Elysium Library

28 (she/her) ◇ 18+ blog; MDNI

[elysium-library]

i miss valko :/

[xiexielians]

We were probably in a "you're mine" sorta dynamic?

[elysium-library]

“Rhyven”, you whine as Reaper his wraps his leather-clad hands around your neck.

Asher stops dead in the doorway, his expression flickering between alarm, disbelief, and something dangerously close to fury… but just as fast, his gaze lands on your face. On the way you’re leaning into Rhyven’s touch, the flush high on your cheeks, the way your fingers curl against his wrists instead of trying to pull them away.

Ah, that’s how it is.

Asher starts taking off his Viper mask as he walks up to you, already straining in his suit.

Rhyven kisses you deeply, maintaining a gentle pressure on your throat. He feels you squirm against him and smiles, removing his hands off your throat as he leans back.

Asher pulls on your hair from behind as you pant, leaning your head back. “Hi, sweetheart.” He kisses you roughly, wrapping his other hand around your throat to continue the pressure Rhyven was giving you.

When you can’t breathe anymore, he lets go as you gasp, letting you lean against Rhyven’s chest as you regain your breath.

[elysium-library]

“Team lead!”, you sing-song as you walk up to headquarters, spotting Viper.

He looks up… just in time to see you double over. He rushes over to you, but Rhyven catches you from behind at the same time.

Asher doesn’t let go. “Did he-“

Rhyven cuts him off with a glare. “Like hell I did. Sunshine, what’s wrong?”

You wince, gritting out. “I’m just cramping! Don’t destroy the building!”

[elysium-library]

You curl into Asher’s chest as you fight to keep your eyes open. Reaper is still fighting a team of heroes onscreen. You need to… stay… awake…

Rhyven steps out of the shadows with his usual effortless grace, brushing dust off his sleeve as if he just strolled in through the front door. His gaze flicks to Asher, then to you, lingering on your sleepy state before he smiles. “Miss me already?”, he says.

Asher rolls his eyes, supporting you as you try to sit up. “Took you long enough to wrap it up. She’s exhausted.”

“Poor baby”, he murmurs, leaning down to kiss the top of your head. “Did I keep you up? I’m sorry.” His eyes meet with Asher’s, then he takes a step back. “Let’s get you to bed, sunshine.” He summons shadows with a flick of his wrist.

Asher stands up and hold you in his arms, getting you close enough to Rhyven to make contact. All three of you disappear in a wisp.

[elysium-library]

Rhyven laughs as he adjusts his grip on you, shifting you into a more comfortable position in his lap. “You're cute when you're pouting, sunshine.”

You scowl, then kiss his cheek.

It has the intended effect.

He pauses, looking startled for a moment.

But then he recovers, an even greater smile on his face. “You can do better than that, sunshine…”

“Yeah?” You lean in, accepting the challenge. He pulls you closer as he meets you halfway. The kiss is slow, deliberate, like he's savoring it. Taking his dose of sunshine.

When he finally pulls back, his usual confidence is there, but softer now. “See?”, he murmurs, voice rough at the edges. “I knew you had it in you.”

[elysium-library]

“I shouldn’t be talking to you, Reaper”, you bite out, walking away.

He bristles as you swap to his villain name. You’d said ‘Rhyven’ so eagerly for so long that….

He follows after you, turning you back around to face him. “Why, because I’m a villain?”

You become flustered, looking away quickly. “E-exactly.”

He exhales, backing you up into a wall. “Are you really going to shut me out again?” He says, voice quiet. “Sunshine, I… if you tell me to go, I’ll go.”

You swallow.

He leans down. “But if you don’t want me to go….”

“Rhyven”, you mumble, and he sighs in relief.

[elysium-library]

“What are you reading?”, a voice cuts through the quiet ambiance. In civilian clothes, Reaper looks a world apart from his usual self. Gone is the black military-style gear, replaced by a tailored black suit that hugs every line of his frame, perfectly accentuating his imposing figure. The cut of the suit highlights his broad shoulders and tapered waist, making him look like the embodiment of power and control, just in a different way.

Heroes don’t have secret identities, but you’re not popular enough yet to have people swarm you off-duty. And after the last disastrous encounter, Reaper decided to meet you as his civilian identity Rhyven instead.

Your eyes sparkle, quite literally, as your powers flow out when you look up at him. It’s a sight to behold. You hold up the cover, excitedly, “it’s a commemorative edition of Pride and Prejudice, sir.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Austen”. He thinks back to Elizabeth Bennet, all sharp wit and no patience for fools. It reminds him of…

He fights back a smile. “Would you mind if I join you? It’s a bit crowded in here.”

You glance around… he’s right, it’s busier than usual today. You look back at him. He seems harmless enough. And if you need to, you should be able to defend yourself against a civilian.

He watches you quickly calculate, stamping down the concern that dwells within him at how you’re inexperienced enough to be tricked still.

Once you nod, he sits down. “I’m Rhyven…”

[elysium-library]

The man is like a shadow, silent and dark. You collide with him so hard you almost bounce off his solid frame. As you’re stumbling back, he grabs your arm to steady you.

You blink, taking in the figure in front of you. “Reaper!”, you pale, rapidly trying to get out of his hold.

He doesn’t let you. “Sunshine…”

“You going to kill me this time?”, you ask, panic rising in your voice. You’re face to face with one of the highest level threats in the city, the villain Reaper.

He exhales, letting you go slowly. “If I wanted you dead, sunshine”, he murmurs, “you’d be dead by now. Breath.”

You breathe heavily, looking up at him. “W-why-“

“Pity’s a hell of a motivator”, he says, taking a step back to give you space. There’s something about the way he says it, that tells you he’s not telling the truth. “Is that better?”

You finally catch your breath, brows furrowing as you open your mouth…

… right as Viper lands in front of you, glaring at Reaper. He’s so furious there’s flames flickering off him. “The fuck do you want with my team member, Reaper? She’s a rookie, for fuck’s sake.”

Reaper scoffs. “I barely said anything to her, Viper.” Shadow tendrils emanate from him. “But if you’re so eager for another rematch…”

Your voice, small as it is, slips out behind Viper. “R-Reaper, please l-leave.”

Reaper looks past Viper’s shoulder at you, and something makes him falter. For a moment, he just looks at you, his expression unreadable. Then, he sighs, a sharp, frustrated sound.

“Fine”, he says, his shadow tendrils retracting. “Since you asked so damn nicely, I’ll go.”

As soon as he’s gone, Viper turns back to you quickly, cupping your face in his hands as he looks over you.

You blink. “Viper, I-I’m alright. He didn’t-“

He shakes his head, then hugs you, catching you off guard. “I’m not alright though. As soon as I realized… I was fucking scared, Starlight. I thought…”

He buries his head in your hair, and murmurs something quietly in your ear.

You gasp, and then you hug him back tightly.

[elysium-library]

The comm crackles to life, Viper's voice a familiar anchor in your ear. “Starlight, you still on that rooftop?”

“Sorry, team lead”, you mumble sleepily. “It’s just so pretty up here…”

He audibly sighs on the other end, something that sounds like irritation. But there's something else there, just under the surface. “Starlight…”

“You know I’m not a morning person”, you whine. “Gimme a second…”

Viper exhales sharply over the comm. His voice lowers, just a fraction. “Tell me something I don’t know”, he mutters, and you can almost picture him rubbing his temple.

He clears his throat, his voice coming out softer. “Look, come down and we’ll go get some caffeine before we continue the mission.”

He’s a patient man, especially with you, but you’re more tired than either of you realize. Before you can process what you’re saying, you blurt out, “if I don’t, you gonna punish me?”

After an instant of stunned silence, Viper's voice returns, much sharper this time. “You testing me, princess?” You can practically hear his teeth grind. “Get. Down. From. That. Roof. Now.”

You somersault off the rooftop immediately, landing in front of him.

[elysium-library]

Viper rolls his eyes, a half-smile tugging at his lips. “Don't get sappy on me. You're making me sound like a goddamn role model.” He runs a hand through his sweat-damp hair.

You laugh. “Not with that potty mouth, team lead.”

He snorts, shaking his head as you head for the door. His voice follows you, laced with the barest edge of affection. “You're one to talk, princess.”

You look over your shoulder, a cheeky smile on your face. “I’m only like that with you, Viper!” And with that, you’re gone.

Viper huffs a laugh, shaking his head as the door clicks shut behind you. For a moment, he just sits there, the ghost of that smirk still playing on his lips. Then, with a long exhale, he pushes to his feet, muttering under his breath as he heads for the showers. “Only with me, huh...?”

[elysium-library]

The two heroines step into the training room just as you’re about to start your warm-up. Their eyes narrow when they see you.

One of them, a close-range specialist, flicks her ponytail over her shoulder. “Oh look, it’s the legendary Starlight”, she drawls, voice dripping with faux admiration. “You almost got yourself killed yesterday, and yet you still get to stay on Viper’s team.”

The other scoffs, adjusting her gloves with deliberate slowness. “Makes you wonder why a rookie like her gets special treatment like that. Maybe-“

The training dummy beside them suddenly cracks in half, split clean down the middle by a flaming knife.

Viper walks up behind you, waving his hand to dissipate the lingering flames. “You got a problem with how I run my team?”, he asks, his tone deceptively mild.

You watch the heroines blanche. “N-no, sir-“

“Good. Leave.”

[elysium-library]

You swallow, looking at your team leader. “Viper… why do you think he let me live?”

Viper’s fingers still against the desk. His eyes flick up, sharp. “Don’t”, he says. “Don’t waste brain cells trying to figure out how monsters think.”

You respect your team leader, you do. It’s a privilege to be on Viper’s team, one you understand well. But… you can’t help wondering anyway.

[elysium-library]

[elysium-library]

Republican Era Shanghai Marshal Caleb

Credits: @allitems000 on Twitter,

[elysium-library]

Title: I drank it instead of my husband 🔞

[elysium-library]

Title: I drank it instead of my husband 🔞