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tiramisiyu · 3 years

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Tears of Themis: Xia Yan/Luke 【昼夜余想】 Wishes Between Day and Night - Date Translation

Translation Masterlist | Xia Yan Masterlist | Unsubbed Video

Transcript below cut:

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Part 1

Empire

On the empty, desolate street, only the night wind whistled past my ears.

MC: …

I walked forward carefully. Plates full of food had been placed similarly in front of the tightly-shut doors of the residences.

MC: … I hope nothing goes wrong.

It was the Wag Festival tonight.

According to the legends, the spirits who were venerated by their families would make their way towards the afterlife, while the spirits who had no one to remember them could only go around begging.

*Note: This festival did indeed exist in Ancient Egypt, and was dedicated to the death of Osiris.

Thus, kindly members of the populace would place offerings at their doorways, dedicated to the lonely dead. This was originally a holiday of commemoration, but things weren’t so peaceful recently…

Several people had disappeared strangely during the night. People said that terrible curses brought by the dead were spreading all over the town…

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Discussion Hall

Not long ago, I had reported this issue to the pharaoh.

But as he sat upright in his high seat, he merely looked indifferently ahead, his mood hard to discern.

Pharaoh: A curse…

Pharaoh: As the respected oracle priestess of the dynasty, you only need to convey the will of the gods. Just observe for any other situational changes for now.

MC: But Pharaoh… more and more people keep disappearing these days, and the people are very panicked. The temple keeps receiving more prayers every day.

MC: If this really is the work of evil magic, the legends in the future will include a Wag Festival plagued by wandering spirits, and we’ll find ourselves with even more victims…

The pharaoh merely waved his hand at my suggestion that came from a spurt of courage.

Pharaoh: I have my own ways of dealing with this.

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Though the pharaoh had said that he had ways to deal with this, I couldn’t just sit around and watch.

As the oracle priestess, listening to the prayers of the people, maintaining order, and protecting the empire were my duties, to begin with.

Thus, I decided to act secretly at night.

MC: (Based on the rumours… the ones who disappeared before last appeared at night, on the streets…)

MC: …

I grasped tight at the amulet in my hands. The golden scarab beetle shone with a cold luster under the bright moonlight.

Feeling reinvigorated, I walked deeper into the street. Right then…

Unknown Man: Aaahhh—

MC: !!!

After freezing momentarily, I immediately sprinted towards the source of the shrieks.

Unknown Man: Save me! Someone save…

Suddenly, the cries for help stopped.

In the small, dusky alley, just a few steps away, a man was lying motionlessly on the floor.

MC: Are you alright?!

I rushed over, preparing to check his body for injuries. However…

MC: !!!

A frigid aura emanated from behind me. I instinctively stopped moving.

MC: (Wait… I think someone else is here…)

I looked towards the shadows in the corner.

MC: !!!

???: …

The moment our gazes met, the person stopped hiding and walked out slowly.

In the dead silence, I held my breath.

???: Sometimes, being too sharp isn’t a good thing.

The owner of the voice held a dagger as he looked from a distance at me.

Half of his face had been covered by a black jackal mask, and the slender eye slits were full of a crimson colour.

As I faced this person who was dressed strikingly like an assassin, I couldn’t help feeling the slightest bit of apprehension and surprise.

MC: A person…

MC: (Wait…)

I thought back on those disappearance rumours from before, and suddenly came up with a bold guess after connecting them to the scene before my eyes…

MC: (Does this mean that he’s the one behind all the disappearances in the city…)

???: Piece of advice: you shouldn’t be zoning out at a time like this.

Without giving me a chance to think more, the person in front of me spoke again.

He glanced at the talisman in my hand. His voice was relaxed, as if this were a normal, everyday conversation.

???: … So you believe in the gods, huh.

???: Too bad, though – it doesn’t seem like the gods will be protecting you.

I hadn’t even reacted when I saw him close in on me rapidly.

???: …

Time seemed to stagnate.

At a close distance, he muttered ponderously to himself, and the dagger he was holding stopped a few centimetres away.

???: You’re…

He seemed to be staring at me through the slits of the mask.

I could smell a faint aroma, and despite the urgent situation, it left me unexpectedly mesmerized.

MC: (Is this some sort of perfume’s scent? I think it’s coming from him…)

After I calmed down, I lifted my head and met his gaze.

MC: … It sounds like you recognize me?

He paused for a moment, then spoke.

???: Based on your appearance… if I’m not mistaken, you must be the oracle priestess of Ayana Temple?

MC: I am…

???: If so, then it can’t be helped.

He retracted his dagger, seeming to have given up.

I let out a long sigh, relieved from being released from my dangerous situation. But when I saw him walk towards the corner where the collapsed man was, I grew agitated again.

>Stay and observe >Try to save the man

MC: (I shouldn’t do anything foolish if I haven’t confirmed that it’s safe.)

Bearing this thought in mind, I carefully tried to talk to him.

MC: What are you planning to do with him? Is he still… alive?

???: Worry about yourself before concerning yourself with others.

MC: … What do you mean?

???: You’re more likely to run into someone wicked than a dead spirit, wandering around town in the middle of the night.

???: On your return, make sure to watch your back.

>Stay and observe >Try to save the man

MC: (Maybe he still can be saved…)

The moment he turned around, I silently picked up a wooden baton used for the vendors’ stands.

After making up my mind, I closed in and brought it down on his head-

MC: !!!

He hadn’t turned around, yet he was able to precisely grab the baton and yank it forward, ripping it out of my hands.

???: I think it’s best that you do not worry about saving others while your hands are full.

???: Otherwise, you might not even be able to return yourself.

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I couldn’t help shivering from his words.

MC: …

???: Why aren’t you talking?

???: You’ve probably already guessed, but…

???: I hope you’ll be able to keep your mouth shut when you get back, just like now.

I stared at him wordlessly without reacting. He paid no attention to that, instead glancing back at me meaningfully.

???: This is for your own good, too. After all, no one will listen to you, no matter who you tell.

MC: Why…

He hoisted up the man before I’d even finished speaking, walking into the depths of the alley. Even my doubts were taken into the soundless darkness.

After, I attempted holding an audience with the pharaoh again… But each time, he avoided me with various excuses. Even my submitted documentation received no response.

I also secretly ordered people to investigate the masked man, but due to us lacking in manpower, we never received any results.

At the same time, more and more people kept disappearing, and the people’s panic grew worse every day…

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Ayana Temple

Person A: When will the curse issue be solved?! Are you just going to watch as we all die off?!

Person B: Exactly! A neighbour of mine disappeared in the past few days… where’s the high priestess?! I want to see the high priestess!

On the day of prayer, it was even more chaotic than I had imagined on the temple courtyards.

The people who had come to pray had crowded together, such that the temple bodyguards had to block them to maintain some control over the riot.

MC: People of Ayana Empire…

Person A: It’s the high priestess!

As if they were grabbing onto their final chance of salvation, the jostling crowd all swarmed in around me after I entered the courtyard.

Right when the guards were on the verge of being broken through, a familiar voice suddenly came from above.

???: Chief Guard, how long are you planning to watch this go on?

Part 2

Ayana Temple

???: Chief Guard, how long are you planning to watch this go on?

The originally panicky crowd stopped their steps forward for a moment.

Like them, I turned my gaze to the heights of the building behind us. Though the owner of the voice was hidden, there was no way I’d mistaken who it was.

MC: (The one from that night…)

He had just spoken when a troop of fully-armed soldiers burst into the temple courtyard.

Based on their clothing, they were the Pharaoh’s trusted Imperial Army.

Chief Guard: Silence!

After the commander handled the crowd control, the chief guard in front held up the documents in his hand and stood in the center.

Chief Guard: People of the Empire, fear not. I speak on the Pharaoh’s behalf with this oracle-

Chief Guard: “In seven days, I shall personally preside over a prayer ritual, where all curses will be broken.”

MC: (Breaking the curses…)

When the pharaoh said that he had ways to deal with this, was he talking about this prayer ritual?

But based on what I had seen that night, the man who’d disappeared had been attacked and taken away, and the curses didn’t exist at all…

Right when I was about to refute these words, the chief guard swept his gaze over, his expression solemn.

Chief Guard: The high priestess will also play a major role in this ritual.

Chief Guard: So, please come with us.

MC: ???

Person A: That’s great! If the high priestess is there, everything will be fine…

Person B: Indeed, the high priestess is sure to protect us and Ayana Empire!

MC: (… I haven’t heard about this at all.)

Confused, I looked at the crowd, jubilant as they were in their relief.

Seeing my motionlessness, the chief guard ordered his men to come “help me along”.

MC: What are you doing?!

I instinctively retreated one step.

Simultaneously, a dagger flew past the tips of their ears, embedding itself on the ground.

???: No need to trouble yourselves. Leave that to me.

The chief guard lifted his gaze towards the building behind us, looking at the corner that was blocked by a colonnade.

After a several-minute stalemate, he finally gave in, gesturing for me to head to the high platform.

Chief Guard: Please make your way over then, high priestess.

MC: Understood…

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The temple was built on the heights of the empire, as the place that was closest to the sky and the sun god.

Birds – the messengers of the gods – flew under the blazing sun, distracting me from the silhouette hidden in the shadows.

MC: What exactly are you aiming for…

The pitch-black jackal mask had been casually placed on the ground. The assassin who’d taken off his disguise stared off into the distance against the wall, looking utterly unperturbed by my arrival.

He looked calmly at me, even smiling a bit.

???: My aim is very simple. Per the pharaoh’s orders, I am to bring the high priestess to the desert shrine and carry out the final preparations for the ritual.

???: For convenience, just call me Luke.

MC: Luke?

I looked carefully over his face.

In stark contrast to the fiendish appearance I had imagined, his features were clean and delicate, his eyes clear and captivating.

Luke: Are you staring at me because you think I look weird?

MC: No, you just look a bit different from what I imagined.

He frowned slightly in response.

Luke: Never relax your guard just because you’ve judged a book by its cover.

Luke: If I wanted to, I could have you decapitated and scattered right now for seeing my true face.

He waved the dagger in his hand slightly. I met his gaze, refusing to concede.

MC: You wouldn’t dare.

MC: If you really do obey the pharaoh, you wouldn’t do anything to me – just like that night.

Luke: …

Unlike the confrontation he had earlier with the chief guard, this time, he quickly ceded, then smiled again.

Luke: Yep, you’re right. I wouldn’t actually do anything to you.

Luke: It’s just that it’s rare for me to get looked down on, so I wanted to mess with you a little…

Luke stood up and walked towards the temple interior.

He walked slowly up to me, but due to the presence of the Imperial Army, the guards outside the temple didn’t dare do anything foolish to him.

Luke: High priestess, do you know why I told you that no one would listen if you told them about the truth of the “curse”?

MC: …

Luke: Because he knows better than anyone where those who have gone missing are…

Luke: Adorning them with charges based on nothing and having them executed were his orders, to begin with.

MC: No way… the pharaoh has no reason to do this sort of thing.

Luke: Is that what you think?

Luke shook his head, in apparent exasperation at my stubbornness.

But I couldn’t understand at all, because my impression of the pharaoh was that he was a benevolent person, one who cared for the people.

Ordering the execution of innocent civilians, causing panic-inducing rumours… it really was hard for me to believe if I only heard one side of the story.

MC: I must go see the pharaoh.

Luke: He won’t see you.

MC: Why?

Luke: …

His only response to my direct questioning was silence. Thus, I could only change my question.

MC: Based on the oracle just now, the pharaoh will be personally presiding over the ritual in seven days, right?

Luke: Correct.

MC: Will the so-called “curses” really disappear after the ritual?

Luke: Yes.

MC: If so, I’ll personally verify all this on the day of the ritual with the pharaoh.

Luke: You mean, you’re still willing to go with me under these suspicious circumstances?

Luke frowned slightly, his mood hard to discern.

Though I knew nothing of the ceremony, I could only nod at him in consideration of the situation’s severity.

MC: The people are all looking forward to the ceremony.

MC: Regardless of the curse’s veracity, this is the only way to contain the panic in the town…

MC: Now that the pharaoh’s oracle is out, no one will believe me if I say what I saw without evidence.

MC: Sometimes, the truth won’t be able to change anything, and as the empire’s priestess, I have to prioritize how the people feel.

Luke sighed after he heard me.

Luke: Can’t be helped, then.

Right then, a maidservant came in with perfect timing. She placed a cup of fine wine on the table.

Maidservant: High priestess, please have the sacrament wine.

Luke: Wine?

MC: Sacrament wine is part of our typical rites. The pharaoh says that we need this to reach a higher level of consciousness and build a connection with the gods.

Luke: The pharaoh again.

He muttered in discontent, then poured the precious wine on the ground when the maidservant left.

MC: You…!

Luke: These sorts of things are bad for you. Plus, you’re better off not drinking wine during a critical time like this.

Luke: I haven’t prepared any fancy carriage for you, after all, so you’ll have to walk with me to the shrine.

MC: W-walk?

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The market in the afternoon was as bustling as ever, with the sounds of hawking mixed in with the joyful laughs of children, creating a ruckus that was completely different from the night.

I followed behind Xia Yan, hurriedly replying to the enthusiastic greetings of the people.

Person A: The high priestess! I can’t believe I was able to see the high priestess in the market!

Person B: Hello, priestess! Hope you have a great day…

Facing the surprised reactions from the crowd, Luke looked back at me curiously.

Luke: Have you never come out before?

MC: Yes… These are the temple rules. Aside from the necessary trips during typical sacrificial rites, that time on the Wag Festival was my first.

Luke: No wonder.

He smiled, looking up at the circling birds in the sky, and suddenly asked me a question.

Luke: Do you know why we worship the birds?

MC: Because they can fly freely to the world of the gods?

Luke: Yes. So, high priestess, the one who boasts the title of gods’ messenger – why do you shut yourself up in a little cage?

Luke: To me, you should be able to go to more, greater places without any worries.

Luke looked seriously at me, his voice earnest.

He was smiling slightly, so unlike the coldness he displayed on our first meeting…

His eyes reflected the vast sky behind me, seeming to contain so many things I had never considered before.

MC: ???

His expression left me somewhat confounded…

MC: (Why is he asking this…)

MC: (I don’t think anyone has ever asked me this…)

During my moment of distraction, my stomach, which hadn’t received food ever since the morning, made its complaint.

MC: …

Luke: Haha, can’t be helped – in reward for walking so far with me, I’ll treat you to something.

A few minutes later, Luke held out some biscuit-like things placed on leaves in front of me.

Luke: Here, try them. They’re freshly-fried bean balls.

MC: Huh?

I looked bewilderedly at the fried things in front of me.

The food and drink in the temple had always been light, so it was my first time dealing with food like this.

Meanwhile, he seemed to have misunderstood what I meant…

Luke: Sorry, I almost forgot.

Luke: As the high priestess, you probably had maidservants helping you with your clothes and food in the temple…

Luke: But I don’t have this sort of experience, so could you just put up with it?

Luke stuck a toothpick in the fried bean ball and carefully held it up in front of my mouth.

MC: It’s not because of this…

Luke: Is it because of the rules again?

Luke: This isn’t the temple, so doing some improper things should be alright…

Luke: If the gods truly were to lay blame onto someone, then don’t I deserve even more blame for this sin, as the one who encouraged you to do this?

He took on all the guilt, candidly stating a bold and reckless proposal.

MC: (Blame for this sin…)

Merely tasting a snack in the city didn’t seem to be bad enough to be called a “sin”.

MC: … The gods wouldn’t be that petty.

Luke: If so, then it’s fine.

MC: …

I stared up close into those perpetually unfathomable eyes, and vaguely felt for a moment that he meant something else.

Luke: … Here, open your mouth.

A tempting aroma wafted from the food near my mouth. I couldn’t help gulping as he patiently guided me.

Finally, I couldn’t resist taking a bite.

MC: Whoa… it’s really delicious!

The bean-made food and the vegetables had been mixed in with a perfectly-adjusted spice, and was fragrant and crispy from frying.

Luke: See, I knew you’d like it.

Luke: …Slow down, don’t burn yourself.

As he looked at me amusedly, I took several bites.

MC: (So delicious…)

MC: ???

Strangely, though this was the first time I’d tried this, the taste in my mouth made me feel faintly wistful…

Part 3

Outer Edges of Empire

Under Luke’s lead, we made our intermittently-halting trip onwards, approaching the shrine outside the city.

MC: (That should be our target destination…)

My field of vision gradually expanded. I could faintly see the ancient buildings towering amid the boundless golden sand.

Unlike the market, there were mostly caravans outside the city.

Apparently, their wares were specialties from various different towns – some were even foreign goods.

MC: It smells really nice…

I looked all around as I walked, stopping when I stepped by a little mobile stand.

MC: …

Luke: What’s the matter?

Luke keenly noticed that I’d stopped and followed my gaze.

Luke: Go check it out if you’re interested.

MC: Huh? No, it’s already getting late, so we should probably head on our way instead…

Luke: It’s fine – we’re almost there anyways.

Luke: You probably won’t be getting much of these chances after the ritual, so how about you take it as a chance to make a memory?

He walked up to the stand as he spoke, and I rushed to catch up.

Exquisite incense boxes of various kinds of workmanship were piled densely on the wooden car, glittering so vividly under the sun that they looked like they’d been divinely blessed.

Stand Owner: Whoa, the high priestess, aren’t you! I just heard that you’d appeared in the market for once, but I sure didn’t expect to run into you myself.

Stand Owner: Go ahead, look to your heart’s content. Tell me if there’s a scent that you prefer – I’ll help you pick it out!

In consideration of this rarely-experienced kindness, I looked down at the dazzling lineup of incense boxes.

MC: A scent I prefer…

The rites in the temple were specific and set, and all of the incenses used had never once changed in years.

Over time, I didn’t bother with considering my own “preferences”…

If I had to come up with something now, the only one I could remember, the freshest memory of a scent that I had was…

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[Flashback]

He seemed to be staring at me through the slits of his mask.

I could smell a faint aroma, and despite the urgent situation, it left me unexpectedly mesmerized.

MC: (Is this some sort of perfume’s scent? I think it’s coming from him…)

[Flashback end]

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But thanks to how serious the situation had been back then, I couldn’t really remember it all too well anymore.

Both the elegant scent of water lilies and the rich fragrance of roses didn’t seem to quite match up with it.

Luke: What’s the matter? What are you thinking about now?

Apparently having noticed my hesitation, Luke rushed to comfort me.

Luke: Don’t worry, just pick as you wish. No need to worry about anything.

MC: Okay…

I nodded in response.

MC: (But… how do I figure out what that scent was…)

>Get close and sniff >Ask him directly

MC: Excuse me, I just want to confirm…

I grabbed his wrist and took a light sniff of it.

Luke: !!!

Luke: W-what are you doing…

For once, he looked at a loss from my sudden actions.

MC: I don’t know what I like, so I want to buy an incense that’s like the scent on your body.

Luke: … No, stop smelling it. What’s so good about being like me?

He anxiously withdrew his hand, covering his face with his arm to hide his expression.

>Get close and sniff >Ask him directly

MC: Then, boss, could I get an incense that smells like the scent on his body?

Luke: The scent on my body?

Luke quickly recovered from his surprise, looking at me seriously before the stand owner could speak.

Luke: No. You can’t just say something like that on whim…

MC: Why?

Luke: … No reason.

Luke: Stop staring at me…

He retreated away from me, a slight blush appearing on his face as he dodged my gaze.

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Seeing him look so unexpectedly helpless, I couldn’t help feeling surprised, and immediately apologized with my head lowered.

MC: I’m sorry…

Luke: You don’t need to apologize. It’s got nothing to do with you…

He withdrew several steps as he spoke, increasing the distance between us.

Seeing how awkward things had become, the shop owner helpfully started to market his wares to me.

Stand Owner: If you aren’t sure which to get, high priestess, how about trying this incense called Kyphi?

Stand Owner: It uses sixteen ingredients, including cinnamon and muskroot, and is made after soaking it in high-quality honey and grape wine…

MC: Kyphi?

Stand Owner: Indeed. This name even has a special meaning – “welcome to a place beside the gods”.

Stand Owner: This scent best suits the people of Ayana, who live in the state protected by the pharaoh, the incarnation of the gods.

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Welcome to a place beside the gods…

With the incense called Kyphi in my hands, I slowly walked with Luke through the desert, towards those majestic ruins.

MC: (Everyone says that Ayana Empire is protected by the gods…)

MC: (But if Luke is telling the truth, the pharaoh had those missing people executed…)

MC: (As the incarnation of the gods, is the pharaoh truly protecting this place?)

MC: !!!

This sudden, absurd thought left me somewhat astonished.

But before I could think further, I heard a shout approaching behind us-

Worn-out Man: People… people over there, wait…

Worn-out Man: Could… could you give me some water… I’m in a hurry, and I can’t hold on anymore…

The owner of the voice was a man in ragged clothes, covered in sand. His skin had been severely tanned after years spent working under the sun.

He staggered up to us, looking like he was on the verge of collapsing.

MC: Are you alright?!

I was almost about to run up and support him when Luke held me back.

Luke: Don’t. I’ll deal with it.

MC: Huh?

Luke looked the man up and down. After pausing for several seconds, he threw over the water pouch he was holding.

Luke: Here.

Worn-out Man: Th-thank you!

The man took several loud gulps of water, finally calming down somewhat.

Luke remained on guard the whole time, watching the man’s movements closely.

Doubts gradually popped up in my head as I followed his gaze.

MC: (Why is he alone in the desert… and why does he look so worn-out…)

MC: (Is he a refugee? But… there haven’t been any battles under this dynasty for a long while. We should be in the middle of an age of prosperity…)

Right as I went over my suspicions, I heard Luke’s voice again, sounding pressing this time.

Luke: Are you almost done?

Worn-out Man: Yes, th-thank you both! I’ll be off…

Luke: … Hold on.

Luke frigidly called that man to a halt as he was about to make his hasty departure.

The moment he took his water pouch, he yanked at the man’s wrist and pressed him onto the ground.

Worn-out Man: Aaaaahhh- w-what are you doing?!

Luke: Rather than leaving, shouldn’t you be returning to where you should be?

Luke: Based on your clothes and condition, you must be a construction worker for the pyramids. Why are you here?

MC: …Worker?

Worn-out Man: No! I won’t go back… I won’t go back! I want to go home!

Worn-out Man: I beg you, great sun god, please save me!

As the man prayed to the sun, I looked towards the edges of the desert that I hadn’t noticed before.

Several unfinished pyramids rose from the ground on the horizon. Many antlike, black dots surrounded the area, toting stone blocks around.

A shiver ran down my back under the blazing sun.

MC: Can’t we let him go?

Luke: He’ll get caught soon even if we do.

Luke: He’s better off submitting obediently – he’ll still be able to live, at least.

Just as he said, supervisors on their way to catch him soon came running over.

After a respectful salute to Luke, they immediately dragged the man roughly back to the barren-looking pyramids.

MC: Does the will of the pharaoh also include building pyramids all over the place…

These were a display of the pharaoh’s power and the structure that would connect him to the heavens for immortality after he passed away. It should have been an incomparably holy thing.

And yet, I couldn’t help shivering as I looked at them.

Luke: They’re living people, yet they’re busy all day with death-related work. High priestess, don’t you find this quite ironic?

MC: …

Luke looked seriously at me in silence.

MC: I…

Before I could respond, he changed the topic, his expression changing along with it.

Luke: Remember, this is a reverse example.

MC: ???

Luke: … Before escaping, make sure to deal with all the threats behind you, or else all of your efforts will go up in smoke eventually.

MC: Why are you telling me this?

Luke: To make sure you don’t waste your efforts in the future, of course.

I didn’t understand what he meant at this critical moment.

Only as we gradually approached the desert shrine did I gain a faint understanding of his meaning.

Part 4

Desert Shrine

Luke: Have something to eat.

Luke closed the stone door shut and walked slowly up to me, leaned down, and smiled resignedly.

Warmth still emanated from the dish full of fried bean balls, but I had no appetite whatsoever.

MC: …

One day had already passed since we entered this place.

No matter how much I was unwilling to believe it all, I gradually found myself noticing lots of abnormalities. This location, where the prayer ritual was to be, wasn’t situated in the heights closest to the gods. Rather, it was buried deep underground… The interior of the dark shrine was cold and hollow and had no sacrificial tools whatsoever – only weak candlelights that flickered discomfortingly.

I looked at Luke, recalling what he had told me when we had first entered this desert shrine again-

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[Flashback]

Luke: Here’s our destination.

MC: Destination… so this is where the prayer ritual will be held?

Luke: Yes. Rest first and get used to your surroundings. I’ve prepared all your daily necessities for the next few days…

Luke: I’ll tell you everything about the ritual after.

Luke: Because you’ll be completely severed from the outside world from now on, starting from when you enter this place.

[Flashback end]

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MC: Is this ritual really a “curse”-dispelling prayer ritual?

Luke: Based on the results, you could say that.

Luke held up the container he’d just brought over, set down a cup, and poured a cup of water for me.

Luke: But its true purpose isn’t that simple.

Luke: The pharaoh wants to use this ritual to win over the people and solidify his authority.

MC: …

I received the cup of water, setting it aside on a stone table, as I didn’t feel thirsty at all.

MC: What do you mean by solidify his authority?

Luke: The current pharaoh did not receive his position through inheritance, like it would be usually. The process that this happened in is pretty complex…

Luke: Such that even though the people trust that the pharaoh is the gods’ incarnation, his prestige is far below that of you, the high priestess.

Luke: These conditions are disadvantageous for long-term authority. Plus, the people are starting to question things, with the increasingly burdensome work they do…

Luke: Which is why the pharaoh urgently needs this ritual to strengthen the trust that everyone has in him.

MC: !!!

My back broke into a cold sweat, hearing his low voice resounding off the cold, hollow stone.

Luke: The pharaoh’s methods are very simple…

Luke: First, use fear to force the people into submission, then save them himself, and finally, give them some far-fetched hope.

Luke: In this process, the “fear” is the curse, the “saving” is this curse-dispelling ritual, and the final “hope”…

Luke: Is you.

MC: Me?

Luke: Correct. You, the high priestess who is deeply revered by the people, who is a major threat to the pharaoh.

Luke: He will bestow you the right to enter Aaru* before the populace, and vow that this honour will be given hereafter to the most faithful of followers.

*Note: Aaru literally means “Field of Reeds”, which is what the Chinese text says.

MC: Aaru…

In the myths, the deceased would enter “The House of Osiris” after judgment. That lush, leafy heaven was called Aaru.

Though I had a faint hunch already, I still asked my question…

MC: What must be done to enter Aaru?

Luke stared at me, a sliver of pity in his eyes.

Luke: Come with me.

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

Luke brought me through a winding corridor to the underground shrine.

Luke: Aside from the terrible missions I do for the pharaoh, this is also one of my duties.

MC: This is…

As we got deeper, a familiar scent grew stronger. It was the scent I had smelled before from Luke, but its source was different this time.

Luke: You seemed to like this scent a lot before…

A bed carved from alabaster had been placed in the middle of the massive room.

The scent came from the containers on the nearby round table, from which the incense I had been so curious about probably came from.

But…

Luke: But will you still feel the same after this?

Luke walked up to the round table. On it, aside from the incense, there was a row of sharp tools.

Luke: The legends say that the soul will remain attached to the body after death. If the proper antiseptic preservation methods are performed, they can come back to life one day…

Luke: This is how one enters Aaru.

MC: Mummies…

This was the tradition handed down from the ancient times of the dynasty.

As the procedure was cumbersome, only the pharaoh or the royal family would receive this honour, and also…

MC: Typically, this is only done after the person has died…

Luke: Yes. So, for the pharaoh, the other purpose of this ritual is to get rid of you.

MC: … Get rid of me?

I instinctively shook my head.

MC: No – according to the legends, the dead can reach the afterlife under the guidance of their patron god Anubis…

MC: I don’t think there’s anything that different compared to when they’re alive…

Luke: Is that what you really think?

Luke held up the chisel on the table. I shouldn’t have been scared, with my enduring belief in the gods, but my body couldn’t help trembling.

Luke: This process is not as simple as you think.

He gripped my wrist and stuffed the chisel into my hand, pointing it at his forehead.

Luke: First in the antiseptic procedure… this will be scooped out.

As if he was trying to make me experience all of this…

He ignored the pale red marks, watching me seriously with his unfathomable eyes. The tip of the chisel glided over his skin, down his nose, neck, chest, and abdomen.

Luke: Next, the other organs in the body are taken out from the cut on the abdomen.

Luke: All that is left in the end is the heart…

Luke: As everyone generally considers the heart to be the symbol of intelligence, and that it is needed on the path to the afterlife.

As Luke went on with his slow narration, an overwhelming fear grew like a whirlpool in my heart.

Ding-

My hand had released the chisel, and it clattered on the floor.

MC: …

I opened my mouth, but I had no idea what to say.

Finally, he held up my hand, slowly placing it over his heart.

Luke: But after all these procedures end and the heart is left, do you think that it could ever beat again?

Luke: The afterlife, Aaru, the gods… do these truly exist?

Luke: Do you believe in them?

The warmth and the forceful beats – everything that I felt under my palm – were the greatest proof of life.

After this, Luke released me.

I lowered my hand slowly, feeling nothing but a biting coldness and an infinite emptiness.

Luke: High priestess, though you have no way out anymore…

Luke: I hope that you can at least see all this clearly in your remaining time.

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

For as far as I could remember, I lived in Ayana Temple and worshipped the gods piously.

Even if I had my doubts now, what could I even do at this point?

I tossed and turned for a long time that night…

Amid my never-ending unease, I dreamed – something that I had not done in a long while.

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

[Flashback]

In the resplendent Ayana Temple, the pharaoh, in place of the former priest who had died from illness, kindly bestowed the title of succession on me.

He then handed the splendid cup full of sacrament wine to me.

Pharaoh: Gods bless you.

I held my hand out to accept it, but the cup suddenly fell to the ground. There was now no one in the sacrificial room.

Only a boy dressed in finery stood behind the curtain, speaking earnestly-

Boy: If you want to live, then run.

[Flashback end]

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

MC: !!!

I suddenly woke right when he finished speaking.

The incense box placed at the headboard fell off the stone bed from my movements, making a clinking sound in the silent, empty room.

MC: This dream is…

I leaned down and picked up that incense box, and was suddenly reminded of what that stand owner outside the town had told me.

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

[Flashback]

Stand Owner: Oh right, one other thing…

Stand Owner: This Kyphi incense was once used in various rituals.

Stand Owner: So, these complicated ingredients include some that have slight anaesthetic and hallucinogenic effects…

Stand Owner: High priestess, be careful that you do not overuse or ingest it when using it.

[Flashback end]

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

The leftover fried bean balls were placed beside the bed.

Though I felt that it tasted completely different from before no matter how much I tried it…

But another serving would be sent tomorrow, assuming nothing went wrong…

MC: If so…

I clenched the incense box in my hand and made up my mind.

MC: Just like he said before…

✼ ┈┈��┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

[Flashback]

Luke: Remember, this is a reverse example.

Luke: … Before escaping, make sure to deal with all the threats behind you, or else all of your efforts will go up in smoke eventually.

[Flashback end]

Part 5

Desert Shrine

As expected, Luke had people send over freshly fried bean balls the next day.

While no one was around, I added some of the incense source from the box into its filling.

After, I coaxed Luke to eat them, and he did so without any hesitation or doubt.

Luke: …

The anesthetic aspect soon took effect.

I heard his quiet, low groans as he held his forehead, his eyes gradually becoming hazier.

MC: Are you alright?

Luke: … Huh? You…!

I snatched the moment he fell into a daze…

Bam-

After pushing Luke down onto the ground, I rapidly grabbed the cloth strips behind me that I’d made from the bedding, tying his hands up tight.

After ensuring that I was safe, I lowered my body and stared at him.

Maybe it was because of the effects of the incense, or maybe because his current, troubled state left him flustered…

Luke’s breathing in his tied-up state was rapid and his chest heaved violently, almost as if I could hear his heartbeat.

Luke: You… don’t get so close…

MC: Are you scared? I was also scared before… and those innocent, victimized people probably were too.

MC: Do you now know what it feels like?

Luke: …

His eyes no longer shifted away. Instead, they met mine directly.

I looked into those crystalline, penetrating eyes, and to my surprise, I saw a trace of evident apology in them.

Luke: … I’m sorry.

Luke: I know it must not have been easy for you to do this much…

His voice was gentle. Despite his current situation, I couldn’t hear the slightest bit of resentment.

This sudden consolation left me frozen for a moment.

But before I could soften, I forced myself to stay on guard, in case he was planning to escape.

MC: Pretty words won’t help you. I won’t let you go.

Luke: I wasn’t asking for you to let me go.

MC: Back on topic – where is the key to the door? How do I get out?

Luke: There is no key.

MC: If you won’t tell the truth, I really won’t hold back…

I slowly got closer to him, trying to display a threatening sort of pressure.

And his breathing did indeed become panicky again.

Luke: … I’m telling the truth.

Luke: Those doors don’t have locks, and they don’t even have guards set there. You only don’t know because you never tried.

MC: !!!

Just like he said, I had never thought of escaping, as if I had been bound here.

But things were different now…

Right when I was planning to get up, he called out to me.

Luke: Wait.

Luke: I told you before - make sure to deal with all the threats behind you, or else all of your efforts will go up in smoke eventually.

Luke: So… aren’t you going to do anything?

Luke looked at me searchingly, his expression calm.

He was bound up, yet I felt like he was in the active position right now, dominating the entire situation.

MC: … No need. That would only cause a greater commotion. Either way, the guards won’t find you for now, so I have enough time to escape.

MC: After this, someone will punish you for your mistake.

Luke: Is that so…

He smiled faintly at me as if he were moved, the emotion in his eyes indescribable.

Luke: After you escape, remember to not be so softhearted ever again.

MC: …

I suppressed the mixed feelings in my heart, getting up without replying to him.

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

Everything became quiet again as the footsteps faded off, leaving only the faint sounds of the flickering candles.

Luke did not call for help. He applied a slight force with his wrists, easily breaking free of his bindings.

He stood up by supporting himself against the wall, then released a gratified sigh towards the direction that the girl had vanished in.

Luke: As it should be…

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

After I was fortunately able to leave that underground shrine through a secret path, I had originally prepared myself to have to rough it…

But, beyond my expectations, this death-escaping journey was much smoother than I’d expected.

As I wandered aimlessly, a caravan headed for foreign lands suddenly appeared in the desolate desert, just like a mirage.

They said that they were going to the oasis country across the sea…

Where resources and people abounded, where it was as overflowing with culture as it was here – a fertile land that drew many to it.

In the night, the salty, wet sea wind blew in my face, making me feel as if everything I’d experienced was an entire lifetime ago.

Caravan Member: Get ready to board the boat – we’re about to set off.

MC: Mhmm…

I looked at the merchant boat floating beside the shore. For some reason, I felt an inexplicable restlessness.

Caravan Member: Don’t worry, young lady. We’re honorable businesspeople – no human trafficking whatsoever.

Caravan Member: And since you’ve promised to help us with miscellaneous work, it’s a transaction where both sides benefit, so you don’t need to feel like you owe us…

Caravan Member: If you’re still worried, I’ve got a self-defense dagger here for you. You can keep it on you at all times on the trip.

MC: … Thank you.

I took the dagger that he held out to me, but that feeling of distress still didn’t dispel.

Seeing that the sailors were beginning to retrieve the anchor, I could only follow him onto the wooden board that connected the shore to the merchant boat.

But right before I boarded…

MC: !!!

MC: He’s…

Right when I was halfway there, I suddenly saw a familiar silhouette on deck.

Though we didn’t know each other, I remembered his face clearly, because on that night…

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

[Flashback]

In the little, dusky alley, just a few steps away, a man was lying motionlessly on the floor.

MC: Are you alright?!

I rushed over, preparing to check his body for injuries. However…

MC: !!!

A frigid aura emanated from behind me. I instinctively stopped moving.

???: Sometimes, being too sharp isn’t a good thing.

[Flashback end]

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

MC: (Shouldn’t he already be…)

MC: (Plus, isn’t it way too coincidental for him to be boarding the same merchant boat that’s escaping across the sea as me…)

I finally seemed to have sorted through my originally messy emotions…

Right then, I recalled the various minor details that I had ignored before.

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

[Flashback]

Luke: Do you know why we worship the birds?

MC: Because they can fly freely to the world of the gods?

Luke: Yes. So, high priestess, the one who boasts the title of the gods’ messenger – why do you shut yourself up in a little cage?

Luke: In my opinion, you should be able to go to more, greater places without any worries.

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

Luke: This isn’t the temple, so doing some improper things should be alright…

Luke: If the gods truly were to lay blame onto someone, then don’t I deserve even more blame for this sin, as the one who encouraged you to do this?

[Flashback end]

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

Encouraged… I repeated this word in my head.

Those strange emotions, those inexplicable words – the answer seemed to be within reach after I painstakingly pondered over them.

Nearby, the sailors were urging people onboard. There was no more time for me to speak with that man on the deck.

Caravan Member: Get aboard, young lady! Get aboard!

All I had left were these final seconds.

I knew right then that this was a critical decision in changing my fate. I should have gone for the more reliable option, but…

“After you escape, remember to not be so softhearted ever again.”

But this time, I wouldn’t do as he wanted.

MC: (There must be a better way to solve this than doing nothing and escaping alone…)

The waves surged in the night wind. Finally, I ended up returning to the shore, against the blowing wind.

I returned to that shrine one day later.

The ritual was imminent. I gripped the dagger that the caravan member had given me and carefully made my way through the winding secret path…

In the former grand hall, there now stood another person aside from Luke.

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

Chief Guard: So you really were playing little tricks.

Chief Guard: I specifically had people investigate after that day – the so-called grave pile doesn’t have any skeletons at all.

Chief Guard: Where exactly did the people that the pharaoh had you deal with go?

I held my breath, lying low silently in the corner.

The chief guard was a devoted follower of the pharaoh. He was as hostile as he had been that day, pointing his sword straight at Luke.

Chief Guard: And the high priestess – where is she?

Luke was completely unarmed, seeming like he’d lost his will to live as he lowered his neck to the sword blade.

Luke: None of your business.

Chief Guard: If you’re going to be so pigheaded, then on behalf of the pharaoh…

When I saw the chief guard swing his sword, I sprinted out and stabbed him in the back-

MC: !!!

I thought that I’d landed the mark… But he reacted with shocking speed, changing his direction of force as he backhandedly parried my attack.

With the clinking of metal, the dagger was sent flying into the corner.

Luke: Careful!!!

I heard Luke shout anxiously. Right then, my mind was completely blank as my ability to think evaporated.

Time seemed to stagnate. I watched wide-eyed as the chief guard swung his sword at me…

MC: …

But right after, my body spontaneously reacted.

A fierce wind blasted in my face as I saw the blade sweep past my hair. I instinctively retreated one step, rolling to the altar as I dodged the slash.

Chief Guard: !!!

Under the chief guard’s astonished stare, I got up and grabbed the two chisels on the round table. Then, I threw one of them at him before he could react…

Clang-

Using the moment that he deflected it with his sword, I sped forward. After this feint, I met his shocked, widened eyes as I adjusted my center of gravity, stabbing him at his weak point on his side-

Bang!

When I came back to my senses, the chief guard had already fallen.

The sharp chisel was embedded in his back waist as a crimson liquid flowed out unceasingly from the wound, dyeing the ground in red.

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

Luke: Are you alright?!

Luke ran staggeringly over to me. Only when I had indicated that I was fine did he release a breath.

After he wiped the stains off the back of my hand, he blocked my view of the chief guard.

Luke: Don’t worry, he’s still alive… just leave the rest to me.

MC: I… I…

The crisis had been averted and my rationality had returned, yet a greater fear flooded over me.

MC: H-how did that happen… just now… my movements…

I had always lived in the temple, praying daily to the gods.

But the memories that were growing clearer in my mind told me that both the instinctive fighting skills just now and the scene before my eyes…

Were not my first encounter with them.

Part 6

Ayana Temple

I could vaguely remember seeing these brutal scenes often, back during candidate training.

I once snuck into the temple and prayed to the gods, not as a priestess, but as a pathetic seeker of help.

Boy: I finally get to see you again. I thought you weren’t going to ever return.

Boy: Are these things on the altar… the offerings you brought?

“Yes, these are the leftover fried bean balls from what the uncle in the city was selling… please try some.”

Boy: You look like you’ve been injured again… does it hurt? Come over – I’ll apply some medicine for you.

“I’m alright – at least I still can feel things. But there are some children who couldn’t hold on, who won’t ever get up again after lying down.”

“So, esteemed high priest, there is something that I would like to request you help me bring to God…”

“… I have prayed for a long time, but it seems like he has always ignored my wish.”

Boy: I’m still learning from my teacher, so I’m not an official priest yet.

Boy: But since you chat with me all the time, and because of the fried bean balls you brought, I’ll do my best to help you.

Boy: Tell me, what’s your wish?

“I don’t want to do things for the new pharaoh. I only want to… continue living peacefully…”

Boy: … I got it.

Boy: If you want to live, then escape.

“But they run much faster than I do. I’m sure they’d catch me instantly…”

Boy: They won’t.

“Why?”

Boy: Because God just told me that he heard your wish, so he will protect you.

Boy: Plus… he also wants you to live on peacefully.

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

That night, I mustered the courage to leave the empire.

I didn’t dare stop running until I was thoroughly exhausted, in fear of the chasing soldiers behind me.

Finally, I collapsed in the desert. When I woke again, I was in the temple.

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

The high priest sat on the bedside, stroking my head gently.

Former Priest: From now onwards, this will be your residence. You can study here with me without worry.

I asked him “why” many times, but the only answer I ever received was a sigh, as well as those never-changing words-

Former Priest: Because the gods favor you.

The gods favor me…

But after that, I never saw that boy in the temple, and the high priest never said a word about him.

I continued praying devoutly to the gods, praying that I would be able to see him again.

During those days of prayer, I even suspected that the one person who had heard my wish might have been a god himself.

After the aged high priest passed away, the pharaoh gave me sacrament wine during the succession ceremony.

This was the only way to reach higher levels of consciousness and build a connection with the gods.

Gradually, I forgot what my goal in all this was.

Amid the never-ending prayers, only a deep belief in the gods became rooted firmly in my heart.

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

Desert Shrine

MC: Luke…

After dealing with the unconscious chief guard’s wound, Luke looked back at me from his place in a hard-to-detect corner.

He looked completely worn-out, yet he looked extremely similar to that finely-dressed, holy boy of my memories.

MC: The pharaoh messed with the sacrament wine… at the temple before, did you knock it over on purpose?

MC: I did forget what happened, but you’ve always remembered…

After a moment of dumbfoundedness, Luke smiled resignedly.

Luke: Before, I thought that forgetting the past and starting anew was a good thing.

Luke: But now, I feel that it’s better to remember some things, such as… a past desire to live.

MC: …

Only then did I completely understand that the so-called gods had never favored me.

It was Luke… he was supposed to be the empire’s oracle priest revered by the populace, and he traded his fate with me.

MC: … But why did you help me?

Luke: Because I stopped believing in the gods, starting from that day.

Luke swept calmly past the protective Anubis statues on the two sides.

To him, those probably weren’t the revered ancient gods at all – instead, they were two worthless rocks.

Finally, his gaze fell on me, his mood hard to describe.

Luke: I couldn’t understand – if the gods truly existed, why did they never help you despite all of your many prayers?

Luke: Were you not sincere enough, or were they not benevolent enough? Or – maybe the gods don’t exist at all.

Luke: I deliberated over this unsolvable problem many times, and ultimately made a decision.

Luke: Regardless if they had heard your wish, I, at least, had heard it. So I would be the one to fulfill it.

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

[Flashback]

Former Priest: You want to save her, but how will you do so?

Former Priest: Those children were selected by the pharaoh from many places. Though it is difficult to distinguish who they are from the masks that they typically wear…

Former Priest: But the numbers are rigorously counted every day. They’ll know instantly if one is missing.

Boy: Then I’ll replace her.

Boy: Our ages are similar, and even if our genders are different, there are several hundred candidates. No one will care that much.

Former Priest: …Ridiculous! I did not train you for this sort of purpose!

Boy: But, high priest…

Boy: If I leave this alone and she really does die from injury in training one day…

Boy: Not only would I stop believing in the gods – I’d even start hating them… in that case, I would not be able to serve as your successor.

Boy: So, I beg you…

[Flashback end]

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

Luke smiled lightly after his explanation.

Luke: Maybe because I was very fit with particular talent…

Luke: Though I started training late, I still was able to hold on until the end, thanks to a surpassing will to live.

He spoke so simply about a process that must have nearly killed him many times.

I faced him, a bitterness that I couldn’t swallow in my throat.

MC: Will to live… then why were you willing to be defeated by the chief guard?

Luke: …

Luke: If I knew that I’d be able to see you again, I would have definitely resisted.

Luke let out a deep sigh, then looked back at me seriously.

Luke: There is still some time until the ritual, so run now. Hide by the seashore for the next while, and wait for the next…

MC: I won’t run.

Luke: Don’t joke around! You…

He was just about to admonish me when the sounds of footsteps sounded from the far end of the corridor.

Luke picked up the chisel that had just been taken off the chief guard’s body in response.

Luke: I’ll deal with this.

MC: Wait. Don’t make a big ruckus out of this.

I grabbed his hand, wiping the red stains on his body with my clothes.

Luke understood my intentions quickly.

He frowned, knowing that time was tight, and could only pull aside the curtain before the altar as I wanted…

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

The moment I reclined on the altar, the reporting guard also rushed in, a few steps away from us behind the curtain.

Guard: The pharaoh will be here soon – may I ask how much longer you need…

Luke: … I’m already preparing.

Guard: The high priestess…

The guard stepped up to check on the situation as he spoke…

Luke: The high priestess has already gone to rest. Do not disturb her.

Right after, Luke threw the chisel he was holding past the curtain, embedding it beside his foot.

The curtain fluttered gently, revealing half of my hanging arm.

Guard: Y-yes…

Startled by Luke’s angry sullenness, the guard retreated from the stone room.

When everything quieted down again, he released a breath, planning to help me up from the altar…

While he was off-guard, I reached up, pulling him down by the nape of his neck.

This sudden action gave him no time to react, and with his unstable center of gravity, he could only prop himself up in front of me…

Luke: What are you doing…!

His breathing grew panicked from my movements.

He could’ve easily broken free, but he let me approach his ear as I placed my head in the hollow of his neck.

Luke: … Stop smelling it. Don’t you find it dirty?

Luke: I already told you that this incense’s scent comes from my antiseptic work…

MC: It’s not dirty at all. I like your scent a lot.

I inhaled gently. My exhale blew over his ear and neck, trembling slightly.

MC: You ensure that the souls of the deceased can rest peacefully, and you give living people new chances.

MC: You’ve saved so many people, including me… to me, you are more worthy of reverence than those imaginary gods.

MC: So, Luke, let’s find a way that can save both others and ourselves this time.

Luke: Do you mean…

MC: Fake it until the end, just like earlier – then, deal with the pharaoh using the ritual.

If only Luke made a move, he was sure to be executed after being charged with severe crimes.

But if I, who was thought to have gone to “Aaru” already, suddenly “resurrected” and imposed punishment on the pharaoh for the “gods”…

We might gain the trust of the people and have a chance at living.

Luke: This is too risky for you…

Luke: I’m worried…

He seemed to have realized that I wouldn’t change my mind, powerlessly lowering his head as he spoke, his trembling voice full of worry and distress.

MC: Based on our customs, the priest will write protective incantations on papyrus paper and place it in the tomb of the deceased, to bless them so that they will live peacefully in the afterlife.

MC: If you’re worried, Luke, write some prayers for me too.

Luke: … That’s bad luck. You’re still alive.

MC: The blessing intent remains the same, though.

Unable to persuade me, Luke could only hum an affirmative.

Luke: I’ve already thought of what to write. I’ll do it in a moment.

MC: What is it?

Luke: I’ll tell you after it ends, so… you must get out of this safe and sound.

We plotted a plan that was basically blasphemy against the gods, clinging together on the holy altar.

Before he finished carefully preparing my body as if for a corpse and covered me with a blanket… he kissed my forehead, as if in blessing.

In the faintly flickering candlelight, I looked into those perfectly clear eyes, praying reverently that the lights in them would never be extinguished…

… Simultaneously, giving that kiss a more fervent response.

Finally, this curse-dispelling, empire-stirring prayer ritual came to an end with the death of the pharaoh.

Opinions varied on the entire course of events, leaving a heavy, bright mark on the history of the dynasty.

✼ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✼

Palace

One month after the new pharaoh succeeded to the throne.

Chief Guard: I will bring the young pharaoh back then, high priestess. There is still much that he must study – if he hadn’t been clamoring about coming to the temple…

Chief Guard: Ah, forget it.

I nodded, preparing to rise and send him off.

Before he left, I couldn’t resist calling out to that eternally straight-backed chief guard, who was intimidating even when he merely stood there.

MC: Even if the people believed my words that day, you must have known the reason behind it all, chief guard…

MC: You have always only obeyed the pharaoh, so why have you still not made a move?

Chief Guard: High priestess, I don’t understand what you mean.

Chief Guard: I still obey to the “pharaoh” – otherwise, I would not have brought him to you today to play.

MC: … That is true.

Chief Guard: If you are trusted as the will of the people, then the reason why the former pharaoh – the incarnation of the gods – died so easily, may have been the will of the heavens.

Chief Guard: This isn’t something I can do anything about… especially since the true offender has long died in prison, so there is nothing to go over seriously about.

Chief Guard: As time is tight, I will head off first.

MC: Take care.

Just as the chief guard said, the person who dealt the lethal blow to the pharaoh and cut off his head was not me, but Luke.

He was subsequently imprisoned… although…

Luke: Ugh, that chief guard really sounds satisfied with my “death in prison”.

Luke popped in through the window, sighing annoyedly.

MC: On the other hand, that’s a good thing – if even the chief guard believes that, no one will probably suspect anything…

MC: … Sorry that this was the only way to let you let you escape unscathed.

Luke: It’s alright – I’m perfectly fine, right? Just that…

Luke: You should deal less with that chief guard and that ignorant, incompetent little pharaoh from now on.

Luke: Who knows when they might come up with crooked ideas to set you up…

MC: It’s alright – you’re here, after all.

Luke: That’s true. Then, remember to rely on me more in the future, like right now…

MC: !!!

Luke embraced me from behind, bringing me to recline together on the long couch.

Luke: You’ve been dealing with the messes left by the former pharaoh for all of last night. You didn’t even get a wink of sleep.

Luke: Take an afternoon nap, now that you have time for once… I’ll be with you.

MC: … Okay.

I was just about to close my eyes when a sudden breeze blew in from the window, blowing the papyrus scrolls on the table onto the ground.

MC: Ah!

Luke: Don’t move… I’ll pick those scrolls up in a moment. Let them do whatever for now.

MC: They’re not documents, though. They’re what you wrote for me…

Realizing that Luke wasn’t going to let go, I could only mumble an explanation, burying my head in embarrassment into his chest.

Those papyrus scrolls were the prayers that he had written for me before that prayer ceremony.

Luke: … I didn’t think you’d keep them.

MC: Of course I did.

Luke still didn’t let me go, instead reclining his head on my shoulder. Like the hair coiling around my neck, I heard a few comfortable hums, making me feel slightly tingly.

He then spoke.

Luke: When everything settles down, let’s go to a country across the sea where no one recognizes us.

MC: Mhmm, okay.

Perhaps that oasis country across the sea was my true “Aaru”.

Embracing a hope for the future, a sleepiness gradually descended on me…

As I fell asleep, I seemed to hear him gently reciting that prayer written on the papyrus scrolls by my ear-

Luke: “I pray that you will continue to live bravely onwards, as you had described.”

Luke: “When you are exhausted, I too will cease, and sink with you into an eternal slumber.”

Aftertalk

Done with work? Looks like I finally have the chance to be with you alone.

>Intimate interactions >Fried bean balls…

>Select ankh

MC: (According to the legends, this is a possession of the gods with disaster- and illness-preventing effects. It represents the repeating nature of life, rebirth, and eternity.)

Luke: You’ve been staring at my chest for a while. Are you curious about the pendant?

MC: A little… if I recall correctly, you don’t believe in this stuff, so why would you wear an amulet like that?

Luke: I don’t use this to protect myself – I only wore it before as part of the prayers for the deceased, and then I just got used to it.

Luke: Although, it’s pretty pointless at this point. Maybe I should take it off…

MC: Huh? Don’t take it off… I think it looks pretty good as normal jewelry. Just keep it on.

Luke: Is that so? If you like seeing me wear it, then I won’t take it off.

>Select upper-left

MC: (The new pharaoh is still young and requires a lot of support from the temple…)

MC: (This place has been receiving an endless stream of guests all day recently. It’s so rare for me to have time to talk to Luke.)

>Select head

MC: Luke, have you been wearing that mask these days?

Luke: Sometimes I wear it when going out, so my face doesn’t get seen… although, that’s not necessary with you.

MC: Indeed – I can’t see your expression when you’re wearing a mask. This is much better.

>Intimate interactions >Fried bean balls…

MC: Weird, these fried bean balls have a distinct taste compared to the ones we ate before…

Luke: I knew that I couldn’t hide this from you. I made this secretly in the kitchen while no one was there.

Luke: Since I can’t appear in the market now under my current conditions – it would be bad if my identity were exposed.

MC: Is that so….

MC: (Before, I announced that Luke had died in prison. Though he was able to avoid execution thanks to this, his freedom is still limited.)

Luke: What’s the matter? Based on your expression… does it taste bad?

MC: Not at all! It doesn’t taste bad! I’m just worried that you might find your lifestyle right now really boring…

MC: If you want, you can leave the empire for a while, so you wouldn’t need to be so careful.

Luke: I don’t want that, because… not only do I not find it boring, but I also feel like this isn’t too bad, the way things are.

MC: Really?

Luke: Yep, really. Since no one knows that I’m alive, I don’t have to bother with some unnecessary dealings too.

Luke: Plus, it’s because that I’m alone that you’ll worry about me from time to time, just like now, right?

Luke: No matter where you are or who you’re talking to, you’ll remember that I’m waiting for you. That’s enough to satisfy me.

MC: Luke, don’t be so easily satisfied…

MC: Even if we go elsewhere in the future where you don’t need to conceal yourself, I’ll always be thinking of you.

Luke: Then, when time comes, I’ll be able to monopolize you openly… and beat off anyone who bothers us.

MC: Pfft, isn’t that a little too childish?

Luke: I’ve been holding back for so long, so it should be justifiable for me to be a bit childish…

Luke: Plus, I’m also hoping that after you shed the responsibility you bear, you can be more childish and reckless in front of me, okay?

MC: Okay… I’ll try.

#Tears of Themis #tears of themis translations #xia yan #luke pearce #tot spoilers #未定事件簿 #tot luke #finallyyyyyyyy wow this was a whole project

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iliveiloveiwrite · 4 years

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Millie’s Massive Fic Rec Post

To celebrate 700 followers I’m showing all the love, people. What you’ll find here are fics that were sent to me who I agree deserve a bit more love as well as fics I’ve read and adored. They’re split into characters so all you need to do is scroll to find your fave and bask in its glory. There is some swearing but it’s only because it’s the only way I know how to express my feelings. This is also my thank you to each of the authors involved for taking the time out of their day to write these fics for free. There are also some authors I know I’ve forgotten and I am so so sorry if I have, I promise you it wasn't intentional, I love you all very much.

As always, I love and appreciate you all. Let’s get started on this ridiculously long post!!

Harry Potter:

Don’t Walk Away - @kalimagik - THE ANGST. I was on the edge of my seat through it all; I knew what was coming but did I look away? No. I was completely sucked it and that ending... oh my god, I was broken. If you’re looking for an incredibly written piece of angst that has you in tears, then this is the fic.

Dandelions - @lupins-sweater - The first post of A Very Harry Potter Summer and it was kicked off so brilliantly!! This fic had me wishing for my very own Harry to take morning walks with. It’s so wonderful; it has you wanting a summery morning and dandelions to make wishes on.

Always You - @bl597 - inspired by Louis Tomlinson’s song Always You, so I was already sold on that front. It’s an angst piece - Harry pining from afar, regretting his decisions but with a happy ending. I love that it's written from his perspective, that he realises what he’s done. I really do love this fic, and I aim to work my way through her masterlist!

The Truth Behind The Kiss - @justauthoring - the anticipation from the first sentence, I was on the edge of my seat. I loved every single word of this fic, it’s written so well. I just, I need you all to read this fic bc it is SO GOOD. Harry, Triwizard tournament, feelings, fluff - it has it all.

For how long? - @siriusly-addicted-to-writing - It seems for Harry fics I am drawn to angst even though I write nothing but fluff for him. This fic is no different. Dani, this fic is wonderful, I love it. You capture the angst brilliantly! Go read this everyone!

Ron Weasley:

“can we pretend I never said that?” - @hello-everyfandom - I love this so much! Ron calling himself ‘the snog master’ had me snorting out loud - it’s great. And then the dialogue continues to be brilliant. I really enjoyed this fic! Ron needs more attention people!!

Crossing Lines - @kalimagik - ADORABLE. CUTE. WONDERFUL. Oh, Ron. Everything about this fic is marvellous. The relationship between Ron and the reader, the realisation, the meddling. It was perfect, so so perfect.

birthday - @lupinsdarling - FLUFFY AND CHAOTIC AND I LOVE IT. Why oh why doesn't Ron get more love? Why doesn't this fic have more attention? It’s so fluffy and Ron is so bloody cute that my heart physically hurt while reading this. It hurt because it was so PURE.

Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley:

Girls in one room - @eleven-times-lively - Hermione x Reader - oh my god I snorted at Ron, I love it. And the fluff? There’s so much fluff, I can't deal with the fluff. If you’re going to read a Hermione fic, read this one!

just as lovely - @vanillann - this is so pure! it’s so wonderful, and the relationship between Hermione and the reader is so cute!

Hug ur friends drabble - @firewhisky-kisses - Ginny x Reader - it’s the cutest thing I’ve read, oh my god, is it cute! I love everything about this, Steph is so talented! But I go into that further down.

Neville Longbottom:

Never the Bride - @obsessedwithrandomthings - Dee’s fic reads as a rom com, it’s so brilliantly done. By the time you're at the end, you feel as if you’ve just watched a two hour rom com and need to squeal into your pillow because of the feels. I love this fic.

Moonlight Swim - @kalimagik - Neville. Oh, Neville. This fic stole my heart and it won't give me it back. The idea of a moonlight swim with Neville? Here for it. And the confession? *chefs kiss* incredible.

Healing - @firewhisky-kisses - I cannot put into words how much I loved this fic,. Steph is just so incredibly talented and writes Neville so wonderfully. Healing is the first fic of two and that second part had me in happy tears because Neville deserves the world. I go back and reread this a lot when I need to boost my emotions, so thank you for this Steph.

Good News - @peachesandpinks - Let me explain something here, Ron repeatedly and without fail hypes up fic writers to the point where she makes me cry happy tears at her comments. Her writing (and I'm going to swear now) is fucking brilliant. I love it, I adore it. Ren has a way with words that I only hope to master. This fic? Marvellous, magnificent, wonderful - pick a synonym and go wild. It’s so sweet and wholesome - what more could you possibly want other than to be on her taglist?

Tally Marks - @obsessedwithrandomthings NEVILLE WITH TATTOOS PEOPLE! NEVILLE! WITH! TATTOOS! Do I need to say anymore? Yes? Okay. Dee is a fantastic writer but she writes Neville perfectly. We have had many conversations about her love for Neville and her love for him shines through in this fic. She writes with such care and I love reading everything.

Draco Malfoy:

The Purist - @mxl-foy - This series is so good. Like, so good, that if it was a physical book, it would be sat on my shelves. I would religiously check her account every time I came onto Tumblr to see if a new chapter was posted, and if there was, you best believe there was a happy dance. It’s so incredibly thought out and plotted. And there’s going to be a part two! It’s so great!

Notes - @malfoys-demigod - This is so sweet! I live for fluffy Draco as you all know if you read my Draco fics, but I adore reading fluffy Draco as well. This fic is so adorable, I love it!

Always so Cold - @teheharrypotter - Five times Draco gave you his sweater and the one time you accepted. I love these sort of fics, they’re my indulgence fics. Jealous!Draco is one of my favourite things to read as well. and he’s so dramatic. I couldn't ask for more in a fic, definitely one of my favourites.

the distance between us - @sdicapriox - This is a genius idea. I love this idea, and I love how it was executed. Almost 10k words of brilliance. I love the reader and her first letter to Draco and her entire personality - fish funeral? genius. I really like how you portray Draco and the effort you put into his internal monologue, it really is something excellent. The ending as well, I won't spoil, I just urge people to read this.

Heartbreak - @slytherinprincess03 - you have to have a little bit of angst in a Draco fic rec right? This fic has it but the ending is perfect and fluffy, gah! I love it!. Not to mention, Draco is such a gentlemen in it. I can't wait to see what else you write, lovely!!

Hardly A Date - @fanficflaneuse - I love this fic. I love it so much. I tend not to read sibling!reader but I adored this. The relationship between Harry and the reader, and then Draco and the reader. It’s amazing. I could rant for hours and hours about how much I love her work - her series are out of this world and she captures Draco’s character perfectly.

George Weasley:

Red with Rage - @kalimagik - AGH ANOTHER OF MAGGIE’S FICS. The prank? Genius, and that end line - incredible. Her characterisation of the twins is so good, I love reading her fics. She deserves more than 300 followers! So if you don’t already follow her, go now!

When Everything Changes - @strawberriesonsummer - Based on the song Everything Has Changed by Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran. This is so pure, it’s so fluffy. George is adorable in this! I can't wait to read what else you write for George!

Come back to you - @dreamer821 - JJ, JJ, JJ. Ugh, this fic is a work of art and George is so bloody caring. I mention this a lot but the relationship between George and the reader is so important to get right and JJ does it flawlessly. My heart hurts for this fic and that last line, LOVE IT. I live for how JJ writes George, I could read her work all day. GO READ HER STUFF, YOU WON’T REGRET IT.

Fred Weasley:

The Right Bird - @dreamer821 - I’m not only just involving this because it was used in my writing challenge but oh my days, it is so wonderful. The relationship between Fred and the reader is just *chefs kiss* perfect. JJ has such a way with words and I just love how she depicts Fred.

Lost, are we? - @prongsies - I think I’m going to make my way through your masterlist because I loved this so much. The teasing was so cute, and Fred helping her at the beginning? Ahhhhh brilliant.

Watermelon Sugar - @prongsies - COMPLETING THE FINEST SERVICE TO THE HP FANDOM AND WRITING FICS INSPIRED BY FINE LINE - I SALUTE YOU. This is so good, so so good. The references to the song are used so well and that little bit of fluff at the end? Amazing. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to put the song on repeat now...

Percy Weasley:

Nothing We Can’t Forgive - @firewhisky-kisses - This series really does showcase Steph’s talent. She’s an incredible writer and this fic deserves all the attention it can possibly get. It’s the first Percy fic I’ve ever read and I’m already planning a reread. Steph captures Percy’s character flawlessly whilst also depicting his healing in a manner that is so relatable. I’ve linked the masterlist because once you start reading, you won't want to stop.

Sight is Relative - @hufflefluff-writer - This fic has a blind reader which I think makes it all the more beautiful. Amelia’s characterisation of Percy really is wonder, she captures him brilliantly. The fic after they eat is quite literally breathtaking. The description of colours, the dialogue - it’s fantastic.

Hufflepuff!Reader Headcanons - @soft-nerdy-wolf - I loved this from the beginning where the reader was already helping Percy out of his comfort zone by disregarding curfew. Then the further, I read, I loved more and more because of how fluffy it is! And the confession? So so sweet! This needs more attention!

Bill Weasley:

Estrellita - @fanficflaneuse and @hufflefluff-writer - It is a fic inspired by the Sound of Music, what more could you possibly want? It’s so delicate and incredibly written by two extremely talented writers. The relationship between Bill and the reader = adorable. The whole series is so fantastic, I’ve linked part one and you’ll find the rest on Amelia’s masterlist, which you’ll need because you’ll be reading the entire thing in one sitting, I swear.

Charlie Weasley:

As Family the First Time - @kalimagik - you’ll have noticed that Maggie features a lot here but that’s because she is so damned talented that I adore most of her fics. The first Charlie Weasley fic I read and I fell in love. It’s just so fluffy and humorous with features from the whole Weasley family. Basically, by the end of it I was ready to raise dragons in Romania with a certain Weasley.

Meeting the Weasleys - @soft-nerdy-wolf - This made smile all sorts of stupid. From the beginning, I wanted to own Hepaestus (the perfect name for a dragon in my opinion - Zeus’ own forger, amazing.) And the fluff with Charlie straight after? I love, love, love it as well as the fun relationship they have. And the pranks with Fred and George? Ah! I just love.

Dragons blurb - @hufflefluff-writer - I know it’s only a blurb but oh my god, I loved it, I love it. Jealous!Charlie and a buttload of fluff - the best to boost your mood.

Cedric Diggory:

A Ghost Story - @wondernimbus - So beautifully haunting. Ysa has a way with words that make you feel as if you're physically there, living the fic alongside the characters. There aren't really any words to describe how talented Ysa is - all I can do is urge to read her masterlist and discover for yourself.

My Boys - @potterverseimagine - Cedric and dogs - I am in love. This fic is so sweet and pure and playful. Playful Cedric is so great omg and this fic is full to the brim with it. I just... ah I love this so much. AND HE’S ALIVE. I LOVE FICS WHERE HE’S ALIVE. Thank you for this!!

It’s a Date - @angelinathebook - Lena, this is so good. You need to write more Cedric! Ah, I hate those boys so much but I love Cedric!! This is so good! Cedric needs more love 100% - if you haven't read this already, you need to read it now!!

Sirius Black:

Lost Time - @obsessedwithrandomthings - Reader standing up for who she loves against Bellatrix? Yes, we love that. Slow burn romance with Sirius? I love that even more. Dee never fails to astound me when she writes Sirius, and I know she won’t fail to astound you too. Seriously (lol), go through Dee’s masterlist, read her works, you won't regret it. She’s the loveliest.

Our Godson - @nebulablakemurphy - Christina is so talented. The letters!!! Are so good!!! AND WHEN THEY FINALLY MEET? My heart! Christina, it's as if you broke it and then rebuilt it again all in the span of 2.8k words especially with that ending. I love this fic, and you will love this fic.

Curiosity - @siriusly-the-best-gryffindor - I don’t know what else to say that I haven't already said in my reblog but I love this fic. I am heavily pierced and heavily tattooed and I love seeing a reader as the same. I love all of this fic, it 100% needs more love!

The Jimmy Jab Games - @im-a-writer-right - A Sirius fic inspired by Brooklyn-99. I loved every single chapter, it made me so happy. And that final chapter, I was smiling like a fool throughout. Sirius is a dream through this, and that bet? I love! I’ve linked the masterlist because you won’t want to move as you read.

Secrets and fears - @firewhisky-kisses - Steph does it again with the masterpieces. Honestly, I squeal a little whenever I see her in my notifications with a new fic because everything she writes is stellar, and this is no exception. If you’re going to read anything tonight, let it be her masterlist. If you haven't read her latest Sirius piece as well, you are sorely missing out.

Remus Lupin:

Protect - @obsessedwithrandomthings - Oh man, this one hurt. There are so many feels to this fic, so many layers. The enemies to lovers? Amazing. That ending as well - so fucking good. Like everything Dee writes, so fucking good.

Sleeping Beauty - @poppin-potter - This is adorable. There’s no other words for it. The relationship between the reader and Remus is so cute, I was smiling all the way through it. Not to mention the relationship between the reader and the Marauders, so bloody good. And that ending? It was so peaceful, like I was reading and I was like yeah, I would’t mind a piece of that.

Pain of reality - @heloisedaphnebrightmore - I had to involve some Remus angst, and oh my word. You smashed my heart into pieces in the beginning and had put it back together by the end. Heloise is an incredible writer, so so talented. This is a Remus fic you cannot miss out on!

Bruise and Scars - @peachesandpinks - Soulmate AU and Marauders Era Remus. What more could you possibly want? It’s poetic. If you look to my Neville section, you’ll see why I love Ren’s writing so much but let me tell you, I am a SUCKER for Remus. Always have been, always will be. You will not regret reading this fic or any of Ren’s fics.

Nights like These - @teheharrypotter - another fic in A Very Harry Potter Summer and the description in this fic is so good! The way the summer night described has you feeling every moment of it. And the conversation between Remus and the reader is so beautiful, where they touch upon their grief. It’s a wonderfully written piece of work.

James Potter:

Numb Love - @heloisedaphnebrightmore - Unrequited love is like my guilty pleasure because I love the angst of it, and this fic. Oh this fic, it destroyed me and I loved every single minute of it. How this fic doesn't have more notes, I have no clue. It’s a masterpiece of emotions.

Reading between the lines - @approved-by-dentists - ohhh this fic is great, I love the flirtation between the reader and James in the beginning all the way to end. It was one of the first James fics I read (I’m late to the party, I’m well aware) and omg I love it. Just go read the fic!

Book-thief - @wondernimbus - I’m going to repeat my words from earlier, there are no words to describe Ysa’s talent. James Potter and a bookshop and I was sold. She captures his character so brilliantly. Just... go binge her work.

Summer revelations - @pregnant-piggy - I keep saying this about all the fics I put on here but I love this fic! I love it! First, I love James. Second, I need those muffins - seriously, where can I get these muffins? And their realisations and confessions! It’s such a pure fic, I’m absolutely in love with your portrayal of James.

Newt Scamander:

Cheeky Niffler - @eleven-times-lively - reader is an archaeologist - from that moment, I was sold. I loved reading this, I loved the idea and I love Niffler as it is! I always need more Newt in my life and this is perfect.

Online Love - @strawberriesonsummer - Modern AU! I really loved this idea, I love the idea of Newt with a phone and ringing the wrong number. It’s such a wonderful fic, I haven't read Newt in so long so this was such a lovely one to read! I can’t wait to read what other Newt fics are posted!

desire - @blisfvll - I am a huge fan of their works; their Draco fics are incredible and their Newt fics are just the same. This had me feeling all sorts of emotions, and I loved every second of it.

You stared Newt right in the eyes. - @fantasticnewtimagines - I didn't know what the title to this was so I just type out the first sentence, I hope you don't mind! This is a delicious piece of angst with a lovely, happy ending. I adore this piece so much because it conveys so much. I love it!!

MARVEL:

I want to take a moment to appeal to the followers of mine who also enjoy reading marvel. @shaynawrites23 has started to write some marvel fics and even entered my writing challenge and her fics definitely deserve some attention! She’s a wonderful writer and her fics are so cute! If you’re a fan of Bucky, you’ll love these fics!

Catty

Soulmate

Rosy Proposal

1K notes · View notes

jamaisjoons · 4 years

Text

intro her mini #9 ⤑ knj | m.

⟶ 𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦:〝 you enter namjoon’s life in the most unexpected of ways, but will you be able to stay, especially when he comes with three adorable but chaotic children, even more chaotic best friends and a bitch of an ex-wife? not to mention your own emotional baggage. 〞single dad au.

❥ 𝑝𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔: single dad!namjoon x marine vet!reader

❥ 𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑟𝑒: fluff

❥ 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡: 2.8k

⟶ 𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠: absolutely none !! tooth rotting fluff !!

➵ 𝑎/𝑛: hahahaaha this is my third consecutive mini,,,, on god i hope y’all are enjoying this content nrotinpi

⏤ thank you to @yeoldontknow and @luffles424 for beta reading // commissioned by @kpopularstolemylife in exchange for a blm donation

⇥ Main Series Masterlist

On an unassuming Sunday, with your body nestled under the cosy covers of Namjoon’s bed, you’re softly shaken awake. Feeling large hands jostle you gently, your lips elicit a soft whine as your curl further into the warmth of the duvet. Through your sleep-addled state, you hear a chorus of stifled giggles, the sound causing you to peek an eye open. Disgruntled from being woken up, you peer from over the cover, your squinted eye blearily taking in the sight as your lips twist in a frown. When you spot your boyfriend leaning over you, however, your umbrage over being woken up quickly dissipates. Instead, it morphs into curiosity.

Drowsiness ebbing from your head, your mind slowly clears as it begins working. As you wake up, Namjoon takes a seat on the edge of the mattress, still dressed in his pyjamas: shorts resting low on his hips while his sleeveless vest hangs off of his toned torso – the muscular definition of his arms on display. Bending over, he brushes his lips against your forehead in a sweet kiss, causing a soft sigh to fall from your lips. Then, pulling away, he smiles at you.

“The boys have a surprise for you, do you wanna wake up?” he murmurs, his voice low and calm, so as not to overload you with too much stimulus.

Eyebrows creasing slightly, “What time is it?” you ask, your voice hoarse with sleep.

“Mmm, a little past nine,” he hums in response. A low, strained noise croaks through your throat, and sluggishly, you lift yourself out of bed. Working the kinks out of your muscles, you stretch your body; a deeper, more guttural groan emanating from your throat as a result. The last of the lethargy dispelling from your being, your eyebrows knit together, your brain slowly comprehending Namjoon’s words.

Turning to your boyfriend, your lips quirk in thought, “Surprise?”

“Mhm. Do you know what today is?” he asks. A frown of thought mars your face for a second. Nonetheless, when nothing comes to mind, you simply shake your head. Namjoon laughs lightly, “I suppose you’ve forgotten. Never mind, why don’t you go brush? You’ll find out soon enough anyway,” he continues. Momentarily, your lips pull in a pout, and you send him your most pleading puppy-dog eyes. However, Namjoon only chuckles and gestures his head towards the bathroom.

Realising he’s not going to clue you in on whatever the boys have planned, you exhale deeply before scuttling out of bed. As soon as you’re out from under the covers, you moan pitifully; goosebumps prickling at your skin as the chilled air nips at your flesh. Swiftly, you pad over to the bathroom and as you begin your morning routine, you hear Namjoon’s bedroom door close – your boyfriend exiting out of the room.

By the time you’re done, Namjoon and the boys still aren’t back. Thus, you pad back towards the bed, and getting under the covers, you prop your back against the headboard, a pillow cushioning your lower back. Grabbing your phone from the bedside table, you idly scroll through social media. The moment you open Facebook, you’re bombarded by a plethora of Mother’s Day messages, the posts causing your brows to knit together. Was it really already Mother’s Day? You’d completely forgotten. Mentally, you make a note to call your mother – particularly since it’s been a while since you’ve spoken to her.

Glancing at the clock on your phone, and then the door, you briefly wonder if you have enough time to call her now. You know that if she picks up, and finds out you’re at Namjoon’s, she’s going to badger you to speak to him, and the boys – who she’s already dubbed her ‘grandsons’ – much to the boys’ (and Namjoon’s) pleasure; and of course, your chagrin. More than that, you also know she’s going to pester you about when she’s going to officially meet them, and as much as you love her, you don’t think you have the energy to explain that both you and Namjoon are busy, nor the fact that it’s not easy for you to take a casual trip to Busan to see her for the day. It’s still too early in the morning for that.

Just as you make the decision to call her when you have some time alone, you hear the bedroom door creak open. Angling your head up, the beginnings of a smile tug at your lips as you spot Namjoon walk into the room, followed closely by his sons. Although, the moment you spot the large tray in your boyfriend’s hands, and the way Jimin, Taehyung and Jungkook all have their hands twisted behind their backs, your smile falters; a look of interest painting your visage.

Identical expressions of nervous hesitance colour their features, and quietly, they shuffle into the room – their small bodies obscured by their father’s much larger frame: almost as if they’re hiding from you. Placing your phone down onto the bed, you encouragingly smile at them – even as curious confusion flitters through you. For a little while, neither of them moves; the boys shielded behind their father’s legs as Namjoon stands at the foot of his bed. That is, until Namjoon moves.

Your boyfriend walks over to you, and carefully placing the tray onto the covers over your lap, he leans down and presses a kiss to the crown of your head. You incline your head towards the plate, your eyebrow quirking at the spread of breakfast foods. A spread of three large waffles sits on your plate, each slathered in a generous topping, from cream cheese to syrup. Rested in the groove of each of the waffles are small chopped berries, and you can’t help the way your heart grips at the different shapes.

One boasts a smiley face, made of blueberry eyes and raspberry lips, another has slices of kiwi and blueberries in the shape of a butterfly, and the last is made up simply of strawberries in the shape of a heart. Each one, however, has to have been painstakingly designed, and a smile twists on your lips as you imagine the boys crafting the shapes. Meanwhile, as you take in your breakfast, Namjoon climbs into the bed beside you, and with no cover to hide them from your view, the boys all blush.

“Go on,” Namjoon encourages softly, his arm moving to rest on the headboard behind you as he smiles at his sons.

His voice draws your attention, and head lifting up, you turn it back to the boys. They glance at each other, almost as if they’re silently deciding something. Eyebrows creasing, you wonder just why they’re so nervous. It’s not like them, at least not around people they know - and you’ve been with them long enough for them to be comfortable around you. Their behaviour is undoubtedly odd, and only adds to your overall intrigue. It only lasts a short moment though, because the next, Taehyung moves.

“Happy Mother’s Day, Noona,” he says, a bright, boxy smile on his face. Following his lead, Jungkook and Jimin step up to the bed and similarly greet you, their earlier apprehension dissipating.

Muscles locking, your entire body stiffens at their sentiment. Static buzzes through your mind, Mother’s Day. They’re wishing you a happy Mother’s Day. Of course, you’d just realised what day it was a little while ago; but that didn’t mean you’d been expecting this. Through shocked eyes, you watch as they twist their hands from behind their back, only to place their gifts onto the bed. The air around them turns tense once again, the air so palpable you can practically feel their trepidation.

“We hope you like them,” Jimin whispers, his head downcast as he looks up at you with wide eyes. For a moment, you simply watch them, their eyes rife with hope as waves of hesitance seep off of them. Suddenly, their nervousness makes sense. They’re worried about your reaction to their gifts. After all, it’s the first time they’ve done something like this for you. In fact, now that you think about it, this is probably the first time they’ve ever done something like this. Mainly because they’ve never had to celebrate Mother’s Day before.

The weight of their actions suddenly dawns upon you. This is their first Mother’s Day - ever - and they’re choosing to spend it with you. You’re not their mother, not officially, and while you’ve mentioned your feelings about it in passing with Namjoon, you’ve never breached the subject with them. Part of you wonders if Namjoon had put them up to this, but you know your boyfriend, and you know that he’d never force something like this upon them. Thus, the only logical answer is that this was their choice. That they wanted to do this. Your eyes begin watering, tears misting your eyes at the realisation.

Directing your attention to their gifts, your misted gaze sweeps over them. There’s a small bouquet of flowers, and from the red, ruffled buds you know that they’re carnations. Large stalks of fern encapsulate the flowers: the lush emerald foliage contrasting with the deep velvet petals in a vibrant display of life. Next to the bouquet lies a large sheet of white paper; three handprints making the centrepiece, two next to each other and one below, between the two. From their sizes, you know them to be the boy’s handprints. Decorated around the prints are flowers drawn in crayon, and over the top of the card, written in multicoloured letters of varying sizes, are the words ‘Happy Mother’s Day’.

Your chest tightens, and you feel the tears welling in your eyes thicken. Taking in a deep breath, you blink your eyes in an attempt to rid them - not wanting to cry right now. Instead, with a small sniffle, you turn to the last gift. You pick up the small box, and lifting the lid, your breath hitches at your final present. There, resting in the pearlescent tissue-lined box, is a bracelet. The chain has been substituted for a silk, pale pink ribbon, and wooden beads make up the charms.

As you delicately pick up the trinket, “It’s got our names on it. Miss Oh helped us in art club,” Jungkook says, his voice cutting the silence that had befallen the room. Sure enough, the bracelet idly spinning in the air, you spot their names, one on each bead - written in inks of their favourite colours.

“Do you like it?” Jimin asks, and gently, you put the charm back in the box. Turning to the boys, you observe them - your face purposely pulled into an expression of passivity.

They await your answer with bated breath, their careful gaze on your face - an inkling of anxiousness swirling in their large eyes; almost as if they’re waiting for you to reject them. But you wouldn’t. You couldn’t. From their hand-cooked breakfast, to the small meaningful gifts, you don’t think you’ve ever had anyone been so thoughtful. Overcome by their kindness, you place the gifts onto the bedside table, before carefully moving the tray too. Then, patting the bed, you beckon them onto the bed.

Perking up at your action, they quickly clamber onto the bed. As they struggle to climb up, you can’t help but giggle, Namjoon laughing beside you. The two of you reach over and help them up - and the moment they’re safely on the mattress, you pull them in for a hug. Immediately gathering them into your arms, you embrace their little bodies whilst lavishing each of their heads with tender, affectionate kisses. “I love them,” you mumble, your voice breaking as you feel yourself choking up with emotion.

All three of them perk up at your words, and, “Really?” comes their excited chorus. Their earlier unease completely forgotten, they beam up at you brightly, and chest caving at the sight, you nod your head.

“Really,” you respond. Then, picking up the bracelet from the box, you hold it out to them, “Why don’t you put it on for me?” you ask. Eagerly, they shake their head, and you watch as Jimin takes it from you - the only one who can currently tie his own shoes - only to fasten it around your wrist in a haphazard knot. A look of concentration crosses his face, his tongue sticking out, as his brothers watch his chubby fingers work the silk ribbon. Once he’s done, Jimin looks up at you - a large smile on his face - as he waits for you to admire his handiwork.

You turn your attention to the bracelet, and shaking your wrist, you test the knot. It’s not particularly secure, the large bow still loose, and you know you’ll have to tighten it later on; but for now, it’ll do. Lips tugging into an easy smile, you bend your head and softly peck the tip of Jimin’s nose, causing it to crinkle; a sweet giggle slipping from his mouth. Holding up your adorned arm, “Noona is going to wear it forever. Thank you, I love it,” you say.

Your words cause their smiles to widen even further, a feat you’d thought was impossible. As a matter of fact, you’re sure that their cheeks must hurt from how tightly they’re pulled. Nevertheless, they don’t seem to mind, and neither do you - you wish they’d smile like that forever. However, all of a sudden, Jungkook’s stomach rumbles, causing the youngest to blush.

“Sorry…” comes his murmured apology.

Face softening, “Come on, why don’t we eat,” you reply. Enthusiastically, they nod, and watching their heads shake furiously, you let out a burst of tinkling laughter.

“You have to eat your breakfast, Noona!” Taehyung says as he leans over the bed - in an attempt to get the tray back.

Already spotting the accident waiting to happen, Namjoon’s strong arms shoot out, and he grabs his son. “Woah, hold on there, Tiger. You’ll drop it,” Namjoon gently chides as he tucks Taehyung into his side.

“I’m just trying to help,” Taehyung whines. Before Namjoon can respond, you cut in.

“It’s okay, Tae, Noona has it,” you say as you pick the tray up once again, only to place it onto the bed.

“Daddy helped us make them!” Jimin says, a proud smile on his face as he crawls into your side - Jungkook already taking up his space between yours and Namjoon’s body.

Quirking your eyebrow, you turn to your boyfriend, “Did you now?”

“I did indeed,” he replies, his head bending down to peck at your lips. Then, lowering his voice so his sons can’t hear, “Sorry, there’s so much. I told them you’d only need one, but they insisted on making one each for you,” he mumbles.

“Hmm… there’s definitely a lot,” you whisper back, your eyes twinkling with mirth. Then, raising your voice again, “I don’t think I’ll be able to finish this all, Noona’s going to need some help…” you begin, a teasing smile creeping at your lips. Letting out a deep, dramatic sigh, “Who, oh who could help me?” you lament out loud. Your boyfriend scoffs at your theatrics; nonetheless, the boys immediately perk up at your words.

“Me! Noona me!” they all call out, jumping on the bed - their movement jostling the tray. Swiftly, Namjoon reaches out, steadying the tray as you calm the boys down.

“Okay, okay. But be careful, we don’t want yours and daddy’s hard work going to waste, do we?” you ask. Faces contorting into mirrored expressions of sheepishness, they mumble out an apology. You smile gently, waving them off as you pull the tray back into your lap. Instead, picking up the fork and knife on the side, “Now, why don’t we eat?” you ask while cutting up a piece of one of the waffles.

Suddenly, “Can we watch Bambi?” Jungkook asks, his doe-like eyes looking up at both you and Namjoon pleading. You and Namjoon exchange a glance, and nodding at each other, you both agree.

Without a second’s hesitation, Namjoon crawls out of bed and leaves the room. When he gets back, he’s got his laptop in his hand - the film already pulled up. Slipping into his bed once more, he takes his place beside you, Taehyung curling into his father’s side again as Namjoon plays the film. For the rest of the morning, the five of you spend your day cuddling in bed as you feed the four of them - and as the time slowly passes, you can’t help but think that this was probably the best first Mother’s Day you could ever have.

a/n: fkrengprngpirni i hope y’all liked it,,, if you did lmk 🥺👉🏼👈🏼

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celestialgaea · 3 years

Note

1. I LOVE your writing! You're amazing! 2. If it's not too much trouble, could I request something for brotherhood Ezio - either fluff or smut (maybe a hybrid if such a thing exists?)

These requests really make my heart soft :,) It’s definitly not troublesome at all, darling! a smut/fluff is coming your way :)) enjoy reading!

btw, I always had the concept in mind of Ezio being a nude model for a painter/paintress so I used it as inspiration for this request, I hope you like it!

Pairings: Brotherhood!Ezio x Reader

warnings: smut, fluff, mature content

summary: Ezio convinces you of using his nude body as reference for your painting and that’s where things start to get heated.

A sound of raging growls left your throat as it was the sixth time you scratched away the slender torso that was sketched upon the parchment. It was slender, too slender for it to be still considered human. Ironic. The Greek gods were inhuman, but you were unable to project the divine muscles that roamed in your thoughts onto the piece of dried lamb skin. You missed Florence, dearly, and since the first week that you had left the vivid city to live in the unknown town of Monteriggioni you thought that the quiet farms, where trees of oranges grew, would help revive the inspiration to paint a Magnum Opus but it only dried the river of colour in your head. You couldn’t compare Florence to a third rate town as Monteriggioni. You could still recall the smell of paint and the dusty marmer that stained the Florentin air of the market, and the sight of novices carrying their painting supplies as they were on their way to class. You missed how you used to visit churches, not to pray, but rather to admire the fresco’s. Now it was all gone. No inspiration and the few churches that existed in this village were sober and only consisted of a giant crucifix and a statue of Madonna holding her child.

bang bang. Someone knocked on the door of your atelier. With a dissatisfied grunt you threw the charcoal pencil on the ground and shoved your seat back with a strong force, causing an abrasive sound to be heard from outside the small building.

‘Who is there?’ You asked sharply as you walked towards the wooden door. You tried to regain your patience and freshened your cheeks, which was red of annoyment, by pressing your abnormally cold palms against them.

‘It’s me, Ezio.’ His voice was unclear due to the door that seperated you, but it did not spoil the low rumble that was always present in his speech. You pressed your eyelids together rather harshly and groaned in regret. How shameful musn’t it be to shoot invisible daggers towards Ezio as just the thought of his intimidting gaze locked on your face after your scene of lost temper made you wish you hid instead of confronting him. You weren’t scared of him, you were scared of embaressment.

You opened the door to the sight of Ezio leaning against the doorframe, one eyebrow arched in question.

‘I came to check up on you, ragazza. It sounded as if you were fighting off pirates in there.’ You felt how your face heated up against your will and you tried to laugh it of with a breathless snicker. ‘The only thing I was fighting with were my sketches,’ You stepped aside, exposing a part of your artist studio. It was not big, as it was perfect to fit in a few tables and art easels with canvasses of variating sizes, but it was practical enough to be able to craft in peace. But it seems that the serene peace wasn’t present anymore these past weeks.

‘Where are my manners, come in.’ With a faint smile he swiftly entered and closed the door.

‘Lack of inspiration?’ He asked. You nodded. ‘Not only that, It is impossible to find any references to bodies as muscled as those of the Greek Gods. Monteriggioni isn’t filled with art as in Firenze, thus making it difficult for me to find those references.’ As you looked at him from the side, you saw how perfect his body posture was to be used as reference; It was flexible and broad, yet it was intimidating and yet not graceful enough to be that of a dancer.

Ezio hummed in understanding. He was slightly proud that he still had the ability to make you blush, even in his forties, when he caught your eyes wandering through his clothing. ‘Why don’t you use models like Leonardo does? You could ask him to lend some to you,’ You grinned. ‘Ezio, my dear. The only references to human bodies that Leonardo uses are either dug up from their grave or strangers with the most inhuman facial complexion. Leonardo is fascinated by the misshapen, not the divine.’

‘Well, if the ancient Greeks believed that women were the misshapen copies of men, then I confirm myself as being fascinated by the misshapen. My dear.’ He mocked. His lips curled into a sly smirk and he winked at you, but you merely scoffed playfully as you shook your head and walked towards the chaotic scene that played upon your desk; Scattered parchment with incomplete sketches, charcoal pencils and quills thrown all over the table and, at the moment, irrelevant attributes such as a skull and a terracotta bust of Bacchus -A marmer bust was way too expensive for the meager loan you had to live with-

‘Charmed.’ You said, not impressed. Maybe slightly impressed.

‘As I thought you would be,’

The open space of the studio behind you felt enclosed as the soft touch of Ezio’s breath caressed the nape of your neck. His eyes roamed over the table, observing every object -he even squatted down and stared into the dead eyes of Bacchus-, and trailed alongside the lines of your sketches with his middle and index finger pressed together, the two fingers levitating above the charcoal lines.

‘Why did you scratch them? It is beautiful. Well, I am not going to lie, it looks a bit...how should I word it?’ He mumbled. ‘Bad?’ ‘A bit out of proportion,’ He trailed alongside the torso with the same two fingers. ‘See,’ Ezio said. ‘The torso is a bit too long, and the muscles are too muscled.’

You scoffed, a small laugh plastered on your face. ‘Too muscly,’ You mumbled to yourself. ‘Ezio, I don’t know if you have noticed but I do not have any male models nor have I seen a man naked before. No, I mean, not that I am a virgin. But I just haven’t seen a naked man with the right size.’ Good Lord. Ezio grinned, not ashamed for the innapropriate phrase that kept resonating in his head, and locked eyes with you as he raised one eyebrow. You shivered. It was that one raised eyebrow that made his face so intimidating, so intense. ‘Not the right size, huh?’

‘You know what I mean, old man.’ He scoffed. His hand covered his breast and he pretended to be in pain. ‘You wound me with your words, bella.’

Oh Ezio. He was so entertaining. He was probably one of the very few reasons your stay in Monteriggioni will last for a very long time. Leaving him would make you feel empty. Ezio had a way of pulling women (and also men) towards him, chaining them with such a scorching desire that it would feel injust and even sinful to break the invisible attraction He brought those small moments of thrills and excitement with him whenever he just walked by making you want his attention to be focused on you and solely you.

‘I could send an apprentice of mine to model, but only if you’d like?’ ‘Are they quite muscled? I need a body that represents the gods and not 17 year old boys who are only interested in horses and girls.’ ‘No, judging by the statues I have seen in Florence they wouldn’t be a very great choice. And besides, I don’t think that they can stand still, naked, for a few hours while a beautiful lady has a clear view of their cazzo without, you know, the visuals showing their excitement.’

Your facial expressions showed slight disgust as you were imagining their erect member and face, reddened with shame, while they were posing as one of the Greek deities. Well, to be fair, you couldn’t expect less. They were boys with raging hormones, and you were a young adolescent that was not able to conceil her raging hormones from experienced and charming men. Or shortly said; Ezio.

Speak of the devil.

Ezio noticed the disgust on your face and emitted a low and rumbling snicker as he patted your back, the impact of his force causing your shoulder to be shoved forwards. ‘Keep your sneaky little mind away from my apprentices private parts will you?’

‘Ezio!’ You hit his arm, your mouth open and pretending to be shocked by his remark, but you couldn’t help but curl your mouth into a smile. ‘Back to our previous topic,’ You said, recovering from what just had happened. ‘I really need to find a male model for my project, Ezio.’ Ezio happened to show empathy with you as he began taking off his boots.

‘Ezio, what in heaven are you doing? Put those back on! Ezio what are you thinking?’ Nailed to the floor you looked at ezio who was only wearing his trousers and chemise, its string loosened and showing the flesh upon his chest, and had his hands on the sides of the edge of his pants, ready to take them of and show the world what momma gave him. ‘I am sacrificing my pride for the sake of your painting.’

Your eyes widened. ‘Would you do that for me? Really?’ ‘Bella, what does it look like I am doing?’ He grinned, taking off the rest of his clothing as you had turned around to reorganize your table and prepared the small podium on which Ezio had to model.

‘And besides, what did you mean with Sacrificing your pride?’ You heard Ezio sigh while you sharpened your charcoal pencils. ‘All these men on Classical paintings have a...well, you know, a small penis, so you will have to reduce mine...a lot.’ You laughed, placing the pencils on the table. ‘Oh, Ezio, I don’t really think it will be necessary.’ You said teasingly. You sat down behind the desk when you heard his voice floating around your ears as he walked towards the small podium, every inch of his skin exposed for you and only you. ‘Prego?’

It was difficult to keep your gaze off his private part. It was just...hanging there, minding its bussiness. It was as if your insulting remark about his member just spat back at you with double as much spit. You managed to clear your throat in a subtle way without choking on your saliva. ‘You’ll have to lay down.’ You said. You stood up to grasp a few layers of cloth to cover the small stage to save Ezio’s behind a bit from the harsh ground. It felt weird to be so near him; He was naked and you were clothed.

You quickly smoothened the cloth onto the stage, fixating your disorientated eyes on it, and walked, almost ran, with rapid speed back to your desk.

It still felt like a fever dream. You were able to get the most skilled murderer fully naked in front of you, without asking once. As it felt surreal, it simutaniously felt forbidden too. He was way older, a teacher of a kind, how many women wouldn’t have killed for this chance. For seeing Ezio naked, almost vulnurable without his armour. Vulnurable for attack as told by the white lining of the remaining scars on his body.

‘Lay down and lean on your elbows,’ And so he did. ‘Put one knee up. No the other knee, Ezio. Not so high, go a bit lower. Not that low. Yes, stay like that!’ Ezio grinned softly. ‘You are very demanding, aren’t you bella?’ ‘You iniated on being my model, Ezio, so do as I say.’ Ezio raised an eyebrow as he tilted his head, sucking air through his teeth, sounding similar to scorching metal in cold water. ‘My apologies, maestro.’

His body was beautiful. Not too brawny and not fat. Broad muscles showing through his skin and simultaneously a layer of soft fat hugged around his torso, but it didn’t hang nor did it seem loose, It was tight and gave Ezio’s body comfortable for burning cuddles.

You gave a last look at Ezio’s position, observing it, but something felt wrong. It felt plain, flat. It didn’t have your desired dimentions.

‘Ezio,’ He turned his head towards you. ‘Could you touch the ground with your left hand and move your torso towards your lifted knee. Let your right arm rest upon that raised knee, yes, just like that.’ It was better. More rounded than flat. And the most beautiful of all was how above his pubic hair, which was trimmed, small layers of skin bundled upon each other, giving more dimention to his body.

You picked up the stylus - a metal pen- with satisfaction and began carving lines onto the parchment. Those lines slowly became basic shapes until more shade and more complexity was added to them. Ezio’s eyes kept sailing from around the room to your concentrated face. It must be intimidating for him whenever it took only fractions of seconds before you raised your eyes to look at him every single time. And every time he wondered how many seconds it would last this time before you watched him again.

‘Do you do this a lot? Using nude models?’ Ezio asked. You stood halt in your drawing to look up at him. ‘Well, No. Back in Firenze I was too ashamed to ask for one. If the word would spread about a women making a carreer out of brush strokes instead of a man stroking her to let her bear him a son, they’d burn my paintings. And they may burn my paintings, but i’ll still use the ashes to draw a big cazzo on the front door of their homes.’ You said, slightly flinching at the thought of your face being tortured by the sweltering flames that are devouring your art works. Ezio laughed. His wide-opened mouth created deep curving lines next to it, sparkling eyes squinting at you.

How did he do it? How was he capable of making you desire him with just a smile. A smile of confidence. A smile of which hundreds of women fell for. Let alone how his body would call for company as melancholy and charm hung like a perfume around him.

‘Eccezionale,’ He grinned in a breath. ‘And in Monteriggioni?’ ‘The average male in this village is almost expired. They’re at least fifthy.’

‘You don’t older men?’ He asked teasingly. Yes you did, especially him. ‘There is a difference between older and old. Old men are almost expired. Older men, on the other hand, are more matured and experienced.’

With a last look at the sketch you laid down the stylus and motioned for Ezio to move again. You quickly added some shadows around the sillhouette around the body as you felt Ezio stand behind you.

‘And what is “older” to you?’ ‘You ask a lot of Questions, Ezio. Aren’t you Il mentore?’ His broad shoulders casted a shadow on your cheek that was turned to his side. ‘I’m curious. Isn’t a man allowed to ask questions? Especially if he’s as expired as me?’ You scoffed.

‘Ezio, you are not expired. You aren’t old.’

‘I’ll be turning fifthy in five years.’

‘That’s still ages away from now.’

‘Time flies, bella.’

‘Well, mentore, I don’t perceive you as old. In fact, you are mature and very sharp.’ You stole a quick glance of his private part before letting your gaze wander towards the floor. How was he able to keep himself so tame when the tension was creating a heated knot in your lower stomach? The knot kept contracting with every breath from Ezio’s soft lips that brushed against your neck and the radiating heat from his naked body caused by the Florentine sun that tortured his skin underneath the layers of his heavy assassin robes.

You turned around, trapped in between the wooden desk and Ezio’s nudeness, and placed a hand on his bicep. ‘How aren’t you burned yet underneath all those layers of clothing.’ Your eyes locked with his. ‘I have very thick skin,’ He palmed your hand in his and lead it down his muscular arm, rubbing against its hot skin, let it follow the curves of his muscles back up to his chest. You didn’t even need to glance down to see that his good old friend has “awakened”.

Ezio’s hand caressed your collarbone and slid down, only to stop at the cleavage of your gown. With his index finger he easily pulled the piece of fabric away from your chest, exposing your breasts that were visible through the thin night gown.

He hummed in satisfaction.

Ezio disposed you of your clothes in a slow and agonizing manner until your naked body was hugged by the warm air that filled the art studio. His eyes, filled with passionate lust, wandered over your whole body, absorbing every inch of naked skin. Ezio pressed his body close to you and you felt how his manhood, swollen with blood, was pressed against your stomach. Ezio kissed your lips. His lips covering your upper lip as you softly nibbled on his bottom lip. His tongue wetted the entrance of your mouth before the warmth of his saliva got mixed with yours. Ezio’s hands roamed your whole body, he wanted to take all of you, touch all of you, feel every piece of your hot skin lingering against his. His hands trailed back to your upper thighs and rubbed them as his fingers curled to grip the soft flesh of it. His warm hands felt rough and experienced against your inner thighs, it felt like everything that desire is.

Ezio pulled your legs around his waist and carried you the the small improvised podium of layered blankets as his one hand held the fold at the backside of your knee and the other was pressed against your lower back.

You couldn’t describe how overwhelmed you where with all these sensory feelings. Your contracting stomach, heating core and tickling neck, caused by Ezio’s lips and teasing nips, made you close your eyes and press your legs tighter around his torso. You pressed yourself against Ezio while you yearned for his body engulfing yours in this passionate warmth as Ezio’s hot breaths left humid spots on your neck.

His lips kissed your collarbone and so he went down with smouldering and slow kisses down to the curve in between the mounds of your breasts. His hand cupped your breast and massaged your nipple with his thumb as his mouth place kisses on the side of your other breast before tracing to your nipple and holding it between his lips.

your breathing became irregular, some were sharp and some were pitched. Your hands took a grip on Ezio’s broad back and you couldn’t help but groan in a breath. His body slid down on yours until he stopped above your pubic bone, a trail of saliva covered your torso. Ezio placed your legs on his shoulders, holding onto your thighs, and he breathed so softly against your humid entrance.

It felt tingly and increased your need for him to touch you. Ezio’s fingers caressed your labia as his hot and humid tongue slid up your crease. Your breath hitched. His lips covered your clit, his beard tickling your inner thighs, kissing it before taking it between his lips and sucking on it. You groaned. Your clit was pusling and you felt how your entrance was filled with so much ecstasy. Ezio kept licking, nibbling and just making you feel on cloud nine until you felt how tension was layering and building up in your core and you felt how it was almost going to explode in bright colours of the sweet relieve. But Ezio stopped before you could taste that pure sweetness and how much you disliked it, the builded up tension slowly died down.

‘Why did you stop?’ You asked defeatedly. Ezio smirked. ‘I want us to finish together,’ You were surprised. ‘Because I can’t wait any longer to be inside of you.’ Ezio slid back up so his lips could reach your mouth again. You enveloped your leg around his waist and Ezio gripped the fold of your knee, slowly pressing your thigh against your chest.

He groaned as the tip of his manhood entered slowly. He stopped after a few inches of his manhood had entered so you’d adapt to his lenght and width and began pumping slowly before he’d let his whole penis enter inside of you inch by inch. He filled you so good.

Ezio began pumping in and out between your slick walls and went rougher. The sweetness and lust of the moment made both of your groan in synch. But the more he motioned inside of you, the more your groans became heartfelt moans. You grabbed ezio’s back as you bit on his shoulder. With every push and every thrust of his body against yours the sinful sounds of hitting skin was like background music for the hymn of your moans. Ezio grabbed your thigh and pushed himself deeper, which you doubt was still possible, and the poor man was lost in deep groans. He kept you close to him as he filled you until the building up layers made you speed up, shortening the silence between every clap of skin. ‘Ezio,’ You whispered in lost sweetness. The more tension that build up, the more the yearning for that sweet relieve became. ‘(Y/N),’ He groaned in your ear, huskily.

Only a few strokes and you were there, both of you. Oh, sweet Lord, how you were losing your mind in a blurr of white light. Just those few last strokes and you’d explode. You were almost there...almost...and ‘Ezio!’ The ball of squeezed tension exploded into a firework of sweetness and fire. Ezio came inside of you with squeezed eyes and a groan before he let himself relax onto you. Your chests were elevating in an irregular rythm.

‘Mio Dio,’ You whispered in amazement. Ezio slid out of you and took the excess length of the cloth to cover both of you.

‘So when are you free to come back? To finish the painting?’

‘Very soon, Bella, very soon.’

#ezio auditore da firenze #ezio auditore #ezio auditore fanfiction #assassins creed fanfiction #assassins creed brotherhood #ezio x reader #older ezio x reader #smut fanfiction #ezio auditore smut

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cyborg-franky · 3 years

Text

Fitting

@donivanessdoodles and me did a trade and they did an awesome piece of art for me! I also enjoyed writing for their OC she's so fun. I really hope you like this!

Buggy x OC

SFW

Word Count: 2,641

There was no need for a morning alarm because the screeching from the across the deck was enough to wake her, she sighed, rubbing her eyes and noticing the bed was already empty, a warm smile made it’s way to her face, she knew Buggy left her sleep in despite how much work there was to be done, always gave her certain privileges, of course she never took them, other than the extra hour in bed that is.

She groaned sitting up, the pain in her shoulder was going to cause her issues today, she knew it already, the air outside was thick with Autumn temperatures, the childhood injury tended to act up more in colder weather, the ache thrumming through her system she managed to pull herself out of bed.

The sound of her captain, her partner, yelling across the deck wasn’t the best sound to wake up to and she was sure the crew were praying for her to come along and calm him down. Getting dressed she noticed a hole in one of the knee’s and furrowed her brows, it took every fibre of her being not to sit back down, pull out the mini sewing kit she kept in the bedside draws to patch it up.

Long pink hair swished behind her as she brushed out some of the knots and kinks from moving around in her sleep. There was a loud bang on the deck, she sighed, that was definitely her sign to join the crew for a day of fun.

Stepping outside she brought her hand to her eyebrows, shading her face from the sun and squinting into the distance to see what was going on. Buggy was stood there gesturing wildly to the cannon and tugging at the hair that fell either side of his hat when no one could answer his squawking.

“Oh no, did someone mention Shanks?” Canary asked looking between Alvida and Galdino. Alvida slapped her hand against her face, peering at the display between her fingers, shaking her head slowly, it was obvious the woman wasn’t in the mood to catch the other up.

“No, not this time” Galdino sighed and folded his arms over his chest “Someone used the wrong cannon ball during target practise and now he’s going ballistic because the good balls are so expensive”

Canary nodded, that explained the bang, he was firing off random shots into the ocean to demonstrate they didn’t grow on tree’s in doing so diminishing the stock and costing more money in the meantime. He was strange she thought, despite that she couldn’t help herself smile in amusement.

He was ill tempered, ridiculous, loud and often just a general chaotic mess of a human but gods did she love that mess. She walked over to where Buggy was stood, stamping his foot on the deck and spitting curses st the ex-Impel Down prisoners leaned back with their hands up in defence, scared of the man half their size who was dressed int bright colours.

“Buggy” She called, a sing song in her voice, fluttering long eyelashes at her captain.

His eyes widened and he paused mid shriek, his angry expression slipped off his face, replaced by a goofy grin, his cheeks started to turn pink but he noticed the eyes of his men on him, he puffed his chest out, offering her his arm, which she gladly took.

“Sorry you had to see the great Captain Buggy disciplining these ingrates” He huffed, still trying to remain intimating to his crew, but it was hard when he didn’t feel particularly tall compared to his girlfriend, her large pink hair making her look taller. He tiptoed to give himself a little more height, she laughed inwardly, she was reminded of a peacock in moments like these.

“I’m sure they learned their lesson captain, Cabaji can take it from here, I have something to show you” Canary’s tone was sweet, knowing just what to say and how to say it to calm the irrational man down.

Turning his rage into a simmer as he mumbled under his breath about how lucky the crew was to have him off their backs now. They gave the long-haired woman a look, a thankful expression that she waved off as she led Buggy back towards her own workshop.

“So, what was so important that you had to drag me from scolding those idiots” He mumbled as he took off his hat once in the room she proudly called her workshop. He threw it on one of the many tables before flopping on the large armchair, chin resting on his hand, waiting for her explanation.

Canary put her hands on her hips, eyeing him up, seeing he was still in a mood, he didn’t get over things quickly, she knew what his temper was like, and she also knew the things that changed it to a pleasant one.

“Guess who’s finished with your new outfit!” She chuckled when she saw Buggy’s expression change, his mood lifted instantly. He was a strange man she thought to herself as he sat up, watching her as she picked up a stack of bright clothes and accessories, they all seemed to be a mix of golds and a brilliant sapphire colour.

He didn’t have anything like that, not until now and he was excited he couldn’t wait to have a flashy new outfit, strut around the deck and show off to everyone else, show off how great he looked, he would be the envy of the crew and everyone who saw the great captain Buggy. He felt like a giddy child as he watched her walk across the room.

Piling all the items into her arms, taking the well-matched gold trinkets and accessories that she’d collected up during their travels, always thinking of those extra details, she was proud of this one, excited to see how he would react, once she was sure the pile was neatly balanced, she turned around, smiling as she headed to her captain.

She let out a pained sound, her arm twinging, stinging, she caught the stack in her arms before they all hit the floor, a rouge bracelet hit the ground, she bit her lip, Buggy’s eye twitched, the temper he always had bubbling under the surface could be unpredictable.

But he loved her, he knew what she had been through, wordlessly he detached one of his hands, it collected the bangle that had fallen, placing it on top of the stack one more, she didn’t miss how he tried to be subtle about his gloved hand brushing her shoulder, a small, simple gestures that out weight all the gold in the treasury to her.

The smile returned to her face as she walked over, setting the pile down on the table next to him, she lifted each piece, holding it with a flourish for his eyes. Buggy grinned, sitting on the edge of his seat, watching as she explained each piece, what she had done and why.

The clown would never admit to anyone, not a damn fucking soul how much he loved to hear her voice, how he basked in the joy of her smile, seeing her beautiful face light up as she talked him through her process. He didn’t understand the technical seamstress terms.

That didn’t matter, not when he understood that glowing smile. Buggy tried to push away his thoughts; he didn’t want to be soft after all. He simply nodded as she brushed the fur of the elegantly crafted blue coat.

All he could do was think back, the day he’d met his beautiful bird, it seemed like forever ago.

“What the hellll are you wearing?” Buggy snapped at Mohji when he walked back on the ship with such a swagger that Buggy wanted to through the smug prick over the fucking side of the ship. In his arms he clutched the fabric he’d been sent for, at least he did something right.

His duty was however not to come back, looking better then him, having nicer clothes, he seethed when other members of the crew rushed over, touching parts of the outfit and chattering about how great everything looked.

Buggy grit his teeth and stomped over to the white-haired man, grabbing him by the collar of his new top and shaking him. “Where did you get that outfit” He demanded, screeching in Mohji’s face, he started to shake him, the answers not falling from his mouth fast enough.

“I didn’t buy it if that’s what you care about!” He managed to get between being shaken by his captain. Buggy dropped him when he heard that.

“Free?”

“Free”

He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the man, was he telling the truth? Knowing where his captains train of thought was going, he decided it was best to make this a less painful experience then it already had been. Mohji pulled out a town map from his pants pocket and tapped on the parchment paper a few times.

“A woman lives here, I just wanted to buy fabric for the sails, and she told me she didn’t want money she wanted to make this for me” He recoiled when Buggy’s attention suddenly snapped from the map, his face inches from Mohji’s his nose pressing against the others, an out of place honk could be heard.

“Free you say?” Buggy mumbled and stood back, rubbing his chin in thought, looking at where his crew mate had pointed on the map, he should pay this store a visit he mused.

Without telling his crew anything, he snatched the map from Mohji’s hands and headed towards the store, it was pretty, it fit in with the cute little island vibe, he shrugged his shoulders and kicked open the door, it swung, banging the wall and rattling some jars of buttons. Canary looked up and stared right at Buggy, she was hoping she’d see him, knowing his crew was on the island, she was itching to get to meet him.

Pink that matched her hair dusted her cheeks as the man she’d admired the wanted poster of came marching up to her table, he slammed his hands on the counter, maybe a little too hard because he made a muffled squeak, a tear pricking the corner of his eye but he tried to style it out, this woman was, wow, he was going to slap that bastard when he returned to the ship. He’d not mentioned how stunning this person was.

He was expecting some old hag he could just bully into something for free, he hadn’t expected this woman, he hated how he felt his cheeks heat up, any chance of intimidation had flown right out the window when his voice came out as a squawk.

“You should make me an outfit!” He coughed, he wasn’t making eye contact, he was glancing around the store, he focused on patterns, linins, silks, the selection of ribbons she had along the wall. Anything but her face. Anything but those beautiful eyes and long lashes that blinked at him confused.

“Ah you saw what I did for Mohji!” She clapped her hands together, standing up and grabbing a measuring tape, Buggy stared as she came around to his side, he felt himself trying to tip toe, she was only a little shorter than him and his pride wouldn’t allow that.

“Just like that?” Buggy wasn’t sure if she was up to something, did she like giving everything away? She unrolled the tape and snapped it tight, the sound making him flinch, her bright beaming smile put him at ease after the erupt sound.

“No” Canary said simply and started to take the pirate captains measurements despite his protests. He was made to stretch his arm out, then his legs, she wrapped her arms around his waist to take that measurements and oh, was it, was it hot in here? He tugged the collar of his shirt, stumbling over his words.

“No?”

“I’ll make you the best outfit you’ve ever seen, it’ll be flashier than anyone ones, warlords, yonko, all of them will be jealous of what I put you in” She saw how he stared at her, he licked his lip, the temptation of what she was peddling was now appealing to his vanity.

“What do you want in return?” He asked, deadpanned now, trying to play it cool, he could put on a poker face when it came to business, regardless of how beautiful she was, he was good at deals, he was good at being a pirate.

“I want to join your crew!”

“What?” He felt his voice turn into a high-pitched noise as he stared at her dumbfounded, she chuckled and took his hat from his head, letting his long blue hair pop free, messy pony tails framing his face, taking her same measuring tape and placing it around his head with care.

“I’ve always admired you; I remember hearing about your story as I grew up, how you were on the pirate kings ship? How you got closer to his treasure then anyone, how you can stand toe to toe with Red haired Shanks, all of it… I didn’t think the life of being pirate was for me but…” She paused; she could tell the ‘S’ word was a sour note.

“Looking at your wanted poster I’d think ‘wow, I wish, I wish I could be as flashy, as brave as him’” The tone in her voice, so soft, so honest, the genuine feelings behind her words, he could tell she wasn’t playing with him, she wasn’t messing around.

He did his best not to turn as red as his nose, turning around when she was briefly finished with what she was doing, he coughed into his hand, she was for real wasn’t she? His heart hammered; he felt his knees weaken.

“A new outfit and you’ll join my crew?”

“Yes”

---

To have someone pack up their entire life to follow someone like him? He couldn’t believe it, he wouldn’t accept it. He’d laugh and joke it off, make a fool out of himself when those pretty eyes were focused on him.

She was also his voice of reason, kept him on a more stable path and out of everyone, he listened to her, he paid attention to her words, she was like the angel on his shoulder, always prompting him to make the right choice, the good decision.

Sometimes she indulged his silliness. But above all else, she was there by his side, even when his less then rational mind won out, when he’d fucked up, made a mistake. She’d gently place her hand on his, smiling softly.

His true treasure.

He blinked when Canary waved her hand in front of his face “What?” Buggy grumbled, feeling embarrassed that his mind had gone on a journey.

“I was talking about how this outfit will be the best I’ve ever made for you! Sort of … an anniversary outfit of sorts” She said, brushing back stray pink hair as she gestured for him to stand, nimble delicate fingers worked off his current coat, setting it aside.

“Anniversary?” Buggy asked, raising an eyebrow as Canary worked on the large fluffy blue coat, adjusting the collar, next was the hat, she perched it on his head with a smile. “You’ll have the model the entire thing for me later but right now, this will do.. you look so handsome captain”

“This was the day you joined the crew, wasn’t it?” Sometimes people forgot that the captain had a softer tone to his voice, how it was always saved for her, she nodded as she tugged him closer to her face “Happy anniversary captain” Kissing his nose she stood back, seeing him red and stumbling over his words.

“Ye..yeah happy anniversary”

#buggy x oc #gift #trade #frieeeeends #one piece oc #tashigi

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annie-blackhill · 3 years

Note

Hi there! Could I request a fluffy one-shot Dazai x reader where they're friends to lovers, like they're two chaotic dumbs togheter and then they realizes that they are enamoured with each other? ahdjd thank you so much <3

#1 Request

Of course, hun! I'd love to do this since this is my first ever request!!! Thank you for the request!!! And I was expecting a Dazai x reader one-shot for my first request because I simp him too much that it's unhealthy by now!!!

(N/N) = Nickname (example: Ai from Airiko)

(Y/N) = Your Name

(L/N) = Last Name (example: Sakata)

(H/L) = Hair Length (example: waist length, shoulder length, knee length, below ears length)

(H/C) = Hair Colour

(E/C) = Eye Colour

✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️

"DAZAIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!! (Y/N)!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW DARE YOU TWO POST MY IDEAL IN WOMAN ON THE INTERNET!!!!!!!!!!??????????" that was what Tanizaki, Naomi and Atsushi heard as soon as they entered the Armed Detective Agency's office.

"Oh, that's the reason of the new rumours then? Well, I wouldn't expect less of Dazai-san and (L/N)-san. They're always causing trouble," Naomi stated before heading over to her seat.

Tanizaki and Atsushi were sweatdropping as they went and seated themselves, both staring at (Y/N) and Dazai getting reprimanded by Kunikida.

The stamina they have to endure a lecture that long is admirable Atsushi thought as he stared at the duo getting scolded.

And that was how the usual mornings started in the Armed Detective Agency.

The morning soon passed into he afternoon and everyone was out and about, busy with missions and tasks that needed to be finished.

Dazai and (Y/N) were the only two left at the agency, bored out of their minds.

"You two aren't going anywhere! You're going to stay here and finish all of your lousy paperwork!!!" Kunikida had shouted at both (Y/N) and Dazai before heading out on a short mission with Atsushi, punishing them to the depths of boring paperwork.

Dazai sighed as he started devising an escape plan to get out of he office and out to the real world.

"(N/N)-chan, how about we get out of the office and go to our favourite spot?" Dazai suggested with a smirk.

And that was how the two of them were laying on the fresh grass of the sakura park that they constantly frequented.

They were laying side by side each other and staring at the clear blue sky, both trying to think of what shapes the clouds were changing into.

These were one of the rare times that (Y/N) and Dazai weren't chaotic dummies that destroyed the sanity of people and property alike.

There was only a comfortable silence between them, that was what they adored so much whenever they visited the sakura park.

The silence was always a sweet comfortable silence that was full of understanding.

(Y/N) and Dazai have been friends for a long time. (Y/N) joined the Port Mafia while Dazai was still 16 and she had known him ever since.

She had gotten promoted into an executive within two weeks because of her amazing assassination skills which her powers really helped a lot with.

(Y/N) was able to control air and water which meant that she could drown a person lungs using the water inside of their bodies or choke them by removing all the oxygen around them.

Dazai admired her ability to kill so easily back then. But then he met Oda, and he was starting to realize that maybe killing wasn't everything.

(Y/N) had bumped into Oda one day too and they both immediately became friends because she didn't really enjoy the murders that she was commiting on a daily basis as her job.

That was when their friendship truly began. They were all best friends, Dazai, (Y/N) and Oda then they let Ango join them and everything fell into ruins.

The sacred little quartet was no more. And now only two people of that group were left frequenting Bar Lupin.

Everything had fallen out of place. Oda told (Y/N) and Dazai to leave the Port Mafia and join the people who saved others rather than kill, and they did.

They were mere ruins of the people they used to be back then but now they were people who were healing from wounds and soon, those wounds will turn to scars and those scars might fade but they will never be forgotten.

So, they revelled in moments like these where the silence was as omnipresent as the comfort that they emitted for each other 24/7 but much more clearer now.

Light and soft snores were emitted by Dazai as he laid there beside her, apparently he had fallen asleep facing her but (Y/N) didn't feel anything odd about that as she felt that it was merely normal for him to sleep on his side, little did she know that he had been admiring her rather than the sky.

She turned to face him and brushed away his bangs before pressing a soft lingering kiss to his forehead, a smile graced her lips as she did so.

"I love you," she murmured softly enough for the sleeping man and the wind to hear.

But there was no reply from the man who felt the same for her as he was asleep, for if he did hear her, then he would've kisses her too.

So, the (H/L) (H/C) woman stared at Dazai's relaxed and soft sleeping face as she too, fell into a deep slumber about a fantasy world where their love was forever and that they were only each other's.

____________________________________

When Dazai woke up, he expected to see the clear blue sky or maybe falling sakura petals but instead he was greeted by the sight of (Y/N)'s gorgeous sleeping face.

Her expression wa relaxed and she had a small smile on her lips. She looked utterly beautiful, just as he had expected her to look like when she was asleep.

Dazai stared at her and with a content smile on his lips, he pushed away her bangs and placed a soft lingering kiss on her forehead.

"I love you," he whispered beside her ear, his hot breath fanning against her ear, awakening her.

She had heard his words and processed them before her lips blurted out the same words to him too.

"I love you too," she said, her (E/C) eyes shining beautifully with hope and happiness that he loved her too, maybe more than she loved him and that assumption was true.

Because as soon as she let those words slip from her lips, Dazai's lips had already caught her's in a passionate kiss filled with love and joy.

They might be the empty shells of people who others might think deserve nothing in the entire world but to each other, they knew that they were both rare diamonds that could only be blessed upon a person and not found.

And they were blessed upon each other by the whatever Gods that were in the Heavens.

And that was how they ruined their friendship that they've held on for six years.

Seeing each other broken, bruised, battered, happy, ecstatic, heartbroken and lost, they were practically made for each other.

It seemed that the Gods that had made them go through Hell were finally seeing their worth that only they saw in each other too.

#dazai osamu x reader #dazai oneshot #dazai osamu #armed detective agency #kunikida doppo #nakajima atsushi #oda sakunosuke #sakaguchi ango #domestic fluff #bsd dazai #bungou stray dogs #dazai x y/n #dazai x you #dazaibsd #dazai x reader

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milo-my-beloved · 3 years

Text

chapter three of stupid things!

Read on AO3 // Playlist // buy me a coffee?

In the end, Kaz stays the entire weekend. It’s nice, Inej thinks, to have the house to just them, even if he disappears for an hour or so to get some necessities from his house. They don’t do much - it turns out Kaz hasn’t watched many movies, so Inej convinces him to stay on the couch with her and watch their way through almost every DVD she has.

Something tells her that Kaz is less interested in the films than in her, but she doesn’t mind. She enjoys the company; it’s nice to just sit on the sofa, her head on his chest. It feels like the entire world is calm,even if it’s only for a few days.

On Sunday, Nina returns to find them snuggled up on the sofa, and she nearly has a heart attack. “Inej Ghafa!” she exclaims, dumping her handbag unceremoniously on the ground. “You said you would text me.”

“Sorry,” Inej says, but she doesn’t feel particularly apologetic.

When Kaz eventually leaves, Inej feels like a small part of her is missing. It’s hardly enough to notice, but it is just enough to feel like a constant itch she can’t quite scratch.

Her phone pings, and when she realises who it is, she looks down and smiles.

Wylan

I’ve decided what we’re doing on Friday. Towels, swimsuits and sunscreen advised!

Inej can’t wait.

{o0o}

When Friday finally rolls around, it feels like a century since Inej last saw her friends and Kaz. He picks them all up in his shady minivan again, but when she asks where they are going, he just shrugs.

“Wylan insisted on giving me the postcode and nothing else,” he answers, “But I’m reasonably sure we’re going to a beach.”

When they get to the library - their new designated meeting point, apparently - Kaz’s theory is confirmed. There stands Jesper and Wylan, both holding their own backpack, and both dressed in shorts and brightly coloured Hawaiian shirts.

“I thought you wouldn’t dress properly!” Jesper exclaims as he clambers into the backseat, helping Wylan up. “You can’t go to the beach in a suit, Kaz.”

Kaz raises an eyebrow. “That is exactly what I intend on doing.”

“I know,” Jesper answers, an evil smirk on his face. “And that’s why I bought a spare set of clothes.”

So, when they actually make it to the beach, Wylan hauling a picnic he has made out of the boot, they are all wearing matching outfits. Inej had originally decided on a vest top and shorts, so she just shrugs the purple shirt with pineapples that Jesper has handed her over the top of her outfit, sliding her sunglasses down her nose.

Jesper is shirtless, his red shirt unbuttoned. Wylan can’t seem to take his eyes off of him, his own green shirt buttoned up all the way to the top. They wander off down the beach while Inej waits for Kaz to get changed, leaning on the side of the warm van.

When Kaz finally appears, Inej wants to laugh, but she has to admit that he does look good. He’s wearing his pair of black swimming trunks and a black Hawaiian shirt decorated in knives and skulls rather than pineapples and leaves. Inej has to admit that Jesper knows his style, even if this is something that he would never usually wear.

Once she is done admiring his new outfit, Inej realises that he actually looks quite nervous. His eyebrows are pinched, and he keeps fiddling with his shirt buttons.

“Hi,” Inej says, only slightly breathlessly.

He looks up, frowning. “I look ridiculous.”

“No,” Inej corrects, laughing. “We all look ridiculous. It’s part of the fun. Do you want some sunglasses?”

Shoving his hands deep in his pockets, he nods. Inej grins and hands him the sunglasses Jesper has given her and he slides the aviator glasses up his noses, looking slightly more comfortable with Inej’s hand in his. She grabs a hat that she had the bright idea to pack just before they left, and with that, they walk down the beach, hand in hand.

Halfway up the beach, tucked away from the few people taking a walk down the beach, Jesper and Wylan have set out their picnic, including a deck chair for each of them. Cracking open the coolbox, Jesper grins and hands out some drinks and crisps.

“A feast fit for royalty,” he announces. Inej doesn’t miss the small smile on Wylan’s face as his hand brushes with Jesper’s, and by the look of it, neither does Kaz.

For a long time, none of them say anything. They’re too busy enjoying their meal and basking in the sunshine, lulled into relaxation by the feel of the warm sand between their toes and the crash of waves on the beach. Their last two outings had been so chaotic that she assumed this one would be the same, but she has to admit, Wylan has picked well.

Eventually, Jesper rises to his feet, stretching and yawning. “Right. I’m going for a swim. Anyone else want to come?”

Wylan nods and starts collecting their rubbish, shoving it into a carrier bag. “I will,” he answers, hesitantly unbuttoning his shirt.

“‘Nej?” Jesper asks, shrugging his own shirt off. “You coming?”

She waves her hand, leaning back in her chair. “Maybe in a bit. You guys go on without me.”

Nodding, Jesper turns to Wylan. “Race you to the water?” he challenges, before tearing off down the beach, Wylan chasing after him. Inej watches with a smile as they splash into the water, Jesper tripping over and falling face-first into the water.

“Idiots,” Kaz mutters fondly, and they share a grin.

Neither of them say anything for a moment, content to bask in the sinking sun and watch their friends shout and splash in the distance. After a few minutes, Inej reaches into the bag she has shoved under her chair and rummages around, producing a bottle which she hands to Kaz.

He raises an eyebrow. “Sun cream?”

Inej shrugs. “You look like you might burn easily.”

The sunglasses make it hard to tell whether or not Kaz is glaring at her, but he complies anyway, rubbing it into his arms and legs. “You can go without me, you know. I don’t mind sitting by myself for a little bit.”

“That kind of ruins the idea of a double date, doesn’t it?”

Kaz turns to her, his expression turning serious. “I mean it. I don’t want to ruin your day out just because I’m afraid of water.”

Inej raises her eyebrows, staring right back at him. “And I mean it too, Kaz. I can go swimming whenever I want, but right now, I would like to spend this day out with you.”

They stare at each other for a moment, both too stubborn to back down. Kaz looks away first, scratching the back of his neck and staring at a crab which is getting dangerously close to his toes.

“If you’ve got something to say,” Inej says, “Then just say it.”

He swallows. “I just… I’m sorry.”

“What for?” she asks, narrowing her eyes.

“For having all these phobias,” he answers.

“Oh, for the love of God,” Inej mutters to herself, turning to face Kaz properly. She gently reaches out, taking Kaz’s bare hands in hers. “Kaz Brekker, you are the stupidest man I have ever met. We all have our own problems, and I won’t say they don’t matter to me, because that would be a lie. But I love you for who you are, problems and all, and I wouldn’t love anyone any different.”

He looks up at her, blinking a few times. “You think I’m stupider than Jesper?”

Inej rolls her eyes, squeezing his hands before she lets go. “I’ve changed my mind,” she announces, standing up. “I’m off to become a mermaid so I never have to deal with the petty troubles of man again.”

“Are you sure you aren’t just drowning yourself to avoid your exams?”

Inej toes off her sandals, smiling down the beach. “You can’t prove that!”

She stretches, reaching her arms up as high as they will go. The sun is low in the sky and the moon is drifting over the horizon, and for a second, she is certain that she could touch the stars if she reached just a little further.

“Are you coming, or what?” she asks, turning back to Kaz.

He pales slightly. “Uh, I can’t swim-”

“Oh, no,” she corrects quickly. “For a walk down the beach. You know, like every romantic movie known to man?”

He snorts, using his cane to push himself to his feet. “Alright then, my love.”

Inej raises an eyebrow. “My love?”

Kaz blushes, quickly wandering off towards the shoreline. “Shut up and walk with me.”

{o0o}

By the time they get back from their evening stroll, the sun has long since set. Jesper and Wylan are in the middle of a fierce towel fight that Inej predicts will end in a lot of sand in places where sand shouldn’t be. For example, her bag, which is currently half buried underneath her chair.

“Look who’s back!” Jesper crows when he sees them, a big grin on his face. If the empty bottles in the sand are any indication, it looks like Jesper and Wylan might have had a bit to drink. Again. “How was your romantic stroll, lovebirds?”

Inej blushes. “Fine, thank you.”

“Can we get food on the way home?” Wylan asks, scratching his nose as he shoves his sandy towel in his bag. “I’m hungry.”

Jesper shrugs. “Kaz is driving, but I vote yes.”

Inej stares at them both, her eyes wide. “We ate like an hour ago. How are you already hungry?”

“I am not equipped to deal with a hungry Jesper,” Kaz declares, heading towards his minivan. “So we can go to McDonald’s on the way back.”

Jesper punches the air and high fives Wylan.

“On the condition,” Kaz continues, “I get to pick our date activity next week.”

“I have no complaints,” Inej answers when no one else does. “But can we leave now? This has been a lovely evening, but I think I’ve been bitten by every bug on the planet.”

Kaz nods and starts herding everyone into the van, frowning at the sand that follows them in. He opens the passenger seat door for Inej and holds her hand as she climbs in, kissing her knuckles lightly as he lets go.

“Alright then,” he announces, starting the engine. “McDonald’s here we come.”

tag list! (ask to be added or removed)

@hrtbreakprincess / @tooindecisivetopickaurl / @kazcoded / @saltyfortunes

#my writing #shadow and bone #six of crows #kanej #wesper #grishaverse #mmb writes #kanej fics #userhbs #stupid things #ao3 #chapter 3

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evolsinner · 3 years

Text

⊱┊22

i must've fallen asleep in the car because when i wake up, it's 3:00 am, and i'm in bed with a muscular arm wrapped over me. i smile, interlocking my fingers in the bruised hand at the end of it. the fingers gradually reciprocate and i'm at even more peace when i realise that isaac is also awake.

the room echoes with the soft sounds of an electric fan somewhere in the corner. there are blue led lights underneath the bed which lights the room up in a bluey lambent glow. i lift the covers off me, the heat wearing down on me like a hot summer's night.

"where're you going?" isaac questions groggily in his sexy tired voice.

the slightest movement and he thinks i'm in trouble. i imagine he's always gonna be half~awake considering everything i filled him in about. 'twas a lot, would explain why i fell asleep in the car right after.

"gee, relax, just tryna get comfortable."

he snuggles his head into the crook of my shoulder. "thought that psycho brother of yours, kayden, or whatever his name is was gonna steal you away from me again."

“new hotel?” i change the subject.

“yeah. figured a penthouse might expose us.”

"good call. hey...isaac?"

"hm?"

"can we have a black wedding?"

he chuckles, "sure."

"and rainbow bridesmaids and groomsmen?"

he laughs even harder, "i'd like to be in your head sometime, luv, as the stuff you say, brightens my day."

"well, don't get too excited because it's not all sunshine and lollipops."

"of course. anything else you want for the wedding?"

"can it be a destination wedding?"

"check."

"can we have ice cream cake?"

"yum, check."

"oh! oh! also, unicorns and pegasus' and alicorns and~"

"woah, woah, calm down, luv, that's a whole trip to wonderland."

i break into laughter.

he kisses my ear lobe, "missed you, my baby."

that tone in his voice makes me wet weak. it's my favourite one too. although, i guess if his voice affects me then i have always been fucked from the start. because, man, when he would yell in class, yeah, i would be butthurt, 'cept i would also be strangely turned on? like, the fuck was wrong with me?

"missed you too," i giggle as the nibbling travels down my ear to my neck.

"missed you a lot,” he seems to be getting at something...

"doubt it," i flip on my back.

he grins and kisses the tip of my nose. his nose kisses are by far the best. it gives me a sense of protection; humble protection at its finest. it's like springtime with yellow sunlight shining in through the drapes. a peck lands on my cheek and i crinkle my nose as i beam from its tenderness. next, a rare kiss lands on my eyelid when i blink. he’s showering me with kisses and i giggle at each random place he plants them on.

i've looked into hazel coloured orbs, and i was trapped in a painting of a forest fire. i've looked into crystal coloured orbs, and i've drowned in the deepest of oceans. and now these emerald coloured ones, i'm up there with the northern lights, lost in neverland and never do i ever wanna come back down.

i lift my head up and plant a kiss on his sugary sweet lips. an explosion of marshmallows dipped in cherry wine erupts in my mouth. i was craving his taste and this whole time i was taking the wrong doses of another.

he leans further over me and slowly slides his hands up and down my waist. the skin he leaves touched has a tingly sensation to it and goosebumps form all over me. just when i thought i've subdued the sensation, he runs his hand over the area again; there's no break for me.

his lips melt over mine like fairy floss liquefying in the stinging sun and now all i see is iridescent saliva coating his mouth. he deepens the kiss, his tongue fighting a war with mine like he's some warrior on a battlefield.

it makes me remember the first time we kissed and it wasn't even that long ago. please, god, take me back to the first time we kissed. and he does, he does take me back to the first time we kissed.

sir's hand rummages over the bedside table and some things fall down. i'm tryna keep him from ripping his lips off mine. he looks across for a few quick seconds, his hand running over random objects, then he gives up on his objective.

"god," he groans in frustration.

oh. "who cares? just pull out in time."

"luv," he raises his thick eyebrows, "don't think i could do that 'in time' on this particular occasion."

well, damn, he missed me more than i had expected.

"besides, pulling out isn't a safe form of protection," he adds.

"ugh, since when did you care about that?"

"since when i get you pregnant, i don't want it to be by accident. i want to make sure it's the best sex of your life."

i gulp.

"yes," he raises his eyebrows, amused at my shocked expression. "one of these days, i'm going to impregnate you. can't wait to see you grow big, snack on a bunch load of candy, and then have you pop out our precious little one."

i turn crimson.

"be right back," he smiles, sitting up on the bed. "i'll go check if i have some spare protection in my car," and retrieves his fallen phone.

"wait," i get up and lean onto his back. "i'm coming with."

"babe," he chuckles, "i chose the first floor for a reason. the car's right out there. i won't be long, i promise."

"please, i want to go with you," i plea like a little girl. "bad things happen every time you leave me alone."

"alright," he plants a firm kiss on my forehead, his palm resting at the nape of my neck. "let's go on an adventure to the car park, shall we?"

"race you!" i quickly jump off the bed and speed towards the door.

"hey!" he laughs out and chases me. "i wasn't ready, cheater!"

i run down the golden hallway and into the massive oval~shaped space of the reception area. the borders of the walls are painted gold and the walls themselves have a luxurious~looking pattern on it; too detailed to find out how it begins.

i pause, standing in my pyjama shorts with my eyes darting around to locate the exit.

"there!" one of the receptionists catches on and points to the revolver door right at the front.

my face lights up like the cheshire cat. the receptionist dude chuckles. he and his other three colleagues are really enjoying this little show in front of them. i mean, who wouldn't? two guests running around wildly, barefoot, in the middle of the night.

"catch me if you can, jay!" i sprint straight to the glass revolving door.

isaac reaches me a tad bit late and he just misses the slot i get into.

i stick my tongue out at him like 'ha~ha'.

he scoffs, "fuck you."

ah, yes, our 'fuck yous'. our forever and always.

i rush to the car, and once i reach it, i come to an abrupt halt.

a pair of keys jingle obnoxiously behind me.

"guess i've won, sweetheart."

i frown like a child whose third scoop of ice cream has gone crashing to the ground. "you're a cheater," i rebut, heading across to the passenger seat with my arms crossed. "plus, i meant who gets to the car first, not who gets inside."

"ah, rules, rules, rules," he mocks with a sly smile playing on his lips. "always new rules with you."

i purse my lips to stifle a grin.

he walks over to me and cages me but doesn't say anything.

"..isaac.." i break into a diffident smile, glancing away.

"what?" he chuckles.

"stop..doing that."

"'doing' what?"

"that..that eye thing."

"sweetheart, i have no idea what you're talking about."

i roll my eyes, blushing.

he continues to stare.

"see! you're doing it again!"

he laughs, leaning into me, "i can't help it, darlin’, you're just so beautiful."

"whatever," i get way too shy to make eye contact.

the bimmer beeps twice behind me.

i look at isaac with surprise.

"looks like you've won, daisy," and he opens the door for me.

i blush incredibly, chaotically even, and upon his request, i hop inside the car.

that's right, loser, i did win.

-ˋˏ ༻🥂༺ ˎˊ-

there was no, um, you know in the car, so now we’re on our way to the servo to get some.

"this is a nice song."

"you like it?" sir faces me. "it's by that french singer, ah, what's her name. right," he snaps his fingers, remembering, "'indila'."

"'une dernière danse'," i say. "what does it mean?"

he chuckles.

"what?" i beam timidly. "are you laughing at me?"

"no, it's just the way you pronounced it," he shakes his head. "it means 'one last dance', fyi."

"oh."

on the spur of the moment, isaac pulls up to the side of the road.

"what are you doing?" i query.

"an idea popped into my head," he announces. "get out of the car."

"what?"

"just do it."

i take my seatbelt off and exit the car. there, i stand in front of the windshield, freezing my ass off. it's dark as fuck, but the white headlights of the bmw give us plenty of vision. sir takes off his seatbelt and cranks the radio right up. he steps out of the car, leaves his door wide open and meets up with me.

"can you please tell me what's happening?!" i yell over the music.

"we're going to dance!" he places a hand on my waist and another on my shoulder.

"what?!" my eyes bulge out of their sockets. "in the middle of the road?! barefoot?!"

"yeah!"

"we're barely wearing any clothes!!"

"better this way!"

"what if a car comes?!"

"then we die!"

"i can't dance!"

"follow my lead!"

"sir~"

🎶je remue le ciel le jour, la nuit je danse avec le vent la pluie

the chorus hits once again, and simultaneously, isaac brings my waist closer to himself as he takes a full step back. i follow his lead, letting him guide me. backward, left side, forward, right side.

🎶et dans le bruit, je cours et j'ai peur est-ce mon tour? vient la douleur

"oops..!" i step on his foot by accident. "sorry..!"

"don't worry!" he chuckles, twirling me around. "you're doing amazing!"

he repeats the steps, nodding at me supportively. a few vehicles begin pulling up to watch us dance! the rest, however, honk impatiently, heading around to get past us.

🎶je remue le ciel le jour, la nuit je danse avec le vent la pluie

the steps are sped up and repeated one final time before everything slows down to a finale. confidently, isaac pauses and dips me. i stare at him in total awe. i think he's in love, like, really in love.

🎶et je m'envole, vole, vole, vole, vole, vole, vole

the few drunken humans gathered around us erupt with applause, whistling here and there.

"i love you," sir mouths, bringing me back up.

guys, i think he loves me.

#love #romance #teacher x student

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loseyoutoloveme · 3 years

Note

will you do a song by song review for life support? i really liked the ones for sweetener and thank you next!

oh absolutely, i’d love to! thank you for asking and being interested 🖤 all thoughts below.

the beginning:

this was such a great way to open this album, it’s so cinematic and really sets the mood so perfectly. one of my fav instrumental intros i’ve ever heard.

9/10

good in goodbye: “you put the over in lover, put the ex in next.”

the lyrics are so wonderfully corny and i’ll love this song forever, like the chorus is literally just so fun to sing along to.

i do think it feels a little... shallow compared to the rest of the album, and the album being released so long after this song came out makes it feel disconnected from the rest. but i love it so i don’t care.

7.5/10

default: “i know, i know this must be coming for me, i swear, i swear i will be the end of me, the end of me.”

this song is just sooo...... OUCH!

i’m obsessed with the way the chorus just SOUNDS like an emotional spiral, like her life falling apart, like falling into a deep depression, and then the outro builds like destructive racing thoughts.

also i never noticed the wave crashing and the bubbles at the very beginning until really recently, and i love that little touch. the whole song feels so underwater. cloudy and fuzzy. it does a good job of depicting certain symptoms of various mental illnesses.

8.5/10

follow the white rabbit: “is it haunting, baby, that i’m wanting, baby, that i’m wanting, wanting you?”

i actually was fully not expecting to like this that much based off the snippets she’d shared, but omg this left me WEAAAAK on first listen, which was the best surprise

there are definitely so many layers to these lyrics too, despite it being just a bombastic sexy toxic love song on its surface, particularly when thinking about the album as a commentary on mental illness, and some of the breakup/love songs as metaphors rather than straightforward love songs. definitely about infatuation and toxicity and perhaps knowingly entering a bad relationship as a bad coping mechanism, a way to avoid dealing with your pain or (as we see in effortlessly) a way to just feel anything at all.

9/10

effortlessly: “i hold my breath to breathe, hurt me so i feel, used to do these things so effortlessly somehow.”

oh god this song is just a punch in the stomach

i ALSO didn’t really expect to love this one based on snippets but the lyrics are just devastating and perfect and i hope speak to anybody who has struggled with self-harm and medication.

i don’t even have thoughts on this song, it just makes me go jsn*@(#nkdasdnkasd7*@U#j2k3n

love that this is such a fan favourite. it deserves!

10/10

stay numb and carry on: “truth is it was never love, your fault if you thought it was.”

the reverse “i’ve become emotionless” at the beginning >>>

also love the “i was gin and you were toxic . . . wish we’d just stayed plaTONIC” like a platonic relationship would be the opposite of toxic. it’s such fun wordplay.

also “i don’t feel like anyone” makes me emo, she really just slid the most simple but heartbreaking lines in everywhere and you don’t notice them until they hit you out of nowhere one day and you’re like ...OH

AND THE WAY HER VOICE STARTS TO GO MONOTONE AT “i’ve become emotionless”

in conclusion, madison beer is a vessel for god

10/10

blue: “you could be as sweet as honey but i knew the darkness in your mind.”

this is my least favourite on the album but it’s still fantastic

the lana influence is clear without being too copycat, like it’s still SO madison. sorta like lana’s video games modernized and adapted into something truer to madison’s vibe.

love love love the whole outro

glad that this wasn’t a single like it was planned to be

7/10

interlude: “would you do that shit for me too?”

VOCODER RIGHTS

this album in general is just not really for people who don’t like vocoders and lots of technical effects. i looove that she leaned into it so hard bc it’s so HER.

this song also has so much depth for an interlude, relaying the experience of feeling SO hard about people, and realizing like you’re putting in way more than you’re getting back.

the post-chorus is like... 🤩🌌💫☄️🌠

7.5/10

homesick: “these humans speak my language, still don’t understand it.”

THIS SONG...... IS MY BABY......

oh god it just breaks my heart on every listen. the image in my head is of a little girl talking to the stars.

and why does the line about her mom and dad make me wanna cry every time? i have no idea.

I BELONG IN SPACE...... FLOATING WITH DEBRIS.......

i’m sure she’s not the first person to ever use this metaphor for mental illness, expressing the alienation of mental illness (especially one as stigmatized and misunderstood as bpd) by talking about LITERAL aliens sdkjfsdfksd, but she does it SOOOOO well and sincerely that it feels like it’s uniquely hers.

the rick & morty sample is so funny and so weird and so madison. i will probably never watch an episode of that show in my life.

10000000000/10 this song is the loml

selfish: “shouldn’t love you but i couldn’t help it, had a feeling that you never felt it.”

my absolute favourite of all of the singles, noooo question about it. it’s a perfect, perfect, perfect song.

two years, alone on new years’, nightclubs, gemini... women writing lyrics with very specific details about the shitty men that the song is about... it’s everything to me.

this song will just NEVER age. every time i listen to it, it’s like the first time all over again.

10/10

sour times: “don’t know what song of mine you heard that made you think i’d want to spend the night with you.”

home with you’s big sister<3

not the strongest lyrics, but the concept and production are more than strong enough to carry the song.

she came on this bitch mad as hell

also love that this have been another fan favourite, seemingly??

men gross

9/10

boyshit: “don’t know how to talk or communicate, we’re so on and off, to you it’s a game.”

it took me awhile to get into this when it was a single ngl, probably because it came out the same night as evermore sjdknfsfnkjsd, but once i got into it, it became the best song ever

she’s soooo reliable with her “men ain’t shit” songs ugh

8.5/10

baby: “i’m a handful but that’s what hands are for.”

when this came out as a single it was the only thing i listened to for a solid week and a half. just an excellent song. the chorus is evvverrryttthhhiiinnnnggg.

WHAT IS IT SO CATCHY FOR?

9.5/10

stained glass: “my life’s a still fading memory of what i can’t have, and everything ’round me is starting to fade into black, but black and white is so much better, i’m learning how to hide my colours.”

i’m so surprised by how much non-stans seem to love this omg, it’s never been a fav of mine, as much as i still love it

but i’m obsessed with how different and distinctly madison it is

also this is a much more genuine take on the “pls stop being mean to me just bc i’m famous / you don’t know what people are going through” type of song than most of the others i’ve ever heard. her pain is evident, and the soft “i just might break” is just..... </3

the glass breaking and little scream are so good

she loves a good metaphor and so do i!

7.5/10

emotional bruises: “how do i word this? was about to write you this letter, but it was just curses in cursive, you probably deserve it.”

this was definitely my most anticipated song along with everything happens for a reason, like i listened to the snippet on repeat CONSTANTLY lmao. and the full song definitely lived up.

the scribbling sound is so fun, i love her obsession with little real-life sound effects

10/10

everything happens for a reason: “i still can’t find a reason you’d wanna hurt me so bad.”

THIS SONG IS VERY MUCH EVERYTHING

again, this was for sure one of my most anticipated songs and just kjsadsdkajsm god i love love love it

i think she posted a video one time of the song over a clip of the mermaids from peter pan and it was so pretty and i still picture that video when i hear this song. it’s just soooooo hazy and dreamy and retro and perfect.

also the song on the album where she got to show off her vocals the most. she found her niche with this song, truly.

100/10

channel surfing/the end: “YOU’REBADFORMYHEALTHISHOULDPROLLYKEPTSOMEHELPICANTCONTROLMYSELFIMADDICTEDOTHEHELL”

oh my god i was FLOOOOOORED at the dear society clip. dear society was and is one of my FAVOURITE songs, and i appreciate her reasoning for not including it on the album (just wanting some space for a new song instead of one we’d already had for so long), but it did hurt a lil. i was so happy she found a little way to include it :’) rip to hurts like hell tho since she didn’t get the same treatment sjdnksd.

the channel surfing is also just such a fun concept for an outro.

and her laughing with her producers at the end followed by such a sweet calming tropical instrumental...... oooo it’s so nice, it feels like the calm after the storm.

10/10

overall, this album was just SO worth the wait, it’s so fantastic, it’s the loml, one of my favourite albums ever. i LOVE that it’s helped anyone with BPD feel seen and understood, and as someone who doesn’t have bpd but has a couple of loved ones who do, the emotions she expressed in these lyrics have helped me to understand this disorder more too. just such a special album.

most of the criticism i’ve seen of the album has been that it’s overproduced, and that’s definitely criticism that i understand, bc it IS heavy on the technical side and some people just don’t like very heavy production, buuuut... some people do! i do! madison does! and heavy production does not automatically make an album bad. this type of production isn’t something that i expect her to move away from, because it’s clearly her thing, and maybe that just means her place in the industry will be more with the heavy heavy pop fans and maybe even in more hyperpop circles. i also think it’s SUPPOSED to be overproduced; it’s supposed to be a mess of emotions and sometimes a little chaotic. she executed it very well.

i hope by the time her next album is out, people will stop comparing her to like every single artist out there. some reviewers seem determined to pigeonhole her and compare her to every female artist under the sun, which feels like an absolute disservice to me. she is influenced by many different people and they comes out in her music, as it does any artist’s because everybody has their inspirations, but her sound is VERY much her own. as someone who has liked her for years, i can absolutely feel her essence in each song and nobody else’s.

a 10/10 album and such an amazing, promising debut<3

#madison beer #life support #answered #lofihoneymoon

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mind-of-a-hardstan · 4 years

Text

Thief Pt. 3

Pairing: Jimin x Reader

Genre: Flowershop au

Rating: G

Warnings: Language, mentions of infidelity ig?

Summary: You’re a flowershop owner with a soft heart, so when a handsome stranger comes to steal your flowers on Sundays, you let him. You even help him, because it’s clearly important.

Besides, you wouldn’t miss a few daisies a week.

Chapter summary: The man comes back to pick up his dead flowers and later comes back to tell his story, there are cute developments in Hoseok’s relationship and Jimin comes by early.

Word Count: 3.9K

Part one | Part two | Part Three

A/N: hehe finally done. Sorry for the long wait, folks. You’re gonna hear more for me within the next month :) please lemme know what you thought. This one’s a bit longer than the others and I didn’t proofread so please bare with me.

The little bell above your door rang at exactly six minutes to five on a Friday afternoon, and the sound wasn’t nearly as cheerful as it usually was.

The man who was there the day before stepped into the shop with a huge raincloud over his head. His eyes were red, like he’d been crying on his way to the shop.

“Hi,” the man said and you felt bad for wanting to laugh when a certain Ross popped into your head.

“Hi, oh my god, are you okay?” you said and stepped out from behind the counter. The man just shook his head. “Can I hug you?”

The man nodded.

Without thinking too much about it, you leaned in and wrapped your arms around the man. He was taller than you, and wider, but he seemed so small for a second. The man just rested his head on your shoulder and let his arms hang by his sides.

“You’ll be okay,” you said with a determined voice. The man pulled away and smiled at you with watery eyes.

“I know.”

“Good,” you said and patted his shoulder before going behind the counter again. “Because I made you a killer bouquet. She won’t know what hit her.”

“Damn right she won’t. I’m leaving her with a freaking bang.”

“Yes,” you said and reached for the bouquet that was stashed under the countertop, “And she’ll regret it for the rest of her life.”

You had put a lot of thought into this bouquet. Every flower that symbolised love and affection was in there, only dead, wilting or ugly. You did, however, add a few blooming tansies in there. It ended up being strangely beautiful, all in all, with the bright yellow flowers standing out against the varying shades of brown.

“Wow,” the man marvelled.

“Yep.”

“What are those?” he asked, pointing to the tansies.

“Those,” you said with a sly smile, “are tansies. They symbolize hatred. There is no better way to tell someone that they make you sick than with tansies. I figured blooming tansies made sense.”

“Genius,” the man whispered with awe.

“Don’t mention it.”

The man stared for a beat and you let him take his time. “It’s rather pretty,” he said with a bitter – still teary – smile.

“Yeah.” You felt really bad for him. If his girlfriend cheated on him with his best friend then he was betrayed from both sides. How do you bitch about your cheating girlfriend to your best friend if your best friend did the cheating?

He took a deep breath and reached for his wallet, successfully snapping you out of your train of thought too.

“Is there anything else I can do for you? Calming tea? Another hug?” you asked and punched the amount for the flowers in to the register. The man huffed out a laugh.

“Do you have vodka?”

“I finished the last bottle last night while crying over The Green Mile, I’m afraid.” Seokjin let out another squeaky laugh.

“Then tea would do. The same one from yesterday, please.”

“Sure.” You finished the transaction and gave him a warm smile when you handed him back his change. “Here you go. And hey, come back any time for more tea or for a hug if you need it. Let me know how it went, yeah? And I really mean that.”

The man nodded and took his flowers from the counter. “Thank you,” he said, voice cracking slightly.

“No problem.”

“Seokjin,” he blurted suddenly, “is my name. I’m Seokjin.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Seokjin.”

“You too.”

The man gave you one last dashing – albeit somewhat teary – smile before he left.

You woke up earlier than you usually would on a Sunday morning. By the time the first rays of sunlight painted the world gold, you were already outside with a blanket around your shoulders and sweet tea on your lips to admire the scenery.

Naturally, that meant you were finished with your chores a lot earlier than you usually would be. By eleven, you were freshly showered and comfortably curled up with a book and fresh tea on the swing bench in your garden, waiting.

Jimin came earlier than usual today. A whole thirty minutes earlier. You watched him approach with a confused face. He was as handsome as ever, this time wearing slacks again, and looking as unsure as the first time.

He checked the time and his shoulders sagged before he looked around with a frown again. You got up off of the swing bench with a loud squeak of the chain, careful not to kick your mug, to check if he was okay. Jimin’s eyes snapped toward you in alarm before softening into a charming smile.

“Hi!” you exclaimed, waving. He jogged the last few metres to the fence with ease and a big smile.

“Hi,” he breathed back, meeting you at the fence.

“You’re early today,” you said cheerily. Jimin’s face fell a little.

“Yeah, I’m sorry. There was a problem with the bus lines today. There’s a construction site en route the one I usually take so I could choose between thirty minutes early and thirty minutes late,” Jimin explained, “And I chose early because I didn’t want to miss you today because I missed you last week and honestly I have no idea why I’m telling you this.”

You giggled at the way Jimin trailed off into berating himself before he stopped speaking. He averted his eyes, but there was a smile tugging at his lips. “It’s okay. I can keep you company for a while before your appointment. Or date. Or… yeah. If you want.”

“Uh, yeah. Can – is that allowed?” he asked, caught off guard, eyes big. You laughed and looked at him with drawn eyebrows.

“Why wouldn’t it be ‘allowed’? Who would forbid it?”

Jimin covered his eyes, cheeks coloured pink in embarrassment, but there was a smile on his face. “I don’t know! I’m just unsure about whatever deal we have here. I just wanted to know if it’s really okay. Sorry it came out so weird.”

“I wouldn’t have offered otherwise. Come in, if you want to.”

You opened the little gate in the garden fence and Jimin tentatively stepped inside of the little world that you had created for yourself. He looked around with big eyes and an awed expression. His lips formed a little “o” and you couldn’t help but admire how beautiful his mouth was.

“Can I walk on the grass?” he asked and you nodded with a smile. It felt like your cheek muscles were constantly at work around him. Where Hoseok was bubbling happiness and puppy-like excitement, Jimin inspired a quiet happiness. A subtle warmth.

Dangerous. You didn’t know anything about him and the chances were high that he already had someone.

“I have a swing bench out here where we can sit. It squeaks a little, though. If that bothers you we can sit inside too. Or on the grass, wherever you want.”

“The swing bench sounds fine, I don’t mind. Your garden is beautiful,” Jimin said, voice soft. He made himself comfortable and you did the same on the other end of the bench, picking up your lukewarm tea off the ground. The chains squealed in protest and you made a mental note (which would probably be misplaced in your chaotic mind) to oil it.

“Thank you,” you said and looked around proudly. You built this. These flowers loved you enough to bloom like they do because you cared for them. “It’s my little paradise.”

“It really is like paradise. Makes me think that the Bible story didn’t happen like they said it did.”

“Huh,” you tilted your head to the side, “and how did you think it happened then?”

“Uh,” Jimin said and ran his hand through his hair, “After Adam and Eve ate the apple, God threw them out and gave the garden to a beautiful fairy to look after while he tried to sort them out.”

You threw your head back and laughed, making the bench swing a bit more. Jimin looked down, shy. That’s the second time he called you a fairy.

“You’re such a flirt, you know? You should come work in my shop for a week. I’d make a fortune.”

“How so?”

“Are you kidding me? With you saying things like that to strangers, people will flock to my shop paying you to take their flowers.”

Jimin giggled shyly, hiding his mouth behind his hand. You felt so endeared at watching him giggle. “You’re not a stranger anymore, though,” Jimin whispered.

“I guess you’re right.”

“And you’ve said nicer things to me than I’ve said to you,” he said, smile suddenly sly. You cocked your head in question. “A certain comment about ‘pretty thighs’ still sticks out to me.”

Embarrassment flooded your body like someone had poured hot honey into your veins. You covered your face with your hands and shook your head vigorously. You couldn’t believe that he remembered that. Not to mention that he would actually say it.

He was an exhilarating mix of shy and forward and it messed you up.

“No,” you simply replied, voice muffled by your hands.

“What do you mean ‘no’?” Jimin laughed.

“I mean I will not be embarrassed in my own home. You have no right. Off with your head.”

Jimin laughed again and then a silence settled over your little garden. He leaned his head back on the lean of the bench and stared at the countless flowers with glittery eyes. He chewed his lip absentmindedly, angled his head this way and that as he observed.

The sun filtered through the colourful flower petals and made the already colourful garden glow even more vibrantly, like someone put a filter over reality. Somewhere a prism caused a little rainbow to glow on Jimin’s cheek.

You couldn’t help but be enamoured by him. He was simply beautiful with his little contradictions; angular features and soft lips, silky hair and sharp eyes. Those eyes. They were a contradiction themselves. Sharp, focused, analytic – and yet so, so soft. So full of soul – sunlight and shadows and rich soil.

So much potential for a blooming garden. Perhaps there already was one, hiding. Perhaps there were only thorn bushes and weeds.

“Your eyes are breath-taking,” you blurted and god damn it you really needed to stop accidentally complimenting him, what was wrong with you?

Jimin cast his eyes to you and a shy but pleased smile spread on his face. Not horrified, not surprised, not angry or scared off. You swallowed down your embarrassment for the umpteenth time around him and smiled back, blood still running cold in your veins.

“Thanks,” he said, voice turned to velvet, “so are you.”

“My – my eyes?” you stuttered out, caught off guard and so, so flattered.

“The whole you,” Jimin said smoothly, shy smile turned a little roguish, a little brave.

The grin that spread on your face was uncalled for and unauthorised. “Thank you.”

You sipped from your mug, tea now cold, while Jimin eyed two small songbirds dancing around each other in your lemon tree. A silence hovered while you listened to the birds sing, not uncomfortable but not entirely free of tension either.

After a few minutes like this, you became restless and put down your mug. You left the swing bench with protesting chains and grabbed the garden shears from the worktable a few feet away.

“What are you doing?” Jimin asked.

“Making your bouquet.”

“Wha – you don’t – I can –” Jimin struggled off of the bench, nearly tripping over his feet kicking over your now empty mug. He cursed, picked it up and sighed in relief when it was still whole. You looked away and suppressed the amused grin that threatened the corners of your mouth. You pretended not to have noticed.

“Don’t worry about it. I like arranging flowers for you.”

“I, uh – okay. Thank you.”

“Do you see any other flowers around here that you like? Or do you just want the daisies?”

“Are you sure that’s okay?” he checked again and you nodded. “What were those little blue ones you put in last time?”

“Forget-me-nots? These ones?” you pointed to the tiny blooms and he nodded.

“Yeah, those. They’re very pretty.”

“They are. They’re one of my favourites too,” you admitted while cutting them. “Forget-me-nots are meaningful little flowers too. You can put them into almost any bouquet and they’ll adapt to the meaning.”

Jimin sat back down on the bench and watched as you went about making his little bouquet. “What do they mean?”

“Like I said, lots of things. Remembrance, like the name suggests, through parting or death. They’re symbols of favourite memories. They symbolise loyalty through challenges, undying love or even a growing affection.”

“Wow. They really are meaningful little shits.”

“Yeah,” you giggled, “they are.”

“How do you even know all of this?” Jimin asked. You looked up from what you were doing and nearly had the breath knocked out of you. He sat with one leg crossed over the other and looked like damn royalty with the Ena Harkness roses climbing up the wall behind him. His pants strained over his legs, those goddamn dancer thighs, and those sharp, focused eyes were fixed on you.

You longed to know what was going on in his head.

“My – my, um.” You closed your eyes and shook your head to clear it. Oh, how you longed for him to look at you liked he looked at your garden. You shook your head again, only to find Jimin looking at you with an amused grin. “My granddad had a garden when he was still alive,” you finally got out, “It was normal sized but god, mine doesn’t even come close to what he had. He somehow managed to freaking grow edelweiss, it was incredible. I loved it there. I loved spending time with him in his garden, and he taught me all about the plants their meanings. He even knew their Latin names by heart. I still struggle with those, though.”

“Wow that sounds incredible. He sounds like he was a cool guy.”

“He was. He was the only grandparent that I had, the others had all died before I was born.” You swallowed down the memories and spoke again before Jimin could say something, “Do you see any other flowers that you like?

“All of them,” Jimin said with a smile and looked raked his eyes over the blooming garden again, “but I need to get going soon, I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”

“You’re always welcome, Jimin. I enjoy your company.” You handed him the bouquet, now tied with string and with a few greens sneaked in. When he took it from you and his fingers brushed yours, you couldn’t help but think how cliché it was that you noticed how soft his hands were.

“I enjoy yours too,” he whispered, then stuffed his nose into the flowers, breathing deep.

“They don’t smell that good,” you said with laughter lining your words.

“Yeah,” Jimin said, coming up for fresh air, “they don’t. They just smell like… plants.” You laughed for real this time.

“I’ll make you one that smells like honey next time.”

“Wha – no, no you don’t – you don’t have to, that’s not –” Jimin started, sounding slightly panicked.

“I want to,” you cut him off. He stopped talking, ran a hand through his hair shyly and nodded.

“Thank you.”

“You’ve thanked me enough for one day, I think,” you giggled.

“My half hour is almost up…” Jimin said after a moment of silence.

“Wait, before you go, hold on.”

You disappeared through the door of a little greenhouse attached to your home. The smell of tea was almost overpowering when you opened the next door to the backroom of your little shop.

You grabbed one of the little sample teabags – lemon-mint – and rushed back outside through the greenhouse.

“Here!” you said, waving the bag at Jimin who was already at the gate, ready to leave. He stared with round eyes. “Tea. I make my own tea,” you clarified.

“Oh, no, first the flowers, I can’t accept –”

“I hand these out for free anyway. Try it, and if you like it then you know where to find me. This one’s rather good when you let it cool down, though. Like, as an iced tea,” you babbled. He took the tea from you with another grateful smile. “Don’t say ‘thank you’ again.”

Jimin laughed and said, “I express my gratitude to thee.”

You narrowed your eyes playfully. “Thin ice.”

“Seriously, though. Thank you. I can’t help but wonder why you’re so nice to me when I stole from you.”

“I don’t know. It’s obvious that the flowers are for something important. And you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, I won’t pry, but these flowers make someone happy. That’s the reason they’re there. Besides, I like you, you’re nice.”

Jimin had a bashful little smile on his face by the time you were done. He pushed his hair back from his forehead and said, “So are you. You deserve the happiness in you inspire, little fairy.”

By the time the star struck feeling of his words wore off, Jimin was already walking away.

You were almost too invested in conversation with Seokjin to hear the bell above the door ring on a Tuesday afternoon, and definitely too invested to react.

“Are you kidding me?! He was half naked on her couch when she knew she had a date with you?”

“I swear to god. She said that ‘it’s not what it looks like’ and that she ‘forgot that I was coming.’ And then Wooseok just awkwardly slunk out of the house and sort of like, slapped my shoulder in a sort of bro way, yaknow? Like, ‘hi, best friend whose girl I just fucked, good luck with this situation that I helped create.’ Then he left. She started having a breakdown that I shouldn’t leave her. I just smiled at her and said, ‘hey, don’t worry, I know.’ And she went all ignorant, like ‘what do you mean?’” Seokjin rapidly went on, talking like a waterfall in raining season.

“How optimistic of her to think feigning ignorance would still work when you literally just caught them and she literally just had a breakdown.” you shook you head and filled up your glass with the ice tea you’d wordlessly provided when he started talking after buying another pack of tea.

“What freaking tea party did I just walk into?” Hoseok’s voice rang through the shop and – oh. The bell above the door had rung. Seokjin jumped and let out a little yelping noise.

“Seokie, hi! Sorry, I didn’t see you there. This is Seokjin. He’s telling me the story of how he broke up with his cheating girlfriend. In how much of a hurry are you?”

“None at all. I’m sorry to hear that, man.” He ran put his hand on Seokjin’s shoulder in sympathy.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“I’m Hoseok, by the way. Mind if I eavesdrop while looking around?” Hoseok said with a charming smile and Seokjin chuckled and shook his head.

“Not at all.”

“Okay, okay, enough chit chat, tell me more,” you interrupted, bouncing on your toes to draw attention back to you.

“Right,” Soekjin said and sipped his iced tea before continuing his story. “Where was I? Right, so she was like ‘what do you know?’ and I didn’t answer at first, I just handed her the flowers and I smiled at her, yaknow? After actually seeing them together, I was just so angry that it didn’t even hurt anymore. So I gave her the flowers and she looked so confused and so dumb with her smeared lipstick. And she was like ‘I don’t understand, they’re dead.’ Like yeah, no shit Sherlock.”

“Wait,” Hoseok interrupted from behind another shelf of flowers, “You gave your girlfriend dead flowers to break up with her after you found out she was cheating?”

“Yep.”

“Holy shit that’s such a respectable level of petty.”

“Thank you, I do my best,” Seokjin took another sip of his ice tea and you couldn’t help but giggle. “Anyway, so I told her that they’re dead like my love for her and that I’m breaking up with her. And then, like the dumbass she is, she was all like ‘no wait! These yellow ones are still alive! That’s got to mean something’ and I looked her dead in the eyes and said ‘those are tansies and they mean fuck you.’ And then I left her house.”

The sound that broke out of you could barely pass for a laugh. You cackled like a witch and you barely registered Hoseok dying on the other side of the shop too.

“Oh my god, that’s genius,” you wheezed. Seokjin seemed to thrive under the laughter caused by him, proudly downing the rest of his tea.

It took a moment for both you and Hoseok to catch your breaths. When you did, Seokjin put his glass down and said, “I have to go, though. Thank you for everything, Y/n.”

“No problem, Seokjinnie. Don’t be a stranger, yeah?”

“Hold on,” Hoseok said, jogging up to Seokjin with a blue and purple bouquet in one hand while digging his phone out of his pocket with the other. “Give me your number. A friend of mine is throwing a housewarming party next weekend, if you’re keen. He said I could bring as many people as I want, which was a mistake on his part honestly.”

Seokjin typed his number into Hoseok’s phone and handed it back with a smile. “Send me the details. It sounds fun.”

With a final wave, Seokjin walked out of the shop.

“Remember what I said about customers coming back because of you rather than flowers? That looks like such a situation,” Hoseok said with a roguish grin.

“Oh, hush. Give me the flowers so I can get you to leave.”

“Ouch, are you always this mean with customers?”

“Just the ones who want to set me up with other customers.” You rang up his flowers and despite yourself, there was a fond smile on your face, your imagination conjuring a cute picture of Hoseok standing in someone’s doorway with a bright smile and a hand full of warm flowers.

He seemed so happy, and that made you happy. Perhaps Hoseok had really gone from customer to friend.

“Anything else?” you asked.

“Can I place an order for next week?”

“Of course you can.”

“You know flower meanings well, right?” Hoseok asked, suddenly seeming nervous.

“Yes. It’s part of the job description,” you said with a soft giggle.

“For Thursday, can you put together a bouquet that signifies love but also, like – something that says I’ll be careful with you. I’ll take care of you. Do you know what I mean?”

Hoseok’s face was always open and honest. When he was angry or unhappy, it was clear as day. When he was happy – which was more common – the whole world could feel it. Right now, there was nothing but love. Clear fondness and love.

You thought quietly that whoever was on the receiving end of that love was the luckiest person alive. It brought a smile to your face.

Seeing your friend like this made you happy.

“I have a few ideas already,” you said, “I’ll have them ready for you on Thursday, pick them up whenever you need them.”

“Thank you, Y/n. I mean it, you’re the absolute best.”

“Don’t mention it.”

#magicshopnet #btswriterscollective #bangtanarmynet #bangtanhq #jimin #jimin fanfic #jimin fluff #jimin fanfiction #bts #bts fanfiction #bts fluff #bts fanfic #flower shop #flower shop au

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that-damn-girl · 4 years

Text

And A Kiss To Hide

(Oneshot)

Pairing: Stevebucky

Words: 2800+

Type: Fluff. Making out. Kissing to hide faces trope. Mutual pinning.

Warnings: Making out. Language. Not proof read, sorry for the mistakes you find.

Summary: Steve was never as good at escaping trouble than he'd been at finding it. As he and Bucky try to hide from HYDRA's goons, they are enter a compromising position with their faces inches, rather centimetres apart.

A/N: This was inspired by the artwork below made by @its42kio . A huge thank you to them for letting me use it! Please check out their blog for more such beautiful fanart. Also, I’ve used It’s Been A Long Long Time as a song prompt. Hope you like it!

Chaotic. That's precisely how Bucky felt. Inside and out. He didn't know why or how he was in this predicament. Didn't know what he'd do now. Didn't know if the odds were in his side today. And Bucky didn't like not knowing about things around him. He hated feeling clueless. Absolutely despised it.

It didn't make him feel safe; not being a few steps ahead of the opponent or the danger which lay ahead him. It meant there was a flaw in the planning. And it scared him, because the Winter Soldier was nothing if not perfect in planning and execution. It was ingrained in his nature, in each and every cell of his being to be so.

A blast of chilled air hit his baseball cap covered face as he entered through the automatic doors. Despite having entered the cool conditioned air of the mall, Bucky still felt hot. The shop lifted jacket he'd been wearing over his full body tactical gear did little to let his body heat escape after all the running. Steve was much the same beside him.

The lights inside shone brighter than the cloudy sun outside. Murmurs felt louder than when he'd speed walked past the pedestrians on the pavement. His own heart beat in his ears though, blocking out most other noises except for the constant thump thump of footsteps behind him he were trying to escape.

Eyes sharp and focused, Bucky looked around for a way to hide if not evade those HYDRA goons. People of all sizes with different kinds of dressing drifted here and there, creating a jumble of colours in his vision. His eyes roamed from one bright and flashy store to another, until it landed on the fire exit at the far corner of the building.

He turned to Steve and saw his own idea reflected in Steve's eyes. Face all grim and serious, Steve gave little nod to Bucky. Long legs clad in combat boots took slow yet purposeful strides towards the red large double doors. They tried to mix in with the crowd and not make their destination obvious.

Steve was never as good at escaping trouble than he'd been at finding it.

One look over his shoulder and he saw the goons coming their way. They hadn't been recognised yet, but he suspected the misfortune wasn't far away. Specially if they continued towards the only other exit like they were. The microchip they'd stolen felt heavy in his utility belt.

Scanning the options around him, Steve took a hold of Bucky's forearm and dragged him to a narrow stretch of wall underneath the escalator fixed near the wall. He hadn't thought things through; just did what his brain deemed convenient in that moment. There wasn't a supply closet like Steve had hoped. But he couldn't go out in the open and search for another place to veil their presence. It was too late for that. He cursed under his breath.

Two bulky men dressed in dark couldn't hide with an off white backdrop, Steve knew that. They were still visible from certain angles of the middle open area of the mall, but could be found only when inspected with a focused eye. Another look over his shoulder and Steve found quite a number of goons standing in many of those 'certain angles'.

Without hesitation, Steve manoeuvred Bucky to make his back press to the wall and stood in front of him, so that his own dimensions shield Bucky's and their faces would be hidden. Steve brought an arm up and placed it beside Bucky's head on the wall to block it's view from the side, unknowingly causing him to lean a tad bit into his best friend.

Never thought that you would be standing here so close to me

It wasn't just a tad beat for Bucky though, who was very aware of standing chest to chest with Steve; Steve's bulk pressing Bucky's into the wall. He could feel the rise and fall of Steve's voluminous pecs against him. The tip of their noses almost touched each other. His mouths were parted as he breathed hard. Bucky wasn't too sure if it was because he'd been running a few seconds ago or the blond man standing so close to him.

How long had Bucky been dreaming about something like this; praying for it even. Steve was his best friend, yes, but also so, so much more than that. He'd had to keep his feelings suppressed in the older days. The past was ruthless in this regard. Though now he didn't have restrictions to date whoever he wanted, his insecurities were barriers enough.

Sure, there were lingering touches and stolen glances every so often, but he didn't think Steve thought much about it. It'd been the same way since before Bucky was seventeen. The only difference was that while these gestures meant the presence of a strong platonic friendship for Steve, for Bucky it meant trying to hide his longing and find comfort in whichever way he was awarded to be with Steve. Or so he thought.

There's so much I feel that I should say but words can wait until some other day

Steve couldn't help but blush when he realised how close he'd gotten to Bucky. His lips were pressed into a thin as he tried not to think much about it. Eyeballs were kept in his peripherals as he kept looking over his shoulder to avoid looking into those of the man he'd pushed against the wall; to avoid letting him know of all the emotions Steve had kept inside him for so long. He looked behind him, yet his attention was on the fact how intimately he was standing with Bucky.

How he wished it was not because of a goddamn mission but because their relationship was progressing into something more. He wanted Bucky. God, he wanted Bucky so much. But he couldn't dump his feelings on a man who may not reciprocate his feelings, in turn making him lose the love of his life and his best friend in a single day. Again.

He couldn't do that. He knew he couldn't cope with something like that. Steve couldn't lose Bucky. Not now, not ever. Not again. So he stayed just as he was. Not losing Bucky, but also not having him as he liked.

Really, Steve was never as good at escaping trouble than he'd been at finding it.

Steve was aware he couldn't keep looking over his shoulder. There would be no point in being the way they were only for someone to recognise Steve's side profile. Reluctantly, he turned his head towards Bucky, but not before schooling his expression to that of indifference.

Kiss me once, then kiss me twice Then kiss me once again It's been a long, long time

Eyes blue and slightly wide were already staring into his own by the time he looked at Bucky. No words or hidden meanings were conveyed, but a heavy tension was surely felt by both the super soldiers. They'd talked with their eyes for the majority of the mission, but now they didn't portray any calculated decisions.

In fact what their gazes held were nowhere near 'calculated'. A myriad of emotions wheeled in them. Neither could pinpoint what exactly they were in each other's eyes.

Their gazes were intense, yet neither dared break away from it.They didn't know what was happening, but what they did know was they didn't want to get out of the trance they'd gotten in.

Haven't felt like this, my dear Since I can't remember when It's been a long, long time

Steve's eyes flicked down. Bucky was biting his plump lower lip. So soft, he thought. It was all pink and slightly swollen as Steve looked at it. Only he knew how bad he wanted to nip at it and ravish those lips. He'd do anything, give anything to feel Bucky's lips against his own. He didn't know where this hunger had come from, but he had a strong desire to sate.

Memories of Natasha hit him. More importantly, a very special lesson of her's. His throat suddenly felt too dry. His mind overworked as it glossed over the options in front of him. It wouldn't be considered taking advantage of the situation if they could complete the mission without any fight scenes in public areas now, would it?

Steve wreaked his brain to think about any logic to counter his assumptions. One another look at Bucky's lips and Steve decided that instant, of course it wouldn't.

You'll never know how many dreams I've dreamed about you

Bucky didn't know how he felt when he saw Steve's eyes glance down at his own lips. Was it relief that Steve hadn't read his love for the man written on his face, or was it anticipation that he had? He could see Steve's pupils widen as he heard a gulp. His own eyes flitted across Steve's face, studing each feature intently.

Bucky felt his breath hitch as Steve leaned down slowly. Steve's head leaned to the side, bringing his lips closer to Bucky's but keeping them along his cheeks, halfway between his lips and his ears. Bucky's own curled slightly towards Steve. They could feel each other's breaths on their skin, both calming them and brewing up a storm of need for more.

Or just how empty they all seemed without you

"Buck," Steve said in a voice so low it made him sound gruff. The metal armed man struggled not to shiver hearing his name fall from Steve this way, "I know of a way to get rid of them."

Them? Bucky thought, who 'them'? He didn't know what Steve was talking about, having completely forgotten about the goons chasing them. When he did remember, he felt so dumb. He tried to pretend he was following Steve, but he couldn't speak anything except, "Uh huh?"

"Public displays of affection make people uncomfortable."

If Bucky thought his heart had been beating earlier, his heartbeat was now booming in his ears. He couldn't concentrate on anything else as Steve shifted, yet again bringing his lips closer to Bucky's agonisingly slow but not touching them. He ceased moving forward only a hair's breadth away from his destination.

Steve didn't know why he had stopped. Maybe it was the fact though they hadn't kissed, their position was a clear enough indication to throw off prying eyes. Maybe it was because somewhere he knew their friendship would never be the same again after this; for better or for worse, he had no clue. Maybe it was because he was taking advantage of the situation; of Bucky. He didn't want Bucky to feel used by anyone, especially not by himself.

Anticipation gnawed at Bucky as he waited for Steve to show some much awaited public displays of affection, but none came. Instead, he saw Steve frozen in his spot, breathing heavily. Anxiety rolled in him as he waited for the kiss which didn't seem to come.

He waited patiently and tried to keep himself calm. Nothing happened.

He waited with jitters overcrowding his senses. Nothing happened.

He waited, agitated with a little more urgency. Nothing happened.

He waited, standing still, with worry in his posture. Still nothing happened.

He waited and waited and waited until he grew frustrated. And yet nothing happened.

Of course this little shit would do the most dumbest of things without giving any second thoughts but now when he is supposed to do the one right thing, his brain suddenly started working!

Bucky leaned forward and closed the bare distance between them. His lips softly brushed against Steve's, hardly touching. Everything seemed to still around them, as if everything had ceased to exist and they were the only ones present. It was only the two men and the feel of their lips barely touching yet warming up their hearts like never before.

Bucky's lips grazed Steve's with feather light pressure . He lightly tipped his head upward, and then downwards just as slowly, merely giving Steve a taste of what he could have if he showed some courage.

And Steve lacked anything but courage.

After overcoming his initial shock, Steve immediately pushed himself harder against Bucky and fully took his lips in a much needed kiss. Their lips moved slowly and gently with a side of eagerness, taking some from the lower lips and giving some to the upper ones. Their eyes closed without them even knowing it. They took in the moment with all its glory and savoured it.

So kiss me once, then kiss me twice Then kiss me once again It's been a long, long time

The hand blocking Bucky's view immediately cradled his face and the free one wrapped around his waist, pulling him as close as he could. Bucky's arms came up and around Steve's shoulder, holding onto him as if the blond would disappear if he didn't.

Bucky's plump lips felt much softer than Steve had imagined. Soft and wet and just about the most delicious thing he'd ever tasted. They kissed passionately as they clung to each other.

Steve tentatively licked Bucky's bottom lip softly and teasingly, asking for permission. He wasn't sure if Bucky was ready to take that leap, to go full on tongue with him, but his heart burst in joy when he parted his mouth.

Steve leisurely slid his tongue inside. When he found the tip of Bucky's tongue, tenderly circled it, taking in the taste of it and loving what he got. He lightly darted his tongue across Bucky's with gentle touches before retreating back, inviting Bucky to take the lead. And man did he take some.

Bucky's hand moved from around Steve's shoulder to the back of his neck as his tongue invaded Steve's mouth. The dark haired man immediately took control and tilted Steve's head to the side. The kiss turned heated soon.

Bucky's tongue danced around Steve's, he finally understand what Bucky's dates meant back in the day when they said Bucky had been the best kiss they ever had. He was delighted to get a demo firsthand.

Ah, kiss me once, then kiss me twice Then kiss me once again It's been a long time

It felt surreal. To be like this, to touch each other like this, to kiss each other like this. They'd dreamed of it for so long and now that it finally came all true, they didn't believe it. Their hold tightened around each other, refusing to let go if it was a figment of their imagination by any chance.

It wouldn't be wrong to say that they were truly and wholly lost each other. Bucky didn't know how good it felt loosing yourself in someone, in the right one, until that moment. Because he'd never found anyone right until then. Words couldn't convey how glad he was now when he did find.

Neither Steve nor Bucky cared how inappropriate it might seem to others. None of them were fans of getting the show going in public, but they didn't care about it then.

Earlier the society didn't vibe with their preference of 'right', and then time. Like hell if they were going to let public intervene this time.

Haven't felt like this my dear Since I can't remember when It's been a long, long time You'll never know how many dreams I dreamed about you Or just how empty they all seemed without you

There was one another thing though. Steve pulled back immediately, eyes wide and panicked. Bucky looked alarmed after watching Steve that way. He worried he'd overstepped a boundary, but let out a sigh of relief when he said, "Are they still on us?"

Bucky's eyes peered over their surrounding from behind Steve's shoulder covertly. None of the goons were in his direct line of sight. He doubted their attendance in the mall. After all, they'd been kissing, or rather making out for quite sometime.

Corners of lips turning into smirk, Bucky said, "We left 'em behind."

Steve exhaled. Hands still around him, His eyes looked deeply into Bucky's blown pupils before drifting down to his swollen lips and and then back up. He was at debate with himself internally, not sure whether what he wanted to do was right or not.

Bucky could see Steve at conflict. He softly spoke, "What is it, Stevie?"

Steve chewed of his lips, "Is it okay to keep kissi-"

Oh, over a hundred years old and still a dumbass.

"Just shut up and kiss me, punk." Bucky said, leaning forward with his love crazy grin.

"Jerk," Steve leaned forward too, lip locking once again.

They started from just where they left with renewed vigour. It was heated, and hungry. And passionate. And needed. And desired. And wanted - yeah, you get it.

Their hands roamed about each other until Steve's settled around Bucky's perfect round ass. Steve groped it and damn did it feel good. Bucky jumped slightly and curled his legs around Steve's waist, who kept quiet a hold of his beefy thighs and butt to keep him stable.

Steve pushed Bucky further into the wall and Bucky's one arm loops around Steve's shoulder while the other slid into his hair, lightly scaling his nails through his scalp. Steve shuddered under Bucky's touch as his tongue worked magic inside his mouth.

Though every fiber in them was aware of the other's presense; other's magical touch, it still felt felt dreamlike. They were glad it was their reality.

Truly, Steve was never as good at escaping trouble than he'd been at finding it.

Yet it was a trouble - if someone dared call it that - he never planned on getting rid of.

So kiss me once then kiss me twice Then kiss me once again It's been a long, long timeLong, long time

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xhanisai · 5 years

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Speak Now, Regret Later.

A/N: OKAY! So this anon sent an amazing ask to the terrible-akuma-ideas blog and I was instantly inspired to write something related to it- I legitimately burst out laughing and oh god I hope you all enjoy this! I think we all need a little breather from the Chat Blanc teasers. Without further ado, read on~

(Co-Posted on AO3 and FFN) ~(x)~

The silence has never been so loud. Not even a pin drop was to be heard in the park across the Dupain Cheng Bakery. The bespeckled couple along with their blonde companion stood as still as statues, arms stretched out and mouths gaping with fear and failure. They were too slow to save their friend...if only they were a second faster...if only one of them was even a smidge closer to the raven haired girl... Marinette could have sworn that her heart stopped beating, hands clamped against her mouth and eyes close to bulging out of their sockets. The cackling akuma before her, dressed in the most hideous attire ever since Le Bubbleur made his debut. The akuma's hands stop glowing in its sinister, gold colour along with Marinette's body. "Heh, now I wonder what interesting inner thoughts will escape you now, Class President!" The akuma- also self-claimed as 'Unprivatiser', cocked his head to the side in mock innocence. The akuma's power seems to have control over Marinette's hands as well from the way they were slipping down from her mouth despite her iron will. "Will they be as embarrassing as mine? Will they humiliate you just like the way everyone else humiliated me? Will we finally see if Miss Perfect of our collegé really is perfect?"

Marinette naturally sunk her teeth into her lips, shaking and attempting everything to keep her mouth shut. One wrong move and she could blurt out her secret identity, dooming Paris along with her normal life and fail her partner. "Leave her alone!" Adrien bellowed, finally getting his legs to move and formed a human wall between the akuma and Marinette, arms spread wide. Nino and Alya yelled in agreement, forming the wall with him to protect their girl. "Why did you shoot her when she's the one who helped you back up? I thought you'd go for Chloe first!" The emerald eyed boy made subtle gestures to Alya and Nino, indicating that they take Marinette away whilst he stalls Unprivatiser for some time. Unknowingly to them, he was risking his secret identity too and judging with how Plagg's claws were digging into his chest through the inner pocket, he doesn't have much time and he better not mess this up. "That's the thing! Just because she helped me back up doesn't mean she didn't have any nasty thoughts running through her head. I want to know what she really was thinking when she supposedly helped me up. Did she think I was pitiful and gross? Did she think I was a tramp? It feels too good to be true for the school's sweetest girl in the world to help out a boy who pissed himself without any judgemental thinking, right?" Suddenly, Marinette's will completely shattered and her mouth opened without consent. "Oh my God, oh my God! If anyone finds out that I take bites out of Kit Kats, they'll have my head!" The girl grasped her hands back towards her mouth, oblivious to everyone else's dumbstruck faces and internally begged her body to listen to her mind. Her hand and mouth seemed to think otherwise. "I also like drinking ice cold water straight after brushing my teeth because the sting helps wake me up better than coffee!" Was the next thing Marinette blurted out. The only thing she could do was pace and her hands tugged on her twin tails. Nino and Alya exhaled in relief, thanking heaven for not ruining Mari's day. "Hey- Le Papillon? What the hell is this?" The butterfly silhouette appeared over Unprivatiser's face, irritation pumping through his veins. Thus, a one-sided argument was heard and Adrien took the opportunity to usher his friends out of the danger zone. He kept his hands behind Marinette's shoulders and nodded towards the others to follow him so that they can hide elsewhere. Much to his dismay, Alya had her phone whipped out to livestream the villain whilst Nino slumped to his knees in hopelessness. Once his girlfriend makes a decision, she sticks to it, no matter what. Shaking his head, he supposed that with them two out of the way, it would be easier to find a secluded place to transform. First, he needs to get Marinette to safety. "We'll head to your bakery, how does that sound?" Adrien asked gently and squeezed her shoulders reassuringly as he sped them towards her home. "N-N-No! Ack! Your father is supposed to be a fashion designer so what's with the revolting candy cane, white mocha frappuccino, whipped cream looking ass clothes he wears on a daily basis!?" The girl snapped her hands back against her mouth in horror, wishing for the ground to swallow her up. "White...mocha...frappuccino...?"

That's it... Forget about secret identities... She's clearly going to be hated by Adrien forever, never get married with him and have their three kids and a hamster, also get blacklisted from every fashion industry in Europe and die ALONE- "Pffft-" Her pitiful monologue within her chaotic mind was halted by an uncharacteristic snort from the blonde. That soon turned into laughter despite Adrien holding a fist against his lips. Before they knew it, he burst out laughing like no tomorrow, hooting against the wall and clutching his stomach. Tears streamed out of his eyes as he kept repeating what she said over and over again. Marinette didn't know whether to be embarrassed or savour this moment; it was the second time she's ever heard him laugh so freely ever since he gave her that umbrella in the rain. "W-W-White mo-mocha frapp-frappuccino! Oh man! I can't unsee that now! Hahahah!" He collapsed on the floor, ignorant to any passerbyers' worried glances or mischievious expressions. "I can't believe it! Pffft!" "If you keep laughing like that, you'll make the sun envy you because of how much you shine compared to it..." Her tone was soft and loving at first but Marinette quickly gritted her teeth to prevent herself from saying anymore. Damn akuma...damn Adrien and his beautiful laugh! The boy appeared to be awestrucked from her words, clearing the laughter away from his system and butterflies erupted in his stomach. He lowered his eyes sweetly with a chortle, cupping one of her hands with his and beamed. "Thank you, that's very sweet of you, Marinette," He didn't mind the way his heart richotated against his chest like it usually does around Ladybug. He's already had his freakout from his sudden discovery of his growing feelings for his shy classmate, months ago. Or perhaps they were there all along? He's not going to admit it out loud to avoid a smug, insufferable kwami though. "Not as sweet as the three containers of sugar I devoured when I was five." The poor girl smacked her forehead and growled, cursing the akuma whilst it continued to argue with Le Papillon in the park. Adrien bit his lip to avoid laughing again. Though it was oh so tempting to tease her... It wouldn't harm anyone, would it? Just to let a bit of his Chat Noir side seep out? "Is that so~?" He smirked. Marinette instantly grasped his game, a cute scowl took over her face as she took a step back. Adrien took a large step forward in retaliation. He should go and transform right now...but teasing Marinette is so fun! Surely Ladybug won't mind if he's late for a minute or two, considering how harmless the akuma is? "When I first saw snow, I thought it was icing sugar and proceeded to try and eat it." Mari sucked her teeth in, walking backwards, trying to get away from the devious blonde. "How adorable, do tell more," He followed her steps, arms behind his back. He didn't care that they were headed to some random direction instead of the safe destination he wanted Marinette to be at earlier on. "Grrr- I freaked out when I visited a farm a couple of years ago because some chickens stole my crisps. They were roast chicken flavour and I thought they committed cannibalism!" "Oho?" "Turns out, they were only artificially flavoured." "Thank God for that," "I wish God was nice to me for once and allowed me a day where I don't embarrass myself." She systematically glared at the sky before back at the snickering model. "I wouldn't say that this is embarrassing," "Yeah you're right, not as embarrassing as when I accidentally called Monsieur. Damocles 'Papa' last week," "I think that's also very cute." Adrien's grin broadened when Marinette's back hit a lampost, leaving her no room to run now. The cat and mouse game has finally come to an end- an inside joke he sadly couldn't say out loud despite how fitting it was for the situation due to secret identities. "Not as cute as that little baby with its parents over there, I hope one day my kids look as cute as them," Marinette was distracted by the family scurrying away from the park, a subtle smile rested on her lips. Adrien felt his heart skyrocket and let out an inaudible gasp. He leaned into her face, prompting her to flush and look away. She so was going to kill him after the akuma is purified. "They definitely will be since their mother is so beautiful," Boldly, Adrien brushed his knuckles against her fringe, gazing into her with such strong intensity that Marinette could have sworn that she was looking at... Chat Noir. "You remind me of a certain feline who made himself home with half of my heart,"

Sapphire orbs and emerald orbs widened simultaneously with matching gasps, inducing the former to dash off with a squeal and bidding goodbye to any potential romantic chances she had with Adrien. After all, who on earth compares their best friend to their crush when he's flirting with you? Why was he flirting with a klutz like her in the first place?! "You have terrible tastes in women!" Marinette cried out mournfully, not looking back to see Adrien's reaction. If she did, she would have seen how his face took on a raspberry hue, one hand grasping his face and eyes still wide. His heart thundered and his body shook ever so slightly. "Plagg...? Does that mean...she's still in love with Chat Noir?" The lazy God popped his head out of his safe pocket and narrowed his eyes with a smirk. "Ooooh? What's with that face? I thought Princess was 'just a friend' to you, kid." This caused the blood to flare up in Adrien's cheeks again. He could feel the vibrations of Plagg's quiet laughter for goodness sake! Swallowing down his pride, Adrien shook his head. "Don't tease me now...you're the first to point out my crazy crush on her anyways..." Plagg didn't get a chance to retort back as the sounds of the akuma yelling and the crowd scattering filled the air. "Anyone who disagrees with the fact that mayonnaise and pizza is a Godly combination, deserves to face my wrath! Especially the pineapple-stans!" "If I have to suffer with the fact that our intestines are basically eels in our body, so do you!" "I can't break the habit of dipping my fries in my milkshakes..." "My boss still hasn't realised that I'm the one who stole his donuts!" "I feel like pissing on the moon." "What is love~! Baby don't hurt me! Don't hurt me! No more~" "I don't know whether to be horrified or amused with how similar Gabriel Agreste's hair looks compared to a duck's ass- oH SHIT HIS SON HEARD ME-" Stifling another laughing fit, Adrien darted off to a remote alleyway to finally transform. Contrary to popular beliefs, everytime someone makes a dig or jab at his father, Adrien can't help but agree most of the time. There is no justification for such horrendous hair after all- and his daily clothing now that he thinks about it. "Heheh...mocha frappuccino though Plagg..." His snickers started to build up, regardless to his kwami's groans. Thankfully, he composed himself in a matter of seconds and transformed. ~(x)~ "Long time no see, My Lady!" Chat Noir performed a perfect acrobatic flip, landing elegantly on his feet and grinned with his iconic cheshire smirk. It was wiped off after Unprivatiser dodged another one of Ladybug's yoyo swings whilst she tried to clamp her mouth shut with her free hand. She leapt back so that she was by Noir's side, smiling painfully before smacking her hand back on her lips. Chat suddenly realised the severity of the issue, letting out a colourful swear for wasting time earlier on and was about to clasp his hands against her lips when her hands fell. Ladybug CANNOT reveal her identity! "It took you long enough you slowpoke! Any second later and I'd have blurted out how I fell asleep in my bowl of cereal this morning!" Well, too late for that. "Where were you? Busy flirting with other girls? Hmmph!" It was literally killing the boy to not laugh right now. "Just the one, Bugaboo~ You remind me of her a lot so I suppose I have a type?" Chat mused out loud, dodging the beams that Unprivatiser threw. Whilst the villain shrieked for their miraculouses, the black cat continued. "Jealous?" He twirled his baton to deflect more of the beams, in sync with Ladybug twirling her yoyo. "I shouldn't be but I bloody I am," Just like that, Chat Noir's whole world came to a halt and Ladybug's pride was finally tattered to smithereens. "W-What?" "Don't make me say how you've already infected half of my heart with your stupid gooey kitty eyes and dumb affections and annoying power of turning my heart into a jackhammer every time you're near!" The blonde teen couldn't believe his ears. "Holy shit..." He whispered softly. "This isn't real..." Their distraction costed them dearly. The duo was instantly engulfed in the akuma's golden beam, the boy admonishing for the jewels once again and made his displeasure of their 'flirting' clear. "Just hurry up and gimme! I have the most dumbest power ever and if I get those jewels, butterfly man will give me an upgrade so that I can finally teach Bourgeois a lesson!" Unprivatiser ignored the old villain's muttering of "It's Le Papillon you brat..." in his mind, getting ready to tackle the heroes. "I'm already a bit of a stereotypical blonde dummy and I don't need your dumb powers to dumb me down even further! Though to be fair the amount of anime I have watched has stunted my view on social norms-" Chat spluttered out without control, close to slapping his hand against his lips by instinct. However, he processed his words and hummed. "This isn't too bad, right Lovebug?" He cheekily elbowed her side with a wink, heart fluttering from her sudden confession and mind still trying to process that. "At least you didn't have to make a fool out of yourself in front of the two boys you love," She dragged them both away to another rooftop with the swing of her yoyo. She really wanted to just get rid of this akuma and run back home without a word but her mind was already combusting to the brim with unsaid words that desperately wanted to be spilled. "You love me too?!" Chat almost lost his footing. "B-B-But I think I love the other girl too-" "FANTASTIC! Perfect timing! The moment I lost my chance with the other dumbass and finally confess to you after so long-" "That long!?" "MISS WONDER GIRL decides to show up and now you're smitten with HER!" "To be fair, I was crushing on her ever since I met her-" "REMARKABLE! I really am destined to be alone! All cos I told him that he reminded me of you!" "Wait- WHAT-" Chat Noir didn't get a chance to comprehend the puzzle he's accidently solved. "JUST. GIVE. ME. YOUR. MIRACULOUSES!" Unprivatiser shot himself against the building the heroes were standing on like a bullet, demolishing it into pieces. He was fast but they were much faster. Ladybug and Chat Noir landed on the barren street. Their bodies seem to be on attack mode but their minds were still in a huge mess. "OhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGod-" Was all that Chat was able to muster, never letting his lovestruck eyes leave his Lady's form as she summoned her lucky charm. "I knew it, I called it, I KNEW THAT YOU'RE- wait...is that Lucky Charm..." . . . "...White mocha frappuccino? Like Gabriel Agreste's ugly clothes?" Neither her nor Unprivatiser were able to exchange anymore words as Chat Noir abruptly collapsed into a puddle of guffaws and laughter. His fists slammed against the floor and he was unable to stop the words from spilling his mouth over and over again. "Oh man...it was only ever one guy I made myself a fool of..." Ladybug sighed out, albeit fondly. She'll freak out later but for now, she's got a job to do. "N-Now, now! I recall mentioning that it was cute a few time, Princess," Chat heaved himself off the floor, leaning against his Lady's shoulder for support so that he doesn't fall into another laughing fit again. "...It's not fair that you've barely said any embarrassing things despite getting hit by the beam," Ladybug puffed a cheek out, tossing the frappuccino at the akuma's lower midriff when he tried to attack again, soaking him instantly. "That's because I am the incarnate of embarrassment anyways. Plus, I always say what's on my mind regardless. Like that one time I asked what Pere and Mere were doing in the dark when I stumbled into their room- I think I was five? Maybe four-" He softly cataclysmed the cloak that Unprivatiser wore, replaced by ashes and a fluttering corrupted butterfly. The magic wore off and in place was a timid looking boy wearing the spare clothes that the school gave him after his accident. "Weren't they hugging? That's what my parents always tell me every time I enter their room after hearing weird noises." She purified the butterfly and performed the miraculous cure. "Oh my God...are you really that innocent?!" Chat only received a confused blink from her. A blush took over his face and his need to protect her increased by tenfolds. ~(x)~

The dynamic duo comforted the poor boy for a bit, giving him an extra confidence boost before leaping away as their final minutes beeped in their miraculouses. Naturally, Ladybug and Chat Noir chose a deserted classroom in their school as their destination, considering how lunch time was almost over. A heavy silence was left in the air and the two couldn't help but look anywhere else but at each other's eyes. Their transformation crackled away in sync, leaving behind two astonished teenagers and their hungry companions (the kwamis dived into Marinette's purse to ensure that their charges had some privacy). It was one thing to know. It was another thing to see. Marinette connected her two pointer fingers, looking down at them as her cheeks pinkened into a delightful sakura shade, tempting Adrien to kiss them. The boy in question had a hand itching the back of his head but couldn't help but let a silly smile grow on his lips. One look at his face had Marinette's follow suit. They snickered at first, trying hard to stay composed but one more glance at each other caused them to break out into giggles. What an eventful day! "I can't believe I got outed by a frappuccino- heh!" Adrien joyfully opened his arms, inviting Marinette to step into them so that he could wrap her in an embrace. The girl wrapped her arms around his waist, sighing happily into his chest. "Don't know if it beats me getting outed by confessing that I confessed to you that I liked you...?" Her nose scrunched up charmingly. "That makes no sense." "You rejected me, for me, I rejected you, for you but fell in love with you despite you and you fell in love with me despite me, yes, ten out of ten sense in the romance department." Marinette rolled her eyes at Adrien's dramaticness. "All of this drama and heartache could have been resolved if it weren't for the identities, Chaton! Ugh!" "Please...my brain hurts too much already from all of this." "I want to go home and scream into my pillow, or devour every single pastry at the bakery...anything to keep my mouth busy," "Oh?" Slowly, Marinette pulled away, only getting as far as a few centimeters away due to the way Adrien's arms locked itself around her body. He didn't seem to intend on letting her go anytime soon. "You could..." She bit her lip, not missing the way his eyes flickered down there for a second. "Kiss me instead?" Adrien's eyes darkened at her request and brought his hands to cup her cheeks and tilt it upwards so that their eyes could meet. He moved closer with a careful procision. He tilted his head at a perfect angle and his fingers dug into her dark tresses. Their foreheads were now touching, letting their hair entangle with one another and their chests were pressed against the other. Marinette let her eyes flutter shut the moment she felt his warm breath hit her lips whilst her heart was close to exploding in anticipation. Their lips brushed every so softly and then- "You know, we still have to talk about your unlawful ways of eating a Kit Kat." The moment was gone. . . . ~(x)~ A/N: It's almost five in the morning... I hope you're all h a p p y .

#my writing #my fanfiction #ml #mlb #ml fanfic #miraculous Ladybug #miraculous Ladybug and chat noir #ladybug #chat noir #adrien agreste #marinette dupain cheng #alya cesaire #nino lahiffe #gabriel agreste #plagg #tikki #i'm gonna sleep so goodnight #well more like morning

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