#when did that suddenly become unacceptable? what did i miss? | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

bbyquokka · 2 years

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：🍡 ♡ . ⁺ ᘏ : stress relief

➥ pairings: Bang Chan x fem!reader

➥ genre: idol!au | smut | MDNI

➥ synopsis: chan is feeling stressed at work, so you pay him a visit to help him 'relax'

➥ words: 2.7k

➥ tags: @lix-ables | @sstarryoong | @ipegchangbin | if you wished to be tagged in this mini series, lemme know

➥ m.list – ➥ cock warming m.list – ➥ you can also read it on my ao3

Feedback and reblogs are highly advised and appreciated!

you [20:07]: i miss you 🥺

Chan [20:07]: i miss u too babe. sorry, work is just hectic rn 😞

you [20:08]: when will u be home?

Chan [20:08]: in an hour or so. shouldn't be too long babe.

you [20:10]: okay. i love you 💘

Chan [20:11]: i love you too pup 🖤

An hour had passed and there was no sign of Chan. Your guess is that he got so caught up in his work, he lost track of time. It's pretty common for him to do that. When Chan gets lost in his work, he zones out. He disregards his needs, forgets where he is. He becomes hyper focused, which can be worrying.

Chan is the type of person to want to get things done on time, however, he is a perfectionist. He always has been from day one. Being in the spotlight has only made it worse.

You and his members have told him countless times that he should always take care of himself. He does, for a while, then he falls back into his bad habits. Comeback season is the worst for chan. The build up to it, the countless photoshoots, the endless hours of shooting music videos plus performing on stage – it's no wonder Chan becomes so stressed.

You know he loves his job. You also know he adores STAYS and would do anything to please them. However, what he fails to notice is that he cannot keep doing this. Being his girlfriend, you've had enough of seeing your boyfriend fail to care for himself. He always scolds you for skipping one meal or not drinking enough water, so now, it's your turn.

You picked up your phone bringing up your contacts list. You scrolled through, stopping at Changbin's contact. Pressing the green call button, you put your phone to your ear. It rang a few times, before changbin picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hey Changbin! It's y/n."

"Oh, hey y/n. everything okay?" Changbin spoke. His words sounding muffled, mouth full.

"Have you heard from Chan?" the sounds of noodles being slurped ran down your ear, making you shiver and cringe a little.

"Uh. Not since I left him at the office, why?"

"He said he would be home in an hour." You sighed softly, running your fingers through your hair.

"Let me guess." Changbin paused, drinking his ramen broth. "He's not home?"

"Mhm."

"He's probably still working then. If he's not with you or us, then he's probably still in the studio."

"Yeah." You sighed again. "That's what I thought."

"He was pretty stressed out when me and Ji were there. Thinking about it, he's been in a foul mood all day."

"He seemed a bit off this morning too. I wonder if the stress of the comeback is getting to him." You thought out loud.

"Probably. We all know what Chan is like during this time. He snapped at me suddenly."

"What?" Your eyes widen a little in disbelief. It's very rare for Chan to suddenly snap at someone, it's hard to get Chan angry regardless. So hearing that he snapped at his close friend indicated that he is stressed beyond belief.

"Yeah. It shocked me and Ji. Think he even shocked himself to be fair. He did apologize but it's not like Chan."

"Yeah, it's not." You mumbled. "I think I'm going to go see him. This is unacceptable. I can't have him acting like this."

"Hey, if he's going to listen to someone, then it's going to be you for sure." Changbin chuckled.

"Do you know if he has eaten or?"

"Mhm, probably not since lunch time."

"That's what I thought. I best get going then. Go convince the boyfriend to at least take a break." You groaned softly, walking to your shared bedroom.

"Chan and breaks? Yeah, good luck with that y/n." Changbin chuckled with a mouthful of rice.

"Thanks, I'll need it. Enjoy your meal, Changbin." You laughed softly before hanging up. You changed into something more comfortable and warm, considering that the nights are getting colder, you felt like it wasn't a smart idea to go out in a vest and shorts.

Grabbing your winter coat and shoes along with your purse, you walked out of your shared apartment, locking the door before making your way to the supermarket.

Knowing that Chan hasn't eaten or drank anything for hours, angered you slightly. Sometimes, you wish he learnt how to look after himself, be a little selfish and make himself priority number one. But no matter how many times you – or the members – scold him, he never listens.

You grabbed some microwaveable rice and ramen along with some snacks and water that claims it's 'packed full of vitamins and minerals.' Paying for your little shop, you headed to the JYP building.

◃───────────▹

The streets are fairly calm and collected, with the occasional passer-by's and cars. The night sky was clear, giving you a glimpse of the shining stars. It was a full moon tonight, much to your liking. The moonlight shone on the pavement giving you more lighting than the streetlamps.

You stopped to take a quick snap at the moon and stars, smiling softly as you looked at it. Feeling the tips of your fingers quickly freezing up, you put your phone away, placing your hands in your pockets.

The air is icy. A chill so cold it made the hairs on your arms stand up. Your breath shows every time you exhale. You soon arrived at the building. Making yourself known at reception, they happily let you through. You made your way to Chan's room, taking your coat as the stark contrast from the cold chill to the warmth was evident.

You knocked on the door, waiting a few seconds for permission. When you received nothing, you frowned, knocking again – nothing.

"Chan?" You spoke, slowly opening the door. You peeked your head out looking around. A small lamp provided minimal light compared to the harsh light radiating off his laptop screens. Your gaze fell on a very stressful looking Chan.

His brows furrowed together, stress lines evident on his forehead. His bottom lip caught between his teeth, chewing slightly – a bad self taught habit of his. His eyes flickering all over his laptop screen, fingers working their magic.

You closed the door quietly, noticing the headphones on his head over the hood of his hoodie. Makes sense why he didn't hear you knock. With a heavy sigh, Chan fell back in his seat. The seat rocking from the impact as he rubbed his tired face with his hands before taking his headphones off.

"Knock knock." You spoke softly. Chan jumped, startled at the sudden voice. He looked at you, face softening.

"Hey pup!" You walked towards Chan, throwing your coat on the sofa behind him. You placed your plastic bag on his desk.

"Hey baby." You placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it gently. Chan swiveled in his chair to face you, opening his legs wide enough for you to stand between them.

"What are you doing here?" He questioned, planting his hands on your hips softly.

"Well, you said you would be home in an hour. The hour is up, so I came to see you instead. Plus–" You opened the plastic bag, taking out the grocery's you bought, placing them one by one on his desk. "I bought you dinner. Changbin told me you haven't eaten since lunch!"

Chan looked up at you sheepishly, feeling guilty. You folded your arms, eyebrows raised as you looked down at him.

"You can't keep doing this, babe. You have to take care of yourself! It's important! You always preach to me about it, so why can't you?"

"I'm sorry pup. It's just, I get so lost in work that I simply forget. Plus, I feel so stressed out right now."

"Yeah. Changbin told me you snapped at him earlier." Chan looked down at the mention of taking his frustration out on his friend. You sighed softly, pulling his head into you, resting it on your stomach.

"Babe I love you and all but you have to learn to take a break."

"I can't afford breaks right now." Chan mumbled, nuzzling his face into your stomach. He inhaled your sweet scent, humming softly.

"I get that but you don't work well under stress, babe." You stroked his hair softly, looking down at him.

"I know."

"So, whilst I'm here, take a break! I haven't seen you all day so I want to spend some time with you." You pouted. Chan nodded.

"Okay, I will take a break. When it's over, I have to finish this though. You can go home afterwards though."

"Hell no! I'm staying. I'll sit on the sofa and be as quiet as a mouse. You won't even know I'm here." You grinned.

Chan did indeed take that break. You convinced him to eat and drink something before he continued on with his work. You were lounging on the sofa, browsing through your phone.

The occasional sigh would leave his lips, the stress slowly creeping its way back. You soon got bored of your phone, placing it down beside you. You decided to watch Chan work, your eyes traveling up and down his body.

The way his legs spread open under the desk, hand wrapped around the mouse, his tendons moving with every click of the mouse. The sleeves of his hoodie rolled up to his elbows. His veins protrude on his arms, the way his muscles flexed with every movement. You couldn't help your thoughts from getting filthy.

You pressed your lips together in a thin line, eyes closing as your mind wandered into the unknown. Memories of when Chan would have his hand around your neck, fingers deep inside you, came flooding to you. His perfect, lean body hovering over you as his hips smacked against yours, body slick with sweat. His eyes focused on you and provided you with intense pleasure – fuck, when was the last time you two were intimate with each other?

You know you shouldn't, you know Chan is stressed but you couldn't help the lust pooling in your core. You couldn't help but feel your panties slowly sticking to your skin due to your juices. You couldn't help but feel flush, besides, it's not your fault you have such a handsome boyfriend.

You stood up off the sofa, slowly walking behind chan. You draped your arms over his shoulders, holding onto your wrist to lock him in. Chan took no notice of you, eyes glued to his screen as his fingers tapped away at the keyboard. You noticed his painted nails which only heightened your horny thoughts.

You leaned in, nuzzling your face into the crook of his neck. You inhaled his musk scent, heart pounding against your ribcage. You planted delicate kisses on the skin on his neck making Chan shiver. Smirking against his neck knowing he has finally become aware of you, you sucked and licked his neck.

A throaty groan rippled from his chest to the back of his throat, his hands frozen in place. You left purple bruises, feeling sorry for the scolding he was going to get from his make-up artist.

"Chan." You shakily spoke his name. Your skin heating up, cheeks flush as your needs escalate. "Chan, I need you."

"Pup." Chan spluttered. "Not now, I'm busy." You squinted, walking to his side. He looked up at your rosy cheeks and glossy eyes, his cock twitching in his pants.

"Please Chan. Just for a few minutes." You whined. "I need to feel your skin against mine. We haven't touched each other for so long, I'm craving you baby."

Chan bit his lower lip softly, pushing his chair away from his desk, leaving enough room for you whilst making sure he could still reach his laptop.

"Fine." He mumbled. "But only for a few seconds.' You nodded, stripping yourself of your pants. You straddled Chan's lap, his hands on your waist gently. You held onto his shoulders, whimpering softly as you finally got to see your handsome man properly.

"So handsome." You purred, kissing up his neck slowly. Chan tilted his head to the side allowing more access for you. His hands moving from your waist to your ass, cupping it.

He spreads your cheeks, squeezing them roughly. His cock getting hard underneath you. You purposefully sat on his crotch, rocking your hips slowly. You moved from his neck to his lips, capturing them against your own.

The kiss was fuelled with need and desire, it only made you more horny. You desperately grasped onto Chan, not wanting to let go. Teeth and tongues collided with each other, saliva mixing together. laboured pants leaving your lips as you increase the speed of your grinding.

"Pup, I have to work." Chan grunted against your lips, pulling away slowly. You pouted.

"But Chan." You grabbed his hand, guiding it down into your panties. Chan shivered as his fingers came into contact with your wet pussy. He rubbed your clit slowly as a soft sigh left your lips. His technique made you want more, so much more than fingers.

His fingers teasingly circled your entrance, fingers covering in your slick. You nuzzled into his neck, soft sighs hitting his skin. Whilst he was teasing your entrance and clit, his lips kissed your shoulder tenderly. He dipped a finger in your entrance, your walls welcoming him. Your essence and warmth coated his fingers as he thrusted it slowly.

You hummed softly, eyes closing. Soon, he added a second, scissoring and stretching you out. His fingers curled against your walls, stroking them with the sides of his fingers. Your pussy contacted and released around him, fingers getting soaked with each pull back.

"Chan, I need you." You pulled away from his neck, whimpering softly as you looked at your flushed boyfriend with glossy eyes.

"You have me, pup." He whispered.

"No. I need you." You slide your hand down to his crotch, squeezing his pulsating erection. Chan bucked his hips in your hand, grunting softly as he pulled his fingers out off your aching cunt.

"We can't, pup. I seriously have to work. We can when we get home." You whined at Chan, kicking your head back and groaning.

"I can't wait, Chan!"

"You have to. I have to mix Jisung's vocals for this track before tomorrow so we can work on something else." His arms extended to the side of you, fingers tapping away at his keyboard again.

"Can you at least put it in?" Chan's fingers stopped, his eyes looking at you as you pouted. "Pleaseee. You'll feel relaxed and stress-free. Plus, I feel so empty, Chan. I can't wait till home to get filled by you." You gave him your best puppy eyes.

Chan groaned softly, nodding before resuming his work. You smirked, pulling his cock out off his restraints as you pulled your panties to the side. You grabbed his cock by the base, skin hot against your hand. You rubbed his tip up and down your slit, coating it in your essence.

"Don't tease pup. If you want it in, do it now before I change my mind." Chan growled. You hummed softly, lifting your hips up before slowly sinking down on his cock.

You both groaned in unison. The warmth and wetness of your pussy along with the stretch was blissful to you both. You sunk all the way down, burying your head into his neck.

You kept still. The warmth of your pussy suffocated chan. Your walls involuntarily clenched around him, making him groan softly from the back of his throat. He could no longer concentrate on his work, his focus shifting to you.

His fingers hovered over the keys, hand stationary on his mouse. He had to squeeze his eyes shut, think of something other than your warmth and your soft laboured pants. He felt you grip onto his hoodie, bundling it up in your fists. "Focus Chan, you have to work." was all he could tell himself.

He likes to think he has willpower, determination, but this was testing him and he's slowly failing.

"I can't do this." he finally spoke, hands grabbed your ass as he stood from his seat, his cock still inside you. You giggled softly against his skin as he gently placed you on the sofa before towering over you. He placed his hands by your head before slowly thrusting.

"You feel too good around me, pup. How am I supposed to concentrate on my work?"

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stillafanofsonic · 2 years

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The four of them were at the table, that stupid darkling on the other side of the table eating like a monster, a wet sloppy sound. It made Silver furious, not only was he here, they were sharing food with him. And he got to eat at the table with the rest of them. It wasn’t right. And then their dad spoke. “Silv, when your done, can we talk?”

The grey hedgehog’s ears pinned back, not sure where this had come from. “Why?”

“You’re not in trouble, I just want to talk to you.”

Silver nervously looked at his brother but then turned back to his dad and nodded. “Fine...” he said it so sullenly, like he was agreeing to something terrible.

As soon as Eclipse and his brother were gone, his dad went into the kitchen and started to fill the sink with hot water. “Give me a hand drying them, will ya?” The hedgehog sighed, but got up and did as he was told. “So, how have you been lately?”

“Fine.” He stared very hard at the counter, hoping his dad wouldn’t ask anymore. This wasn’t what he wanted to talk about.

“Silver,” His dad said, stopping and looking at him. “I want you to be honest, please. I know something’s bothering you.”

His ears went down and Silver stopped, staring at the dirty plates in the sink. He sniffed once, twice. “I don’t like him being here.”

“Who? Eclipse?”

The hedgehog gave a quick little nod.

His dad sighed. “Bud... I can’t just ask him to leave.”

“He ruined everything!” Silver said, as the first tear ran down his muzzle. “I don’t want him here. Just make him go anywhere else.”

A frown crossed his dad’s face. “That’s not going to happen.”

Silver started getting more upset, all the pain and misery he had been bottling up over the past few weeks spilling over. “I don’t want him here!”

“Why? He hasn’t done anything to you?”

The grey hedgehog gasped for breath in-between hiccupping sobs. “He made you into this, I want you back, dad.” His looked upward at the creature that his father had turned into. “It was perfect the way things were and he ruined everything!”

Those clawed hands suddenly reached out toward him and Silver automatically pulled away from them. A moment later, he felt terrible when he saw his dad’s face crumple. He loved his dad, more then anything. And yet, he hated this new form.

“Silver, listen to me. If he hadn’t done anything, I wouldn’t be here anymore. And... while this is... not what I wanted, it’s better than being dead. And I’m still your dad... I still love you, more then anything.”

The grey hedgehog knew that and yet, when he saw that horrible thing his dad had been turned into, the way his voice rasped and growled or how his tail whipped back and forth, it made him want his old dad back. The soft, pudgy human whose hugs were warm and comforting. “I know...” he said, forcing himself to move closer to his dad and hugged him awkwardly. His new body was tough, hard scales and muscles.

“I’m not really fond of this body either,” His dad muttered. “I miss being a human to. But I’d rather be here, alive, with you guys then....” He let the sentence trail off. “Eclipse saved my life.”

Silver shifted awkwardly in his dad’s arms. “But why does he have to stay here with us?”

His dad gently pulled him back and held him out so he could look into his eyes. “Because he has nowhere else to go and he also needs care and love. And that’s final. I don’t expect you to become his best friend, but the way your acting toward him is unacceptable. And it stops now. You’re going to stop picking fights and being rude to him.”

Silver lowered his ears. “But I don’t want-”

“It’s not your decision who stays and who goes.”

The grey hedgehog could feel tears starting to build in his eyes again. This wasn’t fair, this wasn’t fair in the slightest. He hated that stupid darkling.

“Why don’t you like him?”

“Because he ruined everything,” Silver said, swiping at his eyes again. “It’s just supposed to be me and you and Shadow and that’s it. He’s not supposed to be here.”

His dad sighed. “Silver...”

“He took you and Shadow!”

That got his dad’s attention, his head cocking to the side as he frowned. “What do you mean? Nobody went anywhere...”

Swallowing, Silver slipped out of his dad’s embrace, unable to even look at him even more. “You’re like him now, just like him.” He managed to say. “And he’s already related to Shadow. He took you both. And I’m not like anyone...”

That stopped his dad cold, the look that came over his features was confused and then he looked devastated. He looked so upset, it made Silver wish he had never told him that. “Silver, look at me,” his dad said, almost urgently. “You’re not being replaced...”

At that, Silver burst into sobs and was promptly scooped up into his father’s arms, rocking him back and forth. “Buddy...”

The grey hedgehog just wailed into his dad’s hoodie. Being so close to him, he could smell the raw meat his dad had eaten just minutes ago. Before, he would have cared but now he didn’t The past few weeks had been so hard and once it started coming out, he couldn’t stop. “Shadow barely spends any time with me anymore, he’s always with Eclipse, showing him something else. Playing with our toys or our games. And you do too. I just want things to go back to how they were.”

There was silence for a few moments as his dad stroked his quills, probably waiting for him to calm down. “Listen to me, there’s more then three spots in this family. You’re not being shoved aside for him, there’s room for all of you. I know this is... a massive adjustment, with Eclipse here and me being like... “

Silver sniffled. “Weird and ugly now?”

“Watch it,” His dad said but he smiled. “Maybe a bit. But I still love you. And your brother still loves you. We’re just adjusting, because I can’t go back to how it was. But we’re all going to figure it out, together, okay?”

“Okay...”

His dad frowned. “However, that doesn’t mean you can be rude. Eclipse is staying and that’s final. Anymore fighting and you’re going to be a lot of trouble and will lose your Switch privileges, understand? You will be kind and that’s end of discussion.”

Silver’s ears dropped. With the TV broken, the Switch was the only electronic they had left. “What if he isn’t?” That would honestly be the hardest part. Eclipse had a lot of snark and bluster himself, he would probably see when Silver stopped and ramp up his own snide remarks.

“Then I’ll deal with it, but you just worry about yourself.” His dad kissed the top of his head. “But no matter what, I love you and always will. That will never change.”

Sighing, Silver rested his head against his dad’s hard shoulder. “Yeah...”

“What?” One of his dad’s hands came up and started to tickle his ribs, making the hedgehog squeal. “I know you didn’t just say ‘yeah’. I know that’s not what I heard... ‘Yeah’ from my favorite youngest son. You wanna try that again?” He asked, sounding like he was being stern but there was a smile on his face.

Silver looked up at him. “I love you too, dad.”

“Much better.” He got another kiss on his forehead then was put back on the the floor. “Let’s finish with the dishes.”

Nodding, Silver hopped up onto the counter and grabbed the dishtowel from where it had been placed to dry the night before. “So I’m your favorite?”

“Favorite youngest. No one else is younger then you, so that honor goes to you.”

“Can I be your favorite hedgehog as well?”

“Don’t push it, pal.”

#Darkling wade #my writing

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mindmeafterdark · 2 years

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Unfinished Business

-After I’d texted Camille, I shifted gears before I could get lost in the fantasy of how she may reply. There was not time to fixate; I had unfinished business that had suddenly become pressing.

Maxwell.

My urgency was driven by what seemed like divination. While I couldn’t guarantee my continued interest would be returned, I was banking on fate and needed to liberate myself from all other entanglements. Though my arrangement with Maxwell was not a relationship in any traditional sense, I knew myself well enough to understand that my evening with Camille had rendered me unable to honor what I had agreed to with Maxwell.

I neither could or would ignore the commitment I’d made to Maxwell; he deserved proper closure with me, no matter that we’d only shared a single session.

Not one to procrastinate, I dialed his number. After only an introduction, his demeanor on the phone was already compliant.To his credit there had only been a slight dip in his tone to indicate disappointment but he quickly rebounded on two assurances. We would meet later in the evening for a second, and final, time. In the intervening hours, I would make some calls on his behalf, so that he might continue with another Dom. With things set in motion, the weightless way I felt after the evening with Camille began to resurface.

A few phone calls and a couple hours of light interrogations later, I’d found three prospective dominants who were willing to assume ownership of my sub and quickly took to understanding how his needs could be met. Ultimately, the choice would be Maxwell's to make.

When I stepped into the shower afterward, I indulged in thoughts of her. I hoped Camille wouldn’t keep me waiting too long on a reply. Perhaps I’d been too forward telling her to leave her panties at home, but I did not live life owing any debt to regret. Besides, she owned a sex shop and we’d spent some quality time in that partitioned room. She could handle what I sent. Whether she obeyed… only time would tell.

My thoughts flashed to the nipple shields she’d sold me. I already knew, they would only be used on her…or no one at all. Under the hot spray with my thoughts veering this direction, I was on a sheer cliff, teetering on a edge I didn’t have time for, so I stopped. My focus detoured to patience as I toweled off, dressed and finally got on my way.

=============================================================

The night would be different than my first with Maxwell. He had earned some measure of reward for how he had taken to my change in circumstance, but we were not so established that I could give him everything that could have been. That would be left to another.

Maxwell was punctual and this time I opened the door when he knocked without a word. There would be no blindfold; he would see everything coming for him, eyes wide open. For his benefit, I intended the night to be shades and tastes of what could have been.

“Sir.”

I didn’t acknowledge his address verbally, instead placing my hand on his crown and applying pressure, directing him.-

Knees.

-No hesitation, he had taken to submission quickly. Maxwell was soon face to face with my hips. I stood there, silently, and observed. After a few minutes, his lips parted and he started to pant lightly. I gripped the back of his head by short hairs and yanked it backwards, angling him so that he could see my eyes when I spoke.-

What do you want, Maxwell?

-He was immediately unsure, timid from his lower station. He didn’t know what to do with the question I’d just asked. Relaxing my hold just slightly, I watched his eyes flash in front of him before staring back up at me.-

I asked you a question, boy.

-The term alone put him in his place. Not answering was unacceptable. I did not miss how hard he swallowed, nor the shake in his voice as he finally sucked it up.

“If it pleases you, Sir, I want to suck your cock.” His tone was already hoarse and desperate.

That earned him a smirk, and nearly an arrogant laugh. I let go of his hair and paced towards my instrumentation, leaving him where he was as I started measuring the floggers on display. His request had been presumptuous but what I had expected. I had placed him on his knees in front of me for a reason. It was a lesson in the power of suggestion and admission. Selecting a black-and-gold, calfskin flogger from the wall, I returned to stand in front of him, teasing what he wanted but wouldn’t have.-

I can’t see you properly. Fix that. Now.

-He understood immediately.

“Yes, Sir.”

He shed his shirt first and I kicked it out of sight. He started to get to his feet but paused, seeking my approval which was served in the form of a nod. Shoes, socks, jeans and whatever was underneath them were dispensed with. Though they had faded, bruises and marks were remnants of the time we had previously spent together. I used the flogger to remind him of where I had already touched while calculating where fresh stripes would land.-

Did you do as I asked?

-“Yes, Sir.” He was eager now, walking over to the table at the center of the room and bending over it before spreading his ass so I could see he was wearing the plug. Striding over, making sure he could hear the clap of my boots with each step, I stepped between his thighs, pressing two fingers against the base of the plug to drive it momentarily deeper. He groaned.-

Do you like that? Your ass filled and shamelessly on display?

-”Yes. Yes, SIR.” He corrected himself before I could, but I seized the opportunity to deliver a heavy handed lash across his muscled cheeks. I briefly considered a gag when he let out the moan, but broke with idea as quickly as it came. Walking to the side of the table I dropped my lips to his ear.-

Will you like it when your new sir has you prone? Do you want to show him how good you can be?

-”Yes, Sir. I want to show him. I want to show you.”

I admonished him with a tsk of my tongue.-

Did I ask about me?

-”No, Sir.” A backhand lash with the flogger in a diagonal motion across his back, earned flinches of muscles and a pink bloom rising on his skin. Gripping the plug between my fingers, I pulled it free of his tight rim in a swift motion, setting it aside.-

If you want that back you will have to earn it, Maxwell. Understood?

-”I understand, Sir.” Seizing him by the back of the neck, I brought him to a standing position and walked him over to the wall I had already adjusted according to his measurements. The flogger was dropped on a hook before I retrieved a cock ring from my pocket. I took his semi in my hand, watching his face as I slid the ring over his head, down his shaft until it was flush against the top of his balls. His lip quivered and his lashes fluttered, then his dick thickened in my hand.-

Face the wall.

-He did as he was told and I splayed his arms wide, fastening buckles at each wrist before continuing to the larger collar that went around his neck.-

You are not limited to formal responses from this point forward. You won’t hold back, Maxwell.

- “No, Sir. I won’t hold back."

I attached the nipple clamps I had added to the wall before he arrived; I knew they were tight enough when an elicit hiss escaped his lips, and then I tightened them a little more. I smacked the thick muscle of his inner thigh, knuckles grazing against his balls in a tease.-

Spread.

-One word commands left my sub with discretion but not much. His feet moved out and the bar with weighted cuffs on either end were attached to his ankles. It was locked in place

The tip of his dick dripped onto the wall. Time for some…conversation. I pressed against him, my bare chest against his back, rewarding him with the feel of skin and further confinement by my body.-

Listen.

You can speak. You can moan. You can cry. You can beg. What you will not do is come, not without my express permission.

-I trailed breath across shoulders broader than my own to speak into his opposite ear.-

If I let you come at all.

-An audible groan satisfied the sadist in me, and I stepped back. With Maxwell affixed to the wall, he was at my mercy, right where he wanted to be. Retrieving the flogger, I eyed his athletic ass, proud to know he accepted himself for who he was and what he wanted, even if the world remained in the dark. It was more than most in his position could admit, many favoring a denial that gnawed at a person from the inside out.-

You presumed you could just suck my cock.

-A blur of rawhide served as prelude to delivery of the most forceful whip against his skin. He arched into the wall. His nipples stretched tight as his shoulder blades pinched together in a tense display of angled and arced muscle and protrusion of bone.

“Please, Sir. I want to choke on you, swallow you… please.”

The naivety of his begging was almost…endearing. I had given him permission but that would not earn him this. My cock was spoken for, whether Camille claimed it or not.-

No. You will save your throat for your new sir.

-More stripes across his ass, these ones angrier and closer to red. He was fighting against my denial, choking out words as he realized his helplessness. I got up close to his ear again.-

Doesn’t your new sir deserve that submission?

“Yes, Sir. He does… but-” I cut him off, pinching his lips tight between my fingers, shaking my head slowly back and forth.-

I said NO.

-This time I fetched a studded glove. The studs were smooth and rounded, they wouldn't break skin, but they would leave pretty little diamond welts. I knew he could handle more and Maxwell was about to receive. With my bare, left hand I gripped his dick and squeezed it in my fist.-

Tell me again what you want, Maxwell.

-He turned his head in the collar to meet my stare without fear, attempting to bait me with an intentional run of his tongue between his lips.

"Your cock. I want it, Sir. In my mouth or in my ass. Anywhere. Everywhere."

This earned a succession of merciless smacks against his bared ass. I let go of his cock as he wailed.-

Doesn't your new sir deserve a virgin ass to claim? Don't you want to be all his?

-Through gasps I got his compliance as I stepped back behind him, admiring the pattern left on his cheeks.-

Tell me what you want now, Maxwell. -leaning in, I caught his earlobe between my teeth, tugging hard before releasing it to deliver instruction.-

Speak clearly.

-"I want to be good for my new sir. I want to be all his to use. To please. To punish. I want to worship his cock when I've earned it. I want to be good." He trailed off on the repetition, sounding broken. I would not hand him off this way.-

Good. Whoever you choose will be pleased. They will be lucky. Do not forget that.

-Reaching between Maxwell and the wall, I released the nipple clamps from it and freed him from the collar around his neck. I grabbed his hips and guided him back. His poor cock was swollen and pulsing wherever veins were present but his ass was better on display for the taking.-

Do you want to be full again, Maxwell?

-He moaned before he answered and I ran the gloved hand between his cheeks, teasing circles around his tight hole, applying pressure but not breaching his entrance.

"Please, Sir. Please…I need it….Please."

The agony in his voice was something to chew on and savor and I did as I selected his reward: a four-bead, graduated, glass plug. I took my time, allowing the tension to rebuild as I coated the plug with an ample amount of lube. Walking back to where he was I pressed a hand into his lower back, forcing a deeper arch.-

Time to graduate, boy.

-I wedged the glass between his cheeks and wasted no time easing in the tip.

"Yesssss. More. Please." He stretched back, physically begging, and I pushed in further until the first bead disappeared inside him. There was less time allowed for rebound as his rim stretched further to accommodate the second.

"Gooooooood. So good." He was breathless, his voice raspy. He was not trained properly for the fourth, but the third was a possibility.-

One more?

-An unintelligible string of sounds passed his lips before he managed an actual answer.

"One more. Make me ready. I want to be ready." The answer pleased me. This is where I wanted him, primed and ready for his new dominant.-

Very good, Maxwell. Breathe. -I circled the third bead, slowly working it inside, and he let go of a high pitched moan as I watched his toes curl against the floor and his arms tug against the restraints on the wall. After a few more breaths, I upped the pace to relentless as perspiration glistened on his skin and down the canal of his spine.

He started to meet the thrusts of my hand as much as he could in the position he was in. His hips rocked back and up, and my own strokes with the plug became more forceful. He was crying for relief, begging for it and while I had made my decision, I didn't announce it immediately, instead opting to reach between is thighs to give his balls a squeeze…delaying his orgasm while making it decidedly more difficult. As he showed greater restraint in response to the torture of edging, I finally gave the permission he needed.-

Let it go. Show me what you've earned.

-I released his balls and gripped him by one shoulder. His body torqued then tensed.-

Come. -I growled out the order and it didn't take anything else. His body jerked and waved until he had emptied every drop he had to give. His body sagged. His legs shook. He shuddered as I pulled each bead free from his ass. Grabbing a towel I released him from the spreader bar, then the wrist restraints and then, without releasing any of the tension, snapped the clamps off his nipples, earning a final yelp. The cock ring stayed. I pressed the towel I to his hand.-

Clean up the floor, Maxwell and then come join me.

-I waited as he patiently did as he was told before he stretched out on the table. He wore a sated smile while I attended to the wounds and marks, and spoke quiet words of approval. I shared with him what I knew of the other Doms I'd conversed with earlier. His thanks were numerous and he expressed he felt whole.

He had been rewarded, as had I. With compliance. With graciousness. With surrender.

I no longer needed the control that drove me to the lifestyle, but this was somehow richer and more fulfilling than the prior experiences I'd shared with submissive because I didn't need it.

I didn't need it because in place of the previous void in my chest, hope swelled.

Maxwell and I shared a polite goodbye, with assurances he could reach out if ever he wanted advice or guidance. I knew if he ended up in the right hands, there would be no need. He was free now.

As was I.

On the short walk to my car, I was at last able to check my phone. I grinned.

Camille had replied.-

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rmorde · 8 months

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People can't see curses but they can see sorcerers.

Satoru is the only Special Grade sent to a lot of missions. He goes through so many exorcisms all the time. Combined with his stubborn streak to forgo barriers for quick missions, he's bound to get sloppy and get noticed sometimes.

And so, an urban legend about him started to spread.

"If you a see a spirit - white fire for hair, skin of snow, and eyes of sky blue or darkest night, run away and don't look back. Buy two sweets at the nearest shop. Eat one rightaway and have the other one to go in a box. Return to the location you last saw the spirit. At the exact spot you saw him, leave the box of sweets. Take seven steps back. Clap your hands once and bow in gratitude - make it as deep as you can, then hold it for at least a minute.

If the spirit delights in your offering, it will allow you to ask any question and grant you wisdom. If your offering was unaccepted, take your offering back and take it home. Before sleeping, place it outside an open window - preferably your room. Leave a note with your question on it. By morning, you will get your answer."

The urban legend started when Satoru saved a mother and her child from a cursed spirit. He forgot to set a barrier and barely protected the by-standers from his Infinity Void during the fight.

The mother was terrified but the child, innocent as he was, gave Satoru half of his crepe as thanks. The sorcerer was about to deny it but before he could say a word, the boy asked randomly.

"Can I be as strong as you and beat monsters at school?"

Satoru almost answered in his typical fashion until the mother's glare at him forced him to change. The woman was as scary as Shoko on a really bad day.

"Yeah! You can knock the monster's teeth off tomorrow with your Dragonball lunchbox!"

The child was starry eyed with his answer. The mother was thunderous. Satoru teleported rightaway. At that point, secrecy will not work anymore. Better too just disappear. It was not like anyone would believe them if they talked about him.

The next day, the kid did knock some monster's teeth off at school. It was a bully and he lost his two front teeth. The mother had to visit the school. She was disconcerted while her son was so proud about what happened. Both talked about their encounter of Satoru to make sensw of the coincidence.

The story was passed around. Each becoming more outlandish.

Then, an office lady on a rooftop was contemplating the end. Her longtime lover had been avoiding her for sometime. Their relationship went through a bit of a rough patch. She fears the worst is about to happen and refuses to face it.

"I'd rather die than be left alone."

She already had her shoes off when the sky turned dark. Suddenly, a monster appeared in front of her. She screamed and scrambled back.

The monster attempted to lunge at her but was pulled away.

"Miss, take seven steps back please."

The lady, fearful yet curious, looked for the source of the voice. It came from behind the flying monster.

What she was was a man. Is it really a man? He was floating upside down. White hair. White skin. Bluest eyes she had ever seen.

She heard of him before - from her neighbor's son! The fortune teller!

"Seven steps back."

Snapping out from her musings, the lady did as she was told while rummaging her pockets. She smiled in relief as she found her last piece of candy.

She heard a nasty squish and splatter. Looking down, just a few steps away from her, was gore and purple blood. The lady gulped and refused to raise her head up. She just placed the candy on her palms and stretched her arm out in offering to the fortuneteller? Guardian spirit?

"Oooh! Strawberry milk candy! For me?"

The lady almost stuttered. "For you. Thank you."

"Yay!"

She felt the candy be plucked away from her hand. Its crinkling wrapper filled the silence. The lady was nervous and scared but she just had to ask.

"May I... I... want to..."

"Hmm?"

"I think the love of my life is about to leave me! And I'm scared. I don't think I can live on if I lose them. I'm thinking of ending everything right here right now. And I..."

"Did they say it so?"

"What?"

"Did they say right in your face that they do not want to be with you anymore?"

"No."

"So you're just assuming."

"I-Yes. But-!"

"Describe your lucky lover please."

Confused but compliant. The lady told the floating spirit about her lover. It may have been a bit longer than she should have since it had stopped crunching on the candy she had given for quite some time already.

But after her description, the spirits just smiled then covered its blue eyes with some dark cloth - a shadow?

"You don't have to worry a thing. Just retouch your make-up and go down the ground floor. Wait in front of your company's new fancy indoor fountain. Everything will be fine."

"But-"

"Go now! Shoo!"

The lady gasped as some unknown force repelled her away from her original spot on the rooftop and pulled her towards the entrance door to it. When she looked back to the spirit, it was gone.

That night, the lady said yes to a heartfelt surprise marriage proposal. Thank goodness the spirit gave her the wisdom to not give up.

That same night, Satoru crunches on another strawberry candy to soothe his heartache. He did not get a happy ending but at least he got to ensure the fortune of the woman on the rooftop.

More and more cases like these pop up. Much to the ignorance of jujutsu society, the confusion of Satoru, and fascination of the general public.

Bold adventurers figure out that the "wisdom" spirit tend to appear on dangerous and creepy places. The more haunted, the better!

So, brave crazy non-sorcerers flock places where curse spirits cause havoc. Most of them survive thanks to the combined efforts of windows and sorcerers. However, there are (un)lucky few that ran into special grades and barely got saved by Satoru.

It is baffling for Satoru why such incidents happen occasionally but he appreciates the effort and the sweets. He is not that mean as a lot of people believe and he indulges the non-sorcerers when he has time. When he does not after a fight, he tries to check on them in the evening. Can't let free sweets go to waste!

Satoru's urban legend grew popular that a lot of teenagers cosplay as the Wise Spirit. They are dressed in baggy or flowy dark clothing. Their eyes are covered by a fancy device that can turn into dark or blue tinted shades to mimic the Wise Spirit's eyes. They painted their skins deathly pale too. The hardest work was the hair - white and "upright" yet "flowy". A white bonfire for hair as some "eyewitness" described.

On October 31st, in Shibuya, dozens of Wise Spirit cosplayers can be seen. Satoru blended in without problems. But then he floated above the crowd's head.

That got everyone's attention. And all hell broke loose.

People ran away to get sweets as offerings.

Urban legend savvy ones knew some kind of battle is about to start - all stories about the Wise Spirit always had him fighting monsters before taking an offering. They promptly started evacuating.

It was pure chaos.

Satoru is a tad bit confused. The cursed spirits are very confused. The sorcerers are absolutely confused.

"What got into these people?"

People stumbled and a certain curse user got bumped into hard and nearly got trampled. Before he could snap in irritation, a helpful Yuuji pulled him back up.

This curse user smiled in gratitude for what happened. However the smile dropped instantly when he rummaged his sleeves and realized.

"The Prison Realm is gone."

He tried to look for where he accidentally dropped it but the crowd got more and more packed in his area. A disaster is imminent.

Then cursed speech echoed throughout Shibuya.

"Do not move!"

As soon as he heard it, the curse user knew their chances of trapping Satoru Gojo had become null.

Before the cursed speech take full effect on him, he looked down and saw the Prison Realm by his feet. In front of him are two familiar school girls.

"Oh no."

Inumake Toge put a lot of power on his technique. For a full minute, the crowd was immobile. His fellow sorcerers and windows barely manage to avoid a stampede from happening.

When they identified that the source of trouble was Satoru, they asked him to move to a different location. The man refuses to comply. Instead demanded to urgently removed all people away from the station.

Alarmed by Satoru's uncharacteristically serious tone, Nanami asked all sorcerers in the area to pour efforts on evacuation only.

While the crowd thins, Satoru takes on the Special Grades.

Come by morning,

Satoru sits on top of a mountain of corpses - unfortunate transfigured people too late to be saved.

Just in front of him are a hill of sweets and a crowd of people waiting for his wisdom.

A bit away are sorcerers that gave up on shooing away the cult - because it is a cult what else can it be?! They just took this as an opportunity to get some extra cash by providing "intimate details" about the Wise Spirit.

Far away are windows getting overworked as they work with the police to keep the true Shibuya Incident under wraps.

Further away was Nanami trying to eat bread in peace but utterly confused by a pair of twins presenting him Sukuna's fingers and a blinking cursed box.

"Please help us save Master Geto!"

#satoru being careless started an urban legend and a cult #it solved a lot of problems by accident #silly silly ideas

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gilligould · 3 years

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perhaps this is controversial, but. who are we to look down on others for having interests other than our own? for taking pleasure in discovering something for the first time; enjoying the little things; having reactions in line with the norm? must everything be revolutionary? is it not enough to simply exist and passively absorb?

#i just think that. not everything has to be performative #not every post has a be a thesis #these are literally just words on a screen #i consume media and i come on here and i echo the voices of hundreds and thousands before me. and?#when did that suddenly become unacceptable? what did i miss?#k.txt

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twilight-orchid · 3 years

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How the Undatebales React After A Fight

Thank you to my friendo @wholelottatiffy who helped me brainstorm this one. I’m only on chapter 19 at the moment, so I haven’t interacted with anyone but Diavolo much. And thank you to everyone who wanted a follow up to my previous post, I did not expect that. Y’all are super sweet!

tw: Fighting (a bit more in depth than my first post), description of panic attack, minor name calling, insecurity, depression, angst with resolution.

Diavolo:

Diavolo doesn’t know what to do with himself.

To start, we need to talk about how the argument unfolds.

He’s not used to arguing.

He’s Lord Diavolo, Prince of The Devildom, head of the RAD student council. No one defys him on anything.

So you raising your voice at him, trying to get him to see your way,

It was very overwhelming.

He tried to reason calmly with you at first, but he felt cornered.

When fight or flight kicked in, his body chose fight.

His wings burst open in all their glory as he screamed back, his towering frame far more intimidating than yours.

The blind rage is slapped out of him when he sees your terrified face.

If you’re at the castle, he’ll order you to leave if you haven’t already. Anywhere else, he’ll turn and leave without a word.

He wants to put distance between you both for fear of making things worse.

He absolutely cannot believe he just blew up at you. He would have never thought he'd raise his voice at his partner regardless of the situation.

He can’t shake the image of you flinching from him from his mind.

Now, being the prince of hell certainty has it’s perks; He has power, influence, and everything he could want.

But the one thing he wants the most seems to evade him no matter what: a friend.

A real friend.

He has Barbatos and Lucifer, but it’s Barbatos’ job to accompany the prince, and Lucifer is bound to Diavolo whether he likes the future king or not.

MC was the first person who chooses to be with and around him for no other reason than the fact that they love him.

And now he’s terrified them. Gotten in their face and screamed at them.

He assumes he’s permanently driven you away.

As soon as you leave or he gets home, he rushes to find Barbatos. To explain what happened and hope his butler would know what to do.

He’ll text Lucifer and ask him to check on you as well.

He just feels lost.

He wanders the palace aimlessly and he can’t focus on his work without his thoughts drifting to you.

He doesn’t feel like going to school or even getting out of bed. He doesn’t want to speak to anyone - to put on a happy face and pretend his world isn’t shaking.

Yet, a prince has his responsibilities. He will go about his normal public appearances as usual, smile and laugh and carry on, but it’s a mask.

Those close to him clearly notice the prince isn’t himself.

After school he visits the spots that you two visit together frequently.

Anything to make him feel as if you are still at his side.

If you don’t sleep in his bed that night, he’ll take it as proof that he was right and that you don’t want to be with him anymore.

He doesn’t sleep that night. He clutches your pillow that still smells of you and just bawls.

He will tell Barbatos he feels unwell the next morning and to postpone his obligations for the day.

This prompts Barbatos to seek you out and see if he can help resolve the issue.

Barbatos tries to stay out of your relationship as he doesn't feel it's his business, but his job is to assist Diabolo in any way necessary. And right now, he needs you more than anything.

If you sleep at his side still, it will be a glimmer a hope. That all may not be lost.

He’ll give you you space that night. He’ll walk around you on eggshells but always watch you from the corner of his eye to gauge the temperature.

He avoids your gaze, stays on the other side of the room as you prepare for bed, and as much as it kills him, doesn’t hug you or kiss you goodnight.

He spends the night staring at your sleeping face and making silent promises that, if you forgive him, he will never let this happen again.

He thinks of how to apologize. What he could say, what he could do.

Ultimately though, it feels like everything he could think of is too little of an apology.

He pretends to be asleep when he sees you stir and decides to let you choose if you want to forgive him on your own.

You will have to approach him first.

He thinks losing his temper with you was unacceptable and feels like he has no right to ask for your forgiveness.

Worse, he’s terrified of not being given forgiveness.

Thus, I feel a fight with Diavolo will take as long as you let it. He’s willing to suffer as long as you need him to.

Barbatos:

Barbatos doesn’t argue. He sits quietly and watches you, his responses calm but absolute.

He’s no pushover, he will defend his side, but he’s not going to enter a screaming match. It’s just not him.

You know you’ve really gotten under his skin when he offers a tight, forcefully pleasant smile.

He finally shuts down the conflict with "It's your right to feel that way just as it's mine to disagree." And leave it at that.

Post argument, he will avoid you and lock his feelings about the fight inside.

He tells himself he doesn’t have time to deal with the terrible feeling clawing at his heart and takes to his duties as an escape.

If you sleep in another room, he realizes that this isn’t a minor disagreement and he’s suddenly very distressed.

His instinct is to use his future vision.

To scour the timelines and see how the different versions of himself handle it and to replicate the one with the most desirable outcome.

However, he stops himself. He feels it isn’t fair to you.

You have a right to be upset about things and he doesn’t want to manipulate the situation, and by extension, you.

Thus, he must find another way to cope.

He’s always a devoted butler, but it’s not his whole life.

He takes time for himself throughout the day and in the evenings. Unless Diavolo needs him, nights are usually his to do with as he wants.

Now, however, his identity becomes Diavolo’s butler.

He’s constantly asking for extra work and hovering more than usual around the young lord in hopes of being given a task.

Diavolo finds it odd and asks about it, but he brushes it off. This isn’t anyone else’s business, least of all his employer’s.

Even though Barbatos won’t tell him, Diavolo can clearly tell his friend is off.

In hopes of giving him something to distract himself with, Diavolo requests hellfire mushroom rolled cigar cookies and Barbatos jumps on the opportunity.

Baking has always been his escape as well as his happy place. Diavolo’s favorite isn’t easy to make, so he looked forward to the task.

And it worked. Keeping track of the ingredients, the steps, and the technique required was enough to occupy his mind.

But then it was time to wait for it to bake.

He suddenly feels trapped in the suffocating silence of the kitchen.

His mind replays the argument on repeat as he falls down a rabbit hole of what ifs.

He loves you more than anything and the last thing he could ever want is for you to be mad at him.

No, the worst thing would to no longer be able to call you his.

Suddenly, he becomes aware of the sharp scent of burnt food.

He jumps up and runs to the oven. He’d been so lost in thought he hadn’t noticed the timer go off.

He pulls the blackened desert out, puts the cookie sheet on the stove top, and just stares at the burnt cookies.

His sight blurs and a soft sob escapes from the prison he’s created in his heart.

He wasn’t crying because he burnt the cookies, but because they were a visual representation of everything he’s been trying to suppress.

Once he collects himself, he knows he can’t continue like this.

He doesn’t want to invade your space in case you’re still mad, but he needs a resolution.

He’ll send a quick text and silently begs you to respond.

“MC, I understand if you are still upset with me, but would you be willing to talk though it? I look forward to hearing from you.”

If you still sleep with him that night, it is a great weight off of his shoulders.

He hopes it means that it will be easier to make up with you and that you aren’t too mad.

When you wake up, he will be watching you like he has all night with a small, tired smile.

He’ll put on your favorite tea as you get ready for the day then asks if you’d be willing to talk things over.

Because of how it affects both his job and himself, a fight with Barbados will not last long. He’ll seek a resolution by one, maybe two days tops.

Solomon:

Lucifer may be the avatar of pride, but Solomon can certainly give the demon a run for his money.

In the moment of a particularly heated argument, he absolutely will not admit he’s wrong.

In fact, he really doesn’t consider it a possibility.

There’s no point in trying to get him to see your side until things have calmed down. It’s like talking to a brick wall.

He won’t yell, but he gets a pissy, condescending tone and almost talks down to you.

If you really push his buttons, his patience with this “useless” argument runs out.

“Oh please, listen to yourself! You’re acting like a dull child!”

Freezes as soon as it leaves his mouth.

He didn’t mean to say that.

He opens his mouth to apologize immediately, but upon seeing your hurt reaction he becomes flustered and can’t get the words out.

He’ll simply turn and leave.

He’s absolutely furious with himself.

Solomon is old and wise. He’s seen many things, been many places, and he knows many things.

Sometimes though, he needs a reminder that he doesn’t know everything.

Even if he still feels he was right, he knows name-calling is unacceptable.

In fact, he doesn’t miss the irony that he was the one being childish.

His self-fury is replaced by overwhelming worry if you sleep in another room that night.

Of all the treasures he’s come across, none were as precious as you.

He can’t stand the thought of losing you because of his thoughtlessness.

For once, he feels like an idiot.

He locks himself in his study that night and brainstorms on how to make it up to you.

He decides to approach you in the morning at RAD. He’s terrified that you think he actually meant the insult and wants to clear the air as soon as possible.

He’s afraid of you taking anything less than his highest praise to heart or for you to think that he views you as below himself.

The thought of how he must have made you feel makes him sick to his stomach.

The more he thinks about it, the more his body demands that he act.

While he has many virtues, patience is not high on his list.

Assuming you returned to The House of Lamentation that night, he’ll text Asmo to explain what happened and asks if he’d let him in first thing in the morning.

Thus, when you leave to head for breakfast, be careful not to trip over your sorcerer who’s seated against the wall outside of your room.

He scrambles to his feet, his hair and clothes a mess and bags heavy under his eyes.

“MC! Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. I just- *sighs* I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that. Would you be willing to discuss the matter again? The right way this time.”

If you do sleep with him, he’s at least relieved that you don’t seem like you plan to leave him.

Once again, however, he wants to clear the air as soon as he can.

You’ll both be sitting in silence as you get ready for bed. He’s clearly lost in thought, his eyes focused unblinking on his feet and any movements slow and disjointed.

He's not sure how to apologize, if it's too soon, and is afraid to make things worse if it's not an appropriate time.

However, seeing you move about the room he decides to risk it so he doesn't risk losing you.

Suddenly, he stands up straight and locks eyes with you.

“MC, we don’t have to talk about the fight tonight, but I need you to know that I didn’t mean what I said. I’m sorry.”

It’s up to you if you want to forgive him immediately, but he will at least apologize for the insult as soon as he gathers his thoughts.

Simeon:

If you yell at him, Simeon is just gonna sit there stunned

Your relationship is usually as laid back as he is, so he doesn't know what to do with you blowing up at him.

All he knows it that this is bad and he needs to find a way to make you happy again.

The thought of losing you takes precedence over everything and, though he will not sway to your side just because you’re upset, the argument loses any worth it had to him.

He’ll go to Solomon almost immediately in hopes your fellow human might know better about how arguments are resolved between human couples.

He becomes very distressed when Solomon says everyone handles it differently. He then asks what he should to make up with you specifically.

He doesn't have a defined emotion right now, he's just on edge. He wants to gather information first and foremost so he can figure out what to do from there.

He’s just a walking ball of anxiety and those close to the angel even become concerned. No one has seen him like this before.

If you decide to sleep in another room, the anxiety just takes over.

His chest feels like fiery chains are crushing his ribs, he can hear his heart is hammering in his head, and his body begins to shake as if he were buried in an avalanche.

He doesn’t realize he’s crying as he struggles to breathe.

Solomon had expected something like this may happen so he made sure to be nearby to help coach him though it.

Once he’s calmed down, Solomon urges him to talk to you as soon as possible.

Simeon isn't sure though. True, he wasn't in a good place, but he didn't want to push you if you weren't ready to talk.

He doesn’t know what to do. He doesn’t feel like he can think let alone coherently tell you how he feels.

He begins to feel overwhelmed again and decides to try writing down his thoughts in hopes of it helping him sort through the tsunami of emotions consuming him.

While it doesn't completely calm him down, it does help.

He stares down at the messy, tear blotted papee and has an idea.

The next morning you should expect to find a hand-written letter slipped under you door.

The letter is long and and rambling. His usually pristine handwriting is as shaky as his hands were when writing it.

It's not as dense and heartbroken as his original one, but the further it goes the more desperate his words become.

He writes about how much you mean to him and apologizes for allowing things to get that intense. He writes that he loves you and doesn’t want to lose you.

He reminisces about his favorite memories of you two together more than once.

Finally, that no disagreement you two could ever have is more importantly to him than being with you.

It's really just a collection of everything sitting on his heart at the moment.

That day at RAD he’ll watch you from the sidelines and pray you approach him about the letter so you two can work things out.

If you still sleep in his bed, he’ll be very conflicted about if he should approach you yet.

He’s afraid of making it worse if you’re still mad.

However, Simeon is an open book when it comes to his emotions so you will absolutely be able to tell that he’s freaking out.

So please, save the man a terrible night and talk it though with him.

He wants you to not be angry anymore, but even if you’re still upset just having concrete information to cling to will help him immensely.

He’s thinking of all the worst case scenarios and needs reassurance that the relationship isn’t over.

Simeon will try to make up within a day, so however long it lasts after that is up to you.

Luke (MC is his best friend):

Luke will be very, very distressed.

You’re his best friend aside from Simeon. Friends don’t fight like this, right?

Wait, so if you’re fighting with him, does that mean you’re not his friend anymore???

As soon as the thought enters his mind, he decides that must be the case.

Real friends don’t fight with each other like this.

Externally he takes a “I don’t need a lousy human like you for a friend anyway” attitude.

He’s not just testy with you though, anyone who interacts with him that day learns that chihuahuas bite.

Simeon immediately realizes something isn’t right and is very concerned.

As soon as he asks him what’s wrong, Luke's mask of anger is discarded and he tosses himself in the older angel’s arms crying hysterically.

He doesn’t want to lose you for a friend.

I doubt Luke has ever truly argued with someone so this uncharted territory is earth shattering to him.

Simeon, as he tries to calm Luke, he will text you and ask you to come to wherever they are immediately.

Because of Simeon’s intervention, the fight will only go undiscussed for a few hours max.

Again, sorry if I don’t know these characters as well as I’d like yet. Thank you for reading!

#obey me #obeyme #obey me shall we date #obey me diavolo #obey me diavolo x reader #obey me diavolo x mc #obey me barbatos #obey me barbatos x mc #obey me barbatos x reader #Obey me solomon #obey me solomon x reader #obey me solomon x mc #obey me simeon #obey me simeon x reader #obey me simeon x mc #obey me luke #obey me undateables #obey me headcanons

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avensthetic · 3 years

Text

𖥻⠀،⠀‹ WHEN YOU MET HIM OF THE FUTURE ↷

▾ ꭛ ˖ ︴CHARACTERS : xiao x fem! reader

▾ ꭛ ˖ ︴SUMMARY : xiao from the timeline where you are dead, travels back in time.

▾ ꭛ ˖ ︴WARNINGS : angst with fluff, messy writing hehe, slight cursing

▾ ꭛ ˖ ︴NOTE : here's a part two that i totally have been procrastinating on. the next time i do this for other characters, i won't separate it. who do you wanna see next? proof read! future! xiao will be indicated as the color blue while present xiao is green to avoid confusion hehe.

▾ ꭛ ˖ ︴PART ONE HERE !

XIAO knew he had to keep going, not only for his oath with you who no longer walked the lands of teyvat, but his son who you left behind.

yue was just as heartbroken as he was, having lost his mother that is so dear to him at such a young age — and in a bloody war against the rulers of heaven nonetheless.

so when future! xiao found yue missing, all bottled emotions given from your death all came bursting out like a raging fire. he went ape-shit, brandishing his spear and ripping anyone that went his way with terrifying strength. it mattered not if they were friends or foe, all xiao could see was red.

xiao already lost you, is he going to lose yue too? that is unacceptable! a reality so terrifying than any of his nightmares. not his son, no.

if it weren't for zhongli and venti, xiao would have destroyed the remainder of teyvat.

thank the archons! yue is back, but his tale from when he went missing baffled xiao that he can't even begin to comprehend anything.

was traveling back in time possible? yes, yes it is. and he can feel it in the winds with the way the breeze changed. no longer did the wind caress him in comfort, but it sang to him tunes, telling him to rejoice.

he finally opened his eyes, amber irises landing on a familiar pair of eyes that once held nothing but the galaxy offered to him. yours. how could he forget such a beautiful pair?

"xiao? why the hell are you suddenly taller?!" you screamed in surprise upon seeing the man who manifested in front of you on top of wangshu inn.

upon hearing his name, the wind around you picked up speed and a flash of green appeared, revealing your XIAO whose spear is raised and stance ready to pounce.

he eyed the slightly taller man in front of him and froze. amber eyes the same shade as his, filled with years of misery brought by his karma — furthermore, your death.

future! xiao ignored the strangled noise you let out as he dove into your arms, trapping you in his tight embrace. the sorrow that hit you came pouring like a cold bucket of water and you wrapped your arms around the man — the same man you love now and forever. it was as if you felt his grief.

xiao didn't know what to feel. he wasn't stupid, one look was all it took for him to know the person holding you right now is him, the him who raised yue together with you in the future timeline. so he awkwardly averted his gaze before the urge to separate you both got stronger.

this is stupid, xiao thought before scolding himself. he refused to admit that he is jealous of himself, or else he will never hear the end of your teasings if you ever find out.

"you're alive...i can hold you again. archons! the things i would do to be able to hold you again."

you couldn't help but become flustered at the open display of affection and honesty this version of xiao is showing. it was odd but not unwelcome. this was still xiao, your xiao whether he was from the past, present, or future.

a cough erupted and you moved away. you turned to the xiao of your timeline and can't help but send him a sheepish smile. future! xiao, however, refused to let go of you with his arms still around you and allowing only little to no distance to separate you both.

future! xiao finally looked to stare at him of the past, his expression unreadable. this was the him who have yet failed to save you from the clutches of death.

the xiao of your timeline can feel the gaze that is scrutinizing him — though not in a bad way.

xiao had thought of distancing himself from you before, thinking it would save yue from the pain of experiencing hell by living. but then he would stop and think; would distancing himself stop your death? he did not want to be cruel and rob yue of the life he deserves, but xiao hated the thought of him and your suffering, still hung up on the idea of his karma rubbing off on the both of you.

try as he might though, xiao can never let you go — not with your persistence. many times have you both talked it out: his doubts and insecurities, his fears. and each time you've managed to reassure him of your future, of yue who never carried any ounce of regret for being born.

"even knowing i'll die, my only regret would be if i don't get to marry you," you declared with a smile. a stupid smile that held xiao capture, and for you to keep that smile, he'll do anything.

and now the him of the future suddenly materialized out of thin air, reminding him of his future with you and ultimately, your end.

silence rang in the cool morning air as you watched the two stare each other down. it was comedic how they were one and the same, like mirror images. yet, the tension hung in the air and your gaze can't help but land back and forth between the two, nervous of what they will do next.

you wished yue was here.

duty called before both could even get a word out. xiao reluctantly left, reminding you to call for him when things go awry while eyeing him of the future. future! xiao only watched the other go, a hint of melancholy in the sigh he let out.

you squeaked in surprise, feeling jittery now that your xiao is gone and you are left with the future version of your beloved.

once again he dove into your arms, greatly missing the warmth you emitted when you were still alive and happily married to him. seeing you again — at least the you of the past — opened fresh wounds and he quietly sobbed.

you're just stunned because never have you seen xiao break down in front of you. even when the weight of his karma overpowers the comfort you gave him, he endured it all with gritted teeth and a bruising grip on your hand.

not really knowing what to say, you let him weep. if it was you who lost him, you would probably bawl your eyes out while cursing celestia.

but more importantly, you would curse yourself for your weakness, for failing to protect your one and only treasure — your anchor to this world. and that was what xiao probably felt, the both of them.

future! xiao now only has yue anchoring him to sanity. on the other hand, present! xiao is dreading the day war breaks out, leading to you succumbing to your death. he exposes himself to danger relentlessly so he can be 'strong enough to protect you' he claimed.

and you made it your goal to be stronger yourself, refusing to add more back-breaking burden to xiao.

despite feeling sympathy, xiao will never leave you alone with the future him longer than necessary, grumbling as he snatches you away from literally him. you are his, future him be damned.

you felt sorry but you couldn't help but be giddy. it's not every day for xiao to initiate skinship and affection without acting like a cat.

overall, a tug of war between the present and future xiao would happen with you stuck in the middle. and now that he had seen you both, so determined and so in love, future! xiao is somehow at peace.

both men met eyes and a silent agreement — an oath to be more specific, was made between the two without you noticing. like the promise he made with yue, xiao didn't need to be told twice.

the bleak future that you have, he'll change it, even if the weight of his karma breaks him until not even his bones remain, even if the rulers of heaven themselves are against it.

BONUS !

the winds picked up their speed, a whisper of goodbye in the midst and xiao knows he's out of time. he turned to you and with a smile, his lips brushed your forehead, sending a silent prayer to whoever was listening to keep you safe.

he closed his eyes just as the world came to a blur, and once gold irises came to view, so did panicked screaming and loud cries from someone xiao knew too well.

"yue!" xiao hurriedly jumped into his feet, his spear — worn out from the many battles it had witnessed — materializing in his hand. he ran like a mad man to the source of the voice with the wind as his guide.

may the archons forgive him for he will lose it if something happens to his son, not really expecting to spring into action as soon as he comes back.

but once he arrives at wangshu inn — now in ruins, he saw yue crying his heart out, fortunately safe. in his arms was someone xiao thought he'd only meet now in dreams.

there you were, clinging onto your boy for dear life, and yet the bewildered look on your face cannot be mistaken.

"what is going on with you? are you hurt?" you asked worriedly but yue only continued to sob, chanting how you're alive and thanking the archons repeatedly. meeting eyes with your husband, you ought to ask him what was wrong but xiao only followed his son and trapped you both in a tight embrace.

despite your confusion, xiao couldn't help the loud laugh he'd let out. he gave the past him a quiet thanks as the memories changed and flowed slowly into him, taking its time of showing him of how you were saved from the clutches of death.

it took time but you remembered the adventures of the you in the past, and the memories of meeting your son and husband. you cried your heart out because your beloved kept his oath, and finally you are here.

"welcome back, my dearest."

▾ ꭛ ˖ ︴END NOTE : ayo isn't xiao ooc here? anyway, if it isn't obvious, i am in love with xiao. thank you for reading this mess :').

#xiao x reader #genshin xiao x reader #genshin impact #genshin #xiao #genshin xiao #genshin imagines #genshin scenarios #reader insert #x reader #fanfiction #alatus #xiao x you #genshin xiao x you #genshin x reader #genshin x you

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nihyunluvskookie · 3 years

Text

my birthday with her~

Bang Chan one shot

Pairing: Bang Chan × Female reader

Genre: Fluff with a bit of angst

Warnings: no warnings as far as I know

Word count: 1.9 K

Author’s Note: It’s his birthday, one of the best leader, best human, I love him a lot and I have no words how much, i am just blessed to have him, I am just grateful.

“Chan, get ready we are going out for dinner tonight”

“okay”

“Chan, just listen to me, son it’s fine.” Mum left after this, I went to my closet and picked the black silk shirt, my favorite and wore black jeans, I was wearing all black, how can I not wear black on my birthday. We literally had a feast in lunch and now they are taking me out, I should be the one taking them out, this is my first time spending my birthday here after I debuted. And I hope… I hope I get to see her today…

“Come down in 20 minutes, everyone else is getting ready”

“Mum I am supposed to take you all out tonight”

[Flashbacks]

“This is my first time going back home in September, this is my very first time celebrating my birthday with my family after debuting. I just feel happy Lix”

“I am happy for you and I hope you meet her”

“Lix?”

“Yeah?”

“Meet whom?”

“What do you mean by whom?”

“I mean whom?”

“You know it very well, and all of us know but we don’t ask you anything because it should be you if you want to open up with us about something. I just hope you at least hug her; you seem to miss her and how can she not try to find you because we go to Australia for tours. This way or that way I just hope she finds you or you find her this time. I really want to ask her what did she do to you.”

“Lix, she didn’t do anything and she’s just a friend okay?”

“I can see how much this friend matters to you”

“Lix!”

“You are still not scary, now go see your parents are waiting and mine too, and let’s meet soon” Felix hugged me and I was still looking at his face, that silly and teasing smile didn’t leave his face. I spotted Felix’s dad, he waved at me and Felix left me there. I have no idea how this guy got to know, since I never told anyone and was it that obvious, last time we came to Australia and it was 2 years ago, and that’s where I felt I saw her but I couldn’t meet her because I was unsure since that day, she never left my mind. How can I not recognize my childhood bestfriend and how she never tried finding me, what was stopping her?

[Present]

Felix’s words were not leaving my mind, everything he said on airport that day, I hope I meet her. It’s been more than 10 years, I saw her and I doubt she even remembers me, I wish she does.

After getting ready I went down and saw the lights were off, probably because everyone was outside already. I went to dining hall and I heard mum say “Channie” I turned back and I heard party popping sounds and saw a birthday cake,

“Happy Birthday Chan~” it was mum and then lights were on, oh my god.

Felix was there, few of my friends and ….she was there? If I am not wrong, if I am really not wrong, she was there standing between my friends, smiling cutely, her dimples looked cute on her and she was wearing a white floral print knee length dress, a daisy pendent, hair down and it looked perfect on her, her face didn’t change she still have that cute face. I was amazed, I just couldn’t understand what I was feeling, all the emotions, I was happy, overwhelmed and felt loved, as if all the love was making me feel these emotions.

“Chanie hyung come here make a wish and blow up these candles.” I went near the cake, I closed my eyes and made a wish; after opening my eyes I blew the candles and cut the cake.

I looked at the room, it was decorated so beautifully and they did it, everyone was smiling, everyone came and hugged me gave gifts, there I saw her talking with my mum.

Lix came and hugged me tight “Once again happy Birthday bro.”

I smiled at him “Thankyou Lix” we broke the hug, suddenly Lix came near my ear and whispered “She’s pretty” I was taken aback. I looked at him with disbelief on my face, “How are you sure, it’s her?”

“I have my ways and instincts”

“Lix”

“Go talk to her”

He left me there, I wanted to talk to her but I was way too shy to even ask her how she is, I am seeing her after nearly 12 to 13 years and I don’t know how would she even feel to talk to me, and all these years we never contacted eachother, it was just me who saw her two years ago when I came to Australia and that was also not face to face, I just happened to see her. I was about to take a step closer and then I saw her getting a call and going to upstairs.

I decided to follow her, I can gather some courage and even if I am nervous doesn’t change the fact, she was my bestfriend even though I don’t know what we are right now and why am I feeling like this; all these unknown feelings are keeping me awake and making me feel things I never felt. I pushed all my thoughts aside, and went to upstairs, and then I saw her going to the rooftop. I saw everyone going out because mum called everyone to the backyard and Felix just smiled at me, I went to the rooftop.

“I couldn’t give the flowers to him but don’t worry I will give him, now bye. I will call you later!”

I saw her hanging up and resting her hands on the railings, she sighed. I took steps towards her. She turned around definitely hearing my footsteps.

“Oh! Hey!”

“Hey…”

I went near her. She looked so beautiful under moonlight, she looked just like an angel. Her cheeks had a tint of pink, she looked beautiful when she smiled and her dimples were showing.

“How are you?” I asked her, I don’t even know how to start a conversation

“I am good… you?”

“Me too”

“Happy Birthday Chan”

I went closer to her, our hands touched… accidently and she pulled her hand, abruptly. I felt a bit sad but I held it inside me and when I looked at the beautiful her who stood under the moonlight. She was shining, she had a halo… I couldn’t believe that we were this close, but somehow… she felt so distant.

It was a spur of the moment thing, but I felt like this was my last chance.

I took a deep breath, got my emotions under control, at least tried to and whispered, “Maple… Do you remember me?”

It felt like the world went still… I could hear my heartbeats, I could feel my heart thrashing loud against my chest hard, really hard.

The silence went for too long and I thought I should break the ice but before I could--

“Chan… how can I even forget you” the air felt heavy, everything felt so heavy right now, there was no overwhelming feelings anymore, it was replaced with sad, disappointment, curiosity, longing, reminiscing and sighs.

“Then why did you never try to find me?”

“Chan…”

“Maple…”

“Why?” I asked her again

“Chan, you left me alone here, what was I supposed to do, I cried for years, I missed you. Nothing felt the same anymore, why was everything so hard. I waited for you all these years so you would come.”

“Maple…”

“Do you know how hard it was for me? and when I saw you here today, I was taken aback, I was surprised when your mom called me a week ago and told me you’re coming and she wants to throw a party and I’m invited since I am your bestfriend. I waited to meet you, and today we do, my emotions were a mess, Chan do you even have any idea how hard it was, to tell myself that one day I will meet you one day and I always thought you forgot about me since, you never contacted me, I don’t know why, I thought you made new friends, forgot about me, and that’s why I never contacted you, I was scared, scared of losing you and hearing ‘who are you?’ from you, that’s a simple rejection. You have no idea how it was for me. and since last 5 years, things were very downhill for me, I always wanted you by my side but I shut down myself from everywhere, I stopped meeting everyone I was just alone. Chan we were kids, when you left, I always thought you would be that friend who left me and both of us will forget eachother as we grow up, this is how it looked like, years passed, no calls no texts, leaving without a goodbye or see you again? but you left and how could I even believe the lie when you were my bestfriend, mine. I grew and all my emotions started becoming stronger, missing you? Feelings are a mess, emotions are a mess and I never knew looking at you like this right now, my heart would get anxious, beat so fast for you, which was very expected but unacceptable for me, I don’t even know what you are thinking right now. And you ask me why I never tried finding you? It’s because I shut myself off, these feelings were growing day by day and I was holding a hopeless thread and was scared, and didn’t even know if I will ever meet you or not and whatever I’m feeling is wrong, I can’t feel like this to my bestfriend, are we even friends now?”

“Maple…”

“What Chan? Just what?”

“I missed you”

“I missed you more-

I couldn’t hold back anymore; I took her into my arms, we both were a bit stiff, but with each passing breath, she relaxed. I felt her face against my chest, I was hoping that I didn’t make a fool out of myself as my heart had gone out of control… but I probably did cause I heard her chuckle.

Let’s just say the time and situation felt too unreal but surreal at the same time, I wanted to make this moment last a bit longer and asked her something, that my sane self would never.

I whispered into her ear, “Can I kiss you?”

‘ahhhhhhhhh… Bang Christopher Chan …did you JUST do That? Did you really ask her if you could…umm…her? On the first day?’

I felt like I couldn’t show my face to her… someone dig me a hole, I want to bury myself there for eternity.

Just when I was thinking of ways to go into the past and hit myself hard before I asked that to her, I felt some movement and looked down.

‘Did….Did she just nod?’

I pinched myself…’ah’ it hurts?

She looked up… It could be a filter of a guy in love, but her eyes really held all the stars in the world… they looked mesmerizing.

‘This is your chance… Be a man’, I told myself and pulled her closer and kissed her. First it was just me, then she gave in. She was holding the hem of my shirt and my hands were resting on her waist.

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fanfic-archive · 3 years

Text

New Tastes

Helmut Zemo X Female Reader

Summary: You were working along side Sam and Bucky, despite not having been an Avenger like them, when things led to you having to work with Zemo. He wasn’t what you expected, being much more welcoming and charming than they had led you to believe. One evening at his Latvian flat would change everything, you just didn’t know if it was for the better or worse.

Word Count: 2547

The four of you had returned to the flat in Riga just over an hour ago after a confrontation with some Flag Smashers. You had been hurt in the confrontation but that was too be expected and it really wasn’t anything to worry about. You had assured Bucky and Sam that you were fine, as if they hadn’t been hurt as well, telling them to just go to bed and get some rest. Once they were more convinced, telling you not to stay up too late and to get some proper rest, they disappeared into their rooms for the night.

With a sigh, you walked over to the kitchen. Zemo hadn’t gone to his room yet but the three of you had become comfortable enough around him to not worry about you being left alone with him. You trusted that he wouldn’t hurt any of you, you even trusted that he wouldn’t run just yet, but you couldn’t say that you were completely comfortable in his presence. Something about him put you on edge, you could feel when his eyes were on you, it made you feel warm, but you couldn’t explain his effect on you.

Zemo was sitting on the couch with a book in his hands, you just ignored him as you grabbed a bag of ice. You wrapped the ice in a towel before pressing it to the bruise along your cheekbone.

“Are you alright?” Zemo’s voice made you jump as you turned to him, he was now standing in the kitchen with you. You hadn’t heard him move or approach you.

“Uh, yeah” you nodded, hissing slightly as you turned away from him and pressed the ice to your cheek again. The bruise still tender.

“Do you need any help?” he asked, sounding genuinely concerned for your wellbeing.

“No, I’m fine” you assured him with a sigh, turning back to the Baron as to not seem rude, even if you still couldn’t meet his gaze.

“Let me help” he moved closer. You don’t know what it was about him or the way he spoke, but you found it difficult to resist him.

“…fine” you were hesitant but allowed him to offer his assistance.

“Sit” Zemo ordered gently as he took the ice from your hand.

Doing as he said, you took a seat on one of the stools at the kitchen island. Zemo moved closer, casually standing between your legs. It was rare that you were left alone with Zemo, your two friends being a little protective over you, so this was the closest you had been to him and possibly the longest you had been alone with him.

Maybe that was why you couldn’t look up at him and meet his gaze, everything about him was just too intense. The way he looked at you, the way he spoke, even his cologne now that you were close enough to be enveloped by the scent. It was strong but not overwhelming, it was warm and comforting.

You were brought out of your thoughts when Zemo lightly gripped your chin between his thumb and forefinger, lifting your face up so he could more clearly see your bruise. You just watched him as he iced your cheek.

“It’s a nasty bruise” Zemo commented, making you focus on his accent again. A sound you found near mesmerising. “But it should heal pretty quickly. You got off lightly considering you were dealing with Super Soldiers” he reminded you.

“You know” you breathed, unable to raise your voice any higher with him being so close to you.

“Are you hurt anywhere else?” he asked, but you shook your head. It was a little bit of a lie, but you weren’t seriously hurt, just generally sore. “Are you sure?” he asked, not seeming completely convinced. You just nodded in response.

“Good” Zemo nodded, pulling the ice away from your cheek and placing it down on the island behind you. “Turkish Delight?” he offered.

“I’m not a child” you muttered, feeling like he was rewarding you for something even though you hadn’t done anything to solicit a reward.

“I never said you were. I was just offering you a Turkish Delight” he didn’t seem upset or amused with your comment, his expression remaining neutral.

“I’ve never actually had one” you confessed, neither accepting it nor turning it down.

“Then you must have one” he decided for you with a charming smile.

He reached for the vase that he kept his Turkish Delights in, taking one out before placing the vase down again. Unwrapping the candy, he held it between his fingers, you reached for it but only frowned as he pulled it away from you. Was he purposely messing with you?

Zemo raised an eyebrow at you before bringing the candy to your lips. You were stunned, silent and staring at him, unsure of how to react. But he was patient, waiting for a response rather than prying or backpaddling.

Slowly, you came to your sense, if you could call it that, and opened your mouth, letting him place the candy on your tongue. At this point it was fair to say that you were blushing pretty brightly, but you still ate the candy, trying to ignore the way he watched you as you accidently let out a small hum of approval.

“You like it?” he asked, already knowing the answer from your reaction.

“Yeah…it’s good” you nodded, finishing the candy.

“Do you want another?” he offered.

“Sure” you accepted, seeing why he was so fond of the treats. And so, Zemo gave you another in the same way as before, which you accepted with more ease.

“What else haven’t you had before?” Zemo asked curiously as you finished the second candy.

You found the question a little strange, not being sure how to answer it. There must have been plenty of answers to that question. But you thought about some of the things you had had for the first time since joining the three men in travelling to Riga.

“That expensive liquor of yours. Normally just settle for the bottle shelf stuff” you laughed lightly, attempting to ease the tension that surrounded the two of you, still trying to ignore how close he was. You didn’t want him to know how much it was affecting you, though you were sure that he already knew.

“That’s unacceptable” he tutted in disapproval. “Would you like a glass?” he asked.

“Sure” you nodded.

Zemo moved away from you, finally giving you the room to breathe. He rounded the island and fixed you both a drink. You watched him, admiring his side profile as he poured the drinks. Of course, it wasn’t long before he had returned to you, once again standing between your legs as he handed you one of the glasses.

“Prost” he smiled, raising his glass towards you slightly.

“…Prost” you repeated with a small smile of your own, clinking your glass against his.

Zemo watched you over the brim of his own glass as you both drank. “Better, no?” he asked, lowering his glass at the same time as you. “Better quality, better taste, smoother…but the burn is the same” he hummed, swirling the liquid around in his glass.

“The burn is better” you breathed, suddenly returning to the nervous, breathless state he had you in earlier. It seemed to earn a small smirk from the Baron.

“I’m glad you have been enjoying my hospitality” Zemo nodded, leaning towards you to place his drink down on the island behind you. Your breath hitched in your throat when you felt his breath fan against your ear, knowing that your face has heated up as he pulled away again.

“You’ve been very generous” you cleared your throat, placing your glass down beside his, following his lead before turning back to him.

“It’s the least I can do for the people who broke me out of prison” he shrugged.

“Bucky’s going to make sure you go back; you know that right?” you asked, wondering if he thought he could eventually escape you all.

“I will deal with James when the time comes” he assured you, seemingly not worried about future threats.

“You probably shouldn’t tell me that…” you advised him.

“You wouldn’t break my trust, would you?” Zemo asked, his head tilting to the side slightly. You just shook your head, once again being made a little speechless. Did he truly think that you wouldn’t share any concerns with Bucky and Sam? Did he think you would protect him? “How are you finding Riga?” before you could dwell on it any longer, he distracted your racing mind with a casual question.

“It’s nice…beautiful” you smiled softly. “I’m not a very worldly person…I’ve never actually been out of the States before” you admitted.

“That is a shame” he hummed thoughtfully. “There is a whole world out there for you to experience, and you deserve to experience it” he told you, gently pushing some stray hair out of your face.

“Is that so?” you asked with a quiet curiosity. “It almost sounds like a proposition” you commented, your gaze flickering around his face. He had you on the hook and you both knew it.

“And if it was?” Zemo asked, but you don’t know how to respond. Was it a real proposition? Was it some sort of trap? “There is so much to experience in this world, don’t you agree?” you simply nodded. “But what is the point if you don’t have somebody to experience it with?” he shifted closer to you and you allowed it, remaining still as he hooked his finger under your chin, giving you no choice but to look up at him.

“I…I don’t know” you shook your head slightly, but his hold on your chin made the movements subtle.

“There isn’t one” he informed you confidently, but kept his voice low, making the conversation feel intimate.

“And you want me to…accompany you?” you asked in disbelief.

“I would be honoured to have you join me, and it would be my pleasure to show you what you’ve been missing” Zemo nodded. “There are so many things to experience, let me show them to you” he was impossibly close to you now, his thumb stroking over your bottom lip.

“…okay” you whispered, gaze flickering to his mouth before meeting his eyes again, “show me.”

With your prompting, Zemo’s hand moved from under your chin to cup your jaw, leaning closer to you. You instinctively lent into him; your eyes fluttering shut as his lips brushed against yours. Fully closing the space between you, Zemo caught your lips in a kiss. You returned the kiss instantly, having accepted where this was leading a little while ago and craving it for even longer.

Zemo brought his body even closer, touching yours, as his free hand slid up your waist to rest at the bottom of your ribs. Allowing yourself to just let go and experience the moment, you slipped your arms around his neck, helping him shift closer yet again.

You knew that you shouldn’t be doing this, you knew who he was, but maybe that was why it lit such a fire in you. Even with the knowledge of this being wrong, you lost yourself in the sensations. His body pressed against yours, his mouth on yours, his hands on you body, his hair between your fingers. Just for a moment you were able to forget about everything going on with the Flag Smashers, about what Sam and Bucky would have to say if they caught you, even about who Zemo was.

Tilting his head slightly, Zemo deepened the kiss, making you hum into his mouth. You could taste the liquor he had been drinking, mixing with the sweetness of the Turkish Delights. It was addictive, as was he.

You didn’t even hear it, too lost in the man before you, but the sound of a door opening had Zemo swiftly but casually pulling away from you. You watched him, bitten lips parted, left breathless on the stool as he walked around the island, picking up his half empty glass like nothing had happened.

Your attention turned to Sam as he walked into the room, nervously turning to face the kitchen island and busying yourself with your own unfinished drink.

“Y/n, are you alright?” Sam asked with a small frown, noticing your flushed face.

“Yeah, ‘course” you nodded, not even able to look him in the eyes as you took a drink, focusing on the burn in your throat.

“Leave her alone” your friend warned Zemo sternly before crossing the room, for whatever it was that he had come for.

Bringing the glass back to your lips, you looked up through your lashes to see Zemo already looking at you, drinking from his own glass. You blushed further at his attention but still didn’t break eye contact, not wanting to give him the satisfaction.

Thinking back over your experience with the Baron, you realised that if you hadn’t known who he was you never would have worried about him. He had been nothing but kind to you, often being a refreshing break when Sam and Bucky were bickering, he was generous and helpful.

Finally, you broke eye contact, shaking the thoughts from your mind. Yes, all of that was true, but he was an intelligent man, it could all be an act. But then again, what did he gain from messing with you?

Sam grabbed his laptop, shooting Zemo a glare as he left the room again. The sound of his bedroom door clicking shut being the only thing to break the silence.

“I think you should get some rest; we have more work to do tomorrow” Zemo spoke, one hand gently wrapping around your wrist as his other took the glass from your grip. You just looked up at him with a dumbfounded look, as he placed the glass down on the island that he was leaning over to reach you. You nodded and he released your wrist.

Once he let go of you, you stood from your seat, clearing your throat as you straightened out your clothes. “Goodnight” you mumbled, nodding at him politely before turning to head towards the bedrooms.

“Y/n” his voice stopped you, making you turn back to him, only to see him standing right in front of you. “Goodnight” his hands gently rested on your arms as he lent down, pressing a kiss to your forehead before stepping away from you, “sleep well.”

Once again stunned by the Baron, you turned and left the room quickly while trying not to look like you were rushing. He had told you to sleep well but you didn’t, you lay in the comfortable bed of his Latvian flat, staring at the ceiling while your mind ran wild with thoughts and images of Zemo. You didn’t know what had led to the moment you both shared only minutes earlier, you didn’t know why you felt this way for him, this urge to be near him, but you just couldn’t shake it. All you really knew was that it wouldn’t end here, if Zemo had something planned, it was going to play out until its natural conclusion. Whatever that may be.

#Baron Zemo x reader #Helmut Zemo x reader #Zemo x reader #helmut zemo #zemo #baron zemo #the falcon and the winter soldier #tfatws

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eeveearoace-creative · 2 years

Text

did i write almost two-thousand words for a psychology essay on marcy wu? yes. yes i did. i'd better get a better get a good grade for this XD

PS, one of the requirements of the assignment was that we explain the psych terms, so hopefully its not too annoying that i defined words like "agreeableness" and "extraversion" later on :')

beware of spoilers, and enjoy! <3

Introduction

Marcy Wu is a character from the Disney Channel show Amphibia created by Matt Braly. The show follows thirteen-year old Anne Boonchuy, a Thai girl from Los Angeles, who is transported to a world of talking frog-people known as “Amphibia” upon opening a mysterious music box with her two best friends, Marcy Wu and Sasha Waybright. After realizing the three of them had been separated, Anne is found by a young frog boy named Sprig Plantar, who convinces his sister Polly Plantar and grandfather Hopediah “Hop-Pop” Plantar to take in the lost human girl, and Anne becomes an unofficial part of the froggy family.

A seasonal ice-blockade forces the main cast to spend the majority of the first season of the show, excluding a few flashbacks depicting Earth, in Wartwood, a small country town within Frog Valley. However, the blockade finally thaws at the beginning of season two, allowing Anne and the Plantars to leave the valley. The group heads towards Newtopia, the capital city of Amphibia, with the hopes that someone there might know how to get Anne back home.

Despite her portrayal in the show’s opening theme song and appearing in multiple Earth flashbacks in both the first and second seasons, Marcy Wu is only formally introduced in episode six of season two, Marcy at the Gates. The episode starts with Anne reminiscing about how much she misses her friends before flipping to a series of flashbacks of her, Marcy, and Sasha, showcasing Marcy to be incredibly intelligent, but often completely oblivious of her surroundings. The flashbacks end and Hop-Pop announces that Anne and the Plantars are about to arrive at Newtopia, and we the viewers are greeted with the grand sight of Newtopia, a beautiful city surrounded by water, before the main cast is suddenly attacked by a group of gigantic “barbari-ants”. A hooded humanoid figure effortlessly drives away the attackers before attempting to zipline down towards the main characters, tumbling into the pool of water once the zip cord snaps.

At long last we are introduced to Marcy Wu, a nerdy Taiwanese girl with a heart of gold.

Psychoanalytic Analysis

Sublimation is a type of defense mechanism where the user turns “negative” emotions into “positive” behavior. Marcy uses sublimation to redirect her fear of others not liking her into “useful” traits, claiming in the episode New Wartwood that “people are just another puzzle to solve”, believing that she can make people like her by doing them unasked favors.

Rationalization is a type of defense mechanism where the user attempts to give logical reasons to justify unacceptable behavior. Marcy’s most notable use of rationalization is within the second half of the season two finale True Colors, when her two best friends, Anne Boonchuy and Sasha Waybright, learn that not only did Marcy know about the music box that got them trapped in Amphibia and not tell them, but that she was responsible for getting them stuck there in the first place. She tries to justify herself in a heart wrenching monologue where she explains that her parents were making her move away, and she points out how much the three of them have grown and all the fun they had, before Marcy collapses to the floor, admitting with a quiet sob that “[she] just didn’t want to be alone”. But in this moment, it’s clear she knows she messed up, her frantic gestures revealing that she’s not just trying to convince her friends that what she did was somehow okay, but herself, too.

Repression is a defense mechanism where the user attempts to bury their thoughts or feelings, while reaction formation is a defense mechanism where the user expresses the opposite of their true feelings. In A Day at the Aquarium, Anne and the Plantars are forced to come to terms with saying goodbye to one another, likely forever. As Anne watches the Plantars leave for what she has to believe will be the final time, we briefly see Marcy exhibit both repression and reaction formation, pushing down her own desire for her best friend to stay with her, telling Anne to “follow her heart”, even though she’s clearly desperate for the other girl to stay with her.

Psychodynamic Analysis

Karen Horney was a Neo-Freudian who believed that childhood anxiety was caused by a sense of helplessness from not feeling loved. While we admittedly don’t get a lot of information on what Marcy’s home life was like, in a flashback in True Colors we see Marcy burst through the front door of her home, complaining that her parents were ruining her life after telling her that they were moving. A voice that we can assume to be Marcy’s father calls her “young lady”, and a text earlier from her dad simply read “Come home. We need to talk.” While this behavior might just be situational rather than how they usually interact, the Wu’s seem to have a very formal relationship with one another, which could lead a child to feeling unloved. Additionally, earlier that very same day Marcy was studying for the PSAT, a test a middle schooler shouldn’t really have to worry about yet, and it seems likely that she either felt pressure from her parents to study, or felt like she had to do well in order to “earn” their love. It should also be noted that that the day in question was one of her best friends from childhood’s birthday, a date they likely should’ve known about, and probably one to avoid dropping what could be devastating news on.

Humanistic Analysis

According to Carl Rogers, a humanistic theorist, in order to achieve self-actualization, or becoming the “best” self you can be, a person needs unconditional positive regard, or total acceptance and love no matter what they do. However, in the case of Marcy Wu, it was highly unlikely that she had or felt like she had unconditional love, considering that she was manipulated by King Andrias Levithan, who acted almost like a father figure to her, to get him a magical artifact for his own nefarious plans. In the episode The First Temple, Marcy, Anne, and the Plantars arrive at a mysterious temple filled with puzzles made to test a challenger’s wit. After throwing a game at the end in order to save her friends, Marcy states that she was “caught up in proving [she] was smart enough to win”, even though completing the temple on its own should’ve been enough to prove that. Additionally, in the beginning of the flashback sequence in the season two finale True Colors, we see Marcy, a middle schooler, studying for the PSAT, a test that normally isn’t taken until high school. And back in The First Temple, Marcy brags about being a “straight A student, except for gym”, showing us that she calculates her self-worth based on her achievements and intelligence.

Trait Theory Analysis

Conscientiousness is related to whether a person is organized, careful, and disciplined, or disorganized, careless, and impulsive. Despite being a very motivated person, Marcy Wu isn’t always the most conscientious. She can get lost in her head very easily, either getting sidetracked often, such as near the beginning of The First Temple when she scrambles through various books in order to figure out the a date a house was built despite being about to share incredibly important information just a moment earlier, or getting into “the zone” as shown in a flashback later that same episode, hyperfixating so hard on playing video games that she accidentally puts herself and her friends into distress.

Agreeableness is related to whether a person is soft-hearted, trusting, and helpful, or ruthless, suspicious, and uncooperative. Marcy is an incredibly agreeable person - or, at least, she definitely tries to be. She’s always looking for ways to help others and make them love her, whether that means redesigning a sewer system or fixing up street lamps. However, she can go overboard with her enthusiasm to prove her worth, blocking out the feelings of others or falling victim to their true intentions, such as in New Wartwood, when the mayor of Wartwood, Mayor Toadstool, asks for Marcy’s help to improve the town, when he really just wanted to make money for himself.

Neuroticism relates to whether a person is anxious, insecure, and self-pitying, or calm, secure, and self-satisfied. Marcy would likely score high on the neuroticism scale. Her greatest fear, as shown in the episode Olivia and Yunan, is of her friends hating her, and she breaks down in tears upon facing what she knows to be an illusion of her friends saying they want nothing to do with her.

Openness to experience depends on how imaginative and independant or how practical and confirming a person is. Marcy Wu is very open to new experiences. She learns a new language in just a couple of months, and she’s fascinated by the world around her, including things that most people would consider “boring”, such a store filled with nothing but seeds or the weight limit of architecture in a swamp town.

Extraversion is how sociable, fun-loving, and affectionate, or retiring, sober, and reserved a person is. Marcy seems to be somewhere in between being extraverted and being introverted, as she’s full of energy when she gets to talk about what interests her, but she also spends her time studying in the library alone, and in Scavenger Hunt she even admits that she “[has] trouble looking people in the eye sometimes”.

Social-Cognitive Analysis

Reciprocal determinism is the idea that someone’s environment impacts their behavior and vice-versa. Marcy Wu is a great character to showcase reciprocal determinism because of how different she acts on Amphibia versus on Earth. For example, when at school with people who feel the constant need to look out for her, she’s clumsy and oblivious to her surroundings. And while that still somewhat holds true in Amphibia, she’s more capable and happy in an environment that cherishes who she is, even becoming the chief ranger of the Newtopian Knight Guard. When she’s in an environment that treats her as klutzy and dependant on others, she’s trapped in that cycle as she focuses on her intelligence and academic achievement, but once she’s thrown into a world that basically requires her to act a storybook hero, she finds she can handle it because that’s what her environment demands of her.

Self-efficacy is a person’s perceived ability to succeed. Overall, Marcy Wu has high self efficacy. She believes in her own intelligence and knows that she’s capable of achieving great success, singing about her accomplishments in her Theme Song Takeover, a comedy short played to the tune of the show’s theme song detailing her first three months in Amphibia.

Locus of control is related to self-efficacy, and a person can either have an internal locus, if the individual believes they control their own life, or an external locus, if the individual believes that others control their life. While Marcy definitely seems to have an internal locus of control for most of the show, boldly claiming that she could complete a temple nobody else before her could in The First Temple, that sense of control over her life likely could’ve been shattered on multiple separate events, although viewers will have to wait until the show returns to know about any lasting consequences on Marcy’s locus of control. However, a series of events starting with her parents telling her she was moving away from everything she knew, revealed to us in the season two finale True Colors, followed by her friends backing away from her upon learning she betrayed them, and then being quite literally backstabbed by her father figure, all in the same episode, as well as getting possessed by an artificial god of sorts at the end of Olivia and Yunan as she lets out a blood-curdling scream, would likely have some impact on her belief to control her own fate.

#psychology #essay #marcy wu #amphibia #writing #my writing #academic writing #character analysis

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annmarcus63 · 3 years

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GIVE US TO HIM

Geralt z Rivii | Geralt of Rivia/Jaskier | Dandelion

Warning: this might hurt a little

on ao3 https://archiveofourown.org/works/34157128

Grandma said once that to give away your raw score is forbidden.

"Your heart in it's full rawness, chaos, is a precious and dangerous thing. Never you should do something as giving it to someone else."

"But our ancestors used to do it. Look ma ¡look!" said Jaskier holding his story book on the air for grandma's tired eyes to see. A handsome knight was lying on the dry grass, dying from a wound on his stomach. He started calling for his love, an ancient fae with blond hair and fair skin. She fell upon the prairie from the charged clouds, with something shiny between her hands. The fae feed the wound with her raw core, her heart. The knight lived along side her, flying amongst the starry night, happily ever after. "This are just stories, Julian" said Grandma with contened anger in her dry voice. She took the book and close it on her thighs "Things were rarely like that. Knights and kings are more inclined to use our cores against us and other people. We can't recover from that loss" Julian look at the drawing on the coverbook, the fae was kneeled by a pond and the knight stood glorious in practically all the cover, leaving a very small space for the real hero, the one who save the life of the protagonist.

"Never give your raw core away. Stop reading these, THEY wrote this, Julian, you must be clever than her" said Grandma pointing at the beautiful fae. Julian nod, undesrtanding much more that he wanted to, and so little, so so little. Maybe that was the reason his family were hiding, they never express it in a literal way, that was the point really, but Julian notice anyway. The way, for example, of how they said their names and the rust taste that was left on the air after. It was common to hide their real names for fae, but you'd give that name knowing it's false, on the opposite when you say the false name thinking is the real one then another fae would know. Losing the self was something of a disease between the fae. Jaskier later knew that his parents have not choice but to lose themselves to save the lineage. Most fae really. Humans did that. Like they did to the elfes. Julian promise to never forget about the fae from his last storybook. He'll never forget about her sacrifice and the sacrifice of his people. But come on, after some years it was just naturally that, despite the wound on the history, a selfish creature he was and he forgot. He was raised as human, and he wanted to be a bard oh how he want it. And he did accomplish that, and a bloody good one that's for sure. Fae were extinct for all the world and that wasn't a cover, they're doomed to extinction sooner or later. It has been years since the last time Jaskier felt another fae being born. He is Jaskier troubadour, master of the seven liberal arts a mastermind amongst the crowds, a legend…an idiot most of the time basically.

What grandma failed to mention is that for a fae to be able to give their core away the recipient must be worthy at the eyes of the fae. Once this worthiness makes evident, that person would plant roots in the core itself, whether the fae want it or not. It's inevitable. Grandma should have said "be aware of where you place your heart. Hold it until you're fully sure of them" But well, it wouldn't have matter in the end. Jaskier have never being someone who follows advice, much less from his dead relative. It happened naturally, like breathing, eating and shitting. One moment he was standing next to Geralt under a pouring rain, the witcher kept looking for a missing girl on the edges of the woods, her parents place a bounty on the towns board, they couldn't offer payment in form of crowns but they're willing to let them sleep on the girl’s room. Jaskier became indignant, how a witcher is supposed to take a payless bounty? No, that is unacceptable. But despite the protesting bard and zero reward whatsoever Geralt went anyway, he look for a girl who surelly was already dead.

"I found her body near the cave by the pond. You can go for her by morning when it's safe. I'm sorry" after a minute of silence the parents with equal expression of cold sorrow release a heavy sigh charged with so much grief.

"What did it?" asked the father

"Nekkers. I got rid of the pack living there"

"Thank you, witcher. You and your bard can come in, i'm sure you're exhausted” Said the mother with great effort, like someone who can't breathe quite well.

Geralt rapidly added "No, I'm sure you and your husband need time to resign and mourn alone. My bard and i already had another place to stay" Eh, no they didn't.

"But...we don't have any crowns"

"I didn't do this for payment" And while the parents thanked infinitely to Geralt, Jaskier felt something wild and untamed surging from his chest. Reaching unabashed for the witcher with a big golden heart standing next to him, explaining to a mourning parents that he went to search for their lost daughter because he wanted to help. This new awareness of chaos, he knew what it was.

Chaos, core, raw.

And it had marked Geralt as his. We want him.

Give us to him. He's worthy.

He was doomed, so doomed from the very beginning since they encounter each other on Posada. Grandma tried to warn him of this. Oh grandma, you and i both know that I was never obedient or wise. So Jaskier let it happen, four years after knowing the witcher and his raw core already belong to him. But he didn't do it. He hold back despite the urgency on his chest because he wasn't sure it'll be welcome. Geralt was still trying to get rid of him in every town, sometimes Jaskier felt like a pet you don't want but you can't abandon it either. Surely there'd be a time in the future. And Jaskier wait and fell in love deeply with each passing year. And Geralt...well he was the same and also different in his own way, more at ease around him, softer maybe. Jaskier didn't need to be call a friend to felt like one to Geralt. They're friends, even if one part has being in denial for the past decade.

And then the djinn happened follow by the complicated affair with one Yennefer of Vandenberg. The curse caused the core to retreat afraid and wounded. He hurt us, he wished to hurt us. Jaskier argued with the voice that it wasn't his intention, he didn't even know he was the one with the wishes. In truth his heart shattered not for the wish but for the easiness in which the sorceress become someone important to Geralt, something to hold on to even if drowning. One decade and still Jaskier thinks he haven't reached that relationship level with his friend.

He doesn't want us

No.

"Uhmm?"

"What?"

"You said no"

"Oh, it's nothing" Geralt didn't ask again

But weak and in love he was, the raw core and him reached out again, with fully open arms for Geralt to pull. Jaskier long to belong to him, oh how he did.

Yennefer and her shining imbecile knight join the hunt and he was jealous because as soon as she appear the witcher was drooling as if she was all he needed to shut down the darkness inside.

Don't you know? inside me there's a full light waiting for you to hold

At the softness of the afternoon Jaskier found Geralt sitting on a rock lost, as usual, in though. But this time were different, he had failed three people, Borch's dead has left a wound that surely would scar badly. And the bard felt a deep sadness for his golden heart witcher. He's definitely blaming himself for the fall, for that narrow and insecure path alongside the mountain as if he was the one to build it.

Jaskier asked him to come with him to his home, to the coast, he yearn to be there with him and feel the sea wind on their faces while walking by a cliff near a quiet village that Geralt wouldn't mind to visit.

We want to be his.

Give us to him.

We can love him better.

But Geralt didn't want him, he wanted Yennefer.

He give himself to him anyway.

"Here" said Jaskier putting a hand on Geralt's thigh, surprise, instead of flinching away Geralt held Jaskier's hand and with most carefulness took what was inside the palm. A small glass vial, similar to the ones where he pours his potions. He held it on his gloved open hand. There was something inside, warm and inviting. White, almost yellow that make Geralt felt calm and safe.

"What's this?"

"A gift. It'd take care of you" Geralt frown at him, confused and uncertain of what it meant, but he took it with a barely there smile only for Jaskier to see.

He's a coward, he couldn't confessed him the reality of what it meant because he was terrified of being rejected, grandma said that a rejection is so devastating that it might kill him. And even at this point in their friendship Jaskier couldn't know for sure.

It's me. Take me, i'll protect and save you if needed to. Have me, please have me.

Geralt went that night at Yennefer's tent and Jaskier felt glad for not having told him the truth

"If life could give me a blessing it would be to take you off my hands"

No, no, not now.

They're doing fine.

And then very fast very suddenly Geralt reached for his breast pocket to held the vial of raw core on his fist and toss it unceremoniously to the hard soild.

The noise of shattered glass invaded Jaskier's ears before the heavy blankness surged from his chest to every corner of him.

“No, no, no” said he, giving a fumbling step towards the vial but deciding to turn around instead.

Away away away away.

He can't see me like this.

Something was tearing in fine lines caused by the trembling, an earthquake from his very bones that were fighting on maintaining their solid formation. Something inside was bawling with such and intensity that make his ears bleed.

Was this dying? let it be death for he can no longer take it. Does breathing always hurt this much? like if his lungs were filled with wool and the air only add heaviness on them. What was this? a beating heart, so afraid so betrayed, like a laugh from his ancestors. He wanted to throw up his intestines, they're on fire, but when he tried only saliva flood. He was not himself anymore, and to become whole was an impossibility that the pain was making sure off. Dirt get inside his mouth, his cheek on the ground was getting cut by rocks. A voice calling for him to react, to say something. But he no longer have a voice, he was death itself preparing for a long dream.

I’m sorry grandma.

I'm sorry, said to himself

and he remembered the blond fae on the cover book between grandma's hands, of how she give her life to save her love one, but who'd give their life for her?

who'd give their life for him?

He needed to sleep, right here on the mountain ground, to become whole again or at least half whole.

He begged for death instead.

#geraskier #geraskier fic #jaskier #the witcher #geralt of rivia #geralt x jaskier #fae au #fae jaskier #hurt jaskier #sorry for the cliffhanger

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floralseokjin · 3 years

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⤑ made-up love song drabbles

First meeting: Seokjin’s POV

kim seokjin x reader warnings; none! words; 2,443

↪︎ read the series here / and drabbles here

Seokjin was having the worst morning. He was usually in work by now. An early start to the day was the only way to start the day, so maybe that’s why he was thrown for a loop right now. Everything that could go wrong had gone wrong. But he shouldn’t think like that, after all, he’d promised Arin he’d take her to school this morning. He was embarrassed to admit this, but Arin had been living with him officially for six weeks and he hadn’t once driven her here. It was unacceptable he knew that, but he was learning quickly that juggling a demanding job and being there for his daughter wasn’t easy. Perhaps Nana had a point…

At the thought of his ex-wife, he grimaced, remembering the massive argument they’d had two months ago. The one that had triggered Arin’s move. When it came to Nana he often found himself harsh with his words. Not that she wasn’t with hers either. They had grown so used to lashing out at one another over the years it was hard to stop, even if their divorce was coming up to two years ago now. That’s what his therapist said anyway, and Seokjin just listened, knowing she was correct just unable to think of a way to change it, despite the countless advice Mrs. Shin had given him over the months, years.

He and Nana both worked hectic and testing jobs. They were alike it that way, ambitious and driven. That’s what had attracted him to her in the first place, yet it was the thing that had ruined them soon enough. With age, especially after the birth of Arin, he found himself mellowing out. He was no longer in such a rush to get to the top, or to be the best. Maybe that was hypocritical of him, seeing as a few years ago he had become CEO, taking his father’s place. There was no higher. He had nothing more to chase.

Nana continued to work long hours, motherhood not slowing her down in the slightest. Not that it should. Stereotypes weren’t his style, but it was beyond frustrating when all he wanted to do was spend time together as a family and Nana was too busy preoccupied elsewhere. She loved Arin, he had never doubted that and never would, but sometimes his exasperation outweighed his rationality. When Arin had come to live with him he was so determined to prove Nana wrong. He could easily do both – work and be a father. Of course, he wasn’t stupid, he had known he’d need help, and Misook was more than he could have ever asked for, but he had always been stubborn.

The weekends were great. On his he would organise a bunch of things for he and Arin to do, and on Nana’s weekend he’d use the time to catch up on any work he had remaining from the week. Only, a fortnight ago Nana had cancelled the night before. Arin had been devastated obviously, there was video call of course, but it wasn’t the same for a six year old. He had been left to pick up the pieces, not to mention he had fallen behind on paperwork – and still hadn’t caught up. Hopefully this weekend would be better, but he wasn’t holding his breath.

He sighed to himself as he fiddled with the handsfree. Why wasn’t his cell phone connecting?! He knew he should have taken the other car. Weekdays were the most difficult. He just about saw Arin in the mornings and most evenings he came home past 6pm meaning he just had about enough time to eat dinner with her and catch up before it was time to get her ready for bed. It wasn’t fair on her, she deserved more of his time and he missed her terribly, but time was extremely difficult to find. That’s why he’d driven her to school today, he’d been promising for weeks, ever since she’d started at Primrose Hill actually. He didn’t want to be a let-down.

He’d chosen today, a Thursday, because it was thankfully a quiet morning. Well, had supposed to be a quiet morning. Soobin’s call just before he’d left home had not been something he’d wanted to receive. The web conference with Mr. Lee wasn’t supposed to be until mid-morning but of course the impatient so-and-so had missed the memo – or just completely ignored it seemed more probable.

Seokjin’s headache grew worse at the thought of today. He’d already popped two painkillers early this morning when Arin had woken him up prematurely by jumping up and down on his bed. She was excited, he understood that, but Christ was she loud at 5am. At least he knew she loved her new school, that was all that mattered. He’d been so worried in the beginning, taking his time to choose a smaller school so she wouldn’t be so overwhelmed. It worked out perfectly though. She adored Primrose Hill, and her teacher actually, which he was thankful for. It was always Miss. Y/L/N this and Miss. Y/L/N that… Oh, that reminded him, there was that parent teacher meeting tomorrow afternoon. He couldn’t miss that, no matter what was happening at the office. He was glad he’d had a test run today actually. Shamefully he hadn’t been here in person yet, doing the entirety of the application process via phone call and the internet. The principal had understood, but that wasn’t the point. He needed to do better. He was trying to do better.

This time he let out a yell of frustration as his phone told him yet again it had failed to connect via Bluetooth. He gave up, Mr. Lee would just have to wait until he was in the office to take his call. This was crazy, what on earth could the man want so early in the morning?! There was no emergency. He dropped his phone to his lap and started up the vehicle in haste, wasting no time in reversing out of the spot – Thump!

His car had collided with something. With his heart in his stomach he hit the brakes immediately, looking out the rear view mirror to see a white car. The something he’d hit. Shit. This day had just gone from bad to worse. Panicked, he drove forward, back into the space and turned the engine off quickly. He hopped out, acting on instinct, forgetting his phone was in his lap as it clattered to the floor. Thankfully the screen didn’t smash, and he didn’t stop, picking it up in a rush. No sooner had he come into view, the occupant of the white car was getting out of the driver’s seat too.

“Are you okay?” He asked you immediately, the panic shrill in his voice. He was always such a competent driver. The only time he’d ever sped was when Arin was about to be born, rushing Nana to the hospital at two in the morning after her waters had broken. Now look at him. What a mess.

He found himself babbling, not even giving you a chance to respond. “I am so sorry, Miss.” At that precise moment in time his phone started to ring again. “I really am. I was–”

He had tried to ignore it, he really had, but the noise was just plain irritating and now he found himself quite mad. Stopping abruptly midsentence he let out a huff and picked up. “Kim Seokjin, speaking. Please can I –”

“Mr. Kim, where are you? There’s something–” Mr. Lee tried interrupting, but Seokjin wasn’t having any of it.

“I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to call you back. There’s been an emergency.”

“An emergency? What kind? It better not be to do with –”

“Thank you for understanding. Goodbye.” Seokjin hung up quickly. He’d deal with the consequences later. Not that he’d let that son of a bitch walk all over him. He never had. Immediately, his attention was back on you. There were pressing issues at hand here. “I’m just so sorry. Is there any damage?”

He made his way over to the spot he’d hit, just above your back wheel and crouched down, inspecting the damage. “Oh god.” He grimaced slightly. The paint was scratched pretty deep but luckily there were no dents. Still, he’d been foolish. This was entirely his fault.

“The bike rack,” he muttered to himself, looking behind him at the culprit. It had taken the paint clean off. Brushing a hand through his hair, he noticed you were beside him now, still not having said a word. He caught a hint of your perfume, unconsciously noting how pleasant it was.

“What happened?” You asked him, your tone of voice taking him by surprise. You had every right to be angry of course, but couldn’t you see how sincere he was being? He looked up, composing himself hopefully. “I-I was distracted for a moment, I didn’t realise–”

“Were you on your phone?”

“I’m sorry?” On cue the damn device started ringing again. Mr. Lee was on thin ice. He hit ignore straight away. “No, no. God, no.” He protested, realising what you meant as he shoved the phone into the inside pocket of his jacket. He straightened up, standing directly opposite you now as you crossed your arms, waiting for his explanation it seemed. He couldn’t help but notice the way you strained as tall as you could get. As if you were trying to appear imposing. Not that you weren’t unnerving right now. It was just the action was pretty… No. He wasn’t even going to think it because he didn’t want to be at all condescending.

“I was – I was trying to get the handsfree to work in this damn car and last time I checked there was no one there.” Seokjin cringed at himself. He so obviously sounded flustered. He just couldn’t help it. There was something about you that made him nervous, and it wasn’t just because you looked so livid right now. “I wasn’t thinking, I just backed out –” He stopped himself, suddenly realising something. “Why… Why were you on stop directly behind me?”

“Excuse me?” You instantly got defensive. “I wasn’t stopped, I was trying to find a space.”

Seokjin tried his best not to smile. Now it was your turn to try and not get flustered. The way your hands waved about animatedly as you spoke was…charming. Was that appropriate to say? You were watching him again, a look on your face that made him uneasy. Maybe it was because, and he hated to think this yet again, but maybe it was because you were so pretty. God, he sounded like a little kid. You were very attractive, did that make it sound any better? Probably not. Here you were well within your right to be mad at him, and here he was thinking such inappropriate thoughts about you. Well, that sounded weird. He didn’t mean like that. He just thought you were really pretty. He was spiralling over nothing.

“I’m sorry, but do you even work here?”

Your question threw him. “Work here? No.”

“Then why are you using the teacher’s parking lot?”

He watched as you folded your arms again and his eyes widened in horror as he realised his mistake. “Oh no. I didn’t realise…” This was just great. Now he looked like an idiot. That or just plain rude.

“It’s signposted.”

Yup, just plain rude it was.

“It’s my first time dropping off my daughter at this school. I didn’t know where to go, and I was getting so many phone calls, I was just trying to…” He petered out, realising it was no good trying to explain himself. You probably didn’t care about his morning. “There’s no excuses for this. I’m truly sorry and I feel awful.” He apologised, lowering his head. “Let me sort this out. Money is no object. I can call my mechanic straight away and–”

“There’s no need,” you interrupted almost instantly, sounding baffled.

“It’s really no problem.” He insisted. “Come on, if we wait for our insurance companies to sort this out god knows how long it will take. No, I’ll phone the mechanic I use right now and they can come and pick your vehicle up. It’ll be fixed in no time. You won’t have to pay a thing.” He was only speaking the truth. Most insurance companies didn’t even want to know.

“No, thank you.” You voice sounded tight, clipped.

He could sense your irritation but couldn’t understand why. “No?”

“I don’t need your help or your money.” You declared.

Now, there was no need to be stubborn about it. He’d phrased it wrong, admittedly. He wasn’t flaunting his money around the place. At all. He was only trying to help. In fact, he needed to do this. It was his fault. “But I did this.”

“It’s fine, just –” You stopped when his phone started ringing again, glancing at the chest. “You’re obviously very busy, just forget about it. It’s a few scratches.”

Turning your back to him you glanced at your watch. “Wait,” he called out.

“Goodbye,” you called back, rounding the front of your car ready to dive back into the driver’s seat.

Seokjin’s frustration was about to hit its limit. Why wouldn’t you listen to him, and why wouldn’t his cell phone just shut the hell up?! “But – Argh!” He let out a yell, the shrilling of his phone loud and he yanked it out of his pocket roughly.

It was his assistant. Mr. Lee was probably hounding him too. He picked up. “Soobin, what is it?!”

“Mr. Lee, he’s –”

“Yes, I already told him I’m –”

“He said it’s extremely important. His suppliers are being difficult.”

“What? He said they were reliable.” Seokjin ran a hand through his hair, feeling defeat wash through him. Today had beaten him and it was only 8am. As Soobin’s voice carried through the speaker, Seokjin watched you slam your door shut and whizz into one of the only parking spots.

It wouldn’t sit right on his conscience if he left things like this, he’d damaged your car. He needed to make things right. Immediately. Or almost immediately. He’d sort things out with Mr. Lee as fast as he could and then call Jimin. Yes, that sounded like a great idea. He actually found himself smiling a little as he watched you walk towards the school building, a determinedness in your stride that was indeed admirable. You’d certainly left an impression, that was for sure.

The one he’d left on you, however, was embarrassing…

Written 2020 - 2021. Please refrain from posting my work elsewhere. No translations allowed. © floralseokjin 2021

#seokjin fanfic #bts fanfic #jin fanfic #fic:mls #floralseokjin:writings

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bitsandbobsofwriting · 3 years

Text

Soulmate AU part 2; Things drastically change for the better:

Arthur and Merlin’s relationship develops, Uther becomes increasingly annoyed at his failed attempts to control them, Leon continues to have heart palpitations over trying to protect them, and Morgana thinks the whole thing is hilarious.

Part 1 Part 3 Part 4

So that conversation... happens.

To say it was awkward would be a MASSIVE understatement.

Arthur and Morgana spend the whole time answering Uther’s questions, so much so that Merlin barely speaks (he wasn’t great at keeping secrets, so he wasn’t too mad at them for answering for him) and Uther spends the whole time trying and failing to assert his dominance over his two dumbass kids (but they aren’t having it).

Eventually Merlin did speak up, quietly saying:

“I, um... I’m really sorry to interrupt Sire, My Lord... uh... Your Majesty Sir-”

Morgana smirks slightly and covers her mouth with her hand, Arthur rolls his eyes and squeezes Merlin’s hand, and Uther looks upon the whole scene with barely concealed bewilderment:

“-uh... my mum is waiting for me, and I’m usually not gone for this long so... could I... I mean would you mind if I... went?”

Uther looked even more taken aback at that. As much as this whole conversation had been based on Merlin, he hadn’t actually processed the fact that he was a whole person who would have family and places to be and a life outside of being The Prince’s soulmate.

He nods his head slightly and purses his lips:

“Right. Of course. Arthur said that you lived outside of Camelot?-”

He doesn’t wait for an answer before continuing:

“-Well I’m afraid that that is unacceptable. You are the soulmate of the Prince of this kingdom, inform your family that you are to move here as soon as possible, preferably before the month is out.-”

At Merlin’s wide eyes and Arthur and Morgana’s scornful faces, he waved his hand:

“-Don’t worry, housing and anything else that you will require will be provided by the Crown.”

Merlin still looks a bit dazed and surprised at his demand, so Arthur replies instead:

“Father, Merlin and his mother have a life in their village, you can not just demand that they pack up and leave everything behind to live here.”

Uther looks annoyed at this, but patiently (or as patiently as Uther is able) retorts with:

“Well he was going have to move eventually. The two of you are only a few years from being of age, and you can not possibly live in separate kingdoms when that happens, especially as you are Crown Prince. I’m allowing this... bond... to continue, but we are still royalty, and rules must be followed.”

Morgana goes to argue this time, but Merlin tugs her sleeve slightly and says quietly:

“It’s alright ‘Gana, he is right, I was going to have to move here eventually anyway. This way you finally get to meet my mum, and we’ll get to see each other more often. Mum won’t like it, but I know she’s missed Gaius, so it won’t be too bad, and I’ve always sort of wanted to explore the city.”

Morgana and Arthur stare at him for a few moments whilst he looks between them. Arthur sighs before replying:

“Fine, but only if you’re sure. And take your time, don’t pressure your mum into leaving right away, OK?”

Merlin nods, and everyone at the table stands, stepping back.

Uther mutters that they are dismissed, but watches as they say goodbye to each other. He furrows his eyebrows in interest as Morgana hugs Merlin, mentally noting that he doesn’t think he’s ever seen her smile that widely before.

When Arthur embraces Merlin, much tighter, and for much longer, a hand cradling the back of the peasant’s-... of Merlin’s head, and a soft, but powerful smile on his face, Uther forgets for a moment the distastefulness of the situation, and revels in the feeling of pride and happiness; his son had found his life partner.

The King sweeps any thoughts of his late-wife from his mind, and drops the small smile gracing his face, but not before Morgana spies it and tilts her head at him, giving him a teasing smirk.

The boys whisper something that Uther can’t hear, and Merlin steps back, giving him a quick bow and an awkward wave, before disappearing into thin air. A familiar pop echoes around the hall, and a few gold sparks fall silently to the floor.

Arthur and Morgana bow to him very briefly, before turning and leaving the room without another word, arm in arm.

Uther stands alone in the room for a moment, sighing before muttering to himself:

“This is going to be a bloody nightmare. Public announcement. Before that I have to tell the council. And I have to figure out how I can legally make these people nobles, to justify everything-”

He looks to the ceiling, sighing once again as he says:

“-Gods give me strength.” Before turning and sweeping out the room.

The moment Arthur and Morgana leave the room, they turn to each other and burst into slightly hysterical laughter, sputtering about “the look on his face” and “oh my gods, *sire my lord your majesty sir* ” between breaths.

The whole situation was unexpected, but to be perfectly honest, they didn’t regret it; they knew that the longer they waited before telling Uther, the bigger the problem would be.

Morgana straightens up after a moment, wiping tears from her eyes, before whipping her head around to Arthur in sudden panic:

“Oh my Gods, Arthur. Leon.”

Arthur’s eyes widen, and he curses suddenly before taking Morgana’s hand and running towards his chambers. They almost ran into multiple people, Nobles who tutted, and castle staff who jumped out of the way, not even having time to bow before the two teenagers were out of sight again.

They loudly burst into Arthur’s chambers, out of breath, to see Leon pacing a groove into the floor:

They stand with their hands on their knees, panting, but before they can say anything, Leon rushes to speak:

“Where on earth have you been?? A guard said you were in a meeting with the King all afternoon, what happened? Is Merlin ok?? They wouldn’t let me in, so I came back here to wait but-”

Arthur held up a hand to stop him rambling, and gave him a comforting smile. The Prince straightened up, and took one last deep breath before saying:

“Sorry, for worrying you Leon. But you are not going to believe what just happened...”

Morgana starts laughing again, and with that, the two of them shut the door behind them and explain in great detail what had happened, how Merlin had just appeared and Uther had freaked, and Gaius and Geoffrey had to be called, and how funny the look on his face was when they’d explained.

Arthur had wanted to skip it out, but Morgana gleefully insisted on recounting just how much she and Arthur had ordered Uther around, and how he’d just taken it.

By the end of their explanation, Leon had collapsed in a chair, looking very pale, and a lot like he’d aged twenty years.

He holds his head in his hands, fingers messing up his curls, and stares at the floor as Arthur and Morgana glance to each other, trying not to laugh at the poor man.

After what seems to be hours, Leon straightens up, and looks to the two of them with a stricken expression:

“I can’t believe that... well I suppose he had to find out eventually but... dear Lord I can’t decide if I’m grateful I wasn’t there or not... oh my Gods I’m going to be demoted, disowned, banished.”

Arthur laughs at that and Morgana rolls her eyes at the man’s panic:

“Nothing’s going to happen to you Sir Leon, don’t panic. We didn’t mention you, as far as my father is concerned, the only ones who knew were us.”

Leon finally smiles briefly at that, muttering a quiet thank you, before standing up suddenly, looking panicked once again:

“Wait... you said he’d be moving here?? What about his... gift?? He can’t live in Camelot it’s dangerous. You may have protected him from the King for now but... if he finds out nothing will stop him from... nothing will stop him.”

The two of them sighed at that. They had been mentally considering it, but they were just taking it one victory at a time. Arthur replied moments later:

“We’ll just have to be careful. He has to be careful in Ealdor anyway, he’s already a bastard, he had to hide magic from the other villagers because it probably would’ve been fatal for him to give them a second reason to hate him. We can set ground rules when he actually moves here and... we just have to be careful. It’ll be a new life for him and his mother, we can be careful.”

He says the last bit with a decisive nod, and Morgana and Leon relax slightly. Arthur was right, they’d been fine so far, they could keep it up.

He would never say it out loud, but if his father found out... if he tried to hurt Merlin, Arthur knows without a doubt in his mind that he would give up his inheritance, take Merlin’s hand, and run. Without hesitation.

He would love nothing more than to turn his kingdom into a place where Merlin could be free and happy one day, but until then, he would do anything to keep him safe, even if it meant leaving everything behind.

The next few weeks rush by.

Uther had tried to limit the number of visits between Merlin and Arthur, but neither of them were having it, and if anything, they were seeing each other more with the upcoming move.

Hunith did in fact freak out at Uther’s demand of her and Merlin moving to Camelot. For several reasons.

First off, she had a life here. It was difficult, but simple, honest work. The winters were hard, but the summers made up for it. The villagers may have started of being a little cruel to her and Merlin, but they warmed to them when the dark haired boy was nothing but sweet and kind to everyone.

Second off, her son was magical. Both naturally and unnaturally magical. Essetir was dangerous, yes, but Camelot? Camelot was so much worse.

She supposes it had to happen eventually. She didn’t like to think of it often, didn’t want to tempt fate, but her son was the Crown Prince’s soulmate. That meant that one day... he would be married to the King. He couldn’t exactly do that whilst living in Essetir, least of all because the Essetir Crown would throw a world ending fit.

In the end, she agreed to the move rather quickly, at least she would be close to her brother, and she could finally meet Leon and Morgana.

As much as Merlin and Arthur urged her not to rush, she really had nothing to do but say goodbye before they made the journey to Camelot, and the three of them were leaving the village behind them within the month, just like Uther wanted.

Though he definitely hadn’t wanted Arthur to pop away one morning, a full travel pack and a sword on his person, intending to make the journey with them. But in the end, Arthur ended the argument by rolling his eyes (much to Morgana’s amusement) and disappearing before The King could get another word in.

No public announcements had been made (they decided to wait until Arthur came of age), but the council had been informed. They were NOT happy.

Uther would never admit it, but he did feel a swell of pride when Arthur slammed his hand on the table, and firmly told them that this was happening whether they liked it or not, and if they dared complain instead of help, they would find themselves without a chair at the table, and severely lacking in titles and land.

Uther was relieved when he found out that Hunith was Gaius’ younger sister. Gaius wasn’t a noble, but he was a life-long, close friend of the King, and a trusted advisor. Hopefully that would make it easier.

The Court Physician wasn’t a title that came with land, or nobility, BUT it was the most respected position in the royal household, below actual nobles.

If Gaius could take Merlin on as his apprentice... then he would be an almost fully trained physician by the time he came of age, and that would be respected. Then at least he would have a role outside of being the Prince’s Soulmate.

It was all coming together in Uther’s mind. Of course it wasn’t perfect. The absolute ideal outcome would’ve been if Arthur’s soulmate had been foreign royalty (if only anyone knew about Merlin’s father...), but he could make do with this. He would have to, if he didn’t want to lose his son and his ward.

The day of Hunith, Arthur, and Merlin’s arrival finally comes.

Uther didn’t greet them in the courtyard (it would be unsightly for a King to greet two commoners, even if The Prince was with them) but Gaius, Morgana, and Leon did.

Everyone breaks into wide smiles when the castle gates are opened, Arthur and Merlin rushing forward to meet Morgana and Leon in a big hug, and Hunith rushing forward to meet her brother, whom she hadn’t seen in several years.

There is laughter and hugs all around before Merlin finally steps back and takes his mother’s hand, realising he should probably give actual introductions:

“Mum, this is The Lady Morgana, ward of the King-”

Morgana gives Hunith a wide smile and curtsy, before stepping forward and giving her a brief hug. Morgana was very touch averse with everyone but Merlin, Arthur, and Leon, but in her books, any woman who raised Merlin into the young man he had become, was a woman who deserved her trust. And a hug:

“-and this is Sir Leon, Knight of the King.”

Leon took Hunith’s hand, placing a brief kiss on her knuckles before stepping back respectfully. Hunith quickly followed him, and to his great surprise, wrapped the taller man in a tight hug. He wraps his arms around her after a few moments in shock, when she whispers in his ear:

“Thank you for keeping my boys safe.”

He steps back, a wide smile on his face and his hands on her shoulders. He replies quietly so that only she would hear him:

“It has been my genuine pleasure, and I plan to continue to do so for the remainder of my service.”

Hunith gives him an even wider smile, and pats his hand, before the two of them step back. The others watch on in adoration, before Leon clears his throat and addresses the group:

“I have been instructed to show the two of you to your new residence, before you are to meet with the King.”

Arthur steps back before saying regretfully:

“Unfortunately, Gaius and I should go and meet with my father immediately. Leon, you lead the way, we shall remain with him until you return and we can get this over with.”

He says the last bit with a grimace, and Morgana gives him a sympathetic smile as Merlin squeezes his hand.

The group separates, Arthur and Gaius heading up the castle steps, and Leon leading the rest of them back out the gates.

Hunith and Merlin had been gifted a small house in the upper city, close to the castle, but not within it’s walls. Arthur had argued endlessly against that, saying they deserved chambers inside the castle, but Hunith was the one who refused.

She wasn’t nobility, and she enjoyed her simple life. She had already given up her farming and livestock, she refused to be cooped up in a giant stone castle where she would have nothing to do, and didn’t understand how anything worked.

Arthur finally saw the sense in that, he can understand that it would be difficult for Merlin and Hunith to live in the castle. He hated to admit it, but they would certainly be looked down on, and Arthur was almost of age, he didn’t have the time to spend all day entertaining Merlin, even if he wanted nothing more than to spend all day every day with him.

The house was small, but still three times the size of their place back in Ealdor. They had separate bedrooms, a large kitchen/dining area, a small storage room, and an extra room for relaxing (”City folk call them living rooms apparently.”). There was a small, fenced off grass area out the front, which Hunith was particularly excited about; she wouldn’t have to give up growing things after all.

The home came fully furnished, and Hunith was speechless at the large, comfortable beds, the soft chairs, and the abundance of cooking equipment. The living room also had a large hearth, and two ceiling-high bookshelves, though they were empty.

Once Hunith had had a good look around (the others had already seen it, and Arthur had been checking with Merlin at every step to see if he approved), Morgana excitedly grabs her hand and drags her back to the slightly larger of the two bedrooms.

Merlin follows confusedly, but Leon follows with a small smile on his face, he had seen what Morgana was planning, despite her best attempts to keep it secret.

Morgana finally stands Hunith in front of the wardrobe and gestures for her to open it. The older woman opens the doors with a little hesitation, before stepping back and gasping, her hands over her mouth.

Morgana grins proudly before speaking to a speechless Hunith:

“My gift to you. I organised a few things for Merlin as well. Of course they’ll all have to be adjusted because I could only pass on to the tailor Arthur and Merlin’s descriptions of you. I thought that could be something nice you and me could do at some point in the next few days, after you’ve settled.”

Merlin steps around Leon to try and see what’s got everyone so wound up, and takes in a quiet gasp at what he sees. The wardrobe is filled with new, tailor made dresses, a few thick cloaks, and two pairs of good quality shoes. Two of the dresses were incredibly nice, royal-gala kind of nice, and the others were a mix of practical, casual, smart.

He smiles widely, tears in his eyes at what Morgana had done for his mum. He’s always felt a little guilty at being the soulmate of royalty, but not being able to provide her with more than she had, but that changed, starting now.

Hunith finally rips her gaze from the new clothes, staring at Morgana:

“I can’t possibly...-”

Morgana’s tilted head and raised eyebrow forces Hunith to change tracks. The boys have told her how stubborn Morgana was, she has a feeling she wouldn’t be able to return the gifts:

“-I don’t know how to thank you, My Lady.”

Morgana rolls her eyes fondly, and brings her into a hug before stepping back:

“Oh none of that “My Lady” shit, and you don’t have to thank me, you and Merlin are part of the family now.”

Merlin gives her a grateful smile over his mum’s shoulder, which she returns, before Leon speaks up:

“I’m sure you can find time to get them all properly fitted in the coming days Morgana, for now we should get back up to the castle. I imagine The King and The Prince are waiting for us.”

Morgana nods, and Hunith subtly wipes her eyes, before allowing The King’s ward to intertwine their arms. Merlin smiles at the sight (he knew they would get along) before turning and following Leon out the house, and back up towards the castle.

Merlin was only a little nervous, he’d met the King multiple times now, and whilst the man was always painfully polite, it was clear that it was only because the whole situation bewildered him a little. But he’d never met his mother yet, and this next meeting would make the rest of his life go very smoothly, or very difficultly.

Leon pauses a moment outside the door to the throne room, glancing back at Merlin, who takes a deep breath before standing straight and nodding.

Leon smiles encouragingly at him, before pushing the doors open and walking into the room.

Arthur, Uther, and Gaius were stood in front of the thrones quietly discussing something, but look up when they hear the doors open.

Arthur smiles widely and walks forward, giving Merlin a brief hug (which Morgana lovingly rolls her eyes at, they’ve only been apart for half an hour) and Uther straightens his back, before walking forwards regally, a practiced blank look on his face. Gaius gives his sister a reassuring smile, but stays back.

Leon and Merlin bow (Leon deeply, before stepping aside, and Merlin briefly and shallowly) and Hunith curtsied as best she could with Morgana protectively gripping her arm.

Arthur and Merlin stand next to the girls, hand in hand (Uther’s mind bounces between wanting to smile fondly, and wanting to grimace at the PDA), and Uther stops just in front of Hunith:

“Welcome to Camelot, your swift arrival was pleasing.”

Hunith nods, a polite, but strained smile on her face:

“Thank you, My Lord. Anything to make the boys lives easier.”

Uther clenches his jaw, and Morgana has to hide a smirk at the implication that she’d only moved to help out the boys, and not because Uther had ordered it.

“Of course. I hope your new home was to your liking?”

Hunith nodding in reply, the smile on her face a little brighter this time:

“Yes, My Lord, it’s wonderful, I can not thank you enough for providing it. I look forward to exploring your city.”

Uther nods slightly before saying:

“Yes, yes, it’s rather lovely this time of year. The Crown will provide a small allowance for a time, until you can get yourself on your feet. I’ve already discussed it with Gaius, and arrangements have been made for Merlin to become the physician’s apprentice, at Gaius’ earliest convenience.”

“Thank you, I’m sure it won’t be long before I can find work, in such a bustling city.”

Uther nods tersely, before turning back towards Gaius. He waves his hand dismissively over his shoulder as he says:

“I have other matters to attend to for the rest of the afternoon. Sir Leon, Arthur and Morgana, you have the rest of the day off to show our new... residents, around. You’re all dismissed.-”

Leon is the only one who bothers bowing to Uther’s back, and Morgana raises an eyebrow at him, before rolling her eyes and turning to leave, dragging Hunith with her, closely followed by the boys.

Just before Leon can exit the room, Uther turns around hurriedly:

“-Before I forget, Sir Leon, I would like a word.”

Leon turns around after wiping the panic from his face. He shuts the door after the others, who look at him worriedly, before turning around to face The King:

“My Lord?”

Uther settles an assessing gaze on the knight, and Leon has to stop himself from gulping in response. Uther sighs, and speaks after a moment:

“After paying a little more attention to the relationships between yourself, the boys, and Morgana, I have realised something. You obviously knew of this... relationship, long before I did. Do no deny it.-”

Leon does gulp at that, but before he can defend himself, Uther asks:

“Can I trust that it would have been brought to my attention had anything problematic started?”

Leon widens his eyes in shock, before gathering his thoughts and replying, injecting as much confidence in his voice as possible:

“Of course, My Lord. I kept a close eye on them myself, and made sure that the Prince’s safety was my highest priority at all times. Had anything worrying happened, I would have come to you immediately. I am loyal to the throne, My Lord.”

(A big fat lie considering the whole “Merlin is a sorcerer” thing, but the King certainly doesn’t need to know that.)

Uther nods thoughtfully, before meeting Leon’s gaze again:

“Good. I am glad that Arthur has someone looking out for him. I trust you will continue this?”

Leon nods:

“Of course, My Lord.”

Uther nods once again:

“Excellent. Make sure none of... this, interferes with his studies. You are dismissed.”

Leon bows deeply, before leaving the room. He shuts the door behind him, leaning on it and taking a deep breath, before looking up to meet the worried gazes of the others, who had waited for him. He smiles shakily:

“Nothing bad, I’ll tell you later. Come on, let’s show these two around the upper-town.”

Arthur fixes him with a scrutinizing gaze, but Leon meets it (Arthur has yet to win a staring contest against Leon, in fact, Morgana was the only one who ever came close), and after a moment, Morgana shakes her head, and begins to walk down the corridor, the boys trailing after her and Hunith.

They spend the rest of the afternoon showing Merlin and Hunith around the upper-town. The tour leads them around the market, the town square (where the well is) and other important fixtures of the town, such as the tailor, blacksmith’s, and some of Morgana’s favourite shops (Uther hated it, but Morgana and Arthur regularly sneak out of the castle to spend time in the city).

By the time the sun sets, the group is relaxed and getting on well. Merlin knew Morgana and Leon would love his mum, but it was still nerve-wracking, and he was overjoyed by how well it was going.

The kitchen of Hunith and Merlin’s new home had yet to be stocked, so they stopped off at some street vendors before heading back to the house. Hunith tried to argue when Arthur insisted on paying, but she was shut down pretty quickly when Arthur reminded her that he was The Prince, he could more than afford it, and anyway, “I like contributing to the local businesses, I wouldn’t be a Prince if I didn’t have my people around me, I like to give back where I can.”

Leon and Morgana smiled proudly at that, but the smiles on Hunith and Merlin’s face were more fond.

(Morgana quietly thinks about how differently he would’ve been without Merlin to ground him. With a father like Uther, Arthur easily could’ve turned into an absolute prat.)

They stay together long into the evening, talking and laughing, before Leon finally says it’s time to go. Morgana, Hunith, and Merlin may have tomorrow free, but Leon and Arthur had training early, followed by a day full of meetings.

Morgana smirked at Arthur’s grumbling, but dutifully stood up. The three of them give Hunith and Merlin tight hugs, before leaving them alone, heading back to the castle.

Hunith and Merlin sit in comfortable silence, wide smiles on their faces, before Merlin breaks the silence:

“So what do you think? I know Uther is a bit of a prat, but he’ll want to see as little of us as possible, so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Do you... like it here?”

Hunith smiles at him fondly, and runs her hands through his hair when he rests his head on her lap:

“You’ve really made a life for yourself here, haven’t you Merlin? I’m proud of you. Lady Morgana and Sir Leon are exactly how I expected them to be. The house is far more than I expected, but I’m grateful, and I’m sure it won’t take me long to find a job. I’ll always miss our rural village, but nothing is stopping us from visiting every once in a while, to get away from the city, and we have a nice little garden here.-”

Merlin closes his eyes, soothed by his mother’s fingers in his hair, and hums thoughtfully before Hunith continues:

“-You know, I had always considered sending you here to apprentice under Gaius when you were older anyway. Funny, how things turn out. Though perhaps I should’ve realised that nothing was going to go to plan when the little blond boy that appeared in my kitchen all those years ago turned out to be foreign royalty.”

Merlin huffs out a laugh from when he laid, and responded sleepily:

“Yeah. You know I don’t even think of him as royalty, most of the time. He’s just... Arthur.”

Hunith smiles gently down at him, and takes a few minutes to respond:

“I know what you mean. I’m glad you found your person... or more accurately, I’m glad your person found you.-”

She chuckles, before adding the next bit on quietly:

“-Your father would be proud of you.”

Merlin opens his eyes, and looks up at her blearily:

“You think?”

Hunith’s smile widens, and the both of them politely ignore the tears gathering in her eyes:

“I know.”

Time passes quickly. The next day, Merlin, Hunith, and Morgana spend the whole day shopping and stocking up on food and other necessities (the small allowance Uther had provided for them actually turned out to be quite a lot, especially compared to the amount of money Hunith was used to having around).

At some point over the next week, like Morgana had suggested, her and Hunith spent a day in the tailor’s, having all of her new clothes adjusted properly.

Hunith was also ecstatic to get a job off the back of that. She may not be at quite the professional level yet, but she was the one most of the locals would go to, to fix and patch and re-sew old clothes back in Ealdor.

Merlin started his apprenticeship with Gaius, which meant the days being near, but not with Arthur, were less boring, and slightly more bearable.

He picked up healing quickly (after seeing all the various injuries Arthur and Leon had sustained over the years during training, he was eager to learn how to help them), and he soon became known around town as Gaius’ Boy.

His cheerful demeanour and wide smile endeared him to all of his patients, and he made a point to try and be polite to everyone he came across. Suddenly living in a bustling city, and having what was basically a full time job, was a little overwhelming, but being here meant being with Arthur, so he was determined to make the most of it.

The boys spent the evenings together whenever they could (and still slept in the same bed most nights, out of habit. Merlin’s nightmares had made a brief reappearance after his first meeting with Uther, but they stopped again fairly soon.), and Arthur would often pop out of the castle to share meals with Merlin and Hunith, Morgana and Leon joining them when they had the time.

This did however, involve a few instances of Merlin or Arthur appearing at inopportune times.

An emergency patient coming in meant Arthur appearing in the physician’s chambers, instead of Merlin’s home, like he had expected.

Luckily the patient was unconscious at the time.

(Uther had informed them that the council members and guards who worked in the castle had been informed of the situation (so that Hunith and Merlin wouldn’t be bothered), but the public wasn’t to know at all, at least until Arthur came of age.)

A council meeting overrunning meant Merlin appearing just behind the Prince’s seat, and turning wide-eyed and red-faced before squeaking out a quick apology and disappearing again.

The meeting was side-tracked for a good five minutes as Arthur tried to cover a smirk, Morgana (who insisted she be involved in important meetings when Arthur was) openly laughed, and Uther held his head in his hands, rubbing his tired eyes and muttering something about “stupid kids” and “stupid soul-bonds”.

They tried to be more careful after that incident, and they got better at exploring the bond. With some focus and practice, the boys got fairly good at sensing where the other was, and sometimes, if they were with other people (though that particular sense wasn’t as reliable).

About a month after they moved to Camelot, Merlin was introduced to a lovely girl called Guinevere. Her mother had served Leon’s family, and once she was old enough to have a job herself, Leon swung her a position in the castle as Morgana’s maidservant.

Arthur was oblivious at first (until an amused Merlin explained it to him later on), but Merlin and Leon definitely noticed the... bond, between the two girls, though all four would deny it to anyone who asked, in order to preserve their privacy.

Guinevere, or Gwen, as her friends call her, quickly joined the group. Morgana was grateful for another female presence, and Leon was most certainly grateful for the addition of someone who cared about safety and being careful.

He loved his kids, (”Oh my Gods... I’m a father... how do I... Gaius I know nothing about teenagers, what do I do?? I’m not ready to be a father!”), and Hunith was a good influence, but they couldn’t be around all of the time, and the boys had a bad habit of making trouble, especially with Morgana egging them on.

He stressed a little less when he knew that Gwen was with them.

Shortly after Gwen’s appearance, the group (unfortunately without Leon, he had a patrol:( ) went exploring in the woods beyond the city. Uther was stuck in meetings all day, but Arthur and Morgana had a free day, and after much begging, Gaius let Merlin off as well.

Morgana having a free day, meant that Gwen had a free day as well (not that Morgana ever made her do many chores anyway, only enough to keep up the pretence that they were Lady and Servant and not... something else).

They put together a picnic, took some horses from the stables, and headed off at first light. It was a warm, summers day, and they planned to spend the day in the sun, Arthur didn’t have to worry about duties, Merlin didn’t have to worry about memorising herb lists and symptoms, Morgana didn’t have to worry about being a Lady, and Gwen didn’t have to mind her place as a servant.

It was planned to be the perfect day, and it almost was.

After a couple hours journey, they found a beautiful lake, and they spent the morning splashing around in the water, playing and laughing and messing around.

They spent the middle of the day drying in the sun and snacking on all the sweet meats and fruit that Arthur had snuck from the kitchens.

They spent the afternoon playing stupid games, and relaxing in the shade, holding hands with no worries, and even sneaking the occasional kiss, revelling in the freedom of being alone.

They were sad to have to leave, but it became an agreement that at least once a month, whilst the weather held out, they would come to their spot by the lake, and relax with each other. No responsibilities, no obligations, no “My Lord”s or “My Lady”s, just four friends, hopelessly happy and in love.

It was on the way home that things went a little wrong.

Usually this stretch of the woods was completely safe and bandit free, but the group was not so lucky as to have an eventless journey home.

When they were about halfway home, Merlin halted his horse suddenly and sat up straight, letting go of Arthur’s hand and tilting his head, eyes closed, listening to the woods around him with a frown on his face.

Arthur looks back and frowns, before calling to the girls, a few metres ahead of them, to wait for a minute.

He looks to Merlin, still with a frown on his face:

“Merls? What is it?”

Merlin waves his hand in Arthur’s direction, gesturing at him to be quiet. He is silent for another few moments, before he opens his eyes wide, and speaks in a low, but rushed voice:

“Gwen, ride ahead with ‘Gana, everyone get your swords out, we’re being watched.”

Arthur tenses at that, and he and Merlin pull their swords out (Leon had insisted that Merlin learn, he wasn’t nearly as good as the others yet, but he could hold his own. Leon was also the one who insisted they be armed when he learnt of their plan for the day.), quickly followed by Gwen and Morgana.

Instead of riding ahead, Morgana speaks up quickly:

“Gwen can fight just as well as me, I’ve been training her, we should stay together.”

Arthur looks worried, but Gwen just rolled her eyes before adding quietly:

“I’m also the daughter of a blacksmith you know, I’ve been handling swords since before I could walk.”

Arthur sighs and nods, before looking back to Merlin, and quietly, so that only Merlin can hear him:

“How many, and where from?”

Merlin tilts his head away from Gwen, so she can’t see the gold of his eyes, before flexing his hand slightly, and responding:

“Six or seven, I think from the South.”

Arthur nods once more, before turning his horse to be facing South, and he peers into the trees. It wasn’t quite dark out, but it was dimming, and the forest was so thick, the underbrush so overgrown, that it was difficult to see much beyond the edge of the path.

The girls urge their horses back the way they came, to be close to the boys, and stay alert, swords raised, feet braced and ready for action.

Merlin clenches his hands and gasps slightly, before murmuring, loud enough for everyone to hear him this time:

“Twenty seconds.”

Gwen goes to question how he knew that, but a quick look from Morgana, and a shaken head meaning “Later” stops her, and she instead focuses her gaze on where the others were looking into the trees.

Like Merlin had said, twenty seconds later, the treeline breaks, and seven men burst through yelling, and brandishing swords, the shock of which sends the horses scarpering, and the four of them have to jump off and let them go.

Battle broke out immediately, the teenagers aiming to incapacitate or injure, but the bandits not being so kind with their attacks.

The battle is intense, Merlin using little bits of subtle magic here and there to trip or confuse various attackers, Arthur and Morgana slowly but surely taking down men, one by one, and Gwen easily enough holding her own.

But, four, mostly inexperienced (Arthur had only had to actually fight for his life once or twice at this point, and before, he was surrounded by fully trained knights whose top priority was keeping him safe, even to their own detriment) teenagers, aged 15, 16, and 17, were no match for seven seasoned attackers.

In the end, it’s the four of them left (each with bruises and cuts, but nothing serious) vs three remaining attackers, but the battle quickly stops when Merlin turns around (a gut feeling) to see one of the men silently raise a sword, readying to bring it down on to Gwen’s turned back.

He instinctively raises his empty hand towards them, and yells:

“NO!”

He sends the man flying back, head hitting the tree behind him with a thwack.

Gwen stares at him (or more accurately, the golden glow of his eyes) in astonishment, and Morgana and Arthur use the momentary distraction to deal with the last two attackers, giving them swift knocks to the head.

Morgana rushes forward to Gwen and tugs at her shoulder, trying to get her attention to see if she’s ok, but she ignores her just staring at Merlin.

Merlin drops his hand, and his face morphs from anger to shock to fear, the gold in his eyes fading back to blue as Arthur reaches his side and takes his hand.

Gwen finally stutters out a:

“What... you’re... but Uther?-” before wiping the shock off her face, and setting it in grim determination, clenching her jaw.

Merlin’s eyes widen at her expression, and he takes a fearful step back, Arthur steps in front of him and Morgana tries to grab Gwen’s arm as she begins to stalk quickly forwards, but it slips from her grip.

Arthur holds his hands out, and begins to speak, seemingly trying to talk her out of hurting Merlin, but she ignores him, and pushes him to the side with surprising strength.

Merlin gasps and tries to take another step back, tears in his eyes, but she grabs his shoulders and, before anyone can say anything more, pulls him into a crushing hug.

Merlin takes a few moments to respond, clearly not expecting such an affectionate reaction to being discovered as an evil sorcerer, but hugs back at Gwen’s watery “Thank you.” whispered in his ear.

Arthur lets out a breath, and he and Morgana smile, not really sure why they were so surprised at Gwen’s acceptance. I guess that’s what happens when you grow up in Camelot, expecting hatred and violence and fear in response to magic is ingrained in you.

Gwen finally pulls back, and takes Merlin’s hands, the both of them have tears on their faces, and Gwen sniffs before quietly saying:

“I’m sorry that you have to live in fear, and I’m sorry I wasn’t clear enough in my adoration for you that you felt you had to be scared of my reaction. I promise to keep you safe, to the best of my ability.-”

She fondly punches him in the arm, before continuing with a smile:

“Next time, you can just do that right at the beginning, and save us all the trouble, yeah?”

Merlin nods slowly, before pulling Gwen into another tight hug. He buries his face in her neck, and she runs her hands through his hair and they both quietly weep.

Arthur and Morgana both feel the strong urge to step in, and comfort their own soulmates, but they resist, and instead give them a moment of privacy as they round up the horses, and search the bandits.

After a few minutes, Gwen and Merlin pull back, and walk towards the other two, holding each other’s hand comfortingly.

Whilst searching their unconscious bodies, Arthur hadn’t found anything identifying, but had found a length of rope in one of their discarded bags, hidden in the underbrush.

He cuts the rope into separate pieces and ties the bandits up, to individual trees, before looking back to the group:

“This won’t hold them long at all, but we don’t have the means to transport them back to the city. I can get my father to send a search party to look for them, but by the time we get back to the City, and the Knights get out here, they’ll probably be long gone.”

Morgana raises an eyebrow and replies:

“I thought you Knights were excellent trackers. They won’t wake up for a while, and they’ll be dazed, so it’ll take them a while to get out of the rope, if your knots are any good-”

Arthur goes to retort, but Gwen quickly interrupts him:

“That’s not the point. What if one of them remembers what Merlin did? And accuses him? Uther probably wouldn’t take their word against all of ours, but it would attract unwanted attention, wouldn’t it? And, no offense Merlin, but he’s already not exactly fond of you.”

Arthur nods at that, and Morgana hums thoughtfully, whilst Merlin just stares at her in shock. He speaks up after a moment:

“We could loosen the knots, and wake them up a little before leaving? That way they’ll have plenty of time to escape before the knights get here? But we have to report it. The types of men to attack four teenagers, none in armour, and two of whom are women, need to be warned about.”

Arthur and Gwen look troubled at that, and Arthur speaks up first:

“Morgana is right though, the Knights are brilliant at tracking, what if they find them anyway? I won’t risk one of them remembering what you did.”

Merlin looks annoyed, always the one to sacrifice himself, and Morgana furrows her brows before looking up, and speaking slowly:

“You could... over exaggerate how violent they were? Request a kill on sight order? That way, none of them make it back to testify, but they’re also no longer a problem for travellers.”

Arthur tilts his head in surprise, and Gwen widens her eyes at the suggestion.

Arthur looks like he’s genuinely considering it, when Merlin gasps:

“Oh!! Wait! The other day, I read about a spell. It’s like a memory charm, I can make them forget the last ten minutes or so, if it works, and we time it right, they’ll remember attacking us, but not how the fight ended!”

He has a grin on his face, but Morgana and Gwen look doubtful, whilst Arthur looks thoughtful, before speaking:

“Have you tried it before? Do you know it would work?”

Merlin turns a little pink, before looking to the floor, and saying:

“Well... do you remember agreeing to let me try it on you last week?”

Morgana grins as she realises the implication of the question, and Gwen gasps as Arthur’s eyes grow wide, and he shakes his head slowly:

“...No.”

Merlin finally meets his eyes, with a nervous smile on his face as he says:

“Then yeah, I’ve tried it before and it worked fine.”

Morgana and Gwen start laughing as Merlin bites his lip and Arthur blinks a few times, before speaking again:

“...Ok, you cast the charm or whatever, I’ll make sure the ropes are done tightly, then we’ll wait for one of them to wake up, to check that it worked, then we’ll leave, and send a patrol back to arrest them.”

With the girls still laughing in the background, Merlin goes to the three attackers who had witnessed him perform magic and cast the spell, whilst Arthur double checked all of the bindings.

The group only has to splash cold water on the face of one of the attackers for him to cough himself awake. He looks around, clearly bewildered, and yells:

“What?? How the fuck... what did... how hard do you hit, kid? Jeez, how the fuck did I-”

He’s cut off by Arthur hitting him in the head again with the hilt of his sword, before he steps back and says:

“Ok. It worked. I think it’d be best if we got home as quickly as possible, we’re already going to be late.”

With that, the group takes one last cursory glance (and fill with pride at the idea that they’d managed to fight off a group of thieving murderous bandits all on their own) at the bound bandits, before mounting their horses, and urging them into a gallop towards Camelot.

The report to Uther was definitely intense, The King was furious that a group of violent criminals were attacking citizens, especially women (though Arthur made sure to point out that Morgana fought just as well as him, and Gwen held her own just fine) so close to the city.

He immediately sent out a large patrol to scour the woods, focussed especially around the path they used, and to not come back until the seasons changed, or the criminals were found.

Arthur was right, the ropes hadn’t held them for long, but he was also right in saying that Camelot Knights were excellent trackers, and they were hunted down within a week, and brought back to Camelot for sentencing.

Arthur and Morgana tried to speak against it, at Merlin and Gwen’s request, but Uther ultimately sentenced the offenders to execution, for crimes against the Crown and Citizens of Camelot, and didn’t question why they couldn’t even remember half the fight.

In fact, that actually had Uther praising the group for fighting well, and he begrudgingly admitted that Morgana’s sword lessons (which she had been ruthlessly demanding since she was a child) and Guinevere’s subsequent training, had paid off well.

THE END OF PART 2

Wow so I finished this way quicker than I was expecting, I just really love this concept, thanks anon, for requesting :)

Anyway, hope you enjoy gang

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pellucidity-is-me · 3 years

Text

Poppy Pomfrey Hates Werewolves

Summary: The year is 1971, and Madam Pomfrey is finding it more difficult than expected to care for an eleven-year-old werewolf student. She turns to a late-night conversation with Minerva McGonagall in order to soothe her frustrations.

Wordcount: 3843

Poppy Pomfrey hated werewolves.

No, that wasn't the right wording. Poppy loved Remus very much; she thought that he was a clever, lovable boy who deserved to be at Hogwarts more than some of the other ridiculous buffoons (ahem: Potter and Black).

In fact, the Lupins in general were lovely people. Poppy remembered Remus' father, Lyall Lupin, from her first year at Hogwarts—he’d been six years older than she was and in a different House, so they hadn't been close. Yet she did remember that Lyall was a lot like Remus in the sense that he'd received very good marks and was usually quiet and mild-mannered. But his temper! Arguments with Lyall were bound to lead to a fight—either the Muggle way or the wizarding way; Lyall was willing to participate in either. Poppy saw Lyall in Remus often, even though she hadn't known Lyall very well. They looked alike, yes, but there was also something deeper. Both had odd interests and were a bit eccentric. Both were clever. Both had an unexpectedly honed sense of humor. And both (as Poppy knew from some of Hope's letters) were very prone to guilt.

Hope was Remus' mother, and Poppy liked her just as much as she liked Remus. She was a wonderful mother and a lot of fun. A stereotypical doting mother, really. Hope, like Lyall and Remus, was very funny, and Poppy often found herself laughing out loud at her letters. Poppy probably learned much more about young Remus than Remus would have been comfortable with, but Hope just couldn't help oversharing. Poppy suspected that she'd never before had anyone to talk to about Remus without fear of his lycanthropy getting out. Poppy liked Hope so much, in fact, that they had plans to meet during Christmas holidays. Poppy could see the two of them becoming very good friends.

Yes, Poppy was fond of Remus, as well as both of his parents. But she hated werewolves.

Not werewolves. Not really. Poppy hated lycanthropy. Poppy hated the fact that Remus had to go through unimaginable pain every single month. And he was so young! Four years old, that's how old he had been. It made Poppy feel ill sometimes, and it was the type of illness that even she—the most experienced school matron in the world, probably—could not cure.

It had gone relatively well for the first couple of months—well, not well, per se, but they’d survived. At least Remus had always been conscious and somewhat coherent afterwards. Remus had a habit of making jokes when he was uncomfortable, and it always made it easier to stop feeling so horrible when he was making the odd sarcastic comment. But the first December full moon was far worse than usual.

When Poppy crawled through the tunnel the morning after the December full moon and saw Remus, unconscious on the floor and bleeding out, she nearly vomited. She wasn't ready for this! She couldn’t! She’d never had to do anything like this before, and this was absolutely terrible. He shouldn’t have to deal with that every month. She shouldn’t have to deal with this every month.

How dare Dumbledore ask her to help him? She was only human. She couldn't see this, month after month and day after day. Such a young student. So small and thin and delicate. This was horrible for her, too!

And no one even asked her! It wasn't as if Dumbledore had said "Good morning, Poppy, would you be willing to care for a werewolf in September 1971?" No, he had flat-out told her that there was nothing she could do about it. She still remembered his exact words. A very special student... infected with lycanthropy... deserves a chance to learn, as all children do... Poppy will be caring for him after full moons... Don't try to protest his coming here, I have made my decision. Ridiculous. The man never asked anyone else's opinion.

Poppy wouldn't have protested, though, and she felt even worse when she realized what she was insinuating. Remus, stay home and never come to Hogwarts? That wouldn't stop the transformations; that would only make them worse. Besides, having to see it was nothing compared to actually going through it... But still. It was so hard to think of it all—so difficult to be given a burden that no one, be it child or school matron, should have to carry.

Poppy was used to being able to help people. That was her job. She loved helping people. But there was no cure for lycanthropy, and it was far beyond Poppy’s abilities to comprehend, even, how terrible it must be for the eleven-year-old child... for a five-year-old child. Remus had endured countless full moons, and each one left him with injuries worse than some of the worst accidents that Poppy had ever seen. It made her sick.

Regardless of her feelings, though, Poppy now stood in the Shrieking Shack. Her wand was dangling limply from her hand as she stared at the deep gashes in the wall and the equally limp boy on the floor who had somehow—somehow—made them.

She couldn't help it at that point. She left. She couldn't look at him any longer; it was driving her mad.

She'd always thought magic to be a wonderful thing: capable of healing and helping and loving. But it wasn't. Magic wasn't all good at all. Here was the darker side—the horrific, awful, terrifying side that left eleven-year-old children so ill that they couldn't eat, turned them into horrifying beasts against their will, and then left them bruised and broken on the floors of their own torture chambers. Why did she even try? She couldn't change anything. She'd never help Remus Lupin, no matter how much time she spent soothing his worries and healing his injuries. He'd always have to go through this. There was no cure, and Poppy felt helpless. She hadn't felt this awful since she'd failed that student who spent half a year as a rock.

She’d only meant to leave for a bit (she needed more potions for Remus, anyhow, and she also needed a bit of air. Remus would be fine). But then she came across a panicking Slughorn who professed that a girl had drank too much of a potentially deadly potion and needed to be taken to St. Mungo’s. The girl’s parents weren’t available. Someone would have to take her.

When Professor John Questus, current Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, offered to stay and look after Remus, Poppy couldn’t help but seize the opportunity to take a breather.

So she took the girl to St. Mungo’s herself and left Remus with the Defense professor. She needed some time away—some time to think things over. She knew that it was probably the better option to stay with Remus, but she couldn't. She couldn't help popping in every few hours over Floo to make sure that Remus had not died due to her negligence—but she stayed away, for the most part. And she talked to Remus' toad that had crept into her apron. He really was good conversation, even if he was slimy-looking and warty.

"What was your name? Bufo?"

Bufo blinked.

"Do you think I've failed?"

Bufo cocked his gross little head.

"People trusted me, and I just left. That's unacceptable."

Bufo croaked.

"I'm a terrible matron." Poppy felt tears well up in her eyes. She'd left Remus to John Questus. John Questus! He was probably asking Remus all sorts of uncomfortable questions and snapping at him for being too emotional when Remus needed love and comfort and care. Because that was what John Questus did. As a former Auror, he knew Healing magic, to be sure... but he just wasn’t the type of person to care for a scared child.

Remus was injured, and Poppy had left him—left him!—all alone on the floor of the Shrieking Shack—the Shrieking Shack!—with no one to help him. What if he had woken up all alone and scared and in pain and waited, but no one came, and then the most horribly unsympathetic professor at Hogwarts showed up and told him that Poppy had left! Just left! Poppy didn't want to think of how awful Remus, who already mistakenly assumed that most everyone hated him, might have felt.

Suddenly, she felt a small weight on her shoulder. She opened her eyes and saw Bufo snuggling against her neck. Poppy sniffed and patted his leathery skin a bit—he wasn't so bad, after all.

And Remus seemed mostly okay when she'd returned to Hogwarts. John had missed one of his wounds, and it ended up becoming terribly infected. Poppy was angry with John at first, but it didn't take long before she realized that it was her fault. The man wasn't an experienced Healer, after all, even though he did know a bit of Healing magic. Remus was her job, and she'd abandoned him just because she was feeling emotional.

Now it was Tuesday, and Poppy was certain that Remus would sleep through the night. He was looking so much better, and Poppy had no doubt that he would be all right upon going back to classes on Wednesday. Even his arm was healing up, and he'd managed to walk around the Hospital Wing the other day without any problems—he even took a bath all by himself. So she left him in her office (under the watchful eyes of Bufo), and went to talk to Minerva McGonagall.

Minerva and Poppy had been in the same year at Hogwarts and had been acquaintances (despite the fact that they were in different Houses). Since Minerva had already been teaching when Poppy had become the matron, they'd only gotten closer. Poppy would consider Minerva to be her closest friend, even—they certainly saw a lot of each other. They'd been colleagues for about twenty years now. It was mad, how quickly the time flew.

Poppy knew that Minerva was uncomfortable around Remus (she never liked werewolves much), but it was clear that she was trying—Poppy appreciated that. And Remus seemed to enjoy Minerva's company (but then again, he seemed to enjoy everybody's company. Even John Questus', for some reason). Poppy had never spoken to Minerva about Remus one-on-one (though she tended to chatter about him during staff meetings), but she was sure that Minerva wouldn't mind.

She knocked on Minerva's door, and Minerva let her in with a smile. "Poppy. May I help you?"

"I... only need to talk." Poppy often came to Minerva to chat; despite Poppy's no-nonsense exterior and usually-immaculate bedside manner, she was frightfully emotional. Anyone who told the students that, though, would be getting a rather nasty hex that Madam Pomfrey "wouldn't be able to heal".

"Of course," said Minerva. "Come in; I'll make tea."

"Are you sure? It's late, and I don't want to keep you up."

"I'm sure. I was having trouble sleeping, anyway."

"Yes, I noticed that your hair is still up."

Minerva smiled and undid her bun. "It's been a long day. Do you know, Potter and Black still insist on calling me by my first name? Those insolent, disrespectful..."

"I can't believe that Remus is friends with them."

"Is this about Remus, then?" said Minerva, nearly laughing. "You have that same look on your face whenever you talk about him during the staff meetings."

Poppy rearranged her face. "Look? What kind of look?"

"You worry about him. Understandably so, of course."

"Yes, yes." Minerva offered Poppy a teacup, and she took it gratefully. "I just... I can't. Minerva, it's awful!"

Minerva sat back patiently with her own cup of tea, not even batting an eye. "Yes, I know."

It all came spilling out at once. "I've done research! We all have! Did you read the article in the paper? The Shrieking Shack, they call it. Shrieking? Wolves don't shriek, Minerva—people do! It's painful; it's hurting him! And his pain threshold is so incredibly high that I... I can't even... I can't even imagine how bad it is, to make him hurt enough to actually cry out. He's so thin and sickly and pale all the time, and he's so small and delicate for his age, and he... I can't get over his pain threshold! He doesn't even flinch when I heal a broken bone, Minerva. Doesn't even flinch. He walks all the way back to the castle, month after month, with worse injuries than... than anything, really.

"And he just has to live with it—wounds all over his body all the time, can't even heal up completely before the next full moon rolls around, can't eat properly on the day before, can't even attend class because he's feeling so sickly. He gets through injuries that would cripple a grown man... and complains less than a miffed Gryffindor when Slytherin wins the House Cup! And he has to live with it! All the time!"

Minerva looked appropriately saddened and kept listening silently. She was good at that.

"He was four, he told me. Four, nearly five. He was attacked by a fully-fledged werewolf—and he let slip that said werewolf attacked him on purpose!—when he was a little more than a toddler. I've seen the scar, and I know enough about injuries to know that it must have been life-threatening. And most of it is on his shoulder, just near his neck! Just... can you imagine? Being a four-year-old child and a werewolf biting you—only inches away from snapping your neck... and then living as one? He's traumatized! He has nightmares, Minerva! Still! After six years, and he flinches whenever I get close."

Minerva pursed her lips and refilled Poppy's tea, which she had spilled all over her lap. Poppy didn't even care at this point.

"I hate it. I hate it. I hate coming to the Shack and seeing him half-dead. I hate his complacent expression, like he's been through it many before... because he has! He has! It's... what, eighty times now? I don't know! And he probably doesn't even keep track, because it's such a normal thing now! That sort of thing should never be normal! And not for a child, especially. A child! Eleven, but he looks so much older—he's so much more mature than he should be—he's seen more than children should, been through more than I have! Merlin's beard. Sometimes I want him to yell at me and get angry over it all, because he never really has. Cool as a cucumber about the whole thing. He's FINE, he says!"

Tears were running down Poppy's face now, but she made no attempt to stop them. Minerva had seen her cry many, many times before. In fact, she'd cried most recently when she'd lost her favorite pair of slippers. It was hard, keeping it in all day for fear of frightening the students.

"And no one ever asks me how hard it is. No one ever talks about me. Plenty of people say "poor Remus", and goodness knows he deserves it, even if he doesn't want it. But no one even thinks about how hard it is for me—to help a child—with an incurable illness—that I can't do anything about! To watch him fight through unimaginable pain, to see him suffering, to watch him get feverish and pass out in the middle of a sentence and refuse to eat and drown his pain in books! He's just... in my office... for days, every single month... and I just have to go about my business, knowing that there's nothing I can do. There's no cure! He won't even let me help him before a full moon because potions and things irritate him on the full moon. There's nothing I can do! Think about it! I can't get over it!"

Minerva wordlessly handed Poppy a handkerchief, and Poppy blew her nose. "It's not just about him," Poppy said, calming down a little. "It's not just about me, either. It's just... it's something that made me realize how much darkness is in the world... how unfair things are... how people can suffer so much without deserving it. I knew, before. But I didn't really believe it... and now it's just all so overwhelming. There are so many hurting people in the world. Remus isn't even the only werewolf in Britain. And I can't help everyone. I'm confined to this school—this small school in a world full of billions of people—and I can't... even... help everyone... in the tiny school! I hate it."

Minerva spoke for the first time. "I know," she said, and stood up to embrace Poppy tightly. "I know." A minute later, she pulled away, and the front of her robes were wet from Poppy's tears. Poppy could sense helpful advice coming. "Do you want to know what I think?" Minerva asked quietly, and Poppy looked up at her with watery eyes.

"What?"

"We all have varying levels of pain. I think that all of us have a sort of pain that unimaginable to another. Such is life. We shouldn't dwell on the pain that we all inevitably have: instead, we should focus on the good things that we have. Remus Lupin is a... well, he's ill. But he has two wonderful parents who love him. His 'normal' is different from ours, but that doesn't mean he has a completely awful life. It's just a different kind of normal—a new normal."

Poppy nodded and sniffed a little.

"And he has three friends who accept him."

"We don't know that."

"For right now, they do. And he has plenty of intelligence and activities that he enjoys. And he plays outside with his friends—did you see his face at the last Quidditch match? Or on Halloween?"

"No, I was sitting with the Hufflepuffs. And the full moon wasn't until November second."

"I've never seen him so happy," Minerva assured her. "It isn't the dark that we should focus on, it's the light that cancels it out. With all people—everyone that you can't help. It's just life, Poppy. Just life. No matter how much we think about how awful things are, they won't change... but thinking about how wonderful things are can change our mindsets, at least."

Poppy granted her a watery smile. "Thank you. That helps."

"Of course it does. I'm a very helpful person, you know."

Poppy nodded, ever thankful. "Now that I've done my ranting," she said, feeling a lot better than she had been feeling mere minutes ago, "I'll give you some time to rant about Potter and Black."

"Oh, thank goodness." Minerva straightened up and immediately went off on a tirade about their shenanigans: disrespect, loud voices, lack of motivation, disregard for the rules... et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Poppy had heard it all before.

"I think you like them," said Poppy slyly once Minerva had finished.

"What? No!"

"Oh no, you definitely like them. Potter is fantastic at Transfiguration, is he not? And flying? Both things that you're talented at, yourself."

"Well... maybe I do like them a little," admitted Minerva with a heavy sigh, "merely because they're Gryffindors through and through. Don't tell anyone."

Poppy hummed her consent and took a sip of tea. "So... that game you play with Remus that you mentioned earlier...? Tell me more."

Minerva laughed. She didn't laugh often around students, and Poppy loved to hear it. "I wasn't very comfortable around him at first; you know that. And he knew it too. He was obviously uncomfortable around me, too—things were awkward at first. Classes consisted of avoiding eye contact, mostly. It was distracting. So I told him that we'd play a game of sorts: whichever of us can act normally around the other first wins. We've been giving each other points. I'm winning."

"Not what he told Albus."

Minerva sipped her tea. "He's deluded."

"So... any reason why you aren't comfortable around werewolves? It seems a bit odd for you of all people to be afraid..."

"Not afraid!" protested Minerva. "Just uncomfortable. As you know, I'm half-blood, and my mother—a witch—took pride in her heritage. She told me stories of the wizarding world all the time—trying to bring me back to my roots, even though we lived in a Muggle village. I heard so many tales of werewolves being a danger to society, even from an early age. They're bogeymen, Poppy. The monsters under the beds. Children grow up with an innate fear of them... They ask their parents to check their closets for them before they go to sleep. Their parents tell them that that a werewolf will eat them if they get out of bed or disobey the rules. I was so afraid of werewolves as a child that I hated going outside at night. There's a fear instilled in young children, and it takes a while to shake off. That's all. It's not that I'm afraid of him—you know me, I'm a proud Gryffindor. I just don't like... the idea of it."

"Even though he's so small and harmless?"

"Yes. I'm not proud of it." Minerva finished off her tea. "But I can stand to be around him much more easily now. I like him, you know. Quiet, calm. The exact opposite of Potter and Black."

"Do you ever shut up about them?" Poppy teased.

"I'll shut up about them when you shut up about Remus. All you ever talk about these days."

"He's the only company I have these days!"

"Except when John Questus visits..." teased Minerva. She knew all about Poppy's hatred towards John Questus—he had, in fact, been the subject of Poppy's last after-hours rant.

"Ugh! Don't even talk about him. The horrible, insensitive..."

"Yes, I know. You've ranted about him to me before. I think you fancy him, don't you?"

"Who, John?" Poppy gagged. "That's too far. I'm going to bed now."

"You accused me of liking Potter and Black. I'm only returning the favor."

"It's not the same thing! I do not fancy John Questus!"

"Sweet dreams," called Minerva. "I'll plan the wedding."

"You're such a child!" snapped Poppy, opening the door to leave. "You sound like Potter."

Minerva feigned disgust. "You'd better leave before I hex you."

Poppy obliged, shutting the door with a little more force than necessary and heading back to the Hospital Wing to check on Remus.

Minerva, she reflected, was a wonderful friend, and she was glad that Remus had a few such friends of his own.

Everybody needed friends, didn't they?

AN: Another scene from my fanfic (link in blog description). I don’t think John Questus has ever made an appearance on my tumblr before, just because he’s an OC and hard to explain in short snapshots like this—but he’s my favorite character lol and I was waiting for a good moment to mention him!

#poppy pomfrey #remus lupin #marauders era #minerva mcgonagall #harry potter fanfiction #late-night complaining

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