Thanks@cutiepiebean for requesting this! I hope you have a happy birthday/new years
Pairing: Crowley x reader
Pronouns: None
Summary: Crowley has been missing lately, and today being your birthday and New Years, you’re rightfully upset. Turn out he’s just been planning a celebration for you.
Warnings: Angst and anxiety in the beginning, mostly fluff, mentions of food
The house felt empty. It was too quiet. Crowley hadn’t been home very much in the past week or so. He’s a busy demon, frequently out and about making deals and running the underworld, but I had barely seen him at all lately. I had begun to wonder if he had lost interest in me. Maybe he had found another person that he liked more. Maybe that’s not true at all. Either way he had given no explanation of why he hadn’t been there. Especially today.
Today is New Years, which should be of less interest to Crowley because on top of that, today is my birthday. I had been waiting for him to walk through the door all morning. I had waited, mostly impatiently, for him to walk through that door, gifts in had and an apology at the ready. But it was already afternoon, and he had yet to appear. I hated this feeling. I attempted to lounge around and relax, but all I could feel was jealousy, and bitterness, and spite.
He let me dwell in those feeling before finally appearing in front of me a little before ten o'clock that night. His usually charming smirk made my skin itch, the emotions rising to the surface. He opened his mouth, likely in an attempt to slyly and sweetly greet me. I beat him to it.
“You’ve been gone all week. You gave me no information, no heads up, no nothing as to why you weren’t here.” My breathing was purposefully slow, voice carefully articulated. “My birthday is today. New Years is today. Yet you’ve been missing anyway. I don’t know what you’ve been doing, but you better be sorry.”
Crowley’s eyes widened quickly before he tilted his head downward. He kneeled on the ground in front of my chair, hand coming to softly grasp my chin.
“I know. I haven’t been particularly good about keeping you updated on where I’ve been, but I didn’t know what I could tell you. I am so sorry, truly,” Crowley smiled gently, eyes full of tender love. “I’ve been planning something for your birthday, for New Years. I didn’t intend to leave you by yourself so much, but this took a lot of planning. I love you, darling. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
I love him too, but I was still emotional and upset at him. My face was blank, if not mildly unamused. At least I had an explanation now. His gentle smile turned into a gentle frown before lighting up again. He had an idea, apparently. His hands moved from my face down to my sides. He smirked before he began to rapidly move them, tickling me.
“Come on love, give me a smile, won’t you?” He laughed at my poor attempt to sit still.
“Ok! Ok! Stop!”
His hands ceased.
“I love you, but you also hurt me. A simple apology isn’t going to make everything better.”
“Of course not. I want to show you what I’ve been working on.” He stood and extended his hand towards me, an invitation for me to grab hold. “I spruced up that extra apartment I own, just for you.”
The demon took me to his apartment, and when he had said “spruced up,” he should have said “completely decked out.” There were string lights lining the ceilings, food covering the kitchen counters, soft pillows and blankets covering the bed, and several gifts set out on the table. Any resentment still left in me settled and melted away. Crowley wasn’t known to be the sentimental, caring type. He was typically cruel and sharp to most people. Yet for me, he would do anything. He tried his best to treat me well, and even though it didn’t always work, I love him for trying.
“Happy birthday, darling.” He gripped my hands in his. “I’m sorry I screw up so much.”
“Thank you. I know you try.” My smile shifted to a smirk. “I’m just glad you weren’t cheating on me.”
“I’d be dead if I did. Besides, I would never.” He stepped further into the room. “Where should we start?”
We spent the night celebrating, eating and drinking as we bantered. Midnight neared faster than it should have.
What?Yes, you’ve heard that right. I see a huge follower milestone on the horizon and I’m planning to throw a Tumblr celebration.
Why?If everything goes well, I will be starting another sleepover soon as a way of saying thank you for your support! And you know what this means, right? You’ll be able to get some tailor made fic goodies just for you!
That’s why I’m writing this post: let me know what you’d like to see this time: imagines? headcanons? open ask box? ask games? tarot requests? Canon x Reader ficlets? writer support? spotlight on your fics? - you name it!
How?Drop me a comment, DM me or send me an ask telling me what you’d like to see the most!
warnings: call your dentist, you’re about to read tooth rotting fluff
summary: You and Matt stay in on a rainy Sunday.
It was a Sunday, your favorite day of the week. You didn’t know if it was on purpose or more of a subconscious thing, but Matt always seemed to try and relax more on Sundays. He would run errands early so he could get back and enjoy as much of his day as he could with you.
Warnings Some flight anxiety, fluff, pining. Teeny tiny spoilers for the ending of the movie, so please be warned if you haven’t seen it yet. Not edted, all mistakes are mine. I took some minor liberties in making Javi nervous about flying, though he very much enjoys it at the same time.
Would you chase the sunset with a plane if you could?
For Javi Gutierrez, the answer is a simple yes. It’s always yes; he’d go to the end of the Earth to chase the beauty that is the sunset over a clear sky. The way sky is painted in the hues of red, yellow, and orange playing together, blending and separating into sections before jumping right back into one another, mixing to create something uniquely beautiful. It reminds him of the home that is in Mallorca.
Or more like the home that was in Mallorca.
The mansion is no more, the compound torn down by the cops, the investigators, the vultures looking for a golden gun so to speak. But despite this, he wouldn’t change a thing about why and how he did what he did. The Gutierrez crime family is finally extinct and he is free.
Free to fly wherever in the world he wants to, free to chase the sunset and the beauty of the sunrise the next morning.
There are no regrets about the part he played in how things fell in the end. The only regret he has is of his friend Nick Cage and his family getting caught up in it. Despite them all telling him repeatedly that there wasn’t any ill will, he’s still embarrassed that he dragged them into the fray.
Javi can feel the tinge of regret creeping up his spine again when he thinks back to what almost happened. But it didn’t, he reminds himself sternly. It didn’t and there is never any risk of it happening again, at least not in the hands of his cousin.
“Mr. Gutierrez? The plane is ready to take off,” He turns around to see you smile softly at him. You are dressed immaculately; the pilot suit pressed and fitting your body like a glove. You were born to wear the uniform, to carry the stripes with pride. The hat tucked under your arm is pulled up and you place it on your head, your grin widening a little as you wait for his acknowledgment.
A different feeling crashes through his body and Javi presses his lips tight together. For the millionth time, he reminds himself that you are his pilot, the one he places all the trust in when you are airborne, and flying it totally safe. The nervous butterflies are just that, nerves. He’s done this a hundred times with you and he has absolute fate in you navigating the skies. And it’s not like Left Behind would ever happen in real life.
“Mr. Gutierrez?” You prompt again.
“Yes. Yes! Thank you, Captain. Ready when you are,” he tries to smile back, but he can tell by the way you look at him you know he’s nervous again.
You hold out your hand and Javi catches a glimpse of the golden stripes at the sleeve of your jacket, the same golden that dances in the sky with its companions. With the backdrop of the plane and the setting sun, the amber on the sleeve is enchanting and captivating. They remind him once more that you are just as beautiful as you are capable. He never has to worry about you taking the lead.
“Would you like to sit in the cockpit with me while I do my pre-flight steps?” Your voice is tender, but not mocking. You’d never mock Javi, he knows this, even when his anxiety over flying threatens to take over. You are kind like that, kind and compassionate.
Javi nods, taking your offered hand and a third feeling rushes through him when the simple contact of skin on skin happens. How a tiny touch like this can make him feel even more nervous, but in a completely different way, he wonders as he lets you guide him towards the steps. If he is honest with himself, the nerves are not only from being in the air.
It’s being in the air with you.
Because as much as he likes to chase the sunset, seeing the beauty of the skylight and the sun, there is something Javi likes even more.
You.
His crush on you has grown day by day, flight by flight and conversation by conversation.
He’s shared his love of movies and writing and you’ve listened to him patiently, never hurrying or dismissing him. And in return you have shared your love of flying with him, often taking him to the cockpit like this, showing and speaking softly about the twists and dials and the feeling of euphoria when the plane is at flight altitude and you can see every single spec of beauty the sky has to offer. And hearing those stories, your excitement that rivals his own for movies, has made his crush grow and grow..
“Mr. Gutierrez?” You pull him out of his mind as you turn your smiling eyes towards him. The steps to the plane are right there and he feels you squeeze his hand gently, reassuringly.
“Javi, call me Javi, por favor.”
“Javi,” You nod, your smile deepening and he answers it with one of his own. “Are you ready?”
“Si. Take us up, Captain. And…” He gathers all his courage, bringing you closer by pulling on your joined hands. “And, you’ll join me for dinner later, I hope?” Your blinding smile answers his question even before you speak. You nod and Javi kisses the back of your hand softly, his brown eyes sparkling with delight.
“Perfect. We can even make it dinner and a movie. I believe the in-flight entertainment has Con Air.” The sparkling laughter carries you both up the stairs and into the cockpit, where Javi watches with adoring eyes as you prepare the final steps before you can take the beautiful and sleek machine up into the clouds.
Yes, he’d chase the sunset on a plane for eternity if it means you’ll pilot the aircraft every time.
*
(please let me know if you want to be added or removed from the list any time!)
“you know, your hair is getting quite long, tomura.” you had reached down to run your fingers through your lover’s long and silky hair. your eyes met his crimson ones as you had gazed down at him, who seemed to be laying his head on your lap.
“and why is that such a concern?” tomura had replied with a question. his eyes stared deeply into his lovers’s irises, the one thing out of many the villain loved about you.
a small smile tugged at the corner of your lips, tucking a couple of strands of his hair behind his ear. “it’s not really.” you shrugged your shoulders. “it gets in the way of your work sometimes, doesn’t it bother you?” you pointed out.
the villain could only ponder about what you had just told him. you were right about that, it did so happen get in the way. maybe he should cut it? tomura sighed. “i guess your right.” with that, the male sat himself up soon turning to face his lover.
“i’m always right.” you teased.
a timid grin formed on tomuras lips. “yeah? you are?” he questioned in a teasing tone.
“yes i am.” you would only come closer, caressing a cheek of his.
tomura leaned into your touch, a hand of his own reaching up to touch yours, being careful not to place his free finger down.
“would you like me to cut your hair?” you would ask in a gentle voice, your eyes never leaving your boyfriends. “i do have quite the experience with cutting my own.”
with a small nod of the head, tomura replied. “yeah, that would be nice.”
you grinned, leaning yourself closer towards him to place a small and gentle kiss on his lips. your hands trailing to the back of his neck to rest there.
the gentle feeling of the person he loved the most so close to him still surprised him. it still was a chock him how much he could love a single person and that person feeling the same towards him. that’s all he ever wanted really, for someone to love and cherish him.
“i love you.” the first words that left tomuras mouth as you two separated from your loving kiss. “y/n. i love you so much.” he uttered, his eyes averting to the side to hide the embarrassment that was hidden inside them.
upon hearing your lovers plea, you heart fluttered. it was moments like these that made you fall more deeply in love with him. “i love you too, tomura.”
tomura placed a careful hand onto your cheek to caress it, staring into the eyes he adored so much. “stay with me forever.”
mammon who’s the best at sloppy kisses. have you seated all prettily on his lap while you make out with him. strings of saliva connecting the two you every time you pull away for air. sucking on your bottom lip, sucking on your tongue. pecking your lips from time to time that’s so wet from your mixed spit. he makes sure to explore every inch of your mouth with his tongue and lick up the drool from the corners of your mouth. even licking down to your jaw, to your neck. and after, he looks at you so full of bliss while he tries to stop himself from kissing your puffy lips that’s tired from all the kissing. making out makes him so hard you don’t even need to touch him. grind your hips while you kiss he could come there and then. he’s always so sensitive when it comes to you.
Warm. Everything is warm as you open your eyes, met with a blanket of darkness and struggling to adjust to the lack of light. You could never tell what time of day it was, Tomura always kept his blackout curtains shut, but if you concentrated enough you could hear the pitched song of the morning birds outside.
There is a weight against your back, long limbs thrown across your torso and hip, Tomura’s hand curled tightly into the material of your t-shirt even in sleep. Restlessness simmers throughout your body accompanied by a dull ache in your shoulder, proof that your boyfriend had not let you move from his grasp the entire time you’d slept.
As you wake you finally notice the uncomfortable, familiar pressure in your lower abdomen that has you gently prying Tomura’s fingers from your shirt. There’s a slow inhale of breath behind you, his body shifting back only slightly to stretch his legs across the bed, groaning softly with the movement. You take the opportunity to roll forward to the edge of the mattress, wincing as your bare feet meet the cool air.
Tomura mutters an incoherent complaint at the loss, his hand patting the space where you had slept, pushing himself onto his elbows once he notices you are no longer there. The muted glow of his desktop monitor reflects back at you in his eyes as he blinks.
“Where are you going?” he murmurs, a childish and whining tone to it. You smile, reaching to run your fingers briefly through his hair.
“Just gotta pee, I’ll be quick,” you reply quietly. You make your way across his bedroom, unsteady as you walk and still half in the clutches of sleep. You do not even reach the doorframe before realising that you’re being followed.
“What’re you doing?” You still as he takes your hand into his own, the seams of the leather artists glove pressing into your palm.
“I’m coming too, obviously,” he mumbles, nudging your shoulder with his forehead, “what a stupid question”.
GN!Reader x All Smite | One shot | No rating | Warning: power dynamics, intimidation, brief mention of death.
You’re a lowly thief. A decent safecracker, recruited into the infamous number one villain All Might’s ranks for a heist. You keep to yourself for the most part..until late one night you walk into a room in the dingy warehouse that was used as his base of operation. The man himself is hunched over and grumbling, a single yellow light hanging over his head swayed lazily, amplifying his blond tufts of hair that shot upward. What in the hell was he doing?
Nearing, All Might throws something across the room with a snarl, a small container that hits the wall with a piercing sound, glass shattering and black ink staining the wall. The smell is immediate- nail polish. You have to stifle the laugh that leaves you after the initial shock dissipates, bright burning blue eyes turning to you, his thick blond brows furrowing in his anger at the sudden intruder. “You.” he bellows, jabbing a large finger down at the ground besides him, “Come here.”
Who are you to deny the Scourge of Japan, the Great Villain, All Might? You realize you aren’t breathing, stepping towards the giant of a man – there was no way to refuse even if you had wanted to. This is it, you’re dead. You had laughed at the man and now he was going to end your miserable little life.
"Sit.“
He barks out, kicking the stool next to him with his heavy boot. You finally take that breath you’d been holding. He orders you to paint his nails. You would’ve laughed if it wasn’thim. No, you had learned your lesson.
Your hands are trembling with the brush, a twisted smile on the villains face seeing how he affected you so. Sweet little safecracker…His cerulean eyes roam over the way your lips parted, brows raised in concentration as the slightest bit of sweat began to bead on your brow. You took care, painting each with an endless black, not daring to mark his skin with the polish.
Those calloused and scarred hands, monstrous in size, had leveled near cities to ruin. They could end you in a fraction of a second. The man was terrifying. It felt like hours, feeling his harsh gaze on you ,doing your best at the task at hand. There is a hum in the back of the giants throat, a grim satisfaction at your trembling hands and anxious demeanor… He was enjoyingthis.
When all ten were finally painted you let out a sigh of relief.
No sooner then your exhale started did his hand grip your chin, oh the fear in your eyes was delicious to him, especially how you let out a loud gasp as his hand tilted your head upwards. Your nose flaring at the acrid smell of wet polish so close. His thumb ran against your bottom lip, his tongue mimicking the action as it ran along his sharp canine. "See you soon, My little Safecracker.” the sound of his voice like rolling thunder, an approaching storm just over the horizon- a warning of what was to come.
No words left your too-dry mouth, terror lined your every feature as he grinned down at you. His hand left your chin, a sinister smile against his lips. All Might had drank his dose of fear and had had his fill…for now. He stood, chuckling as heavy boots beat against the concrete with muffled thuds. Casting one last glance as you trembled with nails digging into the wood of the table, too petrified of what transpired to look back.
He was obsessed with it– this power over you. You were his little rabbit hopelessly ensnared in his trap. You just didn’t know it yet.
gn reader | arranged marriage au | angst to fluff | warnings: divorce mention, alcohol, abusive parents, arguing
your marriage to kiyoomi was not what you imagined it would be. he hated you and you didn’t know why. with your hopes of a happy marriage dashed, you decided to leave him after just one year. the divorce papers were drawn and your bags were packed, but what he reveals makes you reconsider.
A/N:I saw this TikTok of this woman lifting her boyfriend onto a counter and immediately thought about the scenario with Jay. I feel like he seems like he should be really “traditional” about being the dominant one in a relationship but he’s actually totally okay with letting his partner take control.
When it came to signature moves, Jay had a few that he always relied on. Some of them you were sure he didn’t even realize he was doing, like the little half smirk and the eyebrow raise. But others, you knew he did on purpose. Especially what you had decided months earlier was your absolute favorite.
It didn’t matter what you were doing in the kitchen, whether you were making food, washing dishes, getting a cup of coffee; Jay would come up behind you, turn you around, and lift you onto the counter. You weren’t sure if it was some macho masculinity thing or some ‘look how strong I am’ flex that he needed to prove to you that he could physically lift you off your feet. You knew you were neither petite nor thin and you definitely didn’t pull off that whole ‘wearing his shirt like a dress’ thing Gabby or Erin probably had but you were far from insecure about your relationship or yourself. You were a firefighter after all, you ran into burning buildings and hauled people out of them, you didn’t need a boyfriend who treated you like a delicate flower. And Jay never did but you knew he liked showing off (and liked taking you on the counter).
You’d dated guys in the past who always wanted to prove they were somehow tougher than you. Whether it was undermining your job, being condescending, or being oddly competitive with you, you were used to shitty boyfriends thinking it somehow threatened their masculinity to date someone who could probably kick their ass. Jay showing off wasn’t about showing you up though, it was simply about impressing you which is what made it so endearing in the first place. Like a funny quirk, it was a habit he didn’t seem willing to break.
You loved it honestly, even when you knew it was coming. The feeling of Jay leaving you slightly breathless as he lifted you onto the kitchen counter, caged you against the cabinet, and littered your thighs with kisses, gently pushing your legs apart…it was a good way to start your morning, especially when you were on shift and wouldn’t see him again until the next day.
“What are you watching?” It was Sylvie, or rather her new obsession with watching couples on TikTok, that sparked the idea.
“This woman did this video,” she passed the phone to you, “it was so cute and wholesome.”
You watched the woman in question lift her boyfriend onto their kitchen island and you almost laughed out loud, the image of you doing the same thing to Jay immediately coming to mind. Despite it feeling like your own personal inside joke you were surprised when the idea didn’t go away, instead nagging at you for the duration of shift until you finally decided to do something about it.
-
By the time you got home it was nearing 8am. Coffee was already brewing in the kitchen and you could hear the shower running from the en-suite bathroom. Jay was up, getting ready for work and reminding you why you hated off days more than shift days.
It didn’t take long for the shower to shut off, the quiet padding of Jay’s feet in the bedroom filling the silent apartment. You were sure he knew you were home, whether it was years of detective work or just a sixth sense he had, you very rarely managed to sneak up on him.
“Hey, you eat yet?” Jay asked, catching your attention as he walked into the kitchen in his boxers, grabbing his toothbrush off the counter. He wasn’t shy about the appreciative once over he did of you while he brushed his teeth, waiting for your answer. Your schedules didn’t always sync up the way Jay would’ve liked but he tried to be intentional about the time you did have. If he could get an extra hour of time with you before work he’d gladly take it.
“Not yet. But I’m not making you breakfast.”
“I wasn’t gonna ask you to make breakfast!” He insisted, toothbrush bobbing in his mouth as he spoke, “that was one time and I was incredibly hungover, to be fair.” Jay spit out his toothpaste, wiped his mouth and leaned against the kitchen counter, your mind immediately wandering to the video Sylvie had shown you. “I was gonna ask if you wanted to grab something before I head in.”
“Okay,” you agreed, closing the distance between you to kiss him. The sharp mint taste still on his lips made you scrunch your nose.
Without giving him any warning, you bent your knees just enough to wrap your arms around Jay’s waist and lift up, lifting your very solid boyfriend onto the kitchen counter the same way he’d done to you a hundred times.
“Holy shit!” Jay practically shouted as he grabbed at the butcher block counter. You couldn’t help laughing too, leaning forward into him, pressing your face into his thigh as you tried to catch your breath. You hadn’t honestly expected to be able to lift him that high and you were genuinely as surprised as him that you had hauled him onto the counter successfully.
A second later Jay was grabbing at your arms, pulling you away so he could see your face, hands moving to cup your cheeks, “what are you doing?” He asked, still amused.
“I was trying to be sexy,” you laughed, “you always do it.”
“Yeah…” he nodded, looking at you with that raised eyebrow like he was trying to figure something out, “I kinda liked it.”
“You’re so full of shit.”
“No, I’m serious, that was…hot.” He admitted, a light blush obscuring his freckles. He leaned forward enough that he could kiss you, tilting your head back as you leaned against the counter between his legs. You were convinced that Jay had a natural gravity about him, something that always drew you in, urging you to be as close as possible to him. If you were out somewhere together you always wanted to have a hand in his or his arm around your shoulder, when you kissed him, even at this height difference, with the counter more in your way than anything, you tried to be as close as possible, hands on his bare thighs, his knees caging you in, kissing him with your whole body leaning into his touch.
When you finally pulled away Jay hopped off the counter, backing you up to the island only to kiss you again. He kept his hands on your waist, squeezing just above the hand of your yoga shorts. “I thought we were getting something to eat,” you mentioned once he broke the kiss.
“I was distracted by you manhandling me first thing in the morning,” he teased, “just came out here to get some coffee-“
“I did not manhandle you,” you laughed, “get dressed, nobody needs to see all that this early in the morning.”
“Look who’s talking.” Jay’s hands left your waist, running over the spandex of your shorts to your ass.
“Get dressed,” you huffed, pushing him away from you.
Dead, everyone. Nearly your entire squad- minus a few lucky souls, could you even call it luck?
It wasn’t supposed to end like this, but the titans had come out of nowhere. You could still hear your squadmates scream- the people you practically grew up, the ones you spent every waking minute training with, gone.
And Lora, god, you couldn’t even think her name without tears slipping. She was almost out, so close to her horse when she was plucked like a lily from a dead garden, screaming and crying for help- your help. If you had been five seconds earlier, she would be here mourning with you.
It took Jean dragging you away, wrapping his limbs around your flailing ones, to get you away from the titans.
You’d kill them all, you promised him, even if it was the last thing you did.
In the end, you got what you came for: a live titan, something Hange wanted so they could study their behaviors- hopefully learn something important.
It was late when a knock on your door startled you, giving you just enough time to hastily wipe your tears as the door creaked open, “(y/n)…”
You didn’t bother to look up from the wall, a simple nod gave them all the confirmation they needed to walk in and sit beside you.
It was Hange, you could tell the minute their hand hit against the wood of the door. You could tell them from sound alone; they had a unique way of doing things.
“When..“ they paused, clearing their throat in a futile attempt to hide the anguish in their voice. "when I heard about what happened, I begged whatever god there may be that you were alive.”
Silence bloomed between the two of you, the faint sounds of rain hitting angrily against the window serving as background noise.
You wished the world would swallow you; the endless void of a titans mouth didn’t seem so bad.
“I was so scared I sent you on a suicide mission,” Hange admitted, hands tangled in their hair. “This wasn’t supposed to be the result- Armin’s plan seemed so perfect.”
And it had, that was the worst part. Armin’s plan seemed foolproof: get in it and get out with little to no casualties. He was so confident, would he ever recover from a tragedy like this?
They rambled on, a habit they developed when nervous or in this case, scared.“-and when I heard about Lora..” Hange’s eyes glossed over, tears threatening to spill for the millionth time. “Is an apology even enough?”
Time passed as their words filtered through your mind, taking much longer to form an adequate response. It was too easy to say the wrong thing, now was not the time for wrong things.
“My name,” you finally spoke, voice horse. “My name was the one she was screaming as it’s teeth tore into her flesh.”
Hange couldn’t control it, tears forcefully spilled out, knowing Lora had met her end with a titan on the mission they sent her on. "This is all my fault.”
Your eyes were dull, red and sore from the endless crying, a far away look within them as you stared blankly at the wall. “Everyone, nearly my entire squad is gone,“ their screams would haunt your nightmares. "how do I heal from this?”
Turning to Hange, seeing their face- you knew you wouldn’t. You could build a new squad, erase the memory with alcohol, but a piece of your heart will remain on that battlefield.
Hange knew your pain; they had been in your shoes twice before. “You learn to grow around the grief,” they spoke, gentle and affirming. “And I know it’s not enough, but I’m here.” Their left arm wrapped around you, setting their head on top of yours.
The storm had calmed significantly, the rain hitting the window allowed a calm pitter patter to envelop the room.
Lora’s bed sat across from you, unmade and messy. She had never been good at keeping her side of the room clean.
“It sucks,” you mumbled, a quiet laugh following. Using the back of your hand, you tried to wipe the tears- though it was useless as they kept falling. “Because I want to hate you, to put the blame on you and Armin.”
The tips of your fingers brushed against their hand as you met eyes, part of you still fought to do just that- but you knew better. “But I know it wasn’t you or Armin, it was those stupid fucking titans that took my bestfriend.”
The words clawed their way out of your throat before you had time to think, but a weight came off your shoulders. “I love you, Hange. I just need time.”
Note: Though I do have a masters degree in Psychology and clinical training in treating survivors of abuse, I am not your therapist, nor is this fic intended to take the place of professional help. If you are experiencing any type of abuse, please seek support from a professional. Utilize the Victim Connect Resource Center to get connected to the appropriate helpline.
Warnings:18+ ONLY!, consumption of alcohol (Ray & reader both), soft drug use (Ray & reader both), mentions of sex, Trenette al pesto with green beans (sorry green bean haters™ but they really do make the dish don’t hate me.)
Tags:fluff, yearning, a tad bit of teasing at smut, Ray is a gentleman but in no way a decent cook
Word count: 2897
Summary:Ray finally bites the bullet and makes a move. Well, with the help of Michael and Rosalind, who both enjoy watching you two blush around each other more than watching First Dates on Channel 4.
A/N: i really like the way this one turned out! enjoyy
warnings: none,, fluffy
SFW
word count: 1.4k
summary: You’re woken up by the cold, only to find a certain samurai missing from his bed.
You curled deep into the thick blanket on your bed, believing that engulfing yourself in its warmth would somehow return you back to your dreams. These efforts were to no avail, however, as the biting chill in the air had already invaded your warm cocoon and roused you from the brink of sleep. A defeated and tired sigh made its way from your lips. You would curse Dragonspine’s brutal weather once you found the energy.
The frigid region’s merciless reputation preceded itself all across Teyvat. Horror stories of adventurers never returning from the snowy mountains were frequently told in bars; you were unsure whether those rumors were told just to get a reaction out of the drunkards, or if they actually held some validity. Now that you were stationed along its icy coast, the latter option was becoming more and more feasible.
The Alcor’s new course currently placed the armed ship along Dragonspine’s icy shores. Although the weather wasn’t as aggressive in the water as it was on mainland, it still sent most of the crew into their sleeping quarters early—eager to escape the freezing air on the main deck. The cold proved to be inescapable, sadly, leaving you victim to its unpleasant intrusion.
You huffed and rolled over, checking if any of your fellow crew members were also awoken by the freezing draft. The room was small and had beds lining both walls. Barely any moonlight shone through its foggy windows. From what you could make out, there was only one empty bed in the room—one usually inhabited by a certain stowaway.
Of course, who other than Kazuha would stay out in such low temperatures, in the middle of the night, nonetheless.
You willed yourself to pull away from the bed, disrupted by the cold and curious of Kazuha’s whereabouts. As to not wake any of the sleeping crew, you slowly opened and closed the door of the sleeping quarters and walked out onto the main deck. The air was unwelcoming, instantly pinching at your fingertips and nose. The tall Dragonspine mountains loomed menacingly in the distance, daring you to fight back against its frigid attack. A calming tune pulled your attention away from the provocation.
It was a faint sound that danced around the restless, sharp wind. The sound very well may have been the only peaceful one for miles. Before a harsh gust of wind could muffle the soft music, you identified its source to be from the Alcor’s crow’s nest, a favorite spot of your ronin friend.
“So troublesome…” you muttered with feigned annoyance. No matter how hard you tried, it was impossible to be upset with Kazuha’s carefree nature. Even if it meant exposing yourself to the unforgiving air. You slowly ascended the rope ladder that led up to the lookout spot.
At the top sat Kazuha, as expected. A half-full cup of wine sat by his side. His eyes were contently closed as he happily serenaded himself using a leaf flute. While he continued to play his song, unaware of your arrival, you took in his appearance. The usually half-worn, black yukata Kazuha wore now properly covered both arms. Red and orange maple leaf patterns hung from both wrists. His cheeks and nose were dusted pink from both the alcohol and the weather. The red and black scarves on his neck were pulled up higher around his neck, barely kissing his chin. Draped around his shoulders was a blanket, the excess fabric on the ground folding around his frame in a semi-circle. A small triangle of his chest was exposed between the blankets gap, a place usually hidden by his scarves.
You blamed your blushing cheeks on the cold air.
Kazuha’s flute stopped singing as he took notice of your presence besides him. His welcoming smile reached his eyes as he spoke.
“(Y/N), it’s nice to see you,” he hummed. “To what occasion do I owe this pleasure to?” His bandaged hand reached for his cup of wine and took a sip, staring into your eyes all the while. You swallowed and crouched down next to him, ignoring his question.
“Gods, Kazuha, it’s freezing outside. Why are you out here so late?"
He broke eye contact with you to continue observing the far off Dragonspine coast.
"I love the snow…With our usual routes at sea, the opportunity to appreciate the snowfall rarely presents itself—even if it’s just watching from some distance away,” he sighed. “I can’t help but feel at peace in this weather. Wine and song go quite well to compliment the view, no?” He wasn’t wrong. The sight of the coast and its bright white snow was a calming beauty. However, you were a bit too tired and freezing to truly appreciate the scenery.
“I guess you’re right. Doesn’t change the fact that my hands are about to fall off, though,” you laughed.
Suddenly, your balance was forcefully taken from you as Kazuha tugged on your arm, pulling you into his lap. Your back was flush against his chest and his legs straddled your sides. Kazuha’s hands gripped the sides of the blanket on his shoulders, then wrapped his arms around your waist, covering both of you in it’s warmth. Your brain lagged behind the events occurring. All you knew was that Kazuha had just pulled you onto his lap and began cuddling you, tucking his chin over your shoulder and cheek to cheek with your own face.
“K-Kazuha, what? What are you doing…” You were a stuttering, blushing mess as his body heat quickly fought off the prickly, icy sensation in your limbs from all directions. Forget hypothermia, you were going to overheat if you stayed in this position any longer.
He wrapped his arms and the blanket tighter around you, and softly whispered in your ear, “You said you were cold. I’m simply warming you up.” Kazuha’s breath was hot, sending a shiver down your spine. Never before had he been this direct with you. Perhaps it was the alcohol in his system that guided his movements. Whatever it was, you had no complains as you made yourself cozy against him. There was hardly any room left separating your bodies from each other.
“I did say that, didn’t I? Well, we better stay like this for a while, then. I get cold rather easily,” you smiled. Your sleepiness and Kazuha’s actions made you feel more daring than usual. Turning your head slightly, you said, “In fact, my face is pretty cold, too. Anything you can do to warm me up there?”
Kazuha knowingly chuckled, his lips smirking against your jaw before placing a gentle kiss to the spot. He dragged his lips up to the shell of your ear before sighing and kissing again. As his kisses made their way over your cheek and temple, your upper body twisted to partially face his own, giving him easier access to you. Warm, loving kisses danced across your forehead, cheeks and nose for a bit until their attacks ceased. Kazuha touched his forehead to yours, causing your noses to bump together. Flirty, scarlet eyes filled your vision and captivated your own. A cheeky smile had long since bloomed on the samurai’s face.
“Is there anywhere that I missed?” He hummed out.
“Mm, my lips feel a bit blue. Would you mind checking, just to be safe?”
“Your wish is my command, my love.”
Your lips collided with his in a passionate kiss as Kazuha threaded one hand through your hair, and another around your waist. All your senses were filled with him. He tasted like red wine and smelt like evergreen. His body was hot and comforting as you pushed closer into him, placing a hand on his chest. The way Kazuha kissed you was needy and intense, yet gentle and affectionate all the same. It was clear you both had wanted to do this for a very long time.
It was unclear who broke the kiss first, but you and Kazuha were both lightly panting in its aftermath. Goofy smiles broke out on your face in the bliss of the moment. Even without words being spoken, the two of you communicated every loving word you wished to say in that kiss. A happy sigh escaped you as you returned your back to his chest, continuing to gaze out at the snowy horizon. His arms took their place around you once again, as if they were always meant to be there.
The freezing Dragonspine weather was no match for the loving warmth Kazuha brought you on this cold night, out at sea.
A/N: i feel so bad posting this with inazuma and all the new content… no one cares abt the windblume festival rn its 2.0 lolol. i wrote this during the windblume festival and thought i’d also share it on here. windblume plot doesn’t really have that much to do with the story itself so its whatever
warnings: cringe… but none
SFW
word count: 1.3k
summary: You fall victim to venti’s schemes and are now on your way to confess to Diluc.
“Oh, Barbatos, I can’t do this. This was stupid to begin with.”
Your heart felt tight in your chest as you walked. Clammy hands fiddled around a bouquet of freshly picked small lamp grass. The blue petals were illuminated in the moonlight that shined down on Mondstadt. Small lamp grass always had a gentle, refreshing floral scent when it was picked, but you did not feel refreshed in the slightest. In fact, you were more than ready to throw up.
The Windblume Festival in Mondstadt was the designated time of year for romantic endeavors and confessions to occur. It was a time of independence, freedom, and love for the city. You planned to spend this year enjoying the culture and activities offered, but the Archons seemed to have other divine plans for you instead. The Archon, Barbatos, to be specific.
In order to make some quick cash for alcohol, Venti had been offering romantic poetry lessons to the citizens wishing to convey their feelings to their sweetheart or lover-to-be. You had no intentions of partaking in the romantic side of the festival, but a certain Cavalry Captain had managed to get you involved. Venti wanted wine from Kaeya, who would procure it from Diluc. Kaeya was unsure if he would actually be able to get the “payment” from Diluc, so he snitched on your feelings for the bartender to Venti.
Venti saw your struggle as potential—for more wine, that is. He decided to kill two birds with one stone, and now you were on your way to confess your love to the Dawn Winery’s tycoon himself. Of course, part of you was doing this willingly.
It’s become almost painful to be around Diluc lately. Your thoughts always became distracted when you were around him, and you’re unable to focus during work and commissions at times due to thinking about him. He sent butterflies swarming into your stomach just from meeting his eyes, and his fire wasn’t needed to make your cheeks flare red from heat. It was embarrassing how much of a wreck he made you.
You figured that finally confessing your feelings to Diluc was for the best, and maybe this push from Venti was exactly what you needed to get over him. There really was no harm in confessing. Having a crush on someone was akin to complimenting them. It meant you respected and admired them as a person. The only down side to confessing was the chance of rejection, which could put a strain on your relationship with Diluc and make things tense. Diluc was known to have antisocial tendencies, so maybe he would feel tooawkward every time he saw you and end up avoiding you entirely.
But, it was too late to let that wonderful pep talk steer you away from your destination himself. Diluc had walked out of the Angel’s Share bar and locked the door. He turned around and found your eyes staring at his. It had obviously been a busy night at the bar, as Diluc only ever put his beautiful hair in a high ponytail on busy nights. The moon’s soft luminescence served to highlight the light flush on his cheeks. Diluc’s smile was gentle and warm as he raised a gloved hand to greet you.
That kind smile felt like an arrow being shot into your stomach, causing you to inhale sharply. There was no turning back now. You softly cradled the bouquet to your chest with one arm, and raised the other arm to return his greeting. Reluctantly, your legs slowly began to make their way towards him.
“What are you doing out this late, (Y/N)?” Diluc questioned. His eyes glanced over the bouquet you carried, but refrained from asking anything about it. You bit the inside of your cheek for a second, thinking about the words you would use to end your favorite friendship. You took in a deep breath.
“I came to talk to you about something, actually. Do you have a few minutes to spare? I know it’s pretty late.”
“I do. What do you need?” He stood looking down at you. Your body was hot and fidgety under his gaze. It wasn’t even an option to continue looking at his expecting eyes, so you settled on giving your speech to his boots.
“Diluc… I know you’re a busy man with a large burden put on your shoulders. I see how hard you work for the winery, and you’re always so diligent.” You nervously played with the parchment wrapping around the bouquet you held. “You take care of everything almost effortlessly, but I know you probably put a lot of stress on yourself to make it seem that way, and I really respect you for it. I respect how you treat your workers with kindness and put their needs above yours… You have such a kind heart to everyone, including me. For as long as I’ve known you, I’ve always seen you put others before yourself, like staying out late and putting yourself at risk for the sake of Mondstadt.” You paused for a second to breathe deeply, the heavy silence quickly scaring you back into talking.
“I really do…think very highly of you.” Your cheeks hurt from how hot they were. “But, the more I got to know you, I recognized other things about you. You have every reason to be cold and spiteful, yet you continue to have the most loving heart out of anyone I’ve met. You’re selfless and brave, and you never expect anyone to thank you. Lately, I’m unable to focus around you anymore. Whenever I’m with you, I feel so giddy that I don’t know what to do with myself. You make me feel so safe and happy, no matter where we are or what we’re doing. With every moment I spend with you, Diluc, I just…
"I realize how in love with you I am!”
It was terribly quiet now, and your heart was beating so fast that you expected to start seeing dots any second. You had said your feelings to Diluc, and there was no going back. You expected an awkward cutoff at some point to save you from the embarrassment of an unreciprocating rejection, or at least a quick, curt response, but neither seemed to come. Some time had passed after your confession, so you decided to look up at Diluc’s face.
When you met Diluc’s scarlet eyes, you immediately saw the dark red blush that covered the poor man’s surprised face. If you didn’t feel that exact same heat on your own face, you probably would have thought it was the cutest thing in the entire world. Your own eyes stared into his bright red ones for what felt like an eternity, until he finally opened his mouth to respond.
“You sure know how to catch me off-guard, (Y/N).” He chuckled softly, his words doing nothing to dismiss the rocks settling in your stomach. It felt like you would die if he didn’t give you a proper response soon.
Diluc stepped towards you, quickly closing the distance between your bodies. He leaned down and brought his hand up to your hair, brushing it back. Soft lips pressed gently against your forehead and another hand moved to cup the side of your jaw. Your eyes went wide and your mouth opened slightly in surprise. Diluc removed his lips and stood up straight, taking your hand in his and tracing your knuckles with his thumb.
“I’m sorry I made you confess first, (Y/N)… I’ve shared your feelings for a long time. Hearing you say those words—I genuinely thought I was in a dream.” His sweet laugh fell out of from his lips once again. This time, instead of making you feel heavy, you decided it was your new favorite sound—one that made you feel light and free. His laugh was the perfect sound for the Windblume Festival.
A/N: this is an older piece from a few months ago… i went through and edited it a bit. my diluc brainrot is always strong :( i hope he comes home too one day
warnings: none
SFW
word count: ~550
summary: You’re kept up late waiting for a certain someone.
The subtle moonlight that fell through your window did nothing to help your fight against heavy eyelids. A small cup of tea sat long abandoned on the low table in front of you. Even if the drink were to still contain the comforting heat it once did, nothing seemed more appealing than sleep at the moment. Nothing, besides sleep or him.
Sleep would surely not come soundly unless you knew how he was. It was long past the time he told you he would visit you. Your brain was hazy and loosely grasping at consciousness, but explanations for his delayed arrival kept you awake. Although it was unlikely he got overtaken in a battle, you also knew he was human and not as invincible as he thought he was. Perhaps a cargo wagon was delayed and he had to stay late to handle the repercussions? If there was a stalled wagon this late at night, maybe there were thieves who saw the distraction as an opportunity to attack him from behind? If he was nearly as tired as you were this late at night, they could have easily landed a blow on him from behind. Could he be bleeding out on a cold dirt road in the middle of the night, without anyone there to help him? While you stay here, warm and safe in your apartment?
And with that final thought, you forced yourself out of your seat, rushing to grab your jacket. There was no way you could stay here any longer without knowing why he was late. Anxiety began to swirl in your stomach, as it often did late at night when your thoughts roamed into frightening territory. You grabbed your front door’s handle and opened it, only for your vision to be filled with the wide chest of the very man you had been waiting for.
His arm was slightly outstretched, his elbow still tucked near his waist. The black cuff from his jacket hugged his gloved hand, which was about to knock on the door you had just opened. You looked up at his face. His soft lips were slightly parted and his eyes were wide, but tired. He was evidently surprised you opened the door when you did, but too exhausted to exhibit any animated emotions. Though, he wasn’t the type to do such a thing even when he wasn’t tired. Beautiful red hair fell around his face, tickling the edges of his jaw and cheeks. It seemed impossible to not spend a few seconds tracing the small, wild curls of his hair with your eyes. A heinous crime not to, to say the least.
“(Y/N)…”
If his presence alone wasn’t enough to eliminate the built-up anxiety you carried, his voice surely killed it off.
“It’s okay, Diluc.” You wrapped your arms underneath his heavy, black jacket, encircling his waist and pulling your entire body into him. You were too relieved to complain about his tardiness, and too tired to pull away from the warmth he always seemed to emanate. Asking him about his activities could wait for the morning. For now, you both were ready to welcome sleep. Diluc reciprocated your hug, wrapping his big arms over your own and around your back. He slouched forward to rest his chin on your head for a few seconds and sighed.
A/N: just a short one,, practiced writing in a different perspective. ty for the liking my last post, it made me happy to see people enjoyed reading it!
warnings: blood, light cursing
SFW
word count: 1.3k
summary: You haven’t seen Xiao in a while and you’ve become worried.
It had been quite some time since you last saw Xiao.
This was not an unusual occurrence, however. The adeptus made it abundantly clear that he was not sociable in the slightest regard. The never-ending task of protecting Liyue filled Xiao’s thoughts night and day, leaving room for little else. This preoccupation with his adeptal duties had been the case for a long time, and yet…
Xiao seemed to always find time to spend with you.
Whether he was aware of it or not, the Yaksha seldom failed to ignore your greetings on the Wangshu Inn balcony. Anytime you and your smile wandered onto the outdoor platform, followed by the smell of his favorite Almond Tofu, it was almost guaranteed that the adeptus would reveal himself.
A small friendship had gradually bloomed between you and Xiao. You figured he didn’t mind spending time with you, as you were one of the few people he had allowed to remain consistently present in his committed life. Many stories had been shared between the two of you—one sided tales of your travels, that is. Xiao would silently listen to you talk while he ate your offerings, only interjecting to question you after recounting some “foolish mortal” thing that he didn’t understand. It was a comfortable and peaceful friendship you had formed with the powerful adeptus.
Which is exactly why you were so perplexed over his recent absence.
Another plate of Almond Tofu had grown cold for the nth time this week, sadly abandoned on the Wangshu Inn balcony floor. You felt guilty for wasting so many meals, but the hopefulness that Xiao would eventually greet you like usual was stronger. That, and it would be awkward to eat the technical offering for an adeptus. You would have to profusely thank Smiley Yanxiao for making so many dishes.
A sigh fell from your lips as you traced the grooves on the wooden balustrade lining the outdoor balcony. The restaurant’s small seating area below the inn still had a few customers, even though it was long past sunset. Traveling merchants’ carts bounced over the stone bricks in the road, shaking the lanterns hanging off the back. Moonlight reflected off of the surrounding lake’s water. It would surely be a peaceful atmosphere if you weren’t so distracted by the dull anxiety gnawing at your gut.
You didn’t want to be pessimistic, but you couldn’t help your wandering thoughts. Xiao had never been a people person, nor did he claim to be. Perhaps he grew tired of your constant visits? There was no obligation on his part to spend time with the very mortals he protected. You greatly hoped this was not the case, since you had become slightly attached to the standoffish man.
He was not indebted to you, nor had any reason to entertain you so often, yet Xiao had never forcefully pushed you away. It was fun to watch him become confused over mortal customs and scoff at human tendencies. Xiao was patient with you and always gave you his full attention when you were together, even if he gazed off in another direction while you talked. He warned you that he was a ruthless and unforgiving being, yet you were always enchanted by his endearing manner.
Xiao told you to speak his name if you were ever in danger. You considered calling out to him, but ultimately decided against it, as it could cause some issues. What if he was busy fighting somewhere else, and through summoning him, someone was hurt? What if he was hurt? You thought it was unlikely. Although you’ve never seen him fight, he made it clear that he was a powerful Yaksha who could emerge unscathed, even when pitted against countless enemies.
So, where in the hell was he?
Before your train of excuses continued, you were hit with an overwhelmingly intense presence in the air. Chills shot violently through your spine and your stomach dropped. It felt as if gravity itself became heavier, intent on forcing your body down onto the patio floor. You barely managed to turn around, only to be met with an alarming sight.
Blood dripped from the looming figure, silhouette obscured by angry flares of a black and teal aura. The menacing, glowing eyes of a demon mask stared at you, just feet away. Familiar tufts of dark hair hung over the mask, weighted down from dark red stains. Their shoulders were hunched over and one hand was tightly wrapped around the jade polearm that had been stabbed into the ground. As you took in the being’s familiar outfit, you quickly realized something.
This person, threatening and bloodstained, was none other than Xiao.
Seconds passed before realizing you should speak out to the no-longer absent man. Before Xiao’s name could make it out, however, the spear by his side dissolved and he lost his support. You barely reacted in time, reaching out to catch him. Xiao was dead weight in your arms, causing you to fall to your knees.
You had so many questions, but couldn’t manage to focus on a single one due to the rapid pounding of your heart. Was this his blood? What was the dark aura coming from his body? Was he even conscious right now? Where had he been this entire time, and how long was he in this state? Was he okay?
Heavy, painful pants came from underneath the dark mask that covered Xiao’s face. You scooted your back against the balcony’s balustrade and held Xiao’s head in your arm, propping his upper body up on your thighs. You tried gently pulling off the mask, but it wouldn’t budge—almost as if it was attached directly to his face. You were becoming increasingly worried.
“Xiao? Xiao, what’s going on? Should I go find Goldet?”
His bloody, gloved hand tightly grabbed your arm. It wasn’t hard enough to leave a bruise, but enough for him to communicate his unspoken message. He wanted you to stay with him.
Your heart hurt from the sight in front of you. His face was hidden, but the constant pants and groans that came from him let you know he was in pain. Under normal circumstances, Xiao would never let anyone see him in this state, let alone a mortal like yourself. If he could see the sympathetic face you were making for him, he would surely tell you off.
You pulled the arm he gripped onto away, redirecting that intense hold to your hand. The arm cradling his head readjusted as you did your best to make him comfortable. The soft chatter from the lower restaurant had become completely silent. You and Xiao were the only nearby people who remained exposed to the night sky.
As you continued to rub your thumb over his hand in yours and mumble comforting words to the hurting Yaksha, the dark aura sparking out from his body came to a halt. The glow from the demon mask’s eyes dulled before the mask disappeared completely. Xiao’s pants slowed and the tight grip on your own hand softened. His usually sharp golden eyes were half-open and unfocused, staring at nothing in particular. It was a rare, vulnerable sight to witness.
Xiao was tired and hurting in your arms, yet he allowed you to hold him all the same. You didn’t know if it was even possible to help Xiao, knowing little about the adeptus’ karma. It made your heart ache to see him so exhausted and defeated, even more so that there would be no one aware to thank him for his sacrifices. Once he was able to move again, you would be the one to do so. Once he regained the light in his eyes and the strength in his legs.
Until then, just as Xiao protected Liyue, you would protect him from his unceasing karma, here in your arms.
Summary:After everything is taken from you and your companion, you try your best to comfort him.
SPOILERS FOR EPSIODE 6
Warnings!:Nothing really! Reader calls mando “Lorian”. Some angst, generally fluffy.
A/N:God wasn’t that a good episode. This is set when Bobas ship takes off, before he sees cara. I really like this piece, after writing two other similar fics, this one was the best.
_
He held your hand, through the chaos of it all. thick leather covered fingers grasping at your bare ones, grounding you, grounding him. It went by in a blink of an eye, the child, captured, stolen by a droid dressed in black, an explosion flashing red, your ears ringing, black smoke billowing out. Red shots fired past your head, searing some of your hair. Blink.darkness.
Even when you searched through the rubble of his home, your home, he held onto your hand. Like it was the only thing keeping him in reality, in this crazy fucked up reality. You both ignored the truth, the burned scent wafting around you, the clouds of black every time you stepped. The lack of your little green baby. your eyes watered, and you couldn’t tell if it was because of the ash or…other things.
You didn’t speak until you boarded Bobas ship. With a blanket wrapped around the two of you, huddled into a small makeshift bed set next to a wall. Mando didn’t move, he sat still, head resting on the back of the seat, slightly tilted to you. You felt it, his gaze. Something you had learned over many years. Even though you had never seen him, his fave, you could see his soul. On the outside, he showed anger, passion, and while that was true, the spark inside him was blue, the hottest part of a flame, and the saddest color. The ship held memories, long before he invited you on board. even if the happiest memories were with you, that ship was the last remaining attachment to his kin.
“Hey, Lorian.” you leaned closer to him, his cold armor pressing against your skin, sending a shiver down your spine. “we’re gonna be okay.”
The Mandalorian was silent, his deep breaths filling the air instead of an answer. His mind was racing, how he would get himself out of this. He wasn’t where he was supposed to be, this ship, that was too smooth and warm, jarringly perfect. He was supposed to be with Grogu, awaiting a Jedi to come and help train him. Then, it would be the two of you again, willingly. This, this just felt like a stolen moment, another thing on the long list that had been stolen from him.
“How are you so sure?” He nearly laughed, an uncomfortable, sorrow filled laugh. Throughout everything, you always remain optimistic. Always with a smile, saying ‘it’ll be ok’ or ‘we’ve made it through worse, this is nothing’
“Because doubt isn’t an option.” You said simply. “Especially when I’m around you.”
There was nothing but you could do but smile, and while it was hard, it was something.
“You should sleep. We have a rough day ahead of us.” you held his hand a bit tighter, drawing it up to your lips, placing a small, sweet kiss on the leather. “if not for you, for me.”
He sighed, letting his hand slip away from yours, resting it on your thigh, drawing tiny circles on your skin. He smiled to himself. Looking at you, and your thinly veiled fright, trying so hard to keep him calm. He didn’t deserve it. He didn’t deserve you. But here you were, wrapping your arm around his waist, and your head on his shoulder. Suddenly the warmth of the ship didn’t bother him, not when he focused of the warmth of you. He was going to get the child back, with your hep. He wouldn’t lose anything else. But…maybe he could enjoy the quiet with you, melt into your touch for the first time, let some guards down.
His breaths started to match your slowing ones. In, hold, out. and soon enough, a well needed sleep fell upon him. Dreamless, just how he liked it.
