#i love the sunlight peeking from behind the trees it looks so magical

[talesofesther]

is it too late to call you mine? | ch 1

Sebastian Sallow x Reader

Summary: In Sebastian's prettiest dreams, you'd wear a gown of a color that matched his tie, he'd take your hand and dance all night until morning came. But those dreams felt like a farfetched reality. Would you even consider going with him? As more than a friend?

A/N: This is part one out of two, of my story for @spaceyaceface's HL Writing Challenge. Hope you guys like it, let me know. <3

Masterlist

It was rather magical, how the white blanket of snow covered Hogwarts' grounds—with the arrival of winter, courtyards, towers, and trees alike harbored snowflakes that shone against the sunlight during the day and against the fairy lights scattered around the castle at night.

Despite the gelid wind nipping at your cheeks, you couldn't help but love it.

"Do you know who you'll be going with already?" Poppy walked the viaduct courtyard bridge beside you, hugging the two books she was carrying close to her chest.

You chuckled, glancing down at the way your shoes buried slightly in the thin layer of snow. "No, besides, I don't even know if I will be going at all, Poppy."

"What do you mean? You have to go, the Yule Ball is like one of the most awaited moments for anyone who attends Hogwarts," she reasoned. Then, a sly smirk came to her lips, and she bumped your shoulder with hers, "I'm surprised he hasn't asked you yet."

"Who?" You furrowed your brows.

"Sebastian, of course."

His name brought an instant blush to your cheeks that you tried to blame on the cold wind. You averted your eyes from Poppy, "why would he ask me? We're friends, it would be weird."

The sun had just peeked over the mountains in the distance, it was a cold morning today. The students who walked past you pulled their robes close to their bodies; you thought you heard a fourth-year complain about how far summer was still.

You had a scarf snug around your neck, the colors of your house adorning the fabric and keeping you warm. You thought your peers could learn a thing or two about appreciating the present. How the white of the snow blended with the dark stones of the castle, how the mountains and plains in the distance looked like something out of a painting when the first golden rays of the sun highlighted them.

Poppy pushed open the doors that lead to the central hall and a soft gush of warmth coming from inside enveloped your body and kissed your cold cheeks immediately.

Many Christmas decorations were already adorning each nook and cranny of the castle. You had been ecstatic when you saw Mr. Moon setting up the first big Christmas tree.

"Weird, you say?" Your friend walked ahead of you, the gold and black of her own scarf framing her rosy cheeks as she glanced back at you, "sometimes I wonder if we're talking about the same Slytherin."

Your lips hovered open and your feet stayed glued to the floor, just short of going through the threshold. What could she mean by that?

"See you in Herbology." With a wink, Poppy was walking away from you.

You tried not to dwell on it. Ever since the beginning of your sixth year things had been different between you and Sebastian. Everything you'd gone through together in your fifth year inevitably brought you closer—even more so when, by the end of the year, neither one of you had anyone to go back to. You chose to stay with him and Ominis at school; spending most of your afternoons tucked away in your Room of Requirement as hours went by in a breeze. Sebastian's soul became familiar to yours. There were moments, tiptoeing between the line of friends and something more, hidden behind corners and dimmed by faint candlelights, that felt too delicate to ever be labeled. And now, you still don't know what to call them.

Things became all the more complicated with the impending arrival of the Yule Ball. As if in on a secret, your friends kept teasing you about Sebastian taking you. And you couldn't help but feel somewhat of a pressure. You couldn't help but wish he actually would.

── ·❆· ──

Out of all the classes, Herbology had a special place in your heart. Nothing could beat the atmosphere of the greenhouse. As soon as you walked through the doors and came face to face with that gorgeous pink tree, a wave of calmness hit you instantly. Sunlight came in through the green-tinted glass walls, a slight breeze made the falling leaves rustle around you, and the smell of grass, dirt, and flowers covered your senses.

Snow was falling outside, yet here, it somehow always seemed to be spring.

You slowly walked down the stairs and to your potting table, removing your scarf from around your neck.

Sebastian had already taken his spot right beside you. He had a dark long coat over his uniform and his hair was messier and just slightly longer than usual, you also couldn't help but notice the faint blush under his freckles and on the tip of his nose, from the cold no doubt. You thought it was endearing.

"Well, good morning." His voice kissed your ears.

A smile found itself on your lips pretty quickly, "morning, Sebastian."

"Gotta love Herbology first thing in the morning. Nothing like getting your hands dirty to start the day just right," He mumbled, one finger brushing over the soil in his pot before he turned fully to you, his hip leaning against the table as he crossed his arms over his chest.

You chuckled lightly, gaze focusing somewhere on Sebastian's left shoulder. Poppy's words kept echoing inside your head; I'm surprised he hasn't asked you yet. Without fully realizing it, you left Sebastian without an answer. Your lips hovered open as your eyes turned unfocused the more you lost yourself between what-ifs.

Chocolate brown eyes regarded you with interest, perhaps just a tad too long before he finally spoke; "alright, spill it. What's bothering you?"

You weren't sure how he managed it, this ability to read between the lines when it came to you. You blinked multiple times and softly shook your head, gesturing to dismiss his worry. "Nothing's bothering me."

Sebastian clicked his tongue and took a step closer to you. In a moment of boldness, he reached a hand forward and straightened the lapel of your blazer. "You'll have to do better than that," he raised an eyebrow at you.

If you focused enough, you'd be able to feel the ghost of his words on your lips, count each freckle over his cheeks, that's how close he was. You couldn't breathe even if you tried to. And that's exactly what Sebastian does to you. His fingers may brush your cheek and he may get as close as breathing the same air as you, and yet…

"Humour me," Sebastian shrugged, leaning back against the table and distancing himself from you as if nothing ever happened.

He always pulls back. He gets so close, and yet it feels as if he's afraid to ever go further. Tiptoeing the lines of your relationship, yet never crossing them. Planting feather light kisses on your heart, yet never fully embracing it. He confused you to no end. And you still don't know what to call whatever it was that existed between you and him.

Ultimately, you were beginning to think there was nothing there at all. Sebastian had always been flirty after all.

"I've just been thinking about the Ball," you shrugged too, trying to sound nonchalant as you braced one hand on the table. "If I'll be going, and… with who."

Sebastian bit the inside of his cheek at your words, avoiding his gaze from yours for just a moment before a forced grin came to his lips; "I don't think it's much worth worrying over it, there's better things to do for a night than dancing to boring music. Especially when everyone will be occupied dancing to said music."

His eyes glinted mischievously as he spoke. You half expected him to invite you to sneak into the restricted section of the library again or something of the sort.

"Poppy says I should attend, something about having the full Hogwarts experience," you smiled, choosing to not comment on his slight mood swing, "I may be inclined to agree."

Sebastian only hummed, his brows furrowed as he choose to finally settle his attention on the sorry excuse of a Dittany he'd been growing since last class. "I… hope you find a good partner then."

You allowed your eyes to linger on him until Professor Garlick started speaking. Noticing how his jaw tightened in place and his shoulders became somewhat tense while he reached for the fertilizer.

You couldn't understand why Poppy was so certain Sebastian could ever think of asking you to the Ball.

── ·❆· ──

A mixed smell of freshly made potions hung in the air. Brewed Knotgrass and maybe a pinch of feathers of some kind. Chatter was going around the potions classroom, as it usually did before Professor Sharp arrived.

Sebastian had both elbows resting atop his potions station, slouched in his seat as one of his knees bumped up and down, and with his dark eyes glued to the door. There was a leave of Mallowsweet lazily being torn apart over and over by his fingers as the seconds trickled by.

"Sebastian!"

Something gently slapped the back of his head, bringing the boy back to reality. He hummed questioningly and turned to face Ominis, who sat beside him with a scowl.

"I figured you weren't listening to me when you failed to answer my question for the third time," the blond deadpanned, however with the beginnings of a smirk appearing on his lips. "Has she not arrived yet?"

Heat crept up Sebastian's neck and he straightened in his seat, "who?"

Ominis raised an unimpressed eyebrow at his friend; "you know exactly who I'm talking about."

"Don't," Sebastian mumbled, pushing to the floor the mess he'd made on his table.

"Are you still overthinking whether to ask her or not?" Ominis sighed, resting his elbow on the table so he could lean his head on his hand. "Sometimes I wonder which of us is the blind one."

Sebastian faked a laugh, "very funny, Ominis. I'm not overthinking anything, I've already made up my mind. Plus, I think the Yule Ball is overrated anyway."

Ominis hummed, "you and I both know that's not true, Sebastian. Not when it comes to her."

Sebastian gulped the sudden lump in his throat upon hearing his own thoughts being spoken out loud by his friend.

"Just don't force me to hear your whinings later," Ominis concluded.

A huff escaped Sebastian's nose at his friend's quip. He turned around with a pout evident on his lips. In all honesty, he hadn't meant a word of what he said to you in Herbology; if anything, that had been his emotions getting the better of him—the thought of you going with someone else brought a sour taste to his mouth and, for lack of a better word, he panicked. Because ever since the Yule Ball was announced, Sebastian caught himself smiling alone at random times as he walked the hallways of Hogwarts; the image of you walking down the stairs all pretty in a gown as you made your way to him, so he could take your hand and place a kiss there, painted his mind in the prettiest of colors, inevitably bringing a smile to his lips.

Sebastian liked to think he'd make it the perfect night, holding you close as you danced and serving you drinks whenever you desired; maybe he'd even go a step further and tell you exactly just what it is that you do to him—how you make his heart jump in his chest whenever he sees you, how he has to remind himself to breathe whenever you touch him.

It was a spark that had been there ever since you bested him in your first duel. A spark that he could feel leaving embers in his soul at each escapade and rule broken together. A spark that eventually turned into a flame, leaving scorch marks against his skin as punishment for all he'd put you through.

And now, Sebastian couldn't bring himself to do it. He'd hold your hand as you showed him your vivariums and have an arm around your shoulders as you walked the school grounds. He'd lose himself if he ever were to lose you. But he couldn't bring himself to do more, to cross that blurred line.

Sebastian didn't know how. How could he ever tell you that you hold his bruised heart in your hands? How could he ever say he was incapable of imagining a future without you in it? How could he do any of that, when he was nowhere near worthy of you?

In his prettiest dreams, you'd wear a gown of a color that matched his tie, he'd take your hand and dance all night until morning came. But those dreams felt like a farfetched reality. Would you even consider going with him? As more than a friend?

So, in stumbled words, he told you he found it boring. And part of him hoped you would both skip the Ball together. At least, he'd have you for the night.

Sebastian was pulled from his daydream when you walked over the threshold, smiling at Natty as you walked by her potion station. He was about to call you over when you were stopped in your tracks by Garreth Weasley.

A frown etched itself in Sebastian's features, his eyes burning against you and Weasley as he watched you speak. He couldn't make out the words you were saying, but the ginger had a hand brushing over your forearm for a moment, way too close to your hand for Sebastian's taste.

And then you smiled, all sweet and soft in a way that got Sebastian's insides all twisted because that smile wasn't directed at him.

None too soon, you were finally ditching Garreth and walking towards him and Ominis. Sebastian straightened in his seat and forced his expression into a neutral one.

"Hello boys," you greeted the Slytherin duo, dropping two large books on your table beside the caldron, "have you finished Sharp's assignment yet?"

Ominis' lips turned up at the sound of your voice, his features softening, "I have, I'm quite confident this is one of my best yet."

"We had an assignment?" Sebastian chimed in, making Ominis audibly groan from beside him.

You raised an eyebrow in his direction and he gave you an obvious wink, his Cheshire grin framing his freckles.

"So," Sebastian continued, avoiding your eyes, "what were you and Weasley talking about?"

"Oh," an unusual warmth came to your cheeks, you opened one of your books on no specific page, "he- he was just asking if I'd like to go to the Yule Ball with him."

Sebastian nearly choked on his own breathing upon hearing your words, he had to double-check them in his head to make sure he'd heard correctly. Several emotions clogged up his throat all at once. Anger, because how dare Weasley ask you to the Ball. Regret, because the ginger had done what Sebastian himself was too afraid to do. Despair, because somehow it felt just a little like losing you. Jealousy, because you were his. And then finally, realization, because you weren't his, not really; Sebastian had no right to feel any of this. Yet he did anyway.

His chest felt tight, his heartbeat began to hurt.

A strange chuckle escaped Sebastian's lips, he could feel Ominis' eyes boring into him, as ironic as that was. "Why would he think you'd go with him?" Sebastian liked to believe he kept up his nonchalant attitude pretty well.

You pursed your lips, taking a deep breath, "I said yes."

Sebastian thought that maybe Crucio would sting less.

⋆* ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

Read ch 2 here

Thank you for reading this little story. Feedback and reblogs are literally what keeps me motivated to continue posting here, so I’d appreciate it if you could take some time to reblog and comment if you want. <3

You do not have permission to repost, copy or translate my works on any platforms (even with credit), please respect.

Sebastian’s taglist: @milkiane @v1ci0us @auxiliare

#sebastian sallow x reader #sebastian sallow #sebastian sallow imagine #hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow x you #sebastian sallow x f!reader #sebastian sallow x f!mc #hogwarts legacy x reader #imagine #fanfic #angst #fluff #sebastian sallow fanfiction #my story

[itzgruvia]

Gruvia Week 2024

Day 3: Luminous

type: Soft/fluff, love.

Characters: Gray Fullbuster/Juvia Lockser.

warning: might be a little OOC for Gray by the end? i am not sure :')

this fanfic is also available on AO3

Juvia’s body was screaming with pain, she hadn’t had a fight this impactful for years, and she never felt this sensation of heart ache, why does her heart beat so painfully? Why is this feeling giving her so much pleasure when he looks at her, even when he was fighting, he was admirable, majestic, his magic glow under the pitter patters of her rain.

It was unusual for Juvia Lockser, an S-class mage who is feared by many, despised by many, to be saved from a threatening fall over the building.

She glanced at his bare back.

No one ever cared about Juvia..

So why did he care about an enemy? Why was he so different? 

He looked back at her smirking while a strange light came from behind him, making him look ethereal.

“Care for round two?” he asked flirtatiously, or was it Juvia’s imagination?

It was warm, she thought, that strange light but sooner she realised that it wasn’t just a fire light or a candle light, but it was the sunlight peeking from the clouds.

It never happened to Juvia, even if she always yearned for it, even if she travelled miles to find the sun that many people loved and admired, it never came to her because of her cursed rain, but he, this beautiful ice mage, just brought out the one thing she dreamed about every night.

He gave her the sun. and just like that Juvia blacked out with one thought in her head.

Luminous, he is luminous…

“Gray-sama, your smile is luminous!” while they were resting in the campfire they made,sitting on strong tree benches, Juvia exclaimed that startled Gray from his daze.

“God Juvia, you scared me” he put his hand on his heart, looking at her from his seat.

“Oh, i am sorry, Juvia just remembered our first encounter” Juvia explained, her eyes twinkling with a dreamy expression as she imagined how beautiful he was back then.

“ why?” he asked, while he focused on putting the potatoes to roast under the bonfire.

“Well Gray-sama, it just so happens that it was the day that i discovered the sun, and FairyTail, and Love” she looked at him, gazing at his sharp yet soft features gleaming under the fire.

“Then what does Luminous mean?” he looked away from his task, his eyes held a sense of curiosity.

“It means bright and glowing, you are beautiful Gray-sama, you always were” she noticed his cheek turning red from her words, it was adorable for Juvia to see him shy from her love.

She expected the usual reaction of complaining that she was being dramatic or just grumbles of nonsense, what she didn’t expect is him giving her a fond gaze and leaning to give her a peck in her lips.

“ And so are you” he replied with affection, this time he was smiling and the moon shone right through him, making him look dazzling under its light.

Juvia couldn’t do anything but freeze in her spot, for him to act straightforward with her always catches her off guard.

“There’s steam coming off your head baby” he chuckled quietly, as he tried to use a feathered fan from his bag to cool her off, adding a little bit of his magic to the wind.

Juvia is about to faint.

#gruvia week 2024 #gruvia #juvia lockser #gray fullbuster #fairy tail #gray x juvia #juvia loxar #fairy tail juvia #fairy tail 100 years quest

[illegiblehandwriting1]

YO GUYS. GUYS I DID IT. I had my last final today and it wasn't fun, but at least it's over!!

AND it's Wednesday! so, i've never done this before, BUT! i feel the need to celebrate w/ a small snippet of s&a ch 16, so here ya go :3 idk if this is a lot for a sneak peek, but in terms of this chapter, it is absolutely nothing, so, eh! fuck it, ya know?

----

Hyrule had always loved caves. 

Where other heroes had proper towns and stables and inns, Hyrule had the caverns and cave systems that spiderwebbed beneath the surface of his home in every direction. Overworld monsters liked all the pale sunlight they could get. Dungeon-crawling monsters always preferred to stick to a certain room, and that was their turf; their home. 

An empty cave meant a safe spot, a rest stop, a moment to breathe. He didn't get very many of those. 

So when Hyrule had said he had been exploring that cave under the tree roots, he hadn’t lied. 

Technically. 

He had explored it. He had searched each crack and crevice with a distinct curiosity, wondering why it was here, who had made it, how convenient it would be to get to if he was in terrible shape: all the questions that he usually wondered. With each second spent in the darkness, he felt his heartbeat slow down from its thunderous pace. 

Okay, so contrary to what he told the heroes, his focus on the cave beneath the tree roots was more than just a habit or an interest. 

It was almost like a home. 

And maybe that was a little unhealthy, when he considered any enclosed, underground space to be safer than being surrounded by allies — comrades, friends, brothers — but at least he could breathe, in a cave. At least he could know that when he huddled himself up in the corner of the dark room, the hard rock pressed against his back and told him that nothing else was behind him. There would be no knives in his shoulder blades, no hands pushing him away or pulling him too close. There would be no claws ripping into his flesh and pouring his blood onto the earth. At least he could see the only entryway to the darkened alcove and know with full certainty that if anyone tried to come in, he would see them first. 

And it wasn’t that he didn’t trust any of the other heroes: that was just wrong. He trusted them with his life, and coming from the teenager with the blood curse, that was saying quite a bit. 

But there was a certain tension in the air around the group of travellers that had been there for weeks now. It wasn't exactly a secret as to why — they all knew why. 

Sky was gone. They needed him back. 

And they didn't know how to get him. 

But Hyrule found himself worrying his lip until it bled. He noticed his shoulders rising up to his ears. The tension in his frame. His locked jaw and the sudden snappiness that he kept swallowing. 

So the moment they stopped, he ran and hid in the safest place he could think of. Hiding was what he was best at, after all. 

It was what he had always done to escape. 

But it was quiet, down there in the dark. It was still and silent and maybe even peaceful. He was alone, if only for a moment, and that was what he was used to. Maybe he liked being around other people — well, that was a lie. He craved their presence like a bee craves nectar. It was soothing in a way that nothing else could be, when you had a comrade at your side in battle and a friend next to you at dinnertime. 

But the lonesome cave was familiar, despite the completely foreign territory they had all been treading since they'd first entered the Breach of Demise. 

It was familiar to sit, back pressed against the rough cave rocks, and just breathe. 

He imagined that he was home again. He was alone in his travels. He had no one to look after and no one to look after him. 

He didn’t have a missing brother. 

The bittersweetness of the illusion tasted wrong. It wasn’t something he could just magically go back to. Not after everything. But it was close enough, and that was all he needed. Just for a moment. Just until he had to turn on the lights again. 

Someone called his name. Not his birth name, not the name that everyone in his world connected with a curse and a bloodstained future reminiscent of a bloodstained past. No. That wasn’t what he heard. 

“Hyrule!” someone yelled. 

His allies — friends, brothers, family — were looking for him. 

He’d never had much of a family before. 

He couldn’t let this one fall apart.

---

also, um. so.

i am. not done yet. so.

#chicken scratch #smoke & ashes #linked universe #lu hyrule #lu fanfiction #it's literally just hyrule angsting a bit lol #hyrule chapter tho???? let's go????? #plus a special lil someone later on???? #dudes you're gonna love it (i hope)

[julek]

my kingdom for a kiss (upon your shoulder)

read on ao3 | rated T | 6.2K | no warnings | for @asweetprologue <3

The sun shines soft in Toussaint.

Geralt can’t remember whether it’s always been like that — if the golden tint that falls over the city as gently as wind-blown petals is genuine or just a product of his imagination. Spring isn’t in full bloom yet, timid flowers peeking at him from the side of the road, proud birds carrying twigs and feathers to their newly-made nests, the tree branches still cold after the last snow.

They’re not far from the main square, their pace steady and unhurried since they set out to Beauclair in the morning. The midday commotion fills Geralt’s senses, spices and bread and frantic conversations making him shake his head in discomfort — busy cities always take a while to grow used to; thankfully, he never stays long.

Next to him, Jaskier sneezes.

“This weather, I tell you—” he starts, but gets immediately cut off by another dainty, kitten-like sneeze. He wipes his nose on his sleeve, then makes a face at it. “Be the death of me.”

Geralt rolls his eyes. “It’ll take more than pollen to take you, I fear.”

“It doesn’t stand a chance against me,” he says, and strikes a pose, like one of the heroes in the silly novels he insists on buying, but the puffy eyes and red nose dampens it a bit. He doesn’t seem deterred, though. “Besides, I wouldn’t let pollen, of all things, keep me from performing at tonight’s ball.”

Geralt hums, flicking a fly off Roach’s mane. They were in Spalla when Jaskier was approached by a passing servant and asked to partake in some baron Geralt couldn’t care enough to retain the name of’s early spring ball — naturally, Jaskier had jumped at the invitation, eager to be among the distinguished crowds that frequent such events, even more so after a long winter tucked away at Oxenfurt.

“By the way,” Jaskier says, picking an inexistent piece of lint off his doublet, aiming for casual even though he knows Geralt can hear the curious lilt to his voice, “will you be attending tonight?”

“I might not make it in time,” he says truthfully. He rubs his thumb over the contract he’s holding in his free hand, the sharp edges digging into his skin. “I will hunt this afternoon.”

Jaskier nods. “Well,” he says, his voice soft as he bumps his shoulder against Geralt’s. “You’re welcome there. I’ll vouch for you, you know.”

Geralt smiles at him solemnly — then bumps him back, laughing when the bard accidentally crashes into an old woman perusing the wares of a silver-tongued merchant.

“Geralt!” Jaskier says indignantly, smoothing out his doublet and shooting the woman a sideways glance that’s more annoyed than apologetic. “You can’t just push people.”

“Apologies,” Geralt says, not sounding sorry at all. “My balance seems to be off, lately. You know how it is.”

“With your old age, yes,” Jaskier says and pats his arm sympathetically. “I fear you’re showing signs of decay already.”

“Hmm?”

“Oh, yes.” Jaskier takes his arm and loops it through his, a steadying hand at his back. “Your gait is off— look, even Roach looks concerned for your wellbeing.”

Roach looks unfazed.

“And all the lines on your face!” Jaskier gasps in mock-horror. “My, Geralt, we should take you to a healer. Perhaps you’ve been cursed— There! Those dreadful frown lines you sport, old friend… Have you considered retirement? I hear there are great Witcher-friendly settlements in this area, and— hey!”

Geralt smirks as Jaskier rubs the side of his head where Geralt’s innocent and weary hand slapped it. He can see the worn-down sign of the inn he favors when they’re in the city a few steps ahead, can already taste the fresh ale on his mouth.

“Whoops,” he says, trying to school his features into something that isn’t a smug smile. “Seems I’m losing control of my limbs, too.”

+

The Rose and Thorn is as it has ever been. Clean wooden floorboards that creak as they walk in, the blossoming vine hanging over the kitchen door, the innkeeper’s old dog napping in a spot of sunlight pouring in through the window.

It’s good.

Geralt likes routine. He thrives on it. He likes familiar faces and comforting smells and the sound of pans and pots banging together as the cook murmurs a string of expletives that would be considered indecorous on a lady’s mouth. He likes knowing where he stands, likes the well-loved booths and the tankards that are cracked around the edges, the face of an unruly lion faded on the ceramic. He’s pleased with the way the innkeeper’s eyes crinkle with recognition as she nods at him and Jaskier, as she wordlessly takes his coin and points her head in direction of the room he always takes.

They move upstairs, Jaskier’s lutecase hitting the narrow walls as Geralt pushes the door open. The room is simple — two beds and a small table under the tall window, light pouring in through the thin linen curtains. He sets his bag on one of the beds — the closest to the door — and puts his sheathed swords next to it before allowing himself a moment to sit and wind down.

“I’d say lunch is in order, don’t you think?” Jaskier says after a while, even though his words are muffled by the pillow he’d thrown himself face-down onto and he doesn’t seem to be moving any time soon. “I’m aching for something other than apples and jerky, if I’m honest.”

Geralt’s stomach rumbles in agreement. “Too coarse for your fine palate, bard?” He teases.

“Never,” Jaskier says, lifting an accusatory finger at where he supposes Geralt is sitting. Then, because it isn’t as dramatic as it should’ve been, he rolls over, facing Geralt, his hair sticking up at odd places and his face flushed a pretty shade of pink. “I’m well used to all kinds of provisions, but the soul wishes for something a little bit more substantial every once in a while.”

“Hmm,” Geralt concedes. He laces up his left boot tighter than the right one and stands. “Let’s go, then, man of substance.”

Jaskier grins up at him, bright and easy, and leaps out of the bed so fast the wind gets knocked out of him.

Downstairs at the bar, there are steaming bowls of pottage being sent to the patrons that are starting to overflow the room, bread and cheese abundant at every table. It must have been a fruitful winter, Geralt reasons as he nods to the barmaid and gestures to the plates.

“Ale as well, Sir Witcher?” She says as she wipes her forehead, no trace of fear in her voice. She’s probably too busy for it.

“Two, please.”

He makes his way to the table where Jaskier’s already tearing a loaf of bread in two, tapping a rhythm with his fingers on the hard wood as he looks out the window at the passersby. There’s a neatly-made arrangement of wildflowers on the wall by his side, larkspur and thistle with a touch of baby’s breath, Geralt thinks.

“Here,” he says, passing the half-full tankard over to Jaskier and taking a sip of his own.

Jaskier hands him a piece of bread. “So, what are we slaying today?”

“The only thing you’ll be slaying today is your audience’s eardrums,” Geralt says, smirking at Jaskier’s huff of indignation. He takes a bite out of the bread. “There seems to be an archespore around the vineyards.”

“An— the—” Jaskier’s face does a complicated thing and Geralt wants to point out that he looks like a gaping trout before he says, “An archespore?! This mythical— magical— never before seen creature—”

“It’s been seen plenty of times,” Geralt points out.

“Not by me!” Jaskier thumps his fist on the table, defeated, and his ale sloshes dangerously. He wipes a hand down his face. “Ugh. And I can’t even fight you on it, because I’ve got, uh, what do they call it— Geralt, help me out here, what’s the word—”

“A compromise.”

Jaskier gags. “Yes. That. I shall honor my, uh, compromise to the arts and leave you alone and defenseless before such a legendary creature. Naught but two swords and the strength of” —he looks Geralt up and down appreciatively— “roughly twelve men built like bulls to keep yourself out of harm’s way.”

Geralt lifts his eyebrows, unimpressed, and leans back on his seat as a barmaid approaches them with a bowl in each hand. “Thank you,” he tells her, and digs in.

The stew is pleasantly hot and thick with spices and vegetables, the potatoes sweet and the meat tender, and he lets a pleased rumble escape his chest.

He doesn’t get to indulge in good meals very often — when he gets the opportunity to sit down at a proper table and have a proper plate placed in front of him, the food is usually sizable and filling, but never particularly appetizing. It’s mostly overcooked, tough meat — if he can afford it — and out-of-season vegetables that remind him of dried-out fields rather than a lavish banquet.

Jaskier is used to them, though. Or was — right before he was hit on the head with a chunk of stale bread and had the brilliant idea to trail after a Witcher, to trade comfortable beds and roasted pheasants for a hard bedroll spread on the forest floor and charred squirrel, at best. It still intrigues Geralt, watching Jaskier roll up his sleeves and dig into the pottage like it’s the finest meal he’s ever tasted, like it doesn’t pale in comparison to what he’ll be served tonight. Like he doesn’t see it — the immensity of the gap between Geralt’s world and his own.

There are moments of hesitation — moments when Geralt thinks Jaskier will wake up. When he thinks the bard will look around and shake his head in astonished confusion, and his blue eyes will widen comically like they do when he’s caught slipping treats to Roach, and he’ll see through the desperately-sewn seams of Geralt’s life. He’ll see that behind the so-called heroics and martyrdom there’s nothing more than a Witcher and a horse and a lonely road ahead.

But then, just when Geralt’s doubts start to creep into his hairline and show on his face, Jaskier will prove him wrong. Like now, as Jaskier lets his spoon fall into his empty bowl and leans back on his seat, sighing happily, nothing but contentment and warmth on his scent. As he watches through the window again, with a smile that dimples his cheek and sunlight crinkling his eyes.

Geralt feels something touch his leg. When he looks down, the innkeeper’s dog is resting his chin on Geralt’s thigh, his eyes big and pleading.

He picks up a hard bit of bread Jaskier had set aside earlier and carefully brings it up to the dog’s nose for inspection. After a few curious sniffs, the dog gently takes it out of Geralt’s hand, tail wagging excitedly. His fur is soft where Geralt smoothes it out with the flat of his palm, softer than Roach’s mane.

When he looks up, Jaskier’s eyes have abandoned the window, and he’s watching the two of them with a smile that’s half fond, half soft. Too tender.

Geralt’s never been looked at like that. With care. Like he’s something precious, something to be treasured.

It feels inadequate, and he pats the dog’s head to hide the almost imperceptible tremble of his hand. Jaskier’s smile reaches his eyes, and doesn’t waver.

It’s good.

+

The soft breeze wafting through the window as Geralt straps his swords to his back is tempting.

Jaskier yawns.

“You sure you don’t wanna get a nap in before you,” he yawns again, “go?”

He’s sprawled on his bed in a position that just can’t be comfortable, limbs long and bent at weird angles, pants unbuttoned and doublet resting on the back of a chair. His hair is ruffled and his cheeks are pink from the meal and the impending sleep that will follow.

“I’ve read, somewhere,” he continues, forcefully wrestling with the blankets that are firmly tucked into the bed, “ah, that napping increases, um— aha!” He wiggles under the covers. “It increases your strength, sharpens your” — a yawn — “mind, and whatnot.”

“Hmm.” Geralt adjusts his potion belt. “And how’s that worked out for you?”

Jaskier squints at him, managing to stay awake just to be annoyed. “See? You just continue proving my point! That,” he says, gesturing vaguely at Geralt with a half-covered hand, “would easily be fixed with one tiny nap!”

“Your naps are never tiny.”

“Well, no, because as a bard, I require more energy than a Witcher. Besides,” he says, closing his eyes, “I never seem to get enough sleep, you see, since I keep getting assaulted by this beast of a man who thinks dawn is already late.”

Geralt snorts and walks over to his bed. “Should put a contract out, then. A Witcher may come across it.”

Jaskier turns around, facing Geralt. “Oh, no, thank you. One Witcher is enough for me.” Geralt can hear the smile in his voice, though.

Checking he’s got everything he needs, and closing the open windows for good measure, Geralt turns to Jaskier. “I’m going. Stay here.”

This time, it’s Jaskier who has to snort. “Napping, remember?”

Geralt hums. “Don’t sleep through your performance,” he says, closing the door behind him, and the sounds of Jaskier tossing and turning while making indignant sounds makes him smirk.

The walk to the vineyard doesn’t take long. He passes the district alderman’s house on his way over, discusses the payment and whatever information he has to offer about the vineyard itself and the archespore sightings. The man’s face goes white when Geralt asks about any late violent crime.

The sun is still high in the sky when he gets to the heart of the vineyard, the earth uneven and freshly dug up. The victims’ bodies aren’t there anymore, he knows, but the archespore can’t be too far away from him. He draws out his sword and walks deeper into the field, watching the ripe grapevine sway with the wind.

There’s a vine in particular that calls his attention, thinner and bare, no grapes clinging to it. Just as he gets closer to it, it disappears under the ground. Geralt crouches and backs away, waiting to see it come back up — except when it does, it’s not just a lonely vine anymore.

The archespore stands tall and imposing, growling at Geralt as he signs Igni at it and aims for its trunk — he only gets one good blow before it buries itself under the earth. He waits again, looking for the green-brown color, and it shoots back up with renewed force, surrounding Geralt with acid-filled pods.

He casts a quick Quen and gets closer to it, choosing Aard this time as Igni causes it to relocate, and seizes the way it trembles minutely to get behind it and run his sword through its flesh. The creature growls, its jaw-shaped leaves curling around Geralt’s limbs. He struggles and manages to cast Igni at it, freeing himself as the plant relocates itself. When it sprouts back up, one of its pods blows up next to him, making him fall to the ground as the creature towers over him, its screeches deafening.

The archespore opens its forked mouth and screeches louder this time, acid shooting through its pores before Geralt can shield himself. The acid burns his skin where it reaches it, but the creature seems satisfied enough that it misses the opportunity to pin him to the ground. He reaches for his sword and lunges, casting Aard and tearing its leaves and damaging its thick stem.

This time, when it goes underground, Geralt has a feral smile on his face as he takes his Golden Oriole and upends it in his mouth. The venom stops burning for a second, and, when the archespore comes back up, its tendrils reaching for Geralt, he ducks and rolls, positioning himself behind it. The archespore screeches one final time as Geralt runs his sword from its head down to its core before it collapses to the ground, lifeless body still twitching. Geralt throws the severed head far enough that it won’t be able to reattach itself and slices up the remaining pods, their venom oozing sluggishly onto the torn-up ground.

He makes his way back to the city, the head of the archespore dripping slightly from its bag. The sun is setting, painting the walls golden against the pink sky, the shadows cast over the buildings helping the buzzing in his brain. He takes the less-traveled roads to avoid the commotion of the streets, but it seems the city is already mellowed out.

He thinks of Jaskier.

The first star of the night is twinkling against the pink-blue sky, the moon translucent. The baron’s residence is distant, surrounded by a stretch of the city’s walls, but Geralt imagines it’s close, close enough that Jaskier’s voice can carry through the night — that his soft melodies can reach them all.

He thinks of Jaskier, dressed up in his finest clothes that he had especially tailored — because I’ve filled out in the winter, Geralt! — drinking sweet wine from the vineyard he’s just left behind, mingling with the nobles and regaling them with honeyed tales of the Witcher’s heroism. The Witcher who is currently covered in muck and sticky with dried acid, carrying a severed head across the streets of Beauclair.

But Jaskier would disagree. He’d see a knight in shining armor, coming home triumphant after saving a family’s livelihood, the scars of the ferocious battle showing on his face. A defeated beast and a courageous warrior. A tale worth telling.

After dispatching the head and collecting his coin — what they’d agreed on, thankfully — Geralt heads back to the inn. The humming in his veins has simmered down, leaving behind a hint of exhaustion that clings to his bones and makes itself known. He calls for a bath, ignoring the innkeeper’s knowing look — she’s seen him trudge inside wearing worse.

Once he’s in his room, he takes his time unbuckling and sets his armor aside, a filthy pile that he’ll have to tend to eventually. After, he thinks, and sinks into the steaming tub. The room’s windows are open despite him closing them before leaving, tacit proof of Jaskier’s aversion for closed spaces and feeling oppressed, Witcher, and his distinct lack of self-preservation. Geralt’s chastised him enough about being easy prey, but there’s something in the way the bard moves that makes him want to protect, rather than prevent — he’d rather be the one to free Jaskier from his cage than be the one to lock him there in the first place. Not that Jaskier would ever let himself be locked away — he’s feisty enough on his own — but something about him screams freedom.

Geralt can’t take it away — wouldn’t ever want to. So he lets the cool air enter the room.

His bed is neatly made, pillows fluffed and sheets crisp. Next to it is Jaskier’s — somehow, pillows are on the floor and the sheets are turned inside out, twisted like a serpent around the blanket. His side of the room looks like it’s been a victim of a cruel whirlwind — clothes and accessories are strung about the room, picked up only to be frowned at and then put back down.

It’s tempting enough; to crawl under the covers and blow out the candles and get a half-decent night of sleep. Maybe get something to eat from the bar downstairs. Maybe drink some ale. But—

I’ll vouch for you, you know.

He knows.

+

It’s a beautiful night, in truth.

The ball is being hosted in the halfmoon-shaped garden, the cool spring breeze dancing around the guests as they dance themselves, carried away. Moonlight and candlelight alike wash over the cobblestone, a few delicate and intricate paper lanterns placed over a wooden railing casting gentle shadows on the whole scene. There are flowers all around — on tall vases in every corner and on the small centerpieces at every table, on the open hand of every statue and weaved into delicate crowns for everyone to wear.

It isn’t like anything Geralt’s seen before. He’s been to many balls — begrudgingly — but never one in which everyone carries themselves so freely, where raucous laughter is allowed if not mandatory, where not one person sits alone at their table, instead gathered around savoring the food, where there are chairs but no one sitting on them because they’re so busy prancing around the yard, marveling at the flowers and the outfits and the beauty of the night. Where everyone seems to be there because they want to be — because they belong.

He’s standing by a pillar, not hidden but not in plain sight, either. He tightens his jacket around himself, half to fend off the chill of the night air and half to hide the stain on the chemise underneath — a dangerous encounter with a drunk Jaskier and a goblet of wine. His leather band is on his wrist tonight, his silver hair tickling the spot behind his ear and catching on the high collar of his shirt. People are still coming in through the garden gates, the path to the grounds lit by small candles by each side of it, couples strolling hand-in-hand across the grounds and children running around, their flower crowns hanging off their heads.

There’s no music yet, just conversation carrying the night away. He can hear Jaskier’s heartbeat somewhere in the gardens, but hasn’t seen him yet — perhaps he’s encountered one of his old dalliances and is catching up, as he’s often done before.

Geralt moves to the balcony with the stone railing, the one looking out to the lake. The waves are calm tonight, gently rippling back and forth, shimmering under the stars. He leans his elbows on the railing, feeling very small as he looks down.

Heights used to scare him when he was a child. It’s one of the only things he can remember. His house sat on a small hill, and every night, after his mother went to sleep, he would tiptoe across the kitchen and open the window, and he would look down and feel terror beat inside his chest, gripping his heart like a vine.

Now, as he looks down, he can see the scrape of the stones jutting out of the earth, the clear beach beneath him. He can see the boats resting on the shore and the stars reflecting on the water. Looking down, he just feels at ease.

The sound of children protesting catches his attention. When he looks back to the courtyard, he can see two small children — siblings, he presumes — looking at their mother with very exaggerated frowns on their tiny faces.

“You mustn’t use your sister’s dress as a cleaning rag, Petyr,” she says to the boy as she tries to wipe down the girl’s gown.

“But the floors here needed cleaning!” Petyr responds, petulant. “You told us things should be squeaky-clean.”

His mother is about to reply when suddenly a voice cuts in. “And your mother is right, of course,” says Jaskier, winking at her and meeting her smile of relief with one of his own. “But this is a party! You’re meant to have fun, you and your sister! Don’t you like to dance?”

Petyr and his sister shake their heads. “We don’t know how to,” she admits.

Jaskier’s grin is wide. “Well, then you must be born singers!” At that, the girl smiles.

“Mama says our singing sounds more like a dying wyvern’s last breath,” she says simply, and it makes Jaskier laugh, “but we like to sing anyway.”

“And you should! Singing is the way our soul gets to have a laugh,” he says knowingly, and slowly takes his lute out of his case. “I don’t suppose you know what this is?”

The children’s eyes light up. “A lute!”

Jaskier laughs. “That’s right!” He holds it out to them. “Here, try a strum.”

The children look at each other, then at the lute like it’s something precious. Geralt knows it is. “You go first, Fiona,” the boy whispers to his sister.

Fiona approaches the lute carefully, and holds out her little hand. Jaskier takes it on his own, then gently, very gently, he runs her hand through the strings. It’s a simple chord, and Jaskier’s holding the note, but Fiona looks blown away. “Wow,” she whispers. “It’s so… pretty.”

Geralt can see the way Jaskier’s mouth quirks up and his eyes go soft at the corners. It tugs at his heartstrings.

“Now,” Jaskier says, “Do you want to try, Petyr?”

The boy nods, coming forward. He knows what to do, having watched his sister, so he simply lifts his hand and strums. Jaskier’s changed the chord, a lower one now.

“Wonderful!” Jaskier exclaims, and applauds the both of them, making their cheeks flush. “Naturals, the both of you.”

Petyr’s hand is still on the lute, feeling the strings and reaching the pegs. “And what do these do?” He says just as he turns one of them, the string deflating slightly.

Geralt wants to laugh at Jaskier’s pained grimace as he tightens the string back as he explains to Petyr that he should leave those to the adults, but suddenly he feels a pool of warmth in his stomach, an ache in his chest he hasn’t felt before — as if all the spring’s air has been stolen from him.

He watches Jaskier play a silly little ditty for the children to dance with their very amused mother, and he can’t look away. Can’t stop staring at the way Jaskier’s eyes crinkle with joy and his face is full of laugh lines and his own flower crown threatens to fall down, small yellow petals gathering at his feet.

And the thing is — he knows Jaskier. He knows he’s kind, and thoughtful, and painfully honest. He knows he feels everyone’s pain as his own, everyone’s joy as his own.

Everyone’s love as his own.

He knows that he’ll play silly made-up songs for bored children just as he knows he’ll gather herbs for Geralt’s potions without being asked to, just as he’ll buy treats for Roach, just as he’ll carefully avoid the fork on the road to Blaviken.

He sees it, now — the way his face is lit up but not from candlelight but from within, because he’s so in love with the world that he can barely stand it.

And he’s seen him before — has watched his furrowed brow illuminated by wavering candles as he writes well past dusk, has seen the curl of his mouth and the freckles on his nose and the scar that goes through his left eyebrow and yet—

Yet it feels like he’s seeing him for the first time.

There’s a smudge of ink on Jaskier’s cheek. There always is. There always has been.

Geralt’s never wanted to wipe it off.

He wants to wipe it off, wants to tuck his hair back behind his ear and kiss the spot where his jaw meets his neck. He wants to hold him close to his chest tight enough that maybe he’ll crawl into his heart and never leave.

It should scare him. It should feel like standing at the top of a hill and looking down.

It doesn’t.

Jaskier walks into the stage, a space of elevated marble he supposes a statue had been resident of. It suits him, the small pedestal — the way the golden thread of his dark green doublet glitters when moonlight catches it makes something ethereal of him, the few fallen flowers of his crown tangled on his hair — now tousled and matted with sweat — making something beautiful of him.

“Yes, yes, I’ve returned with more!” He exclaims at the whistles and cheers from the crowd, who’ve undoubtedly fallen in love with his first set. “We’re changing things up a bit now— How would you feel about something softer for a change?”

People cheer again, and Jaskier’s face breaks into a blinding grin. “Perfect! Now,” he looks around, “I want you to find the people you love. Your spouse, your lover, your friend, your sister, your child— everyone and anyone your heart beats for.”

The crowd starts gathering around in different groups, and Geralt smiles at how mismatched they are — tiny children and their grandparents, groups of single maidens hugging each other tightly, couples tenderly embracing each other.

Jaskier’s smile is softer, this time. “There,” he whispers. “Because love is something to share— This song I’m sharing with you.”

And then he’s gone — all his stage-borne facade falls away as he starts to play. His fingers are plucking a gentle, easy melody, and he’s humming along. People start slowly swaying to the sound of his voice, their eyes bright and shiny with mirth and love. Then, very softly, his voice barely above a whisper, he sings,

“Wise men say

Only fools rush in

But I can’t help

Falling in love with you…”

It’s incredibly gentle, and Geralt feels drawn to it immediately. He watches as Jaskier sways with the music, eyes closed and brow furrowed, completely lost on it. There are buttercups on his hair and love in his mouth and Geralt suddenly wants to reach for him, put out his hand only for Jaskier to hold.

Jaskier opens his eyes as the last verse comes in. “Take my hand,” he sings, and he does a brave thing and looks into Geralt’s eyes. “Take my whole life, too.”

He would.

“For I can’t help,” he says with a smile, and looks out to the public. “Falling in love with you.”

The song ends, but Jaskier keeps playing the chord progression softly. The crowd isn’t there anymore — they’re all somewhere else, holding their beloved in tender arms and swaying to the tune of their love. As Jaskier’s playing slowly fades out, there is no applause, no enthusiastic cheering nor plea for an encore.

They all know.

Geralt’s looking out to the waves when Jaskier joins him by the railing.

“Hey,” he whispers.

Geralt turns to face him. “Hey,” he whispers back.

Jaskier’s smile is soft as he takes him in. “You came.”

“I did,” Geralt says, voice low. “Was told someone would be waiting for me.”

“And here I am.”

The waves crash against the rocks.

“That was a new one,” Geralt murmurs, looking at the scar on his knuckle. “The song.”

“It was,” Jaskier replies simply.

Geralt looks at him. “I liked it.” It’s no big compliment, but Jaskier seems to understand him all the same.

He always does.

“I’m glad,” he says. “I like it too.”

He leans his elbows on the railing, their shoulders almost touching. Jaskier’s cheek is still smudged with ink.

“You have…” Geralt says, gesturing to his own face, and Jaskier frowns at him. Geralt shakes his head. He licks his thumb and reaches, Jaskier’s skin soft as he swipes the ink away, his mouth slightly parted.

“There,” he whispers, but his hand doesn’t leave Jaskier’s cheek. “Do they really say it?”

Jaskier frowns, confused. Their shoulders are touching. “Who?”

Geralt reaches for Jaskier’s flower crown and looks at him, a silent request. Jaskier nods. Geralt takes it in his hands and gently tucks the loose stems back together, the way he’d seen girls do it in the town square. He doesn’t lose a single petal.

“The wise men,” he says, placing the crown on top of Jaskier’s head, where it belongs. He doesn’t know what to do with his hands.

Jaskier takes them in his. “It is foolish to rush in unprepared. You taught me that.”

“Am I wise, then?”

Jaskier laughs, shakes his head. “I never said that.”

Geralt doesn’t know what to say, so he stays quiet, watching Jaskier’s rings as they glint in the moonlight, watching Jaskier’s fingers as they play with his.

“I love you, you know,” Jaskier murmurs, looking at their joined hands.

“I know.”

“You’re my best friend.”

Geralt looks at him. “I know.”

He needs the weight of his swords strapped at his back. He wants to be brave.

He looks down.

“I love you,” he says. “I can’t help it.”

Jaskier smiles. “Well, now you’re just being mean— plagiarizing my song right in front of me.”

“Jask.” It sounds like a prayer. Geralt squeezes his hands, amber meeting cornflower blue. “You know what I mean, when I say—”

“I know what you mean,” Jaskier says. “I know.”

They drink each other in, and Geralt knows this is the first time they’re seeing each other. Gently, he places one hand on the small of Jaskier’s back, the other on his nape, and brings their foreheads together.

Jaskier’s hands find their way to Geralt’s waist. Nobody’s ever held him like that. With care. Like he’s something precious, something to be treasured.

His nose grazes Jaskier’s cheek and he whispers, “Can I kiss you?”

And Jaskier’s smiling when he says, “I wish you would.”

So he does. Soft lips against chapped ones, lute-calloused hands against scarred ones. Jaskier kisses him back tenderly, unhurried, and it’s honey-sweet like the wine he can taste on Jaskier’s mouth, like the love he can feel on his scent.

When they pull apart — only because they have to — Geralt circles Jaskier in his arms, pressing small kisses to his cheeks, his jaw, his nose, his forehead. It makes him laugh.

“Tickles,” he says, and there’s a smile in his voice. “Your beard.”

Geralt presses a final, lingering kiss to his mouth. “Sorry,” he whispers against his lips.

The party has carried on without them, as it is wont to do. There’s a harp player on the stage now, plucking a soft melody from its strings.

Jaskier’s eyes are bright when he looks up at him. It feels right, to be holding him like this, to drown in his warmth and press love into his hands like it’s all he can do — and it is. All he can do is watch into Jaskier’s eyes and try not to get lost in them and stop a smitten smile from curling on his lips.

He’s helpless, he knows. It doesn’t scare him anymore.

“Home?” Jaskier murmurs against his cheek.

The inn, he means. “Aren’t you playing?”

Jaskier’s mouth curls into a mischievous smile, one of Geralt’s favorites. “They’ll survive without me, I reckon.”

Geralt narrows his eyes. “Jaskier—”

“Yes, yes, I know,” he protests, rolling his eyes. “We need the coin. Ugh— one would think the guy confessing his undying love—”

“Now, undying is—”

“His undying love for me would change things, would buy me some indulgence— not at all!” He buries his face in Geralt’s neck, letting out a long-suffering groan. “Why must you be so responsible all the time?”

There are many reasons. Looking at Jaskier’s flushed face and capricious frown, Geralt can’t remember any of them. “Go,” he says softly, nodding at the stage. “For me.”

Jaskier groans louder. “That,” he says, poking Geralt’s chest, “is a very unfair card to play.”

“And why’s that?”

Jaskier tangles their fingers together. “Because you know I would do anything for you.”

Geralt’s face softens. He knows. “Go. I’ll wait for you.”

Defeated, Jaskier looks at the stage, then at Geralt, pouting. “Won’t you at least kiss me farewell? I’ve a long journey ahead.”

It’s Geralt’s turn to roll his eyes — still, he reels Jaskier in and presses a chaste kiss to his lips.

“Great start!” Jaskier says cheerfully. “Now, like you mean it.”

“Insufferable,” Geralt murmurs, but he gives in. The kiss is deep and slow, and somehow full of promise. He can feel Jaskier sigh happily against his lips, his scent gone sweet and warm as Geralt’s hands find Jaskier’s sides.

They part, begrudgingly. Jaskier’s cheeks are deep pink and his flower crown sits askew on his head once again, so Geralt fixes it for him.

“We should get one for you,” the bard says, watching him.

“Hmm.” Geralt presses a final kiss to his lips. “Go.”

“I’m getting you one,” Jaskier says stubbornly, ignoring Geralt’s wish, and Geralt loves him too much. “Just wait here.”

He lets Jaskier go, and watches as he runs over to the stand where a young woman is weaving tulips and baby’s breath together into a crown. He watches as he excitedly gestures at it and cradles it in his tender hands, a look of genuine joy on his face. He watches as he turns around, his lips stretched into a too-wide grin as he waves at Geralt, pointing at the crown.

He watches as he walks toward him.

He waits for him to fit into his open arms. He waits for him to place the crown on top of his head and adjust it once, twice, before it’s deemed perfect. He waits for him to kiss his cheek and groan about having to return to his duty as entertainment for the evening.

He waits for him as he plays.

“I love you,” he tells him later, when they’re both tucked in bed and their fancy clothes have been folded and their legs are tangled together.

Jaskier grins. “Say it again.”

Geralt can’t hide the smile that curves his lips — he doesn’t want to. “I love you,” he says, and kisses his cheek. “I love you,” his forehead, “I love you,” his eyelids. “I love you,” his mouth.

He says it so much the words sound foreign in his mouth. He says it until they belong in his mouth again.

“Thank you,” Jaskier says after a while, candlelight framing the tenderness in his eyes. “It’s been good.”

Geralt smiles.

It has.

#mywriting #geraskier fanfic #geralt x jaskier #the witcher fanfic #geraskier fluff #jeff buckley lyrics my beloved

[genshin-scenarios]

Just One Picture, Or Two (Venti)

Prompt: Fall Photoshoot - Character: Venti

Setting: A modern AU where Venti, Xinyan, Chongyun and Ayaka are in a band. They have a new album in the works, but what they need next is the right visuals to compliment their music.

Liyue is extraordinary in the fall, so they take this excuse to visit the heart of the nation and split up to save time gathering images - taking pictures for their album and socmed are the main purpose, sure, but who says they can't deviate from that once in a while?

Hi everyone! This is part of a collab event hosted by @favoniuscodex, where an autumn-themed fic will be posted each day of the month by different writers in the community!

Here is a link to the masterpost of 'fall festivities' - do look out for everyone else's fics and show them the love and support! And as always, hope you'll like this 💗

The trees in Liyue are especially vibrant in autumn. With their branches dressed in the finest amber and gold, the foliage is especially ethereal when you angle your phones just right, catching the sunlight in a way that sets their color ablaze. 

Even in a park so beautiful it’s like you’re in another world, the brightest thing here is your company. Venti turns with his arms playfully folded behind his back, posing on the main path backed with rows of maple trees. Light sifts through the leaves and touches the ground in flecks. 

He’s dressed to match the occasion, yet accents of his trademark emerald in his outfit still stand out in the frame of your phone's screen. Even if Venti was to attempt flying under the radar, his natural charm is something that draws people to him like a moth to a flame, and it’s that exact quality that you hope to retain in these pictures, for they were meant to represent him: Barbatos, who was the most elusive when it came to his online presence amongst his bandmates.

It helps that you're here on a weekday morning, and as such had the place mostly to yourselves. The sound of a camera shutter emits from your phone as you take the last picture, allowing Venti to shed his stage-presence to come and peek over your shoulder at the results. He lets out a satisfied hum when you’re done flicking through the shots from today. You aren’t a professional, but you’re certainly better than the average photographer with your technique.

“This should be more than enough, right?” Ever-motivated when it comes to avoiding more work, Venti loops his arm through yours and gives you a bright smile. “Let’s spend the rest of the day for ourselves! The park is ours to enjoy, and I heard there’s a popular market somewhere nearby.”

“Trying to distract me with that pretty smile doesn’t change how we need to meet Zhongli.” You remind him, though the hint of fondness in your voice betrays your next words. “But we have time before that, so we can do whatever you want."

It'd be a shame to not explore the city while you're here, after all - and you know that Venti has a penchant for travelling, even if he’s been to a place before.

At your answer, a mischievous gleam enters those green eyes. “Whatever I want? Really? You’ll go along with anything…?”

“...Anything within reason.” You amend, no stranger to the trouble you might find yourself in otherwise.

Venti flashes you a bright smile, satisfied with that. The two of you continue along the hiking trail, following the map on your phones to find more walkways, bridges, and even a pergola display - all of which seem to be graced with a sort of magic unique to fall. As it turns out, Venti’s request is to let him take pictures of you too; something that you would’ve done normally anyways, except…

“What’s this pose supposed to be?” Agreeing to take a picture together from this angle, you look to Venti curiously as he steps to stand behind you. On this stone bridge, the camera is angled in a way that captures the lake that sprawls out from under it. 

He only winks furtively. “You’ll see!”

When your phone starts to count down, Venti wraps his arms loosely around your waist and rests his head on your shoulder, his braids tickling your neck and causing you to laugh. You’re barely able to suppress your smile as he edits the image, adding little whiskers and cat ears to the both of you. 

Before he sends it to himself however, he gets an idea. “Hmm, maybe we can take one more…”

Venti raises the phone for another picture, pressing on the button the same time he leans closer to brush your cheek with a chaste kiss. You feel a faint smile playing on his lips as your face heats up, jumping back in surprise with a hand on your cheek. While you’re processing what just happened, Venti quickly taps to share the pictures to his phone.

Naturally, your first reaction is to try and swipe at him to not give himself access to an embarrassing image of you - yet it’s pointless when the message labels itself as sent on your screen. You instead turn to the musician with a glare that needed no words.

“I won’t show it to anyone, promise!” Venti reaches to take your hands, covering them with his own as they hang between you. “These are just for us. Pictures help keep memories more vivid, right?” His words turn gentler. “The us in this moment; that’s what’s being captured. And if it’s full of laughter, or smiles, or just you enjoying yourself… I’d like to preserve that happiness in some form.”

It’s just like Venti to shift from playful to meaningful in seconds, huh? Your protests simmer away, leaving you with a warm feeling in your chest - though why is it a bit bittersweet?

“Not that we won’t have fun in the future,” He catches himself, the atmosphere lightening again. “But it’s the first time we came to Liyue together, so...”

You sigh, shaking your head. "Sometimes when I'm with you, I don't know if it's shortening my lifespan or making me glad I'm alive."

“I’m flattered you think that highly of me." Venti chimes back, eyes glittering. He looks at the stray leaves on the ground, regarding them with a faraway look. “Though it might just be wishful thinking, I hope I can be someone you feel relaxed around. Like I can take some of the weight off your shoulders… Something like that?”

“Does it seem like I have something bothering me?” You enquire, meeting his gaze as it raises.

“Don’t think I never noticed how you’ve been stressed lately.” He lightly chides. “You shouldn’t ignore your nerves and just carry on, it’s going to burn you out if you continue like that.”

“Hypocrite.” You weakly return, though nodded in acknowledgement. “You say that as if you don’t push your worries under the rug too.” Playing with your joined hands, you pull away just enough to link them by the pinkies. A look passes between you both:

‘I’ll promise to take better care of myself if you do the same.’

🍁🍂🍂🍁

“How do you think those two are holding up?” Xinyan joins her bandmates by the table they reserved, placing down their drinks.

“I messaged them earlier, I think…” Ayaka goes to check.

The smile growing on her face draws the other two closer to see what you’ve sent her. It was a picture of Venti waving to the camera; ‘We’re pretty much done here, heading back to the city soon!’

Xinyan retrieves her phone as it buzzes with a notification. She does nothing to hide her smirk as she flips the screen to show Chongyun and Ayaka. This time the picture is from Venti, with you looking at your phone to check the contents from the photoshoot earlier; ‘Autumn seems brighter these days 💝 - the mission's a success, boss!’

“Those two are…”

“Cute?”

“I was gonna say ‘a mess’.”

#traveler wishes #genshin imagines #genshin x reader #genshin impact #genshin writing #genshin reader insert #venti genshin #venti x reader #genimp venti #gi venti x reader #genshin x you #genshin fic #genshin scenarios #genshin oneshot #soft dreams

[cheegu3]

~ Yandere Jaemin - The jester ~

[hi babies, this is one part of my nct fairytale series this one based on Alice in wonderland with jaemin <3, it had influence from both the original book and the book by marissa meyer centred in the universe + a lil of my own stuff]

I love alice in wonderland and jaemin so I’m so sorry how long this is lmao also yes I did write all of this on the same day ;-;

wc: 3.6k

summary : you live in wonderland, and everything is normal until a stranger shows up - a jester who says he’s looking for you, he seems innocent and sweet but is he really?

TW / trigger warning: yandere themes, mentions of - violence, murder, swearing, blood/gore, 18+ (suggestive), etc

The yearly mock festival was coming to an end. Humans and creatures alike were slowly making their way to the stairs and to the comfort of their homes. A stranger was also making their way over but not to his home, to the crowd. He slipped through it unnoticed and stopped, bowing in front of the queen.

She looked at him in curiosity but also in fascination. He was very much used to this, having people stare at his beauty and the way he presented himself - elegant and cocky. 

‘‘ My majesty. I come to seek refuge in your town ‘‘ the stranger said.

The queen raised her eyebrow at him and waved at the deck of cards close by, almost stumbling over their own feet in fear of displeasing the queen. 

‘‘ Show this gorgeous stranger that empty house ‘‘ the queen demanded to the cards in a shrill voice.

‘‘ Yes ma’am. Come this way! ‘‘ they answered in union.

The stranger followed them in silence but kept his distance. They went far and near, up and down the crossroads and curvy paths until they reached a small cottage. It was far from the other houses and the village but he liked it immediately.

‘‘ Here we are sir! ‘‘ the cards exclaimed in union again and turned like robots ready to go back the way they came and serve the queen, it was all they knew after all.

‘‘ Excuse me ‘‘ the stranger had had one thing and one thing only on his mind throughout the whole trip there.

The reason he was here in the first place

You

‘‘ Do you happen to know where...y/n is? ‘‘

The deck of cards looked baffled, one of them even chuckled.

‘‘ y/n? Why would you want to see her sir, she’s so very eh- ‘‘ one said

‘‘ -mad ‘‘ another filled in.

‘‘ Who are you anyway? ‘‘ said another

‘‘ Jaemin, I’m a jester from far far away ‘‘ he said with clenched teeth, growing impatient at the lack of answer he was getting.

‘‘ Why would you like to see her? ‘‘ said one

‘‘ She’s not special ‘‘ said yet another

‘‘ I have to ‘‘ he said firmly and was now clenching his fist.

‘‘ She’s not far from here sir. She lives in the cottage opposite this forest ‘‘ said one card with cloves on his front.

‘‘ Thank you ‘‘ Jaemin exclaimed in relief and watched as the deck of cards turned and walked down the path.

On the outside it looked like an old cottage like any other, with broken windows and an overgrown garden. The jester wasn’t surprised, they must’ve given him the most ugly and worn out house since he was still a stranger but with a few snaps of his fingers, the inside would look a lot better than the outside.

As he had finished snapping his fingers three times he saw the familiar white cloud in the window but before he walked in he had to check around the area. He thought he heard the rustling of leaves and twigs being broken.

Looking to his right, he saw in the distance how a girl was walking towards him. Instinctively his heart started to beat faster because what if it was you? The girl was wearing a dress which was blue and she had a white apron tightly wrapped around her which was full of flour. In her right hand she was holding a basket filled with something and her hair shone bright in the sunlight that was peeking through the thick trees above.

// YOUR POV //

You were just about to walk past your favourite abandoned cabin when you noticed, it was no longer abandoned. A handsome young man, about the same age as yourself was standing outside it. You being all alone though, this far out from other people made you scared so you kept your head down right when you passed by him.

‘‘ Hey! ‘‘ you sighed in disappointment, all too often creepy men or creatures would try to stop you and flirt which made you very uncomfortable.

You tried to put on a fake smile before you turned to face him.

‘‘ Hi! ‘‘

‘‘ You’re y/n ‘‘ he stated.

You probably looked very confused to the stranger. How did he know your name? In this wide land, you were a nobody and this random man you just stumbled upon seems to know who you are - by the look of his curious brown eyes studying you - maybe he even knew everything about you.

‘‘ Yes..sir. Can I help you? ‘‘ you asked hesitantly and wanted to punch yourself for sounding so small and helpless.

The boy took some time to answer, suddenly looking a bit nervous the way he fumbled with his hands.

‘‘ Oh, I just. I’m your new neighbour, Jaemin. The cards said I might meet a young woman here who lived close by ‘‘ 

Shit, you were really too paranoid sometimes, this was just a harmless boy who had moved in right next to you.  

‘‘ Oh! Yes of course ‘‘ you smiled at him with more genuine warmth now           

 ‘‘ Welcome to the neighbourhood then I suppose ‘‘

They boy nodded and chuckled. He was very attractive, and you were pretty sure he knew it. Tall, dark and handsome with puppy like brown eyes and fluffy hair. He had a defined nose and rosy lips that matched his smooth and beautiful skin. But the most attractive thing about him, to you, was the way he carried himself. 

That smile could just about make any girl fall for him, maybe even worship him. As he stood there looking at you become entranced with his beauty you began to wonder if he was using magic on you so you put your guard up again slightly.

‘‘ Thank you. I hope to see you around, where do you work? ‘‘ he asked and you almost bit your lip at the look he was giving you, it was very intense and his smile yet again so charming.

‘‘ Oh! ‘‘ you exclaimed suddenly, you had forgotten to answer and had just stared at him getting completely lost. You saw him smirking at this.

‘‘ I-I work at the bakery in town, hence- ‘‘ you gestured to your flour dusted apron and dress with a sad smile.

He laughed heartily but assured you,

‘‘ You look fine, trust me ‘‘

You smiled shyly in response. It felt like he was kind of flirting, he was giving you that look again that both turned you on and made you creeped out, it said

I know everything about you 

Nevertheless if that was the case, you felt very much intrigued with this new stranger and you didn’t want him to be a stranger for long.

‘‘ I suppose I’ll see you around then ‘‘ you said suddenly when the tension had built up even more and you started remembering all the responsibilities you had at your work.

It felt like you had been here for about an hour and you had muffins to bake and customers to please.

‘‘ I suppose you will ‘‘ he answered with an amused glint in his eyes.

You decided to turn even though your body and heart really wanted to stay. Your intuition and head however won over the battle inside you and told you to get the fuck away from him.

You kept your back turned as you made you way past the mysterious boy. You had a feeling that he was still watching you as you went, eyes never leaving you and it freaked you out a little, making you shudder.

The rest of the day went on as if it was like any other day. Tons of baking and getting your hands dirty, chatty customers and delicious desserts. By the end of the long workday your muscles were aching. You cleaned up and did your usual routine of locking up the store when everyone had left.

Usually you wouldn’t think twice about walking home in the dark, your bakery closed at midnight so it was way past sunset. It was practically pitch black outside and no one was on the streets, they were all at home probably sound asleep. For some reason the queen had decided that all houses be soundproof in the village. So the fear was increasing when you thought about the stranger, the dark and walking home alone because if something happened no one would help you - they wouldn’t hear you scream or hear you cry out for help.

You turned the key that locked the bakery with shaky hands but tried to compose yourself. You had a very odd and naive thought in your head,

If I don’t get attacked tonight I can trust Jaemin

It truly didn’t make any sense but just about every cell in your body wanted to trust him, and wanted him to like you, like the way you were so attracted to him.

‘‘ y/n? ‘‘ a voice behind you said interrupting your thoughts.

You shrieked and jumped in surprise, throwing your arms up in some pathetic attempt at defence in case you’d need it.

‘‘ It’s just me, your neighbour ‘‘ 

You lowered your arms and smiled at him apologetically.

‘‘ Sorry ‘‘

‘‘ Don’t be I get it. It’s dark, no one’s around and I just startled you like that, I should be the one to apologise ‘‘ 

‘‘ No no, it’s just that I don’t like walking home in the dark ‘‘ you assured him, now feeling really guilty.

‘‘ I can walk you home ‘‘ he offered with a friendly smile.

You were silent for a bit, thinking to yourself before making up your mind.

‘‘ Yeah, I’d like that. Thank you ‘‘ you returned back the smile even though you still felt a bit uncomfortable.

Jaemin joined your side and waited for you to step away from the shop and decide the pace.

You walked in silence beside each other. You felt a bit nervous, not really being sure if you were supposed to start a conversation or not but then it dawned upon you, why the fuck was he alone there in the village anyway?

You glanced at him quickly to see if it would give you a clue to this mystery but he looked as he always did, nothing was different. So you decided to drop it and thankfully you didn’t have much more time to overthink about it because your house had now appeared in sight. 

He still had a chance to take you if he wanted to, it was dark, quiet and no neighbours were close except for well...conveniently enough, him. But he didn’t. He kept his distance all the way up to the house and stepped back when you got up on the porch.

‘‘ Thank you ‘‘

‘‘ My pleasure miss ‘‘ he said with the same amused glint in his eyes.

You turned around and walked in, closing the door and locking it. Well inside you leaned on the door allowing yourself to calm down a bit. 

He didn’t do anything

You shrugged and went upstairs, getting ready for bed and falling asleep not long after your head touched the pillow.

-

The next day he was the first thing you thought about in the morning before you jumped to your feet and rushed to put on your clothes and get to work.

You broke into a sprint constantly mumbling fuck to yourself and basically bursting in the bakery. The few customers inside and the cashier you had hired looked at you in shock. 

You stopped for a bit to catch your breath before explaining, still out of breath to the cashier.

‘‘ The-Ball-I-Have-To-Bake ‘‘ you managed to press out between every breath.

The cashier gasped and immediately left the desk.

‘‘ I’ll bring you the ingredients ‘‘

You swallowed and nodded to the customers when you walked past them disappearing into the back room where you did your magic. 

You put down your stuff and put on your apron already in action when the cashier came in, put the ingredients on the table and hurried out again.

You ended up making several pastries and cakes to the queen’s liking and by the end - about six hours of straight baking, you were so exhausted you decided not to go to the ball.

The cashier peeked her head in about an hour before it was to start.

‘‘ I’ll send these up? ‘‘ she walked up to the finished products and you just nodded at her, drying off the sweat that had formed on your forehead. 

After that you spent the rest of the hour leading up to the ball cleaning up all the mess you had created.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

You sighed, it was already closed but you have had to deal with customers knocking anyway wanting treats when you weren’t open. You put down your cleaning supplies and hurried to the door. Through the glass door you saw the outline of your neighbour.

‘‘ Jaemin? ‘‘

He shook his head and tutted at your state when you opened the door.

‘‘ Do I really look that bad? ‘‘ you said and glanced down quickly.

‘‘ For a ball, yes. Otherwise, no you look exceptional ‘‘ he said

You snorted at his flirty comment.

‘‘ I’m not going, too busy ‘‘ 

‘‘ What? No way. I won’t let that happen ‘‘ 

You turned to face him again, having walked up behind the desk to count today’s money. He leaned over the desk and tried to give you his puppy eyes.

‘‘ I can’t go like this Jaemin, sorry ‘‘ you said and shrugged your shoulders.

He scrunched his nose and stopped trying to use his puppy eyes on you now.

‘‘ I have magic ‘‘ he tilted his head when he saw this caught your attention.

‘‘ Really? You’re a jester? ‘‘ you rolled your eyes.

‘‘ What, is it not cool enough for miss or something? ‘‘ he jumped over the counter effortlessly and was now standing very close to you, closer than he’d ever been before.

They way he was towering over you basically looking down on you made you chuckle unexpectedly. 

‘‘ Yeah sure it’s cool enough I guess ‘‘ you answered playfully attempting to push him out the way so you could walk past.

He put his arm out, not letting you.

‘‘ Do you use it a lot on the ladies? ‘‘ you added and held the eye-contact

He snickered and made a very cute expression which made your heart melt.

‘‘ Of course. Every time ‘‘ he said sarcastically ‘‘ Now, will you let me ‘‘ he waved to your messy state.

‘‘ I guess why not ‘‘ you said and closed your eyes.

When it was silent for a few seconds you opened them again and you saw white clouds surrounding you all around, when it had cleared and disappeared completely you could finally see his work.

You were wearing a champagne coloured silk dress that was quite tight at the top with spaghetti straps and flowed out at the bottom, highlighting your curves. Looking at you hands, they as well were polished and clean and you hair was in a sleek ponytail, feeling as if it had been washed.

‘‘ I’m impressed ‘‘ you said at last when you noticed his worried expression, anxiously waiting for your opinion.

He exhaled deeply.

‘‘ Thank god ‘‘

You giggled at his cuteness.

‘‘ Shall we go? ‘‘

‘‘ Certainly ‘‘ he answered and extended his arm for you to take.

The walk this time was also pretty quiet, the castle wasn’t too far away you could already see it from here but you just couldn’t help yourself,

‘‘ Hey Jaemin? ‘‘

‘‘ Yeah ‘‘

‘‘ What were you doing so late at night in the village yesterday? ‘‘ 

Although you didn’t look at him, you could feel him get a bit uncomfortable.

‘‘ Browsing I guess ‘‘ it was your turn to feel uncomfortable now, all the stores closed a lot earlier than your bakery and everyone in town knew that but he hastily added, ‘‘ The villagers told me your bakery closed very late so I thought I’d go by and buy something. Unfortunately it was closed though ‘‘ he laughed and looked down shyly when you looked at him in surprise.

‘‘ Why’s that, horrible sweet-tooth? ‘‘ you said

‘‘ No, just wanted to support my neighbour. That’s all ‘‘

You nodded and felt a bit guilty for being suspicious of him. If your guards hadn’t been down before they sure were now, basically in hell. You felt incredibly comfortable and at ease with Jaemin and you did for a moment think you were starting to fall in love with him. 

This feeling would arise again when you had finally reached the castle and were greeted by the white rabbit.

‘‘ Invitations and names please ‘‘ he said in a stressed voice, his eyes all the time looking back and forth, darting between guests.

The jester gave the rabbit one of his charming smiles and you watched as he interacted with other people, even that was attractive, god what was wrong with you?

He fixed everything for the two of you, showing both of your invitations and names and you leant back letting someone else do the work for the first time in your life. It was nice, this weird feeling of being taken cared of.

He took your hand when the rabbit let you through and he lead you towards the dessert table. You raised your eyebrow at him when he started basically inhaling entire pastries of yours.

‘‘ I have to see how talented you are ‘‘ he defended himself when he saw your judging look. 

You rolled your eyes and waited for him to finish, eyeing the other guests as you did. When he finally was done - after eating half the table you noticed - he dragged you out on the dance floor. 

It was a slow song. You gave him a shy look, not sure if you wanted him to see how much you liked loved him or for onlookers to see that either for that matter. But he insisted, pulling you close to him and starting to rock slowly to the beat of the music. He gave you a big childish grin and you laughed, starting to move as well and letting you be drowned in this feeling. 

It felt like it truly was just you and him in this world, and he would protect you and love you forever. He could do you no harm, he was amazing. 

You probably radiated these feelings through the lovingly eyes you were giving him and he looked at you the same way. Everyone else faded away and it felt like you were in a fairytale, just how magical it all felt...until it didn’t,

The music was abruptly stopped and murmuring filled the hall. You didn’t have the energy to worry about it so you leaned your head again Jaemin’s chest feeling sleepy. In the distance through your dazed eyes you saw the white rabbit approach you, until he wasn’t very blurry anymore, he was clear and right in front of you clearing his throat. 

‘‘ Miss you need to come with me right now ‘‘ the rabbit said in a shaky voice.

‘’ Hm? ‘‘ you said sleepily not yet leaving Jaemin’s arms.

‘‘ What’s going on? ‘‘ Jaemin said in a worriedly.

‘‘ It’s uh, something very terrible has happened to her parents sir ‘‘ the rabbit looked down on the ground under the intense stare of the jester.

‘‘ Let’s go, y/n ‘‘ he whispered to you gently and took your hand.

You had no idea what was going on but followed like a lost puppy. The rabbit lead you to a carriage which you were put in and sent off. It stopped outside your parents house, a mansion closer to Jaemin’s house than it was your own - on the outskirts of town. 

‘‘ Wait here. I’ll see what’s wrong ‘‘ he said and stepped out.

Your head felt heavy, like you’d fall into eternal sleep any minute now - that’s how tired you felt, like you hadn’t slept for decades.

‘‘ y/n dear? ‘‘ the carriage door opened again and two hands extended to take your weight. You walked up to it, staggering and let yourself be lifted down.

Everything was a bit blurry but you could make out the familiar outline of your parents on the ground. They were in front of their front door and they didn’t seem to be moving. Blood was flowing out from their necks and their limbs were twisted in weird, unnatural angles.

Oh

This must’ve been the terrible thing the rabbit had been talking about...

You tried to walk towards your parents but your foot hit something. You looked down and jumped back in surprise. It was another body, no - you looked around, it was several bodies of the guards.

‘‘ What happened to them? ‘‘ you asked Jaemin in a horrified voice.

‘‘ I don’t know ‘‘ he said and bit his lip, lowering his raised right hand and entwining his left one with yours.

‘‘ Look at me y/n ‘‘

You turned to look at him, starting to feel a bit overwhelmed and scared of everything going on. You felt crazy, like you had no idea what was real and what wasn’t.

‘‘ You and I, we’re gonna live together. Far far away from here and we will be happy forever because you love me right? Say it! ‘‘ he roared the last words but you weren’t scared. You just looked at him with loving eyes.

‘‘ I love you ‘‘ you said like a robot, 

completely entranced 

you were his 

forever

#kpop #kpopidol #kpop scenarios #kpop imagines #yandere kpop #NCT #nct scenarios #nct fanfic #yandere nct #nct dream #nct smut #jaemin #yandere #kpop yandere

[potter-imagines]

Meadow (George Weasley x Reader)

Prompt: Hi, maybe fred or george (you can choose) and the reader are spending the afternoon in a flower meadow together? (sorry for my english, it's not my first language)🙈😊

Notes: okay I'm sure spring break isn't a thing at hogwarts but for this write, it is . hope you enjoy !!

Warnings: none, just a lot of fluff cause everyone loves george

Word Count: 3.5k

Spring break was winding down to a close as early April broke through. New life was brought to fruition as the snow from the harsh winter evaporated into the ground. Outside the grounds of the Weasley’s home were fields and fields of open land. Flowers sprouted in every step creating a kaleidoscope of colors. Those tumbling plains seemed to extend for miles beyond the horizon. Just beyond those grassy hills and slopes was a large, secluded meadow.

It was the early hours of a Saturday morning when a pair invaded the area far before the sun began to rise. The meadow Y/n and George had been occupying seemed to be the perfect location to view the birth of the new season. The perfect spot to enjoy each other’s company. Soon they would be ushered back to Kings Cross and board the Hogwarts Express- George for his last time and Y/n, well it certainly wouldn’t be her last time, no matter how hard she dreamed it was. The topic of George leaving Hogwarts was one the couple tip-toed around. Break was only two weeks but that meant two extra weeks for the pair to be together. With the school year tumbling to an end, George would be leaving school soon with his brother to start his dream and Y/n would be stuck needing to finish her last year at Hogwarts alone. The girl was a year below her boyfriend and although it never caused any friction for the pair, the gap was finally giving them issues.

In George’s mind, arriving to his last school year was both an accomplishment, and a burden. As excited as he was to finally leave those stone walls that held him back, the last thing he wanted was to leave her behind. It didn’t make any of the pain easier knowing that he’d be leaving alongside Fred earlier than the rest of their classmates. Y/n had been the only other living soul Fred and George had filled in on their grand exit plan. They needed someone to keep guard and be a lookout so who better than the one person they trusted not to run their mouth.

There was a heavy smell of earth in the air, mixed with the faint odor of new growth. The vivid green leaves and the cheerful colors of the blossoms are a feast. Flowers popped up from the soiled ground and the fruit hanging from the trees were starting to come to life.

The couple had spent a good portion of their break at the secluded meadow. In a way, it became their little secret spot. Not that it was a secret location by any means. Fred and George had discovered the meadow a few years back when they had ventured miles away from the burrow. The boys were always adventurous, especially when Molly and Arthur finally allowed them free range outside the family home when they were eleven. There were miles and miles of tall grass and woodland that made it easy to get lost. Of course with Fred and George, losing their way was never a worry. When the boys stumbled upon the breathtaking meadow, George seemed to be the only one interested in their find. Fred had wandered off into the section of forest they entered through, his attention captured by a group of baby deer camouflage in the woods. For years George would wander back to the meadow on his own when he needed a break from the loudness of his siblings or grew tired of Ron trailing on his coattails every turn. He promised himself he would keep the spot to himself, let it be his own private sanctuary. This plan ran smooth for a few years before George made the exception to break the rule for one person only.

But for now, the two could only take advantage of the time they had together and they didn’t intend to spend a second apart. It looked as if Y/n and George had stepped straight into a storybook. The grass was Eden-green and thigh-high to a thrush. A neon-blue ribbon of river ran through the ground in a squiggle line. A party of bright yellow ducklings scattered in the calm water, small quacks filling the air. Chirping and sweet songs from the birds made that feeling of Spring become a reality. Buzzing bumble bees and wildflowers sprung along the land. The sounds of nature engulfed the girl whole as she melted into the soft grass.

“I could stay here for the rest of my life- away from people, away from the world. It’s peaceful.” Y/n hummed softly. Her large doe eyes observed the clouds that formed a perfect line-up in the baby blue sky, as if they were boats safely moored in celestial harbour. Peeks of sunlight seeped in through the cracks in the fluffy clouds casting a shimmering light as they danced slowly by in the sky. Just a moment before she was listing off all the animals and objects she saw in the sky. Now she was considering the thought of staring at them forever.

George stole a quick glance down where she laid in his lap. Strands of her h/c hair flowing across his legs and hands. It tickled against his skin as a light breeze swept past. Her abrupt words had caught him off guard. He had missed the sound of her voice for the last hour, although adored the trance-like state of happiness that she was in so he was constantly biting his tongue to keep his thoughts from pouring out. Now that she was somewhat back to earth, he was eager to chat. Tilting his head in her direction George raised his eyebrows.

“Yeah?” He questioned.

A smile graced her lips as she nodded in confirmation. The land was beautiful, unlike anything she had seen. There certainly weren’t any meadows with such serenity as this in the city of London. For once in her life she could hear the sound of her heart beating in the quietness of the open land and she loved it. No cars honking, no crabby cityfolk shoving their way through crowds, no taxi drivers screaming at pedestrians to move, no bright lights, just nature and all of its creations.

Extending her arm, Y/n pointed out to the land. George followed her direction to see she was gesturing to a small section of the meadow that was surrounded by an eyecatching army of poppies and bellflowers. A large willow tree stood towering over the side. In the middle was a bare section- large enough for a home to fit. Y/n grinned in excitement as she suddenly sat up straight.

“Yeah. Build a little cottage, start a garden, maybe even a family… I think it would be lovely.” She said dreamily. Her eyes looked up to George in wonder, silently asking him to share his opinion. Mirroring her previous actions, George scanned the meadow. He placed his hand against his chin, pretending to think long and hard about her idea. Y/n giggled besides him and shoved him lightly on the shoulder. He chuckled in response and leaned back into the log supporting him. George nodded in agreement to the pondering dream.

There was a casual grace to the meadow, as if it has a peripheral awareness of its own beauty yet would rather be at peace in this warm sun. It was quaint and humble yet glowing in - like a glorious mansion hidden away in a forest. A hidden gem that was to be kept away from the rest of society. Their own little happy place that opened and bloomed just for them. There was something so magical about the meadow that George couldn’t pass it up. It felt like fate leading him there- leading them.

“Think we could make that work. The family part is a definante- it’s just building a home that’ll take a bit of time. We could get started on making a family of our own right now-” George was cut off when a hand clamped over his mouth. Although he was only joking, he wouldn’t be opposed to the idea.

“George-” She warned playfully.

“Or in a few years. But living out here would be nice. ‘S not like I got to worry about commuting for work. It’d be a nice escape from the shop once we get business running, and once you graduate. Not to mention moving out here would mean I’d get to see more of you in that pretty dress. Flowers in your hair... you look so enchanting, darling.” A bashfulness struck Y/n to her core at his words. Her eyes instinctively shot down to the grass as a paint of red rose to her face. George’s heart quite literally stuttered at her reaction. Making her blush, seeing her smile because of something he said never failed to bring a sense of happiness to George. That damn smile, he thought to himself. He was sure she could convince him of anything when that innocent look took over. It was natural for her. Y/n was simply ethereal in every way.

His hand brushed as gently as a feather across the skin of her cheek. Pushing the daisy back in place behind her ear, George drew his hand down from her ear to her neck. Gripping her softly George pulled her towards his body, lessening the space between the pair. Dipping his head he leaned in towards the girl until their lips were only inches apart. He smirked teasingly, ready to make a remark when Y/n took matters into her own hands.

Linking her hand around his chin she pulled his face in hers with a deep kiss. Although she initiated the gesture, it was George’s response that made her lose all sense of control. His large hands moved from her face to her waist in an instant. Much to Y/n’s surprise he lifted her without warning, still holding her lips in his, and placed her in his lap so she was facing him. Her hands instinctively switched to wrap around his neck for stability. Fingers gripped at his short ginger locks as she adjusted her hips into his.

Y/n’s heart pounded in her chest as her entire body got weaker. She could only focus on how soft he felt against her mouth, how addictively he invaded all her senses. Everytime their lips met a rush of adrenaline and love ran through her veins. The muscles in her body went limp at his touch, jelly like. George held a tight lock around her waist keeping her steady against him. He slipped his tongue against her mouth, visibly shuddering when she slid her tongue against his in return. Tension was pooling by the second as the kiss intensified. Y/n’s strawberry dress cascaded down the side of legs as she repositioned in his lap earning a groan from George. Hot breath fanned against her face briefly at her movements. His hand darted from the small of her back to the exposed skin on her upper thigh, pushing her further into his body. The vibration of his voice against her lips and the tight grip of his hands on her thighs sent shivers down her spine. His kiss was sweet, like a long awaited embrace. Stars blurred her vision as George gripped her against his chest. The moment was quickly turning into a not so innocent kiss causing Y/n to slowly detach her lips from his. As she pulled away she remained sat in his lap, fingers brushing along the skin of his face as she admired his beauty. A smug smile was displayed on his face while he repositioned his hands behind his body to hold the pair up. Still holding his face in her palms, Y/n pressed forward to scatter a line of kisses on his cheeks. He chuckled in amusement before her kiss latched to his mouth once more. Between short and passionate pecks she fought for words to tell him how much he meant to her. She wanted to tell him all the emotions of love and desire he brought onto her. Tell him how she could never live with another- how he was the only one she wanted for the rest of her life.

“You’re too good to me, George.” She whispered against his lips. The lack of space between them was intoxicating. Heat emanated from George’s cheeks as he desperately attempted to regain his breath and compose himself. His chest was light with air caused by the sweetness of the girl before him. A small smear of glitter lip gloss covered his bottom lip in a shine.

George tasted a hint of bubble gum as his tongue swept along the skin of his bottom lip.

“I’d give you the whole world if I could but I’m afraid I don’t have the coins for that yet, princess.” Pressing his forehead against hers, George hummed the words. Y/n shook her head with a smile as she countered his grand proposition with one of her own.

“All I need is a quaint, cozy cottage out here and you… well a dog or a kitten would be nice too.” She laughed.

George could only stare at her in that moment. Her words registered although the naturalness to her beauty was too much for him to process. The sun hit her back in with such purpose it was as if she were an angel breaking through the sky. Her strawberry midi dress flowed down her sides and pooled in between his legs. Pretty pink satin clung to her form. The sparkling red strawberries fitted her perfectly. The ruffles on her shoulders gave her the look of a cottage princess, a fairy even. Hair flowing freely in the wind, it was a sight he’d never grow tired of seeing. He’d never seen someone as breathtaking as her.

Taking advantage of his silence, Y/n looked up to George in seriousness. His large brown eyes stared lovingly back to her. Gesturing to the meadow surrounding them, Y/n asked him,

“Do you think you’d be happy out here?”

George tore his stare from the girl to scope out the land once more. All the years he spent wandering down here alone in his mind and looking for some sort of answer to life, now he had found it. He could already picture where he would build a playset for the children and where he’d be able to make a small Quidditch pitch to teach your future kids. Ideas were forming for the house and how many rooms you’d both want. George was thinking somewhere around eight- extra room for more kids. Mapped out where the house would go, where he’d build a garden for you, figured out what tree would be perfect for him to put together a treehouse with Fred for the kids, and where the path would go towards the lake. The layout was quickly forming and he wanted in.

Y/n watched in curiosity as the thoughts swarmed through her lover’s head. She could see him intently thinking things over, then smiling before tilting his face back down at the girl. His head moved down so his lips could press against the skin of her forehead as he kissed her.

“Darling, as long as I’m with you, I’ll be more than happy.” He reassured her.

Y/n melted into the warmth provided by his lips. Her body leaned into his, desperate for more of him. George wrapped his arm around her shoulder tightly and fixed his body so he was sitting tall. She clung to his frame like a koala to a tree, burying her face into the material of his hoodie.

“Once I graduate?” Her muffled voice vibrated against his sternum. George ran his fingers up and down her spine as he held her tight.

“Once you graduate.” George repeated sincerely. Although they’d gone over the conversation a million different times, Y/n couldn’t help the shadow of doubts that crept into her mind. She trusted George with all her heart- every inch of her being but they’d be living in two separate worlds for a year and she worried that was something he might not want. Maybe he would realize he wanted to be with a girl his age, or someone older, someone not stuck at Hogwarts. Even without reason for worry, it still came.

Remaining in his hold yet moving back slightly, Y/n’s eyes darted to the flower covered ground. Her fingers ran along the petals absentmindedly as she worked to find the courage to speak. Her shift in emotions did not go unnoticed by the boy. George focused on the look of contemplation adorning her. As adorable as she looked, he hated seeing her in the slightest bit of distress. This went for any situation whether Y/n was stressed about a class, feeling ill, or just sad because she’s hungry, George does everything in his control to fix it for her.

“You’ll wait for me?” The sudden question took George aback. Her tone was a mix of innocence and fear. His confusion arose for the grave manner of her inquiry. Even if her worries were astonishingly unworldly to George, he knew better than to shut down her insecurities brashly. If the topic at hand weren’t so significant to their relationship, he might even crack a joke. However the seriousness in her features was not to be ignored.

George reached out to interlock his fingers through her warm hands. That comforting smile of his graced his face as he brought her knuckles up to his lips and placed a trial of kisses along the bones.

“Of course I’ll wait, love. No other girl I’d want to spend the rest of my life with- no other girl I want to call my wife, the mother of my children. No one but you, my love.” George insisted. It seemed magical to Y/n the way he always knew exactly what to say. Always so heartfelt and honest in meaning. He never told her a lie to make her happy but somehow managed to piece together a perfect string of words to make her whole again. Something in the way he spoke, in his words, it made her believe nearly anything was plausible. Most of all, she trusted him and believed that he had every intention of sticking around, which brought a sneaking grin to Y/n’s face. All those worries washed away at his words. It was a part she loved deeply about him.

The feeling of George’s touch smoothing over the bottom of her pink dress pulled Y/n back to the meadow. The scent of lavender and vanilla wafted past his nose from the perfume he had gifted her for Christmas. His fingers would skim against her bare leg in a teasing fashion as he smirked. Y/n let out a giggle at the tickling sensation of his touch. Her arms wrapped around his neck for support while her bashful grin never ceased.

“There’s that pretty smile.” George remarked with a chuckle. A sense of victory took hold of him at seeing her worries vanish. Arms locked around his neck, Y/n pulled him towards her as her head fell to his chest. Given their limited time, all the couple wanted to do for the next month was be in each other’s arms. George cherished every opportunity he got to hold her, knowing he’d spend the next year missing her everyday. It came in the little things as well like the way her hair always smelled like a basket of delicious fruits, or how she’d hum to herself while they were studying together. He already knew he’d spend most days babbling on to Fred about how much he missed Y/n. Break was almost over which meant the twins would be leaving Hogwarts for good within a few weeks. Y/n dreaded the idea of not seeing George every day, not getting to kiss him or hug him. George hated thinking about having to hear from her through letters and not getting to hear that sweet laughter every day. So for now, all George wanted was to hold his girl and enjoy the excitement for their future he felt budding inside of him.

The colors in the sky were starting to grow brighter by the minute and without saying it, the pair both knew they’d be needing to head back to The Burrow for lunch sooner then they’d care to admit. In the serenity of the meadows the couple found a sense of home. Y/n soaked in their last bits of time in the meadow before George mentioned them heading back. Although neither moved at his words but instead remained holding onto one another.

“I love you, George.”

“I love you more, princess.”

#george weasley imagine #George Weasley #George Weasley imagines #george weasley x reader #fred weasley imagine #fred weasley #george weasley #fred weasly x reader #hp imagines #hp imagine #harry potter imagine #Harry Potter imagines #weasley twins #Weasley twins imagines #Weasley twins imagine #gryffindor #weasley #hp #harry potter #imagines #imagine

[princehrry-writings]

Moon Over The Meadow

this is my very first harry fic!!! i want to write more for them so if you would be interested in that please let me know!!

word count: 3234

warnings: mentions of death, i don't think anything else though.

It was here that Y/n learned to live off the beaten path she had always known, in the midst of the forest green that was her lover's eyes.

or

Harry is the prince and Y/n is a peasant.

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There wasn’t much to do in the light of day. Not a single shadow to hide in, every corner of the kingdom touched by a ray of sunshine. People would see them. See him. And that just wouldn’t do.

Harry couldn’t be seen by anyone, no. They would ask too many questions, alert the guards, something would go wrong. He couldn’t put her in that kind of danger. So they agreed. Tonight, when the moon peeks over the trees in the meadow, they will flee.

They will find their freedom.

Y/n had never been one to stray too far from the beaten path. Her mother would never allow her to. Is your life really worth something as silly as this, child? She would gripe, fingers bruising the plushy flesh of her upper arm. One could say she was beaten into submission, although her mother never did much in the physical realm or harming her. It was always a look, a tug, and her words. God her words cut deeper than any knife ever could, she was sure of it.

But then she met Harry. By some magical happenstance, one day tending to the gardenia bushes in the garden furthest away from the castle, she stumbled upon the prince. He rested on a bench with a journal laid upon his lap, tears lightly raining down his flushed skin, a soft frown etched across his pink lips. She quietly sat down next to him, with no intention of saying anything, just letting him know he wasn’t alone in his pain. Whatever kind it may be.

She had known of him her whole life, having worked in the palace with her mother since she was just a child, but hadn’t seen him in what felt like an eternity. She remembers afternoons drenched in a golden haze, running around these very grounds with the likes of him and whatever children were amongst the castle, until she was ripped away by her mother just the same as she always was when she strayed too far from the sidewalk. Somewhere deep in her mind, Y/n knew why her mother acted the way she did. Kept her locked away like she had done her whole life.

It was to protect her. The King could be very cruel to anything and anyone that stepped too far out of line. Her mother was terrified that one day her daughter's wild imagination and wanderlust tendencies would get her into the wrong situation at the wrong time, with the wrong people. All she wanted was to protect her precious Y/n. This was the only way she knew how.

Harry, as angelic as he had been as a child, she recalls, slowly slid closer to her, remembering the days they would sneak away and play together until his keeper would come yelling for him. Any and all communication had been hastily cut off with her as soon as his keeper realized where he was and what he was doing. Thankfully for both of the children, it was never discovered who he was with. But nonetheless, Harry was kept under tight lock and key. His keeper would lose her head if the king found out that his son was galavanting around his castle with the help.

But on this day, in the garden amongst the Gardenias, their souls re-intertwined themselves as if they were still those young little kids, playing damsel in distress in the warm afternoon sunlight, as if they had lost no time at all. The only difference now being that they talked instead of played, kissed instead of screamed, and fell into a real love instead of one carelessly crafted from a children's game.

This went on for weeks, months it seemed. Meeting under the disguise of Y/n working in the farthest garden and Harry wandering off to a quiet corner for his studies. It was here, cushioned by soft grass under their bare bodies, that Y/n learned to live off the beaten path she had always known, in the midst of the forest green that was her lover's eyes.

“Petal, we can't stay here,” He sighed one summer afternoon. A mimicked sigh fell from his Love’s lips. She knew they couldn’t. This thought had plagued her mind, keeping her from sleep most nights. In their world, the prince doesn’t get to fall in love with the peasant girl and live happily ever after. A fairytale ending had never been an option on the table.

The only way they’d get to be happy was if they fled the only life they had ever known.

“I know, H. What are we to do though? Where do we go?” It was hard to imagine being anywhere but the castle grounds. But she knew that no matter where she went, as long as Harry was with her, she would be safe.

“We can find a clearing, far away from here, deep in the woods. Somewhere they won’t ever look, and I can build us a cottage, and we can have a garden just like this one. We won’t have to worry about doing the wrong thing in the King’s eyes, or saying the wrong words. We won’t have to hide ourselves.” He said, a dreamy glaze over his eyes.

“You’ll build us a cottage? How? We won’t have anything Harry!” The girl exclaimed. Sure, she knew they had to leave, that they couldn’t stay. But the reality that they truly had nowhere to go was setting in like a thick heavy fog, distracting her from anything else.

“M’love, look at this,” He whispered, taking her hand in his. His free hand came up in front of him, palm out, facing the grass below them. A flower sprouted right before their eyes, out of nowhere. Y/n gasped. Harry had never told anyone this secret. Nobody but his mother knew, and she had passed away three years prior during childbirth complications. Now the only person that knew of his secret was his Love.

It wasn’t a surprise that the Queen had never told the King of her affliction. He would have lost his head, and in turn- she would have lost hers. So she kept it from him, and when her only child began to show the signs that he too possessed such essence, she knew she had to protect him from the likes of his father. She never loved that man, she only ever wished for him to suddenly fall ill so as to free her and her son from his fury, but alas it has been her that faced such a fate.

Harry knew what he would face if anyone other than his Love were to know. It was why he hadn’t told her until now.

“This is how I’ll build our home. You’ll not want for anything, m’love. Whatever it is you desire, just tell me and I’ll make it so,” He had dreamed since he was a child to be able to spoil the girl sitting next to him. Y/n’s effervescent eyes grew wide. She felt a new warmth spread through her at this discovery, now she knew for a fact that as long as she had him, she was safe. For he had just proved to her that he was more than capable.

“Why have you never told me? Did you thinkI would judge you?” Panic grew in the girl's chest. How could her lover think she would ever judge him.

“No, no, no Pet, I didn’t tell you for your own safety! My father is a very cruel man and he would stop at nothing to have my head if he knew about this. I couldn’t bear to live if he went after you because of me so I kept to myself.” Her eyes softened at this and the warmth grew even stronger. She truly did love this boy, he was the only one who’d ever looked at her and seen a person. Not just a peasant girl or a daughter whose only job is to cook and clean and tend to the garden. Harry saw much more for his Love. He saw greatness for her, and he would stop at nothing to give her just that.

So now here they are, standing at the edge of the trees, moon over the meadow, ready to leave behind the only thing they’d ever known. Harry could feel his Love’s pulse racing, he knew she was scared. She had assured him many times that it was only because she was afraid of what lay ahead, not because she didn’t want to go. They both knew that Harry wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

The girl had left a letter to her mother on the pillow she used to rest her head upon. Part of her felt bad for leaving the woman behind, but she had no choice. Her mother wouldn't approve of this and she certainly wouldn’t come. She would scold her daughter for running away. Your problems don’t leave just because you do, child. You must face them or they will haunt you forever. Y/n felt she wasn’t running away from her problems though, because this was the only solution. There was no way to make the King accept their love. So they could either leave or dare to sit and watch what would become of their life. Harry would end up married off or dead, Y/n would, well- she’d be dead either way. She couldn’t breathe without Harry by her side.

In the shadow of the moonlight, Harry led them through the forest. The guards had been alerted that the prince was not in his chambers so they didn’t have much time. They needed to move fast. He went where his intuition led him, moving obstacles out of the way with a small flick of his hand as they went. In the distance, he could hear the cries of men searching for him and the loud cracks of whips used to keep their horses moving.

His Love hummed a tune to distract herself from the loud noises and fear she felt heavy in her chest, Harry’s hand clutched in hers so he didn’t lose her. It was dark but they never stumbled and they never felt danger get too close. Y/n assumed Harry had something to do with that. Every so often they would pause and rest, Y/n’s head laid upon his chest, his back against a tree. His heartbeat kept her own steady as she matched her breathing to his. He had always been able to calm her down by just being near her. His presence was all she needed to feel at peace.

Harry laid his lips on the top of her head, his hand lightly stroking her hair.

“What will we do in the morning light when people can see us?” They had been traveling most of the night now, but she didn’t quite know how far they had made it. She just knew they had lost the guards. Their breaks didn’t last more than 5-10 minutes so as not to waste time, but they were traveling by foot so they couldn’t have made it too terribly far.

“We’re quite close m’love, so I assume we will be arriving just as the sun is ascending. I’ll have you rest while I place a protection barrier around the perimeter of the clearing and then I’ll get started on the cottage so you won’t need to worry about a thing.” He said, dusting his thumb across her cheekbone.

“Will people be able to see our home from outside the clearing?” She was worried about wandering strangers stumbling upon them and causing trouble. Harry beamed at the girl before him.

“I’ll make it so that people can’t find us Petal. We will be safe, I promise you.” This put his Love at ease and they got up to return to their journey when there was a rustling noise next to them. Y/n froze and slowly turned to see a bush being disturbed and clung to Harry in fear that something was about to jump and attack them. To her surprise, it was a small cat.

“What are you doing out here all by yourself little one?” Y/n sunk to her knees as the animal walked over. Harry’s heart almost burst right out of his chest at the precious sight in front of him. His Love had always had a soft spot for animals. When they were little she used to pretend she could talk to them and understand what they were saying. He used to think maybe she really could because, hey- he could make things appear out of nowhere- but it turns out she was just a very imaginative little girl. He loved her nonetheless so he would happily take care of animal communication if need be.

But just because his Love couldn’t understand what the animals were saying doesn’t mean she didn’t love to talk to them.

The little cat, who was small enough to warrant calling her a kitten, nuzzled right up the Y/n. She practically had hearts for eyes when looking at the little furball. She was a beautiful black kitten with starry blue eyes that could be seen even in the darkness, as they reflected the light of the moon.

“You are just the cutest thing I think I’ve ever seen,” she beamed, “Harry we can’t just leave her!” He knew this was coming. He also knew she’d always wanted a cat of her own but the King was allergic, so cat’s were not allowed on castle grounds. That man would have killed her and the cat.

Harry never was able to resist the puppy dog eyes his Love was so good at giving him. Not that she had to do much begging to get him to do anything. He would do whatever she wanted, because when she was happy so was he.

“What should we name her?” He asked and a smile as bright as the sun and stars combined spread across her face. He would do anything to see that smile everyday.

“We can think of names on the way! Come little one, we’re your family now!” Y/n scooped the kitten into her arms as a motor-like pur erupted from her little chest. The kitten rolled over in her arms and nuzzled against her chest, falling asleep immediately. It was like a match made in the stars.

They kept walking, Harry still waving away obstacles to keep his Love from stumbling, and eventually they arrived at a clearing, surrounded by trees at the base of a mountain with a small river flowing through and flowers blooming all around. It was a place Y/n could have only mustered up in a dream, and now she was going to live there. It was more than she could have ever wished for.

Harry led her to a soft spot in the grass and she laid down. He could tell she was about to fall asleep on her feet. As soon as she laid her head down, she was out like a light with the kitten snuggled up to her. Harry cast his hand, warming the ground to keep them comfortable and got to work casting the protection charm. He made it so that people wouldn’t be able to see them or penetrate the barrier, but animals could roam freely.

As he worked the morning sun began to peak over the trees. The whistles of the flowing river served as calming background noise and the singing birds aided the ethereal glow that was cast all around the meadow that Harry and his Love now called home. He could see them living a long beautiful life there. One free of judgment and fear.

Harry hoped to raise a family here. He wanted to raise children who knew what it was like to have their fathers unconditional love, to see what it was like for a father to love a mother, something he hadn’t been privy to growing up.

Y/n woke up to Harry whistling a tune as he went about gathering little things like flowers and twigs. A small flower had been tucked into her hair, on top of her ear, she couldn’t help but smile. As she sat up, she stretched her body, letting out little groans of relief that alerted Harry his Love had awoken.

He strolled over to her and sat down, pulling the girl into his lap. His heart swelled as she buried her face into his neck, running her hand across his chest.

With a kiss to the top of her head, he whispered, “Good morning my sweet girl.”

“Good morning my love,” She sleepily replied, voice still raspy. She still felt tired but not enough to stay asleep and the sun was now too bright for her to rest peacefully.

“I’ve finished the perimeter, I’m going to work on the cottage now. Is there a particular way you’d like it to look?” He asked, stroking her hair lightly. She hummed in contentness before giving him an answer.

“Whatever you create, I will love. As long as there is a roof over our heads to keep us safe from the rain, I will be happy!” He felt her smile against his neck. Running his fingertips along her back, he sighed in adoration of the sleepy girl in his arms. If he could spend every day like this, he would be just fine.

“Alright Petal, can you grab my hand please and focus on taking deep breaths for me.” He asked her, holding his palm out. She took it without question and cleared her head of all thoughts. Harry’s other hand dug lightly into the ground beside him. Y/n felt a small buzzing where she was connected with the boy, and she opened her eyes to see his were closed. A dim golden glow surrounded their hands, surprising her.

Harry had never cast any spells that used this much energy so he knew that he would need the help of his Love. Y/n figured it would be best if she closed her eyes again so she did and waited for Harry to let her know when he was finished. It didn’t take but a few minutes for him to stroke her hair and ask her to look up. When she did, she saw a beautiful cottage. Long vines of Ivy twisted up the beautiful white brick walls, A wrap around covered porch with flower boxes sat atop the railing, and a bay window where Y/n could picture herself reading on sunny afternoons just like this one. It was perfect.

“Harry,” She gasped. This was more than she could have ever imagined. She absolutely loved it.

“Is it ok?” He asked tentatively.

“Love, it’s more than ok! It’s amazing, it’s perfect. Thank you thank you thank you!!!” She cried, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face.

“I did good?” He smirked, rubbing her side before wrapping her tightly in his embrace.

“You did wonderful! I love it and I love you!” She gazed into his eyes before leaning up and pressing her lips to his in a kiss full of passion and gratitude.

Harry doesn’t think he could ever get tired of kissing his Love.

#harry styles #harry styles x reader #prince!harry x reader #prince!harry styles #prince!harry #witch!harry #witch!harry styles #reader insert #harry #harry styles fanfic #cottage core #harry x reader #harry x you #y/n #one direction #harry styles imagine #motm series #motm

[xsugarysweetsx]

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 7

A/N: Yes it has been slow and I am so sorry about that but I hope you all enjoy the chapter!

Warnings; some language; suggestive themes (kinda in a way); fluff; tension; relationship???; minor angst; tiny argument; nee character 👀;

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"It's cold you should come inside" you hear a voice approach you. It was pretty nice outside that morning, so you decided to sit on the porch for a bit and just think things over. You've been here for almost 3 and a half months already, you've been attacked and people got hurt. It was safe to say you felt the guilt, even though Erwin had woken up and Hanji was still herself as usual and held both held no resentment towards you. They keep telling you it was something you cannot control, and therefore not your fault.

It has been about three days since the incident happened. You remember having countless nightmares where Levi had to come and call me down. You endlessly apologized to everyone in the home, for bringing such a mess. you had spent nights losing sleep, afraid that Zeke may return. luckily during those late nights, you have someone stay up with, and talk with. sometimes he would bring you tea, and how do you smuggle in close to him. The faint smell of his detergent and lemon still lingered in your nose as you drifted into sleep.

"I'm okay...you should get sleep though.." you offer looking back at him. Luckily the porch was covered by a roof so he comes to sit behind you. You didn't know what you two were, you kissed and you feel the attraction--but what were you? would he consider?

"It's not your fault," he said calmly wrapping his arms around your shoulders as you sat between his legs. "you sound nostalgic when you're thinking a lot"

Even though it has been a short time he's picked up a few things from you. How you react, what you'd pick, and even little behaviors, the same thing went for Levi. You knew he liked his space to be clean, tea was calming for him, he kept to himself but there was more on his mind than anyone.

“I just can't help but think....something worse could have happened..." you admit feeling your heart sink slightly

"Hey..." he turned your head to face him "nothing was your fault. You did as you were told and we were caught off guard." he pecked your lips trying to bring peace to your mind.

"Levi..?"

"Yes?"

"...what are we?" you ask with genuine wonder

"Well...whatever you want it to be," he says "A kiss can be more than that or a kiss can just be a kiss," he explained with another peck to your lips it felt a bit loner this time.

"oooo someone is getting all romantic out here~~" a third voice joined making Levi groan. Now that he was affectionate towards you more Hanji loved to tease him

"Aren't you busy with research four eyes?" he asked her standing him and helping you up.

"Well, we've all been under a lot of stress lately and I thought maybe...we should go out" she offered with a hopeful look "We've got a nice swimming spot"

"Really? In the daytime?" you ask

"Oh, we have our ways" she winked "there's a small path through the forest with enough shade for us, and it's going to be cloudy today. Along with that, the swimming spot is in a cave so sunlight won't be a problem"

"Well, that's fortunate huh?" you perked up "I don't have a swimsuit though" you point out "Don't worry I think I have an extra you can try" Hanji offered "Everyone, get ready! We've got a swim day today!" She announced to make sure everyone could hear. It looked like you were taking a day off today. You turn to Levi and take his hand 

“I hope you can swim” you tease with a smile 

“Hm, we’ll see about swimming,” he said walking with you inside.

To get ready, he didn’t need sunscreen for obvious reasons. He got changed and threw on a white t-shirt and his swim trunks, and his shoes with some towels. He wasn’t that convinced to just go out after that night, but at the same time, some stress-free time was needed. Also, it was time to spend with you now. You were just amazing to be around and to know you had felt the same way he did. 

You made him feel like he was worth something again. Maybe it was because you had been around each other for some time now but, he did feel the connection. You balanced him out like the day and night, like warmth and cold. If he had to give his life to protect you. Walking out of his room he could hear Hanji squealing from your room. As he approached he hears

“Y/N when he sees you he won’t be able to keep his hands off you!“ she said in a high pitch 

“Hanji! I don’t look that good“

“Oh come on! As soon as he sees you he’s going to get a har-Levi! Look how well this fit her!“ Levi stopped and looked at what you were wearing. It was a black two-piece with a high-waist bottom. You hugged you perfectly with each curve, and dip in your body. He could feel his cheeks heat up with blush, which wasn’t common 

“Y-you look...nice..“ he said looking away in the other direction. “Anyway are we ready to go?“ he asked holding up his bag

“Sure are! Molbit and Erwin should be waiting downstairs“ Hanji smiled picking up her bag that seemed to weigh more than she did. As she waddled down the hallway excited to get to their location.

“Well she seems excited, “ you said coming to his side 

“It has been a while since we’ve all been out to have some fun since the whole Zeke thing happened, “ he said taking your bag in his hand and walking along with you 

“Well, I think you all deserve it. Some time to relax and unwind...don’t ya think“ you said bringing your hand into the crook of his elbow 

“Yeah...I think you’re right“

The walk along the forest was nice, there was a passage with hundreds of trees. The branches creating the perfect passage for everyone to walk and enjoy. You walked hand in hand with Levi, it was nice almost like your first date together. While looking at your surround you take in a deep breath, almost like you had forgotten what was going on. The breeze was fresh and crisp and clear.

“Hange, we almost there? I don’t remember it being this far away“ Levi asked after about 16 more minutes of walking. 

“Yeah, yeah grampa, just a little more and the cave should be just ahead“

“Huh, I’m not that old-“

“Well...“

“What do you mean well?“ he pushed on to hear your answer 

“Well...you’re 100 years older than I am so...uh...“ this caused laughter and giggles to erupt from the group. You thought you even saw a smile on Levi’s face. 

“Oh! We’re here!“ Hanji shouted as she ran over still waddling due to the weight of her bag.

She made her way to a regular-sized entrance, about the size of a garage. Moving the vines aside you look inside to find a much larger cave. It was like nothing you had ever seen! A pool filled with fresh water, it was clean, with icicle-like rocks hanging from the top. There was even a few small holes in the roof of the cave letting in some light. The light hit the pool at just the right angle to give it a magic glow

“Wow...“ was all you could muster up

“It’s nice isn’t it?“ Molbit saying putting down more of Hanji’s stuff “We used to come here every other week with everyone until...things took a turn. Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t properly introduce myself“ he held out his hand for you to take “I’m Molbit Berner.“

“Y/F/N, so how old are you?“

“I’m 127 actually“ oh, so he was a younger one...well in this group at least

"Well, let's get on the water then!" Hanji's voice echoes into the cave as she dives into the water. She had said something about a pocket of air in the pool and want to discover it. She had some scuba gear which she claimed to have bought. From the groan, Molbit made you could tell there were some holes in that story.

Everyone strips from their shirts and such, and into their swimwear. You do the same and feel a pair of eyes on you you turn around only to see Levi whip his head the other way. you were about to tease him when your eyes had caught a view. It's a miracle you didn't have a nose bleed.

This man was built like a god! For as short as a statue or was, he made up for it in different ways. You always knew he was strong but wow was he built. You would hear him working out in the morning, but you didn't think you'd have the guts to peek while he did. pretend as if it didn't faze you, and made your way to the water. The water was a bit chilly, but it was expected since it was the morning.

You decided to rush in until it was up to your waist, not wanting to extend the cold feeling. You swim out a bit more to rest your back against the edge of the pool

"Whoa look at Levi getting in the water so soon," Erwin chuckled "trying to impress a certain lady I see?"

"Shut it eyebrows" Levi flipped him off as he swam towards you with a light blush. "uh..hey," he said slightly bashful

"Hey, Levi.... aren't you cold?" You said trying not to seem awkward while a shiver ran up your spine.

"Eh, I can deal with it, I actually know a trick to get used to the cold water" he offered

"Really?" you ask

"You trust me?" he asks back, he receives a nod and moves closer to you. His arms come around your waist and pull your flush against him. Your legs tangling and swimming together "all right then."

He dunks you both under the water, the water encasing your bodies. You come back up and you gasp as a rare chuckle escaped his lips. Still holding your close his warmth contrasting with the coolness of the water

"Feel better?" he asked

"Oh haha, mister" you smile pushing him down underwater again. You had never seen him this playful. You giggle as you swim through the water trying to get away from him. You could feel his hands grazing your legs as your start to reach the shore of the pool on the other side. He eventually catches you causing you both to fall to the ground, with him over you. You were panting but still giggling. His hand comes up to brush away some hair from your face

"You're fucking gorgeous..." he whispered inching closer to your face. Small drops of water falling from his hair and to your face. You feel your eyes droop as the tension grows stronger. With a single swoop, he captures your lips in a kiss. It was loving and passionate but also gentle. Your arms droop over his shoulders and your fingers tangle in his hair, bringing him deeper into the kiss.

Sometimes you thought this was just a dream. Being targeted by a vampire, eventually falling in love with another one, and now, here you are. Sometimes you pinch yourself to make sure that you were awake, and 99% of the time you were awake. Either where you weren't complaining. Just as the kids started to get heated up, you felt something sharp against your lower lip. It must have been his fangs, damn. He pulls you up with him as he sits back and has you sit in his lap

"Levi...Erwin is still there" you shy away into his shoulder

"Damn eyebrows is probably asleep, he can't see us" he kisses your shoulder with a tight hug "But we can stop if you want."

"No, this is nice, and if he can't see us it's fine" you shrug your shoulders

"Listen I won't do anything while we're here" he warned you making your chuckle

Coming up you rest your forehead on his and lay a quick peck onto his nose. It feels almost as if you had known him for so long in so little time, He made you feel something strange, something foreign yet something you wanted to feel.

"I'm sorry" you hear him break the silence

"For what?"

"..for being a monster. You deserve so much in this world, I don't think I deserve to be with you. I-"

"Who was the one who almost killed me?" you interrupt him

"...Zeke"

"And who saved me, each time?" you ask again

"Me..." he whispered

"You" you cup his face "We may be from two different worlds but when our worlds collide, I feel something I've never felt before. Like, you're the one..maybe I'm jumping too far ahead but *sigh* you just make me go all blah!" you say hiding your face into your hands, why were feelings so hard to explain?

“I hope I’ll be the only one to make you feel that way.“ he said bringing his hands to your hips 

“Awh, Levi’s being soft with me“ you tease him “Come on they’ll start thinking we’ve run off to do things~, “ you said bouncing your eyebrows. Taking his hand he stands up with you and back into the water. Levi has you rest on his back as he swims back to your original spot. Hanji was back from her small trip

“Hey you two, did you get some steamy time in?“ Hanji bounced her eyebrows with a smirk 

“Did you find hit your head while looking for that pocket?“ he shoots back coming to a stop near the edge. 

“Very funny Levi, but no. There was no pocket it just leads out of the cave into a stream. Oh well, at least we got out of the house for once“

Coming out of the pool Levi grabs a towel for you and him. He puts one over your shoulders and begins to dry off his hair. Looking outside he still causes us to, the time, and what was around you guys. Even though this is supposed to be a time of rest, he could never let his guard down. Not after what happened. 

“It’s just about sundown we should head back“ everyone nodded in agreement packing up their things. Levi gives you an extra sweater to keep you warm. The walk was a bit cooler at night but still enjoyable. Sometimes it seemed you forgot about your city life. Your job, bills, money....your friends and oh god Mochi. You missed seeing him every morning. Luckily you stayed in touch with Sasha in which she sent pics of him every day.

You made sure to check on her and thank her for everything she’s been through with you. You promised her to make things up to her as soon as you could. Maybe you’ll take her to an all-you-can-eat buffet. Making it to the house the moon was full and at its highest peak. Walking inside Levi stumbles a bit making you worry 

“Whoa are you okay?“ he takes your hand to regain his balance ”you look exhausted.“

“Just fine. Go to bed I need to get something“ the way he said 

“Maybe I should go with you.“ you offer 

“No Y/N.“ Erwin got in “You should go to bed. He’ll be fine“ with a worried expression you look at all four of them and nod your head 

“O-okay then....goodnight“ walking to your room you couldn’t help but worry more for him. Walking inside you change out of your clothes and into some sweats and an oversize t-shirt. You laid in bed for bout an hour but you only tossed and turned, not able to get sleep. Something was gnawing at you to check on Levi. Getting up from the bed you peer into the hallway, everything seemed fine so you make your way outside. 

You were going to the kitchen first until you heard cursing coming from Levi’s room. Walking carefully you stay outside the room as you listen in 

“fuck...I can’t stop thinking about her...“ at first you had thought he may have been talking about the woman he was once with but then he said “I can’t put Y/N in that position. Damn it.....I know you’re there. I can smell you.“

You walk in shyly as you were caught spying in on him. He was slouched in his chair as he looked out the window, gazing into the sky. He looked so lonely and hurt.

“H-hey Levi, are you okay? You don’t-“

“You shouldn’t be here...“ he cut you off “I’m not like you Y/N...maybe you should just leave that way you’ll be safer.“

“Levi, what are you talking about? I can’t leave or Zeke might come for me, or he can come for you guys!“

“Out of town then! Another city, hell out of the country!“ he snapped his head towards you making you surprised at his attitude. “Far from Zeke and me.“

“Levi, what the hell has gotten into you? We had an amazing day today, come on talk to me“ you said coming closer to him only for your breath to gitch as he quickly pinned you to his bed.

"Don't you get it?! I'm a monster! A monster who can't get you out of my head!" he now admits "I want to have you for myself and no one else but...but you need better." he confesses as he lets you go and plopped down next to you on the mattress. Standing up you walk in front of him.

"Levi, look at me," you say gently taking his chin and tilting it upwards look at you "you are not a monster. And if you are one, you wouldn't have helped me, and I probably would have been with Zeke right now"

Straddling his love you bring your arms around his neck into a warm embrace. His arms come up hesitantly around your waist and pull you even closer. His lips pressed into the crook of your neck, nothing too intimate but something loving. he loved the way your fingers would play with the hairs at the end of his neck. How they would massage the skin ever so gently. For someone like him to have been cursed with immortality, how lucky could he have been to meet you within his lifetime?

He moves further back onto his bed until you're both laying down facing each other "Y/N?" he said in a quiet voice

"Yeah Levi?"

"I'm going to end that bastard if it's the last thing I do." he brings your head to rest in his chest as if shooting you from the world around you "I swear it on my life"

<><><><>

"So just what makes you so sure you're fit for this?" Zeke interrogated the young man who sat with him at the booth of a bar "After all you were just some rando around the neighborhood. Next thing you know you're asking to join me. Why is that?"

Leaning forward his face comes into the light. His chestnut hair casting a shadow over his face that held a grim expression

"Let's just say, I have an interest in our precious little Y/N. Along with a grudge."

"And your name?" he said puffing out a cloud of smoke

"Floch"

°°°°° °°°°° °°°°° °°°°° °°°°° °°°°° °°°°° °°°°° °°°°° °°°°° °°°°° °°°°

Taglist: @mysteriousmagicx @kameko-ko @jin-mowi @mystic-starlove @chronic-claire-universe​ @shrimp1026​ @wildspeciallavender @captainchrisstan @givemea-dam-break @actual-trash-goblin @leiaausmus @sugarysweets-appreciation-blog @levisfilm @outcast-thingz @leviiiiiiiii @dilirx @super-peace-fangirl @ultimateelitepenguin @happygalaxymilkshake @lola2001 @sillykawa @queenofcurse @fanfictionreaderholic @notgoodforlife @deludedimagines @xcityretro @chocolatrchip @cyrxlleee @carley-chan

#levi ackerman x reader #levi ackerman #attack on titan x reader #attack on titan #levi x reader #attack on titan fanfiction #aot x reader #aot fanfiction #snk x reader #snk fanfiction #levi as a vampire #attack on titan vampire au #aot vampire au #levi vampire au #vampire au #when worlds collide #when worlds collide by mama sweets #mama sweet original #anime #anime vampire au #anime x reader #fanfic #anime fanfic

[sunkaashi]

solo carol  — oikawa toru x reader

genre: angst with a fluff twist.

warnings: none.

word count: 1.6k

synopsis: sometimes, the holidays can bring out the best and the worst feelings in ourselves. being away from home during this time of year just makes it specially harder. oikawa toru always knew exactly what he wanted in life, but he never thought achieving his dreams would cost him so much.

tris' note: this was inspired by the song “only the brave” by louis tomlinson, but i'd say I added a lil of a twist to it. if you want, you can listen to it to help you get into the narrative. reblogs are always deeply appreciated and help me tons! ♡

a special thanks to @tetsunation for reading the first draft to this, and to @hcn421​ for helping me with my block ♡

© sunkaashi — 2020.  all rights reserved. do not repost, plagiarise it, translate it nor reproduce this post as your own.

Shades of red and yellow illuminated the street cobblestones, the gleaming Christmas lights guiding his way to a yet unknown destination. As he walked down the avenue, Oikawa let his eyes wander all over his surroundings, his gaze running almost as fast as his mind did. Despite that, Toru paced slowly along the sidewalk, soaking in the scenery before him. It really was a beautiful view.

But it wasn’t about the garlands wrapped around the streetlights, nor the shiny golden ornaments that delicately hanged from them. Even the decorated trees didn’t quite catch his attention that night. It was something else that fought for his heart instead. Something that he hadn’t had a taste of for a while now.

And tonight, his undying desire felt like being parched while standing in front of the sea.

Cheerful laughs echoed through the air as little children sprinted past him, unaware of the man’s presence. Yet, he didn’t mind, his sheepish giggle joining theirs. Downtown street bars buzzed with loud chatter, smiles painted on unfamiliar faces as a natural halo appeared to involve every single one of them. The warmth Oikawa felt rushing through his core had nothing to do with the sultry weather, rather, it emanated from that sight before his eyes.

Still, he seemed to lack a light of his own, and basking in other people’s glow, as joyful as it may be, comes with a price. Toru was left alone, only his shadow accompanying him through the night.

Staring at his silhouette reflecting onto the ground, the man moved his hand out of the pocket and to his nape, carefully watching his own contour mirroring him in every move. And even with every step taken that assured him a bond between himself and the dark figure, he still felt like something was out of place.

Oikawa could feel his slouched shoulders pushing him down. For a man who always stood with his head held high, there was only so much he could take. As he dragged his feet through the curb, he asked himself when it all changed so fast.

A quiver took over his body as if he refused to admit to that idea. He had it all, didn’t he? He sneered, lightly shaking his head. If he acted tough enough, maybe his thoughts would catch up to his actions, right? At least that’s what he wanted to believe.

Cracking his neck, he looked up to the clear summer sky, determined to push those thoughts away as if doing so would make it all magically fall back into place. As his eyes met the silver shimmer from the stars, which were shining a little brighter than they usually did, he couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the beauty of it. Most of all, he was struck by what it reminded him of. He thought back to Miyagi. To Japan. To home.

“Oji-san!” His nephew came running down in his direction, almost knocking him over with all the strength in his little body. “You’ll never believe what Santa got me for Christmas! Guess it, guess it!”

“Wow, calm down, kiddo!” Toru laughed as he held the 6-year-old into his arms. “Hm, let me think…” He said looking up to the ceiling and softly clasping his chin. “Legos?”

“Better than that!” The little guy answered while squinting in joy, eyes twinkling in a way his uncle had never seen before.

“Hm, a bike?” He asked calmly, messing with the kid, knowing that was the present he’d gotten last Christmas. The teenager tried to hold back a giggle, but mocking his nephew was just too much fun. 

“No, oji-san! It’s the coolest gift ever! Try again!”

“Is it a rocketship?” Toru said, widening his stare like even himself would be excited if that was the case. But the child sighed, rolling his eyes. Hiding a smirk, the older boy decided to stop playing around, finally giving in to the youngster’s wishes. “I give up! I have no idea! What is it!?"

“A volleyball! Just like yours!”

Oikawa smiled at the reminiscences lingering in the air, the memories immersing his senses back to the time and place he never wanted to leave. Closing his eyes, he could still feel the ghost of his nephew’s embrace, a tight and cozy grasp around his neck, saying more than words ever could. But his daydream didn’t last long enough to suppress the void hoovering his heart. As soon as he opened his lids, he was taken back to reality.

And then, just when he thought there was nothing else that could haunt him that night, a sore sight caught his attention, putting out the last flicker of flame that rested in his almond eyes.

It was just a glimpse, just some little specks of sand running down the hourglass of his life. Those few seconds usually would barely mean anything in the long run, but tonight that was enough to wash away his beam. Slightly furrowing his brows into a hurtful look, he tried to fight back the tears threatening to fall down his face.

An innocent couple running across the street, hands intertwined in a knot while brief chuckles scaped now and then, an exchange of accomplice looks giving out their most clandestine thoughts. It was at that moment, when unforgiving loneliness meets undeniable happiness, that Toru fell apart.

Slowly, he made his way to the building next to him, leaning his back onto the brick walls of the construction. He stood there, swallowing down the feelings that begged him to be screamed out.

He always knew he’d have to make sacrifices for his dreams. But all out of all the things he missed, there was only one that he would never forgive himself for letting go. And as he watched love surrounding him from every corner, it was impossible not to think of it. Not to think of you.

Raindrops cascaded down the windows of the apartment as the man dove himself further under the covers. Shrinking his body between the sheets, Oikawa felt a too familiar touch enveloping his torso, comforting him with a warmth that even sunlight could not compete with.

“Couldn’t you just stay like this all day?” Toru groaned as his fingers found their way to your locks, gently caressing your hair. 

“Mhm?” You hummed in response, too disoriented by your lack of sleep to even process what he was saying. Leisurely, you opened one of your eyes to peek at your boyfriend, lips instantly curling up into a smirk. 

“Nothing, love” He chortled. Oikawa didn't need to ask you again, he’d found his answer in the way you looked at him.

"Someone woke up in a good mood." You said, trying to tease the boy. "Santa must've gotten you a very special gift." 

"I'm looking at it right now." 

Brushing against your skin, his other hand played with the buttons of your shirt, the one you were too tired to take off the night before.

“I’m going to miss this. Miss you.” 

“I’m not going anywhere. Not now, at least”

“But soon you will” You paused, a heavy silence filling the room. “Toru…" Before you could finish your sentence, he delicately pushed you away, placing one of his hands onto your chin, obliging you to look into his eyes. 

"Please… Let’s not think about that now.” Pulling you closer to his body, he held you tighter and tighter by the minute, afraid that if he ever let go, you’d slip away.

And you did.  

Looking back at it, he regretted everything. All the words left unsaid, all the things he should've done so that he’d have you in his arms right now. But you couldn't leave it all behind just to follow him to the other side of the world. Even if you wanted to, he would've never had the heart to ask you such a thing. 

So you both decided to break it off.

Yet, it had been two years and there wasn’t a single day when you didn’t cross his mind. And right now, when the pounding sound of bells resonated throughout the air, bringing him back to earth, Oikawa believed it must’ve been some kind of sign that you were the person he was thinking about. It was only then that Toru realized he was standing at a church. 

Step by step, he moved away from the wall, drawn by the chimes warning him that it was already midnight. Christmas time. Walking towards the olden gates of the holy ground, he contemplated the image in front of him, being hit by one final blow.

Families gathered all around the church, the words "Merry Christmas" being repeated over and over again as everyone exchanged smiles and caring hugs. Even if he wasn't necessarily a religious person himself, let alone christian, Toru still felt inspired by the passion radiating from them.

As the mass finally started, the loud buzzing of the crowd quieting down, he closed his eyes, his mind transporting him to the place he wanted to be.

So he decided to pray. Pray for his loved ones. Pray for you.

He asked for your health, for your well-being, for your happiness and, as much as it hurt him, for you to find love too. The loneliness he felt was something he wouldn't wish upon his worst enemies, and you just happened to be one of his favorite people in the world.

Oikawa didn't even know whom he was praying to. Even so, his wishes were so pure that someone must've heard him because it was in the moment he said his last prayers that his phone started to vibrate in his pocket. A call coming in.

When he saw the name that popped on the screen, Toru thought his eyes were probably deceiving him. That's just what his heart wanted to see.

But as soon as he picked up the phone, your unmistakable voice woke him in a rush. 

Maybe there was something magical about the holidays after all.

#oikawa angst #oikawa x you #oikawa x reader #hq oikawa #oikawa toru #toru oikawa x you #toru oikawa x reader #oikawa toru angst #haikyuu fanfiction #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu!! x reader #haikyuu angst #seijoh angst #toru oikawa #oikawa toru x reader #oikawa x y/n #constellations ✨

[swyllh]

[jeonghan] rent-a-rival

title: rent-a-rival

pairing: jeonghan x fem! reader

synopsis: you’re working as a rental girlfriend, and your boss assigns you to a strange new client. a fake dating au to the letter. 

note: lighthearted and mostly dumb idea i had. see end of post for explanations (unlikely satisfactory but relevant).

-

there are only three rules from your agency:

1. clients can only be contacted via the company portal

2. extra services, tips or expensive gifts are expressly forbidden

3. do not fall in love with your client

-

somehow yoon jeonghan is absolutely nothing like his case file. you’d suggested a picnic date, to start things slow and surmountable for a ‘single, awkward 25 year old preparing himself for the dating world’. this morning you’d woken up at five, ready to wow your client with handmade lunches and brownies, ready to sit through at least two hours of talk about artificial intelligence and computing clouds. 

but this man. god, this man. 

yoon jeonghan picks up an avocado sashimi sushi with a pair of glistening rose-gold chopsticks, cooing, “say ‘ahh’.”

he has blonde hair. he’s got cashmere on. and he’s pulling out avocado sashimi sushi- packed neatly- from inside that homely-looking bento box. you breathe in deeply, say ‘ahh’, and wonder when exactly your handmade lunch was unceremoniously shoved back into your tote bag.

so much for sincerity. you chew thoughtfully, and goddammit it does taste good. too good. 

“babe,” he’s been calling you the entire time, “how was it?”

it’s probably store-bought. it has to be. you smile, cupping your cheek and lying through your teeth, “it’s delicious! did you make this yourself?” 

jeonghan flushes, tilting his head down and mumbling abashedly, “...i spent a while perfecting it.”

okay, so maybe he’s, like, doing his best. you’re not here to judge. “it really worked out; you’ve really got a talent for cooking.”

“anything for my princess,” he says, peeking up at you from those cursed fluttering lashes. 

swallow it down. by god you are swallowing the avocado sushi down. “oh, that’s so sweet of you.”

maybe trying too hard. you pat your gingham skirt down and reach out for a pair of chopsticks. “you’ve barely eaten anything, here, say ‘ahh’.”

jeonghan blinks, and you think you’ve caught a glimpse of something like affront, or distaste flash across his face. it’s the tiniest quirk of his brows, the minute scrunch of his nose, and the tensing of his jaw. speaking of, how is it humanly possible for someone to have a jaw so sharp it cuts?

but then jeonghan regains himself, cherry blossom lips and all, and leans in. his eyes - are those grey contacts??? - never looking away from yours. is this a prank? there’s probably a hidden camera somewhere behind that tree, or under that park bench, waiting for you to slip up. 

“oh!” jeonghan says, long fingers pressed to his mouth. his nails are neat. they might be sparkling - or it’s the same trick of light that formed a halo around his fluffy blonde hair when you met at the station. “oh, it tastes like happiness.”

what the hell.

that’s a new one. you put on your employee-of-the-month service grin, internally panicking. what do you do from here? your angelic girl-next-door act isn’t doing anything, and acting like a cute childhood sweetheart is just going to enable him further.

“s-so!” you’re a professional and by god you swear you’ll make it through the next hour at least. “how’s work been? you must be tired.”

jeonghan stiffens. oh, so maybe he’s the type who’s actually embarrassed to tell people about working in IT? but he looks nothing like the stereotypes.

“it’s nothing to worry about,” jeonghan soothes, reaching over to cup your hand. “when i’m with you i can think of nothing else.”

do not shake that hand off. do not. you’re so close to hitting a hundred-percent satisfaction rating. 

“you can tell me anything,” you say, carefully leaning away (and peeling your hand out from under his warm palm) to rummage through your bag. “i’m here for you.”

jeonghan’s gaze flickers across the picnic mat, and then to the sky. “hey, doesn’t that cloud look like a bunny?”

you follow his pointer finger, noting the slightest band of skin - milky white and reddened. the cloud he’s pointing at looks just like a strangely shaped circle. um.

“that’s cute,” you say, giving a perfunctory nod. does he want to talk about cloud computing? “oh, that reminds me-”

“over the uplands,” jeonghan says, grinning victoriously. the smile fades when he turns to look at you. “charles harold davis, right?”

“absolutely,” you grit your teeth and soldier on. what the heck is he on? is this some computing engineer you’ve missed out while researching? “do you like his works?”

jeonghan gives you a quizzical look, and then smiles warmly, like there isn’t a storm drumming up inside of you. “of course, it’s so- magical. it’s like a testament to how big the world out there is.”

it’s too late to do any last minute research now. you’ll just have to work with metaphors and perfecting your coy smiles. 

“it’s divinely symmetrical,” you say. you could say that about code, right? probably. “to the point of perfection. it, like, reminds me of how much humans can do, you know?”

jeonghan nods thoughtfully, and then flops down entirely on the picnic mat. he glances up at you (again!), eyes adorned with sapphire flecks. is this really a ‘single, awkward 25 year old preparing himself for the dating world’? well, if he’s paying your bills, you’re not going to question it.

you lie down beside him, determined to provide a five-star service. if he wants a cliche from some rom-com, who are you to judge? jeonghan turns to you, earnest and gorgeous in the fading sunlight.

“it’s so hard to believe you’re mine right now,” he says.

you can feel your cheeks warm up, traitorously. it’s just that it’s been a long time since you’ve gone on a date with anyone so pretty, and so gosh darn fluent in the language of sweet nothings. and you’re just being jumpy because he throws you curveballs, that’s all. 

jeonghan looks at you, eyes-wide and all too telling. an ominous feeling swells up in your chest. what if-

“i’ve got something to tell you,” you say, just as

jeonghan looks you straight in the eye, “i have to say something.”

oh no. oh no. it can’t be a confession. 

“i’m sorry, our agency doesn’t allow us to date our clients!” you both exclaim.

this is the worst. this is the worst. there goes your five-stars rating for this- wait, what?

“you’re yoon jeonghan, correct?” you say, sitting up. “25 year old, IT helpdesk gopher, working at s.a. college?”

he nods, stunned into silence. and then props himself up, shaking his head vigorously. “no, i’m jeonghan, but i’m not- that. aren’t you the girl working at the national arts gallery?”

“no, i’m- i’m a rental girlfriend from lunar rental girlfriends,” you say, some twisted realisation dawning on you. “your agency... client...”

“i’m working with apollo rent-a-date,” jeonghan says, voice clipped, all traces of affection vanishing. “shit. what the hell?”

precisely. you check your email, refreshing urgently. a new email titled “urgent: please revert” glares at you. an administrative error. 

“it’s an administrative error,” you say, dropping that cheerful falsetto you were using. you woke up at five, for god’s sake.

jeonghan barks out a laugh, dropping back down onto the mat. “what the fuck, this is so lame.”

you’re irate all the same, burning up with mortification. he fooled you. and he looked so pretty doing it. and you blushed?! you’re lunar’s top employee- you’ve been employee of the month consistently for the past year. how could you? and what about your actual client? what if he’s been waiting for hours somewhere else?

that roguish bastard chuckles at your clear dismay, and then nudges his bento box with an elbow. “hey, so this cost eighteen bucks at the store.”

you’re going home, and you’re taking a long nap. but before that, you snatch yoon jeonghan’s bento box up. “say ‘ahh’, babe.”

“huh-mmmmf!” he chokes, avocado smeared across his cheeks.

-

notes: 

FAKE DATING AU BUT THEYRE BOTH RENT A GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND SERVICES AND THEY HATE EACH OTHER BC EACH ONE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT AN UNRELATED INTEREST BASED ON THEIR CASE FILES

also can you imagine if the administrative error was because lunar rental girlfriends agency and apollo rent-a-date were merging :0) and then there are more ~ shenanigans ~ where mc and jeonghan compete to be employee of the month????? oh boyy

#jeonghan #svt #seventeen scenarios #seventeen fanfic #yoon jeonghan #so this is an enemies to lover prequel essentially huh

[poptod]

I don’t know if you take requests for Benjamin but could you do a fic between him and a sorceress/sorcerer reader. Maybe they meet in the forest and he watches her/him (maybe it becomes a series)?

notes: ooo that's a good idea! i've never written for him before (or seen twilight) but ill try my best. notes extra: i just finished watching a compilation of rami in twilight and holy shit twilight is so fucking bad its hilarious anyway. didn’t stay all that true to the prompt (sorry) but I hope it’s sufficient nonetheless

+

That's not quite right.

For several weeks now, there's been something off about the scents in the forest. He's not the only one to have noticed the change, but he is the only one suspicious of it, which he assumes is part due to his connection with the earth. It doesn't bother him, their lack of concern – for some reason, he prefers searching on his own. Hours spent alone amongst the tall, dark trees lined with glittering snow, humming to himself, and tracking the changes in the air.

Today is especially quiet. Almost silent. While it's uncharacteristic for the world to fall silent, it's a common sight in this forest, where nothing quite lives anymore. The trees feel more like stone beneath his fingertips than like wood, and the snow at his feet freezes his skin far colder than it should. 

As the strange scent grows stronger the feeling begins to linger in his own steps, tracing the only walkway through the snow in all the forest, marking him as the singular disturber of the peace. His heart pounds as the dread weighs heavier yet in his chest.

It comes to a point where the pressure is overwhelming, pulling down on his shoulders and legs, begging him to kneel in the presence of nothing more than a sun-lit clearing. Nothing grows in the dirt circle, but there has to be something about it; the snow doesn't cover the earth like it does in meters just steps away. He pauses just outside the edge. Here is where the scent is strongest – there is no doubt.

When he raises his hand to where the sunlight streams from above, he finds a hard surface to press his hand against. His brow quirks upward as he presses harder, gauging the invisible material, wondering as to its' origins. It's a sort of magic, though he can't tell the type. Maybe pagan.

Warmth flows through him when he chants reveal in a silent language. A simple command, and the protection spell around the circle is weak enough to fall at the utterance of his spell.

The mirage falls in just a second, dripping down from the sky like a cloak till what remains is a stone tower. Moss and vines creep their way up the cracks and fissures, somehow still a vibrant green in winter, and presumably kept that way by the warm sunshine falling on this particular spot. The scent, though – it's intoxicating. Not quite good, but not unpleasant either. More like a potion mix of lavender and mustard seed. It overpowers all his other senses, begging him to give in further to his curiosity.

Muttering and footsteps sound from behind him, and in a flash he's hidden behind a small cluster of trees, peeking through the bark to see the clearing and tower.

You appear from the dark, and the first thing he notices is the comically large hat on your head. It covers your face entirely in shade, and though most of your other clothes are just as comically too big for you, it's... cute. You look smaller than you already are, and for some reason Benjamin finds himself blushing. The walking stick in your hand rises high above your head, carrying a crystal atop it that reflects the sunlight in a red hue, casted like stained glass on the white snow.

You're mumbling to yourself as you slowly make your way to the tower's entrance. His eyes widen when he notices a trail following you – half-baked spells and enchantments that glitter like dust in the sun's rays, dissipating in the air before they can fall to the ground. It draws his eyes to the book in your hands that's the size of his head, with old tattered pages covered in notes.

There's a druid in the forest.

He decides it's best if he's the only one to know. The others can get far too protective of territory, misunderstanding the modern way of the world all too easily. It takes a little work to make sure they don't wander too close to your hidden tower, or catch onto your scent and rambling spells, and soon he finds himself with a full-time job of protecting you. Oh well – it's something to do, and in the evenings he can watch you beside the river almost fully frozen over with ice.

The scarf wrapped around your neck is a little too big, drooping onto the ground from your shoulders hunched over the ice. Benjamin's beginning curiosity surrounding you has by now grown into a fondness, strange as it may be. You aren't all that good at protection spells or defensive spells, but you can bend life to your will, moving the water and plants without the power of crystals or runes. The trees seem to whisper everywhere you go, leaves and pines breaking off the branches to simply follow you. He can hardly blame them – he's following you too, after all.

Your nose has turned a blushing pink from the cold, a hint that leads him to believe you're human. Blood and all. Maybe that's part of the reason he likes watching you. You're the only creature within fifty miles that still has warm blood, as all the creatures of the forest have long been driven away by the mere presence of Benjamin and his cult.

It's a few weeks in before he notices that you're humming each time you speak. As though put under a curse, each word you mumble goes to a tune, one that haunts his dreams the second he hears it. All that long term exposure to you must be doing something to his brain – something that convinces him he needs to protect you, something that tells him he shouldn't dare speak to you.

He knows that since you're a druid, you're aware of the existence of the supernatural, but that fact brings little comfort to him as his tongue traces his fangs, watching you with hooded, red eyes. Your magic is different from his own, though to the outside eye the two of you are far more similar than he'd deem correct. The definitions of your different magics are a little shaky, but after some thought he decides that yes, you are a druid. Not a witch, or a warlock, or a sorcerer – none of them quite fit the powers that you have. The way the earth bends to your step.

If Benjamin can't find you at the tower there's only one other place you are; the river. It's still half-frozen over, but as of recent you haven't been all that focused on the water. For the most part you're focusing on the earth, melting the snow beneath you in order to reach it.

You're humming again. Watching the ground with focused eyes, holding glowing fingertips above the fertile earth.

"Idir ann is idir as," you sing, and it must be the first time he's clearly heard your voice, as it circles his head like whiskey and sways the trees into a gentle dance.

Whatever language you're singing, it must be a sort of enchantment. Maybe an offering of good wealth to the lifeless forest. All the world seems to hum in harmony with you, creating your own orchestra that swells with every breath you take.

"As an sliogán, Amhrán na farraige..."

"Suaimhneach nó ciúin – Ag cuardú go damanta."

When did he start humming?

How does he know the tune?

Something is in the air. It's like that scent all over again – all he can think of, all he can feel is you and your magic, overpowering the thoughts of ancient trees and godless skies.

"Between the here, between the now," you sing softly, and he could swear he almost had a heartbeat again, just to lose it in your hypnotic song.

Now you're singing in English – a language he can obviously understand – and with his curiosity towards the meaning of the lyrics gone, he can concentrate on the spells falling from your hand. Tiny stars, tiny universes drift down from your fingertips, landing on the earth as a sprout of vibrant green begins to stretch upwards, a small, white bud on the end.

"Neither quiet nor calm... searching for love again."

It doesn't feel like something so heavenly could come from you. Actually, the way your voice echoes in the forest, the way it combines with your magic makes it feel as though it's coming down from the sky like rain, falling on waiting ears and eager eyes.

When did he start singing with you, under his breath?

How does he know the lyrics?

"Between the stones, between the storm Between belief, between the sea I am in tune..."

And then it stops. The swell dissipates and what you're left with is a white flower sprouted in the ground, the center a vibrant purple that fades into the soft petals.

It's the only color the frozen forest has.

He doesn't quite know what he's doing, when he emerges from his hiding spot long after you return to your home. The sun will rise soon and the others expect him back before then, but something pulls him, something forces him to stay as 'something' always does. It's probably your lingering magic – that's what he reasons as he steps closer to your flower, wide eyes observing every detail of the white and purple petals.

Kneeling in the snow, he raises his hand above the flower, shifting the wind to brush against the single leaf and allow the pollen to float into the air. Magic like yours falls from his hand – golden stars, drifting onto the ground where they stay like gemstones. It takes a moment before the earth willingly absorbs them, but the moment it does another flower sprouts and blooms much faster than yours did.

Two of them sit there now, one purple and the other blood red. You'll find it - he knows you will. You come here almost every day.

He walks back home with your song occupying all his thoughts, twisting and tweaking him even hours after. It echoes in his head, over and over and over again, until all he can think of is you.

Neither quiet nor calm

Searching for love again...

#benjamin x reader #twilight benjamin #rami malek #rami malek character

[mommymooze]

Sleep Doctor

Hubert X Reader. Warning: blood war violence, rudeness, bad dreams

You are often compared to Mercedes, both of you are talented in healing, as well as both of you have doting, motherly personalities. Both of you are nurturing, protective, supportive, bakers of treats, a trusted confidante.

There are differences of course. Her faith is in the goddess, yours is in the human spirit. Your reason magic is powerful as well. You don’t have a creepy brother, just a lazy sister. You cook delicious meals, you love brewing potions and concoctions. While she is laid back and chill, you are assertive and firm. You give advice and then enforce it.

Mercedes suggests that someone get more sleep, rest, take their time to recover. Maybe gently remind them after a few days if she stills sees dark circles under their eyes. You tell them they need more sleep and that you will be waiting for them at their room to make certain they sleep that night and perhaps the next two or three nights.

Linhardt enjoys sharing duties as the healer for the Black Eagles Strike force with you. His favorite taunt is to use your name as a threat. “If you do not rest that leg and let it heal, I will advise (y/n) of the situation.” Everyone is quite aware that Emperor Edelgard fully supports your extremely strict and regimented methods to ensure that the Strike Force is in tip top condition.

One of your pet peeves is finding injuries long after a battle is over. Linhardt will only leave his minor wounds untreated if he is too tired to get to it. Dorothea does very well seeking treatments promptly. Petra has a great understanding of the responsibility of your body being a temple and to keep it in constant repair. Bernadetta only hides injuries if she feels that she has made a mistake and tries to use it as self-punishment. Caspar is highly maintained and checked by Lin, so he’s in great shape. Emperor Edelgard is preened by the healers every time she returns, to make sure not the tiniest scratch is left unattended lest she get an infection. Ferdinand does frequent the healers, however he has been known to often get infections, not understanding the seriousness of the smaller, less important wounds he has received in the germ and disease filled conditions of war.

Then there is Hubert. He stands and gives reports to his Lady, while his own blood is pooling at his feet. His mindset is Duty Before All Else. Immediately upon arrival from a mission, he must report to Emperor Edelgard, then he may stop by the infirmary, but more likely will return to his tent or quarters and write his reports of the mission results.

At first you try reasoning with him. Advising him he is losing enough blood that by the time his report is finished his body is completely exsanguinated. You attempt to physically remove him from the Command tent and he strikes you with magic. Trial and error provides the answer for your most successful method of treating the irritatingly stubborn man. Healing him upon his arrival, during his report to the Emperor upon his return. The moment Hubert warps to her tent you are summoned from the infirmary. Your materials already await you in the command tent.

“Stand over here on these towels.” You order the dark mage.

“I must present my report…” Hubert angrily chastises you.

“I tire of my carpets being stained, do as she says.” Edelgard orders, he complies.

You remove his cape, cravat, and outer coat. You stand behind him as he is advising the Emperor of his latest completed duties in the never-ending effort to win the war for the Empire. You in turn untuck his white and red stained shirt from his pants and pull it up in the back clipping it out of your way. The blood has dried around his undershirt and you cut it loose from the stab wound that is just at the base of his rib cage, thankfully below his heart by a few inches. Had the assassin had a better angle, well, the Spymaster would not be with us right now.

Pressing a cloth that is thoroughly soaked in alcohol onto the wound to remoisten and allow removal of the remaining undershirt material as well as cleanse the wound preventing infection, you apply firm pressure into the hole and begin removing the soiled cloth from the deep stab wound as you hear him exclaim.

“…and then we proceeeeek!..Flames woman! Trying to finish the job!” The dark mage yells, his left arm coming back to smack you away as the burning sensation of the liquid goes deeper into his flesh.

You easily duck his attack as you remove the foreign materials, making certain the wound is absolutely clean. Minor deep healing spells take care of the immediate damage. There will still be bruising to his left kidney. You pull out needle and thread to pull the two sides of the wound back together, making it easier for the healing spells to take hold and lessen the scarring. That particular wound finished, it is not difficult to trace another slice into his flesh, this time blood is soaking into his shirt collar as he sustained a dagger’s blade to the side of his head just behind his ear. Head wounds bleed profusely, if they do not penetrate the skull they cause little problem as long as they are cleaned. A nice curved needle allows you to pick up the skin on each side to bring them back together again. A final healing spell there and the bleeding subsides.

Your hands glow lightly as they run along his body, searching for any additional injuries. The stubborn mule of a man certainly will not reveal any weak points. Two ribs on his left front are heavily bruised, healing spells correct that situation.  Finding no other serious injuries, you return the cape and coat to Hubert, pat him on the shoulder, and proceed to the infirmary.

The trouble with being at war is that it is prohibitive to good sleep. There are quite a few members of the Strike Force that have issue with sleeping, some nights it is interrupted by dreams or memories of personally tragic events during the war, others cannot get to sleep in the first place, their minds tormenting them with frightening thoughts. While in Enbarr or at Garreg Mach, you are available to assist your fellow Strike Force members with issues of nightmares, night terrors or simply general insomnia. Your schedule is changed to accommodate the availability for such. You are available from sunset until 5 or 6am to assist with these issues. After that you return to your room to sleep until noon. The guards patrolling the areas are trained take notice if someone is calling out loudly in their sleep. There is also a physical sign, a request for assistance, by placing a red card slightly peeking past the bottom of the door, alerting them to retrieve you to the location for necessary assistance.

Your counsel at night is always kept between you and the patient. Having someone there to talk to is the best medicine for most parties. A trusted ear, a caring heart, letting them know they are not alone, simply being there is at times the answer to the current situation.

Hubert again, is the one most difficult to work with. His living space is highly covered in magic spells and sigils. The layout is such that if he is screaming in his bed it would not be heard through his closed door. He is not one to ask for help unless it is from complete desperation. Only by observing the reticent Spy Master can you tell that sleep has been evading him more than normal. His eyes are sunk further back into his skull, the blackness seems to surround his eyes. He taps his feet to keep his body moving, reminding himself to stay awake. This dedicated, enervated man is your most challenging patient by far. As today’s strategy meeting concludes, you request that he remain behind to discuss a matter with him and Emperor Edelgard.

“Hubert, when was the last time you slept.” You ask, hands on your hips.

“Three days ago. There is no time for sleep when you are running a war.” He answers.

“There is only so long before your body will take what it requires. The next battle is less than a week away. It is critical that you sleep now.” You plead, looking to Edelgard for support. “I agree. Hubert, pass along what duties you can and carve out time for sleep every day until the battle. Provide both of us a schedule of when you will set aside time for rest.”

Hubert stands, bowing to his Emperor and glaring at you sharply before he leaves the room.

You have found, through trial and error, ways of making him sleep. Forcing him into specific routines that subconsciously prepare him for sleep. Once he is in bed and relaxed usually a palm resting on the back of his hand is enough to make him lay still enough to drift off. Sometimes he is more agitated, so you will read to him dissertations regarding the history and foundation of white magic in a monotone voice. The text is very dry, of no interest to him, yet the words distract his thoughts enough, allowing sleep to take him.  

Today was no such day. Overtired and restless he shifts in his bed anxiously.

“Tell me a story.” He finally requests.

“I did not think you a fan of fairy tales or knights.” You reply softly.

“You have a large family. Tell me a story of your youth.”

You begin to weave the tales of your younger days. The family going into the woods to pick buckets upon buckets of blueberries, your brothers getting distracted by seeing who could climb the highest in a tree, Mother panicking that they would fall and break their arms and legs. Scrubbing the purple from your siblings before getting them to bed then helping mother preserve the berries in wine bottles to enjoy during the winter. You are softly retelling these events until you realize he has fallen asleep.

It is not dark in the room, the curtains are pulled close to reduce the sunlight. You pull out a novel to read. Hubert is a quiet sleeper. He’s not like Caspar who crawls around and tangles himself in his sheets while he slumbers. You look up from your book as you see Hubert moving his feet, giving a weak kick.  He is pulling his arms up to his chest and his face is drawn into a frown. You drop your book. Your hand brushes his cheek softly as you try to gently wake him from his nightmare.

“Hubert, I’m here for you. Everything is all right. Shhhh.” You softly whisper.

The dark mage startles from his sleep, his eyes wide. He looks about the room finally realizing he is within his own bedchambers. He looks very distressed, his hands trembling. You instinctively pull him into a hug, holding him tight against your chest as you lay gently on him.

“Breathe, just breathe.” You urge him, taking long slow loud breaths to have him match yours.

It takes a while before he finally begins to relax again. You know you can’t stand hunched over him much longer, so you walk around the bed to lie next to him on top of the covers. You pull him to face you as you card your fingers through his hair and encourage him to relax. The exhaustion of his body takes over and he falls asleep again.

You awaken after a short nap due to movement under your arm. Opening your eyes you find Hubert looking back at you. Instinctively you slowly pull your arm from across his chest back to yourself.

“Did you rest well?” you whisper.

Hubert rolls onto his back. “Surprisingly, yes. My headache is gone.”

You quietly slide out of the bed, straightening your clothing. Making your way to the other side, you return the chair to its proper place and gather your things.

“Do you often accompany your patients in their beds?” Hubert asks, a slight sneer in his voice.

“Never.” You reply. “You are a…special case.” You reply, closing the door behind you.

-----------------

The next day Hubert is much more coherent at the morning strategy meeting. Once the meeting adjournes, the Emperor requests that the two of you remain behind.

“I notice an improvement today.” Edelgard smiles at the Minister of the Imperial Household.

“Of course, My Lady. I refuse to disappoint you.” He respectfully bows.

“We are scheduled today from 10pm until 3am. Granted, 5 hours is not much for the average person, but to Hubert’s tortured soul it is quite the luxury.” You quip, causing Edelgard to giggle.

The dark mage scowls in your general direction. You both excuse yourselves as the Emperor has another appointment to attend.  You join him as he heads toward his office.

“Was it so horrible to rest yesterday? Do you not feel some improvement?”  You inquire.

“You were witness to my sleep. It is anything but restful.” He grumbles.

“Which is currently the point of my assisting you.” You respond in a logical manner.

“If there is nothing further you require, I have significantly less time to complete my duties. I bid you good day.” Hubert sniffs as he heads to his office.

-----------------

You are waiting outside of Hubert’s quarters for his arrival. He arrives 15 minutes late. There is no apology for his tardiness. He completes his routine for preparing for bed and finally pulls his covers up to his chin, only to stare at you. You’ve brought knitting to keep you company, a quiet pastime.

“Do you need a diversion?” You ask softly.

“No.” He responds, continuing to stare daggers at you.

A few minutes later he decides to stare at the ceiling.

“Why do you do this?” Hubert wonders aloud.

“For your health of course. Sleep is extremely important. Your body needs the rest, so does your mind. It affects your nervous system, your immune system. All creatures need sleep.” You answer matter of factly patting the back of his hand.

“Why do you care?” he asks.

“I’ve come to know everyone very closely. You are my work family and my friends. I would be devastated should anyone die from something I can possibly prevent. Just as you protect us all from spies, assassinations, poisoning, and the like, I do the same protecting everyone from sickness, injuries, infections etcetera. There is only one Hubert Von Vestra. I would like to see him live past the end of the war. “

“Hmpf.” Is his only response.

Hubert closes his eyes as you quietly knit. His breathing slows as he drifts into the land of Nod. You silently slip from his room to check on the other occupants of the Imperial Palace to find that it is a rather quiet night and there are no disturbances amongst the Strike Force. You return to Hubert’s quarters to see him still resting, which is surprising. You know he is a light sleeper, however even if he woke up, he remained in bed. You count that as a victory. As 3am nears, you head out to retrieve a carafe and water, preparing coffee in his parlor just at the time he should awaken.

“One moment.” Is heard coming from the door to his bedroom. A few minutes later Hubert emerges from his bedroom dressed for work and looking shockingly more alert than you have seen him in the past two weeks.

“Thank you for doing this for yourself as well as for the rest of us. I will see you again this evening.” You articulated as you gather your personal items to leave. You swear you almost hear a soft ‘thank you.’ from Hubert as he locks his door and heads to his office.

-----------------

Hubert is working until midnight tonight, never a regular schedule for himself, his duties rule his sleep schedule. You leave Ferdinand’s quarters in time to head to the kitchen and obtain a cup of coffee before you must meet with the dark mage. Ferdinand sleeps well most of the time, however as the war becomes more brutal and savage, he is plagued with nightmares more frequently. After you were called to his room this night, he finally agreed to take a small sleeping potion. The thought of dark circles under his bright and shining eyes is like having storm clouds blocking the sun. He is the source of the Strike Force’s positive energy. They need him brightly shining in the lead, a beacon of hope.

Your arrival at Hubert’s door is matched with his. His posture is much improved, not hunched over barely able to stand. He greets you with a nod and waves you into his quarters. You pat his shoulder as you walk past him. He prepares for bed and once he is under the covers calls you into his bedroom. He has already placed  the chair in its normal spot, close to the head of his bed. Taking your seat you place your hand on top of his.  His hand does not move.

“You keep touching me. Why do you do that?” Hubert asks, staring at the ceiling.

“It is another one of the basic needs of humans. Some need it more than others. Certainly you have observed in battle, when the Professor is encouraging Caspar in the middle of a fight, if Caspar receives a simple pat on the head, he can rush forth taking out several squads of enemies at an amazing pace. When Bernadetta is extremely anxious, sitting next to her with a leg or shoulder touching her, she visibly relaxes. Emperor Edelgard relaxes with gentle hugs. Ferdinand prefers a one armed hug when being comforted through a tough time. The professor responds to hand holding and shoulder touching. Dorothea gets herself anxious and worked up sometimes, then only a full squeezing hug can get her to settle enough to speak with her.

“I was not aware of such needs, nor of your detailed observations of our team members.”

“I must admit, you are my most difficult patient in this regard.” You smile softly.

“Explain.” He says flatly.

“Beyond contact with our Emperor, you do not touch others nor does anyone touch you.” You begin. “Even when contact with another is made, it is not skin to skin, always to clothing, always with gloves. Certainly your upbringing, family history, interpersonal relationships, work schedules, work agenda and severe lack of personal time factors into this.

When one is in the infirmary, healers constantly touch the patients. Verbal reassurance is good, physical touch is required, and is extremely reassuring. When a patient is unconscious, the body still reacts to touch. When Petra was heavily injured a few battles ago, Dorothea was there for hours holding her hand, stroking her cheek. The body does react, relaxes. Somewhere in her brain, she knows someone is there for her and she needs to get better in order to rejoin them. Unconscious patients still tense up, faces furrow. Touch causes them to relax, leading the body to focus on healing.

On the battlefield, I am shocked at the condition I have found a fallen person, yet they are still alive, simply because someone else is there with them, touching them, encouraging them to hang on to that precious thread of life for yet a moment longer. That comrade being there has performed a miracle. There is no other way to explain it. Reason magic is cast through verbal incantations, physical movement, mental intentions. Healing magic is through touch, with the exception of physic, because no rule is absolute. “

“Hmmm. Continue.” Hubert watches your face closely, turning his palm to yours, taking your smaller hand into his without thinking.

“Now my observation of you, Hubert. I have heard you say that you are unworthy of anyone being close to you based on your workings below the surface, your bloodstained hands, duties you have carried out in the darkness. I disagree. You are not to judge your own worthiness. Only others can perform that task. They will base it on their own life, experiences, beliefs, circumstances. If they cannot understand you and appreciate you for who you are, all of you, then perhaps they are not worthy of you. The Emperor knows you, knows what you do for her, suspects what is done outside of her vision, yet she is there for you, accepting you for who you are, as you are. Over these years of war, all of the members of our team have learned more about you, perhaps scratching beyond the surface of you, yet they are still here. They still support you, believe in you, rely on you. They find you worthy of their protection, their support. Tell me of one person in the Strike Force that has not helped you in a battle. I certainly can tell you about how many I have had to piece together after they shielded you from certain death. I have lost count of how many holes I have patched up on you are a result of your protecting each and every one of them.”

“Physical Attributes are difficult to overcome…” he argues.

You laugh at the thought. “Have you never heard that beauty is in the eye of the beholder? Beauty is found within? To me, my mother is the most beautiful woman in the world. Having so many children her stomach never went back to being flat and fashionable. She has spots on her face from being in the sun. Wrinkles in her hands from working them hard for many years. Her nose is crooked because she broke it as a child and never had it properly healed. Most people on the street would look at her as the typical matronly old woman, but to me she is more beautiful than any goddess, I would not change a thing. My sister was being courted by Bernard, her now husband. Bernard was awkward, tall and lanky. At first I noticed he was all knees and elbows, his teeth seemed to be too large for his mouth. But my sister loved him, and he loved her. When I last saw him, I saw a tall handsome man that would do anything for my sister, just looking at him you could tell he adores her. When he looks at my sister, his smile shines bright and I consider him beautiful inside and out. Ask Dorothea how far good looks will get you. She is a beautiful woman, however knows that beauty fades. She has found someone who loves her for her. That when she is old and wrinkled and gray, they will be there for her and she for them. “

“I have much to think about. Good night.” Hubert says softly closing his eyes.

You remain holding his hand until it relaxes which is not until he is in a deep sleep. He sleeps quietly and restfully. A very good rest for him indeed.

The next morning Hubert joins you in his parlor, sitting at the table with you as you silently enjoy the first cup of morning coffee together.

As you pour a refill, you finally break the silence. “Today we prepare, early tomorrow we leave for yet another battle. I know you will not sleep tonight, if you wish to try, even for an hour or two, I would be happy to help.”

Hubert briefly scowls then retracts it to a minor frown. “I can sleep on my own. I do not need you as a crutch.”

You place your hand atop his now white gloved hand. “I am not a crutch, I am an enforcer.” You smile.

--------------------

You are too busy the night before leaving to think about Hubert. Ferdinand has a particularly strong night terror. Bernadetta had a major panic attack. Linhardt could not find a comfortable place to sleep, wandering and laying about all over the palace. You would find him in the middle of a pathway, taking him to a more secluded and safer place to sleep only for him to move to a different poor location for slumber. You finished bottling your last batch of healing potions and pots of salves for minor wounds and burns. You begin filling the wagon with as much bandages and bindings as you could stuff into it. You and the other healers riding in the wagon will take turns sleeping, resting now because once battle starts, you would not sleep for perhaps two days or more.

A few more days on the road, scouts have returned stating there is a small army preventing anyone from passing, apparently a mix of kingdom and church soldiers. A brief strategy meeting is held and soon the caravans realign, with the support teams like yours toward the rear. A few more hours at a slow pace as they advance to the enemy location. Now explosions are heard as the mages on both sides attack, the infantry running in behind the Cavalry and the fliers doing their best to snipe from the skies. Your group hurriedly throws together the medical tent, secures a location for water, sets up cots, supplies. Ready for patients, you head out toward the field of battle. Those that are no longer fit to fight are sent your direction. You assess their condition, stop severe bleeding and direct them to the correct tent location. You see a Meteor spell go off in the middle of the battle, sincerely hoping that is Dorothea and not the enemy that is the source. You watch Linhardt in the back lines, healing who he can, keeping them on their feet. You want to go out there and help, but you remain at your post.

The battle continues until sunset. You are surrounded by patients. Fortunately nobody in the Strike Force has serious injuries, or at least they have not yet made it to the medical tent. You finish cleaning the slicing wounds of a very young, perhaps 17 year old, soldier’s arms before sewing the sides of the wounds back together and then casting a healing spell on them to remove the final trace of any visible wound.

“(Y/n)” a deep voice comes from behind you.

“How are you doing Hubert? Is there somewhere I am needed?” You ask, looking absolutely exhausted.

“Do you have any healing spells left in you?” He asks, a frown on his brow.

“No, That was the last one.”  You say, cleaning up your surgical tools. Before you look up, he takes hold of your arm and warps you to a tent.

“Now it is your turn. You are in desperate need of sleep. There are buckets and towels to wash up and your bags are there to change clothes.”

“I sleep in the medical tent in case they need me…” you state, confused by this.

“You are out of magic, let those that can heal remain. I will step outside, you will clean up and prepare for bed.” Hubert exits, closing the tent flap behind him.

In spite of the rudeness, it feels nice to wash the blood and grime off and change into clean dry clothing not soaked in someone else’s blood. Sleeping away from the injured is much much quieter, you think as you change into bedclothes and sit on the cot.

“Done.” You call out.

Hubert enters the tent, bringing a tin cup full of water as well as a waterskin. “You must drink this. You have not had a drink since the first patients came in.”

“I’ve been preoccupied.” You gratefully take the cup and drinking the entire contents quickly.

“Now rest. Go to sleep.” His voice is quite assertive.

“Stay with me a bit?” You plead.

“Demanding woman!” He huffs, pulling the chair next to the bed to sit close by.

“Is everyone okay? Have they been checked out?” you ask.

Hubert grumbles. “Of course they are. Many have been asleep for four hours or more. Now hush.”

You suddenly sit up. “Have I stolen your bed? I can’t do that to you.”

He hesitantly touches your shoulder. “You need to rest. Stop fighting me.”

You frown and lie back down. “Could you lie next to me for a bit? Its…chilly.” You begin scooting to one side of the cot, until it threatens to tip over from having the weight all on one side.

“You are relentless.” He frowns.

You nod and lift the cover for him to join you. He lies on his back, you on your side facing him. You lift his arm bringing it around your back as you place your head and arm on his chest. Without opening your eyes you tell him, “Yes this is necessary.” You settle in next to him and quickly relax, falling asleep.

#fe3h x reader #fe3h #hubert von vestra #fe16 #feth #Fire Emblem Three Houses

[ialwayscomewhenyoucall]

Space to Run, Space to Hide

fandom: marvel

pairing: winterhawk

~ 1.1k

i.

Clint

He’s not running away. He’s not. He just needs some…

space.

Yeah. Space.

The city gets too close sometimes, so many people all shoved together, an overfilled bookshelf– no room to move, barely any room to breathe. Even the Tower, with its huge open floor plans and giant windows, just reminds him that he’s a rat in a cage. So sometimes he just has to grab Lucky and run– well, okay, fly– away for a while.

It has absolutely nothing to do with anything that may or may not have happened between him and a certain metal-armed supersoldier four days ago.

Nothing at all.

ii.

Clint

It feels good to work. Clint spends two days splitting wood, and it’s too exhausting to think of anything at all. He doesn’t even dream.

Then he repairs a barn door, a storm window, a porch step. He replaces two fence posts and cuts down a large, recently damaged tree. His muscles burn with the different kind of use and he falls into bed every night.

iii.

Lucky

Lucky runs and sprawls in sunlight. Sometimes his human throws ball or stick, sometimes they eat pizza, but mostly his human is busy doing human things. He does noisy things, or things with big sticks– sticks too heavy to throw– and that is boring, so Lucky chases rabbits. Or rolls in grass. He even chases a butterfly, but doesn’t really try to catch it. He just likes the way it moves.

After a whole day with big sticks Lucky brings his human a small stick. A chasing stick. He wags his tail and licks his human’s face.

I’m sorry boy. I’ve been ignoring you today, haven’t I.

Lucky’s human does magic ear scratches. Almost as good as pizza. When he stops Lucky licks his face again. Lucky likes the sounds his human makes when he gets licked.

Am I hiding out here, boy?

Lucky tilts his head. Does his human want something?

I didn’t mean to kiss him! It just… happened. He keeps making me coffee and he’s just so hot with his murder glare and his eyes peeking out from behind that fall of hair and he’s quiet but when he smiles I just–

Lucky tilts his head again. His human is looking at him, waiting, so Lucky gives a soft woof. His human buries his face in Lucky’s fur.

You’re right. Of course you’re right. I’ll call Tasha in the morning. She always knows what to do.

Tasha? Lucky knows that human. She brings good treats. Lucky wags his tail, gives another small woof.

Okay. Fine. I’ll call now. Come on boy, phone’s in the house.

iv.

Natasha

Took you long enough.

Silence.

A long silence.

But Natasha can wait forever, and Clint knows it. He’ll break first.

I did something stupid.

She holds in the laugh. I know that, little bird.

Tash, I… I kissed Bucky.

Kissing Bucky wasn’t the stupid thing, glupiy. running away after was the stupid thing. he’s–

But she stops, because maybe this part isn’t hers to tell.

You already know?

She doesn’t answer stupid questions.

Look. You need to come home. Hiding on the farm isn’t going to solve anything.

She hears his sigh, hears Lucky scratch and jingle his tags.

Not yet. Soon, maybe.

He hangs up without saying goodbye; she’s left staring out the window but all she sees is Clint and Bucky and a quinjet and an Iowa sunset– and she wonders if these four things are compatible.

v.

Bucky

Natalia didn’t explain, just gave Bucky that look and told him to be ready to leave in twenty. Pack a bag, she’d said. So now he’s on a quinjet heading into the setting sun, feeling more nervous with each passing mile.

Because Natalia only gets this agitated for Clint Barton.

Barton’s been off the grid for over a week. Since that day in the kitchen–

Bucky closes his eyes, remembering. After Barton swallowed his mandatory giant mugs of coffee– two, seemingly without a breath– they’d decided to make breakfast for the team. So they’d been at the stove together, bumping elbows and cracking jokes and eggs all at once. They’d been laughing when they’d come face to face…

He’s glad Natalia is concentrating on landing… wherever it is they are. He can school his features, can wear his “soldat” mask, but he can’t stop the blush rising up his neck to his cheeks when he remembers that kiss. He’d been surprised, sure, but only for a fraction of a breath. Then he’d kissed back– and with enthusiasm.

They’re on the ground; Natalia’s flipping switches, settling the quinjet to its rest. I know where you sleep, she says casually. Just keep that in mind.

He doesn’t react at all– no twitch, no flinch– but she smiles, says, Good. We understand each other. The smile is all knives and poison.

He does understand. But he doesn’t need this warning from Natalia. He doesn’t want to hurt Barton.

He just wants to find out what it feels like to hold onto him. To kiss him again.

Maybe even…

But that is for later.

vi.

Clint

The sun is setting when the quinjet lands in his yard. He’s been expecting it; Tasha likes to “fix” things for him. She’s the most annoying big (little) sister he could ever ask for.

She’s lucky he loves her so much.

Here to knock me out and carry me home?

She gives her most innocent smile. He shivers.

I just came for a visit, little bird. Don’t be so paranoid.

We both know that’s a lie. He hugs her anyway, even kisses the top of her head, because she’s his Natasha.

And then Bucky walks off the plane.

vii.

Lucky

Lucky hears Tasha’s voice after the big noise stops, so he runs to the yard to see what is happening.

His human stands very still, looking at another human. Lucky sniffs the air, sneezes. The other human smells sharp. Tangy. Like shiny things that hurt to chew.

Bucky?

You didn’t say anything. You just ran away.

I–

It’s okay. I just– I thought maybe we could… try it again?

Lucky’s human sits down on the grass Hard. Did he fall? He falls sometimes.

Lucky checks to see if his human is okay.

He smells okay, no sick or hurt smells. Maybe it is time for pets. He lays on his human’s lap and yes, he gets pets. And the magic ear scratches. Lucky wags his tail.

Lucky wiggles himself around to lick his human’s face– but the human is in his way. Not Tasha, the other one. He’s on the grass too, with his face squished right up against Lucky’s human’s face.

Lucky flops down, huffs out his breath. He’s going to have to wait until later for more ear scratches.

***

NaPoWriMo Day 23 || clint barton and space

for @wolfarrowepz

#lirael writes #napowrimo 2021 #winterhawk #free verse #poetry #marvel poetry #clint barton pov #bucky barnes pov #natasha romanov pov #lucky the pizza dog pov #mutual pining #fluff #clint's farm #natasha is a good bro #story in verse

[sugarsnap-caely]

A Cozy Winter’s Day

Large flakes fluttered and fell between the bare branches of snow-covered trees. It had been snowing for quite sometime earlier and there had to have been at least a foot of the white crystals on the ground.

A window fogged up as a very large fluffy dog leaned up against the back of a chair, it’s nose nearly touching the glass as it looked outside with big longing eyes.

Marvin leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, a smirk on his face as he watched the dog yearn. “Hey, Jackie,” he called, tilting his head back over his shoulder.

“Yeah, Marvie?” Jackie poked his head around the corner of the hallway.

“I think someone wants to go outside and play.”

Jackie stepped fully around the corner, still holding on to a holiday decoration he had been in the process of hanging up. He stood just behind his boyfriend, listening to his death omen doggie give a small whine. “Well, what are we waiting for?” He put down the decoration on the coffee table as he stepped over to the door to grab his coat and a leash.

As his owner passed him, the dog turned in his direction, panting affectionately. Once he noticed that Jackie was grabbing for the leash he immediately bounded off the couch, his tail wagging as he bounced at Jackie’s feet.

“You ready to go outside, boy? You wanna go outside?!” Jackie leaned down, pulling a hat on his head as he baby-talked the dog.

The dog let out a very loud, Broof!

That was all the answer Jackie needed as he hooked up the leash and opened up the front door, running out with his companion.

Marvin smiled, watching his boyfriend through the window as he and the dog ran across the yard. He sat down on the couch, admiring the view. The dog bounded and jumped, trying to nip at the flakes falling from the sky. In turn, Jackie stuck out his tongue, trying to catch them as well. However, he failed to notice the leash slowly beginning to wrap around his legs. Marvin, on the other hand, did not miss this detail as he bit his lip in anticipation.

Sure enough, the dog jumped up in the air, and in one sudden movement, Jackie found his face planted in the snow.

Marvin howled with laughter, nearly falling off the couch as he hugged his sides.

Just outside, Jackie was wiping the snow off his nose but having a difficult time between laughing and his dog trying to lick it off himself. “Down, boy!” He ruffled the dog’s fur, kissing him on the top of his head as he picked himself back up.  As he dusted the snow off his hair he looked around. He breathed a sigh of contentment, watching as the light made the snow glisten and sparkle. “If only Marvie were out here to see this.”

“Right behind you, silly!” The next thing Jackie knew, something cold and wet pelted the back of his neck. He whipped around, seeing Marvin wearing his cape and chuckling as several snowballs floated around him.

Jackie beamed, laughing. “Looks like I wasn’t the only one who wanted to play outside!”

“Damn straight!”

Jackie just barely managed to dodge another snowball as he ran for the cover of the tree, his dog bounding behind him. He swiftly crouched on the ground, beginning to create his own line of icy ammunition. Marvin may have had magic on his side, but Jackie certainly outdid him when it came to agility and strength. Peeking from around the tree he lobbed one of his snowballs at his boyfriend, managing to pelt him in the shoulder. He ducked back around, pumping his fist in celebration.

“You can’t hide behind that tree forever!” Marvin called, creeping closer.

“Try me!” Jackie regretted it immediately as snowballs fell from the air above him. He threw his arms over his head, running out from behind the tree. “Hey! That’s cheating!!” The smile on his face betrayed the anger in his voice.

“You call it cheating, I call it an advantage!” Marvin laughed, chasing after his boyfriend as he dodged the snowballs being thrown back at him. He was on his tail. 

Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. The dog was now barreling towards him. He yelped, turning around and running the other way.

“Now who’s got the advantage!” Jackie yelled as he chased after Marvin. With one final leap, he tackled him sending the both of them into the snow.

Once again, they found themselves laughing heartedly.

“I guess it was my turn to get a face full of snow, huh?” Marvin chuckled, doing his best to shake the hair out of his snow like a dog.

Jackie didn’t answer. Instead, he gave a small sigh, a lopsided smile on his face as he stared at Marvin. The snow stuck to his boyfriend’s lashes, and the sunlight was causing them to sparkle and twinkle. Combined with the blue irises, Marvin’s eyes looked like the night sky. It matched perfectly with the inside of his cape. How did a dope like him end up with someone so pretty?

“Cuz you’re a handsome dope.”

Jackie blinked, blushing as he realized he’d said that out loud. “I--well...uhhhh,” he stammered, trying to hide his head in his coat like a turtle.

Marvin chuckled. “Come on,” the magician said as he got to his feet, holding out his hand to help his boyfriend up. “While you might think the snow looks pretty on me, it’s freezing out here, and I’d like to be warm and toasty.”

“Well, that’s what you get when you don’t wear a coat or hat, Marvie.” Jackie lightly shoved his shoulder, his face still red like a cherry. “Besides, you’re doing a great job of keeping me warm.”

Marvin picked up the dog’s leash. “Oh, hush. Let’s just go back in and make some hot cocoa.” Although, now his face was a little warmer as a blush of his own dusted his cheeks.

~~~~

The two of them curled up on the couch, mugs of hot chocolate in their hands as the fireplace gently crackled. Marvin’s head leaned against Jackie’s shoulder as the two of them watched a movie start-up on the television. His hand gently stroked and scratched his cat’s ears as he purred at his feet.

He had traded his pants, shirt, vest, and cape for a pair of Jackie’s sweats. Once again, he had forgotten to do laundry and was left with almost no clothes. Thankfully, Jackie had let him borrow some of his own. Marvin rubbed his face affectionately against the hood of the sweatshirt. Where would he be without his big, strong hero?

Beside him, Jackie took a sip of cocoa from his mug. He sighed, setting down his mug and wrapping an arm around Marvin, giving him a light squeeze.

Marvin turned his head at the contact, pursing his lips and trying to hold back a laugh. However, he couldn’t hold back the red hue that spread across his face.

“What? What’s so funny?” Jackie raised an eyebrow, an amused chuckle escaping his lips as he turned to look at him.

That did it. Marvin giggled nearly spilling the contents of his mug as he did his best to set it down. “You--you’ve got--” he couldn’t even finish his sentence before he caught the confusion on Jackie’s face and a new wave of giggles washed over him.

“Well come on, spit it out, or your cat’s gonna leave his spot, and I know how much you hate that.”

Marvin wiped the tears prickling at the corner of his eye as his giggle fit died down. “Alright, alright.” He pulled his cat back towards the couch, causing the feline to let out a slightly annoyed mewl. He grinned, the laughter still lingering in his voice as he continued. “Jackie, you’ve got whipped cream for a mustache, and it’s on your nose, dumbass.”

Jackie crossed his eyes as he looked down at his nose. Sure enough, there was a generous coating of sugary cream. He licked it off his lips, wiping his hand across his face.

Marvin’s giggles came back for a moment and he covered his mouth with his hand. “Hey, Jackie.”

“What is it now, Marvie?” Jackie was nervous. How else was he going to embarrass himself today?

Marvin glanced up, smiling. “Look.”

Jackie looked up. Dangling above their heads was a small clump of mistletoe. He could just barely see the whisps of Marvin’s magic disappearing into the air around it. “Oh no.”

Marvin’s grin widened. He was blushing full force now as Jackie looked back at him. “Oh yes.”

“Must you be so cliche?” Jackie said, giving Marvin’s shoulder another squeeze.

“Only if it gets a reaction like that out of you.” He poked Jackie’s cheek indicating the tomato red tone.

Jackie chuckled as he cradled Marvin’s face with his hand. “Speak for yourself. You’re redder than my sweatshirt.”

Marvin leaned into Jackie’s hand, humming contentedly. “I love you so much, Jackie.”

Jackie craned his head closer to Marvin’s as the two of them looked into each other’s eyes. “I love you too, Marvie.”

The two of them locked their lips together, embracing as the fireplace crackled and burned like the fire they shared in their hearts for each other. And that was all the warmth they needed.

~~~~

AN: This story is based on @inspiredrawaw’s Death Omen AU (seriously go check them out). The Marvelspeticeye ship is so cute I can’t. I wanted to do something for this amazing AU but I’m not as confident in my drawing skills as I am in my writing skills. But anyway, I’ve been thinking about writing something like this for a little while now. It finally started snowing today, and so this just POPPED into my head. I couldn’t resist.  (I would have had it done earlier but I had to go to work...)

This is my first time really writing something romantic, and I hope I did well. I also hope that I got the characterization right, and I hope not too much of my own versions bled into this story. All in all though, this was very fun to write. ^^

Also, this is a bit of a holiday gift for them, so I hope you like it. ^^

#marvelsepticeye #writing #sugarsnapcaely #death omen au #jacksepticeye

[succulentsunrise]

Where the Fire Lilies Grow

Content: SFW!

Sorry it took so long but I really wanted to amp the suspense!! I hope you like it 😁

Tag list: @thoughtfullyrainynightmare, @lyranova ❤️

< Previous | Next >

Chapter 9: The Dungeon

“I’ve fallen in love with adventures, so I begin to wonder, if that’s why I’ve fallen for you.”

E. Grin

The forest spanned a large area. To a certain point, it was like any other forest. Subtly, however, the vegetation changed: it was more vibrant, more invasive and much bigger in size. Large roots of tilted trees curled towards the surface, creating a difficult terrain to walk on. The grass and plants that had gathered on the ground cut off all natural paths from sight. The branches of the trees were intertwined together with large, beautiful leaves. The beauty of the forest was not lost on Tani. It was intriguing, too - she had never seen anything grow so large outside of the neutral zone. Some of the plants she couldn’t even recognize. She would occasionally, to the amusement of her teammates, stop and wonder at some of them. Either this side of Clover had plants that her books and adventures had failed to notice, or the dungeon had brought new plants with it. Whichever option it was, Tani was certain they’d know after they’d find the dungeon. That, however, was a little harder to accomplish. The entrances to dungeons were usually rather plainly visible. This one was not. No matter how much they circled around the forest, they couldn’t find a path, cavern or even a large enough hole to move through. It was as if there wasn’t a dungeon there.

“What the--what is going on here?” Icree asked, frustrated enough to almost curse.

“Dungeons aren’t meant to be sentient enough to hide, are they?” Tani questioned humorously.

“No!”

“If I had to make a guess, it has to be in the middle of this forest.”

“Luka--,” Icree started to turn towards the young man, but before she finished, he had already nodded to her.

Luka had always been good at reading Icree’s moods and acting upon them. He had worked long enough with her to know what she wanted. He muttered a few words underneath his breath and several sculpted birds sprung from his hands. In answer, Icree conjured a group of butterflies, guiding them to move towards the edges of the overgrowth. She closed her eyes, likely trying to sense the right positioning through the overflow of mana. She then moved her arms up, slowly. Tani knew that wherever they were, the butterflies were flying up to signal to Luka’s sculptures where the edges of the overgrowth were. Luka would then be able to see how far they were from the middle through the eyes of his sculpture and the mana that Icree was spending. It was a rather complicated combination of spells, but hardly the first time they did it. Tani kept one hand on her sword, making sure no one would surprise them.

“We are north of the center,” Luka said after a long pause. “Here, follow me.”

He began to lead the others carefully through the woods, ever so often closing his eyes and ascertaining they were coming closer and closer to the middle. Tani kept an eye out for trouble still. The forest was quiet and calm. She tried to listen for bird songs or the subtle steps of animals, but it was as if they were avoiding the area. Tani felt a small chill creeping up her back and she instinctively moved her shoulders to shake it off. It was a move she immediately regretted - her left shoulder painfully reminded her of still being in the process of healing. Tani let out a defeated sigh. It would take a while to recover. At least she could hear insects around her, if not other animals. A bee was buzzing somewhere close by. Her gaze scanned the area around her, concentrating on a plant that she didn’t quite know. Its white petals were papery and still in a bud - unless they were not meant to open. She peered at it a little closer. What had seemed like petals to her were not quite so. It was more likely that the sepals of the flower had grown to form a protective bubble around the flower’s fruit, whatever it was. Tani smiled a little bit. Perhaps whatever was causing this overgrowth was at least not harmful to the plants themselves. Not wanting to be left behind, Tani let her gaze travel up, deeper into the forest. Immediately, she recoiled with a jolt. In the blink of an eye, what she had seen had disappeared, and yet -

Tani was rather sure she had seen a form there. A form of a person with curly hair and intense, blue gaze. It had stared at her from between the trees, filled with an emotion that she wasn’t sure how to read. The more she thought about it, the more she was certain that it had almost been a hostile gaze - a cold, calculating one. Had it been a trick of sunlight that the hair had seemed so warmly orange? Tani searched the treeline with her gaze, uncertain. Whatever had been there, wasn’t there anymore. Perhaps the bush had made her see things. She glanced around herself. Yes, the way the bush swayed in the wind could be mistaken for hair. It was a bit of a reach, but perhaps. The sunlight and the slight twinkle of blue sky - she had simply seen things. Tani took hastily steps forward to follow Icree and Luka. The sight had made her jump, and it was hard to calm back down. She kept glancing backwards, as if to make sure the bush had not come back alive. It however stayed swaying in the wind, as if waving her goodbye.

“It’s here,” Luka stated, stopping suddenly.

Tani looked forward nervously. The central point didn’t look any different from the rest of the forest: it was filled with a haphazard collection of trees, roots and rocks.

“There has to be a way to find it,” Icree muttered, jumping over the roots with an ease to reach the moss-covered cliff. She examined it with a thoughtful eye.

“Let’s scrape the moss off these rocks. Maybe it’s underneath them,” she commented, already rolling back her sleeves to start.

“Don’t!” Tani said quickly.

She rushed to Icree’s side, gently placing herself between the moss and Icree.

“Why hurt them, when I can just ask them to move?” she lectured her friend with a hurt voice, ignoring Icree rolling her eyes.

“It’s moss, Tani.”

“Hey!” Tani reprimanded, turning to the covered cliff. “Don’t worry, I won’t let her hurt you.”

There was the gentle dark green glow of her magic, and the moss and the plants seemed to almost crawl away from her hands. At the same time, there was a rumble, as if from deep underground. Tani quickly pulled her hands off the stone, looking around. Icree and Luka were doing the same, taking out their grimoires. Everything around them was still calm and quiet. Unnaturally quiet, almost. Tani glanced back to the stone.

“Look - the entrance,” she gasped, pointing at it.

The peeled back moss had revealed chipped frames of a doorway, blocked by an enormous stone slab. The slab wasn’t even the right size for the entrance. It looked like it had intentionally been put in front of it to hide it.

“What was that rumbling?” Icree asked, still alarmed.

“Something reacted to your magic,” Luka said with a glance to Tani.

“Perhaps,” she considered slowly. “Nothing happened, though.”

“The entrance appeared.”

“Yee-ees, but--it’s not exactly a defense.”

“Maybe the wizard that made this place was a plant mage and it’s gone a little faulty during the years?” Icree suggested, scratching her head. “Either way, we have an entrance.”

“I’m not sure if that makes any more sense, but we don’t have enough to build on,” Luka sighed.

“Let’s keep it in mind and open the way for now,” Tani said, knocking lightly on the stone slab in their way.

The others nodded their assent, and the three of them gathered around the stone. Most of the pushing came from Tani. Out of the three, she was by far the strongest, thanks to her upbringing and her constant exercising. As soon as they had pushed the stone to the side, a burst of hot air emerged from inside. For Tani, it was as if someone had trapped a volcano inside the dungeon and this was the first chance the air had to escape. All three of them immediately backed away from the entrance. Fortunately for them, there was no fire or flame that would have followed. There was simply an unbearable heat as the burst of flame began to quell. The three of them peeked carefully in, uncertain what they might see. The corridor that opened before them was filled with ashes and charred remains of what had once been plants. They swayed and crumbled in the disappearing burst of heat. It seemed like the walls of the corridor had once been covered completely in plants and moss.

“What happened here?” Tani asked, looking at it all. “Was this--was this a trap?”

“I didn’t see any glyphs,” Icree replied quickly. “No, I think - either this place hides an incredible heat source inside of it or someone came here before us.”

“The entrance was hidden,” Luka chimed in, shaking his head. “If someone had found it, they would have left it visible.”

“A heat source like this - I don’t know. This stone was put here by someone, I don’t think it is this dungeon’s natural door. It’s--”

Icree sighed in frustration, staring at the charred entrance.

“It’s too big. It doesn’t fit. It would be logical to assume that someone didn’t want us to find the dungeon and hid it with the slab, but--but to make plants and moss grow over it, they’d have to have plant affinity like Tani--or--or illusion magic--?”

“They were real plants,” Tani interrupted her. “I--we would have noticed.”

“Would we have? There was that rumble.”

“I know that my magic affected something here, Icree.”

“This could have simply been a trap,” Luka insisted quietly. “Perhaps whoever came here triggered something. A trap near the entrance.”

“A trap near the entrance...yes, perhaps. Perhaps we are dealing with a mage, who didn’t notice it,” Icree agreed thoughtfully. “And this dungeon just has fire traps.”

Tani looked uneasily at the charred marks.

“I’ll be at a disadvantage, then,” she noted. “We should be careful. If the traps in this dungeon are of this caliber, we don’t want to trigger them.”

Icree nodded and began stepping into the corridor. She was the best at detecting magic and so had the highest chance of noticing if anything was wrong. She took out of her bag a magically infused lamp and created a little butterfly inside of it. Unlike a fire lamp, these types of lamps were unaffected by wind and brought better illumination all around them. Tani and Luka followed carefully, scanning the walls for hidden doors or glyphs. After the entrance, the burnt places became more like patches, revealing the extent of the overgrowth in the dungeon corridor. There was a galore of alluring greenery that had grown all over the wall and ceiling. Once more, Tani found her attention turning to the condition of the flowers. Most of their leaves were white. Some displayed other colours - a variation of red, yellow and even purple - but none of them were green. There was, in fact, a remarkable lack of green colour among them.

“Fire and plants,” Icree muttered, shaking her head. “If the creator of this dungeon was a plant mage, why would they put fire traps in?”

“It’s rather illogical,” Tani agreed. “Not only that, they didn’t leave any light source for these poor plants. Yet they are somehow alive.”

“Maybe the infiltrator - or rather, infiltrators since it would be weird for just one mage to come here - has fire magic?”

“Why would they have used so much magic just to the entrance, and then blocked it with a stone?”

“I don’t know,” Icree sighed. “But it’s the only thing that makes sense to me right now.”

“Maybe the plants are the infiltrators,” Luka suggested, half-jokingly.

Icree gave him a half-hearted glare and continued to move forward. Tani followed, wondering about the theory. What if there were no other infiltrators? Could she make the presence of fire and plants work? Perhaps it was meant as a counter - plant magic had understandable disadvantages with fire magic. If there had been traps with fire magic, it could have been to catch any fire mages unawares. Did the creators of this dungeon expect mages with fire affinity? If only they knew more about the dungeons and their creators. Tani sighed, directing her attention back to the corridor they were traversing. It was wide enough for two people to walk comfortably next to each other as it slowly began to slope downwards. She could see further away, illuminated by Icree’s light, the opening to a chamber of some sort. Perhaps there would be some answers there.

Tani’s hopes for answers were squashed immediately as they entered the chamber. Its walls were lined with variegated flowers and plants, and the ceiling had been conquered by hanging ivies. The chamber floor was strangely uneven, consisting of both small bumps and larger shapes, all hidden under the blanket of vegetation. If there was something in the room, it had been overtaken by the plants a long time ago. As Tani’s gaze travelled across the chamber, she noticed that only the western wall had been charred. Someone had very clearly burnt a door-sized hole into the wall of plants, revealing an actual door behind it. The wooden door bore signs of having been slightly burnt along with the plants. Slowly, as if realizing her gaze on it, the door began to move. A tortured, creaking sound emerged from its ancient hinges as it slowly began to open. Tani took a step back, alerting the others even though they had heard the sound as well. Icree swung the lamp in the direction to better illuminate the area. Nothing was there. Beyond the doorway lay a dark corridor, where the group could see giant thorny thickets on each side. The bushes climbed all the way up to the ceiling, seeming almost ghostly in their whiteness. The thickets were dense enough to block any sight beyond them.

“Hello?” Tani called out, but Icree shushed her.

Icree began to quietly approach the door, a finger on her lips. Tani frowned, but followed her lead. They moved silently, trying to peer through the door’s cracks to see anyone. The door kept opening, but no one seemed to be behind it.

“The magic is stronger here, but I can’t sense anyone,” Icree said finally, illuminating the pathway in front of them with her lamp.

“Someone has definitely passed through here,” Tani commented, glancing at the burnt doorway. “Maybe there’s enough wind for the door--well--for it to open?”

The three of them exchanged disbelieving glances. It was a little too convenient. None of them felt any kind of wind in the stale, hot air. As they stepped through the doorway, Tani put her hand on her sword. All her muscles were tensed, as she was prepared for an attack or an ambush of some kind. Nothing of that sort happened, however. The corridor seemed to simply continue forward. The plants were different here - they were thorned and difficult to see through. The three of them advanced through the corridor carefully. Icree walked in the front, the lamp showing the way, and magic occasionally flickering near her fingertips. Luka was more composed, not showing his tenseness as easily. Still, his eyes scanned the area constantly, and he kept rubbing his right hand’s fingers together - a sign of his nervousness. Tani kept her hand on the hilt of her sword, but her thoughts were almost fully on the plants. They had no sunlight here, yet there were so many of them. They thrived, despite the limitations. It was surprising and worrying. There were no insects or animals to harm or help the plants. In fact, the quiet of the forest continued in the dungeon. The only sounds that Tani could hear were their own footsteps.

The corridor in front of them divided into three different paths. It seemed like they had reached a crossroads of sorts. Despite Icree trying to bring the lamp closer to any of the corridors, it was difficult to say which way would lead them to answers.

“Any guesses?” Icree asked.

“I can’t sense anyone else here,” Luka admitted, shaking his head.

A small noise from their right caught their attention - a small crackle, like a branch or a twig snapping. They all froze still, gazes fixed to the rightmost corridor. Then they heard it: a gentle, muffled step, another. Someone was walking. Icree put a finger on her lips again and motioned towards the corridor. The butterfly in the lamp grew dimmer and darker, as Icree lessened the amount of mana she was channeling into it. The corridor turned in front of them. Instead of peeking, Icree motioned to Luka, who created a tiny sculpture of a ladybug. It crawled into the thicket, out of Tani’s sight. It was hard for her to stay still. The footsteps were quieter, but they had to be careful. Reconnaissance was more Luka’s thing than hers, but she craved to do something and not just stand there. Eventually Luka shook his head, signalling that no one was in the corridor, and they moved again. The path turned almost immediately again, but this time they didn’t stop. Luka had checked both corners. Instinctively, all three of them began moving quicker. They were all holding their breaths, trying to listen to the footsteps. With their own mixed in, it was more difficult to make them out. Another turn that they moved through quicker - just to be faced with a dead end. Tani looked down to the ground. There were subtle imprints there, big enough to belong to a human with boots. She raised her gaze from the ground to the white thicket. Icree and Luka were looking around as well, wearing as perplexed expressions as herself. The thickets still rose all the way to the ceiling. There was no way to go around, under or above. An idea struck Tani, and she moved closer to where the footsteps ended. She gently touched one of the flowers of the thicket, pressing her finger against it and pushing. It moved under the pressure, and then slid off, one of its thorns grazing her finger. It seemed like it wasn’t an illusion, after all.

“They can’t have passed through here,” Tani muttered, withdrawing from the thicket.

“Maybe they parted the plants,” Icree suggested, dissatisfied with their solutions. “Or they have magic that allows them to pass through certain death traps.”

“I could try parting it, but they are built rather densely. There’s not much space for them to move to, and the ground looks undisturbed here.”

“There’s not really anywhere else they could have gone.”

The three of them looked at the thickets again. They looked sharp and dangerous.

“I’ll try opening a path,” Tani sighed.

She hovered her hands over the thicket carefully, barely not touching them. She concentrated. These plants weren’t easy to manipulate out of the way. They resisted. Tani increased her magic a little, still trying to gently move them to the side. The thickets rustled their complaints, but slowly began to bend out of the way. Behind them, another path was revealed. It was identical to the one they had been traversing so far. Icree stepped into the new corridor, her lamp illuminating a turn ahead of them. Tani glanced at the ground. She couldn’t see any footsteps in it, but perhaps whoever had been there, had decided on a softer approach. They all stood silently still for a moment, trying to listen for footsteps. They shared glances, each of them shaking their heads. No one could anymore hear the steps. No one either wanted to break the silence that had fallen, as if to hear better everything that happened around them. They continued following the path, ever so often stopping to listen. The plants stayed as variegated as before. Tani could see some similar ones as those outside - the white, lantern-like flowers seemed to bloom at the lower levels of the thickets as well. She would have otherwise stopped to look at them, but she didn’t want to waste time right now. Perhaps later, when they would be coming out of the dungeon.

Suddenly, Tani felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around instinctively, looking behind her. There was no one. A small shiver passed through her, but her gaze found a nearby branch with plump, white leaves. It had probably brushed against her shoulder. The thought calmed down her racing heart a bit, and she let out a small sigh of relief. There was something else as well: pieces of dark red fabric, tangled deep inside the thicket. Tani frowned. The light suddenly almost disappeared, so she turned to look back at her friends. The corridor in front of them had turned to the right, as well as she could see in the dark, and the light was being obstructed. They hadn’t noticed that she had stopped.

“Wait just a moment, Icree, Luka,” Tani shouted.

The light stopped moving, though it was surprisingly dim. Tani listened for a moment, but was satisfied as she couldn’t hear the other two moving. Gently, she began to coax open the thicket in front of her with her magic. The branches opened up easily, allowing her to extract the crimson fabric. It had definitely been ripped out of a cloth.

“What a naughty thicket you’ve been,” Tani muttered under her breath and turned to walk back to Icree and Luka.

As Tani’s steps echoed in the silence, the light seemed to start to move again. In fact, it left her almost in pitch darkness. She hurried along, trying to catch up with the other two. However, when she turned the corner, she found herself still in darkness.

“Icree?” she called out.

Tani couldn’t see any light anywhere. She had been suddenly thrust into pitch black, and her eyes had difficulty adjusting to it.

“Luka?”

There was still no answer.

Confused, Tani reached into her own bag and retrieved a similar lamp as Icree had. Instead of a butterfly, she filled hers with a tiny shining plant. It illuminated less area than Icree’s, but it was enough to see around.

“Guys?” she shouted a little louder.

The corridor in front of Tani seemed to only stretch forward. No matter how much she waved her lamp around or investigated, she couldn’t find a corner or bend where Icree and Luka would’ve gone to disappear from her so completely.

Tani was alone, separated from her friends, and without a clue where to go.

#Where the FIre Lilies Grow #black clover #black clover fanfiction #suspense time!!