[hainofablaiz]

𝖘𝖐𝖆𝖎𝖋𝖆𝖞𝖆 ;​

𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊𝐒 𝐀𝐆𝐎,   𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐖𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 been nervous about being told they were going outside of the housing that homed most of azgeda’s most important people.    she would have thought that she was being led to her death;   she would have been tense as she left,   and there would have been endless scenarios running through her mind as to how she might die.    now,   however,   venus had said little more than oh, okay, and that had been it.   she had dressed for cold weather,   still not entirely used to the frosty azgeda landscape,   and she’d wondered where it would be that blaiz might be taking her in a curious way,   not a wary one.

she had been tense as he led her out of his room and they traversed the hallways but that was because she had enjoyed their time together yesterday a little too much.   with each passing moment,    venus wondered when she might feel his touch again.   the moments where he was inches away from her had been the worst and the best all at once:   she could feel the tension between them but all the while she was wondering if he felt the same.    she had been wondering if he wanted to close that gap as much as she did.  the sudden cold as soon as they made their way outside had been a distracting factor as well as a cooling one,   because all the thoughts racing through her mind had made her cheeks hot.

now,   however,   the look of the horses in front of her makes her falter.    she’d be lying if she said the beasts didn’t intimidate her,    and the idea of riding on one…   venus swallows thickly as she inches closer,   her gaze flickering between blaiz’s soothing touch on his own horse and then the black one that’s supposed to be hers.   her cheeks flush bright red as soon as she thinks of how badly this is going to go;   how she’s probably going to fall off the minute she climbs on the horse.   slowly,   she inches towards the black horse,    preparing for it to rear up at her at any moment—     “ how do i know if it…    uh… ”    venus presses her lips together as she turns back to blaiz and asks,   “  how do i do…   everything? ”   how can she tell him she’s never ridden a horse before without actually telling him?

his eyes narrowed momentarily as the realization of her words came to him. of course she wouldn’t know how to ride, they didn’t have horses in space. nor could he image the members of trikru being so willing that they’d share the steeds they did have after the rough start they’d had. he laughed softly, his features softening slightly as she looked at him. ❝ you’ll ride with me, ❞ he smiled, nodding to his horse. teaching her to ride or at the very least to stay on the horse without being thrown would be something of a necessity. if there ever came a time he decided to truly defy his mother and set her free, she’d need a trustworthy means of escape. a horse could provide that. 

blaiz looked to one of this friends who’d brought the horses to the front gate and asked him to return the black mare to the stables and speak nothing of his departure. not to anyone. he knew the rumors that swirled around the aztrap were already vast and detailed, meaning the goal he’d hoped to achieve had been reached. he saw no need to further place venus—or himself in anymore danger. and the danger was plentiful here. the prince watched him go before turning his attention back to the venus and the horse that remained. 

moving back to his own mount and hopping onto its back with ease, as though it was second nature. he made himself comfortable in the saddle before extending an open hand to venus so he could pull her up as well.  ❝ delray is a good boy, ❞ he promised, rubbing the horses neck with his other hand. ❝ i’d trust him with my life—and yours. ❞ blaiz offered, hoping she could sense the sincerity, that he wouldn’t put her in danger. not if he could help it.

[hainofablaiz]

𝖘𝖐𝖆𝖎𝖋𝖆𝖞𝖆 ;​

𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐀𝐃𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇 makes her gaze on him soften,   a silent gratitude shown in those earthy orbs.   she has no qualm in telling them what they want to know if it keeps her alive;   she just has to make sure she doesn’t run out of information.    sighing at the mention of clarke’s name,   venus’ shoulders slump a little as she crosses the space between the dresser and the vanity and climbs back onto the fur-covered bed.

she moves the book to place it on the nightstand next to the bed before she makes herself comfortable.    something in her stomach flutters as she turns to lie on her side;   it’s a seemingly intimate moment in a way that she doesn’t understand,   but—no.   no,   she gets it.   she’s letting herself be vulnerable with him in letting herself get comfortable.    venus might not understand much about herself,   but that much she understands.   with her face against the soft pillows,   she can feel the shift.

“ infamous? ”    she frowns,    reaching down to grab one of the furs and wrap her arms around it as if she’s cuddling something.    “ they call clarke that? ”    venus doesn’t understand;    the mountain men were a threat to the grounders,   so why is clarke famous in a bad way for getting rid of them?   her brows are visibly furrowed but her eyes remain somewhat soft as she asks,    “ clarke helped to get rid of them and your people are mad about it?    and your mother…   ”

is this what all her information amounts up to?   is this why she’s still alive?    is venus going to be the reason clarke is killed by blaiz’s people;   his mother?    clarke is the sole reason venus naiman and so many others are alive.    vee clenches her eyes shut,    arms wrapping a little tighter around the bundle of furs in her arms.    “ everywhere clarke goes,   trouble follows.    i can’t escape it even now. ”    venus doesn’t dislike clarke;   in fact,   she respects her…   but her words are the truth.

sighing,   she opens her eyes and rolls on her back,   bringing the furs with her as she mumbles,    “ figures. ”

blaiz laughed quietly, not at her, merely at how different they were. their people were, yet somehow so grimly similar. ❝ i wouldn’t say it is a bad thing. unless you are lexa, ❞ he laughed again before letting his head tilt to either side. ❝ mm, or clarke. ❞ he finally added rolling onto his side so he could see her better. it was something she had every right to know, to understand. especially if she’d have to give up information about her own people, blaiz felt as though she should at least know what’s going to be done with that information.

❝ clarke did what lexa never could. what her entire coalition could not. she defeated the mountain. and in doing so she became the commander of death. taking a life in battle does not equate to weakness, but strength. clarke took all their lives and she showed us all how weak our commander really is. how strong your princess is. ❞ surely azgeda, and his mother, could not be the only one to see this, to want to take advantage of it. ❝ unfortunately, my people also believe that whoever kills wanheda will. become the commander of death. my. mother, ❞ he said a little more pointedly than intended, ❝ wants nothing more than to take that power. ❞ by cutting off her head, he concluded silently to himself, almost curious how she actually would have handled that bit of information.

trouble follows, her words echoed in his mind far longer than they should have and blaiz wondered for a moment if his brothers felt the same way about him. as though there was nothing he could do correctly—the way it was supposed to be done, the way their mother demanded it of them. he’d always had his own way of going about things, perhaps not always conventional, but as long as the job got done he didn’t see how it mattered. but to the queen, the how seemed to matter more than anything. ❝ if she’s so much trouble, why did you all follow her? ❞ or was it them? blaiz still wasn’t entirely clear on who’d been the real mastermind behind their survival. 

[hainofablaiz]

ＷＨＥＮ: present — day after the tavern ＷＨＥＲＥ: troit — the aztrap gates ＷＨＯ: @skaihonon​

it has been days since venus first asked if they could go outside the walls of the aztrap and he’d wanted to take her. if it’d been possible, blaiz might’ve even taken her then and there, but it wasn’t. even the outing he’d managed to arrange for them now was a risk, but more than anything he wanted to keep his word to her. and he’d foolishly promised he’d make it happen. if only to see her smile—see her happy, however fleeting the moment may be.

he ran a hand over the thick neck of a chestnut steed, his loyal companion for years now, patting the beast lovingly before checking the saddle and tightening the straps. the prince moved his attention to the mare waiting impatiently only a few feet behind him. ❝ this one will be yours, ❞ he announced turning around to look at the sky girl while pointing at the black horse. she didn’t seem to be the most even tempered creature, but nor did venus as far as he could tell. a perfect match.

[hainofablaiz]

𝖓𝖔𝖒𝖎 ;​

𝐍𝐈𝐀 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐒 𝐈𝐓 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐒 the anger coursing through her body:   he is his father’s son.   too defiant even in the face of his queen.    she should have known better than to dabble with his ilk;   it had been a brief moment fueled by that blackened organ in her chest and not her head.    her fists clench and her upper lip curls as she stares at her son,   listening,   waiting,    until she snarls,    “ get out. ”

nia'a chair scrapes loudly against the floor as she makes to stand,   turning away from him sharply before her sudden thoughts bring her gaze back to her insolent son.    son?   no–no,   he makes the mistake of thinking he means that much to her.   he is a pawn,   nothing more,   and right now he isn’t doing the one thing he was made for.    “ wipe that smug look off your face,    you insolent brat.    and since you are so wise about your circumstances yet seem to disregard them so easily,    listen to this:    you were brought into this world for one reason,   blaiz.   unfortunately for all of us that reason has come to fruition.   and now, ”    nia hisses,   fingers splaying against the table as she leans forward,    “ you are failing me.    that doesn’t bode well for you or you skaikru whore. ”

nia straightens,   fire burning within her eyes.    “ you want to test me,   boy?    fine.    test me.    but don’t fool yourself into thinking i won’t retaliate. ”    nia has always been about teaching her heirs lessons,    and it just so happens that blaiz has given nia the prime opportunity to do so with his skaikru toy.    “ and don’t, ”    she spits,    “ think i won’t give enver the order to hunt you down.   i know how much he would enjoy it. ”

blaiz didn’t need to be told more than once, as far as he was concerned, he’d already spent more than a enough time with his mother for one week. while he had achieved his desired goal, to anger his mother in such a way there could be no remedy, he knew the cause wasn’t exactly like he’d planned. but he also knew how unpredictable her anger could be, how something might set her off even though it was far from the intention. no matter, blaiz was content just the same.

as the prince turned on his heels to leave, her comment stopped him in his tracks and whipped around once more. ❝ so you freely admit now that enver has no place in succession? since my older brother does yet live, but somehow it’s still going to fall to me? ❞ his tone snarky and his hand outstretched and pointed at her in an accusatory fashion.

he couldn’t help the internal laughter that shook him as he thought on his mother’s words. how someone like her, with such a long history of past bedmates, felt as though they had the right to toss about a word like that. the woman who’s children didn’t share a single father. the smug smile on his face didn’t fade as she commanded, no. it only grew wider.

❝ send him, ❞ blaiz threatened, his fingers instinctively moving to the axe at his side, as it always did when he felt threatened. just feeling it, knowing it was still there gave him some sort of peace of mind. that he wasn’t defenseless should her guards actually make a move against him. ❝ but then you’ll have two sons to mourn. leaving you with just toro. how do you think the people shall receive my little brother? ❞ the blonde questioned with a tender smile, knowing his mother’s final son was possibly her biggest disappointment of all and least like the azgeda warrior she’d always wanted and tried to mold her sons to be. 

blaiz didn’t want to hurt any of his brothers, no matter how he felt about them personally, but nor would he stand there idly while his mother threatened him so blatantly. ❝ you wanted a king, mother. THIS is how a king behaves, ❞ he said outstretching his arms to either side, his back straight and his head held high as he took another step backward toward the door. ❝ he does not cower to the wills of others. just i will not cower to you. ❞ the prince said sternly, letting his arms fall to his side as he strode out of the hall away from her, only stopping long enough to push open the heavy wooden door and let it slam closed behind him.

[hainofablaiz]

𝖘𝖐𝖆𝖎𝖋𝖆𝖞𝖆 ;​

𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐒’ 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐄𝐑 chest as he wraps his arm around her lower back and nerves swarm in her chest like bees.    she tries to remind herself that this is all fake,   that this is just a game they’re playing—a partnership the two of them have to convince is real.   but the way his touch on her body feels is more than real,   more than intoxicating,   and venus reminds herself that it’s just because she’s touch starved.   just because she’s wanted to be held in a scenario even a little bit like this for a while now.    this is all fake,   and yet…    it’s not.    no matter whether it’s him or merely his touch,   blaiz is driving her insane,   and the gentle feeling of his hand cupping her face brings her a sort of comfort she’s longed for.

she closes her eyes in order to compose herself,    wondering what might be going through blaiz’s mind at this very moment.   what does he think of this?   is he finding it far easier than she is to remember that this is all just a game?    venus’ thoughts are swarming as she swallows down a lump in her throat and opens her eyes.    “ people are staring, ”   she murmurs.    she doesn’t need to look at them straight on to know that.    she leans forwards ever so slightly to brush her nose against his,    her heart beating faster now.    god,   what are you doing?   a little voice asks.    fuck it,   another replies.    

if there’s anyone she doesn’t need to worry around,   it’s blaiz.    if she’s going to get the chance to live,   it’s with blaiz.    venus has never apologized for the things she does before so why does she feel the need to start doing it now?    tonight she’ll be shameless,   if only because it seems like the only thing she has left.    if only because these people are in the mood to celebrate.    her hand on his chest moves to his hair,    brushing it back with a touch just as gentle as his.    “ are you sure we’re safe here? ”   her voice is a low murmur,    her words only loud enough for him to hear as she says them inches away from his face.

❝ good. ❞ he said, an all too familiar smirk making itself at home on his lips. the contact of their faces was minimal, but the friction of her skin on his felt like a fire igniting beneath his own. venus was warm under his touch and whatever this was, it made it increasingly more difficult for the prince to focus. to think at all. 

blaiz turned his attention to the left and then to the right, taking a moment to look over the crowd. to take note of those who were in fact watching and how many he knew for sure would have something to say about it. how many would report directly to his mother—or his brother. but they might has well of been the same thing.

he looked across the table to the group that surrounded him and smiled, ❝ we’re fine here. ❞ blaiz said simply as he reached forward for the large mug that was placed in front of him moments earlier. here. for now, he reminded himself silently, refusing to let his smug smile fall. refusing to let any of the others in the tavern see his uncertainty. that wouldn’t do. blaiz wrapped his arm around her a little tighter, pulling venus even closer to him so there’s no open spaces between their chests. the prince was quickly finding that it was less about what the others around them were seeing and more about how he was feeling. and with her in his arms, so close to him, the feeling was good.

[hainofablaiz]

𝖘𝖐𝖆𝖎𝖋𝖆𝖞𝖆 ;​

𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐀𝐍’𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐘 her face turns sour at blaiz’s words,   even if he doesn’t mean for them to be accusatory.    they feel it to her even if she knows they’re not.   venus is extremely defensive of clarke and bellamy’s actions and shows little remorse even for the innocents that died within there,   if only because she’s swallowed it down.    she stopped thinking about the innocents in there as soon as they started drilling into her.    she wanted them all dead.  she can’t help but feel like blaiz is prying for a reason,   like this is more of an interrogation than a conversation,    and his question makes her suspicious.    what can you tell me about clarke?  

pushing the thought from her mind momentarily,    venus sits up and crawls off the bed to reach for the piece of fabric she’s been using as a literal hair tie which currently resides on top of one of blaiz’s low-standing dressers.    staring at her reflection in the mirror on top of it,   venus begins to braid her long hair with nimble fingers.    she knows her hair would get all up in that salve,   and strands of it have attached itself to the goop already.    frowning as she seprates them,    venus glances back to blaiz as he settles on the bed.

“ clarke was born privileged, ”    venus begins slowly,   almost as if she’s unsettled by the idea of telling him this,   of telling him in case it’s truly just information he wants,    “ unlike the rest of us.   unlike most of us.   her mother is on the council;   actually,   when i left,   she was our chancellor.   queen.   commander.   whatever you want to call it. ”    venus turns to look at him,    fingers at the bottom of her braid as she works to tie it off with the fabric.    “ she knows what she wants and she knows how to get it.   you’re telling me you wouldn’t know how to do the same?    you’re a prince,   she’s our princess—you got me.   you wanted me. ”

she’d be lying if she said there wasn’t meaning behind her words,    almost like it’s wishful thinking.    almost like she’s taunting him,   daring him.    her hands fall to her side and her head tilts upwards slightly as she stares,   assessing,   waiting for something unknown.    quietly,    coolly,   perhaps a little threatening,   venus asks,   “ is this an interrogation,   blaiz,   or are you just curious?   i don’t care what the answer is;   i’ll tell you whatever you want.    but i’d rather know if you’ve been told to ask this stuff or if you really do care. ”   there’s some sort of strange power clouding her eyes and her stance as she glances over him:    eyes,   lips,   body,   right back up to his eyes again.   she’s far enough away that it could be easily missed,    but whatever blaiz sees it as is up to him.

blaiz watched her carefully as she moved about the room and made note of the way she turned her back to him; finally, he mused a relief settling over him. she’d begun to trust him. though he still didn’t understand why it seemed to matter so much, it wasn’t like it meant the same things to her. how could it? her fingers moved through her hair quickly and he imagined for a moment his own fingers being tangled in her long locks. 

he shook his head roughly as if to erase the thoughts from his mind just before she turned to look at him again, and he refocused his attention to the words she spoke. the directness she seemed to assert about his wants left him with a quite nagging in the back of his mind, like there was something she’d meant to insinuate. but he didn’t dare assume the same in return. even if she was right; he did want her, but he hadn’t gotten her. not really.

the prince lifted his right hand to his temple and began to rub it as though it would really stop the ache in his head from forming. ❝ it’s both, ❞ he reassured her simply with a shrug. ❝ of course my mother wants to know, but i haven’t decided what i’ll tell her. ❞ the information had the potential to be useful to his mother, but blaiz felt it was all the more reason he should give her a false lead. keep what he’d learned to himself. 

❝ clarke, ❞ he began laying back on the end of the bed with his hands propped under his head as a pillow. ❝ she’s become quite infamous among my people. for what she’s done at the mountain. ❞ the prince explained, turning his head to look at her. ❝ they call her wanheda. commander of death. ❞ though from everything venus had told him so far, it sounded much like there was more than one commander of death in their camp. ❝ my mother wants her dead. ❞

[hainofablaiz]

𝖓𝖔𝖒𝖎 ;​

𝐍𝐈𝐀’𝐒 𝐉𝐀𝐖 𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐇𝐄 listens to blaiz speak,   and with a shake of her head she ignores his question as to why entirely:    he should know better than to ask why and instead should know what his mother wants without her having to voice it.    nia doesn’t care about the why and she expects her sons not to either;    only to know what she would and wouldn’t want.   to think for themselves.    to not have to be told what to do.

“ the problem, ”   nia hisses,    “ is that she is skaikru and the others were at least from the ground.    i said nothing when you took that ouskejon girl from her cell the last time;   this time,   i say enough,”   the ice queen growls.    “ skaikru spread their weakness like a plague to even our finest of warriors.   you have made not just yourself but me,   too,   look weak. ”   irritated by her son’s incessant eating habits,    she leans forward to snatch the wine goblet from his grasp.   “ are you listening to me,   skat?    they are leeches! ”

just like his former question,    nia ignores it.    nia knows she can be useful and that’s why she’ll keep his little pet around;    she could be used as a bargaining chip or perhaps nia could even groom her into submission the same way she did to tori and echo and countless others.    she slams his goblet back down on the table and leans back only to bring her own wine goblet to her lips,    and nia takes a sip of it before she averts her gaze and shakes her head.    such insolence from her one and only hope left for this clan.    what would her father think of her?    better yet…    

nia forces her lips not to quirk upwards as she turns to look back at blaiz.    “ your father would have hated them, ”   she says absent-mindedly,    averting her gaze to her goblet as she brings it to her lips.    it’s a lie;   his father was always more progressive than nia liked,   but he was a famed warrior who,   after the heat of battle,   nia had sought a carnal sort of comfort with.    in the end he had been disappointing,   too soft,    and that was why nia had to have him killed.

the logic everyone seemed to have about the sky people and their origins didn’t make any sense to blaiz. they hadn’t always been in space. their ancestors too had inhabited the ground so who was to say they didn’t have a right to claim it as well? but how could he express this thought to her—he couldn’t. wouldn’t dare.  ❝ who said I am weak? ❞ his fists clenching as he banged the table more for show than out of genuine outrage. a scowl settled upon his face as she yanked the cup from his hand and his other fist followed suit, clenching firmly on the table.  ❝ you’re impossible to ignore, ❞ he chided, slumping backwards in his chair.

his stomach dropped at the mention of his father, as though she’d just pushed him off the edge of a cliff. even the slightest mention of his seemed to have that effect since she never answered any of his questions about the man. everything blaiz knew about his father came from stories of those that used to know him, people who’d fought beside him. the lack of information his mother when it came to the topic of his late father always left the prince feeling suspicious; as though the questions went ignored because she feared the answers. 

❝ i don’t know what my father would have wanted, and i don’t honestly think you know either. i’m not even entirely convinced you knew anything about him except what a skilled fighter he was. ❞ blaiz told her bluntly, his face devoid of any emotion as he looked at his mother. his queen.  ❝ which is fine, you wanted more spares, ❞ he continued with a nod, his gaze turning increasingly cold.  ❝ but you will not stain his memory any further with your foul manipulations. ❞ the young warrior warned, his tone harsh as he rose from his seat, the chair scraping loudly on the floor as he did so,

❝ if you continue to threaten me, nomi, you will not need to exile me. ❞ the blonde said, reaching over the table to take the goblet she’d taken from him.  ❝ i will go on my own.❞ he said casually as he brought the glass to his lips, hiding a smirk he couldn’t resist.

[hainofablaiz]

𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙯 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨

blaiz has a small, incredibly loyal group of friends who have all been together since a young age. they grew up playing and training with one another and when the time came they all fought side by side on battlefield. and have again many times since. the connections they’d made established unbreakable bonds between them, any would gladly risk their live for another, blaiz included.

the company he keeps is more like himself than anything else, they all share similar interests and have the same sense of humor. where one can be found, chances are trouble and the rest of them aren’t too far behind. but despite all the clowning around they do together blaiz trusts these people with life and his deepest secrets. though each would much rather see blaiz as the next king than anyone else, they respect his decision—some more than others, and have sworn their allegiance to him alone. many in azgeda just see them as the prince’s personal guard, but blaiz would lay his life down for them just as soon.

some of these friends had parents who were close with blaiz’s own father before his death, but in recent years they’ve all seemed to have disappeared. one friend warned blaiz to be weary of his mother, that his father had said ‘he’d never be safe as long as she lived’. a different friend swore the queen was the true mastermind behind the downfall of his father. the young warrior still doesn’t know what to believe at times, but he does know his mother may be capable of anything, perhaps even snuffing out the same life she’d brought into the world.

[hainofablaiz]

𝖘𝖐𝖆𝖎𝖋𝖆𝖞𝖆 ;​

𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 : a tavern in troit, azgeda 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐃 : present 𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐆 : @hainofablaiz​

𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐈𝐏𝐒𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐒 like the first time in months.    blaiz had told her that they’d be venturing outside of the aztrap and into a nearby tavern for their new year event and venus had only rolled her eyes and mentioned how off their timing was.    secretly,   she was grateful that she hadn’t been a prisoner for longer,   because otherwise the timing would surely convince her that she had really been here for a year.    she had drowned down her thoughts with wine but not before she had twisted and turned her hair into two thick braids at the back of her head;   she had made an effort to look pretty even if she didn’t entirely feel it then.

now…    now,   the tavern is loud and boisterous and a welcome distraction from her thoughts.    blaiz and venus aren’t alone;   his cohorts have joined them,   people she only vaguely remembers the names of,   and as they sit down at the table venus follows suit…    except it’s not a chair she sits in but blaiz’s own lap.    she can feel the heat rushing to her cheeks already at the movement,   but what is their arrangement for if not this?

venus moves her face an inch away from blaiz’s side,  her lips coming to a stop before his ear.   “ do you remember, ”   she murmurs slowly,   her breath hot as she moves an arm to wrap around his shoulders and keep her in place,    “ when i said i’d give you the best performance of my life? ”    her free hand moves to his chest,    slowly sliding upwards,    and venus pulls away to look at blaiz.    only to look at blaiz.    with her heart pounding in her chest,   she doesn’t think she could endure making eye contact with anyone else right now,    and something in her mind says stop while you still can but she doesn’t.    she doesn’t.    

part of her wants this and it’s not about blaiz;    it’s the alcohol,   it’s the loneliness,    it’s the fact that she has never felt wanted and never been touched and nobody is coming to save her,   not even bellamy.    it had been over two weeks since her disappearance,    almost three,    and she’s past being tired.    she might as well know the touch of another no matter how false it might be,   and the wine she drank earlier gives her the confidence to instigate just that.     venus swallows down the emotion in her chest as she continues,    “ i meant what i said. ” 

venus had told him days ago about how she longed to get out of the aztrap, to be outside, even if it was just to take a walk, and more than anything blaiz wanted to let her to do those things. he only wished her timing had been better. with the new year celebration ongoing in polis and so many from his own clan attending it, blaiz saw her presence as a perfect excuse as to why he couldn’t attend. it wasn’t because he didn’t want to, it was actually one of his favorite times of year, but because he believed venus was more important to him. important how? he still didn’t know. 

at first, he could have sworn she thought he was kidding, when he explained the cause for celebration; saying that the new year had already occurred a month earlier. the blonde knew she was probably right, having been educated on the history of the world in ways his own people hadn’t, but he suggested she keep that bit of information to herself all the same. he couldn’t think of a single grounder who’d of appreciated the dampening of their brightest holiday.

the two approached the tavern, blaiz took note of his friends who’d already arrived and the group entered together. the prince and his friends could be considered regulars as they spent plenty of time at the establishment. as they each made themselves comfortable at one of the tables along the back wall, blaiz found himself with a not unwelcome surprise. 

his lap became her seat which she seemed to quickly make herself comfortable in, as though it were the most natural thing in the world for her. like it’d been done countless times before. blaiz couldn’t stop the smile that overtook his features as his friends gave him numerous looks of both intrigue and annoyance. though he surely knew if they had a woman sitting in their own laps, any bothersome feelings would dissipate. he could feel his heart beginning to beat rapidly as she pulled herself closer to him and her intoxicating scent washed over him. it was flowers, but he couldn’t say what kind. ❝ how could i forget? ❞ 

the prince wrapped his arm around her lower back, placing his hand on her hip to help support her. blaiz could smell the wine on her breath and wondered to himself how many glasses she might of had. enough to make her want him? or was it purely an act? the questions that suddenly plagued him left a sinking feeling deep within him. he hummed quietly in response, her hand on his chest and her faces only inches from his own making it difficult to concentrate. blaiz knew all the eyes in the tavern were on them, that their every move was being watched and would without question be reported to him mother. that knowledge only made him want to go further. ❝ i was so hoping you’d say something like that. ❞ he replied, lifting his free hand to cup her face gently.

[hainofablaiz]

𝖘𝖐𝖆𝖎𝖋𝖆𝖞𝖆 ;​

“ 𝐈 𝐓𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐌 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈 𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐖, ”    venus responds,   her gaze flickering between blaiz and the salve in his hands.    “ i took a gamble and figured you hadn’t yet got your hands on anyone from arkadia and he— ”    she hisses in pain as soon as his salve-covered fingers touch her wound,    grimacing at the feel of it,    “ he withdrew. ”   her voice is a little strained;    she’s never been good with pain and she hopes blaiz doesn’t look down on her because of it.    she would repay him for the salve but she doesn’t know how;    they used credits on the ark and trading is a far away concept to her.    she doesn’t really understand how it works,   but it seems easy enough if she doesn’t think about the technicalities.

“ you stitch a wound like you would a tear in fabric, ”   venus explains,   a welcome distraction from the stinging feeling at her neck.    she’ll keep rambling as long as it distracts:    “ there’s some particular thread you use.   i don’t know.   the idea of a needle under my skin freaks me out.    i’d rather this, ”   she explains,   glancing between his fingers and his clear gaze.    she never noticed how blue his eyes are before.   they’re pretty,   and they’re perhaps part of the reason why his questions about arkadia don’t tear her down as much as she thought they might.

when his hands are drawn from her neck,   venus flashes him another small smile as a thank you and then lowers her gaze to the furs on the bed.    “ i don’t know, ”   she murmurs.    “ i wouldn’t say skaikru are my people.    the delinquents are.    skaikru sent me and my friends to die. ”    looking up at him,   she hopes he understands her meaning.    “ they left us for so long in mount weather.    they…   let them experiment on us, ”    she explains slowly,   almost as if the words feel foreign on her tongue.    she’s well aware that this is the first time she’s ever felt secure enough to truly tell him what happened to her in there;    it’s the first time she’s truly spoken about it to anyone except those that were in there with her.   “ and i don’t know why they left it so late.    i don’t…    i don’t think they’re coming for me this time. ”

her voice is so quiet,   so hopeless,    but the words spoken out loud don’t bring her to tears.    it’s like she accepted the fact that nobody was coming for her long ago.    would she ever see her father again?    it doesn’t matter.    vee lets out a deep sigh and shakes her head before she lies back on the bed.      “ i think they think we’re the ones who value personal survival above survival as a whole.    the delinquents,   i mean.    clarke,   bellamy…   they’d do anything for us.   anything for anyone. ”    venus presses her lips together.    “ i guess it’s because they’ve experienced the ark’s injustice firsthand.    we all have. ”

perhaps it was merely luck or maybe was venus was truly that intelligent. to have realized what a value she could be to those in his family if she only just talked. even if it wasn’t the truth, giving them something might just be enough to save her life, for the time being. he grimaced slightly at her reaction, doing his best to be careful and not cause her further pain, ❝ sorry. ❞ the prince said softly his fingers lingering along her skin a moment longer than necessary. ❝ if my brother tries this again, do the same, tell him whatever you think he’ll want to hear. even if it’s a lie. ❞ he told her almost sternly gazing down at her. but as far as he was concerned there would be no way it could happen, not with the security escort he’d worked hard to arrange with his friends. they didn’t understand why he asked it of them but for all their reservations and questions, nobody voice them. ❝ do the same if my mother ever questions you as well, ❞ he insisted almost as an afterthought.

the way she described it turned out to be no different than what he’d imagined, but the thought of doing such a thing so they might heal seemed foolish, for how would the string be removed? it was answer blaiz didn’t feel he needed to know as the type of medical practice was irrelevant to him. ❝ uh, i’d rather this too, ❞ he said bouncing the jar a little in his hand as a breathy laughed escaped him.

her smile was different, made him feel different but he couldn’t say why or in what way. because she had actually smiled? because for the first time she was smiling at him? whatever the reason, he wanted to see it again. he needed to. but as she continued to speak and her words painted gruesome images in his mind, it made him wonder how she managed to smile at all anymore. and it left him wanting to give a reason to want to smile, to help erase the pain inflicted on her for so long.

❝ you mean like killing everyone in the mountain? even the ones who helped? ❞ he asked carefully, his tone soft and curious. he wasn’t accusatory and there was no blame to be found, pure interest. blaiz had heard the rumors, everyone had, and what they’d done inside that mountain had grown into a rumor even more dangerous for her people. for clarke. ❝ can you tell me about clarke? ❞ the prince asked her laying back in the bed to rest on his elbow. ❝ the commander brought her in close and then in the same breathe cast her out—cast you all out. but i don’t understand what made her want to align with clarke and your delinquents to begin with. what’s so special about her?” what’s so special about wanheda? he mused to himself silently.

[hainofablaiz]

𝖓𝖔𝖒𝖎 ;​

𝐍𝐈𝐀 𝐀𝐋𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐙 𝐓𝐎 send her back to the cells,   but what good would that do now?   blaiz should have left her there,   should have brought her food,   should have warmed her to him that way…    but the more she thinks about it,    nia understands his motives.    enver would have gotten her hands on her,   and while nia thinks he still would have gotten the same information,   there’s nothing she can do about it now.    not until they’ve got what they need from her.    something unfamiliar pangs in nia’s chest when she hears him call her nomi,   but as usual,    she shoves it down.    crosses her arms over her chest as if it’s a physical barrier from the thing he’s trying desperately to reach.

“ you shouldn’t have been down there in the first place, ”    nia hisses,   irritated,    “ but i see your point. ”    it’s rare that nia will admit to anyone else but her being right.    unfolding her arms from her chest,    nia pulls out the chair she stands before,   the one opposite blaiz,    and sits down on it…   but she lifts that knife and points it towards him once more as a warning.    “ she lives.   for now, ”    nia says,    stabbing a piece of food with a fork and bringing it to her plate,    “ if you bring me whatever information she has on wanheda before the next week’s end.

if not… ”    nia shrugs,    beginning to cut into that piece of food,    “ she’ll die by fire.    and i’ll have you light the pyre yourself. ”

in truth,    if what this skaikru prisoner says is true then nia has a reason to keep her alive.   she could be a good bargaining chip;   her people,   her home base,    will undoubtedly want her back.    blaiz can keep his toy for a little longer,   and perhaps nia can even convince her to do her bidding if blaiz does his job well enough.    a spy within skaikru’s ranks would be valuable and nia has turned people into worse things.    the ice queen’s gaze finds her son’s once more as she points that knife and says,    “ but if you dare give our people any further reason to believe those rumors,   boy,   you do not want to see what i will do. ”

❝ but why? ❞ he asked, his gaze narrowing,  ❝ because they belong to enver? ❞ blaiz furthered with a soft laugh. the way their mother always indulged his sadistic ways worried him, worried him what the future should hold if it ever fell to his older brother to lead. and the younger prince knew it should be all the more reason he ought to strive to keep the crown for himself. but blaiz had never been meant to lead his people. how could he when he would only lead them in a direction they’d refuse to follow?

❝ and if she knows nothing of wanheda? that doesn’t mean she can’t be useful in other ways. ❞ the blonde said grabbing a chunk of bread from one of the plates to his left; it wasn’t as fresh as he’d of hoped, but he ripped a piece off with his teeth all the same and began to chew. blaiz would never admit it aloud, but he knew that he would never let it come to that, he would sooner help her escape than let his mother have her way. 

blaiz shook his head at her slowly,  ❝ i don’t see what the problem is, nomi. ❞ he said tossing the bread lightly onto his plate and picking up his now full chalice of wine.  ❝ i’ve been with plenty of women from the other clans, clans we’ve been warring with for decades and it’s never been a problem for. ❞ he replied leaning forward against the table, not sure his mother exactly needed the reminding.  ❝ what is it about this one that angers you so? ❞ 

[hainofablaiz]

ＷＨＥＮ: a year and a half ago ＷＨＥＲＥ: shallow valley  ＷＨＯ: @groundborn​

blaiz had never experienced anything quite like it, ​his chest was so tight it was as if the air couldn’t reach his lungs. and the bouts of intense coughing that overtook him every few minutes only made it that much more difficult. and to make matters worse, the small room he found himself trapped in with a stranger was sealed with no source of fresh air. it’d only been a few days since his arrival to the territory and in that time he found himself ill and imprisoned. granted, he understood the necessity for it, to keep sickness from spreading any further, but it didn’t mean he welcomed the situation. 

the prince began to cough once again and struggled to bring himself to his feet for a moment. he didn’t know how long this illness was meant to last, if it would get worse or eventually kill him, but he did know he couldn’t simply lay around waiting for it to happen. blaiz poured himself a cup of water and then a second one for the woman he found himself trapped with.  

❝ drink, ❞ the blonde told her not unkindly as he closed the space between them, holding the glass out to her. if they wanted to survive, they would need all the strength they could get. 

[hainofablaiz]

𝖘𝖐𝖆𝖎𝖋𝖆𝖞𝖆 ;​

𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐃𝐎𝐄𝐒𝐍’𝐓 𝐒𝐇𝐘 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐘 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 his touch like she has done before:   if anything she savors the feel of it,    but she forces herself to get a grip as soon as she realises just what a dangerous game she’s playing.    her desire for comfort,   for the feel of safety,    will only hurt her more…    especially when she’s looking for it in the man keeping her here in the first place.    she can’t bring herself to hate him,   though:   he’s as much a prisoner of this place–this world–as she is,   and they’re both just trying to work together to avoid a fate neither of them want.    she’s never thought of it that way before,    she realises,    but the very truth of it resonates deep within her.    blaiz isn’t her enemy;    he’s her ally.    perhaps she had told herself those words before,   but now she believes them.    

would it be foolish of her to call him a friend?    she’d never admit it to him,   of course,   but to herself…    yes,   she could do that.    a few weeks ago she might have thought herself foolish to trust him,    but so far he’s given her no reason not to.    worse yet,   she can’t deny the fire of curiosity that burns within her belly as she watches him peel his clothes from his body.   unable to tear her eyes from him almost as if her revelation has made her see him in a new light,   she takes in the marks on his back.    the muscles which ripple across it.    his scars.    blaiz is no longer a grounder to her:   he’s a person.

“ he was going to kill me, ”    venus responds matter-of-factly as if it’s something she faces every day,   her voice low,    “ but i managed to persuade him otherwise. ”

she averts her gaze quickly when blaiz turns his head to look at her,   not wanting him to catch her staring.    she understands why he wanted her to be careful,   yes,   but as far as she’s concerned she was being just that.    she says nothing in response to his question;    instead,   her gaze finds his once more as he makes his way over with fresh clothes on his back.    pushing her hair to one side,    venus flashes blaiz a tight and somewhat apologetic smile.    “ i’d make you some more but i don’t know how to make it.    on the ark—i mean,   in arkadia,   we use stitches for wounds deeper than this.    this would probably just…   get a bandage. ”   gently,   venus shrugs.    “ i guess it’s the same thing. ”    she wants to ask him where he was but she doesn’t.    not yet,   at least.    looking up at him,    eyes locking with him,    venus murmurs after a moment’s hesitation,     “ … thank you.    for looking out for me. ”

blaiz let out a shaky breath, his head moving from to side to side quickly. ❝ i’m sure he had more planned for you then simply death, ❞ he replied honestly, his intention wasn’t to scare her, rather to let her know what she was truly up against. But her could help but be impressed she’s managed to escape him, few ever had, despite sustaining the injury. ❝ how did you do it? persuade him, ❞ he asked curiously wondering if that was actually her not-so hidden talent. persuasion.

the weak smile almost appeared forced, but the prince appreciated it all the same, it was a sight he hoped to see again. perhaps a genuine one. ❝ this is special stuff, i don’t know how either. ❞ he explained with a small smile, ❝ a friend makes it herself, best healer i know.  ❞ he told her as he pulled a small amount of the paste out. ❝ this might hurt, ❞ he warned noting how much fresher and deep this cut was compared to the one of her forehead.

❝ stitches? ❞ he inquired the confusion clear on his face. he knew of stitching, but only in terms of making garments, he wasn’t sure how it applied to healing.  ❝ someone has to, ❞ he said meeting her eyes once again before applying salve to the only remaining part of the wound still exposed.  ❝ from what you told me, it doesn’t sound like your people look out for one another. ❞ he began breaking the eye contact.  ❝ it sounds more like they live for a reason to turn on one another. that personal survival is far more important than survival as a whole. ❞ he tossed the now empty jar into a metal bin the corner of the room and it landed with a loud clatter as he wiped the remanence on a rag.  

❝ is that still true? ❞ blaiz asked as he sat on the end of the bed, her crystal gaze studying her carefully. 

[hainofablaiz]

𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖕𝖞 ;​

“   𝐘𝐎𝐔'𝐑𝐄  𝐆𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆  𝐓𝐎  𝐁𝐄  𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐇𝐄𝐅𝐀 ,   𝐘𝐎𝐔  𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃  𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖  𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒  𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅 .  ”     what  is  primarily  deflection  is  also  annoyance .     the  question  only  builds  more  evidence  in  echo’s  mind  that  blaiz  is  not  ready  for  the  role  he’s  been  given ,   not  like  how  roan  had  been .     “   he  moves  freely ,   i  can’t  give  you  an  exact  location  due  to  this .     hainofa  is  more  than …   roan  is  more  than  capable  of  protecting  himself ,   why  don’t  you  just  go  back  to  playing  heir  yourself .     he  doesn’t  benefit  from  your  worries ,   blaiz .   ”

he  doesn’t  benefit  from  your  worries ,   echo’s  words  play  over  and  over  in  their  own  mind .     they  don’t  just  apply  to  blaiz ,   but  echo  too .     even  though  they  no  longer  have  eyes  on  him ,   in  their  heart  they  know  roan  is  safe  even  beyond  their  gaze .     the  words  provide  a  sense  of  comfort  to  wash  over  the  warriors  mind  but  echo  knows  they’d  not  be  fully  satisfied  until  they’d  finally  tracked  roan  down  again .

the prince snorted, amused by her train of thought.  ❝ i’ll know because i have spies, ❞ he corrected, almost adding ‘like you’ at the end. but blaiz wasn’t sure that if he ever was king that he would, in fact, have spies like echo. it wasn’t because she’d ever done a poor job, quite the opposite, his mother favored her talents for a reason. the uneasiness that lived within blaiz stemmed from her origins. how she’d been collected by his mother always raised a flag somewhere in the back of his mind. it was years before tori herself stopped raising the same alarms within him. but his best friend had more than proved herself worthy of the trust and respect he had for her now. the same couldn’t be said for echo. not in the eyes of this prince at least.

❝ i don’t care what she says, ❞ blaiz replied with a sneer.  ❝ he’s still a prince of azgeda. he deserves more—❞ of course he’d meant to finish the sentence, but it was like he didn’t know how. roan deserved more than the fate that had befallen him. more than the mother that failed him. more than the commander who cast him out. more than the spy who appeared to have given up. ❝ he deserves to be king. ❞ the prince finally admitted through gritted teeth, turning on his heels, to go before he said something to really get himself in trouble. 

[hainofablaiz]

𝖓𝖔𝖒𝖎 ;​

𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐙’𝐒 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐈𝐒 the fact that he stands his ground against his mother and,    despite his obvious struggle,   manages to keep his temper in check.   nia respects it,    and his ability to do so calms her a little.    perhaps they can talk like adults now;    perhaps nia can actually listen instead of picking apart every single thing he says.    nia keeps the knife where it is,   far enough from blaiz for him not to have to worry,   but despite the lack of movement of the utensil the fire in nia’s eyes has quenched somewhat.    blaiz might act like an insolent child more often than not,   but it’s moments like these in which he’s able to keep his cool which makes him the more redeemable one of nia’s remaining sons.

slowly,   eventually,    nia heaves a breath and leans back.   the utensil clatters to the tabletop and the ice queen reaches into a bowl of clean water—meant for hand washing—before she grabs a cloth and wipes her hands free of sticky apple remnants.    her sharp eyes find her son as she dries her hands,    her gaze unrelenting.    “ and you discovered this how? ”   nia demands,   her tone accusatory.    “ by delving into the prisoner chambers and having a nice little chat? ”    even if that were the case,   even if blaiz said yes,   nia would demand answers.   an explanation.    why he was there in the first place.   the fact that something simply is isn’t enough for the queen in this case.

“ regardless of whatever your intentions were, ”   nia spits,   her upper lip curling upwards,    “ you have let countless people in our home believe that you have taken up with a skai gada.”   nia’s disgust is clear in her tone,   her look,   her voice—    “ i should have you light her pyre for it.   i should have her burn at the stake just as my father did to my mother. ”    a sickly sweet smile overcomes nia’s features as she continues,    “ do you remember that story,   blaiz? ”    

she doesn’t mean it,    not now that she knows what this means,   but oh…   she wants to watch his reaction.   to see if he’ll scramble.

❝ yes, actually, but before i spoke to any of them i merely watched. ❞  he said plucking a grape from the bowl closest to him and tossing it into his mouth. ❝ there is not enough observation happening, nomi, it doesn’t have to be attack now and ask questions never. who does that benefit? ❞  he asked rhetorically with a shrug as he reached for a second grape. blaiz knew he was walking along a thin line, but toeing at the edge against his mother has never struck fear in him the way it ought to of. not the way it did in his brothers or the rest of azgedakru. and when she did managed to succeed, he never let her see it. he silently wondered if that was why she’d always favored him so, for his refusal to back down—even when she knew he was being stupid.

blaiz had no witty remark for this, he knew better, instead he sat silently for moment listening to his mother’s rant, doing what she could to get a rise out of him; and it nearly work. the prince bit down on the side on is tongue once more with a great deal more force this time. until he tasted blood. he didn’t know what sort of answer his mother expected of him except flat out denial and saying the wrong thing would be detrimental so the prince glided past it as though it meant nothing at all. 

he swallowed the lump in his throat, ❝ of course i do, nomi, you’ve never let us forget. ❞  he smiled softly reaching for a jug of wine and filling the glass before her and then his own. and thought of such a thing being done to venus terrified him in a way he knew it shouldn’t. blaiz could still remember being a child and hearing the story his mother so loved to tell him at bed time, as though it were a touching tale that ought to stir some sort of wondrous feeling within him. but that wasn’t blaiz and it never would be. 

[hainofablaiz]

𝖓𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖒𝖆𝖗𝖊 ;​

𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖎 ;

The movement behind them draws her gaze — Enver. She’d never had an issue with the elder prince, but she knows that he’s only here looking for trouble. Her annoyance grows as he sits down in front of them, rolling her eyes as she leans back. So much for a moment alone. As dissatisfied as she is with his presence, there’s no stopping the smirk that curves onto her lips as he mentions Venus, she should have known it was him who’d left the mark with his thirst for blood. Good on him. 

She swirls her cup in her hand again, listening to the brothers quarrel, almost getting up from her seat at Blaiz’ mention of tiring his toy out. Knowing it’s a joke doesn’t make the imagine in her head any less revolting. But it’s the blonde males taunting that makes her stay, smirk twisting in a ruthless and vicious grin as he leans forward and toys with his brother. She lives for this, to rile someone up, it’s all too amusing for her. 

Her gaze only leaves Enver as the younger prince looks over at her, exchanging mischievous grins before turning their attention back to their target. “ I think you’re right,” she adds, taking a swig from her glass before following his lead and leaning forward. “ We can do whatever you can do,” her eyes shift up and down his body, a light chuckle eliciting past her grin before she speaks, “ and so, so much more. It would actually be a smart move for us to take over.”

-

Enver grabbed a cup from the table and poured himself a drink before taking a sip from it. He knew how to keep his cool, how to not fall into the teasing coming from his brothers, he had dealt with that his entire life. Not just them, he had to listen to the warriors mocking him whenever he tried to train but couldn’t keep up with them because of his problems. Of course, they all changed their opinion when Enver grew up to become the feared warrior that he was now. Most of them were dead, Enver made sure of it himself, others now not only respected him but feared him. A smirk appeared on his face, a slight shrug of his shoulders at his words. “You know, mother told me about your plan. I mean, I still think handing her to me would be a much more effective and quick way to get information. But you know that it could go both ways, right? She could be playing you as much as you are playing her.” 

Enver looked at his brother with a serious look on his face. Being the one in charge of the prisoners, get to do what he wants with them is one of the few things he has left. And one of the few things that make him feel useful to their mother. Enver wasn’t going to let Blaiz take that away from him as well. “Well, you took away something that was mine, without my knowledge or approval. How would you feel if I went and did the same thing that you did?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.

The older prince looked between Blaiz and Tori before letting out a chuckle. “You don’t have the guts for it, mostly you Blaiz.” He said, pointing his finger at his brother. “You’re too soft and that’s in display, with what you did with the Skaikru prisoner.” He then turned his head towards Tori and shrugged his shoulders. “You might be more useful than him but that’s yet to be proven. Either way, none of you would be as good as it as I am.” There wasn’t any lines when Enver was down in the cells, with the prisoners. He was willing to do whatever it took to get information, which was why his mother assigned him to it. More times than not, Enver would take things too far and kill the prisoners. It annoyed him really, how weak they were, mostly the Skaikru ones. “You’re not taking that away from me too, Blaiz.” 

the way he joined them and made himself comfortable in their company irked blaiz, but most things his older brother did had that sort of effect on him. the blonde took another large swig from his cup as his brother spoke, finding his attention waning.  ❝ and how could she do that? ❞ he inquired with a lazy tilt of his head.  ❝ she’d need be able to escape to make use of any information she might find. and even if she did make it out of the aztrap, she’d never survive the woods. no, ❞ blaiz asserted with a devious smile.  ❝ she is exactly where i want her to be. ❞   

❝ approval? ❞ he scoffed, leaning forward in such a rush the wine in his nearly empty cup splashed wildly.  ❝ i don’t require approval from y o u for anything i want to do. ❞ blaiz sneered turning his attention to tori for a moment, his expression incredulous at his brother’s words. threats. his fingers twitched, as his mind raced and his hand finally landed on the dagger at his waist. without a word he unsheathed the blade and began to twirl it in hand by the hilt. ❝ don’t push me, today, brother. ❞ he said flatly, his gaze darting from the metal to his brother just behind him.  ❝ after all, you are just the spare. and no one would miss you, ❞ he mocked cruelly.

blaiz was disgusted at the mere thought of taking over for enver, of having to do any of the things he did. it wasn’t at all that blood or gore made him queasy, no. it was lines his brother was would cross to get what he wanted. the things he’d do with no regard for the life on the end side of the torture implement. the way he bragged about it only caused blaiz to roll his eyes in response and place his cup on the table in front of them. he laughed softly, mostly to himself. ❝ she’s already been proven useful, much more useful than you, ❞ he retorted with a smug smile.  ❝ to our mother, remember? ❞ blaiz added with a wag of his brow, feeling as though even tori held a place higher in their mother’s heart than enver did. ❝ if you continue to presume to tell me what i can and cannot do, we’re going to have a far greater issue, brother. ❞ 

[hainofablaiz]

𝖘𝖐𝖆𝖎𝖋𝖆𝖞𝖆 ;​

𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐀𝐍’𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐖𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 where he’s been for so long and she can’t help the jealous pang in her heart when she wonders whether he’s been with akwa.   it’s not a romantic jealousy;    it’s just that nobody has ever wanted her like that,   nobody has ever wanted to know her very much at all,    and the idea that somebody doesn’t want to spend their every waking moment around her is offensive.    why can’t someone yearn to know her the way she wants someone to yearn for her?    it’s not like she can exactly remove herself from the situation and ignore him,   either.    venus notes the urgency in blaiz’s movement as she crosses the room and she lowers her gaze;   she doesn’t want to read into this any more than she already has.   she doesn’t want to hurt herself any more than she’s already hurting herself.

blaiz’s fingers tilt her chin upwards gently and venus doesn’t shy away from his touch.   touch starved,   a voice hisses at her.    are you really so desperate for tenderness that you’ll accept it from the enemy?   venus knows the answer to that and she doesn’t want to admit it.    with her gaze averted,   venus responds,   “ your brother doesn’t like me very much. ”

the girl lowers her gaze to memorize the page of the book before she closes it shut.    she expects a conversation,   not to be able to go right back to reading.   swallowing thickly,   her head still lowered and focused on her book,   venus admits,   “ i ran into him in the hall. ”

almost as if it’s clear on her face that she doesn’t want to look at him—she doesn’t want to see disappointment or anger there;   she doesn’t think she can take it—venus faces him before her eyes follow suit.    with a little more desperation in her tone,   venus continues,    “ before you ask,   i wasn’t trying to escape.    i just…   i was trying to see the outside. ”    she lowers her gaze again,   fingers gently smoothing over the cover of the book.   “ i’m sorry.    i…    made you break your promise again.   i’m not trying to cause trouble,   it just…   it always seems to find me. ”  always.

blaiz sighed quietly, knowing it would have only been a matter of time before their paths actually crossed. he’d just hoped to be present for, to have been able to act as some sort of buffer. to have prevented this, he thought his fingers moving to the side of her neck. her skin was soft under his touch, warm and inviting in ways he knew better than to think on. he knew better than to think of her in such way, it would surely lead to trouble. 

he left his hand fall away from her with a small shake of his, ❝ i feel i’m almost surprised he didn’t hunt you down. ❞ blaiz admitted honestly, a knot forming in his stomach as he realized there was still time for that. plenty of time. he wanted to be angry with her, for disobeying one of the few things he’d asked of her, but the prince found the fire in belly quickly doused each time his eyes locked with hers. perhaps, that’s precisely her plan. ❝ enver is the trouble, not you. ❞ he said calmly unsure why he so longed to believe her. why he did believe her. 

after another moment, he managed to peel his gaze from her and make his way across the room to his wardrobe all too eager to be free of the garments. the prince removed the various layers and tossed them to the side before donning fresh clothes.  ❝ do you understand now why i wanted you to be careful? ❞ he questioned her over his shoulder, his tone firm, but not unkind.  

blaiz grabbed the salve he’d used for her previously and held it up so she could see.  ❝ i don’t think i’ve ever gone through this stuff so quick, ❞ he informed her as he removed the lid as he made a mental note to get more as soon as he could. it was slowly becoming clear he’d need it.