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#the darkling fanfiction
padfootagain · 5 months
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Hold My Hand Instead of His
Hello everyone!! We're answering a request for my event today!
Here is the first request coming from two anons, actually, who have requested the same tropes: “Hiya! Can I request The Darkling Soulmate AU with an arranged marriage trope? But the reader is meant to get married to someone else? Can have a little bit of jealousy if you wish. Either that or enemies to lovers you choose” and “Hi carooole!!! Congrats for 6k!! I'm so happy when I see you on my TL again i've been following you since 2020 aaaa
I would like to request The Darkling, Soulmates AU and Arranged Marriage please !🫶
I hope you're having a good day and congratulations again <3”
I love this idea of an arranged marriage with someone else ifoeofueuojeji that’s amazing. I hope you like what I’ve written for your request, anon! <3
Hope you all like this. Tell me what you think!
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Pairing: The Darkling x Reader
Warnings: angst, fluff; I’m distorting canon rules of Grisha magic to apply to a Soulmate AU I hope you like it
Summary: You are engaged to the Prince of Ravka, through an arranged marriage, in order to pacify relations between Grisha and otkazat’sya. The issue: Nikolai Lantsov is not your soulmate, and you are torn between duty and love.
Word Count: 3554
The Darkling’s Masterlist – Main Masterlist
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What could happen if the world were to be devoured by shadows?
Sometimes, as you laid down at night, staring at the shining stars and moon, you asked yourself this question. Would it be the end? The beginning? The continuation? Would anything change?
You felt a little too lost in your life these days to be afraid of the shadows, of the blindness they carried. If you were so lost, weren’t you alone already?
Besides, these were his shadows. If anyone else could fear the dark because it was his, you felt the opposite.
Your gaze turned from the window to the door on the opposite wall. Why were you chosen to marry the prince anyway? Granted, you were a powerful Grisha, but there were others who could have done it, why did it have to be you?
You knew that Nikolai Lantsov was not your soulmate. There was no wonder about it. As a Grisha, your soulmate would be easy to detect: a simple touch and your powers would be amplified. A surge of power matching the rush of a heart. You had touched the prince before, had felt nothing. It wasn’t him…
Actually, you knew who was your soulmate. You had touched him once, without meaning to. While he was asleep, after a long day spent on a battlefield. You can see it all over again: the dry blood still tainting his forehead, the quiet of his breathing, the calmness on his features. He seemed so innocent then, so different from the man who had used his shadows against the world mere hours before. You remember as well the water you had been carrying to his tent, the reason for your presence in the first place. Because of course, you were a powerful Grisha, but he was The Darkling, a general, a leader, unreachable. You remember, though, the light shiver that shook his frame, the blanket that had fallen from his chest during his sleep. To this day, you didn’t know what had come over you that night, putting down your bucket of cold water, gently holding the blanket to cover his long frame once more. And it was an accident, really, a mere miscalculation of trajectory, when you brushed your fingers against his. And you remember the surge of power shaking your entire frame, making it hard to breathe, igniting every cell in your body. The sudden knowledge of your powers beating in your muscles at the same rhythm as your heartbeat. It was so strong, you could barely control your powers enough to not burn him, feeling flames surging to your hands. You were certain that the warmth escaping through every inch of your skin was warming the entire room. It felt like you could have burned the entire world…
It had taken you a long time to finally accept the truth that was revealed that night: the Darkling was your soulmate. Amplifying abilities could only happen between people bound by true love and fate alike, and that cold night spent on the verge of Fjerda, you had revealed an unbelieving truth. The Darkling was your soulmate. Your one true love.
Even now, you contemplated this fact with a tinge of bitterness. He was the Darkling, and you… it would be absolutely impossible for the two of you to be together. Now more than ever. You had been chosen to marry the prince of Ravka, it would strengthen the Grisha, protect them… you had worked hard to protect your people, you couldn’t abandon them simply because you were being a silly romantic. This wasn’t about love. This was about duty and the need of your people. Besides, it could have been worse. Nikolai wasn’t a bad man, marrying his brother would have been much closer to martyrdom.
These were the words you repeated yourself over and over again, every night since the announcement. And they were sensible and logical, but they did not prevent the aching in your chest, the tears at the corners of your eyes, or the urge to run across the Little Palace to the Darkling’s War Room to tell him the truth and beg him to take you away…
You closed your eyes, the world even darker than before. Against your eyelids, you painted his tall frame wrapped in his shadows, the dark of his infinite eyes, the sot beard on his cheeks. It was useless though, and terribly childish.
After all, how could the Darkling do anything against your union with Nikolai Lantsov? He didn’t even know you were his soulmate…
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You didn’t know that he was your soulmate, and it was slowly killing him.
The Darkling looked at you now, dressed in the finest silk the kingdom of Ravka could offer. Your hand resting on Nikolai Lantsov’s arm, gloved in white fabric. He was showing you off, the bastard. He was playing his part in this political plot a little too well, took too much pleasure in parading with you by his side. And you were so unlike your true self. Too pliant, too obedient, smiling too politely. But Aleksander knew who you could be, this other side of you. The one covered with blood, the one burning like the flames ignited by your fingers and palms.
The Darkling was being ridiculous, and he knew it. He had worked too hard to reach this position, over the long hours of centuries, he had crafted his myth, his image, his power, his influence. And Nikolai Lantsov marrying a Grisha was a central part of his plot, it was vital, actually. It was a new step towards the throne…
But you… why did it have to be you?
He was being ridiculous, and he knew it. He had abandoned the idea of an everlasting love such a long time ago. Centuries ago. He had built an armour around his heart, he had grown as ruthless as his shadows, he had grown too determined to be drawn off-course by sentiments.
And yet, as he looked at you now, at the way you leaned against another man, he wanted to destroy the entirety of Ravka and the world beyond too, if need be. He wanted to tear the fabrics of the universe apart, and scream against the night sky.
The Darkling was selfish, and he knew it. And yet, his selfishness was always directed towards the same goal he had been pursuing for centuries, for lifetimes… he could not simply yield now. Of course he wanted you, you were connected by a power stronger than the Small Science he used as weapons and shields. Still… still he couldn’t simply yield, it would ruin everything.
Aleksander remembers, though. He remembers that afternoon, the clouds of smoke rising from the broken earth, the screams, the irony taste of blood in the air. He remembers looking for you, though he didn’t know why his instinct made him look for your frame across the battlefield. And yet, every fibre of his being was screaming at him to find you. He remembers the beating of his heart and his shallow breathing, the pain of his own wounds making his head spin. He remembers catching the colour of your hair there, lying in the dirt, his gaze moving to your closed eyelids… He remembers the sudden fear that shook him, even though he didn’t know why he felt that way. Because you were, of course, a powerful Inferni, he suspected that you were unusually gifted, and yet… you were just a soldier. Why was he so upset? He had seen thousands of people dying, thousands of his soldiers falling… why was it so different now? He remembers the way he had stumbled as he rushed to your side, falling by your side more than kneeling. Your still frame, your peaceful expression, you looked like you were merely asleep. He remembers too well the slow movement of his own fingers towards your throat, pressing against your pulse to feel your heart, and the surge of power that coursed through his frame, ignited his blood, sparkling every cell of his body. Such an overcoming beating of power in his heart, he didn’t control the shadows that sprang from his frame, that gathered from all around the two of you to cover both of your frames. He didn’t control it. He knew at once what it meant though. And his shadows pulsed, at the same rhythm as his own heart and, as he noticed your pulse, as your heart as well.
Two hearts. One heartbeat. Soulmates…
Aleksander looked away, focusing his dark eyes on the drink in his hands instead of your frame. This surge of power he had felt, unbearable, uncontrollable, too wild to be tamed… he knew what it meant, of course. When he was young, and naïve, and stupid, he had spent long decades looking for it. The reason of his failure then was obvious now. You did not exist yet, you were born centuries apart… how cruel the world could be, making him wait for so long, only to snatch you away…
The Darkling was being ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. For longing for you so much it hurt, for seriously considering walking over to you and lie about a need to see you alone, and kiss you in the safety of his shadows, with your back pressed against a wall and your skin under his palms…
But was he so ridiculous? He couldn’t help it, after all. If fate itself had weaved your two lives, your two souls together, how could he simply ignore it?
He could have laughed at himself for being naïve all over again, a boy who longed for a fairer world. Fairness didn’t exist, it wasn’t in human nature. Marriages had little to do with love at all when they involved the royal family. It was about politics, not sentiments.
But then, why did Aleksander felt your numb body in his arms all over again, the weight of your unconsciousness resting on his forearms as he carried you to safety that afternoon, the shallow warmth of your breath against his neck, as you turned to him and looked at him from across the crowd, catching his gaze with ease?
But then, why did he want nothing but to leave everything behind now, everything he had worked so hard on and had lost so much of his own self to reach, at the mere hope of running away with you?
But you didn’t know he was your soulmate. You were unconscious then, when he had touched your skin, you couldn’t feel the amplification held in his bones for you.
He turned around, his back to you now to relieve the temptation to stare at you for too long. The Darkling was patient, but Aleksander was selfish. Would he hold on, or tell you the truth?
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The answer came with the breeze of spring and a kiss stolen by the lake.
It came from you, actually. From the feeling of warm lips against yours, and hands on your cheeks, and the sudden knowledge of a truth you had been pushing away out of duty.
You couldn’t do this.
You pulled away quickly, leaving a rather stunned Nikolai Lantsov behind. You didn’t look at him as you spun on your heels, as you ran away across the grass and towards the Little Palace. You didn’t look back as you spotted the Darkling there, under the trees, speaking with Ivan. You were crying, you realised it only because it made their frame a little blur. Still, you aimed straight for the Darkling, who frowned at the sight of you. He dismissed Ivan with a mere gesture of the hand, and walked towards you.
“Y/N? What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
You wanted to rush into his arms, but didn’t dare to. Because he didn’t know you were his soulmate, and would notice if you touched his skin…
You were surprised when he held your upper-arm to steady you, though. But he was touching the fabric of your dress, you couldn’t feel the bond between the two of you…
“Y/N, what happened?”
You took a couple of deep breaths. You were being utterly ridiculous. You had fought battles, had killed people, had buried friends… this was a mere kiss, why did it upset you so much?
When you looked up at the Darkling, his expression was unreadable, a perfectly calm demeanour. There was but the ghost of a frown to show that he cared.
Did he care though? He didn’t know…
You couldn’t hold it back any longer. You had to tell him. Because he would probably push you away anyway, remind you of your duty towards Ravka, towards your fellow Grisha, and break your heart for good. And then, perhaps you could accept your arranged marriage with the prince…
“I can’t do it,” you let out in a breath, shaking your head. “I am sorry, but I cannot do it. I can’t marry Lantsov.”
The Darkling’s frown deepened, he leaned a little closer, his eyes searching yours, digging their way into your mind and heart until he could peer right into your soul.
“Did he hurt you? What happened?”
“He didn’t hurt me, he…”
You took a shaky breath, closed your eyes tightly for a moment, trying to release the words and hold back a sob.
“He kissed me.”
When you opened your eyes again, fell back into the gaze as dark as the shadows they summoned, you couldn’t read through them. Aleksander had clenched his jaw, but he was still as unreadable as ever.
“I’m sorry. I can’t do it… I can’t marry him…”
“Y/N, calm down. This is important.”
“I have a soulmate.”
His lips parted slightly, but he remained silent, frozen in expectation. His hold on your arm tightened, it was the only movement he made until you spoke again.
You wondered where your strength came from as you finally confessed the truth, you didn’t think you had it in you. Even if your voice was but a weak whisper, the words were let out, audible and clear, lifting a heavy weight from your shoulders and heart.
“It’s you. You’re my soulmate.”
You shook your head, eyes begging for forgiveness, even if none of this was your fault in the first place.
“I’m sorry. I… one day I touched you without meaning to while you slept, just… just your finger and… I felt it. The amplifying. And I… I didn’t tell you, because I know that you are focused on your task concerning Ravka, that this is not your priority, that you probably don’t even care but… You’re my soulmate. And I can’t marry another man, I simply can’t. I’ll fight as hard as I can, I’ll risk my life, I’ll kill and do whatever needs to be done, but as a soldier. Please… please, help me. Help me not marry him. I cannot marry someone else when I love you so deeply. I am not asking for anything else, I simply…”
Your voice died down as his hold on your kefta tightened, becoming almost painful, the hold unforgiving.
His stare was even more intense now, if that was even possible. You read hesitation in them, something you had never seen before on him…
His eyes fell from your gaze to your mouth, intense and holding you hostage, making your heart jump and crash against your ribcage. When his eyes flickered back to rest on yours, he was out of breath as he spoke.
“I know.”
You could only stare at him, stunned. You could feel your heart shattering…
“Do you remember when you were wounded in the South? About a year ago?”
Slowly, you nodded.
“I am the one who found you, unconscious, lying among the dead. I checked your pulse.”
“Oh…”
The ghost of an amused smile tugged at his lips.
“’Oh’, indeed.”
Slowly, you nodded. Because he knew, and yet he had done nothing to prevent this marriage.
“I thought you didn’t know,” he went on. “I thought it was better that way.”
“Because I must marry Nikolai to help the Grisha?”
But he was too earnest in his answer, his hand slowly rising to your cheek, but he didn’t touch you. Instead, he let his hand hover over your face, close enough to feel the heat of your skin, but still away, unbearably so.
“Because I do not want to have weaknesses. And loving you would turn you into a weakness.”
Again, you nodded, although you were more lost than ever.
“I can’t marry Nikolai,” you breathed again, the tears coming back into your eyes.
“If you do not, Ravka will be endangered, and Grisha more than anyone else.”
You looked down at your feet, the weight of duty too heavy on your shoulders now, despite the strength in them, the endurance of a soldier.
Aleksander could not bear the sight. Beyond duty, your frame was crushed by another burden he knew only too well, after carrying it for so many centuries.
Loneliness…
If he caved in, you would never have to be alone again, and neither would he…
Slowly, he closed the space between your two skins, his hand coming to rest on your cheek, guiding gently your face upward to look at him again. And the power that coursed through your bodies now was so intense, so overwhelming, that you couldn’t help the flames that sparked in the air all around you, and he couldn’t master the shadows that twirled around your frames. Fire and darkness mingled in a whirlwind that covered the world, made you escape from it. It was a strange dance on your features, the burning lights of flames dancing with his shadows in your eyes…
The decision was easy to make.
He leaned down before you could move, or speak, or master your powers again. Only when his lips moved over yours, when you lost yourself in his touch, when he melted under your palms and pressed himself against you, did your powers calm down. You felt the warmth of the sun against your face instead of the heat of flames, the constant light of the distant star painting your eyelids red instead of the unsteady black of his twirling shadows. And there was no thought left to be thought, no breath to be drawn, no duty to cave under. Instead, there was the passion of Aleksander’s kiss, the gentle tug of your fingers on his hair, the tingle of his beard against your soft skin. There was nothing in the world but the two of you, feelings overwhelming, and at the back of your mind, still, the knowledge of immense power waiting to be freed.
When you broke apart, both of you out of breath, Aleksander pulled away just enough to look at you again, to capture your gaze with his, making your heart stutter all over again.
“Do not marry him.”
You stopped breathing altogether as the words passed his lips. He slowly shook his head. His hold on your face tightened a little, he moved a little closer, and his voice was dangerously tempting, almost begging, when he spoke again.
“I can take care of this,” he assured you, his tone sounding like a promise. “I can make him back down. We are soulmates, this is our right…”
“But what about Grisha…”
“Lantsov can marry someone else. He chose you because he had a crush on you, he will get over it and choose someone else.”
“Do you really mean that?”
He smiled.
“We are soulmates. Do you not know the answer already?”
And as you stared at him for a little longer, you did. You knew he meant it. You could see it in his dark eyes, in the tension of his jaw, feel it in the way he held you a little too tight, a little too close, a tinge of desperation searing cracks through his perfect composure.
One of his hands let go of you, and he offered it, palm up and open, an offering of weakness and vulnerability.
“Choose me,” he demanded in a breathy whisper. “I’ll manage Lantsov, I’ll get you out of this marriage. We could be together. We can fight. Choose me. Hold my hand instead of his. Share your heart with me, not with him. Y/N…”
He fell silent as you took his hand, as you pulled him down to kiss him again, passionate and breathtaking.
He smiled into the kiss, he couldn’t help it. Because of your lips against his, because of the love you shared, because of the relief coursing through his entire frame after finally surrendering to the feelings he had held back for months, because of the shushing of its constant loneliness under your palms, because of the power you released into his body by a simple caress…
Aleksander was selfish, after all, and he would have you, if you chose him. He would do without this alliance with the Lantsov family. He didn’t need it. Instead of political leverage, you were now offering a power of his own.
He broke the kiss, held you close to him, rested his lips against your hair. Yes, he would have you. And if need be, he’d take the light out of this entire world, while you burned it to the ground.
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I'm just a jealous guy (Aleksander Morozova x fem!reader)
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To read my other works, check my MASTERLIST !
Paring: Aleksander Morozova x Grisha!reader
Universe: The Grishavers /Shadow and bone 
Word Count: 1221
Requested: Yes, by my sweet annon.
Warnings: mention of jealousy, shouting someone out, mention death (Luda), making out, a quick mention of sexual activity - it ends before something happened.
If I forgot about anything feel free to write to me. Your wellbeing is important to me!
Summary: The one where he is jealous. 
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Aleksander walked through the corridors of Little Palace, trying to find one of his most trusted Grisha, who was also the person who made his heart beat a little faster. He lived for centuries, hiding his identity from people, always hiding his emotions, and always striving to achieve his goals. But then they showed on his path - a person with great power and strong will. A person who always cared for the people they loved and who found a way to parts of his heart that he’d forgotten. Somehow, they’d ended up sitting together into late nights, talking about everything but plans for Grishas’ training or plans for the army. He allowed himself to open up for the first time since he lost Luda, and for the first time, he allowed himself to feel again. He was afraid to call it as it was, but the truth was that he loved them. And they loved him. 
The Darkling walked to the training yard, not minding Grishas, who welcomed him. He quickly knew he was in the right place and finally found them. He first heard their soft laugh and then saw them in the middle of the training yard with Fedyor, surrounded by younger Grishas. He knew that they loved to teach them, and they only showed these kids how to defend themself. But something deep in his mind made him angry at the sight of Fedyor’s hand around them. He watched how he moved his hands to their sides and started to tickle them. They squealed at the feeling and tried to escape from him, laughing loudly. The Darkling watched how close they were and how fondly they looked at each other. The betrayal blossomed in his chest. They gently tapped the Heartrender’s chest, smiling widely. Kirigan couldn’t watch it anymore and turned on his heel, quickly going to his chambers. What he didn’t know, they saw him at the last moment, and they started worrying about his hurried departure. They ended her part of the lesson and asked Fedyor to watch their training when they went after their General. After a few moments, they knocked on the doors of his cabinet. They smiled at the sound of this deep voice telling anyone behind them that he was busy. They dared to open them and snicked in, biting their lower lip. 
“Maybe you’ll find a second for me, General?” They leaned against the door, watching him. They knew that even if he didn’t raise his head from maps, he knew it was them. They smiled at how his black kefta perfectly wrapped his tall body. 
“Make it quick. I have a war to win.” They sighed and came closer to him, gently touching his elbow. When he didn’t change his position, they dared to lean against him, resting their cheek on his arm. They could tell that he was tense, and they hated it.
“I know, handsome, and you’re doing an amazing job. But even you, great General Kirigan, need some rest. And I saw you at the training yard.”
“You saw me?” He said mockingly. “You seemed busy with this Heartrender.” He moved away, taking his arm from their grip, and they looked at him surprised. They laughed breathlessly, standing in front of him.
“With Fedyor? He is only my friend. A very close friend, who was the first one to welcome me here with open arms and who made me feel at home here.” They said with a small smile, which faded when he constantly pretended they were not there. “If you want to accuse me of something, say it aloud rather than shutting me out.” When he heard the sadness in their voice, he stopped moving, and his eyes landed on the war figures in front of him. After a few seconds, he breathed deeply.
“Are they really ‘just a friend’?” He murmured without raising his head. 
“Of course, they are just a friend. If you want to know, Fedyor lately was on a few dates with a person you know very well.”
“With who?” Alexander knew about their love for gossip. With time he discovered that it brought both of them joy, so he started encouraging them to spill a bean about it. He also wanted to be wholly sure that they were only his and that there wasn’t anybody else in their life.
“With your own personal Corporalki.” They couldn’t stop a big smile when he looked at them stunned. 
“With Ivan?” They nodded, carefully watching his face. He started thinking about the latest behaviour of this man. “He was a little strange lately, in fact. Like… Happier.” They couldn’t stop the smile rising on their face, and once again, they tried to slowly touch his forearm. They breathed with relief when he didn’t move away this time. 
“Because they are, both of them. Like I am happy when you are next to me because only our loved one can pull some of the strings in our hearts and make it beat faster in that specific way. So I will say it once again. They are only my friend. It’s YOU who has my heart.” They gently squeezed his arm, and finally, he moved closer to them with a look on his face reserved only for time when they were alone. His hands mindlessly moved to their hips, and in a quick move, he made them sit on the table behind them. They let the squeak leave their throat, making him smile widely at what they started laughing. Their hands slowly moved to rest on his shoulders, and one of them mindlessly started fidgeting with the ends of the hair on his neck. 
“You… You made me happy, you know?” He whispered sheepishly, and they could only smile wider.
“I know. Were you jealous?” They bit her lips to stop grinning, especially when they saw a flush coming into his cheeks. He looked above them, trying to compose himself. Before he could answer, they leaned down and softly kissed his bearded cheek. “Please, don’t deny it. It actually… flatters me, you know? I… I always dreamed of having a person who would care for me enough to do it. Even if there isn’t any reason for that.” 
The Darkling gently squeezed their hips, standing between their legs. His hand moved to their thigh, caressing it gently.
“I do care. Every single look from other men or women is enough to feel jealousy in me. To want to show all of them that you are mine.”
“And I always will be.” They whispered, and General immediately leaned down, kissing them deeply. One of his hands moved to the back of their head, gently moving it to allow him better access while the other kept them close. They moaned into his lips, wrapping one leg around him, wanting to feel every centimetre of his body. They were so lost in each other that they didn’t hear the knock on the door or that somebody had walked in. They were too busy unfastening his kefta to care about anything. Poor Ivan closed the door quicker than he ever opened them. After a moment of shock, Corporalki felt happiness for his General and his friend - even a dark soul like him deserved some light and love in the arms of a trusted person.
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Author’s note: Thank you  so much for reading! If it’s not too much trouble, I would love to hear your thoughts about it. Any feedback is greatly appreciated and motivate me to work.
I am sorry about every grammar mistake and misspellings. English is not my first language.
Klaudia  💜
Taglists are always open! If you want to be added fill this up or send me an ask!
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bi-bard · 11 months
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When They Took Everything from You, You Found a Way to Make Something from Nothing - Kaz Brekker Imagine [Shadow & Bone]
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Title: When They Took Everything from You, You Found a Way to Make Something from Nothing
Pairing: Kaz Brekker X Reader
Word Count: 3,303 words
Warning(s): **HEY! LOOK RIGHT HERE!** mention of S.A/Assault (within original story's context), mention of abduction
Summary: (Y/n) experiences their first day at the Little Palace. They are confronted with the weight of their new responsibilities, starting with being presented to the king. They also learn just how difficult it will be to work with General Kirigan and the other Grisha.
Author's Note: Shout out to my friend who sent me a picture of a few pages of the book to help inspire a part of this imagine. (we should all love my friend because she is the reason that this OC was continued and the story got developed)
Also, Kaz isn't in this, but Kaz is the romantic interest.
MORE OF THIS OC HERE!
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I didn't sleep much during my first night at the Little Palace.
I barely even touched the bed after I woke up there the first time. No, my first sign of defiance was my choice to refuse to go to bed as Kirigan told me to. I was not a pet. I refused to be treated as one.
I had a lot of night left to waste.
I contemplated the letters that I would have written to the Crows if I ever trusted a person here enough to believe my written words wouldn't be used against me.
Saints, I missed them all so much more than I ever could have considered.
I don't know when the tiredness overcame my stubbornness.
All I know is that one moment, I was sitting at the table with my jaw clenched and a glare fixed on my face. The next, I was waking up, cheek resting on my folded arms on top of the table.
I felt my heart drop as I looked around the room.
I had been hoping that it would all be some kind of twisted dream. I didn't want this to be real. I wanted to be home. To wake up to some kind of familiarity. Back in the Crow Club so I could play cards with Jesper or with Inej while she tried desperately to teach me how to throw as well as her or even just being in Kaz's office while we bickered over some part of whatever plan he was making.
I found myself grinning at the thought of Kaz.
Saints, that boy consumed every thought I had. It was getting unfair at this point. Especially when I was convinced that there was no world where he would see me in nearly the same light that I saw him.
My dwelling on my senseless pining was brought to an abrupt halt by the door suddenly getting slammed open.
"Excuse me-"
The woman leading the charge cut me off, "Saints... have you ever bathed?"
I raised an eyebrow at her, "The abduction didn't exactly leave me much time to pamper myself."
A sigh escaped her before she snapped her fingers at some of the people that had followed her. "Fetch my kit."
Two of the other people grabbed my arms, pulling me into the small bathroom attached to the room.
Once they tried to pull my clothes off, I shoved them away. They went to grab me again, but I simply pushed them again.
"Grab me again and you'll be the first ones to witness my 'gift'," I snapped. "I am perfectly capable of washing and dressing myself."
"Everyone out!" the original woman yelled.
She found her place in a chair in the corner while everyone filled out.
I crossed my arms, my disgust clearly written on my face. I nodded to the door, trying to motion for her to leave. She just tilted her head and smirked at me.
"Unbelievable," I muttered.
I yanked my clothes off and climbed into the tub. One of the lingering workers grabbed my clothes before running off.
The water was warm. The sponge was nicer than I expected it to be. I took a deep breath through my nose. It smelled like something sweet. I couldn't place it.
"You are to be presented to King Pyotr in an hour," the woman said as I scrubbed at my skin.
"Excuse me?"
"You are going to be presented to the king in an hour," she repeated. "I am here to ensure that you are presentable."
"And that includes watching me bathe?"
"What if you were to drown?"
It was pure sarcasm, but I wouldn't be surprised if General Kirigan had sent her to actually ensure that it didn't happen. I just huffed and rinsed my skin off.
I pulled myself up from the tub. The woman walked up behind me and offered me a robe to cover myself. I pulled it on quickly, tying as tight a knot as I could.
It was annoyingly comfortable. Softer than any fabric that I had been given the fortune to touch. But I would rather burn then and there than let anyone in this place see that.
She brought me back to the main room, stopping to touch my chin and inspect my skin in the natural light coming through the window.
"What are you doing," I asked.
"Seeing how much work I need to complete in our very limited time together," she replied. "I should thank you for giving me an excuse to force out that little group that trails behind me. Much easier to do my work when I have no additional interruptions."
"You could always thank me by helping me get out of here," I replied.
She let out an amused huff. "You're funny."
"Wasn't joking."
She reached up and dragged her thumb along my cheekbone.
I felt something shifting under my skin. As if something was scratching and hoping to get out. I yanked myself away from her, reaching up to cover what she had touched.
"What did you do?" I snapped.
"My job," she answered. She motioned to the mirror.
I walked over and glanced at my reflection.
There had been this scar on my cheek. It was from back when I started working with Kaz. I had tried to kick out a man that didn't want to leave the Crow Club just yet. In response to my instructions, he hit me. It wouldn't have scarred if I hadn't picked at it. I could still hear Kaz snapping at me to stop messing with it whenever he caught me.
The scar was gone now. I touched the skin, hoping to find some indent. Nothing.
I turned back to the woman, who looked incredibly proud of herself.
"Healer?"
"Tailor," she corrected. "Rare. Not nearly as special as you, but... still rare."
Her next move was the fresh wounds. The ones that were a direct result of Kirigan's abduction plan and my fight against it.
"I'm Genya, by the way," she introduced. "(Y/n), right? Feels wrong to only call you the Sun Summoner."
I just nodded.
"I was told you were from Ketterdam. Well, you were hiding there. What was that-"
"Genya," I stopped her. "I understand that you are trying to be polite and friendly, but I need you to understand that I am here against my will. I am doing exactly what I need to do to survive and try to ensure the safety of those I care for. I have no interest in forming connections."
She paused for a moment. I couldn't tell if she was truly shocked or merely attempting to call my bluff.
"Fair enough," she finally replied. She reached down and grabbed my hand.
Old scars from the rare moments when I would get caught pickpocketing. Mostly small scars from nails scratching me as they grabbed my hands.
I didn't stop Genya's work until she got to the scar on my arm. I snagged her wrist, gruffly shaking my head.
She raised an eyebrow as she pulled back. "Sentimental?"
I didn't respond to her question.
Her smirk just grew.
Yes. It was me being sentimental.
The scar was fairly long and sat on the outside of my forearm. Inej had tried to help me learn to throw knives without me stabbing myself. I had thrown a knife at our makeshift target but had the handle hit instead of the blade. I had ducked and shielded my face, so when the knife came back, it slid over my arm and left the cut.
After making sure that I was okay, Inej had a tough time keeping it together.
Sitting there and watching her try to cover up her laugh was one of the first times that I felt like I had truly connected with her.
I was proud to be sentimental about it. Just not here.
"Sit," she nodded to the seat. "I'll be done before you know it."
I took a deep breath before listening to her.
She was being honest about that much. I had managed to get lost in my thoughts enough for it to feel like mere seconds before she was having stand so I could get dressed.
The great outfit for me to meet the king in was... the same outfit that I had been wearing when I was taken from Ketterdam.
The only added detail was a ridiculous veil meant to shield my face from everyone else.
"That seems ridiculous," I said. Genya raised an eyebrow at me. "You just want to put me in the same clothes?"
"They suit you well," she replied.
I started pulling on the clothes. I muttered under my breath as I did. It wasn't until I was tying up my ever-fateful boots that she spoke up again.
"We could have just left them as they were. Coated in dirt and sweat and... whatever lines the streets of Ketterdam."
I turned to her.
"You should be a little more grateful."
"Oh, you're right, how kind of you to clean the clothes that I was abducted in before forcing me to wear them to face the king," I said sarcastically.
She paused for a brief moment before responding, "Don't be silly, it's simply a recreation."
"Was that necessary?"
She raised an eyebrow at me as she placed the veil over my head. "Expect more?"
"If I was apparently so valuable, then I would imagine that having me look like... this wouldn't be appealing to your precious king."
She hummed, "Well... you don't want to attract too much attention from the king."
She said it in as light-hearted a voice as she could, but I caught her eyes before she could turn away from me to continue walking. They worried me. There was simply so much sitting there. None that she meant to show. Knowledge of some "consequence" of that attention.
It was a dark look, a sad look that I had only been allowed to see on one person's face before that moment.
Inej.
My heart fell a bit. I felt just as useless now as I did then. If I hadn't been so focused on my coldness, then I would have asked her to explain that statement a little further. I would have helped her. I would have done more than just sit there.
This is why I knew that I wasn't the saint that people wanted me to be. If I was, I would have done better. By both of them.
This wasn't the feeling of familiarity that I wanted.
Genya didn't speak on her statement more.
"He wishes to see you as something newly found," she said. "Saved from the Barrel and whatever unsavory life that he believes it offered you. He'll want to take credit for you being found."
"Like a rare animal," I replied. "New and interesting... and placed in a cage so they cannot fight back."
"A very comfortable cage," Genya shrugged.
I rolled my eyes.
"Come on."
I followed Genya out of my room, letting her lead me down the hall.
We walked in silence through most of the halls. I wanted to get a grasp of the layout. I knew that I would need to have it memorized for later.
I spotted a library, where the nearest staircases, and the potential exits.
There was no denying that the Little Palace was a gorgeous place. It was designed to treat the Grisha as nothing less than almost-royalty. Separate yet superior. If only their rise to power didn't involve shoving so many into the dirt on the way up.
Genya tried to explain who would be at the event today. I didn't pay much mind to it. It was rude, yes, but I don't think I can be faulted for not being the kindest of individuals considering the circumstances.
"Genya," I turned my eyes forward at the sound of one of the few voices that could make me truly sick to my stomach. Kirigan. "I believe I can take over the guiding from here."
She nodded to both of us before walking away. I pushed the veil off of my face.
"Shall we," Kirigan motioned toward the door. I walked a few steps ahead of him. "The Grand Palace may be the ugliest building I've ever seen."
I simply hummed in response. Polite, but not going out of my way to continue the ever-so-interesting conversation.
"How was your rest?"
I didn't respond, still admiring the outside of the Grand Palace, the Little Palace, and the courtyard in between.
"You do know that you can talk to me," he continued.
"Thank you for the permission," I replied. "If I ever have the desire to accept your offer, I'll be certain to inform you."
He grabbed my wrist, pulling us both to a stop and forcing me to turn and face him. I flinched away from him. I never thought that I would miss the feeling of Kaz tapping my shins with his cane to do the same thing, yet here I was. Still thinking of him, even when I was about to face the king of Ravka.
"What," I asked.
"I understand that these are not ideal circumstances-"
"You kidnapped me-"
"I am requesting that you pretend to have some understanding of how important this is," he said. "How important you are. I'm asking you to behave like an adult."
"Promise to do the same?" I tilted my head. "I am sorry but there is going to be no form of cooperation here if you cannot even truly accept that what you did to me was wrong."
"Who are you to tell me the difference between right and wrong? Last time I checked, you were part of some gang of lowlifes before I found you."
I clenched my fists. Again, choose your battles at the right time.
"Behave yourself," he scolded me. "We are going to meet the king. I am going to present you, you will show your powers, and the king will allow me to keep you here for training. Then, we will tear down the Fold together.
"We are officially too far down this path for us to turn back and question how we got here. You may not believe me, but I am trying to do what is best for us. For you, for me, for all of Ravka. Even those little Crows of yours."
"Don't speak of them," I snapped. "Never speak of them. You have no right to hold their names on your tongue."
A smirk pulled at Kirigan's lips. "I admire your stubbornness. I just wish it were applied in the place that truly needed it."
I rolled my eyes.
"I will earn your trust as best I can," he continued. "For now, I am asking you to pretend that I have already earned it. They will need to see that if they are ever going to believe that we can tear the Fold down."
I took a deep breath and pulled the veil back down over my face.
"Thank you-"
"Save it."
We walked to the Grand Palace in silence.
We were followed inside by guards and a collection of other Grisha.
The hall felt packed as we walked in. I never thought that I was one who feared attention, but I hadn't truly experienced it on such a scale. I had gone from completely hidden to completely known in a night. It was enough to churn anyone's stomach.
I stopped next to Kirigan in the middle of the room. I took a breath before lifting the veil from other my face. Someone took it from my hand. I nodded to them.
The crowd was only worse without the obstruction to my sight. And now I couldn't how desperately I wanted to close my eyes and hide from it all.
"I thought they'd be taller," the king said immediately.
I took a breath, keeping my attitude to myself. I felt Kirigan's eyes shift to me for just a moment. As if he were checking on my behavior like a parent does with a child.
"Good morning," the queen added awkwardly.
"Good morning, your highness," I replied, nodding my head in respect.
"So polite," she gushed. "Considering where you've been living, of course."
I wondered how much of Inej's throwing lessons had properly stuck with me. "Thank you, your highness."
Kirigan spoke up before I had a chance to properly introduce myself, "They are (Y/n) (Y/l/n). The Sun Summoner, moya tsaritsa. They will change the future."
I felt his eyes turn to me again.
"Starting now."
He lifted his hand, drawing in two waves of shadow from either side of the crowd. It filled the room, covering any ounce of light. He stepped to the side, facing me fully.
I turned my eyes up to the shadows surrounding me. I took a breath, closed my eyes, and drew the sun in.
A ball formed in my hands. I cast it up into the center of the shadow.
It glimmered as the light tore it down.
I heard the applause before I opened my eyes. When I did, the king had stood from his seat, leading the audience's response. I grinned at him, nodding as a quiet sign of appreciation.
Kirigan stepped over again. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"
"Asking a little early," I whispered back to him.
"How long will they need," the king asked, turning to Kirigan.
"Destroying the Fold is no easy feat," he explained. "It is possible that (Y/n) may not have the ability to complete the task alone. I request that they remain with me in the Little Palace to train. Undisturbed."
"Then train them quickly," the king replied. "Our wars have been a noble pursuit, but this chat about the west becoming a sovereign nation, that needs to stop. The sooner we are one country again, the better."
"I agree," Kirigan nodded. He tilted his head down. "Moi tsar."
I mimicked his bow.
He guided me to turn around, leading me back to the crowd of Grisha. He only stopped for a moment.
"Welcome home, (Y/n)."
He walked away, finding his way through the crowd to leave.
I was left with the guards and the Grisha.
The Grisha were welcoming. All of them seemed to be buzzing due to my presence and what they had just watched. I tried to be as polite as I needed to be. Nods and shaking hands and small grins. Far too many hugs. That was all that I could offer.
There was one woman who stuck out. Long dark hair with bangs. She stood perfectly straight with her shoulders rolled back enough to make her appear like a soldier.
"It's such an honor to formally meet you," she said.
I didn't have a chance to respond before I was pulled into a rough, tight hug. I barely caught sight of the smug grin on her face. I awkwardly hugged her back regardless.
"You reek of the Barrel," she muttered to me.
I chucked and leaned back just slightly, mumbling into her ear to ensure that my words were only heard by her, "And you reek of the General."
She tilted her head, grin now tighter and more forced.
I offered a sickeningly sweet grin before allowing myself to be guided out of the room by Genya, who I must've simply missed when I first arrived. She guided me back to my room, claiming that I deserved a bit of rest while waiting on my kefta to arrive.
I knew that this event was only a first step. Merely one day in what could be hundreds.
But I was okay with that.
As long as the Crows were at the end of that long line of days.
--------------------
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iliveiloveiwrite · 1 year
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Nightmares to Dreams // General Kirigan/The Darkling
Request: Hii i would like to request angst for kirigan where he and reader are in love. The part on s1 where they were inside the fold and he was expanding it and as he was doing so, reader was injured then reader was dying or smt then suddenly everything was just a dream when reader woke up - anon
A/N: Thank you so much for your request! I really enjoyed writing this, I hope you like it! I haven’t written in a very long time so I’m still getting used to things!
Warnings: angst to fluff, nightmares, mentions of violence, upset, comforting, hurt/comfort.
Word count: 1.5k
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The first thing you notice is the drop in temperature; your teeth clatter together and goosebumps cover every inch of skin that is bared to the elements.
The second thing that registers is the noise; the terrible, frightening noise of the Volcra as they swarm above you, wings flapping as they look for their next meal.
The final thing you come to notice is Kirigan, stood metres away from you, arms raised in semblance of a victorious pose.
You call out to him; your voice landing on deaf ears for he doesn’t move, doesn’t even acknowledge your desperate pleas. Fear begins to choke you; cutting off your pleas, your begging. The blood in your veins turns to ice as you come to realise what the love of your life plans to do.
Each and every step towards him is a challenge. The threat of the Volcra combined with the unknown from Kirigan creates an atmosphere that could rival even the lowest circle of hell.
Darkness swirls around Kirigan; his power coming out to play now that he has an audience. You watch, tears silently falling down your face as the fold begins to expand.
You try one last time. His name – a blessing in the past, said with love and joy now tastes bitter as you beg him to stop, to think again.
It all comes to a stop – every thought, every word – when the claws of a Volcra rip through your kefta to the skin below.
His name dies on your lips as the Volcra’s claws dig deep into your body. The pain is too much; searing heat rushing through your body, a scream lodged in your throat as your vision begins to fade. The last of your strength, as the Volcra flaps its enormous wings, goes toward looking at the love of your life to find you barely even recognise him at all.
—————————————
You wake with a start, panic turning your veins to sludge as you take a minute to get used to your surroundings.
A bedroom. Four walls; two large windows, black curtains.
A bed. Four-poster, dark sheets, not alone.
Wiping the sweat from your brow, you turn to see Kirigan still sound asleep, utterly unaware of the nightmare you had just faced. A pang of envy hits you, jealous of his ability to sleep through just about anything.
Your heart rate slows to its normal rate; the adrenaline leaving your body just as swiftly as it had arrived, leaving you cold and on edge. Rubbing a hand across your face, you know you were not about to fall back asleep so easily.
Leaving the bedroom, you cast a single glance to the man still sleeping peacefully. Despite everything, a fond smile settles on your lips at the sight. Kirigan looked so much younger in sleep; less burderned by the world, and by his power. An arm stretched above his head, he turns his face inwards to his elbow, letting out a quiet snore as sleep pulls him further under.
You head immediately for Kirigan’s favourite spot; a loveseat just big enough for the both of you. You couldn’t count on one hand the hours you had spent on here, entwined with Kirigan, talking of nothing and everything all at once.
It’s cold when you sit down; the warmth having been leeched from the room as night descended. You grab the blanket from the back of the chair, wrapping it around you tightly. The material is soft against your skin; soothing as you try your best not to think of the nightmare.
The room is dark save for the dying embers of a fire lit the night before. It pops and crackles; providing you with a soundtrack for forgetting the horrors from your sleep. The nightmare flashes in your mind; the look on Kirigan’s face, his power-hungry gaze, and the pain of the Volcra’s claws. They circle your mind; revolving, one after the other, making it hard to focus on little else.
Exhausted, you run a hand down your face, wanting nothing more to be asleep beside the man you so desperately love. In the dark of the room, you could feel him reach out to you as he so often did in the night. His arms coming to encompass you; his nose burying in your hair. Kirigan needed the physical contact; he needed to know that you were still there, alive and happy.
“There you are,” A voice sounds, pulling you from your reverie. Kirigan smiles sleepily as he pauses at the bedroom door. “I couldn’t find you.”
A watery smile adorns your lips at the sound of relief in his voice. There was no sign of the tyrant from your nightmare. In his place was the man you had known for years, the man who loved you beyond recognition. “I’m sorry,” You reply, your voice barely more than a whisper.
“Darling,” Kirigan begins; his voice rough with sleep and concern, “Why are you awake at this time?”
You shrug, not quite meeting his gaze. “I wanted to get an early start.”
Kirigan wanders to you; his black robe swishing quietly against the floor before he gestures for you to move to one side. He settles beside you, reaching for you with no hesitation as he wraps you in his arms. You breathe easier with your back pressed to his chest; feeling warm and safe despite the horrors you had just encountered in your sleep.
Kirigan presses a kiss to the top of your head. “Let’s try again,” He murmurs, “How come you’re awake before the sun?”
“I had a nightmare,” You confess quietly, feeling rather childish in the grand scheme of things.
He tucks a piece of your hair behind your ear. “Do you want to talk about it?”
You hide your face in your hands. “It was awful,” You lament, your voice somewhat muffled. “It was absolutely awful.”
Kirigan shifts your positions, settling you across his lap and tugging your hands from your face so he can see and hear you better. “Darling, I have to know now if it’s got you this worked up.”
You take a deep breath before unloading the horror to him. “We were in the fold; it was so cold and the Volcra were circling. I was trying to find you and when I did, you had no interest in me. You were focused on expanding the fold, wanting to make it bigger and destroy any town and village that lay in its path. I tried getting closer to you, but the ground had turned to mud and I kept slipping. I kept shouting for you, over and over, and you simply ignored me or didn’t even hear me. Finally, it ended when a Volcra grabbed me in its claws, ripping at my back. The last thing I saw before I woke up was you, overloaded with power.”
Silence descends upon the room. You daren’t look Kirigan in the eye, not wanting to see the hurt that would surely be reflected there.
Kirigan takes in your words; feeling every one of them like a lance to his heart. Once upon a time, he wouldn’t have hesitated in his plans to expand the fold, but that all changed when he fell for you. He had his opinions over Grisha and their treatment within Ravka and throughout history, but now that he something worth living for, he was not about to risk it all.
He takes your face in his hands. He presses a kiss to your forehead, one to your nose before kissing your eyelids. Kirigan presses his forehead to yours in silent apology.
“I’m sorry you had to see all that,” Kirigan murmurs after a moment. “I can’t imagine how terrifying it would have been.”
Kirigan’s thumbs trace over your cheekbones; soothing you entirely. “It was so dark, and you couldn’t hear me,” You whisper, pain evident in your voice.
“I will always hear you,” Kirigan promises. “I will always look for you. I will always come for you.”
You do not doubt him. “I’ve never been so scared.”
Kirigan releases your face in favour for wrapping you in his arms, holding you close to his chest as if he could protect from all the horrors in the world. “Are you still scared?”
You shake your head, pressing your nose to his chest and inhaling the his familiar woody scent. “No, I know I have you to protect me.”
“You will always have me to protect you whether it be from threats or nightmares. There is no life without you in it; my reason for living.”
His words wash over you as sleep starts to pull you under. Kirigan smiles fondly at the sight; he could easily carry you back to bed and fall back asleep beside you, but he doesn’t want to risk disturbing you further. Instead, he brushes your hair away from his face and kisses your forehead, hoping he has done his best to your nightmares into dreams.
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Shadow and Bone Taglist: @cameronsails @cpetrova @chaotic-fae-queen @pinkcloxds @writingmysanity @netflix-imagines
**This is an old taglist, so please let me know if you no longer want to be tagged in anything! The last two tags are my most recent asks so i won’t remove you unless you’d like me to!
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marvelmusing · 1 year
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An Era of Power
Masterlist
Pairing: Aleksander Morozova x Fem!Reader
Summary: Your unique ability to manipulate time has always made life difficult, forcing you to live alone for centuries. When the General of the Second Army discovers your power, your life changes forever.
Word Count: ongoing
My Masterlist
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Part One
Your life as a servant at the Little Palace is comfortable enough, and even hiding your secret among your fellow Grisha, you feel safe. That is until General Kirigan discovers your power.
Part Two
The General demands an explanation, and you reveal your ability to the first person in centuries.
Part Three
You begin to feel at home in the Little Palace, and slowly grow closer to the General.
Part Four
After a restless few hours of sleep, you wake haunted by memories from your childhood. Without thinking, you turn to General Kirigan, who seeks to comfort you.
Part Five
You continue with your lessons, and relive old memories, whilst the General searches for Morozova’s journals - and brings you news of something else.
Part Six
Preparations for the Winter Fete have begun, and your ability to master your power increases as you return to lessons. The General surprises you with a visit.
Part Seven
The day of the Winter Fete has finally arrived, and it is everything you could have ever dreamed of.
Part Eight
Just as you and Aleksander begin to grow closer, Baghra issues a warning that has you questioning everything.
Part Nine
Armed with knowledge from the library, you’re ready to face Aleksander now that he’s returned. But when a young Grisha faces a frightening ordeal, you end up confronting Baghra instead.
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pinchofhoney · 1 year
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Hiii I just found ur blog and I was wondering if I could get:
#3 angst prompt for the darkling? Maybe?
left behind # 200 follower special event
» prompt event » special events masterlist
angst prompt three: “i hate that i was always yours and you were never mine”
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gif is not mine, credit to the owner
the darkling x fem!reader
word count: 2.7k
warning: no use of y/n, angst with no happy end, mention of jealousy, mention of manipulation, just get ready to face an asshole
summary: Life had never been fair to you, and you knew it all too well. So when you found yourself falling for the tall, charismatic commander of the Second Army, you couldn't help but wonder if it was just another cruel joke that life was playing on you. But as it turned out, the joke was on you all along.
a/n: hello there and welcome!! i hope you will like what i have prepared for you and stay here for longer<33 don't forget to let me know what you think of this piece 🤗 this is the first time writing for a villain, and i'm a little proud of the way it came out!!
pages that may interest you: masterlist ♡ taglist ♡ who i write for
taglist: @wolfmoonmusic @myladydarkling @alexxavicry
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The night was alive with magic and wonder, a sight that never ceased to take your breath away. The sky was a canvas of velvety darkness, studded with countless stars that twinkled like diamonds. The air was cool and crisp, carrying with it the scent of pine trees and freshly fallen leaves.
But it was the moon that truly captivated you. It hung low in the sky, a shimmering orb of silver light that illuminated everything in its path. Its glow was soft and ethereal, casting long shadows across the ground and painting the world with a dreamlike quality.
As you gazed up at the satellite, you felt a sense of peace wash over you. It was as if the moon held some secret knowledge, some ancient wisdom that could only be accessed by those who were willing to open themselves up to its power.
And so you stood there, bathed in its light, feeling the weight of the world slip away. For a moment, you was suspended in time, lost in the beauty of the night and the breathtaking majesty of the moon.
You find yourself standing on the balcony of the Little Palace, which was an extension of your bedroom. As you look out, you can't help but feel awestruck by the beauty of the moonlit night. Its soft glow fills every inch of your being, almost as if its power is permeating through your skin and into every cell of your body. For some, this moment would be nothing more than a passing experience, but for others, it was a time of wonder and magic.
And you were one of those people.
The Moon Summoner.
Although it doesn’t sound like much, you were quite a unique Grisha. You possess the incredible power to manifest the power of the moon itself, a force that grants you the ability to mend matter and accomplish feats that others can only dream of. Your abilities are almost unstoppable during the night, and you adore the chance to harness their full potential when the moon is at its brightest. With your power, you can illuminate even the darkest corners of the world or shroud yourself in shadows, becoming one with the night and moving unseen through the shadows. No enemy in their right mind would dare to show their face to you during this time of day, knowing that they would be no match for your formidable abilities.
You knew that you possess abilities that are far beyond what most people could ever imagine. The thought of it fills you with a sense of awe and pride, but it also makes you wonder: are you really as important as you believe yourself to be?
You pushed away from the railing and let out a quiet sigh. The cool breeze brushed against your skin, causing you to pull your night robe tighter around your body. Despite being an independent and strong woman, you couldn't help but feel vulnerable when it comes to him.
Is it because he's charming? Has a way of making you smile, even on the darkest of days. Or is it because one look into his dark, mysterious eyes is enough to make you forget about the world around you?
Perhaps it's because you feel important and wanted in his presence. He sees you for who you are, beyond just your power and abilities. He recognizes your strengths and admires you for them. But at the same time, you can't help but wonder if you're just a pawn in his game, a means to an end.
The Darkling.
The name alone sends shivers down your spine. He is a man of power and mystery, with an air of danger that draws you in like a moth to a flame. You found yourself increasingly drawn to him, the mere thought of him sending a rush of excitement through your body.
Every time you're in his presence, you feel the butterflies in your stomach fluttering wildly, threatening to take flight at the slightest interaction. He has a way of making you feel alive, as if every nerve in your body is on fire. Even the nights have become sleepless, as you toss and turn, unable to stop thinking about him.
But it's not just his power that attracts you, though that is certainly a factor. There's something about him, something in the way he moves and speaks, that sets him apart from anyone else you've ever met. He's confident and self-assured, with a magnetism that is hard to resist.
Aleksander was the one who made you feel like you were the center of his world, the one who cared about you more than anything else when you were in his presence. But then, she appeared. The Sun Summoner.
At first, you tried to ignore her, to brush her off as just another Grisha with a unique power. But as time went on, you realized that she was different. She had a power that was unparalleled, a power that made Aleksander’s eyes light up with a newfound passion.
Suddenly, you found yourself pushed into the background, like an afterthought. The attention that Aleksander used to lavish on you was now focused solely on her. It was like she had cast a spell over him, drawing him in with her power and beauty.
A feeling of jealousy gnawed at you from the inside. You tried to push the feeling away, to tell yourself that it didn't matter. But deep down, you knew the truth. You couldn't accept that Alina might be more powerful than you. That her power could bring more help than yours, which in its strongest form only appeared at night.
You had always prided yourself on your unique ability to harness the power of the moon. It had made you feel special, important. But now, with Alina's power shining so bright, you felt like a small, insignificant thing.
You knew that you should be happy for her, that her power could bring great things to Ravka. But every time you saw her standing next to Aleksander, it felt like a reminder of everything that you weren't. It made you wonder if he even needed you anymore, now that he had her.
As another gust of wind blew across the balcony, you cast one last glance at the bright satellite before turning around to head back inside. Sitting down on your bed, you felt a determination settle over you like a cloak. You knew that you couldn't keep ignoring the way you felt about Kirigan. There was something between the two of you that couldn't be explained in words, something that had been growing stronger with each passing day, until the Sun Summoner appeared in the palace.
You remembered the way he looked at you, with that intensity in his dark eyes that made your heart skip a beat. You remembered the way he made you feel, like you were the only one in the world that mattered. And you knew that you couldn't let that go.
Tomorrow, you would talk to Aleksander. You would lay everything on the table, tell him how you felt, and ask him if there was anything between the two of you worth fighting for. It was a risky move, but you couldn't keep living in uncertainty, wondering what might have been.
The night was long and restless, much harder than you had expected it to be. Despite your exhaustion, you couldn't seem to find a comfortable position to lie in, tossing and turning as your mind raced with a flurry of thoughts and anxieties.
You rehearsed every scenario that could arise during your conversation with Aleksander, going over each detail in your mind with meticulous precision. You had planned everything out perfectly, prepared for any outcome, yet your heart continued to pound with a nervous energy that you couldn't shake.
As the hours ticked by, the darkness outside your window slowly gave way to the first rays of morning light. Only then did you finally drift off to sleep, the weight of your thoughts and worries finally taking its toll on your tired body.
But your slumber was short-lived, as you were soon roused from your restless sleep by a knock at your door, signaling the start of a new day. Sitting on the edge of your bed, bleary-eyed and lost in thought, you began to doubt yourself. Was your plan foolproof? Despite your best efforts, your confidence wavered, and you wondered if you were truly ready to face Aleksander.
As you both sat down to have breakfast, the tension in the air was palpable. You could feel Kirigan's eyes on you, but you kept your gaze focused on your plate, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing just how much his recent behavior had affected you. However, you couldn't help but notice how he kept glancing over at Alina.
After finishing your meal, you mustered up the courage to speak up. “I need to talk to you later, General,” you said firmly.
His response was curt, “We can talk now if you want,” but you shook your head, insisting on speaking in private.
Now, you stood outside his office, trying to calm the nerves. You didn't know how to begin this conversation, or what you even wanted to say. Everything you rehearsed in your head last night has been replaced by emptiness. All you knew was that you couldn't keep pretending that everything was okay. The closer you got to his door, the more you felt like turning around and running away. But you knew that you couldn't keep running from your feelings forever. It was time to face them head-on.
You took a deep breath, bracing yourself for what would surely be a difficult conversation. You knocked on the door, and after a brief pause, Kirigan invited you in. The door creaked as you pushed it open and stepped inside, and the sound seemed to echo through the tense silence. Aleksander was seated behind his desk, his piercing gaze fixed upon you. Your heart thudded painfully in your chest, and your palms grew slick with sweat. You tried to steady your breathing, but it came out ragged and uneven.
For a moment, the two of you just stared at each other in silence. You could feel Kirigan's eyes on you, like he was peering into your very soul. You felt small and exposed, like a mouse caught in a trap.
Finally, you found your voice. “I need to talk to you about something,” you said, your words coming out in a rush.
“Of course,” he replied, his voice calm and measured.
Your heart was pounding so hard in your chest that you could barely hear him. You felt your hands start to shake, so you clasped them together tightly, hoping to hide the trembling.
“I don't know how to say this,” you began, your voice barely above a whisper. “But I have feelings for you, Aleksander. I've had them for a long time. I can't stop thinking about you.”
His expression didn't change, and for a moment you feared that he hadn't heard you. But then he spoke, his words cold and distant. “I see,” he said. “And how do you expect me to respond to that?”
The chill in his voice made you feel like you'd been doused in ice water. You swallowed hard, trying to fight back the tears that threatened to spill over. “I just needed to tell you,” you said, your voice trembling a little. “I needed to know where we stand.”
He raised an eyebrow. “And where do you think we stand?”
You were caught off guard by his question, which caused you to unconsciously take a step back while looking at Aleksander in confusion. The room appeared to have suddenly become cooler, although you couldn't tell if it was just your tired mind projecting false perceptions. Kirigan subtly tilted his head and kept his dark eyes on you as he waited for your response, showing no intention of saying anything further.
You took a deep breath. “I hate that I was always yours and you were never mine,” you said, the words bursting out of you before you could stop them. “I hate that you made me feel like I was special, like I was important to you, and then you just tossed me aside when Alina came along.”
A look of anger flashed across his face, and you realized that you'd hit a nerve. “You're being ridiculous,” he snapped. “I never promised you anything.”
“That's not the point,” you said, your voice rising in pitch. “The point is that you manipulated me, Aleksander. You made me think that you cared about me, that you wanted me, and then you just... disappeared. It wasn't fair.”
He leaned back in his chair, his expression stony. “Life isn't fair, my dear,” he said. “You should know that by now.”
You felt a surge of anger, and you squared your shoulders. “I thought you were different,” you said. “I thought you were better than this. But I guess I was wrong.”
He glared at you, his eyes blazing with fury. “How dare you speak to me like that?” he said, his voice low and dangerous.
“I'm not going to be your puppet anymore, Aleksander,” you said, your voice steady. “I'm not going to let you manipulate me and use me like you did before. I deserve better than that.”
He stood up, his fists clenched at his sides. “You don't know what you're talking about,” he said, his voice shaking with anger. “You have no idea what kind of power Alina has. You have no idea what's at stake here.”
“I don't care,” you said, your voice fierce.
The tension in the room was palpable, suffocating, as you and Aleksander faced off. The air crackled with unspoken words, with the weight of all the unresolved issues that lay between you like an unbridgeable chasm.
But then something snapped in your head, and you realized who you were actually talking to. This was the commander of the Second Army. The Shadow Summoner. And you were treading on very thin ice.
You felt a sudden surge of fear, but you refused to give way. You squared your shoulders once more and looked him straight in the eye, trying to summon all the confidence you could muster. “You want to banish the Fold?” you said, your voice unsteady. “I'll help. But after that, I'm out of here.”
There was a long pause, and you held your breath, waiting for his response. Aleksander's face was inscrutable, but you could feel the weight of his gaze on you like a physical force. You felt small and insignificant in his presence, but you refused to show any weakness.
Finally, he spoke, his voice low. “You think you can just waltz in here and make demands?” he said. “You think you have any bargaining power?”
You cleared your throat, “I know what I can offer,” you said, trying to sound confident. “I have skills that could be useful to you.”
Aleksander sit down again, his eyes narrowed. “And what makes you think I need your skills?” he asked.
You felt a rush of anger, but you kept it in check. “Because I know what it's like to be used, Aleksander,” you said, feeling a sudden surge of courage. As if playing with fire brings you pleasure. “I know what it's like to be manipulated and discarded. And I don't want that to happen to anyone else. Especially not Alina.”
There was a long pause, and you held your breath, waiting for his response. Finally, he nodded, a small, tight smile on his lips. “Very well,” he said. “You have a deal. But remember this, my dear. You are playing a dangerous game. And if you cross me, there will be consequences.”
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moonlightgrisha · 9 months
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Everybody knows
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Ch. 9 You decide to take your destiny into your own hands, even if it means disobeying the Darkling's orders. [Masterlist] Previous - Next
You have never been scared of darkness. It didn't scare you when it was a childish game with your cousins, and it still didn't when you grew up and faced long starless nights all by yourself.
But the darkness you dive in, this time, is different. It's thick and cold, and you won't remember anything once you wake up, but just a glimpse of the horror. Shadows. Monsters. Blood.
You finally wake up, and you are not in your tent. It takes you minutes to start recalling the events that led you here, on this unfamiliar bed, with a dry mouth and a strange feeling in you gut.
Your abdomen is bandaged, and when you pass your hand on the linen, it doesn't hurt as much as you expect. You had good healers, but they are not here anymore. You look around and see nobody.
You sit on the edge on the bed and things finally begin to fall into place. You recognize the sober furnishings, especially the war table, filled with papers and notes.
As you are wondering where the the host has gone, you turn to look behind your shoulders, and you see the Darkling lying on a couch. It's more of a bench, actually, and it's impressive how he can rest on such an uncomfortable surface. He seems fast asleep, though. You take your time, looking at him. He sleeps on his side, arms folded, and when you notice a scrap of paper in his hand, you realize that he probably had no intention to fall asleep whatsoever.
You also realize that it is his bed, the one you slept for... how long? You wish you knew. But you are not going to wake him up. The things you discussed - the things that happened - it's all coming back to you, and you have no idea how to deal with all of it.
Someone tried to kill you, and you killed them instead. No, it was his doing, actually. But you signed them up for the execution.
You stand up, feeling overwhelmed, then glance at the General once more. You also found peace in his arms, for a brief moment. Isn't that the scariest thing of all? And while you push away your desire for another embrace, you spot something on the paper in his hand. You bend and gently remove the paper from his hand. He doesn't even flinch, but you feel the touch of his breathing, so close, and conjure all your will not to get distracted.
It looks like a leaftlet, but it is actually a holy picture, like the ones you have seen all your life. But this one is different.
This Saint in the picture holds the full moon on her hands, and her figure is surrounded by pitch black darkness.
"You are awake".
His voice startles you. The Darkling is sitting up, looking at you with hope. No, not hope, relief. You are finally awake, that's what he means to say.
His hands filled with your blood, when he found you in the snow, and there are many things you could tell him. Instead you show him the image and ask: "What is this?"
"That is you, according to some". He stands up, and he would probably come even closer, if you'd let him. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine". Right now you only care for this paper in your hand. "Please, explain this."
"Rumors fly". You let him remove the paper from your hand, while he looks at you and says: "I'm afraid we cannot keep discretion any longer, although the King might wish otherwise. Your... spectacle, has been seen by the whole camp".
"I blew up my cover", you exhale.
"You survived", he points out.
You sit on the bed, searching for a place inside your mind for the reality you woke up in.
"Healers worked on you until this very morning", he explained. "That is why I would advise to take it slow".
"I do feel fine".
"I'm glad to hear it". His face suddenly clouds over, and for a moment he's about to speak, but he stops, like he changed his mind.
"What is it?"
"I must leave, now". He gets up and quickly wears his kefta, throwing his heavy black cape on top of it. "But my oprichniki are right oustide. You will be safe. We'll return to Os Alta in the morning".
"And then, what?"
He stops to stare at you. "I'm going to find out now".
There is something he's keeping from you and it makes you mad, but before you can enquire, he's back at your side. You stop breathing, expecting something you just once dared to dream about, and for a moment it seems he will make that dream come true. You feel his knuckles gently caressing your cheek, and it's all very fast, almost like you imagined it. He says nothing, and then he's gone.
You lie back on the bed and time slows down. Too many questions roam in your mind. You want to know who tried to take your life. You want to know where the Darkling is going right now. Are you now his guest, sleeping in his own bed, in his own tent, or are you back to being a prisoner, guarded by oprichniki?
You need to take charge of your own destiny.
When Genya suddenly enters the tent, you think you might have got also hallucinations, now. But she sits next to you and leans over to inspect your face, and you realize she is real.
"I thought worse", she says.
"What are you doing here?" you reply. "I mean, I'm so glad to see you. But shouldn't you be in Os Alta?"
"The King and Queen have moved to the Winter Palace in Ulensk for a few weeks" she explained. "Officially, it is a late winter vacation, but rumor is, it's about something else entirely".
The way she looks at you says more than her words.
"This can't possibly..." you begin, but you don't know how to end. Because Genya is right.
"Everybody knows", she adds. "Everybody is talking about it. The General himself was on his way to the palace, an hour ago. They are hosting a reception tonight, but I think there will not be any other topic of discussion than the Moon Summoner".
You instantly know what to do. "I must go".
Genya's lovely face turns a little pale. "I think you should not".
"These people are deciding my own fate, and I'm not even present".
"Listen". Genya's voice is just a whisper, now. "I am only telling you this so you understand how important it is that you stay here and follow the General's orders. Those men that attacked you... it seems they were Ravkan".
It is your turn to get pale, now.
You never had enemies. And nobody knew who you were, back at home. Except for...
Can it be? Is it such a shame, to have a Grisha in the royal family, that she would have you killed before anybody could find out? She must be so mad, that her plan had the opposite effect.
"Let me go to the Winter Palace", your voice tremble. "Let me look at the Queen in her eyes".
"I just told you this so that you would desist".
"And it didn't work".
"You don't have a proper dress for attending a reception".
"I do, actually. I brought one."
Genya's eyes open wide. "You brought a gown at the battlefront? Saints, why?!"
You feel yourself blushing. "I thought... If something happened to me... at least I'd have something decent to be buried with".
Genya hides her face in her hands, exasperated. "The General will kill me for this".
"I'll do it without your help, then".
She hesitates. She knows you mean it. Then, she gives you a long, assessing look.
"It would be a crime to let you go to the Winter Palace in this state".
This is the moment in which you know, you finally have a partner in crime. You know something inside Genya longs for taking her revenge on the Queen, the King and the whole rotten royal court. The two of you are on the same side, now, and maybe you've always been.
She helps you get ready and slip out of the tent unnoticed, right into her carriage. This is the trickiest part, but Genya knows how to make people see only what they want to see.
Now, on your way to the Winter Palace, you start to feel scared. What on Earth do you think you are doing? This is the most reckless thing you have ever done in your life. You could end up in a really bad place. Also, the Darkling won't like it. But when Genya says: "Maybe we should turn back", you immediately answer: "Not a chance".
And that's settled.
When you arrive at the palace, Genya lets you in the service entrance. She whispers a good luck, before vanishing into the grand hall. You take your time, before following her.
If you do this, there's to turning back. You become the Moon Summoner and you face the consequences.
But destiny is calling you. You hear it, now. It echoes with shadows, monsters and blood, with screams of mad men and whispers you have yet to decipher.
It is now or never.
You follow that call.
Entering the majestic grand hall, everyone turns to you. Some of them look horrified, others are in awe, some are mumbling: "Sankta". Everybody knows who you are.
You silently thank Genya for making you presentable and you march straight to the other side of the hall, where the King and Queen are seemingly conferring with the Darkling himself.
The look on his face when he sees you is indecipherable. He must have worked hard for all his long life, to prevent his emotions to come spilling out in situations like this.
But when you meet his gaze, just for a moment, you see a flash of blazing rage. It breaks your heart, and this is how you know this man has become to you more than you can handle.
You have no time to deal with your heart, now, shattered or not. You turn to the King and Queen, savoring their puzzled look, the utter fear in her Majesty's eyes. Then you give them the humblest smile and kneel. "My King. My Queen".
They definitely did not expect this.
"Raise", speaks the King. "We thought you were still recovering from your battle wound, as General Kirigan was just telling us".
"I feel much better, thank you, moy tsar", you respond. The Queen says nothing, and you take pleasure in her puzzlement, looking at her right in the eye.
It's the hardest part, now, as you shift your gaze to the Darkling, facing him, knowing so many things cannot be spoken, but hoping he will understand.
"I ask the General's forgiveness for disobeying his orders." He can't help but frown a little. You try to smile, but you know you won't charm him that easily. "He had indeed advised me to rest, but I felt compelled to be here today, in your presence."
"How thoughtful of you, dear cousin", the Queen has finally got up the courage to speak. She smiles, fake as her pretty lashes. "You shouldn't have bothered".
You turn to her, relieved to escape the Darkling's glare. "I didn't want to miss the chance to pledge my allegiance to Ravka's rulers, now that I found out I wield this great power"
"A great power?" The Queen does her best not to sound surprised, but she is not the actress she thinks.
"Please, let me show everybody". You gently raise your hand, and something does not go as you planned. The King's guard point their guns instantly, and someone in the crowd screams.
That's when the Darkling finally intervenes. He grabs your gloved hand, takes it down slowly. You look at him, hoping to find an ally, but he's cold as ice. "The Moon Summoner is only going to give a little demonstration", he says. "I assure you, it will be harmless".
His eyes are merciless. You swallow down the hard feeling of pain that just came from your heart, and nod.
He summons his shadows with a flick of his fingers, almost annoyed, giving you a black stage to perform on. You do your best to shape moonlight into a beautiful, gleaming globe. It is a miniature moon, slowly rotating above your head. A pretty trick you did sometimes in your room, as a kid.
The Darkling looks unimpressed. He called you 'Moon Summoner' without any sentiment. You feel something has broken, and while you are filled with wicked pleasure at the clapping of the crowd, you wish he would look at you like he used to. But dreams are useless, and you are in trouble.
You dissipate your moon without driving anyone mad, and the crowd is simply bewildered.
The King is much simpler than his consort, and somehow believes it a declaration of peace. He stands clapping, too. "We are honored to have such a great, rare power at our service."
"Let everybody know that I serve Ravka", you conclude. It is true. A half truth, actually.
The Queen stares at you with a little smile. Unlike her husband, she knows that this is war.
You bow to them while the crowd is still clapping.
As you and the Darkling take your leave, he whispers, so that nobody might hear, but only you. "Why did you come here?"
"You know why", you answer. "To take a stand".
"It was unwise and unnecessary. Also, you disobeyed my orders".
"I'm not your soldier".
"You are now". His words are as sharp as the night breeze that takes your breath away when you step outside. "You choose to fight, and you will fight. You will start training as soon as we reach the Little Palace".
He stops to stare at you, so full of contempt you almost burst in tears. "Welcome to the Second Army, princess".
He never talked to you like this before, and he never called you "princess", until now. You won a battle, tonight, but maybe you lost a war. And you feel so stupid that your dress, the beautiful gown you brought on the battlefield for your burial, worn on the night of your consecration, is black.
Taglist
@mysweetlittledesire@budugu@flostvs1508@aoi-targaryen@sakshi2005@rainy-day-lady
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maidmerrymint · 1 year
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Darklina Fanfiction Recommendations
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After realizing that her son will not and cannot be stopped until everything is shrouded in darkness, Baghra decides to leave the little palace and goes looking for the only one that could stop him. A sun summoner.
Ever since she was adopted she has been training for what Baghra claims to be her destiny, to defeat the evil Darkling. But training and real life are very different. When she finally stands in the presence of her enemy, she realizes it won't be as easy to defeat him as she assumed as something inside her calls to him. Can she stop the Darkling, or will she be another piece on the board to fall under his control?
At the beginning of everything, Mal is just a second too slow to pull Alina out of the way of the incoming carriage. But the Alina who wakes up is not the young girl who had been walking down the road a moment ago.
Time Travel AU.
Alina Starkov was born afraid of the dark, with strange illnesses and terrifying spells she could never explain. Her face is the face of the enemy, and even with her unusual skills, hiding is the only safe option.
But when she is discovered as a fabled Sun Summoner, a mythical Grisha so rare that they’ve been seen before, Alina’s carefully constructed world is shattered.
And when the formidable Darkling, General Kirigan continues to take an interest in her for reasons she doesn’t understand, Alina must make a choice between choosing to follow the rules that have kept her safe all her life, or risk her freedom and her heart to find out who she really is.
After all, when there's blood in the water, there are no safe places to hide.
Alina tries to distract herself the night before the Shadow Fold crossing and her path ends up crossing that of the mysterious Darkling.
Alina Starkova and Malyen Oretsev have been inseparable since they first met at Duke Keramsov's Orphanage. Now sixteen years old and obligated to enlist in an army fighting many wars all at once, Alina has to make her own way into the world. Lost, angry and afraid, every discovery she makes about herself drags her further away from Mal and everything they knew.
Worst of all, she does not know how she feels about it.
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Emotions in the Darkness
The Darkling (Aleksander Morozova) x gn!reader (no use of y/n)
Word count: 1.1k
Prompt: character is taken hostage by the antagonist, their lover goes absolutely ballistic, doing everything in their power to protect their lover, the antagonist has to restrain them, but it doesn't stop the character from trying to reach their lover, doesn’t matter what happens to them, doesn’t matter if they get beaten as long as their lover is safe - Billy or Darkling (requested by @stardust-danvers for my 3k follower celebration!)
Warnings: kidnapping, minor character death, blood/violence (not super detailed), protective!Aleksander, feelings, hurt/comfort
Notes: My favorite trope ever!!! And I picked Darkling for this one cause the idea came to me first, tho it works for Billy very well too lol. Enjoy! My update blog is @flightlessangelwings-updates to stay up to date on when I post!
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“What do you mean ‘taken?’” General Kirigan hissed as his dark eyes shot daggers at the subordinate who delivered the bad news. Every muscle in his body tensed as his rage threatened to overtake everything in him.
The poor low-ranking Grisha cowered in fear, “We-we were attacked. The men seemed to know exactly who to target. Th-they took…” he mumbled your name as his gaze dropped to the floor.
Kirigan seethed in anger. Without even trying, he covered the entire room in darkness until the subordinate before him couldn’t even see his hand in front of his face. In the darkness, the general let out a pained yell before he stormed off.
*
You felt the pain before you even opened your eyes. With a groan, you forced yourself to lift your head so you could take in your surroundings. You were in a large, open room, but your arms were chained to the ceiling above your head. Flashes of white light clouded your vision, and you guessed that was from whoever had knocked you on your head and rendered you unconscious.
“Shit,” you murmured to yourself as you tried to struggle free. 
“It’s pointless my sweet,” a voice called from the other end of the room.
You strained, but you couldn’t see the figure right away. When he emerged, you recognized him as one of the group of mercs who had gotten the jump on you. Slowly, more men emerged from the shadows one by one until you were completely surrounded. They all had sinister looks on their faces and were armed to the teeth.
Even if your hands weren’t bound, you knew you would have trouble taking them all on at once. You hated the feeling of helplessness that took over you, but you didn’t let your fear show. You weren’t going to give them the satisfaction. 
“So this is the Darkling’s little pet,” another man sneered, “A pretty thing I’ll say,” he reached out and cupped your chin as he degraded you in front of everyone.
“The black general can pick a whore I’ll give him that,” another leered, “But we now have the best bargaining chip against him.”
You hissed and shook your head free of his filthy grip, “Don’t touch me!”
The men only grinned darkly as they surrounded you. This time, you couldn’t hide your fear as you were completely defenseless for the first time in your life. You were on your own, with no way of escape. And it only added insult to your pride that they took you to use against General Kirigan.
But, you weren’t going to go down without a fight, and you kicked at the men who got too close to you. One groaned in pain as you hit him right between his legs, but it only fueled the rest more. Hands were on you as they worked to keep you still so the leader could get an easy shot at your face with his fist.
Before he had the chance, however, the room suddenly went completely dark. The once proud, tough men instantly turned frightened as they lost their vision and their upper hand. Before any of them could even react, a woosh blew through the room and as you strained to see what was happening, you saw a brief flash of light. You knew exactly what it was: the cut.
Screams of the men filled the room for just a moment, then the silence rang louder than their cries. When the darkness retreated, the bodies of all the men save for their leader littered the room and General Kirigan stood in the doorway with a look of pure murder on his face.
The leader stood his ground and pulled out his sword, “Come on, Darkling!” he spat his words as if the title was an insult.
“You dare take something precious from me,” the general’s voice was lower than you had ever heard before as he launched himself at the leader.
The leader didn’t stand a chance and in an instant he found himself on the ground. Kirigan hovered over him and landed punch after punch on his face. Blinded by anger, he let out a roar that sent chills up your spine.
“General,” you called to him. When he didn’t respond, you used a different name, “Aleksander!”
That made him freeze. With one last blow, he dropped the body in his hands and faced you. His expression instantly changed as he stared into your eyes and whispered your name. In a flash, he was at your side and quickly freed you from your shackles.
“Are you alright?” Aleksander fussed over you as he gently lowered you to the ground. The blood on his hands stained your clothing, but he was too caught up in his worry for you to care. As Aleksander looked at you, his anger returned when he saw the marks on your face, “Those bastards…”
Darkness threatened to overtake the room once more, and when you looked at your general, you saw how tightly his jaw was clenched. Tears pooled in the corners of his eyes and you felt his grip on you tighten.
“Hey,” you cupped his face and forced him to turn and look into your eyes, “I’m ok Aleksander,” your voice was soft as you saw the tears fall, “I’m ok.”
Something within him broke and Aleksander wrapped his arms around you and pulled you flush against his body. He finally let the fear that boiled inside of him flow out as he sobbed against you, “I’m sorry,” his voice was so hushed you barely heard him, “I swear to you, no one will harm you again,” he squeezed you harder, “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
His words made you tear up as well; you had never seen your general like this before and you didn’t know what to say. The two of you had a… unique relationship, but it was something that was entirely unspoken. At least until now when you saw how much he truly cared for you.
“I’m ok,” you repeated, unsure of what else to say, “Thank you.”
Aleksander pulled back enough to look into your eyes. The two of you stayed locked in each other’s gazes for what felt like ages, neither of you sure of what to say or do next. He looked as if he had something on his mind, something he wanted to say to you. But instead, he got to his knees and helped you up.
“Let’s get you back,” was all he said.
You weren’t sure what you wanted him to say, but you tried to hide the way your shoulders dropped when he didn’t say it. All you did was nod and allow him to help you. For now, this would be enough. Later, once you were back and safe, you could tackle the feelings that bloomed between the two of you.
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Shadows and Scars
Chapter 25
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This one is a bit long, but I don’t think there are any chapter warnings besides mention of past non con and angst.
And the interrogation scene is next. I’m very excited for that one
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You had nearly made it to the stables, when you heard a gunshot echo in the far corridors of the Little Palace. ‘Please tell me that was part of your plan Kaz.’ You thought desperately to yourself as you shoved your few belongings you had stashed in your old room into a weathered pack.
As much as you had loved your fete dress, it was left behind with all of your other uniforms. You finished hastily buttoning your shirt before grabbing your old shoes from the front. As you looked at yourself in the mirror, you didn’t see a grisha, just another commoner and that’s what you wanted.
You swallowed slightly as you carefully began to undo your leg brace. It had now become as much of a part of you as your injury had, but David himself had said that the metal he had used was rare. And that meant easily tracked.
As you slid the metal off of you, you cradled it in your arms and smiled at it. Perhaps it was stupid to feel so attached to something material, but this thing had given you a bit of your past back. It had stopped the pain from spreading up your thigh and had allowed you to be more mobile.
But you couldn’t dwell on that now, so you shoved the brace away and grabbed a nearby roll of bandages to keep yourself more sturdy.
After skillfully completing your wrap, you pulled up a pair of brown trousers and grabbed an old ratted coat that Ruslan had lent you before you left. It was time.
Slowly opening the door, you poked your head out and made your way to the place Kaz had shown you where the Zemini would be.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aleksander’s POV
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“What is it?” Aleks asked breathlessly as he opened his chamber doors. The last kiss he had shared with Alina still on his mind.
“Marie and Genya were attacked in the fitting room.” Ivan said seriously. “Alina was the target.”
Aleksander stiffened at that. He had known that people were after his sun summoner, but the thought that they were able to get into the Little palace left him uneasy.
“We have a suspect in custody.”
“Wait here.” Any annoyance at the interruption was gone. He had to make sure that there was no longer any threat. He finally had the stag within his grasp, and would be damned if Alina was killed before he could complete his plan.
Quickly shutting the door he walked to Alina and gave her his best smile.
“Is something wrong?” Her eyes were wide as she looked at him with concern.
“It’s nothing.” He brushed off easily. “I’ll leave my guards outside until I return.” He ran his hands down her small shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. He was so close. Too close for anyone to mess up what he had planned for Y/n and Alina.
“I’ll be waiting.” She said breathlessly as he caressed her cheek.
With a small nod he walked away but froze Galway to the door in favor of turning back to sneak one last kiss. She tasted like strawberries, and he couldn’t help but think of how you tasted like mint when he kissed you. As his lips pressed against Alina's again, he forced himself to pull away. He could kiss her later, when the threat was dealt with and Ravka was theirs to rule, but he couldn’t help but feel the same pull of attraction he had felt towards Y/n. The one that made him want to stay in bed with her all day and never stop kissing her.
As he walked out of the room, he nodded to Ivan. “Take me to him.” He said sternly. “Any clue how he got in?”
“He hasn’t talked yet.” Ivan said as the two quickly made their way through the maze of halls.
“He will.” Aleksander said nonchalantly. “Bring Volkov as well. Two people sneaking into the Little Palace tonight is not a coincidence we can afford.”
~~~~~~~~
Y/n’s POV
~~~~~~~~
You shivered as you walked through the stables and leaned heavily on your cane. Your leg was much weaker now without your brace, and with each step you felt a familiar pain shoot up your thigh.
Leaving the musty rooms, you hobbled slowly towards the only carriage set up to leave.
“Can I help you, miss?” A deep voice asked from behind you. The Zemini was there when you turned around just as Kaz said he would be.
“Looks like you're my ride, Kaz sent me.” You whispered softly.
The man’s eyes widened at the name and he whipped his head around to see if anyone had heard. “You’re y/l/n aren’t you?” He asked, putting his hands on his hips. “Saints Kaz found you fast.”
“More like I found him.” You responded with a shrug. “He had briefly mentioned that my passage out of here was bought. What does that mean?”
The man gave an exaggerated shrug. “Dunno. Kaz never tells me anything. Be glad he told me to expect you otherwise you’d have a bullet in your brain.”
“I appreciate not getting shot.” You said with an easy smile. “I’m Y/n.” You held out your hand.
“Jesper Fahey.” He shook your hand excitedly with a large grin. “What order are you?”
“Both a healer and heartrender.” You replied with a smile. “I’m a bit of a… special case.”
“Interesting.” He said thoughtfully. “Do you like it? Being grisha?”
You sighed and braced yourself against a large tree. “I love it. Healing others and doing something bigger than myself? I may not have had a choice, but it was perfect. Even after my accident.” You gestured to your knee. “I got it in the fold.” You explained before he could ask. “No one was able to fix it, but I still did my job, and did it well too.”
“So, what happened?” He asked seriously. “Why leave if it was so great?”
“Men are the same everywhere. Grisha or non grisha alike.” You thought back to the king and Aleksander. “Well men in power at least. You seem nice.”
He laughed at that. “Tell me about it. In Ketterdam we have entire houses that take advantage of young women. Have to stop myself everyday from going in there and shooting the bastards responsible for it.”
You nodded as you took in his tense expression. “I don’t think I’d have that much control.” You said honestly. “But it would be a bit obvious if a bunch of mobsters all fell down dead at the same time.”
He laughed again at that. “If you have any ideas on how to get away with it let me-“ Jesper froze and flattened the two of you against the tree. “You can’t be serious.” He whispered.
“What?” You hissed trying to look.
He released you and motioned for you to keep quiet.
Your eyes widened as you spotted Alina in plain brown clothes creeping towards your carriage.
The two of you stayed frozen as she pushed herself into the chest in the back.
Jesper let out a breathless laugh and you blinked at the scene. “Do- do all your heists go off like that?”
“Saints no. Usually there’s a part where we all face certain doom and have to cut our losses before coming out on top.” He started to laugh hysterically as he held out his hand for you.
You took it as you shook your head and he helped lead you towards the carriage. You’d be fine once you got used to not having your brace, but for now you weren’t used to being without it.
“What happened? You okay?” He asked, as Kaz and the Suli girl walked over.
The two looked disheveled and you swore you could smell the faint scent of smoke on their clothes.
“She’s real, Jesper. She made the light sing.” The girl whispered reverently.
“We lost her.” Kaz said gruffly, causing you and Jesper to look at each other with a smile.
“Did we?” He asked as you climbed into the carriage and winced at another sharp pain.
“We don’t know where she is.” The girl gave you a curt nod before climbing next to you.
“Don’t we?” You and Jesper laughed as the two men sat themselves on the seat. “Just ask.”
“Jesper-“
“Just ask.”
He gripped the reins tightly as Kaz glared at him.
“Fine. Do we have a fix on where the target is?”
With a small snort, Jesper flicked the reins and you were off.
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lovelornlovestruck · 5 months
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ROYAL RAVKA UNIVERSITY: To defeat The Darkling, Aleksander Morozova was trapped by the Grisha in a time loop of sorts. Now in Modern Ravka, Aleksander must undo his past mistakes by making Alina Starkov fall in love with him. But with the Grisha having faded into mere legends, Alina's memories gone, it will be anything but easy. Posing as her mythology Professor, Aleksander must try to reawaken his Sun Summoner inn order to restore his people and power back to the land. But someone out there knows his past. Will he outrun the time loop he's been cursed into? Or will he have to watch as history repeats itself again in yet another era? *I used to be ArkStationsLibrary and I changed my penname.
A03 link Wattpad link
            She rolled her eyes. “I’m friends with Mal Oretsev.”
            He took a sip of his wine. “Schematics. You know me. If you wanted to, I could get you in. As long as you weren’t too precious about where you wanted to go. The world is yours, Alina. All you need do is ask and I can help you take it.”
            Alina couldn’t help but be flustered. “That’s awfully kind, Mr---Aleksander. But I want to make my own way, even if it’s harder.”
            He snorted. “Admirable, I’ll admit. Stupid, but admirable.”
            She seethed at him. “Are you always so impossible?”
            “No, but I know a do-gooder when I see one. You practically smell of innocence. I bet you’d taste like it too. The thing is, Luchik, you will get corrupted one way or another. We live in a world where darkness takes a living form, and sucks your soul before you pass onto the next realm. You might as well get whatever you can from this world before it tosses you to the fold.”
            “Respectfully, Mr. Morozova, I like to believe that we can embrace whatever light we can get before the Volcra come.”
            Aleksander scratched his chin, then chuckled wryly. “How young and naïve you are…”
            “And how old and bitter you are,” she returned coldly.
            He was looking at her again in that heated way of his. The same way he’d stared at her that first time they’d met at the school. Although he hadn’t been nearly so bold. He got his face dangerously close to hers. Alina’s whole body stiffened. “You know I think you like me old and bitter…” a smug look crossed his face.
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padfootagain · 3 months
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The Last Ones On Earth (IV)
Chapter 4: An Age
Hello, hello! Here is a new chapter for my Darkling series!
I hope you like it! Let me know what you think!
****
Pairing: The Darkling x reader
Warnings for the series: mentions and depictions of violence and warfare, mentions of trauma
Warnings for the chapter: None
Summary: You and the Darkling are a team, even if no one knows it. Beyond being a team, you are the only one he trusts, and he's the only one you care about, and you're each other's true love. But if you've kept your secrets hidden for a long time, now that the Sun Summoner is fighting against you, it's time to reveal who you are, and what you are capable of...
Word Count: 2744
Masterlist for the series – The Darkling’s Masterlist – Main Masterlist
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Alina stares at you as if you were a ghost. Or perhaps a dragon. Or a strange mix of both.
You give her a minute to register your words, you can almost call them a threat. You doubt that she’s weighing her options, though. You reckon she simply tries to understand what your words mean.
And then it’s back. The pride in her gaze, the rise in her chin, the tightness in her jaw.
Stupid girl who believes herself important…
“You say you want to talk, and yet you use threats already.”
“Who was put in chains to see you again?” you reply with amused sarcasm.
“And we were clearly right to mistrust you,” Zoya crosses her arms before her chest, her beautiful features slightly distorted by anger.
“Indeed!” you shoot her a smile. “It was pretty reckless to let me see all of you so easily.”
“David vouched for you,” Genya replies in a grim fashion, and David averts his eyes to stare at the carpet.
But your smile softens as you turn to him.
“Thank you, David. That was very nice of you.”
You turn towards Alina again. You notice that her hands ae touching.
Your smile grows, this time, more threatening, almost predatory.
“Child, let’s not make a mess. I simply want to talk, I haven’t come to hurt anyone.”
“Say that to the soldiers outside.”
“Collateral damage, I’m afraid,” you shrug. “I’m not going to hurt anyone in this room, I promise.”
“If you side with the Darkling, is your word worth anything?”
You raise a surprised eyebrow.
“If you truly knew him, you’d know how foolish that remark is. The Darkling is a lot of things, but he does stay true to his words.”
“And by ‘a lot of things’, you do include mass murderer, of course,” Nikolai points out.
“Coming from a man whose main occupations are pirating and inventing mass-destruction weaponry, I do find the remark particularly ironic.”
But you heave a sigh, tired of losing time you don’t have. There is too much work to do. Grisha to rescue, friends to bury, a whole nation to lead…
“Now, please, Alina. Again, I will not hurt you, so come sit down so we can talk.”
“I’ve never liked you,” the girl mumbles under her breath, her hands slowly moving, and you can see glow coming from her fingertips.
You roll your eyes.
“If I fought every person I didn’t like, only three people in this room would still be alive, including me. And you would not be breathing anymore, Starkov. But as I can’t choke you to death with my bare hands the way I truly long to, please, don’t do anything stupid and sit down.”
With a frustrated sigh, Alina closes her fists, but lets her power subside, and at long last, joins the gathering around the wooden table again.
“We will not yield when it comes to destroying the Fold,” Alina stubbornly declares.
“I am aware of repeating myself, but it will not work without the Fold,” you reply.
“You cannot destroy entire villages!”
“You cannot force people to change if you give them a chance to remain as they are.”
“People can change.”
“They can,” you nod in agreement. “But most of the time, they don’t want to. Why would they? If what you are asking for goes against their own interest, why would they change?”
“Because it’s the right thing to do.”
You snort at that.
“Please… Don’t be so naïve. Of course, some people have enough compassion to not hurt Grisha. But the majority will take centuries to reach this kind of tolerance. And in the meantime, people are dying. Our people.”
“We are all Ravkan,” Nikolai argues.
“Are we? Because when I was arrested by your men a few weeks ago and kept in a cage without water, food, or anything against the cold for three days, waiting to be executed that more Grisha were captured because, and I quote ‘it would be a waste of energy to set up the gallows just for a couple of them’… without any sort of trial or justice whatsoever, I did not feel very Ravkan… but I did feel very much Grisha.”
Nikolai doesn’t answer, instead he looks guiltily at his hands.
“I don’t care about Ravka,” you answer in honesty. “I don’t care about Shu Han, I don’t care about Fjerda, or any other nation. At the end of the day, we are all humans. And we are Grisha, and otkazat’sya. The Fold is not to be used as a threat against Ravka alone, that’s the whole point. It’s the only weapon in our possession that is powerful enough for all Grisha to be safe, no matter where they come from.”
“I do not condone what has been done to you,” Nikolai finally speaks, his voice slow and measured. “But if people are turning against Grisha, it is because of the Darkling’s actions.”
You roll your eyes at that.
“This has been going on for centuries, it is nothing new, they simply have an excuse to do as they please without any repercussion, and they enjoy their newly-found freedom to slaughter all the Grisha they want. It happens again, and again. We have tried to be useful, we have tried to prove people we are no threat, we have tried working hand in hand with kings, and it doesn’t work. The Fold is our last chance.”
“You speak as if you had done all of that, but you are barely older than us,” Zoya spits in a venomous tone. “Who do you think you are, Maeve?”
“Y/N,” you interrupt her.
The girl frowns.
“What?”
“My real name is Y/N. Maeve is only my latest identity, I’ve had many of those before.”
Suddenly, Alina’s eyes grow round, and she finally seems afraid of you.
At long last, some intelligence…
“Are you a spy?” David asks, taken aback by your statement.
But you shake your head.
“Not exactly.”
“You are like him.”
All turn to Alina as she speaks again, her voice uneasy.
“You said you are a powerful Durast.”
“Incredibly powerful,” you correct her.
“You are like the Darkling.”
“Aleksander. That’s his name.”
He’ll hate you for saying it out loud, for revealing something so personal about him.
Aleksander. His first name, his true one. The one only you and Baghra know. The one that tastes of the young man you met all these years ago, unconscious in the snow somewhere near Fjerda…
 All around the table frown. As if they never wondered what his name was. And perhaps they truly never cared to wonder. Perhaps the title was enough. It’s easier, anyway, to stare at a man you send to die on a battlefield and see only a rank, a title, and not the human wearing it. It’s easier too to kill an enemy if he is but a shadow, a symbol, and not an actual breathing man.
You lean a little over the table, your forearms resting on the hard surface, your fingers intertwining together.
“Aleksander and I are extremely powerful Grisha. Just like you, Alina. Just like Baghra. Just like Saints.”
“I don’t understand,” Mal admits.
“Grisha draw great strengths from using their powers. The more powerful you are, the better your health. Some of us are so powerful, we are virtually immortal. Or, well, if you smash my head with a sword, I will die. But I barely age at all. I can leave for thousands of years.”
“Bullshit,” Nikolai curses.
“I’m afraid not. It is a great curse, indeed. But power always has a cost.”
“Some would consider themselves lucky to never age. Especially my mother, considering all her efforts to hide her true age…”
“Well, my dear prince, your mother has not seen people dying for hundreds of years.”
Again, Nikolai looked away.
“You said that Alina was like that too…” Mal insists, and you don’t fail to notice the way Alina flees his gaze.
“Indeed. She will without a doubt outlive all of you, and your descendants on many generations.”
“If it’s so unbearable, why are you still alive? We wouldn’t be in this mess if you and the Darkling had given up,” Zoya adds bitterly.
But when you turn to her, your stare is filled with a cold fire that shushes her.
“Many powerful Grisha kill themselves, after a while, after it’s too much to see all the people you love die over and over again. Aleksander and I were lucky, we found each other. And don’t forget that without our efforts, the Little Palace would not exist and Grisha would have never known any type of safety. We were the first to manage to live for longer than a couple of years at the same place, while using our powers, and remain safe.”
“You speak as if you were there when the Little Palace was built,” David frowns.
“I was there,” you correct him. “I built the place. Literally. I am a Fabrikator, after all.”
“You do expect us to believe you?” Mal scoffs, but Alina shushes him quickly. And you can see on the faces of the others that their opinion of you changes as they realize that Alina does, indeed, believe you.
And rightly so. After all, you are telling the truth. The way you had planned to do.
You choose your next words carefully.
“I have seen the same pattern again and again. I know what will happen, because I have seen it before. I have tried every other way to help Grisha: hiding, fighting, being useful, being tamed, being strong… it doesn’t work. It never works, because otkazat’sya are afraid of our power, because they feel different and thus frightened. You ask me to wait, that we are in no rush to change the world, but I have been working towards that goal for hundreds of years. I am not in a rush, I am patient, indeed. But things must change, eventually. And we have an opportunity here that will never present itself again for things to finally go the way we want.”
You heave a sigh, and you seem tired now. Despite your face untouched by the many years you have spent on this earth, there is something new in your gaze, a sadness that doesn’t fit the youth of your features. It seems ancient, brought by a pain too great to have occurred in only a lifetime.
“If you want proof, I can tell you everything you want to know. I’ll tell you how Aleksander and I met. How we ran. How we hid. How we fought. All the things that we tried to help Grisha and how it always failed. How we were betrayed and how we survived. If it can prove my point, then so be it.”
“How old are you?” Alina asks after a short silent.
Her voice is cautious, slow. As if she’s afraid of your answer. And perhaps she is. She should be. After all, it shows how powerful you are, how much of a threat you can be. To her, who is doomed to a deathless life as well, it also means facing the truth about her lover.
Your smile is smug when your lips curl upwards and you answer.
“I’ll turn 889 in a couple of months.”
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Over 400 years ago
Os Alta – over the grounds of the royal Palace
Your hands moved relentlessly in those days. There was so much work to be done. You had help, of course, from otkazat’sya workers but also from other Fabrikators. It was the name that was chosen for the Grisha sharing your powers, along with a colour: purple, like the petals of flowers, like berries, like poisons…
But on this room, your work was to be done in solitude. No one could know about the changes you were bringing to Aleksander’s War Room. It would protect you from eavesdroppers, fire, and many other threats. It would be a safe room. Even if Aleksander’s plan in the army seemed to be working for now, you reckoned you couldn’t stop being cautious. You needed safety, as always.
“You are working too late, my love.”
The warm voice filled your heart with something both peaceful and excited. You couldn’t refrain a smile as you turned to your husband, who was walking inside the room and closing the door behind him.
“You must rest,” he insisted, but you shook your head.
“I am perfectly fine. Besides, I can’t work on this room during the day, it’s too risky.”
Of course, he knew you were right. Still, he wished you could rest more, he wished you could be safe and wouldn’t have to hide…
Soon. He hoped it could be soon. With this safe haven you were building together, it could be the answer to everything. Perhaps it could even be a home…
You chuckled fondly as he wrapped his arms around you from behind, pulling you close.
“You’re distracting me!” you complained in faked annoyance, and Aleksander knew perfectly what you were doing.
“You love it.”
“I do not! I am busy!”
“And I am tired and long for a good night of sleep in a comfortable bed with my beloved wife.”
“Is it not too risky?”
“We are safe for now, let’s enjoy it, while it lasts.”
“Do you think this could be it? That we could finally remain safe?”
“I do not know. I hope so.”
“But we’re both too old for foolish hopes, huh?”
You exchanged a sad smile.
“We should not be seen as a couple,” Aleksander went on, and he knew he was breaking your heart a little by saying that, the same way he was breaking his own. “It would be too dangerous.”
“I agree. We are both powerful, we will live long lives… It would be too frightening for the otkazat’sya.”
“Build us a room where we can be ourselves, my love. We will pretend the rest of the time.”
You turned in his arms to face him, and his hand immediately raised to rest over your cheek.
“I’ll make you pay for that,” you warned him, and he raised a surprised eyebrow.
“Really? Will you? And how could I repay this debt towards my favourite Fabrikator?”
“An awful lot of kisses will be required. And some cakes. Lots of sweets.”
You both laughed at that, despite your shared tiredness, despite all the things you had been through. A bright laugh made of bright hope, a fool’s hope perhaps, but hope all the same. The sounds filled up the empty room, and echoed in its blank space.
“So, we’ll hide that we are married?” you asked after growing quiet again, and Aleksander nodded, although you could see it pained him to do so.
“It’s safer this way. If I am to step up, I will have many enemies.”
You nodded, tugging your head on his chest, so he could rest his chin on you.
“We’ll make it work,” you reassured him, feeling the tension in his body, the fear too. “We’ll make it work, Aleks.”
“I know. I’m just… worried that you might… that I might lose you.”
“You won’t lose me. I’ll be right there. And I’ll steal an awful lot of kisses in this room.”
“Is it safe already?”
“Safe enough for us to have this conversation, yes.”
“Can you lock the door?”
“Already done it.”
He chuckled.
“You’re getting good at using your powers without moving your hands.”
“I still had to move a finger, but my hands didn’t touch.”
“That’s my wife. So powerful.”
But he felt you tensing in his gentle hold.
“It will be worth it, right? All these moments together we’ll have to sacrifice, all this fighting, all this work… tell me it will be worth it. Tell me we’ll make it.”
He took your face in both his hands to force you to look up at him.
“It will be worth it,” he assured you, and in his dark eyes, you saw no lies nor doubts. “We will make it through. You and me, the way we have planned. The way we promised each other we would.”
“Until we’re the last ones on Earth?” you still asked in a trembling voice, even if you didn’t doubt him.
He nodded, a smile on his lips as he pulled you in a tight hold again.
“Until we’re the last ones on Earth, my love.”
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Taglist : @reg-arcturus-black @wolfmoonmusic @budugu @sayumiht
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cannibalizedyke · 1 year
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🗝️aleksander morozova masterlist🗝️
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key: ❤︎︎ - fluff, ☁︎︎ - angst, ★ - smut
coming soon!
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bi-bard · 1 year
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Taylor Swift Songs That Would Describe a Relationship with General Kirigan - General Kirigan Imagine [Shadow & Bone]
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Title: Taylor Swift Songs That Would Describe a Relationship with General Kirigan
Pairing: General Kirigan X Reader
Word Count: 1,921 words
Warning(s): manipulation, mention of death
Author's Note: I need it known that I am writing this will all the self-awareness in the world.
**Not intentionally written in chronological order**
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illicit affairs
Look at this idiotic fool that you made me You taught me a secret language I can't speak with anyone else And you know damn well For you I would ruin myself ...a million little times
At some point, being with Kirigan made me feel like I was invincible to the sick stomach and troubling thoughts that I had faced for years before him.
There was something about having him want me that brought me some peace. He offered me something that I had convinced myself that I was never going to experience. I felt like I owed him everything. My trust, my love... everything. I needed to hold onto that. No matter how hidden I was, how much time I spent keeping myself quiet... I needed him. I needed to be loved by him.
And then, Alina arrived at the Little Palace.
She was more than a beautiful girl.
She was a miracle. A walking gift from the saints. The sun summoner. The one that was destined to save everyone from the impact of the fold.
I should be thankful that she was found at all.
But I couldn't help the gross feeling that stabbed at my heart. Anger or sadness or something else entirely. I couldn't put a name to it. Not at the time.
The more I watched Aleksander with her, the more that the answer seemed to present itself.
I never wanted to express that feeling to her. It was truly no business of hers.
I never truly wanted to express it to Aleksander either. I would have been much happier to never disclose those feelings to them. They came with shame and guilt that were enough to seal my mouth shut.
Instead, that feeling manifested in different ways. Avoidance, misplaced anger... all things that I would go without noticing until later.
Aleksander didn't seem to have much to say for a while. I assumed that he was too focused on his saint to pay me any mind.
Until he confronted me.
I took a deep breath as I walked into his room.
"You asked to see me," I said as the doors closed behind me.
Aleksander stood on the other side of the large table. He looked at me with his annoyingly charming grin and his hands behind my back. His chin was raised slightly.
He believed he was royalty.
"I did," he confirmed.
I almost scoffed. "Please, share the reason for this meeting whenever you would like."
He raised an eyebrow at me as if I had proved his point before he had said it. "You're upset with me."
"Brilliant, truly."
He walked around the table, slowly walking over to me. "I assume that this has to do with Alina."
"Never assume that you know my feelings."
"Darling-"
"Please, don't use sweet names to distract me," I cut him off. "I... I have spent years listening to you soothe me with those names that are beginning to mean nothing to me."
Aleksander didn't have a response at first.
"I have no interest in being a secret or hidden property. Some little gemstone you place in a little box until you find value in me. You either see me as more than that or go hide away with your little saint and leave me be."
I looked away from him as the age-old guilt and sadness ate at my stomach.
He stepped even closer. His hand reached up and cupped my cheek, guiding me to look at him again. His eyes were always more intense than they deserved to be. Dark enough to blend into his pupil, giving me the feeling that my attention would be pulled to him. Fighting to pull my eyes from his would be like fighting the pull of the planet holding me to the ground.
"I never intended to keep you hidden," he said softly. "I have neglected you. That is not fair, but it was never my intention. I am so sorry, my love. Please... allow me to do better."
I took another deep breath.
"Please."
I wanted to believe him. I didn't want to pull myself away from the man that actually loved me. I just... couldn't let that go.
I reached my hand up and touched his. His grin only grew.
"I have every intention to hold you to your promise," I mumbled.
A chuckle escaped him. "I would hope so."
And all it took for him to keep me perfectly in place was to lean in and press his lips to mine.
I would have taken unhealthy love over no love at all.
it's time to go
I gave it my all, he gave me nothing at all Then wondered why I left Now he sits on his throne in his palace of bones Praying to his greed He's got my past frozen behind glass But I've got me
I don't know when my embarrassing jealousy of Alina began to turn into this strange sense of sympathy and worry.
I could see the look on her face. One that I had seen in the mirror for years upon years.
This softness that so carefully masked the feeling of longing and yearning that Aleksander seemed to so easily command. The same feeling that had become all-consuming and ate at the very walls of m heart.
I wish I had learned to discern longing from anxiety. My fearful tuition from lovesick butterflies. Maybe I would have saved myself from some pain.
All I could do now was try to save Alina in the way that I should have been saved years ago.
Her escape path crossed right by me.
I could have stopped her. Tried to fight her. Yelled for Kirigan. Yelled for anyone.
But I didn't.
I would never be able to bring myself to do that.
"Go," I said simply.
Alina stopped, furrowing her eyebrows at me. That was the first time that I wonder how she saw me. I wondered if I had seemed so tied to the general's side that the idea of me turning my back on him seemed impossible. Like I was a pet.
"I will never get back the parts of my past that Aleksander holds," I explained. "But I will not let him take another ounce of my future. Or anyone else's. Go. Please."
She paused for a moment longer before stepping forward to hug me.
Every selfish, jealous thought that had crossed my mind while I had known her felt so heartless now. She was so much more than I could ever truly accept.
"Thank you," she whispered before stepping back and taking off down the path.
I knew that the chances were that I would not live long beyond the moment I let Alina go. I would never give Aleksander the answers he wanted. I was not going to be useful enough to warrant keeping.
And I was okay with that.
I would rather die by my own choice than live following the choices he made for me.
This was my end.
And I was happy to see it.
The Archer
I've been the archer I've been the prey Who could ever leave me darling... But who could stay?
I never realized how far I had run. I had no interest in knowing.
All I knew was that I was panting when I finally stopped. I looked around for a moment. I had found myself next to a fountain with intricate art carved into the base. The story of the Black Heretic. I was familiar with it. There were plants beginning to grow over the rest of the fountain.
I took a deep breath as I let myself fall. I sat with my back against the fountain's base, letting my head rest against the stone. I closed my eyes, taking even breaths for the first time in what felt like hours.
"What are you doing out here?"
I jumped at the sound of a voice. I looked over to see General Kirigan standing nearby.
"I didn't mean to frighten you," he held his hands up for me to see his palms clearly.
"No, no, I was simply in my mind," I replied as I stood up quickly. "Distracted."
He nodded, taking a few steps closer to me. "May I ask what you have on your mind?"
"It is ridiculous, really," I tried to wave it all off.
I thought that it was best to hold onto whatever strength and composure I had. At the time, I only knew him as General Kirigan. He was powerful. So powerful that he was on a different level than the other Grisha.
"If you made your way all the way out here, then I have doubts about that," he said.
I took a deep breath. "Next week will be the anniversary of my coming to the Little Palace."
He furrowed his eyebrows.
"I am grateful for all that I've been offered here," I explained, hoping to not upset him too much. "However, my mom was the one who offered me to the Grisha so they could test me. She was... all too prepared to get rid of me. I... have trouble not feeling somewhat..."
"Abandoned?" Kirigan suggested.
I nodded. "Yes."
"Surely in all your time here, you have made some connections," he said, continuing to walk forward until he stood next to me by the fountain.
I shrugged. "Not truly. Many seemed to turn their noses up at me. Even those I did connect with would eventually walk away. I assume boredom."
"I'm sorry."
"Not really your fault, is it?"
He looked down for a moment. "It is the fault of my bloodline. The very reason the Fold exists. The reason that you were tested at all."
"I don't blame you. Not at all."
He raised an eyebrow at me.
"Being blamed for our ancestor's mistakes does nothing but cause pain."
He nodded. "I could still hope to offer some comfort. Community to help make up for the lost time."
I scoffed. "And when you get bored of me?"
"I can't imagine that happening."
I didn't have a response. Not because of his statement, but because of his eyes. It was like they stopped me in my tracks. I wanted to say it looked sincere, but there was something more to it. Something just below the surface that I was unable to name, but I could see.
Kirigan seemed as transfixed as I was. His eyes jumped around to every detail of my face. He moved a little closer.
"May I," he asked.
I didn't know what he was asking, but I still nodded at him.
His hand cupped my face. I felt frozen. Entranced by the mere sight of him.
He leaned in slowly, carefully. As if he were waiting for me to run away from him.
When I didn't, that seemed to comfort him. It gave him enough of a push to press his lips to mine. I took in a sharp breath through my nose. I kissed him back, trying to follow his movements.
It was a short moment. One that I would have been content with playing over and over in my mind.
When Kirigan pulled away, I watched a grin slowly grow along his face. I grinned back at him.
I would later consider that my point of no return.
But at the time, I couldn't think of anything wrong with what had happened.
Being wanted was enough for me.
For the time being, at least.
--------------------
Navigation Guide
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iliveiloveiwrite · 1 year
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General Kirigan/ The Darkling Masterlist.
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“In this moment he was just a boy -brilliant, blessed with too much power, burdened by eternity.”
One Shots:
Nightmares to Dreams
Blurbs:
Love Notes
Mornings
To Be Better
Headcanons:
Coming soon!
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marvelmusing · 2 years
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An Era of Power
Part One
Pairing: Aleksander Morozova x Fem!Reader
Summary: Your unique ability to manipulate time has always made life difficult, forcing you to live alone for centuries. When the General of the Second Army discovers your power, your life changes forever.
Word Count: 1.4K
A/N: this series was inspired by an idea from the amazing @blanchedelioncourt who kindly allowed me to adopt the idea and create this little fic.
My Masterlist • Series Masterlist
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You can remember a time before the Fold. Life had always been hard for Grisha, full of danger and fear of being discovered. When the King had appointed a Grisha as his military advisor, you had a brief glimmer of hope. That this would be the turning point for your people.
It wasn’t long before this hope was shattered. After the war in the North was won, King Anastas turned on his advisor and all Grisha suspected of following him in a supposed coup. Neighbours turned on each other, outing Grisha fugitives to the King’s army.
At the height of this uncertainty, the Fold was created, dividing Ravka with a dark curtain of shadows, and unleashing the vicious creatures - soon named Volcra - that made crossing the darkness almost impossible.
You have been lucky enough to have never entered the Fold, not in the nearly five hundred years since it was created. Your power was easy enough to disguise - discrete enough for you to use it without people’s knowledge but still remain unaffected by the wasting sickness. Your power was unique, a result of one of Morozova’s experiments with merzost when you were young. You were able to manipulate matter, and revert things to their original, or a previous state. Some might refer to it as time manipulation, if you ever trusted someone enough to show them your power. As long as you understood how something had occurred, you could reverse it. Or you could encourage something to develop at a faster speed than it would naturally. This made you particularly gifted in the gardens of the Little Palace.
If a plant had died from a lack of sunlight or water, you could reverse the effects of these ailments and find a place better suited for these plants. If a plant had become diseased, you could revert it to its healthy state. As long as no one was watching you, of course. Living amongst Grisha made you feel at home, but they could never see you as anything more than the Otkazat’sya gardener.
Because of your work in the gardens, you often helped with cleaning the stables and attending to the horses. The General’s horse, Midnight, was one of your favourites. A magnificent, black horse that has been favoured by General Kirigan over the last few years. You have also become rather fond of Midnight.
So, when you hear that he’s been injured, and that the Healers have little hope for him, you go and visit him in the stables.
The place is empty at this time in the afternoon. The stablehands prefer to work in the mornings when it’s cooler. You hum quietly to yourself as you make your way along the hay covered, stone floor. You open up the pen that Midnight’s been enclosed in, and close the gate behind you.
He’s lying down on the floor, and you quickly sit beside him.
“Hello Midnight. Heard you had a fall.” His only response is a laboured huff. Your brows crinkle in concern, and an uncomfortable pain prickles in your chest at the thought of such a gentle, loyal creature being in such pain. You reach out, stroking a hand over his neck and he attempts to lift his head up to meet your eyes.
You stare down at him, feeling incredibly downhearted at the sight of him. You know that in the long run, you will outlive this horse by several hundred years. But you’ve always struggled with staying detached from animals and people.
You lift your head up, peering into the rest of the stable, ears straining as you listen for the sound of anyone else in the vicinity. When you don’t find any, some of the tension leaves your shoulders.
Linking your fingers together, you concentrate on the break in Midnight’s leg. You know how it happened - during a Drüskelle raid the General had required a swift escape which Midnight had delivered at the expense of his leg. Since you know what happened, it makes it easier for you to reverse the break, guiding the fractured pieces back to rejoin the bone and return it to its proper place.
Midnight grunts in pain, before moving away immediately. With his leg healed, he seizes the opportunity to stand. A flood of triumph surges through you, it has been quite some time since you had used your power in such a manner, and you are thoroughly impressed with your small victory. You smile widely at the sight of Midnight trotting around the small pen he had been confined to after his injury. Remembering his lack of appetite over the past few days, you tug a small sack of apples over and drop them to the floor for him to eat from.
You pat his side affectionately, and he nuzzles his head against your body as you retreat to the gate of his enclosure. Living in the Little Palace has made you less cautious. It’s only once you’ve slid the lock into the bolt that you realise there’s someone behind you.
General Kirigan. The Darkling. He steps forward, grasping hold of your arm tightly and pushing your back against the gate.
“What did you do?” He asks in a low voice, his grip on you tightening. Your eyes widen, stumbling slightly as he pulls you back towards him.
“General Kirigan?” He disregards your confused expression, his eyes widening as he looks down at where his fingers are curled around your bare wrist.
“The break was too fractured for a Healer to fix. How did you heal him?” Your face drops as you realise what you’ve done.
“I didn’t, he was like that when I arrived.” You attempt to convince him, but your voice shakes.
“Don’t lie to me.”
You really are a fool. Your mother was right - your kindness would be your undoing. After remaining undiscovered for hundreds of years, you heal the Darkling’s horse and reveal your power to the most powerful Grisha in Ravka.
“What are you?” He demands.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” You insist, but you know there is no one more determined than the man in front of you. His eyes remain fixed on your face, a resolute expression colouring his features.
“When were you tested?” You decide to tell the truth, or at least some of it.
“I wasn’t.” He releases your wrist, but you’re still cornered, and attempting to outrun a shadow summoner would only reap disaster. He reaches down to slide his ring from his smallest finger, turning it around to slot on the tip of his thumb.
“Well, I’m sure you won’t be adverse to my testing you now.”
You know how the test works. A prick of pain to release whatever latent power hides under a Grisha’s skin. You’ve never been tested before, though centuries of mastering your power should give you some ability to overlook such a minor wound and remain in control.
But there’s something about the General’s touch. When his fingers curl around your wrist again, sliding your sleeve up to reveal your upper arm, you can’t fight the shiver that runs through you. You’ve met some Grisha philosophers over the years, often working as an assistant for scholars. One of the most important concepts among Grisha theory is that like calls to like. Despite your unusual power, you can’t help but feel a likeness with the General. That, despite your obvious differences, you have the distinct impression that the two of you are the same.
His eyes remain fixed on your face as he presses the claw point to your skin, drawing a faint line down your arm. You clench your jaw, trying to stop your power from escaping. He raises a brow at you, noticing the fight hidden in your eyes. His hold on you tightens briefly, in an almost reassuring squeeze. Then his thumb brushes tenderly over the reddened line left by his ring. You breathe in sharply at the light sting of pain, and your control slips.
The apples on the floor by your feet wobble, and the seeds inside the fruit burst into small sprouts. The apple closest to you grows into a young tree, perhaps a year old. You tug the General aside to prevent either of you from being struck by a rapidly growing branch.
You stare at the small tree, cursing yourself. Not once, in over five hundred years, has your control slipped. But the handsome General pays you two minutes of intense attention and you’re creating an orchard.
A timid expression fills your face as you glance over at the General. His own eyes are wide, staring at the trees before looking back at you. There’s a spark of curiosity, and awe in his gaze and his mouth parts as he looks back at the trees. His voice has softened considerably, as he asks you again,
“What are you?”
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