Hello Malleus! I've been into perfume collecting for a while now, and I decided to make one just for you. I hope you enjoy :)
*The perfume opens with fresh notes of earl grey tea, ozone, and damp forest soil. It then blends into a warmer, earthy heart mix of oakmoss, patchouli, and amber, and finally fades into a deep, subtly sweet scent of smoky oud, leather, fir basalm, and vanilla.*
Oh my, what a delightful gift, perhaps next time, be a little bit mindful of how many Senses you add at once, but I will accept it with grace
Hello, I hope your day has been pleasant. I ended up taking your feedback into consideration, and I modified the perfume formula to be less intense. Hopefully this one is better!
*this time, the perfume has a more delicate, elegant mix of rain essence, lavender, and cedar.*
(✅️, please let me know if I have accidentally overstepped a rule)
ok ok ok
but you do realize it would give Leona an excuse to treat kouhais like actual babies
he'd go full flippant sarcasm. he'd go begrudged babysitter mode. he'd be so, so insufferable.
someone's trying to rile him up, and Leona asks if he should get them a chew toy, because he remembers how annoying Cheka was when he was teething. actually, Cheka needs playmates, and you're basically the same age, should he call his sister-in-law and arrange for a play date?
oh, he needs to go to class? if he's so old, it makes sense he already knows all of the material taught, why would he need to attend?
while we're on the topic, did no one taught you to respect your elders? go run to the cafeteria and bring him lunch. obviously he can't go himself, don't you know he's so old and frail?
oh, you need help? too bad he's going to sleep. you know uncle's old, he needs his nap time!
like, don't underestimate the pettiness of this guy. he'd def find ways to turn the jokes around 😂
Warnings (?): spoilers for Leona's room relaxation vignette, nauseating fluff, possibly bad Gaelic (I used a translator, so I have no idea how good it is 😭), possible ooc
A/N: I wanted to write about more characters, and I wanted to try Leona, considering he's on the other end of the spectrum of characters I've written about so far (inspiration struck me after reading his birthday vignette too). Anyways, I hope the Leona fans enjoy 💛🦁🖤
The worn blankets tangled between your legs as you tossed and turned in the bed. It hadn't even been 3 hours, yet it felt like an eternity had passed as you just laid here. Ironically enough, you even went to bed early. Yet, sleep evaded you when you needed it most.
Perhaps the stress of having a shared grade between you and Grim coupled with being Crowley's errand runner was finally catching up to you. At least the latter garnered you extra funds.
A sigh escaped your lips as you got out of bed to fix the now crumpled and twisted blankets from hours of trying to find the optimal sleep position.
You could convince the Ramshackle ghosts to play games with you until you felt tired enough. However, glancing up to see them all snuggled in their beds on the ceiling made you abandon the idea. Grim was already deep in a dream, mumbling about how glorious his tuna bounty was in between snores.
You had also cleaned the halls enough times to make a Grim clone out of the lint dust that was found on the floors and walls, so that was a hard no.
You then got an idea. While it wasn't necessarily the smartest of ideas for any other person, it was one you could get away with. Why not pay your dearest boyfriend a visit? He could probably help you, seeing as sleep seemed to be one of his talents.
You grabbed your pillow and tried your best to muffle the creaking and groaning of the ancient floor below you. You then cast a final glance behind to see if your direbeast roommate had woken up from your movements, but he was still fast asleep. He was even leaving his belly on full display. A small grin made its way on your face before you put slippers on and ventured out.
The sterling glow of the moon illuminated the now silent and still halls of the college, the usual clamoring and chattering gone for the night. The same silence echoed through Savannaclaw, with the exception of lightly swaying grass and the waterfall inside the dorm lounge.
You tried to keep your footsteps light as you climbed to the top floor of the dorm, even though the beast men of the dorm were already asleep or would've heard you anyways.
When you reached his door, you slowly turned the knob and pushed his door open. As you shuffled inside, you could see Leona comfortably curled up in his bed with a book, his finger tracing the page and muttering to himself.
“If “obag” means spell, and “boinnealach” is raindrops, then this is…”
A fond smile curled your lips upwards as you saw him so engrossed in reading. His ear twitched at the sound of your footsteps and his emerald colored eyes flickered up.
“Why the hell are you awake? You should be asleep, Herbivore.”
His voice still carried that usual lackadaisical cadence, but his tone had turned chastising.
“I could ask you the same thing. And believe me, I tried. However, much like Crowley dodges giving me an answer about his investigation, sleep has been dodging me.”
You grumbled as you bounced on your heels, waiting for his response. A small snort escaped him as he placed the book near him and he scooted over.
“S'pose there's no helping it. C'mre.”
He patted the space next to him and you trudged over before you just threw your pillow to the side and crawled under the blankets. Leona huffs as you lay your head in his lap, but he doesn’t move you. He then picks up his book and flips through pages until he reaches one.
“Maybe distracting that buzzing head of yours will finally make it go quiet.”
You then looked up and a small, cheeky smirk took up your features.
“I never thought you of all people would choose to read bed time stories.”
Leona mock sighed and shook his head, causing his umber colored tresses to sway.
“Well, if you don't want my help, then maybe you can just deal with this on your own-”
“Okay, okay! I'm listening.”
His smug smirk returned and he stroked through your hair.
“Good. Now, this is an old story from an ancient region in the Kingdom of Heroes in its original language.”
You shifted your body to lay on your side, your head still resting in your boyfriend's lap. A faint, resinous blend of cedar, amber, and earthy musk lingered on him, and it made you nuzzle into him further.
“Latha a bha siud, bha bana-phrionnsa a’ fuireach ann an dùthaich de chnuic. Is e bogha is saighead a bha i ag iarraidh an rud as motha, chan e doll no dreasa.”
(Once upon a time, a princess lived in a land of rolling hills. What she wanted the most wasn't a doll or a dress, but a bow and arrow.)
The soft lantern light on Leona's nightstand flickered, almost as if it was listening to him speak too. You fiddled with the fabric of his woven blankets as your cheek was squished against his firm thighs.
“Nuair a bha i a' fàs suas, chaith i a làithean a' marcachd tron choille agus a' losgadh air gach targaid a bha na raon aice. Ach, nuair a bha i mu dheireadh a dh' aois, dh' fhoillsich a màthair gun robh an t-àm ann dhi pòsadh ri cuideigin. Cha robh an nighean-uaisle ag iarraidh seo ge-tà. B’ àill leatha a saorsa a chumail mar a bha i. Cha do leig a màthair air, agus gu luath thàinig a h-uile mac a bha freagarrach de na clannaichean gus a làimh ann am pòsadh a cho-fharpaiseachadh.”
(Growing up, she spent her days riding through the forest and shooting at any target in her range. When she came of age, her mother decided it was time for her to be married. The princess didn't want this, however. She wished to keep her freedom as it was. Her mother didn't oblige, and soon every eligible son of the clans had come to compete for her hand in marriage.)
Your muscles began to relax as you listened to his deep, rich voice. Even if you understood none of the words or the world they spoke of, you found them pleasant to listen to.
“Bha i cho dùrachdach air a saorsa a chumail, gun do thagh i boghadaireachd mar an fharpais, agus loisg i air a làmh fhèin. Bha a màthair air a bhith feargach, agus argumaideadh i gun robh i a' trèigsinn traidisean agus a dleastanas. Dhiùlt i fhathast agus ruith i air falbh an àite sin. Rinn i ruith cho fada tro na coilltean is gun do thachair i air bothan iriosal nach fhacas i roimhe. An sin choinnich i ri bana-bhuidseach a dh'èist ris a' trioblaid aice agus a thug fuasgladh a dh'atharraicheadh an toradh. Ach, cha robh fuasgladh na bana-bhuidseach mar a bha e coltach. Nuair a thug an nighinn-tighearna e do a màthair, dh'atharraicheadh a màthair gun atharrachadh inntinn, ach ann am bodhaig. Bha i air fàs gu bhith na mathan.”
(She was so determined to keep her freedom that she chose archery as the competition and shot for her own hand. Her mother was furious, and she argued that she was abandoning tradition and her duty. She still refused and ran away instead. She had run so far through the woods that she encountered a humble cottage she had never seen before. There she met a witch who listened to her problem and offered a solution that would change the outcome. However, the witch's solution was not what it seemed. When the princess gave it to her mother, her mother had changed not in mind, but in body. She had become a bear.)
Your eyelids began to grow heavy as all the tension that had built up began melting away, leaving exhaustion in its wake. You tugged the blankets over your shoulders and your mouth opened in a soft yawn. The rest of the world no longer seemed to matter right now, all you could focus on was Leona reading to you. He always had a way of grounding you, his calm and steady presence was something you could hold onto whenever it all felt like too much.
It didn't take more than a few more minutes before you had fallen away from the present and into a peaceful slumber.
“Agus dh'ionnsaich a' phrionnsa gun urrainn do rud a dh'fheumas a bhith air a chàradh fàs nas làidire. Dh'ionnsaich a màthair gum b'e gabhail ri diofar an nighean aice pàirt riatanach de ghràdh gun chumha.”
(And the princess learned that what must be mended can grow stronger. Her mother learned that embracing her daughter's differences was a vital part of unconditional love.)
Leona then glanced down and saw your sleeping face. Smirk tugged at his lips as he saw that his idea had worked, and he carefully shifted your body so he could lie next to you.
“Goodnight, [Name]. Rest up.”
Thank you for reading 🌹🖤
A/N 2: In case you haven't guessed, the story Leona reads is in fact the plot of Brave (goated movie). Leona would definitely admire/respect Merida for her will/strength. The language specifically is Scottish Gaelic, and I hope that I can learn it one day (if I got things wrong, I apologize.
Let me know if there's any characters you would like me to write! Thanks again ✨️
Warnings: Book 7 spoilers, kind of angst to comfort, established relationship
Scenario: Emotions have always been difficult for Malleus. Thankfully, he isn't alone in dealing with them anymore.
Green lightning pierced through the atmosphere, followed by rain thrumming against the windows and resounding booms of thunder echoing across the skies.
Malleus remained still as he watched the storm grow closer to the college. The fruits of his blessings from the Senate. He would never come to harm, but he could cause harm in return.
His sadness sent frosts upon anything near him, his anger was enough to cause mountains to crumble, and even expressing joy could cause the ears of others to bleed.
Such power bestowed on me to protect me…it was couched as a blessing, yet it must be anything but.
He watched green sparks dance around his fingers. He seemed all too lost in thought to notice your soft footsteps towards him. You then stood near him and you said nothing as you tried to think of the right thing to say.
“Are you not afraid? You could be electrocuted if you came too close to me.”
Your head turned to look at him and you could see those brilliant green irises glowing as smoky clouds dimmed the usually golden evening sky.
You shook your head and you stayed right where you stood.
“No, I am not afraid. I want to help, and I can't do it from across the room.”
His widening pupils turned from black slits to obsidian ovals against neon green glass, and his chest felt constricted.
They don't wish to flee but to help me? Are they truly so foolish as to risk themselves?
You still didn't move an inch, and the faint scent of ozone radiated from him like the magic that shrouded his being. His expression then turned stony, almost reminiscent of the gargoyles he constantly admired.
“Leave now, [name]. Your safety cannot be guaranteed." His voice came out as an icy chill, one that could've been mistaken for a command towards a creature of darkness if not for the way he mentioned keeping you safe.
You sighed and you placed a hand on your hip, still not leaving my spot. Your voice came out like cashmere, not to coerce but to coax.
“I can’t help you if you force me out. So please, let me be there for you. Whether it be talking through it or just sitting in silence.”
He remained silent and looked back down at his hands. He clenched them into fists, and watched the sparks crackle.
He then closed his eyes and relaxed his hands. The raging storm outside began to fade away, revealing the shades of gold bleeding into purple and blue. The sparks at his fingertips began to die down, and an expression of exhaustion settled over his features.
You waited for a moment before you reached out and gently took his hand. He stiffened at the contact at first, but soon relaxed as he allowed your fingers to intertwine with his.
“What do you want me to do right now?”
His fingers gently curled around your own and he sighed.
“I…I am unsure. I usually deal with such things on my own.”
Grandmother would scold me for such an unbecoming display. And Lilia has always preached that control was vital for someone with my power.
You didn't know if he wanted to discuss it or not, and the weary set to his eyes and slight droop in his shoulders spoke of a bone deep emotional exhaustion that had built up over time.
You then looked out at the sky and a small smile tugged at your lips.
“The sunset is beautiful tonight. We could go out and watch for ourselves, and see the stars come out. Maybe even have some ice cream.”
Malleus nodded after a few moments, yet you could see a flicker return to his eyes at the suggestion.
After teleporting to Ramshackle and smuggling a tub outside of the freezer, you both walked to the back porch of the place and the aged wood creaked and groaned under your weight as you sat.
You each scooped a fair amount into bowls and began eating in a tranquil silence, the symphony of the light breeze and leaves rustling adding to the ambience.
As the ice cream melted into your mouth, you looked over at Malleus, watching as the hardened crinkles around his eyelids slowly softened and disappeared. You scooted over and pressed your fingers against his wrist before lacing your pinky with his, your shoulder touching his. He was burning like a furnace, but his pulse was slowing down.
“Did you wish to tell me what upset you?”
He didn't reply to me at first, still savoring the final bites of his ice cream and keeping his pinky wrapped with yours. He only spoke after silence stretched into minutes.
“I cannot name a singular cause. Perhaps it was the way a student trembled and fled when I tried to speak with them about a partnered alchemy experiment. Or how I missed yet another housewarden meeting and party because no one bothered to tell me. Or, merely the way I am being passed by while everyone flocks to one another…”
You listened in silence as he voiced his thoughts and frustrations. While his stoicism and regality painted a picture of indifference, even the most detached of beings would be affected after people scurried to avoid them over and over again.
You moved back slightly so you could face him properly.
“I'm sorry, Malleus. While I can't control other people, I can tell you that not everyone is just passing you by. Lilia cares a lot for you, and Silver and Sebek do as well-”
“Sebek and Silver are simply loyal retainers who have sworn fealty to me.”
“Even so, they are trying to get to know you better. I mean, how many times have they both gone with you to Gargoyle Studies club meetings or argued over what the best gift for your birthday would be? They even bombard Lilia with questions 2 weeks ahead every year so they can figure out what you like the most. Is that truly just sworn fealty?”
He raised a brow at your question and a neatly manicured finger propped itself under his pale chin as he silently considered your words. You then scooted back towards him, your breath whispering against his pointed ear.
“What's more, I care for you. All the time we've spent together under the moonlight, all the time I've spent hearing you laugh at something silly I said or just hearing you talk about everything and nothing in particular; it's all been part of the happiest I've ever felt. I adore the way you press kisses to my knuckles, receiving your handwritten letters, and feeling your tail wrap around me as you hold me.”
His lips parted slightly as you talked and allowed all the things you loved about him to spill from your own in a wordy waterfall. When you finished, you slightly backed away again to gauge his reaction. That same intense gaze that could make the masses tremble was motionless and wide.
He had been used to hearing praise all his life, placating sugar-coated words from politicians, servants and the like to gain his favor were almost expected. Yet, to hear someone speak to him straight from the heart without fear or expectation, nothing could be sweeter.
He took your hands and gingerly pulled you closer. You then took his hands and pressed tender kisses to his palms before resting your head on his shoulder.
“I won't pass you by, Tsunotaro. I'll walk with you, hand in hand.”
Malleus pressed a kiss to your temple and cradled your head close.
“And I shall walk with pride, knowing I have you beside me, my beauty.”
Some time later…
Dusk had cloaked over the sky like spilled ink, and the stars began dotting it one by one. Your bowls had been placed to the wayside, your treats long finished.
The alignment of each constellation was still the same, despite the months that had passed by. The amount of events happening was truly dizzying, even for those accustomed to Night Raven College's chaos.
Malleus had caused one of the largest magical disasters on Sage's Island, and he had a broken horn to show for it. Fortunately, his emotions would no longer result in storms or other disasters.
However, it had taken time (and an apologetic Malleus kneeling at your feet) to go back to how things normally were between both of you. It was the first time in weeks that you had met up like this in such a manner, and you were relieved the fear and the tension had dissolved and faded into the atmosphere.
Malleus was also lighter, and his emotions emerged and flitted more readily. You had also picked up on people avoiding him less, and even the way he allowed himself to enjoy the mundane more. You had missed the way intimacy came so easily before his overblot during those weeks, but you were relieved that he seemed happier.
“Beloved? Were you listening to me, or was your mind perhaps lost in the stars?”
His voice took on a teasing lilt as he lightly tapped your nose to bring your attention back to him.
“Merely lost in thought, Mal Mal.”
You smiled in return and you leaned closer to him. Your fingers brushed his bangs back to reveal the black diamond shaped scales on his forehead, and you pressed a kiss to them. The slightest rumble of delight resounded in his throat before he began to purr.
Thank you for reading 🌹🖤
A/N: Inspiration has avoided me like the damn plague, but I finally reached it ✨️ (several Book 7 angst edits pulled me out from the abyss to write this). Exams are also over too!! I wanted to write not only some Malleus comfort, but to show how the little traditions stuck around, even with his overblot (you also can't convince me that this didn't change the dynamic between Malleus and Yuu at least a little. It would probably be a little unsteady at first, but then if would grow even more than it did bc Malleus can show his emotions more freely now✨️).
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed my longest fic yet :) (1.5k)
Warnings: Religious themes, slight NSFW (brief mention with little details), reader is implied to be the Ramshackle prefect/Yuu, in first person, implied relationship
A/N: I was reading up on religious themes for a school assignment, and I saw that in the Bible (Book of Revelations), Satan is described as a dragon, and OMG, the symbolism was far too perfect, especially with how Malleus is viewed by the cast of twst. This is a little shorter (and a lot more dramatic) than the last, but I hope you enjoy 🐉💚✨️🖤
I had heard tales of beasts in various holy parables, in the foreshadowing woven into pages thousands of years older than I. The tale of eventual rapture and who would light the spark that would burst into the blaze of destruction. It spoke of the devil, of imagery, of godless beasts. Of a dragon, who was supposed to represent Satan himself.
I could hear the nervous whispers of fearful passersby as they caught glimpses of him in the halls, their eyes widening as his own gaze swept their way, and my brows furrowed. The prince of the nocturnal fae, a being who could transform into an ancient serpent that caused vortexes with a mere flap of his wings and scorching viridian flames with his breath alone.
And yet, I couldn't find it in me to understand, let alone agree with that connection. The same creature who possessed that power was the same man who would carry a child’s toy in his pocket for years just because it was from his mentor; the same man who would enthusiastically speak of and teach any listening ear about gargoyles and how their placement, expression, and type all served to convey a message only found by discerning eyes.
The same prince who was rumored to curse people just because they stood near him was the same one who patiently sat with and helped me with my homework, explaining elusive concepts with the words of someone who had traced them with his fingers on parchment for decades. The very fingers that would curl around my own whenever we took nightly walks around the school and happily discussed everything and nothing at the same time.
Such glimpses of joy could be found in his stoic and distant body language and expressions if you knew where to look. Flickers of it danced in his bright peridot irises whenever he took a bite of his favorite ice cream or whenever he received an invitation. His eyes would crinkle at the corners, and his painted violet lips would turn upward and reveal a glimpse of his fangs in an almost impish grin whenever he was joking or teasing someone as well.
It was said that dragons speak solely in roars that echoed like thunder and grating voices. While he was capable of that, he could also speak as softly as wind chimes in a breeze and sing with the voice of an angel. His performance at the masquerade and the reactions of the crowd had proven that much. His cape fluttered behind him as he moved and danced through the notes with a grace too beautiful to be anything but mystical.
Yet, his laughter was a song of its own. A melody of deep, dulcet tones that showed not organized composition, but pure joy. It radiated the kind of warmth you would get whenever you took refuge from a cold, biting day near a fire.
Such ramblings are nauseatingly sappy. Yet, how could I not find such things to love when he has done the same for me? The way he would pick me up and spin me around after he would return from a trip back home. The way he would kiss and worship every inch of me as I lay on my back with a tenderness and fervor that left both of our lungs burning and bodies spent; and the way he would hold me through my ugliest and most raw moments of weakness and homesickness made me think that he must have been sent from above.
The notion that he could even be connected to the devil as a serpent was unfathomable to me. He was far from perfect, but he wasn't evil or someone who delighted in the suffering of others. Though others trembled before him and his might, they missed what was genuinely underneath in favor of their own superstitions.
No matter. I would walk with him, hand in hand for as long as I could and beyond. I would do whatever it took to stretch past the limits of time.
“[Name]?”
My eyes darted up as I snapped out of my thoughts. Malleus’ eyebrow was lifted slightly as he studied my expression.
“You seemed to be lost in thought there for a moment. Is all well?”
I smiled and nodded, gently taking his pale hand and kissing the back of it. The slightest rosy tint creeped onto his cheeks, followed by a smile and a soft chuckle.
“Yes Malleus. Everything is just fine.”
~~~~
Thank you for reading 🌹🖤
A/N: Can you tell I have a favorite? Anyway, I want to write other characters as well, but idk who to start with. If anyone wants to see any more characters, please let me know!
The lunch table was already loud, but the first-years had carved out their usual chaotic corner of the cafeteria—louder, weirder, and vaguely unhinged in the way only a bunch of magically-gifted teenagers could manage. Yuu sat in the middle of it all, gnawing on a bread roll while Ace leaned across the table mid-rant.
“No, I’m serious! If you bite into string cheese instead of peeling it, you deserve prison.”
Deuce immediately snapped to attention, eyes wide. “That’s not even a misdemeanor. That’s, like, felony behavior.”
“Exactly!” Ace barked, flinging a grape across the table for emphasis.
“Wait,” Epel interjected, blinking. “I thought string cheese was for melting. You’re supposed to bite it.”
A collective gasp rippled through the table.
“Back to the countryside with you,” Ace hissed.
“Hey!” Epel flushed. “Don’t come for me just ‘cause y’all eat like anime protagonists!”
“Epel,” Yuu said slowly, “do you also bite popsicles straight from the freezer?”
He hesitated, then nodded.
“You’re not real,” Yuu whispered, staring at him like he was an eldritch being. “You’re an urban legend.”
“Biting ice cream is character-defining,” Sebek announced, slamming his tray down beside them with the force of a man about to give a war speech. “Lord Malleus would—”
“Nope. Nope!” Ace held up a hand. “Don’t drag your goth dragon dad into this.”
“He is not my—!”
“Bet he peels cheese like a gentleman,” Deuce mumbled.
“Lord Malleus does not consume cheese in public,” Sebek sniffed, insulted on three levels.
“That’s not a sentence I expected today,” Yuu muttered into her juice box.
Jack, having just sat down, raised an eyebrow. “What are we even talking about?”
“Cheese crimes,” Epel replied.
“Follow-up question,” Yuu said, pointing a finger, “would you rather fight a horse-sized duck or fifty duck-sized horses?”
“Duck-sized horses,” Jack said immediately.
“Wrong.” Epel pointed at him like he was accusing a murderer. “You ever been kicked by a horse?! Even mini ones are built like bricks!”
“They’re small, you could just stomp—”
“You wanna stomp a baby horse, Jack?” Ace interrupted with a grin. “That’s what you’re saying right now?”
“I never said that,” Jack snapped, ears twitching.
“No, but you implied it,” Deuce added, wide-eyed.
“Violence against animals, tsk tsk,” Yuu tutted dramatically.
Jack looked genuinely betrayed. “What kind of conversation is this?”
“Okay, but wait,” Yuu said, raising her hand again, “would you eat a centaur steak if the centaur gave you permission before dying?”
Deuce choked on his rice.
“I feel like that’s cannibalism,” Ace said slowly.
“No,” Yuu countered, “they’re not human. They’re, like, half horse.”
“So is my Uncle Kevin,” Epel muttered. Everyone stared.
“…You wanna unpack that?” Yuu asked, blinking.
“No,” Epel replied.
“Okay,” she nodded, moving on like that wasn’t concerning.
Sebek groaned. “Humans are so bizarre. Why discuss such filth during a meal?”
“You say that, but I know you’ve Googled if dragon tails are edible,” Ace shot back.
“THAT WAS FOR A RESEARCH PROJECT.”
“I don’t think your fanfiction counts,” Deuce said flatly.
“HOW DARE YOU—!”
“Hey,” Yuu cut in, voice suddenly soft and dangerous, “what does phoenix taste like?”
The table went quiet.
“…chicken?” Jack offered hesitantly.
“No way,” Ace scoffed. “Too spicy.”
“They literally combust,” Deuce said. “It’d be like eating coal.”
Epel nodded. “Like deep-fried ghost.”
Yuu stared at her tray. “I’d try it.”
Everyone turned to her.
“Are we gonna ignore that she said that so calmly?” Ace demanded. “Like she’s done it.”
“Yuu, blink twice if you’ve eaten something cursed,” Jack said, serious.
Yuu blinked. Twice.
Deuce leaned in. “Was it… human?”
“I’m vegetarian on Thursdays,” Yuu replied cryptically.
“That’s not—what does that mean—” Ace was gesturing wildly now. “That’s not even a real answer!”
Sebek stood, tray abandoned. “I can’t be near you people.”
“Then leave,” Epel deadpanned.
“Gladly!”
Sebek stomped off.
“…He’ll be back in five minutes,” Deuce said.
“He left his juice,” Jack noted.
Sure enough, Sebek returned thirty seconds later, grabbed his juice without making eye contact, and left again with a huff.
Ace cackled.
“We didn’t even get to the part about whether ghosts can consent to hauntings,” Yuu sighed dramatically, peeling another cheese stick.
“Next lunch,” Epel promised.
Jack buried his face in his hands. “I miss when we talked about normal things. Like sports.”
“We had a fifteen-minute argument last week about whether balls are sentient,” Deuce reminded him.
Jack groaned.
Yuu took a sip of juice, completely unfazed. “Hey, so… if you kiss a mermaid, is that, like, bestiality or intercultural relations?”
!Scenario: Reader is overstimulated and Malleus comforts them/ helps them calm down
Warnings(?): Tooth rotting fluff, reader is implied to be neurodivergent, a lot of cuddling/physical contact, established relationship (pet names), Reader is gender neutral
A/N: Sooo, this is my first fic or one shot, and I based it a lot off of my own experiences as someone who is neurodivergent/has ASD. Everyone reacts differently when experiencing overstimulation and needs different things to cope. Please feel free to leave any helpful feedback! (don't be an asshole)
Without further ado, please enjoy our favorite fluffy dragon prince 💚🐉🖤✨️
~~~~
The stomping of my feet created a rhythm like cracks of thunder, which perfectly represented my mood at the moment.
I was usually in control of myself and what went on around me, to some extent. However, today it completely slipped out of my grasp. A lack of sleep always had bad side effects.
Slower response times, a worse memory, and a weakened immune system just to name a few.
And yet, those didn't constitute the worst of the symptoms in my case.
The sounds of everyday life began to blur together in a cacophony that was all too loud, and the various smells left over from alchemical experiments, food, and perfumes cloyed my olfactory senses. Even the sunlight felt blinding.
My heart pumped with freshly consumed caffeine and the weight of various stressors; it was as though it was trying to break away from my ribcage. My stomach churned and writhed under that same weight, and it felt like it would empty itself at any moment.
Shallow, ragged breaths escaped me and my eyes darted around as I searched for a place without any people or stimuli. I couldn't take it anymore, I needed to escape.
“Augh!”
I stumbled as I registered that I had bumped into someone and my head snapped up. However, Malleus barely faltered, instead looking over at me.
“S-sorry, Malleus, I'll look where I'm going next time-”
His usually stoic and cold gaze then softened upon seeing me and he shook his head.
“Ah, do not worry dearest, it's alright. But, pray tell, you don't look well. Is something the matter?”
I tensed up lightly as he asked me what was wrong. It's not as though I feared that he would judge me for this, but I wasn't sure I was in the right state to explain my problem.
And yet, the way he pursed his painted lips and narrowed his eyes told me that he knew the answer to his own question. He then took my hand and he teleported both of us to his room.
We arrived in a swathe of green flames, and the bright lights, noises, and smells all vanished. Yet, it still felt as though I could hardly breathe. I sank down on his bed and my breathing still shook.
Malleus slowly walked over to me, and he sat next to me, a slightly confused look on his face.
He hadn't much experience in comforting people, seeing as he was isolated for the first part of his life. But, he didn't just want to leave, his beloved was suffering.
“My beauty, what is it you need of me right now?”
I then grabbed his hand, and I yanked him close to me as my arms wrapped around him like snakes seeking warmth. His eyes widened slightly, but he didn't pull away.
“Stay.”
He nodded and his arms gently pressed me against his chest. I closed my eyes and I tried taking deep breaths, my fingers grasping at the smooth leather of his dorm uniform. I wanted to burrow further and hide in his arms, until my sense of balance returned to me.
This helped me, but it wasn't quite enough. I was still shaken, and I could only focus on my own distress, even if the initial source was gone.
Suddenly, I got an idea. I then laid down and pulled Malleus on top of me, making him cover my body with his own. Now he just looked really confused.
“Mm? Child of Man, what are you doing?”
As he tried to remove himself from me, my arms hooked themselves back around his waist. Yet, there was nothing sexual about my grasp or body language, merely a need for comfort.
“Stay.”
His expression still remained confused, but he wasn't making any more effort to move off of me.
“Are you certain this will help you to calm down?”
I nodded, resting my face into the crook of his neck.
“Please, stay.”
His face then softened and he pressed a kiss on top of my head.
“Of course, my beauty.”
My eyelids fluttered shut and I allowed the weight of his body to blanket me and pull me back to my senses. My frayed senses almost seemed to be dulled by just focusing on him, and the agitation I felt began fading.
His heart beat flitted about in his chest, and I could feel it as he allowed his full body weight to sink on my own. He wasn't too warm or too cold, and I could smell hints of tea, oakmoss, smoke, and forest musk.
It was a physical reminder for me that he was here, and that he wasn't going anywhere.
Several minutes passed by before I opened my eyes again, and I saw him looking down at me with a sense of relief and affection.
“Do you feel better?”
“Yeah. It's not overwhelming me anymore.”
He then finally crawled off of me, and I slowly pushed myself up.
“Do you wish to tell me what was upsetting you so, dearest?”
I nodded and my gaze glided over to him again.
“Well, it wasn't a specific thing, really. I didn't sleep well last night, and that slows down my ability to filter out and process stimuli. So, the normal everyday stuff just got under my skin. And it doesn't help when I'm already kind of sensitive to stuff. I also just got done with a lot of stressful work too.”
He nodded as he placed a black-nailed fingertip underneath his chin.
“Ah, I see. Your mind struggles to filter out the necessary stimulation, and it's like a constant bombardment. That has happened to me at times as well. Especially considering that fae have far greater senses than humans. Though, why did you have me lay atop you?”
“Well…that was more of a last moment instinct, I guess. It was kind of like a weighted blanket, in a way. It brought me back and helped me calm down.”
“Ah, I see.”
A grin then curled his dark violet lips upwards, giving me a small glimpse of his fangs.
“In truth, I can not complain. See, dragons often sleep atop their hoard to protect it, and I did something quite similar just now. I protected my most precious treasure during a vulnerable moment.”
I snorted at the fae's little comment, placing my arm around him and leaning into him. He was utterly adorable.
“I love you, Malleus.”
“I love you as well, my beauty. If you ever feel so overwhelmed in the future, then I am more than pleased to ground you by laying with you.”
~~~~~~
A/N: Hehehe, living dragon weighted blanket go brrrr
