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gingerale2017 · 6 months

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All There is to Do is Wait

Fluff (Maybe a twinge if angst, like the size of an eyebrow hair, but it's barely there I promise) Words: 2k Pairing: Cinder Linh x Kai Fandom: The Lunar Chronicles Setting: Around a couple months after Winter Warnings: None that I know of Ao3 Link :)))

Cinder’s body was awake. Every nerve, wire, and vein thrummed with energy. She couldn’t stop shaking, no matter how hard she tried. How could she after her most recent comm with Kai?

She let out a giggle, not something she did commonly. Her mind replayed Kai’s words, smile, laughs, and jokes over and over again. Each time her grin grew wider until her cheeks permanently molded into a smile. She would analyze every crinkle of an eye, every blush, every dimple, every detail of his face. It was better than caffeine. Maybe she should play their video comms to wake herself up during meetings.

The Queen of Luna had only one thing on her mind while she rested in her private quarters after a long day of meetings and documents. Her boyfriend, who happened to be the Emperor of the Eastern Commonwealth. Who also happened to be the reason she was kicking her feet in her silky, regal bedsheets and getting warnings for the rush of hormones.

Her fingers itched to call him again, her eyes longed to see his face, her ears wanted to hear his voice. She wished she could smell and touch him but she would have to wait until the next Peace Ball.

Sighing, for apparently the twenty-seventh time, Cinder adjusted into a fetal position and tried to sleep. She failed, unsurprisingly. She then sat up and fidgeted with her hands. A queen needed a healthy sleep schedule and she was already terribly behind on hers.

Her eyes latched onto her port and the temptation to call him grew exponentially bigger. One search and her brain told her it was one in the morning in the Commonwealth. Perhaps, being the insomniac, anxious, overthinker that he is, he could still be awake. But Cinder didn’t want to wake him up if he wasn’t.

Before she could dictate otherwise, her fingers rushed to start a comm with him, as if her desires took hold of her body and her mind could only sit and watch helplessly at the invasion. She did nothing, though, to stop the attack. She waited through, one, two, three rings before he picked up.

The beloved Emperor, her lover, the reason she laughs maniacally in the middle of the night, smiled back at her with shining copper eyes. Her jumble of happy feelings exploded again and she couldn't stop another giggle from bursting through her lips. Stars above, twice in the same timespan. The things this boy, her boy, made her do.

And he truly was a boy. Kai’s face lit up when he heard her laugh, like a child when he gets what he wants, “Miss me?” he teased. He loved poking fun at her. He’s a boy. Only his face, pillow, and headboard of the bed was visible. The only light seemed to come from the port, like hers.

“Why are you still up? Don’t you have important things to do tomorrow?” She pretended to be concerned (and truly she was for his lack of sleeping but she was selfishly grateful that he was up talking to her.)

“I could ask the same thing. Besides, I have to do important stuff every day.” He shifted his phone so his neck and collarbone was exposed.

With a start she realized he wasn’t wearing a shirt. Though she was curious as to why he lost his shirt from thirty minutes ago, she didn’t want to bring awkwardness to the conversation. He might have been hot, or uncomfortable.

He coughed, “So, why’d you call again?”

She felt her emotions start to deflate. Perhaps he didn't want to see her as much as she wanted to see him.

“Why not?”

“It’s getting pretty late there, is it not?”

“It’s only twelve thirty.” she retorted.

He chuckled, furrowing his brow, “Isn’t that why we hung up?”

“Yes, but-“

“Go to bed, Cinder.” His smirk began to fall bit as he stared at her through the screen. Though they were thousands of miles apart, she could still feel the intensity and wanting From his eyes. “I don’t want you to go to bed, but you should for your own health.” Her doubt dissapeared like clouds once saved away.

“This is nothing compared to how late I’ve slept before. Sometimes I don’t sleep at all.” Her voice softened. She felt as if they were in the same room, mere inches apart from each other, while having a deep conversation. “I don’t want to sleep. I’m not tired.”

“It’s not about what you want, dear, it’s about what you need.” Dear. His nicknames were a little corny, sure, but they were cute.

“You sound like everybody else here, they always tell me what I need to do, never taking account what I want to do or my opinions.” Cinder huffed, slightly teasing him back. She didn’t mean to start ranting about her demanding, yet exhausting, life but their conversations usually ended up this way. It seemed like the only people who could relate to teenagers being in charge of entire countries is other teenagers being in charge of entire countries.

Kai smiled, then heaved a long sigh. “I know what you mean.” She watched him fall back into a pillow. “And what do you want, Cinder, if you’re so tired of others telling you what you should want?”

She paused, thinking, “I want… people to listen to me without giving poor arguments that are easily refutable. Perhaps a day without a headache would be nice? If that is even possible.” She let out a small laugh. “And maybe… a break. I know I sound pretentious but I just want one moment a day to myself where I can think out loud without interruptions and judgement.” Cinder never talks this much with anybody except Iko and, now, Kai. She didn’t even mean to say all that. “And what do you want, Kai?”

Three heartbeats. She could see the hesitition and resolve in his eyes. It was like watching gears to a hover spin until it starts, and once it did start you could fe. Then he smiled, “You, darling. I want you. All I wish for at every chance is you.” Her heart nearly exploded out of her chest. She felt special, lucky, wanted. It felt so comforting, like a warm blanket around her cold shoulders. She was frozen, her smile stuck in her throat instead of her cheeks for once. All she could do was listen. “I want you by my side tonight, tomorrow night, every night. I want to wake up with you.” His voice lowered until it wasa barely audible murmur. It made this moment and his words seem more important. “I only want to be with you. Stars, Cinder, you don’t know how much I miss you when we hang up. You don’t know how glad I am you called. You don’t know how much I want you.” Another heartbeat, “You don’t know how much I want to kiss you.”

Good, ever present, shining, stars above. Warnings popped up in her head but she only ignored them. She could only think about Kai and his heartfelt speech. She could only think about how much she missed him too, how much she wanted him here with her, how much she wanted to crawl into his arms and listen to him breathe. How much she wanted to tell him everything she felt at this moment and every moment that they share. A pause stretched between them as they stared at each other. She watched his ears, then his cheeks, turn red. How she loved it when he blushed, it was very adorable. Then she spoke “I want the same things, Kai.”

He chuckled again, this time more awkwardly. “Ok, good. I would be a little concerned if you didn’t.”

Another pause unfurled comfortably. They lay their smiling at each other in the wake of their confessions. His audible, hers emotional. She needed to figure out how to voice them. Stars, it would be so much easier if she could say it with her head buried in his chest. He would smile and kiss the top of her head. The pain of their long distance relationship hit her once again, like a clock that rings dutifully every hour. It mechanically reminded her how far they were apart. And indeed every hour it struck, like perfect clockwork. She wished it was imperfect and preferred when she didn’t feel it coming.

“You know, I thought you were annoyed at me for calling earlier.” She rambled, annoyed at herself for only having one thing to say.

“Of course not, darling.” He frowned, “Never. I blush every time your name is mentioned.”

She smiled. “I make you blush?” She asked innocently.

Kai huffed, “Haven’t we had this conversation before?”

“I believe so.” The moment seemed to be heading to another long pause so she cleared her throat and mentally prepared herself, “Kai?”

“Yes, dear?”

“I, um, I have these dreams where you’re there.”

He smiled, radiant and breathtaking, “You

do?” He chuckled, “So you’ve said.”

“I know but listen for a bit. Those dreams feel so real that I manage to convince my conscious self that it was a real memory when I wake up. Of course, I realize the truth later, but that’s not the point.”

“What is the point?”

“I’m getting there.”

“When will you reach the point.” His smile stuck but not as breathtaking, but more mocking.

“Kai.” She said with a glare.

“Ok I won’t speak. Please continue, darling.”

“Well, the reason they felt, and feel, so real is because of how much I want them to feel real.” She sighed. His eyes matured to understanding and she could tell he related. “I just wish we- I want us to— I think— ugh.”

“You want the same things I do.” He murmured, low and confirming. “So you’ve said.”

“So I’ve said.” Cinder paused. “I wish I wasn’t in Luna. I wish I wasn’t Queen. I wish I didn’t have to take on this responsibility so young. I wish I could spend my days with, like your actual— you know.” She nervously cut herself off.

He laughed out loud, “Like my actual girlfriend?”

Queen Selen Channary Jannali Blackburn of Luna was her official name and title. It was enough that people would destroy countries for the power. It struck fear, envy, respect, relief to her citizens, and much more, depending on who you ask. Yet, the title of girlfriend, the Emperor’s girlfriend, made her far more giddy than the title she held now. Stars, what happened to her stoicism?

Kai smiled, noticing her obvious emotions for the name, “What, are you too embarrassed to say it out loud. Are you ashamed that you’re dating the Emperor?” He teased her because he knew what she’d say.

“Are you ashamed that you’re dating the Queen of Luna.” Cinder smirked, “Again.” She added.

“Hey, I never dated Levana… Willingly, at least.” He retorted.

“Uh huh. Whatever you say. Just know that tablets disagree.” Said Cinder.

“And what do the tablets say?” He mused.

“That she’s exactly your type. And I’m some sort of an anomaly.” said Cinder.

“So I’m into old andpchycopatic women?” Kai asked.

“I was actually thinking you were into being manipulated and threatened.” She winked. “So I guess I’m just your type, going off what the tablets say about me”

They started to laugh. She rolled over in her bed, tangling the sheets even more. She could feel the vibrations of his laugh coming from the port and briefly imagined she could feel it coming from his chest. Cinder slowly stopped laughing as her thoughts turned bleak once again.

Kai, per usual, noticed. “What’s wrong, darling.”

She twisted her mouth, “I miss you.”

“I know, me too.” He sighed. “I think we said this at least twenty times tonight. Or this morning.”

“Yeah. We should probably plan to meet up sometime soon.” It was probably impossible but Cinder couldn’t help talking about it. She wanted them to at least think about it.

“Yes. We should. I’ll talk to Torin-” He yawned, interrupting his sentence- “First thing in the morning.”

“I’ll talk with whoever is in charge of my Royal visits. Hoofing- er Hoffing, however you say it. Or maybe it’s Ryan, she handled one of my trips. But I swear I saw Hoffing’s name on my last trip.” Cinder cut herself, noticing her habit to ramble when she got tired. She also noticed how the other side of the screen went quiet and dark.

“Kai?” She murmured, “You asleep yet?”

“No, but I will if you keep talking. The sound of your voice is quite comforting and relaxing. It’s nice to fall asleep to.” Responded Kai. The tone of his voice was telling of his evident weariness.

“Ok. How about I keep rambling about nothing until we both fall asleep?” She asked.

Kai smiled, “I would like that a lot, my darling.”

They did exactly that. Once Cinder ran out of things to talk about, she started reading a book to him. Everytime she thought he was asleep he would input a thought and she’d keep reading. This went on for thirty minutes ago until Kaiws permanently quiet and Cinder’s words turned into snores.

The couple slept together that night. A thousand miles apart, a time zone away, and space couldn’t separate them. If they loved each other this deeply now, how much deeper would it be in person? Their breathing matched, and even without physical touch, their heartbeats aligned. A truly romantic and inspiring moment that the couple will keep in their minds until they met face to face, not long from. All there is to do is wait.

AN: Sorry for being completely unactive for the last year or two but I come bearing gifts! My love for tic and kaider have (obviously) not faded but I've just been swamped with school, friends, extracurriculars, and with little to no motivation to write. I hope y'all like this pic though, the beginning was made by me around 5 am in an airport and I've been slowly adding up to it over the months (so if the beginning is crappy, I was sleep deprived). I have a TON of started fics in my notes app waiting to be released unto the world but y'all just have to wait and see. Also there may (or may not be) a part two to this fic (I started it last night) and I might never post it. No promises. Have a nice day :D !

Tagging: @just2bubbly @cinderswrench @cindersassasin @greenalmond (rip vi) @the-wee-woo-royal @deprivedmusicaljunkie @crescentchat @notjacinclay @wheresmymom-imlost @salt-warrior @rapunzelfromthemoon @briggycat @impossiblesuitcase @kaider-is-my-otp (these are for my kaider ONLY fics so please ask if you want to be tagged or removed <;3)

#cinder #selene blackburn #tlc #the lunar chronicles #kaider #prince kai #emperor kai #linh cinder #the things a girl has in her notes app...

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impossiblesuitcase · 1 year

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Two Blue Ribbons

“As we await the upcoming wedding of Emperor Kaito and Ambassador Linh-Blackburn, many are questioning the credibility of their relationship. As we know, the couple claims that their romantic connection began before either of them knew that Linh Cinder was actually Princess Selene. Seriously, is anyone buying this? The emperor just happened to fall in love with the girl that happened to be Princess Selene and—”

MUTE FEED.

Cinder groaned into her fist.

A week before her wedding, the public were drunk on anticipation. It was—without exaggeration—the only thing in the newsfeeds, as they all predicted the scale of the celebrations, and the colour of the bride’s dress, and would the handsome celebrity Carswell Thorne be officiating the ceremony as he claimed?

Cinder could handle that kind of speculation, even when it was far-fetched. (And no, Thorne would not be officiating…)

What irritated her was the other rumours—claims that she was still manipulating Kai, or that it was a ploy to conquer Earth in the bloodied footsteps of her aunt. Some said she was marrying him for money. Others that she regretted abdicating the Lunar throne and wished to regain power.

She slumped against the wall of her bare, humid sitting room, ignoring the critical expression of the muted host.

The silence was priceless. Even with the wedding prepared down to the exact millisecond she would walk the aisle, she had not been afforded rest. There was still her ensuing coronation as empress, and her first tour of the Commonwealth, and her first Opening of State Cabinet, and her first Annual Peace Ball, even when that was well over ten months away. Her only silent moments, it seemed, were in sleep.

“And why is the blushing bride looking so glum?”

Cinder lifted her head as Kai entered with his loud but assuring presence.

When it came to him, silence was overrated.

“I can’t blush, so I don’t know which bride you’re talking about,” she feigned. “Try next door.”

That received a pfft. His thin grey button-up and linen slacks were rumbled from a long day of formality, yet he would still look professional if it weren’t for the impish curl of his lips. “No, I’ve definitely got the right one. My soon-to-be wife is sarcastic whenever she can be.”

Cinder smiled and patted the floor next to her.

Kai cantered over as carefree as a duck in water. Her swirling emotions made her more like an ant in an avalanche. It was palpable in the air, judging by the delicate way he touched her back and settled against her side.

“How do you feel?”

She stared at the blank wall ahead. “Like I’m forgetting something.”

“Ceremony, reception, catering, outfits.” He listed the items off his fingers. “Anything else?”

When you arrive, do not greet the crowds until the train of your dress has completely left the hover. Pause at the chrysanthemum emblem on the floor until you hear music, then begin to walk—right foot, left, take a step every two seconds. The emperor will repeat his vows first. You must repeat his full name, not just Kai. Don’t call him Kai. “That’s what I’m not sure of.”

He poked her shoulder, sounding pleased. “Well, the honeymoon is three weeks long—just enough time for you to remember when we’re on the other side of the world and it doesn’t matter at all.”

“You’re probably right.”

“I am definitely right. As I am about most things.”

She sent a challenging look. “Oh?”

“I’m psychic,” he revealed, wiggling his eyebrows.

A dead-pan.

“It’s true! I already sensed you’d be fretting over something, so I shall provide you insurance.” Miming pulling glasses from his pocket and setting them on his nose, Kai cleared his throat and began: “The wedding is completely, truly over-planned. The crew will arrive three days prior. I confirmed all the honeymoon bookings. And I’ve already started unpacking your boxes into our suite.”

Cinder frowned. “I thought we were gonna do that together?”

He lowered his ‘glasses’ to stroke his chin mischievously, “You know, that probably would have been a good idea. Then I could blame you for all the things I broke.”

She jerked away. “You broke my stuff?!”

“No.”

“Then why would you—”

The troublemaker cackled. Ruffled her hair. “I didn’t expect you to be so easy to rile up.”

Why the little—

Her shoulder knocked into his, her pride smarting. “Shut up, I’ve been stressed.”

“The thought of marrying me must be overwhelming.”

“More like embarrassing,” she mumbled.

The laughter set to burst in his chest truncated. His smile tightened as he studied her, scrutiny forming in his eyes.

“So why are you here?” she diverted quickly. “Didn’t you have a meeting with Tashmi-jie?”

The hesitancy lingered, but he appeared to forestall his interrogation. It took him a moment to follow her inquiry. “She wanted to run over the ceremony, but I remembered the one thing we haven’t rehearsed properly yet.” Reaching into his pocket, Kai produced two thick ribbons, midnight blue in colour. “How good are you at tying knots?”

“The ribbons?” Cinder questioned, sceptical, but still took one when handed to her. “Isn’t it, like, taboo?”

Kai posed a finger over his lips and shhhed.

Royal Earthen tradition dictated that the bride and groom would tie a ribbon around each other’s wrists which the officiant would then tie together. It symbolised the unification of the pair as one person, one heart, one purpose. As most traditions went, there were needless superstitions surrounding it, here being that the betrothed couple was not allowed to tie the ribbons together before the ceremony. Doing so would supposedly diminish the significance of the act. They skipped this part at the rehearsal.

Her fingers pulled at the deceptively sturdy silk. “Does a knot require practice?”

He lifted her hand. “You’d be surprised how difficult the simplest tasks become under the watchful eyes of billions of people.”

She almost grimaced.

Billions of people would be watching. Judging. Scrutinising. Their wedding would be the most defining, incontestable proof of their love. She wanted the world to know, to witness it, but it was exhausting being watched under a microscope all the time.

Kai cradled her cyborg hand gingerly as he manoeuvred the fabric. Deftly, gently. Too gently.

“It needs to be tighter.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Kai.”

Once he’d let go, she tilted her hand vertically. The ribbon pirouetted down her fingers. “Metal and silk,” she reminded him.

He sighed and started again, tying it firmly. “Can you feel that?”

“Nope. No nerve endings.”

Though it did not slip off this time, Kai was not content. Tugging, tugging, tighter and tighter…and the ribbon’s edge slipped right into the crack of her wrist joint.

“I do need that hand,” she warned.

His eyes bulged, releasing her hand like he’d dropped a grand piano on it. Cinder just laughed and pulled the ribbon away.

“Here, I’ll try.” She flipped his palm over, roughly tying a knot like she used to tie cords in her booth.

“Hey, I have actual blood circulation here!”

“Sorry,” she hissed. Alas, a tourniquet didn’t quite send the message of lifelong love. Maybe lifelong imprisonment.

She untied it and retried, taking great care to move slowly. So slow that the silk lost traction on her metal fingers and flopped into her lap.

“Not so easy, huh?”

Gritting her teeth, Cinder attempted it again. Once. Twice. Thrice. Each time, it glided right past the metal.

“Okay, tie it loose first, and then pull on the ends,” he guided calmly.

She retied it loosely.

“Good,” he commended. “Now pull.”

Inhaling to prepare, she seized both ends, secured in the metal, and yanked.

The ribbon unravelled entirely and fluttered to the floor.

“You forgot a second loop.”

Cinder threw up her hands. “Nope! I’m done!”

Kai patted her arm consolingly. He picked up the traitorous ribbon, folded it over his knuckles for a moment then shifted in place, stilted against the stiff wall. “So why are we on the floor?”

Cinder settled her head on his shoulder, only catching a glimpse of his nose and jaw from this angle, then looked around the sitting room. “This doesn’t really feel like mine anymore.”

The room was a part of her own quarters, where she’d lived for the past year. Most of her personal belongings had been moved to Kai’s wing, where she would live in a week’s time. With only the furniture, carpet and drapes it came with, this felt like a guest suite.

“You’ll be in our home soon. You’re going to love it; we’ll play music while we cook dinner and slow dance in the kitchen, everyday.”

“You’ll love it. Not all of us are brilliant dancers.”

“You will, here—” He pocketed the ribbon, grasped her wrists and pulled her upright. “Feed,” he called, ignoring her groan, “play a walt—”

“—most controversial part of this wedding is the ceremony itself. The Ambassador is always preaching about reducing poverty and strengthening our weak economy and yet this wedding is going to cost millions of univs—”

“Mute feed.” His nose curled. “They’re all being ridiculous.”

“People believe them.”

“Not everyone.”

“Enough,” she whispered.

His scowl vanished, replaced with attentiveness and the words he’d held back before, “What’s wrong, love?”

She sighed and plucked the ribbon from his back pocket. Lifted his wrist and tied it. Methodically. Delicately. It was still a little too snug.

“Cinder?”

A glance at the feed, now broadcasting pan shots of the palace.

He followed her gaze, followed her frown, then bound her up in his arms.

“I’m so happy, Kai. To be getting married to you, you know I am,” she said. “And the last months planning this with you, finally being with you in person, it’s the happiest I’ve ever been in my life,” It was true, even if she hadn’t known until that very spoken oath. “It’s our wedding and our day…but…” Her voice warbled, catching on that blasted conjunction. “I’m getting tired of being watched.”

She sniffed, feeling stupid for pitying herself. They were born into this; prince or emperor, queen or empress, they would be plastered over the tabloids. She would have hundreds of thousands of millions of search results. Their relationship would span over multiple sections of their net profiles, all cited to ‘inside sources’ and grainy paparazzi photos.

Scratch the ant. She was a fly, frantically escaping a trillion prying fly squatters.

“I’m just tired.”

Kai began to rock her, a gentle ocean wave lapping up the sides of the boat.

“Do you know why I’m marrying you?” he murmured.

“Oh, tax purposes, mostly,” she testified. “I’m only marrying you to get Earthen citizenship.”

“What did I say about the sarcasm?”

A smile reached her despite her bubbling anxiety. “I don’t need a glamour to play mind tricks on you, my beloved.”

He was rolling his eyes internally, she knew. “I know perfectly well that our relationship causes scandals and rumours and all that. But I don’t care, because you, and my love for you, is more important to me than my reputation. That’s why I’m marrying you. And you’re going to walk down the aisle as the most beautiful woman in the room—”

“That’ll be Winter.”

“The most beautiful woman in the room,” he told her, “and the public won’t matter. It’s not about them. If my cabinet wouldn’t kill me for it, we would elope and have takeaway for our reception. Because what matters is us, and our marriage and our love. That’s all.”

She tucked her head under his chin, ensconced in his warmth, sequestered from the world. Thinking, thinking.

To tie the ribbons together, a third person was needed. A person who wouldn’t really know the ins and outs of their relationship, the intricacies of their love.

“I have an idea.”

His hand was still wrapped with her too-tight attempt. Cinder darted back to the wall, seizing the matching ribbon and held out her wrist. Kai came over and got to work.

Then, she took the end of his ribbon with her free hand, and gestured for him to take hers. He gathered her plan without a word, though, thinking about it, he was supposedly ‘psychic.’ Working together—his hand forming the loop, her hand threading through—a limp but effective knot bound them as one.

Kai gave it a pull and nodded, satisfied with its resilience. “How’d I end up handcuffed to a criminal?”

“And who was the one that arrested me?” Cinder folded her arms instinctually, drawing him flush to her chest.

He grinned, chin to her nose. “Me. But not before I forced you”—finding her waist, setting her arms horizontal—“to dance!”

Laughter was the musical accompaniment to sloppy flailing and attempts to not trip over the coffee table. He spun her under his arm, sending her staggering right into his heaving chest.

“You may trip the bride,” she giggled.

“Kiss,” he corrected, and did just so.

The graceless floundering transformed from a waltz to a tango to a conga line. They stopped before irish dancing.

Kai kissed her hair and her sweaty temple and swayed them back and forth. She went to tie her arms around his neck but felt her hands jolt.

Warm fingers laced through hers. “We’re stuck together.”

“As we should be.”

They kept dancing, because nothing was stopping them, and they kept loving each other, because no one could stop them.

Perhaps what she was forgetting was that they would be okay.

“I did break your pliers, though.”

“Kai!”

Notes

Pliers are hard to break. Give me your theories on how baby boy stuffed up in the notes.

If you want to be tagged, let me know!

@cindersassasin @hayleblackburn @spherical-empirical @salt-warrior @just2bubbly @gingerale2017 @zephyr-thedragon @holdmysparks @oceanspray5 @icarusignite @kaider-is-my-otp @slmkaider @luna-maximoff-22 @cosmicnovaflare @kaixiety @snozkat @imamirrorball4

#the lunar chronicles #lunar chronicles #tlc #cinder #linh cinder #kaider #emperor kaito #prince kai #selene blackburn #kaider fanfiction #the lunar chronicles fanfiction #engaged kaider #I started writing this like 2 years ago #and then cinder's adventure was coming out so I thought #ooh i'll wait because we might get new engaged kaider content #lol #remember our hopes?

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