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#I have many song recommendations for getting into the sophitz feels but this is the latest
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recommended for getting into the sophitz feels
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wordsfallapart · 5 years
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mesmerizing love
a/n: it’s here! it’s here! gradaline is here! i finished, finally (sorry it took so long, i’m in college so... very busy). and it was a struggle, guys. i hope i did them justice. and okay listen grady was shy as fuck when he and edaline first met; you will pry shy!grady from my cold, dead hands. he may be a bold bitch now but he’s definitely still got that hint of shyness from having such an isolating talent. by the way, i constantly listened to “In Your Arms” by Illenium with X Ambassadors. this song is one of my sophitz anthems, but because these two ships have so many similarities, in my head, this song works really well for gradaline!
summary: our favorite canon couple meets for the first time, and they get well acquainted. a short kesler appearance. there’s a winnowing gala, a dance, a walk, perhaps even a confession? the origins of the nickname “eda.” there’s bold!edaline and shy!grady. this is also some of the fluffiest shit i’ve ever written.
word count: this is such a fucking monster y’all, i almost split it into two parts. it’s 2874 words.
tag list: @theunmappedstar , @grapesoda66 , @team-moonlark
this one’s inspired by @sophiexfitz ‘s post about basically how great it is when grady calls his wife “eda.” and i have to say, i agree. i agree wholeheartedly.
thank you @bookwyrminspiration and @discordzero for encouraging me when i got nervous!
if you’d like to be added to the tag list, comment or send me a dm saying so! you may also feel free to make requests!
***
           When Edaline reads through her first matchmaking list, several names catch her eye. Her number one is Amias Rivers, a classmate of hers. Her eyes flit over the next few names, until they hit number seven, Cassian Ranffek, and number eight, Atlas Torena. Both are friends of hers. She unrolls the scoll a little further, and there—at number twelve—is Grady Ruewen. She doesn’t know him personally, but he’s in the class above her, and she thinks their parents are acquainted. She knows very little about him, except his ability, obviously. There isn’t a soul who doesn’t know that he’s a Mesmer.
           She isn’t sure how she should feel about him being so high up on her list.
           She needs to do some reconnaissance.
*
           Over the next few weeks, Edaline decides that Grady Ruewen is… intriguing. He’s incredibly good looking, even by elf standards, with that sandy hair, tanned skin, especially bright eyes. He seems lonesome, though. Everyone gives him a wide berth, and most of the time, those eyes look sad.
           One day, she just can’t seem to take it anymore, and she happens to have an excuse, so she approaches him directly.
           “Hi!” she says cheerily, sticking out her hand for him to shake. “I’m Edaline!”
           He seems startled, and he glances around as if he’s trying to figure out who she’s talking to. He meets her eyes, and his cheeks redden a little as he shakes her hand.
           “Hi,” he says awkwardly, “I’m Grady.”
           “I just wanted to introduce myself, and give you this, to give to your parents. Only they can open it.” She smirks a little. “There’s a failsafe in place. I wouldn’t recommend trying.”
           She notices his blush spreading up to his ears, and she takes a strange satisfaction in seeing him feel something other than sad and isolated. “What is it?” he asks quietly.
           Turning around, she shoots a smile over her shoulder, and says, “It’s an invitation to my Winnowing Gala.”
           She ignores the whispers as she passes by. She has other invitations to deliver, after all.
*
           “I don’t want to go, mother.”
           “Not really an option, Grady.”
           “Come on, mom. You know it’s not like I really have a chance anyway. All I’m gonna get out of it is rumors and whispers.”
           “You have plenty of chance, honey. You’re smart, kind, and strong. Anyone would be lucky to have you.”
           “They’ll just be suspicious that I’ll mesmerize her. No one wants to be with someone like me.”
           His mother heaves a long-suffering sigh. She looks at her son, and, touching his cheek, she repeats, insistent, “Anyone would be lucky to have you.”
           He just shakes his head. His mother is adamant, however.
           “You’re going, Grady.”
           Huffing an annoyed breath, he goes to his room.
*
           Grady likes spending time with animals. He has a way with them—they seem to enjoy his presence. His ability doesn’t work on them. They never accuse him of being bad or suspicious based on his ability. They trust him.
           Hence, he spends most of his time working with them. That being said, he sometimes really wishes he could mesmerize animals, because his arm is currently being chewed on by an imp, which managed to get into his old treehouse and utterly trash the place. Finally, he wrangles it into a cage, knowing he’ll have to set it free somewhere else.
           Glancing at his arm, he sighs.
           When he heads inside, he asks his mother for healing balm.
           She looks up from her work, says, “We’re out, and I don’t have time to get any right now. Please get some yourself.”
           She gives him directions, and he sighs heavily as he heads to the Leapmaster. 
           He hates going out.
*
           Grady looks up at the wacky building in front of him. Slurps and Burps. The door belches when he opens it, and he can’t help the slight smile that tips up the corners of his lips. He heads to the back, where a strawberry blond-haired man is working behind the counter.
           “Umm, excuse me,” he says quietly.
           The man looks up, and Grady is surprised to see he can’t be more than a few years older than him.
           “Good afternoon!” he answers enthusiastically, and sticks out his hand, which has a splotch of blue on it. Noticing it, he quickly pulls his hand pack and wipes it off using a towel. “Sorry,” he says sheepishly, extending his hand again. “I’m Kesler,” he pronounces as Grady shakes his hand.
           “I’m Grady.”
           “Ruewen?” he inquires, brows raised.
           “Yes,” Grady says, hesitantly.
           Kesler looks like he realizes Grady’s ability, because his eyes widen, but so does his smile. “What can I do for you?” he asks kindly.
           Grady lifts his arm, pulling his sleeve back. He unwraps the bandage slightly. Kesler winces. “Should I ask?”
           “An imp in a treehouse,” he replies, his lips quirking up.
           “Ah,” Kesler says, nodding as if that’s completely normal, and comes around the counter, striding down one of the aisles. He reaches up to a top shelf, grabs a small jar filled with neon pink goop. He moves quickly to a different aisle, grabs a small vial of ice blue liquid. He heads back to the counter. “This one’s to make sure you don’t get infected,” he taps the elixir, “and this is to heal the wounds.” He taps the jar.
           He rings them up, bags them, hands the purchase to Grady. Giving him a smile, Grady thanks him.
           On his way out, he runs into someone on their way in. Her forehead smacks into his chest, and she pulls away, rubbing it.
           Grady’s face immediately flames, and he apologizes profusely.
           Edaline smiles at his flustered state. She reaches out, tugs on his sleeve. He ceases immediately, but his blush is reaching borderline supernova. “It’s fine,” she says softly, “I wasn’t really watching where I was going.”
           “I’ve never seen you here before,” she adds.
           “Oh…um, yeah, this is my first time here.”
           “It’s kind of a crazy place, huh?”
           He smiles a little. “Yeah, you could say that. Do you come here often?”
           An emotion he doesn’t really understand flashes across her face. “Yeah, Kesler and I are… friends, of a sort.”
           Awkward silence fills the space between them for a moment, before Grady steps to the side to open the door for her. She smiles widely and passes him, throwing a “See you later!” over her shoulder.
           *
           Grady wants to tear his hair out from nervousness. He tugs at the pin holding his cape together. Pacing across his room, he fiddles with the cuffs of his sleeves. He looks at his window, contemplates jumping out and levitating to the ground to run away.
            He sighs. What’s he thinking? There’s no way he can run, not while she’s expecting him to be there.
            It’s the night of Edaline’s Winnowing Gala, after all.
            They’ve become closer over the past few weeks, and she’s… confusing. She doesn’t shy away from him. She’s so… open and happy and sunshine-y. He finds that he’s never experienced this level of affection from anyone; he finally has a… friend. She makes him smile, and laugh, and she’s managed to scare him a few times when she conjures randomly. Just thinking about her makes his heart warm.
            As he reaches the Leapmaster, he is resolute. He will do anything to support her, anything to be her friend.
*
           When he sees her, he is mesmerized. When her eyes meet his, and she smiles widely, he is undone. She rushes over to him, amber curls bouncing, eyes twinkling, purple gown billowing around her legs. She hooks her arms around him and squeezes, hard. His arms automatically catch and hold her, but he feels everyone’s eyes on them, and he sees them start to whisper. He pulls away, but she doesn’t let him get very far, gripping his hand in both of hers.
           “Dance with me, now,” she begs softly, insistent.
           He melts a little inside. “You have a dance card, Edaline.”
           She sighs, relents a little. “Go put your name on it. We’re dancing later. I don’t care how much you complain.”
           He tips his head to the side, one side of his mouth tilting up, a soft look in his eyes.
            “I wasn’t going to.”
            Something about that look makes her cheeks heat.
*
            Edaline is exhausted. She never thought she could be tired of dancing, but here she is, feet sore, arms aching.
            In between the end of one dance and the beginning of the next, she quickly sidesteps her suitors to grab a glass of punch. It is only when she brings the goblet to her lips that she realizes just how parched she is. She gulps down the first glass, refills it, and the second follows suit. As she sips her third, her eyes catch Grady. He looks very uncomfortable. He’s got several Ladies and couple of Lords chattering at him… or about him. Their eyes pick him apart.
            Her pointer finger runs along the rim of her glass as she contemplates him. He’s beautiful tonight. Hair styled to the side, fitted red tunic and black pants, a black floor-length velvet cape. His registry pendant’s the same color as his cape’s pin, the same color as the embroidery on his boots.
           She takes a final sip of her drink before setting it on the table. Well, time to go save him, she thinks, striding towards the group. Grady notices her coming towards him, and his eyes beg please help. She grins, and when she gets close enough, she curtsies.
           “Time for your dance, Mr. Ruewen.”
           He bows deeply and offers her his hand as he comes up. Their fingers lace together as they head to the dance floor. Their eyes meet as they get into position, and when his palm presses to hers, she realizes his hands are rough with calluses, while all the other boys she’s danced with have smooth hands. She wonders why, but as his rough fingers scrape against her soft ones, she finds that she prefers the feeling.
          “Thanks for getting me out of there,” he says.
          “Of course,” she replies, like it’s obvious, as his other hand settles over the small of her back, sending heat up and down her spine.
          And, for the first time, when he smiles, it is wide, showing his teeth.
          Edaline’s breath hitches when she sees that lovely smile. It lights up his whole face, and she realizes that that right there… that was what she was waiting for, trying so hard with him for. To see him smile like that, so happily. She loves that smile.
         She loves him, she realizes, and her cheeks suddenly flame, and her palms go sweaty, and the butterflies in her stomach surge into a crescendo. Her heart feels like it’s in her throat. She speechless, and that might be a good thing, because Edaline has a habit of blurting out what’s on her mind and she has a feeling that if she opens her mouth, her entire heart will spill out.
          His smile drops a little when he notices the change in her demeanor. He unconsciously tightens his arms around her, pulling her closer. “Are you okay?” He asks, concern filling his voice. Her face is reddening, so he lifts the hand that was on her waist and rests it on her forehead, and it makes her blush harder when she feels his rough palm against the skin of her face. “You feel fevered, Edaline. You’ve been dancing too much,” he scolds, trailing that hand down her face, thumb resting on her cheekbone, and she shudders, fingers bunching into the fabric on his shoulder.
          “I’m okay,” she pushes out, with effort.
          “You should go sit—”
          “I’m okay,” she reiterates, “I want to dance with you.”
          He sighs heavily, relenting, but he wraps his arms tighter around her. To support her, he tells himself.
          Unconsciously, they press closer until their arms are all the way around each other, and her head is on his chest. They don’t even notice, but they dance together for far too long, and no one seems to want to stop them, too intrigued by their closeness.
*
           It finally hits him once he’s in bed late that night.
           He’s so, so in love with Edaline.
           She makes him happy. She makes him feel insane. She makes his heart race. He realizes that it was inevitable, loving her. And he really, really wants to be with her.
           Even in his own head, it sounds crazy. He’s only known her for a few weeks. But she’s… he thinks she’s it for him. He’s not sure he even gives a damn what other people will think.
*
           Edaline says it first, a few months later.
           They’re on one of their long, meandering strolls. They walk a lot together, in all manner of places. Today, they’re walking along the border of a forested area, enjoying the greenery and the birds chirping and the cool weather.
           Grady is telling stories about unruly animals he’s worked with. They’re laughing together, and he’s smiling so widely, gesticulating madly, ever so excited, and it suddenly occurs to her, the specialness of this moment. It stops her in her tracks.
           She wants to take in everything.
           Grady continues on before noticing that she isn’t by his side, and he cuts himself off, turning around in confusion.
           “Edaline? What are you doing?”
           She stares straight into his eyes, smiling softly. “Remembering this.”
           He smiles tentatively, takes a step towards her, holds out his hand. She takes it, interlacing their fingers. Staring at their joined hands, his so big against hers, she takes a deep breath. She suddenly feels small, but her heart is swelling bigger, bigger, bigger. She’s afraid to say what she’s feeling in the moment, because she knows that Grady is particularly sensitive when it comes to relationships. But she has to say it, because she loves him, she loves him. She loves him. And she’s been pining for him for too damn long.
           So she does it, she says it. When the words come out, they feel simultaneously loud and soft, like she’s screaming them to the world but also whispering them in his ear intimately. They fill her heart and throat in a way that no other words can, those three words.
           He freezes, and his eyes are wide. She doesn’t realize she’s holding her breath until she can’t hold it anymore. He seems shell-shocked, unresponsive, so she gives his hand a squeeze, babbling, “You don’t have to say it back, I know how you feel about relationships, I just needed you to know—”
           She’s cut off by his finger pressing over her lips.
           His eyes are so soft, and he whispers, “Oh, thank goodness,” before threading his fingers in her hair and pressing his mouth to hers. He kisses her like he’s been waiting for her his whole life. When he pulls back, he whispers frantically, “I love you, I love you, I love you,” and kisses her firmly again.
           Edaline’s lightheaded when he pulls back again, and she takes in a few deep breaths as he says, heavily, “I’m sorry I never said it, I just didn’t want to force you into anything, or—or make you think you had to return my feelings—”
           She cuts him off this time, surging up to catch his mouth with hers, tangling her fingers in his hair. Between kisses, she mumbles, “You would never force me into anything.”
           She suddenly feels a wetness against her cheeks, and she pulls away, alarmed, and her heart aches when she sees the silver lining his eyes.
           “Sorry,” Grady rasps, wiping his eyes and cheeks, but the tears keep coming. “It’s just, I—I never thought that I’d hear anyone say that.”
           “Oh, Grady,” she says, cupping his face to wipe his tears. He leans into her touch, and she goes up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek, then lower, on his jaw, before resting her head on his shoulder. “I trust you implicitly, you know that?”
           “Yeah, and I’ll never take it for granted.”
           “I know you won’t.”
           They stay like that for a few moments, before Grady whispers, “Thank you, Eda.”
           His gratitude is so heartfelt, so raw, and Edaline thinks that she should be thanking him, instead. Then her attention stutters back what he actually said, and—
           He feels her smile against his neck. She lifts her head, eyes twinkling laughingly. “Eda?” she says teasingly; she can’t help herself.
           Grady’s face reddens. “Sorry, it was instinct—” He’s cut off by Edaline’s lips pressing against his. She pulls away, and her voice is warm and tender when she says, “I like it when you call me that.” She pokes his blushing cheek.
           He sighs, rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling. Somehow he feels like this will be a regular feeling between them: a little exasperation mixed with a whole lot of happiness, and he knows that he will never regret being hers.
           They continue their walk hand in hand, and Grady has the realization that they have a lot more trials ahead of them, but he’s sure he can make it through, as long as he has her—his Eda.
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