#the tyrant the fairy and the au pair

[griseldagimpel]

dduana's advice to would-be writers got me thinking about what the theme of each of my novels is.

The Tyrant, the Fairy, and the Au Pair is about who gets to be a hero. That's the thread that runs through the story.

The Devil's Den, which is still being edited, is about the anxieties of the pandemic and everything surrounding it.

And The Cabin on Deer Creek Lake, the Diana Wynne Jones homage novel I'm writing, is about how adults fail and hurt children.

#Writing #The tyrant The fairy and the au pair #The Devil's Den #The Cabin on Deer Creek Lake

[luvendiary]

of moons and crowns / r. lupin

remus lupin x reader; royal!au

part 2

a/n: hiiii! i've been mia for a bit now. life's been pretty hectic. i've had this one on the drafts for a really long time, so in my spare time i've been slowly adding to it, and i think i got carried away. there's a part 2 in the works, so let me know if you'd like to see that. also i'm really sorry for all the requests i haven't put out. there's some that i have already started. i'll try my best to get to them. but honestly, i try to work on what inspires me rather than the order in which they were sent since i can't dedicate a lot of time to this anymore because of college. as always, let me know what you think. also, i think this is the first marauders fic i publish!

summary: the life of a servant in the palace was hectic. the life of a servant in the palace who so happened to get along with the princes, was even more so.

It wasn’t everyday that a royal ball was announced. Especially not one where the three crowns would be attending. 

The kingdom was buzzing with excitement, and even whilst doing your daily chores you could not be spared of the gossiping and chattering.

“Do you think that both Black princes will attend?” one of the maids -Lucy- asked dreamily from across the small pond you were washing your clothes at. 

“I sure hope so!” another chimed in. “But I have my eye on the Crescentwatch prince…” she continued dreamily.

“I’ve heard he is quite handsome”, you said with a giggle. As you couldn’t help but to offer your two cents of the conversation. 

“You already have two handsome princes in your palm,” she said in a joking manner. “Leave some for the rest of us.”

“I can assure you Eva, that Sirius and I have no romantic intentions with each other. And as for James…well, he is James”, you explained simply as you splashed a bit of water into your fellow maid,

Your friendship with the princes was a strange phenomenon. Royalty would usually limit themselves with interactions amongst their social ranking, however thanks to your time working with the Most Noble House of Black, an out-of-odds friendship had sparked with the heir. Truth was, your time with them had not been a fairy tale. In fact, it had been quite the opposite. You had experienced their abuse and mistreatment first hand whilst working for them. And last time the Blackhaven monarchs had visited the kingdom, they made sure to make your life impossible, just for old times sake. You were no stranger to the Kingdom of Blackheaven’s tyrant rulers. But you were also no stranger to the kindness of their heir. Sirius Black had been your only distraction from the torment of the monarch’s unending chores.

Your friendship with Sirius started one night when he found you out in the gardens after a particularly cruel punishment from King Orion. Your hair was a mess, and angry tears had rolled down your blotched face. 

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

You had been pacing angrily and muttering to yourself about how you would give him a piece of your mind one day. How you couldn’t care less about losing your head if that meant you could be far from them. 

In a moment of pure anger and frustration, your hand flew out in a fist and hit a tree. You had immediately regretted that, as all you received back was a pair of bloody knuckles. 

“You might want to be more careful”, an amused voice said, immediately flooding you with panic. The previous heat that had been flowing through your body because of the anger vanished. Being replaced with dreadful cold instead. 

“Your majesty…” you breathed out, as you straightened your posture. There in front of you stood Sirius Black in all his glory. His long hair was tied up, and his white shirt was sloppily tucked in his waistband. 

For a brief moment you considered acting as if nothing had happened. As if he hadn't caught you cursing the absolute hell out of his parents. But you were tired. You could not put up a front anymore.

Your body deflated visibly once again, and you ran a hand through your hair. 

“I would say that I’m sorry for my imprudent behavior, my prince. But that would be a lie”.

A moment of silence passed between you two. You patiently waited for him to say something. A death sentence maybe. However the next thing that came out of his mouth was far from that. 

Laughter boomed from deep within his chest, making your head snap up immediately. Was he mocking you? Was death just a joke to him? For a brief moment you chastised yourself from expecting anything different from the Black Heir. After all, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. 

“I would greatly appreciate it if you didn’t mock me. I doubt that death is a laughing matter, even for royalty”.

Sirius’ laughter dissolved into small chuckles. “Death? What do you mean?”

“My execution. I got punished earlier today because I poured the king the wrong type of wine. I highly doubt that you'll let me off the hook with just a warning for badmouthing them”.

A flash of anger and hurt passed through Sirius’ eyes before a soft grin adorned his features. “Lucky for you, I’m not my parents”.

Confusion made its way to your features. “So you won’t kill me?”

“Why would I do that?” he said approaching you. He inspected you for a moment before taking your hand and eyeing your bloody knuckles. 

He dragged you to a nearby bench and without hesitation ripped a part of his shirt before proceeding to carefully -but sloppily- wrap your wounds with it.

You stayed quiet through it all. The correct thing would have been protest and decline his acts of service. He was royalty after all, and you were supposed to be attending him. But you were so tired. 

“Let me see it”, he spoke up after a while. 

“What?” 

“Your punishment”.

You glanced up at him with tired eyes. You considered sparing him from the sight of the marks on your back. But to hell with everything. He should know what his servants were going through under his father’s reign. He was going to be king one day after all, and he needed to know if a change was going to be made.

You turned your back to him and carefully unbuttoned the back of your dress. The fabric had been scratching at your new injury, making it redder than it already was. 

There in between your shoulder blades was a deep scorch mark in the shape of  the king’s crest. The wound was deep from the several burnings you had gotten over the years. Some were even unaligned from their usual place. A result of your trashing and pleading for mercy.

You expected a gasp or an indication of surprise from the prince. But you heard nothing. Instead, from your peripheral vision you saw him uncorking a small vial of a dark purple paste. He dipped his fingers into it and carefully smeared it on your back. 

The cool sensation of the paste combined with his fingers on your skin and the stinging of your wound, made you tense up. 

“I’m no stranger to my father’s rage” he whispered.

Only then did it occur to you that the rumors of Sirius’ rebellious personality and his constant acting out in events might not please Walburga and Orion. 

“Has he branded you too?” you asked bluntly.

“Yes, but not with the family crest. That would mean that he’d had to consider me his property. And if it were up to him, he would have disinherited me a long time ago”, he explained as he closed the vial. “He prefers a simpler method when it comes to me”, he continued. 

You did not expect him to show you anything. Royalty tended to protect their honor in that way. They didn't want to appear weak, especially not in the presence of their subjects. But Sirius kept surprising you. Slowly, he untucked his shirt and lifted it just enough for  you to see the lash marks that peeked over his stomach and seemed to take root from his back. 

You didn’t say anything. Your hand twitched in your lap, aching to trace the scars and maybe provide the same attendance that he had offered you. But you stopped yourself and instead just looked at him, eyes full of exhaustion. 

“Why haven’t you abdicated? You can get out of here. I’ve heard of your friendship with Prince James and Prince Remus. Everyone knows that the Noblehaven royal family would take you in in a heartbeat”.

He chuckled. “I hardly think it's fair to leave my kingdom behind. I want to free my people of my parent’s torture. And I think that his anger is a sign that I’m going in the right direction. It means that I’m making  changes -changes he doesn’t approve of”.

You chuckled. “I’d hardly call getting drunk during the Queen’s Jubilee making changes”. 

He laughed. “No one ever speaks to me like that”.

“Does that mean that I just got myself a death sentence?” 

He smirked, “It means I like you. You say what you mean. Unapologetically”.

You chuckled and smiled to yourself. You wouldn’t admit it to him, but you thought you liked him too.

Ever since then, your meetings with Sirius had become more frequent. Whenever his father decided to punish either of you, the other would attend to their wounds. You would both bond over your dislike for his parents and would never fail to make the other laugh. 

It wasn’t until one particular bad punishment that Sirius decided he needed to get you out of there as quickly as possible. So against your wishes, he arranged for you to be presented as a “gift”  to the royal family of Noblehaven. 

“You can’t be serious!” you screamed as you stormed into his chambers.

“I’m always Sirius,” he said, unbothered by your anger.

“You can’t just gift me away! I won’t go!”

Sirius closed his book and slowly looked up at you. “I’ll miss you too. I’ll miss you so much. But I can’t keep seeing you get punished. It’s not fair. I already talked with James. He’ll take care of you. You’ll be in good hands, I promise”. You noticed a teary smile make its way to his face. “You’ll be safe”.

You tried to stay mad, you tried so hard to not break. But a sob managed to escape your lips and you crushed into his body as you wrapped your arms around his torso. 

“I can’t leave you Sirius. I can’t go knowing you’re still here. Who will take care of your wounds?”

He laughed, amused by your protests. Truth was, you did so much more than just take care of his wounds. He couldn’t imagine his life these past years without you. But for your own good, he will have to now. “I can manage”, he replied as he hugged you back and buried his nose in your hair.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

The Noblehaven royals had done right by their promise. They provided you with far more commodities than the Blacks ever did. You had also managed to befriend Prince James. You often found him in the halls and he made sure to send a flirty comment your way, which you always replied with a sickly sweet voice, pretending to swoon with his advances. Your whole act was amusing for him. Which is why he also liked to search for you whenever you had work to do, so he could chat your ear off. 

It was to no surprise then, that when the ball was announced, James had come running to you to give you the news. You were over the moon when you realized you’d see Sirius again soon, which had put you in a fantastical mood for the rest of the day. Perhaps in too good of a mood, since you had forgotten that Sirius would not be coming alone.

Your thoughts were interrupted by the sound of your fellow maids, as they called out your name. You hadn’t realized you had been harshly scrubbing the coarse fabric against your skin, causing it to turn visibly red. You looked up to find the girls already looking at you with amused expressions.

“I think someone’s waiting for you,” one of them said as she subtly signaled to something behind you. 

Following her gaze, you came to find none other than James standing by the outhall of the gardens. Your heart immediately jump started. He could possibly bring news of Sirius.

“I’ll be right back,” you said, smiling apologetically at your friends.

The two of them giggled before easing your worries, offering to take your basket of unwashed clothes in with them if you weren’t back by the time they were done. 

You thanked them quickly before skipping over to the prince.

“Your highness”, you said as you curtsied.

James chuckled and offered you a little bow of his own. “My lady, I bring pleasing news for you”.

“Get over with it James!” you said as you punched him lightly. “Sirius is coming right? Will I be able to see him? Please don’t let me be their maid in waiting again!”.

“Calm down dearest”, he said as he patted the arm that had been previously interlocked with his. “The Blacks did send in a particular request for you, and unfortunately it’s not mine to deny”.

Your posture deflated immediately. You were so lost in your thoughts that you hadn't noticed James leading you to the guest wing of the palace.

“We're here…” he said as he let your arm go. 

Your eyes immediately went wide. “They're here already?!” you whispered harshly. “I can’t go in there! They’ll kill me if I show up like this!” you rambled as you pointed to the tethered dress you wore. 

“It’ll be alright. I won’t leave your side”, he assured you. Although his words did little to calm you down, you knew they couldn’t cause you actual harm in here. Which is why you weren’t throwing an absolute fit over the situation. You were a maid after all, and it was your duty to do as the royals requested.

You sighed and attempted to fix your clothes along with your wild hair which had begun to set itself free from the braid you had constricted it into just this morning. “I thought you were supposed to give me good news…” you mumbled before straightening up and reaching for the door handle, missing completely the grin James was trying to suppress.

You prepared yourself mentally for facing the two most terrible people you ever had the displeasure of meeting. But you were surprised to find one figure instead of two. He was the same as his father, except that he was totally different in all the right ways. His sharp features had never looked so beautiful to you, and his tied up hair was a good sign. He felt comfortable.

Your hands immediately flew up to cover your mouth and you felt your knees buckle. “Sirius…” you whispered as a huge smile morphed your face.  

“Well, don’t just stand there…” he said with a laugh as he opened his arms, inviting you in for a hug. 

You wasted no time immediately running up to him and jumping into his arms. “I’m so happy to see you!”

“I´m happy to see you too,” he said. You felt his chest rumble with deep laughter, and it just settled in the fact that he was here.

“Oh god…” you separated immediately from him. “Where are your parents? They're going to kill me”, you whispered frantically.

“That's the best part,” James jumped in as he wrapped his arm around Sirius cheerfully. “They are not coming”. 

The revelation that the dreaded Black monarchs were not attending the royal ball lifted a tremendous weight off your shoulders. The relief was palpable, and you couldn't help but feel grateful to whatever twist of fate had kept them away.

Sirius noticed your visible relief and chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "No need to worry. James and I have our ways of handling them. We convinced them that attending this ball would not align with their interests. Besides, they've grown tired of these social gatherings."

You exchanged a glance with James, who winked at you playfully. It seemed the princes had orchestrated this whole scenario to ensure your peace of mind. Your gratitude towards them deepened, and you couldn't help but smile at the thoughtfulness of your friends. You also couldn't help but to think of what Sirius had implied. It wasn’t in the likes of the Blacks to show weakness such as exhaustion. They would always make sure to show other kingdoms their coldness and unwavering manner. But if what Sirius said was true, maybe Walburga and Orion’s reign was coming to an end. Maybe it was finally time for Sirius to step up to the throne and finally lead Blackhaven into prosperity. No wonder he looked so healthy. 

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

As the days leading up to the royal ball unfolded, life within the palace took on a whirlwind of excitement and preparation. Noblehaven was adorned with flowers, banners, and elaborate decorations, creating an enchanting atmosphere in anticipation of the grand event.

Sirius and James, with their usual mischievous flair, took it upon themselves to involve you in the preparations. You had already told them -repeatedly- that your attendance at the ball was not assured, and even if it was it would not be as a guest, but rather as a servant. That did not discourage them, however, from imagining your dress, which was starting to sound more like an elaborate pastry to you.

In the midst of this bustling activity, you found yourself navigating the corridors of the palace on an errand to deliver a message for King Fleamont, James's father. The palace, as majestic as it was, could be quite confusing for someone not accustomed to its intricacies.

In your rush to fulfill your duty, you turned a corner and collided with a figure rushing in the opposite direction. Books and papers scattered across the floor, and the collision left both of you momentarily stunned.

"I'm so sorry! I should have been more careful," you exclaimed, hastily bending down to collect the fallen items. Heat rushed to your face, praying to whoever was listening that this mysterious figure was not any sort of royalty. 

A warm chuckle reached your ears, and you looked up to find a young man with sandy-brown hair and gentle hazel eyes, who was also crouched down, gathering the scattered belongings. Your first instinct was to plead for him not to worry about the mess you had just made, but one look at him had you speechless. 

"No, it's my fault. I was not looking where I was going," he replied with a smile, handing you a few loose papers.

Standing in front of you was none other than Crescentwatch’s own heir, Remus Lupin himself. 

You had heard James and Sirius talking about him. Everyone knew they were basically brothers. The other maids also talked a lot about him. His handsome face, his mysterious scars, his dreamy eyes, and his soft hair. But for some reason you had always seemed uninterested in the topic. You supposed that royal gossip wasn’t as entertaining when you were so close to it. You had enough things to deal with with James and Sirius, adding another royal to the mix didn’t sound as appealing, especially if he would be as rambunctious as the other two. 

Still, the prince’s handsome features were not lost on you.

“I'm so very sorry your majesty!” you said as you offered him a curtsy. 

“Oh please- that's not- '' his words were cut short by a louder voice coming from down the hallway that called your name.

“I've been looking all over for you!” James said as he jogged up to the pair. Next to him, Sirius’ grin widened as he realized who you had just bumped into.

“Ah! So you’ve finally caught the third prince uh?”

“I-” you looked frantically between the three men who now blocked your way to King Fleamont’s study. “I’m sorry, I should’ve looked where I was going”, you said frantically trying to get past them.

James laughed. “I hope that you’re on your way to try your dress on”, he teased.

“Are you sure you’d like to know about my dress or are you more interested in Princess Lili’s gown?” you shot back as you reorganized your papers and combed a hand through your messy-looking hair. 

Sirius laughed, Remus chuckled and James turned red. “That’s what I thought”, you mumbled pleased with yourself. “Besides, the only gown I’ll be wearing is my uniform. The fancier one, if you’d like details.”

Sirius groaned. “But you were supposed to be my date!”

You rolled your eyes and sighed. You would’ve loved to attend the ball with them. They were your closest friends. Despite that, you could not ignore your social standing. It would not be appropriate for a prince (a crown prince, at that), to be seen in such a formal event with a servant. 

“I already get enough comments on how I charmed my way into your bed and out of Blackhaven Sirius. I don’t need more of those, especially when they aren’t true.” 

Sirius sighed dramatically.

Remus spoke up then, “what about me?”

Your shocked expression made a small smile appear on his face. Up until now he had watched you retaliate James’ and Sirius’ comments with ease. Leaving you speechless was something he prided himself with. Even if you had just met a few moments ago, both princes would not stop talking about you. 

“What about you, your majesty?” you asked.

He chuckled at the title. “What if you were my date?”

You glanced around at the boys. James’ mouth hung open, and Sirius had an unbelieving smile on his face. 

“You sly dog…” you heard the latter mutter as you gently tapped Jame’s chin close. 

“Is that an order?” you asked with a small tilt of your head. You still weren’t sure where exactly you stood with him.

“It’s an invitation,” he replied, without missing a beat. 

After a moment of silence -and uninterrupted eye contact with the Crescentwatch prince- a small smile broke its way onto your face, despite you trying to remain serious. 

“Goodbye your majesty,” you said with a curtsy, before turning around and resuming your way to King Fleamont’s study. 

Silence remained amongst the three boys. Each still trying to comprehend what had just happened. 

“So the good news is…”, James said after a moment. “That wasn't a no”.

That seemed to break Sirius off his trance as he jumped onto Remus and started blabbering about how he didn’t know he had it in him. 

Remus however, did not hear a single thing his friends were saying. With a smile still gracing his features, he wondered what his next move would be.

#remus x reader #remus lupin x reader #x reader #remus lupin #marauders era #marauders #james potter #sirius black #remus john lupin #royal au #marauders royal!au

[is-there-gay-in-it]

Mariam Saleh

Title: The Tyrant, the Fairy, & the Au Pair

Category: Book

Author: Griselda Gimpel

Status: Main Character

Orientation: wlw - NOS

Check the read-more to see if Mariam survives, and for other trigger warnings

Mariam survives. Trigger warnings for Religious Fundamentalism, Internalized Homophobia, Depictions of Bigotry, Human Sacrifice, and Child Death.

#wlw nos #main character #book #submission #mariam saleh #the tyrant the fairy & the au pair #griselda gimpel #wlw

[yoongi-sugaglider]

Jungkook x reader

fairy/soulmate au

Warnings: fluff, mentions of war, mentions of bodily injury, ummm...fluff? lol

Word count: Exactly 10k on the dot!!!

A/n note: So this was supposed to be my secret santa/ winter project for December 2020 but some life stuff came up aka my dad had some very severe health issues that kinda broke my brain for a while. He’s doing better now though and I finally was able to just sit and give this story the love it deserved. To @birbdae​ I am so sorry this is late but thank you so much for being patient with me~ Happy belated birthday and I love you bunches~

“Mother, tell me the story again?” The young girl whispered as she clung to the Queen’s multitude of skirts.

“Hush now my love.” The elegant lady gathered her child into her arms, eyes struggling to see her tiny face in the dusky twilight that surrounded them.

“Please Mother, I’m scared…” 

The woman sighed, allowing her silvery hair to fall into her eyes as she pressed her forehead to her child’s and allowed the icy chill that surrounded them to comfort her into speaking.

“Once upon a time, there lived a young maiden so fair that kingdoms bowed down at the very mention of her name.”

“Queen Merialiies, the most powerful of the frost fae.” The little princess sighed, settling into her mother’s arms and allowing the familiar words to comfort her.

“Aye, that she was. And the kindest. A great war ravaged her country. So devastating was it that half the world lost their lives and the balance of life and death were in chaos.”

The Queen clutched her child closer, shivering as her eyes trained intensely on the entrance of the isolated cavern. “When the war was over the maiden emerged from hiding, seeking out her people and gathering them from their hiding places. She knew that if they were to revive the world they would have to come together, for their strength lay in their bond with each other.”

“Because our joined power is always greater than if we are alone.”

The Queen chuckled, nuzzling into her daughter’s hair and placing the most gentle of kisses to her forehead. “Am I telling this story or you my love?”

The child smiled up at her, giggling as she patted her mother’s cheek. “I’m sorry Mother, please, would you keep going?”

“Alright, where was I?”

“You were about to come to the best part!” 

Smiling the Queen nodded, though her grip on her child tightened. “The maiden persevered, gaining strength from her people as they guided the world towards rebirth. But something was wrong. The poor dear, though surrounded by those that loved and adored her felt alone. Something was missing in her life. A love that she could have all to herself. She began searching, hoping to find one who could see through her strength to the innocent and lonely woman within.”

“And she did Mother! She found her own truest love.”

“Shh, quietly my lovely.” Her panicked gaze wandered the dark, listening intently to the wayward sounds that filtered in through the stone and ice.

“You’re right. She found her love. A twin flame to melt away the loneliness in her heart. The one who carried not only a burning love for her, but also the twin pair to her wings.”

The youngling sighed, burying her face in her mother’s chest as her tiny fingers wrapped in the delicate silk of her bodice. “Twin souls. They were happy right? Finding each other?”

“Of course my love. Finding your twin soul is a cause for celebration. And they did. They celebrated for weeks after. Two kingdoms joined together to celebrate the greatest love story in the history of the fae. There was no war, only peace and prosperity.”

The sounds from outside gained in volume. Explosions and cries for help echoed through the cavern as the two held each other close.

“Mother…”

“I know baby. I’m here. It will be okay…”

***

“My Lady where are you?” 

The young woman flinched, tucking herself farther into the frost covered tree as she watched her jailer...lady in waiting, search for her in the gardens down below.

She’d been avoiding the poor harried woman for hours, hoping to not be dragged back to the small cabin they called home and be forced to sit down and study her histories again. The tutor they’d found liked to drone on and on, more busy with facts and numbers than the great stories of heroes and villains that the young woman preferred to daydream about. He’d taken on the job willingly, a poor clumsy scholar that tended more towards the clumsy side despite the brilliance of his mind.

“My lady! Sir Namjoon awaits you! Please stop hiding and come so that he can teach you like we hired him to!”

The woman snorted, knowing she’d be able to hide as long as she needed if it meant she didn’t have to hover protectively over her inkwell while the man droned on. Luck was not on her side this day though. Where normally her fingers would have done their work, gripping tightly to the course bark that wrapped her beloved tree in silvery protection, today they faltered in the cold.

She barely had a moment to react, a silent oh! of surprise slipping from her lips as she took her tumble. The ground rushed up to meet her, its snow covered embrace announcing her hiding spot with a resounding crash.

A gasp echoed through the clearing, swallowed by the sound of rushed footsteps crunching their way through the freshly lain snow. The fallen woman groaned, eyes filled with the sight of the uncaring forest staring down at her as she lay resigned to her fate.

“My Lady you mustn't lay on your back like…” The maid stuttered to a halt, delicate fingers coming up to cover her lips as her eyes filled with misty tears. “Oh...oh your ladyship I...I’m so s…”

“Hush now Solaris. It’s been 14 years.” The woman sat up abruptly, dusting the snow from her dress and rising to brush it off of her back. “I’ve had enough of these woods. Come now, Sir Clumsy britches is waiting for me.”

Solaris couldn’t help the tittering giggle that slipped from her lips. She bowed her head, giving the young woman a small curtsy as they began making their way back towards the village.

“Might I ask why you’re always climbing that tree my lady?” She couldn’t help her curiosity. It seemed her charge was always running off, attempting to find some adventure or another in any attempt to escape her duties.

“Honestly? I’m not sure. I just…” The young woman sighed, fingers brushing at her skirts as she ducked beneath a wayward tree branch and stepped out into the clearing that housed their small cottage. “I’ve always felt like I was searching for something. Even as a child. I suppose I thought if I could see more of the land, see more of the world from up high I’d be able to figure out what that something is.”

“And have you found it my lady?”

The melancholic woman shook her head, pausing at the door to the cottage and glancing once around the clearing. It was a modest little place they called home, situated just inside the wall of trees that surrounded the capital city of their kingdom. They managed to live quietly here, benefiting from the security of the centuries old trees and forest while still being close enough to the large city to fulfill all of their living needs. It was home, though not the one she’d grown up in. That was a fairytale now only to think about in the quiet nights when she tossed and turned with nightmares of the past.

“No...I haven’t found my twin flame. Not...not yet anyway.”

***

“Your Highness! There’s news from the capital!” A hurried Solaris burst through the front door, eyes wide and panicked as she struggled to catch her breath from the obvious nonstop run from the market to their home.

“Goodness Solaris. Take a moment, calm yourself.” The young woman rose from her chair, absolutely grateful for the interruption from Sir Namjoon’s usual rantings as she guided her breathless maid to the chair she’d been occupying.

“Sir Namjoon, would you kindly draw Lady Solaris a cup of water? I’m sure she’d be grateful.”

The usually calm man grew flustered at the request, rushing towards the tiny kitchen area and rifling through the items for the requested object. Surprisingly nothing fell or broke though as the man returned with a tall cup of cold water and handed it to the maid with trembling hands and the tiniest of a dimple filled smile.

“Y...your...your water my Lady.” He muttered, scurrying back to his large stack of books as if terrified to have Solaris’s attention on him for too long.

After allowing the woman to take a few sips to calm herself her mistress took the cup, placing it off to the side and handing over a handkerchief to allow the woman to wipe at her sweat covered brow.

“Now, what’s got you so flustered that you had to burst in here in the most unladylike of manners?” She smiled in amusement as the woman inhaled sharply, almost as if preparing for the most magnanimous of speeches.

“Your highness! The king! He’s come to the capital and he’s calling all the maidens of the kingdom to attend him! It’s required that all, no matter their status, must see him at once!”

“That conquering tyrant.” Where normally she would be calm the woman suddenly burned bright red with a strange fury. “First he takes our country and now he wants all of the maidens to attend to him?” She turned from her hand maid, fury twisting her features as she stomped over to the window to glare out at the surrounding forest.

“No my Lady, you’re mistaken.” Solaris stuttered, sitting up in her chair as she finally allowed her thoughts to settle. “It’s for the First Prince. They’re wanting a marriage of good faith to allow the two kingdoms to integrate peacefully.”

“P..peacefully??” She sputtered as she turned from the window. Throwing her hands in the air she couldn’t help but to rant. “Those hot heads should have thought of that BEFORE they burned our crops and raided our villages! We’d have easily come to a compromise of some sort had they come bearing that same mentality before taking up arms against us!”

“Madame, they…”

“Yes yes I know.” She waved off Namjoon’s words dismissively. “My father didn’t want to send me there. Didn’t want his precious daughter to ‘descend into that den of thieves’” She tossed up air quotes, sarcasm dripping from every word she spoke. “Really, you men and your misplaced pride. It’s ridiculous how foolish you can be when you think with your sword instead of your minds.”

“With our...m..Madam!” The look of shock on the poor scholar’s face would have been priceless any other day. But for some reason the stately lady of the house just wasn’t feeling the need to tease the scholar.

“So how are they doing this?” She made her way to her favorite chair as she spoke, dropping into it with a huff and staring out of the small cottage’s window. The drifting snowflakes outside caught her attention and she watched them dance their way to the ground as she listened to Solaris explain the situation.

“They’ll be sending soldiers to each house bearing invitations for each eligible female.”

“They’ll be tallying each one up too. Make sure they can count each household while they’re at it.” She grumped as she folded her arms on the window ledge and plopped her chin on her forearms.

“More than likely, yes. And adding to that they’ll send the same soldiers out the day of the ball to come and collect the women.” Namjoon chimed in. “They’ll claim it’s a safety precaution but more so it’s to ensure none of them run off.”

“Why would they do that?” Solaris blinked innocently, her dazed expression and glazed eyes giving away how little she understood of the situation. “A ball! Just imagine all of the beautiful dresses we would see. And all of the handsome young men!” Her giggle echoed through the silent cabin. It quickly died off when she realized neither of her companions were sharing in her excitement.

“Honestly, I forget sometimes you weren’t old enough to remember the war and how horrible things were for our kind.” Standing from her window seat she brushed at the gossamer fabric of her dress as if attempting to rid herself of some imagined dust. “When is this ball they have planned?”

“In three days. They’ll begin sending out soldiers in the morning.” Solaris replied, hanging her head sadly.

“I see. Sir Namjoon, we’ll resume my studies once I’ve returned.” She turned away from the teo, making her way to her room and beginning to pack a small selection of her belongings.

“Wh...Miss...what are you doing?” Solaris demanded as she sidestepped the whirlwind of a woman who was now packing small packages of dried meats and medicines from the storage area of the kitchen.

“I can’t be there. If they find me, find out who I am? I just...I have to go.” 

She finished packing, mind a cold void as her determination was already set. After informing the two where she was going she set off, hoping to escape whatever fate was trying to force her way.

***

The woods were lovely, dark, and deep.

She found herself sighing at the sounds that greeted her as she stepped from the tree line to survey her surroundings.

Before her and stretching far off into the horizon was a massive frozen lake, it's surface dappled by the hoof and paw prints of the many animals that dwelled in the safety of the forest beyond and refused to sleep the winter months away. A rare smile graced her lips, one almost as secretive as the hidden cave she turned and began to make her way towards.

Her steps became lighter as she crunched through the snow, the weight of the sudden announcement lifting from her shoulders as she stepped beneath the glistening blue stalactites. The interior was dimly lit from the light that gently filtered through from the ice that protected the entrance from prying eyes.

The only sound that echoed in the place were her unhurried footsteps and a gentle dripping that whispered to her from somewhere further back in the darkness. She'd visited here many times before, a quiet reprieve she'd found several summers ago when she'd come to the lake to escape the insufferable heat of the season.

The locals didn't visit it,claiming it to be haunted by a human's soul that'd taken up residency in the place a millennia ago, back before the wingless race had died off. It suited her perfectly well as it gave her the solitude she needed to allow her poor broken wings a chance to be free.

And she did just that as she dumped her pack beside the cold ashes of the firepit she'd made during her last visit. Unsnapping the corset that since her waist she allowed it to drop beside her pack and stretched out what remained of her wings.

The nerves had died off long ago, the burnt ends though still stung with the phantom pain, a dark reminder of the night her entire childhood was ripped away from her. She sighed, glancing over her shoulders and imagining the wings as they used to be, a swirl of silver color patterned with flames and snowflakes that gave her the glorious joy of flying through the freezing winter air.

Fluttering them once and then twice she stretched them, letting the cold cave air cool them after being compressed within her body heat for so long. It was a shame really, but she didn’t allow herself to dwell on it for too long, she had a camp to make and some relaxing to do.

***

Jungkook had had just about enough of his aides. They hovered at all hours of the day, incessant in their rambling about court protocol and how important it was to not start any fights with the locals. He was well aware.

He’d never even wanted the war that had ravaged the Winter Kingdom. Had begged his father and the generals to try peace over everything else. But in the end the words of a child had gone unheard by the war blinded adults.

So here he sat, shivering violently from the cold as those blasted tittering fools for his aides dashed around his chamber. He could have called on his flaming core to warm him, but after the first day of doing so only to find himself collapsed in the hall from using far too much energy, he’d just decided it was better to suffer the cold than to appear weak in front of his unfortunate enemies.

“Sire! We must leave now. You mustn’t be late for Lord Hoseok’s dance lessons!” The tiny mouse of a man squeaked, trying so very hard to appear contained and in charge despite the dark circles of worry beneath his eyes.

“Jimin, you know that even if I’m early Lord Hoseok will still grind me into the dust for not learning that infernal winter waltz faster.” The Prince frowned, taking in Jimin’s fear-streaked face.

“That may be Your Highness. But should you dally any longer you’ll be late for sword training with Sir Yoongi as well as etiquette lessons with Lord Seokjin. We have to stick to your schedule or they’ll all be displeased and tell your Father!” Jimin squeaked again, petite hands fluttering up to cover the trembling of his lips.

“My father is too busy planning out his next conquest to even pay half a mind to what’s going on with me or my ’schedule’. Never mind…” He sighed, getting up from the window seat he’d been staring out of and making his way out of his room.

“Have Taehyung meet me at dinner. I’ve got something to discuss with him.”

***

The day continued on, lesson after grueling lesson eating away at what little patience the prince had left.

He collapsed into his chair at dinner, too exhausted mentally and physically to pay any mind to the meal scattered out before him.

“Sire, Lord Taehyung has arrived.” 

Jungkook glanced up, a tired smile being all he could come up with for his friend.

“You look like a dog dug you up in the yard and used you as a chew toy then reburied you and shit on the pile of dirt.” The young man commented as he took his place beside the monarch in training.

“You know I could have your head for that.” Jungkook grumped as he tossed a pea from his plate in the young Lord’s direction.

“Ah, you could. But they’d have to catch me first.” His statement was emphasized by the pea he’d caught between two fingers.

He was nothing if not quick. He’d worked long ago as an assassin but now sat as Jungkook’s right hand man as well as his best friend.

Jungkook smiled, probably the first pleasant expression he’d worn in quite some time.

“So my great and glorious super Prince, future king of all that is boiling and frozen, to what do I owe this most prestigious of honors of being called upon and humble myself in your magnanimous presence?”

Jungkook just about choked on his water, laughing and coughing at the ridiculousness that was Taehyung’s words.

“By the flame you’ve been hanging out with Lord Seokjin again haven’t you?” He snorted, dabbing a napkin at his nose to clear out the water that’d streamed out while he was laughing.

“I mean, the man has great taste in puns. As a Master of many things it behooves me to learn the delicate art of insulting royalty at every turn without actually offending them.” Taehyung shrugged, spearing a chunk of glazed carrot and waving it through the air as he spoke.

“Well, I called you here for a favor actually.” The prince leaned forward, eyes taking in the unaffected assassin who’d busied himself munching on the food that Jungkook was decidedly ignoring.

“Is that so? Whelped a brat that needs hiding?”

Jungkook sputtered, cheeks a bright crimson as his eyes darted around the empty dining room.

“Taehyung!!”

“That’s a no. Only virgin cheeks brush that brightly at a subject like that.”

“I’ll have you know!!!”

“Hush now, poppa’s thinking.” Taehyung smirked at the flustered royal. “If it’s not that..hmm…” He tapped his chin, pretending to think long and hard while Jungkook tried to gather his bearings.

“You’ve insulted a young maiden and her father’s come a calling wanting reparations and you need the family off’d?”

“For the love of...Taehyung please!?”  Jungkook collapsed forward, head buried in his arms as he screamed silently into the table cloth. “You’re never allowed near Seokjin again I swear.”

Taehyung snorted, eyes dancing with glee at having gotten under his friend’s skin.

“So, you’re tired of the court and want to escape is it? Get away from the ball daddy King face arranged so you don’t have to marry some country bumpkin ice queen?”

“I!! Wait. No you’re right. That’s exactly it.” Jungkook’s head jerked up, his face a picture of surprise and awe at how astute the man before him was. “How did you know?”

“We’ve been friends for going on 12 years now my little dongsaeng. How could I not know that you’ve been pushed to your limit and need to escape?” Taehyung smiled, reaching across the table and patting Jungkook’s elbow.

“Don’t worry. Hyung will get you out of this castle. I’ll meet you on your balcony at midnight. Pack light and wear that disguise you’re hiding in that secret compartment at the back of your closet.” Taehyung rose, grabbing one last chicken leg as he began to make his way out of the room.

“How did you…” Before he could finish his sentence though the assassin was already gone, having disappeared into the shadowy hall with one last flirtatious wink thrown over his shoulder.

***

The escape from the castle was simple thanks to Taehyung. A cloak and some heavy clothing were enough to disguise the wings that marked the young Prince as the royal that he was.

The two friends departed with reassurances from Taehyung that he’d lead the guards on a few wild goose chases just long enough for the ball to have come and gone. Jungkook counted his lucky stars in thanks for the effectiveness he’d come to rely on in his friend for so many years.

He took flight, the snowflake and flame veins that marked his wings becoming a blur as he darted through the snow covered canopy of the woods that marked the southern boundary of the Winter kingdom’s capital city.

It didn’t matter where he ended up, he just flew, darting here and there through the trees with a freedom and joy he hadn’t enjoyed in flame only knows how long. He allowed his mind to wander, thoughts a chaotic jumble of hopes and dreams he only allowed himself to think of when he was alone in his rooms at night.

Something gave him pause as he flew. He’d been going for quite some time, but a strange light had flashed at him out of the corner of his eye. A blue glittering affair that’d appeared between the trees despite the woods being pitch dark and most of his vision having been obscured by the blur of fluttering snowflakes.

He pulled up quick, wings only barely straining to keep him from slamming into the trunk of a massive tree that’d been in his way. He twisted in the air, eyes seeking the glow and spotting it as the reflection of a strange light glittering off of the surface of a massive frozen lake.

He moved towards it, allowing his curiosity to guide him on. Stopping short at the edge of the lake he hovered, shielding him from view of the woman dancing on the glowing ice.

It was the strangest thing he’d seen, the way the light shone on her twirling frame as she danced through the snow. It was almost as if the entirety of existence had paused for this one moment. Icicles on the tree branches around him chimed their tune, a melody gifted to his ears from the whispering wind to lend a soft winter’s melody to the racing of his aching heart. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, the whirling ice Princess giggling in the snow.

His wings fluttered, prisms of warm light glancing off her form and highlighting the broken and burned stubs of her wings. He knew the look of those wounds and it hurt to think that at some point the war that had torn their nations apart could have taken the joy of flight from such a beautiful fairy. Without thinking he allowed himself to be lifted through the air, his body reacting first to the pull of the sight of her and second to the musicality of her voice as she sang to the winter’s breeze.

The effort of drifting against the freezing weather proved to be too much for the flame that flickered in his core though. His wings faltered, frost having formed along their tips and weighing them down. The ice of the frozen lake rushed towards him and he couldn’t help the cry of fear that broke free of his chest as he crashed through the thick ice. The last he saw of the enchanting maiden was her panicked gaze, eyes wide at the intrusion and lips parted in a frantic yell as his head sunk beneath the surface.

***

A warmth brushed against his skin and he shivered, subconsciously shimmying his body closer to it. His eyelids felt weighed down by the cold, unable to open as he groaned in protest of the aching cold that stiffened his joints and limbs.

“Hush now, the fire will warm you. Just rest and let the heat do its job.”

The soft melody of the femanine voice eased his mind and he buried himself deeper beneath the heavy furs that surrounded his body.

The woman meanwhile continued to stoke the fire, having long since dried herself after diving in to save the hulking form of the foolish fire fairy that’d allowed himself to be pulled into the lake.

She turned her head, shyly eyeing his form as he breathed softly beneath the furs. She couldn’t help but allow herself to admire his soft sleeping face. Watched as his long eyelashes brushed his cheeks and admired the chiseled shape of his jaw.

She was sure that if he were awake his smile would be soft but wide, imagining teeth nibbling at his lower lip as he chuckled at some joke while doe like eyes glittered with his mirth.

Shaking her head she slapped her cheeks. What was wrong with her!? No matter how handsome he might seem this man was an enemy to her people! She scoffed at her own foolishness, though the sound was caught short as she began to question herself.

If he was an enemy why had she risked her life to save him? She’d known instantly from the way the frost had clung to his wings from the brief glimpse she’d caught of him before he’d been pulled beneath the surface of the waves exactly what he was. And yet when she’d seen those soft...brown...panicked eyes sink within the icy grip of the lake something had screamed from within her to save him. It had been pure instinct at the time.

And now as she sat by the fire, admiring the flames as they danced across their wooden fuel she allowed herself to turn her attention back to the strange ache that twisted at her shoulder blades. It’d crept up her spine as she’d been dancing earlier. As the moon’s rays had shone upon her and just before she’d spotted the crashing flame fairy.

She stretched her arms above her head, willing the dull pain to go away. And though her muscles relaxed and her mind stilled the ache remained, just at the base of her wings and tingling up nerves that she’d assumed long dead and gone. It had to have been the heat of the fire.

And so, after tossing a few more logs upon the flame and checking that her rescue was well and truly asleep and tucked in she walked back out into the cold. Her hopes were that the freezing snow would numb the nerves that seemed to want to awaken. As much as she missed flying through blizzards and dancing through the air with the winter cardinals she didn’t much mind having lost them. It was preferred honestly, as those things she missed always reminded her of the one who’d taught her those joys and she just couldn’t bear the thought of being reminded of her beloved and dearly departed mother.

After an hour or so of allowing herself to wander the secluded forest she made her way back to her cave, wings sufficiently numbed and mind at ease. Though the peaceful mindset was instantly chased away when she came back to see the young man she’d rescued moaning and tossing beneath the furs.

Dashing over she dropped to her knees, fingers frantic as she chased his forehead and placed her icy palm against his burning cheeks. Hissing she jerked her hand back. It was known the flame lords ran much hotter than those of her kind, but this amount of heat was worrying. Rising quickly she raced to her pack, pulling out herbs and medicines, sorting through them and selecting a few she knew to be safe for him.

Back to the fire she went, grabbing her tea kettle and filling it with snow from the entrance to melt above the flames. As the kettle began to boil she tossed in the herbs, eyes anxiously darting back and forth to the trembling form that groaned feverishly for his father .

“Hush now dear, I’ll help I promise.” She mumbled, more to comfort herself as she waited for the medicine to brew.

Once it was ready she ladled it into a cup, blowing desperately on it to cool it as she knelt once more by his side. Pushing away a portion of the skins she lifted his head into her lap, brushing at the black hairs that clung to his forehead from the sweat as she cooed softly to him.

“Here now dear one, open your eyes, I need you to take this.” 

He was much too weak to reply to her, muttering in his feverish sleep about poisons and dungeons.

“It’s not poison. It’s holy basil and chamomile. Now drink. It’ll take the fever away.” Her whispered words seemed to calm him. Bringing the cup to his lips she smiled softly as he drank eagerly from the medicine. Eventually he turned his head away, breathing heavily and moaning to himself. The deep husk of his voice twisted her insides, causing a blush to rush to her cheeks as the silken strands of his hair brushed down over his eyes.

She hadn’t noticed that the sides of his head were shaved, something those in the military and the aristocrats of the fire nation tended to do when important events came up.

He must have been intending on going to that fool prince’s ball. She hummed to herself, finding it hard to allow the bitterness that would normally form at the sight of him to rise up within her. He just seemed far too innocent while he slept in her lap. 

Shaking away the butterflies that tried to rise in her stomach she laid him back down on the makeshift pillow she’d made of a rolled up deerskin and tucked the pile of heavier skins back around him. It would take a dose or two more of the medicine to break the fever but she was determined now. He just had to live or the emotions that rose within her would never let her live her own life in peace again.

*** It was unfathomable how two days of caring for someone in such a state could raise such an attachment in her. She’d wiped his brow so many times she’d become familiar with every scar and divot on his face, making up stories for each as to how he could have gotten them.

On the third day he finally awoke, still groggy from the medicated tea but coherent enough to begin eating the gruel she’d made for him.

“Eat slowly now. There’s no point in rushing if you’re just going to throw it all up later.” She whispered to him, knowing that if she spoke any louder the echoes of the cave would only give him a headache.

“Why are you caring for me like this?” he asked, glancing up at her through his eyelashes as he spooned another bite into his mouth.

“I...well.” She paused for a moment, fingers picking at the frayed wood of the stick she’d been using to stoke the fire.

“My mother always taught me that kindness is more important than any grudge we could hold.” Looking up she gave him a soft smile, though a bit of her pain showed through at the mention of the dearly departed Queen.

“She must have been a great lady.” Placing the bowl and spoon at his side he leaned back against the roughened cave walls, finally allowing his gaze to take in the woman that had saved his life.

She was just as beautiful as his glimpsed image of her had led him to believe, though his heart sank one more when he spotted the burnt nubs that were her wings. He thought for a moment to question her on it, but common sense stopped him halfway to opening his mouth. There was no way that wasn’t a touchy subject, so he left well enough alone.

Instead he allowed his gaze to wander the cave, taking in the rough hewn walls and the way she’d seemed to have made the place her own. Herbs hung from the walls on pegs, bundles of various types each used to treat various injuries and ailments. Though by the way they were hung he suspected they’d been put there more as decoration than anything else.  The fire lit the area up nicely, allowing him to see much further into the cave than he’d expected.

Looking closely he noticed that a lot of the formations he thought to be ice drippings were actually some type of crystal. Though he didn’t recognize them he realized pretty quickly that they were absorbing the light from the fire and projecting that light almost like a torch.

“So...is this your home or…”

“Oh goodness no. I reside in town, I’m just here to get away.” She shook her head, giving off a soft giggle that had his heart soaring.

“I can understand that sentiment. Things were rapidly becoming stifling out there. One could hardly blame a lovely young fae such as yourself for wanting to get away.” He chuckled, his grin widening as she blushed at his compliment.

“Is...is that why you were out in the storm? To get away?”

He nodded as he tucked his hands beneath the fur skins. “Duty to your people can only push you so far before it starts to take over who you are. I wasn’t about to let my father dictate who I was going to become any longer. He’s made enough rash decisions to ruin an entire kingdom, I won’t have myself become a part of that any longer.”

The young man’s words rolled over in her mind, bouncing off the image before her along with the events that had brought her to this very cave.

It wasn’t too hard to put together that he was the young prince and a moment of anger had her clutching the stick in her hand and very seriously considering killing him right then and there.

His father was the reason her parents were dead and her kingdom had burned after all. There was no one here to witness it if she did. And yet a small voice in the recesses of her mind held her back and stayed her hand.

She thought over his words once more, realizing he’d wanted the war no more than she had. What his father had chosen and done should not have been laid on his shoulder.

Placing the stick beside her she began speaking to him. Asking him questions about his childhood and giving her own answers when he asked in turn. They spent the night like this, conversing on any subject that came to mind while avoiding their own identities as much as possible.

The sun outside began to rise and still they spoke, bonding over shared misfortunes and shared goals and dreams when it came to their respective kingdoms.

Unbeknownst to them their mutual feelings for each other began to grow. When she led him out into the light on unsteady feet and he slipped but a little, only for her to catch him, an exchange of touches, barely brief though it may have been, ignited a flame within them both.

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close and breathing in the frozen scent of her, a crisp smell like the first cold snap of winter. 

“You are...ethereal...did you know that?” He whispered, his lips a hair’s breadth away from her own.

She hummed, mind a haze as her eyelashes fluttered close.”You smell of ash and coal...like roasting over an open fire on a warm summer’s day.”

“Oh?” He chuckled, the sound sending a thrill of excitement through her. “And is that so bad little snowflake?”

“No...I don’t think it is…”

***

The day finally came when the young Prince found himself strong enough to walk on his own. His fever had long since gone and the color was finally beginning to come back to his cheeks.

“You know...we could always just stay here.”

She glanced up at his words, pausing in stirring the stew she’d been cooking over the fire. “What do you mean?”

“Neither of us wants to go back. And well...I rather prefer things out here compared to the hustle and bustle of my normal life.” He picked at a loose bit of string on his clothes, refusing to meet her gaze as he let her mull over his proposal.

“I...hmm.” Sitting back on her heels she stared into the fire. It was tempting, the idea of leaving the stress of her life behind. Having to pretend she wasn’t who her people needed her to be.

“They’ve been too long without a leader.” She whispered.

“I’m sorry?”

Their gazes met, each burning with their own inner fire.

“My people. I may be broken, but they need me. Just as yours need you. One day we’ll have to lead and running away isn’t going to make any of what happened okay.”

Simple words though they may have been they struck a cord in him. More so than anything the multitude of scholars and aids and so called guides could have done. He nodded, determination filling him.

“I may not be able to change much, but one day I will lead, and things will have to change. My father is getting old, as are his war mongering generals…” His words stuttered to a stop, a blush coloring his features as he realized his misstep. “I uh...I mean…”

She couldn’t help but to chuckle. “Don’t worry little Prince. I am well aware of who you are.”

“But..how..”

“Your words may seem subtle or simple but your demeanor can’t be hidden.” She rose, abandoning the spoon she’d been using in the pot.

“And now, I am Y/n the last of the winter fairy monarchs, Princess of Winter and future Queen of my people. It’s an honor to meet you Sire.” With that she bowed, a hint of a smirk tugging at her lips.

“Wait you’re what?? Who?? But how, we were told you and your family…”

“Burned?” Straightening she turned slightly, her wings on display. “My father died fighting yours. And my mother died protecting me. No I did not come out of that battle unscarred.”

“But...why…”

“Why am I telling you?” She tilted her head at him as she returned to stirring the meal.

“I saved your life and nursed you back to health, your people call this a life debt, no?”

He nodded, suddenly realizing just how much he owed her.

“Well, consider this calling in that life debt. A pact between friends you could say. Keep my identity a secret, and on the day you ascend the crown you will find yourself an ally in me.” She smiled, passing him a bowl of the stew.

“That…that’s putting a lot in a man you’ve barely known a fortnight.” He accepted the bowl graciously, barely suppressing a moan at the flavors that danced across his tongue.

“That may be. But life debts are held over everything in your culture. I can trust that above anything else you could give me.”

He huffed, running his fingers through his hair and scratching the back of his head. She’d noticed it was something he did when he was thinking hard on something and had come to find it endearing.

“I mean, I’d have kept your secret even without the pact but...if you insist on calling that as your favor I supposed I truly have no choice.”

The giggle that spilled forth from her made his heart clench and he couldn’t help but grin at her in return, his cheek dimpling and his nose crinkling like a snow bunny.

“It’s settled then.” She announced, standing and taking his now empty food bowl to be washed out.

“Oh? What’s settled?” He stood as well, pulling the empty stew pot from the fire to cool.

“I’ll be taking you back to town come morning and...oh…” She stumbled, her legs suddenly buckling beneath her.

If it hadn’t been for the flame fairy’s quick reflexes she’d have surely injured herself. But his strong arms wrapped around her,pulling her close and checking her over to make sure she was okay.

“By the flame, you’re going to get yourself hurt doing all that!” He frowned, fingertips running along the ridges of her shoulder blades as he watched her blink blurrily up at him.

“What’s wrong?” He asked his frown deepening as she leaned into his touch, lashes brushing her cheeks as her eyes fluttered shut.

“Y/n?” Panic surged through him as he lifted her limp form into his arms.

Where normally her skin was as cold as a winter’s stream it now burned almost as hot as he was and that set him on edge more so than anything ever had in his life. His heart raced as he trudged through the cave and out into the cold morning snow of the forest.

He thanked his flame for the sense of direction Taehyung had instilled in him so many times over the years as his body instinctively turned in the direction of the winter city they’d come from. His wings gave an experimental flutter, barely lifting him off the ground and for the first time since his fall he actually cursed at himself for his midwinter plunge into the icy lake. Walking was his only option.

He continued on through the forest,  moving here and there through the trees in as direct a path as he could manage, all the while whispering soft sweet words of comfort to her when she would toss about in her feverish state.

The only time she paused and relaxed was when the sun would shine through the tree, though Jungkook paid no mind to this, only grateful that she allowed him the reprieve to march on with little struggle.

“N...Namjoon.” She whispered, and for a moment his heart sank. Who was this Namjoon she spoke of? Some lover she never mentioned in all the time they’d spent together.

“Scholar...physician…”

A spark of understanding coursed through him and his steps quickened with a renewed vigor as he came to the edge of the city. A few curt words and ignored glances and he’d arrived at the physician’s clinic, panting from the exertion and praying to every deity he could name that the one she’d spoken of was home.

“Sir! Good Physician! I have need of your aid!” Jungkook announced, using his elbow to force the large wooden door open.

The sound of crashing and halfhearted curses came from some dark corner of the clinic and a tall winter fairy emerged, glasses barely hanging off the tip of his nose as he squinted across the room at the Prince.

“What can I do for you today?” He asked, voice gruff from sleep as he moved closer to Jungkook.

“W...y/n?? Wait, how did she?”

“You know her then? We were out by the lake when she suddenly took ill. I don’t know..what or how but she’d burning up!” 

“Bring her to the table!” The physician rushed off, motioning to a large wooden table towards the center of the room. 

Jungkook complied, ever so delicately placing her down and stepping back to allow the man to work.

As he began examining her he threw a slew of endless questions at the shaken prince who himself was near to collapsing from exhaustion.

“I...I don’t know. She was eating just fine, talking and laughing and it seemed like she was okay. But suddenly...she just collapsed. I just…” His fingers nervously tapped a rhythm on his thighs as his eyes darted around the clinic, searching or hoping for something to look at to ground his mind in the moment.

“Mmm..I’m sure it’s just a cold, or some sort of illness. Though...she’s never been sick a day in her life..” The bespectacled man mumbled to himself as he pressed his fingers against her wrist, checking her pulse and sighing to himself as he stepped away.

“There are a few things I can try just to ease the fever and whatever pain she may be feeling but this is going to take some time…”

“I...I’ll stay with her! I can’t just leave her like this!”

“Your highness...You really should be getting back to the palace.”

“How…” Jungkook’s jaw dropped, eyes bugging out as he stared in fear at the man before him.

“You carry yourself too well to just be some fire nation soldier off the street. And besides, I was there during your coronation. You held yourself well considering the obvious hangover you were sporting.” 

A brilliant blush rose on the Prince’s cheeks as he attempted to sputter out a response. The physician chuckled, patting him amiably on the shoulder.

“Worry not, I’ll do everything I can to ease her pain. I’ll send word to the palace once I know anything. Be off M’lord, you’ve duties to attend to.”

Jungkook couldn’t help the lingering longing look he gave her, a sigh escaping his lips as he resigned himself to the waiting game.

Namjoon frowned as the prince finally left. It’d taken a considerable amount of bribing and fussing to get him to finally walk away but the fact that the young man lingered so long worried him.

“What did you get yourself into this time…” 

***

Panic filled the small room of the physician’s clinic.

He’d spent the last few hours trying every remedy and potion he could find and still her condition deteriorated.

A scream of frustration built in his chest, only barely suppressed by the need to care for her. He sat at his desk, pouring over tomes of old and tossing each aggressively across the room when they proved to be of no use to him.

“Fate’s sake!” He growled, standing from his desk and shoving the chair out behind them.

She’d begun whimpering in her feverish state, every now and again whispering desperate pleas for help and wrenching the knife deeper in his chest. He felt useless, dropping to his knees on the floor beside her and clutching at her hand.

“Tell me, please? How can I help you? What is it that you need?” He whimpered, tears filling his eyes. “How do I save you?”

“M...mommy….tell me a story…”

The words didn’t register at first. Another sentence to him in a long line of whispered desperation.

But a brief flash of recognition hit. “Merialiies…”

He bolted upright, eyes wide and wild with inspiration.

“There’s no way!”

Racing back to his desk he shoved the books and papers out of his way, searching for the small book of tales he’d picked up at the shops a few weeks back.

A shout of triumph burst forth as he held it aloft, eyes glistening with hope as he flipped the pages to one particular story.

“The Heart’s Twin Flames.” He turned to y/n, watching her shift on the table as if trying desperately to escape some pain in her back. “There’s just no way…”

Making his way back he ever so gently turned her to her side, eyes widening at the inflamed skin spreading out across her back from the base of her wings.

“Could it be?” Dropping everything he lifted her into his arms, cringing at the sounds of pain coming from his precious cargo.

“Just hold on, I’ll take you to him. If I’m right...you may just get your wings back.”

He hurried from the clinic, not even paying mind that he’d left the front door open to swing in the wind. 

“Move! Please get out of my way. This is an emergency!” He shouted, shoving his way through the crowd of villagers lining the walkways as he raced towards the castle.

The front gates loomed before him, almost imposing if it weren’t for the sheer amount of panic flowing through him.

“Halt! State your business.” A soldier stepped before him, massive sword held at his throat .

Namjoon showed no fear, spine straight and shoulders squared as he stood his ground against the intimidating soldier.

“I’ve come at the request of his Highness Prince Jungkook of the Fire Fae kingdom. It is of the utmost importance that I speak with him immediately.”

The soldier continued to glare as a second stepped forward and the show of force began to deflate him.

“You don’t understand! I need to see him! It’s his twin flame! He found her and now without him she will die!”

“A likely story! Today is the day of his ball and you expect me to believe that suddenly a woman is his twin flame and without him she will die?” The guards chuckled together, heads thrown back with laughter as they continued to mock him.

“Sir, please! I couldn’t make this up if I wanted to! She’s dying. There must be something we can do?!”

The guard shook his head, a steely gaze pinning the poor man in place. It was obvious he wasn’t moved by their story.

“No matter the reason these gates were ordered to remain closed. Should you have proper documents the case would be different but there is nothing I can do for you. Find her a doctor, or some sort of specialist. But find them somewhere else.”

“Have you no heart man!? We’ve seen the doctor, hell I AM the doctor! There’s nothing more to do for her but get the Prince’s help! Please you must understand?? Surely you’ve heard the legends, are they not told to your children? They are fated to be! The proof is right here!” Namjoon was practically purple in the face by this point, spittle flying as he screamed in the face of the guard who’s grip was forever tightening on his spear. 

Unbeknownst to the arguing pair and barely conscious woman the fae in question had heard everything.

“Sir?” One of the many aids that had been walking with the future ruler gave him a questioning stare, wondering what their next action would be.

“There’s no harm in finding out Jimin. I’m more than suited to handle things should there be any threat.” Prince Jungkook smiled, a rare sight on the man as he handed over the documents they’d been going over as they walked from the main castle to the stables.

“Alright. I’ll take these back to the stable master in your stead. Don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.”

The prince grinned, bumping his aid in the shoulder with his elbow. “Now when have I ever done anything stupid?”

“Need I remind you of the state you were in last night?”

“Can’t hear you! Walking away now!” Prince Jungkook tossed over his shoulder as he made his way to the woven metal grating that served as the castle’s front gate.

For a moment he hung back in the shadows, eyeing the tall bespectacled man who seemed to have an almost vice like death grip on the tiny quivering bundle of rags in his arms.

The snow that had been falling began to ease up, revealing a small crowd that had gathered behind them all. As the guard and nameless man argued the townsfolk began to chime in, screaming curses at him and bickering with every word he spoke.

The Prince’s temper only flared when the first stone was thrown, something seemingly so small that it would have been noticeable if it weren’t for the fact that it’d hit the bundle’s back, causing a small squeak of pain to echo through the gateway. He knew that squeak.

“What’s going on here?” He puffed his chest out, spine straight and eyes fierce as he allowed the flames of rage to flow through him. Striding forward with all of the ego and confidence that his position afforded he stepped between the man and the crowd. The mere sight of him had those gathered scurrying away, hollered apologies tossed over snow covered shoulders as they dashed off to whatever tasks they’d been attending to before allowing their chicken like rubbernecking to get the better of their attention.

“Y..your Highness. I just...” The man stuttered, shifting the tiny bundle of cloth in his arms as he struggled to push through his own confusion and panic at seeing the regal object of his desperation appearing before him.

“Guard, can you explain to me why it is that you’ve allowed a mob of people to gather at the entrance to my future home?”

“He was...he just wanted…”

“Sire please! It’s y/n, she needs your help!”

“Y/n?” This peaked his interest. “Is she alright? Is...what happened? I only just saw her a few hours ago!”

“Sire, she fell terribly ill and what was left of her wings has begun flaking off. If we don’t act quickly there’s...there’s just no hope of saving her.” 

Prince Jungkook glanced around, indecision causing him to hesitate for a moment as he watched his guards scanning the surrounding area.

“Alright, bring her inside, we’ll take her to my physi…”

“Sire please, she doesn’t have time for that!” Namjoon couldn’t help the tone of his voice as he shouted at the intimidating man. “You have to help her now, she’s dying the longer we talk about this!”

He dropped to his knees, unwrapping the blanket from the woman’s trembling form and carefully laying her body on the glistening snow.

Jungkook’s feet crunched through the snow, eyes squinted as he shielded them from the glare of the sun reflecting sharply off the glow surrounding the dying woman’s form. A strange itch began in the center of his shoulder blades, that spot he could never reach where his wings joined with the muscles of his back.

Shrugging off his cloak he knelt beside her, heart racing as the strange feeling in his wings slowly spread to the rest of him. The sun burst through the clouds, shining brightly and warming his exposed skin as his fingers brushed her cheek.

“My liege, all you have to do is allow the sun to shine through your wings and onto her. That alone is enough.” Namjoon whispered as he stepped back from them and allowed them their space.

Jungkook couldn’t help but to hesitate. There were so many things that could go wrong should he allow himself to listen to this strange man. If it were a track of some sort his kingdom would suffer if anything happened to him. But as he watched her pained face scrunch once more and as the sound of her pitiful whimper reached his ears his resolve steeled.

Leaning forward he spread his wings, allowing the light of the sun to cast a prism of reflected light over her body. The air filled with a magic the kingdom hadn’t seen in a very long time. Golden dust motes filled the air, sparkling like fireflies out in the mid-day glow. It attracted those that’d hurried away, gathering them in the square and on the streets.

The soldiers shouted, weapons raised in alarm as they watched their fearless leader begin to rise into the air alongside the small wingless form that he cradled so closely to his chest. But just as suddenly as their alarm and rage and fear rose it began to vanish, replaced instead with a calm joy that thrilled through their veins quicker than an adrenaline fueled march into the battlefield.

The people began to cheer as the two bodies were engulfed in light that shone so bright it began to rival the sun. And all along the young man couldn’t take his eyes off her form.

The woman that’d given him shelter in that freezing midnight cave. Her once frail body began to fill with life, color returning to her cheeks and her weak fingers gaining strength as they clung to his royal clothes. Her eyes fluttered open, a gasp escaping her lips as where once there was only burned stumps, now beautiful crystalline wings sprouted forth from her body, fluttering on the breeze before quickly gaining the strength to allow her to hover on her own.

And his own wings lost their brilliant red glow, cooling and shimmering as he beat them gently to keep him aloft.

The glow surrounding them faded and a hush fell over the crowd at the sight. A tiny waif of a girl engulfed in the strong arms of the royal flame.

“My love.”

“My twin flame.”

“I never got to thank you for saving my life.” His words caused her to blush as she looked at him through her eyelashes.

“I think you just did…”

Their hushed voices whispered words of comfort as their bodies slowly returned to earth. They’d only had eyes for each other, but as their feet returned to the earth that’d born them they turned to the people, each smiling with a joy that the once warring people felt throughout the lands. Warriors dropped their weapons, embracing the people they’d fought with for so very long.

Jungkook turned to the winter maiden, long,calloused fingers engulfing her own as he leaned forward to touch his forehead to hers.

“My love, how could I not have recognized you for what you were?”

“My sweet future king. Fate has a strange way of finding lovers and putting them together when the world needs their love the most.” She smiled, warm tears filling her eyes as her heart filled with a warmth only he could provide.

As one they turned to their people, joined hands raising into the air as Jungkook announced.

“I have found my Twin Flame. May peace rain on our kingdoms with the union of our joined blood! May you all find the joy my heart has been seeking. For from this moment on there will be no war, there will be no fighting. WE ARE ONE!!”

The people cheered, warriors embraced farmers, aristocrats feasted among peasants. Fire embraced ice. And as their lips met in a dewy kiss filled with all of the passion of new love, peace did reign. For they were now one.

#castle bangtan #bts fanfic #jungkook fanfic #bts fluff #jungkook fluff #soulmate au #bts soulmate au #jungkook soulmate au #bts fairy au #bts far au #jungkook fairy au #jungkook fae au #bts angst #bts imagine #bts reactions #bts fic #my writing

[dreamsmp-fanfic-prompts]

Dream SMP Prompt 13 – Fantasy AU

After a long war against tyrannical leaders, Nikki goes from general to queen of a kingdom of nothing. While trying to rebuild their kingdom, they get a visit from a pair of wonderers, brothers. Nikki takes a chance on the two, and finds a close friendship forming – Wilbur even turns out to be a great advisor when she needs it.

However, things don’t remain peaceful for long. Hardships are on the horizon, and there is no guarantee that everyone Nikki cares about will come out alive.

Bonus Ideas:

(Also, just because I don’t think I mentioned it, the Bonus Ideas are just ideas that could fit into the prompt but aren’t part of it. So you could ignore them if you want. But if you want more ideas, they’re there... just in case that wasn’t clear...)

Nikki was a baker before the war. She managed to find herself as a general because she refused to standby and left the previous rulers get away with the mistreatment of people.

Captain Puffy as Captain of the Guard, who used to be pirate before she joined Nikki’s efforts. She joined because she was against tyrants and stayed because she lost her crew in the war – she had nowhere else to go.

Jack Manifold was Nikki’s righthand man during the war, they fought side-by-side together.

Ranboo and Tubbo are two child soldiers that joined Nikki’s cause because they lied about their ages. Maybe Nikki adopts them? So she doesn’t have to worry about marriages – she’s already got princes waiting.

Fundy was a shapeshift, who a spy and assassin for Nikki in the war, providing her with valuable inside information that allowed her to win.

Hannah is a nature spirit who worked with Nikki as a warrior during the war. After the war she uses her abilities for agriculture, resources, and maintaining a strong defense around the growing kingdom.

Wilbur isn’t human, he’s a fairy with a gift in music. He’s travelling because he is running from his past – the death of his lover, a human woman named Sally, which he blames himself for. Tommy was a young elemental spirit he met on his travels that he kind of adopted as a brother.

Phil and Technoblade are two mercenaries who were hired to spy and possibly assassinate Nikki and any potential threats – they’re both human, but Technoblade is a champion of the blood god and is actually older than Phil, despite looking younger than him. Only three people caught on to their plans – Wilbur, Tommy and Kristen. Wilbur and Tommy manage to subtly ruin their plans while also befriending them. Kristen was a powerful witch (crows are her familiars) who worked with Nikki in the war – she manages to convince Phil to join Nikki rather than kill her.

Schlatt was Sally’s brother, and vowed to get revenge for his sister’s death, moving up the ranks and becoming a king of his own kingdom – and he targets Nikki’s kingdom because of Wilbur.

Dream had been eyeing Nikki’s kingdom before the civil war that left her being queen, and he decides that with their resources and their people being strained from a war, it would be an easy victory.

Eret is a neighboring kingdom that at first wants to stay out of the conflict, because it’s not fair to sacrifice your own people to help out war effort that have nothing to do with you. Maybe they change their mind?

#dream smp #nikki nihachu #wilbur soot #tommyinnit #captain puffy #jack manifold #ranboo #tubbo #fundy #hannahxxrose #philza #technoblade #mumza #schlatt #dream #eret #prompt ideas #fantasy au

[tbtssstuff]

Back In Time || myg 3

Summary: While helping your boyfriend research his ancestry you find a very old looking book. Curiosity gets the best of you and you open it, a flash of light sucks you into a world you’d never seen before. Now with a man who looks exactly like your boyfriend you have to find a way home.

Pairing: Yoongi x Reader

Genre: Time Traveler!au, Angst, Fluff

Word count: 4.3K

Warning: Smut implied, ANGST

Masterlist

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6

AN: 🥺🥺🥺 I am so happy you guys are enjoying this so far. Tbh I think this is the best thing I’ve ever written. We may have maybe two or three chapters left and I’m not ready for it. I’ve got other stories to work on after, but idk which one to start. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. ANYWAY! Here is chapter 3.

-TJ/ TacoAdmin 🌮

“Hey stupid get up.You were gone for a long time so I came to find you. What were you doing falling asleep in a strange room? Come on, Y/n, let’s go home.”

Your eyes snapped open and you shot straight up, expecting to see Yoongi and the rows of books in the library, but all you saw was a tiny room with a dresser.

You groaned, rubbing your face. “Just a dream.”

Why couldn’t have this been the dream? Why was being back in the library the dream?

Yoongi’s soft voice lulling you out of sleep, even though he was being rude by calling you stupid, he did it out of love. A love that you were starting to fear you would never be able to return to.

Tears stung your eyes at that fact. The fact that you may never see your Yoongi again. His sharp tongue, his passion for music, his gummy smile, the way he makes you laugh, his kisses, the night time cuddles, and so much more just gone.

Poof. Vanished. Up in the wind just like your hopes of going home.

“You’re awake. Good. Now we can... Wait are you crying?”

Yoongi moved from the door to the bed, sitting beside you. You could see the slight worry in his eyes and that just made you cry harder.

“I I’m so sorry.” You choke. “I just... I just...”

You didn’t know what you were trying to say. You wanted to tell Yoongi everything. About the library and the book. About how you were thrust into a world where the love of your life was with another woman. Everything, but nothing was coming out.

Your head was spinning and you felt like you couldn’t breathe. It was almost as if someone had put a 50 pound slab of concrete right on your chest and decided to stand on top of it, slowly pushing it further onto you.

Yoongi watched wide eyed. He wasn’t equipped to help you nor did he know how to calm you down. Whenever this happened to him, and thankfully it hasn’t happened in a while, Yoongi just kept to himself.

So he just let his body take over and pulled you into his arms, feeling you shake as you cried against his chest.

Yoongi held you, gently and warmly, it was a complete 180 from this morning when he pushed you for hugging him.

But he still did it anyway.

Yoongi was all you could focus on. The heat from his body, his natural smell, even the weight of his hands on you back.

Everything was just Yoongi.

After what felt like an eternity, which was probably only five minutes, your tears stopped, but neither of you moved. Yoongi held you tightly in his arms, chin resting on top of your head, not saying a word. What was he thinking?

You pull back a little to look up at him, but his arms still didn’t move. Even with dried tears on your cheeks, red eyes, and a flushed face Yoongi thought you were still the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. He’s thought that since he saw you in the marketplace.

Which made this all the more harder for him.

Especially when you reached up to cup his cheek in your hand and he instinctively leaned into your touch, scaring him to his core that you had this effect on him, but in the moment it felt good. Like he was being loved.

You smiled. “Thank you, Yoongi.”

Yoongi’s eyes snapped open and he quickly released you, jumping to his feet. He moved so quickly you’d think he was on fire.

He needed to find out who you were and if you were a spy, not holding you. So why did he miss the feel of you in his arms?

Yoongi cleared his throat. “Now that you’re calm, let’s talk. Who are you?”

Sighing, you let your hand drop back down to your lap, since it was still lingering in the air where you held Yoongi’s face, and looked him straight in the eyes.

“Well I can tell you my name is Y/n.” Yoongi nods. “But no matter what I say after that you wouldn’t believe me.”

“Try me.”

“You really won’t, but okay.” Taking a deep breath, you prepared to lay it all on the table.

“I’m not from this world or time. I’m from the year 2020, which you never wanna see by the way, the world is basically on fire, and I was in this library helping my boyfriend Yoongi, not you Yoongi, my Yoongi, ah that doesn't make sense. Anyway! I was helping him do some research for his history paper. Well we were getting bupkis and he obviously hadn't slept for a good few days, which I tell him all the time isn’t good for him, but he never listens to me, so I told him to get some sleep while I went to get coffee and food. I ended up getting lost in the library and then found this spooky old back room, so like the dumb ass I am, I went to investigate it because it said ‘Ancient Korean Dynasties’. Might as well right? So when I get in there it’s super dark and I end up slipping on a flashlight, which was weird. Like why was it there in the first place? I turned it on and saw a red book with The Tyrant King; Agust D written on the spine. Even though I got an eerie feeling from the book, I opened it anyway. Suddenly there was this big white light and next thing I know I’m getting felt up by creeps and you save me.”

You placed your hand over your chest, trying to catch what little breath you had, before you even dared to glance up at Yoongi and you weren’t surprised with what you saw.

Yoongi stared back at you, eyes wide and full of disbelief. It looked like he was attempting to process what you, very quickly, said, but eventually you heard Yoongi scoff.

“Yeah you’re right,” Yoongi crossed his arms over his chest, “I don’t believe you. What do you mean ‘your Yoongi that isn’t me’? And a book that sucks people into some kind of alternate universe? That’s bullshit.”

You sigh. “Told you, but I promise it’s the truth. Things like that aren't something I could ever make up on my own. I’m not that kind of creative.”

Yoongi narrowed his eyes at you, searching your entire face for the slightest hint of a lie, but he couldn’t find anything. Either you were an amazing liar or it was the honest to god truth. While he wanted to continue to be skeptical of you, Yoongi hadn’t seen any other reason not to trust you.

So he did.

“Okay.” Yoongi made his way closer to you again, but didn’t sit on the bed. He couldn’t risk being that close to you. Who was telling what he would do if he was once again under your spell.

“If what you are saying is true, which yeah seems way too crazy for anyone to make up, it sounds like a high level of magic that none of us here can help you with.”

Magic? Like the kind in fairy tales and movies? If that was the case where were you going to find someone that could perform that level of magic? What if you couldn’t? Would you be stuck here forever? You didn’t want to stay here. You wanted to go home to Yoongi and Min Holly.

“But there is someone I know of that could,” Yoongi stated, almost as if he could read your mind and was trying to comfort you somehow, “but the only problem is that he works for the king. Kim Namjoon is kept under lock and key because he is the most powerful warlock there is. So you would just have to stay here until we take that tyrant down and then we can find a way to send you home, okay?”

His small smile and soft eyes was enough to make you feel ten times better. Yoongi was going to help you go home and you wanted nothing more than to hug him. To thank him. To kiss him.

You held yourself back though as that was just the reflex you normally had whenever you saw Yoongi. You had to keep reminding yourself that this wasn’t your Yoongi.

“Well now that that is settled why don’t you get some sleep? You had an eventful day.”

You nodded, a yawn slipping past your lips. You hadn’t realized how tired you were until he had said something.

Picking up the thin blanket, you laid back down on the bed, snuggling up to the pillow, which smelled like Yoongi, and closed your eyes. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Yoongi gave you one last glance before blowing out the candle by the bed and leaving the room. He looked around the main room noting that everyone had gone to bed by now, which made sense considering how late it was. Yoongi should probably turn in as well. Tomorrow was going to be filled with nothing but planning. Their time was drawing near.

Yoongi sighed and made his way across the room, pushing back the curtain that covered Yoona’s door, only to be surprised to find she was still awake. 

Yoona was sitting on her bed, long dark hair freed from its usual ponytail, and in nothing but a pair of cotton panties and his shirt.

It was moments like this that Yoongi ever really let himself admire her beauty.

Her skin was pale and soft, only a few scars littered across her otherwise flawless body. The darkness of her hair contrasted with the soft glow of the candle, her eyes pierced him. Yoona smiled warmly up at him.

“I was worried that I would have to go in there again.”

Yoongi scoffed and moved to remove his boots and pants. He shucked off his jacket before placing it on the dresser and taking his shirt off as well. “Nothing to worry about, Yoona. Just an interrogation.”

Yoona didn’t believe it was ‘just an interrogation’ for a second. She had never seen Yoongi act this way before, so of course she felt threatened. He was her man and she wasn’t going to let some mystery girl waltz in and take him from her.

Yoona loved Yoongi more than anything in the entire world.

And she intended to make him remember that.

The moment Yoongi slipped under the covers, Yoona was on him. She kissed his lips slowly, running her nails down his chest, feeling his abs twitch, before kissing her way down his neck where she bit into his skin, surely leaving a mark.

Yoongi groaned and ran his fingers through her hair. “Really Yoona? Now?”

Yoona chuckled at his dry response though she could feel him start to harden against her leg. Yoongi never seemed enthusiastic about sex. She didn’t mind though. His body was always more honest than his words.

“Just sit back Yoongi,” Yoona purred as she straddled his lap, happy to feel him wrap his arms around her waist, “let me take care of my leader.”

Yoongi only hummed in response as Yoona did just that.

Over the next three days, you watched Yoongi and his team prepare for their attack. From looking at the layout of the palace to gathering the weapons they needed.

Everyone was super nice to you and even Taehyung had toned down on the flirting. Especially after Yoongi threatened to break his hand if he attempted to touch you again.

You had almost forgotten that you didn’t originally belong here.

Almost.

Yoona liked to remind you. Not by saying something, oh no, but by hanging on Yoongi every chance she got.

You had noticed her little love bites the first night. Yoona really liked to liter his neck with them. Which made you livid. Seeing marks on Yoongi that weren't yours just made your blood boil and she seemed to know it.

Every morning he would come out of their shared room with either new marks or the old ones were refreshed. You bit your tongue each time, trying not to say anything, but also trying not to cry.

Since the first night Yoongi has been nothing but kind to you. Once he figured out you weren’t some kind of spy and wasn't going to hinder his plans in any way, he figured he might as well get along with you until they could get you home.

Yoongi sighed, getting up from the operation table, before grabbing his jacket and putting it on. “Okay I have to go into the marketplace. There are a few things we need and then we are ready for our attack.”

“I’ll go with you.” Yoona instantly jumped up from her seat, reaching for her white leather jacket as well.

Yoongi stopped her with the wave of his hand. He really couldn’t stand how clingy she was being, which was saying something because she’s always been that way, so to have at least a couple hours without her sounded heavenly.

“No you stay here. I need you to make sure we have all the ammo we need. Y/n why don’t you come with me?”

“Me?”

“Her?!”

“Yes her.” Yoongi rolled his eyes before looking at you, smiling softly. “I’m sure you are tired of wearing the same clothes. We can see what the vendors are selling and get you something else to wear.”

Also if he had to see you walk around in his clothes any longer he may not be able to contain himself.

Yoongi had barely been holding off from touching you again. He could still feel the presence of you in his arms and he craved to feel it again.

The things you were doing to him.

You nod and grab your jacket as well, slipping it on before walking up to him. “Well let’s go.”

You could see Yoona huff out of the corner of your eye as Yoongi led you outside. The sun and heat hit you almost instantly. It was so intense that you wondered why Yoongi always insisted on putting on a jacket before leaving.

Once you were back on the main strip of the marketplace, you could really see how crowded it was.

When you first saw it you were so shaken up that you couldn't appreciate any of the shops. Which was a shame considering how much you loved to go window shopping with Yoongi back in your world.

“There are so many people.”

Yoongi just nods and starts in one direction, motioning you to follow him. “There are. So stay close, okay? 

How did he expect you to stay close if he moved through the crowd fluently while you keep bumping into people. Finally having enough, you reach out and grasp the back of his jacket, clutching it tightly.

Yoongi paid you no mind as he continued to weave through the crowd, passing a butcher shop, and finally stopping at a clothing vendor.

There were different variations of shirts, pants, and a few traditional looking hanboks. The fabrics ranged from cotton to what looked almost like a denim material. No matter the material it all looked homemade, which was amazing to think that they sewed it all by themselves. You could never do that.

While you were admiring the clothes that sat on the table in front of you, you didn’t notice Yoongi watching you. 

She looks so cute. Yoongi thought, smiling when you picked up one of the shirts and looked at it like it was one of the seven wonders of the world.

Why couldn’t he have met you sooner? Were you really from another world? Well with the feelings you evoked out of Yoongi, feelings he’s never felt before, you might as well be.

But what if Yoongi could get you to stay? Would you? Would you stay here with him?

“Yoongi look!” Your voice brought Yoongi out of his thoughts, your smile almost blinding him.

That was something to worry about in the future, but for now he was just going to enjoy his time with you.

After almost an hour of being out and about you were starting to get comfortable going through the crowd. So comfortable that you had eventually let go of Yoongi’s jacket and wandered ahead of him, but with multiple items of clothes in his arms, Yoongi lost sight of you pretty quickly.

Yoongi looked around to see if he could see you, but nothing.

And then he heard you scream.

Immediately Yoongi threw the clothes to the side, not really caring where they landed, and rushed through the crowd. Pushing person after person trying to catch up to you. Who ever decided to touch you was going to get such an ass kicking.

“Yoongi!”

Yoongi skidded to a stop in front of an alleyway where two huge palace guards were holding you.

One had your left arm while the other had your right, a hand clamped over your mouth. Your eyes were wide and filled with tears, the look of absolute terror. Yoongi’s blood boiled and all he saw was red.

“Let. Her. Go.” Yoongi growled, taking a step forward.

“She is under arrest. King’s orders.”

“I don’t give a FUCK!”

Yoongi was on the guards before they could even respond. His fist collides with one of their faces, the guard dropping his hold on you. With the distraction Yoongi tugged you out of the grip of the other guard and behind him.

Now that he was sure you were safe Yoongi held nothing back, beating the absolute shit out of the two guards.

You had only seen Yoongi this kind of mad once in your life and it honestly terrified you. The rage and pure hatred in his eyes was enough to scare you to the core.

Yoongi huffed over the bodies of the two guards, you could see their chests moving so you knew they were alive, and he wiped some blood off his face. Well tried to because all it did was smear on his cheek and the back of his hand.

You jumped a little as he started towards you. “I I’m fine Yoongi. T thank yo-“

Yoongi cut you off, pulling you tightly into his arms.

The smell of blood and his sweat filled your nose as he pressed you into his chest. You could hear how fast his heartbeat was and feel the slight tremble of his hands.

“Yoongi?”

“Stupid!” He shouted. “I thought I told you to stay close!”

You didn’t know what to say. All you did was wrap your arms around him and clutch your fingers into his jacket.

Yoongi stepped back a little and cupped your face in his hands, inspecting you for any injuries. Once he was satisfied that you were okay, Yoongi let out a sigh of relief, placing his forehead on yours.

“You can’t scare me like that, Y/n.”

“I’m sorry, Yoongi.”

You stared into each other's eyes. The amount of raw emotions in his eyes made you weak, like you were being drawn in by him. As if Yoongi could read your mind, he leaned down and kissed you.

Yoongi smiled against your lips when he felt you kiss him back. Your lips were soft and molded against his perfectly. Nothing could have ruined this moment.

Suddenly Yoona’s hurt face flashed through his mind and he quickly pulled away.

“I’m sorry I shouldn't have done that.”

“Then why did you?”

Yoongi thought about it for a moment. Why did he kiss you? There was just something about you that seemed to memorize him and make him lose all sense of rationality. You were unlike anybody he had ever met.

Yoongi sighed, taking your hand into his, intertwining your fingers. “I don’t know, but you do things to me, Y/n. Things that no one else has ever done to me. You make me crazy and I want to protect you.”

Your heart swelled thinking about his words. They were so sincere that of course you believed him.

“You mean it?”

“I would never lie to you.”

It was almost night time when you and Yoongi returned. It took a little while to calm down after the almost “kidnapping” and then a while longer to find the clothes Yoongi bought.

The moment you walked in Yoona was having a fit.

“What took you guys so long!!” She shrieked from her seat in the front room. She reminded you of those parents that wait for their kids to come home.

You could tell she wanted to say more, but was instantly distracted by the dried blood on Yoongi’s cheek and clothes and his bruised knuckles.

Yoona shot out of her seat, pushing you to the side, and inspected Yoongi. “Oh my god what happened to you?!”

Yoongi just shrugged and went to put the clothes in his room.

“This is all YOUR fault isn’t it?!” Yoona turned her glare to you, the flame in her eyes growing by the second. She grabbed your arm and yanked you so hard it felt like your arm was about to come off.

“Answer me!”

“You’re hurting me! Let go!” You tried to wiggle your arm out of her grasp, but that only caused her to sink her nails into your skin, leaving marks.

“I knew you were going to get Yoongi in trouble the moment you showed up,” Yoona seethes, “now look at him! Bloody and bruised!”

You finally snatched your arm from her grasp. “You think I don’t know that?! I know it was my fault what happened in the marketplace today.” You rubbed the marks on your arm that Yoona’s nails had left. “If only I had listened and stayed close to him.”

Yoona scoffed. “Or you could have just been taken away and none of us would have had to deal with you anymore. Yoongi was right about you, you are just a nuisance.”

“Yoona!”

Both of you turned to see Yoongi standing in the doorway, both bruised fists clutched at his side.

“That is enough.”

“But you said so yourself!” Yoona cried. She could see the anger in his eyes and while it did hurt, she wasn’t going to back down without a fight.

“Is this true Yoongi?”

“Y/n let me explain.”

“Oh my god it is.”

You turned on your heels and tried to leave, but Yoongi quickly caught your wrist.

“Y/n! Please hear me o-”

You yanked your arm out of his grasp. “You said you would never lie to me! You’ve been lying this entire time!”

Not being able to stand being there a moment longer, you turn and run out the front door, ignoring Yoongi when he calls out your name.

You ran and ran. Your lungs burn and your eyes stung from the tears that were falling freely from your eyes.

“Yoongi said you’re a nuisance” 

Yoona’s words just kept replaying in your mind. Over and over again. You couldn’t seem to escape them, but what made it worse was Yoongi’s voice was starting to over power hers.

“You’re a nuisance. I can’t believe I ever saved you. You should have died.”

Even though he had never said those words to you, just imagining him saying it was more than enough to tear your heart in two.

After running for a while you were completely lost. You slowed down to look around, but it was so dark that you couldn’t make anything out.

Now that you were only walking and not running, the cold wind was catching up to you, goosebumps running up both of your arms.

It was cold, but where could you go? Certainly not back to Yoongi. Not after that.

Yoongi. You thought about him again. Everything seemed to be going so well with him. The hugs, the kind words, and that kiss.

But of course you were stupid enough to believe his words. He said he would never lie to you, but you were convinced that was a lie too. You knew that he wasn’t yours in this world and there was no way anything was going to happen between you… or was it?

You shook your head, oblivious to the palace guard that saw you walk by.

The guard came out of hiding and grabbed your shoulder. You turned and elbowed him in the face. There was no way you were going to be manhandled again today, but the guard was quick to rebuttal. He grabbed onto your jacket, ripping it off of you as he yanked you back.

You attempted to kick him in the leg, but before you could the guard raised his sword and hit you with the blunt end, knocking you out.

“The king is going to have my head for that.” The guard mumbles as he lifts your limp body off the ground and throws you over his shoulder. “But he did say by any means necessary.”

Shaking his head, the guard started in the direction of the royal palace.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Yoona!” Yoongi shouted at her. Yoona shrank back from the power of his voice.

“S she was getting in the way and besides what does it matter? You belong to me, Yoongi!” She shouted back suddenly getting a burst of bravery.

“I don't belong to anybody.” Yoongi hissed before running out to find you.

He searched the entire village, twice, but couldn’t find you anywhere. Yoongi was starting to fear something had happened to you.

“Y/n!” Yoongi called out, but soon spotted your jacket on the ground. He picked it up and noticed the amount of blood on the fabric.

Yoongi’s heart dropped as he came to realize that you were hurt and missing.

You were gone.

Tag List @mizz-kraziii​ @queen-of--roses​ @ugly-wall-flower​ @flowersgirl02​ @sunshine-procrastinate​ @dulcaet​ @scorpiomoon​ @yoongiwillforgiveme​ @multifandomfantasychild​ @midaribaby​ @missingin4ction​ @gabbien @angiexyoung​ @thefangirlsoul​ @galaticmochi​

#bts scenarios #bts x reader #min yoongi x reader #yoongi x reader #min yoongi #daechwita #d2 #king!yoongi #rebel!yoongi #bts imagines #bts reactions #bts imagine #tbtsstuff #tacoadmin #Back In Time

[cutesuki--bakugou]

My Dream

a/n: I 1000000% know that unless you’ve read my fic The Dragon Kings Treasure, this is going to be TOTALLY out of context and you will likely have literally no idea about what’s going on or their history. I’ll be posting this little snippet in my AO3 post at the end of the story if you feel like you’d rather read the full thing first before you read this. There’s also a shit ton of spoilers in this, so if you’ve been planning on reading TDKT and haven’t yet, I’d suggest doing that first or you’ll end up spoiling the majority of the story.

Main Pairing: Katsuki Bakugou x Koge Naegi (OC) (Fantasy AU)

Featuring: Kirishima Eijirou (the dragon Red from the main story)

Story Rating: Mature

Genre: Fluff / Romance / Domestic / Fantasy AU

Story Warnings: | Mentions of: Alcohol, Abuse (sexual / physical / mental), Enslavement, Wounds, Pregnancy | Lots of fluff, supportive and squishy Bakugou, dragon breeding / mating terms, cursing, lots of hugging and kissing

Words: 4,530

Written for the @bnhabookclub​​ ‘s members bingo event!

Crossed off: Fairy Tale AU

Bingo Masterlist

Art in banner by me

“You alright, Koge? You look like you’re about to shit yourself.” 

“H-huh?” 

Koge was startled out of her stupor by the familiar low growl of her lover’s voice, pulling her gaze from the crowd of people below them to look up. At first, her keen eyes glanced over the ornate headpiece he wore, the jewels and beads flickering with the reflected yellow light of the torches perched up on the walls on either side of their balcony. His crimson glare, softened with concern, gleamed with a similar brilliance, and Koge found herself blushing fiercely just from looking at him. Head tilting to the side a bit in slight annoyance of her having not heard him properly, the blonde fluffy hair Bakugou sported bobbed with the movement, beads and jewelry clacking. 

“I asked if you were okay. You’ve been sitting here like an actual statue from the instant we got here.” 

“I’m okay… Just… there’s more people than I expected there to be…” Koge fiddled nervously with a lock of her white hair, which spilled over her shoulders in loose curls, styled expertly by servants who pampered her in preparation for this huge event. Well, calling it just an ‘event’ was a huge understatement. In fact, it was her wedding reception, the ceremony having just been completed not even an hour earlier. She knew that she should be enjoying herself, but every moment of the night had been much more stressful than she could have ever anticipated. Bakugou had warned her that it would be very busy and festive, as was the culture she was marrying into, but that still didn’t prepare her for this. Hundreds of people, from commoners, to politicians, to royalty from other countries, all gathered below.

Not only were they there to celebrate the marriage of their Lord and his Lady, but also the recent liberation of their kingdom from the tyrant that had stolen the land many, many years ago. The rightful ruler had returned, and brought with him a lover and heir, and though the boy was tucked safely away from the festivities, just the fact that the child was alive and healthy was to be celebrated. It truly was a joyous time, and still, Koge couldn’t quite gather the courage to be herself. She was sure that everyone in this room thought her odd, and that Bakugou’s choice in marrying her was a foolish one. After all, she was a dragon halfling that had lived in a forest for over three hundred years, on top of the fact that she couldn’t understand a single word of regular human speech. How was she supposed to help rule this land if she couldn’t even properly communicate?  

Koge had brought this to Bakugou’s attention, of course, but he was quick to shut down her negative thoughts. She was who he wanted, who he loved, and after having nearly lost her, he refused to even entertain the thought of not having her by his side. How fiercely the two of them had fallen for each other wasn’t something that Koge could easily explain nor really understand herself, especially after all the trauma she had experienced this past year. Being used as a slave the way she was, abused and pushed to her limits had made her feel like no one could ever truly accept her again. Yet here she was, sitting beside Bakugou in their thrones, a brilliant ring on her finger and a fresh tattoo of the country's brand on her right shoulder to match his. They were connected now by more than just love, though nothing could ever be more significant to her than the way she felt for him. 

Other people didn’t have to understand it, nor did they have to necessarily approve. They just had to accept and shut their mouths, as Bakugou had put it earlier that day before the ceremony even began. Would he have been better off marrying a princess from another country? Probably. Did he have offers thrown at him like mad all the way up until the day of the wedding? Of course he did, and he ignored every single one, even those that were so brash as to come waltzing up to the palace gates with the proposed bride in tow. It had been annoying, and hurt Koge’s already bruised confidence in the beginning, but each time she heard him snap that he already had a bride, she only fell even further in love with him. 

“I had told you there would be a lot.” Bakugou reached across the gap between their thrones to take her fidgeting hand gently, holding it securely with a comforting grip. “Relax. No one will act up if that’s what you’re nervous about.” 

“I’m… mostly nervous about when we go down there to mingle, and I won’t be able to understand the conversation… What if someone addresses me and I just stand there like an idiot?” 

“I wouldn’t let that happen. I’ll tell you. And besides, you’ve gotten really good at reading lips lately. You’ll be fine.” Bakugou brought his hand up as he leaned over, kissing her petite fingers tenderly. “If you get too overwhelmed, we can take a break.” His lips trailed across her skin until he reached where her jeweled silver wedding band rested, pressing a final, lingering kiss on top of it. “I won’t let this go wrong. I love you.” 

More heat rushed to Koge’s cheeks, smiling as she stroked his finger with her thumb. “I love you, too. Aahh, I can’t believe you’re finally my mate!” Koge’s tail wagged about happily behind her, since her throne was specially made with a gap to accommodate the long and slender appendage. 

“Tch,” Bakugou’s cheeks flushed behind his ceremonial makeup, his lips pressed against her fingers in his embarrassment. “We’re technically just married in a human sense, we haven’t officially… mated yet. In a dragon sense. Not even sure if we really can.” 

“You could always let me do that.” Koge gave him a sly grin, showing off her sharp canines. “Your human side is more prominent than your dragon, anyways! You don’t go into rut like I go into heat--” 

“Shh!” Bakugou snapped at her to hush, his face and ears only flushing darker as Koge broke out into giggles at the sight of him growing flustered just by the mere mention of her marking him. “We’ll talk about it later! People will get confused if they hear you call me that, just stick to husband, will ya?!” 

“Okay, okay! I just think that calling you my mate is cuter.” 

“Ooh, you two finally moving on to ‘mate’ status, are you?” 

The familiar cheery voice pulled the couples attention, both of them peering around the sides of their thrones to see a sharp toothed, grinning redhead pop out of the curtains behind them. Koge had been able to smell him approaching, so he hadn’t started her, but Bakugou was immediately frustrated at his appearance. 

“You fucking lard, get out of here! You aren’t allowed up here!” 

“Hey man, I’m not a lard right now! If you didn’t want me to be able to go where I wanted, you shouldn’t have let me be enchanted or whatever.” Squatting down behind the thrones, familiar reddish-orange eyes glanced back and forth between the couple curiously. “How’s it goin’? You guys good up here on your own?” 

“You’re so protective, Red.” Koge gave a small smile, purring sweetly with the presence of her kin. “Oops, Kiri, I mean. You should go enjoy the party instead of waiting around up here.” 

“How long have you been guarding us?! That’s not your job!” Bakugou huffed, releasing Koge’s hand as she took it back to herself. “We have soldiers for that, Kirishima.” 

“No one’s better suited to guard you than me,” Kirishima’s already wide grin somehow grew, smoke rising from between his teeth in a mild territorial display. “Though, I didn’t come up here just to be annoying. People are wondering when you’re going to come down.” 

“Uhm…” Koge reached up to touch her blue crystal headpiece tenderly, making sure it hadn’t moved. “Well… We have been up here a bit, and we already did the speech or whatever. Maybe we should?” 

Bakugou’s glare softened as he caught Koge’s pale blue gaze, silent for a moment as he considered their options. “I haven’t brought it up because I wanted to make sure you were comfortable first.” 

Koge smiled, her cheeks flushing a bright pink, bringing her white freckles to attention. “If I’m with you, I’ll be okay, Katsuki. Let’s go.” Standing together, she took his arm as he offered it to her, stepping in close with her hand resting tenderly on his bicep. “Just don’t let me trip again, I’m not used to shoes!” 

“Right. You klutz.” Bakugou chuckled, glancing at Kirishima as the redhead popped up and vanished back behind the curtains, pulling them open to allow the two easy access to the stairway. Before they went down, he went ahead, his thick, red scaled tale swaying about behind him with each step. It was odd to Bakugou to see his childhood dragon companion in human form, but it had been something Red really wanted, and as a reward for his heroic part in taking back their country, Bakugou awarded him an enchantment that gave him a human body. He could transform at will now, which was both helpful and frustrating, as he often still lost control of his ability when he got flustered or protective, transforming into a giant dragon in a crowded room on more than one occasion. 

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Koge let out a nervous, trembling breath, her eyes darting this way and that as she observed the crowds. Immediately upon their arrival to the party floor, the entire room erupted in claps and cheers, the more rowdy and belligerent of Bakugou’s people breaking through the polite applause with loud curses and well wishes. 

“So loud,” Koge spoke softly, covering her mouth with delicate fingers. “Oh-! That was a sword being thrown over there, did you see it?!” 

Snickering, Bakugou gave one of his friends a rough slap on the shoulder as they passed him, making their way deeper into the group. “Koge, the fancy ceremony is over. Now’s the time to let loose. Just don’t let anyone step on your tail.” 

Let loose they did. With a mix of their presence, alcohol, good food, and music, the entire huge ballroom was shifted into a rowdy swarm of dancing bodies. The adrenaline, cheer, and pure excitement was contagious, and Koge could barely even hear anyone over the music enough to worry about if she could understand them. Just as he swore to her, Bakugou never left her side, except allowing her to dance with Kirishima. Watching her from the sidelines, Bakugou’s heart felt full to the brim with happiness, just her smile and laughter enough to send him over the moon. 

If he were honest, he couldn’t believe that they were actually here in this moment. He could clearly remember just over a year ago, where he was cold, hungry, alone and lost, chasing a dream. But now, he had achieved that dream, and gained a treasure that was more precious to him than any jewel in the world. He had Koge and his son, the start of a family he never thought he’d have, and a happiness he was sure would be eternal. 

“Katsuki!” Koge squealed with laughter as she was spun towards her lover, immediately caught and wrapped in his strong embrace. “Kiri is a crazy dancer! Don’t let me do that again!” 

Before Bakugou could respond, there was a change in song, one which was an incredibly popular group dance that called hordes of people to the dance floor. Instead of getting pulled in with them, Bakugou was able to weasel himself and his wife out of the crowd, ducking out of the ballroom and out into the surrounding gardens. He didn’t stop until he was sure they were out of sight, letting the little halfling stand as steady as she could on wobbling legs. Giggling with her adrenaline, Koge held onto his arms for support, looking up at him through disheveled hair. 

“Why are we out here?” 

Unable to resist a snarky smirk in amusement of her appearance, Bakugou pushed her hair back out of her face before caressing her cheeks with both hands, leaning in to kiss her lips. “Koge, you wouldn’t have been able to survive that group dance. You look like you need some air, anyway.” 

“I do!” Koge took a few steps back from him, shifting off the heavy ornamental shawl she wore to expose her more dainty lace bodice and chiffon blouse beneath it. Letting it rest on the clean grass, Koge then slipped out of her shoes, sighing in relief as her sore feet met the cool ground. “That feels good!” 

Following her example, Bakugou shifted off his cape, tossing it away with her shawl, and his boots were quick to follow. “Fuck shoes. Honestly, I can’t wait to get out of all this ornamental crap!” 

“Yes, fuck shoes.” Koge came up to stand in front of him, tenderly taking both of his hands in hers once they were free. Still feeling full of energy, Koge began to sway her arms and hips from side to side along with the music, which whispered across the garden to be swallowed by the moonlight. “It’s interesting how your culture is so focused on jewelry and ornamental things for ceremonies, especially since everyone is so… not fancy.” 

Bakugou chuckled, allowing his arms to sway with hers as she moved. “A lot of this stuff has been passed down through my family for a really long time and it’s old as shit. I have to wear the traditional crap, but you get everything brand new.” 

“There’s nothing traditional for the person marrying into the family?” 

“The tradition is that the person marrying in gets new items and jewelry especially made for them. Usually, depending on if it’s a man or woman marrying in, the Lord or Lady would offer them one item from their time being married in. But… my mother's unique items were lost. All that was left was the shit I’m wearing. Besides, this is the start of a new generation. You deserve all the new and glittery shit.” 

Koge purred sweetly as Bakugou caressed his cheeks, pressing his lips against her forehead. She let her arms rest around his torso, her tail coming around to wrap around their hips to link them together. “My Katsuki…” As another soft kiss was placed onto her lips, Koge’s keen hearing picked up on a change in the music, making her turn her gaze back towards the ballroom. “Oh, wait, isn’t that our slow song we’re supposed to dance to? Should we go back?” 

“Fuck it,” Bakugou turned her face back towards him with gentle pressure, once again catching her lips. With his affection, he began to sway them to the music, one arm wrapping around her waist while the other stayed firmly in place against her neck. Koge couldn’t resist him, her soft purr rumbling in her chest as she felt cocooned in his warmth, catching his gaze as a smile crossed his lips. 

“You sure, Katsuki?” 

“I want this moment for us, Koge. I don’t give a shit about all those people watching us… All I care about is you.” Taking a step back with the music cue, it took very little for Koge to realize that he still wanted to do the dance they practiced, so she followed his lead with very little fumbling. 

As they danced, barefoot out in the grass with nothing but moonlight to guide their way, Koge began to feel like she had truly found her peace. She never thought that she would see him again, let alone be calling him her mate, and how lucky she was to be here like this hadn’t quite hit her until that moment. With a spin beneath his arm, it was as if her movements turned a lock that she had been refusing to unlatch that entire night in fear of what may come rushing out. Of course, it was an overwhelming mix of happiness, disbelief, excitement, and even a dash of sadness that all of this might not last. With it all came the tears, and though she tried to hold them back, they fell free with a hitching of her breath once she was pressed back up against his body to rock slowly. 

“Koge?” 

Shoving her face into his chest to try and hide it from him, Koge tried to choke down a sob, her tail once again coming to wrap around them both. “Sorry, Katsuki… It’s… It’s nothing.” 

“It doesn’t sound like nothing.” Bakugou stroked the back of her head softly, being considerate of her headpiece and jewelry. “Talk to me.” 

His strong grip holding her close calmed and comforted her enough to take a deep breath, though she still couldn’t find it in herself to look up at him. “I’m so happy… I really am. But I just… I worry about what happens next… What if I still can’t recover and I… all I do is cause you trouble. You’d end up sick of me…” 

Frowning, Bakugou’s eyes moved to Koge’s horns, which were still cracked and shattered from her recent enslavement. They were a visible representation of how broken she was inside, her months of abuse at the hands of those that had taken her - no, those whom he had sold her to - had deeply embedded trauma and fears that wouldn’t be healed easily. It had been five months now that he had brought her home after rescuing her from the fate he had selfishly forced upon her, and there were so many things that hadn’t returned to them. He had expected her healing to take a long time, he had no right to complain or be upset about the way she acted in certain situations, but that didn’t stop him from craving what they had before, when their love was fresh and uninhibited. 

Her worries about upsetting him were justified, however. It was true that things were incredibly difficult, with her constant nightmares and panic attacks set off by something as simple as his hand coming to rest on the back of her neck or the sound of his belt slipping loose from his pants. Kissing without worry was something they had achieved just a little over two weeks ago, but if it escalated too quickly, Koge would pull back and her insecurities of her body would breach the surface. She was too ashamed of herself to still hardly let him look at her naked, let alone touch or make love to her. Her comfort and happiness were very easily crushed, and though Bakugou had done his best to tread carefully, there were times where his brash personality caused a whole new round of issues. 

Yes, there were things that were difficult and that made their reconnection slow going, but it was the times that the improvement shone through that made Bakugou feel hopeful. Her sweet purrs at his touch. Her cheeks flushing. A smile instead of a grimace. One less article of clothing when she crawled into bed with him. Her pointed ears twitching in excitement at the sound of his footsteps instead of hunched and fearful shoulders. The courage to be alone instead of panicking without him or Kirishima by her side. How protective she was of their son calming enough to let him carry the child around the castle without her at his heels. All of these things had been nearly impossible to achieve the first month or two of her being with him again, and although most issues were something that anyone else would roll their eyes at, Bakugou couldn’t help but feel over the moon with each little step towards progress. 

“That’s not true, Koge,” Bakugou ran a thumb up and down along the length of one of her horns, the smooth glasslike texture cool beneath his naturally flushed skin. “At all. If only you could see things through my eyes. Yes, it can be difficult sometimes, but your recovery is going a lot quicker than you think. Like just this morning, while we laid in bed before Matsuki woke up… You let me touch you and kiss every uncovered inch of you. You’re so damn beautiful, it made me happy just to get to praise you like that. Just to get the chance to adore you.” Cupping both of her cheeks, he used only gentle persuasion to prompt her to look up at him, his thumbs lightly wiping away her tears without streaking her ceremonial makeup. “I will always adore you. And I’m willing to wait an eternity for you.” 

More tears replaced the ones he had wiped away, bringing Koge to sniffle as she gazed up at him. “I… thought I had annoyed you? You were happy?” 

“I don’t think you understand how fucking happy the simplest things make me. I thought I had lost you, Koge. I didn’t think I was going to be able to find you again… So I treasure fucking everything. Every little touch and kiss. You’re my world. You know that.” Bakugou pressed his forehead against hers tenderly, careful of the jewelry they wore. “You make me feel things I never thought I could feel. If I had even the slightest doubt in you - in us - then things would be different. But here I am, married to your little halfling ass, because I love you. And I sure as hell am not going to give up on you.” 

Hiccupping as she tried to contain her emotions, Koge wrapped her arms around his neck, pushing herself up onto her tiptoes to hug him tightly. Though, she didn’t have to support herself much as Bakugou returned the affection, his arms around her petite torso and hands caressing her body to hold her close. As he did, a deep, low rumbling began in his chest, immediately bringing forth a matching sound from Koge, whose tail began to sway back and forth in happiness. 

“Aw Katsuki…” Koge sniffled, nuzzling her face into his neck. “You’re purring again! I thought it was just a fluke during the ceremony but… You really can purr.” 

“I think you bring out the dragon in me, Koge. First the growling and the stronger magic… Now I’m purring like a fucking whelp. Mm, maybe we will be able to mate properly one day when you’re ready.” He gave the skin of her neck a teasing light nibble, immediately bringing a soft giggle from her lips as she pressed herself in closer to him, her tail wrapping back around their hips. 

“Maybe I’ll be ready by your first rut, which will probably come around my first heat. I… really do miss being intimate with you, Katsuki… I’m sorry-” 

“Don’t apologize. You have nothing to apologize for.” 

Releasing him and falling to stand normally, Koge caught his gaze, her cheeks immediately flushing with the calmness of his expression. His usually stern brow had not a single crease, and just looking at him flooded her with such a strong sense of calmness that she felt as if all her fears and worries would flutter away off her shoulders. She wished they would, so she could feel as close to him as she had before, but her demons were persistent. Bakugou was, too, and she knew that he wouldn’t stop until he had chased away every single nasty little imp. “You’re right… You want to know something?” 

“Hm?” Bakugou’s response was quiet as his hands caressed her cheeks again, his crimson gaze scanning every inch of her face as if he were in a trace. Koge couldn’t resist a smile, her hands resting tenderly over his. 

“I used to dream about this… Standing in the moonlight with the person I loved. Almost every night, way before you were even alive… I spent such a long time alone that I figured it was just something that I was picturing to feel better. But this is really exactly what I used to dream of… Something that I never thought I’d have.” 

“I never thought I’d have this, either. I thought it was all lost… My homeland. You. But now I have everything. We have everything. And I’ll give you anything you want. I’ll protect you. Forever.” Another soft and passionate kiss was shared, with Koge resting her body against him as a soft purr echoed from her chest. Though, the sentimental moment was shattered by the call of a familiar voice, making Koge jump as she hadn’t noticed his scent over the smell of the flowers. 

“Hey! There you two are! I got worried, why’d you come all the way out here?” Kirishima jogged towards them, coming to a stop a few feet away to still allow them privacy, his reflective keen eyes immediately noticing the clothes resting on the grass. “Oh, wait- are you two-? Like-” 

“No!” Bakugou barked, wrapping his arms back around Koge tightly enough to make her squeak. “We just wanted some air from the party!” 

“Oooh, did I make you a little winded with our dance, Koge?” Kirishima grinned, calming down from his mild protective panic. “You missed your slow dance! People are asking for you, too. Want me to tell them what’s up?” 

“No, no,” Koge peeked up over Bakugou’s bicep, placing her hands tenderly on his sides. “I enjoyed our dance! But I did need some air. We’re ready to go back, though?” She looked up at Bakugou, who seemed reluctant to agree. Still, he gave a sigh and a nod in agreement, giving a flick of his wrist to command his friend away. 

“Fine! We’ll be back in a minute!”

“No worries! I’ll just let them know that you stepped out for a bit and you’ll be back! You two have fun under the sun- er, I mean, moon!” 

Koge giggled softly as Bakugou groaned in agony of his friend’s idiocy, hiding his face in Koge’s shoulder once Kirishima was out of earshot. “Fuck, I swear, having this new form has just made me realize how stupid he’s always been. It was so much more tolerable when he couldn’t talk.” 

“Aw, he’s just concerned, it’s okay. Honestly, I can see how he’d make that mistake, for us it’s very bright out here. Night and day aren’t all that different. Ready to go back?” 

Releasing a heavy sigh, Bakugou stood back up straight, caressing her sides gently. “I guess we should. I just love being alone with you.” 

“Me too, Katsuki.” Koge smiled, leaning forward to place a soft kiss on his chest. “But you know what?” 

“Hm?” 

“We have our whole lives to make time to be alone together. And I honestly can’t wait for every second. Now, my king, let’s go dance and have a little wine!” 

“You got it, my queen.”

#bnhabookclub #bakugou #bakugou x oc #bakugou katsuki #bnha #boku no hero academia #my hero academia #katsuki bakugou #bnha fanfiction #bnha scenarios #bnha imagines #bnha oc #oc #original character #bakugou x koge #koge #cutesuki-oc #cutesuki scenarios #bingo

[kellykadesperate]

Father Christmas’ grotto

Part 1/5 of my 5 days until Christmas Day AU Fics, AO3 link:

Robert’s not sure how much more he can take of the Christmas music in this shopping mall but he’s trying not to show it. He’s got fairy lights shining in his face and he’s pretty sure he’s left hand is numb from holding all the bags he’s got.

There’s also a four year old tugging down on his arm like he wants it to pull off.

“Seb, it’s home time. We said.”

They said, because Seb’s eating a gingerbread man he so desperately desired and Robert had made sure he understood that it signalled home time. He’s not sure how much a four year old knows about consequences of actions but he’s trying to teach him what he failed to know until he was suddenly a dad.

Seb just looks up at him like he’s mad, like the thought of leaving this Christmas filled Hell hole is inconceivable.

“We said.” Robert says, again, but then he’s completely lost to the sight of an elf coming his way. Not an elf, of course not an elf, it’s just some blond with green eyeshadow on and her hair in pigtails.

“Oh. Who do we have here?”

“Seb. Sebastian.” Robert’s surprised he’s not handed over his actress too because Seb has no idea what not speaking to strangers actually means. He steps forward, almost gives her a little twirl and it makes the elf’s eyes flutter.

“Would you like to go see ...” Robert can feel it coming, he knows, he knows she’s going to mention Father Christmas and he wants the ground to swallow him up.

“He’s fine.” Robert misses the way he could easily chuck Seb over his shoulder and power walk in the opposite direction. Now Seb protests, asks why about ten times and tries kicking Robert’s back in to make his point clear.

Seb’s not fine until he sees the back of some bloke in a big red costume and a stupid hat on his head. He gasps, like he genuinely believes it’s all real and then he breaks out into this run that has Robert chasing after him.

Seb’s little legs get him right up towards the poor sod until he’s pulling on his leg and looking up at him like he’s everything.

“Are you really him?” Seb’s mouth is wide open, his gingerbread man is half eaten and soggy from the way he refuses to eat the head. He holds it in his mouth and thinks he’s hurting him. He’s sensitive, he blames Rebecca fiercely.

The guy in the suit looks down at him and Robert focuses on his eyes. He looks young, almost stupidly young to be having to do all this. He has creases around his eyes, deep and soft and then he looks at Seb, leans right down to him after a second.

“What do you think mate?”

“Yeah. Of course you are.” Seb shrugs and then leans to drag at the bloke’s beard. “See. It’s real.” He looks up to Robert. “Daddy, it’s really real.”

The man almost laughs, tilts his head up towards Robert. “Does daddy not believe?”

Robert shakes his head. “Daddy doesn’t think there’s any need to tell stories.” He never has, he’s always been that guy who said he wouldn’t tell his kids about Father Christmas because there’s no need to.

“It’s the honest truth.” Seb says, he stamps his foot and sends his gingerbread man towards the floor.

Robert sighs, bends to pick it up as pretend Father Christmas goes to do the same. For a second, a hand brushes over his and the guy looks right at him. There’s this sudden and very real feeling of something that makes Robert stumble back to his feet.

He’s holding a wet soggy biscuit and he looks like an idiot but he doesn’t look away from the man until the elf is back and asking if he wants to sit on his knee.

“Do I what?” Robert clams up, absolutely has no idea why he’s getting into such a state.

“Think Tracy meant the kid.” The bloke’s happy and friendly voice is out the window as he looks at Robert, smirks. “Would you like that?”

And it costs him, of course it costs him, to watch Seb sit on some random bloke’s lap with a hat on and a fake beard. Only Christmas.

Robert watches from the side, sees how animated Seb is as he talks about what he knows he’s going to get. It starts with a toy tractor and then somehow gets all the way up to a puppy.

“A puppy?” The guy’s voice is back, all soft and sweet and Robert stares a little too fondly at the way he’s supporting Seb’s back as he bounces him. He’s probably done this hundreds of times, he’s probably a natural.

“What would mummy and daddy say to that?”

“Daddy would say no.” Robert chimes in, arms folded as he watches and leans up from the glass window.

Seb rolls his eyes, and Robert is certain that’s Vic’s influence over him. He plays with his hands for a second like he’s really thinking. “Mummy and Tom could both say yes.”

“Tom?” Not so Father Christmas asks. “That your brother?”

Seb giggles, deep and playful and he shakes his head. “That’s mummy’s boyfriend.”

Robert watches as the man looks right at him, he’s sure he sees a smirk, he definitely sees something and it makes him tilt his head down like he’s a little girl. He’s all shy and stupid and the guy is still wearing a stupid white beard.

“Well. How about ... I see what I can do.”

It’s enough for Seb to throw his arms around the man’s neck, squeeze tight like he’s never going to let go. The elf comes back to take a picture and that’s when he eventually pulls away. Just in time to flash a smile at the camera and wave his arms out for Robert to join them.

He does, painfully. He fakes a smile and watches pretend Father Christmas throw a glance his way.

After, Seb’s nearly in tears about having to go and the man runs a hand through his hair, tuts like he’s sorry. “It’s alright mate, you can come again soon can’t ya?”

Seb nods, thinks it’s completely normal to hug the man’s poor leg and Robert apologises.

“You don’t have to ...” He stammers, all bright red, sounding nervous and like the Father Christmas in him has faded out. “It’s fine. Kids are kids aren’t they.”

Robert nods, manages to wave as he puts Seb on his shoulders. “Thanks.” He says, for some reason. It’s not like Seb’s not a happy kid but there was something about him chatting away to a pretend Father Christmas that made him seem happier.

The guy tilts his head. “Bye.” He says, and then he’s being summoned by the elf again.

Robert watches him turn back and knows he has to run towards the bakery again to keep Seb from having a breakdown. He gets him another gingerbread man, watches him wince as he removes the legs like the things about to come to life.

“After this it’s home time. OK?”

Seb just nods like he knows it won’t be and Robert has really raised an absolute tyrant. He even smirks. Robert shakes his head at him before he stops and looks at the man ordering at the till. He knows who it is almost immediately.

The man seems to know as well, cautiously steps forward towards them both.

“You’re ...”

“FC?” The man nods. He’s wearing normal clothes, a green jumper and a pair of jeans and absolutely no white beard in sight. He looks a lot like someone Robert could want.

Robert takes a second before nodding. “Right.”

“Aaron.” Aaron gulps hard, skirts a finger around the rim of his coffee cup and then smiles. “When I’m not ...” He looks at Seb. “Him.”

Robert smiles. “Robert.” He looks at Seb, fully engrossed in how to tackle the head of the gingerbread man. “This is Seb.” He says, realising the elf might not have said.

Aaron’s eyes almost light up in this really soft way.

“Seb, say hello.”

Seb looks up, offers a curious look. “Me and daddy saw Father Christmas.”

“Did ya?”

“Yeah. We even got a picture.” Robert suddenly remembers how they didn’t get it printed and then Aaron seems to produce it from his pocket. It’s some Christmas decorated envelope and Seb’s eyes widen.

“Left it behind.” Aaron passes it to Robert.

“How’d you’d know we’d come back for it.”

Aaron’s nose is pink now. “I didn’t.” He says. “Maybe I saw you come in.” He shrugs. The way he looks at Robert is definitely something, he stares and stares until Seb pipes up.

“Santa’s getting me a puppy.”

Robert closes his eyes for a second. “You have no idea what you’ve done.” He says, but he’s smiling. He’s actually smiling.

Aaron pulls a face, bends down to Seb. “Maybe he’ll get you something he thinks you need more.” He says. Seb looks at him and then smiles.

“Do you know him?”

“Yeah. Of course I do.” Aaron says, he puffs out his chest and he’s so easy with them. “I’m one of his lead helpers.” Seb frowns and then Aaron goes and pulls out a bell from his jean pocket, it’s tiny and jingles and Seb looks like he’s in awe again.

“It’s from his sleigh.” Seb says, with so much confidence that Aaron laughs.

“Sure it is.” Aaron looks at Robert, then back at Seb. “Why don’t you keep it.”

Robert shakes his head. “No, it’s ...”

“It’s fine.” Aaron shrugs and looks at Seb. “But take care of it OK?” Seb nods and then he’s getting up and holding Aaron’s leg for the second time in the space of an hour. Aaron holds the back of his head like he doesn’t know what else to do and then Seb’s running around the place shaking the bell.

Aaron stands over Robert until Robert stands. “That was really ... nice.”

“So’s he.” Aaron says. “Not all kids ...”

“Talk so much?”

Aaron just pulls this face. “Make me not actually hate doing the whole Ho Ho Ho thing.” He almost laughs again and Robert stares down at the ground feeling like something inside him is bursting.

“Holiday job then?”

“Doing a mate a favour.” Aaron settles on saying after a second. “A big one but ...” Aaron gulps hard and then stares into Robert’s eyes. “Wouldn’t have met you otherwise. Can’t be all bad.” He flushes completely red and Robert bends his head to stifle a laugh. “I mean ...”

“I know what you meant.” Robert says, looks up at Aaron again and sees this kindness he’s never known in someone before now. “Maybe I could ... take your number or something.”

The or something hangs in the air until Aaron’s saved on his phone under FC.

“Cool.” Aaron says, “Sound.” He itches an eyebrow and then steps back, almost hits a chair as he waves to Seb and then turns to leave before stopping. “You did mean ... for like a date yeah?”

Robert has shared custody of a four year old boy, lives in a dingy flat and really had decided to write off Christmas until right this minute. He nods, breathes out a yes.

FC is changed to Aaron on his phone only a week later. They date or whatever and Aaron really is he kindest person Robert has ever met. He’s also not bad in bed. He’s round for Christmas, makes Seb really think Father Christmas has personally visited him this year.

Two years later, it’s Robert’s turn to don a not so stupid anymore white beard and watch Seb gasp at the present his dad’s holding as he sits on Aaron’s shoulders. There’s a puppy licking Robert’s palm but he doesn’t really care because Aaron’s still here, and his and kissing him on the lips and he’s happy.

So Christmas shopping with a four year old can have its perks.

#robron fics #robron #emmerdale #it’s on ao3 too i’ll add the link

[slytherin-puffskein]

Cinderella

« Au douzième coup de minuit, le charme sera rompu, et tout redeviendra comme avant. »

[ At the stroke of midnight, the spell will be broken, and everything will be as before. ]

In this twisted version of the popular fairy tale, a very special mission is given to young peasant Laurent King, by an even more special individual. A smile on her blood coloured lips, the Fairy Godmother orders him to go and kill the Prince.

Inspired from this song

-

Though I’m dancing in a dream, nothing is quite as it seems Everything will disappear at midnight’s chime Fingers calling me away, there’s no room to be afraid Down the winding staircase I take three steps at a time...

-

Everything feels hazy and blurry around Laurent, and he can barely make out his surroundings. The dagger stuffed deep inside his inner pocket, he bites on his lip, unsure of what to do once he arrives

( easy mission ? Yeah, didn’t think so. That Fairy surely sugarcoated a lot of things )

But no matter how crude she could have made it sound instead, he would have accepted anyway. Royalty is society’s flea, and if he had the opportunity to get rid of it, then so be it.

As he nears the castle in his beautiful, silvery carriage, he can’t help but shiver, and when the guards gesture him to follow them, he does, doing his best to ignore his heart slamming against his chest.

( why would I feel conflicted about this ? )

-

Beyond the carriage door, I saw you trembling Won’t you please set aside the burdens of life and come with me to the dance ?

-

Barnaby Lee is observing as guests make their way inside, and he easily spots the silver carriage pulled by beautiful white horses.

( so beautiful, they almost feel like straight out of the most creative child’s dreams )

Inside, he spots a shaky figure, and doesn’t think much of it. After all, this is a ball. Obviously a lot of people feel anxious.

-

“Search and find the one who has wronged us.” Your whispered words are still echoing I grip even tighter the weapon held in my hands as I plot to bring your ending Slowly all the orphans are gathering under my watch behind my smiling mask And I, as the seraph, welcome them in my wings, as I play the role of saviour

-

Laurent King can still think of the ( w i t c h ) Godmother’s words. ‘Look for him, think of all the things his family did, and finish him at last’

The Lee Royal family couldn’t be considered as the best. Not with the current King, who could only be described as a bloodthirsty tyrant who would do everything in his power to reach his goals.

Rumour is, he got people executed for not sharing his ideologies.

Luckily, Laurent had learned how to lay low, and how to go unnoticed. Like that, no way he would get hanged for hating the monarchy.

Nervously, he feels through his pocket the weapon sheathed inside, and finds himself letting out a sigh of relief. With that, he almost considers himself as invincible. He just needs to get the prince away from everyone, and quietly do his business. Quietly, Laurent steps into the ballroom at last, and stares at all of the guests and their false expressions of happiness. In all honesty, they probably all hate the King as much as Lau, but simply want to enjoy a good time as well as some dancing, so they pretend to like him.

And in the middle of all these guests, stands the Prince, bowing gently at people and seemingly complimenting them, a charming smile on his face.

( Pft. You probably only see them as rats that need to disappear. How hypocritical )

-

Melting down to flakes of ash, Within a crimson glow Your slipper made of glass

-

Shoes with bits of glass. The Fairy said it was charming. Lau would rather say they looked terrible... but if it was going to please the Prince and ultimately make him trust him, then he can endure wearing an ugly pair of shoes.

Like a snake, he circles around his prey, thinking of the best way to speak to him, to lure him. An elaborate red mask on his face, it will be quite easy for the Prince to notice him. A few guests decided to wear masks as well for show, but none of them stand out as much as Laurent’s.

Eventually, it works. He is noticed. Barnaby sees the weak glint of his shoes, and smiles at him before bowing and taking his hand to kiss it.

( Ew )

“You look good, sir !”

“You said that to everyone”

He couldn’t help that snarky reply. Barnaby blushes briefly, and attempts to gather himself.

“Yeah, but... you deserve that compliment. I’ve never seen such a beautiful outfit, wow !”

A blood red vest, an ivory white shirt, he almost looks like a white rose. A white rose, somehow covered in blood.

( Prelude to what might soon happen, perhaps ? )

“Well, thank you, I supp-”

“May I have this dance ?”

Barnaby himself hadn’t planned to ask this, and once he says those words, he immediately turns paper white as he thinks of what his father might think of this.

( ‘You ? Dancing with a mere commoner ? Ri-di-cu-lous !’ )

However, Lau sees in this the perfect opportunity to carry out his plan, and nods while forcing a smile.

“Gladly, your Royal Highness”

A blush creeps across Barnaby’s face as he nervously wraps an arm around Lau’s waist, dragging him into a waltz.

“Oh p-please, just call me Barnaby. All those titles give me a headache...”

“Shouldn’t you be used to them by now ?”

Despite the mission he has, he can’t help but feel curious, and Barnaby only shrugs.

“I suppose... but... I never really asked to be a Prince, you know ?”

Sometimes, the Castle just doesn’t feels right for him... and Lau raises an eyebrow as Barnaby makes him twirl.

( Whoever taught him how to dance is an extremely good teacher )

“Still, with the privileges you have, I wouldn’t be whining if I were at your place”

The fortune Barnaby owns must be unimaginable, and Lau couldn’t even dare consider owning that much money. Swiftly, he finds himself against Barnaby’s chest once again.

“Yeah, but... it’s like there’s a wall between me and the rest of the kingdom, you know ?”

( Why am I confiding to a stranger !? Why am I telling all of this ? Father will sooo kill me )

And yet... talking to his guy with fiery hair is so thrilling, it feels as if magnets were embedded into their chests, and they had to be near each other at this moment.

( Destiny, perhaps ? )

“Hm... I’ve never considered it that way” Laurent admits.

“Yeah ! And the kingdom hates me for things my father did... I swear, I’m going to reform the government as soon as I take the throne ! You have my word - !”

He suddenly stops, and Lau can’t help but stare at the prince with wide eyes.

( Maybe my judgement was false ? )

“Forgive me, I’m not sure I got your name... ?” Barnaby asks at last.

Laurent bites on his lip, softly...

“Call me Dorian”

-

I must take my leave right now. I am shaking up and down Though I catch you glancing over at the clock... Shoes no longer on my feet - the slope is much too slippery But my fingers reach around your neck ‘fore I can stop

-

( I can’t do this )

( I cannot )

( It’s impossible )

( STOP IT ! )

After dancing, and talking, and dancing again, and talking again, they manage to sneak out of the ballroom, and eventually successfully arrive in Barnaby’s chambers. As they stand on the balcony, chatting and stargazing, Lau’s conflicted heart slams against his chest as he tries to figure out what to do.

He can feel the dagger press against his sides.

His mouth feels parched, his throat seems to be lined with blood.

By talking to the Prince, he discovered a whole different person from the one he had pictured himself. He wasn’t an exact copy of his ruthless father, not at all. He found a kind, understanding young man who only wanted the best for his people.

( And I have to kill him )

Why ? Why would the 

w i t c h  

Fairy Godmother want this ? What happened between her and the Royal Family ? Lau clears his throat before speaking.

“I should leave, Barnaby. It’s getting late...”

Close to midnight, in fact.

( ‘By midnight, my boy, the spell will no longer be under effect. Be home by midnight, and wash the blood off your clothes ! )

Barnaby reaches for Laurent, but the latter slides away, hugging himself for warmth... and comfort.

“I really have to go, Barnaby...”

But before he can order himself to leave at once, he throws his arms around Barnaby’s neck, pulling him into a deep embrace as tears trickle down his reddened face.

-

I kiss the falling tears that slip from your eyes And at that very moment I felt a shiver running through deep inside

-

Gently, Barnaby hugs him back, and musters up enough courage to kiss his tears away.

Immediately, a shiver runs down his spine, as a small voice whispers into his mind:

Run.

He doesn’t follow that piece of advice. Instead, he looks at the man pressed against him, and reaches for the mask’s strings.

Slowly unties them.

And lets the mask fall to the floor, revealing the most beautiful man Barnaby had ever seen, with freckles easily comparable to stars during a night’s sky.

“Beautiful...” he whispers faintly.

Neither of them knows who kisses the other first.

-

Please don’t let the bells sound for midnight, I find myself bowing down to you Although I am screaming “Don’t do it !” my right hand slips, bidding you goodbye forever You, who bears the air of such a princess, wearing the smoke of gunshots on your eyes My frozen facade was no match against your fire, and I felt it piercing through the ice

-

Soon midnight.

Please don’t let it be midnight.

( please )

Lau slowly pulls away from the kiss, no matter how bad he wants to keep going, and gently bows down to the prince, grabbing his mask and sliding it back on his face, tying the strings.

“I really have to go, Barnaby”

( Maybe if I just don’t do it, everything will be alright. The Fairy will find someone else to do her dirty work... or she’ll do it herself. Either way, I wouldn’t be dragged back into this story. Not anymore )

The Prince pouts, but nods anyway, as understanding as usual.

“Alright... but I’ll see you again, right ? Right ? We can meet up somewhere, I’ll try to not get recognized by other people, maybe wear a cloak or something, and we’ll spend some time together !”

And a smile curls up Lau’s lips as he nods.

“That... sounds very nice, actually”

( No it’s NOT. GO. GO, RIGHT NOW )

Barnaby smiles. The most loveliest smile, from the most handsome guy Laurent had seen.

“Alright then... but at least let me walk you back to your ca-”

( DO NOT DISOBEY ME )

The witch’s words suddenly ring inside of Lau’s ears, almost piercing his brain. Before he can realize what is happening, his right hand suddenly reaches for the dagger inside of his pocket, clutching it and

( NO !!!! )

plunging the blade through Barnaby Lee’s chest.

And at last, realization of what he just did dawns on him.

-

Even right now I can hear your breathing ring in my ears Pulling my heartstrings like a distant dream Down through the stained glass windows panes, the light from the moon Drapes on your shoulders like a veil

-

Everything in Barnaby’s mind stops.

His sole focus is the man standing in front of him.

He can barely care about the dagger digging through his chest.

He can only see Dorian Lau’s eyes. Beautiful brown.

Brown, a colour which can look like dried off blood.

Blood, trickling down Barnaby’s chest and darkening his clothes. Heavily, he falls on his knees, and Lau is quick to do the same, his fingers still wrapped around the golden hilt.

And despite what he just did, with the moonlight shedding on him, he looks as beautiful as ever.

-

Tear away the dress that I’m wearing - this tiara was not meant for me All that I can feel now as your eyes stare into mine is the fire in me burning Our two souls, alike in seclusion, and now they’ve found each other’s company But if I am not the one who will stop your tears, then it’s all a one-sided story

-

Barnaby’s lidded eyes stare at Lau’s. He’s still breathing. Not for long, however. Soon enough, he will release his last breath, and leave this oh so cruel world.

Lau finally manages to let go of the dagger, letting it stick out of Barnaby’s chest.

Silence reigns between the two. But strangely enough, Barnaby has enough strength to reach for Lau’s mask... and the redhead immediately understands. He unties it, and discards it before cupping Barnaby’s face, making him look at him.

Green eyes.

Like the leaves of a flower that will soon wilt.

“I’m sorry...” he whispers.

A heavy lump forms itself in his throat, and he is dangerously close to sob.

“I-I had to... I had to...”

“I understand”

And the Prince smiles faintly at him, before letting himself fall to the floor.

-

Stop the time at this very instant, I am completely drawn into you If God will have mercy then let me please stay right there, as I count your every heartbeat Overwhelmed by rushing emotions, I’m left to drown within this spreading warmth From this moment on my body will move no more... it is all just like a fairytale

#barnalau #lau king #barnaby lee #hphm #hphm mc #hogwarts mystery jacob's sibling #hogwarts mystery mc #hphm jacob's sibling #barnaby lee x mc #barnaby lee x jacob's sibling #my writing

[griseldagimpel]

The Tyrant, the Fairy, & the Au Pair is now available for sale in both paperback and Kindle ebook.

It is f/f urban fantasy set all across Florida. My portion of the proceeds will be donated to the charity RIP Medical Debt. 

#the tyrant the fairy and the au pair #original fiction #my writing #queer stuff #queer fiction #they're lesbians harold

[fieldsofview]

Day 12 AU Yeah August: Royalty - “King Agreste”

You can read the rest of my contribution to AU Yeah August of AO3 here.

Summary:  A retelling and revisioning of the Grimm fairy tale Allerleirauh "all-kinds-of-fur" with a miraculous twist.

This thing is nearly 6000 words of Adrienette and Ladrien Fluff.  The full story is below the read more cut, but I would recommend reading it here on A03 if that’s easier for you.

Once upon a time, there was a king. This king was not a king of known noble lineage, but one who stole his kingdom from the previous ruler, who had been old and frail. This kingdom was small and without a ruling family, leaving its people defenseless and its nobles in need of ruling. This king was a tyrant who drove taxes ever higher and his soldiers enforced any and all of his words without question. After some time, his soldiers became known as the Demons, and he was their master. None knew his name, only the many addresses he requested like your Majesty or your Grace.

This king had a wife, a beautiful woman with golden hair and porcelain skin. She was so beautiful that it was said her equal was not to be found anywhere on earth. She was the one salvation for the people, quelling the king’s tyrannous decrees and calming the war-torn borders with her diplomacy.

A few years passed and the queen fell ill, very ill indeed. Physicians and herbal healers came from all edges of the kingdom and beyond to attempt to cure her, but it was no use. Her health continued to decline.

The king secluded himself further and further into his private chambers. He was not seen or heard of for many months as news of the queen's illness spread. Only his most trusted advisors were allowed near him, and it was from them that his decrees continued.

When the queen felt that she was about to die, she called the king to her and said, "Find happiness after I am gone. In my memory, be kind to the people, as I have always asked. If you choose to remarry after my death, please take someone who is as beautiful as I am, in spirit and in her love for the people. That you must promise me."

Days after the king had promised her this, she passed away in her sleep.

For a long time, the king could not be comforted, grieving through her luxurious funeral. The kingdom grew poorer and poorer as the king raised taxes yet again to pay for her services. He chose to drown himself in material goods, only accepting the finest wine and spirits to waste his days away. The king’s advisors attempted to run the kingdom in his honor, but as the king found out about their new policies, he quickly reversed them. He tightened the kingdom’s belt even more, demanding that the people feel the pain he felt.

He did not consider taking a second wife for many months. Finally, his advisors said, "There is no other way. The king must remarry so that we will have a queen. We need someone to bring balance into the king’s life, and to bring joy and comfort to the people again"

The advisors searched long and hard until they found an old document in which a king was required to have a queen in order to rule. Though the rule was from many lineages ago, and the new king had dismissed most of the old rules, his grief clouded his judgment. The advisors were able to convince him to take another wife.

They did not expect him to decide on this exact method to choose.

The king misremembered his wife’s request, blurred with his grief and anger. He decided he needed a wife as beautiful as she was on the outside, disregarding her requests to help the people.

Messengers were sent out far and wide to seek a bride, who in beauty was entirely the equal of the deceased queen. Unmarried women from every standing throughout the kingdom were summoned to the castle. The poorest farm girls and the noblest ladies were all brought before the king, lined up in the largest hall in the castle.

Most of these girls were brought against their will, though a few relished the chance to marry a king. The Demons dragged them from their families and left them weeping in the halls. Every eligible girl of every age was there, some as young as 10.

Only one girl caught his eye, a young woman of 19. She was a servant in the castle, having grown up there since she was small. She remembered the old king and his kindness to the people, and she was furious at the treatment of these girls and her people.

The king looked at her in the hall and only her. She did not resemble his deceased wife in every way, but her smile was kind like hers and her beauty was unmatched by any other there.

Without hesitation, he said to his advisors, "I will marry this girl, for nowhere else can I find a bride who is her equal."

When she heard this of herself, she spat, “‘This Girl’ has a name. Marinette. If you think I will marry you, you are sorely mistaken. You have been a cruel tyrant to these people and you deserve to rot in your grief.”

The king ignored her words, demanding his advisors set the wedding date for the earliest possible time.

When the councilors heard this they were horrified, but also hopeful, and said, "Please Miss, the king needs a queen who will care for this kingdom. Your passion is what we need. What the king decrees is law."

Marinette was furious when she heard of this decision. Hoping to earn some time to dissuade the king further, she said "Before I fulfill your wish, I must have three dresses made of my own design: One as red as blood, one as black as coal, and one that is blue and glistens with gems like the stars. These will each have matching masks and shoes, for greater elegance. Further, I must have a cloak put together from a thousand foxes, with spots from only the blackest rabbit fur. I will not marry until this is done. There will only be the best for the future queen."

Now, she thought that is was not the time for so many animals to be ready for slaughter, and these dresses would take much time to create. It would give her time to convince the king otherwise.

But the king did not give in, and the most skilled maidens in his kingdom had to weave the three dresses, one like crimson blood, one like ebony coal, and one that glistened like the stars without any equal. And his huntsmen had to capture all the foxes and rabbits in his entire kingdom and take fur from each one. From these, a spotted cloak was made.

During all this time, Marinette tried to reason with the king from her prison in the castle, but he would not hear her. After the first few attempts, he banned her from the greater castle grounds and confined her to her chambers in the far wing.

Finally, when everything was finished, the king had the dresses and cloak brought to him. Spreading it out, he said, "Tomorrow is our wedding day. There will be no discussion.”

When Marinette saw that there was no more hope to change the cruel king’s mind, she made the decision to run away. During the night, while everyone was asleep, she got up and took the only thing most valuable in her possession: a pair of earrings said to hold great luck and fortune. They’d been given to her by her grandmother when she was small, and she held them near her always until now. She put them on for the first time and hoped that her grandmother’s words were true. She put the three dresses and masks into her bag, put on the cloak of fur, and set forth.

She stopped briefly by her parent’s quarters, who had not seen her for many weeks. She bid them a tearful goodbye. They packed her some food for her journey and hoped only that she would be happy someday, far away from here.

She walked many days and nights, keeping only to the most concealed forest paths, away from the main roads. Though the Demons attempted to find her, and came quite close a few times, she managed to stay hidden.

One day, when she was many days travel outside of the kingdom and easily into the borders of another, she decided it was safe enough to sleep close to the road. She’d feared for her safety deep in the forest here, and being near the main road gave her comfort in the night.

The sun came up, and she continued to sleep, and she was still asleep by broad daylight. Now it came to pass that the king who owned these woods was hunting in them. When his dogs approached the tree they sniffed, then ran around it barking.

The king said to the huntsmen. "See what kind of wild animal is hiding there."

The huntsmen followed his command, and when they returned they said, "A strange animal, like none we have ever seen before, is lying in the hollow tree. There are spots of black on its fur. It is just lying there asleep."

The king said, "See if you can capture it alive and bring it along." The king rode on ahead of the huntsmen, ready to retire for the night.

When the huntsmen took hold of Marinette, she awoke. Filled with fear and shock, she cried out, "Unhand me, for I am human. I am Marinette. Please, I am lost and in need of shelter. Have pity on me and take me with you."

Then they said, “Your cloak looks like the spots of a ladybug. You are but a bug who can serve the king, we have no interest in your name, Ladybug. You are good for the kitchen. Come with us. You can sweep up the ashes and fetch wood for the cook’s fire."

Thus, they set her on the cart and drove her home to the royal castle. There they showed her a little cot in a storeroom behind the kitchen, where the light of day never entered. She was told, "This is where you can live and sleep, little Ladybug."

Then she was sent to the kitchen, where she carried wood and water, tended the fire, plucked the poultry, sorted vegetables, swept up the ashes, and did all the dirty work the other servants despised.

Marinette lived as Ladybug a long time, content in the anonymity but miserable with the work. She felt lonely without her family and had managed very little in the way of making friends. Some of the other kitchen girls would talk with her when the night was late and the coals had cooled, but during the day the cooks wouldn’t allow it.

Though the staff in the kitchen were unpleasant to Marinette, the rest of the kingdom seemed happy. This king was loved and peaceful with the neighboring lands. He was King Agreste, and though before his rule the kingdom had been struggling, the past years had been prosperous.

She hoped one day she would have the opportunity to leave the kitchens and open her own merchant’s stall. She wanted a better life than this, but she was grateful she had left the cruel king’s clutches.

Every day she still feared that the cruel king would come to find her and drag her away to be his queen. Rumors of bounty hunters along the borders and an army building its forces scared her much more than any hard work or harsh words in this kitchen.

Though King Agreste had been unmarried all this time, he decided it was time to consider finding a queen. He wasn’t in the mind to decide immediately, but he thought to throw a banquet: one to celebrate the many years of prosperity and to allow him to meet potential brides.

Though Marinette wasn’t interested in marrying this king any more than she wanted to marry the other, she did remember those beautiful dresses.

It would be a shame to never wear them.

The king had been kind enough to invite even the lowest of servants to join the banquet once everything was served to the other guests. As everyone was excited, dinner was served early in the hopes of extra time to celebrate. The other kitchen staff made their way up to the great hall, even as the head cook called back, “Ladybug, you are too dirty and ill-mannered to come. Stay here to help clean when the banquet finishes.”

Marinette watched them file up the stairs and quickly made her way to her cot. She was not going to miss this opportunity, no matter what she was told. She washed the grime from her face and hands, she pinned up her hair in curls as best as she could, and she donned her crimson dress. Though this banquet was not a masquerade, she feared that the other staff would recognize her, and so she wore the matching mask.

For luck, she rubbed her earrings and hoped that they would keep her hidden.

She made her way through the servant passages to the main hall, entering the banquet through the main door. Everyone stepped out of her way, for no one knew her, and everyone thought that she was a princess.

She had not hoped there would be this much attention on her, but what’s done is done.

After some time and a few dances with flirtatious lords, dazzling barons, and gregarious dukes, the king approached her. He asked her for a dance, and though she did not like the attention, she couldn’t deny him. He was handsome and charming, so it wasn’t such a difficult task in the end.

“I pride myself in knowing all of the neighboring kingdoms and their royal families, and yet I have never seen nor heard of you, Princess.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her as they spun around the room.

Though Marinette had never danced like this, she found herself easily falling into step. “You wouldn’t have, I’m sure, your Majesty. I’m not here to represent anyone, only to enjoy the celebration.” The mask made her feel braver, even though this was the king, she could say what she meant. Her time with the cruel king had weakened her voice some, as much as she hated it.

He seemed surprised, “I would have thought every girl here would be looking for my hand. It only seems the expectation at events such as these.”

“I have no interest in marrying kings. I never have.”

“Will you not tell me your name, Princess?” His green eyes flashed brightly with curiosity.

She curtsied as the dance ended. Running her finger along the edge of the mask, she said, “That would defeat the purpose of this then, now wouldn’t it, your Majesty.” He tried to ask her for another dance later in the evening, and she surprised him by agreeing, though he had others to entertain at the current moment. She escaped into the crowd and watched the rest of the celebration from afar.

Though the night was young, Marinette heard the first of the kitchen staff talk about leaving. In her panic, she rushed out, disappearing even as the king was distracted by a dance with another girl. Once the king found out, he questioned the guards who stood watch in front of the castle, but no one had seen her after she left the main entrance.

She had run back to her cot, quickly taken off her dress and mask, took down her hair, dirtied her hands and face with soot from the fireplace, put on the fur cloak, and was once again Ladybug.

After she had returned to the kitchen and was about to set to work, the cook said, "That's enough until tomorrow. Make the king's tea for me, so I can be in charge upstairs, but don't let a hair fall into it, or in the future, there will nothing more for you to eat." The king requested hot tea before bed every night, a tradition he had taken on since he was a young child still with his mother.

The cook went away, and Ladybug made tea for the king. Though she did not know how the king preferred his tea, she tried her best. When it was done, she rubbed her earrings with the hope that she would not be punished for her work.

She did not notice that the tea glittered with a thousand sparkles.

When the dance was over, the king had his tea brought to him. Though it was early, there were rumors that he retired to his chambers soon after the disappearance of the mysterious princess. He drank it, and it tasted so good to him that he thought he had never had a better cup of tea. He had no idea how tea could shine like that, as he had never seen it before.

He ordered the cook to come before him. The cook was terrified when he heard this order, and he said to Ladybug, "For sure you let a hair fall into the tea. If that's true, you'll get a beating."

When the cook came before the king he was asked who had made the tea, and he answered, "I did."

The king said, "That is not true, for it was made in a different way, and much better than usual." He was not unkind in his tone, but it was obvious he was unhappy with the lie.

The cook answered, "I must confess that I did not make it. It was the little ladybug."

The king said, "Go and have her come up here."

The cook went downstairs furious. “I don’t know what you did, but you will not embarrass us before the king. Hold your head up high and do not get any of your grime upon him. Tell him you are no use to anyone.” He sent Marinette up to the king’s private chambers, following behind her.

When Marinette arrived, the king asked, "Who are you?"

"I am Ladybug." She kept her voice clipped, but not impolite. She did not want him to recognize her from earlier, nor did she want to incur the cook’s anger.

He asked further, "What are you doing in my castle?"

She answered, "I am here to work. I am good for nothing, no use to anyone."

He asked further, "How did you make such tea? It glittered with a thousand sparkles."

She answered, "I do not know anything about that." She kept her eyes lowered to the floor as her heart racketed in her chest. She felt about to burst with fear.

King Agreste sighed. “Thank you for the tea, I must have it now and every night hereafter.” The king felt he could learn nothing and had to send her away.

The next night, the banquet continued. He felt that this celebration was not finished, and he had yet been interested in anyone but the mysterious princess. He hoped to see her again the next night. He tried to not let his mind be clouded with thoughts of only her, but he found it difficult. No other had caused such a stir or been so independent. Many of the other women chose to fawn themselves over him without a sign of their own personality, choosing to mirror his every thought and whim.

Marinette was happy to get away from her servant’s cot for a night and felt that though she had worn one of the magnificent dresses, it would be a shame to never wear the other two.

Again, the king had invited each and every servant to join the banquet once all was served to the other guests. As the night before, everyone was excited and dinner was served early in the hopes of extra time to celebrate. The other kitchen staff made their way up to the great hall, even as the head cook called back, “Ladybug, you are still too dirty and ill-mannered to come. Stay here to help clean when the banquet finishes and make the king’s tea when he requests it.”

Marinette watched them file up the stairs and quickly made her way to her cot. She washed the grime from her face and hands, pinned up her hair in curls, and donned her coal-black dress. Even more so than the previous night, she feared being recognized, so she wore the matching mask. It was thrilling, defying orders and joining the celebration.

Again, for luck, she rubbed her earrings.

Like the previous night, she made her way through the servant passages to the main hall, entering the banquet through the main door.

Like the previous night, everyone stepped out of her way.

Unlike the previous night, now people knew her, though they still thought that she was a princess.

There was no time to dance with other lords, barons, or dukes. The king approached her as soon as she entered, enthralled by her presence. As before, he asked her for a dance, and again, she couldn’t deny him.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Princess,” he said as he took her hand, leading her to the center of the dance floor.

“You as well, your Majesty.”

“Though I know you will not tell me your name, will you indulge me in my other curiosities?”

She smiled teasingly, again rejoicing in the confidence her mask gave her. “Well you know what happened to the cat, and I wouldn’t dare ask any harm upon you, your Majesty.”

He laughed loudly, stuttering their steps as they danced, and said, “Ah, but satisfaction brought the cat back to life, did it not? I should hope you would come to my rescue should I follow the feline’s path.”

“Of course, your Majesty. To do otherwise would be treasonous. But until that fateful time, I should hope you would allow a girl to keep some of her mysteries to herself.”

“I suppose you are right, Princess.”

The king spun her around and around, finishing the dance with a low dip, questionably appropriate for this type of event. Marinette could feel the questioning and hungry gazes upon her. Who was she to steal the affections of the king?

As she curtsied to him and the music swelled for another song, the king caught her arm. “Please, dance with me again. I cannot bear to part with you just yet.”

Marinette looked around, feeling the eyes on her from all around the hall, unsure of what to do. But one couldn’t just deny the king without making an even bigger show, and, as it is, she was uncomfortable with all the attention. She saw that the night was still young and the other kitchen staff were at the far end of the room, enjoying themselves. After such a long pause, she noted that the orchestra had repeated the same verse over again twice so that the king could begin his dance on time.

“As you wish, your Majesty.” As they danced, the king watched her and she lowered her eyes to examine the elegant embroidery of his shirt. She wasn’t sure what the appropriate thing to say was, so she remained quiet.

After some time, the king said, “I quite like your dress, much different from last night’s. Though the red matched your lips, the black matches your raven head.”

Marinette glanced down to the flowing layers of her skirt, proud of her own design, even if her hands hadn’t constructed it. “Thank you, your Majesty. I worked hard on its design. It is an honor to hear your praise.”

“You made this?”

“I designed it, your Majesty. I was not allowed to participate in its construction.”

“Well, your personal hand in it makes it all the more beautiful.” His eyes were wide, watching her with fascination. “I should hope you have another beauty hiding away for tomorrow, should I see you again.”

“I suppose that is for you to find out tomorrow, your Majesty.”

“I suppose you are right, Princess.”

The music swelled for its final crescendo, but the king did not let her go and pulled her into another dance again. This time, he spun her around and around until they were both nearly breathless.

“What do you think of this kingdom, Princess? Is it one you could find comfortable?”

She contemplated her answer carefully, not wanting to lie but also not wanting to give away her secrets. “My time here has shown me that this kingdom is prosperous and the people are happy. I suspect I could be happier here than I would have been living in my home kingdom.”

At her answer, the king smiled brightly. “Well then, regardless of what happens, I hope you would make a home here. You are most welcome.”

“Thank you, your Majesty. I am grateful to hear that from you. It means something quite special indeed.”

The king looked around the banquet hall and took note of the other guests. As their third song came to a close, he decided it would be best to follow through with his duties to the other guests. “I hope to see you later for a final dance, but I should attend to the other guests. Thank you for indulging me with your company, Princess.” He took a low bow and kissed the knuckles on her right hand. Such an honor was not seen often from the king to another.

She touched her cheeks, feeling them warm under the edge of her mask. With a final curtsy, she bid him a gracious farewell and disappeared as soon as his attentions were on someone else. Though she was first back to the kitchens, she could hear the others coming down the servant’s passage after her.

Later that night, the king would look to have a farewell dance and another chance to see her, but the guards would not remember her slipping away, nor would anyone else.

As the night before, she had run back to her cot, quickly taken off her dress and mask, took down her hair, dirtied her hands and face with soot from the fireplace, put on the fur cloak, and was once again Ladybug.

She barely feigned readiness to work with a touch of boredom before she was ordered to make the king’s tea for the second time. Again, the cook went away, and when it was done, she rubbed her earrings with the hope that it would be the same as the day before, for she did not remember how she had done it then.

This time, she noticed when the tea started to glitter as if covered with a thousand sparkles.

The king retired early, hoping that the sooner he rested the sooner he would see his princess. He was excited about his tea and requested that Marinette deliver it personally. He again questioned her how she made tea that glittered so brightly, and again she only repeated that she did not know and she was of no use to anyone, as the cook told her. The king sent her away for the night, and she was thankful he did not recognize her.

As the preparations for the third night of the banquet finished, the cook said, "You are a witch, you little bug, always charming the tea and putting a spell on it to make it very good and taste better to the king. Stay here and do nothing, for we will be back late and need your help."

She thought of arguing but decided against it, only fueled by determination to enjoy her time during the celebrations.

This time she put on the dress that was blue and glistened like the stars, and as before, she waited for all the other servants to leave. She stepped into the hall, and as before everyone stopped and stared, though this time it was to be expected.

Just as before, the king was waiting to dance with her. He smiled widely upon seeing her and would not be distracted by anyone else all night. He wanted to dance and dance and dance with her and no one else.

“Now your dress glints like the starts in the night sky, just as your eyes do. Princess, you continue to amaze me.”

The two talked through many dances long into the night, and the more they talked the more she surprised and enamored him. She kept up with his wit while remaining proper, and she held her opinions strongly without being disrespectful. He felt he could love no other like her.

Though his mind was made up, he did not want to force her into a marriage she would not want.

He waited, and brought it up gently, with the hope of convincing her. “Princess, I do not wish to confine you or lock you away. You are the most beautiful person I have met, inside and out, and you would do me a great honor in becoming my queen if you find such a thing agreeable.”

He held out to her his silver ring, engraved with the royal seal. Such a symbol of trust was unexpected to Marinette, and she nearly stopped their dancing in shock.

Other’s seemed to have noticed too, for the crowd became quiet and all eyes were on her.

In her hesitation, the king stopped their dancing. He slipped the silver ring onto her finger and said, “Please, consider my offer. You may keep the ring, even if you decline. I know now that I will marry no other. I will stay unwed without you.”

Marinette’s heart racketed in her chest, she felt it was so loud the whole room should be able to hear it.

Not having realized how late the night had become, she saw across the room that some of the kitchen servants were beginning their journey back to the kitchens. With panicked apologies, she ran, leaving the king alone in the center of the dance floor. She meant to return the ring, but in her haste, it came with her.

She raced past the guards and slipped into one of the unused passages, running as fast as her elegant shoes would allow. Though the king and his guards tried to follow her, she escaped without a trace.

She barely had enough time to throw her fur cloak over herself, remove her mask, and unpin her hair before the rest of the kitchen staff found her. In her haste, she did not dirty herself as much as she was before the banquet, though the cook did not question it, and so she hoped it would be enough to protect her from the king’s recognition.

As the previous nights, she made the king his tea. He retired with sadness as soon as she had disappeared from the banquet, so she had very little time.

She also felt sadness in her heart, because if she were to marry she would hope it would be one like the king. She deeply regretted hurting his heart, but she could never be again in the public view, for fear that the cruel king would come looking for her and steal her away.

She rubbed her earrings for luck again and watched as the tea began to glitter with a thousand sparkles.

He questioned her as he had the previous nights, but as her head hung low and she responded the same, a glinting from her hand caught his eyes. Without warning, he reached for her and clasped her hand, pulling it towards him to see in the light. As he did so, the cloak slipped from her shoulders and revealed her brilliant blue dress glittering like the stars.

He hoped that finding her would be a happy thing, but as soon as the cloak hit the floor she burst into tears.

“I’m sorry, your Majesty. Though I find you most wonderful, I cannot marry you. I had hoped to return your ring, please forgive me.” She slipped the ring from her finger and held it out to him.

He held her hand in both of his, curling her fingers around the ring. “Princess, I do not care if you are a servant in this castle. You are who I love and you will be my queen, the best this kingdom could ask for.”

Her tears fell even harder than before, “I cannot marry you, for the cruel king near here has already claimed me as his bride. I came here to escape his clutches. Should I enter the public eye, he will surely find me. Even if I am wed, he will kill you to take this kingdom and me, I am sure of it. He has no sense or kindness in his heart.”

“Please, Princess, tell me your name.”

Surprised, she looked up at him and said, “Marinette, your Majesty.”

“Marinette. What a lovely name.” He pulled her towards himself, embracing her. “Do not worry, for I will release your home from this cruel king. Our army was preparing even as we celebrated tonight, and it will be no trouble to liberate the people. That tyrant is my horrible father, who I helped overthrow some years ago. I know he has no caring, and now that mother is gone, he has abused his power even more so.”

Marinette felt overjoyed, knowing she would be free from the shadow over her head. She couldn’t help the excitement bubbling in her chest as she thought of seeing her family again.

“If you will reconsider, I would still wish you to be my queen. I will take no other, though you are free to decline if you truly wish. Do not let my tyrannous and cruel father cloud your choice, it is yours to make as you choose.”

She searched his eyes for any dishonesty, but she found none. After a long deliberation, she smiled and agreed to be his queen, Queen Agreste.

She rubbed her earrings again, this time thanking them for her good fortune. It was more than she could have hoped for.

Not a few months later, her home had been liberated and became its own state in her new kingdom. Her parents moved into the castle that was her new home, and she loved having them near her again every day.

Not three days after the liberation of her home, she was wed. It was the most beautiful wedding, featuring the most beautiful bride in the entire kingdom.

And they lived happily ever after from then on.

#ml au yeah august #au yeah august #royalty au #adrienette #ladrien #marinette dupen-chang #adrien agreste #ladybug #miraculous ladybug

[tegary-blog]

Hello! For the fan fic tropes i like 25 & 56. Thank you!

I really enjoyed this one :)

25 + 56: Fairy Tale AU & Awful First Meeting

In Loki’s long, long life, he’s seen three kingsascend to the throne of Asgard: first, King Bor, who was loud and brash andquite reckless in Loki’s humble opinion. Loki had gained his favour by castinga spell that would turn his pretty Jötunn war-bride entirely Aesir, thusensuring that their child could ascend to the throne. Odin was much like hisfather: he was unapologetic and opinionated, and soon after his coronation hebegan to conquer worlds one-by-one, until all feared Asgard’s armies and nonedared say a word against the self-proclaimed “tyrant king”. It’s not like Lokicared much what Odin did. King Bor had warned his son of the pact the crown hadwith Asgard’s resident blood-witch, and Odin had left Loki alone to continueliving peacefully in his hut on the outskirts of Asgard’s vast forests.

 Loki is passing fifteen or twenty millennia (hestopped counting after the first couple, honestly) when King Odin finallydecides to step down. Loki’s heard whispers of Odin’s heir during theinfrequent trips he makes into the city for new cloth or other frivolities. Hisname, apparently, is Thor, and there is not a single Asgardian, male, female,or otherwise, who wouldn’t willingly jump into the Prince’s bed. Thor is goldenand radiant, and, if the townsfolk are to be believed, quite a bit kinder thanhis father. He makes frequent trips to the market in order to buy wares fromthe town merchants, and stops to chat for hours with his constituents.

Even though Loki’s interest is piqued, he doesnot attend the coronation. Why would he? He lives not under the reign of thecrown. Part of his agreement with King Bor, all those millennia ago, had beenthat Loki could do as he wished, as long as he refrained from actions thatmight bring war to Asgard’s front step. And Loki is quite content with his hutand his herbs and his potions. He has no reason to go looking for fights inother realms.

Early one spring morning, while Loki iscarefully cultivating his patch of Valerian root, he looks up to the sound of wings.Huginn, one of the forest’s resident ravens, lands to perch at Loki’s leftshoulder, tittering in distress.

“What is it?” Loki asks, passing a soothing handover the raven’s head. It crows again before turning its gaze to the line of deciduoustrees that surround Loki’s hut.

Emerging from the dense forest is a singlefigure, perched atop a dazzling white mare. Loki tenses immediately, hopping upfrom his seat on the ground and calling his magic to his side. Warmth rushesthrough his body, lighting his fingers with a wretched black aura.

Seemingly disquieted (be it from his magic orthe blood-red that Loki’s eyes now glow), the stranger tugs on the golden reinsin his fists to still his horse. Slowly, eyes never leaving Loki’s form, theman dismounts, landing on the ground about a hundred yards away.

The figure is tall, thickly muscled, with wavyblonde hair caught in a half-ponytail behind his head. He’s outfitted in asimple pair of riding leathers, and a small broadsword sits in a holster acrosshis back.

“You are trespassing on this land,” Loki saysslowly, holding his hand out to grip at his staff, which materializes in frontof him. “There is a royal decree posted at the entrance.”

“Oh, I know,” the stranger replies. His voice isa rich, deep timbre. It’s almost melodic, and Loki finds it hard to keep hisguard up. “I have permission. You are the blood-witch Loki, are you not?”

“You have permission?”Loki sputters indignantly. “By whose decree?”

“The King’s,” the man says, almost flippantly.He begins his approach again, and Loki sinks back, gripping white-knuckled athis staff. “You are the blood-witch, correct?”

“I am,” Loki replies carefully, tapping the endof his staff ever-so-lightly on the ground beneath his feet. A magical barrierbegins to shimmer into existence, tracing the lay-lines Loki had carefullycrafted around his home. King Bor’s second term to his agreement with Loki: Hewas never to harm an Asgardian citizen.  

“I need your help,” the man says, coming to astop just in front of the barrier. “Someone has placed a curse on the palace.People are falling ill.”

“I hope you don’t mean to imply that I have done such a thing,” Loki hisses,stiff and apprehensive.

The man’s chuckle only sets Loki even furtheron-edge. “I would not imply such a thing. I simply require your help inbreaking said enchantment.”

“I hold no responsibility to the crown,” Lokireplies, growing tired of this conversation. “Ask the king, and you will knowthat my status is of a sovereign citizen. Why should I help you?”

“Oh,” the stranger replies, as if it is thesimplest thing in the world. “Because I am the king. And I believe my grandfather’sagreement with you was far too lenient. As you live on Asgardian land, youshould be prepared to be called to the aide of its citizens. Or risk losingyour right to live here.”

As indignant heat begins to rise to Loki’scheeks, Thor simply gives him a smile and turns back to his horse. As heleaves, he calls over his shoulder.

“A group of my kingsguard will be here tomorrow.They will have orders to either bring you to the palace to aide us or removeyou from this land. The path they follow is up to you.” And with that, the kingswiftly mounts his horse and trots away, leaving Loki sputtering in his wake.

Having flown away to perch on the thatchedroof-top of Loki’s hut, Huginn returns to Loki’s shoulder, crowing softly. Lokitears his gaze from Thor’s retreating form to address the creature.

“He’ll regret that.” And with that, Loki beginsto prepare.

#tegary speaks #hey nonny nonny #thorki #ficlet #trope mash up

[ao3feed-mythology]

The Tyrant, the Fairy, and the Au Pair

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2u2YAOw

by Griselda_Gimpel

After an au pair rescues a fairy from her dirt bag employer, the two must travel across Florida in a cool car to find a Hero to stop the Tyrant who is threatening Fairyland.

Words: 1513, Chapters: 1/10, Language: English

Fandoms: Original Work, Fairy Tales & Related Fandoms

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/F

Additional Tags: Urban Fantasy, Fairy Tale Elements, Prophecy, Florida

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2u2YAOw

[griseldagimpel]

If anyone finds themselves going, "I'm in the mood for some queer urban fantasy." or "I want a story about lesbians who don't turn evil and/or die." or "I want a story about fairies in Florida.", well, I wrote this.

It's called The Tyrant, the Fairy, & the Au Pair. It's available for sale on Amazon as either an ebook or a paperback book.

https://www.amazon.com/Tyrant-Fairy-Au-Pair/dp/B09FCCLHR7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=28H7578YE6AY5&dchild=1&keywords=the+tyrant%2C+the+fairy%2C+and+the+au+pair&qid=1631326227&sr=8-1

#The tyrant the fairy and the au pair #wlw #queer books #queer fiction #queer sff #queer stories #urban fantasy #queer stuff

[griseldagimpel]

Chapters: 20/20 Fandom: Original Work, Fairy Tales & Related Fandoms Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death Characters: Rumpelstilzchen | Rumpelstiltskin, Rattenfänger | Pied Piper Additional Tags: Urban Fantasy, Fairy Tale Elements, Prophecy, Florida, Fae & Fairies, Road Trips, Sexual Content, Swearing, Religious Fundamentalism, Internalized Homophobia, Period Typical Bigotry, Human Sacrifice Summary:

After an au pair rescues a fairy from her dirt bag employer, the two must travel across Florida in a cool car to find a Hero to stop the Tyrant who is threatening Fairyland.

Set in 2019.

#original fiction #originalwritershub #the tyrant the fairy and the au pair #it's the final chapter!

[griseldagimpel]

I picked up some new followers recently, so hi, y'all! If y'all are interested, I write a lot of fan fiction.

Saturdays are updates to Eat the Rich, in the Valdemar fandom.

Sundays are currently devoted to Leverage fics. Leverage: Gotta Con 'Em All is a PokemonAU that will conclude this weekend. The three weeks after that will feature The Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist, which is about a teenage Breanna pulling off the biggest heist in Canadian history. After that will be the final six chapters of Whatever You Want, which is a Leverage-White Collar crossover.

I also have irregularly posting Leverage: Redemption content. Tonight, The Paparazzi Yacht Debacle for the Good Ship SS Mr. Devereaux will post, after which point I will begin work on a still untitled Bremily fic.

I also wrote a book. It's called The Tyrant, the Fairy, & the Au Pair and can be found on Amazon. It's got lesbians, the fair folk, and a Florida setting. My portion of the proceeds go to the charity RIP Medical Debt, so check it out.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Tyrant-Fairy-Au-Pair/dp/B09FCCLHR7/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=1PFWUZZ8N268M&dchild=1&keywords=the+tyrant%2C+the+fairy%2C+and+the+au+pair&qid=1634235400&sprefix=the+tyrant%2C&sr=8-1

#fan fiction #leverage: redemption #original fiction #the tyrant the fairy and the au pair #white collar #valdemar series