#& the author cares about trees in a way I find strangely moving & sweet

[turndecassette2]

#watercolour #art #tolkien #elf #feanor #or it was meant to be feanor but I was too lazy to google what hair colour he was supposed to have & I know some ppl care deeply about #those sorts of things #I need to re-read this book #just remember it being good tragedy #& the author cares about trees in a way I find strangely moving & sweet

[labyrinthsofyou]

lucky number nine

pairing: wong yukhei & female reader

genre: fluff & smut

warnings: blowjob, cumplay, fingering, oral, riding and a little holiday celebration

words: 30, 186                      

summary: yukhei unwraps his favorite present.

author’s note: this is a little late or extremely early for christmas.

+

wong yukhei is quite fond of christmas.

he likes the festive decorations. he enjoys the atmosphere. and whether it is morning or night, he thinks some of his most unforgettable memories have been on christmas.

yukhei remembers the christmas when he was five.

it was too early, but he had jumped out of bed that morning. he had ran down the hallway with his little brother trying to keep up with him. his mom had been chasing after them with the video camera. into the cozy living room with the decorated tree and the handful of wrapped presents he had zoomed straight to. yukhei had looked expectantly at his mom because he was dying to open the presents already. she sat on the couch and held the camera steady to record everything while his brother had taken a seat across from him. then a nod she had given him. and because he was the big brother, yukhei had made sure he found a present with his brother’s name written on the snowman sticker tag before he reached for one of his own.

yukhei hadn’t noticed the missing person in the living room. 

too immersed into ripping wrapping paper he had been. his excited scream had filled the small space at the reveal of the box of building blocks. all he had focused on for a long minute was the image of the built fire station, the tiny yellow characters and the fire engine to make his firefighter dreams come true. his mom had lightheartedly asked if he liked his present. in response, yukhei had turned to her and hugged the box with his smile so wide it showed his teeth and made his eyes closed.

but as quickly as it had appeared, it disappeared. 

the sound of bells jingling and a loud voice booming through their apartment had made him freeze. yukhei had turned his head and there stood santa. tall and big, his eyes had grown two sizes bigger while his breath caught in his throat. in santa’s hands had been two more presents all wrapped up. then the man in the red suit had let out a low and deep laugh that sounded like something yukhei swore he heard before. the bells in his hand he had rung again and yukhei remained motionless as his brother scurried to his mom. one step and another and another santa had begun to take until he was just a foot away from him.

the face underneath the  white beard had been unmistakable. 

without hesitation, the present in his arms had dropped to the ground. yukhei had jumped enthusiastically onto his dad with a big grin. the hug had been strong. his dad had laughed. his mom had never stopped recording. and yukhei had spent the whole morning loudly and proudly declaring he known all along and no one could fool him.

he remembers the christmas away from home in a new country.

homesick yukhei had been, missing the aroma of his mom’s cooking and the tree from his childhood that was still in good condition. he called home in the morning when he had a moment to himself in the bedroom he was sharing with two others. 

it had been nice to speak in a language he was familiar with because yukhei wasn’t going to lie. learning a new language had been difficult. he had learned to order food first, making sure to eat after tiring lessons and classes. but the many ways to say one thing and the varied ways to describe what he was feeling and thinking had been a struggle and felt like a tongue twister sometimes. 

still he had been trying and despite the struggles, yukhei reassured his parents he was well. he had been working hard to make them proud and in no time he would be successful to buy them a bakery or house or anything else they wanted. 

they hadn’t need to worry at all.

after yukhei hung up, he had found everyone else in the living room who was missing home like him too. it had been their first day off in a while. the group of them had spent the day lounging around the dorm eating, playing games and sleeping because all of them had lacked that. and when everyone was finally awake from their naps, the secret santa gifts they all had exchanged. the small box of building blocks yukhei had unwrapped when it was his turn. he had giggled and smiled. memories of childhood christmases had flooded his mind.

home yukhei still missed, but a bit better than earlier he had felt.

he remembers the christmas when it was just the seven of them.

two languages instead one yukhei had been trying to be fluent in now. the plans to debut in the new group had already been set. regardless how they all had trained together and some of them even performing together already, their own group they were now. there had been a bit of awkwardness of getting to truly learn about one another. yet it had felt strangely comforting to know each of them was nervous and excited about the whole new journey they were going to embark on. 

in the living room of the new dorm they had moved into and amongst the mess of clothes and boxes they didn’t finished separating and organizing, they had decorated a small tree. the secret santa that had started from the years before in the other dorms with everyone else they skipped. there had been no time to buy presents. so instead their hands had been filled with lots food deliveries of everyone’s cravings.

the delicious dishes varying from spicy chewy noodles to grilled pork belly had settled in their stomachs with joy. then a christmas cake with decorations of sweet cream snowmen and edible white chocolate pine trees their manager had presented to them. he had wished them success for their soon to be debut as a group. they had ended up digging their forks into the dessert like little kids. and when he finally climbed into bed in the early morning because they had stayed up watching movies and talking about home and their future together, happy and grateful yukhei had felt to be with them.

there are a lot christmases yukhei remembers. there are a lot christmases he won’t ever forget even after a life full of them he is certain. 

yukhei believes this christmas will be another that will be an unforgettable memory. this christmas will be another that will be stamped into his brain and etched onto his heart.

it is not his first christmas together with you. he has spent past christmases with you. 

after he wakes up midday because a day off it was after all, yukhei celebrates with his members. they eat and play games until the winter sky gradually changes colors. then he comes over to see you and it is a celebration with just you and him. a dinner of what your and his heart desires, a mix of take out and a dish or two you cook, is shared and cherished. and when dinner is done, yukhei helps you clean up before you and him exchange and open the presents to one another.

yukhei always ends up staying until the clock strikes midnight and the new day begins. the minute longer he always wishes to stay with you always becomes hours and he leaves when the moon is still illuminating the dark sky.

but this year, this christmas is different from the past of what he has had with you. 

today is the first christmas since yukhei has moved in with you nearly eight months ago. it is the first christmas since he has began calling this apartment his home too. it is the first christmas of him opening his eyes in the morning to find you laying beside him still in your slumber shielded by the comforter and blanket because you don’t care much for the cold.

his hand rises from underneath the cozy covers and yukhei rubs the sleepiness from his face and eyes. a sudden yawn comes out. slowly he turns and lifts his head up the slightest to take a peek pass you at the half burned candle and clock on your bedside table.

it’s just half past seven. another yawn comes on strong and yukhei covers his mouth this time.

“you want to sleep in tomorrow?”

that was what he had asked you in the early morning after the snow and snacks.  

it had been fitting for the first big snow of the season to be on christmas eve. the wet flakes had begun falling in the early afternoon. when yukhei returned home from the late dinner and secret santa with his friends, the city had been blanketed in white. it had looked like a magical winter wonderland as you gazed out the large window of the living room. and even though he had showered and was dried and toasty now, his arms wrapped around you and his mouth rested beside your ear.

“do you wanna build snowman?”

his question had came out in a singsong voice with light giggles following immediately.

you couldn’t resist. 

so out into the snow you and him went. yukhei had laughed so loud, the sound ringing through the cold quiet night while he had ran in the snow of the courtyard. it had been below freezing, but seeing him carefree and happy made it worth every second. then with your mitten clad hands and his bare hands because he had insisted he didn’t need them, you and him set working on the snowman. the body he had made while you made the head. the long broken branches from the nearby tree he picked up for the arms. the leaves of the bushes you had put in place for the eyes and nose.

“i told you we make pretty good team,” he had told you once the snowman was completed. “first we built furniture and now we built a snowman.”  

the tender kiss you had pressed onto his cold smiling mouth was warm.

once pictures and videos were taken together with the masterpiece as yukhei had called it with a chuckle, a walk around the neighborhood you had suggested. your hand he had taken and put inside the pocket of his padded jacket. the nearly similar matching black beanies on your heads had been covered in snowflakes. and when you were just half a dozen blocks from home, from walking through the snow covered streets, the convenient store he had pulled you into. just to warm up for five minutes he had whispered with a small grin. but the five minutes turned into fifteen because the small plastic basket yukhei had picked up.

regardless of the snacks that filled the cabinet next to the refrigerator and placed on the counter in the kitchen at home, the basket in his grasp had quickly filled up. the cola shaped bottle jelly candies yukhei had chosen. a box of strawberry cream covered biscuit sticks you had reached for. bags of sweet and salty chips you and him had never tried before were dropped in. a lip balm he picked up because the cold had made his lips dry. then the items were paid for and the short trip home begun.

once you had stepped foot into the heat of the apartment, the wet padded jackets were hung up to dry properly and a shower was taken to warm up. on the couch you and him had stayed. the snacks purchased were enjoyed and savored with glee as an animated movie of your choice played in the background. when your stomachs were full, too tired and too comfortable enjoying the closeness of each other, neither of you had wanted to make a move into the bedroom. so you had stayed snuggled in his arms with your head resting on his shoulder as you tried to focus on the movie.

“hmm? are you up for it sleeping in?” yukhei had sleepily questioned again. “i know we talked about opening presents in the morning, but at this rate i don’t think we will be able to wake up properly.” he had quietly chuckled and a kiss he placed on your head.

“sleeping in sounds nice.” you had turn to look at him with your gaze soft and sleepy too. “and like i told you already, i’m just really happy.” 

to be with him here and to celebrate the first christmas together in this apartment that had your and his things side by side had made you happy. the whole day tomorrow had been planned to be just you and him. that had been why the secret santa exchange and diner with his members were a day earlier.

yukhei had bobbed his head faintly once and pushed up the glasses that were now on his face. “me, too.”

his strong arm around your middle had tighten and soon enough, half a dozen wet kisses were peppered around your face. a bit more awake you had become with your squeals. when he drew back, the sparkle in his eyes had been there. the curve of his mouth had been beaming and contagious. “and technically since we are already…” yukhei had glanced at the time hanging on the wall. “an hour into the new day… happy merry christmas,” he had softly whispered.

instantly you had giggled, sitting up properly then so you could press a soft sweet kiss to his pillowy lips that were soothed by his earlier purchase. “happy merry christmas to you too, baby.”

a little longer on the couch both of you had stayed to finish the movie. once the credits begun rolling, he had begun yawning continuously and you knew you wouldn’t be able to fight off the sleep much longer either. the coffee table had been cleaned up. the christmas tree decorated with colorful glass and glittery ornaments and twinkling white lights had been unplugged.

after brushing your teeth side by side in the bathroom with the pink toothbrush in your grasp while the green was in his, you had simply put on your moisturizer before climbing into the bed he was already in. yukhei had tugged you close as the snowflakes slowly stopped falling down from the sky outside. you had fell asleep to the sound of his soft snores. he had ended up falling asleep with your back pressed against his chest.

however though, in the middle of the night, you had slipped away from him.

no longer in his arms you are. instead you are curled on your side and facing him with your head lowered a little. a hand is tucked under the pillow beneath your head. the other holds into the comforter. he listens to your steady breaths while turning a little until his body takes the same position as yours. 

yukhei should sleep. he can sleep. he can sleep until the afternoon every day if he was able to. 

but the thought of it being the first christmas with you in this home shared now together gently echoes in the back of his brain. there won’t be another first christmas morning for the first time together. so yukhei thinks he can sleep later. maybe all afternoon if he wishes because there is no schedule. it will be just you and him today. and when the new year begins, there will be four free days where he will most definitely catch up on more sleep. it is a mini break he cannot wait for before they will begin prepping for their next comeback afterwards.

the thought in his head wins.

with a small smile forming on his face, yukhei reaches for you. his hands slips underneath the white sweatshirt with the red printed snowflakes on the front and settles on your naked waist. your body feels so warm compared to his hands and he is certain you feel the difference because a soft whimper you let out. he can’t help but chuckle breathlessly. then slowly and carefully yukhei moves closer and pulls you to him until his arms encircle you. he lowers his head for a moment and presses one and two puckers of his pillowy lips to your forehead. 

“wake up, baby.”

within seconds you’re stirring in his hold. the smile on his face grows a bit when you gradually settle back down with a deep breath. he bends his head a little more and like a lion to his mate, yukhei gently nudges and nuzzles his nose against your warm skin. his thumb strokes your back. he places one and another kiss onto your left cheek.

“it’s christmas morning.” his calm and raspy voice draws you out of your slumber and dreams. the tip of his nose caresses yours as your legs kick away the pillow under your feet and begin tangling with his long limbs. “wake up for me, baby,” yukhei murmurs in a singsong voice similar to last night.

slowly your eyes open. in your half asleep state still, you register his deep low laugh that tickles your heart and makes you sigh. you stretch in his arms with a tired moan as he draws a few inches back. your own arms come out from between the warmth of your bodies and covers to erase the faint blurriness of your sleepy gaze on him. and when you can see a bit clearly, you meet his soft stare underneath a few falling strands of hair and his handsome fresh face. the sight makes your cheeks heat and you grateful for mornings with him. a hand of his dances and strokes your back. the little shiver yukhei feels from you. he is about to lean into you to kiss you properly, but you twist your neck slightly and note the time.

your brows wrinkle and you blink a handful of times to make sure you’re reading the numbers correctly before you turn back to him. an arm shifts to wrap around his shoulder while your other hand grips onto the white t-shirt he wears. you bury your face into his neck. the combination of spring fresh detergent, vanilla and a scent so uniquely yukhei that reminds you of home and comfort fill your senses. he chuckles when he hears the deep breath and exhale from you when his fingertips go higher up your spine.

“your hands are so cold,” you whine faintly against his skin. 

a grin with eyes crinkling you can picture forming on his face at your complaint even if you cannot see it. 

he giggles quietly. “sorry.” the apology rolls out softly, but yukhei makes no indication of removing them.

“i thought you wanted to sleep in,” you mumble, eyes falling close again.

yukhei loves his sleep. he can fall asleep anywhere at anytime even if only for five minutes. he can sleep until mid afternoon even when he is able to sleep early the night before. he would rather sleep than eat sometimes and it is a big deal because he loves to eat. he takes advantage of his days off and the holidays to sleep so he can make up for all the days he does not get enough.

and you do not forget how he had even asked early in the morning about sleeping in.

so right now, you expect it to be at least noon or perhaps much later. you expect the roles be reverse and it would be you waking him up instead.  

yukhei laughs once more while your hand reaches for the nape of his neck. your short nails scratch him lightly and it makes him hum. “that was the plan.” he remembers it was his own suggestion to do so. “but then i realized i have all afternoon to take a nap if i wanted to later. so i thought it’ll be okay to wake up early.”

it is then your eyes open. the sleepiness in you disappears and you are more awake than you were a minute ago. your fingers stop moving. you pull back and his boyish smile greets you. an eyebrow of yours rises up as you eye him suspiciously because what he says isn’t believable. 

you know him too well.

“you’re up to something.”

the accusation immediately makes him giggle, the familiar sound echoing in the quiet bedroom. one arms comes out from underneath your sweatshirt and yukhei reaches for your hand grasping on his t-shirt. he places it over his heart and you feel the steady beats of it. 

“i’m up to nothing. i promise, baby.” the arm still around your middle firms. yukhei lowers his head and kisses you gently on your mouth, making you sigh and want a bit more. he pulls away and you can’t help but lick your lips. the grin on his face is tender and almost bashful. “i was just thinking about it being out first christmas morning together. we can’t get another. i thought this was special,” he whispers with the glint in his eyes.

a sappy romantic at heart yukhei is even when he likes to deny it.

you chew on your bottom lip for a moment. the idea of staying in the warm bed with him cuddling and sleeping doesn’t seem like a bad idea. but what he is saying tugs on your heart too hard. “are you trying to sweet talk me right now so i will agree?” you quietly tease him.

his chuckle is low. “is it working?” he gives you another soft kiss and your gaze fixes on his mouth as his tongue peeks out lick it. 

“you’re not tired?” your eyes meet his once more. 

yukhei hums. “i’m okay right now.” the curve of his lips is boyish and charming. “but you are up now.” even if it is his doing. “so what do you say we get out of bed and we can celebrate our first christmas morning together. hmm?” he looks happy and relaxed. his soothing voice and words are laced with nothing but calm and sincerity. you find yourself inhaling slowly because yukhei’s hard to resist.

the tiny distance between your mouths you close for your lips to graze his. “promise you’ll get a little extra rest later,” you whisper alongside them.

he rolls over a bit then, keeping you between him and the bed. his forehead presses to yours as he stares at you. your arms encircle his neck and his other arm slithers back underneath your sweatshirt for the material to rise. the corners of his lips twitch up and you feel more tugs on your heart.

“i promise.”

you tilt your head. your fingers run up the back of his hair. “hmm, okay. you win,” you surrender.

sweet he always is and you are certain you will forever remain smitten.

yukhei lets out the tiniest triumphant cheer that makes you shake your head with a giggle. he leaves a quick yet tender peck on your mouth and lowers his head into the crook of your neck. he holds you closer as if he’s not laying on top of you currently. a minute longer you and him stay wrapped in one another’s embrace until you turn your head. you dot three kisses on his temple before moving your hands to tap on his shoulder blade.

“you go get ready first,” you tell him softly.

he shifts after a moment and presses a handful of wet kisses to your cheek that make you smile a little too much. his arms come out from below that sweatshirt of yours. at once you miss the closeness and his warmth. yukhei sits up and pushes the comforter and blanket away. the pillows at the foot of the bed for your and his feet and the matching red plaid pajama bottoms come into view.

it had been his idea and his surprise.

“you got us matching slippers, babe.” his reason had made him grin shyly and you laugh sweetly before accepting the article of clothing with sugary kisses and murmured words of gratitude.

the fabric of your sweatshirt rises up even more when you stretch again. the soft skin of your middle he has been holding and caressing catches yukhei’s interest. a few more centimeters and a little higher, he will get a really nice view of you. his stare and his motionless body makes you chuckle faintly. you watch as he swallows the tiny lump in his throat as if he’s never seen you naked before.

but he has. he has also touched you like no one else has ever touched you too.

you clear your throat to get his attention. “you’re staring,” you inform him with your eyes shining.

his gaze meets yours and you shake your head slowly. you tug your sweatshirt back down as yukhei is moving over you and leaning forward. a hand rises to palm his cheek. your thumb brushing back and forth his heated skin. 

“i’m distracted,” he counters.

the butterflies flutter in your stomach.

a final parting kiss he gives you on your mouth and the tip of your nose, yukhei pulls away again. he gets out from the bed and stretches. an inch or so his t-shirt rises. it gives you a peek at his v line and the leopard print band of his boxer briefs. he catches your stare and wiggles his sculpted eyebrows playfully. you chuckle as he threads his long fingers through his tousled hair. he’s been letting it grow a little before he will cut it again for the next comeback. he pushes his hair away from his face and bites his lip teasingly. mischief and satisfaction resides in his gaze as yukhei watches you lick your lips. 

“now you’re staring,” he states with a smirk. 

you playfully roll your eyes even while your face warms. the teasing act he was moments ago turns giggly and he puckers his lips and sends a kiss through the air. he releases his hair, the strands falling down stylishly with a few pieces over his pretty eyes. he slips his feet into the fuzzy gray slippers and turns to you one last time with another wiggle his eyebrows.

“i will see you in five,” yukhei declares before he saunters happily out.

but the five minutes is really eight minutes before he exits the bathroom for you to use.

his glasses he retrieves from his bedside table. his phone he turns on to check for any messages. a quick swipe of the lip balm he brushes across his lips. then yukhei makes his way into the kitchen.

yukhei is confident in many things. but the better cook than you these days though he is not. he’s still working on that, remembering and practicing all he learned from his parents when he isn’t too exhausted to make something else besides ramen and his special homemade chili sauce. 

regardless though he gets to doing something. yukhei fills the kettle with water. when it’s three fourths full for a quicker boil, he places it on the stove and turns on the burner and the range hood.

two slices of soft and fluffy thick cut bread yukhei puts in the toaster oven and he sets it for a light golden toast. he opens the cupboard for the white bowl decorated with navy polka dots and its matching plate. he pulls two spoons and a knife from drawer. the large container of yogurt and the butter he takes out from the refrigerator. the bag of frozen blueberries he gets from the freezer. then yukhei spoons the yogurt into the bowl, doubling the amount because this will be for you and him. a banana he peels, slices and fans along one side of the bowl. the handful of frozen blueberries he piles neatly on the opposite side. the toaster oven dings as he reaches for the oat and honey granola in the cabinet. the slices of bread he takes out and places on the plate. he goes back to the yogurt and sprinkles a spoonful of the granola on the top.

since living together, yukhei has watched you make yogurt bowls for breakfast or for a snack. he grins proudly at what he has made now. but when he holds up the bowl, the white cookie package with the festive silver ribbon glued to the top sitting between the coffee machine and the little pile of snacks on the counter catches his eyes.

maybe this needs a little something else.

and once you come out of the bathroom, the sound of the opened range hood gives you an indication of where he might be. your feet in the pink fuzzy slippers pad quietly across the wooden floors into the tiled floors of the kitchen. the kettle you notice on the stove but your presence he doesn’t realize. something else has his focus. you walk up to him, your touch sliding to his lower back and yukhei doesn’t jump or seem surprise. calm he is and you rub gently on his back.

you peek around him and within seconds you’re chuckling. “what are you doing?” you question amusingly.

a gingerbread man is tucked amongst the blueberries in the bowl of yogurt, resembling a man in a hot tub. you watch entertained as he gives the bag of cookies in his hand a little shake to find another gingerbread man with a slightly different design. he does moments later and puts it right beside the other, slipping it between the pieces of fruit.

yukhei lifts the bowl and shows his creation. “tada! it’s a christmas version, babe.” his beam is bright and so is yours.

you reach for the gingerbread man, scooping up some yogurt and a semi soften blueberry with the legs and take a bite. yukhei stares at you proudly for a reaction and the nod of approval you give him has him laughing and pumping up his fist victoriously. with the remaining half of the cookie, you scoop up a bite like before. but this time you put it in yukhei’s open mouth. his eyes widen in delighted surprise because it really isn’t half bad with the faint notes of spices mixing in and the extra crunchiness of the cookie.

“i’m genius,” he declares after he swallows the bite with a grin.

the kiss you give him in agreement tastes of cinnamon and blueberries and you deem this yogurt bowl one of the best you have ever had.

then in the warmth of the kitchen, you scramble eggs and pan fry the sausages that is one of his favorites to go with the toast and butter he spreads on. the water eventually boils. an iced americano you make for him. the green tea and rice tea bag yukhei puts in your mug before he pours the boiling water in. the ivory colored curtains he pulls back and the living room and the cozy dining space floods with natural light despite the overcast sky.

for the first christmas morning together, breakfast is enjoyed.

“thanks for the food, babe.” 

this meal together isn’t an everyday thing even after he has moved in. not when his schedules and practices vary daily or he is gone for weeks if there are promotions or filming. but it’s a little more often than before. so every time it is possible, at the table for two (and more) you and him sit to savor breakfast together.

“anytime.”

and the clock slowly ticks with quiet murmurs and satisfied hearts and stomachs. the last spoonful of yogurt with another gingerbread man yukhei leaves you while the last scoop of eggs and two sausages you pass to him. the plates and bowls you clear away and wash after. the table and countertop he wipes clean of crumbs.

then with the morning drinks in your hands, into the living room area you walk to with yukhei’s footsteps right behind you. the glass and mug are set on the coffee table. in front of the christmas tree you move to sit. you hug your legs to your chest as yukhei makes his way to the tree, kneeling next to it. he reaches behind it for the plug.

you’re silent and stare at the sudden brightness and glow shining in front of you. even if this tree has been lit up every night for the last two weeks, it feels different today. you believe it just might be the prettiest now on this christmas morning.

two feet away, yukhei thinks the same thing.

his gaze shifts between the lit up tree and the sight of you staring in awe. you look so pretty bathe in a soft glow. he feels the fullness of his heart. he has no regrets of not sleeping in right now.

quietly then yukhei moves to where you are and sits right behind you with his long legs on either side of yours. he presses his chest to your back and his strong arms come up to wrap around you. instantly you melt against him, your hands rising to grasp onto his forearms. his head he rests beside yours. his mouth stays next to your ear before he speaks.

“happy merry christmas, baby.”

his similar words from when he first told you hours ago, his calm and loving voice pulls on your heartstrings. it has you embarrassingly chuckling at yourself while blinking back the haziness building in your eyes. you feel him smiling so wide beside you. a moment passes before your head is turning to find him staring at you. the shine that is always in his gaze are magnified from the lights. the beam on his face is brilliant.

the love you feel for him is beyond words right now.

“happy merry christmas, babe.”

the mere centimeters between your mouths disappear. a few short and sweet kisses are shared before yukhei bestows one to your nose and cheek.

so many more christmases you wish to have with him.

yukhei presses his lips to your temple. “are you ready for presents?” there are notes of excitement in his tone and you laugh softly as you squeeze his arms and bob your head. you’re about to tell him to start because always he insists on you opening presents first.

but yukhei beats you to it with a grin.

he gives you a victorious wink when you playfully glare at him. “ladies first.”

his arms drops and yukhei scoots away from you for his drink. you move to reach for the present placed between the tree and your present for him.

he had brought it home three days ago and made you promise not to peek or touch. you had chuckled and nodded before agreeing with a sweet tender peck to his excited grin.

you look at the pretty present. the neat and rich ruby red bow with a white stitching outline ties the gold matte gift bag closed. the bag is big yet it isn’t that heavy in your grasp. you briefly glance at yukhei who’s smiling confidently as he slides himself to lean against the couch.

a long sip of his iced americano he takes before setting the glass back down. “what can it possibly be?” he jokes, his voice turning light and high with dramatic curiosity.

you giggle and hum before turning back to the present. the thick ribbon you’re about to pull on, but then you hear yukhei clearing his throat. your movements stop and your attention lands on him again. he nonchalantly and faintly juts his chin towards something. you remain frozen and stare at him. 

yukhei does it again. this time your eyebrows wrinkle slightly, unsure of what he’s trying to tell you. however he thinks the third time might be the charm. 

it’s not though. 

he gives up with a defeated sigh.

you watch him scratch the back of his neck a bit shyly while laughing almost embarrassingly. he pushes up his round gold rimmed frames. “you didn’t read the tag,” yukhei finally says with his cheeks warm.

and it takes a second to understand what he is referring to once you look down again. underneath the ends of the ribbon hides the shimmery cream colored rectangular tag with a simply designed green christmas tree embossed onto the surface. it hangs on the handle by a silver twine. you flip it over and immediately recognize his handwriting.

so you won’t be lonely, baby.

the thing about yukhei is that he is not one to often write romantic messages or love notes. awkward perhaps a little embarrassed he feels at times. even his texts to you when he is working or away in another country are simple declarations. he loves you. he misses you. he wants you. then he ends the messages with hearts and kissing faces or every now and then, a picture of his pouting or smiling face. 

because really, for the most part, yukhei thinks written words are not enough. he believes his written words don’t convey as much as what he really wants to say.

instead yukhei favors in telling you, calling and video chatting in hopes his words in his voice will echo in your mind long after the conversation has ended. he rather whisper his desires to you when the morning rays slip through the curtains and he is holding you close. he prefers when the moonlight is illuminating the bedroom and you can feel his heart beat in rhythm to yours. 

so this feels different.

you read the words again and gaze up at him. yukhei’s a little bit more shy and embarrassed now and you cannot control the skips to your heart or the wide upward curve of your lips forming on your face. you nod slowly and move closer to sit right next to him. his hand settles on your thigh, squeezing it affectionately as you turn back to the present.

it’s silent in the room while he watches the end of the ribbon you gently tug on. the bow unravels. the knot you work on. then soon enough you’re pulling the ribbon out from the slits and opening the bag. you are greeted with the sight of sparkling red tissue paper. one layer and then another you remove and suddenly your soft laughter is filtering into yukhei’s ears and filling the space. your eyes settle on the present nestled in a bed of more layers of tissue paper.

the trip to the home and furniture store to buy his bedside table you recall. the birthday surprise from a few months ago flashes through your mind. the words you had confessed to him he remembered.

he really is something else.

you take out the lion plush and move the bag to the side. the harmless wild animal is remarkably soft, feeling like velvet. the color of his body reminds you of golden honey. the mane and tail are silky. the muzzle is white like snow. the black stitching of a smile makes it look more adorable than ferocious. you hold it up like the famous animated movie you have watched too many times before and yukhei laughs warmly besides you.

“he is absolutely the cutest and softest thing ever,” you gush, hugging it to your chest as you turn and press kisses on the infectious curl of his plump lips.

yukhei chuckles and reaches out to pat the head of lion peeking out from between your arms. “i was going to go back to get the one we saw at the home and furniture store.” his eyes meets yours. “but when i had went out with winwin a few weeks ago, i saw it by the window of a cute novelty store. i thought this looked so much more cuddly and cuter,” he tells you with his eyes shining.

you hum. “i love him already.” your thumb brushes over the black stitching for the eyes and nose. “thank you,” you hug him with the plush crushed between the two of your bodies.

his arm wraps you waist and his fingers plays with the softness of your sweatshirt while yours go around his neck. when you pull back, your forehead is against his. one hand runs through his hair and creates a fluffy wave.

“so he’s the meaning behind the tag,” you murmur with a small smile that makes him beam wider and giggle softly.

yukhei nods and the tip of his nose nudges yours. “just don’t forget about hugging me?” he whispers, his tone playfully sad yet affectionate.

you chew on the inside of your cheeks. “you’re still my favorite lion,” you quietly and teasingly reassure him. you lean forward and give him two kisses. but then his hands rise to cup your cheeks and he’s encompassing you with big, sloppy and sweet kisses that has you laughing, squealing and feel so loved. 

“yukhei! it’s your turn!” you gasp out between giggles and every press of his soft mouth on you.

one, two and three more kisses and finally he stops with a bright and almost sneaky grin. a peck he places on your lips. but your attempt to move away from him so he can open his present fails because his arm drops back down to wrap around your waist. his hold is firm and yukhei slowly shakes his head. he pushes up those glasses adorning his happy face with his long fingers.

there’s mischief in his gaze. “now what kind romantic would i be if that is all?”

always you tell him he is. always he tries to deny it.

you stare at him, watching the curve of his lips grow and the corners of his eyes crinkle. “keep looking.” he gestures back to the gold matte gift bag. the lion he takes out of your arms, hugging the soft plush to his chest. yukhei pats your thigh once and then again to get you going.

the puzzled on your face has him chuckling and nodding at you. but slowly you shift a little away from him to get to the bag again. you glance up at him and he’s waiting. the open bag you turn to and you get to removing more tissue paper. it isn’t long before hidden beneath several more layers you find what he means. you can’t stop the quiet surprised noise escaping from your mouth.

the present is wrapped in a shiny champagne colored paper. it is tied together with a thin smooth red ribbon and adorned with the faux holly berries and green leaves. you take it out and you feel the curl of your mouth and the warmth in your chest. when you turn to him he sees the glittering sparkle in your gaze.

“did you wrap this?” you question, holding the present in your hands up.

yukhei chuckles and shakes his head. “i wished i could take credit but the auntie at the shopping center gets it all.” it looks too perfect to unwrap, but his gentle voice you hear again. “open it.”

his words register into your brain. but before you do, you move back to him first. you sit criss cross beside him. a hand yukhei settles on your knee, rubbing small circles on your pajama bottoms. the fleeting look you get of him and he’s smiling faintly and raising his eyebrows urging you to continue.

then you’re pulling the ends of the ribbon and putting the decorations aside. you gently rip the wrapping paper and the maroon red box comes into view. you feel your eyes widen and he hears a soft gasp when you see the name in cursive and gold on the cover. the beats of your heart feels like some is using it for a drum as you shimmy off the lid to reveal another box with a gold embroidered frame around the top of it.

yukhei looks on in a mixture of nervousness and excitement. he feels the warmth in his face and the flips of his stomach while you take the box out and place the bottom next to your knee. he stares as you push open the tiny tab that gently pops open the lid. the eighteen carat signature gold bracelet and the accompanying mini screwdriver nestled in the black cushioning come into your view. 

it shines, glows and looks absolutely gorgeous.

you feel the strong pounding of your heart. “yukhei...” the awe in your voice he doesn’t miss as you turn to look at him.

“do you like it?” the hopefulness lingers in his quiet question with his gaze shifting between the affectionate look on your face and the present in your hands. “i’ve been wanting to get you something really nice, but simple because i know that’s what you like.” always he is attentive and paying attention to everything of your preferences. you give him a faint nod. “and i saw this when i went shopping with winwin earlier this year. i just thought it would be perfect for you and that it would be your taste.” he hums softly. “you could probably wear this with anything too.”

the tugs on your heart are stronger. your gaze turns downcast again. “it really is beautiful,” you remark quietly, your fingertips running over the piece of fine jewelry.

a nervous chuckle from him draws your attention back up to find him looking at you intently. “and if you take out the bracelet...” his tone is gentle and soothing as he gives your knee a tender squeeze. “tell me what you think about that too.”

you follow his instructions, pulling off the security rubber band that holds the bracelet in place. you think that he is talking about the simple circle designs on the outside. but a moment passes before you see what he is really referring to. yukhei hears the tiny sound of surprise. your bottom lip gently catches between your teeth. the box you put down. your eyes slowly begin to blur as you read it once, twice and then even again.

you and me.

your thumb runs over the engraving, feeling the faint curves and cuts of words that mean a lot to you and him. 

“do still remember what you said to me when you asked me to moved in?” yukhei brings you closer until you’re pressed to his side and he’s holding onto your waist.

they had also been the words he repeated that night when he moved in too. words he silently tells himself when he walks through the front door and is greeted by your smiling face, your sweet kisses and your cuddly hugs. words that make him dream of so many more awaiting adventures with you.

his mouth rests next to your ear. “it’s you and me, baby.”

a shaky breath you draw in as a slow nod you manage to offer in response because you remember it so vividly. the first time you said it and the look of surprise on your face when he remembered them weeks afterwards. and now, months later, the words are more real than ever.

you wonder how he does it. how the simplest thing he can turn into the grandest of gestures that make your heart pound uncontrollably and make you feel like the luckiest person in the universe.

yukhei hums once more. a smile you sense from him. “i would have had the whole thing on it, but unfortunately there is a ten character limit on them,” he jests quietly with a laughter.

his love for you is incomparable to anything and anyone you have ever felt in your life.

finally you look up, and your watery eyes are unmistakable and it makes his heart swell while his deep laughter warms your soul. yukhei leans his forehead against yours.

“i’m always with you no matter what, baby. you’re surrounded by me now...” hoodies for each day of the week and more. a lion to hug to sleep when you really do miss him too much. a golden reminder with words that are priceless to you and him. the small sniffle you can’t stop. “so you don’t ever have to miss me too much,” he whispers tenderly and sweetly even if he knows every now and then the separation will still be difficult. 

“what do you think? do you like it?” he teases even if he is certain of your answer.

and before yukhei can joke that the present can’t be returned, you’re throwing your arms around him. his laugh is infectious as the lion falls from his hold so he can envelop you in his arms too. your face you hide into the curve between his neck and shoulder. he’s not sure if his arms holding you are tighter or it’s the other way around. 

“you’re going to crush me,” yukhei softly murmurs into your heated skin with a too wide grin. 

but you don’t care. 

you will hold onto him just a minute longer and harder because despite his words, he makes no effort to find his breath or push you away. 

he is unbelievable. the way he stolen your heart makes you certain he will have it forever. and once you eventually draw back, there is a glittering and playful twinkle in his eyes. he clutches his chest dramatically. 

“i can breathe again, baby.” his declaration makes you let out a breathless giggle as you make a quick dab at the corner of your wet eyes with the sleeve of your sweatshirt. yukhei straightens his glasses and fixes his hair. 

you look at him, head titling a bit. “romantic,” you whisper. 

yukhei hums with a sweet tender grin. “maybe just a little.” the small space between your mouths he erases with a short, soft and loving kiss.

the lion yukhei lays on the coffee table before he takes the bracelet from your hand. “here, let me put it on for you.” he reaches for the screwdriver in the box, carefully digging it out of the little nook it is cradled in. he turns his body to face you. 

“i had to ask the man at the store to show me how to put it on.” he chuckles and you stare at how the screwdriver looks minuscule between his long fingers. yukhei holds the bracelet delicately as if he is afraid too much pressure would bend it. “i hope it fits.” he says once he pulls the bracelet apart. “i didn’t realize there were many different sizes for this and i didn’t want to get the wrong size.” yukhei glances momentarily up at you with a sheepish grin and his cheeks warm. he motions for your hand. you raise your right arm and push up the sleeve to your elbow. “so i ended up trying to measure your wrist in the morning when you were still sleeping.”

yukhei recalls circling his thumb and index finger around your wrist so cautiously in fear of waking you. he remembers winwin shaking his head in disbelief and quietly laughing at him as he showed the salesman the circle size of his measurement.

you chuckle breathlessly and place your free hand on his thigh. the light squeeze you give it has him turning back to the task at hand. it’s quiet as yukhei’s brows furrow. the bracelet he carefully encases around your wrist, making sure it is upright so you can read the words inside whenever you need to. 

and to his and your delight, it fits perfectly.

he lets out a soft cheer and giggles, proud that his unconventional measurement worked out.  yukhei secures it back with the screwdriver. soon enough he’s moving the bracelet freely back and forth on your wrist while you admire how pretty it looks. 

“i’m so good at this,” he says with a beam, putting back the screwdriver in the box. yukhei turns to you, finding your gaze on him before you’re closing the gap between your mouths. you palm his warm cheek. a finger he tucks underneath your chin and you sigh into him when he pushes a little forward. 

you hope you will get to kiss him on more christmases to come.

and when you part a minute later, noses nuzzle together. your thumb brushes his smooth skin. his tongue comes out to swipe across his wet lips and you squeak happily with a tiny smile.

“thank you.”

yukhei hums, turning his head to pucker a kiss into the center of your palm. “always, babe. i just want you happy,” he reminds you.

your hand trails down to his chest to softly pat it. “is it your turn yet?” you question shyly.

he smiles wide and merrily like an excited child within seconds. you pull away from him as he moves forward with a clap of his hands. the bracelet box you close and place on the coffee table beside the lion. the wrapping paper and tissue papers you push to the side into a small pile that will surely grow. yukhei reaches for the present that is his. the playful rise of his eyebrows and the way his eyes grow a bit bigger in shock when he lifts up the box surprises him. big the present is, but not as heavy as he had assume it would be because he had too promised you not to touch it when you finally taken it out of hiding from the storage closet three days ago. yukhei goes back to the spot he was sitting in previously and places the present between his spread out long legs.

“what is this?”

yukhei counts the three different vibrant green bows in various sizes placed on the top. the glossy and glittery red and white diagonally striped wrapping paper reminds him of candy canes. 

but your head you shake, a small and bashful smile forming on your face. “babe, you have to open it,” you tell him, taking a seat beside him once again. 

he gives you a silly questioning look. his fingers slide underneath the tape and the paper he rips off. the simple black box that took you a week to find is revealed and he’s giggling with his curiosity heightened. you take the wrapping paper and pile it to the rest to discard.

yukhei pushes up his glasses before his large hands grips onto the sides of the box. he slips his fingers between the lid and inner section. a light shake he gives it for the lid to gradually loosen and easier to be lifted off. he drops it beside him and the white layers of tissue paper he peels back. his eyes are widening because suddenly he’s transported back to his childhood days. his laughter is loud and thrilled and you’re pleased with the reaction.

a mini plastic toy claw machine in a bright sunny yellow sits inside the box. it’s surrounded by presents of many sizes in a matte green wrapping paper with tiny white snowflakes.

yukhei runs a hand over his mouth and turns to you. “this is seriously all mine?” he questions incredulously with a grin. 

you nod with a chuckle. “it’s all yours.”

“does this thing really work?” yukhei asks inquiringly while taking out the claw machine up and lifting it up easily to study the item in his grasp.

you lightly swat his thigh and notice the childlike shine in his gaze. “of course it does! i even tried it out to make sure it does. what do you think?”

his gaze finds yours and the smile and nod thrown your way makes you happy. yukhei leans over and presses a fleeting kiss on your cheek. then he’s bringing the claw machine closer to his face.

inside is filled with tiny plastic capsules with colorful covers just like he recalls from his childhood days. but instead of the inexpensive prizes inside them, what he sees in each of them is a folded up piece of paper.

“why does each of them have paper inside?”

“because…” you reach for a present from the large box he seems to have forgotten for a moment and show him the number written on the reindeer sticker tag. “each of them is numbered. the presents... like i said, they’re all yours.” yukhei laughs softly and connect his eyes to yours, listening carefully to what you are saying him. “i remember you telling me once about going to the arcades when you were a kid and how happy you were.” your voice softens and your hand rises to brush at his fluffy hair. “you’ve been nonstop working recently and pretty much almost the whole year. i thought maybe this would be a bit fun for you to do. this is nothing like the real thing, but i thought this wasn’t such a bad substitute,” you finish with a tiny grin.

it’s quiet and yukhei’s is simply staring keenly at you. his heart is about to burst from the love and appreciation that is soaring through him. he leans towards you, kissing you shortly and sweetly twice before smiling against your mouth.

“i think this might be the most creative way anyone has ever given me anything,” he murmurs, wondering how long it had taken you to think of and do this. “thank you.”

his nose touches yours affectionately for a moment before he pulls away and returns his attention to the present in his hands. “how does this turn on then?”

your hand goes over to the back of the claw machine, feeling for the black button tab to slide over. immediately there’s a sound of a brief beep as a row of tiny blue lights outlining the top cover of the machine light up. there's a look of giddiness on his face. yukhei eyes the coin slot. 

“is this taking real money?” his wondering and curious question makes you laugh and shake your head. you place the present you are holding back into the box and take out a cute bear head coin purse that has been buried within everything else. 

“here.” yukhei steadies the machine on his lap and takes what you are offering to him. he unzips the pouch and the handful of silver plastic coins he sees. 

more than amazed he is right now with you and this present.

“you have to open the little compartment on the bottom to get all the coins back.”

your voice brings him back to focus and yukhei shoots you a quick glance with a bob of his head. he takes a coin and places the pouch on the floor. then he pushes the coin in to the slot. a carnival melody instantly fills the living room along with his cheerful laughter. the small screen next to the red control stick begins flashing a fifteen second countdown that turns yukhei’s laughter into a sudden scream.

“babe, this is timed!” he yells with a beam.

it’s your turn to laugh then as the seconds disappear and he’s hurrying to place the claw machine on the table for better stability. your gaze shifts between his concentrated face and the claw he’s moving. the time ticks away and when it’s two seconds remaining, yukhei presses down on the lime green button. the claw descends down towards the capsule with an orange cover. it grabs onto it and slowly it rises up and you give him a round of applause that has him chuckling. it drops down the opening as the music stops and his prize is rolling into his awaiting open palm.

the cover he removes. the folded piece of paper he opens. your handwriting he recognizes.

“three,” yukhei says aloud.

his eyes move from the paper to the open box filled with presents. you remain quiet as yukhei finds it tucked behind number seven and number one. he drops the paper in his hands on the coffee table before his lips are curling upwards at the wrapped present. it's a bit longer than his hand and shaped like a cylinder. he gives it a gentle shake and the sound of something solid rolling back and forth is heard.

yukhei thinks for a second and looks at you. “it’s candy,” he surmises confidently with grin. but instead of confirming his prediction, you playfully shrug and move to reach for your mug of tea.

“open it, babe.”

the curve of your mouth you hide as you take a sip of the warm liquid. you watch him tear the paper, the familiar purple and pink tube coming into his and your view. his guess is correct. yukhei lets out a shock and excited yelp because the sweet treat from his childhood is something he hasn’t had in what seems like ages.

“i haven’t had these in forever.” he remembers trying to make the candy last as long as possible, but finding it nearly impossible. it was too good not to be immediately devoured. he hasn’t found this candy sold anywhere here. “where did you find this?” yukhei asks, turning to you.

“there is an online market i found that sold candy from different countries. i remember you talking about this. but you didn’t remember the name. when i saw this, i wasn’t so sure. i didn’t think it could be that different so i took a chance.” another sip you take before putting mug down.

the perforated plastic wrapper around the neon yellow cap yukhei rips off and puts on the table next to the paper. “have you tried them yet?” he asks.

you shake your head. “no, i wanted to try it with you.”

yukhei pops off the cap and in an instant, there’s a sweet scent of sugar and black currants. he shakes out the little purple gumdrop size gummies covered in sugar crystals and brings it to your mouth to eat. when the candy touches your tongue, it’s hardly a second for the flavor to fill your mouth. your sweet tooth is satisfied and you can’t help but squeal. yukhei chuckles at your pleased reaction and pops one into his own mouth. he lets it soften for a moment before he’s chewing on the candy that is transporting him back to his youth.

“i might eat this whole thing today,” he exclaims with a smile and pours out two more pieces into his palm. yukhei holds his hand out and you take one while he eats the other.

the sugar melts against your tongue. “go ahead. i ordered four of them as a just in case,” you inform him with a laugh. the information has his eyes growing big before he plops a kiss on your cheek that makes you giggle gleefully.

two more gummies he puts in his mouth and then yukhei puts the cap back on and places it on the table. he claps his hands once more and gets another coin, ready for more presents. 

you look on at him. “what’s going to be next, hmm?”

the coin goes in. the music starts up once more and the countdown begins. he has his eye on the capsule with the neon purple cover. just a bit to the back and right,  there’s four seconds left when yukhei pushes the lime green button and the claw goes back down. successful he is again and within moments another capsule is in his hand and another piece of paper he unfolds.

“number eight,” yukhei notes to you.

he finds this present in the corner of the box. it’s soft, small and rectangular like his phone. he looks at you questioningly with raised eyebrows when he hears your short and light giggles. you move closer, draping a leg over his. the wrapping paper he tears open and he’s giggling and snorts now too.

yukhei holds up the pair of cobalt blue boxer briefs with the black band embroidered with the designer name in golden yellow. his love for colorful underwear you never forget. your love of seeing him in them hasn’t changed. he pulls off every color that touches his body like no other.

“i saw them when i went shopping a few weeks ago and i immediately thought of you,” you tell him with soft chuckles.                                                                      

he turns to you and looks at you amusingly. “i’ll model these for you later, baby.” the wink yukhei throws at you makes you playfully fan yourself and he leans over and places a quick chaste kiss on your lips. then his pinky he holds out between you and him. you hook onto with a grin and without hesitation.

the underwear goes besides the tube candy and lion before he is focused on the claw machine again. another coin yukhei picks up and pushes into the slot. it’s the capsule with the hot pink cover he aims for and gets. you remain mum, pressing your lips together and stare at him.

he opens it for the paper inside. “it’s number six, baby.” yukhei says while locating the present easily among the rest of them.

whatever the item is, it is inside a box. this present is light and almost feels like nothing. then similar to present number three, yukhei hears something sliding inside when he gives it a shake. his fingers threads through his hair, brushing the strands back while he wonders what it could be. another shake and he rips the paper.  his laugh is loud and he snorts once again. his chest vibrates with those happy sounds as he focuses on you with raised eyebrows and a teasing glint in his gaze. 

the sleeves of your sweatshirt you pull over your fingers. your arms go around his neck, trying to hide the expanding beam overtaking your face. yukhei holds up the box of condoms and gives it another shake.

“we are running out anyway,” you reason with a shy chuckle. “i wanted to make sure we had enough.”

yukhei nods knowingly. the box in the drawer of his bedside table because that’s where they are kept now, has just two left.

he pulls you close, snaking an arm around you while taking a deep breath of the faint scent of vanilla on you. “you think we can use some now?” yukhei hums, almost begging wishfully.

for the last few weeks, exhausted yukhei has been after the long days of practices for the end of the year performances and filming content to be released later. plans for a comeback are being laid out on top of that too. 

it hasn’t been any better for you either. the work load on your desk seemingly building daily. he has come home to find your desk scattered with open books and papers surrounding the computer. and once you and him finally lay in the bed that always is warmer when he is there, sleep won the battle each time.

yukhei has missed you.

your face turns until the tip of your nose is tickling his warm cheek. “soon, baby,” you murmur, smiling against his skin.

and that is all you say. your response, your voice is soft and seductive and yukhei is honestly ready to abandon the remaining presents for a little while and use what’s in his hold.

he doesn’t though.

because it’s the opposite of present number eight. you hold out your pinky for him. his charming and boyish laugh filters into your ears. he nods slowly and lifts his pinky to hook onto yours, energized and anticipating for the soon. you are about to release his finger, but he doesn’t let go of it. instead he draws a few inches back so he can look at you clearly. yukhei sees your eyes sparkling and that beam on your face is sugary sweet. 

a playful defeated sigh he lets out. “such a tease.”

his pout and accusation make you chuckle and kiss him softly, sucking on his bottom lip for a second longer. and it satisfies him for now because you stay close with your arms wrapped around him too. your head tilts towards his and the present for later is set aside because he wants to try at another gift.

“you’re liking this so far?” you inquire as he gets another coin.

the tiny plastic circle  yukhei pushes in. “i’m loving this so far,” he cheers with the music playing once more. even with the seconds disappearing, he turns away briefly from the game to give you a quick peck.

you hum happily as he returns to the game. the control he moves strategically. you’re wondering which one he is going to pick up and he’s speculating what else is in store for him. the lime button he presses. within moments, the capsule with the turquoise lid is in his hand. you are silent and watching as yukhei opens it and takes out the paper.

“it’s number eleven,” he announces with glee despite you seeing the number yourself.

you shift a bit to let him search for the present he has won. your nerves start to act up. there is a flip to your stomach.

then the correct present yukhei finds underneath present number two. it’s a box again. but this one is flatter and just a tad bit smaller than the previous gift. it’s light too, almost weighing like nothing in his hand. he shakes it but no sound is heard. his brows quirk up, glancing at you because his curiosity heightens. down he looks. the first tear of the wrapping paper he makes. you unconsciously chew on the inside of your cheek. a second rip to the paper has your heart skipping a beat because the box is revealed.

it’s the same maroon box like his gift to you and when he flips the box over, he gets his confirmation.

yukhei is staring at the gold cursive name printed on the top. he’s chuckling softly in joyful wonderment and disbelief. he gazes up briefly, the faint bob of your head thrown his way encourages him to continue. his focus returns to the present. the lid he takes off and puts underneath the bottom. the black velvet fabric he pulls back and he’s beaming at what he sees.

“do you like it?”

it’s your turn to ask now.

the hope and nervousness is laced in your question. yukhei takes the bracelet out and puts the box on the coffee table next to everything else. your fingers run up a soothing touch along the nape of his neck and the ends of his hair. you stare at him as he feels the cord band of the bracelet. he notes the three intertwining rings of gold, silver and rose gold that is a replica of the ring that is currently in his jewelry box on top of the dresser in the bedroom.

your eyes lower a little to the item in his hands. “i wanted to get you something that you could wear even during performances and promotions… if you wanted to. this was light and i thought you could wear this comfortably.” because more jewelry he sometimes has to wear for the stages. “and unless someone is looking closely, it is simple that it shouldn’t draw too much attention to anyone.” as much as he loves you and you love him, the world doesn’t know it yet. you clear your throat slightly. “you probably noticed too that it’s the same trinity winwin got you. i thought it would look nice with how they matches,” you finish quietly, keeping your gaze steady on the present in his hands. 

love, fidelity and friendship, yukhei has them all with you.

the quiet encompasses you and him for minute. he takes in your words, feeling amazed at the present and you. then suddenly you feel the gentle bump against your temple with his head. your eyes lift to meet his. yukhei nods and gradually leans forward to connect your mouths together. 

this kiss is slow. your hold onto the back of his neck, tilts his head the slightest for your mouth to mold so perfectly along his. the want and need is there. his tongue teases his way into your mouth and you release a little whimper of bliss. yukhei drags you closer, a hand gently gripping onto your waist. he pushes forward, intensifying the way he is sucking on your lips. 

but air and a little more time you need.

you tenderly nip on his top lip and pull back. dazed he looks as he catches his breath. you press your forehead to his while his thumb rises to wipe the wetness from the corners of your mouth. 

“so you like it?” you breathe out quietly.

the chuckle yukhei releases is airy and carefree. “yeah, i love it. thank you.”

his whispered words of gratitude makes you beam bashfully. he moves back and you watch him roll the bracelet onto his left wrist. once it’s on, yukhei straightens the cord properly. he tugs on your right hand to bring it to the front and intertwines his fingers with yours.

your presents to each other are side by side. the sight makes him proud. the warmth blooms in your chest.

“great minds think alike, huh, baby?” he whispers.

and it doesn’t take long for you to giggle lightly and bob your head in agreement. you shift and reach for the bear’s head still filled with a few more coins next to him. a little shake you give it and the tiny jingle is heard.

“you’re still not done yet. there’s more for you.” 

your voice is sweet and cute and it has yukhei looking between you and what you’re holding. the grin on your face is bright and excited, but the tiniest hint of mischief in your eyes he catches.

“are you up to something?” he questions, narrowing his gaze playfully.

and your question from this morning you recall. you laugh while shaking your head. slowly he takes what you are holding.

“no, baby, i’m not. you just have more presets. that’s all,” you reply with ease.

but your words and tone are unconvincing because yukhei still eyes you suspiciously. there really is that sweet trouble in your gaze. the smile forming on his face can’t be stopped as he turns his attention on the mini claw machine in front of him again.

a coin is taken out. he mentally counts the eight remaining capsules left.  yukhei deposits the money into the slot.

“what color is next?”

the music plays.

“how about...”

however the sentence yukhei doesn’t complete. instead a little to the left and then to the right before he moves the claw back. one second remains and then he pushes the button for the claw to descend. you watch as it opens to grab hold of the capsule with the fire engine red cover. your face warms. the claw rises up with his choice and in a matter of seconds, it is drop into the opening again. your heart beats quicker. he opens the capsule and takes out the piece of paper to unfold.

“number nine,” he says with a charming smile.

yukhei shows you the written number with a bright smile that makes his dimples faintly appear. he turns to the presents that still remain, looking for the what he has won.

his search will be fruitless though.

you watch along, bringing a hand up to shield the smile you are having some trouble controlling. he lifts and turns presents over a few times to double check the numbers.

there’s the faintest of a frown on his plump lips. “babe, i think you forgot a present cause i don’t see it,” he informs you.

yukhei turns to look at you and waits for a response. you do your best to suppress the grin on your face and avoid his gaze. but he doesn’t miss it because he can see the slight crinkle at the corners of yours eyes. his eyes narrow suspiciously at you once more. that frown present moments ago disappears.

“did you hide it?” he accuses you with a giggle.

you finally lift your head up to meet his gaze. you let out an airy laugh and shake your head.

“i didn’t hide it,” you tell him with your smile steady.

you shift, taking the capsule and paper still in his hand and put it on the coffee table. 

“i really didn’t hide it.” you reassure him again. 

then with your hand intertwining with his, you get onto your knees. you move until you are straddling his thighs with your knees against the floor. yukhei pushes his glasses up with his index finger and he sits up straighter. his free hand settles on your waist as you bring his hand you are clasping up to your lips. a sweet kiss you press on the back of it once and twice.

before yukhei has a chance to speak and question you again, you beat him to it. “i didn’t hide it. i promise, babe.”

the reassurance you give him is followed by a tiny curve of your mouth that widens in seconds.

“you’ll get it. but just humor me for a minute because i just want to ask you something first.” yukhei’s nodding slowly, his mind wondering and confused what this is all about. “what do you think of my sweatshirt?” you ask him coolly.

the way his brows furrow, the puzzled look that suddenly etches across his face has you softly chuckling and finding him absolutely adorable. he stares at you because you are serious. the nod in encouragement to just go along with you and answer your question he gets from you. 

his eyes moves to the article of clothing in question. yukhei recalls commenting on it when you and him had decorated the christmas tree together two weeks ago. the bright white reminds him of the clean snow of last night. the thick material makes you look warm, cuddly and huggable. it increases his desire to just cozy up with you.

“i told you i liked it. maybe next year we can find a matching shirt to go with our pants,” he responds, wide eyes meeting yours once more.

another short bob of your head you give him. “and the snowflakes?”

yukhei glances down again, his gaze sweeping over the printed on red snowflakes in varying sizes all over the front. “they’re cute…” he answers. “but not as cute as you,” he teasingly adds in.

you giggle at his cheesiness and embarrassment before you’re gently pecking him on his grinning mouth. it takes a moment to regain your composure as he rubs a little at your waist through the sweatshirt.

“last question...” yukhei stops laughing but the boyish smile is still present. you give his hand a tiny squeeze and he nods because he’s ready for the question. “can you count how many snowflakes you see?” your final question you ask him.

and to say yukhei isn’t more baffled about what you are doing than he already was sixty seconds ago is an understatement. the inside of your cheeks you chew on momentarily. his hand you release as you lift both arms up just to make sure he sees them all.

despite how curious he still is about where this is all leading to, yukhei trusts you because he does what you ask. you’re silent staring at how his pillowy lips move the slightest as he murmurs off the numbers. he counts it once, his eyes going from snowflake to snowflake. then he counts them again just to be certain he didn’t miscount the first time. his unoccupied hand rises and the tip of his index finger touches each red snowflake.

after he is finished, yukhei looks at you again. “there are nine snowflakes.”

your lips you press together and the bob of your head is faint. he stares at you, eyebrows wrinkled a lot because the mischief and sweet trouble in your eyes has returned.

nine snowflakes.

you intertwine your hand with his again and bring it to your mouth, placing another kiss on the back of his hand. a lot lost yukhei is right now, wondering about what connection this has to do with his missing present.

nine snowflakes.

your free hands settles on the back of his neck. you brush back and forth his warm skin. your bottom lip catches between your teeth, certain his mind is in overdrive trying to understand.

nine snowflakes. nine snowflakes. nine snowflakes.

it’s silent. a minute and another passes. then you’re watching with delight at how his puzzled expression disappears and is replaced with one of shock and surprise as his brows relax. his hand leaves your waist and covers his wide open smile before it rises and threads through his hair. yukhei lets out a slow deep exhale. a low groan then laugh quickly follows out as he shakes his head. he pushes his frames up and stares at you in amazement.

you are truly something else.

yukhei really cannot believe it. your hand he releases. he should have realized earlier. your cheeks he cups. forehead against yours, the proximity between your and his growing beams are just centimeters apart.

“are you my present?”

his question is shy. the short faint nod in confirmation is even shyer.

“yeah, i hope you’re not disappointed.”

your hand reaches to grip gently at his shirt. his thumbs are stroking your cheeks. the shine in your gaze is obvious and the warmth is expanding in his chest. yukhei tips forward and breathes in deep. 

he shakes his head slowly. “no, i’m not disappointed at all,” yukhei murmurs truthfully because with you, never he is. 

then his nose bumps and grazes yours. he erases those centimeters, teasing your top lip between his. but you’re pouting ever so slightly and he chuckles breathlessly and yukhei gives you what you want. 

the kiss is soft and intense.

his hold on your cheeks lowers a touch to tip your head up. your hand grips gently on the hairs on the back of his neck. his tongue little by little slides into the warmth of your mouth. your tiny whimpers come out between the wet sounds of your hungry mouths. a hand drops and his arms circles your waist to push your body closer as if you aren’t already sitting on him.

but as much as you want this to continue, there is just one more thing.

you reluctantly break away, reaching to tenderly grasp his face to pull him away. you are feeling dizzy in the best possible way and yukhei groans and chases after your mouth with an airy drunk laugh. breaths are ragged and hearts are racing. your arms move to drape over his broad shoulders while his hands move to rest on either side of your middle. he stares at you like he’s a little tipsy and a lot lovestruck. his wet plump lips are turned up into a charming smile on his face.

yukhei hums. “is that all, babe?” he teases because he’s not done.

he wants more.

always with you he is insatiable.

your laughter is light while you give him a shake of your head. your tongue peaks out to lick at your lips. “no...” your words trail off and his hands you reach for.

slowly you guide them to underneath your sweatshirt, his touch still slightly cold on your bare skin like earlier in the  morning. your head turns and then your mouth is beside his ear. his hands begin to slowly roam around your skin because like a habit yukhei can’t break from. and when his touch gradually goes higher and higher until he’s grazing alongside something that was not there this morning.

your seductive chuckles tickle his skin and heart.

“unwrap me, baby.”

your lips nip the shell of his ear. the tip of your tongue teases his skin. he feels it again to make certain he isn’t hallucinating. then you slowly lean back to get a better look at his lit up face. the way you are licking your bottom lip has him doing the same. the quiet whine and the innocent pout as you flutter your lashes make him raise an eyebrow.

slowly yukhei removes his hand from underneath the sweatshirt and lifts it up. the faint and low groan escapes from his mouth as he stares at your floral laced covered breasts that are pushed very up. they look so full and perfect in the vibrant holiday red color that is so pretty on you. he wants to touch and he does, holding the sweatshirt with one hand as his other runs his tender touch over your chest. yukhei angles his head a bit and bites his lip. the delicate mesh material that wraps around you he likes too and this combination of lace and mesh has him chuckling in joy. 

regardless if you have worn seductive and teasing pieces, he is still excited each time. 

you’re beautiful and absolute perfection.

a little squeak you let out from his gently squeezes. your back arches a little, hoping for more of his touches. and yukhei swears he feels the slight twitch in his pajama bottoms as he smiles and laughs lowly. he is pleased at the sight of you and your reactions. both his hands work then to fold and bunch up the sweatshirt for it to not fall and cover you up. his large hands run gently up and down your sides, cherishing the softness and warmth of your flesh until he cups both of your breasts. he tears his eyes away from the flawlessness and look up to meet your eyes.

your beam is sugary and unashamed at how he is enjoying himself right now. “i know you like the tops with the zippers...” you start.

yukhei chuckles and nods within seconds because he knows exactly what you are talking about. the tops you exercise in. the tops he can’t get enough of seeing you in. the tops he still fucks you in after the exercise sessions together. the tops he leaves unzipped because you’re still the prettiest thing he has ever unwrapped.

“but it’s christmas and i wanted to give you a proper wrapping... bows and all,” you whisper with a mischievous grin.

he quirks an eyebrow. the curve of his mouth grows. “bows?”

and it takes a second for yukhei to notice the small and delicate satin bow in a matching shade sewn in the center between the cups.

yet he only sees one.

just like before you guide his hands. but instead of traveling up this time though, you shift them lower until his fingertips slip below the waistband of your pajama bottoms. yukhei gets the hint because you let go of his hands for him to undo the knot of the white drawstrings. the sweatshirt you hold up with one hand as he grabs onto the top of waistband. you grip on his shoulder gently with the other as you get on your knees. your bottoms he push down and again he’s letting out an airy laugh because he really likes what he see here too.

to your knees yukhei pushes the fabric and you’re giggling as you sit back down on his thighs. your slippers fall from your feet when you lift your legs for him to pull the pants completely off your legs. he discards the article of clothing beside him while you settle back comfortably on him. the combination of lace over your breasts and mesh wrapped around you covers your pussy as well. 

the matching bow in the front of small triangle he stares at, swallowing the lump in his throat. you spread your legs. your feet move to plant firmly on the wood floors. and yukhei truly thinks you are trying to kill him because the fabric that is over your core is barely an inch wide. he gets a glimpse of your folds peeking alongside the edges. you watch as he wipes the corner of his mouth with the pad of his thumb because he’s not sure where to start and what to unwrap first.

yukhei feels another twitch in his pajama bottoms as he groans under his breath.

“this is like a two in one present, you know that?” he whispers in awe and in jest. 

but to your ears, he sounds slightly amused and desperate. it has you briefly tilting your head as you laugh softly.

his hands move to grip gently your thighs before they slowly slide back. yukhei grunts lowly, happy to feel just the flesh of your soft ass because there is no back coverage. both your hands rests on his chest while your knees drop to either sides of him once more. with a sugary smile, you settle right over him. you feel the slight bulge and gasp quietly as you roll your hips again and again. he grunts again. his eyes turn downcast, watching your hips roll like waves. your movements has him growing harder and you a bit wetter while he stares.

once you stop a minute later to catch your breath, you loop your arms around him. an eyebrow of yours arches. your eyes twinkle. “so what do you think? do you like it?” 

for the second time today you’re asking him. however you are simply teasing because you feel his reaction even if he does not explicitly tell you his thoughts.

regardless though yukhei nods. he really does because he’s latching onto your mouth again. the kiss is fervent and wet. your sweatshirt bit by bit falls down. you bite his lower lip while his hands squeeze your ass to elicit a moan before one them shifts a little. suddenly you feel his fingers running along the delicate fabric between your supple ass cheeks. you mewl into his mouth and he grins when he slowly pushes the barrier aside to touch your wet core. 

you feel a little too warm.

your hands clutch onto his shirt. your mouth falls from his as you rise a bit to give him more room to access you. his eyes finds your still twinkling gaze. yukhei strokes you. so soft, smooth and wet you are. after a minute, he slowly pushes a finger into your pussy. he coos when you whimper against his skin. he pulls it out and pushes it back in before repeating it a handful of times. you bite down on your lower lip suppressing the pleased noises when he slides a second digit in. and the two fingers feel better than one as he continues to gently work your pussy and squeezes your ass with the other. the wet sounds of him playing with you makes you moan happily.

“mmm, i miss this,” you breathe out slowly with a tiny smile. carefully you push down on his fingers when he retracts them a little.

yukhei chuckles, letting you fuck yourself on his fingers for a moment. “you’re so wet, baby.” he slowly stops you and removes his fingers  and shows the shiny coat on his skin. “look at this.” 

before you can react or move forward, he licks the digits clean with a satisfied groan. your ass drops back down while your arousal shoots into your pussy watching him grin blissfully when he is done. you lean in and kiss him, hoping for a little remnant of yourself. it's faint and he hears the little sighs into his mouth. 

when he breaks from you, foreheads press together. you bring a hand to his lips and outline his wet lips with your fingers.

“is the soon now?” yukhei quietly asks with a teasing lip bite.

your laugh is breathless, remembering what he had asked before. his eyes sparkle. 

“just one thing,” you reply serenely. 

he nods, the beam on his face so brilliant and charming right now. you back away. what you so desperately want is already in your mind as you move down his long legs a bit to get to the drawstrings of his pajama bottoms. yukhei watches your eager fingers work on the knot while he threads his fingers through his hair to push back the strands. he fixes his glasses just as you pull down the front of his pajama bottoms to reveal the black fabric of his boxer briefs. he hears the light sounds from your smiling lips while you stare in awe at the bulge.

yukhei grunts and you push up your sleeves of the sweatshirt and palm his straining cock. the gold around your wrist against the black fabric makes him moan proudly. 

you look up. “can i baby?” your request is sugary and the small tilt of his head he gestures lets you know to continue on.

his t-shirt you push up, revealing to you the leopard print waistband that you hook your fingers onto. you work to bring the front down. it takes a few tugs of the tight material and his cock is released. his groan fills your ears and you feel another rush into your pussy.

he's hard and looking delicious and your mouth begins to water. but before you make your move, you work again to get the fitted fabric pushed down enough for his balls to come out too. you want them as well. and once you are successful, you glance up briefly at him. the curve of your pretty and slightly swollen lips is so sweet and innocent as yukhei spreads out his arms against the seats of the couch. he can’t stop his soft chuckles at how you look and what you are going to do.

“go ahead.” he whispers lovingly.

your eyes turn downcast at the green light and you reach for his cock. the soft grip has him grunting again but much louder this time. your touch starts from the base to the tip in slow and tantalizing strokes. he inhales deeply and lets it out slow. your wrist rotates up and down around his cock that is growing with every twist of your hand. 

you let go of his cock and t-shirt and scoot down his legs a bit more until you are comfortable in a position to your liking. then you lower yourself, the front of your sweatshirt grazing his pajama bottoms. yukhei holds onto the hem of his shirt against his torso as you grip his cock again. sliding your hand up and down repeatedly once more, you shoot him a fleeting teasing smile. your free hand presses on his thigh and your tongue darts out. your gaze stays on him when you take your first leisure lick of the underside of his length like it’s an ice cream cone. 

how you have truly missed this with his recent schedules and practices and your own work. 

you hum with happiness at his pleased grin. then one and two more licks you take before your lips eagerly cover the tip. you gently suck the head and yukhei sharply sucks in a deep breath. but then the way you put a bit more suction has him letting out a moan. you feel the confidence in you swell. a little lower you go until your mouth reaches your fist  still holding him. your mouth feels so warm and he shudders while you pull back and go back down again. 

“baby, your mouth feels so fucking good,” yukhei moans without restraints. 

you freeze for a moment.

as much you love how his cock feels in your hands, it does not compare to the feeling of him in your mouth. it feels so much more. you relish the heaviness in your mouth. you enjoy the veins and ridges against your tongue. you move back again, the wetness from your mouth visible on his cock as a lone line of saliva trails from your mouth to his tip. you giggle and yukhei chuckles lowly at the slight messiness whenever you blow him. he watches your hands begin to stroke him using the wetness you left behind. you tip forward, your tongue coming out again. this time it’s to swirl around the head while your touch works the base. his moans echoes the wet sounds of your touches on his cock.

soft laughter slips from your lips. “mmm, do you like that baby?” another swirl of your tongue. yukhei groans, staring intently at you and the curve of your ass slightly in the air at this position. “missed this so much.”

you tilt your head a bit and press your tongue flat on the underside and drag the wet muscle up. you repeat it a few of times and the moans from deep within his throat pleases you too much.

“you like being licked like that? hmm? tell me what you want,” you tease.

the groan yukhei releases is his only response because the base of his cock firms a little. your mouth wraps around the head again. a handful of soft tantalizing sucks, you slowly start descending down on his cock once more. inch by inch he disappears into your mouth. he wants to shut his eyes for a second at the pleasure, but he doesn’t want to miss a moment.

he groans. “fuck, babe.” 

you bob your head, moving your mouth on him the way he likes before popping him gently from your mouth. yukhei notices the bit of saliva on your chin when you look up at him and reaches forward to tenderly wipe it away. you hum softly in appreciation while your hand moves up his cock while the other rub at his thighs. his hand rests on the back of your head, caressing you affectionately. your thumb brushes back and forth over the slit as your hand gently moves his cock up a little more so you can have a taste of something else for a minute. 

your head angles a bit, nearly laying on his thigh when you lean forward and kiss and kitten lick his balls. he huffs loudly when you delicately suck on them and curses when your mouth widens to carefully cradle them in your mouth. the warmth combined with the tender swipes of your tongue around them, you feel the tiny bit of stickiness on the pad of your thumb that has been rubbing his slit. yukhei tears his eyes away from you and shifts his gaze to his cock.

it’s reddening and he is desperate for more.

and yukhei thinks you might be thinking the same because you release his balls. you sit up for a second. then eyes connect as you bring your thumb up to your wet lips and suck on what’s there.

his laugh is warm and soft when your lower lip juts out in a playful little pout. “i want more, yukhei.”

you turn back to his cock, your mind imagining how he will be releasing into your mouth. then yukhei watches with pleasure at your enthusiasm as you lower yourself again. he stares at your smiling lips encasing over his cock. he is halfway nestled in the warmth of your mouth before you start bobbing your head. 

yukhei lifts his other arm away from the couch, both hands settle on the back of your head while your mouth moves up and down. he doesn’t push you forward or keep you down. he just wants to hold you someway somehow right now. the loud wet sucking sounds of you enjoying his cock fills his ears and makes him feel bigger in your mouth and pride in his chest. after a minute you pull back for a few deep breaths. the smile on your face when you make eye contact with him is sugary and satisfied before you return to the task of sucking him. 

but as much as yukhei always enjoy his cock in your mouth and he feels the slightest tightness in his stomach, the box on the table catches his attention.

he really has missed you. 

yukhei wants to feel you differently for now. he wants to feel more than the warmth of your mouth.

“babe...” 

your eyes turn up to him when you feel the gentle pats on your head. you reluctantly take him out and hum softly. he pushes his locks back. “can you stop and sit up?” 

he chuckles at the faint frown on your face. regardless though you obliged but not without one parting lick from the base to the top with a light kiss to the tip. then you’re sitting up and slowly dragging yourself up his legs to his thighs with your knees grazing the wood floors. his hands cups your heated face and brings you closer so he can kiss you. 

it’s chaste and sweet despite what your mouth has been doing the last few minutes. 

you break apart from him. “you know, i was enjoying that,” you murmur in teasing sadness alongside his grinning lips.

yukhei laughs and it makes the bottom of your lip jut out. but then the brushes on your skin makes you feel a bit better. “i was too, baby.” you whimper in response because you want him. “but i was thinking of something else we can enjoy first,” he whispers softly. 

you shoot him a questioning look. the box of condoms yukhei reaches for and holds in front of you. your lips break out in a bright beam. you place a peck on the tip of his nose and hum quietly. 

“i can still finish later though,” you insist with a twinkle in your eyes.

he nods, laughing once again. “most definitely, babe.”

your delighted squeal thinks maybe he shouldn’t have let you finished. but then you fist his cock again, going up and down as his fingers are sliding underneath the glue flaps of the box. you lean back a bit and place your feet on the floor to spread you legs a little wider. how wet you were before, you are more now because he sees the faintest darker shade of the fabric. his fingers gradually freeze and yukhei can’t help but smirk when you shift a few inches closer. one hand rest on his knees behind you and carefully you lift your hips up. 

then yukhei watches, entranced at how you begin to rub the underside of his cock alongside your cloth pussy. he feels the slightest graze of your folds. you whimper. your hips roll. your face warms. you are ready, excited and know exactly what you’re doing to him because his hand moves to rest on your hips.

“when are you going to unwrap me, baby?” you mewl seductively. “mmm, yukhei, i want your cock.”

and reluctantly his eyes leave the teasing show to look at you. what he finds is a sweet yet wicked look etched on your face. you whimper once more; the sound so enticing and desperate. 

yukhei shakes his head and bites his lip. “you’re going to kill me,” he chuckles almost bashfully. 

his words instantly make you giggle and you stop the motions of your hips. but you continue with tender caresses of his cock as he focus on ripping what he needs. the box he places back on the coffee table and you sit back down on his thighs, knees falling to the floor again. you watch in anticipation while he rips the foil. you let go of his cock for him to slowly roll the condom over his harden length. he grunts under his breath at the sensitivity. 

you rise on your knees. “can i ride you?” you request. 

the tip he pinches as he glimpses between you and the wooden floor. he pats your thigh. “stand up,” he says gently.

hands on his shoulders, you push yourself up to stand. yukhei glances up at you. for a moment you think he’s going to pull your underwear down. but he doesn’t. instead he reaches to rub you tenderly in the front, feeling the lace and mesh.

“so pretty,” he quietly murmurs with a smile. 

your face warms and yukhei brings himself up. his pajama bottoms slightly falls and he pushes them down until they’re at his feet. he steps out of them and his slippers before he takes a seat on the couch. his legs spread and a hand goes around his cock. you watch him give it a few long strokes and pumps.

yukhei looks up, the ends of his mouth curling up. “come here, baby.” he tells you, patting his thigh.

you walk the short distance and your hand he takes as you climb onto the couch and straddle his thighs once again. your feet on either side of him, he throws his head back a little. his hands massages your thighs and you hum at the tender strokes on your skin and the soft look on his face.

“is this okay? i didn’t want you hurting your knees on the floor. i thought it would be more comfortable like this,” he whispers.

your head tilts a bit. the warmth on your cheeks intensifies.

always sweet he is.

yukhei slowly begins folding up your sweatshirt again. his thumbs brushing over your lace covered your nipples. “yeah, i’m good,” you reassure him with a little grin.

you lift one of his hands and press a kiss to the middle of his palm. soon enough your eyes turn downcast. his cock you are holding gently and firmly again. you rise, crouching with your legs parted and your feet placed against the couch because this angle will be better. immediately yukhei cups your ass, massaging the exposed soft flesh. one hand grips onto his shoulder.

his long finger hooks onto the fabric between your ass, pulling it to the side again and away from your core. you hum happily at the slight coolness.

he gives you a soft nod. “let’s go, baby.”

with eyes connected and matching beams on your faces, you guide yourself down onto his cock. you mewl at the tip entering your pussy. the stretch feels too good and you can’t stop from huffing. he grunts lowly in his throat at the different kind of cozy his cock is surrounded by right now.

“yeah, keep going,” yukhei encourages faintly and affectionately.

when you are halfway down, you rise up until it’s just his tip is in you again. a deep breath you take and he watches you lick your lips before you sink back down just halfway. you repeat this once and then again, each time making him groan and want you a little more. 

then the base of his cock you finally let go. his eyes lower and your hand goes to your knee. yukhei manages to settle a hand on your waist to steady you without looking away. his plump lips are slightly parted at the sight of his cock little by little disappearing.

your walls feel like velvet and his cock feels at home.

and slowly but surely he fills you up, making you chew on the inside of your cheeks at the wonderful feeling of his cock finally and completely in your pussy after the last few weeks. you stare at him and his face is in awe. his cheeks puff out and his tongue sweeps across his curling lips. your body shifts and stills to adjust to him. he looks at where you and him connect and his hands rise up to make certain your sweatshirt will stay up so he can see your bouncing breasts. his head lifts to find you watching him with a sparkle in your eyes.

you giggle softly. “did you enjoy the show?” you coo.

yukhei wants to laugh. he wants to tell you he can watch you sinking down on his cock every day. but then you suddenly bounce once and twice and he thinks what he wants to tell you can maybe wait until later. your hands move to fist his t-shirt and his hand wipes across his mouth before they fall to his side. he’s watches the tiny smirk form on your face as you pant and fuck yourself down on his cock.

“mmm, yukhei. you feel so big, baby,” you whine, the sensations spreading through your body.

your covered breasts bounce with each of your movements despite being still covered and yukhei thinks the sight is absolutely hypnotizing. he huffs before smiling almost dreamily at you. he reaches for them, his light massages on your breasts makes you whimper. 

you slow your movements as his large hands cups them. gradually your knees lower and it takes a moment to steady your heavy breathing. his eyes find yours and you hum. within seconds then you start to roll your hips.

yukhei grunts and you grin. a deep breath you take to start up a consistent rhythm that makes him drop his hands from your breasts to grip onto your hips. 

he moans loudly. “yeah, baby, ride me. you like this, don’t you?” he swallows the large gulps of air as a sweet giggle suddenly escapes from you. your hands spread on his chest for better balance. never too slow and never too fast, you keep the nice and enticing pace going for a few minutes.

his half lidded eyes dance around you. he is mesmerized by the blissed look on your face and your slightly open mouth with the whines rolling out.

a hand rises and he cradles your cheek. yukhei leans forward and his lips finds yours in a bit of a messy and wet kiss. you moan into his mouth. he nips at you and the roll of your hips gradually halt so you can savor the kiss. noses brush against each other. his tongue glides into your mouth and your hands slide up to slither your arms around his neck loosely.

you pull back first, needing air and he hums softly and approvingly at how you lick your semi swollen lips. the upward curl of his wet lips is charming while yukhei settles his hand on your hip again. he nudges you gently and you laugh lightly before you start up once more, rocking down on his cock. you feel so full. your arms remain around his neck. a little quicker you move. your face stay so close to his. he watches you with fascination and love. it has you feeling heat spread over your cheeks. 

yukhei coos with each of your moans that you let out. his hands reach behind and he squeezes your ass. he closes the small distance between your mouth and this time the kiss is quick, but sweet. he smiles so lovingly yet you see the way his eyes darken a little.

he hums. “do you want a little help?”

you can’t help the tiny squeak that comes out. you can’t stop yourself from slowly grinning a little bit too much as you nod faintly because you like what will be happening next. you angle forward. he sits up a bit. your forehead is just mere inches away from his. your arms are still around him, but your hands are fisting his shirt by his collar behind his neck.

within seconds, he grips on your ass tightly. faint crescent moons are pressed into your supple ass. 

and yukhei is helping you along.

he moves you up and down, making you fuck yourself on his cock harder and faster. your mind is suddenly in a blur. the pace you had before is nothing like this. this is what he wants after the time apart. he is relentless and you feel yourself sink into the euphoria of his cock stroking your walls.   

you whine. “fuck, yukhei. baby, fuck .” your face and your sounds are desperate. “mmm, oh yeah, baby. fuck, baby.”

the air around him feels thicker. his breathing becomes heavier against your skin. the sounds from you grow higher and come out quicker. the tingling builds in your stomach. the sweatshirt falls once more and it’s hot. you want to open the window for the cold winter air. but you can’t utter a word of it because all you want is to get to your high. 

“oh fuck,” you moan. “faster, baby.” 

and for a split second yukhei manages to chuckle. “are you close?” he groans out. 

he is. he is so close because that slight tightness from when you were blowing him has been increasing ever since. but he wants it for you first. you nod, your whimpers begging him for more.

yukhei smiles softly. “don’t look away, okay? stay with me, baby.” 

and with eyes remaining as steady as possible with one another, he grants your wish. you’re fucking down on his cock quicker and with more force. his grip tightens and the muscles on his arms are more apparent. the pressure in your stomach grows and grows.

“come on, baby. you got this.”

yukhei encourages into your skin until you do.

your body is trembling as you sob out his name. there is a slight wetness at the corners of your eyes. your pants are heavy as you lean towards him, your damp forehead pressing against his own damp skin. you can’t fight it as your eyes shut for a moment. yukhei holds you tight and tries his best to breathe through his nose as he relishes the quick and sweet squeezes of your walls around his cock. 

slowly your gaze find his that has remained on your face and you stare with a small and almost shy smile at how he’s licking his lips.

a little more pressure he needs.

yukhei hums. “you okay?” 

a nod you give him and leisurely he begins to guide you back and forth on his cock. you’re so sensitive and the adorable whine that slips from you makes yukhei let out a breathless chuckle. your arms unwrap from around him and you place them on his board shoulders. a deep breath you take. your heart still thumps a little bit quicker than normal. but you shoot him a sweet grin. 

“let me, babe.”

he had given you your high. you will give him his. 

yukhei bobs his head as your knees dig a bit into the seat below him while the top of your feet anchors onto his thighs. his hands settle on your hips. soon enough they moving, alternating between deep circular motions and hard thrusts down. 

he huffs, his release just around the corner. “mmm, yeah. keep fucking yourself on me, baby.”

your eyes stay connected and breaths stay ragged. the living room fills with quiet whimpers and low grunts. the pressure in him builds with each of motions of your hips. you let go of his shoulder and he nods and chuckles as you work to push up the sweatshirt that has fallen. 

one of his hand reaches to cup your breast and you let out a tiny squeak. the added visual of just how truly beautiful you are to him, the remembrance that he is the only one who can touch you, does the trick. yukhei is digging his fingertips into your hips. his head he throws back and he lets out a string of whispered curses. he feels himself throb inside your faintly clenching walls.

you feel happy and tilt towards him to bestow kisses on his cheek. you shift, burying your face into the crook of his neck and take a deep breath. you rest for a minute and he lets you stay like this until you lift your head away and turn to him. yukhei does the same. he pushes up his glasses and you can’t help but notice how he looks a little fucked. the laugh you let out is like sugar and too infectious. he lazily removes himself from the back of the seat to get closer to you. his arms wrap around your waist, sneaking underneath the sweatshirt as your hands cup his face for a short moment before your arms go around his neck. you feel his thumb caressing lazy circles on your skin. 

your eyes take in his content and relaxed face. you tip forward to place a chaste affectionate kiss on his puckered lips. 

you smile alongside his mouth. “hi.”

his eyes shine. “hi yourself.”

a few inches you draw back to get a better look at his face once more. your gaze sweeps over his features and his soft look.

“you know you were suppose to unwrap me before you fuck me,” you murmur with a teasing and sweet curve of your lips.

yukhei shakes his head faintly. the curl of his mouth expands in front of your eyes and matches yours. “i thought it would be better to unwrap you on the bed,” he tells you with his voice soft and tone just as teasing.

the way your face lights up is unmistakable yukhei lets out an airy laugh that makes you feel warm. “but let me pull out first.”

you nod and shift back a little. he holds the base and you watch as he tugs himself out, a thread like string of your high is visible before it breaks. you pout at the lost connection. yukhei holds his cock, careful of not getting anything on his boxer briefs or his t-shirt even if he is certain laundry will be done at some time today. he leans forward to place a gentle peck to your lips.

“i’ll clean this up and meet you in the bedroom, okay? go wait for me.” yukhei whispers to you, giggling when your frown turns upside down.

one more fleeting kiss and he rests a hand on the side of your thigh as you unfold your legs and turn on his lap. you place your bare feet on the floor and stand, giving him a view of your smooth ass. but your legs feel like jelly and you are wet and sticky in between your legs. you hear the amused sound behind you and you freeze briefly to steady your balance. his hand holds on your elbow to steady you.

a second passes before you takes a step, giving yukhei the space to stand up himself. he lets go of your elbow and your feet slip into your slippers while he does the same. you turn around and press a slow and intense kiss to his mouth. yukhei pushes forward a bit, making you sigh and feeling a little bit more wet than you already are. but before he has a chance to slide his tongue into your warm mouth, you pull back. he watches the faint glimmer and mischief flickering in your eyes as your tongue peeks out to lick your lips.

yukhei nods with a twitch of his own wet lips. “i’ll be quick.”

walking through the wrapping paper and mess on the floor, you part ways. to the bathroom he turns to while you move towards the bedroom. 

the bed you usually have made in the morning is still messy. a holiday you tell yourself. and besides, it will be messy soon again anyway. you go to the large window to pull back the matching curtains from living room. you turn around and take the handful of steps to the bed. your slippers drop from your feet when you crawl on the mattress. two pillows you haphazardly put on top of one another before you lay down. you quietly sigh, curling onto your side as you bring your hand up. you eye the eighteen carat gold wrapped around your wrist.

you feel the flips of your stomach. the words engraved you whisper to yourself. you feel the warmth spreading from your chest to the tip of your toes.

he is something else entirely in a league of his own.

and when yukhei comes in a few minutes later, he finds you staring and enamored at the present. your fingertips graze the jewelry while the box of condoms he has brought in from the living room is placed on his bedside table. your gaze finally turns to look up at him. his cock is tucked back into his underwear. his hair is tied back in a little ponytail on the top of his head. combined with the frames on his face, you love this look on him. 

yukhei tilts his glasses up on his handsome face. a faint smile ghosts your face. “i love my present,” you tell him in the quietness.

how in love he is with you no one will ever understand.

yukhei chuckles in response. “and i love mines.” 

your face heats up within seconds. he climbs onto the bed, the mattress dipping a bit at the added weight. your eyes never break from his as yukhei moves to sit on the heels of his feet. he places his hands on your knees and twists you around until you’re laying flat on your back.

you hum, the sparkle shimmering in your eyes. yukhei drops tender kisses on your knees. “come on baby, let me see,” he whispers.

and then your legs he parts. the vibrant holiday red  of the fabric against your core is no longer because it is soaked in your wetness. it’s darker now and the pleased laughter rolls out his grinning mouth. you tilt your head. he runs a hand over his lips.

you chew on the inside of your bottom lip. “i’m so sticky.” you jut your lower lip out playfully. 

yukhei chuckles because he knows what you want. he shifts, reaching for the thin band of your underwear. slowly but surely he unwraps you. the fabric he drags down your legs and once it’s completely and finally off of you, he drops it on the floor. you spread your legs open immediately. you let out the sweet sighs of relief and contentment as cool air grazes your pussy. it really feels so nice and yukhei thinks it really looks so nice because he marvels at the glisten of your folds and core.  

he licks his lips. “tell me what you want, baby?” yukhei asks, grabbing a pillow besides him. 

for a moment he fluffs it before he’s tapping on your hips to rise. he tucks it underneath your ass. his hands rub your thighs softly as you shift a bit, adjusting to the angle and added height to your bottom. the sweatshirt still on your body has risen and the peek of lace and mesh underneath yukhei sees when you stop moving. he pushes up the white material a few inches to watch the steady rise and fall of your lace covered breasts. he reaches up and cups both of them. soft massages and light caresses over your nipples has you humming.

no matter how powerful his hands can be, lifting up twenty five pound weights to boxing and hitting punching bags, his touches are the softest and most affectionate. 

yukhei brings his attention back up to your face. you play pretend, thinking for a second to an answer for his question. the sweet trouble and the teasing returns.

“i want your cock again, yukhei,” you state so calmly and innocently.

the void between your legs and the emptiness in your pussy you want and need to be filled once more.

yukhei smirks and feels the satisfaction in him while letting out an airy laugh and nods. it’s a simple request that he can definitely do again. he gets comfortable sitting on his heels and you stare as palms himself. he has a slight bulge already from what you can see. excited you are once more. 

“but how about…” 

he parts open your legs a little wider and pushes them up. his large hands presses down on the underside of your thighs. your gaze he finds again. 

“i just take a taste first, okay?” he smiles because he really cannot resist. 

not when you are so wet. not when he hasn’t eaten you in so long.

you don’t hesitate to quickly nod, the curve of your lips widening because you love his tongue in your pussy as well. yukhei watches as your hand goes to your still slightly sensitive pussy. you whimper, sliding two fingers alongside your folds before parting them from the stickiness and inviting him. the sight has him beaming foolishly, eyes fixated at you teasing yourself and him. then his body lowers and his face descends between your legs. your hand you remove and you lightly hold onto the corners of the pillows underneath your head. you let out a content purr when you hear him take the deep breath against your pussy, inhaling the scent of you. 

it should make you shy. but instead it makes you feel simply wanted and loved. 

the first lick yukhei bestows upon your pussy has you whining. he hums in satisfaction as your juices coat his tongue. he listens to the heavy breaths you’re taking from above and another lick he takes.

how much you enjoy sucking him, he enjoys eating you just as much. 

“baby…”

yukhei chuckles at your neediness, the air tickling your core. a handful of kitten licks he gives it. then gradually he begins to suck, taking your clit and folds between his plump lips. you’re whimpering now, your hands moving to grip onto the bedsheets. you try rolling your hips or closing your legs around him. but it is impossible. his hold on you is tender yet firm as yukhei eats your pussy like he’s kissing your lips. 

sweet yet intense. 

slow but desperate.

and when his tongue is diving deep into your heat and your back arches off the bed with a loud gasp, you are reminded of the way his tongue slides into your mouth. 

smooth and hungry. 

it draws loud moans from your open mouth. “fuck, baby, fuck.” 

yukhei does it again before his wet muscle retreats a little. he goes back to licking and sucking your clit, the sounds echoing in the bedroom. you lift your head a little and move your hand to his head.

you gently flick his tiny apple ponytail and lightly tap him. it takes a moment to pull his attention from eating and enjoying you before he actually looks up. you let out a tiny pleased squeal at his pillowy lips that are shiny and his chin that is glossy. the charming smile his mouth is forming makes your face warm and you desperately want a taste. 

you playfully scrunch up your nose. “sharing is caring.” your voice is sweet and your eyes twinkle.

yukhei laughs lowly and bends his head down to your core again. he sucks on your clit a few more times and laps up what he can before he pushes himself up. he hovers over you within seconds. your arms circle his neck and you bring him closer to capture his lips in yours. you moan into his mouth, your essence you are savoring on him sends a rush to your pussy. the kiss is messy and frantic. your hand threads up his neck to hold and angle him a bit. your tongue slips into his mouth. your feet lowers and your toes graze the back of his legs. 

he pulls apart a minute later for air to fill his lungs. with a delighted smile, you take a quick swipe across his plump lips and pepper a handful of soft kisses and short licks over his chin. it has you and him giggling incessantly.

a faint tug you feel on your sweatshirt. “you ready to take this off?”

you playfully hold out your arms. “i’ve been waiting,” you answer.

yukhei shakes his head in amusement, grabbing the hem of it. it takes a little effort for it to be over your head and off your arms. the heat is on, but there is still the slightest hint of winter air in the room. you feel your nipples hardening. he drops the sweatshirt besides you on the bed and turns his gaze down, fixated at just how beautiful you are and how lucky he is. his wide eyes shine brighter than the lights on the christmas tree in the living room. he bends down until he’s over you once again.

“i didn’t want you getting cold,” yukhei informs you truthfully and shyly.

his response makes your face heat and your heart skips. you tilt your head, moistening your lips while your fingertips trace the boyish grin etching on his face. 

you nod faintly. “then keep me warm,” you challenge him.

his breath fans your skin when he laughs lowly. his nose brushes yours and yukhei grazes your lips like feathers tickling you until you’re pouting a little. he kisses you again, but it isn’t for long because his mouth detaches from yours with a parting bite and travels down to your neck. you inhale deeply to calm your thumping heart as your head turns and eyes close. he’s licking and sucking at your damp skin for a moment and then journeys lower. he bestows kisses from your collarbone to your right shoulder before starting the path to the lace and mesh he has yet to discard from your body.

sweet sighs leave your mouth when your feel the light sucks to your covered nipples. your hand reaches to stroke the back of his head and the nape of his neck. yukhei works them until there is a very wet spot over the tip of them. his face he buries between the valleys of your breasts and he breathes in deep. he smiles faintly to himself, loving the scent of everything on your skin right now.

slowly your eyes open just as his hands cup your breasts to give it a gentle squeeze. you whimper when he’s moving back. yukhei sits on his heels once more. you push and prop yourself up on your elbows as he palms himself again.

you fix your eyes to where his hand is. “how hard are you right now, baby?” 

the question comes out with a sugary beam. the look you give him is sweet.

you turn your attention back to his face momentarily. yukhei coolly adjusts his glasses with a confident lip bite, signaling you to be prepared. but you playfully swoon and it makes him break out in a light fit of giggles. he rubs over his shielded cock and your gaze directs back down. the hem of his t-shirt he lifts. his fingers hook onto the front of the leopard print waistband of his boxer briefs. the black fabric he lowers and his cock gradually comes out until it is in full view.

he smirks so boldly. “yeah, baby, i’m good.”

yukhei tells you as if you don’t see it for yourself. he tells you as if the faint little squeals aren’t slipping from your smiling mouth at how hard his cock is again. he tells you as if you aren’t admiring at the reddening head.

you mewl in anticipation and stare with delight as yukhei pushes his underwear all the way down and shifts on the bed to take them off his long legs. he drops it on the floor and turns back to you. he kneels in front of you again and you stare at  him. the grin on his face is mischievous and his eyes are filled with want and teasing trouble. he reaches for the hem of his t-shirt and pulls it over his head in one swift motion. he tosses it to the floor too. then he looks at you from atop his round gold frames before he tilts them back up and runs his tongue over his teeth. a beam full of coolness and a quirk of his brows, yukhei places his hands behind his head like a model for you. 

he’s beautiful inside and out.

the muscles on his arms are visible and you can outline each of the curves with your eyes. the lines on his torso are prominent. the v line you had a sneak peek of this morning when he stretched is now fully visible. and then he is flexing. you’re left chuckling softly with very heated cheeks, sparkling eyes and another quick rush to your pussy when he also throws a wink in your direction.

“still think i’m hot, babe?” yukhei questions teasingly.

you nod with a wide smile, going to him in seconds to erase the short distance between your bodies. you lick at his hard nipples. kisses you dot over his chest and down to the head of the lion inked onto his pretty and smooth skin before moving back up. your fingers reach up to grasp his jawline, pulling him to your mouth to kiss him eagerly. his hands drop and he slips them between your bodies. you part away in time to see him fist himself.

his strokes move up and down smoothly. your stare dances between his hand and his dark gaze that is watching your reaction. glee and enthusiasm color your face and fills your eyes. there is a tiny amount of precum sitting at the head of his cock. when he is able to hold eye contact with you for a mere moment longer, yukhei gestures to the box of condoms on his bedside table with a jut of his chin.

he huffs. “can you get one for me?”

you hum, shuffle back to get it. you open the box and tear one from the rest and shift back towards him again.

his free hand extends for the item in your grasp. you put it in his palm and his words of gratitude is soft. within a second of his hand letting go of his cock so he can open the package, your touch replaces his. he’s so heavy as always in your hands. the feeling of those ridges and veins you had against your tongue earlier are prominent under your gentle strokes. the penny sized amount of precum that grows makes you swallow the dry lump in your throat. you shoot yukhei a quick devilish look as he pulls out the condom.

“how about i just take a taste?”

and the question he had asked you rings in his ears now. his deep laughter makes you sweetly bat your lashes at him because a taste of his cock you already had. yukhei nods with the small smile appearing on his face soon afterwards.

you make sure he is looking at you as you move forward and your lips wrap around the head. you moan in satisfaction at the stickiness that coats your tongue. you feel the wetness pooling in your pussy. yukhei’s deep laughter turns into a deep groan above as you suckle on the tip like a lollipop. he gives you a minute, staring at your hands caressing his length  that is not in your mouth. gradually your lips moves back and your tongue twists and sweeps around his tip that is growing sensitive. he pats you on your head.

there’s a little love drunk smile on his face. “baby, you ready?” he pants out.

you nod. “i will finish later,” you declare because you want him painting your mouth and throat. one last flick of your tongue across the slit has yukhei chuckling. 

“we can both finish, later.” you hum  in joy at the thought of his tongue and lips against your pussy again. you lean up and press a kiss to his chest right above his beating heart and the action warms his soul. “can you lay down for me?” he requests lovingly.

a bob of you head you give him and you move away and back. the corners of your mouth twitch up. you return to your previous position and get comfortable with the pillows underneath you once more. your arms you throw over your head in a little stretch as yukhei rolls on the condom over his cock with a sharp breath. when he pinches the tip, he glances up at you. your legs are folded, lifted and spread like before. your glistening pussy is inviting him once more to be loved and filled. 

“fuck me, yukhei,” you sweetly command. 

the way you are staring at him with your eyes and smile shining is blinding. he licks the ends of his lips and smirks as he moves across the bed, closing the space to get to you. then one hand he holds onto you hip while his other grips the base of his cock. you reach out, softly clutching his hard muscles. your head rises, hoping to get a glimpse of him sliding into pussy.

but he doesn’t.

yukhei ends up rubbing his cock over your aching core. you whine. “babe, you’re teasing me.” the pout on your face is cute. he shakes his head with a giggle before kissing it away gently.

then yukhei shifts, pumping his cock with a few swift strokes before he’s over you once again. you and him watch and moan together as he carefully and gradually guides himself into your wetness. despite the session on the couch and his mouth, the stretch remains tantalizing. 

yukhei grunts. “you like the show, baby?” 

halfway in and he remembers your question in between the dizzying feelings. your tear your eyes from the connection of your bodies to twist it up at him. his lips are pressed tightly together, his dimples making an appearance. he draws in some air for his lungs and exhales slowly.

little by little he pulls out. you whine and chew on your lower lip. yukhei pushes forward again, deeper than he had been in before. 

“hmm, you feel so fucking good,” you gasp out.

your attention lowers back once more to finish watching him sink into you. the pride spreads in him as you shift and whimper, your head falls back down on the pillow. you're panting and feeling full. his free hand sets on the underside of your thigh, gently rubbing it. he smiles softly at you. a deep breath you take as you relish the feeling of him in you again. gazes connect and glow with want and love.

“yukhei, please move, baby,” you’re nearly begging.

he is chuckling but he does.

his thrusts are slow and affectionate. his grip on your hip tightens a touch. the pretty melody coming from you mixes with the huffs from him. the hand on your thigh continues to stay, helping to keep your legs open and spread wide so he can see so clearly how he is fucking you.

“yeah, you like this, baby?” yukhei coos, his pace steady. “me fucking you again?”

you moan, you body feeling warmer. “mmhmm, yeah, baby.” your hands drop, fingers clutching to his forearms before they go to the pillows beneath your head firmly. “yeah, fuck, baby. faster, yukhei.” your request is sweet and needy and he watches the teasing smile appear on your face with each of his thrusts. 

so fucking good he feels. so fucking good it feels to have his cock stroke your walls.

yukhei looks down, his eyes outlining at how your legs are. deeper he can go into you like this.  your pussy is swallowing each of his thrusts. he tears his eyes away from the beautiful image to look at you. your face is so pretty with your sparking eyes and your parted mouth. whimpers roll out without abandonment.

“harder, baby,” you gasp out.

it feels so amazing. you feel so amazing right now.

he picks up a little speed and puts a little more force into his thrusts at your words. beyond the pride and confidence he feels spreading in his chest, yukhei feels the love. only he can fuck you, feel you and make you release the prettiest melodies. 

“yeah, baby, like that. mmm, please don’t stop,” you whimper.

your covered breasts still bounce despite their confinements. he lets out a low devilish laugh under his breath before a smile spreads across his face. he lowers his eyes again, moaning and fixating on the beauty of his cock sliding in and out so smoothly.

yukhei swallows the thick air around him. “you take my cock so well. look how fucking deep you can take it.” you wished you can, but you can’t. the pleasure coursing through you feels too wonderful for you to want to do anything but to let him fuck you over and over. his gaze finds yours, his hips pushing forward quicker and harder. “this how you want me to fuck you, baby? you feel so amazing.”

you nod, the sound of his cock pumping into your wetness combining with your whimpers turning into desperate moans fill the bedroom. it's feeling too hot and the pressure again starts up in the pit of your stomach.

“you fuck me so good,” you pant. your fingers tighten on the pillowcase. you lick your lips. “mmm, yeah, so good.”

yukhei groans. his cheeks puffing up momentarily at the sudden heat in his own abdomen. the sight and the noises of you he can be surrounded with all day. his hand leaves your hip and goes to your breasts. you watch and expect him to slide his hand underneath and flick on the tiny hooks. but he doesn’t. instead his large heated hand tugs out your breasts in two quick motions. your bouncing breasts are exposed and you gasp out loudly. within seconds your nipples are hardening a bit more from the air. yukhei chuckles and moans at how they jiggle so freely.

he reaches for them. a light squeeze to your supple flesh and brushes over your nipples elicit a needy whine and yukhei grunts. his thrusts quicken even more, his hips snapping so rhythmically and in an instant the whines from you come out higher. 

yukhei smirks, the confidence soaring through his body. “yeah, baby. you’re doing so good for me,” he groans out.

despite his praise, you feel the position getting to you. the soreness is starting to set in. you let go of the pillow. your hands grip onto your thighs, keeping them open for him. 

your world is spinning. “fuck, baby. make me come, yukhei.” your desperate words sound so beautiful.

the tingling in your abdomen is really undeniable. you can’t stop your eyes from falling shut. the air around you feels too heavy.

so close. so close. so close.

the hard and deep thrusts, his cock dragging against your pussy walls relentlessly contrasts to the way yukhei softly coos. “babe, look at me.” your heart beats rapidly and your breaths are uneven. “come on, baby, eyes on me.” and his gentle words coax you and bit by bit until your eyes open to meet a charming and adoring smile on his face.

he leans down. his hips slow just a touch so he is able to press a full and soft kiss to your mouth. you let go of one of your thighs to reach up and cup his damp cheek. the pad of your thumb brushes his bottom lip momentarily when he pulls away. yukhei puckers his mouth against your skin.

“are you close?” his question is quiet and you manage out a long high whimper. he starts to fuck you faster again. the ends of his mouth curl up. “i got you,” he tells you affectionately.

then both his hands grasp your hips while your hands pull at your thighs once more to hold them apart. his goal to make you reach your high he sets to as his pace becomes so fucking sweet and delicious.

“yukhei, yukhei, mmm, baby.” the moans roll out of you and it fans the fire in his stomach. “fuck, yukhei.”

and when your velvet walls begin to contract and the cry of his name echoes in the bedroom, you try your hardest to keep your slightly glazed eyes steadily on him. yukhei smiles warmly and so proudly at the you. he slows his movements, but never stops. his praises are gentle and loving. he watches the quick rise and fall of your chest as your hands fall beside you, unable to hold your trembling thighs.

but yukhei catches them. 

softly he brings them to wrap around his waist. he rubs and massages at your flesh until you calm a bit, the walls of your pussy pressing around his cock between longer periods. he inclines forward again. the tiny shift of his cock still nestled inside causes you to squeak. 

half a dozen short and loving pecks he presses on you. “just a little more,” yukhei murmurs with a tiny glint in his gaze.

a soft beam appears as he moves back into position. he takes a deep breath and watches that despite how spent you are, you reach up to cup your breasts. he chuckles, staring as you play with them. those slow movements he had kept going turns into a solid pace and before yukhei realizes your sweet whimpers are filling the bedroom again.

it feels like a sweltering summer afternoon in the room. your skin is sticking to the bedsheets so bad. you roll your nipples between your fingers, the curve of your pretty lips teasing.

“yeah, mmm, faster. fuck me harder, yukhei.” you stare up at him with a nod faintly.

yukhei feels a sudden clench of your walls and groans loudly. “fuck.” he is close.

his thrusts a bit harder and deeper. he watches through labored breaths as your hand leaves your breasts and descends. you find your clit, rubbing it with each smooth roll of his hips.

an airy and uneven laugh comes from his plump lips. “baby, you want more?”

yukhei stares at you as if you aren’t real. he’s fucking you as if you aren’t already so fucked. you manage a breathless giggle in between your satisfied moans, ready to come together with him.

“meet me,” you whimper with a grin and for a minute the room once more is filled with only the desperate and proud sounds of you and him.

it doesn’t take too long then. you watch the slightest change on his damp handsome face and his curses echo. the noise from deep within his throat resembles a growl and yukhei freezes momentarily, admiring you through half lidded eyes and a pleased smile. you chew on your bottom lip and lift your fingers from your clit. you hold them up to his mouth and he moves forward. yukhei sucks on them gently as you mewl and give him the slightest nod.

he begins to rock his hips once more, still feeling his cock pulsating a little. his hands squeeze your flesh and in seconds you’re clenching so hard around him again. yukhei laughs lowly and in delight as you moan quietly.

your shaking thighs he’s caressing once more. “shhh, you’re so good, baby,” he whispers. 

the bedroom suddenly fills with the softest shushes and more praises. his eyes on you are glowing with nothing but love and you can’t control the sugary curl of your lips while trying to catch your breath. it takes a few minutes before the waves in your bodies subside. his hands glide up your sides and he’s leaning down to capture your mouth and kiss you tenderly. your hand cups his damp and hot cheek and you kiss him back with a soft giggle.

yukhei hums. “you okay?”

your head angles a bit and you bob your head. your other hand rises, fingertips moving to brush up and down his strong arms.

“yeah, i’m really good right now.”

there’s teasing in his gaze. “are you warm though?” he chuckles.

the sheen over your bodies is too visible. “it feels like summer right now,” you tell him in sweet jest.

yukhei snorts faintly, the sound making you laugh even more as he taps your sore thighs lightly before unhooking your legs from his waist. carefully he places them on the bed. your tired legs fall open instantly with a whimper from your mouth.

“i’m going to pull out,” he tells you softly.

the cute little whine yukhei hears and he chuckles. as much as he would love to be nestled in you, he cannot. he presses a tiny peck to the tip of your nose and nearly drags his cock out, causing a light shiver through your body. you wipe your hand across the light layer of sweat on your forehead as he slowly moves away from you and stands. you watch in silence, appreciating everything about his naked form while he carefully pulls off the filled condom and ties a knot on the top. yukhei wraps it up with a tissue and finds the foil packaging on the floor too before discarding it.  once he turns around to you, he is met with  a bashful smile on your face. he steps back towards you.

yukhei bends down and places a short and affectionate kiss against your mouth. “i’ll be right back,” he whispers quietly.

“okay.” you palm his cheek and he turns his head and puckers his lips into it. 

a tiny hum escapes you before your hand drops. he stands and twists away. you stare at his retreating back with ink across his shoulder blades and back as he steps out of the bedroom.

yukhei walks across the wood floors and enters the bathroom. he flicks open the lights. the faucet he turns on and he works for a moment on cleaning himself up once more. when he is done, he goes to the bathroom closet and takes the neatly folded yellow washcloth off the bottom shelf.

for most days showers are afterwards. but on some days when it is a slow and lazy day like today, it is option two. yukhei wets the washcloth with the almost hot water until he can’t handle it anymore and squeezes out nearly all the excess water. the light he shuts off and the bathroom he exits with the washcloth in his hand. into the living room with wrapping paper still scattered on the floor, he pads through it to retrieve your mug of green tea and the discarded pajama bottoms. he throws both pairs over his shoulders and into the kitchen he walks to.

the water in the kettle is no longer hot, but still it’s very warm. yukhei fills the mug back almost to the brim before he takes two long sips. the liquid is soothing on his throat after everything. he refills it again and cautiously makes his way back to the bedroom and you.  

and once he gets to the entrance of the room, yukhei finds you with your eyes shut and your legs closed. your breasts are still exposed and your nipples remain hard from the exposure. his presence you immediately sense even after he takes a quiet and cautious step in. you open your gaze to find him moving to you. the mug of green he extends forward and slowly you sit up. there’s a slight soreness in your body as you lift your hand to take what he is offering. you are certain the tea is probably cold, but some liquid down your throat will feel nice right now.

you are surprised though. 

when the tea touches your lips,  the tugs on your heart you feel.

he knows.

unless it is suppose to be iced, your tea hot or warm you prefer.

“the water was still warm,” yukhei informs you. he watches with a small smile as the ends of your mouth curl happily.

another sip you take. “thanks, babe.”

you are about to shift back to place the mug on his bedside table, but yukhei stops you. he takes it from you instead and drinks a little more before placing the mug besides the box of condoms. he turns back to you, tossing the pajama bottoms on his shoulders by the corner of the bed. the now warm washcloth in his hand you finally notice.

“can you lay down for me?” 

and why and how yukhei says it now differs than before. you hum and do so as he climbs back onto the bed. gently then he spreads yours legs with your pussy coming into his view again. he licks his lips and his eyes darts from your wetness to the way you are staring at him with a little twinkle in your gaze. then in sweet silence and with the utmost care and love, yukhei cleans you up. 

there are faint little wrinkles forming on his forehead. you feel and hear the thumps of your heart. 

you reach for his hand that is resting on your thigh, covering it with your own. “so attentive,” you whisper with a faint curve of your mouth. 

yukhei can’t stop himself from giggling shyly while glancing up at you for a quick second. “i like taking care of you,” he tells you with his voice low, deep and full of sincerity.

just like how you like taking care of him. 

and when he is done and sure you are clean, yukhei drops the washcloth on the floor besides your underwear. he will put them in the washer later. his thumb brushes softly over the sides of your pussy and grazes your folds. you let out a quiet gasp at his touches and it takes you a moment to clear your throat and flick at the little ponytail that still is in good shape on his head. 

“you know, it is pointless cleaning me if you do that afterwards, babe.” you remark teasingly.

his fingers can make you come and mixed with the sensitive state your pussy is currently, he knows it will not take long. 

yukhei tears his eyes from your core with a breathless chuckle and his face warms. he smiles boyishly. “sorry.” it's a soft apology and immediately you and him are softly laughing because both of you know he doesn’t fully mean it. 

his arms snake around your waist and it makes you giggle because yukhei moves from one part of your body to another. he presses kisses over and between your full breasts. he gives you a quick glimpse pass the top of his gold rimmed frames and you hum happily and watch as his lips shift over to one of your harden nipples. you sigh and hold the back of his head. he bestows gentle sucks and flicks of his tongue between the tender nibbles. 

he moans against your chest and small pleased sounds roll out from your mouth. the tiny suctions noises lets you know how much he is enjoying himself as you bring your feet to press against the back of his calves. after a minute yukhei switches, lavishing your other breast with the same and equal amount of love and attention. 

two parting nips he leaves on the peaks before he shifts back. yukhei rolls your wet nipples between his index finger and thumb like they aren’t hard already. he grins and you whimper as he cups and pushes your breasts together. so soft and absolutely perfect they are in his grasp. he gives them a soft jiggle that makes you whine a little and wonder if all that cleaning up he has done will really be for nothing.

a little spent you are, but you can go again. 

then to your surprise, you stare as he tugs back up the lace cups. he tucks your breasts back in, making sure the mesh is against your skin so nicely. your brow arches and yukhei thinks your breasts are looking like a present again for him bow and all. his eyes connect to yours, fixing his glasses. 

yukhei is smirking faintly. “remember this is like a two in one present.” he wiggles his eyebrows, the pad of his thumb swiping across his lips. “so for later, babe.” his laughter is light and infectious.

all day he has with you. 

your own laugh echoes his. you nod, your eyes twinkling with eagerness of what will come of later, of how he will fuck you once everything is truly unwrapped. 

yukhei strokes your thighs and you close your legs and stretch with a sigh. he climbs off the bed and turns to walk to the dresser. the second drawer he pulls open and the vivid red pair of boxer briefs he knows you like very much and that goes with this holiday he takes out. yukhei spins around and you chuckle softly when you notice the color in his hand. his eyes connect to yours as he pulls the underwear on with a wide grin on his face. he tucks and adjusts himself and you wink and gesture your approval of how he looks.

the drawer he closes. “do you need anything?” he reaches for his pair of pajama bottoms and slips his long legs in them while glancing at your naked lower half with a tiny crooked smile.

you know what he’s wondering but you just smile and shake your head. he pulls the hair tie off and you chuckle at the way his hair stands up. then slowly you shift to pat the empty space beside you because he’s really all you want and need right now.

yukhei giggles, threading and fluffing back his hair. “yeah, that i can definitely do,” he replies, moving back to  you.

the pillow underneath your body you finally tug out while he rearranges the others on the bed. he tucks one under your feet. another he places for his own feet to rest. your discarded sweatshirt he notices and fans out. your pair of pajama bottoms he tosses onto the spot where your sweatshirt had been. when you shift to give him the space to share the same pillow even if he can have his own, yukhei drapes the sweatshirt over your middle. 

“thank you.”

he nods with a soft beam and brings up the comforter and blanket next to cover your bodies as he lays on his back. even if you’re feeling still feeling a bit warm and there’s still the faintest dampness on his body, it’s still winter. the sweat of your bodies will dissipate. he doesn’t want you getting cold.

you erase the few inches between your bodies and cuddle up to him. yukhei slips his arm around you, welcoming the feel of your body against his. he appreciates the curves of your form and the way your legs begin to tangle with his. you look at him, your fingertips grazing back and forth on his chest and brushing over his nipples. he sighs in contentment and presses a long pucker to your temple. when he pulls back, he is smiling foolishly and you raise a hand to adjust his glasses.

yukhei hums. “how are your legs?” he quietly and humorously inquires. 

“sore,” your response is quick and your voice is playful. “are you going to do something about it?” your lips purse together in a tiny frown that has him releasing a light little chuckle.

his free arms crosses over. his touch glides over your ass and yukhei gives it a small squeeze before it settles on your thigh. his grip is gentle and he tugs on your leg until it’s over his own thighs. in seconds he’s massaging and caressing your flesh in soothing circular motions that makes your pout disappear. 

yukhei stares at you. “how’s this, hmm?” 

“yeah, it feels better, babe.” you hum delightedly.   

he leans closer and kisses you quickly yet warmly. “good.” 

then he turns his attention towards the ceiling. his eyes close momentarily as yours turn downcast to his chest and your hand on it. for a little while then, his touch continues on and time ticks away as your bodies eventually cools down. you and him stay in bed in this position and in the quiet that is calming. 

you think you can get used to it. you want more of this. 

christmas mornings with him. 

you snuggle a bit closer to him. the sheets and covers rustle a bit with your movements. yukhei open his eyes and you feel a light little nudge from him. you turn your attention back to his face that is shy and grinning. 

“can i you a question?” 

he pulls back just enough to get a clearer view of you. his hands stops moving. there is curiosity in his gaze and interest in his tone. you nod. 

“when did you put this on?” and then you feel his arm unwrap from your waist, his hand traveling up the small of your back to the clasp of the bra. you hum. “cause when we were in bed this morning, i swear i didn’t feel this.” he finishes with a happy but disbelief  laugh that has you giggling. 

you shake your head. your eyes widening teasingly as you bring a finger to your smiling lips. “secrets, yukhei,” you inform him. then a wink you throw his way. 

he nods slowly and his eyes narrows at you in sweet suspicion. the curl of his lips undeniably expands. “how did you know i would get it so soon?” 

another shake of your head you give him while you giggle even more. “i didn’t. i was going to make you play until you would eventually get it. i really didn’t expected it until much later.” 

yukhei lets out a loud and playful chuckle before he is tipping forward to place a kiss on your mouth. it’s gentle, warm and makes you sigh into his mouth. he backs away a minute later with a sweet grin and licks at his lips. 

“just so you know, my intention this morning when i woke you up was really to just spend christmas morning with you,” he murmurs boyishly.

your giggles turn into sugary laughter. “and now?” there’s a spark glittering in your eyes. 

yukhei moves to press his forehead to yours as his body twists a bit. he’s over you, sandwiching you between his warm body and the bed as the sweatshirt falls. lace is pressed against his skin. the tip of his nose grazes yours. an arm you throw over his shoulder. he feels nothing but love and want for you. the butterflies inside of you flutter once more. the kiss he gives you is soft. 

“and now i’m thinking of waking you up early next christmas, too,” he whispers with the ends of his mouth twitching up. “what do you think of that?” 

a lifetime of christmas mornings he wants with you. 

the playful shocked expression colors your face. “you’re going to give up more sleep for me?” you joke softly and dramatically. and it makes him laugh for a long moment because yukhei wonders if you realize, if you know how he will give up so much more for you. the sounds from him little by little quiet down and his gaze fixes on yours and he nods. 

the small beam across his face glows. “for you, baby… anything.” 

you can’t stop the sudden light sting in your eyes and roll your them playfully to rid of the faint blur. then it’s your turn to nod, the images of a future with him building in your head. “i think that sounds like a plan.” and your whispered words tickle his lips and his heart. 

three more kiss yukhei gives you and the plan is official. he shifts to lay on his back again. you move until your head is right next to his and soon after, you and him take back the same position. the sweatshirt he brings back over your cooling skin while touches over one another’s body resumes.

yukhei draws in a deep breath. “i can’t believe the year is ending already,” he sighs, taking a peek past you to glance out the window. 

still cloudy it is outside. too cold he is certain. a whirlwind it has felt like. the months have passed too quickly. the seasons have changed before he truly enjoyed them thoroughly. and now there are six more full days left to the year. there are still things left to do. 

“it went by so fast, didn’t it?” he whispers almost longingly. 

you look at him and yukhei still stares at the world outside. “hmm, you’ve had a busy year, babe,” you murmur with the ends of your lips twitching. 

participating in multiple albums. practices all day. promotions and interviews with news stations and magazines. going on a tour around the world. meeting fans in different countries. he has been on a constant move and everything he deserves he is getting.

your fingertips stop moving on his chest. you gently nudge him with your forehead until he tears his gaze away from the sky. yukhei hums softly and gives you a sweet closed lipped smile. “but it was a good year for you and i’m very proud of you. you know that, right? always i am proud of you.”

yukhei doesn’t waste a second before he leans over and kisses you lovingly. 

he knows. 

you tell him even when he feels it. you remind him when he forgets.  you reassure him when he doubts himself.

“thank you.” yukhei hugs you closer to him, grateful and appreciative doesn’t come close to how he feels with you by his side. “and you too… you had a good year.” a new job you had started nearly four months ago to make all the years of university worth it. “i’m proud of you too,” he says, his words laced with sincerity. “always i am proud of you, too.” 

your cheeks warm a touch and you chuckle lightly. as much of a supporter you are to him, he cheers for you like no other. “thanks, baby.” he nods and places his mouth to your forehead. 

it grows quiet for a minute before yukhei speaks against your skin. “and you know, i think we had a good year, too.” 

a moment it takes for you to register that what he means. 

you and him together this past year. 

yukhei is certain his love for you has grown. deeper and deeper he continues to fall in love with you. weeks apart at times you and him have endured. the adjustments of living together has been filled with conversations and understanding. and what yukhei had told you that day he moved in he still means it. 

he is happy as long as you are happy when he walks through the front door.

yukhei puckers his mouth and kisses your forehead again. when he shifts back to look at you clearly, there’s light in his eyes. it’s the same light when he gets to perform.  it’s the same light when he’s too excited about something he loves. the warmth spreading over your cheeks is intensifying because with every passing second he continues to stare intently at you.

“thanks for asking me to move in,” yukhei finally whispers, his voice soft and a little shy. 

the thumps of your heart are stronger. the corners of your eyes crinkle with the soft beam appearing before him. you can’t stop the soft surgary chuckles. 

this new adventure that has started nearly a year ago still feel like an adventure to this very moment. so much more with him, of him there is left to explore. each moment with him you continue to cherish. those kisses shared when he wakes with his face soft and relaxed makes you feel lucky. the kisses before you close your eyes in the night  when he smiles faintly and dreamily makes you feel safe. 

you bring your hand up, brushing along his jawline. “thanks for saying yes.” your voice matches his and it makes him laugh, the sound sending light vibrations from his chest. 

yukhei's hugging you again. it’s tighter than before and giggles are slipping pass your curved lips. he bends his head to leave sweet loving kisses on your mouth and the tip of your nose before he buries his face into the crook of your neck. he stays in place for moment, just pressing and feeling your body against his. you twist and tug your arms out so you can wrap them around his neck just as tightly.

loving him, being in love with him remains magical and wonderful.  it makes you feel ridiculous and powerful all at once. 

you tilt your head, resting beside his ear. your lips graze the shell of it just by his earring and yukhei softly grins to himself. a deep breath he hears. slowly it is let out.

“do you think we’re going to have a good year next year, too?”

yukhei is not completely sure if it’s fear he hears a twinge of. but he hears something that pulls at his heartstrings and makes him shift so he can look at you. and you do for a fleeting moment before you avoid his gaze and fix it at his pillowy lips that you can never get tired of kissing. 

he lets the seconds pass by, feeling your light strokes on his skin while he waits. quiet you remain though and he has no choice but to lean forward. his forehead presses against yours and you have no way out. those lips you have been staring at twitch up faintly. he bobs his head shortly. 

“i think we’re going to have a great year,” yukhei states softly yet firmly

the slight tightness forms in your chest and your eyes sting a touch because it is not your intention to make him concern. you nod almost embarrassingly as the apology rolls out. “sorry… i didn’t mean to make you worry.” 

and yukhei shakes his head because he wants you to tell him what is your mind. even if it’s a passing moment like this and you need the smallest of the reminders, he wants to know.

he pauses for a second. “what are you thinking about?” his tone is soothing and warm. 

you hum, hazy gaze dancing over his face. “i’m thinking about how ridiculously in love i am with you,” you whisper with a tiny smile and heart beating rapidly. 

yukhei chuckles. “well that’s good because i’m ridiculously in love with you too.” you bite on your lower lip, watching him nod. so much more he is anticipating with you within the new year. “we, we are going to have a great year next year. i promise.” the spark and love in his wide eyes is very apparent.

“it’s you and me, baby.” 

the gentle words of what you had said to him once upon a time ago, of what he has engraved into the gold on your wrist makes the quiet content sigh escape you. 

the fullness you feel in your heart makes you want to burst with joy.

yukhei gives you a light peck. and then you watch the change of his expression. the tenderness of the moment turns almost playfulness within seconds because his teasing grin appears. “and i think that as long as you are my first kiss when it’s the new year, you and me will be smooth sailing,” he states with a sweet giggle.  

he's winking and suddenly you can’t stop your laugh mixing with his warm sounds. you reach up to stroke his cheek and slightly tilt your head a bit. the giggles and laughter gradually subside and the bedroom grows quiet. you chew on the inside of your cheeks momentarily. 

“under one condition though…” 

your words shock him. his sculpted eyebrows raise so quickly and his eyes grow bigger. yukhei stares at you in incredulously. the frames on his face he pushes up. 

“and what would that be, babe?” he laughs in shock. 

there are stars in your eyes. you're smiling mischievously. 

“you have to promise to be my last kiss before the year ends.”

how you want your year to begin, you want it to end the same. 

with him and his kisses. 

then his expression changes once more. the beam etched on his face is brighter than the sun that’s missing from the sky today. 

“what do you think? can you promise me that?” you challenge him. 

yukhei chuckles because it’s a promise he can make you every year. “yeah, i can definitely promise you that.” 

and it’s another three kisses to make this agreement official as well before he rolls off you. almost instantly he tugs you back to him. you tuck your head by his shoulder. the sweatshirt he is draping over you once more. the comforter and blanket he fixes too to make sure again you are completely covered and warm. you curl and snuggle into his side with legs intertwining. 

silence fills the room. comfort and at peace you find in the moment. his arm that is around you provides the security. your hand rest on his chest and yukhei covers it with his own. then you feel the slow and steady rise and fall of it with each breath he takes. 

it means one thing. 

you are certain he is asleep. you glance at him and you get your confirmation. for a second you stare at his handsome profile and the way his lashes curl up softly to the way his pillowy lips are slightly parted, there is no denying it. he is asleep. his glasses you want to help take off so he can sleep comfortably. but you don’t want to wake him though. not when he looks so calm and relaxed. you lean over and brush your mouth against his cheek and for a moment, you swear you see a little twitch up of his lips. you freeze. you wait for him to look at you through half lidded eyes and give you a sleepy smile. he doesn’t. instead he releases a slow exhale that makes you hum quietly. then your gaze lowers and you close your eyes as well to join him in slumber. 

but suddenly he clears his throat a bit and shifts. 

“so what would you like to do now?” your eyes open at the sound of his deep voice laced with sleepiness. you lift your head and turn your attention to him as yukhei does the same to you. “hmm, anything in particular? i think me waking you up early gives you the choice of what we should do next, babe.” he chuckles quietly, a few strands of his hair falling over his eyes. 

you erase the short distance and place a light peck on his smile. “how about we stay in bed for a little while and sleep for a bit?” 

yukhei nods in approval. his hand covering yours begins caressing your skin. “and after?” he questions curiously with a grin. 

you know how he is like after his naps. “and after… all the rice, steak and shrimp in the world for you.”

a meal of some of your and his favorites to eat has been bought and ready to be cooked. yukhei laughs, swallowing hard and thinking about the delicious food as bobs his head against the pillow. 

you know him too well. 

“then maybe you can open the rest of your presents,” you suggest with a tiny curl of your mouth. you haven’t forgotten the wrapping paper filled living room floor or the rest of his gifts that still need to be open.

yukhei shakes his head slowly though. the arm around you moves and his touch travels up your back like before. regardless of what else you have wrapped up for him, ready to be chosen with the plastic toy claw machine, yukhei is certain nothing will compare to what he has right now in his hold. 

“i still have one more here to open.” he murmurs teasingly while his fingertips graze across the mesh on your skin. 

immediate sugary, light and embarrassed giggles are surrounding him. your face heats. “i can’t wait, babe.” 

you really can’t. 

yukhei closes the space between you and him, bestowing a kiss that is affectionate and warm. 

“i love you,” he whispers alongside the beam on your face. 

your hand rises up to cup his jawline and cheek. you return the kiss he gives you just mere seconds ago. 

“i love you more.”

and yukhei smiles too wide and too bright that it makes his cheeks hurt because always he is the one to tell you that. 

“ready for a nap?” you ask and almost on cue, yukhei yawns and provides you with his answer. you’re  chuckling and he stretches a little. “you want the curtains closed a bit?” another yawn he lets out and tries to cover up. but he fails. he’s laughing too deeply with the corners of his eyes crinkling.

yukhei sluggishly nods. “yeah, let me do it,” he says tiredly. 

but you shake your head and pat him gently on his chest. then you pull away from his arms and warmth. he’s watching after you as move away and stand with your back to him. yukhei props himself up on an elbow and adjusts his glasses with a tiny grin while you cross an arm over your chest, your fingers rubbing your skin to create a little heat because your body has cooled and winter it feels like once again. his eyes stay on you and outline the curves of your near naked body. the few steps you take to the window. you look out into the city and then down to the streets. some of the snow has been cleaned from the roads. however the sidewalks still look so pretty with the white powder. 

the curtains you grasp and yukhei catches the glimpse of the bracelet shimmering on your wrist as you pull on them. you leave just enough light from the outside world to seep into the bedroom without it being too dark. when you turn around, that tiny grin on his face has broaden. regardless of  the little light in the room, you can see the love drunk and all too happy smile on his face. 

“you’re distracted.” you remark, remembering his words from this morning. 

yukhei hums contently. “no, i’m just staring.”   

you huff and playfully roll your eyes. he pats the empty space you had occupied before with a charming giggle as you make your way back to him. the bed you climb onto and the sweatshirt you put back on. the sight of lace and mesh is hidden from his view again. the nine snowflakes he counts in his head once more. he expects you to pull on your pajama bottoms. but instead you crawl to him and lay down, your feet landing on the pillow by the foot of the bed. yukhei looks at your naked lower half like he had done so before and arches an eyebrow in curiosity. 

you quietly chuckle. “just keep me close, baby.” you poke him on his chest. “and besides, you’re not even wearing a shirt.” 

yukhei laughs, the sound so contagious as he pulls up the comforter and blanket. he twists a bit and takes off his glasses to place on his bedside table next to that mug of green tea. he slides under to the coziness, resting his head next yours. 

and he does what you say.

yukhei keeps you close like you’re puzzle pieces that fit so perfectly together. his arms slips below your sweatshirt. you snuggle into his side and throw a leg over his. he places a soothing kiss to your forehead that makes you grin. a slow deep inhale he takes in and releases. his eyes close and the images of the morning flashes in his head. and when what is to come once you and him wake starts to flood his mind as the need to sleep is so strong, your voice cuts into the stillness of the room and pulls him out. 

“yukhei?” 

he hums lazily in response. 

“you think our snowman is outside?” 

once your question registers in his sleepily brain, yukhei quietly chuckles. he opens his eyes a little to find you staring at him with a shy beam. how much he loves you right not is indescribable. he leans forward and the kiss he places on your mouth is affectionate and warm.

“we’ll go check later.” he says alongside your lips. 

you make a pleased happy small sound and nod. “i love you,” you whisper almost dreamily. 

even if you told him mere minutes ago, yukhei doesn’t ever get tired of hearing it. his chest shakes a bit as the soft and low laugh slips from him and surrounds you. 

yukhei bobs his head once then twice. “i love you more.” and he says it back with the love drunk smile again because it can never be said enough. “now let’s go to sleep, okay?”

one more kiss is shared. it is gentle and of sweet dreams and it makes you sigh. then your mouth parts from his while your body moves closer. he hugs you tighter. your warm breath tickles his skin. eyes quietly close together. 

the minutes on the clock change. christmas morning ends for the afternoon to begin.

yukhei falls into his slumber like how he wakes.

with his mind and his heart full of you.

he doesn’t want it any other way.

#lucas smut #lucas scenarios #yukhei smut #wayv smut #nct smut #yukhei scenarios #wayv scenarios #nct scenarios #lucas fluff #yukhei fluff

[viking-raider]

Seals of the Lost - Chapter I

Summary: You and Henry cross paths, and the truth behind the disc Henry has is revealed.

Pairing: Henry Cavill/Reader

Word Count: 8,080

Warning: PG - RPF, Language, Magic, Stalking, Deception, Death, Light Bullying

Inspiration: This comes from several sources. XD

Author's Note: Thanks to @wondersofdreaming for her wonderous Beta skills and helping me world build and world out my idea for this story!

Tag List Blog: @viking-raider-taglist

After nearly a week of searching for information on the disc that came in the box his mother sent him, Henry finally found someone in central London, with a doctorate's degree in archaeology, that could potentially shed some light on what it was, and drove out to meet them.

“Mr. Cavill?” The archaeologist asked, coming out of his office.

“Yes.” Henry replied, politely extending his hand.

“I'm Dr. Rick O'Connell II.” He introduced himself, shaking Henry's hand. “It's a pleasure to meet you.”

“Likewise.” Henry nodded, smiling softly.

“Your message said, you had a strange little artifact in your possession and would like to learn anything you could about it.” Dr. O'Connell said, showing Henry into his spacious and bright office.

“Yes, sir. I do.”

Henry confirmed, his eyes going to the glass cases, picture frames and artifacts hanging around Dr. O'Connell's office. The small spark inside of Henry that had once wanted to be an Egyptologist and Historian, before becoming an actor, flared to life as he approached one of the tall glass display cases, filled with artifacts from Egypt and a few that looked to be from Asia; one of which was a pale stone and gold jar with the head of Anubis.

“Beautiful, isn't it?” Dr. O'Connell smiled, seeing Henry had been drawn to it, many people often were. “My grandparents were on the expedition that uncovered them.” He commented, stopping beside Henry.

“Seriously?” Henry replied, shaking his head and blinked at Dr. O'Connell with surprise.

“Yes.” Dr. O'Connell nodded, proudly. “My father, Alex, named me after my grandfather. My grandparents met shortly before the expedition and fell in love during it, married, and had him. They made a life of it and these are some of the artifacts from their expeditions together.”

“The others are from yours?” Henry asked, moving to another case.

“Yes, they are.”

Henry stared at the other objects for a moment longer, before turning towards him. “I'm sorry, I came here to talk to you about my object and I'm busy gawking at yours, like a schoolboy on a field trip.” He chuckled and blushed, quite abashed.

“It's quite all right.” Dr. O'Connell laughed, motioning towards a chair in front of his desk, before taking his own behind it. “So, let's take a look at what you have, Mr. Cavill.” He said, holding his hand out over his desk.

“Yes, right.” Henry nodded, taking the disc out of the protective pouch he had put it in and handed it over to him.

Dr. O'Connell frowned at the disc, turning it over in his hands as he observed it. “Well, I can tell you it's made of granite.” He said, pulling open a drawer in his desk to remove a small tape measure, then set the disc on his desk and took measurements of it. “Thirteen centimeters by thirteen centimeters.” He stood up next and crossed the room and gently laid the disc on a padded scale.

“And just under a kilogram in weight.” He returned to his desk and sat down, pulling out a magnifying glass next. “This symbol is quite strange.” He commented, holding the magnifying glass up to it.

“I was thinking the same thing.” Henry agreed with him, biting his lip as he watched him examine the disc. “It looks like some strange lizard.” He commented on it.

“Yes, a lizard.” Dr. O'Connell agreed, looking up from the magnifying glass and disc, in thought. “A dragon.” He nodded, looking back down at it. “A dragon's head, breathing out fire.”

“Does that mean something?” Henry asked, licking his lips and feeling his heart start to pound.

Dr. O'Connell set the disc and magnifying glass down. “There's this ghost story you hear, if you're in my line of work long enough, especially if you're out in the field digging around. My dad told it to me once, when I was a lad.” He started to explain to Henry, leaning back in his chair and staring out the large wall of windows to their left, with the muffle of traffic coming through from below.

“There used to be this group of people, an ancient civilization, that believed, heavily, in Dragons. It was said they were real-”

“The people or the Dragons?” Henry asked, lifting a brow at him.

“Both.” Dr. O'Connell chuckled at him. “As I was saying, they were real, and these people and Dragons lived together, as one. They supposedly did everything together and held highly sacred bonds to one another, giving the people powers, the ability to do magic, long life and many other things.”

“But, their main task, they kept the world at peace.”

“So, what happened to them?” Henry asked, shaking his head, not completely believing him, but enthralled by the story nonetheless.

“No one knows.” Dr. O'Connell shrugged. “There are theories. But, very few things have ever been found about them. I could fill a shoe box with what's been found on them. Most of what we know has been a story from an odd book or scroll, mythology or lore from some culture all across the world, pieced together. A few dusty unexplained bones that some scholar, archaeologist or theorist thinks belong with them.”

“Do you think this has to do with them?” Henry frowned, his brow pinched in conflict.

Dr. O'Connell rubbed his face, twisting back and forth in his chair, and stared at the disc. “I'm not sure.” He replied, honestly. “But, something in my gut tells me otherwise.” He admitted, letting out a huff of air.

“Is it all right if I take some photos of it, Mr. Cavill?” He asked, lifting a brow at him.

“Of course, anything to help you identify what it is.” Henry nodded, eagerly.

Dr. O'Connell removed his mobile from his pocket and snapped several photos of the disc. “I'll contact some of my colleagues and send them the photos, see what they have to say about the artifact and what we can find out about it.” He said, picking it up and holding it out to Henry. “Once, and if,” He laughed, smiling. “we come to a conclusion on what it is, or isn't, I'll give you a ring and tell you.”

“I would really appreciate it.” Henry replied, taking the disc and tucking it back into its little pouch, before standing up and extending his hand out to Dr. O'Connell again. “Thank you.” He smiled, squeezing his hand.

“Have a good day, Mr. Cavill.” Dr. O'Connell smiled back.

“You as well.” Henry replied, before parting ways with him.

Dr. O'Connell moved over to his windows and watched the street below, chewing on his bottom lip until he saw Henry appear in the crowded sidewalk and turn down the street towards the parking garage he had parked his car in, then turned back towards his desk, grabbing his coat off the back of his chair.

“Molly, I'm going out.” He called out to his secretary, rushing down the hall towards the elevators.

Riding the lift down to the main floor, O'Connell rushed onto the street and the opposite way Henry had gone, frantically dialing a number on his mobile, before pressing it to his ear. “It's Rick O'Connell.” He said, when the line picked up. “You told me to call you, if I ever found anything that looked Dragonic.”

“Have you?” A raspy, deep voice replied on the other end of the line.

Dr. O'Connell pulled his mobile away from his ear and sent the connected number the photos he took of Henry's disc, then put the phone back to his ear. “I'm pretty sure.” He replied, out of breath.

“Do you have it with you?”

“No. I wasn't sure if it was the real thing or not. So, I let the guy that brought it to me, take it back with him.” He explained, getting a sick feeling in his stomach, stopped in his tracks and turned around, but didn't see anything behind him, but Londoners going about their daily business. “I can contact him and get it back, if you like?”

“That's not necessary, Dr. O'Connell.” The voice replied, their tone never changing. “Just give me their name and I'll take care of the rest.”

“His name is Henry Cavill.” Dr. O'Connell informed the voice, before the line went dead.

The air in the small meadow was cool and shaded by the clustered ring of trees that surrounded it, as a soft breeze stirred the short stemmed wild flowers in the tall grass, before a shimmering blue light glowed softly in the center of it, and a moment later, with a small rush, you stepped through and the glow dissipated.

You sighed, rubbing the glowing mark on your forearm, before pulling your sleeve down to cover it. A bark filled the air, before a massive black and white dog came tearing into the meadow through the trees and right up to you, his long pink tongue hanging out the side of his mouth.

“Hey, there.” You smiled at him, as he barked several times and ran several circles around you. “You're a playful, little guy.” You chuckled at him, bending over to pet him as he came up to you, but turned sharply and ran off again. “Oh, you faked me out.” You roared, thoroughly amused by the dog's antics.

“Kal!” A deep voice shouted through the trees in the direction the dog had come from.

“Is that your name?” You asked, turning to see the dog busy going number two. “Kal.”

“Oh, hello.”

You looked away from Kal and faced the owner of the voice. “Hi, I'm guessing this is your dog.” You said to him, motioning behind you.

“Yeah. Kal, are you bothering this nice lady.” He asked the pup, a feeling of shy apprehension in his chest as you looked him over, waiting for your brain to click and realize who he was and start freaking out, asking for a photo and autograph from him.

“Oh, not at all.” You replied, chuckling as Kal ran up to you again, actually letting you pat him on the head this time, before dashing over to his owner.

“I'm Henry, by the way.” He introduced himself, with a sweet smile, realizing you either didn't recognize who he was or you were being polite enough not to freak out on him.

“Pleasure to meet you, Henry.” You replied, offering him your own name.

“I don't think I've seen you around before.” Henry commented, tilting his head at you. “Then again, I have just moved in a couple of months ago.” He blushed, biting the corner of his lip.

You chuckled at him, brushing your fingers through your hair. “I live just across the way.” You said, pointing in the opposite direction of the trees. “Welcome to the neighborhood.” You greeted him.

“Thanks.” Henry smiled at you, leaning down to rub Kal's ears. “What are you doing out here?” He asked, motioning around the meadow.

“Oh.” You blinked around the meadow, grasping for a reason. “I went to the little park that's nearby and dropped my house keys.” You grinned, giving off the vibe that you felt like a complete idiot for your mistake. “I've come looking for them, when I ran into your adorable pooch.” You said, looking at Kal.

“Do you need any help looking for them?” Henry offered, politely.

“I would hate to put you out.” You said, shaking your head at him, gulping.

“It's no issue at all.” He replied, shaking his head back at you. “It's not like I'm not going back that way.” He chuckled, tilting his body in that direction.

“Shit.” You mumbled under your breath, then flexed your fingers at your side, like a wave, and the mark on your forearm warmed. “I suppose an extra pair of eyes would make the task go faster.” You giggled, biting your lip and berating yourself for not being more careful.

“Never hurts.” Henry grinned at you, laughing as Kal jumped up on him, putting Henry's forearm gently in his mouth and tried to pull him down. “Come on now, Bear. Let's help find her keys.” He said to him, wrangling his arm out of Kal's mouth and corralled him through the trees, where there was a small dirt path that edged around the ring of trees and his property.

“So, where did you move here from?” You asked, eyes glued to the ground in your key search.

“London.” Henry replied, his own eyes searching the tall grass at the edges of the path. “So much of my life is busy, fast paced and noisy, I just wanted a nice and quiet place, where I could go, that was relatively secluded, so I could relax and decompress.”

“I can understand that.” You nodded, licking your lips and glancing over at him. “There's something about having your own little world. A place to yourself, so you can be yourself, without the worry of others judging you and disrupting your peace.”

Henry paused and looked over at you, dumbfounded that you had nailed precisely how he felt about why he moved out of London and into the English countryside. “Exactly.” He replied softly, blinking and licking his lips, his heart pounding.

“Ah-ha!” You exclaimed, seeing the glint of sunlight on the silver ring key ring and hooked your finger through it. “Found them.” You grinned at Henry, holding them up for him to see. “Thanks for helping me.”

“No problem.” He smiled back at you, even though it didn't quite meet his blue eyes. “Um,” He bit his lip and glanced over his shoulder. “Would you like a cup of coffee or maybe some tea?” He asked, looking back at you, with a brow lifted in hope.

“I just live right there.” He said, pointing a thumb to the two story house behind him.

You looked between Henry to his house, then glanced down as Kal barked and bumped into your legs, like he was begging you to take his owner's invitation. Letting out a soft chuckle, you reached down and scratched Kal's back, making his back leg go wild.

“Sure, a cup of tea sounds nice.” You replied, looking up at Henry, kindly.

“Cool.” Henry grinned, relieved and excited.

The pair of you crossed his backyard and stepped onto his patio, before Henry politely excused himself and rushed through the sliding glass door into his house, leaving Kal to entertain you for several minutes, while he threw together a cup of coffee for himself and a mug of tea for you. He brought them out, setting down a little thing of sugar and creamer, unsure how you took your tea, before the two of you sat down at the little patio table he had set up out there.

“So, how long have you lived in the neighborhood?” He asked, sipping his coffee and lifted his brows at you.

“Not long.” You replied, holding your warm cup in your hands and giggled as Kal frantically dug a hole a short distance away. “A little more than a year.” You explained, taking a gulp of your tea, turning your eyes back to Henry.

“City life is not for you either?” Henry laughed, setting his coffee cup down on the patio table.

“I try to avoid it as much as possible.” You grinned at him, your eyes guarded.

“You're not from around here, are you?” He asked, tilting his head at you, brow drawn together. “Your accent is nothing I've ever heard before.” He commented, he had been trying to place it since encountering you in the meadow.

“No, I'm not.” You shook your head at him, shyly dropping your eyes to your teacup. “My family are kind of like gypsies. They travel around Europe a lot, living their own life, on their own terms. So, I've picked up bits and pieces growing up and it sorta mashed into an accent that doesn't really belong to a specific place.” You laughed, shaking your head.

“People always try guessing where I'm originally from with it, but never get it right.” You added, amused.

“So, what made you settle in England?”

You shrugged your shoulders at him, then smiled as Kal trotted over to you, dropping a filthy tennis ball into your lap. “I wanted to put down roots.” You replied, taking up the ball and tossed it for Kal.

“Plus, I got a good job here.”

“What do you do?”

“Mainly, I'm a dog walker.” You replied, taking the ball Kal brought back to you. “But, I do some dog sitting on the side as well.” You told Henry, throwing the ball for him again.

“That explains a bit of why Kal likes you so much.” Henry commented, watching Kal's mad dash for the neon yellow ball across the yard. “He usually doesn't bring his favorite ball to people he's just met.” He explained, watching Kal charge back towards you with the dirt and slobber covered ball in his mouth.

“I've always had an affinity with animals.” You smiled, gently wrestling the ball out of his mouth and giving another throw, a bit further this time, then shivered.

“Are you all right?” Henry frowned at you, seeing the soft tremor rock your body. “Are you cold?” He asked, it was a bit brisk outside.

“No, I'm fine.” You chuckled, sitting your almost empty cup down on the table in front of you and stood. “I should really be going. I have some work I need to be doing.”

“Oh.” Henry replied, saddened, and stood with you. “I shouldn't have kept you so long, I'm so sorry.”

“It's quite all right, Henry.” You assured him with a soft smile. “It was a pleasure meeting you both.” You told him and Kal as he returned. “And, thank you for helping me find my keys.”

“Of course.” He nodded, forcing a smile. “The pleasure is all mine.”

“See you, Kal.” You smiled at the Akita patting him on the head, then nodded to Henry and started back off towards the meadow.

You were just inside the ring of trees and about to roll up the sleeve of your shirt, when you heard feet on the path behind you, then the sound of Henry calling out your name, and yanked your sleeve down and turned around to see what it was he wanted.

“Are you all right?” You asked, lifting your brows at him.

“Yeah, yeah.” He nodded, a little out of breath from running after you. “I was wondering, if you weren't busy and didn't mind, since he seemed to have really taken to you and everything.” He babbled on. “If you could take Kal on a walk for me, tomorrow?” He asked, biting the corner of his lip with shy uncertainty. “I have a bunch of work meetings I have to make and I don't want him to just get stuck around the house or digging even more holes around the property.” He explained to you.

You grinned at him, touched. “Sure, I'd love to.” You agreed, filling him with relief. “Do you have a specific time you would like me to come?”

“Um,” Henry frowned, his brow pinched as he looked at his smartwatch. “The main bulk of them are around noon. So, any time between then and one, if that works for you?” He said, looking back up at you.

“That'll work out fine.” You nodded, smiling.

“Excellent.” Henry grinned, his face lit up with excitement. “Just come round and knock.”

“Will do.” You assured him, amused that you could easily read his face and eyes. “I'll see you tomorrow, Henry.” You chuckled and turned on your heels and continued on into the meadow.

“I can't wait.” Henry replied after you, giddy and nervous.

You continued on through the meadow, unsure if Henry would still be standing in the ring of trees watching you walk in the direction you had told him you lived in. All you needed was for him to see through your ruse. So, you stepped into the furthest set of trees, glancing around to make sure no one was around to witness or stumble upon you leaving. Seeing the coast was clear, you yanked up your sleeve, rubbing the mark on your forearm with the heel of your palm and took a deep breath, closing your eyes.

“Open the way and return me home, Occam.” You called out through an invisible bond that connected you to your true home, like an umbilical cord between a mother and her babe.

The glitter of blue light illuminated the cluster of trees and brush around you, like it had in the middle of the meadow not an hour before, and taking another deep breath, you stepped through it and let it close behind you.

“Did you get it?”

You sighed and rubbed your face. “No, I didn't get it.” You replied, looking at your father. “I ran into an unseen issue.”

“And what issue was that?”

“The guy that has it.” You answered, rubbing the back of your neck.

Your father's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets at your words. “He caught you in his home?”

“Thankfully, no.” You chuckled, patting him on the chest and walked by him. “I crossed through the pocket door, where we suggested I make it.” You explained as the both of you walked towards home. “But, no soon after I arrived, so did his dog. He's adorable too.” You quipped, smiling at the image of Kal in your mind. “He looks like a black and white bear, with a long curly tail!”

“Oh, if I could have brought him home with me-”

“Sweetheart.” Your father snorted, amused and patted you gently on the back. “I'd have to build a whole new world for all the animals you keep wanting to bring back with you.” He laughed, shaking his head at you.

“Tell me what happened.” He gently pressed you back onto the subject.

“Right.” You laughed, shyly. “Well, his dog showed up and he came after him.”

“You're sure it's the same man?”

“I am.” You nodded, heaving a tired sigh. “I saw him outside of that archaeologist's office yesterday morning.”

“Master Simperwill, we've gotten intel on a possible subject.”

Darius looked up from his desk. “A possible subject for what, Vena?” He replied, lifting a brow at her.

“Serpents.” Vena answered him. “An agent in the field, who's been tracking a known Serpent, Tate Forester, followed him to an office in London, England.”

“What kind of office, exactly?” Darius questioned her, his interest peaking.

“From what my agent gathered, he's an archaeologist with a doctorate's degree in the field.” Vena read off a tablet she was holding in her hand. “His knowledge is quite extensive as well, coming from a long line of archaeologists, explorers and historians. It seems he might even know some things about our culture.” She said, glancing up at her boss.

Darius leaned back in his chair and drummed his fingers against his thigh. “Do we know why this Forester went to see the archaeologist?” He asked her, troubled.

“No, he lost track of Forester when he went inside the archaeologist's office.” Vena shook her head.

“What's this archaeologist's name?”

“Um...” Vena flipped through several of the papers clipped to her tablet. “Dr. Richard O'Connell.”

Darius let out a heavy breath and ran a hand through his graying hair. “We'll need someone to go and investigate this Dr. O'Connell to find out what it is the Serpents want with him and what he knows about us.”

“I can get one of my agents on it right away, Sir.” Vena nodded at him, turning towards the door.

“No.” Darius replied, shaking his head, having already made up his mind.

“Sir?” She frowned, turning back to him.

“Have my daughter come to my office.” He told her, nodding his head. “Yes, have her come see me.”

“Right away.” Vena nodded back at him, finally leaving his office.

A knock sounded on Darius's door several minutes later. “Come in!”

“You asked for me?” You said, stepping into his office.

“I did.” Darius replied, grinning lovingly at you. “I have something I need you to do.”

“All right.” You nodded and approached his desk, plopping down in a chair in front of it. “What's on your mind?”

“I need you to go into the base world and learn what you can about an archaeologist, Dr. Richard O'Connell. Follow him and learn whatever you can from him.” Darius explained to you.

You blinked at your father, then shook your head at him. “Why?” You asked, frowning.

“Vena thinks he has dealings with the Order of the Serpents.” He replied, biting his lip, worriedly.

“You think a human is in league with the Order of the Serpents?” You echoed, leaning forward in your seat.

“I don't necessarily believe the Doctor is in league with them, but I'm sure they're using humans for their own means.” Darius sighed, rubbing at his eyes. “We need to know what they're using the human for. That's where you come in, daughter.” He explained to you, dropping his hand and looking over at you.

“You're the only one I trust to do it and who knows so much about the Serpents and the base world.”

You rubbed a hand over your face, holding your father's eyes. It was true, you knew a great deal about the Order of the Serpents and the base world, and not from sitting around your people's sanctuary world of Moros reading about them; though you have done your fair share of reading about them. A great deal of your knowledge about your people's enemy came from running into them, while in the human world, or what Morosians called it, the base world. Your job in Moros was keeping them safe, doing recon work in the base world and making sure the Serpents didn't find a way into Moros.

While it was assumed that Alaric had collapsed the world cave on all of Christos's followers the day Darius led the refugees through the door that Marcus, Coda and Ian had opened and closed behind them, before separating, scattering for the safety of the Seals they carried with them.

One man had actually survived, and would go on to create what would become the Order of the Serpents.

Knox Steelmane was ordered to be one of the four to stand by the mouth of the world cave to await Alaric Saintwatcher's arrival. He bounced from foot to foot beside his creature, Kayda, his bladder screaming, as they waited in the brisk air.

“Going to piss yourself, Knox?” One of the other Riders teased him, digging his elbow sharply in Knox's side, with a hearty laugh.

“Go to hell, Jonas.” Knox grumbled back, shoving at the older man away.

“Seems like you're already in it.” One of the other Riders ribbed him, grinning.

“Look!” Jonas yelled out, pointing to the skies overhead.

The group looked to where he was pointing and saw Alaric and Tila making their descent toward them and the mouth of the world cave. They clustered around Alaric and his creature after they landed and approached, closely following them inside.

“Where are the rest of your brats?” Christos's voice echoed over to Alaric.

Knox listened to Christos and Alaric bicker back and forth with each other, still fidgeting and trying to ignore the fact he still had to piss. But, it quickly became clear to him that he couldn't hold it any longer or he would be peeing his britches. So, pretending to look at something behind his creature, Knox sneaked outside, quickly rushing behind the nearest tree, pulling open the strings at the front of his trousers and started relieving himself. He was mid-stream when he felt the first tremor rock the ground, making him stumble and stagger on his feet, urine getting on his boots.

“What the hell was that?” He snapped, fumbling to quickly retie the strings of his pants, as another shock wave rocked the earth beneath his feet.

Abandoning the rest of ties to his pants, Knox tripped and fumbled back towards the world cave his companions and leader were still in. But, as he rounded the corner of a tall rock formation, sprinting down the path to the cave, he heard the screams of his friends and the creatures inside, he was forced to skid to a halt as the entrance collapsed, blocking his only way inside.

“No, no no!” He screamed, rushing up to the dusty rubble, tossing what he could lift out of the way, desperate to get back inside. “Kayda!” He screamed for his creature, feeling her terror and injury through their bond, like it was his own agony. “Jonas! Christos! Kayda!” He wailed, still tearing at the rocks blocking the entrance, cutting and hurting his hands on the jagged granite rocks.

“No.” He whimpered, dropping to his knees and slumping against the landslide, tears streaking through the dirt and dust covering his face, sobbing as he felt the painful flickering of Kayda's life force inside of him. “Don't go.” He begged her dwindling life, clawing at the dirt and rock around him, as if he could keep Kayda alive by sheer will.

“Please, don't go.” He whimpered. “I need you.” He sniveled, but felt the last thread of Kayda's life break and fade.

Knox dropped his head back and let out an agonizing, heart wrenching howl, his eyes glowing the moss green of Kayda's scales. Taking a few moments, Knox dragged himself onto his feet, his arms limp at his sides, but his shoulders were stiff with grief and anger, as was his dusty and tear-stained face.

A dark hatred encrusted Knox's heart that day, he vowed to make those that had followed Alaric and opposed Christos pay for killing them, turning Christos into a martyr and championed his cause. He drudged through the roads to the sanctuary Alaric and the others had stayed in, while the two sides battled. But, when he reached the gates, he found no guards, no one alerted to his presence and reacting to it.

Suspicious and careful, in case it was another ambush, Knox moved around the tall, stone wall of the building; he didn't see a single living soul, not a single Rider or Creature in sight. He made it to the south gate and found it ajar, his suspicion growing as he approached. Closing his hand around the pummel of his sword and slipping through the open gap, Knox pulled his sword, gripping it tight, as his eyes scanned the stone and wooden structures, the worn leather soles of boots squelching as he moved slowly through the ankle deep muddy pathways, but the only things that stirred were things blown by the wind. Lowering his sword, Knox let out a roar of anger, kicking a wooden crate and sending it flying across the street, then staked his sword in the mud.

“Where could they have all gone?” He huffed, pacing in his agitation.

Yanking his sword out of the ground and sheathing it on his hip again, he began picking his way through the buildings, looking for any clues to the group's whereabouts, when he found the war room Alaric, Darius and Marcus had been using during the conflicts, finding the maps and open books they had been referencing and studying before they put their plan into motion to stop Christos and take everyone to safety through the door into the new world.

Leaning over the table, Knox picked up one of the books and lifted a brow at the page it had been left on.

“Edward William's Theory.” He read at the top of the page, blindly pulling out a chair and sitting down as he read the material. “They can't possibly think this could work.” He huffed, tossing the book back onto the table, leaning forward to look at the maps, drumming his fingers on the table as he studied them. “But, where could they have gone, without people noticing that many Riders and creatures were on the move.” He reasoned with himself, reaching out to take up the book again, tapping his finger against the page.

Hell bent on finding out where the others went, Knox gathered every scrap of material that was on the table, every book, map and sheet of paper, whether they had connection to their plans or not. He studied them in and out and became convinced they had managed to replicate the theory. So sure of it, Knox created his own group of followers, the Order of the Serpents, to keep Christos plan alive to grant rightful control over the Riders and creatures, to rule over the world, as they felt they should.

But, first, Knox and his group of Serpents needed to discover where Marcus, Ian and Coda had vanished to with the three Seals that would open the door to Moros, and they had spent the last few centuries trying to track them down.

To no avail, until, a fated phone call from a certain archaeologist.

“All right, I'll leave right away, then.” You sighed, nodding your head at your father.

“Excellent.” Darius nodded back at you. “Try to stay out of trouble, hm?” He grinned at you, a mischievous spark in his eyes.

“Who, me?” You grinned back at him, a similar sparkle in your own eyes. “Always.” You chuckled, standing. “I'm as troublesome as a church mouse.”

“Of course you are.” He echoed, huffing with amusement. “Now, I want you to go and see Vena, she has a majority of the details on the subject and she can suggest a place for you to pocket into.” He instructed you.

“Will do, papa.” You nodded, heading for the door.

“I want you back, as soon as you find out anything!” He added, calling out after you.

You made a motion with your hand, signaling to him that you heard what he said, before finding your way to Vena's office down the way. “My father said you have the details for my mission into the base world.” You said, lifting a brow at her.

“Yes.” Vena nodded, looking up from a map. “I was just looking for a place you could pocket into.” She explained, looking back down at the map, which you recognized as a map of London. “The archaeologist's office is just here.” She said, sticking a pin near the central part of London.

“I've been to several places around that area.” You commented, leaning over the map and narrowing your eyes at it. “I've created a pocket door into an establishment that's just here, more than once.” You explained, taking up a pin and poking it into the map several streets down from Dr. O'Connell's office.

“It's a big box store of theirs, they never notice me coming in and out of it.”

“Great.” Vena smiled up at you. “Then, that can be your point of entry and exit.”

“Is there anything else I need to know about this guy?” You asked, studying her.

“The archaeologist or the Serpent?” She asked, lifting a brow at you.

“Either? Both?” You replied, shaking your head.

“Well, the Archaeologist is one Richard O'Connell, he's quite distinguished in his occupation, as are several in his family. He doesn't seem to have any criminal or nefarious deeds and background that I or my agents could find.” Vena answered, shuffling papers around. “As for Tate Forester, the Serpent, his record is extensive. He has several arrests, some for theft, breaking and entering and assault. He's even done time.”

“So, he's a nasty one.”

“I've dealt with worse.” You commented, offhandedly, then glanced at one of the two clocks on Vena's wall. “It's almost seven am in the base world, I should get going.” You said, making a few calculations in your head.

“Yes, you should.” Vena nodded, biting her lip.

“Right.” You nodded back at her, smiling softly. “I'll see you later, Vena.” You chuckled, seeing yourself out of her office, then went to the house you lived in and changed into an outfit that would allow you to blend in with the humans, and a small backpack of items you might need. “Hey, Occam.” You smiled, stepping outside and happily greeting your creature as he landed before you.

“I've got some business to do in the base world.” You told him, stroking his snout. “I shouldn't be gone for too long.” You said, opening the bond between the pair of you. “You behave and don't go bullying Mundu, while I'm gone either.” You added, smirking at his huff and the rattle of his scales as he shook his mighty head at you.

“All right, Occam, let's open a portal.”

You pulled up the sleeve of the hoodie you were wearing and pressed your palm to his head, both your and Occam's eyes closing, feeling the warm tingle of your shared magic undulating between you. A gentle breeze stirred around the two of you, the mark on your forearm grew warm and glowed as the bright blue pocket door opened beside you. Patting Occam, you turned and stepped through the portal, then with a rush and a pop in your ears, you found yourself in a cramped dressing cubicle with mounted full-length mirrors on three sides and discarded clothes and hangers strewn about.

Turning, you opened the latch to the door and stepped out of the changing room, pausing for a moment to watch the oblivious shoppers, pushing their carts, stopping at racks of clothing or purchasing their items. Sighing, you slipped into the flow of the crowd and out the front doors to the street, taking a moment to orient yourself and headed in the direction of O'Connell's office.

You looked up at the tall office building and headed inside, checking the nameplates for what floor the archaeologist was on, then bypassed the lifts, having no trust in them, and took the several flights of stairs to the third floor. Coming out on the floor, you glance around, finding a young blonde woman sitting behind a desk, flipping through a magazine, seemingly unaware of your presence, as you approach her, forcing you to clear your throat twice to get her attention.

“Can I help you?” She asked, sticking her nose up at you with extreme distaste.

“Is Mr. O'Connell in?” You asked, narrowing your eyes back at her.

“No, he is not.” She huffed, picking her magazine back up. “He won't be in for at least three hours. He's teaching a two-hour class in Oxford's School of Archaeology this morning at six am, then it's an almost hour and a half train ride back here to London for him.”

You looked up at the clock on the wall above her head, it was just past seven, meaning you had hours before O'Connell showed back up at his office for regular work. “Thanks.” You sighed, but she was already absorbed in her magazine again.

Making your way back downstairs, you popped back out onto the street and turned left, following the flow of foot traffic and shops down to the local Starbucks, to order yourself a tall, blended Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino with whip cream, paying for it with the money you made from a few business dealings you had done, using your skill for tracking and finding people to your advantage in the base world, since Moros didn't have any money or currency. They shared, grew or created what they needed to survive and thrive. It enabled you to have real human money in your pocket, so you could buy things, like coffee from the famous Starbucks, you had seen countless humans carrying around with them, or to buy something to eat, even bring things back to Moros, even different clothes and books. Many types of technology from the base world didn't work in Moros, so you never bothered buying a mobile phone or a laptop.

Though, you had always yearned for one.

Having your coffee in hand, you went back to O'Connell's office building, opting to sit in the building's lobby to wait for his return. Putting your backpack on the floor between your feet and pulling out the novel you had been reading, you slowly sipped on your drink as you thumbed through it; killing the time until Dr. O'Connell arrived from Oxford to his office.

Your coffee was gone and your leg and butt-cheek were starting to fall asleep by the time the door to the building opened, admitting a group of four people, two men and two women. You lifted a brow at them, but kept your eyes on your book, not wanting to draw attention to yourself.

“Your lecture was amazing, Dr. O'Connell.” One of the women commented as the group approached the lifts.

You lifted your eyes, watching the two males, to see which of them answered.

“Thank you, Kimmy.” The taller of the two men, with graying blond hair and a pudgy middle replied, smiling at her and pressing the button for the third floor.

You shifted in your seat, watching the group pile into the lift and ride it up. Now that you knew what the good archaeologist looked like, it made your job of tracking him a lot easier. A few minutes later the two girls and the guy came back down in the lift, chatting and holding a copy of a book with O'Connell's face on the back of it; no doubt something written on his career and life. Watching them go out the door, you got up and used the bathroom that was in the lobby, before coming back out and took your seat again, intent on waiting there until O'Connell left for either his lunch break or to go home.

An hour later, the ding for the lift doors echoed through the lobby, catching your attention, as a tall, dark and curly haired man stepped out of them. He was handsome, for sure, but that wasn't the tingle that drew you to him as he walked by you, towards the front doors. There was something about him that called out to you, that made you want to stand up and follow him out of the building, to wherever it was he was going; and you didn't understand why. But, as soon as he was out of the building and you could no longer see him, the tingle flowing in your spine vanished, leaving you dizzy and lightheaded.

It wasn't five minutes later that Dr. O'Connell came flying through the lobby, his long coat billowing behind him as he yanked his mobile out of his pocket, frantically dialing a number on it. You waited a moment for him to get out onto the street, before stuffing your book back into your backpack and got up, swinging it onto your back, slipping your arms through the straps, and looking left and right, before catching sight of him and dashing in that direction.

You kept at a reasonable distance from Dr. O'Connell, but still close enough to hear him speaking to whoever it was he called.

“It's Rick O'Connell.” He was saying, walking quickly in his agitation. “You told me to call you, if I ever found anything that looked like Dragonic.”

“Dragonic.” You mumbled to yourself, frowning.

“I'm pretty sure.” Dr. O'Connell was explaining to his caller. “No. I wasn't sure if it was the real thing or not. So, I let the guy that brought it to me, take it back with him.” He said, suddenly stopping and turning around, but you casually walked by him, as if nothing was amiss. “I can contact him and get it back, if you like?” He said, frowning to himself and started walking again.

“It was a disc shaped object, with a dragon on it.” He described the object he had called them about. “A man brought it to me, his name is Henry Cavill.”

Your ears perked up at the name and the description of the object. Biting your lip, you picked your pace and headed back towards the department store you had used to enter the base world, sneaking back into the same dressing room and opened a pocket door back to Moros.

“Father!” You shouted, rushing into his office.

“I'm here, I'm here, daughter!” He called back, appearing. “What is it? What's happened? Are you all right?” He asked, looking you over, urgently.

“I'm well.” You assured him, out of breath. “I come with news.”

“Well, sit and catch your breath first, child.” He told you, ushering you to a seat and bringing you a warm cup of tea, with a splash of something stronger in it. “Now, tell me. What is it you've learned?” He asked, leaning back against his desk in front of you.

“I found the archaeologist in his office building, it was easy enough.” You told him, slowly sipping your tea and taking slow, deep breaths. “I had to wait some time for him to show up, he was doing work for one of the base world's schools. But, once he did arrive, it didn't take long for something to happen.” You explained to him.

“And, what did you find?”

“The man, a Henry Cavill, he said his name was...”

“You talked to these men?”

“No.” You shook your head at him. “I talked to only his secretary, to see if he was in. That's how I found out he was not in, at the time. But, Dr. O'Connell wasn't back in his office long after his teaching engagement, when he apparently had a client bring him something. I didn't see the meeting or the object. But, when I saw the man leaving, I felt oddly attracted to him and not because he was handsome either.” You chuckled, hiding your shy smirk in the rim of your cup.

Darius rolled his eyes at you. “The object, did they describe it?” He asked, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning forward.

“Dr. O'Connell left his office soon after the man, Mr. Cavill, left. He made a phone call to someone. Apparently, he's meant to call them, if he encounters anything, Dragonic, and described the object Mr. Cavill brought to him.”

“It was a round disc with a dragon on one side of it.”

Your father's face fell, his Adam's apple bobbing in his throat. “Dragons.” He whispered, pushing off his desk and began pacing his office.

“It's what they call our creatures.” You said, watching him. “Dragons.”

“Yes.” He nodded, stroking his bearded chin and pinched his bottom lip, as he brooded. “Did the archaeologist have the disc on him?”

“No.” You shook your head. “He said, Cavill still had it with him, because he wasn't sure if the object was the real thing or not.”

Darius turned back to you. “You said, when this Cavill was leaving, you were drawn to him, and not just because of his looks.”

“Yes, I wanted to follow him, to go with him. There was a tingle up my spine, like the feeling I get when I use my magic with Occam.” You explained to him, frowning and tilting your head at him.

“By the Order,” Your father gasped. “He's in possession of one of the Seals.”

#Henry Cavill #HenryCavill #Henry Cavill RPF #Henry Cavill FanFic #Viking-Raider Fics #Seals of the Lost #Seals of the Lost *fic* #Dragons #RPF #World Building #Magic #Stalking #Henry Cavill/You #Henry Cavill/Reader #Henry Cavill x You #henry cavill x reader #Kal #Kal Cavill #Teleporting #reader pov #Henry Pov #Oxford #multiverse #multiworld #teleporting #Dog sitting #Spying #History #Fictional History #Modern Fictional History

[indianamoonshine]

c h a p t e r | i

summary: every summer you work on your father's strawberry farm with your three sisters. it's a way to take a break from the big city but summers in the midwest are hot and they linger. this year, your father's old and mysterious friend shows up to stay on your land for a reason yet to be determined. din djarin seems dangerous, but kind enough, and the two of you quickly become...well, let's fact it...smitten.

rating: m (18+) for future and explicit sexual content.

author's note: reader is well over eighteen for obvious reasons. i won't ever go into physical detail about the reader's appearance because we include everyone. this fic is pretty much a mix between pride & prejudice and call me by your name except without the und*rage crap we do not condone. so, without further ado, here's an aesthetically pleasing fanfic.

the moment din djarin laid eyes on you he knew he was a dead man.

at first, his view of you had been obstructed because you'd opened every door and window in the house. june in the midwest sometimes required such nuisances, so all of the curtains billowing in the breeze prevented him from looking upon you.

you were also on the couch, but he hadn't known that until you lifted a hand - soft as a dove's - from the back of the sofa. you played with the light between your fingers, shielding its dazzling rays from your eyes, just before setting it down again. your hands were so small (smaller than his anyway) and gentle. he imagined how foreign your skin would feel in warm contrast to his; how your fingers would feel intertwined with his calloused ones, which had done enough work throughout the years to be mistaken for a beggar’s. within the first moment, he saw you as flawless.

your father had not stopped for breath since din arrived, lamenting about the farm or discussing the layout of the home with an eagerness din had yet to match. he would've initially been interested in the history of the farm or how many sprawling acres rolled endlessly before them, but his eyes couldn't leave your hand.

you must've been asleep - napping in the embrace of the sun - because as soon as your father drew breath upon entering the living room, your voice tickled din's ears for the first time. sweet as music.

"dad? is that you?"

din couldn't help but blink at the sound of your voice. it seemed unnatural, like one hears in dreams or spiritual awakenings. he manages to compose himself at your father's side, straightening his posture to err on the side of caution.

your father exclaims with a joyful "ah!" and then introduces you by name.

"my daughter. one of them, anyway. she and the three eldest help during the summer," he had said, and then turned to the bay windows to go on about the view.

but you meet din's eyes, rested and glimmering with curiosity, while your father droned on in the background. you reach out a hand - the one he'd thought of holding - to shake.

he does. and it's every bit as beautiful as he knew it'd be.

"how do you do?" you give him a polite and pretty smile. if he hadn't known any better, you bat your eyelashes for good measure.

your father's tour continues but din can't stop thinking about the way your skirt rose to your thighs as you stretched awake.

|||

you were lying if you said you didn't think about him for the rest of the day.

you weren't the only one. your sisters - all three of them - had also met the mysterious din djarin.

"who is he?" charlotte asked while you congregated at the nearby pond. it was a lovely place, nestled within the thick of the woods and bursting with greenery. flowers of every kind blossomed around you and scents the air with a sweetness.

rhea lays in the shade of a peach tree. "one of dad's old friends," she says. she waves herself with a floral paper fan she'd gotten from chinatown while visiting you in new york.

"but why is he here?"

madeline, who paints with her watercolors, pipes in. "i heard he got into some trouble with the law and now he's in hiding."

you roll your eyes with a scoff, lounging in the grass and watching the clouds in the bright, blue sky. "madeline, that's absurd."

rhea (who is the oldest and most pragmatic) surprises you when she shrugs her shoulders. "i don't know. he looks likes a bad boy..."

you recall the way his jaw clenched as you introduced yourself - his neck was tempting. his skin glowed with a radiant hue in the sunlight and his eyes shone with an aura of broodiness. he was very austenian.

"boy is hardly the word," you correct.

charlotte, being the flirt, wiggles her eyebrows suggestively. she swims in the pond, hair wet and fanning against the water. she sinks lowly for dramatic effect. "how right you are."

"trouble or not, he was a perfect gentleman." rhea sighs and skims the water with her forefinger. "either way, he's easy on the eyes so i don't mind having him around."

easy on the eyes was putting it mildly. you wouldn't say that to the girls though; they had a habit of teasing when you showed interest in anyone attainable let alone a man decades older than you.

"don't do anything stupid, charlotte." madeline dips her paintbrush into her mason jar full of pond water.

charlotte huffs and flips her hair from her shoulder. it makes a splash, rippling the water as a result. "why not? we're all of legal age."

"he's dad's friend and a guest," you remind her, tearing your gaze away from the clouds.

the middle child lets out a pathetic whimper. "you guys are no fun," she groans.

|||

it was a busy season on the farm.

strawberries were ready to be picked by mid june and there was a three week window to do it. harvesting wasn't easy and it took a lot of man work. hands went numb, skin grew calloused. the sun that beat down on the fields was only manageable by the sprinklers that went off every blessed-ed fifteen minutes. during a drought, it was even worse.

the employees picked from seven in the morning until five in the evening. your father was adamant that breaks be plenty and pay be as prosperous as he could afford, but a strawberry farm wasn't a fortune five hundred company. he did what he could to provide the families with some semblance worthy enough to continue, and so every year he threw a dinner party.

it was always a lovely occasion, brimming with delectable treats and savory entrees. candles were aflame, lanterns lit up the pathway that lead to the entrance of the home and then the land leading into the woods. as a child, the dinner party was as exciting as a birthday. it was a night to look forward to all year long, sharing time with family and friends and gorging yourself on food you wouldn't eat any other friday of the week.

your sisters loved it too, mostly because they enjoyed the promise of gossip that poured from the mouths of guests like the wine served. and now that din djarin - a stranger, in all respects of the word - was attending an annual dinner that's managed to keep as tradition for years, gossip would surely be abundant as the wine itself.

guests arrived by the hour until the clock struck seven. the evening was crisp but warm enough to be comfortable without a blanket wrapped around your shoulders. the rock doves sung loudly to declare that sunset had begun, a few rogue and early lightning bugs blinking rhythmically. children of the employees ran throughout the fields bare footed and chanting taunts to their friends as their parents chattered among themselves.

home. here is home.

while the party had already begun (officially, at least), dinner hadn't yet been served. admittingly, you were a bit behind schedule, but you worked quickly to finish setting the tables. the theme was simple; linen napkins and wildflowers in random antique vases you found in your basement. the lilacs you'd picked from their bushes were already beginning to limp but you hoped no one would notice.

you hum when you work. whether it be intentional or not you find your lips buzzing with a tune plucked subconsciously from your brain as your hands busy themselves. you straighten the tablecloths, fill the vases with water, and set the silverware in their particular order. needless to say, you had a tendency to get lost in your own little world. so when a hand gently tapped you on the shoulder, you spun around with a shriek.

din djarin - man of the hour - is smirking handsomely at you, hands fiddling with a depressed looking lilac. you place a palm against your heart and count its beats. too many.

"mister djarin," you sigh out. "you scared me."

he lets out a breathy chuckle, hands running through his wavy locks. "i see that. i'm sorry, but i was just wondering if you'd like some help."

his voice...oh, stars and garters. it was so rough but tender - like a steak. you cock an eyebrow at how strange the comparison is but convince yourself it didn't matter. still, you're blushing from the jump so you duck your head from his gaze.

"there's not much left to do," you admit, turning back to the table. you spread your hands against the tablecloth to ward off any wrinkles. "you can double check if i missed any forks, i suppose. i have a tendency to do that."

din hums in his throat and nods a little. "sure," he says, moving to the first setting. his eyes scan along the silverware carefully. "where are your sisters? they don't help, huh?"

"they're better at entertaining," you say truthfully. "i volunteer to take care of the dinner part...as long as i don't have to socialize as much i'm content."

it was true. it's not that you had an aversion to people in general, but you tried to avoid conversation whenever possible - it wasn't your strong suit. you could get away with it when need be but you found it took too much energy to pretend to enjoy conversation about the weather or politics.

"i understand," din nods. he straightens a spoon with the nudge of his finger. "i find myself to be the same way."

there's an awkward silence between the two of you. you didn't know how to respond. while you weren't good at social situations in general, you found it natural to feign interest in subjects bland enough to circumvent discomfort...but you felt the need to impress him.

"so you'll be staying with us this summer then?" you decide, falling short. how stupid.

din nods swiftly. "yeah. in one of the cabins."

the cabins were located at various points of the land your father owned. in order to get there, one usually took an ATV or walked if the going gets tough. you preferred to stroll along the river, but your sisters liked riding the four wheelers or their bikes.

"which one?" you ask, tone mindless.

din's finished with double checking your work. he pulls out a chair - an old, wooden antique - and sits down upon it with caution. you stifle a laugh and, if he notices, he doesn't say anything. he'd soon learn that everything here was old but sturdier than they looked. you wish you could say it was for aesthetic purposes but it was more convenient than anything.

"the one closest to the pond," din replies lowly.

you notice how his eyes survey your form and how intimate it was. he was studying you but for whatever reason you couldn't be sure. you try to shake away the idea that he could be (dare you say?) pining over you. how silly. like you told charlotte: din djarin was off limis.

that was the end of it.

you find yourself blushing again so you hide your face. "that's my favorite one," you tell him honestly. "i like the view."

din smiles in agreement. "so do i."

if you weren't so heated with frustration, you would've called him out on the implication (as out of character for you it may be). then again, you found yourself weakened by the mere presence of this man. it wasn't unlike you, per say; you were naturally timid but there was an eagerness to his charm that you weren't familiar with. guys your age were so sure of themselves but it was almost always under false pretenses. this man however...well, he was a man and that was intimidating.

fine. it was hot.

you clear your throat in an effort to regain a semblance of poise. this summer had already proven to be laborious in a way you hadn't expected.

#DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG THIS TOOK TO TYPE OUT #din djarin x reader #din x reader #the mandalorian x reader #mando x reader #mw1 #strawberryfic

[darkmindsotome]

On the Riverbank

Title: On the Riverbank

Fandom: Love365 Masquerade Kiss

Pairing:  Kei Soejima x MC

 Word count:3,963

Warning: NSFW Smut

Written by: darkmindsotome

Summary: After suffering from cabin fever a date is in order. Only this simple date plan is going to get spicy.

Tagging @voltage-vixen as requested. Prompt #15: Free Prompt (Picnic on the River)

---

 I was willing to blame uncontrollable events on the fact that we hadn’t managed to go on a date in a while. Between work and recovering from work, it had been impossible to plan anything. However, it had become the new norm for us to remain living together at Kei’s rooms in Raven.

At some point, I began to feel like I had cabin fever. I was happy to be with Kei and a secret part of me loved being at home with him 24/7. To think there was a time when I thought this was a prison sentence. I couldn’t deny the fact I wanted to go out and do something now things had settled down though.

After looking out of the large windows in the suite over the streets of London, sighing for what must have been the sixth or seventh time, into my nighttime cup of tea. Kei put down his book and announced we would be going on a date. Later that night I curled up happily in bed wrapped in his arms and fell fast asleep.

The next day I woke up alone. My mysterious man had vanished before I could say so much as a good morning or ask about our date plans. Patting down the sheet on his side of the bed resulted in me finding them stone cold. He was always an early riser but this was ridiculous. I then noticed a note left on his pillow.

“Good morning, forgive me I had some things to tend to. I have arranged a car to bring you to our date. K”

I rubbed my fingers over his beautiful cursive writing just as a courier arrived at the door and delivered a beautifully wrapped box. The duck egg blue container was almost pearlescent with a thick cream coloured satin ribbon all perfectly tied around it.

The timing was so perfect I really had to marvel at the man organising this and wonder if I was always this predictable or if I would discover a hidden camera somewhere in the room. Opening the box up revealed a single white rose with a card resting on top of a black dress that fitted Kei’s tastes perfectly.

“I can’t wait to see you. K”

The message had me smiling long before I took the dress out of the box. It was a vintage style tea dress with little cap sleeves made from some of the most delicate lace I’d ever seen. It looked almost like patterned smoke.  

There was something different about getting ready for a mission and getting ready for a date. The feeling I got from both was similar but I found I was much more nervous about a date than a life-threatening mission. I rushed through my prep stage of shower, hair and make-up.  

Slipping into the dress I instantly fell in love with it. Kei knew my measurements off by heart and I was pretty sure he had them on file with his usual tailor so he could get the outfits he gifted me perfect right down to the last stitch.

Walking into the closet to find a pair of suitable shoes I discovered some already sitting out. They were naturally also black with the addition of ribbons that wrapped around my ankles. Securing the bows, I couldn’t help but make the comparison between them and cuffs. I felt heat climbing up from them at the thought. I imagined Kei and what was probably going through his head as he picked them out for me. How his fingers would have traced the shoes and the ribbon. The idea of tying me up was never far from his mind and with these shoes, it felt like he had already started.

Shaking my head, I looked at my watch and doubled checked my reflection in the mirror before leaving to go get in the car. I watched from the back seat absentmindedly playing with my choker as the car took me away from the centre of the metropolis. 

The modern landscape changed slowly into something that felt more historic. The buildings looked older; the concrete jungle had passed into something more like a tv drama set. In fact, if I hadn’t known how far I had travelled I might have thought I was somewhere else entirely.

My eyes caught a familiar figure standing near the roadside. He was dressed in more casual clothes. The white trousers, cream coloured cricket jumper with a blue stripe around the collar and the light blue shirt under it all made him look like a student. The car slowed until the backdoors aligned perfectly with him. I had seconds to smooth down my dress and mentally brush off some of the nervous excitement before the door was opened.

“M’lady.” I smiled at the Princely Kei as he offered me his hand. It was all too easy to forget what he truly was like even for me. Yes, I loved his sweet and angelic side, but I also loved that tricky Devil he hid behind his mask too.

“Thank you.”

Kei guided me to his side, away from the car, and sent it on its way. Now completely alone he used our still joined hands to make me twirl for him as he looking me over from head to toe.

“You look even better than I imagined.” Kei smiled and brought me closer to him. Sweeping some of my hair away from my neck so he could brush his fingers along the neckline of the dress and the choker around my neck.

I once more felt the difference in attire. I was all dressed up and felt far more formal than he did. The idea of him being a student once more flitted through my mind conjuring up kinky scenarios of a socialite sneaking off for a romantic rendezvous with a hidden student lover. It was silly, Kei was older than me even if there were times it was hard to tell that from appearance alone.  

“Careful now or you might start sounding like Kazuomi.” I joked attempting to forget the thoughts going through my mind.

My eyes naturally fluttered shut. His cold elegant fingers ghosting over my skin was enough to remind me of the many nights we spent together. Where he had dyed me in his own colours and shown me the abyss behind the door to depravity. Joining me as we fell through purgatory to our own private Eden.

“Perish the thought.” He let go of me. A sensation that left me feeling the need to chase him.

Opening my eyes, I saw that impish look on his face. He was slowly becoming more and more adjusted to life outside of his own nightmares and past. It was still obvious he was a little lost and confused at times but when he was like this, I could almost imagine him as a little boy. It made my heart sing to think we could stand here now together and I could enjoy such a candid fragment of my elusive boyfriend.

“Come now we should get this date started.” Kei laced our fingers and matched his pace to mine.

We walked through some trees and right up to the side of a riverbank. There in front of us was a beautiful craft floating on the water. Inside were some large cushions a few blankets and a basket.

“I thought I would show you a little hospitality and tradition.” Kei let go of my hand briefly to climb onto the small craft and then held out his hand again to help me get on board as well.

“We are going boating?” I giggled as the whole thing rocked under my feet. The idea of mixing something traditional from his own country and a date was so him it made me happy.  

“Punting. It is quite different but I trust you will enjoy yourself.” Kei’s correction came with all the patience I had come to expect from someone who knew so much and was used to sharing it in the course of his work.

“I think I’ve seen it before. It looked like the river had turned into Venice or something.” I sat down carefully feeling rather small when I looked back up at Kei.

“I can understand your comparison and whilst you can use a pole on both vessels a Punt is different to a Gondola.” He smiled and retrieved the long pole from the riverbank using it to cast off.

I watched him standing near my feet moving the pole through his hands with little effort. If you were really quiet you could hear the smooth wood, polished with years of use, slipping through the water and his palms.

“It doesn’t feel as safe as I thought it would.” I commented as the pole in his hand seemed to get stuck on something under the water and give a little tug that made the punt slightly rock.

“I assure you that I am an excellent Punter.” Kei’s expression was so deadpan and relaxed as he declared this I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“I get the feeling your friends would be doubling over in laughter right about now hearing you say that.”

“Yes, they probably would. Thankfully they aren’t or I would have tipped them both into the Thames and made them swim.” He looked down at me. The shadows from the trees we were moving through were casting shadows on his pale skin. I didn’t miss how his playful eyes shone through the shade.

“You wouldn’t…”

“Just sit back and enjoy the ride. I did consider placing the seat facing forward but selfishness prevented me from doing so. I wanted to see your face, forgive me.” The Devil faded in the light once more replaced by the charming Prince.

“You know I never once pictured you doing this?” I sunk back into the cushions, finding them much more comfortable than I thought they would be. The blankets as well were a mixture of textures but each one was thick and luxurious.

“Oh? Punting has been a traditional pastime in England since the 1860’s it really caught on by the 1880s and 1900s though. Before they became used for recreation these little crafts were used as part of the transporting of traders.” He spoke as he manoeuvred the pole and pushed us forward in the water. “Are you familiar with Alice in Wonderland?”

“Yes of course it’s a children’s classic.” I happily nodded. I know it is kind of a strange thing to enjoy but I did genuinely love how knowledgeable he was and how he explained things. It was like having my own personal tour guide and professor.

“Quite so. Well, the author Lewis Carroll used to punt along the Thames and during one of his outings where he was with a friend’s children he started to tell the story of a curious little girl who followed a rabbit. He later put pen to paper and created the beloved tale as a gift.” He lowered his voice as if he had just shared a piece of information vital to national security.

“I didn’t know that.” I don’t know what face I was showing him when he looked down at me. His face seemed to soften, although it could also have been my imagination.

“Literature aside I thought I would show you some more of England than the inside of Raven or shopping in the capital.” I looked around at the countryside slowly passing. I knew there was more to London than concrete and cars but I didn’t think there was this much greenery.

“I thought the Thames was larger than this.” I mused and put my hand over the side dipping it in the cool water playing with the ripples made by the punt as it moved.

“It is. We are currently on one of its many streams. Still part of the river but not as heavy with the tourist trade. You will also know of the boating traditions between Oxford and Cambridge, yes?” Kei always seemed to become a little more animated when talking like this. It was like he suddenly had an outlet for all the bottled-up information and facts he had in that well-read brain of his.

“The boat race?” I titled my head against the sun and saw him nodding happily.

“Yes, it is covered by the media extensively at the time. Well, the competition between the two on these waters doesn’t stop with rowing. There is a traditional Oxford way to Punt and then there is the traditional Cambridge version.” Kei grimaced theatrically as he explained.

“Haha, you don’t sound like you approve of the Cambridge way.”

“I am an Oxford man.” He almost seemed to stand up straighter as he said that. “The flat raised planking behind you is called the Till. A Cambridge man would stand on the Till and punt like so.” He stepped over me and demonstrated what he meant. It caused the punt to lurch which had me clinging to the sides of it thinking it might tip us both in the water. “Whereas an Oxford man, He will stand in the punt and work from here.” Kei stepped back into the punt and resumed moving us from inside. The vessel settled back down and I ended up breathing a sigh of relief. “Also a notable difference is the till. Following Oxford tradition, it is always facing front in the direction one is moving."

"I had no idea there were so many traditions.”

“There are more but I fear any more information will bore you under this hot sun. Here should be suitable.” He pushed the punt so it brushed up against the bank again this time next to what looked like a very secluded spot. The grass was short and looked to be recently cut. Surrounding it were high hedges and some trees.

“What is this place?” I asked as we left the punt for more stable ground.

“You will find them all around. They are locations people usually used for picnics.” Kei spoke as he stuck the pole into the bank and tied the punt to it.

“Are they all this well maintained?” I was still looking around. I don’t think I have ever been to a part of London that has ever made me feel so totally alone. It was pleasantly unusual.

“The ones that are owned are yes. This is one of my family’s spots.” He leant over and scooped up the basket and grabbed a blanket. With them in hand, he then walked into the centre of the grass and quickly set up.

“What do you have hidden away in your basket of tricks?” I sat down on the blanket and waited for him to reveal his secrets.

“We have tea, the very seasonal and traditional strawberries and cream.” He placed a flask down next to the punnet of fresh fruit and a pot of thick white cream. “We also have peanut butter sandwiches…”

“You made this picnic, didn’t you?” I couldn’t help but giggle. When he said he had things to do in his note I thought it would have been work-related. Now I had visions of him shopping and preparing this picnic instead.

“What is wrong with it?” He asked. His golden hair shining like a halo under the sun.

“Nothing just it's very you. If you had brought the basket from somewhere or had someone else make it, I doubt peanut butter would have made it on the menu.” It was true he could have ordered it from room service or had it made up somewhere in town and just brought it along. The fact that he actually made anything himself was endearing.

“Did you want something different?” His expression shifted and he looked like a child that was waiting to be scolded.

“No this is perfect.” I reached over and took one of the sandwiches from the plate in his hands.

“I did think of bringing some Pimms but I reconsidered.” Kei recovered fast, the cracks in his mask reformed.

“Why?”

“The time of day for one thing. I mean as Kazuomi would argue it's five o’clock somewhere but I would hate for you to be so drunk you fell overboard.”  He poured some tea from the flask and handed it to me. Our fingers touching for a second, more than long enough for me to realise his body temperature was still as cold as normal.

“We both know I have a better tolerance to alcohol than that.” How can he do that? It was so hot the world could be melting and Kei would still be sitting there in a pullover surrounded by his own internal climate control. “You said this was one of the quieter parts of the River. Why come here? Oops!”

I had been so concerned with not spilling the tea he had given me I had completely misjudged the integrity of the sandwich in my hand. Part of it failed to make it to my mouth and vanish down the neckline of the dress. Embarrassment threatened to bloom inside me and I really hoped Kei had missed what I had just done.

“Is it a crime to want to spend some time alone with my girlfriend?” His voice was so close and I hadn’t felt the blanket move or even seen him shift. Yet he was right next to me his face so close to mine I could feel his breath in my ear. “Honestly I did think of following one of the other paths of the river. There are more pubs and places to go along them but I wanted to enjoy something more scenic with you.” He trailed his fingers along my choker and then slipped them down the front of my dress. “Now I’m glad I made this choice.”

“Something about how you just said that makes me think you weren’t referring to a quiet picnic together.” I acted cooler than I felt. I knew he could feel my heart beating and see the pulse running wild in my neck. All the time I faked being calm as his fingers extradited the rogue peanut butter sandwich from my body.

“You always were very observant.” I followed his hand as it carried the salvaged food to his own mouth. Those eyes of his locked on me looking like pools of golden lust.

They drew me to him like a spell and held me there as he locked me up in his arms, his hands roamed freely over me. Tumbling back together onto the blanket the picnic was threatening to be forgotten.

“Mmm Kei.” My breathy cry came out as he nibbled on my collarbone and began moving a hand up my leg under the fabric of the dress.

“Careful now. It might be a secluded spot but there is no telling who you might summon with a voice like that.” He teased as his fingers did some teasing of their own. Rubbing the outline of my sex through the sheer fabric of his favourite lace panties.

“As long as one of the people I summon is you I don’t care.” I was done with coy. Coy and demure didn’t get you anywhere fast with this man. There was a time and place for all that and when we were alone and things were heating up was not one of those times.

“Mmm, have I ever told you how stunning you are when you are honest with your desires?” He slipped his fingers past the lace pressing his thumb onto my clit before pumping a couple of digits inside me. I wanted to moan louder but his warning from before made me stop.

I looked up and found him smirking. He knew I was holding back. He knew I was trying to be a good girl but damn him if he wasn’t trying to break me.

“I don’t think I can remember.” Two could play that game and I tried to make it look like I was still in control. With every stroke from his hand, I was losing my sanity, but I kept up a strong front and played the game.

“Then I’ll have to take my time and remind you.” He moved on top of me his hand still driving a fever through my core as he spread my legs wide with his own.

“What about the picnic?”

“There is time enough for both. I don’t intend to let anything here on this blanket go to waste.”

His voice purred erotically as he slid the zip on the dress down my back and dragged the bodice low enough to expose my breasts. The cap sleeves I had thought were a nice addition were now part of the binding of fabric that was preventing my arms from freely moving.

Kei brushed his fingers over the lace of the bra and once more slid his hand inside. Treating each nipple to a firm pinch as he ravished my mouth with his tongue. I squirmed under him trying to wrap my legs around his and return the restraint in kind.

“Hehe, you really are the only one that has ever tried to dominate me.” His laugh was like a clear bell whilst the things he was doing to me had my head crashing like a drum.

“Kei… please stop teasing me already.” I moved some more only to find his weight was gone. He had stopped touching me completely and was sitting back on his heels looking at me.

“As My Lady commands.”

I watched as he licked his hand clean and used the other to undo his belt and trousers. It wasn’t unusual for him to remain clothed but it rarely happened where it was so bright.  I bit my lip as he rolled my dress higher exposing all of me. He said nothing as he undid the strings on the panties and placed them into his pocket. The silence was deafening given how aroused I was. He leaned over and dipped a strawberry into the thick cream holding it just out of reach of my mouth.

“Eat it.” His command seemed absolute even if it was given in a sugary-sweet tone.  I tried to stretch for it but couldn’t. His eyes twinkled and his smile became more wicked. “I guess if you can’t be a good girl then I’ll just have to treat you like a bad one instead.”

I felt my core tighten as he brought his palm down with a crack against my bare thigh. He pressed down on me again. His mouth connecting with mine. Fruit and cream filled my senses as he used his own mouth to feed me. The escaped juices were lapped up by his tongue as he arranged himself to take this to the next level.

“Ah!” A slight sharpness ripped through my body and was quickly numbed as the pleasure of us finally connecting took over. With each rock of his body, it moved my body against the ground far more than the swaying of any boat.

Our mouths connected again and again at different angles to the point where I was sure I had forgotten to breathe. His fingers ran through my hair sometimes pulling grabbing at it but each time it only emphasised his desire for me and made my whole body tingle.

I never did find out if anyone else was around as Kei had said or if it was all just another layer to his devilish lies to set the mood. I did discover that I would never be able to eat a picnic again without the addition of a peanut sandwich.

---

#summer of smut #summer of smut content creation challenge

[mandoalorian]

Sugar and Spice [Maxwell Lord x Reader] - Chapter 4

Summary: When you are evicted from your apartment by your toxic ex boyfriend and have no place to go, who do you turn to? Alone in the city as the countdown to Christmas begins, you find yourself applying for a job as the assistant of the world’s biggest entrepreneur; Maxwell Lord. Little do you know, he has other intentions for you. No doubt about it, this Christmas will truly be like no other.

Word count: 4k

Warnings: Eventual smut, mentions of a previous verbally abusive relationship, typical 80s misogyny (but very little of it), mentions of food and drink, alcohol consumption. This is a sugardaddy x sugarbaby fic soooo… a daddy k!nk too oops.

But in this chapter - SMUT (finally lol), spanking, protected p in v (no condom but female reader is protected), discussion of bondage and use of toys etc. A little bit of angst amongst the general Christmas fluffiness.

Author’s note: Oh my god finally chapter 4 is out. This is where it starts getting exciting guys! As always I hope you enjoy. PS- some of you might have seen I’m doing a December Writing Challenge. I still have a few spots for requests open so if you’re interested just click HERE, read the rules and submit a request!

MASTERLIST | SUBMIT REQUESTS

PREVIOUS - CHAPTER FOUR - NEXT

You considered the date had gone well. You and Maxwell exchanged pleasantries and learned a lot about each other. Well, he learned a lot about you. All you learned about Maxwell was that he was extremely closed off from the world. Despite being an ego-centric businessman, every time you asked him a question about his private life, he'd change the subject in the charming manner of a politician. You yearned to learn more about him. You wished he could just give you a little crumb of his childhood or even his adolescence. But nothing.

Despite this, the journey back to his penthouse was intimate, with every touch and brush against skin creating a fire in your stomach. When you stepped into his luxury apartment that looked over the whole city, you had no idea what to expect. You were in awe. "Your home is beautiful." you smiled as Maxwell padded over to his minibar and poured out two more glasses of champagne. He loosened his tie and took off his suit jacket, throwing it on the sofa.

There was something about the way he rolled up his sleeves, exposing the golden skin of his strong forearms. You loved seeing him in this light. Not pristine, not perfect. Just human. A little tired and a little tipsy.

"Oh, this isn't my home," Maxwell replied and you shot him a confused look. "My house in the suburbs of DC, this is just a place I own in the city for when work gets busy. Easier to commute this way." Of course Maxwell Lord had more than one place of residence.

"I imagine your home is like a palace." You expressed with a grin, before taking a sip of the champagne. It tasted a lot more expensive than the one you had drunk earlier at the restaurant, but you weren't really surprised. You swiped your tongue over your lower lips, savouring the sweet liquid, and Maxwell felt his cock twitch in his suit pants. Trying to ignore how much your simple actions turned him on, he opened his mouth.

"What's your home like?" Maxwell asked curiously, and you scrunched up your nose.

Did you tell him about the tiny boxed up apartment you were getting evicted from? Did you tell him about your awful ex boyfriend turned landlord who was just so dreadful to you? You shrugged. "It's okay." you told him, but it came out as a defeated sigh. Nevertheless, Maxwell chose not to question it. You figured he probably didn't even care that much anyway.

"Follow me." he told you, placing his half drunk glass on one of the marble countertops and walking through the dining room and down a hallway. For a penthouse, it sure had plenty of rooms.

At the end of the hallway, there was a door that stood tall, isolated from all the other doors. On the wall, you noticed that there was a silver keypad of sorts. Maxwell tapped four numbers and the door unlocked for him. You felt nervous as you wondered what was in the room ahead. To your surprise, it was simply just a large dimly lit room with a long table and about a dozen chairs positioned around it. No art on the walls, no elaborate statues. Not like the rest of his apartment, or even his office at work.

“You could do with a Christmas tree in here,” you said. “Maybe some string lights and a singing dancing snowman toy.”

“A singing dancing snowman toy?” Maxwell raised an eyebrow and you nodded, unfazed. With every second Maxwell spent with you, he felt his admiration grow tenfold. He had truly never met anyone like you before. Everyone Maxwell Lord had met was either terrified of him, or had questionable intentions. You, however, seemed pure of heart. You didn’t care who he was or what people said about him. Sure, deep down, you were aware, but at the end of the day - this was just a job you needed. That didn’t stop you from wondering what it would be like if it was more than just a job. “This is where I have my meetings.” he informed you, snapping you out of your thoughts. “Take a seat.”

Cautiously, you found yourself scoping around the table as Maxwell collected a stack of papers from a cabinet. You had opted to sit at the head of the table, finding yourself comfortable in the large leather seat. Maxwell couldn’t help but smile to himself when he saw you sitting there, in his seat. Whilst he would normally tell any other person to abruptly move, he simply kept his mouth shut, sliding into the seat next to you. He separated the papers in two piles and placed one before you and one before himself.

“Why did you take me into your meeting room?” You asked, pushing your glass of champagne to one side and examining the papers. “Oh, it’s a contract.”

“Yeah, it’s uhm,” Maxwell cleared his throat. “Legalities and stuff. I just want to go through it with you so we can make sure we’re both understanding of what your employment entails, before this arrangement proceeds. Open to page six.” You did as you were told and found the start of the terms and conditions.”Read.” He commanded.

This was what you had been waiting for as, until now, you had been unsure where exactly you stood in this. Sure, you were aware of the traditional meaning of a sugar daddy/sugar baby relationship but Maxwell Lord had subverted all your expectations so far. There was no way to assume what his intentions with you would be.

You straightened your posture and followed the words on the paper with your index finger. “Upon signing this contract, I, party B, agree to the proposals made by party A, Maxwell Lord the fourth. There’s four of you?” You raised an eyebrow but Maxwell didn’t answer, instead, gesturing his hand in a way that could only mean for you to resume. “Section 1a; bondage.” The word came out as a croak in your chest. The first point he had made was bondage? You felt your cheeks warm up and Maxwell’s eyes burned into you intently. “Subject consents to tying up and being tied up by the other party.”

“Is that okay?” Maxwell asked.

You took a moment, trying to comprehend what was going on and what situation you had found yourself in. You were just now learning that one of the wealthiest men on the planet wanted to tie you up and be tied up by you. You looked up at him and sighed, exasperatedly. “Yes.” you told him and Maxwell smiled, turning the page. You followed his action.

“Section 1b; sex toys.” And there was that lump in your throat again. Strangely, you didn’t feel nervous, despite the circumstances. Maxwell Lord created a warm and safe environment. “Subject consents to the use of dildos, vibrators, butt-plugs…” The list went on and on. After taking another beat to contemplate what was being asked of you, you signed the papers. There was something about the discussion of all of this that created an enhanced sexual tension in the room. You squeezed your thighs together, trying to annoy the prevalent feeling of your panties as they dampened. “Maxwell?”

“Hm?” He hummed. You noticed his hair was a little disheveled and his pupils had dilated too, although you told yourself that might have just been from sitting in the dimly lit room. Little did you know, he had been palming his growing cock underneath the table. Seeing you sitting in his chair, at the table where he conducts his meetings, was such a turn on. If he could have it his way, he’d wish to bend you over the table and fuck you from behind. But this was more important.

You fidgeted with your fingers a little and bit your lip. “All of this stuff is quite new to me… I mean, I’m not exactly- I don’t really know-”

Maxwell placed a comforting hand on your shoulder. “It’s okay. Anything you need to make this process easier, just let me know.” He assured you and you nodded your head. For a moment, the softness in his voice made you feel like you had known him forever. Like he was the closest person to you. That you could trust him. But damn, his gentle demeanor didn’t stop you from craving him. This was so unfair. Upon every instance that you spent time with Maxwell Lord, you wanted him to pin you against a surface and leave a trail of kisses down your body.

After getting through eight pages of terms and conditions relating to the intercourse side of the arrangement, you found yourself almost at the end of the contract. “Section 12a; public appearances.”

Maxwell nodded his head. “Maybe it’s better if I explain this part to you myself.” Maxwell told you and you nodded your head. “As you might know I have quite the reputation to uphold. Now, I’m not sure how long this arrangement between us will last but I have one last public appearance scheduled this year. It’s a Christmas gala at the White House. I’d like you to come with me.”

“As a date?” Your eyes widened and you felt butterflies swarm in your stomach at the prospect. It was that feeling you just couldn’t escape. You didn’t understand it, but part of you yearned for it so bad.

“No.” Maxwell replied sharply, and you shuffled around in your seat uncomfortably. The butterflies died.

“Oh.” You looked away from him feeling embarrassed for even asking.

“No one can know about us and our arrangement. I’m only initiating this contract to get my hellish mother off my back.” Maxwell admitted.

“So I’m just an excuse to get your mother to stop pestering you?” You frowned, feeling genuine hurt.

“Everyone in my life is simply a tool to accelerate my own success.”

There it was. This was the Maxwell Lord you read about in the tabloids. Selfish, inconsiderate, greedy and egotistical. You felt slightly disheartened, like his comment had ruined your whole night. At the restaurant, he was nice and caring, and with every gentle touch, you had felt an overwhelming excitement. But this was cold off him. Silence filled the room as Maxwell watched you intently, waiting for you to say something. It was like he didn’t even realise the consequences of his own words. You sighed, skim reading the rest of the contract and quickly signing your name on every page without further discussion, before pushing the papers back to him and standing up.

“Whatever.” you shrugged, downing the last of your champagne in one gulp.

“So you agree to everything?” Maxwell quizzed. “I’ve never had a business deal go so well.” He grinned. Right - because that’s all you were to him. A business deal.

“Mhm,” you muttered, leaving the room. Perplexed, Maxwell chased after you.

“You’re leaving already? I was going to invite you to stay the night.” He shot you one of those charming smiles you saw on the infomercials and you felt your stomach twist.

“I’m good.” You snarled, about to open his front door when he placed his hand over yours.

“The gala is this Saturday. I will see you there, yes?”

You wanted to be strong and pull your hand out of his and leave his penthouse with your head held high. But instead, you bit your lip and turned around to face him. There were only inches between you two. You could smell the champagne in his breath, and the musky fragrance he wore as he looked down at you. You placed both of your hands on his chest, not breaking eye contact once, and slid them down to his belt.

Maxwell felt his precum drip down his erection just from your mere touch. He cursed himself for not wearing underwear, hoping his seed hadn’t stained his tailored pants and revealed his arousal to you.

“I am not a business deal, Mr Lord,” you whispered seductively, fluttering your eyebrows and loosening his belt. “I see how you treat your assistants. Fuck them in your office and don’t even give them a tissue to clean themselves up with. You make them leave your office without a second to comb through their hair or reapply their lipstick. You will not treat me like that. I want you to remember that my commitment to this is a favour to you. You need me, and so you will treat me with respect. Do you understand?”

Maxwell gulped, hard. He wasn’t used to talking to him like that. But you were right; he did need you, more than he cared to admit. “Yes.” he told you, and you curled your lips into a smirk before unbuckling his belt and tossing it to the floor.

“Good.” you replied, raising an eyebrow. “Now, Mr Lord, I want you to take me back into that conference room and bend me over the table.”

He raised his hand, big and warm just how you remembered, and cupped your cheek, his thumb swiping across the high of your cheek bones. He tucked a little bit of hair behind your ear. “Oh sweet girl, you think you can take me?” he taunted, his eyes darker than you had ever seen before.

You lowered your hand down to his bulge and palmed him through his tailored pants, excitement filling you when a whimper escaped his lips. “Gonna have to find out sooner or later.” you goad with an urgent need to quell the aching heat in between your thighs.

You and Maxwell spent a moment, gazing into each other's eyes, thinking about what was about to happen. You were glad you had finally gained the courage to not only speak up for yourself, but also initiate the sex. You wanted him to know that you were not prepared to just be one of his meaningless fucktoys. Maxwell knew from the very beginning you would be different to the other girls, different to his assistants. He took your hand and pulled you down the hallway and back into the conference room. 

You waited for him to undress himself, but instead, he simply rolled his sleeves back up to his elbows and unbuttoned the first few buttons of white shirt. He pulled your black dress over your ass, groaning when he saw the lacy black thong you were hiding underneath. “Bend over.” he growled, moving one of the chairs out of the way so you could do as you were told. 

Wanting to give him a little show, you jiggled your ass a little, teasing him. He brought his hand down to your ass and spanked you hard, the rings on his fingers scraping against your soft skin and leaving red marks. “Oh daddy,” you pouted. “You don’t like that?” you asked with a fake innocence dripping from your tongue. You knew damn well he liked it, judging from the way he was palming himself through his pants.

“Take off your panties.” Maxwell growled as he quickly worked at his zipper. To your surprise, he didn’t get undressed at all. Instead he brought out his hard cock and began to stroke his length. You turned around, and leaned your back against the table, admiring his manhood. You went to get down on your knees, desperate for a taste of the precum that was already dripping down his length. “What are you doing?” Maxwell hissed, bringing you back to your feet and turning you back around, pressing you against the table. “You wanted me to fuck you, right?” 

“Just wanted a little taste of you first, daddy.” you moaned as he spread your legs apart and positioned himself at your entrance.

“Think you can get away with being a tease?” He hissed when he felt your wetness, as he dragged his cock up and down your folds. “Think you can tease daddy? You can suck my cock when I tell you too. Understand?” He smacked your ass again, earning a yelp from you.

“Yes, I understand.” You whimpered.

“Good girl,” he cooed in your ear, sending chills down your spine. “Looked so pretty tonight in that fucking dress. Look even prettier like this, bent over my desk, just for me.”

He slowly eased his tip inside of you, his large hands finding your waist as he steadied you in place. “More.” you begged as he held himself in the same position for a few minutes. He tsked, before pushing his whole length inside of you in one swift thrust. You let out a cry as he stretched you out, the feeling of euphoric bliss washing over you. Maxwell was about to lose it completely. The way your walls clamped around his cock, almost milking him without the slightest movement. You felt so delicious around him. He didn’t want to move. He wanted to stay seated in you forever. “More!” you cry out again, desperately needing him to move.

“What do you say?” he chastised.

“Please daddy.” you murmured. You couldn’t see, for facing the other direction, but Maxwell had a wicked smile on his face. He loved to be in control. This is exactly what he had wanted since he met you. What he thought about when he called you from his office, what he thought about when he showered and before he slept. And now it was finally happening.

“Fuck, so tight,” you felt the grumble in Maxwell’s chest as he bottomed out of you before thrusting back in. You let out another whine, pressing your cheek against the cool oak of the table. He began to build up a rhythm as he slammed harshly into you. With every thrust, the obscene noises of his balls slapping against your pussy fill the room, along with the wet sounds from your arousal. The grunts and gasps coming from him only make you even wetter as he bends over you, his hands coming over your still clothed breasts and squeezing them. “Nngh, feel so good. I won't last.” he tells you, biting down on your shoulder. “Are you close?”

You hummed a quiet “yes” as his rhythm sped up, hitting your sweet spot with every thrust. It wasn’t long before you felt your walls begin to flutter, and the moment you felt his cock twitch inside you, you came undone, your cunt clenching around him.

“Are you safe?” he gasped, bits of his dark blonde hair falling out of place as sweat laced his forehead.

“Yes Max,” you squealed. “Cum inside me.”

And with those three words, Maxwell spilled his seed inside of you with just a few sloppy but erratic thrusts. You curled your hands into a fist as your orgasm drove through you. For a few seconds, you could hear nothing but Maxwell’s panting as he slowly pulled out of you. You moaned at the lost feeling of fullness but before you could turn back around, he had already tucked his softening cock back into his pants and zipped himself up. Shakily, you pulled away from the table and turned to face him, your eyes still glazed from your orgasm. You wanted to kiss him… but the man hadn’t even taken his clothes off to fuck you. You couldn’t understand why. 

You leaned into Maxwell’s chest, slowly unbuttoning the rest of his shirt when he stopped you, pulling his hands away from you. “C’mon baby girl,” he whispered, his voice hoarse and rough. “Let’s get you cleaned up.” He swung his arm around your waist, just like when he walked you to the restaurant and made sure you wouldn’t slip on the ice, and slowly walked you to a bedroom.

He sat you down on the king sized bed and immediately you laid back as he sauntered off into the en-suite bathroom. The sheets were white, and of the softest linen you had ever felt. It was like you just sunk into the mattress, and you wouldn’t have it any other way. You felt yourself drifting off into a sleep as you wondered why Maxwell didn’t take off his clothes or even let you take off his shirt. You thought that, perhaps you were reading too much into it, and there would always be next time. This was only the beginning of your endevour with him.

You stirred when you felt the coolness of a washcloth rub softly against the inside of your thigh as Maxwell cleaned up his cum that had been dripping out of you. “I don’t think I’ll be able to walk tomorrow,” you mumbled and Maxwell let out a small chuckle before deciding he was finished and discarding the washcloth. “Can I stay here tonight?” you yawned tiredly, stretching out your arms.

“Of course.” Maxwell replied. “Make yourself comfortable.”

“Mmm, can you tuck me into bed?” You beckoned him further.

Maxwell stood there, watching you and contemplating your words. Never in his life had he tucked a woman into bed. It was rare he even gave them aftercare after sex, but your words earlier had resonated with him. You were different, and so he’d treat you differently. Besides, he could never deny you. He pulled on the duvet and you clambered underneath it. Then he pulled the blanket back over your body. You hummed happily. “Comfortable?” he asked.

“Yes,” you smiled. “Max, one last thing,” you called.

“Yes?” his fingers were already on the light switch.

“Won’t you sleep with me tonight? I mean- come next to me. And we can cuddle.”

“I don’t cuddle,” he sighed. “Besides, I have my own bed.”

“This isn’t your bed?” you questioned.

“No, this is a guest room.” he replied matter of factly. “You’ll be okay. I’m just three doors down if you need anything. Sleep tight.” he said before turning off the light and quietly closing the door.

“Goodnight Max.” you whispered before falling asleep.

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#maxwell lord #maxwell lord x reader #pedro pascal #pedro pascal x reader #pedro pascal smut #maxwell lord smut #max lord #max lord x reader #max lord smut

[maydaymadier]

Time

[Disclaimer: I’m currently slightly more than halfway through the c2 finale and I’m going to try and avoid spoilers since well, there’s still like 3hrs of content to get spoiled on.  Will likely crosspost to my ao3]

“Time, it takes time, not days or weeks or years.  Time.”

Caleb Widogast was right, though to be precise it takes 100 consecutive days of inscribing a teleportation circle in the same place to make it permanent.  Nicodranas was the first teleportation circle Essek Thelyss finished.  100 days of pounding sun and coastal heat felt fitting to start his time.  He had his trepidations about better acquainting himself with Yussa, less so with Ms. Lavorre.  The Nein asked why he needed to make a teleportation circle in Nicodranas, they already had access to Tidepeak Tower’s.  ‘Yes, however, we will not have to give anyone advance notice to use our own.’  

Jester made something of a habit of bringing him a new parasol or sunhat each time she visited, even brought him tinted glasses she found once.  If he knew she was coming he’d make sure to wear one of them.  

Each time he ran out of chalk he’d wrap himself in illusion and teleport himself to Zadash.  Meanwhile, the stores in his towers grew dust-laden, his absence from the Dynasty more suspicious, and he bought his chalk from Enchanter Sol.  The Mighty Nein were a family, regardless of any distance, and he had the means to make distance mean nothing.  So Essek Thelyss carried on.  And on the hundredth day, he stepped into a circle in Nicodranas and stepped out in the Blooming Grove.

He was invited in for tea, as expected, and accepted as was polite.  The next day he found the spot behind the temple where the grass had been flattened by the circle delivering him and started his next hundred days.  He ‘compensated’ for his intrusion with his floating meditative guard each night.  Caduceus seemed to pick up on what he was doing faster than Jester had, by a thin margin.  The remaining Clay children would poke their noses in once and a while, curious about their drow visitor they’d only met briefly before but they remembered him helping garden after Ikithon set the temple ablaze.  They would offer him a plate at meals, he insisted on using his own rations in a strange dance of hospitality and being a polite guest.  

At one point, after finishing the day’s circle he considered venturing through the Savalirwood to Glory Run Road, find Mollymauk’s grave.  But it felt disrespectful to Kingsley somehow in a way he couldn’t articulate.  If he were to be more dramatic it felt like an invasion of privacy to the rest of the Nein as a whole, intruding on a moment on a place where they were unknowing adversaries.  So he kept inscribing circles in the grass and sometimes he found fresh chalk in his component pouch.  On occasion, Caduceus found saplings and cuttings of Xorhasian plants on his windowsill.

On the hundredth day he stepped into the circle in the Blooming Grove and came out under Caduceus’s tree in the Xorhaus.  He was far more careful with this one.  The Xorhaus was sparsely used, bordering on abandoned at this point, more than ready for the Nein to inhabit it once again.  Beauregard, oft accompanied by Yasha, used it the most for when they visited Rosohna on Cobalt Soul business.  The Bright Queen had been more than amenable to working with the Soul once she knew they were dismantling the organization that had stolen the beacons.  

Though it took three days before Beau realized he was working on making a circle on the roof, pruning away his extra time by trying to tame the garden, clad in his rose-patterned gardening gloves, what with his lackluster previous experience.  She offered to go bring him chalk from his towers, anything else he might need that he’d left behind when he was posted in Eiselcross.  He accepted the offer, to eschew suspicion, asking for some simple components that filled any wizard’s pouch.  Sooner than later, soon enough Beau couldn’t knock the truth out of him (not that she needed to do that or would, he was growing increasingly susceptible to disappointed stares from his friends) he stepped into the circle in Rosohna and stepped out in Rexxentrum.

His skin crawled and felt like it would slough off with each passing day.  He wasn’t so bold at this point to attempt and make a circle on Soltryce’s grounds but he did take pleasure in chipping away the next hundred days in the courtyard of Trent Ikithon’s now abandoned tower.  It was a joy, absolutely cathartic tearing apart what little remained hidden away of the bastard’s stores.  The most valuable and precious artifacts and components were hidden in ways only an archmage would even know about or know how to unlock.  Malicious clumsiness might have gotten him to break an important, now inert, magical tool or two as he rummaged through the tower for chalk.  

Though one day, he noticed an owl perched in a tree, watch him for an hour, disappear for a few minutes, reappear, so on and so forth for the whole day.  He had a good idea who the owl was but she never watched him again after that.  If she wanted to know what he was doing here, fine.  It wasn’t like either could rat out the other without drawing unwanted attention to them both.  So on the hundredth day, what little remained of Trent Ikithon’s personal study even more thoroughly destroyed, he stepped into the circle in Rosohna and stepped out.

Essek chipped away at the for now final circle under the watchful light of Pelor.  Passively, the part of him that absorbed every ounce of knowledge, regardless if he cared or not, wondered what the connection may be between whatever the Luxon is and the Dawnfather.  Just a fun little thought experiment to occupy him while he worked through the next hundred days.

By the end of Brussendar, with Highsummer fast approaching, he’d decided that he ought to have brought at least one of Jester’s hats.  Though more importantly he’d decided that the thought was silly and any connection between the two deities must be entirely aesthetic.  Nothing he didn’t already know but what else can a wizard do but overthink?

It wasn’t the same level of festivities he’d heard about with Harvest’s Close but Highsummer seemed to be the close second in Blumenthal.  He sat, disguised in the shade of an oak probably as old as he was and simply watched from afar.  Somewhere in the crowd, he saw a flash of copper.  Tried not to think to much of it.  Red hair seemed slightly more common in this corner of the empire.  He caught the sweeping arc of a long, striped scarf being tossed over a shoulder.  A leather coat dusting at the ground (though he had looked so good in purple).

Caleb Widogast stepped out of the crowd and sat under the oak with him, “I suppose a criminal always returns to the scene of the crime.” “I suppose I have,” Essek stared at his feet. Caleb offered him some sort of sweet roll wrapped in paper, “I was not talking about you.” He ignored the comment, “How long has it been?  Since we last spoke.” “Four hundred and eighty-six days.  About a year and a half to be informal,” he just set down the roll next to his hand when he didn’t move to take it. “I keep thinking one day it will have been enough time.” “Looking for the specific number will drive you mad.  Are you just going to keep making circles across Wildemount until you feel that you’ve atoned?” Essek took the roll but only held it,  “I know that I cannot make up for everything.  What are you doing here, anyways?” “I have been trying to convince myself to visit.  Maybe try to pay my respects if I can stomach it.  The others had already told me what you were doing, but Astrid told me where you were going.  Figured now was good a time as any,” his expression darkened, the reality beyond the afterglow of a hard-won victory whispering into both their ears. “I-,” Essek started. “Did you know I was from here before you picked it or did you just want to taunt Rexxentrum by hiding in their breadbasket for a while?” Caleb stared him down. “I knew.” “Alright then.” “I hope I have not intruded in some way by coming here.” “I suppose we were both curious about the echo.  It’s right up your alley, prodigious dunamancer and whatnot,” Caleb glanced back up at the revelers before turning his attention back to him “I would not discount your own skill, you’ve picked up dunamancy quite quickly and with a level of skill I have rarely seen.”  Maybe they can just talk about magic. “Danke.” There was an uncomfortable pause in the conversation.

“When do you think-?” Essek tried asking. “I don’t.  I will not pretend to know when enough time will have passed for the past not to hurt us anymore, Essek.  And counting it in teleportation circles will not make it go any faster,” he said, though with the crushing sadness to his eyes of a man who wished he were wrong. “I am trying to make it easier for us to see each other,” he said with easy authority. “It is much easier to see each other when we don’t run off to the four corners,” Caleb added on with a tired chuckle. “What are you implying?”  Something caught between excitement and unease hit him. “I can stay.  Help you finish the circle here, we can leave, make another.  As many circles as we want.  We can have the continent at our fingertips.  Maybe even go back to what remains of Aeor in Eiselcross.  Devexian couldn’t have been the only mechanical inhabitant.  For all we know there is a city of automatons underneath the ice now,” Caleb got more excited and dreamy as he went on, the unbridled excitement of a mage faced with knowledge. “That sounds...nice...,” Essek trailed off, trying to sound as neutral as he could manage. “Do you want that, Essek?”

It felt like the word was tearing its way out of him, “Yes.”

#my post #critical role #mighty nein #cr fic #cr fanfic #essek thelyss #shadowgast #just a sprinkling of shadowgast there at the end #post-canon #Essek is Coping

[inseongsfoxybae]

Now and forever

Pairing: Boyfriend Yoo Taeyang + Female Reader x Best Friend Hwiyoung

Genre: Angst/Fluff

Warnings: Amnesia, mentions of drunkenness, break up

Words: 6,5k

Requested: Hi sunshine! First of all, congratulations on starting your blog and I can’t wait for what you’re going to write😚 Second, if it’s not a bother, as a fellow Fantasy, can I make a request for Hwiyoung? Like where the reader and Taeyang are dating, but the reader had an accident which caused her Amnesia, and then she starts remembering Hwiyoung? And whatever ending you feel is right you can do it🥰 Hope that wasn’t too much to ask for.. Although if that doesn’t bother you can I be🐣 anon? Thanks💖

Author's message: Dear 🐣 anon, I'm so sorry I took that long to deliver your request, but I want to say that it's finally here and I really enjoyed writing it. Hope you like it and feel free to send in a new request when you want. Thank you 😊❤️

P.S: As english is not my mother language, it may contain misspelled. Plus, sorry if there’s any other mistakes :)

Synopsis: Blurry memories and an old friend entered in your life again and now you have to decide where your heart lives: in an beautiful past or in an uncertain future.

A car accident has changed your life forever. Apparently, it was nothing too serious, but the strong impact on your head made you lost your memory completely and the doctors said it could last forever. Since then, the cute boy who has introduced himself as your boyfriend never left your side and, with your parents not being able to take care of you, he was the one responsible for you.

You tried to drive Taeyang away so many times for the past months, but now you finally starting to trust him and accepting his feelings, even if you’re not sure about your own feelings yet. Of course, he never pressured you about anything on your relationship, he just stayed with you and took care of your fragile being. He talks about your favorite things, shows some pictures and videos of your parents, friends and, of course, you too together, so you can know your beloved ones again little by little. 

After several months struggling to back to your normal life, Taeyang finally succeeds in getting you out of the house. On a pleasant saturday morning, he was helping you to prepare some of your favorite dishes for a picnic while hummed sweetly a song he knows you used to love. After all the food is ready, you packed everything and leave your flat to the park right in front your building.

Taeyang found a nice place near the little lake of the park for you to have your first date after a long time, so you both set everything on the blanket and finally were able to spend some quality time together. Taeyang sat down next to you, your knees touching, but he knew he couldn't get closer than this yet, with you still assimilating your feelings and new life. You talked about that beautiful day while eating - the birds singing on the trees, the calm waters of the lake, the sound of children laughing. A little cherry blossom got stuck on your hair and Taeyang took it off delicately and put it on your small hands, using this chance to intertwine your fingers together. You looked up at thim with curious eyes and he whispered a soft “I love you”. 

At that moment, a flash crossed your mind and you suddenly saw a strange face. Startled, you pulled your hands abruptly and your face got pale, your heart pounding hard on your chest. “Y/N, are you okay?”, Taeyang asked worried. “I-I’m okay… I just… I don’t know…”, you looked nervous all of a sudden and Taeyang thought it was about his confession, feeling a little upset. “Don’t worry, Tae. Something weird just passed through my mind, but I’m okay now”, you tried to comfort him. “Did you remember anything?”. “No, it was just a random optical illusion”. ”Are you sure? Wanna go home now?”, he asked started to packed the rest of the food you left. “No, Tae. Seriously, I’m fine. And you promised to take me to a walk on the beach, remember? I still want to go there”, you said holding his hands again. He gave you a little smile and you got all your things and took his car on your way to the beach.

When you get there, the summer breeze blew in your face and you couldn’t suppress a large smile at the feeling of the warm sand underneath your bare feet. Taeyang stared at you fondly and was caught out of guard when you looked at him, his cheeks blushing hard as you laugh at this cuteness. You then pushed him and stuck out your tongue, starting to run away from him. “Catch me if you can, silly!”, you screamed as he started to run behind you. “If I catch you, will you kiss me?”, he screamed back. “Maybe…”, you answered giggling. It gave him strength and, in a blink of a eye, he caught you, hugging you from behind. You both couldn’t stop laughing when he spun you around before turning your body to face him and cupping your cheeks. Your eyes met and he connected your lips in a slow soft kiss but still able to take your breath away while you melt between his arms. 

As soon as you broke away for air and opened your eyes, another image flashed through your eyes with the same strange guy occupying Taeyang’s place in front of you. You suddenly felt dizzy and your vision blurred, almost falling if your boyfriend’s arms weren’t holding you strong. “Baby, what happened?”, Taeyang asked lifting your head. “Tae, I wanna go home now”, you answered breaking his embrace around you. Once you got in your apartment, you told Taeyang to leave you alone. He knew you needed some space and time to process everything, so he just obliged and went home tough he were too worried. You were not rejecting Taeyang, you were just too scared of what’s going on with your mind. “Who is that guy?”, “Why does he insist on appearing right in front of my eyes when I’m with Tae?”. 

When you finally calmed down, hours later, you realized you didn’t say anything about the kiss to Taeyang and immediately text him. 

Y/N: Hi, Tae. I’m sorry for what happened earlier. I think I still need some time to myself. But, please, don’’t worry. It’s not your fault. Hope you understand TT

He answered back right away.

T: Don’t worry with me, Y/N. Are you fine now?

Y/N: Yes, I’m feeling a little better and going to bed now.

T: Okay. You know you can call me anytime if you need something, right?

Y/N: I know, Tae. Thank you <3 Have a good night!

T: Sleep well, Y/N. See you again tomorrow?

Y/N: Sure. Bye :*

Y/N: P.S: I enjoyed the kiss, so don’t give on me yet, okay? ^.^

T: I definitely won’t ;)

~~~~

As days passing by, your strange visions seemed to be even more frequent and clear, like flashbacks of your life before the accident. Although you tried to disguise the discomfort they caused, Taeyang always noticed something was wrong with you and though he was the problem. “Y/N”, he called you one night when you were walking on the park. “Hm…”, you looked at him. “Won’t you tell me what’s wrong?”, he asked serious. You froze and your mind went blank. “I mean, we’re always together but it seems like you are so far away from me. You’re super affectionate at times, but change completely one minute later… Tell me what’s wrong so I can help you”, he continued. “Please, Y/N”, he insisted when you didn’t speak a word. 

You couldn’t move a single muscle, your heart bit fast, your breath was heavy and you couldn't manage to say a single phrase. All you could that time was crying, sobbing, falling on your knees in a despair your boyfriend couldn't understand. You felt his strong arms embracing you and leaned in on his warm body, your sobbs causing you to shake hard against him. He guided you to sit on a bench and soothed you with small rubs on your back. When you recovered your breath, you managed to whisper a little “I’m sorry” for him. He just kissed your forehead and stayed quiet. Some minutes later, you start to talk again. “I’m having some flashbacks, Tae. Another guy that I don’t know appears on my mind everytime I’m with you and it scares me a lot”. “Why does it scare you?”, Taeyang tried to be strong and stable, but he was scared too. “I don’t even know... I’m just afraid of who he can be or mean to me”. Taeyang tensed around you, but still managed to hold you tighter. “Don’t think about it too much, okay? And I’m always here with you, so don’t worry”, he said trying to comforting you and himself.

Next morning, you were talking to your mom about these visions trying to get some help or advices.

Y/M: What’s he like?

Y/N: He’s a little shorter than Tae, with a long hair and a gummy smile. Do you know someone like this, mom? 

Y/M: Of course I do, Y/N. His name is Kim Hwiyoung and he used to be your best friend when you were kids. But he just disappeared when you graduated on college. 

Y/N: Why did he go away? And why I never saw a picture of him? 

Y/M: No one know why he ran away nor where he lives now. And he never liked to take pictures, that’s right you probably have nothing with him. But maybe Taeyang can help you to find him now. Ask him.

Y/N: Mom, I can’t ask Tae to look for another guy for me.

Y/M: Why not? It’s not like you’re cheating on him. Go and ask him some help.

Y/N: Fine. I’ll try it.

When your boyfriend arrived at your house later that day, you decided to try it out. “Tae, I need you to take me to someone”, you speak in a nervous whisper. “Of course, baby. Who?”, he answered with a sweet smile. “Kim Hwiyoung”, you revealed and Taeyang froze. “Why him?”, he asked with a dark look after a few seconds. “He’s the one on my flashbacks and my mother said he was my best friend but ran away when we graduated. I need to see him now and try to discover why I’ve been having these visions. Do you know where he lives, right?”. Taeyang couldn’t answer, he barely couldn’t breath. He was nervous and lost in thoughts. Why him? Why now?. “Tae, do you know where Hwiyoung lives?”, you insisted catching his attention again. “No, not anymore”, he finally answered. “Does some of the guys know?”. “I don’t know, Y/N. We don’t talk with him in ages”. “Can you ask them? Please…”, you held his cold hands. 

Taeyang reach out for his phone and called someone. After three lost calls, Chani finally answered. “What, hyung?”. “I need you to do me a favor. Now”, Taeyang talked serious. “What favor?”, Chani asked worried. “You know where Hwiyoung lives, right? Send me his address as fast as you can. I’m waiting for your message”, then he ended the call before Chani could speak anything. A couple of minutes later, Chani sent Hwiyoung’s address and added “Hope you won’t do any shit, hyung”. “Don’t worry. It’s for Y/N”, Taeyang simply answered and turned to you. “I got his address. Let’s go there now and back before nightfall”, he grabbed your hand and pulled you to the door. “Wait, Tae! Give me a time to get ready”, you whined. “Don’t worry, Y/N. I’m going with you and nothing bad will happen”, your boyfriend squeezed your hand. “I know, I’m just… nervous”, you whisper. “C'mon. Let’s get this over, huh?”, you nodded and he opened the door. 

About an hour later, you arrived at a small building and got out of the car. “It’s here”, Taeyang said as you left out a nervous “yes”. He held your hand tight and knocked the door. Some seconds passed till a strange guy open it. “Hello, how can I help you?”, he asked a little surprised. “Hi, we’re looking for Kim Hwiyoung. Is he here?”, Taeyang said politely. “He is. What’s your name?”, at his answer you froze and your heart skipped a beat. “Tell him Yoo Taeyang wants to talk, please”, your boyfriend gave a small friendly smile at the guy. “Okay. You can wait at the lobby. I’ll tell him you’re here”. “Thank you”, Taeyang said and both of you entered the building. The room had a minimalist decoration with some instruments and polaroids hanging on the wall, and some soft music resonated through the doors. “It’s a studio”, you whispered to Taeyang. “Yes, he studied music on college and always wanted his own business. I think he got it”, he answered quietly. “Tae, why do you never talk about him?”, you asked suddenly curious. “I thought he was past. But seems he’s still a threat for us…”, Taeyang was cautious with his words. “Threat? What do you mean?”. Before he could answer, the guy appeared once again. “He’s a little busy now and asked what do you want”, he shyly said. “YAH, KIM HWIYOUNG! DO YOU REALLY THINK I’M THE ONE WHO WANTS TO TALK TO YOU? IT’S Y/N, YOU FOOL! Y/N IS HERE!”, Taeyang yelled high enough to any person on that building to hear, making you surprised and even more nervous. 

At the mention of your name, on the other side of the closed studio room, Hwiyoung’s heart raced like he just woke up of a nightmare. He immediately got up of his seat and opened the door wide, only to see you standing in front of him after three years, more beautiful than ever. You both were froze, just staring at each other, hearts beating fast and bodies shaking. “I think it’s better if you have some time alone to talk. I’m waiting for you in the car, Y/N”, Taeyang broke the silence and left the building, the tension and old memories being too much for him to bear. “H-hi…”, you tried to start the conversation, but the shocked Hwiyoung just blinked his eyes still not believing it was really you. “Sunbae, won’t you invite this lady to your room?”, the other guy talked for him. “Huh? Ah, okay… Please, ju-just come in…”, Hwiyoung finally spoke, his low voice making you shiver. 

You entered his studio and sat on a small couch on the corner. “Wanna something to drink, lady?”, the guy asked you. “Oh, no… thank you”, you answered and he left, now only you and a standing Hwiyoung in the room. You were feeling very uncomfortable as he didn’t talk anything. “So…”. “Is it really you, Y/N?”, Hwiyoung interrupted you. “Ye-yes, I guess…”, you tried to look fine with that awkward situation. “I knew you had an accident and lost your memory, but do you remember me?”. “I don’t”, you looked at him nervous. “So, why are you here? I know Taeyang would never bring you here for nothing”, Hwiyoung asked finally sitting down on his chair. “I’m… Well... I don’t know exactly what’s going on with me, but...I-I’ve been having flashbacks with you. I mean, I don’t even remember you or our past, but you insist on appear on my mind everytime I’m with Tae...”, you spoke hastily. “So…?”, Hwiyoung seemed to be lost at your words. “So, I’m here to try to figure out what happened. I mean with us, with our friendship. I think it could be the reason of these flashes”, you stared at him waiting for some answers, but nothing came. “I think I can’t help you with that, Y/N. We don’t have anything in common anymore. I’m glad you’re alive and fine, but you shouldn’t see me anymore. I’m sorry”. 

His words hurt you, more than you can expect from a stranger, but you wouldn’t give up so easily. You took a deep breath and started to talk again after some minutes of heavy silence. “Why are you like this? First, you were my best friend and left me and know you don’t even want to tell me why you acted like this?”, you tried to say calmly, but your shaking voice betrayed you. “Past is past, Y/N. You must move on and not remember me”, Hwiyoung words were sharp, and you could see his fists clenching with anger. “Did you do it? Did you forget me?, you asked looking right into his eyes. He sustained the look for some seconds, still quiet, unable to move a single muscle. “No, I didn’t. I tried it in every ways possible, but I never could forget you”, he simply asked an eternity later, sadness waving through his body as the pain of the old memories washed over him. “So why?”, tears now gathering in your eyes. “There was no more space in your life for me, Y/N”, he tried to hold back his tears too. “Why don’t you tell me what really happened?”, you whispered facing your lap. “Do you mind if you talk somewhere else? I need some fresh air.”, Hwiyoung asked cautiously. “No, since you tell me everything I need to know about our past”, you answered and both of you left the building. 

Taeyang was still waiting for you on the street. As soon as he saw you leaving, he came closer and you smiled shyly at him. “Tae, I’m sorry, but I need some time to talk to Hwiyoung. You can go home, I’ll get a taxi when we’re over”, you said reaching for his hands. “I can’t leave you alone with him, Y/N. Let me go with you or let’s go home now”, Taeyang talked serious. “Tae, please. I really need to do this. Now”, you looked deep in his eyes and he simply nodded, his hands moving to the sides of your head. “Call me if you need, okay?”, he pecked your lips and turned to his car, barely locking eyes with Hwiyoung on the way. 

~~~~

You were in a small cozy café near his studio, the smell of coffee and cakes filling the whole place. “Do you know this place?”, Hwiyoung asked you after ordering two cappuccinos. “No. Is it a important place?”, you asked back. “Yeah, we used to come here after our classes and your official first date with Taeyang was here too. Didn’t he tell you this?", Hwi questioned curious. “Oh, really? He never mentioned this place. I wonder why…”, you looked at Hwiyoung who seemed to be a little awkward. “So… Were you and Taeyang friends too? I mean, before you left?”, you encouraged him to talk. “Actually, not. But he was your boyfriend, so he was always around”, he said with a bothered tone. “You never liked him, right?”, you wondered not exactly waiting for an answer. Hwiyoung kept quiet for a moment, only staring at you not knowing what to say. “You love him and that’s all the matter, Y/N”, he finally said and drank his coffee. 

You both continued your conversation for some hours, Hwiyoung patiently trying to answer all your questions, feeling a little comfortable with you after so many years - he talked about your childhood and teenage, but you still couldn't remember a single thing. 

It was already night when you entered your home only to take a quick shower and plopped down on your bed, immediately falling asleep. When you woke up next morning and walked into the kitchen to make your breakfast, there was a small note on your table: “I had to go home earlier. Call me when you got home. YTY”. Holy shit, Tae! You ran back to your bedroom and reached for your phone - 8 missed calls from your boyfriend. You called him, but he didn’t answer, then you sent a message.

Y/N: I’m so sorry, Tae! I got home late yesterday and just fell asleep. Please, don’t be mad at me TT

Some minutes later, Taeyang answers:

TY: It’s okay, bb. I’m relieved you’re safe. Have free time later? We could have dinner together…

Your heart ached a little with his message, but you had to be sincere.

Y/N: Sorry again, but I already have a commitment tonight x.x

TY: Hwiyoung again?

Y/N: Yes… I like to hear him to talk about our youth and I still have to find out why he left… Are you fine with this?

TY: Not really. But I trust you, so I think it’s okay…

Y/N: Thank you, Tae! Now, focus on your work, I don’t want to bother you.

TY: You don’t bother me at all. And meet me in the park when you come back tonight. I’ll wait for you there. 

Y/N; Okay. See you later :*

~~~~

You did had dinner with Hwiyoung that night and spent hours talking and laughing with him. And Taeyang did waited for you in the park, but you didn’t meet him nor even called him. After two hours waiting, he decided to go home, but as soon as he got up, he saw you getting off a taxi with a drunk Hwiyoung holding onto your shoulders. It broke his heart and he couldn’t stand this view anymore, so he turned around and walked home into the cold night. 

Early in the next morning, you woke up with someone knocking at your door. You were surprised when you opened it and saw Taeyang standing there, his features looking tired and upset. “Tae, what are you doing out there? You have the keys!”, you asked pulling him in. “Am I still free to simply enter your house?”, he answered not looking at you, a dark expression on his face. “What do you mean?”, as soon as you closed your mouth, Hwiyoung appears on your living room, still rubbing sleepness off his eyes, freezing when he sees you two at the door. 

Your boyfriend stared at you and you could read anger in his look. “Tae, I can explain…”, you reached for his hands. “You don’t have to do it. I see you had fun last night. He got drunk and you brought him home. You lay him down on your guest room and went to your own bed. I know that you’d never cheat on me. I told you I trust you, Y/N”, he interrupted you moving out your grip on him. “So…?”, you cautiously asked. “A simple call… was everything I needed yesterday. But you didn’t care… No, you just don’t care anymore”, he said moving his gaze to Hwiyoung, his voice full with pain and bitterness. “I… I think it’s my time to go”, your friend spoke nervously. “Please, have a talk and make up your problems”, he grabbed his jacket and shoes and passed over Taeyang who was still standing next the door. “I‘m sorry”, Hwiyoung whispered as Taeyang only clenched his fists. “Bye, Y/N. Thanks for letting me sleep here”. You just nodded and he left. 

You turned to your boyfriend again, his body trembling with anger. “Tae, let’s sit on the couch and talk, okay?”, you said only above a whisper. He walked with you, but sat on the opposite side of the couch. Taeyang stared at his lap, feeling unable to look at you when he was so angry. “Tae, I’m so sorry for letting you down”, you quietly said, but he didn’t respond. “Tae… Please, talk to me”, you whined trying to make him look at you, but he didn’t move a single muscle. You reached out for his hand to slightly touch it. “Say something”, you whispered as he sighed deeply and let go of your hand. “You don’t love me, right?”, he murmured. 

He finally lift his head and looked at you, his eyes full of pain and sadness. You didn’t know what to say and froze while tears started to form in your eyes.”You don’t know it, do you? Don’t know what you feel for me, don’t know if you love me”, his words were like knives striking your heart. “Tae…”, you tried to talk, but he cut you off. “You don’t try to love me, you don’t even care about my feelings for you”, he yelled the last part. At this point, tears were falling freely down your face, but why couldn’t you say anything to deny his accusations? Why didn’t you know how you feel about him? Why was only Hwiyoung on your mind for the past few weeks? “Tae…”, you called out for him, “I… I think I just need sometime…”, you couldn’t say much more as Taeyang only stared at you. “I like you, I want you to be happy, but I just don’t know what to do now”, you cried out. “I’m sorry, Tae… I’m really sorry”, you couldn’t control your tears anymore and sobbed right in front of him. He just nodded painfully, got up off the couch and left, leaving you alone there with your crying. 

You sank into misery and stayed at home all day, trying to control your suddenly sadness and confused feelings. Hwiyoung called you several times, but you just ignored him till you hear a slow knock at your door. It was him, a worried expression on his face. “Why didn’t you answer my calls and messages, Y/N?”, he asked entering your house. You didn’t respond, just staring at him as tears tried to back to your eyes. Seeing your messy state of mind, he put his hands on your shoulders and whispered a sweet “What happened? Where’s Taeyang?”. At the mention of his name, you cried again, holding onto him to not fall. “Y/N…”, he hugged you back. “It’s over, Hwi… I told him I need sometime, but he just left and I know he won’t come back”, you yelled in pain against his chest. “Why am I like this, Hwi? Why is it so painful?”, you desperately asked. “Because you love him, Y/N. You love him now as much as you loved him before. You just don’t know it yet.”, he calmly answered, running his fingers through your hair. 

You broke the embrace and look at him. “How… how do you know that?”. “Because I was there before and saw how you were perfect together. He could be himself next to you and was able to do anything for you. I can say the same from you. You were always happy when you were together, even in the most difficult times. That’s love, Y/N”, he told you with a painful look. “Why do you always talk about him this way if you don’t even like him?”, you were confused. “Only him, Y/N. Because only him can take you away from me”, Hwiyoung couldn’t look into your eyes anymore. “What?”, your hands were shaking. “I love you, Y/N. Since we were teenagers. I love you. But I always knew your heart would never be mine. And when you found Taeyang, I immediately knew I had lost you forever. That’s right I left you”. 

Hwiyoung’s eyes were glued at his lap, fists clenched, shaky voice. You stared at him in disbelief, mouth opened on a little “o”, teary eyes trying to control themselves as your head spun with the truth. “Why?”, you finally asked after some minutes of a deafening silence. “Look at me and say it, Hwiyoung! Why?”, your whole body trembling. He raised his head and talked “Your heart was his, Y/N. It was and it still is. Don’t you see that?”. Now, his eyes were fixed on yours, like looking into your soul. “I don’t... I can’t”, you didn’t even know what else you were talking. “Don’t you love him anymore?, he asked serious this time. “I don’t know, right? I don’t know what I’m doing anymore, I don’t know who I am anymore!”, you screamed at the top of your lungs as tears fell down your face again. “If you don’t love him, then kiss me!”, he screamed back and you froze. “What?”, you nervously asked. “Kiss me. If you can’t, then you truly love him”, he replied to your shocked being. “Just try it. Only like this, you’ll know if you love him for real”, he assured you. You nodded unconsciously and cautiously came to Hwiyoung, your bodies getting closer, your faces just inches from each other, your eyes closing slightly. But, suddenly, you stopped, you couldn’t do that. You leaned back swiftly and Hwiyoung just nodded already expected it. You stared at the floor. “Hwiyoung, please… Please, leave me alone. This is so much for me”, you now whispered as he placed a little kiss on the top of your head. “I’ll text you later, okay? Call me anytime if you need”, you didn’t move or talk and he left. Once again that day, you were left alone with your own feelings.

~~~~

Two days had passed and you were going to meet Hwiyoung at a restaurant to clarify some things. “I’m sorry for yelling at you that day”, you sincerely say when you met him. “It’s okay. And I’m sorry for telling the truth like that and for asking for a kiss. I shouldn’t have done that”, he apologized. “No, it’s okay. I would have to know that somehow one day, so… And don’t worry about it”, you answered with a lost look. “Y/N”, Hwiyoung called you. “Did Taeyang contact you?”, he asked carefully, your lost look now sad. “No. He didn’t answer my texts or calls. I guess he really doesn’t want me anymore, right?”, you tried to force a smile, but only tears formed in your eyes. "I'm sorry to hear that, but you shouldn't give up yet. Give yourselves some time and I'm sure everything will be fine", Hwiyoung tried to comfort you and you just hummed in response, but your heart was swallowed in pain. 

You both ate quietly and talked a little more about your past, when your phone buzzed - it was Chani calling you. "Hi, Chani!", you answered trying to look happy. "Hey, noonan! Can you come to the address I'm sending you right now?", he replied worried. "I'm with Hwiyoung now. What happened?". Chani sighed on the other side of the call. "That's right he's like this, then…", he mumbled more to himself that for you. "What's wrong, Chani?", you were getting nervous. "Taeyang hyung is drunk and is making a mess on the pub. He's crying and begging for you. Can you come get him or not? I'm losing my patience with him", he answered visibly annoyed. "Oh my God. Okay, I'm coming. Send me the address and wait till I get there", you rushily replied gathering your purse. "What happened?", Hwiyoung asked when he saw your despair. "Taeyang is drunk and needs me right now", your breathless said. "Okay, calm down. I'll take you there", you nodded and you both paid the bill and left the restaurant. 

When you arrived at the pub, Chani had finally controlled Taeyang, who was (almost) sleeping on the counter. You approached him and softly touched his shoulder. "Tae, let's go home, huh? It's late and you need to rest", you whispered. "I'm not going anywhere without my girl", he messily murmured as tears were forming in the corner of your eyes. "Tae, it's me. Y/N. I'm your girl", you replied trying to hold back your crying. Taeyang opened his eyes and raised his heard when heard your name. "Y/N? Why are you here? You don't want me anymore. Leave!", he was almost screaming but his eyes were full of despair and tears. "I'm here to take you home, Tae. Please, let me take care of you tonight, huh?", you insisted, your tears starting to fall. Your boyfriend continued protesting and struggling to stay on his feet, but after some minutes you and Chani could finally support him on your shoulders and dragged him for his car. Meanwhile, Hwiyoung observed everything from a distance, going unnoticed when you left. 

On the way home, Taeyang fell into a heavy sleep and you and Chani could talk. “Why did you left him? It’s not because of Hwiyoung, is it?”, Chani asked looking at you. “Not exactly. I needed sometime to think and understand what I feel for him. Hwiyoung only was there at the wrong time, I think”, you replied looking away from him. “And did you come to any conclusion now?”, he insisted. “Yes”, you simply answered and faced him. He could read the truth in your eyes and understood you. “I’m glad you already know it, ‘cuz I can’t stand him crying on my ears every time saying he loves you and wants you back”, Chani laughed a little. “Did he tell you that?”, you asked curious. “Of course, every single time since you broke up. He came to my place and cried all day long”, he continued. “Why?”, you wonder. “He loves you, noona. He really loves you. And I think you should tell him the same now that you know how you feel”, he looked at you again waiting for an answer, but you were lost in thoughts, your hands shanking and tears slipping through your face. Then, you stayed quiet till you got your home. Chani helped you to take Taeyang to your apartment and lay him on your bed. “Tell him, noona”, it was his last words before he left you alone with a drunk sleepy Taeyang. 

You looked at your worn out boyfriend with guilty eyes, took off his jacket and lay beside him on bed. You snuggled to him and reached out his face with one of your hands, caressing his still wet cheeks and beautiful features. You could feel your heartbeat increased and all the love you’ve felt for him finally showed up, coaxing you to softly kiss his cheek and hold his hand on his chest. “I love you, Tae… I'm sorry for taking so long to realize this”, you whispered. You didn’t know if he heard you or not, but he squeezed your hand a little and let out a small sigh fall from his ips. You smiled a little and got even closer to his body, both of you calm heartbeats lulling you to sleep. 

When Taeyang woke up in the morning, the space beside him on bed was empty, but he still could feel your warmth and your sweet scent on your sheets, pillows and on his shirt. A small note was on the blanket next to him and he read your little message: Meet me at the park tonight. I’ll be waiting for you. On the nightstand beside him, there was another note: I made you breakfast - it’s on the kitchen table. Don’t forget to eat it ^.^. He got up and walked to the kitchen where his favorite food was resting. On top of it, there was one more note: I have to resolve some things now. Hope to see you tonight. 

~~~~

You met Hwiyoung at the park that afternoon, the same place where you had your first flashback. You both walked for a while before you stopped near the little lake. “It was here where I saw you for the first time after the accidente. I mean, on my mind”, you told him and sighed. “And now? Are you feeling something different?”, he asked looking at the water. “No. I just see two friends admiring a lake”, you simply said and he chuckled. “What?”, you asked. “Nothing… What’s the next place you want to take me?”, he inquired. Your next destination was the beach, where you saw him for the second time. “And here? Is something different?”, he wondered. “Yes”, you murmured. “My first kiss with Taeyang after the accident was here, but you appeared on my mind right after it”, you chuckled slightly. “Oh, no. I’m sorry”, he laughed too. 

“Hwiyoung”, you called out for him. “Yeah?”. “I understand everything now. I mean, I still don’t know the reason of those flashbacks, but I know it brought you to me one more time, it gave us a second chance…”, you stopped and he hummed for you to continue. “... but also this time it’s Taeyang. As you said, I love him, I always loved him, and he’s my choice now just like he was then”, you stared at him with hopeful eyes as he stayed quiet. “But there’s a difference now”. He looked at you. “What?”. “Taeyang knows you like me, right? That’s right he doesn’t like you either”, you asked. “Yes, I told him before I left. But where’s the difference?”. “The difference is that I know that now too. And it means you don’t have to leave this time”. “I don’t understand, Y/N”. “We finally know what we feel for each other and it’s time for us to learn how to live with that and move on. We still can be friends now that we understand ourselves and we don’t have to say goodbye anymore. You’re my best friend, Hwi, and I love you. Please, stay”, you were looking deeply into his eyes as you can read a sparkling light shining on them. “I’m staying. I promise”, you both smile with his anwer and hugged to seal up your promise.

~~~~

Later that day, you were back to the park in front of your home, waiting for Taeyang this time. You hadn’t spoken all day and you were not sure if he would show up. Even so, there was you, patiently waiting for your boyfriend to come. One hour has passed. Two hours. And you were still there, already thinking he was mad and didn’t want to see you. You were walking through the park to keep warm when you saw a familiar figure next the lake, looking directly at you. You took some steps in his direction as he did the same in yours. “Tae! I thought you wouldn’t come”, you said when you were close enough from each other. “I wouldn't. But a certain threat told me you were here waiting for hours. And I had to see this beautiful image with my own eyes”, he told you and you both smiled. “I guess we have to thank this great threat, huh?”. “Nah…”, you laughed. “So, why do you bring me here?”, Taeyang asked. “I have something to tell you”, you said -  and it took by surprise how confident you were. “Well, tell me then. I’m all ears”. “Can I hold your hands before I talked?”, your words were careful this time, but he nodded and you could feel his warm hands on your again. 

You took a deep breath and start. “After all this time, I didn’t remember a single thing about my past, Tae, and it somehow scares me. But now, more than ever, I know I have you by my side. And I’m sorry for not realizing it before, but I do now. Yoo Taeyang, my Tae, I love you. I loved you then, I love you now and I’ll love you forever. So, please, I hope you still want me and still love me, ‘cuz I finally realize I can’t live without you anymore”, you told him with teary eyes and heart beating strong against your chest. Taeyang only stared at you for some moments, processing all what you had said, till he tightens his grasp on your hands and brings them to his chest, where his heart was pounding as hard as yours, and opens the brightest smile you’ve even seen. “I love you too, baby. Then, now and forever”, he finally spoke and pulled you closer to kiss you passionately. 

After that, you both went home to cuddle together till sleep in each other’s arms. 

~~~~

Y/N never recovered her memory, but she learned how to live the present without fearing the future. She and Hwiyoung remained friends. And Y/N and Taeyang built their family and stayed together till their last breath. 

#kpop writings #sf9 scenarios #sf9 imagines #sf9 angst #sf9 fluff #sf9 hwiyoung #sf9 yoo taeyang

[s-creations]

In Sickness, In Health Chapter 5 - Broken Arm

Fandom: DuckTales 2017 / The Three Caballeros             Rating: General Audience             Relationships/Pairings:  José Carioca/Donald Duck/Panchito Pistoles     Additional Tags: getting sick, being cared for, mental health, injury, sore throat, common cold, chicken pox, broken bones, whooping cough, taking care of others.

Part of a Series Called: We’re the Three- Sorry, Six Caballeros!

Author’s Note: This chapter is self titled with what's about to happen. But please keep in mind this contains talk of broken bones. If I need to put further tags/warnings on this story, please let me know!

“Dewey, I’m serious, get down!” Huey frantically called.

 “Sorry, can’t hear you. Too high up and doing amazing!” Dewey called back as he reached for the next level of branches. 

 “Dewey!” 

 “Let it go dude,” Louie commented as he scrolled through his phone. Leaning up against the same tree that Dewey was currently climbing. “You’re not getting him down from there. Just let nature take its course.”

 While Huey glared at Louie, Dewey was continuing his trek up the tall tree. Humming his theme song (version 236) while he reached for another branch. His plan for the day was to reach the top of the tallest tree in the backyard so he could see across the bay. To hopefully see across it, maybe even see the entire world and what it had to offer. Maybe he could even find some place interesting enough to visit! Some place close!

 Ah, he was so eager! He couldn’t wait to find out what the rest of the world looked like. Entire body shaking with eagerness, Dewey moved a bit too quickly...

 He lost his footing first. Webbed foot slipped and Dewey quickly reached out to try and grab something for support. Only for his hand to grab at air. The branch just a bit too far out of reach. 

 It was as if time stood still for a moment. Dewey got a brief thought of ‘Huh...maybe this wasn’t the best idea.’ before he began to properly fall. It was strangely exhilarating to hear the wind rushing around him. Sort of like flying. Except the opposite. Because he was, in fact, falling. So this was worse.

 Dewey hit the ground hard, Huey shrieking while Louie let out a cry of ‘Holy Cow!’ as they rushed over. The triplet dressed in blue sat up slowly. Looking around, dazed, but otherwise felt fine. 

 “What were you thinking! You could have been killed!” Huey huffed. Fear being replaced by anger as he glared down at his brother.

 “I was thinking how cool it would be to see the view from the top of that tree. But I guess it wasn’t meant to be for the moment. Oh well, I’ll try again tomorrow-”

 Dewey let out a yelp of pain when he tried to put weight on his arm. Pain shooting through it, the duckling swearing he was about to pass out from it. Taking a deep breath to keep himself awake, Dewey looked down at said arm. Which was clearly broken. Sticking out at a weird angle, but nothing else seemed ‘wrong’.

 “I broke my arm.”

 “WHAT?”

 “Yeah, I’m pretty sure it’s broken. Check it.” Dewey casually commented holding up the mentioned limb. Louie looked close to vomiting while Huey turned very pale. 

 “Oh… Okay. Um, Louie, can you get Uncle Donald?” The youngest triplet nodded and dashed back towards the house, happy to not see the arm. Huey, on his part, bent down to examine the damage as best he could. “Ah...so… I don’t think I’m supposed to touch it. But it looks so bad!”

 “Dude, it doesn’t hurt. Just breathe and leave it alone.” Truth be told, Dewey wasn’t really sure why he wasn’t panicking. Maybe it was because everyone else was already freaking out. But, it was probably the fact that, since it didn’t hurt, Dewey wasn’t too worried.

 “Dewey!” 

 Ah, someone else to worry about him.

 “Hi Uncle Donald!” Dewey beamed while being faced with a panicked duck. 

 Donald looked prepared to start pulling out his feathers in panic. “Okay, okay, Dewey, how are you feeling?”

 “Pretty good, all things considered.”

 “Okay, can you walk? We need to get you to the car.” 

 “Sure...I’ll just need help getting up.”

 Dewey was more than patient as the rest of the family rushed around him. Helping him into the car, getting the seatbelt on, making sure he was okay before they set off. A quick trip to the emergency room later and Dewey now had a sweet cast and a story to share with his other two uncles. 

 “This is so cool! Benny had one of his arms in a cast too and he got people to sign it. Do you think I could do that too?” Dewey looked up at Donald, freehand knocking on the hardened plaster. 

 “Of course. You can start carrying some sharpies when you’re at school. Just as long as you don't make everything messy and you don’t distract the class.” Donald commented, finally relaxed now that everything was taken care of.

 At first, Dewey was honestly thrilled to have his cast. It was like getting a fancy new piece of armor in a video game. Wanting to constantly show it off. Happily retelling his adventure with so much gusto to whomever would hear him. It was great. 

 Until it wasn’t.

 The first issue was how uncomfortable the cast was becoming. It was heavy and clunky. He couldn’t sleep because the cast was just dead weight. His arm started becoming both itchy and sweaty. Hot and bothersome with no solution as to how it was supposed to be fixed. 

 The second issue was that there was no one else to tell the story to. All his classmates knew. All his neighbors knew. And, even if his uncles would listen to him, Dewey knew they were becoming bored by the story. The once great armor was now dragging him down. 

 The last issue was that he couldn’t do anything. Uncle Donald made it clear that Dewey wasn’t going to do anything with the cast on. Not that the duckling paid that warning too much attention. Until he realized that the cast was preventing Dewey from, quite literally, doing anything. He couldn’t grab anything. Couldn’t put pressure on it in any way. Hold anything. It was basically a useless arm. 

 “At least you have some time to work on your homework.” Huey offered weakly. Which was only met with an unamused glare. 

 Dewey was becoming so bored. 

 He was currently situated on the sofa during one afternoon. Eyes barely open, barely focused, as he ‘watched’ the television. Dewey wasn’t fully taken in what he was looking at. He was also pretty sure there was a string of drool sliding out from the side of his mouth.

 “Well, don’t you look charming.”

 Dewey merely rolled his head to the side to look over towards Donald. “Hello…”

 “Hello to you too.” The older duck walked over, claiming an empty seat next to the blue dressed triplet. “I see you’ve moved your pity party from the bedroom to the living room.”

 “Not pity.” Dewey weakly argued back.

 “No? Then what are you doing?”

 “Bored?”

 “Ah, I see. Nothing like being sad for yourself.”

 “There’s nothing I can to with my stupid arm is it’s stupid cast.” Dewey huffed weakly. 

 “You’ve done nothing but watch t.v. since you’ve gotten that cast. Why don’t you try doing something new?”

 “Broken arm, can’t do anything.”

 Donald rolled his eyes. “You’re not in a full body cast, you can still move. And your dominant hand is still ‘free’. I don’t mean trying to climb something new. Why not find a new hobby? Read a book, go take a walk, something.”

 “All sounds boring.”

 Letting out a slow breath, Donald took a new approach. “Well, I have something you might be interested in.”

 “Doubt it.” Even with a heavy sigh of boredom, Dewey still followed his uncle.

 They entered a small side room at the back of the house. One filled with mainly boxes and other unneeded odds and ends. They passed the stacked boxes, going towards the sole window. Where an artist easel had been set up. Paints and other tools cluttering a small rolling cart that had been pushed against the wall. 

 “What is this?” Dewey asked as he looked over the pile of paint tubes. 

 “My get away, if you will. When I want a break from everything, I come here and just paint. Just...put on some music and paint.”

 “I’ve never seen you paint before…”

 “Well, I did just start,” Donald commented, taking a seat in front of the easel. “I was told it would help me relax.”

 “So, are you telling me to start painting?” Dewey asked. 

 “Sort of.” Reaching into a large bag that was propped up against the wall as well, Donald pulled out two items. A small sketchbook and a mechanical pencil. “You have an active imagination. Why don’t you try giving your words some pictures?”

 Dewey was skeptical at first. When starting, it was frustrating. Nothing was looking right and it was maddening to try and figure out what something was supposed to look like. Seeing it in his head to transfer it onto paper was difficult. 

 Tio José swooped in to save the day. When Dewey crumpled up another failure. The parrot was more than happy to give his expertise on how to start off a drawing. Getting the basic shapes, proportions, how to look at the whole and the parts of an object, how drawing from real life can help draw from the imagination. After that, there was no stopping him.

 Even with the cast on, it didn’t stop him. If anything Dewey started using it as a weight to keep the loose paper still. The rest of the recovery melted away. The blue cladded duckling happily returned to school with a fully healed arm and a number of handcrafted books to share. 

#donald duck #josé carioca #panchito pistoles #jose carioca/donald duck/panchito pistoles #The Three Caballeros #the three gay caballeros #s-creations #fanfiction

[imnotwolverine]

The Monster’s Lair - Where Wolves Cry

Vampire!Henry x Belle - multi-chapter

< Chap 10 | Chapter 11 - Where Wolves Cry | Chap 12 >

Disclaimer: Dark adult fairytale - depictions of hunting and killing, bloodlust, smut, bloody oral (f), but also fluff  

Author’s note: This chapter is not Disney approved mkay? *cough* smut *cough*. May you enjoy..the hunt, fair maidens of mine! 👀Also, I totally fell in love with this absolutely gorgeous Hebrew love song ‘Evening of Roses / Erev Shel Shoshanim’ (based on a like-named poem). I’ve added a few versions of it in my playlist, listen to them if you find the time ❤️

Thank you again sweet @thelastsock​, for beta’ing for me!  🌹

Word count: 5.261

Reading music: Sheku Kanneh-Mason - Evening of Roses 

(Link to my Masterlist)

--

Late afternoon rays of sun trickled through the darkening trees. They were casting a rather pretty myriad of tiny lights on the snowy forest floor, bringing with them rich hues of orange and gold. Pretty, but not important as of right now. In this small time frame of dusk, the evening provided him a perfect moment to hunt. And today he wasn’t hunting alone. Looking over his shoulder his azule eyes found the young maiden, her large brown eyes fixed on him, unsure of how to proceed if not for his clear instructions. Good. He’d never forgive himself if anything was to happen to her. This forest was, after all, not a safe place for young maidens like her.

Gesturing her to halt, he looked left and right, his eyes and ears picking up small tremors and movements in the icy landscape. As winter had fallen, most animals were hibernating in their homes. But not all. A herd of deer was not far, and from the sound of it one of them was ripe for the taking; an inflamed hoove stood nervously on the icy ground.

*Tic-tic..tic-tic*

The poor thing wouldn’t make it through the harsh winter anyways.

The Master silenced his breathing and looked back at Belle, her breath quieting as well. On their way here the Master had explained his tactics. You see, the hunt required finesse. Knowledge. And Belle was more than curious to learn about it, her body folded snugly into his arms as he used his beastly powers to move nearly unnoticed through the snowy grove.

He had explained the way he mapped out all the animals and critters that were around. The way he studied the weather and wind. How he made sure he wouldn’t hurt an animal that would live, if not for him. And Belle listened in awe. It was both frightening and a relief to hear how well-thought out such a hunt was. How the Master tried his best to keep nature balanced. Where humans would probably hunt down all, he only took what he needed, leaving the rest of the forest to its own devices. And those devices were deadly too. On their way here he had pointed out some frost-bitten cadavers.

Nature was cruelly beautiful like that. Life and death circled around each other in an eternal dance. Old bones would bloom. And blooms would fade. Year in year out, until the end of time.

‘There is one.’ The Master whispered, gesturing Belle to get close so he could pick her up again. At first this picking up had been at best awkward. Belle had insisted on walking now she could. But the Master wouldn’t have any of that. For one, because she would probably alarm the animals - her dainty feet not as quiet as his. And for seconds. Well. He would never admit to it, but he did enjoy carrying her. Through the cold winter air he could smell the soap in her braided hair, the stiffening starch in her blouse collar and the sweetness of her warm blood.

She smelled like heaven in his arms and he wouldn’t deny himself the pleasure of having her close.

Especially not after so many centuries of loneliness.

He could remember the first time he had been truly alone. His staff gone, his wife deceased, the castle quiet..and the hunger great. It took him more than a week before he dared to admit that the food in his larder didn’t quench his thirst or hunger. With long teeth - quite literally - he would eat the cured meats, washing them away with wine. But none of these fine foods would taste, their substance ashen on his tongue and gravel in his stomach. No, he required different nourishment. And such nourishment was not found in any larder.

He had to hunt.

‘What are you thinking of?’ Belle whispered ever so quietly, her warm breath puffing in the cold air. The Master shot her a warning look to be quiet, his eyes tracking the bushes as the target was now close-by. From here he could hear the restless buzz of its heartbeat, the animal having noticed something was amiss - though thankfully not making a run for it yet. With ever-most carefulness the Master placed Belle back on her feet, making sure she wouldn’t make another sound, feet landing on already trampled snow. Gesturing she had to stay, Belle nodded, eyes glimmering with wonder as the Master sneaked away.

Oh yes, he remembered the first time he went on a hunt. It had been a mess. The animal had managed to get away, blood springing from its torn arteries. The Master had been too young during the hunts with his father, so up to that point he had never seen the death of an animal up close. He had never seen the lights die out, eyes glossing over. And never had he seen the blood spout from a struggling, convulsing heap of limbs.

The first hunt as a monster..well..it had been catastrophically bad. Yes. He had drank but a few drops of blood before he had retched it all out again, the onslaught of blood and agonizing ..lust, confusing the young Master terribly.

Lust. Fuck. He had forgotten all about it. Walking past some snow heavy branches, he could see both now. Like two worlds separated by but a thick wall of white, on his left he could see the stinted deer, her wounded leg lifted awkwardly from the cold ground. And on the right Belle, her arms wrapped around her chest, eyes not quite managing to see him through the dimness of dusk. Both knew something was there. Both couldn’t see him.

And one he would eat. One he would love. How cruelly beautiful nature was indeed.

Forgive me, he thought, before he leapt like an owl in flight onto the deer, the animal not standing a chance against the surprise of his teeth.

*snap*

With an unpitying twist of his hands he broke the animal’s neck, her eyes washing over with death’s glare. A last breath escaped her slightly agape jaw, heartbeat silencing. And apparently the sound had been enough of an indication for Belle to come, her feet crushing the fresh snow as she manoeuvred through the bushes. From the clumsy drop of her feet it was clear that her sight was waning quickly, pupils large as she noticed him.

Had it been a mistake to bring her? Probably. But there was no way back now. Clicking his nervous fangs he looked back at her, curiosity sparking on her features as she slowly crouched down, hand reaching for the deer’s soft fur.

‘She’s beautiful.’ Belle whispered, fingertips gliding down her neck before reaching the small two holes that bled a deep crimson. Hesitantly she dipped a finger in the red, tongue darting out to taste. ‘Oh.’ Belle scrunched her nose as the taste washed onto her taste buds. Tangy and tasting like old coins. Well, this proved that she wasn’t a monster just yet.

Waking from her dreamy haze, she looked back at the Master, his silhouette all she could see. But even then it was clear he was nervous; the snapping of his teeth was clearly heard. ‘You must..’ Belle swallowed harshly and pointed at the deer. The Master agreed, head dipping down to sink his teeth back in the warm neck. So succulent, soft, warm..so...hmmmm…

Fuck. He was getting aroused already. Contain yourself! Contain yourself! Not now! Just a few drops, just a few...HMMM...so tasty.

Grunting and moaning the Master feasted on his victim’s blood, hands moving out to card through the soft fur, only halting when he found her. Long cold fingers interlacing with his. Belle.

OH fuck. He couldn’t do this. With her so close. He couldn’t...GRRR...he couldn’t contain himself. Why had he been so foolish to bring her along? Why was he so weak for her? Why..?!

*cr-rack*

Shooting up, eyes and ears alert, the Master looked around. His whole body throbbed as the fresh blood washed down his throat, warming his cold veins. Supernatural strength was quickly building in his muscles and the throbbing length in his breeches was heavy against his leg. He was glad that the darkness veiled him, so Belle could not see his..condition. Then again, she could also not see what was around them. And from the sound of it..someone was here. Or better yet. Something. Oh..merde! Shit! What had he done?! Could he even protect her here, out in the open? He should have never..never..

*FLUNK*

With a loud thud he was smashed against a tree, snow falling down on his marble face, blocking his view.

What the..?

Quickly jumping on his feet he clawed at the strange intruder, loud howls screeching when he hit target. Shaking off the snow he now noticed what it was; a young new predator indeed.

Meanwhile Belle had lowered herself close to the deer. It was difficult to make out any details in the half-dark, but she had noticed the Master’s silhouette stiffen, a gentle crack heard just outside of reach. Was something there? She couldn’t be sure, and being completely out of her element and in the dusk of night, she had to trust in the Master to keep her safe.

*wooshhh*

And just like that he was gone, leaving her here, out in the open with a bleeding animal beneath her fingertips. Immediate panic started to course through her veins, heartbeat racing and fingers clutching. Darn..what was happening? Loud snaps and scratches echoed through the forest, snow falling from weighted branches before someone howled a loud cry just a few feet away from her. Belle could not make up her mind fast enough, the sounds moving further away before she could flee, her body trembling on the cold ground as she pricked her ears. But it seemed to come from everywhere. A fight. Fast and furious, two voices groaned and cried as trees staggered when their bodies crashed into them.

Wait..was that another monster? It sounded like it. What was happening? Oh, she should have never..never..never begged to come with. She…

Another bone shuddering cry reverberated through the air, covering the sound of soft footfalls until a long strong arm wrapped around her. Suffocating she started to protest, her trembling fingers pushing away a face as it breathed sharply.

‘Shhh..’

The Master’s voice. Oh thank God. He was slightly panting from the exertion as he clutched her close to his chest, strong legs making them both rise up to a standing position. Belle trembled like a leaf, terrified tears blinking in her eyes. She could not see him. But it must be him, right? Reaching out her hand again - with him flinching away slightly - she traced his jaw, nose, eyebrows. Yes, it must be him.

In the meantime the Master nervously eyed their surroundings, the eerie quiet feeling like a storm was about to burst.

‘We must go.’ He whispered, hands fumbling with her skirts so he could lift her up again. And Belle, for the first time ever, let him do so without complaints, head quick to lean into his chest as he started running, snow barely crisping beneath his speedy feet.

--

‘Say mama. What do you think?’ The teacup looked with expecting eyes out through the window, the night engulfing the garden in a blanket of darkness.

‘What is it, son?’ The teapot sighed, her gaze turned towards the fireplace, the flames on their way of dying out slowly. For a few hours now her son had been babbling on, launching a million questions and monologues at her exhausted ears. As children do. But she couldn’t help but see evil foreboding in the dying fire. The hour was growing late and as of yet the Master and Belle had not returned. Had something happened?

‘Well. Tis dark, you see. He said he’d return before dark.’ Her son broke through her thoughts.

The teapot sighed again. ‘I know son. I know.’ Apathetic melancholy was painting the teapot’s voice. She didn’t wish to think of what may have happened. Nothing here seemed to ever have a happy ending..so it would not be a surprise if today would be yet another dark chapter in the long history of this haunted castle.

‘OH OH! MOM MOM MOM-MOMMY-MOMMA--M-O-M! -’ The teacup bounced up from its saucer, his little arm reaching out to poke his mother in the side. ‘What?’ She grumbled. Her son’s squeaky voice lowered to a whisper;

‘I think that’s them!’

They returned?!

With a swift twirl the teapot turned on the windowsill, her eyes needing a moment to recognise the darkened silhouette of the Master, Belle in his arms. ‘Tis, indeed!’ The teapot chimed with a relieved squeal, her large body awkwardly hopping down on a tray table before landing on the floor.

‘OPEN THE DOOR!’ She exclaimed, hopping as fast as she could, awakening her fellow enchanted souls. Clocks, wardrobes, spoons and plates, they all blinked up as the teapot rushed past, her teacup son not far behind.

In the long centuries they had lived between these castle walls, there had been but few interesting events worth mentioning. In fact most of these events happened during the first months of their enchanted lives. First it had been their Master as he started turning into his monstrous self - pale skinned and agitated to a painful degree. But then it had been them who started turning. Night after night more would disappear, only to wake up the next morning in a new skin, made of wood, copper or porcelain.

It had been terrifying. Gruesome. Miserable. No longer could they fulfill their wishes of escaping from these castle grounds. No longer could they live a life of their own. And for many days, weeks, months their howling wails were heard at night, causing the Master and his wife to lose the last of their cool-headedness. They were all cursed, they were!

But then, after all had come to pass, the Master and his staff remaining.. the world quieted again. This was their new reality, their new life. And though quite boring and still somewhat frustrating, they grew accustomed to their new husks, their new traits. No longer could they do what humans can. But can you tell the time by shaking your head? Can you live without ever eating? Can you love without a heart? You probably can’t. But they could, even though their love and care was not quite so appreciated. For many long years the Master had been unwilling to be helped - resulting in his pig’s nest of a room and worn, thread-bare outfits.

With Belle’s sudden arrival, everything had changed. Days were colourful again. And the Master’s heart seemed to have warmed as well. He had not scolded Belle for entering his room. In fact, he had invited her inside. Like he was now inviting her into his heart, his soul - Psyche.

They all knew what was happening, and it excited everyone to a terribly delightful degree.

Love! Oh LOVE!

How hope bubbled with little sparks in their weary souls. How sweet - though painful - it was to reminisce about the beauty of what life could be..had been... OH...Love..Oh…

‘HMMppff.’ The Master stalked in without offering his staff a glance, brows furrowed as he stormed up the staircase, a trail of wet snow and icy wind left behind his speedy feet. In his arms he held a trembling Belle, her eyes widening with his every step as the low candle light finally revealed what damage had been done in the forest. The Master’s face was laced with a number of small scratches and bruises, his eyes wild and jaw tight.

Was he in pain? Was he worried? Angry? Belle couldn’t be sure and as of right now she didn’t dare to ask, her breath choking in her throat and her fingers wrapping around the lapels of his coat, holding on tight. What had happened? Were they safe? Questions whirled behind her cautious eyes as the Master walked into her room, careful to settle her down with restrained strength.

Belle nervously eyed the Master as he turned on his heel, his shoulders stiff and face turned towards the door. And then he just stood there for a moment. His nose sniffed in deeply before he warily turned around again, meeting Belle’s gaze before his eyes dropped lower. A confused frown puzzled his beautiful face.

‘You are hurt.’ In two large strides he was back by her side, Belle’s legs stepping back until she was met with the edge of the mattress, her frame tumbling back onto the bed. ‘W-what? No. I’m..’

Without hesitation the Master squatted down before her, hands and eyes roaming over her skirts, looking for gashes and tears. But there were none. Strange.

Belle closed her legs a little more, unsure of what to make of this. She wasn’t hurt at all. Maybe uncomfortable since, from the feeling of it, her period was about to start, but…

Wait.

Her eyes blinked back up into the cerulean gaze of the Master, his expression worried, beckoning her to tell her where she was hurting. And then it clicked. Of course. He could smell her. Before she had even noticed that her monthly bleeding had started, he had. And at what inconvenient a moment!

‘Tis nothing.’ Belle blurted out, a sudden heat rising to her winter cold cheeks. She was very acutely aware of how the Master had carefully placed his hands at either side of her skirts, caging her in the trap of his arms. A tremor ran through her legs, making her squeeze her thighs even closer together.

‘Said the trembling maiden.’ The Master spoke in a silky hush - both menacing and alluring. Did he realise what was happening to her?

With slow meandering eyes he trailed down her slender frame again, though this time not to find nips or naps. No, with her legs writhing against one another it had become quite clear WHERE the scent of blood was coming from. A little light danced in his cold eyes, nostrils flaring. So sweet and intoxicating was the smell, mmm! He couldn’t even walk away even if he wished. With the deer’s blood still on the edges of his lips he licked. First his bottom lip, than his top, savouring the bittersweet remnants of a life that was now no more.

No, he should leave.

Using the last of his restraint he raised back on his feet, but Belle did the same, her hand once more snaking quickly around his wrist. Just like she had done a few hours before. What was it with this peculiar woman? Had they not just escaped a wild chase? Did she not see the remnants of a fight on his skin? Did she not fear his strength? Speed? Ability to kill?! Was she mad?

Then again..was he? He couldn’t really blame her for trying to come to terms with their weird relationship. He was a bloodthirsty monster and she was like a pet. No, no. Not a pet. More like a..like a.. More obscenely arousing scents drifted through the air, the Master finally finding what he was looking for. She was..a treat.

Belle took hesitant, shallow breaths as she watched the Master’s eyes meander over her form. Lower and lower..and..yes, it was obvious that he knew what was happening between her thighs. That little light in his eyes grew stronger. And unlike most men, he didn’t seem appalled by the knowledge of what was happening between her thighs. In fact, it only seemed to stir arousal in his clawed-at and marked face - the little cuts and bruises already seemingly far less angry than they had been just minutes ago.

‘I’d better..clean up.’ Belle whispered, keeping her hand wrapped around his wrist, eyes piercing into his. Lust brooded deeply and she couldn’t help but feel aroused for it too. She had never felt like this for a man and it was an intoxicating feeling to have. Something worth nourishing. Feeding. Latching your hands around. It hadn’t been her who had gripped his wrist, it had been another Belle, a Belle she did not know. A Belle that was eager for touch. For those big blue eyes, silky soft lips and….

More heat flushed up her cheeks.

Slowly sitting back on the bed she kept her eyes and hand locked with his, her free hand slowly starting to hike up her skirts, silky stockings appearing from beneath the many layers. She had read about this in a book once. This was what happened, right? Between men and women? The Master’s eyes finally tore away from hers, finding it hard to pass up on this new display of dainty ankles that melted into shapely legs.

Like a deer’s.

No, he couldn’t even escape if he wanted to. Glued to the visage of Belle’s fraying modesty, he sank back down through his knees, eyes gazing up those long pale legs, hands placed back beside her slender frame. Nothing could have prepared him for what followed. Not the many well-read erotic books he had gathered. Not the greatest poems he had memorised. No, nothing could hold a candle to the way his heart jumped in his chest, blood tingling in his loins. Had she gone mad truly?

Where the deer in the forest would flee from him, this one stalked him back. With a delicate brush of both hands Belle encapsulated his wrists, eyes burning into his. In one way she seemed small and scared, unsure of what to do. In the other there was curiosity. And curiosity always got the better of Belle, the Master knew that now. He saw it glimmering in her eyes, the small fire in the fireplace reflecting in her large doe brown eyes. They reflected the fire in her heart, soul, mind...

Oh this was bad! What vile a monster he was! He had tainted the girl! No matter how clever the pretty thing was, he had tainted her! Look at how her bosom swelled with anticipation, her lips parted with forced little breaths. Look at what he made her do! He was vile, so vile..! OH. -

‘What was there in the forest?’ Belle asked, legs still squeezed together, skirts gathered up to her upper legs, eyes boring into the Master’s. The Master flicked his eyes back up at her, finding that curious glimmer undiminished. She wished to talk about that? Right now? Then why was she..why..?

Licking his lips the Master inched forward, Belle not backing away, though her mouth tightened as she swallowed back a lump.

‘Monsters hide in these parts. You know that Belle.’ He said, not once looking away from her large awestruck eyes.

‘Was he like you?’

The Master quirked his head slightly. ‘Not anymore. He is gone now.’

‘Did you kill him?’

A coldness washed over his cerulean gaze - he really didn’t wish to speak of this now. Not after...ARGH..

‘Do you fear death, Belle?’

Belle blinked, unsure of what he was going at. ‘Not.. yet.’

She couldn’t really get a hold of what he thought, felt, wanted. From the way his breeches strained, he was probably very aroused. But then there was this coldness in his eye. There was this predatory gaze that promised how easily he could overtake her. Snap her neck. Drink her freely. Make her fear death for real.

Belle knew how strong, agile and fast he was. But it didn’t stir fear as much as it created anticipation, the thought making Belle’s legs rub together even more. The looming of death struck a chord in her. It kissed her untouched skin with sin. She couldn’t deny the poison in her lonely heart as it crept deeper and deeper.

It was difficult to explain. After a life of being mocked and misunderstood, this tar black loneliness was less heavy with him near. In fact. She couldn’t quite remember how much the loneliness had stung, now she looked into these undead eyes. The Master was different from the people she had known. He was like her. Misunderstood. And it was enticing.

The Master sniffed the air, tongue flaking back over his silky lips, the piercing tips of his fangs shining just between his semi-opened mouth.

Misunderstood, that’s what he was, she mused quietly. He could have killed her a long time ago, if he wanted. But he hadn’t. Like in a story of great fantastical love, they seemed a perfect fit. The naive maiden and the menacing master. Unlikely in pairing, but balancing just right. Sweet versus sharp. Hard versus soft.

‘Will you kill me?’ She asked, that curiosity still winning it from the mixture of reason and fear that roared in her tight chest.

‘Never.’ He breathed, confirming her assumptions. His nostrils flared dangerously as Belle’s intoxicating smell drifted further and further into his muddled brain. The hunt, the fight, the flight..it had all triggered excitement in his beastly bones and as he now sat here, like a beggar before the altar, it all came washing over him. He could no longer stop himself. He would take just..a little…

His strong palms gripped Belle’s legs, steadying her softly yelping body.

..a little..

With silvery tongue he licked a searing path into the inside of her thigh, her hands gripping the sheets in a white-knuckled grip, lips opened in a silent gasp - nothing hid her greatest secret from him now.

..a little..

He reached the apex of her legs, the sweet rose of her essence hitting his nostrils hard, his anguished veins throbbing with need.

.. sip..

‘Ha....’ Belle breathed, eyes faltering to keep their full focus on the Master. Like little pricks of a hundred roses she felt her skin caressed from within, the touch of his tongue sparking an euphoria that not even her own curious fingers could elicit from her thighs. There was something about the way he danced on her skin, the way his strong fingers delved into the plush of her thighs, the way he beckoned more entrance as low rumbles tore from his large chest.

Beastly in spirit, but surprisingly tender in touch.

For a man who had just near-threatened her with death, he was terribly tender. In fact, for just a split-second, Belle couldn’t help but think of Psyche’s first night with her monsterly husband. He had denied her to look upon his face, his visitations only at night - For he was a monster! And a dangerous one at that! - the room dark and her eyes closed. Belle remembered the intrigue she had felt when she read that passage, though now it received a wholly new meaning, her very own monster doing what only a few words in the book had mentioned;

“When night approached Psyche went to bed: and when she was laid, she greatly feared her virginity, because she was alone. Then came her unknown husband and lay with her: and after that he made a perfect consummation of the marriage.”

As a young girl she had mocked these words. ‘Consuming a marriage’ - HA! What a strange way to call it, right?

But as she now lay here, eyes fluttering closed and her thighs trembling with the brush of sweet rose in her veins, she understood. She understood how Psyche grew to love her husband. Grew less pained by the loneliness of her existence. Eyes still shut Belle reached a hand down to the monster’s mane, more grumbles and moans eliciting from his consuming mouth. It was like he was eating her truly! Soft teeth that nibbled, a sweet tongue that lashed, strong fingers that braced, appreciating rumbles that loved. Loved! Oh that is what she felt.

Nothing could stop the touch of Cupid’s arrows. Not even a monsterly disguise. Love, that is what she felt! Like Psyche, she had learned to love the monster. And with that realisation a soft tinkling laughter escaped Belle’s quivering frame, the Master instantly stopping his administrations to ask if something was amiss.

‘No..good Master.’ Belle chimed, more laughter sprinkling from her rosy lips. ‘I beg you kiss me more. For I feel Cupid’s touch has bereft me.’

Slowly the Master crawled atop her frame, mild confusion glimmering in his blue eyes as he caged her with his limbs, looming over her dark as thunderclouds. Belle’s eyes fluttered open and it was not pain or fear he saw - like he expected after his previous experiences in the bedroom. No. She laughed merrily and it struck him like Cupid had indeed shot an arrow in his heart, the cold muscle straining as it fluttered and ached. Where the Master had only known cries of pain, not pleasure, in his bed, it was strange to see the smile on Belle’s cheeks.

‘Please.’ She whispered.

But if he had not hurt her.. Had he..? He quirked his head slightly. Had he pleased her?

The once nervous energy that coursed through his veins whenever he got aroused turned into something else. Like on much lighter, merrier clouds, he drifted above her. Licking her blood from his lips he watched her for just a moment longer as another fit of giggles escaped her lips. She was merry! She was..

His lips pulled awkwardly at the seams, a tight curl stretching them wider and wider until he could feel his cheeks dimple like hers did. And as he did, his cold heart beated warm, little wings flapping in the undead muscle.

She was ..HAH!..The Master couldn’t help but mimic her infectious laughter, his lips pulling uneasily with this unfamiliar movement. But Belle didn’t seem to care. Her tender fingers wrapped around his dimpling cheeks, begging him to join her down here on her earthly bed. For he was her Cupid and she was his Psyche. Love and Soul entwined.

For a short moment the Master forgot about all that had come to pass that day. In fact everything became a bit of a blur. The past days. Weeks. Months. Years. Centuries. All the pain, death and suffering was but a hazy memory that was washed away with the touch of her lips to his. All the want, desire and arousal that had tortured him was now a gift. A gift he could pour onto her. Groaning with need he let her pull him closer and closer still, his weight grounding her to the feather mattress as their lips danced and hands caressed.

For a moment he forgot about all that would still come to pass. More pain, more fear, more death.

He could hear a lone wolf cry into the cold night outside, reminding him of what he had left behind. Was he wrong to not tell Belle of what happened in that forest? The unfinished business that remained? The danger that lurked there still? Was he wrong for wishing to keep the truth from her? Keep her blind?

‘Please.’ Belle begged again, hands pulling him back through the forest of his thoughts. ‘Please.’

Oh, how he wished to please her.

But the truth was not a pleasing thing. It never had been. As more wolves howled and cried, the truth felt like the ice that was biting on the window panes. Begging to be let in. The matter had to be settled, he knew that. But not now. Right now the hunt for vengeance was temporarily forfeited, as he first wished to drink merilly from the sweetness..that was Belle.

--

Chap 12 > 

--

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[lilyvandersteen]

The Christmas Guest Chapter 4

Author’s Note:

Thanks to @redheadgleek​‘s Write a Little Every Day project, this chapter is done much earlier than I’d hoped, yay! Enjoy the snowball fight, and Blaine realising that (HUGE SPOILER) he might actually like Kurt for real. Who’d have thought, huh?

Read Chapter 1, Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 here on Tumblr, or read the story on AO3 or FF.net.

Chapter 4: Sweet Surrender

In spite of his nocturnal trip, Blaine woke up early, and decided to dress and get downstairs to see if Kurt needed something.

When he arrived in the living room, Kurt was sleeping peacefully. The snoring had stopped, and when Blaine checked his forehead, he was glad to find the fever had subsided too.

“Good, you must be feeling better already,” Blaine murmured, grabbing the blanket that had fallen off Kurt and tucking him in again carefully. “I’m going to let you sleep a little longer.”

As he tiptoed out of the room, he was greeted by Carole.

“Morning, Blaine! You’re up early!”

Blaine smiled at her. “Good morning, Carole. Yes, I’m an early bird. Always have been.”

“Best let the others sleep another while, or they’ll be grumpy. Come to the kitchen, we can make a nice breakfast for everyone.”

Burt came downstairs as soon as the smell of bacon started to spread.

“Bacon!”

Carole shook her head at him. “Not for you. We don’t want you to have another heart attack.”

“Just one rasher? It’s Christmas!”

“In two days.”

“Oh, come on! Please?”

Carole gave in. “All right. One rasher. But then I don’t want to hear any more complaints about the healthy food I’m serving you the rest of the week. Deal?”

Burt sighed. “Okay, okay.”

Carole winked at Blaine, who suppressed a snigger and busied himself with setting the table.

When he had nearly finished his plate, he heard a groan coming from the living room.

“Ah, Kurt is waking up!” Carole said. “I’ll make him some eggs too.”

“I’ll go see if he’s okay,” said Blaine.

He arrived just in time to keep Kurt from face-planting, and escorted him first to the bathroom and then to the kitchen.

After pouring Kurt a mug of tea and adding a generous spoonful of honey, Blaine sat down again to finish his own breakfast, smiling at how out of it Kurt still seemed. He didn’t seem to be sniffling or coughing anymore, though. That was good.

They made cookies after breakfast, and it made Blaine’s feeling as if he’d stumbled headfirst into a Hallmark Christmas movie even stronger. Kurt was clearly an experienced baker, whipping up two kinds of dough in no time, and letting Blaine eat the scraps.

Then Kurt’s stepbrother Finn arrived, all six feet plus of him, his size and demeanor reminding Blaine of the jocks who’d bashed him into hospital before he transferred to Dalton Academy, and he shrank into a corner until Carole introduced him to Finn and he got a smile and a hug from the gentle giant, who seemed genuinely pleased to meet him.

By the time they had all decorated the tree together, Blaine’s worries had evaporated, and he enthusiastically agreed to a snowball fight in the garden.

He and Finn were having so much fun goofing off that it took some time for them to notice that Kurt had joined them.

Unlike them, Kurt hadn’t chosen to just grab some snow, pack it together and throw it. No. Kurt had chosen stealth and strategy. He’d built a shield he could hide behind, he’d made towering stacks of snowballs and had even fashioned some kind of sling to be able to throw the snowballs further.

He also had deadly aim. His first snowball hit Finn straight in the chest, with so much force that he almost fell over.

“Uh oh,” Finn said. “Okay, man, we’re going to have to team up, or we’re toast.”

The two of them hid behind trees, but every time they ventured forth from their hiding place, they were pelted by such an onslaught of snowballs that they couldn’t get round to launching an attack of their own.

It took Kurt only ten minutes of this to wear them down. By then, their coats and trousers were white with snow and pretty much soaked through.

“Aw, man, this isn’t fun anymore!” Finn complained. “Kurt, why do you always take these games so seriously?”

Kurt appeared from behind his snow shield, his clothes as good as pristine, his stance regal and his eyes blazing with determination. Though Blaine had suffered just as much as Finn and was just as ready to give up the fight, he thrilled to this version of Kurt, who looked magnificent. It lit a flame somewhere within and made him forget all about his freezing fingers and toes.

“Do you surrender?” Kurt asked, his chin up and his back rigidly straight.

And ugh, the steel in his voice made the fire inside Blaine burn even brighter.

Finn shrugged. “I guess. I’m going back in.”

“I surrender,” Blaine answered, not entirely capable of keeping a quiver out of his voice.

Something sparked into Kurt’s eyes, and he started coming towards Blaine without looking away even once, but a mere two foot from him, he seemed to change his mind and veered off towards the house. “Let’s get inside, Carole is going to make us hot chocolate.”

Blaine felt himself deflate. What had he expected to happen, exactly? Why was he all a-tingle like this? And what was this strange energy between him and Kurt?

A sudden gust of wind made him shiver and hurry to the back door. Hot chocolate sounded heavenly.

When Blaine came in, Finn was complaining again, this time about the seating arrangements in the living room. As victor of the snowball fight, Kurt had claimed the big sofa for himself and Blaine, and forbade Finn to squish in too.

“You can take the loveseat,” Kurt said.

“That one’s hard as a rock!”

“Sit on the floor for all I care. The sofa is ours! Come, Blaine! I’ve got your hot chocolate right here. That will warm you up.”

Blaine accepted the mug gratefully, holding it with both hands to get his fingers warm again, and drinking deeply.

Ah, that’s better!

Finn stomped out of the room in high dudgeon to go complain to his mom, but Carole agreed with Kurt.

Blaine saw Kurt grin in satisfaction, and the grin only widened when Finn came back in and found fault with his film choice too.

“Seriously, man? I wanted to watch Die Hard!”

“I won the fight, so it’s my pick.”

“Burt, back me up on this, come on!”

Burt looked up from his newspaper. “We can watch Die Hard tomorrow.”

Kurt added, “Now stop being a baby about this. Either shut up and watch, or go do something else.”

Finn looked mutinous, but plonked down on the loveseat and shut up.

Kurt hummed along with the opening music and pulled Blaine a little closer still. His arm around Blaine’s middle felt both possessive and grounding. Blaine felt the spark from before rekindling, a jittery feeling that made him want to… What? He didn’t even know, but he wanted. Oh, he wanted!  

“What is it?” Kurt murmured. “Are you uncomfortable like this?”

“No, no.”

Blaine wiggled until his head fit exactly into the crook of Kurt’s neck, and then let himself sink into Kurt’s embrace. “Perfect.”

He felt a laugh rumble through him, and Kurt’s hold tightened infinitesimally.

“Good,” Kurt whispered, and softly kissed the crown of his head.

Blaine felt his lips stretch from ear to ear and closed his eyes to bask in the feeling of utter contentment that washed over him.

He couldn’t imagine anything that could ruin the moment now.

Of course, that was because he forgot about Finn.

“Mom, I’m hungry! Can I have some more cookies?”

“You already ate them all, hun!”

“So when’s supper?”

“After the movie.”

“But I’m hungry!”

Finn disappeared to the kitchen, grumbling under his breath, probably to search the pantry for snacks to tide him over until supper.

“Want a chocolate chip cookie?” Kurt asked Blaine softly, holding out a cookie tin and looking very smug.

Blaine burst out laughing. “Is this still payback for Finn putting snow down your shirt?”

“You know it! Also, I wanted to save some cookies for us. Finn ate all the shortbread and the last of the sugar cookies before we even got a chance to have some. Greedy pig!”

Blaine took a cookie and savoured it. “These are the absolute best.”

“Mmm.”

However lovely it was to cuddle up with Kurt, Blaine became uncomfortable after a while because his wet trousers felt cold and clammy and seeped all the heat out of his legs.

“I’m going to put some other pants on,” he whispered to Kurt. “I’ll be right back.”

That promise fell into the water when Cooper called him while he was in Kurt’s room, blathering on and on about all the fancy parties he’d been to and would still be going to.

It took nearly an hour for Coop to stop talking about himself and to ask what Blaine was doing for Christmas.

“I’m in Ohio,” said Blaine.

“But Mom and Dad are on a cruise!”

“Yep. Thanks for telling me about that, by the way. How long have you known?”

“Oh, they told me this summer, I think.”

“Lovely.”

“You didn’t know?”

“Nope. Flew out here for nothing.”

Cooper whistled low. “That sucks. So you’re all alone for Christmas?”

“No, actually, I’m not.”

There was silence at Cooper’s end. Then he asked, “So… You’re saying you’ve been hooking up with Sebastian again?”

“What? No! Ugh. Coop, please. As if! He cheated on me!”

“So who’s with you, then?”

“Kurt. I’m staying with his family.”

For the second time, his reply managed to silence Cooper.

“My boyfriend, Kurt, remember?”

“Um, no?! Now who’s forgotten to tell their brother something?”

Blaine laughed. “Well, it’s recent, so that will be why. I probably haven’t called you yet since we became an item.”

“So… Tell me about him.”

That was all the prompting Blaine needed to start singing Kurt’s praises, and it wasn’t until he’d rung off that he realized two things.

One: he’d referred to Kurt as his boyfriend without even thinking about it, whereas they were only faking a relationship. He’d regret that later, since Coop would tell their mom for sure, and he’d have to hear about it for years.

Two: he desperately wished they could be boyfriends for real. Somehow, in what the Warblers would call a classic Blaine move, he’d fallen for Kurt. Hard. And in a matter of days. There was no way this was going to end well. He was so screwed.

#klaine fanfiction #my fic #The Christmas Guest #chapter 4 #enjoy!

[musingsofsaturn]

The Most Amazing Dream | Kristanna Week

Fandom: Frozen, Frozen II

Ship: Anna/Kristoff

Words: 1,200+

Rating: K

Summary: Kristoff contemplates the future while on a sleigh ride. Beside him, Anna enjoys the most amazing dream.

Author’s Note: Hello! Today’s prompt is all about jealousy, nature, and naivety, and while I just couldn’t bring myself to write something as troubling as jealousy for these two, I do hope you enjoy a bit of naive nature fluff! At first I wasn’t very happy with this one, but after some proofreading and playing around with it, I think it’s pretty sweet. :)

~ Saturn

[Cover photo is an edit I made using a screencap by Humphry02 on the fandom Wiki.]

Sven kept the sleigh moving forward at a steady pace, cutting through familiar forests of ancient spruces as the reindeer stepped confidently and lithely through the snow. Kristoff had given up on steering long ago. He could trust his companion to find his way to the cabin that had long-been his home on his solo harvesting trips.

This time, though, he was solo no more.

Anna had been exhausted. She took to being queen like a duck took to water. After all, she had been trained for it. But weeks of state visits, poring over important documents, and answering to disputes from every corner of the kingdom had turned into months, and finally an entire year had passed. It had taken its toll.

She was still vibrant and lively outwardly, always the picture-perfect regent that he knew she would be, but when it was just the two of them, she had expressed her stress and tiredness to Kristoff in a weary voice that broke his heart.

Eager to ease some of that burden, Kristoff hadn’t allowed her to protest when he decided she needed a break. Her efforts to refuse him had been weak at best. Even she knew it was the best idea. everyone in the palace had been informed that the Queen was to take a week-long break from royal duties to visit the mountains with her fiancé. She was only to be disturbed in the most catastrophic of circumstances. In her absence, her most trusted advisor would see to matters of diplomacy and admin, and all her other duties would be waiting for her when she returned, well-rested and ready to resume.

Kristoff picked her up bridal-style and placed her gently atop the blankets in the sleigh. She giggled and tried to squirm away from him to seat herself as he goaded, “Until the end of this week, you won’t have to lift a finger. Or toe.” He flicked an affectionate finger over her nose. Afterwards, when she was properly settled and he clambered in beside her, he kissed her cheek tenderly and stated simply, “Let me take care of you.”

“Always,” she replied, gazing up at him with those blue eyes filled with so much love and warmth that he felt he could burst from it. She nestled herself into his side, and he wrapped one strong arm over her shoulder as he took the reins and directed Sven out of the kingdom.

Succumbing to her tiredness, Anna fell asleep soon after their departure. Part of him thought her almost-immediate snores were adorable. The other part wondered how someone as lithe and small as Anna could produce sounds as loud and inhuman as... that.

Kristoff hadn’t disturbed her. Rest was the whole point of this trip, after all. Instead, he listened to her heavy breaths and little murmurs, relaxed into the steady rhythm of the sleigh, and considered whether this was what life would be like for the two of them now.

In the beginning of their relationship, he’d felt like a fish out of water. He didn’t understand the table manners that came so easily to diplomats, struggled to hold his own in a ballroom against hundreds of dignitaries, and far preferred nights spent in a stable to being tucked up in the finery of a palace bed. His uncertainty and insecurity had weighed heavy on him for that first year after he’d met her.

But he’d learned. In the years that followed, he’d undergone tutoring, dance lessons, elocution classes, and more. Anna had said that it was completely unnecessary, that she’d love him even if he ate from a bowl on the floor, but the truth was that he was doing it for himself. He needed to feel sure of himself in this strange new world, because if he had his way, he’d be in it for a long time.

Kristoff had blanched when he first learned that Anna was going to be queen. No thought had filled him with as much terror as that one seemed to. In actuality, it suited both of them far more than their previous situation. Anna did thrive as queen, and, with his newfound understanding of the ways of royalty, he thrived at her side. Arendelle was in competant and caring hands with their new Queen and her devoted fiancé.

In truth, he was tired too. He had duties of his own, and did everything he could to support Anna as well. Now though, finally alone and with no to-do list the length of the ballroom waiting for them, Kristoff started to relax.

Their wedding was arranged for six months’ time, and preparations were well underway. After the wedding, they had plans for a diplomatic ‘honeymoon tour’ of the neighbouring kingdoms. He knew Anna was looking forward to travelling and seeing more of the world, and he was looking forward to standing proudly at her side as she did.

Following all that, he would be Prince Consort, with only one important role: provide an heir. He wondered what their children would like. Would they be blonde, or feisty little redheads? Would they inherit Kristoff’s broad frame, or Anna’s infinite collection of freckles? Would they be quiet and soft spoken, or boisterous and clumsy? There was so much uncertainty, and the thought of being a parent absolutely terrified him. In the same breath, it gave him a rush of delight as well. He knew one thing: those little children would be so, so loved.

He imagined their children growing up, blossoming into wonderful young princes and princesses. They’d be unruly toddlers, storming the palace and causing havoc. Then inqusitive children, desperate to explore and learn. Then - oh, gods - sullen teenagers, rebelling against the slightest rule. Then capable young adults, ready to face whatever the world threw at them with courage and love.

Perhaps he was being naive, and he was certainly getting ahead of himself. But the thought of this future that he never could have imagined before, of raising a small family into the capable heirs that the kingdom deserved with the love of his life with him all the time, was one that filled him with so much warmth and excitement that he didn’t care if he was being ridiculous.

Kristoff broke out of his reverie to see the snow-covered trees beginning to thin. Up ahead, he knew there would be a clearing with a hot spring and the cabin that would keep them sheltered for the week.

“Good job, Sven. That must be record time, buddy.” The reindeer only chuffed out a friendly sound in response. Kristoff knew what it meant. “Yeah, I’m happy to be here too.”

Beneath his arm and a bundle of thick blankets, he felt Anna stirring.

“Hi,” she mumbled, looking up at him as she blinked the sleep from her eyes.

“Hi.” He grazed her forehead with his lips, and she hummed softly in response.

“I’m feeling better already.” Anna smiled, leaning her head onto Kristoff’s chest. “I had the most amazing dream on the way,” she told him, “I dreamt that we were married, and had children - they were so cute, they looked just like you, but, like, little - and I dreamt how we were the most amazing parents and they grew up to be the most amazing children... except when they were teenagers. They were uncontrollable teenagers - I think they got that from me, but anyway- wait, I’m sorry, I’m rambling.”

Kristoff chuckled softly, pulling her in closer as the cabin came into view. “Don’t worry about it, feistypants. It sounds like it was a pretty wonderful dream.”

#KristannaWeek2020 #Kristanna Week 2020 #Kristanna #Kristoff/Anna #Anna/Kristoff #Frozen II #Frozen 2 #Frozen #Kristanna Fluff #Kristoff/Anna Fluff #Anna/Kristoff Fluff #Kristanna Oneshot #Kristoff/Anna Oneshot #Anna/Kristoff Oneshot #Kristanna Fanfic #Kristoff/Anna Fanfic #Anna/Kristoff Fanfic #Kristanna Week #Kristanna Week Green #Musings of Saturn #My Writing #My Fanfiction #Fluff #Fluffy fluff fluff

[almostkoo]

Blue Moon Rising | Min Yoongi

pairings: yoongi x oc

summary: the past week oc’s roommate, yoongi had been acting strange, being short with them and disappearing quickly when one day oc decides to follow yoongi out to the woods to see what’s going on and discovers a big secret

word count: 1.5k

warnings: language, unedited 🤡

author’s note: sixth spooktober story ! one more and we’re all done !! as always i hope you guys enjoy !!

link to my main masterlist :)

Min Yoongi was odd.

He was a lot of things. Sweet, thoughtful and caring. But odd was definitely up there in the defining traits of him as a person.

You’d coined Yoongi as an odd individual since you had met him about a year ago. He’d place an ad looking for a roommate after his previous one had moved out. He was relatively easy to live with. He did all the cleaning per his request. But was oftentimes never at the apartment. You’d see him there on Tuesdays and Saturdays and that was it. You had only seen him on Tuesdays only but that changed a month into your residence. He’d caught you sitting up on the couch late one night binging some old show that got placed on Netflix, he quietly joined you and it just picked up and the next weekend you found yourself again with Yoongi on the couch and it just continued like that for a while. Until he randomly stopped. Then you caught him on Tuesday sitting at the kitchen counter drinking black coffee when he quietly said:

“I’ll catch you this Saturday.”

So you now currently danced your way around the kitchen, preparing snacks for your Netflix binge. SNSD and SHINee blasted from your portable speaker. Wiggling around the kitchen as you popped popcorn and arranging the various bowls of snacks and candies.

You wiped sweat from off your brow, dancing in a Cinnamoroll onesie was a workout. You brought the bowls into the living room placing them on the coffee table. You sat back on the couch picking up the remote to flip through Netflix waiting for Yoongi to join you.

You sat back toggling the options between Unsolved Mysteries and The Haunting of Bly Manor. The door to Yoongi’s bedroom opened up and he came out in a Kumamon onesie. His black hair was slick down to his head and he looked like he wasn’t feeling well.

“Hey Yoongi if you want we don’t have to binge Netflix today we can just wait until next weekend if you want.” you offered. Yoongi shook his head as he leaned back slowly into the couch, wincing in pain.

“I’m fine. Just a little tired. I’ve skipped out enough with you, it's no problem.” he said, leaning his head back into the cushions.

“Are you sure?” you asked him.

“Yeah it’s fine. What did you pick?”

You hummed. “I’m thinking either Unsolved Mysteries or The Haunting of Bly Manor. But Unsolved Mysteries is longer so I’m not sure if I want to watch that.”

“Just watch The Haunting of Bly Manor. I don’t really like true crime shows that much anyways.” he said, you flipped to the option and clicked play. Looking out the corner of your eyes to check out Yoongi who had his arms tucked into his sides holding onto himself.

About three episodes in and the clock swiftly nearing midnight. You felt yourself getting sleepy but unable to fall asleep. Anytime you felt your eyes start getting heavy with sleep and ready to close Yoongi would start shifting around on the couch in an attempt to get comfortable. How many times could he do that within 15 minutes you had no clue but was slowly getting irritated with his restlessness. You leaned forward grabbing the red bull you had placed on the coffee table, cracking it open and taking a sip.

Before you could finish it you heard soft snores leaving Yoongi’s mouth. Head tilted back, the hood of his onesie covering his eyes. You laid back pulling out your phone to scroll through it, hardly paying attention to the au pair on the tv and the ghosts haunting the manor.

Another three episodes in and you found yourself nodding off again, phone weighing your hand down as you kept falling asleep and waking.

You jumped awake when you felt Yoongi jump up off the couch muttering a “Shit, I gotta leave.” and then dashing out the door not even putting on shoes, slamming the door behind him. The artwork you had framed on the walls rattling in his wake. Yoongi left before you could even get out a word of protest. Scratching your head in confusion. You found yourself trotting over to the door sliding your feet into your sneakers and following behind him.

You ran down the steps to the apartment. Yoongi was nowhere in sight in the apartment. You made it outside, the cold October air made you regret not snatching your jacket off the hook when you left. Your head whipped around until you spotted a black figure with hooded bear ears that you recognized as Yoongi running off into the trees on the side of your apartment. You sighed, you were probably about to run off into the forest to your death. You started running off following behind him.

One thing you didn’t know was that Yoongi was a very fast runner. You found your lungs burning and begging you to stop running when Yoongi came to a stop a few feet away from you, he fell to his knees breathing heavily.

“It’s nice … to know .. that running.. kicked your ass too.” you huffed out in between breaths.

Yoongi’s heavy breaths turned into groans. “Y/n you can’t be here right now. You gotta go.”

“First of all you shouldn’t even be out here you’re gonna get sick. It’s fucking cold out here.” you persisted.

“You shouldn’t be here right now” Yoongi turned around looking at you, his sharp, feline like eyes usually brown glowed a bright gold, taking your breath away. “you gotta leave before something bad happens.”

You couldn’t find the words. But you were confused and definitely binged enough supernatural teen dramas as a youth to grasp what was going on right now. “Uh Yoongi..” you trailed off.

“You gotta leave. I can’t control myself right now. I might hurt you.” Yoongi said, as you caught a glimpse of his elongated canines against his bottom lip, creating a small lisp when he spoke.

“I uh-“ you found yourself stuck, unable to move as Yoongi hunched back over, groaning in pain. “Yoongi, are you alright?” you dumbly asked, finally feeling yourself able to move foot backed behind you ready to run if necessary.

“You need to leave now!” Yoongi yelled, the snapping of bones filling the air. Your feet took off, setting you off balance as you took off stumbling before catching your balance taking you off to your apartment.

You made it back to your apartment. Slamming the door and locking it behind you. Hoping your neighbors didn’t make a noise disturbance complaint against you. You sat down at the counter throwing back the hood of your onesie. Taking deep slow breaths attempting to calm yourself down. What the fuck did you just see? That couldn’t be right. No that was the Red Bull you had that fucked you up. Yeah? That sounds about right. That’s what it had to be. No way that Yoongi was a werewolf. You laughed out loud to yourself. That had to be it. It was your fourth Red Bull after all. You’d only drunken two in a day before. Four obviously had to be testing your limits and making you hallucinate weird shit. Yeah. You thought to yourself, laying your head against the counter, drifting off to sleep contempt with the story you told yourself.

You woke up to a soft knocking at the door. Your eyes blinked open as you got up going to the door. Looking through the peephole was Yoongi, you opened the door quietly letting him in. His Kumamon onesie was tattered and ripped in some spots, his hair was all over his head making him look more disheveled than he already was . He sat at the kitchen counter and you went around to join him sitting on the other side. You sat there for a few moments waiting for the silence to break.

You cleared your throat. “So uh, last night was weird.” Yoongi coughed, eyes darting around the room.

“I’m not human.” he sighed.

“You know I was really hoping last night was a Red Bull fever dream.” you ran your hands down your face.

“I tried hiding it from you for as long as I could. It’s been.. hard? Controlling this side of me. Everything is still so new and I tried staying away but everyone needs human contact.” he whispered, the last part. Your shoulders dropped, as you felt yourself grow sad for him.

“When did this happen?” you asked.

“My old roommate bit me. Then skipped town and left. I have no one to teach me how to go through all of this. I’m just dealing with it the best way I can.” Yoongi held his head in his hands a frown painting his features.

“Well I know I don’t know anything about this at all” you said, reaching across the counter to grab his hands. “we can get through this rough patch together. We’re friends, I got your back.” you said, softly. Yoongi looked up, a subtle smile on his face.

“It gets ugly at times.” he said.

“I imagine it would. That’s okay though. But this can’t repeat itself. I don’t like being scared out of my mind. I almost dirtied up my favorite onesie.” You and Yoongi laughed.

“Things will get better from now on. Since I have your help.” he smiled.

“Yes they will. Let’s keep being optimistic.”

#bts imagines #bts fanfic #yoongi x reader #suga x reader #suga x y/n #bts suga #bts fic recs #yoongi fic recs #bts x reader #bts x you #fic:blue moon rising #spooktober 2020 #writer:almostkoo

[nikibogwater]

A Shot in the Dark: a Tales of Arcadia Fanfiction (Chapter 2)

"...The Arcane Order doesn’t actually care whether you live or die. They have given me permission to do to you whatever I deem necessary. So...” Douxie swallowed and grit his teeth as Rivan’s hand began to glow with an ugly, pulsing red light. “...I will ask politely one more time before I resort to more extreme measures. Where is the forest-child Nari?”

When Douxie is stripped of his magic and captured by a new enemy, Nari and Archie risk everything to come to his rescue.

(Chapter 1)

(Chapter 3)

Thank you all for the wonderful response to Chapter 1! I know it wasn’t the most exciting start to a story, but I promise everything in it was very important for setting up this week’s chapter. And now, your patience shall be rewarded! This is the part where everything goes Horribly Wrong. I hope you all enjoy. 😁

(Also don’t forget about the Author’s Commentary if that’s the sort of thing you’re interested in!)

Read on Ao3

Or under the cut:

Douxie wished he could bring Nari to Central Park every day.

The moment her feet touched real grass again, her face lit up like he had never seen before. She ripped off her shoes and dropped to the ground, running her hands across the blades lovingly. She bounced up a moment later, flitting to the nearest tree and pressing her palms against it, giving a breathless laugh of joy as she felt its spirit reach out to greet her. It was a bit like witnessing a long-lost family reunion from the outside, and Douxie felt a strange ache settle in his heart as he followed the tiny forest goddess, who danced from one place to another, wide eyes glowing like sunlit amber.

“...She should have this all the time,” he murmured to Archie, who, after having his own little roll in the grass, had returned to his perch on Douxie’s shoulder. “She shouldn’t be stuck in that prison cell of an apartment.”

“I agree,” Archie replied softly, following Nari’s movements with his eyes as she clambered on top of a large rock and held a hand out for an inquisitive sparrow fluttering around her. “But it’s not safe for her to be out in the open like this for longer than a day.” The Familiar gave his wizard a sympathetic look. “You are doing everything you can for her, Douxie. But above all else, she must be kept hidden from the Order. Not just for her sake, but for the entire world’s.”

“...I know.” Douxie understood the weight of his responsibility. He had seen the Arcane Order’s power firsthand, had even gone up against it himself. Even without the power of the Genesis Seals, they were capable of the most destructive kind of magic he had ever encountered. There would be no hope of stopping them if they ever found Nari. Once the Seals were opened, all hell would break loose, and no one, not even a Master Wizard like himself, would be able to stand against such chaos. Though the thought was like a twisting knife in his heart, his duty as Nari’s guardian would always have to come before her happiness.

Nari had stopped chattering at her new feathered friend and was looking over at him, her brows beginning to furrow with worry. He immediately forced his spirit back into a state of calm, subduing the waves of melancholy that had been gently churning within his aura. He flashed her a bright grin and gestured back towards the path.

“Come on. There’s a lot more to see. Let’s go find one of the ponds.”

“There are ponds?” Nari gasped, her eyes sparkling in delight as she lifted the sparrow back into the air, where it took flight with a cheerful twitter. Douxie laughed at her apparent ecstasy as she slid to the ground, bounded to his side, and began tugging on his arm eagerly.

Even with the weight of the world on his shoulders (not to mention the recent discovery that something strange was lurking nearby), Douxie would have been perfectly content to spend the rest of his life in this moment. ***** “What do you suppose it would take for Americans to learn how to make a decent cup of tea?” Douxie grumbled, glaring at the disposable coffee cup in his hand as though it had personally offended him. “Seems like any hack street vendor with a pot and a filter can be taught to make a solid enough cup of coffee in this country, but ask them for a simple cup of hot water with a bag of leaves in it, and somehow no one knows how to do it properly.”

“From what you have taught me about proper tea preparation, I would say it is a rather complicated affair,” Nari opined, taking a sip from her own drink. “And their sweet teas are not so bad.”

“Sweet tea is an abomination and I only let you get one because we’re eating out. But never shall such a detestable liquid be found under my roof.” Nari pulled her cup closer to her in a mock show of defensiveness and giggled. Next to them, Archie was contentedly licking out the inside of a creamer packet.

The day had passed by in a green and golden blur for Douxie. He had spent the majority of it trying to keep up with Nari as she pranced with endless energy across several miles of the park. Exhausted as he was by the end of it, he had still dreaded telling her that it was time to leave. He had seen the crushing disappointment sweep over her face with painful clarity in his mind’s eye, but when the cursed words finally passed his lips, she had surprised him. She had simply given a nod of agreement, slipped her shoes back onto her feet (which were miraculously clean after an entire day of hiking barefoot in Central Park--apparently there were perks to being a woodland demigoddess), and resumed her place at his side. She hadn’t even looked wistful as they left, instead seeming quietly content, as though she’d had enough to sustain her for the time being. Now they sat underneath an umbrella outside a tiny street corner cafe, watching the sky turn red and the city begin to glow.

Nari’s eyes drifted across their surroundings, not with the same loving gaze with which she had surveyed the park, but still with benign curiosity. Suddenly, her eyes fixed on something behind Douxie’s left shoulder, and her countenance lost all trace of happy intrigue. The wizard was just finishing off his last dredges of tea, grimacing as he set the empty cup down, when Nari’s hand slowly crept across the table and brushed against his. Douxie felt a sudden alertness shoot through his tired body like a bolt of electricity.

“...He’s here,” she whispered, her gaze never wavering, though her other hand clenched nervously against the table. As subtly as he could, Douxie shifted in his seat just enough to trace her line of sight, while pretending to be re-tying his shoelace.

The man in question certainly didn’t look particularly threatening. In fact, he looked like the kind of person Douxie would find unbearably dull, all business and academia and such. He lacked any trace of youthful energy or optimism, though his physical appearance suggested that he wasn’t a day past twenty-five. He was standing in front of a store window, apparently looking at the displays. If Nari hadn’t been so petrified by his mere presence, Douxie wouldn’t have even spared him a glance. He straightened up and resumed his original position.

“You sure that’s the same guy?” he murmured, tracing the logo on an empty sandwich wrapper with his finger and attempting to look bored. Nari nodded, finally tearing her eyes away and looking down at her hands, which were nervously folded in front of her.

“It could just be a coincidence,” Archie put in softly. “He may be a magical anomaly, but we don’t have proof that he intends us any harm.”

“I...I think we should go home,” Nari squeaked. “He just....gives me a bad feeling.”

“Alright,” Douxie agreed, rising from his place and lifting Archie up onto his shoulder. He moved around the table and took Nari’s hand as she stood, squeezing it reassuringly when her other hand came up to anxiously grip his sleeve. They stopped by the bins to dispose of their trash, and Douxie looked back at the stranger one more time. His stomach twisted uncomfortably as he saw nothing but an empty sidewalk in front of the store window. He pulled his hand out of Nari’s grip and tucked her against his side as they walked, reaching out with his magic and draping it over her like a veil.

“Celare,” he whispered, his breath catching as the spell sapped a little more of his strength. It was easier the second time, but his steps still faltered for a few moments afterwards. He felt Archie dig his claws into his shoulder, a wordless admonition for wasting his magic, but Douxie ignored him and pressed on, silently shepherding Nari through the rapidly darkening streets.

The walk home was quiet. Douxie found himself listening to the rhythmic sound of their feet moving against the concrete, as around them, the streets began to glow golden beneath electric lights. A chill wind picked up and pushed gently against their backs. Under his arm, Nari shivered and pressed closer to him.

“Here,” he offered, bringing them to a halt beneath one of the street lamps and setting Archie down beside his feet. He slipped off his hoodie, leaving him in his black tank top that showed off the intricate pattern tattooed across his shoulders and upper arms, and held it out to Nari.

“Oh, no, Douxie,” she began to argue. “What about you?”

“I’m fine,” he insisted, draping the garment over her shoulders. She tucked her arms into the sleeves somewhat reluctantly, but Douxie didn’t miss the satisfied little hum she emitted as she closed the warm fabric around her. He gave her a grin and ruffled the top of her hair, while Archie curled around her legs pleadingly. Nari giggled and picked up the Familiar, wrapping him up in her arms snugly.

“Thank you,” he purred politely as they continued on their way. “I’d hate to be seen as fastidious, but this pavement really is very cold on my pads, and Douxie puts up such a fuss if I grip his bare shoulder with my claws.”

“‘A fuss?’” Douxie echoed. “Archie, those things are like curved drawing pins! If I let you ride on my shoulders without any protection, I--” The words died in his mouth as suddenly as a gust of wind. Out of the corner of his eye, he had caught sight of the stranger from before, strolling unhurriedly on the other side of the street, just a few dozen yards behind them. His hand moved to Nari’s shoulder and gripped it tightly. “Okay...” he breathed. “Okay, he’s definitely following us.”

“Douxie...” Nari squeaked, as her eyes followed his line of sight.

“Just keep walking,” he muttered, giving her an encouraging nudge.

“Douxie, whoever he is, he cannot be allowed to know where we are staying,” Archie hissed.

“I know, I know. I’m thinking.” As nonchalantly as he could, he drew his phone out of his pocket and pulled up their location on his GPS, studying the map carefully as they walked at what he hoped looked like a calm, relaxed pace. “...Okay, in about thirty meters, we’re going to be passing an alleyway that branches in two directions. If you two take the left fork, it should put you out just a few blocks behind our complex.”

“Just us? What about you?” Nari objected. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to wait for him at the fork, find out what he wants. He’s been pretty covert out here in the open, but I bet he’ll be willing to come closer if we’re somewhere a little more out of the way.”

“But....Douxie..!” Nari began to argue, as they reached the turnoff into the alley. Douxie pushed her into it, his strides becoming longer and more hurried as they slipped into shadow. They reached the place where the alley split, one branch continuing straight, the other going to the right. Douxie brought them to a halt and snatched Archie out of Nari’s arms, the Familiar sputtering with protest.

“Celare,” he panted, wrapping his aura around his best friend and pulling it tight. He grit his teeth as his chest lurched painfully, his exhausted magic leaving him with a cold rush.

“Douxie!” Archie hissed, struggling out of his wizard’s arms and dropping to the ground with an angry huff. “Why would you waste your magic like that?! No one is looking for me!”

“Because I need you to take Nari back to the apartment, and this guy might be tracking us through our auras,” Douxie labored, bracing himself against the nearby brickwork.

“Douxie, I cannot leave you here!” Nari protested.

“Neither can I,” Archie added.

“Archie, please, I need you to go with Nari and keep her safe,” Douxie pleaded, shooting a nervous glance over his shoulder, well aware that the stranger could appear in the alleyway at any moment.

“You are my Familiar!” the cat shot back. “My duty is to protect you first and foremost!”

“Archie, please.”

The two stared each other down in silence for a moment, Douxie’s hazel eyes both beseeching and trusting. He could have ordered Archie. Traditionally, a wizard’s Familiar was always subservient to their chosen human. It was part of the sacred bond they shared that the Familiar would obey any command their wizard gave them. But Archie had always been more than Douxie’s assistant. They had made an agreement when Douxie was still a small child that the boy would never use his position to force Archie to do anything. Familiar he may be, but Douxie had always seen Archie as his brother, his equal in every regard, and Archie was a creature who valued his freedom, even if he had chosen to dedicate his entire life to protecting and aiding Douxie.

Even at his most desperate, Douxie wasn’t demanding. But he was begging, with every ounce of his heart, calling on the bone-deep affection that had always bound these two together.

“...Yes, Hisirdoux,” Archie sighed, and Douxie’s heart ached with a rush of love and gratitude for his Familiar. “...Nari, come with me.” With a flick of his tail, the cat turned and began to move further down the alleyway.

“...N-no... Archie...!” Nari stammered, looking frantically between the two of them. “Douxie, please!”

“Everything’s going to be fine, sweetheart,” Douxie soothed, giving her a gentle nudge forward. “I’ll meet you both back at the apartment later.”

“But...!”

“Nari,” Archie called, looking back at her with soft golden eyes. “This way, please.”

“Go,” Douxie insisted. “I’ll be okay.” Nari stayed rooted to the spot for a second longer, staring at Douxie with a look of betrayal. He was unrelenting, and gave her another little push towards Archie. Finally, she tore away from him, and together, she and Archie disappeared into the darkness, the Familiar giving Douxie one last glance over his shoulder before the shadows claimed them.

It wasn’t even a full thirty seconds later when Douxie heard the scrape of shoes against the concrete behind him. The well-dressed stranger was standing at the end of the alleyway, his hands in his coat pockets, leaning his weight on one leg casually, as though he and Douxie had planned to meet each other here. He was still wearing his sunglasses, in spite of the darkness.

“...Can I help you?” Douxie asked, pushing away from the wall, trying not to audibly gulp when his vision spun for a split second--he must have used even more magic than he’d originally thought. He’d have to try to stall without using his magic for as long as he could.

“I suspect that you can,” the man replied, his tenor voice bouncing off the walls of the alleyway and making Douxie feel eerily claustrophobic. “Forgive me for the intrusion. My name is Rivan. I’m looking for someone. A forest-child by the name of Nari, who I’ve heard dwells somewhere in this city.”

“Forest-child? I think you’re in the wrong city, mate,” Douxie chuckled, his fingers twitching with the desire to activate his magic vambrace. “At least, I’ve never heard of anyone like that. Certainly not here in the Big Apple.”

“...Haven’t you?” Rivan’s tone was irritatingly polite, as was the inquisitive head tilt that accompanied his words.

“No,” Douxie replied shortly.

“I see.” There was a long pause. Neither of them moved.

“...And I’d appreciate it if you’d kindly stop stalking me,” Douxie added a touch irately, his left fist clenching at his side as he withheld the urge to summon his staff. Rivan gave a short sigh and an apologetic bow of the head.

“As the gentleman wishes.”

There was a blinding flash of red light. Douxie barely had time to throw himself to the side as the magical charge soared past him, crackling and spitting like electricity. At least, he assumed it was magic--but he couldn’t feel any magical energy radiating from it as it flew past his head. He stumbled back to his feet, his own magic gathering in his palm, when something slammed against his right wrist, causing his shoulder to jerk back and throw him off balance again. There was a click and a soft whirring sound, and suddenly the magic in Douxie’s hand was pulled out of his grasp, leaving his fingers cold and empty. The wizard cast a frantic look down at his right arm to see an iron band locked around it, its intricate engravings glowing the same color as his own magic.

An inhibitor cuff.

Oh fuzzbuckets.

His stomach lurched as he was swept off his feet and hurled against the wall. The last thing he was aware of before his head slammed against the brickwork was the feeling of his phone shattering in his back pocket. ***** Consciousness returned to Douxie sluggishly, as though it had to crawl a great distance in order to reach him. The first thing he was aware of was that he was very cold. The second was the sound of water lapping against concrete somewhere nearby. And the third was that he couldn’t move his arms.

Face scrunching in discomfort, he forced his eyes to open, blinking a few times against the fog that was still clinging to his vision. He was in some kind of empty warehouse, though it was a little hard to tell in the pale gloomy light shining from a solitary electric lantern nearby. Judging by the sound of waves outside, he was probably somewhere near the shoreline, maybe even at the harbor. He was tied to a metal folding chair that, after a bit of experimental jostling, he concluded was fixed quite firmly to the ground, likely with a standard binding spell, if the lingering presence of active magic was anything to go by. His wrists were bound behind him, the rope also fastened into place with a spell. There wouldn’t be any undoing of that knot without magic. He tried to summon a bit of his own, but the moment it began to move from his chest and down into his fingertips, the cuff around his right wrist glowed bright blue, and sapped his power, leaving him with an icy feeling in his veins for a few seconds. Douxie heaved a frustrated sigh and strained against the ropes halfheartedly for a minute, though he was fairly certain that was a pointless endeavor as well.

The sound of Rivan quietly clearing his throat froze Douxie in place, and his eyes flicked up to see his captor leaning against the wall nearby, just outside of the pool of light cast by the buzzing lantern. He was still wearing those damn sunglasses.

“You awake, then?” he asked, the false benign curiosity in his voice grating against Douxie’s nerves like nails on a chalkboard.

“...Where am I?” Douxie rasped, willing his voice to keep steady, though he was shivering from the cold. “What do you want with me?” He had a pretty good idea what the answer to the second question was, but he was still hoping to get away with playing dumb.

“Apologies, but I would rather not divulge your location to you at this time. As to your second question, I told you before: I’m looking for a woodland sorceress--Nari of the Eternal Forest.”

“And I told you before, I have no idea who that is or where you could find her.” He needed more time. He just had to stall long enough to come up with a plan.

“Mr. Casperan--” Rivan paused and turned his head in Douxie’s direction, though Douxie got the strange feeling that the man was not really looking at him from behind those sunglasses. “That is your name, right? That’s the name my employers gave me, at any rate. I admire your loyalty, but nothing frustrates me more than when people pretend to be stupid. I know that you are the forest-child’s chosen guardian. I know that you brought her to this place in the hopes of concealing her from the Arcane Order, who are seeking her for their own purposes. I traced her aura to this city and very nearly pinpointed her exact location--only for said aura to suddenly disappear. Only the auras of you and your Familiar remained, leading me to conclude that you had something to do with the girl’s disappearance.”

“You traced her aura...You’re a witch-hunter?” Suddenly the presence of the magic-suppressing cuff made a lot more sense--not just anyone would have equipment like that. Only those whose job it was to capture and retain rogue magic-users. Merlin had always warned him about such people, who were specialized in sensing and following auras, but Douxie had never encountered one before now. However, something wasn’t adding up here.  “...Wait, what do you mean she disappeared? You were there, you were following us, you must have seen--” Douxie cut himself off, suddenly realizing what he was saying, but it was too late. He had clearly piqued Rivan’s interest.

“Ah, so she’s still somewhere in the city, then?” he said. “Excellent. That makes my job a bit easier. As for seeing...” Rivan sauntered over to Douxie and slipped off his sunglasses. The area around Rivan’s eyes was burned and scarred over, red, bumpy flesh stretched across the permanently sealed lids. Douxie forced himself to swallow the bile that rose in his throat. “...I’m afraid I haven’t done much of that--at least, not with my eyes--since the late nine-hundreds, when your kind attempted to wipe the Shades from the earth.”

A Shade. Of course. That explained why Nari couldn’t sense Rivan’s life force or aura. Shades were a rare breed of wizard, who transmitted their living and magical frequencies on a level no other magic user could detect. This made them greatly feared, but also greatly prized in the magical bounty-hunting industry--you couldn’t run from someone you didn’t even know was chasing you. And a mage with Rivan’s level of skill in sensing and tracing auras would be almost impossible to evade forever, even if he could be sensed by magic. He didn’t need his sight to find his quarry. His magic told him everything he needed to know about the world, and the people in it.

...Unless someone managed to blind him twice over. Douxie thanked his lucky stars that he had thought to use that concealing spell. If Nari’s aura couldn’t be sensed, Rivan couldn’t recognize her, even if she was mere feet away from him. Douxie’s overbearing sense of caution was the only thing that had kept Nari out of harm’s reach today. If he ever made it back home in one piece, he would be sure to rub this in Archie’s face for years to come.

That was starting to look like a pretty big if, though.

“Now, I hate to inconvenience you,” Rivan continued. “but I promised the Order I would deliver this asset to them in a timely manner, and I’m already running a bit later than is good for my business reputation. If you would be so kind as to divulge the girl’s whereabouts, then I--”

“Spare me the pleasantries,” Douxie interrupted. “I’ll die before I’ll let the Order anywhere near her.” Rivan seemed to regard him for a moment, as if he was gauging the boy’s sincerity. Then he let out a short, weary sigh.

“...I see. Ordinarily, such a statement would needlessly complicate my work. However, the Arcane Order doesn’t actually care whether you live or die. They have given me permission to do to you whatever I deem necessary. So...” Douxie swallowed and grit his teeth as Rivan’s hand began to glow with an ugly, pulsing red light. “...I will ask politely one more time before I resort to more extreme measures. Where is the forest-child Nari?”

Douxie stared back at Rivan defiantly, his jaw clenched shut, though behind his back, his hands were trembling with dread.

To be continued. ✨

#tales of arcadia #fanfiction #a shot in the dark #douxie #nari #toa archie #the magical siblings #and their therapy cat

[lisinfleur]

Little Bird’s Song

The request:

Author’s Notes | If you love it, then free it. Universe | Vikings Pairing | Sigurd x Reader Info | Viking Age AU, requested by anon Words | 2020 ⁑ Warnings: Gentle Smut and erotic scenes included.

It was the third or fourth day you woke up with the same sigh in your master's lips. And your eyes caught Sigurd once again beside the cage of that beautiful bird he bought not far from that day; disappointment was clear in his face as he was touching the bars from time to time, trying to call the little bird's attention.

"Is there something wrong, master?" you asked from his bed.

You were bought to be his bed slave, but somehow the prince had grown fond of you and you became something more. He was always around you, enjoying your company, covering you with gifts, treating you all different from the other slaves you even noticed he wasn't having around anymore. But you were still only a slave. Sigurd never spoke different from this and neither you ever dared to ask your master for your dreams of liberty or he could turn mad at your ideas and throw you away like other masters already did before him.

And you had found feelings in your heart for him as well... It would be terrible to lose his attention or become something disposable for someone who earned his way into your heart as Sigurd did. So, you decided to keep yourself silent about this and keep his smiles towards you.

Smiles you never saw towards that little thing at the cage.

"It doesn't sing," Sigurd mumbled, sighing. "I bought it because the seller told me it was a songbird, but it never sang a single note. It just eats too little for a normal bird of its size and drinks from the water from time to time, but it never sang. I think the seller misled me. Or maybe it's sick..." he started analyzing, messing with the food bowl of the small creature, gently blowing away the coverages of the few seeds the little bird had touched.

Sigurd was always taking good care of that bird. You saw him buying the best seeds and always giving it water from his own amphora. He would clean that cage every day, sometimes twice a day, and always - always! - would provide the bird with proper light and proper coverage to avoid the cold of the nights and keep the cage dark for the proper time the bird needed to sleep.

Your heart clenched inside your chest.

Maybe he just couldn't see...

Like that bird, Sigurd has been taking care of you the best way a slave could be cared for. And like that bird, your heart was always covered with that sadness you didn't know if he had ever seen in your eyes.

Maybe he just couldn't understand.

You came closer. Your body covered with nothing but the beautiful nightgown he had bought to you last night, made by a light tissue that floated around as you walked towards the cage, opening it and extending your finger towards the little scared creature inside of it.

"It is a songbird," you mumbled. "I know them... From the lands where I came from..."

Sigurd remained silent, observing as you kept your finger in the middle of the cage, near the center of it, giving the bird space to approach slowly, peeking your finger sometimes, testing if it was safe to put his feet over it, to land on your hand.

For a moment, his heart filled with good feelings as he remembered you in the first days when he brought you home. You would barely speak to him, always shrunk like that creature who was now coming closer, climbing on your finger as it felt it was safe to come, just like you were now hiding in his embrace now that you understood his arms wouldn't hurt you.

Gently, you took your finger out of the cage, and Sigurd's heart skipped a beat: the bird would leave! It would flee! He wanted to tell you it would flee and you should lock it again, but his eyes found yours and he noticed there was a thin line of tears wetting your smile.

"Those were beautiful lands. And they were all over the place, flying and singing around," you continued.

And for the first time since he bought you, Sigurd felt his heart clenching into his chest. Where did you come from? What was your story? In his selfish need for a companion, he never really asked what brought you to his lands.

Who had enchained his little bird so it could become his?

"But they weren't like this..." you said, touching the cage with your free hand.

And even knowing it could cost you dear, you gently moved your hand, causing the little bird to fly away from your finger, flapping its wings all over the place before finally finding the window and leaving as if its life depended on flying away from that place.

Your body shrunk a little - surely, Sigurd would be mad at you! You just had released his bird and he would be in his right even to beat you for that audacity! What were you thinking, right?

With certain sadness in his eyes, Sigurd saw as the bird flew away. The little cage was now empty. Its door open, facing the window.

What was that, after all? Was it something you were trying to tell him?

That you wanted to be free?

To leave him as that bird did?

His eyes looked at you and you saw so much sadness instead of the anger you thought you would see. You even felt guilty for a moment, thinking you had somehow hurt your prince by releasing the little thing.

"Is this what you want, Y/N?" he asked, coming closer.

His hands gently touching yours.

"Am I forcing you into a cage as I did to this bird? Is my love a cage for you, sweet Y/N?"

No!

It wasn't what you said!

It wasn't his love... But there was a cage. Slavery was a chain in your arm always making you a thing... You weren't his because he loved you.

You were his belonging.

"Your love is not a cage... Slavery is," you answered, finally looking him in the eyes, fearing it was all over and he would leave you.

Maybe let you go, but to never be his again.

However, before he could say anything, a beautiful song entered the window filling your eyes with tears and your heart with memories of your home, calling Sigurd's attention to the little bird at his window: The little thing had come back to land over the open door of the cage that once was his prison. And it was singing beautifully in a way Sigurd had never seen a bird doing in front of him.

"It was scared..." you sobbed as the bird sang. "Locked... And scared of the bars around him. It was taken away from its home and it was locked behind foreign bars with strange eyes over him all the time. Now... Now it's free. But it knows there is food and water here. It knows there are things that are good near you. It will always come back as long as you keep food and water for him. Here is his nest, despite this place is not his home."

The bird flew away once again to the tree near the window and kept singing as if freedom was the most beautiful thing it had ever experimented. And you saw Sigurd taking the cage away, placing the food and water where the bird could easily take from his window, smiling as the creature came again, eating greatly from its bowl and even bathing on the water before leaving happily one more time.

There was a smile on your prince's lips when he came back to wipe your tears.

"It is not my love that locks you," he mumbled, understanding.

And you felt his fingers touching the leather collar in your neck.

"I don't want you to stay because you have to."

The buckle was undone and you felt it sliding down to the ground for the first time since you could remember. Sigurd's gentle fingers touching the marked skin, caressing your neck now free of what was the symbol of the slavery that was no more for you.

"I want you to stay... I want you to love me. Because you want to. And if you don't want..."

You didn't let him complete.

For the first time by your own will, you embraced Sigurd's neck and kissed his lips with passion, surprising him when his words were taken away from his mouth, replaced by the taste of your lips he loved so much to feel.

He always had you receiving his will, but it was the first time he actually felt your hands pulling his body against yours as your lips were tightly mashed against his.

You felt his hands around your waist and it just made you go further, kissing him deeper, embracing him tighter. And when the need for the air forced your lips to leave his, your words filled his ears like the beautiful song of that released bird.

"I want you," you mumbled. "I love you, prince Sigurd, I really do."

Not master. Prince Sigurd.

His name in your mouth for the first time sounded like music to his ears and your words were the most beautiful poetry. You wouldn't leave, but not because his chains were keeping you by his side.

You wouldn't leave because you wanted him.

You loved him.

And he loved you back. Now without anything that could prevent you to be what he wanted you to be: his.

His princess, his wife, his one, and only. Not his belonging, but his companion. The woman of his life Sigurd kissed with all the love he had in his heart for you at that moment.

It was your steps conducting the two of you back to bed. Your hands pulling his body towards yours. Your mouth exploring his skin.

For the first time since he bought you, no words were exchanged between the two of you as you divided his bed and shared your bodies with each other. And Sigurd knew your song, this time not to praise your master's desire, but to satisfy the ears of a man who knew how to make your body reach the apex of bliss in his fingers without a single effort.

He discovered your moans were his favorite melody, but those he got from your pleasure, not from your obligation. He learned your touches were better when you wanted to explore his body with your hands. And your kisses were warmer when you wanted to answer his lips or taste his skin with yours.

It was good for him to have your body laid over his chest, both of you sweaty of the morning of love the two of you shared in his sheets. Your collar landing on the ground along with the nightgown as your naked skin was glued to his and his fingers were slowly roaming your back.

Outside of the window, the bird's song started again and Sigurd smiled as you smiled at him; his fingers touching your face gently.

"I want you to tell me everything about you, my dear. I wanna learn who you are and what you like. I want you to tell me what you don't like and where are you from. And the stories of your lands, the memories of your heart. But I want you to know, even thou this is not your home, I want my heart to be your nest... Forever."

Your smile became bigger and you caressed his hair, his beard, sliding your fingers freely through his skin as you never allowed yourself to do, showing him you were pretty more tender and lovely than he ever had you being.

"It is, my prince. So as my heart is yours. I don't leave your side, dear Sigurd. But because I love to be into your arms."

And with no chains attached to your wrists, it was easier to embrace him back.

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