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safertokiss · 3 years

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Through a Different Lens

A/N: Well, well, well. Lookie what we have here. New content wowza. I’d say I’m surprised it’s been a while, but I simply am not. Luckily another fic swap has arrived to get my creative juices flowing once again. The gods have gifted me with another perfect opportunity to write sub spence because I was given @writing-in-april as my person yet again. Hooray! Anyways I hope you enjoy and thanks all you cool cats and kittens for the support (we almost to 1000 yeet skrrt). Also, it just happens to be my birthday today so as a gift to myself I thought about subby Spencer for a while.

Pairing: SPENCER x READER

Category: SMUT and can’t forget that fluff

Word Count: 3.2k

ENJOY:)

~~~

It all started completely by accident.

There was no possible way that she would’ve been able to predict just how much they would affect the poor kid.

She could remember, clear as day, the first time she was forced to wear her glasses to the bureau due to her ongoing frustrations with the torture devices that were also referred to as contacts. There were only so many headaches and eye-waterings that she could take before the insecurity of wearing her frames to work shriveled below the point of caring anymore.

But none of those previous insecurities held a flame to the amount of confusion she felt when she entered the bullpen and waltzed over to Spencer’s desk to say good morning with a shy smile adorning her face. Y/n hadn’t even been able to get a complete sentence out before the young doctor had turned to her and froze, his mouth hanging open like a fish, his eyes widening to the size of dinner plates, the harsh red blush she had seen before, just maybe not to this extent, engulfing his boyish features.

Before she could even attempt to ask him what she had done to warrant such a response, he was spouting out a meager, “H-hey Y/n” whilst simultaneously scurrying off in the direction of the nearest bathroom.

Completely and utterly perplexed over what had happened, she had shrugged it off and made her way back to her desk, silently mulling over the interaction periodically throughout the rest of the day.

It was a couple of the same type of interactions later that Y/n began to take notice of what was actually happening with the boy genius. The stiff and unnatural posture. The stuttering, granted that wasn’t something new, just much more frequent and severe. The audible heartbeat always accompanied by rosy cheeks and goosebumps.

Spencer Reid was fucking turned on by the glasses.

And he didn’t even try to hide it. Or maybe he did and was just really, really bad at doing so.

Either way, Y/n quickly discovered just how much fun it was getting these reactions to pour out of the kid...so of course she kept wearing the glasses even after she was able to wear contacts again. He didn’t need to know that.

It was so fucking easy too.

She would just be sitting at her desk, occupied by some particularly troubling pages of a case file that makes her have to readjust her frames out of stress, when she’d hear a high pitched squeak across the bullpen, followed by the pattering of frantic footsteps she had familiarized herself with in former few weeks.

While she felt some kind of guilt for putting him through this, it was nowhere near enough to overtake the genuine excitement and gratification that came with knowing she could have such an effect on the adorable doctor.

Of course she found him attractive...how could she not with his perfectly sculpted cheekbones and nerdy slicked back hair. Ultimately Y/n could understand his apparent infatuation with her wearing glasses as she had caught herself, on more than a couple occasions, openly ogling his own specs.

Maybe they were both weirdos...the whole situation was almost as strange as the Converse kink that she secretly harbored for years. Although her intuition was quick to suggest that, just maybe, both of her unique infatuations stemmed from the same noodle-shaped source.

Perhaps her favorite reaction of his, though, came about during the little office birthday party that the entire team had thrown for him.

He looked so adorable in the gigantic birthday cake hat they had bestowed upon him, Y/n could hardly contain her giggles at the giddy smile adorning his face. She watched on in amusement as Spencer tried desperately to get the candles on his cake to extinguish, to no avail, at least until someone felt bad watching his struggles and decided to give him a hand.

“They’re trick candles Spence, they’re gonna come back on every time.”, JJ chuckled, subtly smirking at Morgan who was also enjoying Spencer’s ongoing struggles.

A couple “happy birthdays” later and the rest of the team slowly began to disperse, leaving just Y/n and him alone in their own little space. He must’ve noticed this too because the blush that had already been present throughout the celebration beforehand seemed to deepen even further as he visibly swallowed down his nerves.

Slowly stalking towards the rouge kissed boy, she dragged a couple of her fingers across the surface of the desk, noting the way his eyes briefly flicked down to follow the movement before hesitantly returning his gaze to match her own.

She also noted the way his knuckles were basically turning white from the amount of pressure he was using to grab the sides of the chair.

“You have a good birthday, Spence?”, Y/n drawled with a teasing smile, now standing directly before the trembling young man.

Seeming to snap out of whatever sort of trance he had been in, he hastily cleared out his throat before responding with a bit of trepidation. “Hmm...yeah-yes uh yes it was v-very good, than-thank you.”

She couldn’t even attempt to conceal the smirk that had made its way to her lips listening to the genius stutter through his words. Such a nervous, nervous boy. So adorable. So fucking hot.

“Well that makes me happy. I’m glad you enjoyed yourself pretty boy.”, she paused her thoughts soaking in the little hitches in his breath surely from how close she was standing near him and the added nickname. Deciding to play a little bit dirty, she leaned over directly into his line of sight to reach for the cake set before him.

“Now how about I take this away and cut it up for all of us to eat? Hmmm?”

His eyes darted immediately to the cleavage that was so graciously presented to him as she bent over to pick up the dessert, a sharp little gasp escaping his pretty, pink lips as his pupils dilated carelessly.

Y/n inwardly smirked at his reaction and began walking towards the kitchenette, but only made it about three or four steps before being interrupted.

“Did you know that in some instances birthday candles are safe for wax play?”, he exclaimed before seemingly realizing what had just escaped his lips, his hands flying up to cover his traitorous mouth.

Bewildered, in the best of ways, by what had just been said, she slowly swiveled back around, facing him once again, before placing the cake on the desk beside her.

“What was that Spencer?”, she grinned at the petrified man who hadn’t made a single noise since his unexpected declaration. The poor thing looked like a caged in animal with nowhere to escape. Perfect.

“N-nothing! I m-mean obviously it was um s-something, but j-just uh just forget what I s-said.”, he quickly explained while frantically shaking his hands as if he was hoping he could simply wipe your memory of the last minute or two away permanently.

“No, no please go on.”, she teased. “Now I’m intrigued. What did you mean by ‘in some instances’ Spence?”

She wasn’t expecting the look of confusion, however brief it was, that peeked its way through the overwhelming embarrassment that had been showcased on his face, as if he truly couldn’t fathom that someone was actually asking him to go into more detail about a topic.

Still didn’t change the fact that he was completely mortified.

Clearing his throat, he hesitantly lifted his gaze back to Y/n’s, seemingly debating with himself over whether he could articulate the words to come out or not.

“Um...well..usually many p-people who choose to e-engage in such act-activities will use specific types of c-candles that are uh more designed especially for pl-play.”, he paused and she drank up the way his Adam's apple bobbed along his throat. “Uh… basically depending on the t-type of candle that one u-uses, the amount of pain or um d-discomfort differs. B-birthday candles tend to b-be on the more painful side so only the couples who are in-into that kind of thing would ever really utilize t-them.”, he finished abruptly, his leg bouncing rapidly in her line of vision.

She still couldn’t really believe she had actually gotten him to say anything at all, nevermind an in depth analysis on wax play. In a weird way she was proud of him. Really proud. Sometime amidst her thoughts, she’d found herself standing directly behind his sitting figure, her hands resting on either side of him against the table, the goosebumps visible on his skin from the implications of the position they were currently in.

“That’s really intriguing Spencer. I’d love to find out someday just why it is you know so much about the subject, but I don’t want to make you go into cardiac rest anytime soon.”, she remarked, giggling at the shy smile that made its way to his mouth.

She didn’t even register reaching out to lightly touch his lips until she heard his sharp intake of breath. Until he turned his head so they were mere centimeters apart. Until she watched his puppy eyes dart between her lips and your frame covered gaze. Until the space between them seemed to be lessening with every sec-

“Hey pretty boy! Where’s my cake?”

Y/n grudgingly pulled back at the interruption, watching in amusement as Spencer’s body instinctively leaned forward as if his lips hadn’t gotten the memo and were still searching for hers. “It’s coming right up you lazy ass!” she yelled back with a grin on her face.

She looked back to the boy sitting before her and was almost mesmerized by the dazed look present on his face, the blush slowly retreating as he came back to his surroundings. She could tell there were words that he wanted to say, but they just didn’t seem to be forming fast enough to actually come out. Deciding to put their little moment on hold before he passed out, she walked back over to the neglected dessert and started heading towards the break room again.

“I’ll make sure to save you the biggest piece, Spence.”,she threw over her shoulder, chuckling at the bewildered look still that was still present on his face.

~~~

The day was a big success in her opinion.

Spencer looked even more like a child than usual with the big shit eating grin that remained throughout the celebration and the bulky hat that he refused to take off. She could never understand how someone could have such an affinity for sugar as she watched him devour the huge slice of cake she had carved up for him.

But hours later, it was just her and Spencer left in the building.

And she was not about to let that go to waste.

Y/n could see him from where she stood at the entrance to the kitchenette. She could see the way he slouched over his desk with his legs curled underneath him, criss cross applesauce, as he scribbled down whatever case file he was working on. She admired his determined work ethic, that’s for sure.

But now was simply not the time to work.

Spencer immediately froze as soon as her body situated itself to be leaning against his desk, painfully aware of her gaze on his tense form.

“H-hey Y/n.”, he nervously murmured, the stutter once again making her giddy.

“Hey yourself doc. Wanna tell me why it is you’re still here working at such a late hour? Doesn’t the elusive Spencer Reid have better things to be entertaining himself with?”, she drawled, her piercing gaze making the poor kid squirm before her eyes.

“Oh um no...n-not really. I actually don’t mind working late. It’s k-kind of therapeutic in a way. But um...I’m happy t-that you’re here w-with me.”, he whispered the last part as if he was scared you wouldn’t appreciate his gratitude.

But she appreciated it more than he knew.

Noticing the little pencil holder situated amongst the file stacks on his desk, an idea popped into her mind that she just couldn’t shake, prompting her to pick it up and begin fiddling with it.

“Oh is that so pretty boy? Does my presence satisfy you?” Before he could even attempt an answer she “accidently” dropped the holder on the ground, the array of pens and pencils dispersing among the floor. “Oops my bad.”

Spencer immediately scrambled out of his seat and onto the floor to start collecting the colorful writing utensils, the perfect distraction needed for Y/n to situate herself on his desk with her legs spread open directly in front of his face.

“D-don’t worry abou-”, his sentence cut off as he looked up and was met with the tantalizing sight of her white lace panties already damp with her excitement. She swore he could die happy with the way his eyes widened and cheeks flushed. She couldn’t help but chuckle lightly.

“See something you like baby?” Unable to even form words, the young doctor slowly nodded his head, eyes still locked on the obvious wet spot between her open legs.

“C-can I..can I um…”

“Use your words baby boy. Can you what?”, she spoke clearly, grasping his chin so he’d look her in the eyes.

“C-can I taste you?” She couldn't get over the desperate way he spoke as if he’d die of thirst if he didn’t get a drink from her.

“Of course you can sweet b-” Not even letting the words leave her mouth, his hands were eagerly pulling her panties down and off her legs, his lips instantly connecting with the heated flesh at the apex of her thighs. She swore his tongue and lips were enchanted with the way he was able to effortlessly maneuver his way around, easily picking up on what she loved.

“Oh Spencer you’re such a good boy.” she couldn’t resist threading her fingers through his silky hair and tugging slightly, an action she assumed he enjoyed based on the muffled whine she heard from between her thighs.

It hadn’t even been more than a few minutes before she found herself already on the verge of letting go. No guy had ever been able to make her feel this good and just electric until now. He was quickly ruining her for anyone else in the future. She did not mind in the slightest.

“Baby I really wanna feel you inside me. Is that something you want sweetheart?”

He reluctantly pulled back after a few more kitten licks to her clit, wide eyes finding hers and whimpering out a broken “yes”. More than happy with his response she gently pulled him up by his hair and started undoing his belt, his oversized pants easily falling down without the extra support. Just another thing about him that she had come to adore. She was very pleased by the obvious bulge that protruded through his baby blue checkered boxers.

Before she pulled those down too, though, she very gently reached up and cupped his cheeks, guiding his plump lips to her own, basking in the delighted whimpers that escaped his mouth at the soft but passionate contact. She released his lips with a slight nip and proceeded with his clothing removal, coaxing him to sit down in the swirly chair he had been previously residing in, before straddling his lap.

“You ready sweet boy?”, she asked leaning forward to kiss his rouge forehead and cheeks.

“Mhmm I’m r-ready.”

Taking that as the go ahead, she cautiously positioned herself over his throbbing erection before slowly lowering herself inch by inch until he was completely enveloped by her tight, warm walls.

“Oh-ohh my.”, he whimpered at the overwhelming feeling of being connected so intimately. Gently, she started to move a bit more, hesitantly lifting up before lowering herself back down, flush against his lap, one of her soft hands anchoring herself to his shoulder while the other caressed his flushed cheeks.

“I know baby, I know. You feel so good baby boy I don’t think I’m going to be able to last much longer.”

“M-me neither.”, he stuttered as the pace she had previously set seemed to increase in speed, the excitement and ecstasy getting to the both of them and subconsciously pushing the two of them closer to their shared release.

The fire was quickly building within her body and she knew she was truly crumbling at the seams, but with the way his body was trembling and his dick was subtly twitching inside of her she knew he was right there too.

“It’s ok baby boy, it’s ok. Cum for me sweet boy. I want you to cum inside and fill up my pussy Spence.”, she muttered feeling the beginning of her end crash unexpectedly throughout her entire being, grasping onto the boy underneath her to tie herself to the earth.

Overwhelmed by the utter euphoria of Y/n cumming around him, Spencer let himself get thrown off the edge, his hands tightening on her waist hard enough she was sure little bruises would form come tomorrow, not that she minded at all.

“Oh Y/n!” She watched on, obsessed with the way that his mouth fell open in a little o-shape as his eyes squeezed shut, the tell tale signs of pleasure coursing through his veins, the warm feeling that he left deep inside of her as she gently lifted herself from his shaking legs, reaching for her panties before the warmth was able to escape down her damp thighs.

Looking back at the trembling boy after cleaning herself and him up, she couldn’t help but melt at the lovesick, puppy dog eyes he was giving her, prompting her to lean forward and leave more little kisses on the top of his damp hair.

“That was incredible Spence. Really incredible. I’ve never felt anything like that before baby.”

She melted even further at the way he shyly dropped his head to somewhat hide the wide grin that had spread like wildfire across his face. There was a comfortable silence between the two of them before his head lifted with a questioning glance.

“How’d you-I mean uh how did you know that I liked you?” There was no way she could control the giggles that left her lips at his silly question.

“You weren’t exactly subtle with the whole glasses thing Spence.”

And then the only sound heard throughout the building was her full blown laughter at the mortification that speedily adorned his cherry cheeks.

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valdomarx · 4 years

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The most disgusting parts of a witcher’s work were almost -- almost -- worth it for the simple pleasure of taking a bath afterwards. A contract on a zeugl, however, pushed even Geralt’s patience to its limits. With the job completed he’d arrived back at the inn exhausted, covered in fifth, and stinking to an unbelievable degree.

Jaskier had taken one look at him, led him out to the yard, and thrown buckets of cold water over him until the worst of the filth was washed away. He would have grumbled about that, but Jaskier had also ordered a hot bath sent to their room and prepared his lavender soap that Geralt secretly loves, so he decided to be magnanimous.

Now, he lets the warm bath water wash over him, bleeding away the stress and disgust of the day.

Jaskier sits behind him, rinsing out his hair with careful movements. The scent of lavender spikes as Jaskier lathers the soap between his hands and begins to rub it into Geralt's scalp. His fingers are strong and sure, digging in with just the right pressure.

Having spent the day being spat at and wading through hip-deep filth, it feels sinfully good to be touched with care and attention. Jaskier digs a thumb into a spot at the base of his skull and Geralt moans without meaning to. Jaskier only hums, and does it again.

He can't deny he's always enjoyed having his hair played with, and if he feels his cock filling out as Jaskier massages his scalp it's only because it's been too long since he's allowed anyone to take care of him, and because there’s something about being submerged in water which makes his body open to suggestion.

Jaskier is patient as ever, chatting away as he rinses Geralt's hair and moves on to soaping his shoulders, his back, his arms, his legs. Geralt could technically do that for himself, he supposes, but Jaskier seems to be enjoying himself and it would be rude to interrupt.

As Jaskier runs a hand up the inside of Geralt's thigh, his knuckles brush tantalisingly lightly, accidentally, against his cock. Geralt’s hands squeeze hard against the rim of the tub, but his breathing remains even. Jaskier raises his eyebrow in a tiny quirk but says nothing, and Geralt doesn't either. Best not to draw attention to it.

Jaskier keeps calmly running soap along his leg, and then the back of his hand brushes past Geralt's cock again, and then again, and Geralt can't suppress a moan. He's getting harder by the minute and there's no way Jaskier hasn't noticed.

He wants... He wants to run. He wants Jaskier to keep his damn hands to himself. He wants Jaskier to touch him more, to touch him all over, to take his cock into his familiar, calloused hands and...

"You seem tense," Jaskier says, voice low.

Of course I'm tense, you fucking prick, he thinks but doesn't say, you keep touching my cock and I think I might like it.

“Come on, let me see to that shoulder.”

A ghoul had sliced into his shoulder last week, and it was healed now but Geralt decides to indulge Jaskier all the same. He’ll only worry otherwise. He lets Jaskier guide him out of the bath, and Jaskier pointedly doesn’t mention the fact he's half hard. Somehow that only makes it more mortifying.

He lets Jaskier lie him face down on the bed, a towel draped over his lower half for modesty. Not that modesty seems to be a concern to Jaskier, who fetches his oils and makes himself comfortable sitting on the backs of Geralt’s thighs.

The weight of Jaskier on top of him is, surprisingly, not unpleasant, and he tries to unwind as Jaskier works oil into his hands and gently prods at his shoulder, checking the edges of the scar with careful fingers.

Still, it feels wrong, greedy even, to enjoy the way Jaskier touches him. Being the subject of such close attention makes him squirm, and he’s embarrassingly aware of his hard cock beneath him. His heart rate picks up in the beginnings of panic, and his muscles are tensing up…

“Breathe for me,” Jaskier says, fingers barely grazing him. “Just breathe.”

He can do that. He takes one shaky breath, and then another, Jaskier softly stroking his back.

“Good,” Jaskier hums, and the warmth of that sends a shiver down Geralt’s spine.

The scent of chamomile fills the air as Jaskier begins to rub at his shoulder, sweeping outward in firm strokes that dig into the muscles and release knots he hadn't realised were there. Jaskier has talented hands, everyone knows this, but Geralt appreciates it afresh whenever Jaskier does this for him.

Geralt feels himself relax inch by inch as Jaskier works across his back, down each arm, along his spine, the warm feeling of relaxation punctuated by the occasional twist of pleasure-pain when he digs in deep and releases a knot.

Jaskier takes his time, touching and smoothing over each section of skin, and yet all too soon he's reached the base of Geralt's spine and he's lifting his hands away.

Geralt manages to bite down on a whine, but only just.

"Do you want me to keep going?" Jaskier asks, and all Geralt can think is that he doesn't want this to end, he selfishly wants as much as Jaskier will give him.

"Yes," he rasps, voice shaky, and he thinks Jaskier's hummed response sounds content.

Jaskier pushes the towel away and begins working up his legs, starting at the soles of his feet and moving up in careful strokes. It's a rare thing for anyone to touch Geralt this much, and his dick twitches beneath him, confusing the touch of a friend for that of a lover. Jaskier hardly seemed shocked by his body’s reactions at this point though, so he lets himself slip into a warm, comfortable bubble of sensation, comfort and satisfaction with a low thrum of arousal far in the background.

Jaskier's thumbs press into the inside of his thighs and Geralt's hips dig into the mattress without him meaning them to. Heat creeps up the back of his neck as he realises what he’s doing.

“Mmm.” Jaskier doesn’t sound displeased, though. He runs his hands along the crease between Geralt’s thighs and ass, fingers kneading at muscles which are tight and sore from weeks of riding Roach.

It’s deliciously good, actually, even if it is a little close for comfort. Jaskier’s hands find every knot and pressure point, digging down hard into the meat of his ass, and Geralt gives himself over to it.

Soon, too soon, Jaskier’s hands slow and move away, and when they lift off completely Geralt lets out a little moan that he can’t contain.

He feels the air behind him still as Jaskier freezes, seemingly deep in consideration.

“Shall I keep going?” Jaskier asks, and his voice is husky, almost uncertain, like he doesn’t know how Geralt is going to react.

Geralt has no compunctions now though, too wrapped up in the feeling of Jaskier’s hands on his skin, craving more, not caring for propriety. “Yes,” he gasps, and mercifully, Jaskier’s hands are back on his skin immediately.

Jaskier drips more oil on his hands, and the sweet, floral odor of chamomile fills Geralt’s senses, lulling him further into that comfortable, pliant state. He trusts Jaskier. He trusts him to make him feel good. It’s nice to cede control for a while, to let someone else decide what he’ll do and how he’ll be touched. The only requirement is for him to lie there and do as Jaskier tells him, and he’s confident he can do that.

“Spread your legs for me,” Jaskier says, one oiled hand on each thigh, and Geralt does so gladly. There’s a twinge at the back of his mind at the thought of how exposed he is, but that’s quashed as soon as Jaskier’s hands are back at his ass, squeezing and massaging.

Jaskier runs an oiled finger along the crack of his ass and he shudders all over, acutely sensitive to each motion. Jaskier does it again, other hand holding Geralt’s hip in a way that’s more comforting than he’d be willing to admit.

He teases a finger around Geralt’s rim and gods, Geralt has no idea what’s gotten into him but he wants this, wants more, wants Jaskier to keep doing whatever he’s doing because it’s sending sparkles across his skin and there’s a restless hunger building up inside him.

When Jaskier slides a finger inside him he clenches up at first, unused to the sensation. But Jaskier runs a hand down his side, muttering kind words in a soft voice, and Geralt relaxes into the sensation.

“Good boy,” Jaskier murmurs, and Geralt glows.

Jaskier fingers him slowly, sliding one finger in and out before adding a second, and the stretch feels strange but not unpleasant.

And then Jaskier cocks his fingers and brushes against something deep inside him and sparks shoot through his body like lightning, and he’s grinding down into the mattress and gasping for air.

“Feels good, hmm?”

Geralt can’t answer, can barely focus, but he knows he wants more of that so he nods his head against the rough pillow, hoping Jaskier will get it.

Jaskier understands, like he always does, and he moves his fingers with more force, rubbing up against that spot until Geralt is boneless and breathless, caught on his fingers like a fish on a hook.

His sense of time is stretched like molasses but Geralt is dimly aware that it only takes an embarrassingly short few minutes before he’s keening and writhing under Jaskier’s careful attentions, heart beating faster and faster and breath coming shorter.

There’s a tightly coiled heat twisting low in his belly, blood thundering in his ears, the smell and chamomile and soapy bathwater and Jaskier building in his nostrils.

And then Jaskier leans in close to his back, fingers deep inside him, and his voice is soft in Geralt’s ear as he says, “That’s it. I’ve got you.” And Geralt lets himself fall, lets himself float, certain that Jaskier will catch him, and he gives himself over to the waves of pleasure that are cresting inside him.

He comes with a soft gasp, shuddering as all the tension and anger and heat he’d been carrying flows out of him in time with the gentle motions of Jaskier’s fingers, and he feels stretched and exposed but somehow light and free.

“There you go,” Jaskier says, withdrawing his fingers and patting Geralt with his other hand.

Geralt is too hazy to speak. But he lets Jaskier roll him over and clean him off. He has the sudden urge to pull Jaskier onto the bed with him and hold him close, but he’s fairly certain that’s not what this was about so he fists his hands in the sheets instead.

Jaskier sits beside him and runs a hand up his leg, and even now his touch leaves goosebumps up Geralt’s skin.

“You’re more comfortable giving pleasure than receiving it, aren’t you?” Jaskier's voice is curious, not judgemental.

He supposes he probably is. There's something functional about pleasing someone else: a challenge, a goal, a requirement that he can meet. Having someone lavish pleasure on him isn't like that. He's supposed to, what, just lie there while Jaskier works to make him feel good? It seems hedonistic, selfish even, like something he's not deserving of. Witchers are built to be efficient tools, not something worthy of care or pleasure.

He hums. But he feels like maybe Jaskier understands without him having to say anything.

“You are allowed to want things." Jaskier is so very gentle. "It’s not wrong to feel good. You deserve that.”

Something twists under his rib cage, some ugly mix of anger and shame, because that's not right, it's not like that for him, and he doesn't know how to explain that to Jaskier -

Jaskier lays a soft hand on his thigh. "It's okay," he says, and Geralt lets himself believe that maybe it is. "Just think about it, yeah?"

"Hmm."

If he allows himself to consider... allows himself to imagine a life where he's deserving of care... He wonders what that might look like. What he could be if he was worthy of something more.

And then his mind snaps back to the here and now, because such dreams are not meant for men like him.

Jaskier sighs, like he knows exactly what’s going through his head. "You'll get there," he says, and there's no pity in it, only hope.

Geralt wishes he could share his conviction.

#for your enjoyment: CHAMOMILE #geraskier #the witcher #geralt and jaskier's brothel adventures #my writing #thanks to my darling witchertrashbag for the help <3

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hange-zone · 3 years

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Hello! I really like this song called Heather by Conan Gray. Can I please request an eremin fic based on it and with a happy ending? (I'm not great with angsts.😂)

They’re under the bleachers – far away from anyone else, close together. Eren’s hands are soft in his. He’s holding them gingerly, as if he’s afraid that his fingers would leave a mark on the back of Armin’s palms, something that told the whole world they’d touched. His breath brushes Armin’s cheek. Their faces are inches from each other and he can’t bear to look Eren in the eyes. Instead, his gaze flickers to his lips – there’s a sheen to them where he’d licked them nervously, pink tongue going round and round and there were little droplets of sweat above his upper lip, a tiny beaded mustache.

A single moment of wanting seizes him and before the fear kicks in, Armin leans forward clumsily and presses his lips against the other boy, who responds with an equal and opposite reaction.

He was thinking about that now. That moment where time slowed and the world shrank to immediate sensations – the salty wetness of Eren’s mouth, the softness of it all, the expanding satisfaction neat and pert in his heart – and he smiled quietly to himself, remembering the six seconds where nothing mattered anymore.

But it turned out the kiss probably didn’t mean anything at all. Eren was still the same as ever, friendly, yes, but there was something distant about him. They passed in hallways and Armin expected a sort of shared understanding about what had transpired that afternoon between best friends – a nod, a touch, something, but Eren hadn’t mentioned it and he himself had been too scared to ask. So there wasn’t anything at all. He thought about ships in the night and wondered if this were what it meant.

And the way Eren had acted after made him feel sick. How in the few days after the encounter he’d suddenly attached himself to Historia, been extra chatty as she passed them in the same corridors. And the same softness had descended on his features and he’d looked lost in a daydream after her small figure. Armin hated it even more, hated himself, actually, because in that moment he hated her, hated how sweet and lovely and unassuming she was, how she would hide her smile in an admittedly cute giggle and Eren would smile back and he could only think that Eren didn’t care about him in that way, he probably liked Historia and she liked him back and -

And he hated knowing that maybe it wouldn’t ever work out anyway, that maybe that one time where they got too close was a mistake and he shouldn’t have even entertained the thought in the first place. They were better off as friends. Good guy friends, who maybe kissed that one time but it was water under the bridge, off the duck’s back.

All this he told Mikasa after school, while they sat on the sidewalk and ate their rapidly melting ice creams. It had been four days since the incident and its dizzying spiral of consequences.

“Mm,” she said, in between licks. “Yeah, I noticed too. He’s been a bit weird lately. But I suspect it’s because he actually likes you back. He just hasn’t found a way to say it properly. So he’s overcompensating.”

“That’s dumb,” Armin said, taking a long taste of his ice cream and feeling the cool sweetness spread across his tongue. He thought about the pinkness of Eren’s mouth and sighed. “Though I guess it makes sense, in a way. But it’s also so incredibly dumb.”

Mikasa shrugged. “I know.”

She paused, thinking. Then, slowly, pragmatically, “Do you want me to tell him? I mean - what you’re thinking. It’ll save you both a lot of - ”

“No,” Armin said quickly, horrified. He thought about Mikasa accosting Eren, asking him in her usual solemn way, to act rationally and explicably about the kiss. It seemed absurd and not to mention intrusive to bring her directly into that moment between them. And then he thought about confronting Eren himself, gesturing to the space between them, and asking, desperately, what about this? That also seemed too much all at once. The thought of exposing his raw jealousy to Eren seemed terribly mortifying as well - to say, also, that he hated the other girl who was so small and cute and perfect? Who Eren had given his brown sweater to when it was raining and she’d looked miserable and cold? He made a face.

Historia hadn’t even done anything objectionable. In fact half the boys at school had been too glad to offer their varsity jackets when she’d forgotten her umbrella and had to run out in the rain. She’d merely taken Eren’s because he was the closest and besides, friends did that all the time right? He’d lent Eren his blue cardigan a few weeks ago and he hadn’t seen it since. He wondered briefly if he should ask Mikasa to get it back from him. She was the only one who could make sense - or be bothered to parse through - the mess that was Eren’s bedroom. He sighed, and swallowed the rest of his strawberry cone in a big, sad bite as he looked at his reflection in the shop window. Though they were both small and slight, yellow-haired with large cerulean eyes, he was certain that he would never be as pretty or attractive as Historia. They were going for the exact same place in Eren’s heart, and she had won on all counts, depsite not even trying. She probably didn’t even know they were competing in the first place. She was also probably a better, kinder person whose insides didn’t twist up when she saw Eren standing too close to someone else. And Eren liked her instead. And so he wouldn’t kiss him again. Ever.

“He’ll come around eventually,” Mikasa said knowingly, comfortingly. She stood up, brushing the crumbs off her skirt, and helped Armin to his feet. “Even if he’s being silly about it right now and it takes him some time to sort himself out.”

“I hope so,” Armin said, and in a sudden gesture Mikasa had leaned over and given him a hug.

“I know so,” she said firmly. He smiled into the warmth of her shoulder and mouthed thank you. There was a certain sort of solace in her certainty, and he felt a bit more of a spring in his step as he walked her to the bus stop and waved her off. He went home feeling considerably lighter and a tiny bit more hopeful than before.

Mikasa - brilliant, lovely, perfect, sage and compassionate Mikasa - was right about Eren coming around. Or she might have knocked some sense into her brother, because at the end of the longest week of his life, in which Armin spent trying very hard not to think of the green-eyed boy, Mikasa had smiled an extra big smile at him as they said their goodbyes, and later at home he got a text which made his heart skip a beat. It was from Eren, and it simply read, Are you free?

By the time his shaking hands had typed out, deleted, retyped and finally formulated a faux casual reply - yeah, what’s up - the doorbell was ringing insistently and his grandfather was calling his name from downstairs and then shouting about a visitor. He heard those footsteps which could only be one person and by the time he scrambled out of his chair and over his bed and finally, finally, opened the bedroom door Eren was standing in front of it.

In his hands he was holding Armin’s crumpled blue sweater - it’s just polyester - and he was saying, “Armin, I was being dumb, I’m so sorry -”

But already Armin had closed the gap between them and the knitted sweater had fallen forgotten to the floor because Eren was holding him again, his hands wrapped around the back of his head and their faces impossibly close. His breath was warm and his mouth was soft and he was leaning in, pressing the two of them together in another soft, sweet kiss.

here you go anon & hope you like it! sorry it took a while but here’s me channeling my best high school AU vibes and secretly loving Mikasa, she’s the real MVP here :”) and here’s the ao3 crosspost if you’re so inclined

...you don’t know how much Conan Gray is a guilty pleasure of mine (and how many times I’ve played crush culture / maniac / overdrive / wish you were sober on repeat…)

#eremin #eren #armin #mikasa #snk #aot #askbox

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vintagedaydreams · 4 years

Text

Knives Out Imagine Part Three

Detective Blanc x Female Reader

This is the END! Thanks so much for reading! I enjoyed this little story – hope you did too!

Warnings: Spoilers!!, mention of death/suicide/murder, language, suggestive themes at the end, innuendo and such because, I’ll say it again, suspenders!!

((On a side note, did anyone else know which Murder, She Wrote episode it was after just the two seconds on screen?? …because I did and I’m not sure how I feel about that. 😊 ))

@joalsglasses @yo-skeletons @elroymarvelous @bella-maria2018

You were just putting the finishing touches on your lunch, when you heard a loud knock at your cottage door.

With an expectant grin, you headed over and opened it, revealing Benoit who looked…upset?

“That family,” he growled out, as he pushed his way into your cottage, though he squeezed your arm with a gentleness that belied his apparent irritation as he swept past you.

You felt a flush sweep across your face and you quickly shut the door before turning to face him with what you hoped was a nonchalant look.

You failed. That damn man was going to be the death of you.

Not only was he ranting about the family, his voice deepening and accent thickening in such a way that you honestly weren’t listening to what he was saying as much as how he was saying it, but he had also discarded his suit jacket and was currently rolling up his shirt sleeves in jerky, frustrated movements.

Hot damn.

If you thought you were red in the face before, you must’ve been fire engine red by now. You subtly reached up to make sure you weren’t drooling. ‘Cause you pretty sure you were.

“…don’t you think?” you tuned back in to hear Benoit ask. You blinked at him, wide eyed and quite mortified that you’d been checking him out rather than listening to what he was saying.

“I don’t...I mean, I wasn’t…I—what was the question?” you stuttered out. Benoit looked you over, brow furrowed, before his eyes suddenly took on a devilish glint and you swallowed thickly as he seemed to stalk his way over to you. You couldn’t help the way your eyes traveled down his torso as he moved, feeling your mouth dry up at the sight of suspenders.

The ‘last of the gentleman sleuths’ indeed.

“Now, I wonder what has caught your attention so much that you missed the entire conversation,” Benoit murmured, his voice a husky tone you had not heard before. You felt your entire body tingle as you realized how close he was. Every time you breathed, your chest brushed his slightly and you just knew your face was red once again. If it had ever stopped being red to begin with.

“(Y/N)?” Benoit purred, breath ghosting over your lips. You gulped, staring up into electric blue eyes, but unable to say anything. You weren’t honestly sure what would come out of your mouth if you did try to speak anyway. Probably something incredibly embarrassing.

“Well,” the detective suddenly grinned after a few more moments of silence, looking all too satisfied with himself, “since a conversation seems to be out of the question for the moment, how about lunch? Do you have something here, or should we go out?”

Benoit took a few steps back and you suddenly felt able to breath again. Nodding somewhat absently, you gestured to the kitchen and you were gifted with a dastardly smirk before Benoit brushed past you and headed into the kitchenette.

You released a shaky breath and closed your eyes once he disappeared into the other room.

Yup. The man was going to be the death of you.

Thankfully for your already shaken frame of mind, Benoit seemed to behave himself for the rest of the afternoon.

Lunch passed pleasantly, and you were able to actually make intelligent conversation, (even with suspenders and forearms on display across the table from you), and you were ridiculously proud of yourself for that.

Instead of eating and dashing, as you were a bit worried he’d do, Benoit stayed in your cottage for hours after lunch. You both spoke through the entire afternoon, though not really about the case. Instead, you spoke to get to know each other and you found that you actually had quite a few things in common.

Which didn’t help the crush that was growing at an alarming rate.

Benoit finally called it a day when you couldn’t keep your yawns to yourself anymore. It was early, but you hadn’t slept much the night before, thanks to the man in front of you plaguing your thoughts. Ever the gentleman, Benoit left when he saw you beginning to nod off, letting himself off and locking the door behind him.

You slowly got ready for bed, before collapsing onto your mattress. You were exhausted, but exhilarated at the same time. You didn’t exactly know what was going on between you and Detective Blanc, but you were looking forward to finding out.

--------

The next morning found you once again up a ladder, but this time, you had it leaning against the house, and you were working on cleaning up some of the climbing ivy that covered parts of the building. Wouldn’t do for it climb right over windows or into gutters.

“Good morning,” you heard from the foot of the ladder and you looked over your shoulder to see Benoit standing there, thankfully all covered up in his heavy wool sweater jacket.

“Good morning,” you returned with a grin and a nod. “What brings you here this early?”

“I was hoping to steal some of your time again, (Y/N). If you can spare it.”

You turned as much of your body as you could without falling off the ladder to look down at him.

“What do you need, Benoit?”

“Someone to bounce ideas off of again. I need to talk this all out and I was hoping you could help with that. If you can concentrate today.”

You gaped at the playful smirk that stole across his face and your face heated.

“Uh,” you cleared your throat, “yeah. Yeah, I can help you out, Benoit. But if it’s okay with you, can we continue outside today? I need to get this done.”

You actually didn’t need to get this done, at least not today, but you were not going to let that man get you both inside and distract you so badly this time. You’d show him that you could still concentrate and keep up with his conversation! …You just wouldn’t mention that the only way you could do that was if he was in about three layers and outside in 30-degree weather.

You were so screwed.

“Of course,” came the amused response from below you. “Whatever you need.”

You bit your lip hard on that one. Whatever you need, indeed. Boy, was that list growing steadily and it all involved the man beneath your ladder too. But best to derail that train of thought before you lost your concentration again.

“Now, there’s a piece to this puzzle that I’m missing, (Y/N),” Benoit began, and you used all your admittedly limited concentration to follow along with everything he said. You could daydream, (and ogle the man), at a different time.

As Benoit began recapping all that had happened, both at the will reading and before, you actually stopped working and turned back to face him as best you could.

“Wait, wait, wait. So Marta was his beneficiary? Harlan left her everything?”

“Yes,” was the simple reply, blue eyes looking at you carefully. You suddenly threw your head back and laughed.

“Oh, I am so sorry I missed that! I bet that absolutely killed the rest of the family! How’d they take it?” you asked eagerly. Finally! Ol’ Harlan took his blasted family down a few hundred pegs!

Benoit gave a chuckle and dutifully played back the family’s reactions, his grin growing wider each time you laughed delightedly.

“Oh, I hope she kicks them all out and leaves them with nothing,” you sang as you turned back to the ivy. “They certainly don’t deserve any more than that!”

“I would hope so too, but I have a feeling she’ll help them out.”

You snorted as you tore off a few branches of ivy and tossed them down, “Yeah, wouldn’t surprise me. Marta is such an angel, I love her. But she’s too damn nice. But, enough about that. Sorry to interrupt. You were saying?”

Benoit kept up his talking, sometimes repeating the same thing over and over, but in different ways as you kept working, sometimes moving the ladder to get to another section. Listening to it all from his point of view, you agreed.

Something was off; there was something missing. But unfortunately, you had absolutely no idea what. When you told Benoit as much, he smiled and assured you that you were helping immensely, just by letting him bounce ideas off of you. Even if a few of them were so ridiculous, they made you laugh again. But you secretly suspected that was his ploy all along.

Benoit was right in the middle of spinning another crazy scenario when his phone went off. After a brief conversation, he raised a hand in farewell to you and started running back to the driveway, still on his phone.

You watched him go with a furrowed brow, worried. That worry increased when he practically peeled out of the driveway, but you turned back to you work once he was out of sight.

Hopefully, he’d tell you when he returned.

------------

It was later that afternoon, much later, when Benoit returned, this time with Marta in her car. Neither one seemed to notice you as they went right inside and you went back to your work in the yard.

You desperately hoped that everything was okay. Neither one had seemed in a good mood and you hoped it had nothing to do with whatever made Benoit leave in such a rush that morning.

You zoned out as you worked, mind running in circles about what could have happened, and what was happening right now inside, and you jumped as you felt a hand on your shoulder.

Spinning, you saw Trooper Wagner looking at you somewhat worried.

“Miss (Y/L/N), are you alright? I called your name a few times, but you didn��t answer.”

“Sorry,” you apologized, face flushing. “I was lost in thought.”

Trooper Wagner looked like he was going to question you further, but shook his head slightly before saying, “Detective Blanc would like to see you inside, if you can.”

You blinked, surprised, but stood, brushing yourself off and followed Trooper Wagner inside and back into the Knife Room.

To your surprise, there was only Benoit, Detective Elliot, Marta and Ransom in the room. You threw Ransom a confused look, though he didn’t see it since he was sitting, facing away from you.

Why on earth was that prick here? You were honestly surprised he hadn’t cut and run. Then again, if Marta had gotten everything… Oh dear.

You tuned into what Benoit was already revealing, this time having no problem concentrating on what he was saying, though you did notice in the back of your mind that he was once again jacket-less with his shirtsleeves rolled up.

The more Benoit revealed, the more disgusted and horrified you became. Ransom…he did that? To his own grandfather? And poor Marta… He tried to frame her and then used her when that didn’t work and all for…

And Fran? He’d taken out Fran too? Because she saw what he was doing and...oh, Fran. Why didn’t you just go to the police? Ransom may have been a trust fund baby, but he was so much stronger than her. And he not only attacked her but again framed Marta? Good, sweet Marta?

You felt anger thrum through you suddenly and you desperately wished you had bashed Ransom over the head with a shovel years ago. There was plenty of property, plenty of places to hide a body and no one would have been the wiser. They would have assumed he was just off and doing his own thing, not that he’d been taken out by one of the ‘help’.

It was no less than what that bastard deserved.

A shout brought your focus back to the present and you watched, wide eyed and horrified as Ransom jumped at Marta, knife in hand. They collapsed on the floor together and you shut your eyes, sure you had just seen the only good person involved with this awful family murdered by the self-serving, greedy, pretentious little shit.

You were not sure you could take another death. Definitely not Marta’s!

Ransom’s soft exclamation made you tentatively crack an eye open and you collapsed on the seat next to you in sheer relief when you saw that Marta was alive and okay. Shook up, but okay.

Heart beating widely, you closed your eyes again, leaning back in the chair as you heard the Detective and Trooper take Ransom into custody.

This was all a bit much for you. And Marta! Poor Marta, to be going through what she did. To think that she had thought she was responsible for Harlan’s death all that time… Why hadn’t she come to you? Asked for help? Tried to tell you what was going on?

You snapped your eyes open to look at Benoit. When did he know? When had he found out that Marta was a ‘good nurse’ and it wasn’t her fault? Hell, when had he found out what had happened? As of this morning, he was apparently missing a very important piece to all this.

Benoit caught your eyes and gave a subtle shake of his head, gesturing slightly to Marta.

You nodded back. Right. Marta definitely came first. You’d, hopefully, get questions answered later.

Heaving yourself off the chair, you slowly approached her, still laying on the ground.

“Marta?” you murmured softly, registering that Benoit moved back to the other side of the room to give you two space, without leaving.

Brown eyes shot to yours and Marta was suddenly up and wrapping her arms around you, still shaking.

“I’m sorry, (Y/N)! I’m sorry I didn’t tell you! I didn’t want to worry you, and I thought maybe you might blame me, even though it was an accident and then Ransom helped me get away from the family and he tricked me into telling him what I’d done and he seemed so genuine and I thought that I could trust him, and—”

“Marta,” you interrupted, “Marta! Stop, stop talking. It’s okay. You’re fine. I’m not mad at you. I wished you would have come and talked to me, yes. But I understand. That was… a lot for Harlan to put on you, even though he meant well. It’s okay. You’re okay. Just,” you pushed her away slightly so you could meet her eyes, “know that I would not have blamed you, okay? You heard Benoit. You’re a good nurse. And even if you had accidentally mixed up the medication, it would have been an accident. You are the best thing that’s happened to Harlan in forever. Never forget that. Okay?”

Marta sniffed, nodding, before pulling you back in for a hug.

“I didn’t do anything with him,” she blurted suddenly after a few moments of silent hugging. “I don’t know why he left me everything but it wasn’t like that, not like they all suggested.”

You barked a laugh, feeling more lighthearted than you had since Harlan’s death.

“Marta, I certainly know better than to think that there was anything between you and Harlan other than friendship. He left you everything because the man knew you’d do good with it and that his family was not worth their weight in shit.” Cue a snort from Benoit’s side of the room. “Please, Marta. Don’t take anything they say to heart. They’re a bunch of jealous, selfish, greedy assholes and you’re so far above their league. You’re a good person, Marta. That’s why Harlan left everything to you.”

You gave her a smile, standing up before reaching down to help her up.

“Now, come on. Let’s go get something to drink to settle both of our nerves, okay?”

You looked over your shoulder at Benoit as you and Marta left the room and he gave you a nod and a smile.

Good. Hopefully he’d come and find you at your cottage once you had Marta all settled.

It didn’t take as long as you thought it might, getting Marta set up with a blanket and some coffee. You gave a small smile as she chose Harlan’s mug, “My House, My Rules, My Coffee”, and you hoped the rest of the family would see it. Not only was it Harlan’s favorite mug, but the house was now Marta’s. Beautiful irony.

Oh, you sincerely hoped that she kicked them all out on their rears.

You slipped out to your cottage once Marta was set. She looked like she may need a little bit of time to herself to come to terms with all that had been revealed just a half hour prior. It was a lot to take in. She had a lot of guilt that she had been needlessly carrying around, thanks to both Ransom and Harlan. She needed some time to get her head on straight.

And you? Well, you were actually going for something stronger than coffee after that.

What an absolute mess. A tragedy of errors. Oh, Harlan, you theatrical idiot.

Shaking your head, you grabbed the whiskey and a glass out of your cupboard. Usually, you mixed it but right now, you needed it strong.

You had just lifted the cup to your lips when your cottage door opened and Benoit walked in.

You didn’t have a chance to do more than blink at him before he was right in front of you, gently taking the glass from your frozen fingers and setting it down on the counter.

“What—”

Your back meeting the kitchen wall behind you cut off your sentence and you stared wide eyed at the man pressed against you, his arms bracketing you in on either side.

You were pressed so close to him, you could feel his chest move with every breath and a full body shiver ran through you. His blue eyes darkened, pupils dilating as he noticed.

Shit. And he wasn’t even showing off his suspenders this time!

“Tell me if I’m wrong, (Y/N), but I think we have some…chemistry between us that I’d like to explore further.”

Your mind blanked out for a moment as he dipped his head; you were sure he was going to kiss you. Instead, he brushed his lips across your cheek to your ear and hello, erogenous zone you didn’t know you had.

“What do you think?” he murmured, his lips barely grazing your ear as he spoke.

What did you think? You thought that your brain just short circuited, all thoughts about the case completely deserted you, because the only thing you could focus on was his scent, the feel of his chest pressed against yours, and the fact that his lips were not on yours right now. Why weren’t they on yours?

Your heart skipped a few beats as you felt his lips pull up into a smile.

“As much as I’d like to take your silence as you being swept away by my presence,” he said teasingly, and the small part of your brain that was still semi functioning scoffed – the bastard knew exactly what he was doing to you! – “I’d much rather hear it from your lips, sweetheart.”

A small sound escaped you, somewhere between a whimper and a whine. That accent murmuring in your ear and a pet name? This man was going to be the death of you!

His low chuckle reverberated through you. “Not quite what I had in mind, but I’ll take it.”

Deliriously, you found yourself certainly hoping he’d take it. And you. Here will do just fine, thanks.

Benoit pulled back just far enough to be able to see your face and he chuckled again. Probably at the dazed look on your face. Were you drooling again?

“Now, Y/N, before we go too much farther, how about dinner, hm?”

You blinked, desperately trying to get your brain to reboot. After all of that, he was suddenly talking about dinner?

“…What?” you managed to get out after a moment.

Blue eyes twinkled at you. “My momma always taught me to treat a woman to dinner first, Y/N. Preferably more than one.”

You must’ve had some doozy of an expression on your face because Benoit actually laughed and then cupped your face. “In this case, I think that Momma will be content with just the one. What do you say? Dinner first?”

Your brain suddenly jumped back into gear with a vengeance. The sooner you two had dinner then the sooner you could—

“Let’s go!” You ducked around Benoit and bolted for your jacket in the other room, the man’s laughter following you the whole way.

Sure, sure. You’d do dinner first.

But only if you couldn’t convince the man otherwise on the way into town.

#THE END #Knives Out Imagine #Benoit Blanc x Reader #Reader Insert

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ft-stories-lgbt · 5 years

Text

For the wonderful @watcher-ofthe-sky 🌺

Also I am not going to take credit for this work. This is entirely from @grayserigala, so all the nice words, likes and reblogs is for her. I hope you'll enjoy this as much as I did.

Prompt: "You've always felt like home".

Natsu can’t help but smile as he watches Sting goofing around in front of, and with their friends. The pure joy and freedom in his face reflects through their hearts, and draws the smile onto the pinkette’s face, as well. Which is a good thing, since the last few days have been kind of hard on his lover. It is so alleviating to watch the thoughts that had Sting snapping left and right or too disheartened to move, now a world away from his precious boyfriend. Natsu wishes he could hold this moment of happiness in place for eternity.

A small chuckle escapes his throat as he watches his boyfriend taking Rogue by the arm and drag him into the foolery, to keep him close. From where he is standing, Natsu can't hear what's being said but if he trusts the exasperated look that is on Rogue’s face, he is positive that Sting is up to mischief again.

Shaking his head a little Natsu leans against the wall and brings his beer to his lips. The music around becomes something soft and the boy closes his eyes for a moment, to enjoy the warm feelings that build inside him.

He feels someone coming up to stand beside him, and Natsu jolts as a familiar voice sighs next to him, with a degree of fondness to the tone. His eyes slide open to gaze at the newcomer, and his gaze fall on Gray who is looking at him with an amused smile on his lips.

“It’s not like you to be all alone,” Gray comments, taking a sip from his own beer.

“I guess,” Natsu shrugs. “Just chilling.”

“That’s not like you either.” Gray hides a quiet snicker behind a sigh of content.

"What about you? How come you’re here and not saving your boyfriend?" Natsu follows up, cheekily.

Gray laughs at that, and his gaze falls to his boyfriend as it always does eventually, who is hiding his own fondness for the blonde behind a silent prayer for help. Sting’s enthusiasm is apparently wearing away that warmth, leaving draining tiredness.

"I'll save him later,” Gray comments with another swig and an indignant glare at Rogue. “For now, he can suffer for making me go to that stupid show to keep your lonely ass company.”

"Hey!” Natsu gasps, dramatically. “It wasn’t stupid and I know you enjoyed it!" Natsu argues.

“No I didn’t!” Gray argues back, their voices raising to a volume reflective of their lifelong rivalry. “How on Earth does anyone enjoy marionette shows, they’re creepy as hell!” Natsu snickers when Gray shivers at the memory, with a willingness to take it further and fight for nostalgia’s sake.

“This is why I wanted to go with Sting, he would’ve loved it and Rogue wouldn’t have to suffer now.” Natsu chuckles, sarcastically.

"Sting loves everything you do, so really he is not a reliable source here." Gray huffs.

Natsu is grinning at that, though he can’t tell if it’s the comment on Sting or the twinge of familiarity that comes with Gray’s frustrated tone. Gray looks over, with a flash of annoyance lighting up his usually dull, indecipherable eyes, one that dies down a little as Gray lets himself properly study his friend.

“You know this is all your doing, right?” Gray asks in an oddly quiet voice, and when Natsu looks over again, the raven is casually gazing at Sting.

“What are you talking about, Droopy Eyes?” Natsu retorts, trying to bring the playfulness back and reject the seriousness. Tonight isn’t about that, tonight is about the warmth of Sting’s smile and Natsu isn’t going to let anything bring that down.

Gray shoots him a flat look, that is directed at the nickname, and Natsu only just manages to keep from bursting into laughter with a sip of his drink. The raven sighs and and the irritation drains away, leaving Gray’s eyes more open than Natsu has ever seen, as he secretly rolls his eyes at the floor.

“Don’t be an idiot,” Gray starts off. “And before you decided to ruin the mood, I was going to tell you that Sting is happy because of you tonight.”

Natsu pauses at that, and with a couple blinks and seconds to register what Gray was saying, his eyes switch back over to Sting, who is still having fun teasing Rogue.

“You’re the idiot,” Natsu manages to choke out around his tightening chest.

“And you’re the idiot that he’s in love with,” Gray groans at Natsu’s difficult nature. “He’s smiling because of you tonight, because you gave him a home and didn’t give up on him.”

Natsu is left blabbing awkwardly, as he struggles to find the balance between the embarrassed butterflies that come from anything serious involving Gray, and the utter dedication that he feels towards Sting. His love for Sting wins. He has never once doubted Sting's love, in almost a decade of being together, he has always been confident that they shared a deep bond. And it’s not as if Sting has never said that to him, before, but hearing it from someone else, was firstly humiliating, but beneath the mortifying embarrassment, a weight grounds his heart and makes the decade-long dream seem real.

“...An-and Rogue’s told me that too, when he was trying to get us to be better ‘friends’.” Gray coughs, that same awkwardness rising up in him, too. “I don’t think anyone can deny that you two are made for each other, that you’re his home and he’s yours, but…” Gray trails off, a clear and obvious red painting his cheeks.

“...But what?” Natsu encourages, quietly, a note of worry in his voice.

“But Sting’s not the only one…” Gray continues quietly.

“I don’t understand…” Natsu breathes, searching Gray’s face. Gray slowly meets the pinkette’s gaze, as he swallows the embarrassment.

“I-” The words die in Gray’s throat, as he coughs out a laugh. “You do this for everyone, you worry and you care… f-for me, and Rogue, as well as Sting. Y-... he-... don’t take this the wrong way, I love Rogue to death, but isn’t it weird to think that we’ve known each other for almost twenty years, now?”

“I guess…?” Natsu replies slowly. “I still don’t understand.” Gray groans and mutters something about Natsu being difficult, but despite everything else, he slides a couple inches closer to Natsu, so their arms are almost touching.

“That’s nearly two decades, it’s basically a lifetime of knowing you.” Gray mumbles.

“Eww,” Natsu snickers, still not entirely sure what to make of the awkward atmosphere.

“Don’t laugh at me,” Gray glares. “But… it’s… Rogue, Erza, so many people have tried to make us better friends, but what… but what none of them seem to get is that you’re already my best friend. Twenty years... wow…” Gray shakes his head, hiding his eyes behind his hair. “You’ve seen me through everything, my worst, my best and my most stupid. Though, that last one is definitely your fault.”

“H-” Natsu cuts himself short, remembering Gray’s retort half a heartbeat late. Closing his mouth, he lets Gray continue and swallows his tease.

“There are very, very few people that I could say know me, or… know the real me.” Gray breathes deeply. “But goodness knows where I’d be if you weren’t one of them.” Gray turns his head and finally shows Natsu his face and the unshed tears in them. And those are enough to make Natsu worry, as his heart clenches and he tries to read Gray’s emotions. “Y-you’re Sting’s home, but… but you’ve always been home for me, too…”

Natsu feels his heart flip, dip and stutter to a halt all at once, as the words click and bring tears to his eyes in a chain reaction. Squeezing his mouth shut, Natsu fights against the tears, but it isn’t long before Gray is hidden behind a blurry film.

“W-woah, hey!” Gray’s panicky tone gasps. “Wh-what… I-... uhh… sh-should I call Sting? Why… I didn’t mean to make you cry!”

Natsu groans under his breath and hides his face in his hands, still trying to fight the drops of water running down his cheeks. Dammit, he didn’t plan on being an emotional wreck this evening, much less because of Gray.

“I… I-uh…” Gray stutters uselessly, and all Natsu can do is let out a choked laugh at his stupid best friend, and tug the raven into a hug. Gray freezes.

Natsu’s laugh continues to drown out his sobs. He could count on one hand how many times they had hugged, this was so far from their thing, but that doesn’t matter, not tonight.

“...’nd you’re the idiot that caused this.” Natsu parrots. Gray deflates in relief as he sees Natsu smiling, long arms wrap around him and hold him secure. “Th-th…-ank you…” Natsu whispers.

“You’re welcome, Natsu…” Gray replies, softly. “Happy birthday, dumbass.”

Eventually, Natsu breaks the hug, leaving with the knowledge that Gray’s friendship is one that he will never be able to leave behind completely. And Natsu isn’t surprised to realise, that Gray’s friendship is his home, too.

#fairy tail #ftlgbt #sabertooth #m/m #sting eucliffe #natsu dragneel #rogue cheney #gray fullbuster #stingsu #natsting #sting natsu #sting x natsu #natsu x sting #gray x rogue #rogue x gray #RoRay #ft romance

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yangchans · 5 years

Text

You show off your new braces

Stray Kids Reactions

Requested: yep

Genre: Fluff idk??

Warnings: none ig

Chan

Oof, probably thinks you are the cutest. The way you kept smiling, purposely opening your mouth wide to show him your braces. He knew you were in pain realistically, but that didn't stop you from showing them off.

Minho

I want to say he would tease you or some shit, but honestly he just thought you were cute. The way, your blue braces were exposed everytime he made you laugh. He purposefully started to make you laugh just so he could see your braces. Don't think you're free of his jokes and remarks, once you've given the clear that you're not offended if he teased you, he'd do it endlessly until you just smack him. Lowkey would want to try and see what kissing you would be like.

Changbin

He didn't really care but you being happy made him happy, no matter how big or small it was. When you showed off your braces to him in the first place, he was kinda like, 'cool' but when you kept smiling, he couldn't stop smiling with you.

Hyunjin

Um, cuteness overload. He wanted to squeeze you with his love. To him, you were I.N 2.0 so he just wanted to coddle you and protecc. He really didn't think you could get cuter, but the pink braces showing from your mouth said otherwise. In other words, he loved them and loved you if you couldn't tell.

Jisung

I see Jisung as someone who would ask alot of questions like, 'Can I get braces? Can I touch them? Will you let me lick it? I've ways wondered what they've tasted like, babe.' and you're like, 'but you've had braces before??' and he shut up because he wasn't proud of that phase. Like I said for deadass everyone else, he obviously thought you were cute too and he always wanted to touch them but you said it was unsanitary.

Bonus: Jisung touches your braces in your sleep and you know, but you let him get away with it because he looks cute when he thinks he's being secretive.

Felix

Also thought you was Jeongin 2.0 and secretly loved it. He watched you in adoration as you jump up and down the bed with a hand mirror in your hand. He was torn between tackling you down onto the bed and give you lil kisses and shit or just watching you be happy. End note is that Felix loved and adored you and didn't know how to explain how those feelings grew after seeing you so happy over getting braces.

Seungmin

Seungmin really was lowkey cringing at how happy you were. Not because he didn't like your braces, but you were so giddy and shit and made him feel weird. Not weird in the sense that he didn't like it, weird as in seeing you so happy made his stomach flip and heart pound. He honestly didn't care for your braces, meaning whether or not you had them in, he saw no difference. Lowkey didn't even notice you got braces, he just thought you were Jeongin or something.

Bonus: 'Babe, I got braces!' 'Thats great, Jeongin.'

Jeongin

Oh boy. When I say cringing, I mean cringing. This boy understands the pain you've been through and just the thought and memory of having braces makes him shiver. So he's confused when he sees you going across all social media to show your followers your new braces while being genuinely happy. He deadass was about to smack some sense into you, like 'bitch, you in pain. Stop giving people wrong impressions!' Overall, he's happy you're taking this step now as an adult to fix your teeth, but that doesn't stop him from cringing everytime you say you can't eat something because of the braces. Intensely mortifying flashback central.

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zephfair · 6 years

Text

Day 17 FFVII fic

Day 17 of the 30-Day AU Challenge is the Old West AU. I made an outline for a Bleach fic but then I realized I’d rather finish the sequel to my FFVII Wild West AU fluff.

Rated: G I think

Characters: pre-Cloud/Sephiroth, Angeal, Zack, Genesis and Cloud’s mom

Warnings: Fluff? If you didn’t like the first story, you’ll hate this too! xD

Cloud wasn’t really sure how his life had come to this. Sure, he’d made some bad choices—well, really, just one very huge bad choice—but now here he was, hurrying down the back street of Midgar, hoping and praying that no one could see him.

He’d known he’d chosen the wrong saloon to try and rob when the man had risen from behind the bar like one of the old gods rising up from the mountain. He knew he’d made a terrible mistake when the man just sassed him the entire time and then tried to poison him. Cloud had overheard someone once mention the “gray-haired” bartender and just assumed… and it had been the only place that was open yet vacant so early in the morning…

It wasn’t like he’d actually planned to commit a felony. He’d only taken Ma’s old pistol along just in case. Cloud knew he was a decent shot with Pappy’s old rifle, if the big critters living on the mountain happened on him. Ma always said that pistols were only good for killing one particular kind of animal, and she’d forbidden Cloud to have one, even if he’d ever had the money to buy one of the six-shooters he fantasized about. That didn’t explain why she’d kept the old single-shot, but she’d let slip once her daddy’d given it to her the day she was married, just in case. It made Cloud wonder.

She didn’t even know he’d slipped it into his pack when he was getting ready to leave the mountain. None of the other Nibelheim settlers believed the pass was open to get down to Midgar, but Cloud knew he had to try. There wasn’t enough provisions to go around, and Ma seemed weaker every day.

So it wasn’t like he’d planned to rob anyone, if the old man Lockhart had just extended the settlement’s credit a little more and let Cloud put his last pennies down on the medicine, but he’d refused and Cloud had had no choice.

It was fair to say he was ashamed by the whole encounter—no, he was more than that. He was embarrassed, mortified, would have gladly dug a hole and buried himself if it meant never having to go to Midgar again and run into that bartender. The entire thing had been just wrong.

He tucked the pistol away, clutched the basket of food tightly and hurried down the back streets and alleys to where his borrowed mule was still hitched outside the general store. His stomach knotted when he realized he couldn’t even go into the store now because surely the bartender would have raised the cry and the town would soon be after him. No, he’d had to travel another day down to Junon and hope he could find enough supplies and medicine there before it was too late.

He tied on the basket and was climbing onto the saddle when he felt someone grab the back of his belt. “Nope, you’re not going anywhere yet,” a voice said cheerfully as he was yanked to the ground.

“What the—who’re you?” Cloud tried to bluster.

“Aw, you hurt my feelings. I’ve seen you twice today, and you don’t even remember me?”

As if Cloud could forget the bigger, taller boy with the strange, spiky dark hair and the huge smile. “You were at the saloon,” Cloud said weakly.

“Hey, you do remember! Musta made an impression on you! I’m Zack!”

“I gotta go, Zack. Nice to meet you,” Cloud tried to reach around Zack to the saddle, but Zack was firmly in the way.

“Sorry, I can’t let you go yet. Seph wants me to bring you back.”

Cloud absolutely didn’t whimper. He made one last lunge to get away from Zack, but Zack just laughed delightedly and picked him up, slinging him over his shoulder. Then he started back to the saloon. Cloud stared at his ass from close range and thought furiously.

He wasn’t sure of the punishment for holding up a saloon. Hanging was for horse thieves. And murderers. What was whipping for? Would they even bother with a trial? Or just string him up right ow?

He thought of thumping on Zack to make him let go, but the other boy was much taller and broader so certainly stronger. He would just wait until, yes, Zack was putting him down and saying something—

Cloud took off as soon as his boots touched the ground. He didn’t know where he was, he just knew he needed to get away. Zack swore then recaptured him within a few steps.

“I ain’t gonna hurt you kid, neither is Seph. He just wants to talk to you—ouch! Don’t try biting me, I’m too tough for that!”

And so Zack held him as firmly as a mother cat carried a kitten by the scuff of the neck and pointed him at the door of the saloon. When Cloud tried to dig in his heels, Zack propelled him through the swinging doors with a little shake.

There was no one there. The beautiful man was gone. Cloud fleetingly wondered if he’d stepped out to gather the rest of the townspeople for the public punishment of his robber. Nah, he looked more like the type of man who would take the law into his own hands.

Cloud broke out in the cold sweat. Zack looked at him closer. “You all right there, fella? You don’t look too good.”

“I think I’m gonna be sick,” Cloud said weakly.

Zack pushed him into a chair at a table and went behind the bar. Cloud lay his head on the table and gave up all thoughts of trying to run. His Ma was going to kill him. Oh wait. If he was dead, she wouldn’t be able to. But she’d still come to his grave and yell at him. If she made it without the medicine, oh no, he was gonna—

“Here,” Zack thrust a mug of something at him. Cloud almost threw up right there. “It’s supposed to help if you’re feeling sickly. Angeal taught me.”

Cloud looked at it suspiciously, not wanting to trust anyone after the bartender’s trick. Then he sniffed it and tried a taste. It was good but he didn’t think it was gonna help. “Thanks,” he said, looking up at Zack who was standing close beside him.

Zack had a little grin on his face and he reached out to ruffle Cloud’s hair. Somewhere along the way he’d lost his hat. “Seph ain’t gonna hurt you. He just asked me to bring ya back here.” Zack plopped down in the chair beside him and propped his feet up on the table. “Why don’t ya tell me about your village? You from Nibelheim?”

So Cloud started spilling out the story of the hard winter and the closed-off pass and the coughing sickness that was going around and his ma couldn’t shake. The elders didn’t think he could make it, but he knew he had to try. There just wasn’t enough food to go around. But Cloud had made it through only to find out that the general store wouldn’t give him enough on credit and no medicine at all, and so Cloud thought he had to find another way.

He was morosely recounting the attempted hold-up to Zack who was laughing hysterically when Sephiroth returned. Cloud froze and went silent. Zack wiped tears off his face and beamed at Sephiroth who was surveying them from the doors.

“He’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen, Seph,” Zack said.

Sephiroth said, “How many times have I told you to keep your feet off my tables, Zack?” Zack’s feet hit the floor with a thump and Sephiroth turned to Cloud. “I am Sephiroth. This is my saloon. You are?”

“Cloud Strife,” Cloud choked out. “Are you gonna hang me?”

“What? No!” Sephiroth’s expression was the most shocked Zack had ever seen. “I assume you needed the supplies for your family?” When Zack nodded fervently because Cloud was still frozen, Sephiroth said, “Come outside. I did what I could.”

Cloud looked from him to Zack and back again then down at the table. “Mister, I’m real sorry for what I did. I never should’ve tried—”

“Leave it,” Sephiroth commanded and Cloud looked up at him again. “You were obviously desperate, and I’ve been in desperate straits myself. Now, come with me.” He turned and went back through the doors, leaving Cloud to stare at Zack.

“Is he taking me to jail?” Cloud whispered loudly, but Zack only shook his head.

“Come on, kid, Sephiroth doesn’t like to have to say things twice.” Zack helped him with a strong hand on his elbow which Cloud was secretly grateful for because his legs were still limp and shaking.

They almost buckled when he stepped out onto the porch and saw the wagon. It was packed with bags and barrels of foodstuffs and supplies. His own mule was waiting patiently in the harness.

“I don’t understand,” Cloud said to the tall man who stood watching his reaction.

“You needed money for supplies for your village and for your family, did you not? I put these on my credit at the general store, oh, along with,” Sephiroth reached into his pocket for another packet that he held out to Cloud. “The medicine for your ma. Doc Hollander swears by it.”

Cloud just stared at the packet then up into Sephiroth’s face. The open, awed expression on his sweet face made Sephiroth take a deep breath. “I can’t take all this,” Cloud said quietly.

“Sure you can!” Zack slung his arm around Cloud’s neck and almost made him fall over.

“You will take it,” Sephiroth told him. “Consider it a loan. When your ma is well, you should consider bringing her down out of the mountains to Midgar. We have a lot more to offer you. And then you can work off your debt to me.”

Sephiroth didn’t think Cloud had even blinked, although his big, blue eyes were filling with tears. Cloud finally moved to wipe his forearm across his eyes and then he reached out and took the packet of medicine.

“I owe you more than I can ever pay. But I will find a way,” Cloud vowed.

“I’m sure we’ll find ways,” Sephiroth agreed and then gestured to Zack. “Let him go, Zack, so he can be on his way.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much,” Cloud turned to both of them. “I’ll never forget this. I’ll be back and I’ll make it good.”

“I’m sure you will,” Sephiroth said lowly, making Zack stare at him, but Cloud was already hurrying to the wagon’s seat. He waved to the two of them and started the mule on its way.

Zack waved back at him until he was out of sight down the street then he turned on Sephiroth. “You like him! I heard you; you’ve never talked to anyone that way!”

Sephiroth shrugged and turned to the saloon doors. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Zack hooted, “You do! You think he’s the prettiest boy you’ve ever seen!” Sephiroth ignored him but it wasn’t a deterrent anymore. “Wait ‘til I tell Angeal and Gen!”

That made Sephiroth whirl on him. “Don’t you dare,” he narrowed his eyes at Zack. “If you ever want to be welcome in my saloon again, you will not say one word to either of them.”

Zack held up his hands in surrender. “Fine, geez, calm down. I’ll keep yer secret. At least until he comes back.”

Sephiroth sighed and readied himself to get back to work. “Who knows if he ever will come back? I know what he said, but it sounds like his mother has a hold over him. She won’t allow him out of the village, most likely, so we’ll probably never see him again.”

Later Zack would crow that it was the first—and possibly only—time he’d ever known Sephiroth to be wrong. Because after spring had turned to summer, Cloud Strife drove up to Sephiroth’s saloon in the borrowed wagon filled this time with all his and his ma’s belongings to work off his debt as an odd-jobs boy.

Sephiroth idly thought that it was a blessing that Zack wasn’t there that afternoon when Cloud walked into his saloon, his mother in tow. Sephiroth had heard the expression stunned to silence but he didn’t think he’d ever use it about himself. He was in shock and yet somehow overjoyed that the boy was back.

Cloud stood before him, rounded cheeks rosy pink and suspiciously clean, hat off but blond hair wild, and his clothes straighter and neater than before. Taking a longer look, Sephiroth thought he looked a little more nourished now as well.

Then the petite blonde woman beside him elbowed Cloud sharply and he jolted. “Um, hi, I don’t know if you remember me? I was in this spring, and you—”

“Yes,” Sephiroth said wryly, “I remember you very well. And you must be Mrs. Strife.” He held out his hand to the woman then bowed over hers when she extended it.

“Just call me Miz Strife,” she said in an accent that was as charming as Cloud’s. “This here boy is going to apologize to you for that fool stunt he pulled and then he is going to work for you doing whatever you want to make up the debt. And we do thank you for the supplies. You saved our village.”

“You are most welcome,” Sephiroth demurred. “And I accept Cloud’s apology. As I told him before, I well know what it’s like to be desperate. I would have done the same thing.”

“Only better probably,” Cloud said under his breath, and his mother cuffed his ear without even looking.

“Now, Cloud, what do you have to say to Mister Sephiroth?”

“Just Sephiroth, please.”

“Cloud,” his Miz Strife said warningly.

“I’m real sorry, Mister, er, Sephiroth. I shouldn’t’a done what I did, and I swear I’ll never do something that stupid again. Now put me to work doing whatever you want, and I’ll do it. I promise.”

Sephiroth realized that those big glowing eyes peering up at him were going to be his downfall. He had visions of all the ways he wanted to put Cloud to work, but then cleared his throat and looked away to get himself under control.

When he looked back at them, Miz Strife was giving him a narrowed-eyed look. But she didn’t say anything when Sephiroth ushered them to a table and offered them a drink of sassafras tea to wash the dust of travel out of their throats.

Miz Strife told him all about her decision to get out of Nibelheim and get Cloud somewhere that he could have a future without worrying about going hungry every winter. She didn’t have anywhere to stay in Midgar but figured there would be a boardinghouse that would take in a widow and her son. She was a good seamstress and hoped to rustle up work doing that. And Cloud was still growing but she was sure that he would be a good hard worker. Especially with her right there to oversee everything, she stressed.

Sephiroth inclined his head to show that he understand both her meanings, and she seemed satisfied. Sephiroth was still all too aware of the eyes that followed him back to the bar and again to tables as he delivered drinks to other customers. He came back to the bar to find Cloud waiting.

“I’m ready to start now,” Cloud said, but Sephiroth shook his head.

“Go get your ma settled in and come back in a couple days,” Sephiroth said firmly. That would give him some time to figure out what he was going to do with… what work he would have for Cloud.

Of course he was there waiting bright and early when Sephiroth got to the saloon the very next day. He sighed but didn’t say anything other than, “Did you find a place to stay?”

Cloud nodded eagerly. “Ma says thank you for telling her about Miz Gainsborough. She found us a place right behind the livery. It was vacant, and I love horses so I don’t mind helping out there too.”

“How are you going to manage doing so much work?” Sephiroth asked, bemused at his enthusiasm.

“I like to work. Been doin’ it all my life.”

Sephiroth was glad he had to turn to the door because otherwise he just knew he’d look shocked again. With a little shake, he settled himself and turned to Cloud. “Glad to hear it. Let’s start off with you sweeping.”

He had to admit, Cloud was right about being a worker. He did everything Sephiroth commanded without a peep of complaint. After a week of full-time work during the day, Sephiroth had never seen the saloon so clean. Cloud had even dragged in a rickety ladder and perilously cleaned to the very top of the high windows that Sephiroth had never bothered to.

Once the cleaning was done, Sephiroth tried to see how handy Cloud was at fixing some of the odd things around the property. Sephiroth had to show him how from time to time, but the kid was smart. When he was shown something once, he could usually remember for the next time and do it right.

But when everything that Sephiroth could think of was done, he didn’t know what to have Cloud do.

Luckily, or unluckily from his perspective, the rest of the town had gotten to know Cloud and most of them seemed to welcome him as much as Sephiroth did.

First Zack had bounced in the very first morning Cloud was working and all but tackled him in happiness. Sephiroth eventually chased him out, but Zack could never stay away for long and so was in bothering them regularly.

Of course, that meant that Angeal and Genesis found out right away as well. Sephiroth would have told them. Eventually. But Zack had blabbed and so his two oldest friends had come over just as soon as Angeal could close up shop for the day.

They stood at the bar appreciatively watching Cloud scrub the floor on his hands and knees.

“Zack was right,” Angeal admitted. “The kid is unbearably cute.”

Genesis sniffed. “Scrawny. Under-developed. I don’t see what you see in him, Sephiroth.” Then Cloud stood up, stretched and smiled shyly but brightly at them, and Genesis cleared his throat. “Well, he might grow into that ridiculous hair at least.”

Soon Sephiroth ran out of tasks and so begrudgingly let Zack take Cloud to Angeal, with the admonishment to Cloud to not let Zack push him around.

Cloud soon enjoyed helping the blacksmith Angeal. At first his duty mostly involved sitting on a barrel quietly out of the way while Angeal beat on the long, hard steel rods with his shirt off, all sweaty except for the leather apron.

But then Angeal let him help clean up the smithy and even eventually take a turn with the hammer. All the while, his assistant Zack tried to take the opportunity to talk about all the ways Cloud could become a potential outlaw better than his first foray into crime. He also offered hands-on lessons in fighting and wrestling.

Cloud had blushed beet red the first time Zack brought up his felony, but Angeal had just laughed long and hard at the thought of it. He told Cloud to ignore all of Zack’s crazy schemes, but if he ever wanted real lessons in fighting, to let Angeal be his teacher.

Then Zack would throw down what he was working on and attack Angeal who would wrestle and manhandle him back into submission while Cloud laughed and cheered. He did pick up quite a few pointers from them though.

Genesis even demanded use of Cloud for several afternoons to help him move things around the sheriff’s office. Genesis didn’t seem to do much, Cloud thought privately, but when the sheriff was out of town, Genesis did sit in the office reading and dealing with anyone who got drunk and needed thrown in the jail overnight.

The days went by quickly and happily for Cloud, for the first time in his life. His mother was making a go of things and fitting into the town as well.

Then one day Sephiroth was waiting when Cloud showed up at the saloon for his assignment. “We’re doing something different today,” Sephiroth told him and Cloud followed him to the livery. Sephiroth already had his horse and another waiting.

Cloud followed him willingly out of town to a creek bed in the distance, mostly dried up from the summer heat. Sephiroth dismounted and swung his rifle case off the horse. Cloud had an instant of nervousness, but Sephiroth beckoned him.

And then he taught him how to shoot. Cloud had shot varmints for dinner or rodent control, but he’d never had someone show him the right way to do things. When Sephiroth took two gleaming pistols out of another case, Cloud grew even more excited.

Sephiroth spent a long time showing him how to care for the firearms and even gave him a lecture on gun safety.

“Never, ever point a gun at someone or something that you don’t want to kill. Then you won’t ever have an accident. You should only be pointing it at something that you don’t mind killing.” Sephiroth rubbed his thumb over the shining barrel and Cloud thought he suddenly looked a hundred miles away. “And you shouldn’t ever kill, not if there’s any other possible way.”

Cloud nodded and gave Sephiroth a little smile when he finally looked over at him. “I only want to protect Ma. And my friends. And you.” Cloud said to the ground at his feet. He knew it was ridiculous as soon as he blurted it. As if he could ever do anything that Sephiroth couldn’t do ten times better.

But Sephiroth said softly, “Thank you, Cloud. Now, let’s work on your stance again.”

The days spent with Sephiroth whether in his saloon or out in the fields were among Cloud’s favorites. He loved helping Angeal and soaking up all the good natured teasing from the big man and Zack. He even enjoyed listening to Genesis who did almost all the talking when they were together.

He especially loved the evenings when they would all gather in the saloon. If there were no other or few customers, they would all become freer with each other.

Sometimes Genesis would read out of one of the old books he always kept tucked in his pocket. Cloud didn’t always understand the fancy words, but Genesis had beamed when Cloud said, “You sure do have a fine voice.”

“See Sephiroth, the boy has excellent taste,” Genesis preened and rubbed Cloud’s hair like Zack did. They both froze for a second when they realized but then Cloud grinned and Genesis gave him one last pat.

Sephiroth loaned him books too when Cloud shyly admitted he liked reading. Cloud read them aloud to his Ma while she sewed in the evenings. She liked hearing about his work and exploits with the men, and asked questions that Cloud didn’t always understand, especially about Shinra.

That was one topic he learned quickly never to mention. He’d innocently let the name slip one day in the saloon, and Sephiroth had actually dropped the glass he’d been washing. When Cloud brought it up later to Zack, he got a serious look on his face that Cloud had never seen before.

“They all worked for the company, me too. But now we’re here and we never talk about it. Ever,” Zack said, and Cloud respected that.

One night his ma asked him if any of the men was married or widowers. But Cloud only shook his head and said, “I never hear them mention any women. I know Angeal and Genesis live together, and Zack stays there a lot of the time too. And Sephiroth is at Miz Gainsborough’s boardinghouse. I guess they ain’t got time for women.”

His ma just looked at him for a long time before she went back to her sewing. “They always got time for you.”

Cloud shrugged. “I reckon I’m doing an all right job of working for them,” he said.

“Oh Cloudy,” she sighed but she didn’t say anything more.

Sometimes Cloud did privately think about the men and wonder why they were always together but never talked about women. He knew how men were, had heard the men of Nibelheim crudely talking and laughing in the little tavern when they’d had too much to drink.

And he knew what went on between a man and a woman. Ma had even sat him down and given him a stern talking to when they’d moved to Midgar all about the Honeybee Inn. She’d told him a little bit about what a brothel was and then made him vow he’d never go there because it wasn’t fair to the women. They were only doing what they could to survive, like any of them were, but Cloud didn’t have to be one of those who took advantage.

Cloud readily agreed. He was greatly curious about the Honeybee and kinda wanted to poke his head in someday, but he was too busy to think about girls.

Even that nice Aerith who was the daughter of his ma’s friend. Cloud could see she was real pretty, and she was very nice and fun, and he knew that Zack often walked out with her on long evenings while her ma sat on the front porch watching them. But Cloud didn’t feel anything more for her, or even for her friend Tifa who she brought over sometimes when he visited.

But Cloud could sit for hours at night just watching Sephiroth work at his saloon, giving him a hand doing whatever he needed. He’d finally worked up the courage to be able to talk to Sephiroth and not just to ask questions about work.

Sephiroth sometimes even smiled at him and said suggestive things that Cloud didn’t always fully understand. But that was only they were completely alone and only then occasionally. And when he did it, it made Cloud feel … funny. Like there was something itching under his skin.

He didn’t know what to do about it, but he knew that while he liked watching Angeal strip off his shirt at the forge and pour cool water all over himself, and he liked listening to Genesis read Shakespeare, he <i>loved</i> just sitting in the saloon at any time of day being near Sephiroth. Every little smile, every little laugh he could get out of him made Cloud feel like he’d achieved a great success.

Then the day he’d been dreading arrived when he least expected it. He met Sephiroth at the saloon with an easy smile but Sephiroth indicated the horses tied in front.

Cloud brightened even more. “We going shooting today?”

“Yes,” Sephiroth said as he mounted. Cloud’s riding had improved as well, and he could ride beside Sephiroth now without any trouble. Sephiroth even let their horses free to run a little bit, and Cloud whooped at the feeling of the horse galloping away with him.

Sephiroth led him to a quiet place in the foothills that Cloud hadn’t been to before. The trees were thicker there and green, and the river made a little pond that was shaded. Cloud looked forward to going for a swim in the cool water, if Sephiroth allowed it.

He offered to unpack the guns, but Sephiroth shook his head and offered a large pack instead. He led Cloud under the trees and spread out a blanket then set the pack down and opened it. Cloud gaped at the spread of food that Sephiroth provided.

“Wow! Are you that hungry?”

Sephiroth sat down on the blanket and fussed with opening more of the packets of food. “I thought you deserved a day off from work. And you’re a growing boy. You’re always hungry.”

Cloud remained standing and crossed his arms over his chest. “I ain’t always hungry. That’s Zack. And,” his voice went a little quieter as he admitted, “I don’t reckon I’m growing anymore. Ma said I’m 18 now and my pa was a little shorter than me so this is it.”

Cloud wanted to wrap his arms more tightly around himself at the way Sephiroth was looking at him now. “You’re stronger, though,” Sephiroth said quietly. “You’ve gotten broader, put on more muscle.”

Now Cloud willed himself not to blush like he always did when Sephiroth complimented him. He dropped to the blanket when Sephiroth gestured.

They ate in silence for a while until Sephiroth cleared his throat meaningfully.

“You know, Cloud, your bill to me and the general store was paid off quite a while ago. You’re working now for credit. I have the cash for you, from me and Angeal and Genesis,” he said quietly.

Cloud looked up anxiously and felt his stomach drop. Was this it? Was Sephiroth going to make him quit working? Was he going to say he never wanted to see Cloud again? Was Cloud going to have to uproot his ma and make her move just to get away from Sephiroth now that he didn’t want Cloud around?

Sephiroth was saying, “If you want to get another job, we’ll understand. I will understand. But...” Now Sephiroth was fidgeting a little and Cloud had no idea what that meant. “If you want to, I would really like it if you still worked for me. I like having you around.”

The last few words were practically whispered, but Cloud heard, even over the racing beat of his heart in his ears.

“I like having you around too,” he blurted out, and Sephiroth finally looked up at him. “I like you,” Cloud heard himself continue.

Sephiroth smiled at him then, and Cloud’s heart skipped a beat. “I like you, too, Cloud. Ever since you robbed me at gunpoint and threatened my virtue.”

Cloud groaned and hid his face in his hands. He felt Sephiroth’s long fingers start to pry them away. “The only reason I say such things is to make you blush. You are unaccountably adorable when you blush.”

Cloud dropped his hands only because his face felt like it was on fire, but Sephiroth was still holding them. “Cloud, I...feel things for you. Things that I haven’t felt in a very long time.”

“I feel things for you too,” Cloud admitted, now lost in the pale green of Sephiroth’s eyes. “I like being with you more than anything else in the world.”

Sephiroth leaned closer, and Cloud shut his eyes at the smooth feeling of his hair brushing Cloud’s hot cheek. “I would like to kiss you,” Sephiroth whispered.

“Okay,” Cloud agreed before he could think and then Sephiroth’s lips were on his, warm and firm, pressing to Cloud’s lips tenderly. When he pulled back, Cloud let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He opened his eyes to find Sephiroth hadn’t moved. “Do that again,” Cloud ordered, and Sephiroth happily obeyed.

When Cloud got home that day, suspiciously giggly and pink from more than the sun, Miz Strife told him to bring Sephiroth the next night for dinner. She questioned Sephiroth more than any interrogator could have and spelled out exactly what she would do if he ever hurt her baby. After he had vowed to only take care of and cherish Cloud, she relented and gave them her blessing.

And so they lived happily ever after.

Until the day some Turks rode into town.

The end. For real this time.

#my fic #my 30 days #ffvii fic

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monoguk · 7 years

Text

hippogriffs

You’ve always questioned why you had been sorted into the dauntless house of Gryffindor, even more so when you meet a boy from another house who is braver than you’ll ever be during your care of magical creatures class.

FEATURING - kim taehyung CATEGORY - romance WORD COUNT- 7000+

Those brave at heart, set apart by their daring nerves and chivalry, living in the highest tower in the castle because they are fearless by birth, with adventure calling for them, and they willingly face them with determined goals and pumping adrenaline. Vying for the top, but does so through a clean fight.

Whoever possesses any of these traits, the Sorting Hat immediately announces the House proudly. Apparently, you were one of them.

“Gryffindor!” Your eyes widened as you slowly step down the stool and ears become deafened by the loud cheers from a mahogany table filled with students wearing robes the colors of maroon and yellow. Everyone cheered and celebrated, welcoming the pack of freshmen sorted and divided to the 4 Houses that built up Hogwarts.

However, you’ve never really considered yourself brave; always doubted why you were sorted into such a daring house. Every night, you swallowed a whimper down your throat, eyes closed tightly at the sight the window beside your four-poster bed beheld. Every time, you peeked a view of the world outside the glass, you’d bite back a cry. How were you even a Gryffindor when you were so afraid of heights?

Still, you were very much surprised you’ve survived the first two years of schooling at Hogwarts. Sometimes, you still weren’t used to the Ghost of Sir Nicholas living up to his nickname of Nearly Headless-Nick by nonchalantly pulling out his head from his neck. Sometimes, you cried yourself to sleep at the thought of being so high up the ground. It was a wonder that you even managed to find loyal friends despite your fear of strangers. Nonetheless, your survival wouldn’t have been made possible if it weren’t for the dedicated studying you have shown for the past two years. Secretly, you thought of these habit as a sort of distraction for the fears creeping up your spine.

Starting up a new school year, your parents allowed you to go to Diagon Alley by yourself to shop for your school requirements. At first, you were scared at the prospect of travelling alone, but minutes later you receive an owl letter from one of your friends informing you of their arrival alone in the lively alley and inviting you to join them. Because of them, you were had not been fearful that day.

At the end of your enjoyable day out with friends while shopping for requirements, you eventually eyed the letters from Hogwarts and warily checked your new schedule. Then, your eyes darted down to the peculiar tied-up book under your medium stack of new subject books. You would have sworn the book was snarling at you, but before further fear ate up at you, you had shoved thoughts away and began to pack your things for another academic year at Hogwarts.

As expected, you saw familiar subjects occupy spaces in your timetable, while two other mandatory subjects fill up the once-empty slots. You’ve decided that you’d be taking up the Care of Magical Creatures and Arithmacy as your electives for this year.

You’ve thought that your subjects decision was a great one. Apparently, you thought wrong.

You wish you would have taken up Divination instead, but it had the same time schedule as Arithmacy - a subject you particularly liked despite it being the first week of classes.

You thought you should have taken other elective subjects, because you realized you absolutely hated Care of Magical Creatures class.

To clear things up, you were particularly fond with pets as you had your own dog, your sister’s pet tabby cat, your family’s snow owl, and your own brown owl companion you brought to Hogwarts.

You, during the end of your second year, had taken up the elective for magical creatures without actually expecting the peculiarity of the subject. Of course, it was your fault for expecting that your humongous professor would be teaching and showing you about unicorns or pegasus or tamed seahorses and the like of adorable creatures.

“Okay class, today I will be showing you a hippogriff. Did anybody read in advance about this creature?”

You looked around, satisfied that it wasn’t just you who weren’t able to open up the book. Luckily, your parents were around when you decided to check the specific book and apparently it was literally monstrous as it tried to bite at you. As students your year murmured around, soft thuds were heard from the distance until your teacher appeared with a humongous creature in a leash.

You would have sworn your soul left your body, rejoining the ghosts haunting Hogwarts’s castle, and you were thankful you weren’t the only third year scared out of their wits.

The creature had a peculiar body structure: the lower half that of a horse with his hind hooves and coarse-looking tail, while its upper body resembled an eagle with the two front feet that of deadly talons and the sides containing large majestic wings. It’s eyes were like any other animal’s, except it had this menacing stare that gave off a intimidating vibe to anyone who crosses its path. Its bucked beak opened up, releasing a spine-chilling screech, which apparently meant it wanted food (and, obviously the teacher fed it raw ferret meat).

“In this lesson, we will not discuss about physical characteristics of a Hippogriff as I believe you have perfectly functioning eyes and a very descriptive book. No, we will firstly discuss about proper etiquette around a hippogriff before caring for them. It is crucial to know that hippogriffs are proud creatures, and will not tolerate arrogant people approaching it. You third years must know that there had been past cases where students got injured because of improper approach.”

Students around you murmured, but you focused on not fainting whenever the hippogriff took small steps closer. The teacher asked the class if anyone knew how to get closer to a hippogriff without inflicting injuries. You would have aimed to answer first for the House points, but your fear had let you get beaten by a Ravenclaw boy.

“You have to show humbleness when approaching it. Slow steps and a deep bow is the safest way. Then, you wait until it comes to you willingly and calmly.”

When said like that, it seemed easy enough. You would have compared it to a stray cat, waiting for it to approach you instead of abruptly lunging for it and eventually causing cat scratches. However, how would you even dare visualize a dainty small cat as a large half-horse, half-eagle, carnivore creature?

“Five points to Ravenclaw. Now, it would be easier to teach you how to approach it through a demonstration. So, I would like a volunteer from the class. Come on, don’t be shy.”

It wasn’t that anybody was shy. It was obvious more than half of the class was mortified of getting closer the prideful creature. Even the arrogant Slytherins slithered at the back of the class to avoid being called. The Hufflepuffs were unabashed when they stepped back while the Ravenclaws buried their books deeper the scary monster book. Meanwhile, the Gryffindors were having second thoughts in taking up the daring challenge while you were there hiding your petrification.

There was a moment of awkward silence, your fellow third year classmates just murmuring among themselves and pointing at whoever to get the demonstration over with.

Seeing the inactiveness of the students, the teacher was about to randomly call a student’s name when one brave soul raised their hand.

“I’ll take the risk.” His voice - booming, low, and suave - rang deafeningly along the silence of the class outdoor. His eyes - was that a pair of silver contact lenses you see? - were wide, fearful but daring. His robes - stiff yet disheveled at the same time - were of a color you were not expecting. For this boy was the Ravenclaw who recited earlier.

You remembered being classmates with him since first year, and recalled that his name was Kim Taehyung. You knew little about him except that he had the deepest voice among your peers and that he had the weirdest personalities. Apparently, you knew something new about him: he was braver than you’ll ever be.

“Oh, wonderful. Step up a bit, Mr. Kim, but not too much.”

Taehyung stepped up, small strides that of confidence that beat your most confident strut. Everyone watched, probably noticing how his eyes stared blankly at the curios creature and how his lips pursed into a thin line before his tongue darted out to wet the pink flesh.

Tentatively, his upper lithe body bent forward to a bow while he eyed the hippogriff’s reaction with caution. The teacher was brandishing a wand and a dead ferret, ready to take over the situation on one side if ever things went out of hand unexpectedly.

But, judging by the third year Ravenclaw wizard bowing so low, it seemed that things would be going smoothly.

With batted breaths, you watched in fear and amazement as the hippogriff bowed back. The whole class let out a huge sigh of relief, while the boy upfront looked back at his peers to flash them a wide smile; one that instantly calmed your tense nerves.

“Very good, now why don’t you try and touch it’s fur, Taehyung?” The teacher tossed the dead ferret which was probably a good-boy treat for the creature.

Letting out a huge breath, Taehyung bit his lips as his feet slowly lead him closer the calm creature with his hand cautiously outstretched. An inch away from touching it’s beak, Taehyung stopped at the teacher’s command while everyone watched in awe as the creature willingly tilted its head towards Taehyung’s welcoming palm.

You heard a few girls behind you gush about the sight in front, and you would have joined them - because Taehyung was looking softly into the hippogriff’s eyes with such affection that beat that of a lovey-dovey couple - but what happened next had your heart bursting out in fear for the humongous teacher had effortlessly carried Kim Taehyung up on the hippogriff’s back.

Gasps erupted among you, noticing the surprise in the brave volunteer’s face before it was replaced with determined excitement. Then, with a soft warning, the teacher slapped the hippogriff, coaxing the creature to spread it’s glorious wings before it propelled graciously into the air.

Taehyung’s excited shouts and amused chuckles reached your ears although all of you were looking up the sky to look for the hippogriff with a Ravenclaw boy riding it. Agonizing minutes later, a gush of wind surrounded your class and in a flash the hippogriff was back on the ground with a bright-smiling Taehyung still perched on its back.

Your classmates cheered from afar as Kim Taehyung unmounted the seemingly-happy creature, but that was the last thing you saw before black consumed your vision with the thought of I’m probably going to ride that thing too, oh great looping in your thudding mind.

You came to next with the warm rays of afternoon sun kissing your skin. Your eyes opened, blurry figures of red and mustard blocking your vision of what you assumed to be the familiar cream ceiling of the Hospital wing.

When your vision came to, your close Gryffindor witch acquaintances had blocked the rest of your vision, their worried questions dizzying you further with you just having woken up. “Wait, give me a moment to breath.”

Thankfully they did, quietly supporting you to sit up on the rickety bed.

“What happened?” One of them asked with her two hands holding onto yours tightly.

“I-”

“She fainted during Care of Magical Creatures. But, I don’t blame her, that Hippogriff was intimidating.”

You never recalled having a voice as deep as a male’s until you realized you weren’t even the one who spoke. You and your friends looked back and tilted your head to the side respectively to look at the boy who had spoken. To your surprise - though you should have seen it coming by the timbre of the voice alone -, there stood a particular Ravenclaw boy with his uniform loosened and his gray contacts removed to give way to his natural umber eyes leaning up against the footboard of the bed across the one you were occupying.

“Taehyung?”

From the corner of your eyes, as you remained staring at the boy out of respect, you saw your friends gazing at each other; brains formulating presumptions that you were sure you were going to have a hard time explaining to them.

“Hey,” he greeted, bouncing away from the metal board before taking a few steps closer to where you were. “Professor needed someone from the class to check your condition, and I, er, volunteered.”

Kim Taehyung was notorious for always being up to the challenge; always volunteering whenever needed as long as he was sure he wasn’t breaking rules or endangering his life. However, despite this known fact, you were still surprised he’d volunteer at such a laid-back errand.

“Uhm, thanks, I guess.” You mumbled, suddenly flustered with the amount of dialogue you were unexpectedly sharing with Taehyung.

The giggles heard from your close friends worsened your shyness, expecting that they were going to come up with some excuse (made-up or true but awfully exaggerated) just to leave you and Taehyung alone. You hoped your assumptions were wrong, but what you thought were what your friends exactly did. They left simultaneously, spewing up excuses like studying for an Astronomy recitation or going to the bathroom or stalking their headboy prefect crushes or hanging out with their boyfriends, until you were left alone with the Ravenclaw boy in the empty Hospital wing.

“Uhm,” you swiveled your head back after the last friend left through the door though your flushing face didn’t dare look up to meet his. “I’ll be alright now. You can, uhm, go.”

“I waited for three hours, and you just shoo me away? I never pegged you as a rude person.” You knew he was only kidding, with his amused grin and breathy chuckle, but you, nonetheless, stumbled with your apology that eventually caused him to come nearer and chuckle longer.

“Can’t you take a - what do muggles call it? - ah! a joke?” Taehyung asked, now sitting on the side of your bed while you scooted subtly to give enough space between the both of you.

“Uhm, sorry, I’m not very good with new acquaintances.” You sheepishly admitted, secretly hinting of your fear of strangers. What were you two anyway? Mere acquaintances or just strangers?

Taehyung looked off in the distance, a look of understanding as he nodded, “Well, I’m guessing you’re not really good with pets too?”

“No, uhm, I actually love pets. Just not, er, big giant creatures.” You mumbled out the last parts, now feeling a little bit brave with stealing brief glances towards the boy. From time to time, you met his gaze but you were thankful he noticed and didn’t comment on your anxiousness.

“I see.” Taehyung comments softly, eyes looking off into the world outside the ceiling-to-floor windows of the room. You had noticed the orange rays dimming into darkness gradually as the shadows moved across the floor in accommodation with the setting sun’s orientation. The silence that ensued were neither natural nor awkward, with just the rustling of your blankets as you fidgeted with it breaking through the soundlessness.

When Taehyung spoke again, the sun was on the edge of disappearing from the horizon and staying in this hemisphere of the world. The lamps in the Hospital wing has automatically yet gradually lit up, the flames flickering cautiously until it was safe enough to dance hazardously in its confines. “I’m scared of cats and kittens, actually, if that makes you feel better for fainting because of the Hippogriff.”

You watched as his head tilted to face you, watched as his widened eyes met yours with sheepish innocence. It was when Taehyung’s lips quirked up did you realize you were gaping at him.

“You? Afraid of…cats?” It had been an unexpected surprise. Who would have thought that this daring Ravenclaw third year wizard would be petrified of a tiny kitten?

“Yeah, explains why I try to stay out of trouble, actually. Trouble means Mr. Filch, and Mr. Filch means Mrs. Norris.”

Unexpectedly, you giggled not to make fun of him but just as a reaction to such a random and unexpected fact about Kim Taehyung. I guess, you thought, Taehyung really is as random as I hear people say he is.

Eventually, Taehyung giggled with you; your differently-pitched laughter echoing along the empty room. The air about you two became warmer despite knowing that evenings at Hogwarts were mostly chilly.

When you’ve both calmed down, it was Taehyung who spoke again. “You know, you’re gonna have to ride the Hippogriff sooner or later. I sense that our Care of Magical Creatures Professor would be a practical test type.”

“You don’t say?” You bravely says in a sarcastic tone, and you u consciously went back to your timid self through a sigh, “I might as well get a failing mark for this elective, and maybe get wounded along the way. I should have taken some other Elective instead.”

“Hey,” you looked up, nervously noticing how his fingers were brushing along the side of your knee caps as his hand was laying near your blanketed legs. “I’m not letting a classmate fail if I can help them. You’re actually a very smart classmate, so I know this subject wouldn’t have been difficult if you only had a little bit of courage.”

“But, that’s the problem. Sometimes, I even wonder why I’m a Gryffindor.”

“Well, courage won’t come to you if you don’t face your fears. What do you say? Can I lend you a hand?”

Apparently, you weren’t as smart and witty as people pose you to be. But then again, how could you outsmart a Ravenclaw with obvious fake excuses?

“I, uhm, I was expecting a letter from my parents. Hansung would want a treat after flying all those miles away.” You reasoned, your footsteps subtly trying to pin yourself to one spot. But, the ground was too slippery and Taehyung was too strong as he was intelligent.

“That’s the sixtieth excuse you’ve said, you’re not backing out of our deal, right?”

In your defense, you had no choice as you had to pass a subject to sate your grade-conscious self. But the terms did not state about sneaking out past curfew to go to the hippogriff’s den without a professor’s consent.

The deal was - was it even a deal? - that Kim Taehyung would teach you how to approach the creatures introduced in the Care of Magical Creatures subject, starting with this intimidating hippogriff. As repayment, you had to get high grades to ease his helpful nature.

“This is mental, seriously, Taehyung. Why would you chose extra lessons at such an ungodly hour? Nonetheless it’s gonna cost us a lot of points take from our houses.”

“Live a little,” he chuckled, also noticing how you scurried behind him so as not to lose sight of him in the darkness as his strides widened. “Besides, if you said you were scared of everything, wouldn’t it, like, kill, uhm, four birds with one stone?”

“Four?” You squeaked as your forehead bumped into Taehyung’s back in hurry to catch up with him.

“Heights, Magical and Humongous creatures like Buckbeak the Hippogriff (you couldn’t understand why the creature even had a name and sooner you wondered when had your teacher ever mentioned it’s name then you figured it was after you passed out during class), Darkness, and Fear of Getting Caught.” Taehyung replied, slowing down until he was behind you and had a hand clamped on your shoulder to guide you to the stables where the hippogriff was at - though you wonder how this Ravenclaw boy even knew where the creature’s stable was - and to reassure you that you had a companion.

You guessed he had a point just as the same time you slightly calmed down from your anxiousness with the subtle physical contact ensued between the two of you.

A familiar foul smell invaded your nostrils, notifying your senses that Buckbeak was near. Though your steps lightened up just a few moments ago, it became heavy once again with fear and apprehension running down your spine as well as your whole body.

Noticing the regaining stiffness in your muscles and stance, Taehyung bravely walked beside you so that he had his arm around your nervous shoulders. He expected the reflexive flinch you made as response to his friendly-intimate action, but one soothing caress of his hand only at the joint connector your shoulder and your arm had slightly calmed you down. “Hey, it’s alright. We’ll be okay. Buckbeak’s warmed up to me, and I’m pretty sure he’s gonna comply to you what with your fear feeding his ego.”

“How are you even sure it’s a he? For all we know, Buckbeak might be a name of a she.” You retorted shakily, but the slight snarly comment had caused a chuckle to bubble from Taehyung’s lips which you eventually copied.

“Okay,” he stopped randomly, and so did you. His hand slide from your shoulder until you noticed he was moving away. In your panic, you reached out for him only to accidentaly and unconsciously grasp tightly at his hands as some of your fingers tangled with uncomplimentary ones of his. “I’m just going to get Bucky. Here, take my wand. Lumos.”

With two wands held by either hand, you nervously stood stiff in the same spot. Your eyes watched as Taehyung went further, stopping only until he was but a spec in your vision. Then you heard the hippogriff’s familiar sound, followed by his - its - loud thudding footsteps while Taehyung’s illuminated wand tip gave enough light to recognize Taehyung approaching you with him holding and chaffing softly at Buckbeak’s leash while the tamed creature followed.

Taehyung stopped a few feet. You assumed you and Buckbeak had the same distance between you two as when the Raveclaw boy had first approached the intimidating creature.

Taehyung tossed one dead ferret up in the air while the hippogriff flawlessly caught it straight in its mouth. He gave it one last pat before approaching a frozen you. Upon reaching your side, he watched as your head tilted to face him with your face paler than Rowena Ravenclaw’s ghost complexion. He then tossed you an encouraging and apathetic smile before gently taking yours and his wands. “You just have to do exactly as I did. We’ll go slowly. You bow. Wait until he bows. Approach him slowly. Wait until he closes the distance. Caress it fur or feathers or skin. Then fly. Sound good?”

“No.” You gulped, giving out deep sighs and exhales. “But, I have no choice, do I?”

Taehyung shook his head as a silent reply before stepping back to illuminate the rest of the ground you and Buckbeak were occupying. “Now, that’s the spirit, Gryffindor lass.”

You took in a couple more breathing exercises, feeling your dinner of gravy pork steak and buttered mashed potatoes going up your throat but you swallowed it in and began to bend your upper body.

Shakily, you subtly lift your head up to see if the hippogriff had reciprocated your act of humility and you waited until the creature did bow it’s head down towards you. It’s right talon was bent back while other was bent forward, almost as if it was a human bent on one knee.

You gasped, slowly mirroring the way the hippogriff stood up straight once again. There had been a moment of silence until you noticed the light flicker and suddenly you were heaving loud exhales of relief while quiet chuckles escaped in between. With one hand clutching your pounding chest, you turned to face the Ravenclaw boy just as he had during lessons, with your mouth upturned in the widest smile you could ever conjure. With the darkness surrounding the two of you, you could not decipher the awestruck expression in his blank face, because suddenly your ecstatic expression was brighter than the patronus he conjured after learning it from one of his seniors.

“U-uhm, that was brilliant! So, er, next step is, approaching.”

Your eyes widened, though you’ve already expected that it was bound to happen anyways, feeling your temperature drop abruptly. Sure,Taehyung’s presence was reassuring and Buckbeak’s reciprocation was relieving, but you weren’t two-hundred percent - for safety measures - sure you would have the same results as Taehyung had previously during Hippogriff lessons on Care of Magical Creatures class.

Taehyung, meanwhile, noticed your hesitance and eventually brought another smile onto his face. He took two steps closer, causing you to look up from your inner turmoil. “I won’t let Buckbeak hurt you. You have to try.”

Pursing your lips and exhaling another shaky breath, you gave a hesitant nod before facing the silent creature again. When you and Buckbeak met gazes, the hippogriff tilted its head and you admitted that looked a tad bit adorable.

Seeing this, you gained a little bit of courage to take a few steps forward. When Buckbeak remained where he was, you took a few more steps closer until you gradually reach the point where he was an arm’s length away from you.

From the corner of your eye, you saw Taehyung come closer with the same distance you ensued between you and Buckbeak. Your eyes, shaking and excited, met his with questions swirling in your irises. He gestured with his head towards Buckbeak, a silent answer to your predictable question.

You nodded once back, turning to look back at Buckbeak whose gaze wandered between you and Taehyung. With Taehyung close by and his wand still performing the Lumos charm, you marveled at the discovery that the hippogriff’s intimidating eyes were actually a large alluring painting of swirling marmalade. It looked at you with such innocence and curiosity that it naturally jinxed you to hold out your right arm.

You gnawed at your lip, shaky fingers still extended out and nervously waiting for the creature’s body to approach it. You distracted yourself by observing the contrast of its orange eyes with the snowy white-cloudy gray body; it’s body shimmered under the faint light from Taehyung’s wand, and you never expected you’d be so mesmerized by the subtle glint.

In your own reverie, you didn’t notice the hippogriff leaning closer until its head nudged your hand.

A gasp left your lips, surprised because of both fear and amazement. Surpassing your trepidation, you gushed at the live discovery that the hippogriff didn’t have a shimmering body for no reason; for its magical epidermis has alternating fur and feathers for skin. Looking closer, you compared the process to be like swaying grass on a wide meadow: its coat filled with fur as it leaned towards the front of its body, while it’s all soft feathers when it sways the opposite direction. The process was too smooth, too fast, that no one would have noticed it if they didn’t touch it or read about it.

A soft quack left Buckbeak’s mouth, enforcing a giggle out of you as you carefully caressed further down the creatures’s neck; a gesture you instinctively do when you handle your domestic pets.

Getting a little braver, you experimentally squabbled your finger as you scratched one side of the hippogriff’s long neck. To your surprise and amusement, Buckbeak went to lean his head closer to your body as its crown softly met the curve of your throat. The shifting of its skin tickled you, eliciting more giggles from you until the creature pulled away.

You smiled at it, giving it one last gentle pat, before taking your hand back to yourself.

The clearing was quiet, save for the rustle of leaves on the muddy ground and the loud but soft breathing patterns of the calm hippogriff, all until you gave out a shaky breath resembling a subtle chuckle. With pursed lips tilted to a tight-lipped smile, your eyes peeked from under your lashes to face your calming mentor who apparently was staring back at you and Buckbeak with a pride in his eyes.

“Are you ready for the last lesson?” Taehyung softly asks, handing you back your wand for it won’t agitate the creature as it had trusted you already, while closing the space between you two with a safe distance left.

Your gaze wavered, fear creeping up every fiber in your irises, but you were confident it wasn’t as bad as before you bowed down to the majestic hippogriff. Pocketing your wand and stepping a little bit away from Buckbeak, you stared at the Ravenclaw wizard with hesitant eyes before you dejectedly nodded; you had to do this if you want to finish this elective subject.

A full blown smile served as a reaction to your hesitant agreeing. You figured it was almost tomorrow, with the air growing chillier and the sky a bit lighter than when you sneaked out a while ago late at night.

Kim Taehyung had been famous amongst everyone since first year, deemed as one of the few chosen attractive people in Hogwarts at such an early age. As time went on, he became known for many things: the boy who didn’t accept being in the Ravenclaw quidditch team after performing perfectly during try-outs because he said he was satisfied with just being able to catch the Golden Snitch; the boy who had this distinct clangorous laugh when in the hallways but had the most unexpected poker face during class hours; the boy who is among the brightest wizards and witches, but us a completely dung-head when around his circle of equally attractive friends; the boy who dared to take up any challenge he was confident he can do; the boy who was sorted into the house of books and knowledge and is braver than you who was sorted into the house of courage and reckless ventures. A few other notable things people gossiped about this Ravenclaw wizard was his infamous tongue, and his incredible ability to effortlessly be adorable in one second and seductive in the next.

You were yet to find out what the witches were fangirling on about, but you did completely agree upon remembering these squealing girls talking about Kim Taehyung having the brightest smile.

If it were at the time of sunrise, you would have thought Taehyung’s genuine grin was brighter than the center of the Solar System, but for now you would settle with his smile beating the moon’s motherly luster.

“Come on,” he said, pulling you out of your reverie as you saw him walk to reach Buckbeak’s side. Though you knew you were just a little bit braver than a while ago, you understood why your legs failed to move forward.

Sure, you kind-of surpassed your fear of the hippogriff and maybe a little bit of the horror in being caught by the Hogwarts professor sneaking out at night as well as fear of the dark with Taehyung’s luminous wand and the gradual appearance of morning from the horizon, but heights had been on top of your fears list and you’re not sure if you could overcome it. Not even with Taehyung looking over at you softly like right now, absolutely not (maybe just a little bit).

“Come on, I’ll be right behind you.” He held out his long limb while you stared at his envious fingers. The hippogriff spared you one glance before it kneeled down on four legs as invitation for you two to mount it easily.

You indulged in your inner turmoil, balancing your emotions in your frantic mind. In one side, you were shaking with horror just like you did whenever you were up in your dorm room. On another, you were guilty for Taehyung and for the hippogriff because they were making an effort to lessen your nervousness while you were doing nothing but do the opposite if what they wanted. On the other hand, you were exhilarated - as surprising as that sounds - because when would you even be able to ride a creature like Buckbeak with the thrill of the possibility of being caught off-grounds after-hours?

If it were any other day, you would have not been in this position. You would not have even agreed to it in the first place. And all you could think of as an excuse was that Taehyung was a Ravenclaw who knew which words to pull to convince others into his side, though you found no wring in that thought.

Instinctively, you took another small step away while keeping your gaze locked with Taehyung’s expectant ones.

He was supposed to be the logical Ravenclaw; he was supposed to be scolding you for sneaking out, for borrowing a magical creature without a professor’s consent, for asking him to ride the hippogriff with you. You were supposed to be the daring Gryffindor; you were supposed to be the one who drag him hurriedly yet stealthily along the hallways of the castle; you were supposed to be the one who had tricks up your sleeves in sneaking into another House’s dormitories; you were supposed ti be the one confident for approaching a level one hippogriff; you were supposed to ‘live a little’ and grin recklessly. But the tables were turned, and you were everything Taehyung should be.

Deep within you, a surge of courage overwhelmed you. Whispering a mantra into your objective mind: take the risk. fly over the clouds. seize the moment. live a little.

“What do you say?” Taehyung called out your name softly; an almost inaudible sound mingling with your muddled thoughts.

Maybe it was the evident hope in his voice that coaxed your body to move closer. Or maybe he had mentally conjured the imperius incantation while his mouth said your name instead. Or maybe it was just his reflective eyes, his lighted wand emphasizing the closing in of his irises, as they connected with yours. Either ways, the next thing you knew was that you were beside Taehyung again while he was mounted on the creature and you were not. You were sure he wasn’t using a curse on you, because you felt you came nearer on your own will.

His hand was still outstretched while the other caressed the feathers in Buckbeak’s wings.

All these emotions were boggling your mind, and in the end, you just blew up with your head tilted back and your lips into a tight smile.

Seeing this, Taehyung grinned wider, glad that you were making an effort in overcoming your fears. He stretched his hand further, fingertips almost touching the skin of your arm. From afar, he heard the crow of a rooster and he brightened up even more at the sight to be beheld once riding on the hippogriff.

“I must be mental.”

“I got you,” Then warmth surged your whole body, your hand being held platonically by the one and only Kim Taehyung, your back pressed against his so none of you would fall off the curve of Buckbeak’s back, your legs straddling the creature’s back, and your front hugging the hippogriff’s neck once it lifted itself off the ground.

“Merlin’s beard- whoa!” You squealed, when suddenly Buckbeak propelled off the ground and the next thing you knew you were flying through the hippogriff.

Your eyes instinctively closed tight, fingers gripping onto the hippogriff’s shifting body coat, whimpers of apprehension and excitement bubbling out of your throat. Your hair blew softly everywhere while your face slightly froze at the cold breeze kissing every pore. Eventually, you buried your cheek further into the hippogriff, regaining the warmth you’ve lost.

It wasn’t until you heard a series of soft chuckles and felt a rumbling vibration on your back did you dare peek an eye open. It didn’t take long until you snapped your eyes wide open, mouth forming an ‘o’ as it emitted a strangled gasp.

There was no ground beneath you, though Buckbeak was obviously flying low. The sky was like a smudge of bluish periwinkle and gray as faint light peeked from the horizon seen in the distance. On your other side were the majestic forest known by Hogwarts as the Forbidden Forest - blurry swirly of gooey green so dark it was almost black. From below you, it was a rippling sight: colors in the gray palette swirling flowingly in a particular squiggly shape. Looking closely, you realized what was beneath you was the clear lake beside Hogwarts, reflecting your and Buckbeak’s and Taehyung’s figures despite the lack of light from the darkness of dawn.

Tentatively loosening your grip on Buckbeak’s neck, you breathlessly reached down until your hand was submerged in cool water, creating a straight ripple as you were moving with the hippogriff’s forward flight.

In your little bubble of delight, you forgot about the fact that you were riding a hippogriff; did not even notice the way Taehyung’s hand had softly and unconsciously found perfect residence on your hips. You never realized how your tight-lipped smile turned into a full-blown grin, growing wider until your teeth parted to emit soft giggles.

However, Taehyung did. He felt you bent down as you stretched your hand down, and he smiled at the faint memory of him doing the same thing when he first flew on Buckbeak. After that, everything else faltered: his breath caught in his throat, his heart skipping a lone beat, his affectionate smile fading into that of awe, his fingers twitching with the dilemma of holding tighter or letting go.

He’s noticed you just as much as you did, even before the situation you were both in. In a small class of first years, it was hard not to memorize who your classmates will be during mandatory subjects until seventh year at Hogwarts.

You were somewhere between a wallflower and an art center piece; known by a lot, though not as extravagantly as he. Your classmates knew you as this bright Gryffindor girl, who rarely talks and when you do it was almost a whisper. For Taehyung, secretly, you were more than that. He could faintly recall how surprised and fearful you were when you were sorted into Gryffindor just because you had the most distinct reaction out of all. He could not understand how someone could be so afraid of being into a house almost everybody wants to be sorted in. He was one of them, begged to the Sorting Hat for it, but in the end, he was placed in Ravenclaw.

Not that he was complaining, he loved his house nonetheless. It’s just that something about being in the house of Gryffindor brought a sense of satisfaction with his compulsiveness for adventure.

That aside, classes were always enjoyable to him; or rather, sneaking trouble in during classes alongside his variety of friends were. He often gets in trouble as much as he escapes punishment. Besides, he and his friends knew when it was time to get serious with their studies.

But, most of the time, he was among the mood makers, bringing cheery grins upon their classmates faces. Taehyung could say you were no exception, because he notices the prevented large grin and suspects that when you cover your mouth it’s emitting these soft giggles only your Gryffindor friends had the privilege to hear.

Tonight was just extraordinary and overwhelming, for the both of you; because you’d never thought the terrifying hippogriff was just as gentle as a pygmy puff and he’d never thought he’d be one of the selected few who’d witness this hidden side of yours.

Taehyung’s gaze stays mesmerized at you as your head tilted back to watch the trail of disturbed water you’ve made with your fingers dipped in the lake. Seeing the huge grin still etched on your lips, the faint rays of dawn highlighting shadowing perfectly on your figure, he grins as well, bravely letting go of your waist and raising his arms up above an air with a booming 'woo-hoo!’ escaping his lips.

The noise pulls you back to reality; the warm sensation gone from your hips startled and made you fluster. You look back at Taehyung, seeming to have the time of his life with his arms up in the air and the light breeze ruffling his hair in crazy directions. Your terror comes back when Buckbeak flies a bit higher and when you realized that the Ravenclaw wizard was no longer supporting you upright.

“Taehyung! What are you doing?”

“Taking a risk! Come on, try it! It’s amazing!” Taehyung hoots again, and Buckbeak takes it as a sign to raise higher from the surface.

You whimpered, realizing that the impending sunrise was illuminating the scenery before you. And no matter how breathtaking it was at that moment, all you could think about was “BLOODY HELL, BUCKBEAK’S FLYING HIGHER, STOP IT!”

You were shrieking at that point, urging the hippogriff to reach at least two feet off the lake’s surface. Taehyung’s chuckles were no longer helping you to calm down, and why the hell was he even laughing at your own misery?

“I think Bucky here wants you to be a bit braver. Please? Before he goes back to the stables and before we go back to Professor Bin’s class?”

You weren’t sure how he managed to stop your screams; how he was crumbling your resolve to dust particles; how your chest was actually enjoying the obvious pounding and hammering of your heart, the thrill of all of this.

You calculated that Buckbeak was about four feet higher now and was accelerating its flying speed. Taehyung’s excited laughter rang in your ears, despite the loud brush of air ceasing your sense of hearing. The pressure of the wind caused you to squint your eyes, with your legs feeling the joints of the hippogriff’s wings move. Your hand held tighter, loosened a little bit, before gripping tighter again.

Then, the creature set an angle to the direction of its course, and the suddenly tilt had you leaning away from the hippogriff’s neck. You briefly remembered Taehyung, but when you looked back he was still laughing manically.

Biting your lip, you guessed there was no harm in trying, seeing that Taehyung was still intact in Buckbeak’s back and that you’ve already done so much daring things for the past few hours so what harm would one more do?

Tentatively, you raised your arms until it was perpendicular to your head. It surprised you when you leaned back, causing a sense if falling to pass through you. Your fear was short lived when your back met a sturdy body, knowing that it would be no one else but Taehyung.

When you looked back, his arms were raised like your shaking arms were. The pressure of the atmosphere as Buckbeak went higher tightened your chest, but you believe your breathlessness was because of the close proximity between you and this attractive Ravenclaw boy and because of his glimmering grin, so boyish and so daring.

His eyes were random swirls of chocolate, now that the sun was peeking its edges into the horizon and that Taehyung wasn’t wearing any contact lenses. But, no, you weren’t mesmerized, drowning in the valley of each strand in his irises. Rather, you felt something akin to how you would soften when your cat would brush their body all over your feet, or when your dog would slip in under your arm just to have any form of physical contact with you, or when Buckbeak tilted its head to the side to cutely urge you to not be afraid of him - her, it, whatever.

Your chest tightened and your breath stuttered while your hair flew haphazardly into the air, until everything came at a standstill and all you could see were clouds, reflecting hues of blush pink and arctic blue and peach.

There was a moment of serene silence, just admiring the raw beauty of the sky at its first bloom in the morning. The flap of the hippogriff’s wings calmed you down, subtly lulling you to sleep and remind you that you can’t sleep a wink a few hours ago, but you thought it was all worth it.

Suddenly, you gasped, feeling warmth penetrate through the thick material of your sweater and a sturdy chin nestling its place safely on the curve near the joint connecting your shoulder and your arm. You didn’t dare look to the side, afraid of the sensations to fill you up with an up-close view of thus developing boy. You blamed all of these with the uncontrollable and mandatory hormones overflow as you gulped down your nervousness and remained quiet.

“Pop quiz: how to sneak in Hogwarts, without getting in detention, in broad daylight?”

#belle writes #taehyung fluff #kim v scenario #bangtan bwi

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