also hey, just wanna say thank you to everyone leaving nice things in the tags for my little drabble 🥺 you've all made my day so immensely, thank you friends ❤️
#throw back to when i started secretly dating my bf and we went to the pool with our friends and one of them said he had a hickey and he said
My Top Posts in 2022:
#5
Between the Morning and the Night
A Captain Swan Tale
After a workout one night, Killian’s close friend and colleague pokes fun as he points out the scratches along his back, sarcastically wondering who could have put them there and why. Killian refuses to answer for two reasons: 1) he will do everything in his power to ensure that no one ever finds out that he’s sleeping (read: in love) with his boss’s younger sister, and 2) while he happens not to mind the marks she gives him, he really isn’t sure why Emma Swan does that.
A/N: affectionately known as "scratchy emma fic" and "do swans have talons?" this fic features mild mentions of scratching during sex, plus some mild whump. My thanks, as always, to @the-darkdragonfly and @donteattheappleshook for just generally everything, but also specifically for their help on this fic and everything I write.
Rated E
~11,800 words
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~~~~
She likes him.
She likes it when he takes her from behind, when he lets her take control on top, when he drives into her with her knees cradling his hips. She likes it when they’re on their sides with him tucked behind her, she likes it when he’s standing at the foot of the bed with her at his mercy beneath him, flat on her back. She likes it when he takes her against the wall, quick and hasty and desperate with his need for her. She liked that last night, anyway.
In all that he’s learned about her, the one thing that sticks out the most is that she likes him. She likes the way he touches her, the way he talks to her, the way he treats her. At least, he assumes she does. Not because she tells him so, but because of the way she clings to him, digs the tips of her fingers into his skin and scratches him because she can’t come up with another way to ground herself through the pleasure he brings her. And even though it hurts, he doesn’t care. He encourages it, in fact, biting her earlobe and telling her what the feeling of her nails in his skin does to him before he marks her collarbone and thrusts harder.
She leaves his place later and later each time, delaying the inevitable need to return to her own for fear of the backlash she’ll receive if she spends the night out. She may be an adult, free to make her own choices, but it doesn’t change the fact that she’ll be on the receiving end of some questioning glances she’d rather avoid. But despite that fact, she’s stopped sneaking away when he dozes off. She’s even started to bid him farewell with a soft smile as she buttons her jeans.
He loves her.
He’s certain of it, although perhaps she would tell him that it’s too soon to be. And perhaps she’d be right. But he doesn’t care. And he’ll keep this fact to himself until the point at which he’s certain she can handle hearing the words passing his lips and pressing themselves against her tattered heart.
~~~~
“Good god, mate.”
He turns, surprise in his eyes when he faces his friend and colleague and is met with his shocked, horrified expression.
“What?”
He knows he’s red and sweaty after a workout, but it can’t be anything different from how he always looks when they return to the locker room.
“I mean, were you attacked?”
Bloody hell. The blush is unstoppable as it creeps up his neck and across his cheeks, burning him from the inside out as he realizes he’s removed his shirt and exposed himself as the apparent freak he’s become since he started fucking Emma Swan.
Perhaps fucking isn’t the right word. But that’s what she’d prefer to call it– for now.
“Sergeant, did you realize there were mountain lions in Boston?”
“What are you talking about now, Scarlet?” the sergeant asks, his head pointed down at his phone as he makes his way through the gym’s locker room towards his belongings.
“Jones’ got himself involved with a right nympho, that’s all,” he says with a smirk, and Killian's eyes widen almost painfully as he tugs his undershirt on as quickly as he can.
“What Jones does on his own time is his business,” David responds without lifting his head and without knowing that it’s not always on his own time. “Thanks for the workout, boys, but I’m late for dinner with my sister.”��
Will hums happily, a smirk toying at his mouth. “And no man should keep her waiting. Although I’m quite sure she’d never allow a man to–”
He’s silenced immediately when Killian’s button down hits him square in the face. “Shut up,” he commands, rolling his eyes. “That’s… the sergeant’s sister. Bloody hell.”
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75 notes - Posted May 31, 2022
#4
The Promises We Keep
At twelve-years-old (she thinks), a young, homeless Emma Swan meets a slightly older, homeless Killian Jones. From there, they continue to help each other until they can't any longer. All she can hope for is that they'll eventually find their way back to one another.
For @the-darkdragonfly and @donteattheappleshook who always let me yell at them about my ideas and then yell at me back when I finally write them down. I’d be lost without them
Rated M (mildly)
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~~~~
By the age of twelve, Emma Swan felt like she had lived countless lifetimes.
At least, she assumes she was twelve. She kind of has to guess on her birthday so she also has to guess on her age.
At the ripe age of twelve, she had grown used to fending for herself, foraging for food whenever she could, learning the best spots to find the leftovers that closing restaurants throw away, avoiding the dangerous shelters. She had learned where it’s safest to sleep, avoiding the unsavory characters about the city and keeping herself as protected as she could.
And at the ripe age of twelve, she learned never to trust anyone.
Well, anyone but Killian Jones.
It started with her sharing with him, helping him, as if she had anything to spare. She saw the way he shivered violently on the ground near her that night and wondered for a long time if he was just like everyone else she had come across since she had found herself there, under a bridge with a gloating view of the Space Needle. But the more she looked at him, the longer she spent taking in the way he shook and whimpered and tried to steady his breathing, she just knew. That boy wasn’t high, he was sick. He was very sick.
She had walked over to him and noticed the way the paper covering his body rustled as his body quivered with fever. He was curled in the fetal position, and she could only assume that his back must have been hurting from how tense his body was. He was suffering so much more than anyone she’d ever met beneath that bridge. She had never seen anyone here curled so desperately close to the fire in the trashcan and still so obviously cold. Once, before she ran away, a foster mother had given her ibuprofen for a fever and she remembers wishing that she had some to give him in that moment.
All that she had that night was a ratty blanket and a stale chunk of bread. When she walked over to him and crouched by his side, she saw the way his blue eyes stared into hers, bloodshot and puffy, though his face was sallow. She noticed the way that his skin was pale white, his lips drained of any color. She noticed the way his cheekbones poked out dramatically and wondered when the last time he ate could have been.
“If I’m i-in your sp-spot, I’m sorry,” he started. “I-I ca-can move.”
“Stay,” she said. “You’re not in my spot.”
All she remembers is thinking about how that boy cowering too close to the fire with nothing to keep him warm as he wasted away with a fever would probably die that night. For a second, she had wondered if it was worth it to help him if he wouldn’t make it through the night anyway. But then she unfolded her tattered blanket and placed it over him, over the newspapers because she had heard that it makes for good insulation. She tucked the blanket around him tightly, and when she touched him, she swore she felt nothing but bone and heat. And then she took out the stale chunk of bread and ripped off a tiny piece, offering it directly to his pallor lips.
She won’t ever forget the look in his eyes when he parted his lips. He never once stopped staring at her, not for the first bite, not when he let out a sigh of relief as he started to feel a semblance of satisfaction, not when she took a few bites for herself.
“How long have you been sick?”
“A while,” he breathed, although he wasn’t stuttering as much now that the shivering had started to subside. “K-keeps getting worse.”
“You need medicine.”
“Yeah,” he scoffed, although perhaps the sound was more like another shiver. “You t-try getting so-some.”
It’s true, it wasn’t easy to come by. But he needed it if he planned on surviving the night with the way his fever seemed to be climbing and climbing. So she left, left him with her blanket and her bread and brought her crappy old backpack with her. She snuck through the streets and found a pharmacy that was open late. She found a bottle of water that cost a dollar and snuck the ibuprofen into her sleeve, paying for the water with the last of the loose change she had in her pocket. When she returned, he was still, dead asleep, and she wasn’t sure that was a good sign.
It was always a bad idea to fall asleep, or at least to do so as soundly as the boy was when she returned. It looked at first like he may have died while she was gone, but when she got close to him, she could see the way he was still breathing shortly, still shivering, although the blanket and food seemed to have helped.
“Wake up,” she had insisted, and while her words were short, the way she shook his shoulder was gentle. “Take this.”
“H-how– why are y-you doing-ng this?”
She didn’t know. She couldn’t answer. She handed him the pills and the water, but she took it back when he was done and finished it herself. Then she lied beside him, not too close because she had suddenly realized that she didn’t want to catch whatever he had. She watched him until he fell asleep again, the shivering finally stopping altogether, and then she fell asleep herself.
While she thought she was being safe, sleeping lightly so that she would wake with any movement near her, she woke the next morning with the blanket spread over her and the boy and the ibuprofen nowhere to be seen.
~~~~
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77 notes - Posted March 22, 2022
#3
deeper than we ever knew
Emma realizes that she's lead the man she loves, Graham, to believe that she's well experienced despite her being a virgin. In a panic, she recruits her best friend, Killian, to teach her a thing or two.
Beta’ed by my bestie @donteattheappleshook
Rated E
~15k words
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~~~~
Emma Swan has never been the type of girl to have an incurable crush on a boy. She survived middle and high school with only one memorable infatuation, Neal Cassidy eventually proving himself to be a giant asshole. She lived through her first year of college dating only one human man. At least, Walsh seemed human enough before they got together. By the time she got anywhere near ready to take the next step and sleep with him, he had proven himself to be yet another giant asshole. And now, as a junior in college, who has real friends and a somewhat real job, she’s realizing that the territory also comes with something she’s feared her whole life: she’s fallen in love.
Graham Humbert is a perfect man, she’s learned. He’s handsome, he’s kind, he respects her… his only flaw is that he doesn’t seem to be able to get it through his beautiful, curly head that she loves him. They work together in the campus security office, usually spending the Thursday through Saturday night shifts together since no one else is willing to work at such god awful times. Her unwillingness to tell him how she feels is likely impacting the fact that he stubbornly refuses to recognize it, but unwilling she is. She’s already decided that she needs to get him to fall for her, and everything will fall into place naturally after that without her having to lift a finger.
And, of course, there's the other dilemma that has plagued her throughout her life-- well, her teenage-through-adult life. Painfully and against her will, Emma Swan is a virgin.
She has needs and desires and thoughts and curiosities, but she also has fear and anxiety and a stark sensitivity to rejection, and for this, she’s decided that no man that she’s ever met has been worth her time or her body. Of course, she almost thought that Neal would be, but he proved himself otherwise when he left her to find her own ride home from the carnival after she refused to sleep with him in the port-a-potty. And then there was Walsh, who flirted with her for weeks and then became violently angry when she turned him down after their first date. So yes, Emma Swan is a virgin, but it’s because she has standards.
Of course, all was well and good until that fateful night in the office with Graham. It was well after midnight, the phones hadn’t rung in over an hour, and all they could do to entertain themselves was play truth or dare. She’ll admit to flirting with him, giggling at everything he said and blushing and biting her bottom lip, but part of her thinks that she led him on. When he leaned in and kissed her, she kissed him back enthusiastically and knew in that moment that she was leading him on. When his hands laced through her hair at the back of her head and pulled her closer to him, and when his tongue poked out and stroked against her own, and when he let out a groan from the back of his throat, she knew what she had done.
He told her that she was good at that-- at kissing him, at turning him on, if the bulge was anything to go by-- and she felt guilty. Because she isn’t very good at that. She’s kissed boys before, she’s had makeout sessions before, but she has no idea what she’s doing at any given moment. And when he broke away from her, panting and licking his lips and laughing breathily, he told her, I don’t want to rush things-- I feel like what we have is special-- but I can’t wait to see what else you have in store.
And he’s right, of course; it could be special. It could be good, if she knew what she was doing. Part of her was able to trick him into thinking that she’s remotely experienced in how to make things between them… work. But in reality, she knows nothing. She knows what to do for herself, by herself, but she has no idea what to do with another person.
So here she is, panicked and desperate.
Please. Please, Killian, pleeease? Please, i need you.
This is insane. I can’t even tell if you’re serious or not.
I’m completely serious! I need help!
No. I’m not going to lose my best friend over something this crazy.
Well i’m not going to have a good time with any other guys if i don't know what i’m doing!
…
So you’re really going to pass up this amazing opportunity to not only get laid but also make your best friend extremely happy?
Yes
Guess i’ll just have to recruit someone else then. Maybe a biker.
Jesus christ Swan. what the bloody hell is wrong with you?
A big one. Full of sperm.
Are you not going to let this go?
All you have to do is me. Just one time.
…
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84 notes - Posted March 30, 2022
#2
You Make Loving Fun: Part I
A collection of little Chrissy and Eddie moments that might turn a little smutty
Part I: Pomp and Circumstance. Eddie finally graduates and Chrissy is really proud
Yeah I know, my self control still hasn't returned. We'll be fine!
This will probably have several parts, but my plan is to have them basically unrelated or at the very least make it so that they can be read as a stand alone.
This is my 50th work posted to Ao3. That seems like a pretty awesome milestone. Whether you're from the Eddissy fandom or the Captain Swan one, thank you for stopping by and thank you for supporting my writing ❤️
Rated E- It’s smut my friends
~1900 words
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~~~~
He never liked the whole Pomp and Circumstance thing, mostly because he never really got it. Sure, graduating is a big deal, especially for someone who stayed back not once, but twice, but is the whole excessive grandeur thing really necessary? He’s never thought so.
That is, until it was almost graduation day, and Chrissy fucking Cunningham started playing the song, all excited for him to walk across the stage. All four movements, baby, she had said. And ever since then, it’s been stuck in his head.
He didn’t even know what a movement was until he met Chrissy Cunningham. Scratch that– until he started to get to know Chrissy Cunningham. More specificallly, until he started to fuck Chrissy Cunningham.
And of course, they were never just fucking. They’ve always been making love to one another, the passion between them almost nauseating each time they come together, each time they so much as see one another. Honestly, it’s miraculous no one’s figured it out by now, although that’s probably more related to the fact that not a single person in this god forsaken town could imagine a girl like Chrissy Cunningham sleeping with a guy like Eddie Munson.
Never mind actually, maybe, in a way, falling for him.
Either way, though, here they are.
Chrissy, with shimmery green pigment on her eyelids, and Eddie, finally knowing what the hell a movement is.
Her lesson did help, of course. She was so excited to find out that he was actually, officially graduating, that she found her mother’s cassette of the damn song and brought it over, playing it on a loop as she rode him until she screamed in time with the fourth movement. Now, the fourth movement happens to be his favorite.
Plus, she helped him get here, anyway. She told him, If you don’t blow Ms. O’Donnell’s final, I'll blow you.
She was high at the time, which was why she was being so goofy, but she did end up keeping her promise when he squeaked by with a C+.
Her name is called first, C coming before M, which he knows because he’s technically a high school graduate at this point. When she walks across the stage and accepts the diploma from Mr. Higgins, he screams so loudly that he can see her round cheeks blushing from his seat, her eyes rolling and her smile beaming while everyone else in his row gives him a look of horror and confusion.
And when he walks across stage, he can hear the shouts from his uncle Wayne, the whistles from the Hellfire Club, and the soft, familiar tune of Pomp and Circumstance playing from her Walkman, volume turned all the way up and still barely audible over the chorus of cheers and boos, her face lit up like a Christmas tree. She was so proud of him that he knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that this was all worth it.
It’s worth it again as he finds himself in the back of his van, Chrissy Cunningham fumbling with the buttons of his stupid shirt beneath the stupid robe, her breathing quick and panting and desperate as she presses her hips against his fingers. “Fuck,” she says. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Chrissy,” he scolds playfully. “You’re not one to curse. What’s gotten into you?”
“Hopefully you, if you wouldn’t mind hurrying up.”
“Well, I certainly wouldn’t mind, of course, but I’d want to ensure that that’s exactly what my sweet, innocent girlfriend truly wants.”
“Is sweet and innocent really what you want?” she asks, moving her hand from his last few buttons down to his crotch over the stupid dress pants she begged him to wear. They’ll look so nice, Eddie, she pleaded, and he couldn’t possibly say no to those big doe eyes. “Or would you prefer your desperate, needy, very proud girlfriend?”
He lets out a groan as she slides down the zipper of his slacks, her soft hand finding its way into his boxer briefs, the ones she got for him because she told him it would be best if whatever he was wearing under his slacks wasn’t baggy. Of course, the sensation of the tighter fabric is entirely new against the part of him that needs her the most, and she seems to know it, grasping onto him just right and smirking against his neck.
“Well?” she asks, and he realizes he never did answer her.
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90 notes - Posted July 9, 2022
My #1 post of 2022
Witness
After the worst night of his life, Killian goes into the Witness Protection program and moves to Maine until he can testify against the man who took everything from him. He had resigned himself to living a life of misery, pain, and heartbreak, but that all changed when he met Lily Quinn.
A/N: I finally finished this one!! It's not perfect by any means, but I'm honestly just patting myself on the back for completing it, at this point. It's not beta'ed and I probably haven't proofread it enough, so if you see any typos or notice any continuity errors, no you didn't.
Also, this is the 50th, yes FIFTIETH, Captain Swan fic that I've posted on Ao3. There isn't much I can say about that other than thank you to everyone in this incredible fandom who has encouraged me to explore writing and discover how much I love it. Thank you especially to @the-darkdragonfly and @donteattheappleshook for always being there for me in every capacity and for supporting me through thick and thin.
Rated E
15,630 words (oops)
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~~~~
The pain is unlike anything he’s ever felt before and is likely to ever feel again, lest he lose another appendage. It burns and stings and throbs and stabs all at once, and it drives him mad as he looks down and remembers that there’s nothing there. There’s no hand to be hurting him as he bites into his bottom lip and doubles over, holding his empty wrist in his one remaining hand. There's no reason for him to be feeling this way, and yet he feels as though he’s lost the hand all over again.
He doesn’t remember what it felt like to lose it in the first place, but it must have been something like this. Leaning over his ledgers upon his pathetically small desk, he tries to remind himself that there’s nothing there anymore. He shouldn’t be hurting like this, not now that it’s gone. He tells himself to get over it, snap out of it, he’s being foolish. He lets out a pained gasp as he puts his stubbed arm on the surface of the desk and picks up a pen, staring down at the empty space where his hand should be before taking a breath and sending the pen forcefully through the air, into the grainy wood, missing the hand that he lost months ago.
The burning subsides when he does this, as if him telling his mind that it isn’t there, that it doesn’t matter anymore, isn’t enough; as if he has to see it for himself to believe his own thoughts. It happens frequently– frequently enough for him to consider himself crazy on a several-times-weekly basis. He’s just lucky that he doesn’t share this cramped office with anyone, that he’s usually left alone to do his work in peace, just the way he likes it. He’s lucky that he lives alone, that he has no one to watch him go through the lunacy of feeling pain in a hand that doesn’t exist. He’s lucky that he’s always alone. He’s lucky to have lost everything and everyone, because at least he doesn’t have to force someone he loves to live through this with him.
At least, that’s what he tells himself as he pulls the pen from the shallow hole he punched into the wood and returns it to the cup where it belongs.
~~~~
He’s making an effort not to become the town drunk.
His father was the town drunk, and he’s always hated his father.
So when he goes to the Rabbit Hole, he likes to keep it to once a week, maybe less. He likes to keep it to two drinks, maybe three. He likes to keep control over himself so that no one in this tiny place starts to see him as the town drunk. They already see him as the strange, handless recluse, and he doesn’t feel the need to move into town drunk-territory.
But when he walks into the Rabbit Hole that night, just a few months after his arrival, he considers changing his ways if only in response to seeing the stunning, glowing blonde behind the bar for the first time.
She truly is glowing. She emanates beauty and exudes perfection as she stands behind the bar, somehow catching the perfect lighting, her bare arms toned as she pours a beer flawlessly, her hair gleaming under the dim light fixture, her smile shimmering despite the darkness in the bar. She laughs at her patron, Leroy telling her a joke that Killian can almost certainly bet was not funny. She throws her head back and he nearly salivates at the sight of her bare neck. She turns from the grumpy old man and adds the pour to his tab and then she turns again, locking eyes directly with Killian before giving him the most beautiful, sexy, friendly smile he’s ever received.
“Welcome in,” she says, her voice like bells as it rings through the bar, cutting against the loud music and the even louder laughter from the party at the pool table. “What can I get you?”
He’s almost stunned silent, stupidly standing there with his mouth hung open like a trout until he gets his bearings, tugging on the sleeves of his gray knit sweater and shuffling towards the bar. Get it together, you old fool, he tells himself, cursing as he trips over his own feet but praising himself as the sight draws a soft giggle from the angel of a woman.
“Rum,” he says idiotically, and she raises a brow.
“Just rum, neat? On the rocks? Or a shot?”
He clears his throat. What will she think of him ordering just rum, neat? Or a shot? “Might as well throw in some Coke and ice, I suppose,” he chokes out, fighting through the awkwardness that he hasn’t felt since high school.
She laughs. It seems genuine, but she must treat all of her customers like this, right? “A rum and Coke then, coming right up. Do you like lime?”
“Yes,” he says, although he can’t really remember if he does or not. He pulls on his left sleeve as he sits down, far from Leroy. His elbow rests on the bartop, and if he had a hand, it would drop between himself and the surface he leans against. “Sure. Please.”
She works quickly, and he tries and tries not to look at the way her black tank top hugs her waist. He tries not to notice the way that there aren’t any lines along her back and he tries not to wonder whether she’s wearing a bra beneath it. He tries not to notice the way her jeans hug her hips and flare out just slightly, elongating her legs impossibly. Really, he really tries not to stare. Seriously.
“There you go,” she says with a bright smile. “Want to open a tab?”
He says nothing, dropping his bum arm and using the other to fish his wallet out of his back pocket, pulling out the credit card David gave him and handing it to her without a second thought. Normally, he wouldn’t open a tab. Opening a tab is something the town drunk would do– or at least running up the tab is. But how can he say no to the siren standing before him?
Oh hey, the system requirements for BG3 got updated: The game now needs to be installed on a SSD, even under minimum requirements.
Edit after release: The game is playable even on a HDD, I can confirm this myself. There even is a setting to compensate for the lack of reading speed (although some textures still take some time to load sometimes). In their launch preparation post Larian say they "highly recommend" playing with a SSD, though. I am very glad it's not a hard requirement!
it's just delusional fluff. husband!nanami x reader, papamin in his glory. a very late christmas fic.
a/n: As President of the Haitchverse Fanclub, thank you for all you do for us fellow kento/hiromi lovers @pseudowho ❤️
School days were coming to a stop as the days ended sooner, the air was frostier, and the holidays got closer. You mentally scolded yourself for not ending class earlier this week so the kids could finally get some time off when you hear Itadori think aloud, "Ah, we only have a few days of school left before the holiday break, huh."
"Hmm? Oh yeah," Kugisaki responded, "I was going to do some Christmas shopping."
"You're going to do it at peak Christmas shopping time??"
"Why not? Might as well get some shopping done for a new year wardrobe!" She snickered.
Noticing your curiosity, Fushiguro turned to you and asked, "What about you, Mrs. Nanami?"
"Me?"
"Yeah! What do you and Nanamin plan on doing for Christmas?" Itadori perked at the idea of his favorite teacher and favorite mentor doing mundane holiday things.
You responded without thinking much about the question, "I think we're going to work on dinner together and have some family over." Though, as soon as those words came out, there was a sense of deflation in the air.
"Ah, I see." They all shared a look, then Itadori spoke up, "I think this is my first time spending it without Grandpa."
"Now that you mention it, this is my first time spending it in Tokyo," Kugisaki shrugged.
"Usually, my sister plans dinner for us," Fushiguro said.
You could almost hear the lonely sigh they gave out as they tightly tugged their lips into a curt smile. Your heart went out to these kids. 'They're still so young. They shouldn't be spending Christmas by themselves in their dorms.' You frowned, trying to think of ways to spend time with them without making them think it was out of pity. There must be something their teacher can do. After all, what's closest to a parent figure than a teacher? Perhaps this was something your husband could solve.
Your husband. That's it. You quickly packed your bag, waving the kids off as they said their goodbyes and left the room. 'Would Kento oppose this?' You wondered, 'Nah, surely even he can't be that callous.' You headed straight for the door before pausing, "Ah, but he's definitely going to mock me for this."
You got home before Kento and sent him a quick message that you'd be preparing dinner. It was a little crazy, that idea of yours, but the craziest part would be if Ken would actually play along in your schemes (as he would call it).
"You know, you shouldn't poke your nose where it doesn't belong." You remembered him telling you that right before you took up the position to fill in as Gojo's substitute. "You're only going to get attached to them, Darling." Psh, what did he know? Only just about everything about you.
"I'm not going to get attached, Ken, I'm just doing a favor for an old friend. Besides, those kids are going to join us on the battlefield someday, maybe even tomorrow. They need someone to guide them properly, especially when Gojo's not around." You grumbled on the drive home, peering at him from the corner of your eyes as he chuckled.
"Sure love, whatever you say." He remained focused on the street before him, "Ten dollars says you do, though."
"Nanami Kento," you faked a gasp," are you making a bet with me right now?"
"Nothing wrong with a little indulgence, is there?" You turned to him with a raised brow. There was a playful glint to his eye; he knew what he was doing here, baiting you into these childish games. There was no real prize here; the money would stay where it belonged, but he got the right to say he won.
You scoffed to yourself, 'No one would believe me if I said that my husband would partake in stupid bets like this.' You rolled your eyes at him, "Alright, ten if you win. But if I win, I want to change the color of our bedroom."
He raised a brow at you, "What's wrong with our bedroom color?"
"Nothing's wrong with it, our new room color is just going to be a reminder of my new victory."
"You're a little too confident here, don't you think," he chuckled.
Damn him. Damn him, damn him, damn him. How dare he be right about everything. You felt the embarrassment on your face as you mixed the curry roux in the pot. Ugh, he was going to be so smug when he heard your stupid plans.
You could back down now, there was no reason you couldn't. Hell, maybe if it was a month ago, you wouldn't even think a second thought about these kids. But Kento, he just had to be good with children. You didn't think much of it when he came to pick you up from your mission with the kids last month. You didn't think much of it when he asked you and the kids if you guys ate yet. You didn't think much of it when he invited them to join you guys for dinner at home, seeing that it was late at night. You didn't think much of it when he offered them the couch and the spare bedrooms. You didn't think much of it when he told Itadori to eat his vegetables, handed Kugisaki a spare hair tie, and gave his seat to Fushiguro at the dinner table. You didn't think much of it when he told them to go relax, cool off, and that he would handle the dishes. But man, you saw the fond look in his eyes when he dropped them off at their dorm the next morning. You saw how happy he was to have them around, to occupy the spaces of your shared home, to relax and share a meal with these kids at the dinner table. Call it camaraderie, mentor-mentee relationship, or authoritative affections. Call it whatever you want, but Kento was meant to be a dad.
You smiled at the pot of curry in front of you. You knew he was going to mock you, but you couldn't help but wish that you were making this dinner for five right now instead of two. You knew that even though he was going to tease the hell out of you for feeling this way, the feelings were mutual and he wanted them around too. So, you sucked in a deep breath when you heard his car pull up in the driveway, turned off the stove, and made towards the door to welcome him in.
You opened the door before he could even pull out his keys, throwing yourself into his arms as he walked in.
He leaned in, putting his face into the crook of your neck, “Well hello to you, too.” He pressed a soft kiss to your temple, taking in the little things that made his home whole.
“Welcome home,” you pressed your face into his chest, unwilling to let him see the look of defeat evident in your eyes.
He pulled away to look at you, your eyes downcasted and a slight puff in your cheeks. “What sort of trouble did you get into this time?” He mused.
“I need your help, Kento.” He quirked a brow at you as you suddenly helped him take off his winter coat and scarf. “There's something bothering me at school.” A light tug to loosen his tie, “It's been killing me all day,” another tug, “and I just don't know what to do.” You glared at the offending piece of fabric as if it was the cause of your demise. “Will you help me?”
“That depends,” he hummed, “what's got you so worked up that you need my help at school?” You gave out an exaggerated sigh, walking back into the kitchen to plate him his dinner. He followed, washing his hands and setting up the table. “Is this about the kids?” He doesn't even look at you, knowing you'd do anything to deny it. It was childish, you both knew it, but you couldn't help the heat creeping up your back. How does he always know? There was a pause, then another. You placed two plates onto the dinner table, sitting down without another word, red staining your cheeks as you flushed in embarrassment. He sat down and chuckled, “I'm right, aren't I?” You scrunched your nose at him, debating to deny it or admit your grievances. “Darling,” he reached his hand across the table for you to meet his in the middle, “is this about the kids?”
Another deep sigh, “Yes Kento, it's about the kids.” You rolled your eyes, slipping him a ten dollar bill across the table.
He chuckled, “You know that's not what I wanted in the first place.”
“Ken, really?” You frowned at him, placing one hand on top of his. His brows quirked up, making you run your other hand through your hair. “Alright, alright. You were right. I grew attached to the kids. I said I wouldn't, but I did. You warned me and you told me so. Now stop being a butt head, and help me with this.”
“I was going to tell you to say, ‘please,’ but this'll do too,” he gave a gentle squeeze. “Now, what did you have in mind?”
“I need you to dress as Santa.”
“No.”
“But—
“Absolutely not.”
“Ken—”
“Nope.” He met your offending glare with indifference on his own face. “Why on Earth would I dress as Santa.”
“It's for the experience.”
“You think I should experience wearing red velvet and a—”
“No, not for you! The experience is for them.” His face deadpanned. “I'm serious, I think you should dress as Santa, like when dads pretend to be Santa for their—”
“They're not our kids.”
“You don't mean that.”
“Of all things you want me to do—”
“It'd make a fond memory for them!”
“To put me in a big red coat and that ugly—”
“You wouldn't even have to wear the beard!” He gave you a pointed look. “Okay, the beard would help a lot, but Ken—”
“No.” You opened your mouth in protest, “Absolutely not.” A pout formed on your face, cheeks starting to puff in frustration. He gave out a big sigh, “I'll get them gifts to open for Christmas. Won't that suffice?” He poked one of your inflated cheeks. “We can even head over to celebrate with them if it'll make you happy.” You refused to look at him at this point, disappointed in his lack of enthusiasm for your plans.
Getting up to clear your dinner, you grumbled as you walked past him to the sink, “They don't have anyone to go home to like we do. I just want to give them something happy to remember.” Your words hung uncomfortably in the air as he stared down at what was left of his dinner. He heard the tap turn on, then off. You left him to simmer in his thoughts. Another big sigh as he ran a hand through his hair, he quietly pulled out his phone and made some orders online.
“They're not our kids.” Why did he say that? He knew you saw how happy he was whenever the kids were over for dinner.
“You don't mean that.” You were right. He didn't mean it. He loved every minute of it when the kids stayed over, even if dinner time was rowdier and messier than usual. Even if he had to give up some of his comfort and private space to have these kids around. Even when he had to scold them for something as miniscule as eating their vegetables out of his work hours, for goodness sake. “I just want to give them something happy to remember.” He frowned. This could've been a happy memory for you, too. After all, it was just one day, probably not even the entire day in a stupid red suit. So what if he thought it was ugly, that dumb suit could've really made his wife happy. He groaned, opening his phone once again to make another impulsive purchase. He may have won your little bet, but it seems like you won something else after all. Even if you didn't know it yet.
After he cleared his own plates, he made his way to get ready for bed so he could return to you. He walked through the bedroom door, disappointed to find you facing the other way. You weren't even sparing a glance at your husband nor making any cheeky comments about how wet he looked and how low that towel hung around his waist. Nothing, zilch. He sighed again, throwing on a pair of checkered pajama bottoms before making his way next to you. He had his arm over your waist, testing the waters, and a little glad that you hadn't shaken him off.
“Good night,” you grumbled.
He pressed his own “good night” into the crown of your head.
You woke up a little earlier than usual with your husband's arms around you tighter than it was last night. With one arm across your chest and the other around your waist, he had your hips flush against his. It was so pleasant, you almost forgot why you had your back facing him to begin with. You blinked the sleep away, mentally at war with yourself to either stay or to forcefully peel away from his embrace. You shouldn't, ‘He doesn't deserve it,’ you pouted. ‘Even if I reaaaallly want to, I should be firm about this.’ You tried to reason yourself as you felt him shift from behind, only pulling you in closer, tighter. His face was in your hair, his puffs of breath tempting you to go back to sleep. You mentally screamed, ‘Damn him! I need to— ugh. It's so comfortable.’ You wanted to cry. This was the ideal morning, but you had to get up now if you wanted to work on setting up the classroom for the kids. Time was of the essence, and since somebody denied you of some good, fun Christmas spirits, you just had to make up for the non-participating party's lack of enthusiasm.
You willed yourself to pull away from your husband as you slipped out of the comforter, not making it far before he had his arm around you again. “Stay.” You didn't realize he had sat up when you tried to sneak off. If not for the arm that wound around your belly, you would've mistaken his low morning voice for something else. It was something akin to dark chocolate and warmed honey, running deep and slow; it woke you up in the morning. You wanted to whine at how unfair he was being. How affectionate and cuddly for someone so stern and callous last night. You shook your head and quickly pulled yourself out of his arms and into the shower.
‘I have to stay strong,’ you repeated to yourself under the freezing water. After getting dressed, you went to the kitchen where you found your distracting husband in just his checkered pajama bottoms. ‘Oh, dear lord, I am not your strongest soldier.’ He gave a soft smile, his hair sticking to one way and the other. You wanted to run your hand through it so bad, but if you got any closer, you might not leave as early as you had hoped.
“G’morning.” There he goes again. Him and his stupid, perfect face, and his stupid, perfect— “I made you tea and breakfast.” Oh no.
You forced yourself to grab the coffee pot instead, “No thanks, I plan on leaving to work earlier today.” You didn't even bother with the cream and sugar, needing the bitter taste to jolt you out of this domestically inviting scene. Nope, nope, nope. You grabbed a piece of toast, gave him a quick peck on the cheek for good morning, and rushed to the door before he could stop you from leaving again. He blinked at the whirlwind that was his wife, frowning when you slammed the door. The door opened again, “I'll be a little late today! Don't wait up!” His frown deepened at the second door slam. Knowing you, you were probably going to set up some lights and a small tree in the classroom or at the dorms just to make it a little more festive for the kids at school.
“I must've really messed up,” he scratched the back of his neck, “No use in moping about it now.” He sighed and eyed the unwanted cup, then went to check his phone.
You were quieter than usual for the next couple of days, not so much as being upset with him, but more distracted with your thoughts. You already had the lights up to the kids’ surprise that one morning and promised them that the tree will have more ornaments the next day. They tried to wave you off, saying, “No need ma'am, you already do enough for us,” and “Really, we're fine, it's just Christmas.” You hushed them, something about ‘the presents are already wrapped’ and you ‘already mailed Santa for them’. You knew they were old enough not to believe in some merry folklore, but you wanted them to look forward to something this week. You checked your phone to see if the surprise was going to arrive on time.
‘Today's Wednesday, and the package is going to come tonight. Then break starts…Friday?’ Your brows furrowed, ‘Would I have time to get dinner for them too? Ugh, I should've told Kento to prepare food instead of wearing a Santa suit or something. That would've been smarter. Ah! What about the second years? Did I buy their gifts yet?’ The day ended, leaving only two days left for you to prepare, so you hurried home to think of gift ideas for the others. ‘Socks are only cool when you're in college and realize you need to appreciate useful things, like parents who provide socks,’ you scoffed to yourself. ‘What would high schoolers even like? Are CD albums still cool? But what do they listen to? Do they even listen to TommyHeavenly6 or L’Arc-en-Ciel? Oh god, am I outdated now? Are Scandal still cool??? Ah, focus! Now’s not the time. What would these kids like for Christmas?”
You pulled up into your driveway, making your way to your front door, brows still furrowed as you nearly walked into your husband, “Oomph.”
“Welcome home,” he said warmly, pressing a kiss to your forehead as he helped you out of your work shoes. “How was work?”
You eyed him momentarily before speaking, “It's going well, I think. The kids are…Well, they're losing focus now that break is just two days away, so it's hard to get them focused on the lesson. Itadori nearly ran into the door this morning because he forgot about doors.” You chuckled fondly, “Though I suppose that's my fault for putting up all those Christmas decorations. I probably got them excited and whatnot.” You tiptoed ever so slightly to kiss him on the cheek, “What did you do today?”
“Had a mission that ended early, so I made dinner,” he said. It wasn't a total lie, he did make dinner, but instead of a mission, he actually drove around town, picking up what you missed on your not-so-secret Christmas plans list. He knew it wasn't going to fully make up for his harsh words, but you were going to appreciate it either way.
Dinner went smoothly. Better actually, now that you were both hip to hip at the sink, washing dishes together. You two were back to your usual routine; he connected Bluetooth to your phone, and you got to play music that made you nostalgic for your teen years again. He rolled his eyes when you blew sudsy bubbles at him, “Real mature,” he hip bumped you before flicking water onto your glasses. His heart swelled seeing you look at him, like it was his first time again, seeing how your smile widened the slightest of increments or how your eyes darkened a little more with mirth. With another nudge, he insisted you showered and got ready for bed, “I can handle the rest,” he waved you away.
After you showered, you went to bed, tucking yourself underneath his chin, and pressed a kiss to his sternum for “good night.” He could've melted right there and then under your touch, but instead held you close, hoping the next few days were going to be to be easier for the both of you.
Thursday went by fast, and all of a sudden it was Friday. ‘D-Day’ as you'd called it in your head. ‘Kento’s gonna be at work, so he probably won't make it to see the kids open their gifts.’ You frowned as you remembered the shaky handwritten cards you wrote for the second years, embarrassed that you had to stick to gift cards in the end. Nothing wrong with gift cards, but you would've liked to be as personal with their gifts as you were with the first years.
It was a bit before lunch that you decided to give them a short break, and quickly made your way to the bathroom to change into your outfit. It was a silly oversized red coat, and you realized why Kento had been so stubborn about wearing such a thing. You laughed at yourself in the mirror, ‘Okay, I get it, it is ugly.’ You made a beeline for the staff room, imagining Kento’s reaction to you and the hideous outfit, but nothing could've prepared you for what you saw next. Your husband, the love of your life, the most stubborn man on Earth, stood before you in the same exact outfit. You could've sworn you were in the soda can commercial with how cold and stiff his face was.
“Kento.”
“Yes?”
“What on Earth are you wearing?”
“I could say the same to you,” he raised an eyebrow, eyeing you up and down.
“I thought you didn't want to,” you trailed off, not sure if you should be pointing and laughing or crying over your husband in those ridiculous clothes.
“I didn't.”
“Then why are you—”
“You were right.” You stared at him with your mouth wide open, “The beard does help a lot.” He offered a taut smile and you jumped into his arms, happy enough that you could have married this man a second time.
“I can't believe you,” you buried your face into his neck, “you silly, silly man.”
He let out what sounded like a small laugh, “Let's go before I change my mind about this outfit.” He gave you a peck on the forehead and went to pick up the bags off the table.
“You got them gifts???” He raised his eyebrow once more, opening the bag to show you the contents. Your face fell at the trays of food, “Really??”
“Hey, these kids are big eaters, and besides, you left food off your list.”
“Ah! You saw that?” You flushed, unable to contain the smile growing wider on your face.
“Of course I saw it, it was the only thing you looked at all week,” he rolled his eyes, taking your hand in his free one as you both walked back to the classroom.
“What did I do to deserve you?”
“Dunno, but next time, how about you don't reject my—”
A water bottle fell to the floor when the door opened.
“Na-nanamin?”
“Why are there two Santas?”
There was a camera shutter click. “I'll send this to you guys later,” Kugisaki smiled.
“But seriously, what are you two wearing?”
Kento sighed, “There was a little mix up. Mrs. Claus here almost left some of the gifts back at home, so I'm here to deliver the rest of the presents.”
You smiled at him before turning to them, “You should go call for the second years, tell them to come inside for lunch.”
The kids immediately rushed outside to bring the upperclassmen in. Something about, “Hurry up,” “Food’s here,” and “Forget the food, hurry before he changes out of those clothes!”
No one understood why Kento was dressed as Santa. After all, he wasn't technically their teacher. Sure, they’d had dinner with him a few times, but did that really warrant buying them presents and helping them celebrate with a Christmas meal? Or maybe he lost a bet? No, Nanamin would never take part in bets. Then what was it? They weren't exactly sure. All they knew was that the way he smiled at his wife was the same as when he sat at the dinner table with them at home. The Nanamis sure love Christmas, they joked. You watched all five kids lean in towards your husband as Kugisaki whipped her phone out for a selfie with Santa. It reminded you that you ought to capture the moment while Kento was still willing to participate. With another click of a shutter, you took the picture of your smiling husband and your kids.
“Darling,” he gave you a warning glare.
“Oh, c’mon Santa, lighten up,” Maki joked and the others giggled.
You poked his side, “Yeah, Santa, who knows when I'll get to see you like this again.”
Nothing could have prepared you for his response; he gave you another flat look, then replied, “Probably when we have our own kids.”
credits to @cafekitsune for the beautiful Christmas banner
River of Stardust
GENRE/TAGS: Romance, Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Gapfiller fic, Fix-it fic, drama-canon compliant, post-canon, check the potential warnings but I promise it’s a happy ending, is it a gapfiller fic if it's filling gaps for after the drama ends and also for 180k years before?
PAIRINGS FEATURED: Main pairing: Dongfang Qingcang/Xiao Lanhua, side pairings: Xunfeng/Danyin, Shangque/Jieli
MAJOR CHARACTERS: Dongfang Qingcang, Xiao Lanhua, Danyin, Xunfeng, Shangque, Jieli, Changheng, Siming, Yunzhong
RATING: T: Teen And Up Audiences
WARNINGS: Canon-typical Major Character Death, canon-typical violence, no plot armor for side characters, bugs (butterflies)
SUMMARY: Post-canon fic starts about two weeks after the finale, when DFQC is reincarnated.
Changheng goes missing in search for his banished mother. Xiao Lanhua and Dongfang Qingcang must postpone their wedding day as they embark with Danyin, Xunfeng, Shanque, and Jieli in their quest to find him. Their search will take them to the deepest depths of the Memory Loss River, the swamplands on the outskirts of Haishi City, and to the stars beyond the Destruction of Heaven.
Ruthless, ambitious, and with a mind for expansion, it’s no wonder he always finds himself in positions of political power. But like all men, he has desires of the flesh, the longing for real connection. He comes onto you as an ordinary man, and you love him as one.
What you don’t know, is that he’s the king. When you learn the truth, you pull away fearing for your own safety. But he holds onto all the tighter. With the nation obeying his every whim and every pair of eyes and ears working for him, he’s impossible to escape.
Content warning: Sex, violence, and dubious consent. R18+ only.
The nobleman
Mathias commands respect everywhere he goes. As one of the most powerful men in the ancient world, he has a potent presence that causes the whole energy of a room to change if he were to enter it. But he also likes to blend in when he can. He will dress down to avoid standing out, even if it’s still in clothes for those in the top percentile.
He often leaves the palace grounds to visit the city in person. Whether it’s for leisure or to see how his kingdom is doing, he insists on doing it without protection. And when people recognize his face as the same one on the back of their coins, he gives a reassuring smile as they talk excitedly amongst themselves. The King is here!
Chinese silk, richly dyed clothing, and the most exotic Arabian perfume. They’re everything you notice about Mathias when you serve him at your diner. A member of the ruling class, you think. But that’s all. The last thing you’d expect is for the king himself to show up in this humble establishment, fitting in like everybody else.
“Tell me, eskler,” He begins, watching you set down his meal in front of him. Lamb shank, mash, and the soup of the day. A hearty meal to go with the homey atmosphere. “What do you think about the king?”
“I don’t know,” You lift your gaze to him thoughtfully. Without batting an eye, you tell him the words he didn’t know he needed to hear, and would, in turn, change his life forever. “I’ve never met him.”
He’s taken aback by your response, but it draws him in like no other. There’s people who don’t care for politics, and then there’s you. Someone who’s never even seen him before. And so long as he keeps his identity a secret, he’ll be treated as an equal. It’s nowhere near the treatment fit for a king, but somehow, he can’t get enough.
Mathias asks you out for dinner. You reject him the first time, and understandably so. You don’t wanna accidentally become a part of his harem, or whatever it is the elites are doing these days. However, you eventually have a change of heart when you keep seeing him in your diner. Not to pester you about a date, but only to eat and chat.
“Seeing that you’re more polite than any other man I’ve met, I’ll take you up on your offer,” You tell him.
“Really?”
“What, did you have higher expectations for men?”
“No, that’s why I’m surprised you would say yes,” Mathias explains, following you with his eyes as you clear up the last remaining tables. He eventually stands up to ask this. “What makes me so different?”
The truth is, you sense that he’s a good person, and he’s shocked when you tell him. He tries to see himself in your eyes, and in turn, discovers a whole new side. Thanks to your willingness to engage with him on his level, he gets in touch with the more vulnerable parts of his character. He drops his guard, and feels strangely human.
He starts seeing you in secret. The moment he gets the chance, he disappears from the palace and makes a discrete trip to your home. His alibi? The same thing he’s been doing the whole time. He’ll always show up with flowers and other gifts, but more importantly, an empty stomach, having developed an appetite for your simple cooking.
“So, what are we having for dinner today?” He rubs his hands expectantly as he peers over your shoulder.
“Pickled fish,” You hum.
“Can I help?” He lights up, rolling his sleeves.
“You can help me by staying out of the kitchen.”
He’s very playful. Rolling around with you in the grass, pretending to bite you like a frenzied dog, it’s a timeless romance that transcends the ages. He can play with you like a child but love you like a woman, so being with him feels like a dream. His presence is just so fulfilling you can’t imagine asking for more, but he just keeps surprising you.
He spoils you. His generosity is magnanimous, pampering you with jewelry, dresses, homeware, and everything you could ever need, and more. Mathias imagines himself to be the solution to all your problems, and takes great pride in using his privilege to help you. Little does he know, it’s the one thing that drives a wedge between you both.
“This is really nice and all, but—”
Mathias is taking you to store after store, fishing out anything he thinks would look good on you. And he isn’t picky, or shy, for that matter. He will watch your silhouette behind the paper screen until you finish.
“—this is a bit much, don’t you think?” You appear from the side of the screen in a revealing jade dress, cheeks flushed. “I don’t need all these things, and besides, I could never pay you back if I tried.”
“Why would you pay me back?” He questions.
“I’m just saying,” You reply, sliding your hands in his. “It always feels like we’re from different worlds, Mat.”
He takes that statement personally and becomes cautious about protecting his identity. You hold him to a high enough regard already, and he’s only revealed so much — that he’s an aristocrat. Even then, you’re still wary of the class difference that sets you two apart. Mathias is destined for greatness, but this is all you’ll ever be. Imagine how you’d react if you found out he was the king.
He’s afraid that he’ll scare you off. All rulers have blood on their hands, a ruthlessness that evades the ordinary man. You would be heartbroken if Mathias were anything of such, and he knows. He only wants you to see him as the person he is when he’s with you. Kind, gentle, and passionate. You make feel like a man, and when he feels like a man, it fills him with a carnal sense of purpose.
He’s sensual at heart, so he can’t go without it. Not without you, or the intoxicating completion you give him. So when you start pulling away, he’ll feel the whips of panic because a part of him is slipping away. Every interaction you have with him will become emotionally charged. Mathias chases you like crazy, but you withhold from him, causing him to have frequent bursts of passion.
“I thought we talked about this—”
“—No, I thought we talked about this. You said you loved me, and now you’re not gonna marry me?” Mathias sits up out of alarm, then stares at you like you just betrayed him, because to him, you have.
When you argue
There’s no arguing with Mathias. When he wants it his way, he’ll eventually get it. And in that same breath, you can never stay mad at him, allowing for a vicious cycle that never ends. Something about him just gets you to forgive him before he even does anything. It doesn’t matter what the argument is about, or how bad it gets, because it’s guaranteed you’ll be kissing him by nightfall, and he’ll be making love to you until sunrise.
“What’s makes us so different to each other?”
“You know why,” You rub the tears from your eyes as you rush down the stairs. “I’m not your equal. I don’t have money, I can barely read, and I don’t know anything about the things that are important to you!”
“Those are trivial things! And they’re nothing I can’t give or teach you!” He runs in front of you, talking excitedly. And he believes in every word he speaks. “The fact that we’re arguing makes us equals!”
No matter how outlandish.
“It doesn’t work that way, Mathias!”
He uses sex to his advantage. You know touch is his love language, so it becomes hard to resist, especially after a bad fight. The tension calls for a hard release of it, which he does through a hot and raw pounding. It gives him the safety and reassurance that you will always love him, and he’s addicted to it like a drug. Don’t be surprised that he starts picking fights just for the sake of it.
“I’m gonna cum inside you, okay?” He pants over you, moving his pelvis back and forth in fluid thrusts.
“You wouldn’t dare,” You breathe under him.
“I would,” Mathias speeds up to a pace that gets his face to contort from a pleasure so good, it looked like he was in pain. He was going so hard and deep, his orgasm came in seconds, arriving in strong jets that fills you to the brim. And he’s not letting you go until every last drop of it is pumped into your womb.
He wrecks boundaries and shatters your mind in the process. He can’t handle distance, let alone tension, and will force his way into your world. You can’t help but let him, too helplessly in love with his smile and memory. He seems nurturing and giving, when really, he takes just as much, and if not, more. You don’t always realize that, and lose yourself as well as your ability to say no.
The King
He has a fierce intelligence that intimidates. Not only does he have one of the greatest military minds of all time, there is no taking advantage of him in political exchanges. He can read anyone with a single glance, then find a way to get out on top. It’s all in his slick grin, which goes away in an instant. Making it obvious he’s hiding his amusement is just how he mocks his enemies.
Mathias is above the system. He doesn’t abide by existing power or religious structures if he thinks they’re useless. Sailing west into an open ocean, guiding his people to enlightenment and discovery. Questioning rulers, then going so far as to overthrow them. He’s a dark horse when it comes to challenging the natural order, a master of annexation, a force to be reckoned with.
He treats those below him with respect. He will look anyone in the eye to speak to them on their level, no matter who. He’s not pretentious at all, but very understanding of people from all walks of life. Kind to the poor, merciless to the rich. Civilians are cared for by their king and love him for it, but the same can’t be said for high society. Not that they have anything to say about it.
Mathias is uncensored to violence. He wouldn’t bat an eye at the inside of someone’s skull, heads rolling, or spilled guts. As a king, he’s seen it all. He fights with his men like the God of war for all his incorruptible dreams, so every battle serves a divine purpose. If it means he can give his people a better life, give you a better life, he would gladly take it away all the same without hesitation.
And yet, when you come around, his invincibility, sharpness, everything that makes him ruthless, goes away instantly. That impenetrable exterior his enemies work tirelessly to get past, is broken. He returns to who he is at his core, a kind, gentle, and curious man because you see him as such. Being with you is like rising to the surface and taking a breath for the first time, constantly.
For this, he can never stop thinking about you. Every waking hour of the day, you’re on his mind. With the rush of politics and warfare, all he wants is to drown in your love, beauty, and femininity. You are the light to the darkness that pervades the world, your presence a sacred haven in all the chaos. It’s no wonder the world is made for two, because he can’t understand it without you.
That’s why he’s such an intense lover. Mathias will show up to your doorstep uninvited and beg for your attention like he’s starving for it, because there’s no other way to describe such a feeling. Whether it’s through talking, touching, or kissing, the way he looks at you is how all girls want to be looked at — a look with so much love, you can hardly return it. But he makes you every time.
He can stay calm even in times of conflict and crises. He knows when he’s in control, and this has served him well for many years. But if he does lose his head, it’s when you’re caught in the crossfire. He will do anything to keep you safe, even if he has to sacrifice thousands of others. He wouldn’t just go to war for you like other men, he would wage them. Start them. Finish them.
His dedication is the stuff of myths and legends, because if it came down to it, he would venture to the depths of the underworld to rescue you from the dead. Slay monsters to prove his worth. Challenge Gods. Nothing is bigger than his love for you, and he’ll make the whole world feel it. What he has with you is for the history books, epics, and sagas, but he’d prefer privacy over all.
You are his only weakness, so if someone caught wind of the king’s secret lover, everything would be over. Unfortunately, he gets too carried away by going to your home too often. To protect you, he has no choice but to reveal his identity and take you back to the palace. Dressed up in his most extravagant robes, he knocks on your door with a band of soldiers surrounding the property.
When you answer, the first thing you see is Mathias in his crown, and behind him, the royal guard. Your heart sinks as everything clicks. Why he was always so secretive, why he was always so adamant that you were his equal, his other half. Why the court advisors bowed before him despite being the highest ranking officials in the state, because he was above everyone and everything, all except for the Gods themselves.
“Let me explain.” He tells you, brows raised.
“I knew it,” You utter, slamming the door in his face. But nobody simply shuts out the king, not even you. That reality sinks in as he stays outside your home, asserting he has no intention to leave without you.
The honeymoon
The first week is the toughest. You feel betrayed and overwhelmed by who Mathias is, so you refuse to see him. He’s very understanding at first, and prepares a separate room just for you. It’s fully furnished, lavishly decorated, and filled with everything you’ve ever laid your eyes on. He’s been thinking of you all this time, yearning to be with you, but you have yet to give in. This isn’t the man you thought you knew, and yet, some part of you always suspected he’d turn out this way. He seemed too good to be true, and he was. After all, every force has an equal and opposite reaction, where his love for you alone goes head to head with his ruthlessness.
He tries to find you around the palace, which is perfect for when you eventually get cabin fever. You roam the palace grounds out of curiosity, even joining some of the servants in the kitchen. Mathias would never show up in a place like that, and that serves you well for a few days. You feel like yourself again and all is well, that is, until you run into him in the orchard, picking apples for himself. It’s the second time you’ve made the crucial mistake of thinking of him as any other king when he isn’t. No chore is too low for him to do, no place too filthy for him to be. You both stare at each other, eyes wide. Without a single word exchanged, you turn around and run off.
“Will you at least have dinner with me?” He calls out to you, watching your back grow smaller and smaller.
“I’m quite fine, thank you.”
“Please?” Mathias softens his voice. “I miss you.”
You can’t resist him, especially when he talks and looks at you like that. The man you thought you knew is still in there, and it sucks you in like a rip. You join him in the dining hall and have a meal together, even if it’s a silent one. You’re keen on leaving right after, but he’s quick to notice that. He’s never wrong when it comes to reading your body language, even when you were being subtle about it. Turns out, with him, nothing is subtle. He catches you before you get far, grabbing your hand and pulling you back. “I’m still the same person you love, so will you just stay with me?”
Mathias is sneaky. He’s really good at reeling you in and letting you think you’re pushing him away. And he gets closer the more he keeps doing it. He knows exactly what he’s doing, while looking like he doesn’t. His innocent act is more effective than you’re led on to believe, because you fall for it every time. Every interaction with him has a catch, just like the dinner that came with a stroll. And now, you’re in his bed a week after telling him you want to sleep separately. You only realize your mistake three nights in, curled up tightly in his arms, staring up at his tired, smiling face.
“What am I gonna do with you?” You whisper.
“The same thing you’ve always done.” He answers.
He’s comfortable in his natural state. Mathias has the body of a warrior, his skin scarred by all the blades that have touched him. Otherwise, he’s an impressive specimen produced from years of battle and good genes. Large, muscular, and well-endowed. If the weather allows for it, he’ll relax in the bedroom buck naked, and talk to you as casually as he would with clothes on. He doesn’t feel any shame or embarrassment when he’s so familiar with you. He can also work up quite a stink, so he makes it a point to chase you around for a hug. And he catches you every time.
He expects you to join him for breakfast and dinner everyday. Mathias has a lot of business to attend to in between, but wants you to be the first and last thing he sees. Waking up and falling asleep beside you isn’t enough. He also insists on taking all his baths with you, so you ought to get used to being naked around him. He’s the type to stare, and so much that it’s embarrassing, but he always makes sure to remind you how beautiful you are. He may be a handful, but he just wants you to be as comfortable around him as you can so you both can be like two peas in a pod.
“It’s not like I haven’t already seen every inch of you, so don’t be shy,” He wades over to you in the pool.
“Doesn’t mean I can’t stop refreshing your memory.” You splash his face, cackling. “Have some manners!”
He tutors you. Granted, it took a lot of convincing on your end, but you can’t deny that you want to be closer to him, and this is how. He teaches you all about his duties, as well as math, science, and literacy. You didn’t go to school, but he wants to involve you in official business as you’ll be his most trusted partner in the future. And if he sends letters, you need to be able to read them. He’s been elevating you this whole time, hoping that you gain the confidence to stand by his side one day. And when that day comes, he’ll propose to you in a way that feels so natural, you won’t hesitate to accept. If you see him smiling at you over nothing, that’s what he’s thinking about. You’re going to be this nation’s most beloved queen one day, and he can’t wait for it to come.
The night of your wedding, he will carry you to his chambers to consummate it. He doesn’t think of it as a duty wherein he needs to produce heirs, but something he’s been wanting to do for ages. Starting a family with you, if he didn’t already get you pregnant from all the unprotected sex he’s been having with you for months. But tradition is tradition, and there won’t be another opportunity as romantic as this. You’ll be ravished all night, taking him until your insides ache and you get sick of his taste. He has a penchant for all kinds of sex, but combined with his ox-like stamina and insatiable appetite, he could go at it forever.
Mathias would want to reincarnate by your side, finding you again and again in endless rebirths. In the dark ages where life is short and death is always near, having you just once isn’t enough. So after conquering the mortal world and making it perfect for you, he will search for answers to the question that needs answering. What comes after death, and if you’ll be there, waiting for him. It’s strange. He has dreams of having different lives, each more vivid than the last. Sometimes a dashing prince, other times, a champion boxer. He doesn’t understand what he experiences, but the thing about dreams is that they always make sense when he’s in them. So maybe, it’ll come to him one day, even if it’s thousands of years later.
Trying to avoid extended family drama (that has nothing to do with me or my little fam so leave us alone! 🤪) like the plague atm. Feeling emotionally drained most days but I’ve still managed to make progress in some of my WIPs which makes me happy, because writing about Buddie makes me happy (and frustrated at times when the words aren’t wording haha).
I’ve finally taken the plunge and dived into The Well Incident (not just the aftermath of it) from Rival Firefighters 🚒. Here’s a little snippet from before shit goes down.
Prev snippet here
News vans began to roll up (Buck had spotted a familiar head of red hair that he quickly avoided) and along with them came the rain. At first it was a light pitter patter but it soon turned torrential, gusts of wind blowing harshly making an already complicated rescue even more dangerous and fragile.
A radio was sent down to Hayden and they were able to make audio contact, Eddie being the one to talk to Hayden and let him know help was on the way and to try and stay calm. Then next thing Buck knows, Eddie is harnessing up to get lowered down and something uneasy swirls to life in Buck’s gut.
“You know you don’t have to be the one to go down there.” Buck muses as he checks Eddie’s harness is secure.
“I’m the one that was talking to Hayden on the radio, he knows my voice, so he’s more likely to trust me and follow my directions.”
“I know that Eds, but I just–,” he sighs and looks out into the distance where a flash of lightning shoots across the darkened sky, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
“Buck,” Eddie gently grips Buck's shoulder, his thumb finding a familiar resting spot on Buck's collarbone, “I need to do this.”
Their eyes lock in a silent exchange, Eddie's face pleading for Buck to understand. And he does - he does - but he can’t shake the feeling that something bad is going to happen.
“Okay.” Buck agrees reluctantly. Even though he’s feeling uneasy about this rescue, about Eddie going down into the earth, he’ll support his partner. “I’ve got your back.”
“Then I’m in the best hands.” Eddie squeezes Buck’s shoulder and then he’s stepping away to get hooked up to the rope at the entrance of the hole he’ll be lowered down into.
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