#Red Tea loss weight

[valsholisticlifestyle]

#types of chinese teas #all day slimming tea #weight loss detox #tea leaves #red tea #green tea #black tea #chinese tea

[doobea]

I CAN MAKE YOUR BED ROCK - RIN ITOSHI

synopsis: You're a famous online smut author, married to an international superstar athlete, and everyone around you thinks you have the perfect sex life. What they don't realize is Rin sleeps in the guest room and you're still very much a virgin.

contents: fem!reader, explicit content (f!oral receiving, m!oral receiving, fingering, my lame attempt to write dirty talk, blindfolds, virginity loss), characters are all in their mid/late-20s, romcom, fluffy smut (if that's even a thing), feels like PWP (there's like 3 smut scenes?) and also mini sex ed, sae makes an appearance!!!, wholesome ending hehe, mdni word count: 8K (idk this could've been split up into two parts but here we are) a/n: words cannot describe how happy i am to see this whim of a series turn into something so huge in a short span!! like tysm!! anyway, i hope you guys enjoy the final part :)

四 : call me Mr. Flintstone, I can make your bed rock -> prev.

Tuesdays are miserable for Rin.

They're usually reserved for prepping for press conferences, answering emails from sponsorships, and posting on his socials to increase interactions with his followers - all courtesy of Ego's 'Blue Lock: Career Manager' program. Tuesdays are the only days when Rin can work from home but it drains the most energy out of him.

Today he wakes up before his alarm, a rare occurrence, and notices an oddly large amount of sunlight in the room. He shifts around and tries to yawn, only realizing that his jaw is stiff and sore from the night before. It soon dawns upon him that he's in your bed and feels the extra weight on the left side. He tilts his head down, eyes softening at the sight of you in his shirt, snuggled right up against his bare chest with just the tiniest of drools sweeping out of your lips, but he doesn't mind.

There's a sudden urge to use the bathroom but he rests in bed for a few moments longer. His fingers brush some of your locks away from your frame and watches as your eyes flutter under closed lids at the contact. He starts counting your breaths in intervals, almost trying to calculate your heartbeat in his weird little head, and begins to feel overwhelmed by how right it feels to be laying next to you.

Tuesdays just got better for Rin.

The first beat of his alarm goes off and he's fast to put it to snooze in order to not disrupt your slumber. The athlete takes this moment as motivation to get up and gently sweeps you over to your sides before crawling out of bed. His back creaks, aches, and pops when he pulls himself to his feet and attempts to do his routine yoga stretches. And, at that moment, Rin decides that he'll make his favorite dish for breakfast.

Your nose twitches you awake from the fragrant earthy smell emanating from the kitchen. You sit up a bit too fast, vision going white as you're hit in the face with the immediate morning shine, and groan. Sounds of stacking plates and water trickling in the background are soon followed by the shuffling of slippers coming close to your direction as you see your shirtless husband carrying in a breakfast tray occupied by two bowls of green tea rice with bream and tall glasses of water.

"Good morning," He sets down the tray on the bedside table and leans forward to plant a kiss on your cheek, "did you sleep well?"

"You wouldn't believe it," You shoot him a cheeky grin, "maybe we should do this more often."

He raises an amused brow, "Sleeping together?"

You shrug back with a teasing look, "If that's what you wanna call it then sure."

The mattress lets out a small squeak as Rin sits down, quickly cupping the sides of your face into his for a deeper kiss. The heat of his mouth on yours feels all too welcoming that you can't help but relax your head back down to the pillow. You find yourself eagerly returning his kisses, searching for his tongue with yours and gently nipping at the corner of his mouth.

Rin breaks free for a moment, redness evident on his cheeks, "The food."

You slouch forward, lips brushing over his neck which causes him to tense up, "I'm sure we can spare just 15 minutes, right?"

"Right, 15 minutes." He breathes and looks at you, "Is there anything you want me to do?"

For the past year, you've dreamt of Rin saying this exact question over a dozen times with a dozen of different answers. Whether it be him kissing you until you were a sloppy wreck, leaving hickeys and love marks all over each other's bodies until his teammates complained, or having him absolutely fuck you into oblivion.

"Up to you."

Rin nods and pulls off the blanket covering you, admiring how cute you looked in his baggy t-shirt, and lowers himself further until his face is right between your thighs. He leaves a trail of kisses along the side of your right thigh, lips moving lower, engulfing the hot candy-coated skin. You can feel yourself growing wetter and start to whine, instinctively grinding your hips against the mattress.

"Calm down." You hear him whisper, breath hot against your wet center.

"Rin." You don't know how many times you were going to cry out his name, but you needed him to understand.

As his mouth hovers over the area that you had no idea was so needy until now, he continues to kiss the insides of your thighs, forcing you to turn your entire body to the side in search of some form of pressure. His name makes its way past your lips again and, at that sound, he holds tighter to your thighs to spread them apart. Rin stares at your dripping opening, spreading it open with two fingers for so long that you look down to meet his dangerous teal eyes.

"I have a meeting in 30." He says as if it was dirty talk and you almost end up laughing but saved the energy to give a light squeeze at his head with your thighs.

"So make it fast."

Rin nods slowly, and soon, his hot, firm tongue is on your sensitive nub. He moves in long, fast strokes, caressing the neediest part of your body while one of his rigid hands settles onto your hip, rooting you against the mattress. You screw your eyes shut at the action, feeling the pleasure beginning to inch its way up to your stomach, and made the realization your husband has already made note of all of your sweet spots in just two sessions.

Your rapid moans begin to fill the room and you attempt to lift your hips against his strength, every muscle in your abdomen tightening as you try to concentrate on finding release.

"Rin, I'm clo—"

A loud blaring ringtone from Rin's pocket snaps you both out of the intoxicated spell and he groans in frustration. He gets up to sit on the end of the mattress, picking up his call with a swift swipe. You can't make out the exact words from the line but, from Rin's pursed lips and hard expression, you knew it was work-related.

"Yeah, I'll hop on in just a second. Thanks." The call drops with a beep.

You pull the blankets up to cover yourself, trying to hide the disappointment stretched on your face, "Ego?"

"Yeah," Rin sighs and throws you an apologetic look, "we'll continue later? My sponsors started the meeting early."

"Mhm, that's fine." You give his arm a small squeeze, a secret way of saying 'Go fuck them up'. And he squeezes back, his way of saying 'I will'.

Rin's meeting with his sponsors is... interesting.

Like most people who know him, he likes to keep things relatively minimal and doesn't like showing much of his personality other than what people usually see on screen - deadpan and curt. And he prefers to keep it as such. Though, and he blames Ego, his recent sportswear sponsors have been pressuring him to 'change' his persona for their new campaign (and gaining a new wide customer audience of course). And the theme for that? Eros.

"Has anyone told you that you have a hidden sex appeal?"

Rin almost chokes on his drink before responding quietly, "Not many?" Aside from you, that is.

The middle-aged man on his laptop screen laughs, "We'd think you'd be perfect, but you need to flesh out that side of you."

"Huh," is all Rin could say because why would athletic wear even be sexy in the first place?

"We're a bit busy today on site but if you could send us full body shots in these poses," the man sends over a link in the chat, "we'll compensate ten thousand for that and then the rest on the day of the shoot, deal?"

Getting these types of offers is usually rare in Rin's case. Brands tend to fit their representative's aesthetics rather than molding them into something they're not. But sometimes they can get a bit ruthless with their pestering.

He clicks on the link and a separate tab opens up, revealing a series of seductive mock-ups of a blindfolded shirtless model in tight Nike boxers. This is what they wanted him to do? Just so they can sell some underwear? Rin finds himself regretting turning down the Mcdonalds' campaign two months ago. Maybe that would've kept his schedule busy and Nike could've turned to someone else like Reo or Karasu.

He wants to say no, but this was one of Blue Lock's biggest donors. Saying no would result in another long meeting with Ego and the rest of the company's executive board. And there's no way that he could sit through that again.

"I'll send them over by the end of the day."

The man snaps up, eyes wide, "Perfect! Pleasure doing business with you as always, Itoshi." Without saying any departures, his screen goes black.

Rin grunts and slumps down in his chair, only looking up when he hears his bedroom door creaking opening slightly, revealing your figure with a sly smile.

Ah, he can't tell if he likes the look or not.

"I'm assuming you—"

"Can I please help?!"

Rin doesn't miss the glint that flashes across your eyes. It appears that you already have something in mind and he needs to send over the photos by this afternoon so does he even have a say? It wasn't like Rin knows how to take gaudy photos anyway.

He fakes being in deep thought briefly with a finger to his lips, enjoying the sight of your bubbling excitement, before agreeing, "Where should we start?"

You strut over to his laptop and eye the mock-up photos that his sponsor had sent over. Rin closely watches your facial expressions change as you seem to take this newfound role with increasing responsibility and seriousness. Of all the time spent together within the past year, he's never seen you this passionate over something silly in his opinion.

"Do you have their product on hand?" Your question snaps him from his thoughts and he nods, pointing towards the guest room closet.

"They sent over three separate pairs last week. I didn't bother trying them on."

A gasp escapes from your lips follow quickly by a pout, "I could've seen you in them?!”

“We’ve only started being intimate a few days ago, honey.” He said matter of factly.

“Still…” Your voice trails off with a playful eye roll before you clap your hands together in movement of an idea.

Rin straightens up from his seat at the action, unsure of what to expect within the next couple of minutes. He hears you mumble something under your breath and watches you leave the room and return with what appears to be a black cloth, some rope, and a pair of handcuffs. While he knows that you usually receive free sex toys from your collaborations, he can’t help but question whether you’ve used them or not. You toss the items onto the mattress and rummage through his drawers to pull out the sealed package with the branded boxers.

"It'll be quick, babe!"

Most likely not, he thinks. With the direction of where this is heading, Rin believes he'll soon revisit this morning's session.

Much to his own surprise, modeling in only his boxers was something he discovered he was effortless at. Or maybe it was your own enthusiasm and concentration behind the camera that made him feel a bit at ease. You both moved to the living room area to catch better lightning and instructed Rin to lay down on the sectional couch with a singular hand tousled through his hair. In just a span of a few minutes, you've captured over a dozen dynamic close-ups and full-body shots of your husband's figure.

"Do you do this often?" Rin speaks out.

You stand behind the camera with unwavering focus, thumb hovering over the shutter as you set up for the next shot, "Not often but only with the toys I get."

Rin flinches from the flash before pressing on, "Do you use anything of them on yourself?"

Your dexterous fingers adjust the settings and angle the device slightly right, "Never, if I'm being completely honest." A faint flush travels to the tip of your ears at the next sentence and you feel yourself hesitating, "I've only ever used my personal vibrator but that's about it. I have a mannequin in my room that I dress up in order to understand visuals whenever I'm writing."

This is new. In the short amount of time that you've guys been spending together, you believe that this is actually the first instance where Rin asks about what you do for work. And despite him going down on you this morning, you can't help but want to crawl somewhere far and away from the sudden embarrassment. You do this for a living!

A few more flashes and loud snaps go by.

"And what exactly are you currently writing?" He asks. Rin is no good at hiding his intentions, teasing leaks into it.

You freeze, feeling his watchful gaze, and choose your next words carefully, "A short novel about a husband and wife. Really corny plot to explain, I don't think you'll like it that much." You try to laugh off your sudden nerves.

Rin crosses his arms, now sitting up, "I don't mind listening."

For a long moment, you stare back at him, mouth agape, trying to scramble for an answer, "Um, it's about their awkward relationship and them trying to get comfortable with one another, if that makes sense?"

The uneasiness of your answer is something he picks up on and Rin can't help but move forward with it, "That sounds awfully familiar." He says as if it's a long-forgotten memory, placing weight on each word.

Your hands fumble with the next camera shot, "A-Ah, there are tons of books that follow a similar premise, it's nothing new!" Rin looks like he's going to add something to the topic but you interject, "Let's move to the next set! Can you put on the blindfold?"

He obeys, your shoulders relax as the conversation dissolves, and he ties the black cloth around his eyes, only allowing his dark bangs over them. You watch him fumble back into his original pose with his legs spread and arms propped up against the couch’s frame. 

Anyone within their right mind would easily agree that Rin Itoshi is attractive. If you were to show any of your penpals a photo they would probably hound you down for stealing a man like him off the market. Even when you were looking through his application over a year ago, you had a general idea of what to expect but meeting him in person blew away your expectations. Seeing him earlier was great, fantastic even, but there was something about having that blindfold on that made your breath stuck in your throat.

"How does it feel?"

"No different from me closing my eyes." Except, well it is different. He feels a lot more vulnerable with not knowing your movements, his sense of touch is heightened and, frankly, he's aroused. And of course, you catch the last part.

"I can feel you staring, you know."

"It's hard not to." You snap the photos and made a mental note to photoshop the growing appendage away. You aren’t really sure what would happen if that gets approved and you really don't want to find out. "Can you lay flat on the couch this time? Hands behind your head? Yeah, just like that - perfect."

He vaguely makes out the flashes behind the thick fabric and jolts when he suddenly feels your cold fingers tracing his lower abdomen. He stays still, wondering where and what you're planning to do next in heavy excitement. His erection jerks hard against the boxer briefs as your fingers make their journey down, hand stopping right when his seemingly wet tip throbs up into your palm.

"Stay still for me?" And he hears you laugh when he nods a bit too fast.

Rin draws a sharp breath through his teeth when you free his erection from the slits of his bottoms, his hands travel to meet yours and place them around his length. Zero words are exchanged as the next thing he feels is your warm tongue wrapping eagerly around him.

He instinctively bucks his hips towards your mouth, toes curling in the process as you start dragging your tongue up and down his arousal. It only took a few more tries before you start to feel the moment when he loses the control that he had been holding onto diligently for so long.

But what fun would that be?

You pull back from his length with an audible pop and laugh, "That's for this morning."

He wants to cry at the loss of contact but holds back. Rin tosses off the blindfold, throwing it across the room, and the moment his gaze meets yours, it's burning. "Not fair."

"It's only fair, babe." You reply back with a tease.

Your body falls softly against the cushions of the couch as your husband gets up and he picks you up easily by flinging a hand under your legs. You wrap your legs around his waist, resting just above his needy erection, and widen your eyes as he starts stepping toward the bedroom.

"What about the photoshoot?"

"Just send over what you have," He makes a low, guttural sound in response and traces his tongue along the crook of your neck, "I want to do something else right now."

He pulls you away gently by your throat, forcing you to look back at him. His eyes scan your face, looking you over and memorizing every detail before they fall to your lips, and he leans forward and kisses you.

As his tongue breaches your mouth, he sets you down on the mattress, crawling on top, and shivering when his bare cock brushes over your bottoms. You can't help the way you tremble under his hold, your entire body lighting on fire. You have an idea of where this might go but, before anything else, you reach over to your bedside drawer and pull out a series of small boxes.

He pulls away at the sound and inspects the items, "You always kept condoms there?" Rin asks.

"No," You said a bit too defensively, "I'm just an optimist and safety comes first." You toss two boxes in his hands. "Check the date on those."

He eyes them strangely and taking out a couple of colored condoms and clear ones. "Why?"

You squeeze his thigh, sitting up on the mattress this time, "The good ones expire within two to three years. I think these should be decent? Pick whichever one you want to use."

Rin blanks for a while, trying to weigh out his options. He doesn't know why but this is harder to decide compared to who he should pass to on the field. You sit back slightly against the headboard, rubbing small circles into his thigh before he finally comes to a decision and picks up a black one.

Your lips quirks up, "Ribbed for her pleasure?"

He plays with the packaging between his fingers and furrows his brows, "I don't trust the ultra-thin ones."

"It's not like they make the condoms break on purpose!"

"I know that," He blushes in embarrassment, "I just want us to be safe too."

You free yourself from your top and bottoms, letting your breasts perk up in exposure to the cold air in the bedroom. Rin doesn't wait long to get rid of his only remaining article of clothing and carefully removes the wrapper from its confinement. He fumbles with the condom for a bit, trying to find the correct way of putting it on so that it doesn't automatically slip off, and gingerly pushes your back against the mattress.

Rin takes a moment to fully absorb the sight, his heavy gaze darting across your fully naked flushed figure along the white sheets that hugs your outline beneath you. Hands rest firmly along your waist and he leans forward, a mixture of concern and lust raging in his eyes.

"Are you sure?"

Your arms wrap behind his neck, anchoring yourself below as you waited with much anticipation, "Take your time, I'm right here."

It takes Rin a few long seconds for this realization to hit, spurring him to action. He pulls back slightly, one hand steady on your waist and the other gripping his arousal as he begins to slowly enter your folds inch by inch. A heatwave goes through his system at the feeling of your tight cavern clenching around the tip of his cock, Rin bites into his lip to control himself and gently pushed forward, sliding inside of your entrance and pushing through the thin strip of resistance while you begin to cry softly by his ear.

"I’m sorry," he apologizes when he hears you emit a sharp sound of pain, "We can stop if this is too much."

You hold onto him tighter, refusing to lift your chin from his shoulder.  "It's fine," you manage to breathe out, "I'm trying to get used to you."

You moan and lower your hips, forcing him deeper inside of you, his length fully draped in your tight warmth. It's Rin's turn to wince, this time at the feeling of being fully inside. Without thinking about it and unable to control his body’s response, he begins to thrust his hips up towards yours slowly, still holding onto you firmly as you widen your legs under him.

"You're so tight." Rin rasps out, your nails digging deeper into his shoulders.

You fight back the tears and whimper, "It feels good, don't stop."

"I know," he coos, unable to keep from responding in the heat of the moment.

What started as slow, tepid lovemaking soon became rough and swift. Your muffled moans soon grow into loud, uncontrollable whines as you cry out your passion into the room. Rin screws his eyes shut and lets his concentration break, his mind fully focused on the feeling of you under and tight around him as he works his length as deep inside of you. All he can think about is how good you feel and how long he wanted this, and now finally being with you like this - so close and so unveiled - it's more than he can handle, more than he can believe.

Rin knows that he's moments away from falling apart completely.  Feeling the cord tighten in his stomach,  he leans forward to take one of your nipples in his mouth, sucking it gently while he brought his fingertips to your sensitive nub and begins to circle around the area until your mewling grows further into a frenzy.

 "Fuck," You begin to cry into his shoulders, fingers tearing at his hair, "It feels too good, baby."

Rin is too far gone at that point, and he realizes too late that his climax is bursting out of him, his cock leaking heavily into the wrapper. You're soon behind him, biting into his shoulder as your own orgasm hit, and the feeling of your walls gripping and clenching him only prolongs his own release and it leaves him feeling intoxicated and dazed.

He pulls his hand away from where it sat between you both, wrapping his arms around you and holding you close, both your breathing laborious and loud. Rin tries to process the reality of what had just transpired, but he knows that he would never truly understand why he's lucky enough to be with you in this way.

"As cheesy as this sounds," You rake your fingers through his damp locks and giggle at his exhausted state, "I'm glad we waited to do this."

"I'm sorry that we didn't do this sooner," Rin replies quietly, nudging his face closer to your chest, "you did great."

"You made it great for me."

Your bodies breathe in rough synchronization and you leave the clean-up process to become tomorrow's worries.

Waking up to the sight of you drooling on him has quickly become one of his favorite things to look forward to. Rin doesn't even hide his intentions as he reaches for his phone and snaps a picture of you. The sound and flash from the device wake you and you soon take note of the wet mess that you had laid on his chest from the night before.

You let out a yelp, using the blankets to immediately wipe off any trace of saliva, "Delete that right now!"

Rin quickly saves it as his new phone background and shakes his head, "That's not on my to-do list today." Not like he has a to-do list, but he enjoys seeing this flustered side of you outside of the bedroom playground.

You pout, "Who knew you could be so mean?"

"My parents left that part out of my application for obvious reasons."

Before you could say anything more, Rin's phone buzzes in his hands, and his brother's ID flashes across the screen. This could mean one or two things, he's wishing him a happy birthday or his whole family is coming to visit. Considering that it's not even September yet, you can only assume the latter.

Rin scrambles to put on a pair of boxers and hops out of bed to take the call, "Be right back."

It had been almost three months since your in-laws last visited your home. With his older brother living abroad in Spain and his parents spending their retirement funds on travels, it was hard to find a good quiet week for everyone to fly over. But, when they do visit, it's always an impromptu visit on their end that leaves you scrambling around the house last minute. Rin knows how stressed that leaves you so when he gets off the phone with Sae, he immediately lets you know about the upcoming visit within the next three days. While most people may think three days is still short notice, at least that's better than waking up at 4 in the morning with everyone by the front door.

"How long do you think they're gonna stay for?" You step out of the shower in your bathrobe and eye the wall clock.

"Only two days, it'll be brief. My mother just wants to drop some stuff off and have dinner." He says while making the bed.

You hum in deep thought, "We can spend the rest of today grocery shopping when you get back from work if you want."

"I would like that."

Rin helps you clean the place for the first two days and then on the final day he spends all his time in the kitchen. He reassures that he'll handle the cooking since everyone in his family are picky eaters, especially his older brother.

"You sure you don't need help, babe?" You try and peer over his shoulders but his tall frame made it nearly impossible. Rin notices and takes a step aside for you to look.

He's wearing one of your pink, frilly aprons while chopping up various greens on the cutting board. On the stove he has three separate pots, one pot was nearly filled to the brim with bone broth and tender meat, the other was a smaller pot with already boiled vermicelli noodles, and the last pot is just a placeholder for raw vegetables.

"I've got it covered," He says with focus and tosses the last bit of cilantro into the third pot. "Is everything else ready for tonight?"

"Mhm," You lean against his side, engulfing your nose with the intense aroma from the meat, "The smell alone is riling me up." You said half-jokingly.

His eyes glimmer and immediately pauses his actions, "Maybe we could sneak one in before they arrive?"

You lightly pinch his shoulder and laugh, "Are you a sex addict now or something?"

"No," He sets down the knife and turns off the stove, face leaning into yours as he cages you in between his arms and the kitchen counter. "Maybe just a you addict."

You pinch his shoulder again, a little too roughly, and Rin winces. His lips ghost over yours and, with a simple touch, you latch your arms around his neck and press your lips together. It's firm, rough, and almost desperate. Rin's hand drifts up the back of your shirt, easily snapping the back of your bra band off, and soon gets a hold of one of your exposed breasts. You melt into his touch, whining when his fingers brush over a nub.

You reluctantly pull back when you smell the intense fragrance again, a faint string of saliva stretching and breaking in between you two, "What time are they coming over?"

He glances at the clock on the wall, "About an hour."

You snap your head towards the unfinished dining room table and curse under your breath, "I forgot to set up the plates and runner."

Rin caresses your cheeks, forcing you to readjust your attention back to him. "It'll be quick, don't worry." He ushers, placing your hands against his aching clothed length.

It’s almost like a trend with you two now. Finding odd moments to become intimate during a time crunch. "Fine," You press against his warmth and offer him a sultry smile, "but you're on cleaning duty."

"Fair enough deal." He groans at you, running his fingers across the now damp fabric of your panties.

Lifting a hand, you trace the outline of his face with your fingertip, admiring the sharp angular features and how his long lashes rest under his eyes as he breathed quietly. Your eyes fall on the firm definition of his biceps where they peeked from the black form-fitting t-shirt he always likes to wear around you.

Rin's eyes were glowing in that specific cloudy gaze again before he bashfully asks, "Can I go down on you?"

You shudder when his fingers press down on your clothed clit, "It's hard to say no when it's you, Rin."

He tugs at your waistband, easily slipping off the article of clothing to the ground, and watches you with greed in his eyes as you slither out of your soiled underwear. His hands grip firmly against your ass, lifting and placing you down gently on the counter, away from his carefully crafted meal prep. You shiver against the cold marble countertop and watch with anticipation as he slowly bends down to level his face between your wet heat.

He has already memorized and claimed your scent as his own; it’s a fierce and sweet concoction of hormones and needs that only his words and touch could elicit in you. As your aroma encircled him, Rin couldn't help but grow more and more thirsty. His fingers rest firmly on your folds, spreading you apart.

"Rin," You find yourself panting out his name, hands immediately tugging at his dark locks.

He nuzzles his face right into the wet slick, burying himself in your addicting warmth, "Be good for me, okay?"

Despite the rush of getting everything set up, Rin takes his time. His tongue makes its laps against your folds and he feels your trembling body as you buck against the countertop. You let out another moan, this time contained in your throat but still loud and sweet enough for him to hear, and the sound of it makes his length ache in return.

He tries to ignore the throbbing pain and focuses on your pleasure. His tongue dances in the forms of long, short, and fast strokes against your flesh, stopping only when he reaches your clit. Every time he stopped, your body tensed above him, and it made him smile knowing that he could get you like this. Rin hates to admit it but he loves to tease you as much as he loves to leave you awash with pleasure. As he continues to ravage from below, you begin to whine incoherently and lean back further until your back is flush against the cold countertop.

"Rin, please—" The knot growing in your stomach makes your hands ball up into fists in his hair, knuckles turning white from the immense pleasure.

He can't see your face but, judging from the cadence in how you called out his name, he knows that you're close. Seeing you behaving desperate and anxious only makes him love you ten times more than he had moments ago. Giving your thighs a light spank, his lips latch onto your clit, and rolls his tongue in circles.

He feels the vibrations of your moans echoing throughout your messy figure but he wants to finish you off in a way that'll turn you into putty in his hands. He sucks on your sensitive nerve one last time before pulling away, standing up, and using the back of his hand to wipe away the honey-coated slick that's across his face.

Before you get a chance to cry out in frustration, Rin seizes you by your waist and pulls your body forward so that your feet touch the floor. He meets with your flushed expression as you quietly gasp for air and pulls out a wrapper he had in his pockets.

"Can we?" He says it so tenderly.

"God," You can't help but laugh weakly at the sight, legs trembling from the built-up pressure, "You get cleaning duty and owe me brunch tomorrow."

He hums in agreement as he slips out of his sweats, erection raging red and getting fully wrapped around by the condom, "Consider that a date."

"Just don't take too long because we still—"

Bringing one hand up towards your cheek, he pulls you into a swift kiss that quickly silences you. Your words soon deteriorate into a muffled series of moans into his mouth as he gravitates his palm under your right thigh, lifting and spreading it just enough that he slips his length inside in one smooth glide.

"You fit so perfectly around me." He breathes between your ragged lips before lowering your leg, his thumbs taking place onto your hips.

Rin starts off his thrusts at a swift pace, not too rough but still reaching your deepest spots that had you clenching your eyes shut and tipping your head back. He winces at the tightness and warmth of your sex, suppressing back the moan that rose into a bubble in his throat but it's nearly impossible with how electrifying everything feels.

"Don't look away."

Your eyes flutter open and tilt your head forward, finding his smoldering gaze. Rin stares back, studying the way your lips part as you call his name and the way that your brows furrow in pleasure.

"That's it." He pumps a snap thrust into you, causing your hands to fly directly around his neck, holding onto him tight. "You're such a good girl."

The sound of his voice has always been able to produce flutterings in your heart, but hearing him talk to you like this, speaking words like that, is enough to sharpen the ache and send the deluge of your insides rushing forth like a dam has been breached.

The sounds coming out of you right now are inconvincible. Your sentences and his name starts sounding like a new language but he can't bother to listen to your nonsense chatter right now. Not while he's focusing so hard on the magnificent feel of your warmth that was melting him where he stood, his concentration on heightening your ecstasy until you break under his touch. He brings his hips as close to yours as he can, each stroke smooth and just deep enough to hit your spot every time he falls back into you. You shut your eyes again, dropping your forehead to his chin, and Rin grunts, letting himself drown in the overwhelming bliss of being inside of you.

"Tell me how it feels." He moans against your sweat-covered collarbones.

You launch yourself closer, now chest to chest with your husband, "It's so good—you take care of me so well!"

Another sharp thrust causes your walls to spasm crazy against his arousal, he nips at your neck in response, "I know I do."

He’d built you up so high earlier that it doesn't take long for you to fall apart. Your walls continue to tighten around him and your nails scrape lines into his shoulder blades. You're crying his name again, the sound bright and muffled against his neck, but Rin focuses on the feel of you losing yourself on his cock. You begin to lean against him, your body going slack and limbless.

Feeling a burning hot pressure grows inside his own core as he devours your sounds and drives into you with a few final deep pumps, unable to stop himself when he spills hot against the wrapper inside of you.

Rin is trembling as he finishes, and you're still vicing him in a death grip with the searing wet heat of your sex. Your sounds have mostly quieted now, minus the weak giggling, leaning completely limp against him. Your arms are still looped around his shoulders and the sweat from your brow trails his clavicle where your head had come to rest.

"How long do we have?" You finally breathe, brain still intoxicated by the rush of pleasure.

"15 minutes." He sighs and pulls outs, soon realizing the mess that you both had made all over his groin and legs.

A groan mumbles through your lips, "Think we have enough time to squeeze in a shower?"

Rin places a chaste kiss on your wet cheeks, "Not a chance."

It's a miracle how efficiently you two work under pressure. It's also no surprise that Rin is fast at almost everything he does. Whether it be running from one end of the field to the other or rushing to have the meals all perfectly set up by the dining table as your in-laws were just arriving through the door. You mentally thank him for giving you just enough time to fix your 'post-sex' crazed hair and take care of 'her' business.

By the time you arrive at the dining table, practically everything and everyone had already been seated and served. You shyly say your brief greetings before taking a seat next to Rin, "How was the flight over?"

Sae, who sat across from you, doesn't try to hide the disdain in his voice, "Still jetlagged and tired, if I'm being honest."

Rin picks up his noodles and sends his brother a questioning look, "You literally flew in first class." He jabs.

The older male fakes a yawn, "And? There's still a seven-hour time difference."

Your mother-in-law quickly interjects the growing tension, "It wasn't too bad, we had a layover in Shanghai which was nice, and we even brought gifts!" She reaches underneath the table, pulling out several luxury branded boxes and a lone black plastic bag that was stuffed to the brim with white fabric.

"That one is mine." Sae lamely points at the black bag which earns a huff from your husband. Of all the few times you've met his brother, you don't know if he's genuinely bad at giving out gifts or just did it on purpose to tick off Rin. "Wear it in private." He adds casually in a whisper.

"So," Your mother-in-law's voice chimes in an all too familiar tone at the dinner table, her chopsticks clinking against the noodles in the bowl as her eyes dart between the two of you on the other side. Her husband shifts awkwardly in the seat next to her and Sae mindlessly chews, though his head perks at the incoming conversation. "When are you guys expecting kids?"

You nearly spit out your meal in response, still not used to her directness, "Oh, umm..." Your eyes wander to Rin in hopes of a reasonable reply.

In the past, Rin would be quick to give an answer that fell more along the lines of "We're still getting to know each other" or "We're both busy to focus on that right now". Normally you wouldn't say anything in return and merely silently agree just because he was right. Plus, you never did feel comfortable admitting to his parents that you did indeed want to sleep with their son, maybe not pop out a baby anytime soon, but definitely slipping under the sheets.

You were half expecting Rin to spout out a similar retort this time around but, while looking over at his face, Rin shoots his parents a faint smile and squeezes your hand. This earned a loud gasp from everyone at the table, including yourself.

"Give us maybe two years?"

A time frame? An actual time frame? Everyone is thinking the same thing.

"Oh, my heavens..." His mom places a hand to her mouth and tears start pooling at the corners of her eyes. His dad immediately fetches her a napkin and holds her shaking figure in his arms, chanting that their dreams of having grandkids are now achievable.

Sae lets out an empty huff before giving a small congratulatory clap, "Guess you guys finally did something about that."

"About what?" You and Rin ask in unison.

Sae motions his hands in your direction, expression deadpan, "Sex." He says it loud enough for you to hear but thankfully your in-laws are too occupied crying tears of joy to realize what was said.

Rin glares at his brother and a loud thump was heard. You think your husband just kicked Sae underneath the table but Sae's face stayed unwavering. Or maybe he was trying to hold back his pained expression? You can’t read him that well.

"Quiet." Rin seethes but Sae only shrugs and tosses the black bag across the table.

"Open it up." Sae says a bit too eagerly.

Rin rips into the bag, and he groans when he pulls out two sweaters, the soft fabric spilling over his lap. He groans even more when he lifts one up, unfolding it and holding it at arm’s length. It’s a white baggy, comfortable-looking sweater. There’s black writing across the chest, the words ‘she's just my roommate’ plastered over the front in a Disney-styled font, with an arrow pointing to the right.

"The other one is for Y/N."

The second sweater is identical to the first in color and design, except this one has the words ‘I'm more than that’ with arrows pointing down.

Well, that's certainly embarrassing. You don't even bother questioning where he even ordered it from.

Rin lets the sweater fall onto his lap, "This is going to be our new dish rag. I'm not wearing this."

"Of course you will," Sae takes a sip from his glass and flicks over a rare smirk, "You're going to toss out your big brother's gift?"

"It is comfortable." You point out and Rin groans again when he sees you pulling the sweater over your head. Hair tousled from putting it on and the baggy look does look incredibly cute on you but still...

Sae clears his throat, "I get first dibs on naming the kid, by the way."

Rin rolls his eyes, "And what's the name?"

"Sae Jr."

Another loud thump and you could've sworn a tear rolled down his cheek.

It's Autumn by the time you finish your beloved passion project. You've spent the last few weeks hulled in your room after the family dinner, rapidly typing away on your keyboard for what seems to be hours that Rin legitimately thought he had to buy you a new one. You claimed that you finally knew how to piece the rest of the story together and you couldn't let the idea sit around. He respected your decision but still checked in every now and then to drop off takeout meals and water break reminders.

Once finished with the finalized novel, your penpals were the first ones to gain early access to it on your Patreon site. A quick video call from them in the middle of the night was all the confirmation you need to know that all the "pain" and "suffering" was worth it.

"See? This is why you're number one!" Bachira pops open a bottle of champagne while wearing a cheapy-made party hat.

Chigiri raises his own glass to toast, "How many physical copies are you printing out?"

"I think 500? I have to double-check with my manufacturer for the numbers. But that also means 500 books to sign and I am not looking forward to that."

Your friends roar over the speakers at the fact, downing another glass of alcohol.

Unaware of how noisy the sounds were coming from your phone, you failed to recognize Rin shifting around in his sleep. He wakes up with a low moan. You thought he was going to yell at you but only pulls you closer to his bare chest, his hand soon finding a place to rest on your stomach and eyes flutter open against your skin.

"Who are you talking to?" His raspy voice catches your friends' attention.

"Oh my god," Hiori tries to look closer into your video, "is that your husband?"

Shidou's screen flashes white for a second and grins, "He's hella sculpted."

"Wait, did you just take a screenshot?" Your eyes widen and quickly turn off the video before they could see Rin's face.

"Wait, we wanna see the hubby!"

Your friends begin to whine but your fingers hover over the red button, "Okay bye, thanks for all the love but I have to walk my fish tomorrow morning!" When the call drops, you turn to look at your half-asleep husband, whispering an apology.

He gently pinches your stomach and hums in contentment, "It's fine, but you have to wake up early tomorrow, right?"

"I do," You release a long sigh and press your back deeper into his chest. "But I'm proud of how everything turned out."

"I'm sure it'll be one of your best sellers." Rin hums against your spine, causing you to giggle in reaction.

"Yeah," You reply quietly. "I mean, I hope it does well. I literally wrote a book about us."

He hugs you tighter, looking at you with a faraway look in his eyes, "Life imitates art, I guess."

You feel like you're going to burst with a rush of emotions. With all things considered, you both had come pretty far. "Hey, Rin?"

His lips brush against your shoulders, "Yeah?"

In a barely audible voice, you whisper, "I love you."

The words hang in the air for a split moment. With half-lidded eyes laced with drowsiness, Rin blinks slowly, the corners of his lips twisting into a serene smile.

He leans close to plant a longing kiss on your forehead before rejoining without hesitation, "I love you too."

[ I CAN MAKE YOUR BED ROCK ]

Hana Kay has dedicated her entire career to writing erotica professionally. Everything in her life was going all according to plan when she finally hits a million followers and gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get featured on Today's Morning Show. Nothing stands in her way, not even the jarring fact that she's a virgin and that she's too afraid to even touch her own husband. But when Hana has a face-to-face meeting with her seething editor and a fight with writer's block, she has no choice but to face her fears.

YN Finalis resides in the Tokyo Metropolitan area with her husband, who is the sole inspiration for this story. She considers herself a self-proclaimed "guilty pleasure" writer who loves to create uncanny stories for her readers. Please send all messages to the following email below and for physical fan mail please address to the PO Box right after. She strongly requests that her fans send in owl plushies and any merch featuring her favorite football player Rin Itoshi!

Make sure to grab YN Finalis' signed limited edition hardcover novel at your local bookstore or you can order online on her website for just 19.99 USD / 2865 ¥!

Thank you and happy reading!

a/n: WOAH sorry that took longer than expected i didn't expect life to hit that hard so soon! ty again everyone for the love and support for this series!!! this is my first time really writing anything smut related so I'm glad it didn't turn out to be doodoo. let me know who you wanna see in my next long fic series!!! I'll put out a poll soon hehe

TAGLIST

@wtfsaekyuny , @jukey , @broeagleblog , @freakingdinonuggies , @damutaaa , @idk-bro-gay , @saharei , @yesurmajesty , @vvi-site , @saeswifeeeeee , @marilover69 , @izayumi-chan , @whostakara , @talleythesimp , @short-black-diamond ,@certaindreampost , @solellmn , @crnnbrry-blog , @itoshiexx , @punkhazardlaw , @jinedia , @mandapanda16 , @erintaro , @tamimemoo , @comet-kun , @shinha , @milktkags , @benignnotions , @dinosaursraur , @karmatiz , @vernorexiaaa , @iloveblogging2 , @peachcobblerinmymumsbasement , @keiitsune , @talleythereader , @redqueensmutt, @blissblossom @thebasicbword @seiamor @exatse @allofffmypeaches @emiyua @k0z3me @hopelessrxmantics @darious @venusinx @curiouslilbeast @linastired

#blue lock #bllk #bllk x reader #blue lock imagines #blue lock x reader #doobea writing #itoshi rin #rin itoshi #rin itoshi x reader #itoshi rin x reader #blue lock smut #itoshi rin smut #rin itoshi smut #bllk smut #i can make your bed rock - rin itoshi #mdni #GOD #im finally free #i think im satisfied w the ending #;-; #sooo long im sorry guys LOL

[ebuddynews1]

#red tea #foods and drinks #benefits of red tea #weight loss

[lavendermage]

Lost in Inazuma 10

Characters: Ayato, Thoma, Gorou, Kazuha

Genre: Sagau

TW:Blood, implied torture, sexual implications (like one sentance)

2.1k words (these keep getting longer)

AN: I’m back baby! Just started college and I feel like I’m in a rom com. My life is a joke, but an entertaining one this time. Working on another longer Childe fic. Shout out to Orah-s, I love you so much. Mwah.

“Thoma, it’s fine.” You laughed as he fussed over your outfit, layers of beautiful silk that Ayato had coaxed you into. Gold thread wove throughout the fabric in a beautiful pattern. You had tried to reject it, but he didn’t let you. This was a diplomatic meeting, he argued. You should present yourself in the best light. It remained unsaid that you only had one chance to prove your divinity, something you didn’t even fully believe. No matter how much you laughed or joked, the weight of it suffocated the room. 

You had chosen people who weren’t loyal to the shogun, those who had fought her tyranny before. Beidou, Kazuha, Kokomi, Gorou. People who would believe you. People who could keep secrets. You took a deep breath.

“Goldie, are you alright?” Thoma brushed your hair out of your face.

You nodded. “I’ll be fine.” You thought for a moment before leaning into him.

“Goldie! What are you…” His arms were held out awkwardly, he seemed scared to touch you.

You sat up, a bit embarrassed. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He tugged you back to him, his hand feather-light on your shoulder. It was barely enough to pull you off balance, something you could easily resist if you wanted to. You didn’t. You fell back into his warm chest. His heart beat quickly next to your ear; he must be nervous too. His hand drifted down to rest on your back. The weight was comforting. His scent tickled your nose, cinnamon and tea.

“You smell nice.” You mumbled absent-mindedly.

“Huh?” 

You looked up to see his wide eyes. “What?” 

“Nothing…” His face was red as he looked away. “It’s just… nothing.”

“Alright then.” You laughed before sitting up and fixing your hair. 

There was a knock on the door. You shot up and looked towards the sound, even though a screen blocked the view. You could hear Ayato’s footsteps as he walked toward the door to open it.

“Welcome.”

A woman’s voice greeted him, deep and rough. Beidou. “Commissioner! Kazuha here was excited for the meeting so we arrived a bit early. Hope it doesn’t throw off the schedule.”

“Any particular reason?” Ayato asked. There was a slight edge to his words,

Kazuha spoke softly, a smile in his voice. “The wind told me there was a visitor at the estate. I was looking forward to meeting them.”

Silence, while Thoma scrambled to arrange your hair and clothes. He was quiet, but you were sure that Kazuha could hear.

Another knock at the door.

“Greetings, commissioner. This discussion seemed important, so we arrived early.” The sweet voice must have belonged to Kokomi.

“So everyone is here already.” Ayato paused. “I’ll consult the other participant.” He walked around the screen and leaned down to your ear. “Are you alright with starting early?” He asked. His hand reached out to adjust your mask but he decided against it.

You nodded. “Might as well get it over with.” 

Ayato offered you his arm and you accepted. You walked out from behind the screen. The guests’ faces turned to look at you. 

You bowed deeply. “Thank you for your attendance.” 

Your movement seemed to make Ayato uncomfortable. “No need to bow, Goldie.” He placed a hand on your back. “Please.” 

Beidou smirked. “Awfully kind of you. Is this your fiance, Commissioner?” She laughed loudly. “But he’s right. There’s no need to be so formal.”

Ayato stiffened next to you. You waited a few seconds but he didn’t seem to have a response.

You held back a laugh, surprised he was caught off guard. “No, captain. Our relationship is purely business.” 

Kazuha smiled as he looked between the two of you. “This is the first time I’ve seen you at a loss for words, Kamisato.”

He coughed. “Let’s focus on the purpose of the meeting.” He gestured at the tea table at the center of the room. “Make yourselves comfortable.” 

With a rustle of fabric everyone was seated. You looked around. Kazuha sat to your left and Gorou sat at your right. You and Ayato were at either end of the table. The two women sat next to their subordinates.

Gorou looked at you suspiciously. “Why do you feel the need to hide your face?”

“That’s no way to talk to them.” Kokomi chastised him before speaking to you. “I apologize. He’s a general, not a politician. I must admit, I am also a bit curious.”

“No need.” You waved off her apology. “It’s a reasonable question. I am hiding from the tenryou commission.”

Kazuha looked concerned. “Why?”

“My face.” You reached behind your head to untie the string of your mask. It fell softly into your lap. “They call me an imposter.” You felt naked with your face uncovered.

Kazuha was the first to speak. “The wind whispers about you. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.” He bowed and pressed his lips to your hand. “I am at your service.” 

You felt your face flush. “No-no need to go that far!” You glanced at the others at the table. Kokomi was deep in thought while Gorou stared at you. You felt your heartbeat quicken. “I can prove I’m not lying!”

“How?” His voice came out too fast, too harsh. Disbelieving.

You reached under your collar. There was a flash of metal. A knife. Ayato jumped to his feet. He was too far, all the way at the other end of the table. The metal glinted. Your hand shook as you brought it to your forearm. A hand grabbed yours and the knife fell. You looked up and saw Gorou. 

His eyes were wide with shock. “What are you doing?!” 

“Showing you proof!” Your voice shook. 

“I don’t need any.” 

You just stared at him. “But- if you think I’m lying…”

“It doesn’t matter whether you are the creator or not. Watatsumi Island doesn’t punish those that look like the creator.” Kokomi explained. “We view it as a blessing.”

Beidou sighed. “Most places are like that, apart from a few extreme sects. Inazuma’s archon just happens to follow one of them.” 

You nodded. “So you won’t hurt me?” You hated how shaky your voice was. You hated how tears threatened to fall. Now was not the time for weakness.

Kazuha reached for your other hand and gently uncurled your fingers. You hadn't even realized that you had squeezed it into a fist. “Of course not. It is my duty to protect you.” 

“Your duty?” 

“I truly believe you are my god.”

“Why?” You asked. Kuki recognized that you looked like the statues, but that didn’t convince you. You had read the records. You were far from the first person to have this face. Your blood was enough proof for the Kamisatos’. Not that you understood why. You could think of several reasons for the color. 

“The wind whispers about you.” He held your hand in both of his. “It sings your praises.”

“What does it say?” The words slipped out before you could stop them.

"It tells of soothing teas and healing touches." He paused, “It sings of golden blood and purple scars." He tapped your bandages. "May I?"

You nodded and he carefully started to unwrap the fabric. It fell away from your arm, revealing angry purple scars that branched around your arm. He uncovered his own hand and placed it next to yours. "Electro is a particularly volatile element." He looked up. “I know what it’s like to be burned. I know what it’s like to be a criminal through no fault of your own. Please, trust me.”

“Promise.” You knew how childish the request was, but you couldn’t help yourself. You needed that reassurance. “Promise that you won’t hurt me.”

“I swear on my life.” He said, a hand over his heart.

You nodded slowly, accepting his words. You were so tired, spent from all the stress. Ayato and Kokomi lead the strategizing, while Beidou butted in every one in a while to offer advice. You stayed silent. You didn’t have the energy to participate fully. Absent-mindedly you started to stoke the blanket next to you. Maybe it was a rug. It was soft. You fought the urge to doze off. 

“Gorou, you haven’t spoken in a while.” Kokomi noted. It was true, he had stayed silent for an uncharacteristically long time. 

He sat straight as a pin, his eyes fixed on the table. “I-I guess so.” 

“Are you nervous?” You asked, too tired to watch your words. “You look nervous.”

“Well..” He coughed. “You are petting my tail right now.”

Your eyes widened as you looked down at the softness by your hand. He was right. Your hand was on his tail. You quickly snatched it away as you felt heat rush to your cheeks. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. I swear, I thought it was a blanket or something.”

He blushed. "No, it's fine."

"I thought you didn't like when people touched your tail."

"Well no… I mean usually but… this is a different situation." He said as confidently as he could.

You nodded pretending to understand. "Can I pet your ears then? They look soft." He was silent a moment too long and you opened your mouth to try to take back your words.

"Yes." He didn't look at you. He just leaned towards you slightly. You reached out and gingerly stroked his ear. 

"...soft." You mumbled under your breath. You had forgotten how sensitive his ears were. He must have heard you as his cheeks started to turn pink. You heard a giggle to your right. Kazuha had heard as well. 

The conversation continued. Kokomi put a hand to her chin. "Gorou and I could take you back to Watatsumi island. The shrine maidens would be honored to take care of you."

You shook your head. "That would risk war. Your island is already in a precarious situation I-" You paused, fiddling with the sleeve of your kimono. "I couldn't put your people through that again. It would be-"

A cup of tea fell to the floor with a clatter as Gorou jumped to his feet, one hand on his bow the other reaching to his quiver. "Someone is outside."

The fear was back with a vengeance. Your heart beat at your ribs, desperate to escape. You felt a hand on your shoulder. Kazuha. You could feel his breath on your ear. "I will stay by your side, your holiness." A light breeze brushed your face. You nodded, shuffling closer. 

You looked over to Ayato. His face was a mask as he directed Gorou and Beidou to follow him. You shivered at his coldness. It wasn't out of character, but you had gotten used to the awkward kindness he showed you. To see him like this was - unsettling. 

  They slipped out of the room. For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Silence that allowed your mind to run. It was interrupted by a loud thud and a scream. It was quickly cut off. There were four sets of footsteps when they came back. 

Ayato dragged in a woman. Her nose was bleeding and her uniform was ripped but you recognized her. Chiyo. Ayato shoved her to the ground. There was something unsettling about the way he stood there. Silent, like still water, an ocean with no wind. 

 You didn't bother to put on your mask. She had seen anything there was to see. It only took a few steps to reach her, but the whole time your body was screaming at you to do something. To hit her, to run, anything. You resisted the urge and crouched down to her level. There was a hatred in her eyes you couldn't understand, so deep it threatened to drag you under as well. "Why were you watching us?" You asked, surprised by the strength in your voice.

"How dare you." She growled. "You come here with no qualifications, no references, nothing, and you get a job here. You do nothing all day and you still get treated like royalty. The Lord treats you like you hung the stars in the sky." She spit at you. 

"There are circumstances you don't understand." I argued.

She leaned in, and smiled. A smile so full of hatred it sickened you. "You have the face of a god. Lord Kamisato must like it."

"Like what?" 

You could feel her breath on your face as she got even closer. "He must love having someone like you in his bed."

You startled and pulled away, the heat rushing to your cheeks. You weren't sure how to respond. You glanced at Ayato.

His jaw clenched and he grabbed the woman by her collar. "Do not speak of them that way."  He looked up at you. "I will bring her to the interrogation room. Will you be alright without me?"

You nodded.

Ayato left with the woman and you were alone with the guests. You felt someone tug at your hand. You turned to see Kazuha.

"You should rest."

I laughed. “And how would I do that?”

He pulled his scarf from his neck and folded it before placing it in his lap. He gestured at the make-shift pillow. “Rest your head.”

Beidou laughed behind you. “What a gentleman!”

Kazuha smiled politely at the comment. “Only if you are comfortable, of course.”

You nodded before lowering your head onto the pillow.

By the time Ayato returned you had fallen asleep. He was grateful for it. You had not slept well before the meeting and you needed your rest. There was a second, more selfish reason. He hadn’t fully gotten the blood out from under his fingernail. He couldn’t stand to show himself like that in front of you. So impure. 

Tag list (interact with this if you want to be added, bolded means tumblr won't let me tag you.)

@severeoperatorhoundclod @extremelytoastybread @moratalys @cruxnova26 @thesilverarmada @irisxiel @chocogi @hellonies @milkylammy @uemiie @code-roevember @genshinimpactsme @mr-rottenflesh @estherlily @no0neshere @allblognamesaretaken13 @anxiousgrayshrimp @astra-nomical-ly @nebulabunni3 @w1s-t3r1a @kota412 @doumalove @ji-woonhaksimp @amidst-the-tempest @hellotherecumrade @jcrml @gooberq @0rah-s @frickfrackanxietyattack

Masterlist

#sagau x reader #genshin sagau #sagau #ayato kamisato #ayato x reader #gorou x reader #genshin gorou #genshin impact #kazuha x reader #sagau kazuha #sagau gorou #sagau thoma #gn reader

[thebomb-thebird-andtheburntbitch]

"you'd like me to what?" zhongli had been enjoying your company in silence for a spell before you had blurted out a request you wished he would fulfil for you.

"show me how to fight with a polearm." zhongli had not yet divulged the information about him being a god to you, and as far as he knew you hadn't known just how much physical power he possessed. so why ask him?

"may i ask why you've chosen to come to me with this request? i'm afriad i am quite at a loss."

"well, you go out with the traveler on occasion, right? and they're super strong and it's not like you go on leisurely walks among the hilichurl invaded mountains of liyue." before zhongli could even try and rebuttle, you keep going. "and truthfully, if you go out into the rolling hills with the traveler covering you everywhere you go, that makes you look kinda bad you know."

"bad?" his voice pitches and recoils slightly from your words.

"making them do all the work while you sit back and do nothing! that certainly would paint a bad picture if you keep going out there willingly and don't learn. so! you must know something."

"hmm," he hums, wordless agreeing with a small furrow to his brow and a sweat on his neck. though your scenarios were purely hypothetical and very untrue since he does carry his own weight very well, it still wasn't a picture his wanted you to paint of him. "perhaps.. you're correct. but, then why would you request training specific to polearms? could you not ask a local millelith for aid?"

"i could i guess," you deflate and he almost cracks right there. "but hu tao said you were definitely a better choice in regards to what i'm looking for."

zhongli feels a deep sigh in his chest at the mention of the current director. yes, this does have her written all over it. if she wasn't looking into ridiculous ways of promoting the business of death, she was snooping around in zhongli's love life- or lack thereof since you were not his significant other much to her displeasure.

"last i check however, you were already very skilled in other means of combat. why the sudden interest?"

"isn't is a good thing to broaden your horizons? that's what childe said anyways."

you've also convened with childe it seems. lovely.

"you really should disregard anything those two say." his voice is normal as he speaks, but the dryness of it makes you laugh. he wasn't joking, but he smiles at you regardless.

"well, i'm not going to pressure you!" you get the sense that his questions were a very very polite way of stalling you from a rejection. "if you dont want to, childe did offer since he said he's mastered every form of combat aside from archery." zhongli felt his brow twitch.

"i also wouldn't recommend getting too frivolous with childe. kind though he may act, he is still someone to be cautious of."

"because he's a fatui?"

"partially." also because he'll easily vie all of your free time from this point onwards until he leaves liyue if you go to him for training. zhongli wouldn't get to enjoy your company like this anymore if you do run to childe, and that idea alone makes his chest itch. "i accept your request."

his calm agreement makes your face light up and your eyes shine with such excitement he feels antsy. strange how strong the urge to kiss you grows when you look at him like he had just hung the stars.

zhongli is lucky the next time you see childe and tell him that zhongli will be training you with polearms, he's seated up in the higher shops of liyue's red-fenced architecture. the strained, yet begrudging look of disappointment to cross the harbingers face is a perfect appetizer to go with his fresh cup of tea.

as is the smug look zhongli shoots him when childe feels the burning gaze on his skull and looks up once you saunter off. zhongli takes pleasure in knowing he is a being who is and always will be above childe, both in his current fenced in seat above his head and higher status of being. a mere fatui harbinger has nothing on a god, gnosis or no.

zhongli was untouchable by many, in many ways. you however, all you had to do was simply ask and he would do whatever you wished.

besides, he hadn't forgotten what childe tried to do to his nation where all his beloved people and you resided. and his memory, much to childe's misfortune, is very good.

#zhongli #zhongli x reader #zhongli fluff #zhongli blurb #zhongli fic #genshin impact #genshin impact zhongli #genshin zhongli #zhongli x y/n #zhongli x you #genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader

[spinchip]

BEEN THERE ONCE BEFORE AND I WISH THAT I NEVER DIED

Pairings: none Word count: 6500 Warning: Graphic depictions of violence and death. Gore, murder, Ear trauma and limb loss tw

Summary: Zane would do anything to keep the ninja safe.

*

There is a pot of tea between you, sitting in Master Wu's private garden right outside the door to his room, and it’s some sort of oolong blend with a sweet smelling screen hanging over it. Osmanthus flowers float in your cup and you trace their pattern, watching them shift idly in what little breeze this summer day has brought you. The tea is too bitter despite the honey you’d added, over-steeped and thick on your tongue.

There is a sword on his lap, a sleek red sheath and neatly wrapped handles. There are no adornments on this blade, it is plain and unassuming, a tool for its master and whatever that may entail. Master Wu had asked you out here, months after the desperate fight for Ninjago at the corridor of elders (even longer after you had been torn apart by a power that was never yours to hold,) and the rattlesnake smile he’d offered as he’d led you out vanished the moment you were hidden from prying eyes. He makes your tea silently, and he burns it.

He looks at you in a way that makes you bristle, with eyes that no longer see you as human. Your silver skin itches, your tea tastes like ash.

“Do you know what a ninja is, historically?” He asks you finally, his voice quiet but clear over the space between you.

You do not, but you could look it up in an instant. You don’t do that either. He does not expect you to answer.

“They were said to be assassins. Hired blades sent to the house of the lands lord to slaughter them- the last recorded deaths by these assassins was years and years ago, but that was not the end of the era of the ninja. They snuck between the shadows, they pulled their hidden weapons, and they eliminated their targets cleanly and efficiently.” He waits, gauging your reaction. You can feel his eyes sit heavy on where your hands are deceptively calm around your tea cup, assessing, searching for something like he had that day he’d first laid eyes upon you in the frozen pond.

A phantom of a red flashes across your HUD that screams DANGER- and despite how there is no real warning clawing its way across your eyes, you know you should be afraid anyway. Tread carefully, you are in dangerous territory. Do not react. Control.

“Is this a history lesson?”

“Perhaps.” Master Wu murmurs, finding something in your expression with those dark eyes.

“The best way to defeat my enemy is to make him my friend.” You can’t help but say, a parrot of his own words, your eyes calculating.

“And if your kindness is rejected?” He does not skip a beat.

You hesitate, the clink of your cup as you set it down on the table too loud on your ears.

“You are no longer a child, Zane. Your innocence died with the Overlord. The others still have that innocence.” You jerk, the reminder of your death bruising on your soul, but he doesn't handle you with kid gloves, “You’ve killed once, to protect them.” Sensei Wu does not touch his tea, and there is a rising sickness in your stomach, “Can you do it again?”

He draws the blade and it’s blood red, holding it out to you, handle first.

To protect them?

His eyes are dark and there’s a danger there, but he has always been kind to you. Like a father when yours had vanished, warm smiles and encouraging words flashing across your eyes. Visions of fire and blood and death color your head along with it, superimposed on top of your friends and family. You’d do anything to protect the people you love, wouldn’t you?

The sword is a healthy weight in your palm.

---

Police tape surrounds a dilapidated old building, great yellow swathes of it wrapped down the sidewalk into the street and officers at each corner standing vigil over the body slumped half in the gutter and covered by a sheet. News vans line the street waiting for the opportunity to film once the coroner has packed away the gore and it’s mostly family-friendly for the afternoon broadcast. Flood lights and lamps are set up around the premise, little yellow evidence markers salting the earth down the doors of the warehouse and up to the body. Apparently deceptively unassuming, the Mechanics home base is filled to the brim with his lackeys and stolen tech- or, it was.

“I guess the Mechanic got tangled up with the wrong guy.” Kai says breathlessly, spooked as the camera pans over the overflowing body bags being loaded into the coroner's van.

The Commissioner taps the remote to his VCR on his leg anxiously, “You heard on the news already, i’m sure, but we suspect the unsub used a long blade of some kind,” He’s visibly shaken, “A sword, perhaps- the evidence was very…” he makes a slashing motion from his throat, miming blood striping the wall behind him.

A blood spattered window, the killing so brutal a heavy streak of gore laced up the glass, is still visible to the probing crime scene photographer.

The graying man slides a manila folder thick with printed pictures across the table and Jay pointedly pushes it away from himself, looking queasy. You reach out and pick it up with hands that seem to float endlessly away from your body, but you’ve felt like this since stumbling home two nights ago when the moon was full and no one else was awake. You don’t hesitate to open it, staring down at the first photo with mild surprise.

Cole jerks away before steeling himself and glancing back over. The picture shouldn’t surprise you, but it does anyway. It looks so messy. The body in the street can barely be recognized in the photo, too mutilated- the only identifying feature being the mechanical hand resistant to the blades of a sword. The mechanic had been reduced to mince meat, blood seeping up through shredded flesh and broken bones. Blood flows in a river down the stairs of the warehouse, down onto the sidewalk, flowing into the gutters.

“This seems… motivated.” Lloyd grimaces at the image but doesn’t look away.

“That’s certainly one word for it,” The commissioner huffs, “We’ve been calling it ‘unhinged.’”

You flip to the next image. Bodies piled on top of each other, strewn across the room, throats slit and bellies gutted and in one particularly horrific scene brain matter and skull fragments rendering a man unrecognizable.

Your memories of that night are fuzzy and nebulous.

Nya takes one of the photos, “Who would do something like this?”

“We were hoping you knew,” A beat- the man sighs, “The mechanic, he’s hard to keep tabs on. We didn’t really know who his enemies were other than those present, and you all had the most contact with him, but it’s too much to hope you have a lead for us, huh?”

He blows out an explosive breath, “Tell me, does the attack itself look familiar in any way? Anyone who comes to mind who has the capability to do something like that?”

You shake your head, blue boring holes into the eyes of a henchman who died trying to hold his intestines inside his gut, “No,” Your voice doesn't waver, “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

---

Wu touches your shoulder firm and bruising but your skin cant purple under his nails anymore, “It gets easier.”

---

You stand in the threshold of the jail cell, the body in the room covered by a sheet. You had wondered if that really happened, bodies covered up by the police like in television dramas- this is the second time you’ve seen it. It won’t be the last. It’s interesting to know how fiction gets it right, sometimes. Kai distinctly can’t look, turned away, but you haven't been squeamish in a long time. You crouch low, reaching for the edge of the blanket to see, and Nya makes a disgusted noise in the back of her throat when you lift the sheet to look.

This death is far more refined than the massacre you’d investigated this month- A clean cut across his throat, blood coating his sleep shirt and dried to the corners of his mouth. Droplets of red sprinkle his face where he’d tried to breathe through the ruined hole of his throat, coughing a plume of blood into the air that rained down on him as he died. His skin is waxy and his eyes glazed and clouded, he’s been dead for hours- but you knew that already.

Nya coughs, “Can you cover him up, please?”

You oblige, “I was trying to see what Information I could gather.” the sheet falls back over his face, hiding him away. There’s no reason to cover him up, the other inmates are locked in their cells until the investigation finishes and the body is removed. Privacy is a moot point, but maybe it’s about respect.

Lloyd turns away from where he’s shifting through the inmates belongings, “Well, anything?”

“He was killed hours ago. He’s been dead for a long while.” How much to say? “The murder weapon was a blade.”

“Same as the Mechanic.” Jay says from where he’s outside the cell and out of line of sight, the dead body and blood making him sick, “Did Fugi-Dove and him have any connections?”

“Not that we know of.” Nya frowns, crossing her arms over her chest and trying to convince everyone she’s unaffected by this, “Only us. It just seems so weird- He’s a small fry compared to the mechanic, why kill him? He’s harmless!”

“He broke Jay's elbow last week,” You remind her, “He was not harmless. Perhaps he had more secrets than we thought.”

“Who found him?” Cole murmurs, carefully keeping away from touching the crime scene.

“Eight AM guard round,” You answer him, standing up, “The four AM patrol missed him. Both officers were interrogated, but nothing came of it. It doesn’t appear to have been an inside job.”

“The culprit snuck into kryptarium prison, killed a man, and snuck out with none the wiser?” Nya snorts, “This place has gone to the dogs.”

Jay taps his foot impatiently and it echoes down the hallway, “Well, it’s not like Warden Noble runs a very tight ship around here, despite what he wants you to think. How many escaped convicts do we deal with on a weekly basis?”

“So what do we do about this?” Kai asks, frowning at the lump on the ground.

Fugi-dove was half slumped off his bed, his back flush to the ground and his legs still thrown over his bed and tangled up in his bedsheets. He’d been awake when he was attacked, his cheeks bitten to hell as if he’d attempted to scream through a hand sealed over his mouth that only let go once his vocal cords had been slashed through, and in his desperate attempt to stop from bleeding out or drowning in his own blood he’d thrashed himself right to the floor.

“We’ll look at the tapes and see what we can find.” Lloyd answers casually. Darkleys prepared him for death and gore, it didn’t bother him like it should.

“I thought officer Pey told us we were in a blind spot,” Cole points out, stepping out of the cell followed by Lloyd.

“Warden Noble used to be the principle of Darkleys,” the green ninja waits for you to join them on the other side of the cell. You feel cold all over, “And if there’s one thing I'm certain of, the man has eyes everywhere.”

“Does he?” You ask, fingers going numb.

Lloyd nods and locks the cell door behind you, “There will be tapes. He should be here any minute now, Officer Pey says he comes in at 10:00 on Saturdays.”

As if on cue, the Warden appears in a frenzy, tearing into the hallway and bee lining for the cell. He grimaces at the covered up body, “I leave Pey in charge for one night…” He sighs, pushing his glasses up to rub at his eyes, “Great.”

“Good morning, Warden.” Jay greets cheerfully.

“Says who?” The man replies darkly, “The media is gonna tear me a new one. This is going to lower our reputation even more.”

“Let us help you put the culprit behind these bars,” Lloyd offers, stepping forward with green ninja grace.

“I don’t think that’d do any good, he already got out once.” Kai mutters.

The warden graciously ignored Kai’s comment, “I haven't even had coffee yet.” He complains, running a rough hand over his mouth as he glares at the body.

“You had hidden cameras?” Lloyd pushes and the Warden nods, motioning to an inconspicuous looking fire alarm.

“It’s fake,” He tells him.

You walk towards it. A strange sense of doom washes over you, numbness following it. A camera. Evidence. How clearly would they be able to see the killer's face?

“Let me be of assistance,” You offer, casually making it to the alarm first. The moment you manage to open the glorified nanny cam and your fingers close around the USB, you focus a concentrated pulse of electromagnetic energy and wipe it clean. Anything saved to the storage space will have been obliterated, gone, corrupted and unsalvageable. You can feel your hands again.

“How could this have happened?” The warden asks, clicking through the empty USB over and over looking for footage that no longer exists.

Lloyd glances at you, but there’s no suspicion, “Was there anything weird about the camera? Had it been tampered with?”

You touch your chin and try not to let your hands shake, “No, but it was not a very complex mechanism. It could easily have been opened by someone familiar with this type of surveillance.”

“Someone from Darkleys?” Nya suggests.

Lloyd hums in thought, “I don’t know. It’s worth looking into.”

“When did we become detectives?” Jay complains, “Can’t you guys just call us when you need us to spinjitzu this guy?”

“Don’t be a baby.”

Jay pulls a face at that, “I’m a ninja! I shouldn’t have to put up with all this- this blood!”

“Do you know what a ninja is, historically?” you murmur.

No one hears you.

---

There are four more deaths the following month, both somewhat well-known villains with a penchant for collateral damage. The same slashing wounds as the last. Lloyd is the only person in the group who doesn’t look affected by the barrage of gore he’s being subjected to- other than you, of course. He’s reading over the newest police report that’d come their way with a hum, “He’s getting bolder.” He concludes, flipping through the crime scene pictures at the end.

“Bolder?” Cole questions, “It seems to me like he’s winding down. His first kill was the Mechanic and everyone working under him- 16 deaths on that one alone. Now he’s down to one.”

“The Mechanic was messy,” he examines the pictures, noting just how clean the newest death was. Not a drop of blood out of place other than the pool growing under the body, “He was surprised by all the people- he never intended to kill anyone other than their leader, that’s why that kill was so disorganized. It’s why the mechanic was nearly able to escape, before he caught him in the street. The bank barely needed to mop the floor for this one. He’s refined his skill.”

“He left Reflectras sidekick unharmed.” Kai pointed out, “What’s different between then and now?”

Lloyd flipped a picture his way- it’s a still from a grainy security camera. Reflectra is already dead in the photo, her blood turned black on the monochromatic footage. The teen girl she’d been toting around with her was cowering under the teller counter, and standing just outside the blood was a figure dressed in all black. From the girl's testimony, the gray toned lion's mask he wore was red and gold in person, lips drawn back in a snarl that showed off fangs, a thick head of coarse blonde hair coming out of the mask to hide any other possible identifying features.

“He is wearing a mask.” You say, peering down at the picture.

“He’s hiding his face.” Lloyd clarifies before banging out a few words into the computer's search engine, pulling up a street festival that happened two weeks ago and swiveling the computer screen around so everyone could see it, “And it's a new purchase.”

Staring back at them was a picture of downtown Ninjago filled with people, food stalls and other vendors lining the sidewalks as people milled about. Half the people walking the street were wearing the same exact lion mask as their killer, now in vivid technicolor. You could see the stalls selling them- masks lined wall to wall. It seemed everyone was buying them. It wouldn't have looked out of place at all for the murderer to buy it for himself and squirrel it away for his late night acts.

“He killed the Mechanics goons because they saw his face. He doesn’t want witnesses.” Nya connects, “Aimi was only spared because he has a way to kill anonymously.”

“And with a virtually untraceable origin. That mask is everywhere, now.” Jay continued with a frown.

“It’s not a total dead end. We can still talk to the stall owners, maybe see if they noticed anyone strange buying from them.” He navigates to the festival's website, opening up the vendor list.

There are twelve souvenir stalls in total, and five of them are solely dedicated to masks.

You make a surprised noise in the back of your throat, “Saori Sato. I recognize that name. I believe I taught her son when we were working at the school.” You comment, “I have a rapport with her, I should be able to get her to speak with me easily.”

Lloyd accepts your lie with a nod, “The rest of us will work on the others, then. Hopefully we’ll have some luck.”

You don’t go to see Saori Sato. You sit on the rooftop of her apartment complex and meditate. You try to meditate. There’s a peace that’s absent in you, now, that doesn’t let your mind slip into calm like it used to be able to. There’s always a buzzing under your skin, in your wires.

You brought your sword, the one with the red blade.

You sharpen it until your mind stops racing. It’s like a razor blade now, and you imagine the sting it would cause as you run your metal fingers up the sharp side. You can perfectly imagine how blood would drip down it, now. You go home.

Everyone comes up empty, of course, because Saori Sato sold that mask, and you didn’t speak to her.

---

“You seem unphased with the murders.” You say to Lloyd, after the others have gone to bed and it’s just the two of you up, pouring over the case files. When Lloyd goes to bed, so will you.

He shrugs and sips at his coffee- filled to the brim with cream and sugar, “Darkleys wasn’t just about ruling the world in the big picture. They taught us the small stuff too, including desensitizing us to death.”

There’s nothing to say to that, so you don’t respond. You go back to looking over the papers again, pretending to search for an angle they hadn’t considered yet.

“You want to know something funny?” He says with a little laugh, staring down at the Mechanics' torn up body.

“What is it?” You ask.

A darkness settles over the room, thick and viscous. It seems to flood your mouth and fill your chest. Lloyd looks at you with bright eyes that pin you in place, “I checked your roster. I went through all the kids you taught at the school- and I didn’t find any Satos in the class.” he says with a lopsided smile, eyes burning your skin, assessing, searching for something, “Isn’t that weird?”

Your coolant has turned to ice in your limbs and your body feels numb, “Not at all,” You say cooly, “Sato is her maiden name. Her son has his fathers last name, Maeda.”

He finds something in your expression and- his shoulder slump, “Oh,” He says, blinking. “FSM, i’m sorry- I just-”

“It is alright, Lloyd.” You say graciously, “This has been stressful for us all, and you haven't been sleeping. Perhaps you should get some rest.” rising from your chair, you go to his side and help him to his feet. He allows you to walk him back to his room.

“Let’s start fresh tomorrow.”

“That sounds good.” Lloyd allows with an exhausted yawn. He disappears into his room.

---

Everything hurts.

Your eyes are blurred and blocked by another pop up- WARNING! WARNING! DAMAGE- you dismiss the banner as quickly as it arrives, but that doesn’t stop you from miscounting a step and slamming into the stone staircase, all your weight cracking down on the pointed edges. You scramble to hold onto the steps with your working arm before you can go tumbling back down to the bottom, taking a few breaths that you don’t need to take to help center yourself.

Clambering back to your feet, you check you haven't splattered coolant or oil on the stairwell before you continue up. Clean.

Reaching the monastery, you avoid the main gate. Instead, you shimmy up the courtyard wall and slink silently across the roof until you’re standing above your room. It’s easier with two hands, but you manage to swing yourself off the roof by the tiles and onto the window ledge, barely finessing your way inside without causing a commotion or accidentally falling off the cliff face. You don’t collapse no matter how badly you want to.

First things first- you pry up the loose floorboard under your nightstand and stuff the sword and mask inside, sliding the stand on top of the hiding place. You strip the bloody clothes off and grit your teeth as you peel it away from the mess of your left arm, refusing to scream. Not even allowing a whimper. You’ve had worse- this- this is nothing. Loose pants, loose shirt- long sleeve, of course, just in case anyone was up late getting a glass of water.

It’s late enough that even Jay should be asleep, and the empty garage confirms it.

It takes you two hours to knit the delicate machinery in your arm back together, and another hour fitting a new plate cover so nothing would seem amiss. You take the ravaged pieces of your arm up stairs and pack it under your nightstand too, so there’s no chance of evidence possibly being found.

You collapse now, face first on the bed, and not three hours after that you’re shaken awake.

Nya looks grim, “There’s been another murder.”

In your exhausted, near delirious state, you barely manage to catch yourself before you say I Know.

---

It’s cold this time of year, and it shows. The others are bundled up against the incoming chill of the season, coats and scarves worn on top of their ninja suits. You’re wearing a sweater too, but there’s a cold in you that will never be warm. You’re all behind Laughys Karaoke bar deep in the alley while the police guard the mouth of it, refusing to let reporters or curious civilians get a look.

There’s a detective with you, hanging back and allowing you all to examine the scene.

“Who is this guy?” Cole eventually asks, resisting the urge to nudge his face into view.

The detective steps forward, “His name is Killow. Ninjago PD have had their eye on him for a while- he’s been arrested for petty crimes in the past, but from the intel they’d begun to gather he’d joined an up and coming gang and had climbed pretty high in the ranks. They called him the Big Man.”

‘Big” was an understatement. The man was a brick house, every muscle worked until it bulged. It seems his gym habits had helped a little, even if the end result was still the same.

Lloyd examines his throat, “The first cut didn’t go deep enough.” He comments. There's blood splattered all over the alley, obvious signs of a struggle. Trash was everywhere, torn open bags and the big blue dumpster was dented from Killow slamming the assailant into the metal, more chipped bricks and dented cans revealed just how close Killow had come to walking away from this attempt on his life.

That same dumpster with the largest dent was where Killow had dug his fingers into the murderer's arm and torn through it, spraying metal and wiring across the ground with barely a flick of his wrist. No one knew that but you, and you didn’t share it. The area had been scrupulously cleaned.

“He got him.” Kai commented, “He hurt him pretty bad.”

“How do you know that?” Nya questioned.

Kai gestures to his hands, “Look at his nails. He scratched him, and no one is walking away from that unscathed.” Killows nails were broken and bleeding, torn and snapped off nearly at the cuticle with how hard he’d fought.

“It didn’t help him enough,” Lloyd sighs, standing up, “The second cut was vertical, sliced right through the artery from cheek to chest. He bled out."

“Poor guy.” Jay commented, slowly getting used to the sight of death as he frowned down at the man.

They didn’t know who he was, or what gang he was in- if they did, they’d understand why he had to be put down. The Sons of Garmadon was new and already it was strong, the ranks thick with people who didn’t care about harming others if it furthered their own goals. They were excellent at keeping a low profile while they gained power. It doesn’t escape your notice that the detective avoided naming the gang he was part of. Killow was a bigger cog in that machine, but he wasn’t the only leader the gang members looked to. Your research and surveillance had revealed three of the four ringleaders to you- Killow, Ultraviolet, and, a man you had never seen but had heard referenced several times, Mr. E. They reported to the highest ranking member of the gang, the Quiet One. All you knew about her was that she was a woman.

You stare down at his body and feel no sympathy.

---

“Is there a reason you don’t want me in your head?” Pixal asks bluntly one day, once you’ve gone to visit her at Borg Tower.

Once you’d gotten back to Ninjago City proper, you’d dropped her off with her father with every intention of picking her up later. She’d offered to stick around in your mind for a while, and you’d been happy at the idea- but then Master Wu gave you that sword, and things got more complicated. She hadn’t brought it up for the past few months, but each time you left her without a hint of bringing her along, she had certainly noticed. Now it was her breaking point. She stopped you in the doorway with her words, on your way out.

Your heart had turned numb the moment you took the sword from Wu. In another life, you could have loved her like she deserved.

“My feelings for you…” You turn back to the room, to the screen she's projected her image to so she can look you in the eyes, “…Have changed.” you finish hollowly.

She blinks. She’s perfectly still, “I see.”

“Thank you.” You say softly, “For everything.”

There’s a pause as she studies you, “Is this the end? Will you no longer come to see me?”

The part of you that wants her in your life twinges in pain, the first emotion you’d felt in days, “I believe that is for the best.”

You won’t take her down this path with you.

“Goodbye, Pixal.”

“I will respect your wishes,” She folds her hands in front of her, the perfect picture of poise, “Goodbye, Zane.”

---

Humans are so fragile. Ultraviolet liked to pretend she was tough, like she could take hits others couldn’t- but when it came down to it, her throat sliced just as easily as any others. Her hands were coated in her own blood from where she’s grabbed at her throat, but it was too late, and the slice was too technically perfect. Her knees had hit the ground first and she’d tried to twist, searching for something, eyes wild and mouth gurgling with words that couldn’t form around the blood in her mouth. She fell sideways, skin turning even paler than it already was, and then everything had stopped. The sprinkling rain washed the blood off her lips and diluted the river flowing from her neck. She almost looked like she was sleeping.

You stand over her motionlessly.

“Hey!” A voice cracks across the cool night air, and you turn to the side. You’re on the sidewalk in front of a motorcycle store that Ultraviolet had been intending on robbing, in plain sight. Across the street, up the road, is Nya. She’s not dressed in her ninja suit and her hair is down loose, the wet jeans and soaked hair hindering her sprint as she tears down the road to get to you.

You’re moving before you can think, clambering up the front of the store and up to the roof in record time, purposefully doing something that would be nearly impossible in skinny jeans to deter her. You don’t hesitate to race across the roof and leap to the next, jumping down the fire escape to the next alley and slipping through a thin corridor between two buildings. The sounds of the chase fade to nothing as you outpace her, weaving through back alleys and neighborhoods you’d become intimately familiar with that she didn’t know. After ten more minutes of running, you spin around and head straight for the monastery.

Nya wasn’t expecting to see you, or be witness to the next murder- it was raining- she wouldn't have her phone. That’s your only salvation. She didn’t have her phone.

You take all the shortcuts you know, running until your screen flashes with warnings. You recover from any stumbles in a millisecond. You get home in record time, basically throwing yourself into your room and ripping the mask off. Flinging your mask and sword into your closet and stripping off your wet turtleneck, you close the closet door and dive into bed. The blankets get yanked up to your shoulder and you close your eyes, feigning sleep, and wait.

Android stamina will always outpace humans. You beat Nya home.

She shouts for you all the moment she's through the door, throwing open your doors in her haste to get you up and mobilize after the murderer. She opens your door to you sitting up in bed, clearly woken up from sleep and giving her an openly bewildered expression.

You jump out of bed and throw on your ninja suit, joining the others on the porch as you all gear up.

---

You don’t find the murderer. No one else does either.

Kai looks at you, once you’re all home and exhausted after the all night search. Everyone is soaked and ready to go to bed, dispersing with low spirits and tired eyes. Kai stands in the entryway, dripping wet, and he really looks at you.

You give him a questioning eyebrow raise.

“You know you can tell me anything, right?” He says finally, “I won’t judge you.”

“…I know.”

He stares at you, eyes smoldering. He’s in pain. “There’s blood on your collar.” He says finally.

You look down at it- it’s barely noticeable. There must have been a few droplets on your chin that ran down with the water. If you’d been wearing black, he wouldn’t have been able to tell. Your ninja suit is white.

“It’s oil.” You say softly, the patch is just old and watered down enough that you could pass it off for brown.

“Okay.” Kai says. He looks like he’s going to cry.

He looks like he’s afraid of you.

---

Mr.E vanishes after Ultraviolets assassination. You look for him during SoG meetings and you keep an ear out, but he’s nowhere to be seen or heard. The gang is falling apart, half the newer members jumping ship- chances are Mr.E saw the writing on the wall and got out before his neck was next. You could respect that. You might even thank him for it, because if he hadn’t abandoned his post there’s a chance you would have never found out who the quiet one was.

There’s three totally unqualified people at this meeting so far, the members that had ranked directly below the previous three. Their skills were lacking, but their loyalty was rock solid. That was the Quiet Ones main priority after Mr.E’s Irish goodbye. The three were clearly nervous even though they were trying to appear tough- the taller girl even attempting to do tricks with her butterfly knife to appear cool and intimidating. It might have worked if she didn’t drop the blade every other trick.

A door opens and shuts in the silence, the black night outside offering no clue to the newcomers identity. She doesn’t leave them in suspense, though, striding into the light with a stormy expression. She starts talking immediately, taking their names and offering her own.

“You may call me the Quiet One.” She instructs them.

“You’re really the quiet one?” The man says, eyebrows raised in surprise.

“Yes. Is there an issue?”

“None at all, ma’am.” He responds gruffly, dipping his head.

That’s all the confirmation you need. You slide to the edge of the exposed beam you’re sitting on, swinging down by your arms before you drop straight into the middle of the group. Your feet slam onto the table and the things tilts- you hadn’t anticipated it, so you end up going left instead of right. Instead of the single clean kill you came here for, you’re thrown into butterfly knife girl and the scene becomes a lot more grisly. Your stumble gave them time to process your intentions- you relied on surprise. Now this would get messy.

Knife girl stabs you in the chest. Her knife gets stuck. While she’s trying to rip it out of your skin, you sever her hands at the wrist. She screams and doesn’t stop.

The bigger male lunges for your throat and you hold your sword up so it plunges straight through his chest, his own momentum forcing it through muscle and the delicate capillaries in his lungs. That doesn’t stop him and his hands are on your throat- it doesn't do anything, of course, because you don't need to breathe. He keeps squeezing, and your neck strains. He could pop your head off if he tried. Your sword is buried in his chest and you can’t back up enough to get the space to pull it out.

You reach up and fumble for the butterfly knife, ripping it out of your chest and whipping it around to slam it directly into his ear. He howls in pain, releasing your neck to scrabble at his head before you use the knife to slice him from ear to collarbone. He collapses and the sword slides out of his body.

Knife girl has gone silent, bleeding to death from the ruined arteries in her wrists.

The other woman throws something the moment her shot is clear and on reflex you catch it. It’s a throwing knife and dangling from the handle-

You dart it back at her before you can finish understanding the word bomb. She’s not expecting such fast reflexes, so she’s not prepared for the knife to bury itself in her chest.

Then it explodes.

You spin around, preparing for the Quiet One to attack you next-

The door is open, and she’s gone.

The worst part about all of this is that you didn’t recognize her. Running her face through your facial recognition software came up empty too- so did cross checking any and every news outlet, hoping to see her face maybe in the back of a crowd. Nothing.

That could have been your only chance.

---

“I have been in your shoes before, I know this is hard. You must be prepared to do everything to protect them.” Master Wu had said after you had vomited up your dinner the night of the Mechanics murder, “This path will cost you everything.”

“Everything?” You questioned, staring down at the toilet bowl.

“But they will be safe.” He reassures you, gripping your shoulder tightly.

---

You don’t let the two parts of your life overlap. You don’t. The nights you go out, you are a serial killer. The next morning you are Zane, elemental master of ice, the titanium ninja. Zane is not tainted by all the blood and death and gore. Zane is not a murderer. You don’t ever use your sword as Zane, and you never use your shurikens as the serial killer. Everything would fall apart if you couldn’t keep them separate.

As you stand in the palace and the emperor introduces his daughter, your hands twitch for your sword the moment she opens her mouth. The face paint. You weren't able to discover her identity because of the face paint. Caked on so thick that her bare face looked like a completely different woman-

The emperor's daughter Harumi, and the Quiet One. Two parts of her life that aren't supposed to overlap.

“-Zane: The cold and calculating android.” She names you sweetly, voice honey thick. There’s a manic, wild edge to her eyes that the face paint can’t hide.

It makes sense. Her three most trusted advisors were murdered or abandoned her, and their replacements were slaughtered immediately after. The Sons of Garmadon had begun to collapse, fractioning off into smaller gangs with their own leaders. The main faction still had a substantial number of die-hard loyalists who were growing more and more extreme by the day. Robbery, assault, murder- they were wreaking havoc on Ninjago. They even managed to steal the Oni Mask of Vengeance. Now, her eyes slid over to Lloyd and locked onto him. She slipped a new mask on, one that was shy and flirtatious. The Quiet One wanted Lloyd wrapped around her finger.

But Harumi and the Quiet One weren’t supposed to exist at the same time.

Neither were Zane and the serial killer.

Inevitably, though, two worlds will always collide. Maybe the two parts of her and you were never supposed to live separate forever. Maybe you shouldn’t have taken that sword from Wu. Maybe you should have brought it with you so that Zane didn’t have to use his shuriken.

“Thank you for this opportunity,” You say clearly into the cold, cold room. Or maybe you’re the cold one, “I will not let it pass me by.”

There’s blood on your shuriken.

You collect your mask and your sword from underneath the floorboards in your bedroom and run.

They’re safe. They’ll always be safe.

#ninjago #zane julien #spinchip fic #kai ninjago #lloyd garmadon #jay walker #nya ninjago #cole ninjago #death #murder #blood #gore #ear trauma #amputation #limb loss #violence #ninjago harumi #princess harumi

[yupstep]

-Legal Name: Aina Calland (No longer goes by that name)

-Call Sign: Zona (picked that name because she saw half a Arizona green tea can that only read ‘Zona’ and thought it was cool)

-Age: 26 8/18/1997

-Nationality: Norwegian

(She speaks Bokmål dialect, her English is a little broken and sometimes she’ll get words mixed up. Fork and f*ck are often an issue when pronouncing)

-Height: 5’8” / 68”

-Weight: 145lbs

-Body type: Toned | Abs | buff thighs | itty bitty titty committee | slightly toned arms | Strong endurance but horrible balance.

Body Notes: Chest tattoo is the Troll Cross which is believed to offer protection. Her back has the Valknut triangles for the loss of her father and wings to guide her.

-Family:

Mother passed when she was 5 in a drunk driving accident. Father passed when she was 17 from CVD caused by unhealthy smoking and drinking habits. She was close with her father, he took care of her and her sister well. Older sister is alive(more info on her later)

-Personality:

Zona is pretty easy going, her mind thinks before she acts during most situations. She is politely aggressive, will often be heard saying please or thank you while cussing someone out. She has dad humor as well as a little bit of dark humor when she thinks no one is listening. Zona has a mild case of Tourette’s, she mainly will whisper small noises as she works or repeat sounds that catch her attention. It’s not very noticeable unless looking for it to happen. She gets awkward around large groups of people she doesn’t know and prefers to stick around a familiar face. The poor girl is an introvert that wants to be an extrovert. She thinks in pictures so visuals are a lot better than verbal instructions or making her read.

Zona started her career to be EMS after finishing high school at the age of 17. She wanted the adrenaline rush of having to think fast to save lives while being physically active. She got a head start in high school and studied for 2 years to get her bachelor degree in Paramedic Science then began her Vocational school right after.

BACKSTORY: (In the works will probably mess with this along the way)

Zona often volunteered her time to help with disaster relief and emergency assistance with the Red Cross in Norway. After a terrorist attack in France, Zona and a few others at her work offered to assist with NATO to help with humanitarian needs in France. It was volunteer based and had an unknown time line. While she was there another attack took place, Zona along with other volunteers and civilians were taken hostage by the terrorists group. She was transported to an unknown location(we still figuring that out) where most hostages were killed or used for ransom. They used Zona as a POW and forced her to tend to their wounded due to her medical background. She was captive for 5 months before Chimera infiltrated the hidden base.

MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED NEXT WILL COME : D I gotta draw more art cuz the plot thickens. I also suck at writing so please forgive me if things don’t make sense…

#artwork #call of duty #cod modern warfare #cod mw2 #digital art #fanart #cod oc art #cod oc #oc #oc art #my art #my ocs #reference #backstory

[frenchbreadandeggs]

Willow

CW!: attempted r*pe, violence, fem! reader

°This took me a while and I am surprised this finished first than the Yasuo fic I was writing. I haven't proofread this so you have been warned!

Kayn had yet to wander around the woods again.

Or any place that has woods really.

He had successfully beaten Rhaast unintentionally but with a cost of loneliness. Talking to the scythe or per se the Darkin was all he had after Zed died and killing Jhin.

This happens whenever he slanders groups or goblins that he finds in his way. Stealing their valuable belongings and selling them to merchants. It's rare for him to take any interest in them, he just wants power—to kill. He would then go to the nearest forest, walk around or take a stop and listen to the whispering sounds of the trees.

He thinks it's much better than silence and denying the fact that he missed Rhaast's Darkin ramblings.

Today was different or so he thought.

He saw a camp with small bandits and thought of a chance to swiftly kill them and steal goods. The unlucky part was that they called reinforcements, almost catching Kayn and leaving wounds around his body as he escaped.

Almost

He thought, it was fine at least. It is better to go home with heavy wounds than to be dead.

Kayn limped to a village, a possible scenario coming in his head: as he limps towards the village, someone would spot him, help him clean and heal his wounds, and with him fully healed he can have the chance to steal—if they resisted he would not give them any chance to live.

Instead of lively markets and kids running around—he found an abandoned village.

"Today is not my lucky day, I see."

Despite the calmness, he wanted to throw a fit and scream. He can't die because of blood loss from a big wound given by a stupid hunk taller than him. He shouldn't be!

Kayn rested his back on the brick wall of an abandoned house and sat. He couldn’t see or hear any noise but the wind passed by his ear as it sang.

The sun was going down, a sunset. Colors of orange-red and the faint yellow slowly disperse as a deep blue color rises into the sky with the glittering stars. Other than listening to the silent melancholy of the forest, Kayn thinks the sight of the night sky is beautiful. He can make out the constellations or even make a new one.

He looked down at his resting body, dried blood and grime. Kayn grimaced when he moved his body to make himself comfortable. He should think of something that could help stop the blood, wrap a cloth around it before he could drop on the sandy floor and slowly die from blood loss.

A soft melody he heard. His ears perked like a cat hearing its prey. Kayn shakily stood up, the scythe as his support. Putting his weight on the brick walls Kayn limps again to follow the sound lingering to his ear.

The moonlight glowed on a tree—a weeping willow tree perhaps. Its leaves softly danced with the wind, the melody becoming louder. There he saw a lone girl, sitting under the tree a lute cradled with her hands.

Kayn stopped and stared at the girl in silence. Eyes would move to the birds flocking around the girl and look back at the girl. He could see her fingers strumming on the strings and her eyes closed as if she is also drowning in her music as Kayn is.

He felt tired. The heaviness on his shoulder didn’t help, his head then started to spin and his vision went blurry.

Pain shot his side, Kayn gasped for air and cupped his hands at the side to grab his scythe. His heart fell when he couldn't feel the familiar weapon. Noticing he was sitting on a bed almost smaller than him and the bandages neatly wrapped around his wounds.

"You're… awake." A soft voice emerged from the door he didn't notice. 

His eyes widened at the person standing at the door, "You… you are that person playing the lute." Kayn internally cringed at the roughness of his voice, he saw the flinch of the girl's body.

An easy target

You placed down the wooden tray beside him and poured tea on his cup and gave it to him, "Drink it, it will regain your strength—or at least help you."

Kayn reluctantly accepted the cup from you. He couldn't trust you immediately, though he is injured and the scythe is nowhere to be found so he is helpless in your hands.

At least he could try befriending you before killing or selling you.

He quickly drank the tea clean and right after Kayn asked your name.

"...I don't tell my name to people like you."

Kayn's fake smile fell, "What?"

"No—I can't tell you my name." You didn't elaborate why and left him alone in the room, leaving the tray beside Kayn.

He tried to stand up and catch up to you but the gash on his torso sent him a painful feeling. Kayn cursed under his breath, the wound had opened and blood started to seep in the pristine bandages. 

Have you ever tried to stitch his wound while he was unconscious? Or were you doing it on purpose knowing who he is.

Nothing to do, Kayn laid down on the bed and stared at the dully looking ceiling, cobwebs in each corner of the room. His eyes squinted, there were drawings on the ceiling from stick man to trees and ugly looking houses. This might have been a child’s room, he wouldn’t know at first because there was nothing in the room other than the dresser and the bed he’s using. 

What are you doing right now? Maybe you found out that he is a wandering assassin and also found his scythe—

He shot from his bed, he winced loudly enough for you to hear.

“What is wrong with you!?” You cried as you ran to the assassin curling in the bed. 

You shoved his arms away from his torso to take a look at his bandages. Horror filled your face. The bandages you wrapped around him in the morning have been soaked by his blood, you lightly touched the bloody part of his torso, red painted your whole palm.

“Ev-everything is blurry.” 

The assassin weakly stretched his hand toward you as you hurriedly took your lute.

“Don’t move.” You said as you prepared your lute. Surprisingly, he followed and slowly lay down on the bed. His eyes never left you.

You closed your eyes and started to strum your lute.

Slowly, Kayn’s eyes were closing and his breathing became calm, but you didn’t stop. The faint green glow from the assassin’s torso brightened as you quickly played the instrument. Your breathing became rigid and your heart quickly ran, you needed to at least close his wound completely, forget the anesthesia later.

When you felt the wound slowly closing you stopped playing and took a deep breath. You never healed a person for awhile, especially this critical. You were taught to heal small scratches and cuts from knives, not in this kind of situation.

You placed the lute beside the bed and opened the dresser to take the bandages. 

Slowly, you removed the soaked bandages with a swift cut after you reached out to pluck a tone out of your lute. You throw the bandage somewhere in the room, you take note to throw it in a proper place later after patching the man’s wounds.

You took your lute and the bloody bandage and left the room.

Bard! That man is dangerous!

“I couldn’t let him lay there bloodied.” 

He is a wandering assassin! Zed’s child!

“You, little bird, should stop snooping around people’s business. Also I don’t know who Zed is and I don’t want to know what he does.”

You shaked off the sparrow and walked outside the house to do the things you usually do. You swing the lute behind you and throw the dirty bandage beside the work table.

Were you injured!?

Bard there is an injured fawn! Help him!

You ignored the question and hastily followed the forest wolf to the woods.

“Ah, stepped on a bear trap.” You winced as you looked at the trap gritting on the fawn’s left leg. The fawn turned its head at you and tried to run but fell. You slowly walked towards the forest animal, careful not to startle it.

“It’s okay, I can help you.” You said with softness in your voice, scared that it would try to run and hurt itself even more. You reached your hand to pet the fawn’s body and it calmed, its head slowly laid on the grass. This was your time to use your lute again.

Thank you for treating my son, bard of healers. Said the mother. You are the only one I trust among the humans.

“There are others that are like me, you don’t see them often.” You said to the mother deer who is laying down in front of you with her children, the fawn you healed is on your lap as you continuously pet his head.

Quite unlucky then. Unlike you, they hunt us and use our heads as trophies, I am glad a person like you exists. A gem.

“Well I exist to help the injured, nothing special about the bard of healers mama doe.”

Hmpf! Nonsense, you do not place traps in the forest.

“Speaking of traps, I will remove them so you and the other families can roam freely.”

You stood up, the mother followed you and her other children. The fawn who laid on your lap ran to his mother.

What do you say to her?

Thank you bard!

“You are most welcome.” You said, putting your green cloak on and its hood over your head.

You waved the family goodbye and started to walk back to the village to get your pack for taking out traps and ropes scattered in the forest.

“I did not know you were strange.”

You froze on your tracks, the crunch of leaves slowly drew near you. It stopped when a hand grabbed your arm and forced you to turn around. Gosh you hate having those eyes stare at you like you were prey. You tried to shake his grip on you but it tightened instead.

“Let go of me.” You gritted between your teeth. How could this man recover so quickly even losing that much blood, you couldn’t imagine the possibilities that this man is immortal.

Your heart dropped when he chuckled, his wicked smile fading when he looked at you.

“Not until you explain what you did to my wound.” 

Kayn aggressively dragged you down the hill, ignoring your trips on rocks here and there. When you two reached the house Kayn’s grip on you let go as he almost threw you on the wall. You gripped on the chair beside you.

“Sit.”

It was risky if you tried to fight him and you were drained from healing two things an hour apart. So you sat, quietly as you stared at his eyes. He stared back at you while he leaned on the door frame, ready to capture you if you tried to escape.

“Obedient. You are smart not to go against me.” Kayn said as he lifted himself from the frame, slowly advancing his way towards you.

“I recommend you not to hurt me.” You spoke, clutching your back to ease the aching pain Kayn had caused. “That will cause you problems.”

Kayn scoffed, leaning down at the level of your face. Your noses an inch close to touching, “Why? A healer isn’t rare around the place, no?”

You bit your lip. Healers… were not rare— not, until slave traders raided the village and took everyone except for you. This person might not know about the abduction years ago or he is insulting you and your people.

“You don’t know what is circling in your veins.”

“My veins?” Kayn’s eyes widened as he stood away from you, his brows then furrowed. “What do you mean by that?”

“Your wound, the big one on your torso is infected. The weapon used might be spelled by venom, if you kill me no one will heal or help you.”

“Why?”

“You’re a wandering assassin.”

You quickly raise your arm and slashed Kayn’s arm with a whip. He quickly dodged but the end of your whip still hit him, earning a slash on his arm. You saw him raising his hand to his back, his face fell when he realized there was nothing hanging on his back.

“Where is it?!” Kayn screamed, his panicked cries caught you off guard. He looks like a child throwing a tantrum because he couldn’t find his toy. You would expect more anger from him, charge at you immediately when he noticed his little toy was taken away from him.

Kayn looked around the empty room, hoping he could find his scythe and kill this girl for threatening him. You rolled your temporary whip and hung it at the back of your waist, walking up to him you looked down meeting his eyes.

“Let me be your companion, then I can heal you.” As you stared at him you pointed the lone cabinet at the other side of the room. Expected, Kayn scrambled up to his feet and ran towards the cabinet and opened it.

Kayn smiled as he raised his scythe as a trophy, “Hah I have you again—” he turned around, “Oh I can not wait to have your blood on my scythe hea—”

You were not in the room. Kayn had realized, his smile becoming sickening knowing that you had run away—scared of the scythe, him. Kayn likes a swift death, a death the victim could not expect but he likes it when people try to run away from him, beg for his mercy—it was his definition of fun . With his grip on the scythe Kayn walked out of the room to chase you down.

Or so he thought.

He saw you, instead of running, was on the floor packing things in your big bag. Kayn stood there, confusion painted on his face, confused why were you not running away—crying for your dear life. You had noticed his gloomy presence behind you as you finished packing your things with a big zip of the bag.

You stood up from the dusty cement and swinged the bag to your back.

“I do not think you have anything with you, we should go.”

"You know I could kill you—"

"But you did not." You said as you whirled around to face the assassin. His messy hair, uneven breathing as he desperately gripped his scythe gave you the hint not to push his buttons. Simply, you turned against him and continued with your business.

Walking to the workshop standing at the back of your house, you gave it a swift brush on the surface and whispered i will miss you and stretched your hand to let the birds rest. Years of using the desk, you finally—maybe buy a new one if the possible journeys with the assassin give you money.

You looked at the empty desk, remembering the memories and the things you made with it.

‘I’m going to have a better one’

Stay with us!

I miss you already!

She is old enough to make her decisions, let her be.

Glancing at the birds on your arm, their bickering and attempts to talk to you made your lips twitch a smile. A yellow bird flew on your shoulder, you can hear its small chirps in order to talk to you.

“Now now,” You laughed, as a hoard of animals surrounded you. “Let’s not be mushy, it will be hard for me to leave.”

“I have not accepted you coming with me, healer.” A hushed voice hissed at you, making your eyes roll and politely made the animal get off you.

Looking at him with a hard gaze, you crossed your arms, “Then you can leave without me,” Your face softened, but your lips pressed in a thin line, “But you are going to die in a few hours or so.”

“What is it?!” Kayn desperately asked, his eyes intensely looked down at your form.

“A venom spell from black magic, only born of healers, could remove that from a human’s body.”

A white barn owl flew past Kayn, hitting his head on purpose and landed on your shoulders. You smiled as you communicated with your feathery friend, as it asked to be your animal companion in your adventures.

Kayn could only stare at you, if he is fully healed by you, later on he will kill you.

Kayn thinks of how he could kill you in a hundred ways while traveling city to city, while you on the other hand are talking to your now new companion. Animals who talk to you don't necessarily need to open their mouth and speak with barks, meows, or chirps—they would look at you and speak in your mind, you don’t know how that is possible but you are determined to figure it out while on your journey with the assassin.

Be careful around him, I can’t be that much of a help—but I will try my best to protect you.

“Do not fret about it, there is a reason I own a work desk for items I use around the forest.”

I trust you, bard. I am your animal companion after all.

The owl broke his gaze from you for a second and turned his neck to you.

He is deep in thought I suppose.

You looked at your back to see Kayn talking to himself, you couldn’t figure out what he was saying, you hoped it wouldn't be the ways on how he could kill you.

“I mean, he is the first man who came here after a few years… of the raid. So he would be a good shot, I can’t wait for another ten years for a person to find this place.” 

I agree, Ishlacan Village is a hidden place.

‘was’  You frowned at your thought of the hidden place of your village being found.

Your owl noticed the change of your expression and flapped his wings to get your attention.

Let us… call the assassin, he might lose his mind.

"You," you called, earning the assassin's attention, "Your name."

He looked at you, both of his eyes going up and down to yoir form as if you were something before replying to you.

"Kayn."

" Kayn? " you narrowed.

He glared, "Kayn."

"Alright, Kayn. I decided to be your traveling companion until I found clues about my people's disappearance, and of course, until the venom is cured and you are fully healed."

"A horrible decision."

"But it benefits us both, is it not?"

He didn't say anything to your commentary, so you think he agreed. He slightly agreed . Walking up to him, you handed a bottle to him—it was runny and clear like water, but it was sparkling.

"What is that?" Kayn eyed the bottle like a picky kid, his eyes looking at you and to the bottle.

"Medicine for the venom in you— I do brews with my magic, it is convenient when I can't use my magic." you replied, crossing your arms after Kayn reluctantly accepted your medicine.

"Does it fully heal?"

"No,"

Somehow you think you saw Kayn's ears flop like a sad wolf for a minute before you continued.

"I have them packed with me so do not worry. You drink once a day—when emergencies then you will drink extra."

What happens when the emergency comes with no medicine of yours, bard?

'Then we have no one to guard us.'

"Does this actually work?"

"Obviously,—are you doubting my magic?"

"This is brewed—"

"By my magic, I made it so we won't be stopping minute by minute to unwrap your bandage and heal you directly inside the deep forest."

"You get tired by using your magic?"

"Like all people who wield magic, it drains us like how people fight using their energy."

He looked at you before drinking the whole bottle, wiping his mouth clean with the back of his palm. You reached your hand to him, he stared at it before realizing that you needed the bottle back. 

The bottle now stashed in your bag, you whispered to your owl before he flew away.

“Where is it going?” Kayn looked up at the sky trying to look for your animal companion.

“Tyto is scouting for anything unusal.”

The walk was silent, you were actually nervous as you disabled the traps you see. Kayn could kill you here and there in the deep woods, after all that is what an assassin does, excecute you in times you don’t excpect, or in the dark—but fortunately he was just there following you, the crunch of the dead leaves against his boots audible to your ears.

It was a bad idea to have him follow you at the back, but you know Tyto is looking down at you—ready to call for assistance from the animals living in the forest.

After you disabled a trap, you heard Kayn clear his throat.

“What?” You said, not looking at him but looking for the traps you could find.

“What happened to your people?” He asked. It made you stop. You never get that question very often, not only there were no people stumbling on your abandoned village but the animals you talked to had witnessed it.

“Gone. Kidnapped by raiders.” You continued on your way.

It was silent. You sighed.

“You want a story time? Sure.”

You took a stick and used it to poke the ground.

“My ancestors were mages, but a few hundred years ago we were seperated in groups by what magic we could do. I was born with the hands of a healer, we are named Ishlacan—we often have special abilities when we reach the age of six. And I, can speak and understand animal language.” You raised your sleeve and showed your inner wrist to the assassin, a green tattoo of the caduceus to distinguish your people from others and to be a proud healer.

You lowered the sleeve to your hand where it couldn’t be seen, “ I remember it was daylight when it happened, children my age are running around with me near the fountain waving their hands to boast their newly formed magic. We would laugh and run away from their scolding mothers telling us not to play the magic blessed to us.”

Your grip on the stick tightened, “There was a scream, then before I knew it the raiders found our village. Taking children, women, and even men—the ones who go against them were knocked conscious or beaten into submission.”

Both you and Kayn immediately looked up after a familiar screech. Tyto flew to your shoulders.

A marketplace up ahead, there are swarms of people.

“What did it say?”

“A marketplace,” You placed your hood up and looked at Kayn, “Are you coming?”

“No,” Kayn replied, his brows knitted as if you said something wrong, “I prefer in the shadows.”

You handed out your hand to him. Kayn looked at it questionably.

“Give me your coins, I know you have them.”

He deadpanned at you, shoving his hands in his pockets and aggressively handed you a handful of coins—some fell on the ground but you didn’t bother to crouch down and take them.

“This will do,” You turned away from Kayn and faced your owl. “Stay here, we won’t want people to look at us.”

Will do.

You then walked towards the marketplace Tyto directed you before going back to the forest by your command. You never did look back, thinking there would be people alreadly looking at you, so you walked with the swarm of buyers in the marketplace.

There were nothing but meat and skinned animals hanging on each stall. You scruched your nose and immediately walked to another place where no stink of dead meat invaded your nose.

The crowd never died, some people still pushed you here and there though you do not mind. Around you were filled with vegetables and fruits, some sell spices and sweets in the corner. 

Now this is what you want.

You wanted a healthy dinner later, especially for Kayn—he was healing after all and needed the energy for his athletically fit body, so it is possible he needed big portions and healthy food. This was never your first time cooking for someone (who is human), your grandparents would teach you how to cook the basics—what is good and what is to avoid eating. You would get compliments as a kid, the people telling you that you indeed have the hands of a healer even without magic.

With those ego boosting words, you’re hoping you still have it to this day.

In a flash, you stood at the front of the vegetable stalls. The greens are freshly laid on the wooden crates on display for you to choose. After picking the ones that passed your “who is the best” test, you hand them to the trader with the coins Kayn has given to you.

Thanking the old man, you proceeded to the next stall which was filled with oranges. You could feel the freshness of the oranges by just a touch.

“They were freshly picked just this morning.” the merchant said, moving a crate full of oranges.

This would be good for his skin while he heals.

When you didn’t respond to the merchant, he eyed you up and down. You were… ordinary, like those people who are obsessed with hiding their faces or cloth themselves head to toe. As you reached for another orange his eyes squinted at your wrist, something green popping out from your sleeve. His eyes widened, just to be sure the shopkeeper reached his hand to yours while you were busy looking for the perfect orange to feed to Kayn.

“I will buy five of these—” 

You gasped when a body collided onto yours, hands a snake— it slithered around your waist with lips near your ears for you to hear the whisper.

“Play along,” whispered by a familiar voice. “I was looking for you and here you are standing in front of a stall that sells… oranges.”

The man was hooded like you, but you knew that voice—spiteful and hushed. Right now he sounded like he was trying hard to be enlightened by finding you standing in an orange stall. You could feel his firm hand grip your waist tightly, he wanted you to respond.

“O-Oh, I was looking for fruits for us to eat at home.” you half-truthfully said.

“Then I will pay for it, you already paid enough let me do it for you.” 

With a swift you and Kayn are already outside the marketplace with five oranges in your bag. Kayn removed his hood and stood in your way, his amber eyes angrily stares you down.

“You almost got caught. ” he said with gritted teeth.

“What do you mean by that,” you looked at yourself, there was nothing visible even your hair. “I have myself perfectly covered.”

You gasped when he took your hand, showing your tattoo peeking out of your sleeve. When you get a good look he lets go of your wrist.

“I saw the orange merchant reaching out to your wrist, he saw your tattoo.” Kayn angrily said, his eyes looking around if there is someone lurking at the both of you. He sets his gaze on you as he reaches the hood to place it on his head.

“We need to stay low, stay in the forest.”

“What? That is dangerous!” you resisted.

Staying in the forest for the night was the least you wanted. Sure you talk to animals and you live near a forest but that doesn’t ease you anyhow. Even when you can talk to animals, some you can’t persuade.

“It would be more dangerous when we go straight to a city, they can easily spot us,” he turned around. “After all there are a dozen or more of them in the city.” 

“But—”

“If you want me to be with you,” Kayn bent in front of you, his eyes directly staring into yours, almost making a hole. “You listen to me.”

‘How atrocious!’

You could only curse in your mind before stomping to follow Kayn into the woods. Tyto flew back on your shoulders, his wings flapped gently before settling down to rest on you.

What did he say?

‘We are staying in the woods for the night.’

Hm, I can rest on branches how much I would like then.

‘Please not also you’

I could not help myself, sorry in advance.

The walk to the woods was silent, only Tyto’s fluttering wings were heard whenever he flew back to you after surveying the area. Other than that there was nothing but you and Kayn’s light footsteps.

“Do you have at least a blanket to lay on?” you asked him when he found a good spot to stay in for the night.

“No,” he said. “I don’t need one.”

Your lips pressed into a thin line. How can this man be comfortable resting in this forest? You could only sigh and place your bag down and take out the things you needed for the night: a blanket, a small pot, and a knife.

Here are some sticks, bard.

Tyto laid a few sticks in front of you. Thanking the owl, you started to make a bonfire.

Kayn stared at you before walking to another direction. His scythe in hand.

"I will look for more." he said before disappearing into the shadows.

Sighing, you rested your shoulders and took the food you bought from the marketplace. Luckily you had the small wood for you to cut the ingrefirents and poured the water from your waterskin into the pot and lit the bonfire.

While waiting for the water to boil. Would you play music, bard?

"If you say so.”

With a swing from your hand, music played out in your lute. Humming in the tune your grandparents taught you when you were a child. It was a song mostly played in your village, a classic, like by old people to children, maybe it is because it was one of your people’s traditions.

“It’s late to play music,” in a swift Kayn appeared from the shadows, startling you. He noticed you immediately putting away your lute and grabbed a stick to poke it to the fire.

Putting the scrapes of wood he collected, Kayn sat down across you with his eyes staring down on the cooking pot with eagerness.

You knew he was hungry, so you took a cup and poured the soup in it with a spoon and handed it to Kayn. He thankfully accepted it with his right hand, amber eyes now bore at you.

"You have been doing this for…?"

"Almost ten years."

Kayn hummed in reply. Softly blowing the hot soup served to him. You told him more about your people while both of you were eating dinner, he would ask things like what your village’s customs were and so on. Thankfully he didn’t ask anything about you. Like you have something to say about it anyways.

“Your tattoos, are they part of your clan?” you asked, gazing over Kayn’s bare body. You never pay attention to human features even when you patched Kayn while he was unconscious. You were too busy trying to save his life.

“No, they are not—though I was a part of an Order.”

You raised your brow, “Order?”

"Order of Shadows, it was run by my old master, Zed, but later on he was killed by the Golden Demon we were trying to catch. After my master's death, I searched for the Golden Demon high and low until I found him and killed him myself."

Zed

You remembered a bird mentioning that name to you. With curiosity you asked Kayn about the order, what happened after his master died, why is he wandering instead of becoming the new master?

He looked at you for a moment, disbelief painted on his face. Are you not scared that you asked too many questions about him and his order? You should be, yet you are here sitting across him, eager to hear his story like a child.

Kayn shifted on the lumpy ground, then told you the story and even answered your questions. He was there, Kayn’s eyes not leaving Zed’s bleeding body. There were no words exchanged between them, only silence and the shifting of brushes from the escaping Golden Demon. He gave his master a proper burial, the Order in chaos, of course, knowing that their master had been killed by the Golden Demon himself after they faced each other. 

At some point in his life he wanted to be the master and surpass Zed. But all he is after right now is the Golden Demon, Jhin. Not so long he met the demon, but before he could strike him down something has taken control of him and woke up to a dead Jhin a few steps away from him, brutally stricken down by the scythe multiple times.

“Does that explain your appearance right now?” you asked.

“It… doesn’t, I shouldn’t be like this or be even the Kayn you know right now.”

You gave him a confused glance, he could only shrug at you.

“So the whole thing taking you over was supposed to be permanent?” you shifted, more eager to know about him now, “Did you bargain with the Devil?”

Kayn gave you a look, “No,” he turned away, “It’s late and we should rest for tomorrow’s energy.”

You groaned, “Tell me about it?”

“No, what I said tonight is enough. Ask another day.

Kayn grunts as he lays on the tree trunk, his scythe beside him. You looked at him before turning to your bag to shuffle at something, throwing an old sleeping bag in his way, he caught it with his hands. He raised his eyebrow and glanced at your way but you were already laid on the sleeping bag with your blanket, your back facing him.

His face softened, unfolding the sleeping bag and laid on it, not engulfing himself inside the fabric knowing that there are still dangers lurking in the woods.

☤

“Kayn,” you said, poking Kayn’s shoulders.

He slowly opened his eyes as he adjusted from the rising sun’s light. You sat besides his resting body, a vial in your hands. After he saw the vial, he rose up looking at you expectantly.

“Drink this, then remove your bandages after I’ll try to heal it faster.” you said, turning around to stir the pot after Kayn took the vial from you.

He removed the cork and drank the contents of the glass then started removing the bandage around his torso. Kayn waited for you, looking at your form, your arms moving from putting food into the bowl.

Turning around you handed him his serving and took your lute.

“Have you eaten yet?” he asked.

You only nodded, not having the energy to talk.

You hummed, slowly but steadily strum the strings of the lute. Your hands began to glow faint green so does Kayn’s bruised torso. He could only stare at you, the bowl you gave him was untouched because of how mesmerized he was while you were healing his wound.

With the last strum you sighed, plopping yourself on the ground.

“The venom should be gone by the next few hours, you might get your strength back soon,” you breathlessly said, “Tyto found a nearby city, I think we should hit up there, he said there is a library. I should not miss it.”

You looked at him, he did not notice until now how tired you are, sweating like it was a hot summer day even though it was just morning and the day’s winds are cold and breezy.

“Did you sleep last night?” he asked, putting the bowl down.

“Yes.”

“Properly?”

“Uh… somehow.”

Kayn stood from the sleeping bag, took his cloak and grabbed your bag.

“H-Hey!” you shouted, wanting to stand up but exhaust washed over you, “At least take a sip of the soup I made? It’s not good to drink a magical medicine and leave it with an empty stomach.”

He looked at you before snatching the bowl and took a big gulp, finishing it an instant.

“We should go to the city and find an inn, I don’t trust you having a ‘proper’ rest, you could not even stand up by yourself.”

Your face turned red, suddenly you feel hot, though you did not try to stand up on your feet. You are tired. Kayn sighs, walking up to you and outstretched his hand for you to reach out. He helped you to your feet and placed the cloak over your shoulders and fastened it above your chest.

“Wait here, I’ll pack up the rest.” he said, putting your bag down and taking the things from the camp and stuffed them into your bag.

Kayn stopped, “Did you eat?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Why did you look tired then?”

You sighed, “I put all of my effort removing the venom, thus I am tired. You see two big bowls there?” Kayn looked at where you were pointing at, “That’s how big I ate before I healed you. I did have a proper rest.”

“Good then,” Kayn stood, your bag on his shoulder, “Where is your owl.”

You two stared up at the sky when Tyto screeched, earning your attention. Kayn looked at you and began to walk by your side, following Tyto who is leading you to the nearest city.

The city is bustling with merchants and shops. Children screaming and running around the streets with laughter passed by you and Kayn. The assassin stuck by your side, as if he is going to lose you to the noisy crowd. Tyto was nowhere to be seen but you can feel his sharp gaze on you.

“There,” Kayn pointed, “An inn.”

He pushed through the crowd, you still by his side as the both of you walk towards the inn. With a shut of the door the noise was muffled by the wooden door and was replaced by soft clinks of glass and someone playing the drum followed by soft chatters and laughter.

“We would like to rent a room,”

“Twenty for two, sir,”

“One is enough."

Kayn placed ten coins on the shopkeeper’s counter. You gave a look at Kayn, he was not looking at you but to the shopkeeper who walked out of her counter and led the way to the room.

“Here’s your room,” she said, “Though I recommend not to be loud, especially at night, I don’t want angry customers drumming on my counter. Call me when you need anything.”

Before you could explain that she misunderstood the shopkeeper had already left and Kayn closed the door. He placed the bag on the floor and removed his cloak to reveal his bare body. You looked away before he could even catch you staring at him, walking towards the bed to sit.

“Go and rest, I’ll go outside to scout anything unusual.” Kayn said, putting his scythe behind him.

“What about you?”

“I slept and felt better than ever thanks to you,” he stopped, “You should really rest.”

After hearing an  ‘okay’ from you Kayn left the room. He walked down the stairs and opened the inn’s door and stepped outside, hearing the clamorous place again. He leaned back on the wall, observing the city street. Normal he thought and very noisy . Kayn could only shake his head, if he wanted to settle down, the city would not be his fit with all of the noise coming from people and the wagon’s noise.

“Hi mister!”

Kayn looked down to see a child, about the age of six, he had a stick in his mouth and his other hand holding something, a candy.

“You look lonely,”

He gets that commentary often, he did not mind. After all, he is destined to be lonely after Zed’s death and Rhaast’s mysterious disappearance. You being his companion will be temporary, knowing after you found your people you will leave too.

“Here,” the kid stretched out his little arm, holding out the candy to him, “To keep you happy.”

Kayn took the candy from the kid, saying thank you after. The kid waved him goodbye and left. He looked at the thing, hard and somehow translucent when it’s color red.

He put the candy in his pocket and stood there for a while, until frantic claws found its way to Kayn’s bare shoulder.

“Wha—”

He turned around to see Tyto flapping his wings aggressively, small screeches coming out from his beak. Kayn can’t figure out what the owl was saying, he doesn’t have your magic to understand and talk to animals, he could only see an owl trying to scream at him.

Tyto, forgetting that Kayn can’t understand him flew over the inn’s door, pecking it frantic like something is—

“Fuck!”

Kayn opened the door, entering the inn, Tyto following him. He hurriedly took the stairs, almost tripping on one of them. Opening the door, he found you on the bed, a buff man’s arm around your neck and a mage’s hand beside your head, visible electricity running on the mage’s hands. He looked at you, your face terrified as you gripped on the muscular arm. You mouthed no at Kayn when he reached for his scythe.

“An inn,” said someone. “Not likely to be used by an assassin I’m afraid.” They came out from the shadows—no it’s not him, looking at his light armor and an obvious mark on the shoulder pads of his armor says that he is a raid leader.

He could be the one who took all your people or maybe another person. He has white hair, a bald spot on top of his head, face covered with freckles and  wrinkles.

Too old

Kayn reached out for his scythe, only for the arm around you to tighten—threatening to break your neck. Kayn lowered his hand and the arms loosened around you, giving you time to breathe.

“You will get your dearest here with her severed head if you try to take a hold of your… weapon there.” the old man said as he eyed Kayn's scythe.

Kayn gritted his teeth, not knowing what to do when you are held hostage.

“Put your weapon down, slowly, kick it towards the guy in the cloak.” the man nudged his head to the left. Kayn had no choice but to slowly put his weapon down on the floor and aggressively kicked it to the person in the cloak.

The man chuckled at Kayn’s attitude, a biter, he thought.

“Zubair is my name,” said him, “and you are?”

“Is it necessary for you to know?”

“Yes, your information is helpful when it comes to shipping you out. Less work.”

“What do you want?”

“Not telling me your name?” Zubair scoffed, “Zap the healer to dea—”

“KAYN!” he screamed, earning Zubair’s attention, “Kayn is my name.”

Zubair smiled grimly, “Kayn, I see, what a beautiful name.”

“Are you going to hurt her?”

“If you do what I tell you, then she will be safe as a pet living in luxury.” Zubair turned around to face you, gripping your chin for you to face him, “It is a waste to kill off a rare breed of a descendant of ancient mages. A pretty face too.”

You winced when Zubair flicked your face to the side. You are scared, you don’t know what to do now that Kayn is unarmed and open. You don’t even know destruction magic, healing magic and healing magic only. Tears started to swell up but you tried to stop them, not wanting any of these men see your weakness, or even Kayn.

“Anyways, sack their heads, tie up Kayn and don’t let a single scratch leave on the healer. We are going now.”

Darkness engulfed your vision, the constant shuffling of cloth and metal was heard. No noise, not even from Kayn, everything is quiet. You let out a gasp when unfamiliar arms wrapped around the back of your knees and brought you up on someone’s shoulder.

With a few steps, you were placed on something wooden, and suddenly something—or someone was thrown besides you.

“Bastard.” you heard Kayn’s whisper.

“Kayn,” you called out to him with a shaky breath, “Where will they take us?”

“I don’t know.”

“Kayn, I’m scared.”

“I know,” he softly said, “I’m here, I won’t leave.”

Kayn shifted towards you, bumping his knee against yours as an attempt to calm you down. There was this warm feeling inside your chest, you could not figure out what it is, though that is the least of your problems and you two are facing a big one. What matters right now is Kayn at your side. You leaned your head on his shoulder and closed your eyes, hoping that sooner this will end.

You were woken up by a demanding voice booming in front of you. Kayn is forcefully dragged away from you, your face dropping on the wooden floor. You winced at the pain stinging on your cheek, before you could recover a hand grabbed your arm and dragged you down the wagon (or what you thought they used).

“Kayn?” you said in worry, not knowing where he is because of the sack still covering your vision.

“I’m here,” you heard his faint reply. To your demise he is far away from you he won’t be at your side as you are to be surrounded by unknown strangers.

“Walk.” a deep voice commanded you.

You did, following where the person is leading you. They stopped, their hands still tightly holding your arms, you heard a door opening and you were led again. You were forced down to sit on a soft chair, the sack removed from your head.

You were in a room, a bedroom to be specific. It is not big nor is it small, a normal room that can be used by one person. The color of dark red painted most of the room, even the sheets of the bed are dark red silk. Brown dresser beside the door and a vanity from the corner of the room where the bed is, and the floors are completely covered with velvet carpet.

“Am I supposed to be in jail?” you asked the large man leaning on the door frame.

He shaked his head, somehow he looked like you are not supposed to be here. Or somewhere worse.

“To women like you captured by Zubair, this IS prison.”

Your heart dropped, “What do you mean by that?”

“I don’t think he will care talking about him,” the man sighed,

“Zubair is a raid leader, he also takes the people he raided as slaves, some were sold off to rich people.”

“Am I going to be sold off?”

“No.”

Your heart lightened.

“What will happen to me?"

“Something not good.”

The door opened, revealing Zubair. He walked inside the room with women scarcely any clothing covering them followed behind him. Zubair stood in front of you but kept distance as the women surrounded you like pigeons flocking on little pieces of bread. They swarmed you, touching you with no permission. Gaze at your skin, your face complimenting how perfect they are, and even look at the whole of your body judgingly.

A clap stopped the women from touching you further, when Zubair flicked his wrists the women who surrounded you were out in a flash. It was only you and Zubair in the room, the bodyguard you talked to earlier was long gone, maybe was told off by Zubair when the women looked over you.

“What do you want?” you spoke, hard even you know you are scared of what will happen to you.

Zubair smiled, he stayed put, no intentions to go near you or touch you.

“Oh it’s nice to see an Ishlac again.”

Again

You felt anger bubbling inside you, “You were there—it was you.”

“Surprising isn’t it?”

“What did you do to them?” you kept yourself intact, even if you tried to attack this man your fate won’t end well.

Zubair only shrugged, “I don’t know exactly, they could be everywhere—slaves— dead .”

“What did my people even do to you?”

“Nothing really, it is my line of work. No grudges, nothing personal, just about work.”

“Selling people? Hurt them? Put them as slaves? What are you trying to achieve here?”

“None of your business.”

He walked to the door before he could go outside, Zubair looked back, his smirk not leaving his wrinkly face.

“Oh, to inform you Kayn will be shipped out tomorrow. Though I don’t give goodbyes to my employees.”

You sat on the stool, Ravika, a woman you met who is nice, paced from the vanity to you as she was doing your makeup. You shifted on your seat, uncomfortable in the clothes provided to you by Zubair himself. It was disgusting, there was barely any cloth covering you, only shining rocks hung around your skin.

“You’ll get used to it,” Ravika said after seeing your discomfort with the dress, “There, it’s finished I’ll lead you to the sofa room where he is.”

After she placed jewelry from top to your ankles, she led you to where Zubair was waiting. The gold and diamonds you wore tinkle every step you take, eyes are on you as Ravika assisted you to the sofa room.

“Ah, Kalos,” Zubair greeted. He sat on the biggest couch you’ve ever seen, you could even sleep there if you want to.

Ravika patted you on the shoulder, you gave her a nod and she walked away. This man for sure loves the color velvet, every furniture and things were in color of velvet and gold. But mostly velvet.

“Come, sit, here.” he pointed beside him.

No

With no choice, you obeyed, walking up to him and sat.

Please

Uncomfortable, you could only think, your attention was caught by something in front of you. It was the nightclub, neon colors filled the dim room, you tried to find Ravika only to see her serving drink for those filthy men.

“What do you want from me exactly?” you asked, so boldly.

Zubair raised an eyebrow, but answered your question nonetheless, “You are the only one left of your people, you are deemed to be a big-ticket.”

He is telling you you are worth something so much that he wants to flaunt how rich he is and how horrible of a person he is. You could only stay in silence, not wanting to have a conversation with Zubair no more. Your worries lay more on Kayn, you don’t know where he is or what they could be doing to him. You need to find a way.

As Zubair minds his own business looking over the nightclub you look around the room. Everything is decorated with expensive things, even throphy animals were hung on the wall. How cruel . You saw a jug of water placed on a glass tray with golden cups surrounding it, it was beside a metal pot. There were no guards inside or even outside the room, you know since the room has a doorway, the outside is empty.

“Say, should I pour you a drink?” you ushered, hoping that he will say yes.

He looked at you and raised an eyebrow at your action, you could only shrug at him, “Isn’t it more flashy if the last of the Ishlac is serving you?”

He smirked at your statement, “Smart, go on, I could use a drink for myself.”

You stood up from your seat, walking up to the metal pot, looking behind you making sure he was watching the nightclub. To be less suspicious you used the jar and poured wine on the cup, putting it down and reaching for the pot.

Slowly, you walked towards him, the metal in hand.

“Why are you taking a while to pou—”

Before he could fully turn around you, you smashed the pot on his head giving him a good night’s sleep. You grabbed his collar before he could fall on the floor and slowly laid him on the sofa, you placed the metal pot on the floor. Looking at his body, you turned around and ran for the doorway only to be stopped by a large figure. Your heart dropped, looking up to see the man you saw in your room earlier looking down at you.

“I—I—”

“Turn three lefts and the fifth right, you can see the dungeon where your pretty boy is.” he said, “Go, before he wakes up.”

He steped aside for you to walk out, you looked at him, shock still plastered on your face. You could only whisper a thank you and rush out of the room, not looking back.

You followed the man’s directions given to you, after entering the fifth right, dark metal gates loomed. It was open, you took a peek looking left and right if there was someone inside. You entered, trying to find the cell where Kayn is.

“Kayn?” you whispered.

“Kayn?” you said. Louder this time.

“Healer?”

You ran to the voice that seemingly called you, you never told your name to him. Grabbing on the metal bars you saw Kayn walking up to you, his face inches away from yours, the bars keeping you from him.

“I—I don’t know where the keys are.”

“No need for keys,” he still has his eyes on you, scared that you might disappear, “Take the scythe and give it to me.”

You looked at where he pointed, the scythe was laid on the brick wall, besides it was your lute. With haste, you ran to the scythe and took it. Before you could take another step towards Kayn’s cell, your hair was immediately pulled making you scream in pain, letting go of the scythe having it fall and slide on the floor, you tried to grab the hand gripping your hair.

“You dare to smash a metal pot on my head?” Zubair whispered to your ear, “You will regret that.”

You were thrown on the cold floor, knocking off your flute in the process.

He saw the lute, he smirked and took it, smashing it on the wall, green smoke emmits from the lute then it disappeared. Leaving only a dull broken lute.  You could only look at the broken lute in horror, all those wood from your village, the handicraft made by both of your grandparents. Gone.

Zubair loomed over you, his hand wrapped around your neck, choking you. You tried to gasp for air as you squeezed on Zubair’s hand. His other hand started to take a hold of your clothes, you panicked, you tried to wriggle while his hand was around your neck.

You choked a cry, Zubair smiled, “You look beautiful this way.”

Disgusting

You closed your eyes and screamed, “Kayn!”

Then it was silence, the hands prying on you were gone, you heard a thump followed by a warm liquid pooling around your feet.

“Don’t open your eyes, stay here.” said Kayn, you followed what he said, in fear of what you see in front of you after you heard a loud thud earlier.

Everything was silent, though you could hear muffled thuds through the walls of the dungeon. You still have your eyes closed, followed by heavy breathing from you, you heard footsteps. It stopped when it found itself in front of you. You felt a cloth placed on your shoulders, keeping you from the cold and giving you warmth. Arms found itself around you to help you stand on your feet, you felt the warm ooze on your sole. You decided to ingore it and followed the arms that are guiding you.

“We are safe now.” Kayn whispered into your ear, “Don’t open them yet.”

You only nodded, finally knowing that you are now safe in the assassin’s arms.

“Steady your stance,” Kayn said, “Swing it towards me.”

You swung the dagger to Kayn, he easily dodges it.

“Not fair, I don’t have your skill.”

“That is why we are doing this,” he positioned himself, you could only groan in frustration.

After the incident and knowing what happened to your people, you and Kayn ventured around taking small quests or even participating in Kayn’s work and meaning by his work means him killing bandits, stealing their things and selling them. You were willing to help him, not knowing what it is, and when you knew you promised to yourself you won’t be helping him anytime soon.

He asked you what you will do now that most of your people are gone or scattered around the world. It is almost impossible for you to find them, you just told him you will be his company from now on. He was silent, of course, since you knew in your first meeting with him he was not willing to take you as his temporary company until you found out what happened to your people. You told him it’s fine if he doesn’t want you—though he cuts you off, telling you he likes your company.

Then here you are, getting trained by the assassin Kayn.

“Okay, time out, that was tiring.”

“I’ll be cooking this time then.” Kayn said, walking to your camp, leaving you in the temporary training grounds you use.

“Well at least your cooking is getting better, so go on.” you smiled, placing your dagger down on the stump and followed Kayn.

You sat on the ground, looking up at the sky. Night will soon take over.

“Hey,” you called out.

“Yeah?” Kayn replied.

“Come look at this.” your eyes never left the turning sky, colors of orange-red disperse as the darkest blue took over with glittering stars in the sky.

You heard a soft thump beside you, Kayn sat close to you.

“Beautiful,” Kayn smiled, “Reminded me of a senario that happened a few months ago.”

“What do you mean?”

“This is the same sky, same time where I first saw you in your village, playing the lute under the willow tree.” He looked at you with such intensity in his eyes, too close to each other, you were liking it. “Such a melody caught me almost in trance, before I fell.”

His face was an inch away from yours, “Hey I—”

You kissed him on the cheek, cutting him off guard. You could only look at him and smile.

“Kayn you’re too obvious, even Tyto noticed it too.” you laughed, a screech from Tyto you both heard.

“Dang bird, did he tell you?”

You nodded, he smiled.

“Well my intentions have been exposed,” he held your hand, “Then?”

“I have nowhere to go, my people are gone, some are around the world far away from me to which it is impossible to find them. You accepted me as your companion with your adventures… and as your look out when you do your assassination work. I think this is obvious too, Kayn.” you said, giving his hand a squeeze.

“More than that actually, as my—uh—parnter?”

“Of course, aren’t we already?”

“Oh,”

You could only laugh, you felt his shoulders shake, trying to prevent himself from laughing.

“Do you love me then?”

“Depends.”

“...”

“...I do.”

You smiled, placing your head on Kayn’s shoulders as you two both lay on the soft grass while looking at the starry night. Bodies cuddled together for warmth from the cold night. You liked this, no doubt Kayn too. You hoped this would last forever, forever in his arms.

#kayn #sheida kayn #league of legends x reader #league of legends #sheida kayn x reader #kayn x reader

[bimoonphases]

@wolfstarmicrofic March 16 – prompt 16: Episkey – word count 264

Episkey - Heals minor injuries

Sometimes Remus thought he had lost too much for just one lifetime. He would wake up with a crushing weight on his chest and usually run to the garden with a cup of tea to calm down. It was too much, too much loss. So many friends and family, all gone in the first war. Those twelve years of losing himself at the bottom of a bottle. All the others, some of whom he had even taught for a year, gone in the second war. So much loss, clinging to him like a poisonous vine.

A scream followed by a loud wail made him come back to himself and he turned around to see the little boy sprawled on the garden path, crying. He hurried to him, while Sirius sprinted from the cottage door.

“It’s alright, mon coeur, it’s alright,” Sirius said, as he picked the boy up. “You wanted to run to Dad but you fell?”

“Anwell hurt,” the boy whined, extending a tiny bruised hand towards Remus.

Remus sat down by his husband and their son, taking the tiny hand in his and having a look at it.

“It’s only a scratch, fy nghariad, Dad and Papa will make it better in no time,” he said, taking his wand from his pocket. “Episkey! See? It’s all gone now.”

Anwell stopped crying and finally smiled, his face red from the tears. Remus smiled back. Yes, so much loss. But that was the past. And the present looked bright enough. Bright as the smile on his son’s face and on the man he loved.

#so i apparently loved too much the idea of these two adopting a baby I wrote about in the Wolfsbane Potion prompt #Sirius calls Anwell my heart in french #and Remus calls him my sweetheart in welsh #apologies to any Welsh speakers if the pet name is wrong (please tell me) #wolfstar #wolfstar microfic #remus x sirius #sirius x remus #marauders #marauders era #the marauders #the marauders era #just writing (like i'm supposed to live)

[lostonehero]

Fuck it

Werewolf Martin

Martin knew he was fucked, it's been a week since he's been trapped in this damn apartment by this worm woman. He might of fucked up even more when he finally noticed his calender. This was so stupid that he prepared for this, but it was a freaky worm creature. He growls low and haunting. The sun was going down soon, and his landlord won't be happy in the slightest. What about the other people here. He especially got this place because it was cheap and nobody cared who came and went.

"L-look, please leave me a-alone." Martin pressed himself against his front door bracing against the thumps. "It's almost sunset."

He heard a mocking laugh. "Afraid of the dark? Listen to our sweet song, let it consume you join us, Martin."

Martin groaned. That isn't what he meant at all, but should he feel bad about what he was going to do? He didn't have control when he was hungry and he was trapped and this door won't hold him. He had two hours to convince this creature to leave, and he didn't exactly have his phone to call for help.

Time moved quickly after he finally made his decision. He could come up with a cover story. He's done it before, and hell, his mom never figured out what happened to him as a teen. He will have to get new clothes and explain the weight loss but fuck it.

"L-ast!" Martin was never good at counting his time as his words are cut off with a growling scream. Bones shifting and cracking fur covering his body. Then it's too quiet, and the thumping against the door seemed to laugh and get more violent until....

A loud blood curling howl and the door were broken into splinters. The worms did nothing to the giant wolf creature with red fur with streaks of black. The wolf growled and gave no warning when it charged and bit into the hive of a woman. Blood rot and worms were sprayed. The wolf bared its teeth and ran out of the complex.

.......

"Any news on Martin?" Sasha hums, looking over Tim, who was scrolling through his phone.

"Not since the beginning of the week." Tim shrugs. "I know double boss gave him sick leave even if he told us through text."

"I'm worried about the big guy he- " Sasha is cut off by stomping feet and gasping breath.

"I'm - I'm uh back." It was Martin. The man seemed to loom over them more so than normal his soft curves seemed to be replaced with muscular angles. His red hair was a mess on the top of his head, and his clothes seemed to hang on him. "Sorry I didn't mean to be gone so long."

"Geez Marto, you alright." Tim looks at him with wide eyes. "Some stomach bug you had looked at you."

Sasha gasps and gets up. "Martin, you look pale. Are you alright? You shouldn't come back if you are still sick."

Did Jane use his phone? Probably Martin sighs he needed a lie or half truth. "There was a massive break in at my flat, and it seems they used wild animals. The police are still investigating, and uh, I didn't just want to stay there while they investigate. A lot of stuff was ruined, nothing stolen. I don't think but I need a new door."

"Fucking hell Martin why come into work?" Tim stared at the taller man with a open mouth.

"They uh broke my phone so I couldn't explain to Elias what happened." Martin looked away with a blush.

"Jesus Martin." Sasha sighs. "Come on I'll come with you to explain things to Elias and then Jon."

"Oh, uh, thank you." Martin gives a nervous smile. "It's just been hectic."

"Oh sweetie, how about we make some tea after." Sasha hums. "Tim can pay for drinks later."

"I did not agree to anything!" Tim huffs but has a smile on his lips. "Glad to have ya back, big guy."

Martin's face was as red as his hair. "You guys thank you."

.......

Elias looked up from his desk and raised his brow in slight confusion, which isn't his normal Forte. "Martin, what a lovely surprise are you feeling better?"

Martin shifted and swallowed he wasn't nervous around his boss he kind of had the instinct to intimate him. Not that he would he needs this job and heaven forbid he finds out he lied. "Yeah, I was sick, and uh, then my flat was broken into with animals, and uh, I don't exactly have a phone at the moment." He recalls picking out broken pieces of his phone in his mouth the next morning.

Elias had that confused expression on his face, but it quickly was covered up. "If you need more time off, I can give you..."

Martin quickly shook his head. "No, I uh sir I rather keep my mind off of that. I'll just get back to work then."

"Alright then. Just stay safe, Martin. we wouldn't want anything bad happening to you." Elias smiles and waves Martin out.

Martin sighs. "I think that went well."

"Come on, now we have to tell Jon." Sasha hums.

"Oh right yeah, tell Jon." Martin takes a breath. It's bad enough that he had a crush on his boss, but it's worse because his instincts agreed with him to the point where he couldn't exactly write off his feelings. He also knew Jon was a cat person, which didn't help him.

....

"Martin...." Jon narrowed his gaze to the taller man. He could see whatever sickness he had taken a heavy toll on the man. Then, to have a break in on top of that. Maybe he could let some of the unfortunate behaviors of the man go for the moment. "I am glad you've returned."

Martin gave a nervous smile. "Thank you sir uh Jon thank you, Jon." He shifts slightly. "Would you like a cup of tea?"

Jon nods his head. "I would like one, yes."

Martin nods and quickly exits.

Jon sighs and returns to his notes. He really shouldn't be so hard on the man, but it can't be helped.

......

They were fooling around while Jon, who rarely stepped out of his office, was out. Martin always did his best not to go to work or, at the very least, leave early on the nights of the full moon. He wasn't exactly lucky today, and maybe he was being a little aggressive when he was knocked into a wall. "Oh bloody hell."

"Oh fuck me." Tim gasps.

"Is that a tunnel?" Sasha stared at the Martin sized hole in the wall.

Martin groans he could see deep into the tunnels more so than the others, but he would never admit why to them. The smell hit him, and he knew that smell, but it was fresh, and his body didn't. No, his instincts screamed at him to follow it. "Guys, we shouldn't. Uh, we shouldn't be..."

"MARTIN!" Jon shouted, and Martin didn't flinch, and if they noticed, nobody said a word. "What the bloody hell... was....that...oh."

"Hey, so didn't know you had a spooky tunnel, boss man." Tim jokes, but everyone can see the curiosity in his eyes.

"That's supposed to be a solid wall." Jon mumbles, looking at Martin, who got up dusting himself off. Be nice, Jon. "Did you hit your head?"

"N-no. I'm fine but it's getting late and we shouldn't explore this now." Martin knew the sun wouldn't be down for another 3 hours, but he also knew he couldn't trust public transport to race against the night. He didn't grab Sasha fast enough when she stepped inside the tunnel.

"Properly spooky." Sasha chuckles using the flashlight on her phone. "Come on, we investigate this stuff all the time. Now we have one at our home base. A little urban exploration won't kill us." She bites her tongue, looking back at Tim.

Tim grabs a flashlight from his keychain. "I'm with Sasha. We are employees at the spooky place. Let's unearth some spooky secrets." He's already tugging Martin along. "Come on, big guy. You'll be our muscle." He jokes.

Jon follows the three. "I suppose I would like some hard evidence." He has a flashlight on his phone as well and follows them into the tunnels.

Martin somehow made his way to the front of the group and became the so-called guide. Against his sane mind, he was following that scent he picked up earlier, and he doesn't realize how long they've been in there.

"Hey Mateo, you sure you don't need a torch?" Tim was to his side.

"O-oh yours is fine enough." Martin internally groaned he forgot to look normal. He has pretty good night vision thanks to being that, along with other enhanced senses. Speaking of which, his hand perked out, grabbing the back of Jon's sweater. "Not that way." And as if on cue, the path seemed to shift, and a wall was in place of that open tunnel.

"Dude, are you like psychic?" Tim blinks. "How did you know?"

"....smelled wrong..." Martin mumbles.

Jon blinks. "How did a wall just move out of nowhere? What even are these tunnels?"

Sasha hums and points her light up, highlighting a name. "That's a familiar name."

"Robert smirk." Tim sighs. "That guy seems to be everywhere."

Martin barely glances at Tim's phone. It was getting too late, and he knew he couldn't turn back. It was too late to backtrack he really hoped he wouldn't hurt them. He jumps at a soft touch on his arm.

"Martin, relax." Jon sighs. "I wanted to thank you for not letting me get trapped."

Martin smiles softly, and Jon swore he could see a faint glow from the larger man's eyes. "O-of course Jon, we shouldn't split up."

Jon nods. "Right, you are Martin."

They continue forward, and that familair dread was settling in Martin's core. The smell was getting stronger, and he didn't know what the state of the body would be in. He didn't know if he would be in control when... he clutched his chest in pain and fell to his side. "Bloody fuck." He gasps. He was too late, and to his left, he saw an open room and that body he was tracking.

"Martin!?" Sasha shouted as her light traveled over, revealing the large room and the dead body. She gasps and drops her phone.

Jon stared wide-eyed at the body. He's never seen a dead body before, let alone one with eyes that shouldn't still be intact.

The color drained out of Tim's face. "Holy shit."

Martin stumbled to his feet again. "Guys...." He covered his mouth, and his legs gave out with a heavy crack. He was growling, trying his best to fight this, but he knew it was futile.

"Martin, come on, get up." Jon reached out and touched Martin's shoulder. "We have to we have to report this and... and..." He felt the bone shift under Martin's skin and another loud crack.

Three pairs of eyes trained on Martin as he seemed to grow. Flesh pulled at his shifting bones and muscle. His clothes were ripped one by one as his body changed to that of a massive inhuman sized wolf.

Sasha knew she should run. She knew she shouldn't stare. Her feet felt like they were cemented to the floor. Her friend, sweet clumsy Martin, was something that was only in fantasy novels and bad romance movies.

Tim swallowed. "Easy there Martin, please tell me you're still Martin." He stepped back to the hard back of the stone tunnel.

Jon stared at the impossible. His coworker, his bumbling idiot and the sweetest man he ever met was not human. Those haunting blue eyes remained the same as he skulked closer. "Martin...?"

Martin growled and stepped closer and closer till he looked down at Jon. His hot breath came down on the shorter man. He bared his teeth for a moment before taking a long sniff. Drool dripped from his maw, and in an instant, a large heavy paw came down then...

Jon yelped and screamed, then started to laugh. "Martin! No stop, stop!" Martin pinned him to the floor, licking his face. He tried to push the lumbering wolf away, but his hands sunk into the soft fur. "S-stop! Wait, my glasses! MARTIN!"

Martin stopped and sat back, his tail thumping against the stone floor.

Sasha couldn't stop herself she approached, careful to avoid Jon on the floor. She reached her hand out on the soft fur. "YOU'RE SO FLUFFY!" She giggles as Martin licks her, making her curly hair stand up straight. "Tim, come here now. Please feel how soft he is."

Tim slowly approaches and is assaulted with the wolf's tongue. "Hey, buy me dinner first." He chuckles and scratches between his ears when he lays down. "Look at you, sweetest thing in these tunnels."

Jon gets up, barely getting any drool off his face and sweater. At least he could see since his glasses weren't broken. "He's not dangerous?"

Martin rolls over to show his belly.

"Jon, that's the universal sign that a dog likes you." Sasha squeals, rubbing his belly. "It's so soft."

"Is he still in there?" Jon's question created enough tension the room grew silent except for the panting from Martin.

Tim frowns. "He should be alright if the myths are right in the morning. I mean...WHOA" Martin has flung Tim to his back and then grabbed Sasha and Jon to sit on his back. "Hey buddy..."

A loud growl shut up any other comments. Jon held on for his life as Martin began to run hard and fast. Sasha was laughing, and Tim giggled. They exited the tunnels into the starless sky.

"Woooo!" Sasha giggles. "We're free!"

Tim chuckles, gets down, and helps Sasha down as Jon falls into the mud. "Well, good news, he's friendly, but that doesn't answer anything about him being still in there."

Jon pulls himself to his feet and sighs. "I hope he's still in there. He would make a horrible assistant stuck like this." He reached out slowly, and Martin sat down and lowered his head for Jon. "I must admit I am thankful he is friendly."

"My flat accepts pets." Tim speaks up. "Hey, don't look at me like that! How else are we going to find out if he goes back to normal in the morning?"

"Tim has a point, and I don't know where we are at the moment." Jon frowns at the lock on his hand. "Stop your insistent licking."

Sasha looks around. "Wait, I know where we are, and we're actually right by Tim's flat." She points to the sign above them, and Tim hums in agreement.

"I suppose would it be too much to ask to use your shower?" Jon sighs covered in mud and wolf slobber.

Tim snickers. "You can use it, boss. You need it more than all of us. Actually, I would say Martin could use it, but he's way too big." He hums. "Follow me."

They walk for only 20 minutes till they reach Tim's flat. He luckily kept his keys on him and opened his door. It took a lot of coaxing from Jon to get Martin inside he seemed to like him the best. Now, after that hassle, everyone git cleaned, and Tim made a small dinner for everyone and gave Martin some ground beef.

Martin was curled up in the corner watching everyone.

Sasha broke the silence. "What if he doesn't turn back?"

"I can keep him here." Tim frowns. "But he should be back to normal, right? What if this was from that animal attack in his apartment complex?"

"It was a month ago, and it would line up with the full moon." Jon returns his gaze to Martin, who was staring at him. "I well if my knowledge on folktales is correct then when the sun breaks he should be back to normal. However, it's quite iffy on if he would remember any of this."

"I mean, at least it's not like twilight." Sasha tries to joke, but all of them were tired and had different looks of work on their features.

"We should head to bed." Tim shifts. "Jon, you can have the couch. Sasha, are you cool sharing my bed?"

Sasha nods. "Jon, scream if something happens."

Jon nods, accepting the blanket, and lays down on the soft couch. He watches Martin get up and walk close to him and lays down next to the couch, making it impossible for Jon to get up without alerting the wolf. "Right. Good night Martin."

........

Martin groans and stretches. He blinks, rubbing his eyes as sunlight spills into his vision. He cracks his back and sighs. He looks around. When did he end up inside? He doesn't recognize this place, and the last thing he could recall was that they were in the tunnels, and they found a body. Oh God, did he kill them? Wait, wait... there wasn't clothing in his teeth, and he didn't feel like he had to cough something like normal when he did eat something he wasn't supposed to. He brushed himself off of the nonexistent dirt. He was naked as normal after a full moon, but he didn't have any spare clothes this time, and he really didn't know where he was.

Jon swallows, staring at Martin. He knows for a fact the man hasn't seen him. He had no idea Martin was muscular, let alone like that. He wasn't normally the type to stare or even enjoy someone's naked form, but something felt different. He cleared his throat, grabbing Martin's attention as he sat up and held out the blanket.

Martin blinks. "OH BLOODY FUCKING HELL!" He shouts ripping the blanket from Jon then covers himself then his face dying from embarrassment.

The sound of heavy footsteps of someone running then a soft gasp. "Martin?" It was Sasha. "Martin, you're back to normal."

Tim rushed behind her. "Martin buddy, you're ok!"

Martin groans and hides under the blanket.

.......

A pair of sweatpants was the best Tim could do for Martin since Martin was the biggest out of all of them. "Are you ok?"

Martin sighs. "I mean, I'm fine. Thank you for the pants, though." He frowns as all eyes were on him. "I uh to make things clear I've been like this since I was a teenager."

"It wasn't the animal attack at your flat?" Jon raised his brow.

Martin shook his head. "I may have lied about who was the animal in the attack, and in my defense, Jane Prentiss was trapping me in my apartment with her worms. I warned her, and she laughed at me. I'm normally better at keeping track of this, but I mean things happened. I was puking up these silver worms for like a week, I mean, they were dead, but they made me sick. I also accidently ate my phone because I was picking that out of my teeth. I mean, I don't really remember anything that happens during the whole wolf out thing. I get flashes sometimes and maybe dreams, but that's about it. I think... no, I definitely killed her, but in my defense, she trapped me in my apartment for a week, used my phone, and tried to fill me with worms."

"That wasn't a stomach virus, but you looked so..." Tim trails off.

"It's a side effect if I don't eat properly. Do you have any idea how painful it is to turn, let alone how much calories you burn in the process? It's a lot. I mean, I've been dealing with this for a long time, and I don't tend to tell people because they look at me like I'm crazy or think I'm a furry." Martin throws his hands up. "I'm so sorry for whatever I did, I tried to get out of going into the tunnels because the full moon, but you guys dragged me along, and it was too late, and I uh... wait, how did we get out? Also, who was the dead body?"

"We rode you like a horse." Sasha chuckles. "And uh, right, the dead body. To be fair, you did turn into a giant wolf."

"I uh good, I'm glad I helped." Msrtin looks down. "Please, I uh, please don't tell anyone."

"For a price." Tim smiles.

Martin shrinks back. "A price?"

"Yeah, you have to let at least one of us watch you." Tim smiles wider. "Just to keep you out of trouble."

"I would, but uh, I already have someone who helps me." Martin flinched as Sasha slams her hands on the able.

"Who!" Sasha shouts.

Jon thinned his lips as he felt something at the edges of his mind that he refused to acknowledge as jealousy. "It would be helpful to know who else knows." He tried his best to sound kind and not annoyed.

Martin rubs his arm. "An old friend of mine from high school kind of. Her name is Joan she's very kind and has a lot of land that's a forest she lets me roam in. She keeps to herself and doesn't like strangers."

"Oh well, you have to introduce us." Jon hums.

"That will be difficult she really is only up at night. I should probably tell her I'm ok...wait I left my phone on my desk." Martin groans.

Tim chuckles. "We'll be there regardless. You can pick it up then."

"You're right." Martin sighs. "I think I have spare clothes there."

"Why?" Sasha raised her brow.

"Uhhhh, so I prepared for the worst-case scenario wherever I work. I'm a little paranoid." Martin looks away.

"That's actually really good." Jon smiles. "It's good to be prepared."

Martin's face lights up.

#tma #tim stoker #sasha james #martin blackwood #jonathan sims #the magnus archives

[aninag]

Lonesome

Series: FGO

Merlin x gender neutral reader

Warnings: blood, angst, memory loss, references to death, reader isn't a master, Merlin is sus but when isn't he sus, wounds

Word count: 4.9k

Strange things have been happening, but you're the only one who seems to take notice. Even your dearest Merlin seems to be oblivious.

--

ii.

"Darling, are you alright? What are you doing sitting here in the dark?"

You blinked. The setting sun cast long shadows on the table. There was still light out, but darkness had started to creep in the corners of the room. You rubbed your temples, trying to dispel whatever it was that had distracted you earlier.

A pair of warm arms engulfed you, followed by the sweet scent of flowers. You closed your eyes and leaned against his warmth. It felt as if you'd been running nonstop at a breakneck pace. The tension in your body eased as you snuggled closer.

"Sorry," you mumbled against his chest. "I was waiting for you and I guess I just got lost in thought... I can't even remember what I was thinking about."

Merlin ran his fingers through your hair before he pulled back. Even in the dim light, his purple eyes still shone bright. A fond expression filled his face, which made you smile back.

"Ah! Did you miss me? Was that making you worry?" He waggled his eyebrows before pressing a kiss to your cheek. "Silly darling. I'll always be here with you. You have nothing to fear."

He suddenly stood, carrying you out of your chair in one fell swoop. You grabbed at his shoulder to steady yourself as he lifted you out of the room.

"Now then, shall we get started on supper? I've worked up quite an appetite!"

He stepped out of the threshold, laughing at your halfhearted protests. A half-finished cup of tea sat abandoned on the table. As the light from the fading sun dimmed to red, one could hardly see the blood streaks on the teacup.

--

iii.

You always rose just before dawn. The farmstead was small, but you preferred to get most of the work done before high noon so you needed the early start. Most days, you'd wake before Merlin did. You'd prepare breakfast in the kitchen before the smell of coffee and food dragged him away from his slumber. He'd stagger in, yawning and grumbling all the way to the table.

On rare days however, just like this morning, you'd find yourself tangled up in his arms and pinned down by the weight of his body. His warmth, the slow rhythm of his breathing, and the softness of the bed; all of it tempted you to go back to sleep. On days like these, getting out of bed seemed an impossible task. It would have been so easy to just cave in and surrender, to just sleep in.

"Darling," you muttered against his ear, "I need to get up."

You heard him grumble before he tightened his grip around you. "You don't need to get up, you just want to."

You huffed. "Fine. I want to get up so I can get started on our breakfast. Could you let me go?"

"Don't you want to relax for once? Just sleep in with me for a bit?"

You smiled at his petulance. "Tempting. Very very tempting offer, my darling. But if I do that, Bessie, Gertie, Clover, and Dixie will go hungry in the barn. If they get grumpy they might not give us any milk or eggs."

He clicked his tongue. "The animals can survive a few hours. They'll understand if you need to get some rest. Just stay with me for a while?"

His eyes remained resolutely closed, but his brow was starting to furrow. You pressed kisses against his face until his face relaxed again.

"Thirty minutes. After that, we're both getting out of bed."

--

iv.

Hunting for the eggs was your favorite chore. Your two hens always made it a challenge. They kept picking small nooks and crannies to lay eggs in, and they rarely picked the same spot twice. Today however, both hens seemed to have it out for you. You'd been wandering the farmstead for an hour now and you didn't have a single egg to show for it.

The cows watched indifferently as you walked across the field. You'd checked the barn and the coop twice over. You'd even looked near the farmhouse but had only come up empty. The only place left to look was the tool shed. Hopefully the hens had just enough mercy for you that they wouldn't lay their eggs on the shed's roof.

You peered among the metal tools, looking for a splash of white or brown to clue you in. It was still early in the day, but the shed didn't have any windows to bring in the light. It was cold, dark, and musty. All you had to rely on was the stream of light from the doorway, so you clumsily felt around.

"Aha!"

You spotted a small brown egg tucked away behind a sickle. As carefully as you could, you reached out to grab it. Thankfully you didn't nick yourself with the sickle, and you carefully placed the egg inside. Before you could start looking for another egg however, a strange object caught your attention.

Your chest felt tight. Cold sweat formed on your brow. Dread pooled in your stomach. The object unnerved you yet you couldn't gaze away. It entranced you, pulling you closer and closer. With a trembling hand, you reached out to grab it. Your fingers grazed the cold metal surface, turning your dread into terror.

White robes filled your vision. Warm hands rubbed your back and stroked your hair. In your terror, you hugged him tight. Merlin brought you out into the sunlight, but the chill had settled in your skin. Your teeth chattered as he looked you over.

Worry was a strange expression on his face. It was never he that worried, it was always you. Right? He was always the one that brought sunshine and flowers to your gloomy days. He'd always be the one to console you, to tell you that everything was fine, that it was alright to just slip back to sleep-

"You're hurt!" you gasped.

Bright crimson streaks covered his white robes. His pristine face and white locks were flecked with red. Panicked, you rifled through the rest of his body, trying to figure out where he was bleeding from. His clothes didn't look torn. There were no obvious wounds on his hands or neck. But there was just so much blood! How could anyone be alright with that much blood coming out of them?

"Shh. Shh. I'm alright. I'm not hurt," he said. Gently, he guided your arm in front of you. "You must have gotten hurt inside the tool shed, darling."

Your arm was drenched in blood. A large gaping wound wrapped around your forearm, slowly dripping blood on both of you. The scent of copper hit you like a wave, overpowering the usual scent of flowers your darling always carried. Strangely enough, there was little to no pain. All you felt was an unnerving chill.

"I must have gotten nicked by the sickle..." you muttered. "I was looking for some eggs then-"

You pursed your lips. A confusing tangle of thoughts prevented you from recalling what happened. All you could remember was a dark shape, coupled with dread and terror. You couldn't move. You couldn't scream. All you could do was watch as it moved closer and closer, until the cold metal pressed firmly against your chest and-

"Shh. If it's too much, don't think about it anymore darling." Merlin hugged you tight. The combined scent of blood and flowers was almost nauseating. You bit your lip to keep yourself from gagging. "Let's get you all patched up and change into some clean clothes."

You nodded and let yourself be carried back to the house. He was right. What would dwelling upon it achieve at this point? You got hurt, so the next step was fixing yourself up. What did it matter if you couldn't recall exactly how you got hurt?

As he carried you across the field, your blood dripped down on the grass. As the blood fell, the once vibrant green shoots faded and shriveled up. Patches of grass started to die and crumble, revealing the dry cracked earth.

--

v.

"Penny for your thoughts, darling?"

You snapped out of your daze, but a high-pitched ringing remained in your ears. It was so persistent that you could have mistaken them for sirens in the distance. But that wouldn't have made sense. There were no busy cities or towns nearby. There was no reason for sirens to ring here in your peaceful, quiet farm.

Frustrated, you sat up and started rubbing at your ears. The sudden movement knocked off the throw wrapped around you. The air around you was warm enough given that you were curled up in front of the hearth. The cheery fire gave more than enough light to light up Merlin's features. Mischief and adoration danced in his eyes, and his mouth was upturned in a familiar smirk. He reached out to cradle your cheek.

"I hope you're not thinking of some other person while you're cuddling up to me, darling. My fragile ego can't take that hit," he teased, squeezing your cheek fondly.

You leaned into his hand and pressed a soft kiss in apology. "Sorry darling. I've just been drifting... I can't remember what I was even thinking so hard about... What were we talking about earlier?"

The corners of his eyes crinkled and he shook his head. "Nothing important. Don't worry about it darling. All that matters right now is that we're both safe here."

You grinned back. "Where else would I go?"

His smile remained, but the light in his eyes seemed to dim. His eyebrows knit together. The sounds of the fire seemed to soften and the air turned cold. Fear seized you. Your chest began to pound and your body tensed up. Your mouth ran dry and your tongue felt too heavy to move. Everything felt wrong.

You looked imploringly at him for answers, but he remained silent. His smile was colored with so much sadness that you felt like crying. You wanted to reach out, to hold him and comfort him. But you remained still, rooted to your spot by your dread fear.

He pressed a kiss to your forehead before everything faded to black.

"Where else would you go?" he muttered.

--

vi.

You shivered in the crisp spring air as you watched Merlin work in the field. The sun was high in the sky, but the rays were still too weak to combat the cold. You wrapped your jacket tighter against you and cradled your mug.

In the field, he tended to the crops with his staff. He'd forgone his white robes, choosing instead to work in his black shirt and pants. He spun his wooden staff, sending small clouds of rain to water the rows of wheat. He waved at you when he caught you staring. You waved back.

While he rose later than you did, he would almost always finish his chores quicker than you. He made tending to the crops look so easy. With a flick of his staff, meters of farmland would get fertilized and watered. What would have taken you several hours to complete would take him mere minutes.

The only reason you finished ahead today was because your chores revolved around the cows. The chickens were gone. Merlin opined that they must have escaped through a hole in the fence. It must have been a small hole since the cows hadn't run off, but it would be best to repair it soon. Chickens were easy enough to replace but cows were expensive. Perhaps you could ask him to help you repair the fence after he finished tending to the crops. You could grab some tools from the shed first and-

You dropped your mug. Cold, deep, nauseating fear sank deep in your bones. You looked at your arms, running your fingers on the smooth unblemished skin. There was no cut, no scars, no redness, no hurt. It was wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong!

You had a cut here yesterday! You were sure of it! It couldn't have possibly healed that quickly. And even if it had, such a large wound would have left a scar on you. It would have left a mark to remind you that something happened.

You grasped at your sleeves, rolling them up to expose more skin. Perhaps you had been mistaken on where the cut had been? Maybe it was further up your arm! Then you'd find it and have a good old laugh about how silly you were being. Maybe you'd tell Merlin too, and he'd have a grand old time teasing and laughing at silly old you.

You'd rolled up your sleeves to your shoulders, but you could only find unmarred skin. There were no wounds, no scars, no blood, no blemishes. Just skin as smooth as it had been the day you were born.

"Darling?"

You turned to see Merlin walking towards you. Worry seemed to be present more and more often on his face. His brows were knit and his mouth pressed into a firm line. Behind him, the weather seemed to take a turn for the worse. Gray clouds rolled from the horizon, blocking out the warm rays of the sun. Both of you needed to move. You needed to run back to the house before the rain poured.

As you moved your feet, you slipped on something slick. When you fell to the ground, the familiar scent of copper hit you. You were stuck in a large puddle of blood. Blood now covered your arms, your legs, your body. You tried to push yourself up, but it was as slippery and sticky as mud. The more you struggled, the further you sank.

You screamed and reached out for Merlin. He was running towards you now, but he was still so far away. Why was he so far away? You were sinking fast. The pressure of the puddle against your chest made it difficult to breathe. You gave one last cry before you were pulled under.

--

i.

You lay in an ocean of light. Scorching heat blazed against your skin. You screamed out in pain, but you heard nothing. You tried to move your body, but everything felt so heavy. Even keeping your eyes open became difficult. Your throat started to burn, but something deep inside you knew that you needed to keep screaming. That, as bad as the pain was, something worse awaited you if you stopped.

So, scream you did. You kept screaming even as your head began to pound. You screamed as your eyes fluttered shut. Even in that dreary darkness, you continued to call out.

"....! Aaaa-!?"

You stopped. How long had it been since you heard your voice? How long had you been in that silent hell? Cautiously, you opened your eyes. A bright sky strewn with hues of orange and pink greeted you. There was nothing else in the sky: no sun, no clouds, no stars, no moon. It looked beautiful, but oh so lonely. Oh so empty. All around you was a sea of flowers as far as the eye could see. Their petals danced and swayed along to a breeze you could not feel.

"Lovely, aren't they?"

You whirled around in surprise. A man with long white hair sat behind you, twirling a flower in his hand. His gaze was fixed on the blossom, and he watched it as if it was the most amusing thing in the world.

"I've always been curious to learn what they're called," he mused. "I looked them up in every book I could get my hands on but there's not one mention of them! It's like nobody else had seen them before. How strange. How sad."

His purple eyes found yours. A feeling of foreboding washed over you. You felt pinned in place as he looked you over. He seemed so familiar, so near and dear to you, but you couldn't remember his name. His bright purple eyes held a strange glint. It unnerved you but you couldn't bring yourself to look away. In the end, he was the one who broke away. As soon as he looked aside, you felt dizzy. Everything seemed to go out of focus. A distant ringing filled your ears. Your body felt like it had been sapped of all its strength.

"Now, now. Don't push yourself too hard. It must have been quite the journey to wind up here."

A gentle hand gripped your shoulder. You tensed up, but let yourself be supported until you could sit up on your own. Once your vision started to clear, you glanced up at him.

He was a strange man. He wore white robes adorned with flowers. By his side he carried a large staff decked with colorful ribbons. His long white hair swayed alongside the flowers in the field, subject to a breeze you couldn't feel.

But the strangest part about him was his face. His eyes were filled with gentle amusement and his mouth arced in a serene smile. Ordinarily, you would have called his face beautiful. It was the sort of face that anyone would have wanted to gaze at. But the perfectly sculpted lips, the high cheekbones, and those beautiful purple eyes made you want to flee. It was a face too perfect, too flawless, too... inhuman to fully trust.

And yet, there was a part of you that did trust him. He was dear to you despite being a stranger. It felt like he knew everything about you despite you knowing next to nothing about him. It felt like you'd lived a thousand lifetimes beside him, even if you were certain that this was the first time you'd met.

"Now then," he whispered against your ear. His voice was honeyed and comforting. He leaned in closer, brushing your face with his soft white hair. "Want to tell me what you've wished for?"

--

vii.

The first thing you noticed was thunder rumbling in the distance. Rain fell heavily on the roof and against the window. You sat in a dimly-lit room, with your hands clasped on a wooden table. Across you sat your darling a familiar stranger. His countenance was subdued, and he seemed determined not to glance at you. His gaze was fixed downward as he slowly stirred the contents of his mug.

Questions swirled about in your head. Where were you now? Where had you been before? Who was this man to you? How did you get here? But one question burst through all the others and came stumbling out of your lips.

"Am I dead?"

That familiar sad smile danced upon his lips before he shook his head. "No. You wouldn't be able to stay here if you were."

You bit your lip. "Am I dying?"

He closed his eyes. The world stood still. The sounds of the rain and thunder ceased. You held your breath.

"Yes."

All the dread, terror, and panic you'd bottled up burst out of you as nervous laughter. You laughed hard and loud. Tears threatened to spill from your eyes, but you held them back. You laughed for as long as you had breath, ignoring the morose expression on his face.

"So what's this then?" you rasped. "One last dream before I die? I can't fucking believe this. I dreamt up a farm, a FARM right before I died! The one thing I wanted to do before I died was manage a fucking farm!?"

You slammed your fist against the table. It made a satisfying thud, but you didn't feel any pain from the impact. You dug your fingernails into your palm. Crescent-shaped depressions formed on the skin, but you registered no pain.

You glanced up at the man in front of you for answers, but he was still determined to not meet your gaze. He looked at his infuriating mug as if it held all the answers in the world. Growling under your breath, you knocked the mug aside to force him to look at you.

"Who the hell are you and why did you do this to me?" you snapped. "What made you decide that it was alright to invade a dying person's dreams and force them to adore you?"

You'd expected guilt on his face, not abject heartbreak. It was the look of a man who had his last remaining hope crushed in front of him. The rage you'd felt evaporated like foam, leaving only guilt and an overwhelming need to comfort him. Still, you grit your teeth and held your ground.

"My name is Merlin," he said. " As punishment for sins that I'll never be forgiven for, I've been exiled here in Avalon, the garden of dreams at the end of the world. I'm not allowed to leave. All I'm allowed to do is watch over humanity until the very end."

"I'd been bearing my punishment patiently for hundreds of years, mind you," he continued. "I've never questioned or tried to go against it. I've been content with watching both humanity's triumphs and failures from the comfort of my tower."

"That is, until you wound up here in Avalon." He finally glanced up at you. His mouth was pressed into a firm line, but his eyes were still so kind, still so soft, still so adoring.

"It was so strange to find someone else in Avalon, you see. It rarely ever lets souls pass through. Rarer still to let them stay long enough for me to come across them. So when I saw you, I decided to grant you a small reward for making it all the way to Avalon. I wanted to give you a good dream to carry with you as you passed on."

He let out a chuckle before draping his hand above yours. He squeezed your hand slightly before he continued.

"You were wrong, by the way. You didn't wish for a farm. The farm was a happy sort of accident that we just went along with. What you wished for was something much, much simpler."

He entwined his fingers with yours and looked directly into your eyes.

"You wished for me to hold your hand as you died. You wished for someone, even a complete stranger, to stay by your side while you lay dying... just so that you wouldn't be all alone in the end."

"So I built you a wonderful little dream. I couldn't hold your hand outside of Avalon, but I could at least keep you company inside a dream. I let you design and build everything, just so you'd be happy and safe. Everything happened and appeared according to your will. The only condition I applied was that the dream would be free of pain. Outside of that, my only purpose in the dream was to be someone who you could talk to."

Hot tears pricked at your eyes and your nose started to feel stuffy. "If that was the case, why did you do this to me? I-I hardly know anything about you but my mind is telling me that you're the person I adore the most! Why are you both familiar and unfamiliar to me?"

His free hand cradled your cheek and swiped away at an errant tear. His touch felt achingly familiar, but your memories came up blank. Still, you chased the comfort and leaned your face against his hand.

Instead of answering your question, he sent another question your way. "How long do you think we've been inside this dream?"

"...A couple of weeks? Maybe a month?" you hazarded a guess. The details were a blur but you were fairly certain it hadn't been that long.

"Ten years."

"No... No!" You drew back, shaking your head as you went. "If... If it's been that long why can't I remember?"

"I didn't think you were going to keep going for that long either," he mused. "I thought maybe a couple of months or perhaps a year if you were determined enough. But you just kept the dream going. You dreamt up new days, new adventures we could both go on without any signs of stopping."

"And I suppose...with how many years we spent by each other's side it was inevitable that we grew fond of each other." He smiled a sad little smile. "For my part, I can't say if it's love or not... I'm much too inhuman to feel emotions in that way. But I do care about you."

"So why... why can't I remember any of it then? All I remember is this farm!" you sobbed.

"Human minds were not made to sustain dreams like that for years on end. You held strong until about our fifth year in. Cracks were starting to form in the worlds you dreamt up. To help you cope with the strain in your mind, I persuaded you to scale down our adventures. We narrowed our scope from continents, to countries, to provinces, to cities."

"On our seventh year, you told me that you wanted to settle down." He gazed fondly out the window. "It was such a strange request that it made me laugh when I first heard it. Settling down and relaxing seemed uncharacteristic of you. You always seemed to keep going to new places, to keep experiencing new things."

He laughed. "Then again, perhaps a part of me recognized that it signified that the dream was coming to an end. That desperate part of me probably wanted you to keep going so I wouldn't have to say goodbye."

He leaned across the table and wiped away at your tears. His touch was cool and comforting. "So we wound up settling down here, in this farm. I think we were happier here... even more than we'd been on our adventures. Even if we did nothing but talk by the fireside, we were content."

He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against yours. He took a deep, halting breath as if bracing himself.

"This year, you started to drift. You'd stare blankly in the distance for hours on end. Midway through our conversations, you'd stop responding. You started to forget about our old adventures. Your usual chores confused and frustrated you. The names you gave the animals kept changing. You'd forget what day it was." He took another deep breath. "But I only started to panic when you started bringing in things related to your death into the dream. You were starting to say goodbye without even realizing it."

"So the blood, the cuts, the gun-"

"Was your subconscious reminding you that you were dying... and that it was time to let go."

The terror, the dread, the anger left you. You collapsed back onto your chair. There was no logical reason for you to believe anything Merlin said. He could have been spinning you a tale to take advantage of your supposed memory loss.

But as you gazed up at his face, you could find no lie in his eyes. All you found was an expression of complete surrender. Gingerly, you held out your arms towards him for a hug. He held you in his arms and settled his face in the crook of your neck.

"So, is this the end of the dream?" you asked. The howling of the wind outside seemed to get stronger. Thunder and lightning crashed and boomed overhead.

"I'm afraid so," he murmured. "You can delay it for a while, but the edges of the dream have already started to collapse. I'm sorry I can't do anything to help."

You shook your head. "You gave me ten happy years. You've given me more than enough."

The window shattered. Cold air and wet rain blew into the room, putting out the lanterns. The room was plunged in darkness, punctuated only by brief flashes of lightning in the distance. You hugged Merlin tighter.

"I-I'm scared." You buried your face in his hair, taking in the scent of flowers, hoping that it would ground you. "I-I know that it's coming so I won't run... but I don't want to face it alone."

"Shh. Shh. I'm here. I'll always be here beside you."

The sounds of the rain and thunder suddenly stopped. You were plunged in impenetrable darkness. You couldn't even see your hand in front of you. You flailed around in your panic, crying and shouting and stumbling. You kept calling out Merlin's name in desperation.

A warm hand gripped your own.

"Merlin?! Are you there? I can't see you!"

You felt around and strained your eyes but all you could sense was his hand. You squeezed it tight, gasping in relief when you felt it squeeze back.

"I'm here darling, don't worry."

"Don't go! Please don't let me go."

"I won't. I'll be here for as long as you need me."

The darkness seemed to grow heavier. It pressed on your chest, making it more and more difficult to breathe.

"Merlin? Are you there?" you gasped.

"Yes my darling. I'm still here with you." His voice sounded faint. You tried to squeeze his hand again but you could barely summon any strength to move your fingers.

"Merlin? Are you there?"

You heard him chuckle. "Yes my darling. I'm here. Are you there, darling?"

"Yeah. I'm here." You could barely string words together now. "Merlin, are you there?"

"Yes my darling. Are you there, darling?"

"Yeah. Merlin-?"

"Yes my darling?"

"...Merlin."

"Darling?"

"..."

"Darling, are you there?"

---------

pain.exe

First non-explicit work on this account, and something highly experimental too!

I really adore Merlin! I enjoy reading works that center around him but most of the time he's played for laughs. (which isn't a bad thing! A huge part of his character in-game is playing around and teasing other people after all) I wanted a slightly more serious and sad story around him.

I wanted to explore the dream-generating aspect of Merlin's some more so I toyed with the idea of him granting someone a good dream before they succumbed to their death. I kinda had to push and tweak at his base personality for this story, but I hope he didn't come across as too ooc.

#merlin x reader #fgo x reader #fgo merlin x reader #aninag writes

[transparenttskinn]

My personal safe foods:

1. mini (persian) cucumbers!! i put this on my page today :) i usually cut up 3-4 cucumbers (5-7 if i’m really hungry) and i put them into a bowl and squeeze a whole lemon (half if u rlly need but it’s just for flavor it’s better as a whole) and a few drops of olive oil and then as much salt as you want then mix it really well and it tastes really really good and works as a meal for me always! super low cal

2. rice cakes!!!!!! omg amazing bread replacement and each one is around 25 calories - i usually eat two and top it with peanut butter and sometimes honey if you want to satisfy your sweet tooth but it will add more calories. super good and insanely filling.

3. mandarins, so good 47 caps each (rough estimate from google) i usually eat one as a snack or just when i feel hungry it’s easy and good.

4. grapes, frozen or regularly - they’re low cal and they taste like candy it’s a great snack

5. popcorn, pretty self explanatory i prefer the brand skinny pop it’s good and it’s in the name

6. venti passiontea lemonade with strawberry puree from starbucks - i can’t explain why but it’s caffeine free, fairly low cal for how big of a drink it is (if ur worried get a grande) and it fills me up and hydrates me extremely well. if you like caffeine a peach green tea lemonade works super well and low cal as well <3

7. a whole apple, 100 calories. don’t underestimate them they are really good and filling either green or red and if it doesn’t completely fill you add some peanut butter as a dip :)

8. ice chips, it helps the oral fixation and the habit of eating when you’re bored. having really nice ice with water too u can definitely eat them while u drink and it’s satisfying for me at least.

9. string cheese low cal version, good and takes longer to finish due to u having to grab the pieces which helps you eat slower - 1 piece is around 50 i believe

10. grapefruit - it combats hunger and is actually good for weight loss aside from it being super good

11. a ham and swiss sandwich is really helpful for me it fills me up super well and it’s healthy.

12. ramen / cup noodles. around 150-220ish calories and it’s safe and good for me compared to most other foods!

let me know if this was helpful and i can make more ❤️

#notprojusttags #proana #pro rexy #rexy girl #anor3x1a #rexy #anorexsick #ed #pro 4na #skinny #thinspo #pro ana #twed #low cal recipes

[creature-wizard]

We gotta talk about so-called "healing symptoms."

Scam artists peddling quack cures know full damn well that their product isn't going to make their customers feel any better. At best, their customers' health will improve for entirely unrelated reasons. At worst, their health will deteriorate even further due to toxic ingredients in the fake cure.

Now, worsening health would ordinarily be a clue that something isn't right. But since scammers want to keep people buying their products as long as possible, they have a little trick up their sleeves: "You're experiencing healing symptoms! You have to get worse before you get better!"

All kinds of issues, including fatigue, aches, nausea, rashes, hair loss, weight loss, weight gain, anything, will be explained away as "healing symptoms."

Sometimes the so-called "healing symptoms" will be explained away as symptoms of toxins leaving your body. Got a mysterious rash? It's not the suspicious ingredients in the tea you're drinking causing it, it's the toxins leaving your body through your skin.

This kind of thing is also sometimes referred to as a "healing crisis."

One example of a scam artist who tried to pass off the horrible effects of her quack product as "healing symptoms" was Jillian Epperly, who basically claimed that her extremely salty fermented cabbage drink could cure pretty much anything. The reality was that "Jilly juice," as she called it, contained so much salt that people were basically poisoning themselves.

So yeah, if anybody tries to tell you that something like "healing symptoms" or a "healing crisis" is just part of the process, that's a red flag.

#scams #frauds #health scams #quack medicine #pseudoscience

[glazesunflower]

Insecurities They Wouldn’t Tell You They Have

Characters: Shenhe, Ganyu, Ei, Ayaka, Kazuha, Beidou, Eula and Hu Tao.

Warnings: Mentions of scars, body image and self esteem issues.

Notes: Not requested, just something I wanted to write because I’m very soft for them and they’re allowed to be flawed <3

Shenhe’s insecurity is her scars. She has scars all over her hands from practicing with her polearm, her arms from fighting monsters, her face from when she was a child and her father abandoned her in that cave with that half-god, half-beast she fought to death. When you hold Shenhe’s face in your hands, she hopes her scars are not unpleasant to look at, that you don’t feel scared or repulsed by them. She doesn’t voice this, but something in the way you so tenderly kiss the scar on her eyebrow, the one under her eye, the scar on her chin, tells her that she doesn’t have anything to worry about.

.

Ganyu has many insecurities, but the one that causes her the most anxiety is her tummy. Or her weight, in general, would be more accurate to say. Ganyu puts on weight fairly quickly and she has been painfully aware ever since she can remember. She always carefully plans all of her meals, always making sure she doesn’t exceed herself, but were she to put on some weight by any chance, Ganyu dearly hopes you don’t really mind. She’s never voiced these thoughts, but you know her like the palm of your hand, so whenever you’re lazily lying in bed together, you wrap your arms around her waist and press soft kisses to her belly. Ganyu immediately flushes red and asks you to stop with a quiet voice, but you giggle and keep leaving soft kisses on every inch of skin your lips can reach, because that’s how endlessly beautiful Ganyu is to you.

.

Ei’s insecurity is her lack of knowledge of modern things. She’s well-versed in all the fighting techniques across Inazuma, well-read with the knowledge of thousands of years of history, but when it comes to simple and modern things like Taking a picture, or Drinking boba tea, she’s at a loss for words. Ei hopes you don’t mind explaining things to her. She very much enjoys taking a stroll with you through the streets of Inazuma, even more so when every outing with you turns into a learning experience, and you’re always so patient with her. Ei is really grateful to you.

.

Ayaka’s main insecurity is her inexperience when it comes to matters of the heart. She’s never been one to have that many friends, simply because she hasn’t had the opportunity to. Having a lover, however, seems like an even bigger challenge for which she has little preparation. Ayaka gets flustered by the tiniest of things. A heartfelt compliment, a brush of your hands together while walking, your hand pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Ayaka is quick to hide her flushed expression with her fan, and she can’t even fathom what it will be like when you give her her first kiss! She’s excited, but also endlessly nervous, so she hopes it’s okay with you to take things slow for now <3

.

Kazuha is his lack of possessions. As a wanderer, he’s never really cared for earthly possessions. All he ever needs is a clear sky above his head and the endless and vast world around him to explore. But ever since you came into his life and swept him off his feet, Kazuha has been thinking. He wants to build a life with you, but he has nothing to offer. His clan, once proud and wealthy, vanished with him being the only one alive, and he left that life to pursue his dream of exploring the world. He hopes you don’t mind what little he has, for his love for you is as vast as the sky above.

.

Beidou’s insecurity is the fact that she’s always out at sea. Don’t get her wrong, it’s the life she chose for herself and one that she adores profoundly. She wouldn’t change herself or her lifestyle, she doesn’t think she can live anchored to the same place every day of her life. Still, you’re always her reason to come back to land. In you, Beidou has found the home she can always return to. She doesn’t regret a thing, but she hopes you don’t get tired and leave her for someone who never leaves the land.

.

Eula’s biggest insecurity and burden to bear is her noble upbringing. She’s a Lawrence, but she wishes you could see beyond that title that doesn’t represent her anymore. Everybody in Mondstadt casts her away or has some reservations when interacting with her, and her hardened exterior and cold behavior doesn’t help her case, but still Eula wishes that people could see past her last name, at least when it comes to you. She would hate to hear the people of Mondstadt speaking ill of you. Still, you’ve reassured her time and time again, her hands on yours, warmer, that you love her for her, and your feelings are nothing that any last name nor the people of Mondstadt could ever change. Eula won’t admit this out loud, but she’s never felt more welcomed than she does when she’s wrapped in your arms.

.

Hu Tao’s biggest thing she’s proud of but also her biggest insecurity is her playful behavior, her ability to see the fun in everything. She’s been forced to grow up fast the moment her grandfather wasn’t around to coddle her, and her sunny and cheerful personality is what has given her the strength to move forward and strive for bettering the business her grandfather entrusted her with. Still, in the eyes of the people of Liyue, Hu Tao is nothing more than a nuisance, someone who doesn’t take serious matter to heart, and thus they often cast her away. Hu Tao is nothing other than cheerful and cheeky around you, but inside she dearly hopes you won’t change your mind about her and leave her as everyone in Liyue else has done. She hopes you can see her true emotions, and that they’re enough to make you stay. Though something in the way you so easily comply with her antics, how you let her cup your face and sprinkle your skin with kisses, tells her that you’re here to stay.

If you enjoyed this, please consider liking or reblogging it <3!

You can check more of my writing on (this link!). Thank you!

#genshin #genshin impact #genshin x reader #shenhe x you #ganyu x you #ei x you #ayaka x you #kazuha x you #beidou x you #eula x you #hu tao x you #shenhe x reader #ganyu x reader #eu x reader #ayaka x reader #kazuha x reader #beidou x reader #eula x reader #hu tao x reader

[mr-bobinsky]

types of fasting/diets + their specifics

this is just a reference for me bc these r the ones i’m likely to do a lot

dry fast: no food or liquid. no chewing and spitting or gum. not to last more than 24 hrs. no exercise is allowed

water fast: just water. tea, coffee, and diet drinks are NOT allowed. no caffeine is allowed and no sugar free sweetener is allowed so no gum. not to last more than 5 days. no exercise is allowed.

calorie fast: simply keep calories consumed under 15. anything within that is permitted. not to last more than 5 days. no exercise is allowed.

liquid fast: healthy drinks allowed, but nothing involving blended fibers (no smoothies). keep calorie limit under 200. best filler drinks (low calorie, just to get full) are broth, tea, coffee, diet sodas and diet juices. best drinks to uphold health are plant based protein shakes (energy and retaining fuel for muscle) and kombucha (gut health). not to last more than 8 days. low intensity workouts and gentle cardio are allowed.

juice cleanse fast: no calorie limit, but must be conscious and log. only permitted to drink juices for calories. all teas, coffees and sodas must be 0 calories. not to last more than 8 days. low intensity workouts and gentle cardio are allowed.

IU diet (modified): 1 apple for breakfast, 1 protein shake for lunch, 2 sweet potatoes for dinner. be sure to weigh the foods to log properly. add ins for flavor are permitted if kept to a daily limit of 50 cal or under. not to last more than 8 days. low intensity workouts and gentle cardio are allowed.

mono diet: one type of food per day. must remain under 800 calories. not to last more than 8 days. low intensity workouts and gentle cardio are allowed.

omad diet: one meal a day. no calories can be consumed unless it is during this meal. sugar free drinks, teas and coffee are allowed. meal cannot exceed 600 calories. not to last more than 8 days. do any exercise near the end of meal time for safety, keep all activity gentle.

high res diet: “high restriction”. any diet where calories are heavily restricted, typically meaning 800 at the very most per day as a limit. fast weight loss but difficult to maintain long term, increase chance of binge. not to last more than 14 days. any exercise permitted, but must plan it accordingly to meal times for safety.

low res diet: “low restriction”. any diet where calories are not restricted in an extreme way, typically meaning 900-1200 calories per day. slower weight loss but easy to maintain and low risk of binge/safer to exercise. can last indefinitely when accompanied by periods of fasting, omad, mono or high res. any exercise permitted

health conscious diet: intended to reinforce healthy foods as the better choice. calorie limit 500 excluding fresh fruits and vegetables. those don’t need to be counted. can last indefinitely. exercise permitted, should be conscious of safety depending on intake.

liquid diet: no solid foods. nothing that must be chewed. calorie limit is 850, all drinks and broths/liquified soups allowed. this includes smoothies, protein shakes, sodas, juices, etc. just no solids. frozen liquids are allowed such as popsicles or ice cream (just stay in limit). not to last more than 8 days. exercise permitted freely with caution.

color diet: 9 day long diet where the only foods allowed are in the proper color of that day. colors go red, pink, orange, yellow, brown, green, blue, purple, white. limit 900 calories. exercise allowed.

alternant day fasting: low res one day, calorie fast the next. must last at least 10 days, no limit. exercise allowed on low res days.

metabolism reset: minimum calories 1000, maximum 2000. must remain health conscious. intended to help speed up metabolism during stagnation. can be done once a week at most. exercise encouraged

cheat day: no limit. any food allowed. intended to keep cravings and urges to binge at bay in a controlled way. different from a binge because this day must be set in advance, and the food/types of food must be planned. can be done twice a month at most. exercise required, liquid fast required the next day.

incognito diet: literally just there to demonstrate to coworkers that i am healthy. can only eat at work/food provided by work. no outside food, no eating at home. calories don’t need to be counted. can do for any period of time. exercise encouraged.

[ryuzatodraws-archive]

Special : Tea and Blood 0 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5.1- 5.2 / 6 / 7 / 8.1 - 8.2 - 8.3 / 9.1 - 9.2 / 10.1 - 10.2 - 10.3 - Special - 10.4 - 11 - 12.1 - 12.2 - 12.3 - Special- 12.4 - 13 - End

It hurts, it throbs. The pain in his hand certainly hasn't dissipated. How could it of course? It has merely been 5 minutes of having a nail hammered through your palm… and then being forced to unhinge it yourself with the hammer is a painful process of its own, Copia is amazed that he didn't faint throughout the whole ordeal. The eerie eyes of Sister Imperator are enough to make sure he stays awake for seven nights in a row. He certainly shouldn't have made that mistake earlier, or else none of this would have happened. He must have caught Sister in a bad mood. “You shouldn't have been so reckless, Cardinal'' Sister Imperator's voice rings through his head.

''Stupid…so stupid. You deserve this Copia…'' He murmured to himself while walking at a hurried pace across the hall. The wounded hand was wrapped sloppily with his own sleeve and handkerchief. He's careful enough to not let any drops of blood hit the floor or to have any ghoul picking up the smell, it is rather late so he was lucky to not have been seen by anyone.

But trouble peeks at the end of the hallway as he sees a peek of a ghoul's tail swaying right around the corner. Without thinking Copia hurriedly unlocks a room at his side and scampers in, pushing his weight against the door as he huffs and puffs. His head was woozy and heavy from the loss of blood, unable to make up whose chamber he just entered.

A familiar voice greets him as he slumps onto the floor, still holding his bleeding hand and struggling to keep a steady breathing. His biretta falls forward as his head sways a bit, murmuring ''I'm fine'' over and over again. He can feel his shoulder being held by two hands, guiding him slowly onto a leather chair. He sits obediently, shivering.

The Third Emeritus slowly holds his arm, careful not to touch his bandaged hand. He knows it aches, he can smell how strong the blood is. ''Copia , please let me see it.'' He coaxes him slowly, worry on his face as he looks at the other man sweating profusely, holding onto the arm of the chair with his steady hand.

''But Terzo…Terzo I'm fine.'' His voice hovers with his lie. He knows he's not fine and it's not wise to lie in front of him, now that Terzo is looking at him almost ready to faint any moment. His bleeding hand shivers from the pain and the cold air but he tries to keep a solid composure, which he fails almost immediately.

''Amore, I will not ask again.'' His eyebrows furrow as he slowly holds the other hand. Copia gave up, he lets Terzo slowly unwraps the handkerchief and sleeve that he used to stop the bleeding. His palm is a bloody mess, his shaking intensifies as he winces a bit. Terzo grits his teeth, he knows what happened and he didn't need to ask the other about it. He has seen the degree of malice that his own mother had done before on his brothers. He takes off his own glove, his pale hand slowly placed right on top of the wound, resting on it.

Copia winces again as his whole body shakes. He looks at The Third with tears in his eyes, still trying to appear strong to him.

''This might sting a bit, but I want you to hold on alright?'' Terzo watches him as if waiting for an answer. After a slow nod from Copia he closes his eyes, a warm glow from his hand as steam slowly released from him. Copia groans but he keeps himself still, he can feel the warmth on his palm from the others. Within a few minutes, Terzo lets go of him. Copia's wound had no more than just light bruises by now. The open wound is gone save only for the light blue and red patch on his hand, a single dark scar in the middle where the nail had hit him almost like stigmata.

Terzo shakes off his hand for a moment before putting his glove back on. He cups Copia's face as if to make sure there are no other injuries on the cardinal. Copia lets out a long sigh, relief as the pain is gone but also because he stumbled into the right room in the midst of his panic. As if his body knows exactly where to go.

''You shouldn't have used your power on me…Papa'' Copia’s voice regaining back his composure slowly.

The Third shakes his head while he slowly gets up. ''I'm more than happy to use them on you. I need you to be alright, not bleeding all over my carpet.'' a hint of his playfulness peeks through. At least he's not panicking, Copia thought to himself. He slowly caresses his palm, now only soreness and dry blood.

''And please Copia, its Terzo. Not Papa. At least not here where we are together si?'' He moves to his wooden mahogany table where a kettle of tea still hot and steamy lays. Slowly he pours a cup before returning to Copia, handing it to him. The other man takes it steadily with his good hand. He cups it, letting the warmth envelops him.

''Am I only a Papa to you, Copia?'' Terzo kneels beside him, looking up at the other man, there is no anger in his eyes only longing and perhaps…a slight tinge of pain as if waiting for Copia's answer.

''You know I love you, Terzo…I love you more than anything. It's just that…I'm afraid of slipping up. I don't want to risk us both, not you definitely.'' He idles, finger caressing the edge of the glass as Copia gets teary again.

Terzo slowly lays his head on the other's knees, sighing. ''I do not like hiding like this Tesoro… Even my brothers can see how I am head over heels for you. Why can't the others? curse this…'' He grits his teeth looking down at the cardinal's shoes. Terzo could feel the other's hand slowly caressing his shoulder, he purrs slowly at his touch.

''Perhaps one day…One day we sure will…We will let the whole clergy know even.'' A small smile escapes from Copia as he lets his mind think about it. About how they would walk together arm in arm in the hallway, sneaking perhaps into the garden to steal kisses from one another or even just openly having dinner together in the main hall where the other siblings are. He thought of how nice it must be to show everyone how deeply in love they are with each other, that a Cardinal can love a Papa much deeper than they might have thought.

''Perhaps…si. We will do more than just that I hope.'' Terzo shifts a bit as he adjusted himself back at Copia, he slips his hand into his pocket to fish out a small velvet box.

''W-what do you mean by that Terzo?'' it's Copia's turn to look at him with confusion. He eyes the other man who is seemingly… blushing through his own paint as he slowly opens the velvet box in his hand. Copia's eyes widen. He knows exactly what is that as he had been eye-ing at it for the longest time before, hell even mentioned to Terzo about it as well.

''Marry me Copia.'' Terzo smiles as he holds up the tiny box, inside a silver ring with purple gem, as purple as lavender glimmers back at him. The Third's eyes seem to shine the brightest though as he smiles back at him.

''Terzo I- are you su-are you sure? me?'' the Cardinal eyes meet him only with excitement, he had forgotten all about the pain in his hand.

The Third nods slowly, waiting patiently for Copia. ''I couldn't think of anybody else that I wanted to spend an eternity with, amore.'' He chuckles a bit. ''I know it is eh…a bad timing but I couldn't wait for another opportunity.''

Copia chokes on a sob as he nods, he slumps onto Terzo landing them both on the floor as he yelps. ''I do! I do Terzo!''

Terzo holds onto him, a giggling mess as he cups and kisses the cardinal on the lips. ''I'm so glad, we will make it through caro. We can make it through together si?''

Copia nods, he couldn't think anymore as he presses his lips against him again. The cup of tea may be spilled at the side and his hand might ache a little but nothing beats the shimmery shine of Terzo's eyes as he whispers I love you in front of him.

“I love you so much Copia”

The night stars seem to emerge themselves just a little bit more on that night.

#Luce Perduta #copiiia #special episode! #cardinal copia #papa emeritus iii #c3