Fenrys x Reader
You watched Rowan leap in between Aelin and Skull’s Bay, her eyes went wide. A heartbeat later she swung her arm away from him. Instincts bleating, you reacted, screaming for your men to MOVE. You lunged for the crew you had stationed near the young queen. The blast sounded, the shouting and splitting wood barely registered as you grabbed the nearest pirate and yanked him past you. The force of the eruption launched your body into the air.
You felt the searing pain in your leg before you hit the water. Your body tumbled in the chaos as you flung your arms around, trying to gain your bearings. You clenched your fists, the water around you steadied, allowing you to claw your way up to the surface. Fighting to get air in your lungs as you took in the destruction around you. Three Valg ships remained, and the Sea Dragon was reduced to rubble, floating on the waves. A breath of relief rushed out when you noticed most of your men survived, Rolfe hauling them onto Lysandra’s scaled back on the far side of the ruined ship.
A head of silver hair flashed in the corner of your eye. Rowan was cutting through the water, aiming for a reef not too far off. Remembering the sea wyverns, you swam for it too. Clamping your teeth on your lip as you paddled for the reef, the pain in your leg bellowed, slowing you down. The magic escaped your grasp as you tried to get the water to push you forward. Have you really run out already? It seemed too soon to be depleted, but this damn magic stuff was hard. You had to learn how to control it, clearly teaching yourself hasn’t worked.
Strong, calloused hands gripped your shoulder. “Grab on to me,” Gavriel, the lion shifter, on your left.
“I know how to swim, go help someone who needs it.” You ordered.
“You need it. You aren’t moving fast enough with that leg,” He pulled your arm around his shoulders, “Hold on.”
Pride stinging, you obeyed and held on to him as he swam toward his friend.
Rowan kept scanning the sea, even as he crouched to help pull you up onto the reef. Gavriel followed less than a moment later. You bit back a scream as you put weight on your leg. The sound broke free when you looked down to see a splinter of wood the size of your foot sticking out of your thigh. Rowan snapped his arms out to steady you as you teetered, his eyes never leaving the bay.
“I have to pull it out to heal it.” Gavriel’s calming but urgent tone drew your eyes away from the injury and to his tawny ones. You nodded.
Rowan muttered a thank you to the gods as he spotted Fenrys and Aelin making their way towards the reef, but still a ways out.
“Rowan,” He turned to the golden haired man at the firm tone. They stared at each other. Rowan’s chin dipped once, confirming something from their silent conversation. He wrapped one arm around your middle a heartbeat before Gavriel yanked the splinter out. The leg holding all your weight buckled, the prince behind you keeping you upright. The warrior in front of you gripped your thigh with his glowing hands, your blood coating them as he began to quickly heal your wound.
Adrenaline sparkled in your veins from the chaos. Aelin and Fenrys were swimming closer. The latter had been his magic to leap further, but they still weren’t close enough. Shifting your weight to your good leg, you tapped Rowan’s tattooed arm twice and told him to go. He dove into the water without hesitation and began swimming towards the female.
You squatted down to offer a hand and haul Aelin up. Gavriel’s grip on your thigh kept you from toppling over, though the pain surging in your thigh had black spots dancing in your vision. Rowan and Fenrys hauled themselves up, the prince immediately scanning Aelin for any injury. She waved him off with a hand.
Fenrys bent over, panting with his hands on his knees, and said to no one in particular, “I’m out.” Rowan gave him a single sharp nod.
“I’ll need to work on it again later, but you’re good for now,” Gavriel said as he rinsed his hands in the sea. You nodded your thanks and tested your weight on it. Still tender, you’d likely have a limp for a while, but not at risk of bleeding out. You’d take it.
Fenrys slowly straightened, his hands moving to support his lower back as he took a deep breath, “Don’t you have water magic? Shouldn’t you be able to heal yourself with the water and healing magic tendencies?”
“Pirates aren’t exactly flush with magic tutors. Self taught, and shit’s harder than it looks. For lack of a better term, water magic is slippery, I can’t get a good enough grip on it to control it like that.”
The male smirked and opened his mouth to reply but a loud crash and roar had everyone’s attention snapping to it. Lysandra was facing off against two sea wyverns.
After the shifter killed the two beasts, a collective stomach drop could almost be heard as three full grown sea wyverns came to avenge their young. Lysandra, Dorian and Aedion defeated them in the most incredible battle you had ever witnessed. Fenrys had to steady you with a hand on your elbow as the battle raged - your adrenaline ebbing, the pain in your leg became more prevalent. As soon as Lysandra headed towards the shore, your group on the reef dove for the beach. Aedion was already with Lysandra when you all arrived. Fenrys and Gavriel halted by the tree line while Aelin surged forward, the silver prince on her heels. You stopped somewhere in the middle, giving them space.
“What happened?” Aedion asked, eyes trained on his cousin, “What the hell happened out there?”
“I’d also like to know what the hell that was!” You echoed, limping closer.
“Now is not the time.” Rowan snapped, looking at both you and the general, his green eyes lingering on Aedion.
Your temper surged, “No? When would be the proper time for me to be angry about the lives of my men? Give me a timeframe, you godsdamn bastard!” The terror of the battle wearing off, giving way to your fury at what happened on that ship. Attempting to stomp through the sand to Aelin, your limp hindering the threat you tried to present.
Fenrys cut off your path with little effort and growled in warning, your blood reaching a boiling point at the sound.
Through your gritted teeth, you snarled right back, “Keep growling, dog, and your pelt will be the new rug in my cabin.”
“Enough.” Gavriel commanded, the growling ceased but your eyes stayed locked on the onyx ones. The shimmering you saw in them was enough to reignite the rage you were trying to stuff down.
You lunged at him, hands raised to wrap around his throat, but faltered when you had to balance on your bad leg. His hands that flung out to grip your wrists doing as much to hold you up as they did to keep your hands off his neck.
Wrenching them back, you turned back towards the scene on the beach.
“I’ll stay,” Aedion said. “You deal with Rolfe.”
Aelin and Rowan headed off to do as much, Aedion remained by the shifter’s side. You heard Gavriel offer to grab supplies and stay with them. Having no desire to hang around the awkward family reunion, you hobbled back to town.
Fenrys followed a few steps behind you, though he could have easily made it back to his lodgings without your pace slowing him down.
“I’m perfectly capable of walking back to town by myself,” You gritted, keeping your focus ahead of you.
“Oh I’m sure, but Gavriel will never let me hear the end of it if I left you to stumble home alone.”
“Leash a little tight, pup?”
He chuckled, “Another dog joke? I gave you too much credit, thinking you were far more clever than you clearly are.”
“Think of me often, do you?”
“Darling, I only think of you often enough to picture besting you when sparring, I delight in your anger.” The male now walking by your side.
“If you wanted to challenge me so badly, you could have just asked. I’d love the chance to filet you.” Your smile edged with distaste. “I’ll meet you at dawn in the courtyard.” You batted your lashes.
“Not unless you’re fully healed. It will be too easy with the injury, I want it to last longer than a minute.”
You chuckled, “Don’t have much experience holding out?”
Fenrys started just a fraction, blinking before a smirk grew on his face. “No complaints in my immortal, indulgent life.”
You rolled your eyes, sidestepping the glint in his eyes at the turn in conversation. “I’d argue that this injury would put us on equal footing.”
“You do realize I’m a fae warrior with over a hundred years of battle experience, right?” His golden brows rose.
You glanced sidelong at him, one brow cocked, “And I’m just a stupid little half-breed with less than ten years of training from pirates, right?”
“That’s not what I meant,” Fenrys blurted, halting and facing you.
You shrugged, “It’s ok, it’s more fun when you underestimate me anyway. Makes the victory even more…” You trailed off, turning your head to him. You cocked your head, akin to a predator assessing prey. Your purposefully half lidded eyes met his before sliding down to his lips. A subtle, almost subconscious darting of your tongue to the corner of your lips, delicately swiping just a little over your top lip. Driving it home with a hitch in your breath, gazing into his eyes again, you breathed, “Delicious.”
Fenrys stood impossibly still, but the smallest catch in his breath and the change in his scent gave it away.
You laughed and faced forward again, “Too easy.” You silently swore as your thigh burned, slowing your exit.
“Alright, I’ll concede that one. Looking forward to paying it back, honey,” He drawled, three strides putting him back on pace with you again.
“You’re gonna have to work a lot harder to gain my interest, mutt.”
Fenrys grinned. “Interest? No, I meant the upperhand.” You rolled your eyes.
A block and a half, a few more snide remarks and you stood in front of your meager lodgings. Barely more than a bedroom, bathing room and kitchen, but it served its purpose when you were in between sailings. If he had any thoughts on the building, Fenrys thankfully didn’t share them.
“Ok, you saw me home. Shoo,” You waved a hand at him.
He looked up at the second level window. “Can you manage the stairs?”
Eyes closed, you sighed, “I’ve done far more with far worse. Now leave.”
Fenrys shrugged, and walked away. He half turned his head, still walking, “Ocean Rose courtyard, an hour before dawn. Gavriel can fix up your leg before we start swinging.” You grunted and headed into the building. Prick.