . * a fickle heart is the only constant in this world .#.゜–– ic . * thread .

13 notes · View notes

nightwishesworld · 4 years ago

Note

hello! do you think you could do a chapter with fem!reader whose afraid of thunderstorms and wakes up in the middle of the night because of it but doesn’t wanna wake alcina so she just stays awake but the storm goes on for like a week and this keeps happening until she notices and comforts you through it by like cuddles or talking you to sleep to distract you from it :)

Oh my god I hate the way this came out. My brain just could not process this for some reason. I also couldn't make it as long as a week, my apologies.

**************

One dark evening at Castle Dimitrescu a storm rolled in. Relatively speaking, it was quite harmless and most of the inhabitants of the castle were unbothered by the storm.

Except you.

Late into the evening, whilst most were asleep, the storm was at its strongest - the crackle of thunder rolling through the halls as flashes of lightning illuminated the darkest corners of the room. You were trying to sleep, honest, but just as you felt the drowsiness of rest come to take you - a loud crack of thunder would jolt you awake and paralyze you with fear.

You sat with your back against the headboard, your breathing rapid.

You pulled the covers up to your chest and hugged your pillow close to your chest. Resisting the urge to run and hide in the closet like you used to do as a kid was becoming more and more difficult.

Another flash, another boom.

You knew it wasn’t logical, but you couldn’t stop yourself from flinching or jumping as the sounds of the storm roared outside. It was just so loud and you could swear the castle was shaking with it.

You squeezed your eyes shut, white-knuckling the pillow held tight against your chest and humming a song to yourself in order to distract your brain.

The sound of constant rain was suddenly accompanied by heavy hail falling, and that’s when the thoughts started charging at you full force.

What if the lightning strikes the castle? What if the castle collapsed? Did it have the right infrastructure? What if-

“Stop it, God. Stop it!” You begged your brain but to no avail. Your mind kept generously providing you with possibilities and images you did not ask for.

Another loud boom and this time you couldn’t help the cry let out before clapping a hand over your mouth and diving under the blankets.

When you didn’t hear anything for a few minutes you felt it safe enough to come out of hiding. Thankfully the vampire slumbering next to you wasn’t disturbed by your pathetic cries and whimpers. She had a rough day dealing with a very pissed off Mother Miranda and needed rest and relaxation as much as she could possibly get.

You forced yourself to lay still on your back and focus all your energy on controlling your breathing. That was the key to saving yourself a panic attack. You don’t know how long you were staring up at the ceiling, but dawn eventually came and your partner stirred from her sleep.

She would have been happy to see you if not for the redness in your eyes and puffiness surrounding them, obvious signs of lack of sleep.

“Are you alright, draga mea?” She wrapped her arms around your midsection and rested her head on your shoulder, kissing your cheek.

You didn’t answer, even though you knew Alcina wouldn’t just drop the question. She was sweet and caring like that, which is probably why you never had the heart to tell her how much of a coward you actually are.

“You didn’t sleep very well, did you?”

“Nightmares,” you rasped, trying to focus on Alcina more than the low rumbling outside. “I’ll be fine after a cup of coffee.”

She looked as though she didn’t accept that answer but quickly hid any doubts behind a warm smile. “If you’re sure.”

It felt wrong lying to her. You had never felt the need to hide anything from Alcina before, but this was just embarrassing. She’d probably laugh at you told her you were still afraid of thunderstorms.

The day progressed with relative normalcy despite the occasional sounds of rumbling. Alcina busied herself dealing with the mountain of paperwork on her desk for Mother Miranda and the girls were running amuck in the basement. Depending on which room you were in you could hear their laughter below you. Their mischief down there has always been a mystery to you, even now after living in the castle a couple of years. You knew what they were doing, but couldn't fathom the idea of enjoying it so much. You did find it rather disturbing that their torturing frightened you less than a stupid thunderstorm.

You huddled in the back section of the library behind the bookshelves so you couldn’t see the lightning out the windows. The loud rumbling still had you on edge, but a good book is always a welcome distraction. It worked so well, that you didn't hear Daniela approaching. You practically jumped three feet in the air when she was stood in front of you.

“What’s wrong with you?” Daniela asked, her voice was stern, but it also had a concerning tone to it. She had dropped her bag, keeping the knife at her side. Your breathing was heavier than usual as you tried to think of what to say. It was more than embarrassing to tell Daniela the truth. You knew for a fact she out of everyone in the castle would laugh at you. "You scared me,"

She rolled her eyes. "No, Dummy, I mean what's really wrong?"

You shrug and turn the page of your book. “Nothing.”

Another boom. You couldn’t fight off flinched.

“Oh, I think I get it. You’re afraid of-”

“Don’t tell anyone.” You clenched your fists, shutting your eyes tightly. Daniela wanted to laugh, but she didn’t. You watched as she cautiously sat back down. The redhead sat in front of you, the rain somehow sounding even louder than it had before. You looked over at Daniela, feeling the embarrassment creep upon you.

Daniela started at you with a rather confused expression, resting her arms on her knees. “Out of everything we’ve been through,” she began, “everything you’ve seen us do. Everything that goes on in this castle just below your feet,” she paused. “And you’re scared of thunder?”

You sat silently and twiddled your thumbs.

“Why?”

“Doesn’t matter,” you whisper. “It’s not important. You’re only going to run off and tell everyone.”

Daniela rolled her eyes and picked up her bag, headed once again for the basement. “Whatever, y/n, have it your way.”

You spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening shuffling around the library hiding from the white flashes. It was only when Daniela came to fetch you for dinner that you left. Luckily you were eating in the kitchen instead of the larger Dining Hall. The kitchen is much more manageable; marginally fewer windows to see the lightning. The meal carried on as it normally would; the girls boasted about their successes in the basement, Alcina discusses all the work she got done today and complains about the work she put off for tomorrow. It was almost enough to take your mind off the chaos happening just outside the windows. Almost.

The storm carried on just as confidently throughout the evening and into the night. It showed no signs of relenting, which in turn meant another sleepless night.

You wasted no time stripping your clothes and crawling into bed, back to the open windows. Alcina didn’t think much of it, simply chalking it up to being exhausted from the previous night’s lack of sleep. She wasn’t completely wrong, you did feel like you were ready to sleep for the next 24 hours. But you knew the storm wouldn’t allow you that luxury.

Pressure against your back and an arm wrapping around your midsection snapped you out of your thoughts.

“I hope you sleep tonight, my love.”

“Me too.”

An hour later and you were still wide awake listening to the rain being pelted against the windows. An anxious voice whispered impossible scenarios of the rain breaking through the windows and lightning striking you down in the safety of your bed. You tried your hardest to not toss and turn as to not disturb the woman next to you. She's not asleep yet, you can tell by the lack of snoring, but her breathing is starting to even out. You were curled up on your side, back to Alcina. She wrapped you in her arms, her chest against your back and arm across your waist. "Dove..." she whispered in your ear. "Y/n... "

"I'm sleeping, Al." You murmured snuggling further into the vampire’s arms, your eyes still closed.

"No, you're not." She stroked your side absently. “Are you sure you’re ok? You aren’t falling ill are you?”

You sigh. “No, I’m not getting sick. My body is just too exhausted to relax.”

Alcina hummed, burrowing her face in the crook of your neck. “I’ll stay up with you for a while.”

“You will not. Go to sleep Al, I’ll be fine. You had a long day yourself, one of us should be able to sleep."

"Why don't we go sit in the Drawing Room or the Library? I'll hold you in my lap and read to you." God no. Way too many windows. "Goodnight, Alcina." You feel her sigh against your skin, pushing a few stray hairs around. "Can I do anything?" "Stop worrying, it's just insomnia." "I'll stay up with you then. You shouldn't be up all by yourself staring at the ceiling." "I'm not alone, Love, you're right here with me. Asleep or not I'm still in your arms, and that helps a lot." You feel her smile against your neck and pull you closer against her front. "wake me if you need anything."

You actually slept fairly well; only waking up a few times to have Alcina soothe you back to sleep. Being tucked away in her embrace did a world of help, but you still woke up hours before Alcina did. Her eyes fluttered open and focus on your groggy face. She frowns.

"Did you sleep at all?"

You smile and kiss her lips. "Yes, I actually slept a lot better last night than before."

"Good," she pulls you back to kiss you again.

*******************************************************************************************

Later in the afternoon Bela and Cassandra invited (dragged you really) into the Drawing Room to play a game of cards.

Everything was going really well. You were laughing and playing with the girls like everything was as it should be in Castle Dimitrescu.

You were made astutely aware of the situation outside again when a loud crack of thunder shook the castle. There was another flash and clap of thunder, this time loud enough to make Cassandra flinch.

You abruptly shot up from the table. “Sorry. I need a minute.” You rushed down the hall into one of the guest rooms. Cassandra and Bela shared a confused glance and watched as you hurried away. They’d never seen you so flighty and nervous before. Neither could tell what was wrong.

They laid on the carpet and silently counted to sixty before following you to down the corridor.

“Y/n?” Bela softly knocked on the door. “It’s been a minute.”

There was no response. More thunder. Bela frowned. “We’re coming in, okay?”

She opened the door a crack and poked her head inside. You were nowhere to be seen. “Y/n?” Cassandra called, stepping further inside and glancing around the room. The sisters checked under the bed, then under the covers, even under the shade of the bedside lamp. Then Bela peered out of the rain-soaked window for good measure. Where else could you be?

Just as Cassandra decided she was stumped, she heard a rustling from behind her and a muffled, “I’m in here.” She turned around in confusion because the only place they hadn’t checked in that direction was…

They crept over to the closet and carefully slid open the door. The girls smiled when they found you sitting on the ground, curled up with your head between your knees. “Playing hide and seek now, are we?” Bela said. “Next round I call being the— um, y/n?”

“I’m fine,” you mumbled, staying right where you were. “Sorry.”

“S-Sorry for what…?” Cassandra crouched down beside you. The closet almost had enough space for the three of you to fit.

“Y/n, please. Something’s obviously bothering you, can’t you tell us?”

All three of you startled as another flash of lightning cut into the room, followed by another growl of thunder. You tightened your grip around your legs. Bela’s jaw dropped.

“It’s the storm,” she said, half a question, half a statement. “You’re scared of thunder?”

“It’s childish.”

“Oh, y/n…”

“I’m weak. Something as dumb and simple as loud noises shouldn’t make me so—”

“Y/n. Look at me.” Cassandra’s gently stern tone convinced you to move your head so your chin rested on your knees. You side-eyed the girls, trying to imitate your usual stoicism. It was difficult with red-rimmed eyes.

“A phobia doesn’t make you childish, or weak— do you know how many people have a fear of thunder, y/n? A lot of humans.”

“A lot of Uncle Heisenberg’s lycans as well,” Bela chimed in.

“And are you going to go around insulting them? No, Y/n, because that’s not nice. So don’t insult yourself for the same thing.” Cassandra waved around her index finger as she spoke. Your eyes widened and followed the movement. Both girls laughed.

“Is that what’s been giving you nightmares?”

You shake your head. “I just haven’t been sleeping; too tense.”

Cassandra giggled. “Just ask mother for extra cuddles, not like she’ll say no.”

“Or a more intimate distraction,” Bela winked.

Both sisters giggle at the blush creeping on your cheeks.

“Can we sit here with you?” Bela asked, already taking the vacant spot on your right.

You shrugged— as much as you could in this balled-up position. “You don’t have to.”

“It’s ok y/n, we don’t mind.”

They sat on either side of you, Bela holding your hand, enjoying the comfortable silence that cast over you.

*******************************************************************************************

A loud crack of thunder jolted Alcina awake. Cursing to herself she eyed the clock across the room–2:06 am. Raking a hand down her face, she jolted again when another crack of thunder echoed through the castle. It wasn’t a minute later that an insistent downpour of rain started pelting the roof and windows followed by an angry howling of the wind. You stirred next to her in the bed. You were mumbling in what sounded like a mix of Romanian and English. Alcina swallowed thickly because she knew what that meant; another night terror. She laid back down and curled herself against you, cocooning herself against your back. Alcina placed a few stray kisses on your shoulders and the nape of your neck, smoothing her hands along your hipbone in the process. You calmed after a few minutes, your mumbling returning to the steadying breaths of deep sleep. Alcina sighed in relief and closed her eyes in hopes that she could drift back to sleep.

KRAK-OOOOOM!

Alcina sat up on the bed and saw you still appeared to be sleeping, though you looked somewhat agitated. She reached over and attempted to run her fingers through your hair but all that succeeded in doing was causing you to jolt awake.

You woke up with a strangled yell and starting crawling out from underneath the sheets. You sat with your back against the headboard, your breathing and heart rate rapid. Alcina crawled over and realized you were having a panic attack. “Y/n, can you hear me?” You nodded, your eyes squeezed shut as tears started leaking from the corners. You clamped a hand over your mouth, and Alcina realized you were trying to silence your breathing. “Honey no, don’t do that, just focus on me,” she pulled your hand away from your mouth slowly. You shook your head and tried to take your hand back. “No no no... I can’t- I-I-I can’t wake Al-Alcina,” you gasped. “It’s alright, Dove, just follow my breathing.” Alcina took exaggerated breaths to demonstrate. You started calming down slightly. “That’s it, everything is alright, just keep breathing.” You seemed to calm down more with the breathing exercises. “I’m going to get you a glass of water“ Alcina started to say, but was cut off by you grabbing her arm. “No! Don’t-don’t lea- don’t leave, please, don’t- don’t” you closed her eyes, her breath quickening again. “Sweetheart, breathe with me. In, out. In, out.” Alcina took your hand and put it on her chest. “Breathe with me. In, out. In, out.” Your breathing returned to normal. After sitting in silence for a bit, Alcina turned to her.

“Another night terror?” She asked. You looked away for a minute, ashamed of yourself.

“No.”

God, you probably woke her up, good job.

Alcina couldn’t keep an amused smile from forming. “Can my little dove not sleep because of the thunderstorm?”

As if on cue, a blinding bolt of lightning crackled down from the sky. The following rumble of thunder seemed to shake the castle. You let out a whimper and shielded yourself from the sky. “How could I possibly sleep when it sounds like the sky is falling?!”

Alcina hums and pulls you close against her. “There’s nothing wrong with a healthy fear, Dove. It brings out the human in you.”

“UGH! Just-!”

KRAK-OOOOOM!

Another shriek, barely muffled by Alcina’s shoulder, had you violently trembling. You were barely holding yourself together.

Wracked with terror, eyes shut tightly, you found yourself unable to prevent the reflexive compulsion to cling to something nearby.

Which, in this case, was Alcina, who was left staring in shocked silence at the violently trembling form with arms wrapped tightly around her midsection. She immediately wrapped her arms around you again and began rubbing soothing circles on your back.

“Calm down. You’re fine,” She spoke softly, ignoring the buzz under her skin as she soaked in the unwitting embrace like a dry sponge in water. Soothingly, she rubbed up to your shoulder blades. “There we are, my love,” Alcina chuckled. “I’ve got you. Listen to my voice,” She rumbled, speaking soft but firm as the thunder forced smaller tremors through the floor. “You’re going to relax. I’m going to help you. Just lay here with me and close your eyes. I’ll hold you all night if you want me to.”

Gradually, the sound faded and petered off back into the loud patter of rain against the windows but Alcina held you tightly still. She could feel the flutter of your heartbeat against her own, almost impressed that you hadn’t passed out from fear alone.

“Why didn’t you say anything? The storm’s been going on for days now you must have been petrified.”

“I didn’t want you to know,” you mumbled into her neck. “It’s a pathetic fear I’ve had since I was a kid. I don’t want you to think less of me.”

“You think something as trivial as a phobia would make me think less of you?” She pulled you even tighter against her. You melted into her embrace. “Clearly I haven’t been a very good partner to you.”

“No Al, it’s not like that. Gods, you’re an amazing partner. It’s just my stupid insecurities. You’re all so fearless and brave. You’re not afraid of anything, and then there’s me; tiny, inferior, afraid of a little thunderstorm.”

She sighed and continued rubbing circles on your back. “I’m not fearless.”

“Yeah right,” you scoff. “What could the great and powerful Alcina Dimitrescu possibly be afraid of?”

“Death.”

You wriggled out of her arms just enough to turn and face her. “What? But, you’re immortal. Death isn’t really something you have to worry about.”

She gave a small smile and brought a hand to cup your face. “I never said my death, sweet one.”

Oh...OH

“The girls are clever, they can get themselves out of most situations unscathed, but still, we can be slain. And there have been some pretty close calls in the past. And you,” she rubbed gentle circles on your cheek. “Your death is inevitable. It gnaws at the back of my mind every time I look at you. Every time morning I have to untangle myself from your embrace I remember that one day I’ll wake up alone and wish I cuddled with you for just a bit longer."

"Al, I didn't-"

"I can't always be there to protect you, including the girls. If I could take the brunt of all conflict for you I would gladly do so, but that's unfortunately not how life works. I'm just left worrying until I know for sure you're all safe."

She hummed into your neck and kissed your pulse point. "How selfish of me, I'm supposed to be comforting you, not the other way around. If I paid more attention I would have known, I’m sorry, my love.”

“Don’t apologize, just hold me.”

Alcina kissed the top of your head. “With pleasure.”

Soon enough you did fall asleep again, your arms still clinging tight around the vampire’s upper midsection. Alcina found a comfortable enough position and allowed herself to drift away as well.

#lady dimitrescu x reader #lady Alcina #tall vampire lady #alcina dimitrescu #bela dimitrescu #cassandra dimitrescu #daniela dimitrescu #resident evil #resident evil village #resident evil 8

546 notes · View notes

pokemonispain · 3 years ago

Text

Absorption-Zhongli/Aether

Summary: Following the battle with Osial, Aether finds himself incredibly sick after getting a very heavy dose of adeptal energy.

_____________________________________________________________

Aether groans softly, bringing a hand up to clutch at his throbbing head as he trudged his way to the room he’d rented at Wangshu Inn, forever thankful for the numerous teleporters scattered around Teyvat.

To say that today had been a long day was the biggest understatement Aether had heard in the last 500 or so years. Between fighting Childe in the golden house, defeating the Fatui as well as the Overlord of the Vortex Osial to help protect Liyue from being washed away, and finally finding out that the Geo Archon was under his nose the whole time, working with the Fatui as a test of sorts for the people of Liyue.

Well, Aether was sure that he’d had enough excitement to last a lifetime, he was exhausted, battered, bruised, and absolutely positively drained as well as just generally didn’t feel too good at the moment.

Hell, after dealing with Osial he could barely muster up the energy necessary to be angry at Childe and by extension Zhongli. Aether should be pissed beyond belief considering how betrayed he felt by Zhongli especially, but he was just too tired of everything.

Aether had been in Liyue for a few weeks, nearly a month or two, having had met Zhongli through Childe, very shortly after he reached the harbor. For some reason Aether and Zhongli seemed to get along almost instantly, Zhongli seemed to almost give off this calming aura that made Aether relax around him.

Truthfully at the time something had seemed off, the wisdom hidden behind Zhongli’s eyes often seemed far too old to belong to the human he claimed to be.

And yet, Aether had dismissed it because all the Adepti he’d met seemed to believe that Rex Lapis was well and truly gone, even the half Adeptus Ganyu, who worked with Ningguang had claimed that Rex Lapis was dead. It wouldn’t have been the first time Aether had mistaken a human for being something more, he wasn’t infallible after all, and in his millions, upon billions of years traveling the stars, there were always the occasional mistakes.

Aether and Zhongli had begun to grow closer as well, and they would often find themselves seeking out one another’s presence with Aether frequently visiting Zhongli at Wangsheng funeral parlor, simply taking walks with him and listening to him talk or joining him for the occasional meal and drink or two.

On the flip side, Zhongli’s eyes always seemed to light up with interest whenever Aether told him tales about his time traveling the stars, he’d often offer Aether the chance to stay in his apartment for the night instead of at Wangshu inn, and they’d share breakfast when Aether woke up.

And while there were the occasional lingering touches or longing looks along with the two of them obviously enjoying each other’s company, they clearly had something and cared about one another but it hadn’t truly been defined at the time.

Now though, while Aether would be lying if he said he could just disregard all of that now that he knew the truth he also couldn’t deny that it definitely stung.

Aether all but collapses on the bed, sitting down on its edge with a rather loud sigh as he puts his face in his hands.

“Are you sure you’re okay Aether,” Paimon asked as she appeared before him, trying to peer slightly into his face and her voice full of hesitation.

Aether merely nodded slightly stopping when that made him feel as if his brain were rattling around in his skull, honestly, he wouldn’t be surprised if he had a concussion somehow especially considering Childe had broken the floor of the golden house causing him to fall.

He’d attempted to open his wings, that he once had when traveling the stars with his sister, out of habit at that time only to remember that he no longer had them.

Aether begins removing his shoes, his fingers unnaturally clunky and slow as he does. His entire body is heavy and aching, feeling all too much like one giant sore, he wants nothing more than to just go to sleep.

Feeling a slight irritating tickle at the back of his throat Aether begins coughing, the noise going from slightly quiet to incredibly harsh almost violent with little to no warning, the action making his chest feel as if it was crinkling slightly.

Paimon flutters around Aether for a moment looking slightly panicked by the harsh coughs leaving his mouth. “Aether, are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been coughing a lot since we left Liyue harbor.”

Aether nodded as he massaged and cleared his throat, sniffing slightly. His throat felt bruised almost which was just one more issue to add to the already long list.

Aether waves away Paimon’s concern however and Paimon falls quiet as she draws back slowly with a frown. Her last question going unasked, dying on her lips before she can even speak it.

Aether already doesn’t look good, his face pale and his amber eyes hazy as if he’s having trouble focusing, he’s covered in bruises and scrapes some from Childe and others from the Fatui and by extension Osial’s attacks. He looks beyond exhausted as if the very weight of the world was pressing down on him.

When the truth about Rex Lapis and by extension Zhongli had been revealed to them Paimon had honestly been expecting to be comforting Aether on the trip back home. But the young man hadn’t even cried at the news, barely even reacting and Paimon didn't know if that was worse or not.

She was scared to voice her questions in case the dam holding back Aether’s emotions at the moment broke.

“I’m fine…just…tired I guess,” Aether eventually murmured. His voice is slightly hoarse and each breath he takes he can feel crackling in his chest. But he brushes it off, ignoring it, what was a few possibly cracked ribs on top of everything else.

In the morning he’d be healed and wake up just fine like usual. His injuries never truly seemed to last long with most healing after a good nights sleep. He wants nothing more than to just collapse in bed right now and go to sleep, but he forces himself to get to his feet and Paimon frantically flutters around him when he sways dangerously in place for a moment.

Eventually, though he waves away her concern as he trudges into the bathroom to take a bath or a shower, his skin feels gritty almost, a fine layer of dust, grime, blood, and sweat coating it. Even after a shower, however, Aether feels miserable.

As he trudges back to bed and lays down all he can hope is that he feels better in the morning, physically at least that is.

If he does he intends to head to liyue harbor and get some answers from Zhongli immediately.

Paimon watches him with worried eyes from her usual sleeping spot on the sofa as Aether extinguishes the lamp sitting on the nightstand, before silently rolling over.

“Good night Aether,” she said softly after a moment, with Aether merely giving a soft hum of acknowledgment.

Through the night as she tries her best to go to sleep, Paimon can hear Aether coughing softly, a raspy slightly harsh sound that only has her worries growing as the night progresses.

At one point Paimon looks over at Aether wondering if she should get up and go to him when Aether suddenly sits up as if startled awake.

“A-Aether?”

Aether sits there, his eyes incredibly wide as he slowly blinks, at first he was extremely confused and disoriented having no clue as to why his body had decided to jolt him awake after it’d taken him hours to finally drift off to sleep in the first place.

He feels awful, it’s far, far too hot as if he were suddenly being baked alive leaving his skin sensitive almost, the blanket covering his lap which had previously felt incredibly soft now feels as scraping against his skin like sandpaper.

His chest aches, feeling as though something were sitting on it like a crushing weight. Aether grimaces clutching at his chest as he curls into himself, gritting his teeth even his own touch is painful, sending sparks of pain jumping along his skin.

He can hear Paimon talking and more than likely fluttering around him, although he can faintly register that she seems frantic; he can't make out anything she’s saying. It’s muffled, coming to him as if he’s underwater.

A wave of nausea slams into him violently as his stomach churns furiously, feeling as if it were throwing a tantrum inside of him.

Swallowing thickly Aether takes a deep shuddering breath, well as much as the ache in his chest will allow.

Considering he felt battered and bruised when he went to bed, he can’t help but wonder if this pain in his chest is a broken rib or something. Truthfully Aether isn’t sure and he can’t help but be a bit scared by that fact.

He’s experienced broken ribs before, as well as punctured lungs, this feels like something is constricting his chest, squeezing it until it caves in under the pressure.

He has no clue whatever is causing this pain but everything in him wants it to stop.

Aether whimpers, flinching away when Paimon’s familiar hands on his back send a sharp pain sparking across his skin.

This time however Paimon’s frantic voice reaches his ears, when she speaks.

“Aether you’re glowing,” she exclaimed frantically, worry and panic coating every inch of her voice.

Aether makes a choked gasping noise as he slowly opens his eyes a bit, his hand not clutching his chest is gripping the blanket so tightly it seems as if it might rip, and to his shock Paimon is right. A faint golden light is cloaking his body, creating an almost ethereal glow.

Aether can’t voice his shock however, hell it’s a struggle for him to simply breathe at the moment not to mention the intense waves of nausea rolling over him almost relentlessly.

He groans swallowing thickly as he tries to force back the bile threatening to surge up his throat, his stomach roiling and sloshing inside of him as his head throbbed viscously in time with his heartbeat as if threatening to split itself open.

Aether feels as if he’s burning alive from the inside out and truthfully he wouldn’t be shocked honestly, his skin is stinging and tingling fiercely, every little wince, flinch even the breath he takes sends pain sparking along it.

This pain isn’t helped in the slightest when his stomach lurches, a surge of its contents surging up his throat and filling his mouth in an instant.

Aether just barely manages to close his mouth, his hand shakily leaving the blanket to come up and cover it. Even that small movement is a challenge sending pain dancing along every inch of his skin and it only gets worse when he attempts to get up and go to the bathroom.

The moment he manages to ease himself out of bed, and at a sluggishly slow pace no less, the intense pain nearly takes his breath away. He nearly screams, a choked gasping noise leaving him due to his tightly sealed lips as tears fill his eyes and stars burst in his vision.

He hasn’t even begun moving yet but his legs are violently shaking beneath him so much that Aether is shocked that he’s even still standing.

He continues his painfully slow walk to the bathroom, struggling to keep his stomach contents inside of him the entire time as he lurches and convulses trying to send up more of its contents.

By the time he actually manages to get to the bathroom, tears are running freely down his face as his entire body feels as if it’s turning against him like some wild animal.

Aether faintly hears Paimon shriek as he collapses in front of the toilet and opens his mouth, allowing the large watery surge of vomit he’d been doing his damndest to contain pour out of him.

This time when she lays a trembling hand on his back Aether doesn’t try moving away, because not only is he just in too much pain right now, but he’s a bit too preoccupied with his stomach turning inside out.

A series of harsh wet coughs leave Aether’s mouth as thin strings of bile and drool drip from his lips, and Paimon winces because it sounds as if the coughs are raking across Aether’s lungs and throat. Just completely and utterly painful.

A grimace twisted her face when he when one of his harsh coughs before a strangled retch that has him lurching forward, the noise becoming choked and garbled as more of the murky watery vomit surges from his lips.

Paimon is very, very worried. She has no clue what’s wrong with Aether, just that he’s in a lot of pain and clearly sick from something considering the sheer heat radiating from his body. Still, people weren’t supposed to glow when sick were they? Then again in the world of Teyvat, there were a lot of things about Aether that weren't really normal.

Paimon tries to desperately rack her brain because Aether does clearly need help, but who could she go to? If this was an issue specific to Aether and his sister then there wasn’t really anyone on Teyvat that could help him could they?

Paimon looks back at Aether when he gives a low weak groan, slumping forward slightly, his body still lurching as he retches, choking up a large surge of watery vomit as tears run down his face. The soup-like mixture streams from his lips giving him no pause nor chance to breathe.

It eventually does slowly taper off, the stream thinning as it takes on a slightly thicker almost sludgy consistency similar to paint.

Aether is left coughing harshly as he retches emptily over the toilet.

“Aether,” Paimon said softly, trying to peer into Aether’s face when he rested it on his arm.

He’s trembling practically shivering beneath the hand Paimon has on his back. Aether merely gives a weak groan but says nothing, an incredibly dazed look in his glassy half-open eyes.

It is not an exaggeration for Aether to say that he feels like he may be dying. On top of the pain filling every inch of his body is exhaustion weighing it down like a mountain, if he wasn’t basically slumped across the toilet Aether was sure that he’d just be fully collapsed on the floor right now.

He can’t even turn his head to look when he hears a familiar noise, signaling that someone has entered the room. It’s a noise belonging to only one person that Aether knows of as well.

“X-Xiao,” Paimon exclaimed when he suddenly appeared in the doorway of the bathroom.

He glances at her but says nothing as he turns his attention to Aether, a scowl on his face and his eyes slightly narrowed.

Xiao had felt a strange yet familiar surge of sudden adeptal energy coming from Wangshu inn. Immediately he had stopped fighting the corrupted hilichurls and come here. Normally Xiao wouldn’t do something as sloppy as that but the energy had been familiar to him specifically because it had been incredibly similar to Osial’s.

Truthfully he hadn’t known what to expect, maybe a small hydro creature skulking around, but definitely not Aether collapsed in front of the toilet all but slumped across it.

He didn’t even seem to register Xiao's presence either, as Xiao walks closer to Aether however he ignores Paimon’s attempts to speak to him, his eyes widening as he stops by Aether’s side.

He hadn’t been sure before but now that he’s this close there’s no denying that Aether seems to be glowing. A faint golden light cloaking his body but not only that but Osial’s energy is unmistakable now that Xiao is this close. Almost oppressive even.

Aether’s skin is incredibly pale as if all the blood had simply been drained from it, he seems heavily dazed as well. His half-open eyes, glassy with unshed, and his breaths coming out closer to wheeze pants than actual breaths.

Aether does notice Xiao standing at his side but says nothing, simply doing his best to breathe around the pain still clutching his chest, it’s awful, crushing even. He feels that even the slightest movement with cause his body to fall to pieces.

His head is pounding so relentless that his brain is gradually becoming numb as his stomach churns furiously.

He is exhausted in every sense of the word wanting nothing more than to simply pass out and escape this horrible pain assaulting him. He’s never experienced anything like it that he can remember and that honestly terrifies him, but in his current state, all he can do is lay there trying to catch whatever Paimon is saying to Xiao.

It comes to him in bits in pieces as if drifting in through one ear and out the other. But he does manage to catch the words “something’s wrong” and “Zhongli”.

Some of his awareness begins to fade further the room blurring before his eyes, and a wave of relief hits him as Aether thinks that he’s finally passing out.

This relief is instantly shattered to piece when Xiao suddenly grabs him and begins picking him up. Xiao isn’t being particularly rough or quick either in his grip but Aether’s body doesn’t care, the choked scream he lets out makes both Xiao and Paimon freeze.

Aether begins struggling in Xiao’s grip which does exacerbate his pain but Xiao’s touch is worse at the moment, a lot worse. “L-let me go, don’t-don’t touch me!”

Xiao looks at Paimon as if she would know what was wrong, but she shakes her head looking just as shocked as he does.

Scowling, Xiao looks down at Aether who’s still struggling in his grip. “You are radiating adeptal energy and ill, I’m taking you to Rex Lapis.”

Xiao may not know what exactly is wrong with Aether, but he has hope that Rex Lapis, or Zhongli rather, would. Especially considering whatever seems to be affecting Aether involves Osial.

Xiao and Aether weren’t exactly close, although he did have a certain respect for the young man. What he did know however or rather, was told by Madame Ping was that Zhongli was close to Aether, very close , that had also been how he’d found out that Zhongli was in fact Rex Lapis.

He’d sworn to serve Rex Lapis until his last moments no matter what may happen, and he knew that Zhongli would no doubt wish to know if something was wrong with Aether, especially something like this.

Hearing Xiao's words, Aether pauses for a moment, his struggling stopping despite the pain still lashing at his body due to Xiao’s touch. He couldn’t deal with Zhongli, not yet at least, the wound, the betrayal, it was all still far, far too fresh right now.

“I don’t-don’t need to go to him. I…I’ll be fine. It’s happened before,” he manages to force out through his teeth that are tightly gritted against the pain.

Aether knows he’s lying without question, he’s never felt any horrifying pain like this before but neither Xiao nor Paimon would know that. He’s just hoping that his words somehow persuade Xiao not to follow through with taking him to Zhongli.

Xiao is quiet for a moment and Aether waits with bated breath, one hand clutching at his chest as that crushing weight seems to settle further within it.

Eventually, Xiao sighed a scowl on his face. “Very well then,” he said after a moment or two, his voice a bit quieter than usual.

“Aether…” Paimon murmured, pity clear in her voice as she watched the exchange.

She follows Xiao not saying anything as he teleports across the room to Aether’s bed. As Xiao places Aether down on the bed some of the tension that’s been tightly coiled in Aether’s body seems to fade away, although he still seems to be in a lot of pain considering the way he’s clutching at his chest.

Aether is practically clawing at it, the fabric of his shirt the only thing keeping him from actually digging his nails into the skin there. His eyes are squeezed tightly shut and as Xiao pulls the nearby blankets over him neither he nor Paimon misses the way Aether flinches.

It is only once Xiao has left the room however that Paimon floats over to Aether’s side. She sits down on the bed beside him simply staring at him for a moment. “Aether, you should’ve let Xiao bring you to Zhongli.”

Aether’s eyes open ever so slightly and he shakes his head, immediately stopping when it makes his brain feel like it’s rolling around his skull. “I can’t see him. Not yet,” he whispered softly, his voice strained and raspy.

“But Aether you-“

“Please,” he told her, his tone practically pleading and she pauses. “I can’t do it…not right now. I’ll be fine.”

Paimon knows that she should push the matter, it definitely feels as if she should but it’s the tone Aether speaks in that stops her. The way his voice breaks on his words and how even more tears well up in his eyes, it is at that moment that she can tell that the damn that had been in place since his fight with Childe in the Golden House has finally broken.

For better or worse.

Knowing that she truly can’t say anything to help in the situation, Paimon simply grabs his free hand, giving it a soft squeeze. While Aether does grimace he neither pulls away nor flinches away from her touch. Both of them can tell that this is probably going to be a rather long ordeal.

~~~

Aether isn’t getting any better, his condition getting worse and worse over time. The second day he’d been throwing up on and off, his fever still incredibly high but he was lucid and conscious as well as in horrible pain.

Now though today, which was the third day, he was in and out of consciousness and those moments when he was awake Paimon tried to give him water, so that he wouldn’t get dehydrated. Sadly though he couldn’t seem to keep that down and even worse was him bringing up this strange grayish pink-tinted foam when he threw up.

Paimon was at the end of her rope at this point not knowing what to really do to help Aether. Hearing Aether’s weak whimpering Paimon looks over at him simply staring for a moment as Aether writhes on the bed, weakly clawing at his chest.

That golden glow is still cloaking his skin, and hasn’t dimmed since this whole ordeal began. When Aether opens his eyes however Paimon freezes, his pupils are blown wide and illuminated with a dark sea blue glow as if someone was shining a light from behind it.

But that part isn’t what has Paimon really freezing, it isn’t what has this wave of dread washing over her. It’s the pure icy hatred that seems to be lurking just beneath Aether’s gaze, that has her feeling as though all her hair is standing on end.

Paimon knew that Aether was fairly old despite his youthful appearance and personality. Just the stories he would tell her from time to time about traveling the stars with his sister pointed to him being far, far older than anything or anyone currently known in Teyvat or otherwise. Perhaps even older than Teyvat itself.

And Paimon has never seen such a look in Aether’s eyes before, even when he’d been fighting Childe she hadn’t seen him look like this. Aether typically had a rather approachable air about him but none of that is there at the moment. In its place is ancient knowledge and hatred lurking behind his eyes that seems far, far too out of place for his youthful appearance.

It’s not directed at Paimon in fact Aether doesn’t even seem to be aware of her, but it still terrifies her and the sight of it is what finally causes her to make a decision.

“Paimon will be back soon, okay Aether? I’ll get help,” she reassured him.

She didn’t even know if Zhongli would be able to help, but if it really was adeptal energy that was making Aether sick like Xiao said then as the leader of the Adepti Zhongli would know best.

Before she leaves the room to teleport to Liyue harbor, Paimon makes sure that the blankets are pulled around Aether and gives his hand a small squeeze before leaving.

~~~

It is a nice day in Liyue harbor as usual, yet as Zhongli glances around at the city around him during his usual daily walk as he always did he finds himself almost hesitant to truly enjoy the scenery like he normally would.

He knows exactly why as well and truthfully it’s his own doing. He has not seen Aether since the young man found out the truth about Rex Lapis and by extension Zhongli. Zhongli could still vividly remember that faint glimmer of hurt and betrayal that flared to life in Aether’s exhausted gaze before quickly extinguishing.

A wall instantly coming up between them. Aether’s responses had been between quiet and nonexistent with the young man seemingly almost emotionally shutting down in a sense.

Zhongli was a patient man and was willing to wait until Aether came to him, he was also willing to do anything within his abilities to gain his trust back.

Still, Zhongli missed having Aether by his side, the talks shared between them, the way Aether’s eyes would light up whenever he was incredibly fascinated or interested in something.

Zhongli had told Aether that whenever he was ready that he would meet him in Yujing Terrace to answer any questions he may have had. At the time the young man had simply given him a blank look, a small hum, and nodded with Zhongli being unable to tell what he was truly thinking.

Zhongli closes his eyes for a brief moment and shakes his head slightly to clear it. He didn’t know what Aether may say to him or what questions he may ask him but all he could do was speak the truth and be prepared for when that time came.

Opening his eyes Zhongli turns slightly upon hearing the call of his name from a familiar voice. It’s Paimon, practically zipping through the air as she approaches him. Her movements are incredibly frantic as if she were a fly being chased.

It’s almost a miracle that she doesn’t bump into the nearby railing leading up towards Yujing Terrace. She practically skids to a stop in the air before Zhongli, panting and huffing her eyes wild. “Z-Zhongli! Help!”

A slight scowl appears on his face, a strange sense of dread cloaking him although he keeps his expression calm. “What is wrong?”

“I-it’s Aether! He’s really sick,” Paimon explained her words coming out in a rush. “Xiao said that he’s radiating adept energy and I-”

Instantly Zhongli’s expression seems to harden at her words, a slight glow flaring to life behind those amber-colored eyes that has Paimon freezing her words dying on her lips. There is an almost far-off look to Zhongli’s eyes as he pins Paimon with his gaze. When he does speak, it is only four words and yet despite Zhongli’s tone still being as calm as ever, there is no doubt that it is a demand more than a request.

“Take me to him.”

~~~

Aether feels as if he’s drowning, his lungs and chest filled with a heavy crushing weight that has a deep ache settled inside of it. Almost as if his lungs are going to burst open.

His consciousness and mind are hazy, his thoughts slipping through his fingers before they even have a semblance of forming. Its almost as if he’s a drift or slowly sinking beneath ocean waves, and yet the coldness he typically associated with the ocean isn’t there merely burning heat.

The pain wracking his body alongside the nausea is what helps keep him aware, aware enough to faintly recognize that something isn’t right about this. That something is wrong, and yet his weary exhausted mind can’t place what.

He opens his eyes slightly briefly able to make out the ceiling of his room at Wangshu inn despite his blurring and swimming vision. He struggles to keep his eyes open, something yelling at him in his mind that he needs to but he’s too tired and in too much pain right now so he just can’t.

It only feels like seconds to Aether after he’s closed his eyes when he feels familiar hands on him snatching him back from the invisible ocean current threatening to drag him under once more.

Aether whimpers as he opens his eyes slightly an all too familiar face is peering down at him, leaning over him as two eyes the color of cor lapis rove over him.

“Z-Zhongli,” Aether manages to rasped and he notices those golden eyes narrow ever so slightly, as Zhongli adjusted his grip on him. Aether begins struggling weakly not even registering that Zhongli’s touch isn’t hurting him. “Don’t touch me let-”

“Be still.”

Aether freezes at Zhongli’s words, not because of the words themselves but at Zhongli’s tone. It’s abrasive and rough, said firmly like an order, a fary cry from Zhongli’s often gentler way of speaking. Aether can’t be sure considering his currently dazed and hazy mind but he can’t help but think Zhongli sounds legitimately pissed for some reason.

This has a bit more of Aether’s awareness coming back as he narrows his eyes at Zhongli. Who did he think he was being pissed? If anyone had the right to be pissed it was Aether.

If Zhongli notices the look Aether is giving him he says nothing as he briefly examines the young man, his hands roving over him before he draws back with a grave-looking scowl on his face.

He knew what was wrong with Aether. He hadn’t believed it possible but it would seem that much like everything else since meeting him the young man defied his expectations. It seems that somehow during the battle with Osial in Liyue harbor Aether had absorbed a great deal of Osial’s energy, like a sponge so to speak and it was putting a large strain on him from the looks of things.

For a moment Zhongli simply stares at him his eyes roving over Aether’s forming for a moment, the way his glassy eyes peered up at Zhongli with a mixture of irritation, indignation, and hurt behind them, his skin incredibly pale and soaked with sweat that carried the heavy scent of salt water, the faint golden glow cloaking his body and the faint dark blue glow lurking beneath his pupils, how each breath he took sounded as if he was trying to breathe through water filling his lungs.

As Zhongli’s gaze softens Aether scowls noticing something akin to pity and regret in the man’s eyes. Aether freezes, a small gasp leaving his lips as Zhongli leans down once more, incredibly close touching their foreheads together as tangles his fingers in Aether’s hair.

“I shall make this right.”

Zhongli’s words are soft but firm, an absolute promise and Aether finds that he can’t say anything. His anger dimming slightly and as Zhongli eventually draws back Aether finds himself wishing they’d stayed like that if only for a few moments longer.

Aether is quite merely watching as Zhongli removes his gloves, and his eyes can’t help but widen slightly when he sees Zhongli’s bare hands. Smooth, snake-like brown scales the color of fresh earth lined his skin stopping at his wrist while the scales that covered his hand were orangish the color of cor lapis.

Noticing Aether’s seemingly shocked expression Zhongli merely gives him a small, reassuring smile before gently grasping Aether’s hands in his own. Aether was unable to get rid of the energy trapped in his body on his own, but he could replace it with the energy of something else incredibly similar to how he switched between using anemo or geo.

Considering that it was Osial’s energy causing the issue, however, something just as strong would be needed to cancel it out. To replace it in a sense.

“I ask that you bear with me if possible, this may be painful. But once it is over, you may rest,” Zhongli reassured him to which Aether simply nodded.

~~~

It is only when the process actually begins however that Aether truly realizes that Zhongli may have been understating slightly when he mentioned just how painful it would be.

Aether screams, and screams until his throat is raw he’s sure that Zhongli has done something or had Xiao do something to keep everyone else in Wangshu inn from waking up because he is screaming bloody murder. It feels as if his skin is slowly being clawed off bit by bit, following each wave of vicious pain comes a quick wave of warming, almost soothing relief that is cut short by even more pain.

It's almost as if he’s being stabbed, healed then stabbed once again, he can’t help but feebly struggle trying to pull himself free of Zhongli’s iron grip but of course, in his weakened state, it is absolutely useless. Aether isn’t sure but he does begin pleading, begging even tears running down his face.

Eventually, though he just stops struggling altogether, any strength he has being used to just lay there gasping for air as he stares blearily at the ceiling with tear-filled eyes. It’s too painful for him to even pass out because before his consciousness can even fade he’s violent yanked back into full awareness.

Aether has no clue how long this process takes, it feels like a lifetime to him which truly says something. But eventually, all of the pain fades a strong soothing warmth taking its place having the same effect as applying a healing salve to a burn.

Aether groans weakly as his eyes slowly move to look at Zhongli when the other begins gently stroking Aether’s hair with one hand, his other hand still grasping one of Aether’s hands.

“It’s…over,” Aether manages to whisper his voice airy yet at the same time strained and rough due to all his screaming and crying.

Zhongli nodded giving him a warm smile as he carded his fingers through Aether’s hair. “Yes, the process is finished. You did incredibly well.”

Aether gives a soft humorless snort at those words, the faintest hint of a smile appearing on his face. “I…hate…to see…what you’d call…doing badly,” he murmured. His eyes slip closed as he speaks only for Aether to force them open once more.

“I will retrieve Madame Ping to properly access you for good measure,” Zhongli told him as he began to draw away but Aether speaks making him pause.

“No. Stay…just a little bit…I’m still upset with you…so at least give me this,” Aether told him his words a bit firmer than before.

Zhongli simply stares at him for a moment but eventually nodded. “If you would like me to stay, then I shall.”

Aether gives another soft snort, and yet despite the humorlessness of it, there’s still a slight smile on his face as his eyes slide closed. For now, he simply wanted to enjoy Zhongli’s familiar calming presence.

#emetophilia #Genshin emeto #My writing #hurt/comfort #Emotional Hurt/Comfort #sickfic #genshin sickfic #anime whump #male whump #zhongaether #zhongli genshin impact #aether genshin impact #aether needs a hug

71 notes · View notes

taestefully-in-luv · 3 years ago

Text

The Island | KTH (Two)

Summary: You’re just two strangers waking up in a room on a lonely island where a company in the business of love has placed you. They believe that thanks to their in depth research you two are destined soulmates. What happens when your ‘soulmate’ and you want nothing to do with each other but falling in love is the only way to leave?

Pairing: Taehyung x Female reader

Genre: strangers to lovers, very slight enemies to lovers, soulmates au, roommate au, slow burn, fluff, smut, angst, slight crack, and drama.

Word Count: 10.4k

Warnings: swearing

Notes: Hi everyone! Here’s ch2 of the new story, hope you guys like it. let me know if you want to be added to the taglist, or send an ask if just want to chat!:)

Taglist: @ggukkieland @monvieesdaebak @707sblog @peacedreamer14 @dopedreamfireparty @everythingnamjoon @taebae19 @typicalgenzworld @mooniyooni

Previous --- Next

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You don’t think you have ever been this bitter in your life—and you have a few things you can be bitter about. You could honestly make a list. But this? This is the ultimate bitterness and you hate it. It is driving you absolutely nuts! You’re alone with a man on an island…that’s lonely enough, right? Well, said man doesn’t even want to talk to you…that makes it ten—no, a million times more lonely. And you have every right to be bitter about that. So, yes maybe you are being a little petty when guys do interact.

It’s not like you are trying to purposely be petty, no, it’s not like that. You just can’t help your smart ass mouth or how childish you can become. Taehyung doesn’t seem to mind completely though, he just has his own smart ass comments or he becomes childish himself. It’s a horrible mix! Neither of you win! And you always want to have the last word but with Taehyung as your opponent it’s almost impossible.

“Maybe if you weren’t always following me, they would have sent us home by now.” Taehyung states bitterly as he puts his slice of bread on top of his now made sandwich.

“I’m not following you.” You roll your eyes, “I have to eat too.”

“You can’t wait until I’m done?”

“You look pretty done to me…” You point at his sandwich and he scoffs.

“I still have to eat it.”

“Eat in your room for all I care.”

You and Taehyung are getting along just fine…maybe not swimmingly but like, fine. It’s been a couple weeks and you have mostly stayed out of one another’s way but it’s moments like this that you end up interacting.

“I think I’ll eat at the table, thanks.” He grabs his sandwich and makes his way to the dining room table, sitting down with a thump. He aggressively picks up his sandwich and takes a bite while showing you a smart ass smile.

“Fantastic,” you state, “Me too.” You finish pouring milk into your cereal bowl and set it back inside the fridge. You dramatically make your way over to the table as well, giving him a wide grin as you sit down in front of him. You slightly slam your bowl down on the table, some milk dribbling over the edge of the bowl and Taehyung snarls.

“Great, you’re making a fucking mess.”

“If you went up and ate in you room you would have no idea about this mess.”

“But you still would have made this mess?”

“Ignorance is bliss, Taehyung.”

“You’re such a…” he stops, setting his lips into a firm line and you lean your head forward, clearly curious about what you are.

“Such a…?” you blink at him repeatedly and his lips curve upward into a charming smile.

“A fucking brat.” Taehyung grabs his sandwich again and takes an obnoxious bite while grinning and you give him your best annoyed eye roll.

Okay, maybe a little less than fine. This company has got it all wrong! All. Fucking. Wrong. You two are barely getting along! It’s just eye roll after eye roll, smart ass comment after smart ass comment. That’s it. That’s the relationship. Taehyung barely spares you a glance throughout the day. You do your own thing and he does his. You won’t lie though…you are curious what he gets up to…the last week he has left the house and doesn’t come back until sunset…and he comes back sweaty and exhausted.

You want to ask what he does, you do, you really do. But something tells you he wouldn’t even tell you even if you begged. And you’re not about to beg for this asshole.

So, you guys keep to yourselves save the occasional breakfast/lunch/dinner run in. While he does god knows what, you have also been trying to keep yourself busy. You have recently learned to cook a couple meals, nothing too fancy but you feel proud. You play a lot of games, read a lot of books and watch a lot of movies.

But to put it simple—You’re bored. Fucking bored. You miss human interaction. You hate to say it but your food run ins are mostly on purpose at this point…you just want someone to chit chat with for a few moments even if its unpleasant conversation—because hey! At least it’s conversation.

You and Taehyung eat in silence after your little convo, he and you share strange eye contact…you call it strange because it’s more like he glares at you and you glare at him. Your eyes never leave one another. You feel like he’s trying to cast like, black magic on you, maybe something where if he glares enough you will burst into flames. You assume this because that’s exactly what you’re doing.

“Stop looking at me.” Taehyung finishes his last bite, wiping his mouth clean with a napkin.

“You stop looking at me.” You fire back and he sighs, folding his arms across his chest.

“Why would I look at you?”

“Why would I look at you?” you mock, shoving a spoonful of cereal into your mouth and Taehyung squints at you.

“Oh yeah, real mature y/n.” His lips curl inward and he relaxes his arms at his sides as he stands from the table.

“I’m going to my room now.”

“You literally don’t have to announce everything you do.” You raise the bowl to your lips and drink back the leftover milk. You don’t want to look at Taehyung’s expression, you know you’re being ruder than usual. You’re just bitter. Yeah, pretty god damn bitter. You hear Taehyung release a long breath, and you’re starting to think he’s right, maybe you are a brat.

“Goodnight y/n.” he says much softer than you were expecting.

Yeah, maybe you are a brat.

~~~~~~

You’re snuggled up on the living room sofa, the TV plays some cartoon movie you found on the shelf (obviously one of his picks). The movie is on a low volume as you have a book in your hands. You just started it this morning and you have not put it down, it’s called The Roommate, a funny and sexy novel. Too bad your own roommate is nowhere near funny nor sexy. Okay, maybe he’s a little sexy. But his attitude is the opposite of sexy so therefore he isn’t sexy. Yeah, totally. Whatever you have to say to yourself, right? It’s evening now and you’re almost done with the book, you have hardly taken a break from reading. This reminds you of your last memories before the island…the night before you were…kidnapped. Yeah, kidnapped. That’s how you would describe it.

The night before you were like this…snuggled on your sofa in your parent’s house…

“All I’m saying is it doesn’t seem like you’re trying that hard to—”

“Honey, relax.” Your dad cuts in. Your mom is going on and on again about how you still haven’t found another job.

“Relax? Our daughter suddenly left her job and moved back to town!” Your mother throws her hands up, “And she won’t even tell us why!”

You sit here, your knees to your chest as you read your book. You try your best to ignore your mother…you two have rarely ever seen eye to eye. If you told her why you “quit” your previous job and why you had to move back home she would probably find a way to blame you.

“She will tell us when she’s ready.” You hear your dad whisper to your mother. “Don’t push her, you know that makes it worse…”

You can’t help but nibble on your lips, starting to feel the anxiety build. You try to focus on the words on the pages in front of you but they’re beginning to become blurred.

“Oh what is she 5 years old? You treat her like a child! She’s an adult she can handle a little confrontation.”

Your eyes lose focus on the words in front of you, instead all you see is blurred vision thanks to the tears that try to visit.

“I’ll be going to sleep now.” You announce, closing your book and setting it on the end table next to the sofa. “Goodnight.” You grab your phone and stand from your place on the couch. Thankfully, your dad offers a soft ‘goodnight sweetie’ and your mom just nods her head.

You make your way down the hall to your bedroom, opening and closing the door quickly. You lean back on the bedroom door and sigh out, blinking away any tears that tried to appear. You won’t cry. Not again. You feel your phone buzz in your hand, startling you. You unlock your phone to see who messaged you when you see it lit up with a notification from him. You feel your whole world collapsing. Why the fuck is he messaging you?

You stare at your books pages, in deep thought as you recall your last night before the island. You don’t want to remember honestly. You shake your head, ridding yourself of your thoughts when the side door opens in the kitchen. It’s Taehyung. He’s sweaty and clearly exhausted again…what the hell does he do outside for so many hours?

“Hi.” You say, looking up at him from your book. Wait. Why did you greet him?

“Hi…?” Taehyung is just as surprised as you are, with his wide eyes and open mouth. He scrunches his brows together as he eyes you. He gives you a small wave, confusion written all over his face as he begins walking through the entry way and heading upstairs.

You sit here embarrassed as hell. Why did you say hi? And why was your voice so high pitched? You turn red, redder than you probably can imagine. You drop your face in your book and groan, wishing you didn’t say something as simple as ‘hi’.

You have to remind yourself you two aren’t talking. That your roommate here at Casa de la Trapped, isn’t looking to become buddy buddy with you. Which sucks because you are human, you know, a social creature. What’s the harm in becoming friends? Sure you two banter, but you can tell he isn’t a bad guy. You just don’t get any bad vibes from him, in fact sometimes it seems like he’s forcing himself to be closed off.

You try to go back to your book when you hear a faint yelp from upstairs. Did Taehyung just kind of…scream? You sit here with your book, your ears in the direction of the stairs trying to listen for any indication that something is wrong. But it’s silent. You decide to go back to your book when you hear the noise of Taehyung running down the stairs. He is out of breath by the time he reaches you, standing next to the sofa.

You quite literally choke on your spit when you see him. This boy just don’t give a damn, huh? He’s standing here, trying his best to breathe evenly with nothing but a dark red towel hanging lowly around his hips. You gulp at the sight of him. You knew he probably had a nice body but you were not expecting this. His strong build surprises you, his soft, caramel skin glows even in this lighting and his muscles flex with every movement.

“Uh,” you begin, setting your book down again, “Can I help you?”

“As a matter of fact, yes.” Taehyung rushes to say, he sounds much different than usual. His voice is usually calm and deep but right now it’s panicked like a child.

“With what?”

“There’s a spider in the shower, I need you to take care of it.”

“You want me to kill a spider for you?”

“Kill?” Taehyung brings a hand to his chest, a shocked expression on his face. “All life is precious, y/n.” he pouts. “Just get it and take it outside.”

You tilt your head and try not to laugh as you look at him…he looks bothered, that’s for sure. But god, what a baby. Can’t even take care of a small bug by himself.

“Fine. Show me where it’s at.” You rise from the couch, pointing at the direction of the stairs.

“Yes, yes. I’ll lead the way!” Taehyung walks quickly. He makes his way upstairs with you following right behind him. He leads you into the bathroom when he brings back the shower curtain to show you the spider.

“Well?” you ask expectantly. “Where is it?”

Taehyung turns to face you, his face as white as a ghost.

“It was just here, I swear.”

You roll your eyes as you fight back a grin.

“Sure, Taehyung. Are you sure you weren’t just trying to show off your body?” you shamelessly drag your eyes down his body and he goes red.

“W-Why—why would I do that?” he murmurs out, “Plus, I am sure you’ve already imagined what I look like without clothes.” He recovers quickly, a smirk making its way on his face.

“Not likely.” You say nonchalantly. “Well, if there’s no bug—”

“Wait! You don’t expect me to use this shower still, do you?” He looks panicked again, like a small child.

“Uh, yes?”

“The spider could be lurking anywhere! Let me use your shower.” He suggests, loving his own idea. You on the other hand, do not love his idea.

“Nah.”

“Nah?”

“Yeah, nah.”

“y/n…” He whines, “Please. I’ll do anything.”

“Anything?” You raise a brow, a small smirk creeping on your face. “Okay, have breakfast with me tomorrow. And you actually have to talk to me.”

“y/n…” he warns. “You know we shouldn’t do that.”

“And I want 5 facts about you.” You stand your ground, your hands on your hips as you speak. “And I’ll give you 3 about me.”

“How is that even fair?”

“I’m the rule maker here, Taehyung.” You narrow your eyes at him, “Get used to it.”

Taehyung walks closer to you, his breaths reaching your skin.

“Oh y/n.” Taehyung’s voice goes low, “I definitely make the rules.” There’s a moment of strange tension as he stares down at you…then he’s speaking again. “If you only give 3 then I only give 3. That’s the deal.”

You stare up into his dark eyes and you struggle to swallow your own spit, he might only have a few inches over you but maybe they are a little intimidating.

“F-Fine. Use my shower.” You step out of his way and gesture towards your room. “See you at breakfast tomorrow.” You wink.

Taehyung rolls his eyes but this time it almost seemed playful and not overly dramatic. You don’t want to get your hopes up but when he’s not being closed off and frankly, rude, he’s really not that bad.

“Don’t get used to these types of deals.” Taehyung throws over his shoulder as he walks to your room. “Basically, don’t get used to me.” He says a little quieter, but you still hear him and you frown.

“Like, I would want to!” you yell out.

Taehyung does not want to leave this shower, ever. He’s almost kind of bitter that he let you have this room! You get the awesome rain shower and he’s stuck with some plain, basic shower head in the guest bathroom. He eyes all the different bottles that sit on the shelves inside the shower, these must be all the bottles you use in your real life, he thinks. He grabs the shampoo and opens it to sniff it. He’s never gotten close enough to you that he can smell your hair but man, this is what you smell like? Delicious. He squirts a generous amount of the shampoo in his palm with an evil glint in his eye and massages it into his scalp. Whoops, did he just use your shampoo? Oh well. He rinses his hair out and uses your conditioner as well, but he doesn’t stop there. He uses your body wash too! It smells divine and its making his skin so soft.

Taehyung just knows that him using your shit would bother you, he just gets that vibe. And he’s not sure why but riling you up is quite fun. Taehyung turns the water off and grabs his towel and starts drying off…he steps out on to the shower mat and eyes the room as he dries himself. He sees you organized all your lotions and whatever other products onto the sinks counter top, he sees how empty “his side” of the sink is. It previously held all his belongings that he had moved into his bathroom—the guest bathroom.

“Are you almost done in there?” He hears you knocking on the door. “I want to take a shower before bed!”

“Yeah, yeah.” He whispers out, “Hold on!”

Taehyung wraps the towel around his hips again and goes towards the bathroom door, he stops to check himself out in the mirror before opening the door.

“I’m all done, cry baby.” He rolls his eyes and you secretly hope they get stuck like that for how much he does it.

“Me, the cry baby? You wouldn’t even use your own show—”

“—anyway, bathroom is all yours.” He breezes past you, but stops before exiting the bedroom. “Um…” he turns around, “See you in the morning.” And then he’s walking out.

~~~~~~

You made eggs, bacon, pancakes, and have fresh fruit in a bowl all set up on the dining room table. For some reason you are too nervous to call out for Taehyung and let him know that breakfast is ready…you know, 30 minutes ago. You just patiently wait, sitting here tapping your fingers against the wooden table.

Another 20 minutes pass by when you hear faint footsteps from upstairs…he must now just be getting up, you think. You rush to reheat up some of the food before he makes his way downstairs. You set the bacon, eggs and pancakes back down on the table and make yourself busy like you haven’t just been waiting for almost an hour.

Taehyung finally walks through the kitchen, his face evident with sleep and his hair sticking out in all directions. He blinks at you lazily before his eyes widen in panic.

“B-Breakfast. I forgot—”

“It’s okay, I just finished.” You cut him off with a strained smile. “I see you like to sleep in.”

“Most days, yeah. Because I go to bed so late.” He admits sheepishly. Then he smirks. “Can that be fact number 1?”

“I’ll allow it.”

“Oh, you’ll allow it? How gracious of you.” Taehyung takes a seat at the dining room table and he starts with grabbing two pancakes from the pile and setting them down on his plate.

“You cooked all of this?” He asks, surprised.

“No, the other people who live here did it.” You deadpan.

“Always a smart ass.” He says while pouring syrup all over his pancakes, “Aren’t you going to sit down?”

“Right…” you make your way to the table and take a seat in front of him. You start with some pancakes as well, waiting for him to finish with the syrup so you can pour your own generous amount. He notices you waiting, his eyes finding yours and the corner of his mouth twitches into a sort of half smile. He slides the syrup across the table and your hand goes out to grab it, your fingers touching his.

“S-Sorry.”

“Sorry.”

You both get out at the same time. You stare at one another for another few seconds before Taehyung rolls his eyes,

“Big deal, our fingers touched. No need to get weird.” He chuckles, and you feel your heart feel all fucking weird.

“Anyway,” you clear your throat, “What’s fact number 2?”

Taehyung takes a bite of his pancakes and moans into the syrupy mess, his eyes finding yours again.

“Oh? You’re greedy for information.”

“I’m a little greedy.” You admit, “So?”

“Fact number 2…I’m almost 5’11.”

“So you’re 5’10. Just say you’re 5’10.”

“But I’m not just 5’10. Because I am almost 5’11.” He groans, “Can’t you just humor me here?”

“Okay Mister 5’11.” You laugh, “My fact number 2 is that I have one older sister.”

Taehyung nods his head, remembering the picture of you and some other girl that you looks a lot like you.

“I see.” He swallows his food, “So you’re the baby of your family?”

“Yes.”

“Yeah, I can tell.” He smirks at you, “You have that baby of the family vibe.”

“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?” you give him a curious look and he looks at you like you can’t be serious.

“Because you’re…you know,” he gestures towards you with a knowing look and you scoff.

“No, I don’t know.”

“Brat.” He states simply. “Because you’re a brat.”

“Whatever.” You grab for some eggs and bacon, and Taehyung does the same.

“So, what’s fact number 3?” you ask, piling some eggs onto your plate.

“Already want the last fact? We are barely just eating.” Taehyung points out. He shovels some eggs onto his own plate once you are done, and sticks a piece of bacon into his mouth.

“Greedy, remember?” you remind him with a smirk. “So?”

“I’m sure you already gathered this but…I’m an aspiring musician.”

“I figured you were…that, or an artist.”

“Art is just a really fun hobby for me.” He admits. He loves to paint but singing and making music is where his true passion lies.

“What’s your last fact?” he stuffs his face with another piece of bacon, you watch him as he eats the crispy meat.

“Umm…” you look up at the ceiling as you think, “I used to think I looked bad in sun glasses but then I got over that…so now I buy any cool, funky sunglasses I can find.”

“That’s a really random fact.” Taehyung chuckles, “I like cool, funky sunglasses too.”

“Wow, are you saying we actually have something in common?” you tease, bringing a forkful of eggs to your mouth.

“Don’t get used to it.” He says dryly. “Since we said all of our facts, I guess I can go now.”

“You’re not going to finish your food? Taehyung…” you place your hands on the table. “They’re not going to assume just because we are talking that we are falling in love for Christ’s sake.”

“Don’t want to give them any ideas.” Taehyung says a bit harshly. Your face falls into a frown and you stand from the table.

“You can finish your food. I’ll leave.”

Taehyung blinks up at you and opens his mouth to say something but he remains quiet. You shake your head at him and walk off into the living room. If he wants to continue this “Little to no interaction” thing then so be it!

Taehyung sits here with his appetite lost. He holds his fork in his hand out in front of him and attempts to cut into his pancakes when he just gives up. He drops the fork onto the table and sighs out.

“y/n…” he calls out but you ignore him. “y/n!”

“Don’t talk to me.” You say with as much attitude you can muster and Taehyung silently mocks your words. He grabs his fork and aggressively cuts into his pancakes and takes a bite.

“Fine by me!” He yells out with his mouth full.

“You’re so annoying!” You groan and Taehyung silently mocks your words again but you can’t see him.

“And you’re a brat!” He says stuffing his mouth with another slice of pancake.

Great. For a moment there you thought you two could almost get along but he is set on this bullshit of not talking. You walk to the shelves in the living room and choose a new book, another romance novel. You take a seat on the couch, and curl up into a blanket. Taehyung can do whatever he wants! You’re going to enjoy your book and forget all about his annoying ass.

~~~~~~

Taehyung is finally dressed into some shorts and a sleeveless shirt as he makes his way out of the house. He is going to continue working on his little…project. You are probably wondering what he gets up to everyday, he thinks.

He is working on building a raft. He wants to escape this island but he doesn’t know how to build a fucking raft and this company didn’t necessarily give him the tools to escape. But he’s figuring it out. He is quite literally breaking tree branches and going from there. But it is taking time but apparently he has all the time in the world. 3 months? 6 months? A year or even more? He releases a long breath as he walks the path to where his “raft” is. If anything it’s just nice to get out of the house and breathe the island air. This whole thing kind of just gives him something to do and he knows this may not really work but he’s got to try. He’s a man of action after all.

He finally sees his “raft” chilling against a tree close to the beach and he walks up to it. Already feeling frustrated just looking at the pathetic thing. He has to make it big enough for two people…he isn’t an asshole, he doesn’t plan on escaping by himself, leaving you here.

He goes to his knees and holds it up, he feels his frustrations bubble over and he throws it to the ground. How the hell is he supposed to escape with this shitty thing?

He slams his eyes shut and sinks into the sand. He wants to go home. Things aren’t easy here…he can’t sleep. He is surprised he’s eating as much as he is, and he has mostly bad interactions with you. And he knows that it’s his fault. But he knows this is for the best but he can tell it’s not what you want. To be honest, this is actually really hard for him. He tries to come off as cold and closed off so you won’t take an interest in him but he’s dying! He wants to talk to you too! He is probably one of the most social of his friends! He has a lot of friends and he loves talking and hanging with them.

Taehyung feels his eyes become wet with hot tears and he grits he teeth together in irritation. He wishes he was home with his friends, with his family, with the girl he likes. He misses everyone so bad. He knows the night you two were “kidnapped” was the last day of the year, meaning they started this experiment January 1. He recalls his last few nights before the island…it was his birthday.

“No! I want him to open my present first!” Jimin whines and Taehyung can’t help the wide grin that adorns his face.

They’re all out at a bar, the music is loud and the alcohol is nonstop. Taehyung is surrounded by his closest friends, plus Hana—the girl Taehyung has been crushing on for the last year. She brought along a couple of her friends to this night out of celebration.

“He can open whoever’s he wants first…which is mine, right?” Jungkook hands Taehyung a box and Taehyung chuckles.

“Just for that, your two are going last.” Taehyung says, “How about I open Namjoon’s first since he planned this night?”

Namjoon gives the other two boys a cocky grin as he hands Taehyung a bag.

“Can I go after Namjoon?” Hana’s sweet voice is heard over the blaring music. She looks absolutely gorgeous tonight, her pink dress doing her a million favors. Not that she needs the favors, she’s always gorgeous.

“Y-Yeah.” Taehyung blushes, “But you didn’t have to get me anything…”

“Really? You practically yelled at us when you thought we weren’t getting you anything.” Jimin playfully comments.

“Shut up dude.” Taehyung grits out, “Anyway, let’s see what Joonie got me.”

The night went on, the music got louder, the alcohol kept on coming. Taehyung is so happy. Everything is perfect. He doesn’t think anything can ruin his good mood.

“Want to dance with me?” Hana’s words leave her pretty, pink lips and Taehyung finds himself nodding yes before he can even register what she said. He would literally do anything she wanted.

“Then come.” She waves him over with her small, manicured hand.

Hana and Taehyung end up on the dance floor for quite some time…he’s too drunk to be nervous like he usually is. His large hands grip at her tiny waist as he brings her in closer, she lightly moans when she feels his hard body against her.

“We should talk.” Hana breathes out, “About us.”

Taehyung’s eyes go wide, panic starting to make its way into his body.

“What about us?”

Hana chuckles lightly, she goes on her tip toes and places a soft, sweet kiss against Taehyung’s lips.

“Nothing bad, I promise.” She takes his hand and leads him outside the bar, out to a little patio. Taehyung has a huge smile on his face as he follows her outside…it’s not the first time they’ve kissed but he still can’t get used to it.

“You like me right?” she asks, pointing to herself. She’s got that sweet smile and Taehyung feels his nerves spiking.

“Yes.” He finally breathes out.

“Good. Because I like you too.” She admits, she closes her eyes for a moment, Taehyung spots the golden eye shadow that is painted over her lids. She opens her eyes again and he spots a sadness in them.

“But…” she begins and Taehyung feels his smile fade.

“But what?”

“No…it’s nothing.” She clears her throat, “You should take me on a date. And soon.” She giggles. Taehyung feels his smile grow and he nods his head.

“I would love to. We can—”

“Hey Tae!” Hobi’s voice cuts him off, “Yoongi says he just got off work and is on his way!!” He cheers happily. Taehyung turns to face Hobi and gives him a thumbs up before he’s spinning back around to Hana.

“Let’s go inside. We can discuss more on our date.” She smiles, taking his hand again.

“Sure.” Taehyung grins, his stomach doing a million flips. “Let’s go!”

Taehyung feels a few tears escape his closed eye lids as he sits in the sand. It’s too early to be in this state, Taehyung thinks. But alas, he can’t help it. He misses his life. This island put his life on complete hold. What if he’s stuck here for a year? Would Hana wait for him? It’s not like he’s expecting her to…but he thinks he would wait for her.

He stands to his feet, wiping his face of any leftover tears and he begins working for the day. He finds new trees with branches that would be easy to cut down and he resumes his little project. Hours and Hours go by and Taehyung is sitting on the beach’s sand and staring out at the water. He’s tired, he’s sweaty and he’s hungry.

Taehyung starts making his way back to the house now that the sun is setting. It’s pretty orange glow sets a relaxing mood and Taehyung feels grateful. He walks up to the side door that leads to the kitchen and watches you from the window. You look calm as usual and he feels himself feeling frustrated all over again…how are you so calm? He was having a meltdown on the beach earlier and here you are cooking dinner with a small smile on your face. He doesn’t understand you. Does this whole situation not bother you? No…he knows it has to bother you but how are you able to be so relaxed about it?

He opens the door and walks inside, startling you. You bring a hand to your heart when you see him but then visibly relax after a moment or two.

“You scared me.”

“Sorry.” He mumbles lamely. And then he’s walking up the stairs leaving you to your lonesome.

~~~~~

Month: 1

It’s been a month. A whole month! It seems Taehyung has gotten even more distant with you…no major interactions since you two had breakfast together. He keeps his comments to you brief in passing and he barely makes eye contact. You’re fed up. You’re lonely. You need interaction and you can’t always cater to him! He can suck it up for once and do what you want.

Feeling brave, you give yourself a pep talk in your bathroom mirror. That’s right, you are going to just go for it! You are going to demand that he hang out with you. You fix your hair in the mirror and nod to yourself. Yeah, you got this. You exit your room and stroll down the hall to his bedroom, once you are standing in front of it you lean your head against the door, your ear lying flat against it as you try to listen for him. The room sounds pretty quiet…maybe he’s sleeping? No, no. You’re just trying to find an excuse not to do this, aren’t you? Ugh, pathetic.

You raise your fist up and begin knocking on his door. You’re left with silence…you’re being ignored. So you knock again. And again. And ag—

“What?!” Taehyung swings open the door, revealing that he was indeed maybe sleeping. His hair is doing that funny thing where it sticks out in every direction and his eyes are barely open.

“This better be important.” He huffs out.

Suddenly, you feel a wave of shyness wash over you. You feel kind of bad you interrupted his nap…but you got to stay strong.

“Please hang out with me.” You blurt out.

“Huh?” Taehyung looks at you as if you’re crazy. “Not happening.” He quickly says.

“Just play a game with me, or maybe we could watch that movie…”

“I don’t want to do anything with you.” He raises his voice just the slightest and you flinch.

“Yeah? You think I want to do things with you? Like you specifically? Hell no! But I just want to do something damn it!” you flail your arms up, and breathe out heavily. “I am so fucking tired of always being by myself, it’s literally driving me insane.” You admit, you look off to the side as tears threaten to wet your eyes. “I am alone every single day. It has been a month, Taehyung? Did you know that? You’ve left me lonely for an entire month! I am going fucking crazy!” you bring your hands to your hips, “I have tried learning to cook all these god damn recipes as a way to distract myself but dude, I don’t even like cooking. I read all day too…I have all these imaginary book friends and that’s where I meet my social needs, isn’t that insane? Oh my god, I am going insane. And you?! How are you okay?!”

Taehyung is left speechless at your rant. He realizes that this loneliness is really getting to you…he admits he isn’t much better. But he kind of likes that you’re beginning to spiral. Is that mean?

“W-What game?” he juts out his bottom lip as his eyes slide to the side.

You stare at him with wide eyes as your chest heaves. You screw your eyes closed, and bring a hand to your head.

“What game?” you open your eyes to look at him, “That’s all you have to say?”

“What game y/n?”

You glare at him, huffing out deep breaths trying to calm yourself.

“Mortal Kombat.” You spit out, “I really want to kick your ass.”

Your fingers work the buttons on the controller as you test out every god damn combo you can…and damn it is working because you are on fire.

“You could have warned me that you actually know how to play…” Taehyung pouts.

“You should have just taken my word for it, you loser.” You continue to kick his ass in the game, you are pretty good at pretending his character is actually him.

“One more game, y/n.” Taehyung begs, “I will beat you!”

“You haven’t won even one match, Taehyung. Just admit you suck.” You chuckle darkly.

You press a few more buttons until you see the word ‘Fatality’ grace your screen, you stand up in excitement yelling out your victory, you laugh like a god damn maniac and he can’t help but chuckle. Taehyung throws his controller to the ground and pouts dramatically.

“I know what will make you feel better.” You turn to face him, calming down.

“Nothing will heal this wound, y/n.” He states, throwing the sofa’s designated blanket over his body.

“How about we watch that movie you like so much?” you offer with a smile but Taehyung goes stiff at your question.

“I think we should just call it for the day…” he looks awkwardly to the side and you slump your shoulders.

“Oh…okay.”

“Listen…it’s not you—”

“Just stop.” You hold your hand up, “You want nothing to do with me, I get it.”

“y/n…” Taehyung looks down at his hands…he does feel bad. It’s not like he didn’t have fun with you just now. He just wishes this was all different.

“I’ll be in my room—”

“Teach me how to make one of the recipes you learned.” He cuts in.

“What?” you ask, completely off guard. “What?” you repeat.

“I said,” Taehyung breathes out, “Teach me how to make one of the recipes you learned.” He’s not just trying to be nice…he’s also, you know, hungry.

You hate yourself because you light up like the sun almost immediately. You wish you were strong and you could tell him to fuck off but instead you become the god damn sun from how brightly you shine.

“Really?” you ask with the most hopeful eyes.

“Yeah.” Taehyung laughs, “Really.”

“You mean…you want to actually spend time with me?” you ask bluntly.

“I guess you can put it that way if it makes you feel better.” Taehyung rolls his eyes, but it’s in that playful way you only ever get to see so often.

“It does make me feel better actually.”

“Well, then.” He stands up and motions his hand towards the kitchen. “Shall we?”

“Are you going to be annoying the whole time?” you ask, “Or will you be serious about learning?”

“God, woman.” He rolls his eyes again. “I hope I annoy the shit out of you.”

“Oh, you already do.” You gesture for him to go to the kitchen first.

“You haven’t seen anything yet.”

“Somehow I believe you.” This time it’s your turn for the dramatic eye roll. “Now come on.”

“Oh my god. You aren’t even listening!” you yell out over Taehyung’s nonstop humming and whistling.

“I truly believe cooking is like an art, you know?” he continues to whistle some made up tune, “These instructions are like…a guide but you can kind of do what you…” he makes a fist with his hand and shakes it in front of his face. “… you want.” He finishes. “Yeah, these are more like suggestions.”

“Can we please just follow the directions.” You deadpan. “I want this to taste the way it’s supposed to!”

“You’re no fun.” Taehyung says nonchalantly. “Cooking should be fun.”

“Cooking is so we can eat.”

“These dumplings are going to taste fine, y/n.” He assures you with a grin.

“You say that but…” you look at his pile of failed dumplings. “But…” you show him with your hand the absolute mess he’s made.

“Your point?” He raises a single brow and you scoff. There’s no way he is serious, absolutely no way.

You notice Taehyung is staring at you, his eyes look everywhere but your eyes and you start to feel nervous under his gaze. He has one of those dark, intense gazes that you just can’t shake off your mind.

“What?” you finally ask. “Something on my face?” you joke.

“Actually, yes.” He blurts out. “So much flour.”

“Oh.” You start to turn red with embarrassment, “Where? Here?” you point to various spots on your face with a towel and he just shakes his head.

“No, there.” He points but you still miss it.

“Just clean it off me!”

“You want me to touch you?”

“Yes, please touch me.” Then your eyes expand in size. “Wait, that sounds wrong.”

“You have a dirty mind, y/n.” Taehyung shakes his head again, “You’re just all kinds of dirty.”

“Oh my god, stop.” You look at him with your flustered as hell face, your face is probably redder than ever and it feels so fucking hot.

“Here.” Taehyung grabs the towel from your hands and begins wiping your face clean. “Your face isn’t dirty anymore.” He pulls his hand back, “But your mind still is, huh?”

“Will you just shut up?”

“Will you just shut up?” he mocks how you usually would and you roll your eyes. Hard.

“Doesn’t feel good does it?” He teases, “Getting a taste of your own medicine.”

“Can we please just focus on this recipe?”

“Fine.” He breathes out, “Except I will ignore this recipe completely and do what I think my ancestors want me to do. They whisper in my ear that these need more garlic.”

“You are so annoying.”

“Okay, I get it, Taehyung.”

You reach behind you and untie your apron and place it on its hook by the pantry. You walk over to the dining room table and take a seat.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Taehyung quirks a brow as you rest your head on the table.

“Resting. Letting you do all the work. You can cook from now on. I give up.”

Taehyung shakes his pointer finger at you and walks your way.

“Oh no, no, no.” he grabs on to your arm and begins dragging you up. “This was your idea so we are cooking together.”

“Uh, actually this was your idea.”

“Oh.” Taehyung’s mouth hangs open as he realizes how true that is. “Not one of my better ideas…” he admits.

“Oh? Do you usually have good ideas?” You make your snarky comment and Taehyung let’s go of your arm.

“Usually the best.” He says, a cocky smile making its way on his stupidly handsome face.

“I don’t believe that for a second.”

“Well, you don’t know me.”

“Oh? And whose fault is that?” You jab at him and he visibly deflates.

“You know 3 things about me actually.” He gives you a half smile.

“All I remember is that you’re almost 5’11.”

“Well, that one was the most important. So your head is in the right place.”

Taehyung doesn’t realize it because you didn’t say anything but his face is full of flour as well. You stare up at him and start to laugh. Taehyung looks at you, confused. An adorable pout forms on his lips as he begs you to tell him what’s so funny.

“Your face.” You point at him and his fingers go to touch his skin.

“Clean me.” He commands. “I cleaned you, it’s only fair.” He points out.

You nod your head and walk towards the counter to grab the towel, Taehyung follows closely behind you. You turn around quickly and your chest bumps into his.

“Oh sorry.” He says while scratching the back of his neck, “I got too close.”

You nod lamely, but neither of you step back. Maybe expecting the other to do it? You decide to ignore that and you reach up to clean his face. He has flour everywhere. No joke. This dude is messy. You kind of laugh as you wipe his face clean, he can’t help but laugh too. His breath mingling with yours as you two giggle.

“We are kind of a mess.” He admits, his tone is soft—almost shy. You slow down the patting on his skin and you gaze into his eyes for a moment. They’re dark. They’re powerful. You feel yourself getting lost in the moment when Taehyung clears his throat and you bring your hand back down.

“There.” You say, “All done.”

“Should we finish cooking?” Taehyung grins down at you.

“I don’t know, what do your ancestors say?”

“They say you’re a smart ass.”

~~~~~~

“Do you think we could…we could do this again?” You and Taehyung are standing outside your bedroom door. Why did Taehyung walk you all the way to your door? The world may never know.

“Do what exactly?” he asks as he sways back and forth in front of you

“Play a game…or cook dinner…or you know just hang out.”

“Maybe… once a week we can play a game or watch a movie or something…” he gets out awkwardly.

“Wow, you’ll grace me with your presence once a week?” you roll your eyes, “How generous of you.”

“Listen…” Taehyung looks at you more seriously, “I know social contact is important for like, our mental health or whatever. But we shouldn’t push it.”

“You’re so…”

“I’m so what?” Taehyung steps forward and you gulp.

“So unfair.” You whisper. Taehyung bows his head down, he feels like he is shrinking. Because you’re right, he is being totally unfair. But he thinks this is the right move, the smart move.

“Y/n…” he sighs, “I’m doing this so we can leave.”

“And what if your little strategy isn’t working? It’s been a month Taehyung.” You point out, “And we’re still here.”

“I know, I know. Jesus, woman.” He breathes out, his dark eyes finding yours. “Look, they will get bored with us.”

“How can you be so sure?” you step forward. “What if we aren’t boring to them?” you whisper, your eyes staying on his.

“That’s why we should interact as little as possible.”

“Taehyung. No offense. But do you really think I want to interact with you?” you spit out, “I just need something, anything. I just need someone.” You step closer, “And you happen to be the only person here.”

Taehyung’s brows pinch together as he looks down at you, a frown decorating his face. He…he doesn’t want to be hurt by that.

“Once a week y/n. That’s all I can offer you.” He steps closer to you, his feet bumping into yours, “Don’t get greedy on me.”

You tilt your head up and chuckle,

“I told you I’m greedy though.” Your eyes stay on his, his piercing gaze causing you to shudder but you don’t break contact and neither does he. He’s challenging you, you can feel it. His eyes begin to narrow as he stares down at you, you wonder what he is thinking. He sighs out, his breath hitting your face and you blink up at him. You’re about to say something, anything when his tongue darts out to wet his lips. You mean to keep your eyes on his eyes, you really do but you don’t. You hate yourself for dropping your gaze down to his lips. He smirks as realization hits him.

“Goodnight y/n.” He says, his voice so deep and low it catches you off guard. Then he’s stepping away from you and heading towards his room, leaving you at your door. You release the longest, shakiest breath as you watch him disappear.

You open the door to your bedroom and walk inside, you wish you could yell out in frustration. You wish you could scream into your pillow and know for sure he can’t hear you. You wish you weren’t here.

You change into some sleep clothes and slide into bed. You pull the blanket up to your nose and kick your legs dramatically. This guy is so annoying! Why can’t he just not care and live life normally so you can be normal too! Listen, you aren’t fucking thrilled about this either. But you’re handling it a lot better than he is. Why is that…? Why are you handling this so well? Maybe it’s because your real life is a fucking mess and this truly is the vacation you needed. You know, you know how pathetic that sounds.

You close your eyes and try to sleep but memories of your real life keep hitting you. You hate this. You hate all of this. You’re lonely. You’re all alone. In this this life on the island but also in your real life. You’re so fucking alone. You feel tears prick your eyes and you let yourself quietly sob for who knows how long. You wish you had someone to lean on…just in general. But you lost all of your friends at work…you lost your boyfriend…you only have your parents and even they are fed up with you.

After crying tears after tears you decide you’re thirsty. You tip toe out of bed and make your way downstairs…the house is so quiet and dark. It’s relaxing and also depressing. You finally make it to the kitchen when you scream bloody murder. Sitting in the dark at the dining room table is Taehyung.

“Wow, y/n. It’s not next week yet.” He jokes. You quickly turn on the dining room light and look at him like he’s insane.

“You fucking scared me!” you exclaim loudly, “And why are you awake?”

“I have trouble sleeping…” he admits, he scratches the back of his neck and gives you a sheepish grin. “What about you?”

You step closer to the table and Taehyung’s eyes slightly expand. He notices your swollen eyes and puffy lips. Had you been crying?

“Hey…are you okay?” he whispers out, standing from his chair.

“Don’t act like you care so suddenly.” Your eyes slide to the side, “I’m fine.”

Taehyung looks down, guilt burying itself into his body. He looks up at you and tries to speak but he doesn’t know what to say.

“I just came down for some water.” You tell him. “That’s all.” You walk over to the fridge for the pitcher of cold water then you walk to the cabinet and try to grab a glass from the top shelf but you struggle. You huff out and close your eyes in frustration when you feel Taehyung’s chest on your back.

“I’ll grab it for you.” He says softly. He reaches for a glass and hands it to you, you take it from him and offer him a small thanks.

“See? That’s something only people who are almost 5’11 could do.” He teases and you look at him with a serious expression. You look down at your feet and sigh out before you let a giggle slip between your lips.

“Goodnight Taehyung.” You look up to study his face, and you see his smile fade.

“What?” you ask.

“Once a day.” He says. “We can hang out once a day. But that’s it.”

You feel your heart do something funny…you feel your tummy doing something weird too. You feel your entire chest get hit with a wave of….something.

“It’s fine, Taehyung.” You finally say after a quiet moment, “I don’t want to push you.”

“This isn’t for you.” He smiles, “I think I need the social contact too.”

“Well, no fucking duh.” You state with the roll of your eyes. “We can’t isolate ourselves…it’s so unhealthy.”

“I get it.” He breathes out, “So, I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“And every day after that until we’re out of this place.”

~~~~~~~~

The next couple of days you and Taehyung play some games or watch a movie together, just doing at least one activity a day. Just like he said you two would. Admittingly you do feel better about this arrangement. Not talking at all was a pain in the ass and terribly lonely. Sometimes Taehyung will come to the living room and play a game by himself while you read, just sharing a space without really talking, even after he did his one activity with you. You hate to admit how much you like that he does that.

It’s not like you want to get to know him specifically…but you would like to sort of know the person you are living with…that makes sense, right? It’s not him! It’s just that he’s the only person here…and you want a friend. Yes, you can admit you want a friend. You aren’t going to fall in love with the dude…you just want someone to talk to and hang out with. God, is that such a crime? Plus, you’re in no place for love. If the company truly knows you, with their “research” and all then they should know you are not ready for any type of romantic relationship.

You lay here on the couch, your legs hung over the arm of it while you stare up at the ceiling. It’s hot out today and this house happens to come with a lovely pool. The ocean is scary so no beach for you…but pool? Yes. You lay here, wondering what Taehyung is up to. He went out again today like he usually does, you wonder if you can ask him about it now…now that you guys aren’t on total terrible terms. Nah, you will wait a little longer before you ask. Instead, you rise from the sofa and head upstairs to change into a swim suit.

You have a lot of options, to be honest. This place did not lack on the clothing items! You decide on a simple dark green bikini, you try it on and decide you like the way it looks. A lot actually. Have you lost some weight? You guess the lack of fast food options has made you a little slimmer, and the amount of fresh food that’s available here. Plus you started lightly working out in the home gym, sweating a storm.

You head back downstairs and go to the back where the absolutely lovely porch is located…it’s a whole wooden deck. With a glamorous pool in the center and a hot tub off to the side. You wish you really lived in a place like this—not here, specifically. (For obvious reasons) You shrug off the towel that’s wrapped protectively over your body and make your way to the pool. You don’t know what you’re being self-conscious for…Taehyung doesn’t usually come back until sunset and it’s barely the afternoon.

You dip your toes in the water first…it’s pretty chilly but you handle it, dipping your body further and further into the water. You shiver just a bit before dunking your head underneath, letting the water consume you. You stay underwater, opening your eyes and staring at the blue nothingness.

“I love you.” He says for the first time, making you float on air. You knew he was going to say it soon, you could feel it but you were not expecting it here.

You two are sitting at Cozy Coffee, your favorite place to relax and read and write. You are in the middle of writing a very intriguing sentence when your fingers stop typing in reaction to his confession.

“You what?” you ask, a small smile adorning your face. “You love me?”

“Yes.” He reaches for your hand across the table, “But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

“I had a feeling.” You tease. “But I…”

“You don’t have to say it yet if you aren’t ready,” he squeezes your hand, “I can wait.”

“No!” you squeeze his hand back, “I…love you too.” You admit softly.

He brings his hand back, folding his hands together out in front of him and sighs out, his breaths escaping him softly.

“These past 6 months with you y/n…” he begins, “Have been the most wonderful.”

“They have been pretty nice, haven’t they?” you smirk. “Tell me your favorite part?”

“Any part where you’re naked, for sure.” He laughs and you gasp.

“Hey! Behave.” You warn with a smile and he keeps laughing.

“I’m serious, this is the best relationship I have ever had. You’re definitely the best girlfriend…all these other girls have been crazy.”

You frown at that, “Why crazy?”

“Ugh, you know how women can get.”

You don’t like the way he said that, you feel your smile twist into another frown.

“What do you mean?”

“It doesn’t matter. Because you aren’t like that. You’re different.”

You smile again, once again feeling special with his praise.

“Different how?”

“Jeez, you ask a lot of questions.” He half jokes. “I don’t know, you just are.”

The water is starting to sting your eyes as you continue to hold your breath, memories flooding you. This water isn’t the only thing trying to drown you. You finally squeeze your eyes shut and swim up to the surface, gasping for air once you reach it. You breathe out heavily as you try to catch a breath, your wet hair dripping down your just as wet face. You swim to the edge of the pool and lift yourself up on the ledge and sit with your legs still in the water.

Why do you have to think of him?

After an hour or so that passes and plenty of sun later you decide you’ve had enough of the day outside. You stand to your feet and grab your towel and dry off, draping the towel over your right arm. You’re still pretty wet you admit, but nothing crazy. You head for the house, walking through the back door. Once you enter the house the cool AC hits you, causing you to shiver but you decide a warm shower will solve this. You turn the corner in the hall to head upstairs when your body slams into another body. You run into Taehyung hard causing you to tumble over and fall on top of him.

Taehyung yelps out when he makes contact with you, his body falling to the hard tiled floor and he winces. You fall on top of him, your chest smooshing his face. Yeah, your boobs in his face. That’s what that fucking means. Your wet boobs in his sweaty face.

“What the hell?” Taehyung mumbles between your breasts, “Get off me.”

You’re quick to try to scramble off his body, your hands landing in all the wrong places as you try to lift yourself. He groans loudly when you make contact with his lower hips and his hands go to grab your wrists trying to stop you from moving around so much.

“Chill, chill.” He breathes out slowly, still holding on to your wrists. He makes his way out from beneath you and pulls you up by the wrists.

“I wasn’t this sweaty before you ran into me…” Taehyung observes, “How wet are you?”

“I wasn’t this wet until running into you. How fucking sweaty are you?!”

“Fair.” Taehyung says with a smirk, then he’s blinking at you. “You went swimming today?” he eyes you up and down and you immediately feel insecure under his intense gaze.

“Uh, yeah.” You take the towel that’s draped around your arm and go to cover yourself with it.

“Why are you getting shy now?” as sly smile draws itself on Taehyung’s face. “You didn’t seem this shy just a moment ago with your tits in my face?” he questions with a low voice.

“Oh my god, can we not bring that up?” you begin to blush and you hate yourself for it.

“Why not?”

“It was an accident first of all. There will never be a time again where my boobs are in your face.”

“Oh you’re making the company sad.” Taehyung pouts.

“Shut up.” You roll your eyes and Taehyung laughs. His laughter dies down though when he shamelessly eyes you again.

“Green is my favorite color.” He says while walking past you and heading upstairs.

You stand here, embarrassed as fucking usual. Your whole body warming up and you don’t even feel that cold AC any longer. You breathe in and breathe out. Taehyung is not making this stay very easy, is he?

~~~~~~

Month: 2

“Don’t you use that blue shell!” You scream at the air around you, your eyes concentrating on the screen ahead.

Taehyung smirks, working his fingers on the controller. God, he can really move his fingers. Wait, why the hell would you think that?

“Don’t tell me what to do!”

You are both totally immersed in your game, the finish line in sight. You jump to your feet in rushed excitement as the finish line is soon approaching. You need this win to tie with him on your ongoing competition in Mario Kart. You’re both oh so close, the anticipation rising. Like, honestly you might shit yourself. Taehyung also leaps to his feet, joining you at your side. Now you are both screaming at the screen, your throats will totally pay for this later. You are jumping up and down, yelling at one another , slamming your fingers on the controllers, harshly pressing down on the accelerator button. You can see it. Its literally right in front of you! AND you are ahead of him! The finish line! Your screams getting louder and louder…when…you are graced with a black screen.

“WHAT THE FUCK?!” You yell in unison.

You turn to face Taehyung, the one you hate the most right now. Your eyes dark and your voice low.

“What did you do?”

“ME? I didn’t do anything!” He says accusingly.

“You must have! You knew I was going to win—”

“First of all, we don’t know that.” He cuts you off all matter of fact. So annoying.

You look at him incredulously.

“THAT’S IT! I’m going to strangle you!” Before you can take a step towards him to you know, kill him, the screen turns a bright white, catching your attention. Lucky dude. Your focus now on the screen, you look at it with your head tilted to the side. There are black letters at the top of the screen and you decide to read out loud whatever this caption says.

“Re…Request?” your eyes scan the word slowly. “Oh. Oh shit,” Your eyes go wide, you turn to face Taehyung, his expression mirroring your own. You had completely, like completely forgot about the ‘Requests’. It has been a couple months of silence so how could you not forget? You wonder if this company is finally ready to move …this…along. Whatever this is.

Only seconds pass before more black words appear on the screen. Your eyes stay on Taehyung though, too nervous to read what comes next.

Taehyung must realize you have no intention on reading anymore because he exhales deeply and faces the screen.

“Okay, here goes…” he begins, “The two subjects must…”

#bts #bts fluff #bts smut #bts angst #kim taehyung #taehyung x reader #taehyung fanfic #taehyung smut #taehyung fluff #taehyung angst

298 notes · View notes

alovesongshewrote · 3 years ago

Text

Whumptober Day 21 - That's Where the Blood's Supposed to Be | Douxie, Zoe, Archie, You

Plot: sometimes, you loved ones come home bleeding to death, and you just have to cope with that. (Hisirdoux Casperan x Zoe Ashildr x Reader)

Warnings: blood

A/N: todays prompt is blood-matted hair

You and Zoe are bros

More than bros, probably

You’re homies

And sometimes, you kiss

Like homies do

It’s possible that you both also kiss douxie from time to time

And it’s also possible

That upon occasion

He comes home bleeding to death and the two of you have to take care of him

You panic more than zoe does

Outwardly, at least

She also panics, but most of it is internal

Externally, she’s getting douxie to lie down on the couch while she cusses him out for ruining taco night or smthn

It’s how she copes <3

You, on the other hand

Cope by running around your apartment, archie flying at your side, as you gather the first aid supplies

And also

Some useless junk

You never know if you’ll need a tape measure while you patch up your boyfriend

And besides, it’s how you cope <3

Douxie already freaked out when he got hit

He has made his peace with death

He doesn’t need to cope

He just needs to see his partners

And his familiar

His family, if you will

Unfortunately, you and arch are running around screaming until you aren’t

And when you aren’t

It’s because the two of you are cleaning the wound up while zoe keeps douxie’s attention on her

She just

Holds a casual conversation

Despite the occasional scream from douxie

She also has an electric spell ready, just in case you lose him

You rarely do

anyway

When you’re done cleaning, you and zoe switch places

She patches him up while you run your fingers through his blood-matted hair

Your conversation

Tends to be less casual

Where zoe calls him a moron, you

You make sure he knows you, zoe, and archie love him

It’s how the two of you cope

Douxie still doesn’t need to cope

He just

Kisses your hand and smiles at you

Maybe

Grips your hand a little

But overall, he’s fine

He’s fine.

He has to be fine.

Anyway, zoe finishes patching him up

It never takes her too long

And then the four of you just kinda

Collapse

It’s exhausting to have any member of your family be in mortal danger

When she gets her strength back, zoe yells at douxie for scaring you

(and her)

And he just takes it

You don’t stop her, you just hug archie to your chest and fall asleep knowing that your family is safe

Your partners are okay

Archie is okay

And you are loved

YOU ALSO FALL ASLEEP KNOWING THAT ZOE IS A HYPOCRITE

THAT’S RIGHT, THERE’S MORE

YOU THOUGHT THIS WAS OVER?

NAH, THIS IS A LONG ONE, SO BUCKLE UP BITCH

I'm sorry i called u a bitch, i didn’t mean it

Anyway

YOU AND DOUXIE ARE BROS

HOMIES

HOMIES THAT OCCASIONALLY KISS

YOU BOTH ALSO OCCASIONALLY KISS ZOE

And occasionally

Zoe comes home bleeding to death

Now, it’s not that often

Douxie definitely comes home bleeding the most often

But sometimes, it happens to zoe, too

When that happens, douxie just

Picks her up

And puts her on the couch

You run around and grab the first aid stuff, panicked as fuck

Archie doesn’t come with you, though, he stays with douxie

Who is

Shaking

Ya see

When douxie is not the one in danger

He needs to cope

And he copes

By shaking

And by lying

He promises zoe that everything will be okay

He promises you that everything will be okay

He promises himself that he can fix this

But he can’t know that for sure

You run in with the supplies, and you take your place cleaning the wound

And douxie focuses on zoe while she is focusing on the two of you

Well

Kinda

See

Unlike douxie

Zoe does need to cope after she’s been shot, slashed, what have you

And she does this

With bad jokes

“You guys suck at this, y’know? I’m gonna have a hole in me after this, I’m gonna look like a swiss cheese.”

Douxie tries to tell her everything will be okay, but she just keeps going

“They shall call me cheese girl, and I will hate it, and you’ll both have to live with that. Hey, what else has holes in it? Maybe we can get ahead of this cheese girl thing-”

At that point, you and douxie switch

He patches up her wounds, and the second he starts his work, his hands stop shaking

He can fix this

He knows he can

Meanwhile, you have to deal with zoe, aka “cheese girl”

And you cope as you usually do

By telling zoe you love her

Telling her douxie and archie love her

She just tells you to stop being a fuckin nerd

But she appreciates it

It makes her feel loved

You hold her hands

She squeezes them

Eventually, douxie gets her patched up

And it looks like zoe will not be dubbed “cheese girl”

Too bad, it was a cute nickname

Once zoe is okay, you all just kinda

Flop down on each other

Archie purrs

You hug your loves

And everything is okay

UNTIL IT ISN’T

THAT’S RIGHT KIDS, THERE’S MORE TO GO

WHEN ARCHIE COMES IN ALL BLOODY

He’s usually okay

He never gets himself that injured

And no one lets him get that injured

The worst he’s gotten is a bit of a scratch, which you usually take care of

Ya give him some roasted salmon and he’s fine

Y’know who isn’t always fine?

You

THIS IS THE LAST ONE, I PROMISE

DOUXIE AND ZOE

BROS

HOMIES

THEY KISS, TOO

AND THEY KISS YOU

AND SOMETIMES

YOU COME HOME BLEEDING TO DEATH

And when that happens

They both panic

Douxie picks you up and puts you on the couch while zoe takes your place and runs to get all the first aid stuff

She does not, however, bring a tape measure

When she comes back, she gets started on your wound right away

You see

You get injured like this least often out of your group

In part because you’re just a little more careful

And in part because your partners almost never let you get hurt

So, on the rare occasion when you are seriously hurt

They both cope a little differently

They go quiet

They’re focusing

Zoe is concentrated on your wound

And douxie is concentrated on how your hand feels in his

How your blood matted hair feels beneath his fingers

He would tell you that everything will be okay

That they’ll take care of you

That he can fix this

But he’s too shocked to say anything

Archie does it

He tells you you’ll be okay

That your humans will take care of you

And that they love you

That’s right, he takes over your role, too

When zoe finally finishes, everyone breathes a sigh of relief

And they all get back to normal

Douxie helps you sit up and holds you in his arms as zoe yells at you for being dumb and for scaring her

Archie settles in her lap when she’s done

Eventually, zoe settles her head in your lap

And you all fall asleep like that

And everything is

Okay

Your loved ones are safe

You feel at home

You feel loved

Ok, i promise, that’s the last one

#zoe ashildr x reader #hisirdoux casperan x reader #douxie x reader #douxie x zoe x reader #hisirdoux casperan x zoe ashildr x reader #archie is also present #whumptober #whumptober 2021

55 notes · View notes

bitsandbobsofwriting · 4 years ago

Text

Soul-stealer Part 2 (Final Part)

The aftermath; Arthur and the Gang fret, and Merlin wakes up to find that a lot has changed in a few short days.

Part 1

Unsurprisingly to Arthur and Lancelot, the moment they open the door, they are met by a gaggle of scared and desperate looking knights, all babbling at once and demanding answers.

Gwen had also joined them at some point. Whether someone sent for her, or she just happened to be awake, the two men don’t know, but don’t really care enough to ask.

Arthur just rubs his eyes tiredly, shutting the door behind him. Lancelot notices the King’s exhaustion and worry, and subtly steps in front of him, happy to deal with the talking for now.

He gives the others a placating smile and holds his hands out, gesturing at them to be quiet:

“He’ll be fine, he’s just exhausted. Gaius says he probably won’t wake up for a few days. We’ll post some guards right outside the door, and he’ll send for us if anything changes, for now, we should all get some rest; we still have to report to the council in the morning, no matter how worried we are.”

Percival and Elyan give shaky smiles, but trust Lancelot’s words, and traipse off in the direction of the knights’ quarters. Leon nods, but looks to Arthur worriedly, and steps around Lancelot to put a hand on his shoulder. Arthur looks up at him in surprise, but pats the hand on his shoulder and gives the First Knight a reassuring, though weak, smile. Leon returns it, and with that, he follows the others down the corridor, heading to his own chambers.

Once he turns the corner, Arthur’s gaze drops to the floor again, and he leans against the wall behind him, clenching his hands tightly in an effort to stop the shaking.

Gwaine and Gwen are a little more reluctant to leave.

Lancelot was well aware that Gwen knew about Merlin’s magic (not that anyone else knew that, least of all Merlin), and he sends a loving smile to her in comfort. She weakly responds with a smile of her own, before nodding her head slightly at Gwaine.

Lance’s smile drops as he looks to the other knight, the man in question being the most serious and withdrawn either of them have ever seen him before:

“Gaius promises that he’ll be fine. We can’t help him if we’re exhausted, Gwaine, we need to get some sleep.”

Gwaine lets out a long breath, gulping before seeming to sag slightly, looking to the floor as he mumbles an agreement. He allows Gwen to squeeze his hand briefly, before he gives the two of them a tight smile, and walks stiffly the way Leon, Elyan, and Percival had gone (after sending an out-of-character concerned glance Arthur’s way. The King doesn’t notice).

Gwen sighs and gives Lancelot a fond, reassuring smile. He raises an eyebrow at first, but then nods in understanding, glancing back at Arthur before walking tiredly towards his and Gwen’s shared chambers.

The woman waits until the knight has turned the corner, before finally turning around to face The King. He looks up at her, his face tense and eyes teary, and she sighs, before pulling him into a hug.

He tenses at first, but she squeezes tighter, and begins running a hand through his hair softly, ignoring the sharp pain of his armour digging into her skin. Arthur finally relaxes, accepting the comfort of a friend, and hugs her back, burying his face in her hair and trying desperately to stop himself from crying.

Gwen lets out a deep breath, and mumbles comfortingly in The King’s ear:

“You have to trust Gaius, Arthur. Merlin will be fine.”

Arthur tightens his hold on her, thumping his head against her shoulder softly in frustration, before saying:

“I know, that... that’s not the point, I... I’ve been so wrong. How could I have been so wrong for so many years? How could I let Merlin be so scared?”

Gwen bites her lip, taking a few moments to respond, not once loosening her hold on her friend:

“You couldn’t have known, Arthur. Everything he does, he does to protect us, you.”

Arthur finally pulls away and slumps against the wall, tightly wrapping his arms around his middle in a display of vulnerability that Gwen has never seen before, but will never mention to anyone.

She steps back, understanding implicitly that what Arthur needs now is a comforting presence and a listening ear.

The King stays silent for a few moments, gathering his thoughts, before he roughly shakes his head and huffs, looking up at Gwen:

“I know that. I think I’ve always known that. But what else don’t I know? What other lies did my father ingrain into my head? How many innocents have I killed, how many people are scared of me, because I allowed myself to be fooled by my father’s apparently misplaced hatred?-”

Tears finally overflow and his voice cracks as he continues:

“-He was so scared, Gwen. When we got him back in one piece, he... it didn’t matter what we had said to him earlier, he was so scared. How did I let that happen? It... It’s Merlin, how did I not notice that Merlin was so constantly afraid?”

Gwen leans against the opposite wall, gripping the front of her dress tightly to stop herself from fidgeting. She lets out a deep sigh, glancing briefly to the floor before meeting Arthur’s gaze once more, tears in her eyes:

“We all missed it, Arthur. Merlin is... a master at deception, lying, hiding his pain. I catch glimpses of it sometimes, I think we all do. A bruise here, an odd excuse there, the occasional mournful look on his face when he thinks none of us are looking. But Merlin has always been there, for all of us. He’s just this... constant, reassuring presence, ready to help or comfort at a moment’s notice. We all rely on him so heavily, I don’t think we even notice sometimes; none of us wanted to see the cracks, none of us wanted to see how sad, or scared, or angry, he was. So we didn’t. We all failed him, Arthur, but now? Now, we’re all going to make it right.”

She finishes with a firm nod, her voice stronger with her decisive last sentence. Arthur gives a resigned sigh, still looking doubtful, but before he can respond a look of realisation crosses Gwen’s face, and she tilts her head, speaking softly:

“You love him, don’t you?”

Arthur tenses his jaw slightly, almost denying it with a scoff, but instead, he sags once more and rubs his eyes harshly with the palms of his hands before looking up at her:

“Yeah, I... I think I do, I think I have for a while. And I didn’t even notice until he looked me in the face, and all I could see was how scared he was. Of me. Of what I... what he thought I would do to him. He’s the kindest, least evil person I’ve ever met, and I’m the one that made him that afraid. What does that say about me, Guinevere?”

Gwen just sighs. She knows Arthur is a good person, but there is also no denying that he was wrong in his persecution of magic, and how do you comfort a man who has just realised the atrocities he has unknowingly supported? Committed himself?

She steps towards him again, taking his hand and pulling him from the wall, settling a soft kiss to his cheek:

“Come on, Arthur. Lets get you to bed. Lance is right, you’ll still need to speak to the council in a few hours and you can’t do that whilst you’re dead on your feet.”

Arthur gulps, and sends one last worried, longing glance to the door behind him, Gwen just chuckles fondly:

“I’ll wake you up slightly early so you can check in on him before the meeting starts, how about that?”

The King finally sends her a smile that looks, though weak, genuine, and nods his head. With that, Gwen leads her friend to his chambers, quietly turning down his bed and getting a fire going as he retreats behind the changing screen.

She works slowly, dallying around the room. It goes unspoken, but both of them know that she won’t leave until Arthur is settled in bed, and she’s certain he will stay there once she goes. He finally crawls under the covers, and his exhaustion shows clearly; his head hits the pillow and Gwen barely has time to sweep the hair away from his eyes before he’s spark out, sleeping fitfully.

She sends one last concerned look towards her friend, before stifling a yawn and leaving the chambers, softly shutting the door behind her and eagerly heading to collapse in her husband’s arms

Gaius was, of course, correct in his assessment that Merlin wouldn’t wake up for a few days.

That didn’t stop Arthur from checking in multiple times a day, someone else in the Gang usually joining him.

Unfortunately, Arthur’s sudden announcement to the council that he fully intended to legalise magic, whether they wanted him to or not, meant he was stuck in meetings all day when Merlin did finally awake.

Gwen and Elyan were sat at his bedside when he opened his eyes. He’d been moved to the bed in his own room, once Gaius assured everyone that he was in no danger; said Physician was bustling around in the next room, busy as always, trusting that Gwen and Elyan would fetch him if Merlin’s condition changed.

Gwen felt the twitch in her hands and looked from her brother to Merlin’s face in concern, to see his eyelashes fluttering, before finally opening blearily.

She gasps, and squeezes Merlin’s hand tighter as she glances up at Elyan, quickly telling him to go fetch Gaius, and to send the guards to find the others.

The Knight runs a calloused but soft hand over Merlin’s forehead before rushing out of the room. Gwen doesn’t pay attention to the hushed words being exchanged on the other side of the door, not even looking up when Gaius bursts in, various potions in his hands.

Merlin groans quietly; Gwen lifts her other hand to cup his cheek and leans over him, smiling.

Gaius takes the chair Elyan had been in as the knight walks back in, nodding at Gwen’s questioning gaze. Merlin groans again, waving his other hand around aimlessly, seeming to relax when Gaius takes it in his own.

Gwen chuckles at him slightly, and Merlin’s confused, tired eyes find her as she softly speaks:

“Welcome back Merlin, you had us all worried. Arthur is in a meeting right now, but he’ll be here soon, I’m sure. He and the knights have been fretting endlessly.”

Merlin’s eyes close again as he smiles slightly, but they open wide a second later, a panicked look on his face. Elyan, from his spot stood behind his sister, leans over, putting a soft but forceful hand on his shoulder as he tries to sit up, and speaks quickly:

“It’s alright, Merlin. We meant what we said, you’re perfectly safe. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve got a lot of questions-”

Gwen looks back at him disapprovingly, and swats his leg with her hand:

“-but we’re just glad you’re ok. Get better, you can tell us all about your secret heroics later, alright?”

Merlin relaxes, lifting a shaking hand to pat Elyan’s own softly, nodding and giving him a weak but grateful smile.

Elyan returns it, before quietly telling Gaius that he’ll wait for the others in the main room, and silently walking out the door. Merlin, now with a little more energy, coughs slightly before mumbling:

“How long was I out?”

The two of them help him into a sitting position, Gwen quickly taking his hand again as Gaius uncorks the first of three potions, and answers:

“Your soul was... ah, reassembled in the evening of Monday. It’s now Thursday afternoon of the same week. Drink this.”

Merlin takes one whiff of the potion after nodding, and grimaces as he tries to push Gaius’ hand away. The Physician just raises a challenging eyebrow, and Gwen tuts; Merlin rolls his eyes in response, taking the potion with a huff and gulping it down in one, a disgusted look on his face.

He takes the other two in quick succession, knowing that there was no point in trying to refuse; Gaius’ Eyebrow of Doom, he could just about manage to resist, but Gwen’s disapproving and worried gaze could never be endured for long.

He was rewarded with a goblet of water and a pat on the back from Gaius, and another friendly smile and squeeze of the hand from Gwen.

The servant opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, he tensed up, tightening his hold on her hand as his now worried gaze moved to the door.

Gwen frowns at him, stroking his hand gently as she says:

“Merlin? What’s wrong?”

Merlin just gulps, glancing at Gaius quickly before looking to Gwen, and then back at the door:

“He’s coming, I can feel it. Arthur.”

Gwen relaxes again, back to smiling as she shakes her head softly:

“You have nothing to worry about, Merlin. He’s spent the last three days on a warpath against the council, trying to repeal the ban on magic. That is, of course, between bouts of panicking about whether you were going to be ok. Really Merlin, you should’ve seen him when the knights got you back here, he was so scared for you.”

Merlin looks at her doubtfully, and squeezes her hand as they hear the door to the Physician’s chambers bang open:

“You’re sure he’s not angry?”

His quiet, scared tone of voice brings tears to Gwen’s eyes; if she knew how frightened he was, she would have told him that she knew about his magic years ago. She gives him the strongest smile she can manage and nods firmly as she strokes his cheek softly with her free hand:

“I promise.”

Merlin bites his lip nervously, but returns her nod and looks to the door expectantly. Gaius strokes a hand through his hair before going to the door at the sound of muffled, desperate voices on the other side.

The Physician opens the door just as Arthur reaches it, Leon and Lancelot a hair’s breadth behind him, presumably having come from the same meeting. Gaius raises an amused, though fond, eyebrow, before wordlessly standing aside and allowing the three men to rush into the room (Elyan waiting in the other room for Gwaine and Percival to be fetched from training).

Despite Merlin’s internal insistence that he wouldn’t cry, tears fill his eyes at the sight of his friends looking so worried. Arthur exclaims his name, his tone an odd mix of relief at seeing him awake and concern at his well-being.

The King rushes forward, and Merlin barely has time to gasp before he’s being wrapped in a tight. Gwen lets go of his hand, sitting back in her chair as Lancelot stands behind her, a fond smile on his face as he gently rubs her shoulders. Leon visibly relaxes at the sight of Merlin hesitatingly returning Arthur’s hug, though Gaius tuts, unhappy with the way his patient was being jostled around so much.

The longer the hug goes on, the tighter Merlin grips Arthur’s tunic, and the closer to spilling his tears he gets. He had been so worried, so scared, but Gwen was right: everyone really had been fretting.

Arthur finally pulls back, but before he can say anything Gwaine bursts into the room, closely followed by an equally worried looking Percival, and a fondly smirking Elyan.

Gwaine pushes in front of Arthur (who huffs indignantly before moving back) and wraps Merlin in a tight hug of his own, holding the servant’s head close to his chest, and murmuring:

“Bloody hell Merlin. Took you long enough, we were all starting to freak out a bit.-”

He leans back, but perches on the edge of the bed and keeps his hands on Merlin’s shoulders:

“-Though to be fair, Princess here has been freaking the whole time.”

Arthur huffs again, louder this time, and Merlin throws a glance his way. Before he can say anything, Gwaine is roughly shoved to the floor (with a very undignified yelp) by Leon, who says-

“My turn.”

- as he pulls Merlin into a brief hug, before sitting back and patting him on the shoulder a few times with a soft smile on his face:

“Glad to have you back, my friend, we’ve missed you.”

The servant returns his smile, and Leon gives him a nod, standing and moving back only to be replaced by Percival.

The biggest of the knights doesn’t fit on the edge of the bed, at least not without slipping off or crushing Merlin’s legs, so he settles for leaning over and pulling him up into a tight hug. Gaius tuts again, but no one pays him any mind; if they were actually hurting Merlin or causing any damage, he would say so.

He finally drops Merlin with a mischievous grin, and ruffles his hair before moving back. Lancelot leans over Gwen to squeeze his best friend’s shoulder; the grin on his face mirroring Merlin’s teary one. The knight leans back again and Arthur pushes himself to the front of the crowd once more, reminding everyone just how much of a tight fit it was to have six bulky knights, and two others, in a room where a tiny single bed took up most of the space (The King made a mental note to have Merlin, as the soon-to-be-appointed Court Sorcerer, moved to bigger chambers, and to give Gaius a bigger bed).

Merlin’s smile drops a little, but Arthur lets out a deep breath and perches on the edge of the bed, taking Merlin’s hand in his own with only a slight blush.

He gulps, and if he’d payed any attention he would have noticed almost everyone else in the room rolling their eyes as he opened and closed his mouth, not knowing what to say.

Merlin, having finally convinced himself that he was safe, at least for now, simply raises an eyebrow at him, and Arthur can hear Gwaine snorting behind him, breaking him out of his speechless stupor:

“It’s good to have you back, Merls. The council are being predictably difficult and I miss your sarky comments in my ear.”

Leon purses his lips and nods in agreement, obviously getting just as frustrated with the slow pace the council was moving at as Arthur was. Lancelot just smirks and rolls his eyes at their dramatics.

Merlin’s smile grows again, and he quirks an eyebrow:

“Aww. You missed me, Sire?”

Arthur just lets out a short laugh and shakes his head, before looking back up at Merlin softly, and gulping:

“More than you know.”

Gwen stands abruptly, taking Lancelot’s hand, and gesturing to the door pointedly:

“I think that’s our cue to go. Lancelot, Leon, why don’t you catch the rest of us up on how the meeting was going?”

Leon nods knowingly, giving Arthur a pat on the shoulder before leaving the room, closely followed by Elyan. Gwaine smirks, and opens his mouth to say something presumably vulgar, but Percival huffs and clamps a hand over his mouth before pushing him out of the door. The two of them are followed by a laughing Lancelot and Gwen. Gaius looks to Arthur with an unreadably expression on his face, before saying in a deadpan tone:

“Not too much... ah, activity, he’s still weak and needs rest. The walls in these chambers are also not all that soundproof so... be mindful of that.”

The Physician ignores Arthur’s surprised blinking and Merlin’s deep blush, getting to the door just in time to stop Gwaine (who’d poked his head through to say something, again, presumably vulgar) with a hand on his face and a quick shove.

Arthur and Merlin chuckle slightly at the sound of Gwaine falling backwards down the steps with a high-pitched squeal, but quieten, looking to their laps awkwardly as the door shuts behind Gaius.

Merlin’s hand is still clutched tightly in Arthur’s, but he doesn’t pull away, looking up with a gulp, the worried expression back on his face. Arthur meets his gaze, biting his lip and furrowing his eyebrows worriedly.

“Merlin, I-”

“I’m so sorr-”

They both try to break the silence at the same time, but where Merlin chuckles slightly, Arthur frowns, having heard what Merlin was trying to say. He squeezes his hand tighter, and speaks forcefully:

“Don’t you dare apologise Merlin. I’m the one that should be sorry.-”

Merlin frowns, sitting up straighter and opening his mouth to retort, but Arthur shakes his head roughly:

“-No, Merlin. I should be, and I am. I am so sorry that you had to live in fear, it wasn’t fair, it wasn’t right, but no more. I’m fixing it I promise. I’m repealing the ban, and you don’t have to scared anymore, none of your people do, I swear it, in the name of Camelot.”

The tears finally overflow from Merlin’s eyes and he throws himself forward, clutching Arthur tightly and silently crying into his shoulder. Arthur returns the hug without hesitation, running a soft hand up and down the other man’s back and whispering apologies and reassurances in his ear.

Merlin pulls back after what feels like hours, wiping his eyes with his sleeve and smiling slightly when Arthur takes his hand again. His face falls into a frown once more, and he looks up to The King nervously:

“Still. Perhaps if I’d told you earlier, all of this could have been avoided. I shouldn’t have lied for so long, I shouldn’t have been such a cowa-”

Arthur interrupts him:

“No, Merlin. You should never feel bad for protecting yourself in a Kingdom that should, by law, see you burn just for existing. It is not your responsibility to put your life on the line just to help a grown man reach a moral conclusion that he really should’ve been able to reach himself.”

Merlin sighs, but nods at Arthur’s imploring face. He relaxes back against the wall and Arthur smiles softly, lifting a hand to stroke the side of his face. Both of them blush slightly, but neither pull away as Arthur quietly speaks:

“We’ve got a lot to talk about Merls, but you should get some rest, we’ve got plenty of time.”

Merlin nods, eyes blinking blearily as he yawns, just now realising how tired he is. He shuffles down in the bed so his head rests on the pillow again, but doesn’t let go of Arthur’s hand, even as he stands up to move to Gwen’s chair. Merlin tugs his hand slightly towards him, shuffling over in the bed:

“Will you stay?”

Arthur looks down at him, a soft smile on his face as he nods. He lets go of Merlin’s hand, but only so he can climb under the covers, settling with his back against the wall. Merlin rolls between the King’s legs, laying with his head on Arthur’s stomach as he sighs contentedly, one hand hanging off the edge of the bed, and the other back to being held by Arthur.

Arthur smiles down at him, running his free hand through the man’s hair as he softly speaks, so quiet, Merlin almost misses it:

“Always. It’s good to have you back in one piece, Merlin.”

THE END!!!

I hope y’all liked it, I really enjoyed writing such an alternate magic-reveal, so thanks anon for the idea!!

Head over to This List to let me know what y’all want next!!

338 notes · View notes