#warriors: power of three: sunrise | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

mother-above · 8 months

Text

The Golden Warrior | Chapter 1

Azriel x Reader

Summary: To you, love was a poison that slowly killed. It was something that could make the strongest of warriors and leaders weak and vulnerable. You had successfully evaded romance and relationships for a century until the day you realized it had been plaguing you from within.

Chapters: 1/?

Warnings: 18+, violence, and swearing

*masterlist*

A/N: Hello! This is my first ever ACOTAR fic and I hope I do Azriel and the other characters justice! This fic will follow the majority of the plotline from the 2nd and 3rd books but please note that I took some creative liberties in some parts and shifted from the plotline in the 5th book.

The towering mountains looked especially magnificent against the blue and pink-hued sky. Crisp morning air whipped around you as you whirled past the horizon, your white and gold-tipped wings beating hard and straightening into a glide. This was always the best part of your day, flying just before the sun rose.

You craved the sun’s soft warmth and glow against your skin. Keeping your eyes on the brightening horizon, you focused on the breeze that swept the scent of the wisteria, lilac, and honeysuckle that adorned the Palace. The beautiful home made from sunstone sprawled below you, its bridges, and towers glowing as it waits to be sun-kissed. You couldn’t believe you managed to protect the Palace for 49 years, a pang of guilt flowed through as your fae eyes focused on a rebuilding village miles away.

You were hoping to catch the sunrise today but then two sharp whistles came from somewhere within the castle. With a groan and a roll of your eye, you dove down with blinding speed. With a swoop, you land gracefully on Thesan’s office balcony. You slammed his door open and glared at the High Lord who perched on his desk.

“Did you just fucking whistle to get my attention? Like one of your birds? A simple shout of my name would have sufficed!” you snapped.

Thesan smirked, “Well it worked, didn’t it?”

You grabbed a decorative trinket from a nearby shelf and hurled it at him, “What are you doing up so early? I thought you and Callon would still be rolling in bed at this hour.”

He crumpled a piece of paper and threw it straight onto your forehead. "I may be your cousin but I'm still the High Lord. You can't say things like that!"

With a mischievous smirk, you sat on the couch and clasped your hands pleadingly. With the grace of a seasoned actor, you softened your features and gave him the most innocent look you could muster. "Forgive me, High Lord of Dawn, I was just wondering why you summoned me. You know I don’t like to be disturbed during sunrise."

Thesan wanted to scold you for being so dramatic, but he couldn't, not when you were his little cousin whom he loved fiercely. "Rhysand and his courtiers are coming for a visit in two days.” He held up a hand and gave you a pointed look. “Before you ask, I don't know how long they'll stay here."

All traces of your playfulness disappeared; the face of a hardened warrior took over your features. You jumped up and stalked over to Thesan, your power, and energy rolling off your body.

“Those evil little Night Court brutes are coming to the Palace. Why?”

Thesan looked at you coolly, deciding he was going to approach this cautiously when he noticed the absence of the usual jewels around your neck. “Rhysand wants to come by and have diplomatic meetings and spend some leisure time here in Dawn Court. I have no doubt he’s here for something else, but we’ll find out eventually, and please, when the guests are here, wear your siphons and glamour them if you want. I can’t have them catching a whiff of what you are.”

You grumbled as you waved a hand over your neck to magically place the necklace on yourself. The necklace had three sapphires strung together by a chain of diamonds, it was gifted to you by Thesan when you reached maturity. The largest jewel sat in the middle flanked by two slightly smaller counterparts. It was beautiful and fit for Dawn Court’s royal family, but it also had a purpose. It helped you contain and conceal some of your magic, you could even see your power thrumming underneath it if you looked close enough.

With your overwhelming magic mostly contained, Thesan lets out a breath and finally felt comfortable enough to bark out orders to you. He wanted you to check on all the wards, secure the vaults that held ancient artifacts, and make sure all the guards and servants were briefed about the Night Court. Even though your guests weren’t due for a couple of days, Thesan reminded you to keep your wings hidden just in case they popped by early. Only the Peregryn’s and a select few people in your court knew that you were half High Fae and half Peregryn. And even fewer people knew the extent of your power. Thesan had them partake in an unbreakable vow to never reveal your true nature until the day you decide to reveal yourself.

By the end of the day, everyone in the Palace was exhausted from their efforts to prepare themselves for the upcoming visitors. Callon, who was Thesan’s lover and the Captain of the Peregryn legion was pissed that your cousin had invited them to Dawn. He was running himself ragged and snapping at you the entire day to make sure the troops were ready and planned all the security around the Palace and surrounding villages. Callon was annoying you so much that you had to remind him that he was outranked by you and to watch his tone. He apologized and you just scoffed, he was, unfortunately, a man in love, and it made him a nervous mess. You expected better from the captain of the Peregryn legions.

The sun had set and you, Thesan, and Callon had settled down by the fireplace and shared multiple bottles of wine. They were laughing at a joke Callon made when you heard a faint whisper in the corner of the room. You look and see nothing; you were about to ignore it when another whisper was heard. You looked at the pair, but they were in deep conversation, and no one seemed to have heard it, you looked back again and saw these dark wisps moving from the corner and going past the half-open door. You excused yourself and quickly slipped past the doors keeping the black wisps in your sight. They were no longer whispering but moving faster through the halls, you keep your footsteps light hoping you wouldn’t startle whatever this was. You stealthily followed it around the castle, and it seemed to be looking for something, it wasn’t until it reached the doors of the vault was when you did something. Not exactly sure what to do, you quickly leaned down and wafted the dark wisps with your hand. It spasmed and you swear it was almost startled to see you, it lingered for a few more seconds before disappearing into thin air.

“Mother above, what in the hell was that?” you said out loud.

With the Night Court arriving in a few days, there was no way this wasn’t their doing. Bursting into a run, you screamed Thesan’s name as you bounded up the stairs hoping it gave Thesan and Callon enough time to separate themselves from whatever they were doing in the few minutes they were left alone. You opened the door and Thesan was already standing, his eyes big at the sound of your panicked voice.

“What?” his eyes looked for any bodily injuries. “What is it?”

“I saw these black wisps moving around the Palace. They were trying to go into the vault before I stopped them,” you said.

Thesan frowned and then his jaw clenched, something he did when was he aggravated. “That must be the Shadowsinger, it’s incredibly annoying that he got through the wards. We'll have to strengthen them now. I’ll take the first half of the Palace and you reinforce the wards in the back.”

You nodded and hurriedly made your way to the south side of the Palace. Shadowsingers were extremely rare, and courts coveted them because they were the best spymasters. People could train for years but nothing would ever beat a shadowsinger. Until now, you honestly thought they were this tall tale they’d tell kids to scare them into behaving. You began to feel uneasy, was the shadowsinger in the Palace or was it just his shadows that he snuck in? Either way, you hated that this person was able to infiltrate your court.

***

The day of their visit finally arrived, and you peered in the mirror making sure you looked perfect, you wanted to make a good impression, this was the first time they’d meet you. Your lavender silk dress hung over your body perfectly, you gave a little spin in front of a mirror and examined the low back. Just in case anything turned hostile, your wings will have no obstructions if you ever need it. You waved a hand over your sapphires and glamoured them to be invisible, they were glowing brighter these days and it was easier to hide them than explain why your sapphires are more than jewels. Reaching for a mauve-colored bottle, you reapplied the color onto your lips and considered dusting blush on your cheeks, but you decided against it.

You lifted your hand and tenderly brushed the scars on the right side of your face. There were two parallel jagged lines, one nicked the bottom of your eyebrow and dragged up to your hairline. The other ran across the top of your cheekbone. You weren’t thrilled that it was so prominent, but you never thought to hide it. It was usually the first thing people noticed when they looked at you, the day Thesan was freed from Under the Mountain, he tried to get rid of it but even the High Lord of Healing couldn’t do anything about it. You could glamour it to make it disappear, but you wanted it there. It was a reminder of what had happened when Amarantha ruled Prythian, of what you endured and did for the people of Dawn Court.

Smoothing down your dress one more time, you left your bedroom suite and walked to the entrance to join Thesan and Callon. You were admiring the wisteria that hung along the arches above when the air shifted. Darkness filled the air for a split second then the High Lord of Night and two other courtiers appeared in front of you. The High Lord’s power hits your senses before you could even get a good look at their faces, your eyes are drawn to the violet-eyed male standing in the middle. Your eyes shift to the female on his right and then swept to the even taller winged male on his left. The High Lord was attractive, his feline smile already told you what kind of man he would be. What caught your attention was the winged male, he was the most attractive person you had ever set eyes on. His hazel eyes flickered to meet yours and it took everything in you not to gasp, you didn’t expect his gaze to be so scrutinizing. Rhysand gives a delicate nod to Thesan and his courtiers bow to your High Lord. Thesan returns the nod as you and Callon bow respectfully to the Lord of Night.

Glowing gold and moving with grace, your cousin opened his arms and swept it to gesture to the Palace. “Welcome, Rhysand. Allow me to introduce you to my cousin who happens to be my 2nd in Command.”

A friendly smile graced your lips as you allowed your golden glow to shine through, it was more subdued than Thesan, but you preferred it that way. “Welcome to Dawn Court, High Lord Rhysand. I look forward to getting to know you and your courtiers.”

Rhysand took your hand and pressed a kiss on top, a customary gesture that was a sign of respect to females in your court. The smile he gave you had you fighting a blush that threatened to bleed onto your cheeks. “Please, call me Rhys.”

Thesan introduces Callon and like the tough Captain he was, his greeting was reserved as he sized up the males and female. Rhysand introduced Feyre Cursebreaker and you threw all propriety out the window when you grabbed her hands and thanked her for bringing your cousin back.

Rhysand then gestured to the tall muscular man next to him, “This is Azriel, my spymaster.”

It was then when you noticed the small wisps of shadows that surrounded the tall Illyrian, you did your best not to gawk at them. He was dressed in all-black formal wear, his clothes just as refined as Rhysand and Feyre. The only difference was he was the one strapped with a weapon, from the looks of it something special and much older than you. That handsome man was the shadowsinger, probably the same one that was spying on you a few days before. You’re not sure if he or his shadows know it was you that disrupted its spying, but he showed no signs of recognition as he stepped forward to kiss your hand. You noticed the significant scarring on the tops of his hands and fingers, averting your gaze, you focused on the way his lips pressed onto your skin.

“Lady Y/n,” he said, his voice low and heavenly.

While he wasn’t as outspoken or flirtatious as his High Lord, his hazel eyes held yours in curiosity. It was only broken when Thesan clapped his hands and gestured for everyone to enter the Palace and have lunch before the diplomatic talks started. You fell into step with Feyre who stared up at the wonder of the Palace. Her eyes traveled from the hanging flowers to the bridges and towers of the estate. She tells you that it was beautiful which filled your heart with pride. This was your home, a place that you bled and fought for.

Thesan had used magic to make the dining table smaller, he preferred his meals with guests to be more intimate. It also made it easier to read them if they were in proximity. Thesan and you sat at the ends, a reminder to Rhysand that he was still in your court, and if this bothered him, he said nothing. Callon and Feyre sat by your cousin which left you flanked by Rhysand and Azriel. The Palace conjured chairs suitable for wings for Callon and Azriel, the spymaster nodded in appreciation. With a wave of Thesan’s hand, a feast appears on the table and the smell of roast beef and stir-fried vegetables filled the air. Everyone eagerly dug into the food and compliments from Rhysand had your cousin smiling in thanks.

Casual conversation flowed and it surprised you, this was not what you thought Rhysand and his courtiers were going to act like. You were expecting arrogant bastards, and you bluntly told that to Rhysand’s face. Thesan almost choked on his wine and Callon’s face blanched. Rhysand’s violet eyes widened in surprise, no one had ever spoken to the High Lord of Night like that. Azriel and Feyre looked at you in shock, they couldn’t tell if you meant to be rude or if you were genuinely curious. You innocently looked at Rhysand waiting for a response, no one at the table breathed until a deep and genuine laughter came from Death Incarnate himself. A beat later, the sound of chuckles comes from Azriel.

“In the spirit of keeping up our alliance, I thought it’d be beneficial if we acted more like ourselves instead of the ‘arrogant bastards’ we could be,” said Rhysand, an amused smile on his face.

Content with his answer, you smiled at him and continued to eat completely oblivious to the situation.

Thesan took a deep breath and faced Rhysand. “While my cousin is a strong and competent second-in-command, she has the horrible habit of saying the first thing that comes into her mind. I profusely apologize for her comments, she has much to learn as a courtier. My cousin hasn’t had a lot of experience in court.”

You stopped chewing when you realized how rude your comment sounded. You apologized and Rhysand brushed it off, he told you that it was a smart observation to make. As mortified as Thesan was and embarrassed you were, that conversation ended up making the atmosphere more casual and friendly. You discover that Rhysand is an overconfident flirt, but his advances aren’t disgusting, you find yourself enjoying the banter. It also helped that the true object of his affection was the woman next to him. You had an inkling of his feelings after observing how he looked at her. Feyre was curious and asked many questions, and Thesan answered them patiently. It was Azriel whom you kept stealing glances at, he looked like the quiet type, but his silence was unnerving. His shadows were calm, but you could swear they twitched every time you looked at them.

You were about to ask Azriel about Illyrians, you had never met an Illyrian and you were so curious to ask about his species of faerie when Feyre cleared her throat.

“Were you there Under the Mountain?” asked Feyre. “I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

Rhysand and Azriel leaned in, they’ve been to Dawn Court a couple of times over the past centuries, but they have never seen or heard of you. They were surprised when Thesan introduced you as his second in command, they were usually well updated knowing who held power in the other courts.

“My cousin,” you said as you shot a pointed look at him. “Is like an overprotective mother hen. He didn’t let me make a lot of public appearances in court until I was about 50 years old and whenever we had visitors, he made sure I was off somewhere doing some training or working with the other healers.”

Feyre’s brow furrowed as she looked at Thesan.

“While suffocating at the time, it was what saved me from being trapped Under the Mountain. I had broken my arm during training the day Amarantha invited the High Lords to that party. I didn’t feel like being a courtier, so I didn’t heal myself and used that as an excuse to stay behind. Only a few faeries knew of my existence, so Amarantha and her people never noticed my absence. The day she drugged the High Lords and used the spell, Thesan used the last of his power to put wards up to protect the Palace and send me a note with instructions,” you said as your eyes clouded thinking of the past 5 decades. “I went crazy the first year, the pressure of protecting the estate and the villages around it was too much. Everyone I knew and trusted was Under the Mountain, I was alone for a while. I raged when I realized I couldn’t leave the court for fear something might happen to it while I was gone trying to get my family back.”

You weren’t mad that he was protective when you were young. Yes, it was isolating but you understood why Thesan did what he did. If they knew the true extent of your power, you’d probably have the biggest target on your back. You sipped your wine and looked at your cousin as his remorseful brown eyes stared back at you. The day Thesan winnowed back to the Palace, you held each other and wept. He promised to never leave you alone again.

Azriel studied your side profile as you talked, he took in every curve of your nose, cheekbones, and lips. You were the female that caught his shadows, they practically ran to him in distress because they’d never been detected while spying before. All his shadows told him was it was a female who discovered them, they failed to mention it was Thesan’s 2nd. His eyes traced the jagged scars that did nothing to hinder your elegance. Your beauty rivaled Morrigan, he even dared to think that you may be more alluring than her. He watched you as you told your story, he could see your radiance dim as if the mere thought of the last 49 years had drained you. He could see the pain in your eyes, it was the same thing he felt when Rhys locked them in Velaris. At least Azriel had his family with him, from the looks of it, those closest to you were trapped Under the Mountain.

“I understand how you feel,” said Azriel.

All heads turned to him; it was the second time he had spoken out loud since arriving in Dawn Court. Amused, Rhys watched his brother lean closer to you as if he was captivated.

“Something similar happened to me, I can’t imagine not having your family there to help you.” He looked at the permanent marks on your skin. “Your scar—was that from one of Amarantha’s creatures?”

A low warning growl comes from Callon as he glared at the Illyrian, how dare he mention your scar. Rhysand almost spit out his food, Azriel was the politest and most well-mannered person in his inner circle. Azriel hated talking about his scars, yet he blatantly asked you about yours, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Rhys looked at Thesan to see if he was mad, but your cousin was just as curious as how you would respond.

Your fingers went up to trace the jagged lines, and the memory of torn flesh resurfaced. “This happened about 20 years ago, a Bogge was slaughtering faeries in a village. I’m no High Lord but I was the next best thing for my people. I went and hunted for it or-- at least tried to drive it away but I barely made it out alive, if I wasn’t a gifted healer myself, the scarring would be worse.”

“How did you escape it?” asked Feyre, her mouth opened in shock after hearing that you encountered the wretched monster by yourself.

This was when you had to lie and tell half-truths to protect your other identity. You looked at Thesan and he gave a discreet nod.

“The Golden Warrior came just in time to drag me up into the air. Bogge can’t fly so it wasn’t able to reach me. With teamwork and a miracle from the Cauldron, we were able to kill it,” you replied.

Azriel looked at Rhysand, but his brother was already on it. “We’ve heard about your warrior-- the Golden Warrior,” said Rhysand. “We heard this faerie had deadly power, the ability to bring down armies onto its knees.”

All playfulness was gone from Rhysand’s handsome face, his demeanor was all business. Callon bristled at the change in mood, but the High Lord of Dawn just frowned.

Thesan tutted in annoyance. “You could have waited until tonight’s drinks to bring up politics, Rhysand.” He waved his hand, and the table cleared, and tea and pastries filled the space. “Please continue.”

“We were just curious about the Golden Warrior; his power is something that could be useful in the future.”

Thesan squinted at Rhysand. “You know something I don’t know… what is it? You wouldn’t be visiting me if something big had happened. Is Amara…” he trailed off; he didn’t like saying her name. Especially after he watched her kill one of his Peregryn courtiers and plucked the white feathers of their wings. The next day, she wore a feathered dress to dinner just to watch Thesan and his court try to hide their fury.

“The evil queen is dead and will stay dead,” reassured Rhysand. “I just wanted to visit my allies and make sure everything between our courts is okay. If something or somebody like Amarantha pops up again, I want to know if we can depend on Dawn Court to ally your foot soldiers and Peregryn legions.”

Thesan frowned again and looked at Callon who gave him a small nod. You bit down on your tongue before you could say something that would contradict Thesan in front of the visitors. Your cousin does not like conflict, he tried to avoid it at all costs. He looks at each of his guests who look at him expectedly, his gaze reached yours and you glowed a little brighter as if to beg him to say the right thing.

“My court knows how I feel about war but… historically, you know I’ve always been loyal to the solar courts,” said Thesan.

You exhaled in relief and Rhysand’s relaxed demeanor returned. It wasn’t a clear “yes”, but it was much better than outright rejection. After the table was cleared, you offered a tour of the Palace and its grounds. Feyre gladly accepted and Thesan let you take the lead as you walked through the Palace. Staff, visiting nobles, and citizens both winged and non-winged, waved at your group and you waved back. The Night Court would nod and keep quiet, curious to see how your court was run. They decided that while Dawn Court was a little bit more formal, they saw that they had good relations with their people, and parts of the Palace were open for the public to enjoy, such as the library and gardens.

Rhysand was itching to talk about politics so after leading them to Thesan’s office, they walked in before Feyre insisted you finish the tour while the males talked about some stupid hunt, they had attended in Autumn Court a century ago. The Lord of Night gave her a look of longing before everyone parted ways, it was subtle, but you noticed it. Once the doors were shut and you walked a good distance from the door, you looked at Feyre with a sly grin.

“Is there something going on with Rhysand?” you asked casually.

She looked at you in shock, “No! What makes you say that?”

You made your way to show her the bedroom suites her court would be staying at.

“I can feel the attraction, you’re both constantly looking at each other.”

Feyre’s cheeks turned red. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. He’s the most insufferable person I know, I’m not sure how you can handle all that flirting. Besides, I should be the one asking about your obvious interest in Azriel.”

It was your turn to look stunned as Feyre smirked. “I’ve never met a shadowsinger before, it’s hard not to stare at the shadows moving around him. It’s-- unnerving.” You weren’t lying, it was one of the most peculiar things you’ve seen in your life. It didn’t help that he was the most beautiful male you’d ever seen, but his shadow’s movements and his piercing gaze were hard to ignore. You were still mad he got through the wards, you were hoping to talk to catch him off guard one day and ask him about his spying.

You find yourself getting along with the Cursebreaker even though you knew there were ulterior motives for her visit to Dawn Court. The rest of the day was spent roaming around the castle due to Feyre’s “curiosity”, it was tiring but it was better that you were present instead of Feyre going off by herself. It was becoming obvious that they were letting Feyre look for something and used their meeting with Thesan as a distraction.

***

After dinner, you found yourself feeling extremely restless once everyone retired to their rooms. Wrapping a shawl around your shoulders, you walked out of your chambers for a stroll around the Palace. You were making your way to one of the courtyards when you heard a whisper to your right. Looking at the spot, you see this wisp of a shadow and you huffed in annoyance.

“Show yourself,” you commanded, eyes focusing on a spot in the shadows. You couldn’t see anything, but you swear there was a figure somewhere in all that darkness.

Azriel froze, no one ever saw him when he was in the shadows, he was supposed to be undetectable. The High Lord of Night himself couldn’t see Azriel unless the shadowsinger made himself known but somehow, you saw him. Quickly removing the surprised look on his face, Azriel stepped out of his shadows and was met with your calculating gaze. He couldn’t help but think how beautiful you looked under the moonlight.

“Why were you following me?” Your voice was cold, and all traces of the gracious and friendly host were gone.

As smoothly as he could, Azriel said, “I wasn’t following you, I couldn’t sleep so I decided to go for a walk.” Azriel wanted to cringe, he was capable of infiltrating courts, but he was stumbling.

Detecting the blatant lie, your eyebrow quirked up unimpressed by the spymaster’s skills. You sized him up and then jerked your head towards some cushioned seating in the courtyard. “Come and have tea with me, I need to talk to you,” you said already walking away from him.

His footsteps followed you and it was only until he adjusted his wings and settled down on the cushioned seat that you conjured tea and cookies from the kitchen. You prepared your drink in silence, the both of you eyeing each other in anticipation of who would break the silence. He seemed content to sit there, so you sipped some tea before clearing your throat.

“What is the night court doing here, Azriel? Between you and me, I don’t think the three of you came here to talk about alliances and politics.”

His hazel eyes met yours, he didn’t think you’d be so blunt. “What makes you think that?”

“Your shadows,” you said watching the wisps dance behind him. “I caught them looking around the palace, what were you doing?”

He inhaled slowly, keeping his handsome face neutral. “I was just doing reconnaissance. Making sure no surprises were waiting for us in Dawn Court.”

A muscle in your jaw ticked, “My cousin may be stubborn at times, but we have always been loyal to the solar courts. After 50 years of chaos, how would we even have the time or energy to launch an assault on the Night Court? I don’t know how it is back at Night but we’re still rebuilding most of our cities.”

Azriel’s shadows swarmed around him as he guiltily thought about Velaris. How protected his city was from Amarantha’s wrath. “I was just doing my job. I apologize on behalf of Rhysand; we didn’t mean to offend you.”

“I think you were looking for something the other night,” you continued. “You know…you guys can just talk to us, right?”

The shadowsinger shifted in his seat, squirming under your attentive gaze. “We think Dawn Court is hiding something powerful,” he admitted before realizing what he said.

Azriel wanted to slam his head on the table, he couldn’t believe he just said that. He cursed himself for revealing any information, Rhysand had lectured Feyre on how to deflect questions, who knew the spymaster was the one to need a refresher? He looked at you with this renewed sense of realization, there was something different about you. Were you a siren? A witch? He was the best spymaster in all of Prythian and here he was spouting whatever came into his head. Even if this was his first time meeting you, Azriel felt as if he could trust Dawn Court’s second-in-command.

Fuck. They know we’re hiding something, you thought. Stirring more honey into your tea, you forced yourself to be nonchalant.

“That’s quite an accusation, shadowsinger,” you said coolly. “Something that you shouldn’t repeat in front of Thesan if you want a solid answer for our allyship.”

This must have been the strangest situation you’ve been in in a while. You and Azriel stared at each other, gazes burning, waiting to see who would reveal their secrets. The visible scars on his hands and wings told you that he has been a warrior his entire life. He was probably the most dangerous faerie you’ve ever met. This male had infiltrated the Palace and spied on you, that act alone should have pissed you off and made you hostile towards the male, but it didn’t. You were only intrigued by the handsome faerie in front of you.

Azriel smirked, “So, you’re not denying that Dawn Court is hiding something?” His voice came out in a taunting purr.

You think about the glamoured sapphires around your neck and the wings that hide beneath your skin, of that dark power that you have. This was why Thesan spent decades hiding you, so other courts and faeries weren’t going to be sneaking around and finding ways to utilize your gifts.

With a bored huff, you lean on the palm of your hand. “We have nothing to hide, Azriel. I think everyone’s just a little on edge after what happened Under the Mountain, scared that someone like Amarantha is going to wreak havoc on our frail country. We’re all feeling vulnerable which is why I think we should call it a night. Politics should be discussed with everyone present in a meeting room, not over tea and cookies.”

The shadowsinger doesn’t respond for fear he would say something stupid again. You had found a way to graciously end what could have been an ally-ending conversation and he was thankful. Who knows what he could have said, he might have even revealed the existence of Velaris or irritated Dawn Court’s 2nd to the point of no return. He stood up and gave you a courteous bow, but not without taking one last look at the strangely magnetic fae with the sharp eyes.

This is going to be an interesting few days you thought as Azriel walked away.

As he sauntered toward the direction of the guest suites, he could swear he could feel your gaze sear through his back. He wished he knew if it was curiosity or if you were imagining driving a knife through his back.

#acotar #acotar fanfiction #azriel shadowsinger #azriel fanfic #azriel x reader #azriel x you #acomaf #acowaf #fanfiction #azriel fanfiction #azriel x y/n #acotar x reader #fluff #angst #azriel fluff #azriel angst

222 notes · View notes

veronicaphoenix · 5 months

Text

THE UNMAKING OF A WARRIOR — PART III

"I loved him past the highest mountains and the sky, and I knew he felt the same as he poured himself to me, his warmth spreading through every inch of my skin."

Pairing: samurai!noah x fem. reader

Cross-posted on AO3.

Words: 3.081

Tags & warnings: forbidden love, sexual innuendos, swearing, angst and comfort.

THE UNMAKING OF A WARRIOR

PART III

Days turned into nights, and nights into days; a relentless cycle of sunsets and sunrises that blurred into a monotonous existence.

I had been forbidden to leave the castle beyond its gardens, which meant I couldn’t stray far and couldn’t walk through the Samurais’ quarters or the rest of the castle grounds.

It had been two weeks.

Two weeks that I had been followed by two of my father’s soldiers. Their watchful eyes followed my every move wherever I went. Even within the solitude of my chamber, their imposing figures stationed outside the door and on the balcony made solitude itself a guarded luxury. They made sure that nobody came in, and above all, made sure that I didn’t go out.

The fifteenth night, the walls of my prison seemed to close in, suffocating me. I couldn’t take it any longer. My body missed him, and my heart ached for him. I very well knew why I had soldiers following me around, why my parents’ eyes scrutinized me in a different way every time I entered a room.

When my mother found me in the castle’s corridors late at night, my hair still wet and my body covered in a dark cloak, things changed, and as per consequence, Noah’s and I’s relationship would change, too.

The night hung heavy over my father’s castle, and I moved with determination as I dressed myself, tied my boots’ laces, and put the cloak over my shoulders. I took one last look at my room. The neatly arranged space was a façade to the chaos unraveling within me. The truth was that his was a cage, and I couldn’t breathe in it any longer.

I walked to the balcony and opened the sliding doors, the two soldiers outside standing at attention, their loyalty to my father etched in every one of their features, in their posture, in the grip they had on their swords.

I walked towards the edge with quiet steps as I put the hood on, covering my hair gathered in a braid and darkening my features, and before the two soldiers were on me, I turned around, my hands already holding the two daggers I had kept tied at my waist, and I brought the sharpened blades to their necks.

“You will let me go,” I uttered, my voice a soft whisper carried away by the night’s breeze. “Or else, I will make sure you do not see the next sunrise.”

Their loyalty to the Shogun was momentarily clouded, my resolve overshadowing their allegiance. I sensed their insecurity, their fear, as the cold metal of the blades pressed against their exposed necks. They were dressed in their armor from head to toe, but I could see through, and I knew my power was above theirs. There was only one Samurai that could make me bend to his will. It was none of these.

“Three hours,” I continued, tinting my tone with danger; a threat. One of the men swallowed, and his Adam’s apple touched the blade that shone under the moonlight. “I must go, and I need your silence. Do not speak of this to my father or I will not hesitate to make your honor crumble.”

A tense moment passed, the soldiers exchanging uneasy glances. The weight of their duty pressed against the secret they harbored for their beloved princess. Yes, I was beloved, yet imprisoned. I would seek my freedom at the cost of their silence.

With a reluctant nod, they yielded, permitting me to slip away into the darkness, leaving behind the castle that had always been my home and then turned into my cage.

Far from the castle grounds, the city lay dormant, unaware of the risk I was taking into my own hands, the dip I was taking into hot waters and how they would boil if anyone spotted me moving towards the Samurai quarters.

My feet connected with the cool embrace of the stone-laid pathway underneath my chamber, and the opulence of my father’s estate unfurled before me like a labyrinth of shadows. Though my destination lay withing a stone’s throw, the perils of my decision also demanded urgency, speed, subtlety, and skill. No eye could spot me, for I would be damned if it were to happen. It was a good thing I was the princess, raised within these very grounds. I had to my advantage the knowledge of every hidden corner, every alley and passage that could take me to my destination unnoticed.

The path would be a treacherous dance, but I did it, nonetheless. I traversed hidden pathways and avoided moonlit open spaces, embracing the comfort of the darkness, my silhouette a fleeting wisp against the night.

In less than ten minutes, I stood in the bukeyashiki reserved for the elite samurai. Noah’s residence was near to the castle, a testament to his prowess, and it stood like a silent sentinel in the night. He had been moved into the house three years prior, a tangible mark of his ascent to the pinnacle of the Samurai hierarchy.

Approaching his residence, I knew the front door was an impossibility. I had to find a way to make my way to him without alerting the world of our meeting. So, I circled the residence like a ghost, searching for an alternative entry. This was unfamiliar terrain for me, deliberately kept at arm’s length. This was the last place we should meet in. Me being there was a last resort.

A window, concealed behind a sprawling bush, beckoned as my entry point. The muted glow of hanging lights on the adjacent windows, flanking the sides of the residence, helped me remain enshrouded in the comforting blanket of darkness. With a practiced finesse, I breached the barrier, and I slipped inside of the household. The warmth of the room enveloped me, accompanied by the lingering scent of incense recently ignited. Moonlight filtered through the delicate shoji screens, casting ethereal patterns on the tatami floor. In the hushed ambiance, my heart echoed like a distant drum, quickening with the anticipation of finding Noah.

I took a moment to carefully unlace my boots and take them off, then, made my way out of the room, which appeared to be a space most likely devoted to intellectual pursuits, Noah’s sanctuary for honing the artistry of poetry and calligraphy, among other disciplines. There had been instances when I discovered secret letters beneath my pillows, each stroke of his handwriting a symphony that unfurled my heart with every unfolding of the paper.

The corridor was enfolded in darkness, the only beacon of light emanating from a room at its far end.

Noah's room?

I took one step forward, anticipation and trepidation brewing inside of me. My journey was abruptly halted by the icy touch of a katana pressed against my neck. I lifted my chin automatically, taking a sharp breath, my eyes opening wide.

Turning slowly, I silently implored the Gods that the wielder of the katana wasn’t one of my father’s soldiers.

But it was.

It was his most skilled warrior, the one I was in love with.

Recognition flickered in Noah’s widened brown eyes as he discerned my face in the dim light. He lowered his katana as I pulled back my hood, revealing myself.

Noah’s wet hair cascaded around his face, he was shirtless and draped only in a towel. Droplets of water adorned his freckled shoulders, and he smelled of soap and home. Uttering my name in disbelief, he struggled to comprehend if I was real, if I was really standing there, in the middle of the corridor in his house.

“What are you doing here?” He queried, urgency lacing his words. “You can’t be here.” With a firm yet gentle grasp, he took my forearm, urging me toward the room at the end of the hallway. “You have to leave right now.”

“Noah, no,” I began, resisting his hold with a futile struggle.

“If someone sees you here, if someone has already seen you wandering outside…”

We entered the room, a tearoom adorned with a small square table at its center and four pillow seats in each corner. The table remained bare, and the sight of it prompted the image of a shared life with Noah, of what it could be if we escaped our responsibilities, if we ran away. I imagined afternoons spent around this very table, nestled between Noah’s legs, enveloped in his embrace as the aroma of the freshly brewed tea and the gentle afternoon breeze filled the room, accompanied by the distant melody of bird songs.

“No one has seen me,” I asserted, managing to halt his advance. Standing in the room’s center, I pleaded him to listen to me.

As he turned and I could see his face again, his eyes were full of worry and an undercurrent of fear. His wet hair framed his face in a way that made him look strikingly beautiful and vulnerable. A desire to reach out and tuck those strands behind his ear tugged at me, but I resisted.

“My mother knows.”

His grip on my arm slackened, the fear on his face transmuting into sheer horror.

"Don’t panic. She doesn’t know it’s you..." My words trailed off into a whisper. Noah's expression indicated a failure to comprehend, an inability to grasp how.

“Why do you think I haven’t been able to get in touch with you for two weeks? You didn’t stop to think that maybe something happened?”

“What does she know?” was all he could manage to utter. He released my arm. His other hand still clutched the katana, as if he could sense the danger around us.

“She knows I’m seeing someone, or at least she thinks that’s what I’ve been doing,” I took a deep breath, the tension in my nerves gradually easing now that I was with him. “I think she imagines that it’s someone I shouldn’t be seeing… I have two soldiers following me wherever I go, and four guarding my chamber.”

Noah took every word in. His shoulder slouched as his eyes descended. A second after, they darted behind me, across the corridor, and then behind him, towards the window.

“Are you absolutely sure no one saw you coming in here?”

“No,” I answered. “I threatened the soldiers guarding my balcony.”

My voice trembled and I hated myself for that. Noah must have sensed my distress, the fear I had endured crossing the perimeter until I reached his residence, because then he urged me to sit down.

“I’ll make you some tea and then we’ll talk, but as soon as we’re done, you have to go back to the castle.”

I nodded in compliance, waiting anxiously. When Noah returned, clad in black pants and a fitting black t-shirt that accentuated every muscle, his katana had been replaced by a wooden tray with a black iron kettle and two empty cups.

I could smell it before he poured it. Jasmine tea. My favorite.

As he poured, my anticipation almost led to a smile, until he finished, leaving his cup untouched. Standing with arms folded, he loomed over me, his full height commanding attention.

“What does she know?” he repeated, the gravity of the situation etched across his features.

“I’m not entirely sure. She was standing in the hallway the night I came back from the forest, two weeks ago…” My eyes bore into his, aching for the recognition of the memory of our bodies fused in the water, his arms around me, my ragged breath on his ear as he rode him and myself into an orgasm. “She didn’t say anything. We never spoke after that, not once. But again, it wasn’t necessary. The look in her eyes that night told me she knew, and the next morning, two soldiers stationed themselves at my door and followed me everywhere. When I confronted my parents, they claimed it was for my safety and to ensure proper behavior.”

After a few seconds scrutinizing my face, a curse slipped from Noah’s lips, the veins on his neck pulsing with frustration. He lapsed into silence, pacing back and forth in long strides.

“Noah,” I murmured.

He ignored me.

“We have to stop seeing each other,” I declared.

Those words triggered his attention to snap back to me, his expression reflecting shocking surprise and a questioning scrutiny of my sanity. Had I lost my mind?

“These past few days…” I continued, my voice barely above a whisper. “These constraints imposed by my parents… I can only wonder how far they could go and what consequences they might bring to you. I’m a princess. You’re a Samurai. If this comes to light, if they learned that I have lured you into my life… they wouldn’t care. They wouldn’t hesitate to lay blame on you for everything, and the code says…”

The fucking code. I could hear Noah’s words in my own mind, haunting me.

I closed my eyes, momentarily shutting out the weight of our forbidden love.

“I won’t let them do anything to you, so I’m putting an end to this.”

“You can’t.”

The resolution in his voice and his tone, harsh and determined, made me open my eyes again. He was looking at me with such an intensity that threatened to unbalance me, even in my seated position.

After a moment, I regained my composure, standing up and taking a step toward him, my cloak swirling around me.

“Noah, I should have—”

“No,” he cut me off. He extended his arm, and his hand found the spot behind my neck, pulling me closer. “You should now there’s nothing I wouldn’t give to trade this life for one with you.”

He was inching closer to understanding that the luxury of time had run out. A decision needed to be made, here and now, beneath the moon and in this very room.

“I don’t want you to sacrifice anything. I don’t want your life at risk. My love for you is bigger than putting your life in jeopardy,” I confessed.

I’d rather have you alive and away from me than not have you at all.

“I��ll do what needs to be done in order to be with you,” he asserted, so much determination in his voice. Gods. “And nothing will stop me. Not even you.”

I frowned.

“That’s very selfish of you.”

“It’s not. You’re saying you rather give this up because you’re worried about me, about my life. You’re scared, and it’s that fear dictating your words. But deep down, I know you want to fight for us and take the risk just as much as I do. You can’t possibly believe that you can hide from me everything you’ve felt over these months, all these years. I know you. I know you better than anyone.”

Unable to resist the intensity of his words, the pain and honesty embedded in them, I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him with fervor, hard.

He was right. No one knew me like he did. No one held my secrets like he did. No one had ever cared for me, loved me, the way he did.

I wanted him, in every possible way, and I was ready to set the world on fire for it. I would have to sacrifice my status in society to be with Noah. But so would he. He would become a Ronin, and I would become the shame of the Shogun.

His other arm circled my waist, and his fingers dig into the skin near my hip. His mouth molded into mine with the hunger of a lion that hasn’t eaten in days, and his tongue made his way into my mouth, eager to taste me, devour me. My arms slid up to his neck, and I pressed him harder to me, pulling at his brown silky locks. I wanted to melt into him, merge the beating of my heart with his. I wanted to live in this moment if it could assure me that nothing would happen, that we would get a happy ending like those in the stories I used to read as a kid. I wanted Noah more than I wanted anything else, and as he kissed me with the scent of jasmine tea around us, cooling down, I heated up, resolute that I didn’t regret a single decision I had made in the past and that had involved Noah.

I loved him past the highest mountains and the sky, and I knew he felt the same as he poured himself to me, his warmth spreading through every inch of my skin.

His teeth grazed my lip, gently biting down on my lower one. As he pulled away, resting his forehead against mine, I yielded to the sensation, softening in his embrace. Any mark on my lip and the prospect of soreness in my lips the next day were inconsequential in the wake of our shared intensity. We were made for this.

“As much as I want to do this…” He looked down and I followed his eyes to the growing erection in his pants, “to feel you wrapped around me, you have to leave now.”

When his eyes met mine again, his resolve was unmistakable—no hesitation, no wavering for a Samurai.

“I’ll meet you tomorrow at midnight at the forest entry. Pack your stuff and be ready.”

A knot formed in the pit of my stomach.

“Noah…”

“Are you with me?” He asked.

I brushed his hair away from his face. His dark, astonishing eyes locked with mine.

“Until the end of the world.”

He bent down again, a little smile tugging at his lips as they lightly brushed against mine.

“Good girl,” he whispered very softly, sending shivers down my spine.

Taking my hood in his hands, he covered my head with it, making sure I would go unnoticed on my journey back to the castle. He brought my boots back from the other room and helped me tie them up.

We shared one last look, one shared promise.

I would do anything for you.

Slipping out into the night, I dared to steal one last glance back. Noah, now a fading shadow within the dimly lit house, stood beside the untouched tea.

#noah sebastian x ofc #noah sebastian fic #bad omens fanfic #bad omens fic #noah sebastian #bad omens #bad omens fanfiction #the unmaking of a warrior

37 notes · View notes

dasphinxone · 1 year

Text

Okoye x Attuma Arranged Marriage AU WIP

I guess since no one else is doing it, here goes my plotline to my WIP attempt at an Okoye x Attuma Arranged Marriage To Ally Their Kingdoms and Save Lives AU 😆

Instead of Okoye getting blasted off the bridge in Boston, she's also taken to Talokan with Shuri and Riri. Shuri sends Namor to the surface to meet with her mother, where Queen Ramonda plants a tracker on him. Nakia does still go to rescue them from Talokan via the tracker and her research in the Yucatan.

Except, since Okoye is down in Talokan too, she's able to knock out the handmaiden holding Shuri hostage rather than Nakia killing her to rescue them. Shuri presses one of her kimoyo beads to the handmaid's head, so she survives without injury. Okoye is still stripped by Queen Ramonda of being a general and a Dora Milaje for allowing Shuri to be taken. Shuri is pissed off because yeah, she volunteered to go to see Namor on her own. In fact, she ordered Okoye to stand down, ending her fight with Attuma and stopping Namora from tossing that water grenade at her.

So Shuri immediately announces in front of Ramonda and the visibly sympathetic tribal council that she's assigning Okoye as general of the Midnight Angels, who will be her personal bodyguard.

Ramonda says her daughter has no authority to do so. Surprisingly, M'Baku comes to Okoye's defense and points out there is nothing in their Tribal Council Constitution that states Shuri doesn't have that power. Besides, considering what happened to Shuri and that she's alive and whole, doesn't that mean there's no better person to protect their princess and only heir than Okoye?

Ramonda is pissed, Shuri is smug in her triumph and M'Baku lives to create drama. Ramonda still sends Okoye away out of her sight. Shuri loudly tells Okoye to meet her in the lab and then promptly bounces out of the meeting.

The two spend the next few days working together to speed up finishing the Midnight Angels suits since Namor and the Talokanil are a new threat. They bring in Aneka to help them review and test the suits' efficiency as well. Shuri also works on creating more sonic weapons since she witnessed how Nakia's sonic gun killed the Talokanil warrior at their rescue.

Namor loses a warrior bodyguard at Shuri's rescue but not a civilian handmaiden. So he's still pissed. But not quite "Fuck up your capital city and assassinate your queen" pissed. Instead and a few days later, he infiltrates Wakanda via one its main rivers. He takes some of the River Tribesmen hostage with Attuma, Namora and some other Talokanil warriors.

Nakia catches him (he has no idea it was her who rescued the three women). He demands an audience with Shuri or else he'll drown his hostages...and keep snatching River Tribe people every day to drown at sunrise and sunset. All while increasing the number killed by one per drowning.

After Nakia calls Shuri on her kimoyo beads, the Princess quickly arrives, accompanied by Aneka and Okoye in their new Midnight Angel suits. Attuma is startled to see Okoye again (her face is uncovered) but remains silent. Namora is on full alert and is definitely in "Fuck around and find out" mode. Aneka smirks at her but remains on guard.

Namor reiterates that he will drown River tribesmen if he is not escorted to the palace. Also, if his warriors don't hear from him by sunset (it's the early morning), he will direct them to drown and kill them. Out of options, Shuri escorts Namor, Attuma and Namora back to palace.

Ramonda is understandably livid. M'Baku is extremely wary but gleeful, pointing out Okoye was right about the "fish man." Especially that big, blue, balloon one. Attuma growls at him but M'Buka ain't concerned and hoots back.

Chaos nearly ensues until Okoye tells both of them to basically shut the fuck up. They're trying to avoid a fucking war here, by Bast!

Namor demands a more binding alliance between Wakanda and Talokan or else he will go to war. The tribal council and Ramonda are in uproar. It gets even worse when Namor recommends a marriage between himself and Shuri, which causes all hell to nearly break loose. Above them, the Dora Milaje go into battle defense mode with a pound of their spears.

Except Shuri actively looks like she's thinking about it. Ramonda bellows that an arranged marriage its absolutely off the table. It's archaic, mad disrespectful and for fuck's sake, Shuri is far too young. She doesn't even rule the kingdom yet.

Namor points out Shuri is heir. He also low-key threatens that he could conceivably make her queen right now. Shuri snaps that he's WAY outta line. Besides, how could she expect to grow to potentially marry him if he's actively threatening the last of her remaining family right now?!

Namor slyly responds that perhaps courting her would prove more constructive. Shuri points out he's still proposing this under duress.

"A binding marriage between one of my nobles and one of yours would prove less beneath your contempt then, princess?"

Okoye feels increasingly guilty since she blames her actions on the bridge forced Shuri to give herself up to Namor in the first place. She's also still reeling from being stripped her command and kicked out of the Dora Milaje. She thinks on the one time she chose a husband for herself, she picked that bitch-ass traitor in W'Kabi, so she has nothing else to lose.

She volunteers herself for a political marriage to one of the Talokanil.

Ramonda sneers that Okoye's been stripped of being a general for failing to protect her daughter in the first place. Okoye feels ashamed (but once she thinks about it later, she realizes this was Ramonda's attempt to save her from being forced into a marriage and leave Wakanda by trying to downplay her value).

Meanwhile, as soon as Ramonda tells Namor that Okoye is no longer a general, Shuri counters with the fact that Okoye is general of the Midnight Angels, her personal guard. Ramonda tries to deny it but Shuri presses forward. Namor responds that's excellent, as Okoye clearly has value. "And now, all we must do is decide who your great General will marry," he smugly says.

This is when Attuma declares that he will marry the Warrior. Namor is surprised while Namora hisses. Mostly to cover up her astonishment at Attuma's declaration. 'Cause holy shit, this whole thing is spinning out into some batshit crazy circumstances.

But Attuma points out that the Talokanil have a tradition of "What we cannot kill, we keep." And since he could not kill Okoye on the bridge?He has right of first refusal when it comes to marrying her.

Okoye is stunned, fuming and looks like she wants to rip out Attuma's gills. Hopefully finishing the job this time. Meanwhile, Namor immediately grants him the marriage. Namora is in stunned disbelief

After that, Namor sends word to his warriors holding some of the River Tribe hostage that he is safe. However, he won't have the river tribesmen released until the marriage contract is completed over the next three days.

Over the next three days, the marriage contract is ironed out by him, Shuri, Okoye and Attuma:

-Okoye and Attuma will get married in two different ceremonies. Namor demands the Talokanil ceremony take place first in precedence but Attuma asks Okoye what she wants. She icily insists the marriage first take place in Wakanda.

-The marriage must be consummated within a week of the second marriage ceremony in Talokan or it will be invalid and threaten the end to the treaty.

-They agree that Okoye will live with Attuma for three months at a time in Talokan and he will live with her three months at a time in Wakanda, alternating from there. Since Okoye will have the first wedding in Wakanda, she will be living her first three months with Attuma in Talokan.

Shuri pledges to design a new house for Okoye on the river that can accommodate Attuma. She will also work with the Talokanil scientists to create a home in one of the grottoes in Talokan that can accommodate Okoye since they cannot live separately. Otherwise, why marry?

-They do not have to have children, though it is heavily encouraged. Okoye reminds everyone she's in her early 40s, so yeah, not gonna happen and it's ultimately her choice. Not to mention, they have no fucking clue how human and Talokanil physiology work together.

Attuma points out that they may adopt younglings. Though if they do, it will have to be an equal number of Wakandan and Talokanil younglings to keep things fair.

-If they have a potential marriage ending disputes, they will have to bring it to a council of 2-3 Talokanil and Wakandan members. The nation who has the majority of council members changes every year. Once a dispute is voted on, it is law, unless extenuating circumstances require that the issue be revisited.

-Okoye and Attuma will train the other's forces. Tactics and weapons will be shared.

-This marriage will also open the way to cultural trade between Wakanda and Talokan.

-Any threat against either spouse will be taken as a threat against both nations and treated with equal importance and threat response.

-Attuma insists on properly courting Okoye during the first three months of her living with him in Talokan. Okoye hisses that it's pointless since they're already married. Attuma gets irritated and says that even though the marriage is political, he still needs to court her properly to fulfill Talokanil tradition. Okoye tries to get out of this, but Attuma won't budge.

It pisses off Okoye even more. She then points out that since he's so fond of courting, he can court her in both Talokanil and Wakandan traditions. Attuma shrugs and agrees. Okoye certainly wasn't expecting him to so quickly agree to her traditions, huh.

-The first marriage in Wakanda will take place at the next full moon, which is in just under three weeks.

All four of them sign the marriage contract. Ramonda won't sign it until the end of the first marriage ceremony in Wakanda.

Meanwhile, the U.S. and France most certainly HAVE NOT forgotten losing their ships and mercenaries to Wakanda in their efforts to gain vibranium. The African nation is absolutely still in their sights. And Valentina Fontaine sure in the hell never forgets a perceived insult...

And that's where we are with this crack-ass AU...Help, I HATE IT HERE 😂

248 notes · View notes

violet-shadows · 2 years

Text

Cover Story (Part One)

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Masterlist

Summary: When a mission leads him to a secluded island, Azriel recruits a friend and colleague to pose as his mate. Their time spent working together reveals more than they anticipated.

Word Count: 3.1k

Pairing: Azriel x Reader (She/Her)

Warnings: none (future parts will contain graphic, canon-typical violence)

A/N: This work is part of a three-part series. Thank you to this anon for requesting and waiting patiently for this. I hope you like it!

⊱ —————— ❈ —————— ⊰

A good spy needs a good cover story. Even the Shadowsinger, adept at remaining unseen and unnoticed, knew better than to show up in a foreign nation without a believable explanation for his presence. It’s tricky to craft a lie that will open the doors that need opening without drawing undue suspicion, especially when working alone. That’s where you came in.

The small principality off the coast of the Continent was technically the territory of Montesere, however, its Fae remained largely independent, governed by a Lord who trusted outsiders little. It was there that a book of great power was said to be hidden and the High Lord of the Night Court had tasked you and Azriel with retrieving it. Your cover story was that you were a newly mated couple from the Continent, honeymooning on the small, idyllic island. Tourists were not entirely uncommon in the area, and a couple in love would not draw undue suspicion, especially with Azriel’s wings glamoured and shadows hidden.

You arrived on the island via boat, its borders heavily warded against winnowing. Your act started as soon as you boarded, with Azriel keeping an arm slung around your shoulder as you enjoyed the sunrise over calm seas. Before you left, Azriel had taken great care to ensure you knew what to expect in terms of couple-like behavior, warning you that small touches and holding hands would help to sell the lie. He had blushed when he said it, looking down at his feet with his hands tucked into his pockets, as though he was asking you to make a monumental sacrifice by holding his hand. “I think I can handle a bit of affection, Shadowsinger,” you had teased, trying to ease the tension.

Now, as you walked the busy city streets, your hand grasped in his, you couldn’t help but feel it was a bit of a sacrifice, if only because you would have to stop once the mission was over. Holding Azriel’s hand and tucking into his side felt as natural as breathing, and while the feeling of any other male’s arm around your waist might have been unsettling, you found it easy to lean into his touch. Wrapping your arm around his forearm or slipping your hand into his as you walked became a habit quickly, and you would need to be careful once you returned home not to slip into the behavior still.

Your first day on the island was all about selling your cover story, and in that way, it felt very much like a real holiday. The two of you walked the city streets together, popping into shops and stalls to survey the various trinkets and delicacies for sale. At midday, you walked hand and hand along the esplanade before dining outside of a small, picturesque bistro, finishing the meal with a shared bowl of gelato. “I see why people come here,” you said, sitting back to enjoy the cool sea breeze on your face. The sun was high in the cloudless sky, illuminating the glittering, turquoise water of the bay. Above you, sea birds cried out from atop the high cliffs, catching the breeze as they swooped towards the water below. Their flight reminded you of Illyrian warriors, perfectly graceful, even on the hunt.

“Don’t get too used to it,” Azriel replied, scanning the area for listening ears before he continued, “I don’t know that we’ll be able to come back.” You nodded, catching his meaning, and inhaled another lungful of sweet salt air, enjoying the hint of pine and raindrops, a scent that was uniquely Azriel.

“I suppose we’ll have to make the most of our time, then,” you said, trying not to blush when he returned your smile with one of his own. His usual stone-faced expression had been lifted as part of the role he was playing, replaced by a look of contentment that made your heart squeeze. If others noticed the way his eyes still darted back and forth, taking in every minute detail of his surroundings, they would attribute it to the protective instincts of a newly mated male. Yet another reason your cover was ideal for the job.

After lunch, you walked further into the city to sightsee. The Lord’s estate sat at the top of a large hill overlooking the bay, and it was there the book was most likely to be kept. Fortunately, his estate was also a grand architectural masterpiece and drew the eyes of nearly every visitor that came to the island. It gave the two of you an excuse to scope out the grounds without needing to conceal your interest.

Guards were stationed at the entry points, but from your place on the ground, it did not appear that there was much protection from threats coming in from above. Both you and Azriel made note of this, feigning interest in the elaborately carved corbels as you cataloged potential entrances near the roofline. After a little while, you silently agreed that you could spend no more time observing the building without risking suspicion and made your way to a restaurant in the square adjacent to the estate. Patio seating allowed you to continue observing the guard’s movements under the pretense of people watching, and as you ate dinner, the two of you took great care to look like a smitten couple, rather than a duo casing a mark. By the time you finished your meal and dessert, eating as slowly as could be believable, dusk had fallen and shift changeover had not yet occurred. You were beginning to run out of reasons to linger in the area, but you needed to know exactly when the daytime guards left their posts. “They must get bored,” you mentioned off-hand, pretending to sip at your wine. “I mean, don’t they get hungry, standing around in the heat all day?” You drew out your words a little, acting the part of the curious female tipsy from dinner.

“I’m sure they get to go home to dinner soon, darling,” Azriel replied, taking your hand in his across the table. You tried not to let the pet name and gesture go to your head, telling yourself that the giggle you let out was just a part of your cover and nothing more. You caught Azriel’s meaning, all the same, guard changeover would be soon enough, you just needed a bit more time.

“Baabbbyyy, did you see that jewelry shop across the way? With the pretty necklaces. I wonder if they’re still open, we should go while we’re here,” you pretended to pout, fluttering your eyelashes as you did so, and when Azriel chuckled in amusement, it sounded genuine.

“I’m sure we can pop in before we go, baby.” He smirked, teasing you with the last bit, and you kicked him playfully under the table. After paying the cheque, the two of you wandered across the square and you babbled about how you wanted your house to look just like the manor before you, giving you two yet another excuse to observe the grounds. Azriel played the role of dutiful mate perfectly, nodding and muttering, “Sure darling”, as you instructed him to make note of the roof tiles because you wanted yours to be that color exactly.

When you reached the jewelry shop, which conveniently featured a facade of large windows, you allowed Azriel to take over watching the guards while you chatted animatedly with the shopkeep, who was more than happy to answer your “innocent” questions about the estate across the road as he showed you fine pieces of jewelry. Finally, partway through your conversation, the changing of the guards occurred and you glanced at the clock behind the counter, making note of the time. You yawned, still playing the part of a tipsy tourist, and called to Azriel, “I suppose we should go back to the inn soon…”

The shopkeep, intent on making the sale, interjected. “I do have one more piece you simply must try before you go. I believe it would suit you quite well, my Lady, if I may be so bold.” You entertained him, nodding contentedly as Azriel joined you at your side, his hand snaking around your waist to pull you close. The shopkeep unlocked a case at the far end of the store, retrieving a necklace there. The gasp you made at the sight of it was not feigned, as the jeweler indeed had a good eye.

A bright cobalt jewel hung from a delicate silver chain, its finely cut facets glittering in the silver moonlight filtering through the storefront windows. The stone was an oval cut gem set in fine silver filigree, its hue and shape so reminiscent of Azriel’s Siphons that you had to check to make sure they were still concealed under his sleeves. “Blue sapphire mined in Rask. The stone is said to calm the mind and help the wearer communicate their feelings more clearly,” said the shopkeep, holding the necklace out to you. “I believe it would be very becoming on you, my Lady.”

“It really is quite breathtaking,” you said honestly, feeling slightly guilty that you had taken the vendor’s time without any intention of buying the piece. Even if you wanted to indulge, you were sure it was absurdly expensive. “Perhaps if it’s still here before we leave…”, you said wistfully, giving yourself an out from the conversation. You hoped he wouldn’t be too disappointed when you didn’t return for the item later on. Just as you were about to bid him goodnight, Azriel interrupted you.

“We’ll take it,” he said confidently, reaching into his pocket for the coin. You wheeled around to look at him, utterly surprised, and he shot you a mischievous smile. “He’s right, it is quite becoming of you.”

“Darling, it’s quite the expense,” you tried to argue. He shook his head, handing over the funds.

“Anything for my lovely mate.” You tried to ignore the way your heart fluttered at his words, reminding yourself this was a part of the cover. When the transaction was through, Azriel took you by surprise again when he picked up the necklace and motioned for you to turn around. You lifted your hair, allowing him to fasten the clasp, blushing when his fingers brushed your neck. “Beautiful,” he murmured when you turned around, almost to himself. He was playing his part well, almost too well. Returning home would be bittersweet, indeed.

You bid the shopkeep goodnight and waited until you were far from the square on an empty street to swat Azriel’s arm. “What did you do that for?”

“Do what for?” He feigned innocence, taking your hand in his to keep you from smacking him again.

“That was expensive!” You hissed, reaching up to feel the fine jewel that hung around your neck.

“You liked it,” he teased. “You’ve always liked sparkly things.” You blushed again, biting your lip as your realized Azriel had taken notice of your penchant for beautiful things.

“I’ll pay you back,” you replied shyly.

“No need, I wanted to get it for you”, he said. You blushed, looking down at your feet as you walked, and he rushed to add, “And it helps sell the cover story, of course.”

“Right, of course,” you tried to act natural as you approached the inn and Azriel took your hand in his again. When you arrived in your chambers, you remembered one minor detail of the stay you and Azriel had yet to discuss.

“I almost forgot… One bed…” you recalled, resigning yourself to the small chaise in the corner of the room. It was too small for Azriel to sleep on, even if his wings weren’t part of the equation, so it only made sense that he take the bed. Azriel surprised you by throwing a pillow onto the floor on the side of the bed near the door.

“You take the bed,” he mumbled, shrugging off his jacket.

“That’s ridiculous, I can sleep on the chaise just fine,” you replied, grabbing a pillow and blanket to head to the corner of the room. Azriel rolled his eyes.

“Your neck is going to start bothering you again if you sleep on that,” he said. It was difficult not to read into the fact that he remembered your neck injury from decades before. “I’ve slept worse places.”

“No, it won’t,” you argued, biting your lip. “You can’t sleep on the floor… especially at your age.”

“Are you calling me old?” Azriel barked a laugh, turning to look at you with a single eyebrow raised.

“Yes,” you said smugly, marching over to pick his pillow up off the floor. “And as someone who respects my elders, I can’t, in good conscience, have you sleeping on the floor.”

“And what would you have me do, hmm? Have the Lady sleep on the chaise instead?” he said, poking fun at the way the shopkeep had addressed you. You rolled your eyes at him and started at the bed, getting an idea.

“Nonsense. We’re both adults,” you gulped, “we can share.” Azriel seemed momentarily surprised before nodding, eyebrows raised.

“As long as you don’t steal all the covers.”

⊱ —————— ❈ —————— ⊰

Falling asleep next to Azriel was surprisingly easy. Once you got past the awkwardness of sharing a bed with your colleague, the sound of his breathing lulled you into a peaceful sleep. When you woke in the morning, he was gone, a note left on his side of the bed the only trace of him.

Went to the square, I’ll be back with breakfast – A

To an outsider, the note would look innocuous, but you caught Azriel’s true purpose. He was going to observe when the guard shift changed over again in the morning. A glimpse out the window told you it was still rather early. It had rained overnight and the cobblestone streets below were mostly empty at that hour. Without Azriel at your side, though, you found yourself unable to fall back asleep. Restless and unsure of when he might return, you decided to make yourself useful and walk the empty streets, making note of escape routes and hiding spots in the vicinity. After mapping several of the surrounding blocks, you headed back towards the inn, only to be surprised by a figure emerging from a darkened alleyway.

“Where the fuck were you?” Azriel was in front of you before you could blink, both hands braced on your shoulders. He looked you up and down, as if searching for an injury, and there was a wild glint in his hazel eyes. It was then that you realized just how much you relied on his shadows and wings to read his body language. Without them, it was difficult to identify what he was thinking.

“Walking,” you answered. “What’s wrong?” He barked a laugh, turning to shepherd you in the direction of the inn, one hand coming to rest between your shoulder blades.

“What’s wrong? I came back and you were gone! I thought something had happened,” he explained, an exasperated edge in his voice. You felt your hackles raise at his annoyance; it wasn’t as though you weren’t trained and capable, you had been on plenty of solo missions in the past.

“So what, I can’t walk the area? I can look after myself, Azriel,” you snapped.

“You could have at least left a note,” he replied. When you glanced up at him, you could see his jaw was clenched tight and his eyebrows were drawn slightly together, a sure sign he was angry.

“I didn’t think to…” In truth, you hadn’t expected Azriel to be worried by your absence, but you kept that part to yourself. “I’m sorry.” He seemed to soften at that, letting out a heavy sigh. “Did you find anything?” He quickly surveyed the empty streets before leaning down to whisper lowly.

“Guards change shift at 7:00 am. It’s too bright by then, so the night shift change will be our in,” he said quietly. You tried not to shiver at the feeling of his breath on your neck while he whispered in your ear.

“Tonight?” You asked, feigning nonchalance. He nodded, straightening so his face was no longer so close to yours. “I suppose we should make the most of today, then.” Azriel shot you a questioning look and you clarified, “to plan and prepare, that is.”

He didn’t reply, walking in awkward silence with you until you reached the inn. His posture was rigid and you couldn’t tell if it was professional caution or residual tension after your small disagreement. When you rounded the corner, he took your hand in his again, holding it tightly until you were inside the privacy of your quarters. Once again, you reminded yourself that this was part of the role he was playing and tried not to feel hurt when he dropped your hand as though it had burned him. True to his word, Azriel had indeed brought back breakfast and the table was set with a delicious-looking assortment of pastries and fruit. “So what’s our plan?”, you asked, taking a seat.

“You stay here and wait for me,” he said, as though it were obvious.

“Wait, what? What happened to working together?”

“We have been working together. That’s what we’ve been doing this whole time…”. For some reason, his words stung slightly.

“So what, I just wait here while you get to play the hero?” Your annoyance was seeping into your voice despite yourself and Azriel sighed deeply.

“There is no reason for both of us to go in,” he explained, waving a hand dismissively. “Your job is to play the part of the mate as a cover, I do the hard work.”

“Oh, so I’m just an ornament?” you scoffed, irritation growing.

“I didn’t say that,” Azriel replied, rolling his eyes. “I needed you for the cover story. But I don’t need you to come with me.” I don’t need you. His words chaffed.

“And if something happens?” you replied. “What then? You’re talking about going into an enemy fortress alone without backup even on standby.”

“And what are you going to do as my backup? Run in and save me?” Azriel’s typical calm demeanor was dissolving as your tempers both flared. “If you want to be useful you can stay here and out of my way.” You swallowed thickly, anger and hurt warring within you.

“Fine,” you snapped, stabbing at your breakfast with a scowl. Azriel huffed, taking a seat on the bed to inventory his weapons.

“Fine.”

⊱ —————— ❈ —————— ⊰

Likes, reblogs, comments, and feedback are greatly appreciated. Please let me know if you would like to be added to or removed from my tag list for future fics. Click here to check out my other work.

Taglist: @answer-the-sirens @microwaveallthedemons @judig92 @wolfyland07 @donttellthecats @goldentournesol @mulansaucey @millionthingsihaventdone @starlit-terror @starrstrucked @bankerfrog @xxoverthinkxx @luv-xoxo @abrunettefangirlnerd (yell at me nicely if I missed you <;3)

#Azriel x Reader #Azriel x You #Azriel Fanfic #Azriel Fanfiction #Azriel #Azriel Shadowsinger #ACOTAR x You #ACOTAR Fanfic #ACOTAR Fanfiction #ACOTAR #ACOTAR Imagine #my stuff #ff

390 notes · View notes

loulou3010 · 7 months

Text

Hollyleaf killed ashfur !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#drawing #warrior cats #artists on tumblr #artwork #digital art #hollyleaf #power of three #sunrise #ashfur is dead

4 notes · View notes

powerofthesunau · 6 months

Text

DOVEWING & IVYPOOL

Immediate differences to canon:

Daughters of Cloudtail and Brightheart (Birchfall and Whitewing cut to simplify family tree) and to better fit 'Kin of your kin'

Hereditary Name meanings

Dove - Brightheart's feeling of peace being able to start a family with Cloudtail. Also in hope that her kits would not suffer during turbulent times in ThunderClan

Ivy - reference to ivy growing in Princess' garden and to the ones that grow in the forest. Decleration that Firestar, Cloudtail and their family's kittypet heritage does not limit them as warriors

Aged up slightly: They are newly apprenticed during Sunrise when both the Three's parentage and the prophcey are revealed.

Hollyleaf who stood in for leader while poisoning Greystar realises that she has no powers and suspecting 'kin of kin' could refer to Cloudtail's kits, Dovekit and Ivykit. While convincing the clans (who are all aware of the prophcey) that she is still the third member.

In order to keep an eye on the kits she takes on Ivypaw as an apprentice and assigns Dovepaw to her 'deputy' Lionblaze. Both mentors are way too young to have first apprentices and along with taking over leadership duties in the clan this results in Dovepaw and Ivypaw having quite a poor relationship with their mentors. After Hollyleaf betrayal and death Lionblaze does not assign Ivypaw a new mentor.

Both sisters feel exploited by StarClan and by extension Lionblaze and Jayfeather when they try and take down Hollyleaf and Sol. Dovewing wishes she was never part of the prophcey while Ivypool feels she was roped in by Lionblaze and Jayfeather but never treat her as an equal. Compared to her sister Ivypaw is expendable, a cat that coyld be disposed of to protect the Three. By Sol's defeat both of them end on bitter terms with Lionblaze and Jayfeather and the sisterly bond they once shared tainted with resentment.

________

Dovewing

She is pushed by Jayfeather to learn how to use her powers so she can hear what Sol is planning. After Hollyleaf's death Lionblaze reveals Dovepaw to the other rebels as the third prophcey cat. Dovepaw feels pressure to live up to be the saviour that her family, ThunderClan and rebels in other clans see her as.

Upon accompying Lionblaze to a meeting with ShadowClan rebels she falls for Tigerheart who is the first cat to wants to know more about her, not just what her powers can do. She is given the name Dovesong. Upon Sol's defeat she chooses to live with Tigerheart in ShadowClan, feeling neglected by her clan and used by her mentor who was supposed to protect her. ShadowClan easily accept her (due to less importance on blood ties) and due to them seeing her defeat of Sol as the feat needed in her initiation cermony. Rowanstar, the new leader of ShadowClan changes her name to Dovewing.

More info on ShadowClan here:

Ivypool

Ivypaw is also drawn into the rebel movement by Lionblaze who tasks her to spy on Sol under the guise of due to being Hollyleaf's apprentice (and by extension, her successor if things went differently). Ivypool begins to resent the Three as Lionblaze and Jayfeather repeatedly pile dangerous responsibilities onto her while openly aknowledging the fact that she will never be equal to them and Ivypaw soon grows to resent Dovepaw too, feeling disposable compared to her sister. She pushes herself to be the best fighter in the clan to show the Three that she is willing to pull her own weight. After Sol's defeat despite her tough exterior she is forced to deal with feelings of worthlesness. After meeting Fernsong (who is an outsider in this AU) she allows herself to heal and to move on from Jayfeather and Lionblaze, realising she does not need to prove herself to them, already being surrounded by cats who love and admire her for who she is like Fernsong, her parents, her apprentices and her friends.

_________

Relationship with Parents

Despite Dovewing choosing to leave ThunderClan Cloudtail and Brightheart are not neglectful parents although due to Lionblaze and Jayfeather's influence, Ivypool and Dovewing become more distant with their parents.

Both Brightheart and Cloudtail are saddened by Dovewing's decision to leave ThunderClan although not angry. Just as Cloudtail meets Princess on the border of twolegplace sometimes Dovewing occasionally meets her parents to check up on them (though heavily discouraged by her new clan).

#powerofthesun #warrior cats #warriors #warriors au #warrior cats au #warriors rewrite #ivypool #dovewing

25 notes · View notes

roseofdarknessblog · 1 year

Text

Love Treatment (Reiner Braun x Reader)

Word count: 4 840

Disclaimer: english is not my first language, I apologize in advance for any mistakes

Summary: Every Titan Shifter has a unique ability to heal different kinds of injuries. That can be considered a pretty useful skill, mainly directly on the battlefield. But amidst the chaos of the Marley Mid-East War, Reiner Braun finds himself injured without being able to handle the situation himself. Fortunately, there is someone very special in Liberio′s Military Hospital, who could help him heal in more than one way.

Love Treatment

„May I come in?“ you asked, before entering one of the hospital rooms. Almost all of them were full, but you were used to it by now. War was a horrible thing, many casualties happened every single day for almost four years now.

Injured soldiers straight from the battlefield were coming to the hospital daily. And today was no different. You were pretty busy since early morning when your shift started just a short while after sunrise. Even earlier than other days, because the workload was just too much for your colleagues. And it seemed that the rest of the day is going to be just as hectic.

„Sure,“ said the young Warrior on the other side of the door. When you walked in, Reiner Braun, the inheritor of the Armored Titan was sitting on the edge of the bed, his golden eyes fixed on the door.

„How are you feeling?“

„Fine.“ He shrugged with an almost deathly tired look on his face. His white uniform was soaked in blood, mainly from the gunshot wound he suffered before shifting into his Titan form. At least that’s what you’ve been told. „I wasn’t expecting you, exactly.“

A shy smile made its way to your lips. „So you’re disappointed?“

„No, I wouldn’t put it like that.“ With a small chrome tray in your hands, you walked closer and put it down on the bed. „Do you know what happened?“

„You’ve been shot and the wound is not healing for some reason. Even though your titan powers should’ve taken care of the injury a long time ago.“

This was the first time you witnessed something like this. Surely, you’ve heard about similar situations during your time in medical school, but never actually came in contact with such a case.

What made it even harder, was your long-lasting crush on Reiner.

The two of you got to know each other shortly after he returned from Paradis. It was here in the hospital when he brought in his cousin Gabi, who managed to sprain her ankle during military training. The girl wasn’t even nine years old at that time, she was too young to be a soldier. At least in your opinion.

You were one of the very few Eldians who got to work here in the military hospital. Being the best and more successful student in your year, you dared to apply as a surgery resident in a prominent hospital under the head of the military. And thanks to some miracle happening, you got positive feedback in a couple of days. You spent the last four years working your absolute hardest, studying day and night, to become the best Eldian surgeon in the whole of Liberio.

All of your hard work started to truly pay off a couple of months ago when you saved the life of one of the highest-ranking generals in the Marleyan Navy. Your surgical preceptor and all of the other doctors were too busy saving the lives of another high-ranking military personnel. The general was in a critical state, basically on the brink of death. Maybe that’s why your colleagues rushed to help people, who had more chance to survive.

You were supposed to be helping your preceptor, just like every other time, but decided to act against his orders. With the help of two nurses, it was you who saved the general’s life. Getting three bullets out of his body, suturing the wounds, and tending to some other injuries, you worked in total concentration and didn’t let anything or anyone disturb you. It took you almost five hours until you were finished and his condition wasn′t critical anymore.

The general lived, and it was only thanks to you. Your determination to save every patient, who was under your care. Even if people like him hated people like you.

A couple of days later, when he was feeling a bit better, the man called you into his hospital room for a talk. You were beyond surprised when he wholeheartedly thanked you for saving his life and said, that you should expect a very interesting reward. After he was released from the hospital, you received an important message. Marley decided to grant you an unimaginable gift – the status of an honorary Marleyan. And not just you, but your parents and two younger sisters as well.

Since that moment, you were walking around the hospital and your hometown with a red armband, which now seemed to catch Reiner’s eye as well.

„How did you get the armband?“ he asked a little shocked, while you sat down next to him. It seemed that a little chat would do some good for both of you. After all, you needed a quick break after all the work you’ve already done today.

„I saved the life of a high-ranking navy general. All my colleagues were busy with other patients, so I did it by myself with the help of two nurses,“ you explained, studying Reiner′s face.

When was the last time you saw him? How many months ago? Five or six, maybe even more. Some days it was hard to keep track of time. But that didn’t change anything about the fact, that you used to think about him almost too often. Daily, mainly when you couldn’t sleep at night and wondered what was happening on the battlefield.

„I didn’t know he would reward me like this. It was a pleasant surprise.“

„Oh wow, that’s great. Your whole family got the honorary Marleyan status, right?“

„Yeah, my parents and sisters wear them too.“ Would you accept it if it was meant only for you and not for your closest family? No, of course not. If it wasn’t for their undying love and support, you would never make it this far. „My mom wants to move out from the internment zone, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea. You know all too well that these armbands don’t change how Marleyans see us.“

Reiner nodded quietly, probably reminiscing over his own experiences he never told you about. At least not yet. But you were sure, that his life wasn’t that much better just because of the red armband. Not after what you’ve heard about Paradis, where he spent almost five years of his life.

„So...“ you said after a while. The silence was starting to be uncomfortable, so it was better to get back to work. „Can I take a look at that wound?“

„Yeah, sure,“ he said immediately, turning his head away from your face.

You watched him carefully unbutton his uniform, baring the area under his left collarbone, which was covered in a big piece of gauze. Whoever was shooting, was probably aiming for the heart and missed. Even with his Titan powers, you weren’t sure he would survive something like that.

An uneasy feeling washed over you. Even thinking about something like that happening to Reiner...

„How did you get shot? When did it happen?“ you asked, reaching for the small chrome tray with all the necessary supplies you’d brought and pulling it closer. You had to push all the bad thoughts aside and concentrate.

„I had to leave the Titan’s body behind in a pretty dire situation, and before I transformed again, somebody shot me. I don’t even know from where that bullet came, it simply hit me.“ The area around the wound was cleaned from any remains of dried blood, but visibly reddened and swollen a bit. It surely hurt, if he didn’t take any analgetics before coming here. „I thought it would heal, but it was still pretty painful and bleeding after the battle.“

„Did you see a doctor there?“

„No, they had plenty of work with other wounded soldiers. I still hoped it would heal on its own. And Pieck helped to patch me up a little, so it was okay.“

„So the bullet is still inside?“

Reiner shook his head. „No, it went completely through me.“

You worriedly furrowed your brows, placing one of your hands on his forehead and cheek to check his temperature. Fever was sometimes the first sign of an ongoing infection, which was pretty common with gunshot wounds. Mostly, when they weren’t treated right or soon enough.

„Okay, strip from the waist up,“ you commanded him.

What surprised you the most, was how subconsciously and innocently Reiner leaned into your touch. For a moment, you felt bad about pulling your hand away in panic. You could feel the embarrassment pooling on your face, while he was taking off the top part of his uniform, almost too visibly avoiding eye contact with you.

When you heard that the inheritor of the Armored Titan was here and needed medical attention, you took the case without thinking. After all, seeing Reiner for at least a couple of minutes was what you longed for the last few months. But now, sitting there in front of him, with all sorts of thoughts going through your head... Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea. Perhaps you should’ve let someone else look after him and have a word later.

„Are you in any pain right now?“ you asked while looking at his back. There was an exit wound near his shoulder blade under another piece of gauze, which you really carefully took off. The angle of the bullet seemed pretty unfortunate, but the important thing was, that it wasn′t stuck there anymore. And if he was in a pretty decent shape, there couldn′t be any serious internal bleeding happening.

„Just a little.“

„Do you want anything to help with it?“ He shook his head even without thinking, again tearing his gaze away from you in a hurry. It seemed much safer for him to look at his armband, which he was now holding in his right hand. „Are you sure? The suturing is going to hurt.“

„No, I′m fine. You can start.“

You waited for a bit, but eventually got to work, putting on a pair of sterile gloves, before you did anything else. Cleaning the area with saline was the next step. Reiner watched you do your job without any words.

„Tell me, if it gets too painful, okay? I′ll give you some medication, there is no need to suffer in order to play a tough guy.“

The tiny smile on his lips was a bit of a surprise. But it somehow gave you the confidence you needed at that moment. Operating on other people and treating their wounds felt completely different. You usually weren′t nervous. But now... your hands were slightly shaking.

„Believe me, many soldiers try to convince me, that they don′t any local anesthetic or other pain meds, then end up whining and crying the whole time. I truly hate that. It′s no fun when I can't talk with them during the procedure because they are too busy wailing.“

„So I have to talk to you as well?“ he teased, while you got hold of the necessary instruments. A needle, forceps, and medical scissors. You were taught that using the curve of the needle was the best method to pass the suture through the skin. „What would you like to hear about?“

You shrugged, carefully avoiding pulling the suture through the skin in a straight line while using the forceps to avoid touching the wound directly. Reiner winced a little, but that was it. No other movement or other demonstration of pain.

„Maybe you should start with the reason you′re here. I′m sure you haven′t told me everything yet.“

Closing a wound was an easy procedure. It was repetitive work, the hardest part was starting. At least in your opinion. Everything that came after, became purely automatic to you.

„So?“ you asked, when Reiner stayed quiet, averting his gaze once again. But it surely wasn′t because he didn't bare to look at a bloody wound. „Wouldn't you feel better if you talked to someone?“

You never truly viewed him as a talkative person. And that was okay, there was no need for him to share every little detail of his life with you. But right now it seemed a good idea to make him open up a little. It was pretty obvious, that something was very wrong.

„If everything was fine, you wouldn′t be sitting here getting sewed back together. Your mental state is important for using your titan powers. Healing abilities including.“

„Aren't you a little too smart?“

You smiled. „Well, if I wasn't, I surely wouldn′t be here today.“

Closing the wound under his collarbone took you very little time. Before you knew it, you instructed Reiner to turn his back to you, so you could do the same thing with the other half of the wound.

„Why did they send you home? This could have been done right there on the battlefield by any medic. No need for a hospital visit and a flight to Liberio and back.“ You were determined to get him talking. He wasn't leaving this room until he told you what really happened.

He could be stubborn, you already knew that. But you could be a million times worse when you set your mind to it. After all, you weren′t doing this out of boredom, but to help him.

„I won′t let you leave until you talk to me.“

„It seems that the war will be ending soon. We only have one more battle to fight, if everything goes well at Fort Slava. Everybody is busy with planning right now, we are set to attack next week,“ Reiner finally said, after letting you work in silence for several long minutes. He winced occasionally but didn't show any other signs of being in pain. But he was far from being relaxed either, the precisely defined muscles on his back and shoulders were visibly tensed. „They need me in the best shape possible, that′s why Commander Magath sent me here.“

„And are we supposed to find out why your wound wasn't healing or just properly stitch you up and send you back?“ you joked to ease the dense atmosphere, slowly finishing with the suturing. „I personally would try to find the main reason for your problem. So you don't end up like this again. Even though it could have been worse... much worse. It seems that the shooter was aiming for your heart, but missed.“

„Unfortunately,“ he sighed quietly.

„Stop that!“ you scolded him immediately, finishing your work almost at the exact same moment. It still surprised you how well Reiner took the pain. Almost as if he didn′t feel anything the whole time. „Did you see your family before coming here?“ you asked, trying to change the subject.

Reiner shook his head, while you started to carefully dress his wounds. For some reason, it was becoming harder to focus on your work with every passing second. All you could think about was him. You desperately wanted to help the Warrior sitting beside you, but it seemed he had no interest in letting you do that.

He probably didn't even know you liked him and cared for him much deeper, than for your other patients. After all, you were at work, you had to act professionally. Personal feelings and emotions had nothing to do at the hospital ward.

„Okay, all done. You can dress up,“ you said after a couple of minutes, looking Reiner over one more time really carefully. He seemed much different from the time you saw him last. But not in a good way. „So... are you going home now?“

„No, I think I′ll stay at the HQ for a couple of days.“ You raised your eyebrows in surprise, while you tidied up your medical instruments, desperately trying to occupy your hands and therefore your mind as well. „Why do you ask?“

„Just wanted to know. I bet they miss you, especially Gabi.“ You knew almost nothing about his relatives. Only that he grew up without his father and that his little cousin wanted to inherit his Titan one day. „Seeing them for a couple of hours could do you good, maybe help you relax a bit.“

With one eye still on his back, you watched as he slowly put his uniform back on. But other than that, it didn′t seem he was in a hurry to leave this place. And you didn′t want to be the one to chase him away. So even though you had tons of other work to do and patients to see, you stayed there with him. Just sitting in complete silence, while Reiner was looking to the ground, fingers playing with the edge of the red armband still in his hands.

There was something about that particular moment. About seeing him without that damned piece of fabric on his left arm. Something, that made your heart ache for the young blond Warrior. You knew what he had to undergo, how hard he had to train since being a little kid.

And right there, in that moment, for maybe just a second it seemed, that he was just as scared, tired, and defeated, as a little kid forced to complete such harsh military training.

„You can stay here if you want,“ you said suddenly, not even thinking about the words which came out of your mouth. Only after they′ve been said out loud, and got Reiner′s attention. „I mean... I′m working the night as well. So if you′re not going home, you can stay here. With me,“ you added a little quieter, already regretting your stupid habit of talking before thinking.

„I don′t think it′s a good idea,“ he said, putting the armband back in its place. Without even looking at you, he suddenly stood up and tried making his way to the door.

But only until you got to your feet as well and reached for his hand. Your still trembling fingers wrapped around his wrist, as you urgently pulled him towards you. „Stay,“ you said firmly. „Please, stay.“

The whole world around you felt like it was on fire when he finally turned his head and looked at you in pure shock. You could feel your heart breaking into million little pieces when you once again saw the sadness and despair in his beautiful light brown eyes.

If only you knew how to help him and ease his suffering.

Reiner carefully pulled his wrist from your grasp, but almost immediately reached for your hand again, gently interlocking your fingers. You ran your thumb along his knuckles, pulling him even closer until his body collided with your own, and you wrapped your arms around him as tight as possible.

Only then you truly understood how much you yearned for this. To feel him this close and know, that he was okay. Alive and with you. At least at that moment.

„You don′t have to tell me anything, just... stay here,“ you whispered into his chest, gently resting your head against his right shoulder. You′ve dreamed about this moment many times – simply being in his arms, safe and sound from all the horrors of the world around.

„I wanted...“ he started but got quiet almost immediately. However, when you didn′t start talking, he took a couple of deep breaths, before speaking again. „I needed to come home for a couple of days,“ he said, running his fingers through your hair softly and lovingly. „I needed to see you and hear your voice.“ You smiled into his chest, wrapping your arms around his body even tighter. If it was only possible for this moment to never end. „I needed to remind myself for who I need to keep fighting for.“ His voice almost broke, as he got those words out.

With another tiny smile, you caressed his chest and tilted your head slightly back, to look into his face. Reiner was already looking at you, his eyes waiting to meet yours and tell you so much more, without even using actual words.

„I missed you so much,“ you said, fighting many different emotions all at once. There was so much you wanted to say to him. But was it the right moment? Or would it be better to leave everything for later? For after the war, when you finally can be together? „And prayed every night, that you′ll come home unharmed.“ You could feel his whole body relax against yours.

„Trust me, that bullet was so worth it.“ A shiver run down your back when he laughed quietly and pressed a kiss to your forehead. „By now it′s probably healed.“

„So much for my hard work,“ you teased him, while your eyes involuntarily wandered to his lips. How many times did you dream about kissing them? Probably too many. „Just try not to get injured again. We can see each other under much more pleasant circumstances.“

The height difference between you and Reiner was almost too perfect. Standing on your tiptoes, while he slightly bent down was enough to close the distance between the two of you. But before your lips finally brushed against each other, a loud knock on the door startled you.

„Just a moment!“ you shouted, suppressing your laughter. „We′re almost done.“

Reiner closed his eyes with a smile as well, cradling you in his arms just a moment longer, before he let go. As he sat back onto the hospital bed, you slowly opened the door, only to find your supervisor standing there. He needed your assistance with a complicated surgery immediately.

With an apologetic look toward Reiner, you left the room and hurried after your supervisor, debating the case while you were getting ready. It was truly a complicated surgery, which lasted almost six hours. You were dead tired when you finally walked out of the operating theatre and headed to the dressing room to change into a fresh pair of hospital uniform.

You wanted to find Reiner again, but more work got in your way and didn′t let you relax until late at night. The only thing you were able to do, was to fill out an official paper about Reiner′s medical condition and your decision to keep him here overnight for observation. Almost everything you wrote down was simply made-up nonsense, but it did the trick. Nobody questioned your decision, not even your supervisor. Quiet the opposite – he complimented your dedication to your work and thus to Marley itself, by taking such excellent care of somebody so important for the military.

It was almost midnight when you finally had time to get off your feet and eat something. Your head and back hurt as if someone beat you up, while your feet could barely carry you anymore. The morning was still far away, anything could happen until the first rays of sunshine appear on the horizon and your 24-hour shift will be finally over.

After hesitating a little, you made your way to the room, where Reiner was staying. It was late and quiet almost everywhere around you, so you didn′t want to knock and disturb someone. You just very carefully peered from behind the door, finding Reiner laying in bed. Thankfully, he wasn't sleeping.

„I was starting to think you forgot about me,“ he said quietly, sitting up without any sign of being in pain. Only a small lamp on the nightstand was switched on, but it gave out enough light for you to see the content, but somehow still sad look on his face. „Too much work?“

You nodded tiredly and closed the door, making your way to the bed. Sitting down felt more than nice after such a long day. „How are you feeling?“ With that question, you reached for his hand. It was surprisingly warm compared to your always cold ones. „Did the wound truly heal up already?“

„Yeah, it′s completely gone. I′m okay.“ You shook your head with a smile, slipping into Reiner′s arms almost immediately. „But only thanks to you,“ he added gratefully, running his hand up and down your aching back. If you closed your eyes, you could very easily fall asleep right there. „I really mean it.“

„And I meant what I said earlier. We can see each other under more pleasant circumstances and outside the hospital.“ You let the tips of your fingers slide along his jaw, gently grabbing his chin and tilting his head more toward you. Everything about him seemed so perfect. Every little detail of his face, even his disheveled hair. „Next time, please, don't get butchered just because you want to see me.“

„What if there won′t be any next time?“

„What do you mean?“ The light you thought you saw in his eyes was gone once more. His smile vanished, while his gaze lingered over the contours of your face. He was truly looking at you as if he never saw you before. Or as if he′ll never get the chance to do it again. „It will all be over soon, Reiner,“ you reassured him, resting your right hand against his chest, right over his steadily beating heart. „And after that... well, I don′t know what is going happen to Marley or to us, but...“

You were glad, that he shut you up with a tender kiss. His lips finally, after so many months of thinking about it, collided with yours, and for a glimpse of a moment helped you forget about reality. About the tiring work here in the hospital, and about the war itself.

Right there, it was only you and Reiner.

„Just say if I′m crossing any lines,“ he said a little hesitantly, his soft lips brushing against yours once more. You didn′t even dare to open your eyes. What if he disappeared? What if this all turned out to be just a dream?

„You have no idea how long I was dreaming about this moment,“ you whispered, cupped his cheeks, and kissed him again. A million times more urgently, as if he was the only thing keeping you from death′s reach.

Seconds turned into minutes and if it wasn't for your need to breathe, you would stay like that probably forever. As you tried to catch your breath again, Reiner leaned against you, burying his face into your hair. It didn′t take long until you hear a quiet sob escape his mouth, while his arm pulled you even closer to him.

You knew this was coming. From the moment you saw him earlier, you could tell he′s going to break and let all his anger, disappointment, exhaustion, and sadness out. And it was more than okay. To be honest, it made you feel so much at ease, that he let his guard down like that in your presence. That he trusted you this much. That he wasn′t afraid to show you, just how much these last few years affected him.

„Cry it all out, it′s okay. I′m here,“ you whispered reassuringly, running your fingers through his hair in a calming motion, while simultaneously pressing tiny kisses to the top of his head. „You′re safe with me, I promise.“

Hearing him cry for many long minutes was truly one of the most painful things you′ve ever witnessed, but there was very little you could actually do to help him. Besides holding him tight and making sure he knows, that you will always be there for him. Always. In any kind of situation.

„I′m sorry... I just...“ you shook your head before he could continue, planting a kiss on his temple. As he slowly pulled away to look you in the eyes, you couldn't help but smile, while wiping away the remains of his tears. „I′m sorry,“ he said again.

„Nothing to be sorry about, Reiner,“ you assured him, leaned closer for a quick kiss, and made yourself comfortable on the hospital bed. Reiner watched you with teary eyes until you opened your arms and pulled him into another hug. „Try to get some sleep, I′ll stay here.“ His head came to rest on your chest very carefully, while his arms tightly wrapped around your waist securing you in place. He truly wanted to make sure you′ll stay there and won′t leave him. „Everything will be fine. Maybe not tomorrow or in a week, but eventually.“

„As long as you′re with me,“ Reiner whispered, his lips pressing against your neck.

A content smile made its way to your lips, as you felt Reiner relax in your arms. Everything about that moment felt so right. The weight of his body on yours, his arms holding you close to him, and the mere reality of the two of you being together like this.

School and work always came first to you, there simply wasn't time for silly little romances. Not when you were determined to fulfill your dream. But looking at the brave and handsome Warrior, who was holding onto you for dear life while slowly falling asleep on your chest, made you reconsider everything.

Maybe making room for love in your life wouldn't be so bad.

#reiner braun #reiner braun x reader #reiner braun x you #aot x reader #aot x you #attack on titan #snk #shingeki no kyojin

107 notes · View notes