꒰ ɪɴᴛᴇʀʀᴜᴘᴛᴇᴅ ꒱ ˎˊ˗ you finally have a sweet moment with enjin… until the kids show up.
the common room was quiet at this hour. most of the cleaners went already to bed.
you sat curled up on the couch, legs tucked beneath you, absentmindedly flipping through a book you hadn’t really been reading for the past ten minutes. your thoughts kept drifting, heavy with that strange kind of loneliness that only showed up at night.
the door creaked open. you glanced up, expecting maybe one of the others grabbing water or a late snack. instead, enjin stepped in. his presence filled the doorway for a second before he shut it quietly behind him, like he didn’t want to disturb the calm.
“couldn’t sleep?” you asked softly.
he shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck as he walked over. “something like that.”
he dropped down onto the couch beside you, his warmth brushed against your side.
it was comforting.
“you’ve been sitting here long?” he asked after a moment.
“a bit,” you admitted. “wasn’t really tired.”
he hummed in understanding, leaning back, his arm resting along the back of the couch behind you.
you talked after that about nothing and everything. things that didn’t matter in the daylight but somehow felt bigger in the quiet of the night. he made a few dry comments that pulled soft laughs out of you, and you caught him watching you once or twice when he thought you weren’t looking.
what came next happened so simply it almost didn’t register at first.
your hand shifted on the couch. his did too. your fingers brushed.
it was barely a touch, but it sent a strange warmth up your arm, settling somewhere in your chest.
you glanced at him and he was already looking at you.
for a second, neither of you moved. like the moment balanced on a thin edge, waiting to tip one way or the other.
your fingers shifted again. in return his hand shifted, giving you the chance to pull away.
you didn’t, and then your fingers laced together.
your breath caught, and a soft blush covered your face.
enjin’s grip tightened a little. his thumb brushed faintly over your knuckles, almost absentminded, but the gesture felt anything but casual.
the space between you shrank. you hadn’t even realized you were leaning in until you felt his warm breath, until his face came closer. so close you could see the subtle tension in his expression, the way his eyes flickered down to your lips before returning to your gaze.
“you sure…?” he murmured and you nodded.
he leaned in closer. your eyes fell close as you felt the brush of his warm, rough lips—
and the door slammed open.
“oi!! you’re still awake, right—”
you jerked back instantly, your hand flying out of his as if burned.
guita stood in the doorway, wide awake and way too energetic for the hour, with rudo leaning against the frame behind him and dear peeking over his shoulder.
“we couldn’t sleep,” guita continued. “so we figured—oh!”
her eyes flicked between you and enjin. rudo raised a brow. guita blinked once… twice… and then grinned way too knowingly.
“are we interrupting something?”
“no,” you and enjin said at the exact same time.
sure, sure. not defensive at all.
your face burned so brightly. enjin cleared his throat, leaning back into the couch like nothing had happened, though the tips of his ears were unmistakably red.
“we were just talking,” he said.
“mhmm,” guita hummed, completely unconvinced as she plopped down on the opposite couch. “cool. then we’ll join.”
dear immediately sat beside you like he always did. rudo followed more slowly as he eyed the two of you suspiciously - especially enjin.
the moment was gone.
you dared a glance at enjin. he was already looking at you again. this time, while still soft, frustration and embarrassment bled into his expression.
his hand moved on the cushion again and brushed yours for a fleeting second before pulling away completely.
your heart skipped as you smiled to yourself. yeah, the moment was ruined, but this wasn’t the end of it.
Had a very fun idea. Qifrey and Reader watching their girls set up a surprise for them, either together or one of them.
I really enjoyed A Lantern in the Fog. So thank you so much for everything you write
A warm surprise
Qifrey x reader
cw: none
AN: reader and Qifrey are not yet dating in this fic although it's heavily implied. Anyway thank youuuuu, witch hat atelier has such a special place in my heart and I just read "the house in the cerulean sea" again (highly recommend) so I just had to make something inspired by it — sorry it took so long Anon :(( 💞
req. box: open
The morning begins with quiet warmth.
The sun hasn’t fully risen yet—light spills only in pale gold strips through the tall windows of Qifrey’s home, catching drifting dust motes in the air like tiny spells suspended in time. You breathe in the smell of parchment and ink, the faint sweetness of tea, and the familiar scent that seems to cling to Qifrey: smoke, old books, and something soft like sage.
You sit curled on a cushion near the low table in the library, a book open in your lap. You’ve been reading the same page for the past five minutes, not because the story is dull, but because Qifrey has sat down beside you—and even this close, you’re distracted.
He’s quieter than usual this morning, though not in a worrying way. His expression is peaceful as he reads, his glasses slipping slightly down the bridge of his nose. The early light reflects in the lenses, obscuring his eyes, but you can see the faint smile tugging at his lips.
“Good morning,” he murmurs without looking up, as though sensing your attention drifting toward him. “Is the book treating you well, or are you simply pretending to read again?”
You feel your cheeks warm. “Maybe I’m enjoying the company more.”
“Oh?” Qifrey’s smile deepens. He closes his book gently, marking his page with a ribbon. “Then I shall take that as a compliment.”
He looks over at you—really looks. There’s a softness to his gaze that always makes your chest feel warm, the kind that sinks into your ribs and stays there. His golden eye is bright, curious. His other, hidden beneath the eyepatch, seems to hold its own quiet emotion.
Before either of you can say more, small footsteps patter loudly down the hall.
“Mister Qifreeeeey!” Tetia sings, her voice ringing like bells.
“Teacher! Come quick!” Riche adds, breathless with excitement.
“I didn’t do anything!” Agott calls from the distance, which is a terrible way to deny involvement.
You turn your head just in time to see the three of them rush past the doorway. They’re holding papers, brushes, and what appears to be an entire box of crayons that is actively leaking pigment dust onto the floor. Coco trails behind them with both arms wrapped around a large roll of parchment like she’s smuggling state secrets.
Qifrey watches them go, amusement flickering in his gaze.
“I can’t decide if I should intervene,” he muses, “or pretend I saw nothing at all.”
You glance at him. “That depends. Are you feeling responsible today?”
“Mm.” He lifts his teacup, sipping calmly. “Not particularly.”
You laugh under your breath. Setting the book aside, you get to your feet, offering him a hand. “Come on. We should make sure they don’t set anything on fire.”
“Ah, so you are the responsible one today.” His smile is playful as he takes your hand, his fingers warm around yours. “Very well. Lead the way.”
Your heart skips.
Even after all this time, the way he holds your hand feels like a quiet enchantment—something simple but powerful. He doesn’t let go, even as you step into the hallway.
The girls scatter like startled birds the second they realize you and Qifrey are approaching.
Tetia slams herself against a canvas, poorly hiding it behind her tiny frame. Riche sticks a brush into her hair like it’s a weapon; Coco frantically tries to unroll the parchment in reverse to hide the visible corner; Agott just stands in front of everything with arms crossed, as if glaring alone might solve the problem.
“It’s nothing!” Agott blurts. “Go away.”
“Suspicious,” Qifrey notes, absolutely delighted.
“We’re not doing anything at all!” Tetia adds, far too cheerfully.
“We didn’t break anything!” Coco says quickly, which only raises further suspicions.
“Yet,” Riche mutters.
You and Qifrey exchange a look.
He leans closer to whisper, just loud enough for you alone to hear, “Should we be worried?”
“Possibly,” you whisper back. “But they seem… enthusiastic.”
“Enthusiasm,” he says, “is the first step to disaster.”
“And the first step to creativity,” you counter.
Qifrey smiles. “That’s why I like you.”
Your heart flutters.
Before you can respond, Tetia pops up in front of you like a jack-in-the-box.
“You two aren’t allowed to come over here! We’re making something! A secret thing! And you can’t see it until it’s finished!”
Qifrey presses a thoughtful finger to his chin. “A secret, hm? Should I pretend I don’t hear the three of you arguing about color palettes?”
Riche turns red. “Pretend harder!”
Coco rushes forward to tug you toward the sitting room. “You have to wait in here! You’re not allowed to see it yet!”
Qifrey allows himself to be ushered away, still holding your hand. “Ah, I see. We are prisoners in our own home.”
Tetia beams. “Exactly!”
The two of you sit on the couch, the girls bustling somewhere out of sight in the next room. There’s the sound of crayons on parchment, hushed arguing, and at one point, Riche shouting “Agott, give the brush back before I hex you!”
Qifrey exhales a laugh. “Do you think it’s dangerous to leave them unattended?”
“Definitely.”
“And yet,” he says, leaning back against the cushions with an easy sigh, “it’s also… nice.”
You glance at him. “Nice?”
He nods, eyes half-lidded. “To trust them. To see them try so hard at something together. To feel like this place is… a home. More than it used to be.”
The softness of his tone pulls at something inside you. You know the shadows he’s come from. You know the memories that cling to him, heavy as mist. You’ve seen the light, too, the way he tries so hard—sometimes successfully, sometimes not—to choose kindness over pain.
Maybe that’s why moments like this matter to him.
To both of you.
Qifrey shifts, adjusting his position until his shoulder rests lightly against yours. The touch is gentle, familiar. His presence feels like warmth seeping through a cold window.
“I hope,” he murmurs, voice quiet, “that you feel at home here too.”
You swallow. “I do. More than anywhere else.”
He looks at you, eyes searching. The golden one glimmers; whatever expression hides behind the patch feels tender.
“Good,” he whispers. “I’m glad.”
Silence settles—peaceful, warm.
Then, from the other room:
“TETIA, NO, THAT IS NOT QIFREY’S SKIN TONE!”
“IT IS IF YOU BLEND ENOUGH PEACH AND SUNSET ORANGE!”
“NO ONE IS THAT ORANGE!”
Qifrey blinks. “…Should I be offended?”
You grin. “Only if they start adding glitter.”
“Ah.” He sighs dramatically. “So I am doomed.”
You laugh, and Qifrey watches you with that soft look again, his thumb brushing the back of your hand absentmindedly, as though he doesn’t realize he’s doing it. Or maybe he does.
Maybe he just likes holding your hand.
Time passes slowly, comfortably.
Eventually, the girls call out:
“WE’RE DONE!”
“DON’T MOVE!”
“STAY WHERE YOU ARE!”
“AND NO CRYING!”
Qifrey raises an eyebrow. “Ah. That last instruction concerns me.”
You squeeze his hand. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
When you stand, Qifrey doesn’t let go of your hand.
You walk together into the next room, and there—propped carefully on an easel, glittering slightly in a way that warns you someone absolutely used magic with crayons—is a huge drawing.
It’s all of you.
Riche, arms crossed but smiling; Tetia laughing with her hair bouncing; Coco holding her sketchbook; Agott pretending she isn’t pleased at all while clearly looking very proud.
And in the center, drawn just a little larger than the others, are you and Qifrey.
Standing side by side.
Holding hands.
The drawing is clumsy and sweet, some lines uneven, color smudged in places, the glitter not quite where it should be. The edges are dotted with stars and hearts. Someone added soft pastel trails like magic swirling around each figure, connecting all of you in a circle.
Qifrey is drawn smiling. Really smiling.
You feel your throat tighten.
Tetia bounces in place. “Do you like it?!”
Riche elbows her. “Obviously they do.”
Coco wrings her hands. “We wanted to give something back. Because you both do so much for us.”
Agott shrugs, looking away. “And it’s not terrible. So.”
Qifrey stands still for a long moment.
Then, gently, he speaks.
“It’s perfect,” he says, voice almost breaking. “Truly.”
The girls light up like lanterns, relief and pride bursting across their faces. Tetia almost tackles Qifrey in a hug, Riche pats your arm awkwardly like she isn’t sure how to show affection, Coco beams, and Agott just nods once, too soft to be her usual self.
Qifrey squeezes your hand—a tiny gesture, but full of meaning.
“You’ve all done something very kind,” he tells the girls. “Thank you.”
Tetia leans in. “It’s because you two are good together!”
Riche: “Like… calming and chaotic, but it works.”
Coco: “Like a spell balanced in two halves.”
Agott mutters, “Like you’re disgustingly in love.”
Silence drops like a stone.
Your face goes hot. Qifrey freezes.
Tetia slaps a hand over Agott’s mouth. “SHE DIDN’T MEAN THAT.”
Agott pushes her off. “I did. And I’m right.”
Qifrey clears his throat sharply, but his cheeks are unmistakably pink. “A-hem. Well. Regardless of phrasing, thank you for the picture.”
The girls seem satisfied with that, and after a bit more fussing, they scatter—likely in search of snacks, or perhaps to avoid further emotional vulnerability.
That leaves just you and Qifrey.
Alone.
Still holding hands.
The room is quiet now, the drawing resting on the easel like a captured memory. Qifrey steps closer to it, tilting his head.
“I didn’t realize,” he murmurs, “that this is how they see us.”
You move beside him. “I think it’s how we are.”
He looks at you. “Together?”
The single word carries more weight than it should. Like a spell spoken with intention.
You meet his gaze. “If you want us to be.”
For a moment, the world holds still—like paint drying, like magic settling, like the soft hush before something new begins.
Qifrey lifts your joined hands, thumb brushing your knuckles in a gentle arc.
“I care for you,” he says, voice low, honest. “Deeply. More than I should. More than I ever planned to. But I do.”
Warmth rises in your chest.
“I care for you too,” you whisper.
Something like relief floods his expression. He leans in, forehead nearly touching yours.
“Then stay,” he breathes. “Stay here with me. With them. With all of us.”
You squeeze his hand. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Qifrey exhales, like he’s finally allowed himself to feel hopeful.
He lifts your hand, presses a soft kiss to your knuckles, slow and reverent.
The drawing behind you seems to glow a little in the light—like the memory of a promise. The girls’ laughter echoes distantly through the hall. And for a moment, everything is warm, safe, and whole.
Qifrey meets your eyes.
“Thank you,” he whispers, “for being here.”
You smile.
“Always.”
Later
The day drifts on—Qifrey hangs the drawing in the main hallway, right where everyone will see it. The girls cheer. Agott pretends she doesn’t care. Tetia declares it a masterpiece. Riche calls it teamwork. Coco looks like she might cry.
When evening comes, and the girls settle into their rooms, Qifrey finds you again in the dimly lit study.
He doesn’t say anything at first.
He just reaches for your hand.
And this time, you lace your fingers through his with confidence.
“I like this,” he murmurs.
“What part?” you ask.
He thinks for a moment.
“All of it,” he decides. “The quiet, the chaos, the paint on the floor, the way the girls argue like siblings. And you. Especially you.”
You lean your head against his shoulder, and he leans his against yours.
The world outside continues.
But here, in this moment, everything feels like home.
And maybe it is.
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⋆｡ °.🐚⋆❀˖° trials of rowmance(ing jade) click to read on ao3!
chapter 6: i want a moray! [wc: 4799]
summary ˖°𓇼𓂃 𓈒𓏸 When Jade invites you to a wedding in the Sunshine Lands, you're told to use this opportunity to steal his heart...but what exactly does that entail?
content ˖°𓇼𓂃 𓈒𓏸 reader is yuu, f!reader, reader is referred to as (y/n), dialogue is matched to event, flirty and smirky jade, rook is a very french wingman
story masterlist | next chapter →
As the carriage moved throughout the city, you could only hope that Jade was unable to hear your heartbeat, which felt like it was nearly beating out of your chest. He would occasionally readjust his legs as the slight bumps in the road moved him, and it was almost like he was intentionally trying to rile you up, (there was no way, right? Right…). The best you could do was laugh nervously and hum in agreement whenever he pointed something out through the window, his tour guide mode seeming to never end.
Eventually the carriage came to a stop, and Jade exited first, ducking his rather large figure under the small doorway, which he somehow still managed to be graceful about. He quickly situated himself and held a hand out to you, his gentlemanly smile present as always. Before getting out you shook Grim awake, frowning as you wiped away the drool on his face with a handkerchief like you would a child.
“Mrah…? Five more minutes…”
“Grim, we’re here.” You said, shaking your head with an amused smile, plopping the half-asleep direbeast on your shoulder.
You carefully stepped out of the carriage, taking hold of Jade’s outstretched hand to steady yourself on the ground. Despite putting a good amount of weight on his hand, you noticed that his arm didn’t move at all, almost as if it were made out of something solid.
Solid muscles…
You shook your head at the thought, quickly letting go of his hand. “Thank you, Jade.”
“My pleasure.” He said, putting a hand to his chest. “Shall we reconvene with the others?”
“Yes! I’m excited to see what’s next.” He smiled politely at your words, leading you to the second carriage where the rest of the group was disembarking.
“We’ve reached our destination, everyone.” Jade announced, making you glance around a bit. You could see where the park got its name from; all along the walkways, a stripe of bright blue seaglass was inlaid, sparkling in the sunlight. You tapped it with your foot, and the glass made a satisfying ‘ting!’ sound, much different from the sound that was made from walking on the regular sand colored walkway. Various different kinds of plants filled the areas outside of the walkways, ranging from dark green trees to all different colors of flowers and shrubs.
“This is rather high up. Where have you taken us?” Riddle asked, looking down at the town below you. The town square you had seen before seemed rather small now, and the air smelled a little less salty being farther away from the wharf.
“Seaglass Park, the largest in the Sunshine Lands. It’s filled with lush greenery. Simply taking a walk here can soothe the soul.” Jade answered, gesturing to some of the nearby plants. “There’s a remarkable amount of work put into every facet of these vast grounds to ensure visitors are left speechless.”
Riddle sounded pleased at this, his eyes darting around to look at all the different greenery in the area. “That certainly sounds like a proper tourist attraction. I’m looking forward to this.”
“Likewise. This is my first time here as well. I’ve heard much about the park, but I’ve never had the occasion to visit before.” Jade remarked, which had you a bit surprised. “I’m as excited as all of you. My tour guiding ability may fall short here, so I do hope you’ll be patient with me.” He explained, putting a hand up to his chest.
“I’m sure you’ll be just fine, Jade.” You assured, finding it hard to believe that he could lack the ability to do anything at this point. “It’s your vacation too! You should relax.”
Jade seemed to contemplate your words for a moment, staring at you almost in shock, (or just blankly, you can’t really tell). “...If you insist.”
“For all his modesty, Leech has been a veritable professional while showing us around.” Malleus murmured, shaking his head in approval.
Riddle nodded in agreement. “Yes, I have a hard time imagining him ‘falling short’ in that regard.” His words made you sputter, a snort of laughter escaping, making him turn his attention to you. “Hm? Is something funny, (Y/N)?”
“Pfft, nothing…” You managed to get out, swatting your hand at him.
Falling short…you’re short…he’s tall…pfff….
Perhaps your sense of humor needs some work. Or maybe you’ve been listening to Floyd too much?
“First, why don’t we make our way to a more elevated area? Not all areas of the park are the same height.” Jade said, swiftly relieving you of Riddle’s suspicious stare. You caught his slight emphasis on the word ‘height’ though, and you had to hide your laughing as a fit of coughs. “If we climb the central stairs, I believe we can reach a splendid view.” His eyes glanced over to you and seemed normal, but you could catch a hint of amusement from him.
“Oho. I’d certainly like to see that.” You let out a sigh of relief as Riddle’s attention was directed to the sights of the park, though you couldn’t help but still giggle silently.
“Then let’s start climbing.” Jade said, bringing your attention to the fair amount of steps nearby.
Oh god.
“We meet again, my nemesis…” You muttered, picking up a bit of your dress so that it wouldn’t drag on the ground. Riddle sighed at your words, shaking his head in disapproval.
“It would do you well to join an athletic club if you find this to be a struggle. Perhaps you could join Ace or Deuce in one of their clubs.”
“Sorry, Riddle, but I would rather do anything else than join an athletic club.” You retorted. “It’s fine and all, but…I’d rather not be in the middle of a testosterone party, if you get what I mean.”
Boy locker rooms…eugh…
“I…suppose…” Perhaps you had said something shocking, because his face turned a bit red and he promptly walked away, going up the stairs (with ease, you might add).
It’s fine, you got this.
“Nemesis, you say? Have you perhaps seen these steps before?” Beside you now was Jade, watching with an amused expression as you huffed your way up the stairs. It was like he was torturing you with his own stamina, his breathing perfectly even and not a trace of exertion to be seen.
“All stairs…are my enemy…”
“Oho, I see. Forgive me for this run-in with your enemy then.” He chuckled, teeth glinting.
“‘S fine…’m good…” Although it certainly didn’t help that you had an extra weight on your shoulder, who had somehow fallen back asleep.
“Do you require assistance, dear (Y/N)?” He asked, a hand at his chin in thought. “Perhaps you would prefer it if I carried you the rest of the way?” You sputtered at the suggestion, unsure if he was genuinely offering that as an option.
“Wha-? No! I…I got it…” You wheezed, waving him off and continuing your climb. “I just…am a bit slower…you can go ahead though.”
“Dear me, what a strange suggestion. How could I ever be a proper tour guide if I left part of the group behind?” He said, feigned sadness on his face. “It wounds me to hear you even suggest such a thing.”
“...Right…right…” You looked up to see how much longer, just to see stairs as far as the eye could see. “Wha-How…how many…?”
“Stairs? Approximately 1,500.” Your eyes bulged at the number, Jade’s perfectly polite expression never changing. “Perhaps you are reconsidering my offer?”
“Perhaps not…” You refused, your determination outweighing whatever desire you had for Jade to carry you.
He’s pretty strong…no!! I can do this!
“Very well.” He replied, the smile on his face turning a bit mischievous as he watched you struggle up the stairs. You gave him a small glare, though there wasn’t much to it given your exacerbation.
Hm…
“Y’know what…” You muttered, watching Jade’s eyes widen slightly as you tugged his arm in your direction. “If you’re such a gentleman…certainly you can offer up your arm…” Your words trailed off as you huffed out a breath again, (the sun was not helping with your exhaustion).
“...Ah, but of course.” He took a moment to respond, but it was only the single moment before he angled his arm in the correct position, your hand taking hold of his bicep-
Holy shit…why is he so muscular?!
You immediately schooled your expression, keeping any shock inside your mind as you leaned some of your weight on him, walking up the stairs with a bit more ease.
“Are you faring better now?” Jade asked, a seemingly pleased look gracing his features.
“...Yes, I am.” You responded, focusing on climbing the stairs and not the very strong arm you were currently holding onto. “Much better.”
“I’m pleased to hear it. I would be quite a terrible tour guide if I let you continue to struggle up the stairs, no?”
“...If you say so.” You hesitantly agreed, unsure of what kind of response he was looking for. You could never quite figure out Jade or what he was thinking, and you suspected that it would take quite a lot of…something, to even attempt to figure him out.
What is this ‘something’? You have no idea. Perhaps this can be another goal for the trip…
You could have jumped with joy when the end of the stairs came into sight, although you felt a flash of embarrassment at seeing the rest of the group waiting on you, (and Jade, but mostly you). Once the last step was conquered you let out an excited ‘aah!’, grateful to be finally free from the tedious activity.
“Finally!! Freedom!” You exclaimed, taking in a deep breath and letting it out in an equally deep sigh. “That was a lot of stairs.”
“Apologies for not informing you all about this.” Jade says, and Rook’s delighted smile at you makes you suddenly realize that you’re very much still clutching to Jade’s arm. You quickly pull your hand away from his arm, clutching your hands together in front of you in embarrassment. He merely let his arm down and gave you a polite smile, saying something about ‘being of service’ before he led the group over to a nearby terrace.
Aah, what am I even doing…
“It seems your charms are working, Trickster.” Rook murmured to you, making your cheeks heat in embarrassment.
“Shush, Rook. This is so embarrassing…” He only gave you a mysterious smile, which made you even more confused. Were your attempts really working? How could he tell? Does Jade know-?
Riddle’s voice interrupted your thoughts. “Ah, we’ve reached a terrace. What a superb view this is.” He said, his hand blocking the sun from his eyes as he admired the town below.
“You can see the entire city area from here.” Malleus remarked. It was true; if the town square was small before, it was miniscule now. The extra elevation provided a beautiful view of the city however, with different colors splashed across the buildings, contrasting the greenery that was dotted throughout the roadsides.
“All the colorful rooftops clustered together present a gorgeous contrast with the expanse of the Coral Sea. Tres bien! How picturesque.”
“And the air is so crisp and clear. The pleasant sea breeze makes me want to breathe in deep.” Riddle added, Rook nodding in agreement.
“I could lose track of time admiring this exquisite harmony between the city and nature.”
“Hey, Grim…” You shook your shoulder, trying to get him to wake up from his slumber. “Wake up! There’s a really pretty view of the city!” He grumbled at your words, but you shook him a bit with your hand, which did the trick.
“What’s so important…” He groaned, rubbing his eyes with his paws. “This’d better be good, hench human…!”
“Look! Isn’t it beautiful?” You pointed out at the view, looking back at Grim, who looked less than pleased.
“This ‘s what you woke me up for? I need to find a new resting place…” You frowned at his words but didn’t say anything back. You suppose that was how you felt as a child going to art museums, though you thought that anybody could appreciate a nice view.
“Oh dear, you hardly seem interested in the view.” Jade cut in. “There’s a bench over there. Why don’t we all sit back and enjoy the scenery?” He suggested, which made Grim immediately perk up.
“Myahaha, me first!” He grinned, suddenly awake enough to try and race to the bench.
He’s like a child…
“You don’t need to rush. It’s large enough to seat all of us.” You said, sighing at Grim as he had already hopped off your shoulder and was running towards the bench.
“I’ll take that challenge.” Jade suddenly said, and then he was off, long legs sprinting over to the bench that Grim was running towards.
“Wha-Hey! I want a good spot too!” You yelled, beginning to run too. Behind you, you could hear more running footsteps, which meant you could assume that Riddle, Rook, and Malleus were close behind you.
Shit…
Your legs were still recovering from the stairs, but you somehow barely made it to the bench before them, damn near crashing into it with the momentum of your sprinting. You laughed as you watched Rook outrun Malleus himself, leaving Riddle last in place, though he did have a good pace, (just shorter legs). Soon enough, everyone was seated on the bench, playful banter going as they were trying to decide who came in last, (Riddle insisted that he was at a natural disadvantage).
“It seems none of us were above joining the race in the end.” Malleus sighed, a small smile on his face.
“I just didn’t want to let someone beat me…” Riddle admitted, looking a bit pouty. You could have made a comment about how he could learn from Deuce’s club, but you instead kept it to yourself, deciding to be nice.
Rook splayed his legs out, breathing in deeply. “Heh heh heh. It was like I was a child again.”
“That was excellent sprinting from all of you.” Jade commented, an amused smile on his face.
“Ooh, sure enough! The view from this bench ain’t half bad!” Grim straightened up, his bright eyes looking over the scenery.
“I told you, it was worth it! I even climbed all the stairs for you, so the least you could do is enjoy the view.” You said proudly, to which Grim waved you off with his paw.
“The great and mighty Grim should be carried around at all times! After all, I’m gonna be the greatest mage of all time!”
“...Whatever.” Maybe someday Grim would recognize the things you do for him.
“I’m seeing many more locals than tourists like ourselves around.” Riddle remarked, looking around at the people who had been passing by you all.
Jade hummed in response, a hand to his chin. “From what I understand, there’s a walking path here that the local residents like to use.”
“Many of these humans are out walking their dogs. Come to think of it, I saw many dogs in the city as well.” Malleus said, his sharp eyes watching a dog that was passing by.
“There’s a reason for that. As lore has it, the prince who married the mermaid princess cherished dogs. He dove into the ocean with no regard for his own safety to rescue his dog from drowning. Many people in Ultramarine City keep dogs out of respect for his gallantry.” Jade explained. “I remember being amazed at the sight of all the dogs out on walks when I first came to this city. Naturally, there are no dogs under the sea, so I had never seen one in person coming onto land.”
“There’s a certain joy to be found in exposing oneself to different cultures, isn’t there?” Malleus said with a soft smile.
“Yes…Ah, look. There’s another dog!” Jade said, pointing to…
“That isn’t a dog. It’s a stray cat.” Rook said, a confused expression on his face.
“Oh, really? I had no idea.” Jade said innocently, though his toothy grin was anything but innocent. Malleus bristled at this, his brows knit together as the temperature dropped at least five degrees.
“He’s making a mockery of us.”
“Malleus, please, patience…!” Riddle said nervously, looking around at the people who were walking by. “There are people here!”
“There are also no shortage of dog races and grooming contests here. What would you say to partaking in one, Grim?” Grim shot up at Jade’s words, standing on the bench and pointing a paw at the smirking eel.
“I ain’t a dog!”
“What a shame. I hear the winning canine gets treated to a fancy feast…” As soon as he mentioned food, Grim suddenly went wide-eyed, putting his paw down.
“Mrah…Really? You think I could sign up?” He asked, making Jade chuckle behind his hand.
“Wow…” You said in shock, surprised that Grim would go along with being a dog if it was for food.
“Have you no pride?” Riddle asked, shaking his head.
“What?! You would do it too!!”
“No, I would not pretend to be a dog for a feast. Seriously…it’s a miracle you have (Y/N) with you.”
“Thank you, Riddle. At least someone appreciates me around here.” You said pointedly to Grim, who only swatted a paw at you with a ‘hmph!’.
“Oh? I see a souvenir shop over there. I think I’ll go have a look.” Rook suddenly said, standing up and eyeing a building in the distance.
“What an excellent idea. Shall we, everyone?” Jade said, also standing up.
Grim attempted to scurry onto your shoulder but you shrugged him off, getting up and leaving him on the bench. When you looked back his blue eyes were shining with sadness at you, and your resolve immediately dissolved as you picked him up.
“You’re lucky you’re so cute.”
“I’m not-!”
“Do you want me to carry you or not?”
The walk over to the little souvenir shop was quaint, as you all cut through the park to get to it. There were so many different kinds of flowers that you lost track, and you couldn’t help but to keep tapping your foot on the glass in the walkway every so often, the little ‘ting!’going off every time you did so.
“Are you enjoying the park?” You smiled at Jade as he came to walk beside you, matching your pace.
“Yes, very much so. There are so many different kinds of flowers and plants, they look beautiful.” You said, smiling at the plants as you walked by them.
“If you enjoy this, then I imagine that you would enjoy some of the mountains that are on Sage’s Island.” Jade said, a certain sparkle in his eyes. “There are many different types of flora and fauna there, with many that are specific to the island.”
“You’ll have to show me sometime, then.” Jade seemed momentarily surprised at your words, but his lips held a small smile.
“It would be my pleasure.” He replied, and you savored that soft smile that he gave you. He stopped as you all arrived at the souvenir shop, his face shifting back to his well mannered smile. “Ah, it would seem we have arrived at the shop.”
A small bell chimed as you all entered the rather small shop, the shelves along walls filled to the brim with different knick knacks and souvenirs. The shop’s windows were made up of stained glass, tinting some parts of the shop in different colored hues.
Malleus looked along some of the shelves to the left, eyeing the many different jewelry boxes. “I see a number of items made with tiles. Simple white objects, intricate colorful ones…There’s quite the variety.”
Jade nodded at this. “Yes, tile art is a thriving industry in Ultramarine City. Given a harbor city’s frequent exposure to salty sea breezes, there’s a strong demand for moisture and salt-resistant building materials. Tile is especially popular in cities like this, given its water resistance, durability, and suitability for exterior and flooring. Ceramic goods also flourish here for similar reasons.” He explained, gesturing to the many items that were made from tiles. “As I understand, they used to make music boxes featuring ceramic figures. I remember playing with them when I’d find them in sunken ships and the like.” He said, a fond look in his eyes.
Aww…
With every new fact you’re learning about Jade’s past here, you feel like you’re being let in on a secret, which makes you feel almost giddy. You could almost imagine a small Jade swimming around a sunken ship, digging around and looking for treasures, (much like he does now with mushrooms, as chance would have it).
You walked throughout the shop, looking at different items. There was a wide variety of things, ranging from elaborately decorated necklaces to engraved metal forks, and even a large ornamental rug depicting a scene of many different sea creatures.
There was a rotating fixture that contained different sea animal keychains, made with different colored tiles. You frowned as you turned the fixture, looking for something particular but not finding it.
“Hm…”
“Hm? Somethin’ catch your eye, (Y/N)?” Grim asked.
“I want a moray one, but I don’t see it…” You frowned, kneeling down to scour the bottom rows. Maybe there would be one hidden in the back?
“Considering the Forever Float ceremony’s association with morays, I think that would make a fine memento.” You heard from next to you. Jade had also kneeled down next to you, carefully looking at the different keychains. “It would be an excellent souvenir to give to someone, too.”
“True, but I want a moray for myself. Ace and Deuce can get…hm…” You thought for a moment. “...a crab and a mackerel! Those are Floyd’s nicknames for them, after all.” You giggled, continuing your search for a moray keychain. “There doesn’t seem to be a moray here though…”
“They are quite popular due to the Forever Float, but…” Jade shifted through some of the peg hooks, faintly smiling as he pulled one out. “...perhaps it was merely hiding from you. We have a tendency to do that, after all.” He explained, handing the keychain over to you.
“You don’t say?” You say a bit playfully. “Hiding from little old me…you wouldn’t do that, right, Jade?”
“My, but I wouldn’t dream of it, dear (Y/N).” He answered, tilting his head a bit to match your height, a playfully sad look on his face. “To think you would write me off so quickly, I feel quite hurt…”
Even though you knew it was mock sadness, the way he was looking at you squeezed your heart and simultaneously made it beat ten times faster, making you fidget nervously with the keychain in your hand.
“‘m not gonna keep watchin’ this…slimy eel…” Grim suddenly said, sliding off your shoulder and walking off, which you acutely aware of how close Jade was kneeling next to you. You laughed a bit nervously, shifting through the other keychains to try and find the souvenirs for Ace and Deuce.
“I was just joking…”
“Oh, really? Apologies, I was unaware that we were only joking.” He said, his smooth smile back in an instant. “Ah, it would seem the other items you are looking for are right in front of you. How lucky.”
You looked up at his words, seeing that wow, they really were right in front of you.
How did you miss that?
You quickly plucked them from their spots, holding them carefully and straightening yourself up. “Jade, are you going to purchase anything?” He seemed to ponder the question for a bit, looking through some of the keychains.
“Ah, yes. I seem to have found what I was looking for as well.” He said, seeming pleased as he stood up and showed you.
Gah!!!
“A…shrimp keychain?” You asked, shock running through you.
“Yes. Shall we check out?” He said, smiling like it was the most natural thing in the world and leading you over to the checkout area.
He’s toying with me, he has to be…why is he even buying it?
“I’ll wrap these extra carefully--they’re very fragile.” The cashier mentioned, wrapping up all four keychains. Your hand dug through your bag, shifting various items around before you found your wallet, taking out the appropriate amount of thaumarks.
“Thank you for your patronage! Have a nice day!” You looked up at the cashier, confusion on your face as you were about to mention that you hadn’t paid yet. The cashier merely handed a plastic bag to Jade, who was tucking his own wallet back into his pocket.
“Jade-”
“You as well.” You hurriedly shoved your money back into your bag, following behind Jade as he exited the store, stopping in front to wait for everyone else.
“Hey, what was that about?” You asked, frowning. “I could’ve paid. I got more items than you.”
“Oh, I was not aware that the Headmaster allotted more funds to you. What a-”
“Okay, touche.” You interrupted, which only made Jade chuckle quietly. “It wasn’t that expensive though.”
“I simply wanted to. Is there an issue with that?” He asked, inquisitive gaze landing on you. You stayed silent for a couple moments, looking at him in shock, your heart squeezing in your chest.
He…wanted to? Since when…?
“Err…I, uh, guess not…” You managed to get out, looking away from him and studying the sky instead. “Well, thank you…”
“My pleasure. Ah, it seems we have all finished our shopping, yes?” Jade asked, making you notice that everyone had now exited from the gift shop. “Shall we move on?”
“Yes, ‘tis a shame to leave such beauty behind, but my heart is aflutter at the thought of the new places that await us. Lead the way, Monsieur Premedite.” Rook said, a rather large bag in his hands.
What on earth did he even purchase?
“We’ll be riding in the carriage again, then? That’s surprisingly enjoyable in and of itself.” Malleus noted, seeing the two carriages in the distance as you all walked through the park again.
“Yes, given the distance to the next destination is rather far on foot.” Jade affirmed.
Thank god, it’s literally sweltering out here.
Despite the sun bearing down on you, you were much more pleased at the trip down the stairs this time, though you didn’t miss Jade’s mention of your ‘nemesis’ again, shooting him a playful glare, (Grim asked if you were feeling alright and if Jade scammed you…you don’t blame him).
Back at the carriages, the group split up again, and this time you were overthinking. Were you too bold last time? Should you be more casual?
You attempted to be normal as Jade held his hand out to you again, helping you into the carriage and yet again covering your figure as you entered. That itself was enough to make you flustered again, and you fanned yourself with your hand as he entered the carriage.
“Is the heat bothering you, (Y/N)?”
“Hm? Uh, I mean it is a bit hot out…” You admitted, your cheeks flushing at his worried look. “I don’t know how you’re surviving wearing all the layers and dark clothing.”
“I am able to adapt to conditions around me, so the heat is not an issue for me. If you start to feel faint, however, do let me know.” You simply nodded, unable to meet his worried gaze again out of fear that you would do something stupid. You instead looked out the window at the passing scenery, and even held Grim up to the window so that he could see too, (not that he particularly wanted to).
Disembarking from the carriage you thought would be exactly the same, but when you stepped onto the ground and went to draw your hand away from Jade’s he kept it firmly in place, making you quirk an eyebrow at him.
“Jade-?” Your words are immediately cut off when he leans down a bit, brushing his lips against your knuckles and looking up at you with that damn smirk. “Wha-?! You-?!” You sputtered, staring at him with wide eyes as he straightened himself, letting go of your hand.
“Eugh…” You heard Grim mutter, but you were in too much shock to pay attention to him.
Did he really just…?!
“Excellent. Your body temperature doesn’t seem to indicate anything dangerous.” He said, his smirk instantly replaced with a warm smile. “Shall we?” You gaped at him as he led you to the rest of the group, forcing yourself to close your mouth when Riddle gave you a strange look.
This damn eel…I’m gonna get him next time…
a/n: btw, moray eels ectothermic/cold blooded, which means that their body temperature changes based on the kind of water they are surrounded by, so they prefer warmer climates ! hence why jade isn't fazed by the heat !
pairing ; li tianchen x gender neutral reader insert
masterlist ; here
part of my valentine’s day event
N — Nickel
do they spoil? do they buy the person they love everything?
Tianchen does whatever he can to make you happy and to keep you safe, making use of whatever resources he has at his disposal in order to do so. And because he isn’t especially wealthy, this can sometimes mean him spending a bit beyond his means just to get you something or to give you an experience that he knows you’ll love — because he will do anything, truly anything, to keep the people he loves happy and he couldn’t care less about the cost. So in a word, yes; he spoils you to the best of his ability.
Heyyy! So I dunno if your reqs are currently open but your Qifrey fics are absolute gold! And I wanted to come on here and request a fic where Qifrey and reader get caught kissing in their room by the girls because they were snooping and somehow they all end up on the bed together, cramped but happy and sleeping
If you don't wanna do this or cant do this, thats understandable but I would I like a reply on wht if thats the case so I know for future reference:)
Thank you for your service to the Qifrey fangirls🫶🫶🫶
"I knew it!"
Qifrey x reader
cw: none
AN: I'm sorry for replying so late. I swear I read your request and wanted to start writing immediately. Unfortunately I'm in the middle of finals so writing outside of school tends to be a bit tedious
:( Still, I gotta keep my Qifrey fangirls/boys and theys fed ✊
The lamplight in Qifrey’s room was soft and golden, casting warm shadows along the wooden walls. You sat beside him on the edge of his bed, a book open between you, though neither of you had turned a page in quite some time. The quiet felt different tonight. It was heavier, but in a comforting way, like something unspoken was waiting to be acknowledged. Qifrey glanced at you, then at the book, and let out a small breath of amusement.
“You haven’t been reading,” he said gently. You huffed, trying to defend yourself, but your voice lacked conviction. “Neither have you.”
He smiled at that, slow and knowing, and closed the book with a soft snap. The sound seemed louder than it should have been, like it marked a shift between you.
“Perhaps I’ve been distracted,” he admitted. His eyes lingered on yours, and your heart skipped in response.
You weren’t sure who leaned in first. It felt like it happened at the same time. The kiss was soft, almost hesitant, as if both of you were savoring the moment instead of rushing it. His hand lifted to your cheek, warm and steady, and you felt yourself melt into it.
“Is this alright?” he murmured quietly against your lips, giving you the chance to pull away. You shook your head just slightly. “Don’t stop."
That was all the encouragement he needed. The kiss deepened, still gentle, still careful, but full of warmth that made your chest ache in the best way.
“Master Qifrey?” Coco’s voice came from the doorway, followed by the unmistakable creak of it opening wider. The two of you sprang apart immediately, turning to see all four girls standing there. Coco blinked in surprise. Tetia’s face lit up instantly with excitement. Agott looked scandalized, and Richeh simply observed in silence. “I knew it!” Tetia squealed, rushing into the room. “I knew something was going on!” “You should knock,” Agott snapped, even though she clearly hadn’t. Coco covered her mouth, half-laughing, half-apologizing. “We didn’t mean to interrupt,” she said quickly, though her curious gaze said otherwise.
Qifrey cleared his throat and straightened slightly, though there was a faint flush to his ears. “It seems you’ve all discovered something a bit earlier than intended,” he said, attempting composure. You hid your face in your hands for a moment before laughing despite yourself. “There’s no saving this, is there?” you muttered. “Nope!” Tetia chirped happily, already climbing onto the bed as if she belonged there. The others followed soon after, the room filling with chatter, teasing, and far too many questions. Qifrey sighed, but there was a smile tugging at his lips as he leaned back, clearly giving up on maintaining any sense of order.
Eventually, the energy softened. The lantern burned lower, and one by one, yawns interrupted the conversation. “It’s late,” Coco said, rubbing her eyes. “We should probably go.” “Or we could just stay,” Tetia suggested immediately, already curling up in the blankets. “It’s warm here.” “That’s not proper,” Agott began, but her voice wavered as another yawn slipped out. Richeh simply settled down without comment, which seemed to settle the matter.
Blankets were pulled out and layered across the bed until it became a soft, crowded nest. Somehow, all of you fit. It was messy and unorganized, but it worked. Coco ended up tucked beside you, Tetia sprawled comfortably near the center, Agott reluctantly settling in with a quiet sigh, and Richeh finding space near the edge. Qifrey was behind you, his arm resting loosely around your shoulders. It felt natural, like it had always been there.
“Goodnight, everyone,” he said softly. “Goodnight!” Tetia mumbled, already half-asleep. Coco smiled sleepily. “Goodnight, Master Qifrey… goodnight,” she added, glancing at you with a knowing look. You squeezed Qifrey’s hand beneath the blankets, and he returned it gently.
The room slowly grew quiet. The earlier embarrassment faded into something warm and safe. You leaned back slightly against him, feeling the steady rhythm of his breathing. Around you, the girls shifted closer together, drawn by warmth and comfort. It felt peaceful in a way that words couldn’t quite capture.
As your eyes drifted closed, you heard Qifrey whisper softly near your ear, “We’ll talk about this properly tomorrow.” You smiled faintly. “We will.” And with that, surrounded by soft blankets and the quiet presence of everyone you cared about, you fell asleep, warm and close, knowing this moment would stay with you for a long time.
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⋆｡ °.🐚⋆❀˖°trials of rowmance(ing jade) click to read on ao3!
chapter 8: dance with me (kingdom dance) [wc: 5706]
summary ˖°𓇼𓂃 𓈒𓏸 When Jade invites you to a wedding in the Sunshine Lands, you're told to use this opportunity to steal his heart...but what exactly does that entail?
content ˖°𓇼𓂃 𓈒𓏸 reader is yuu, f!reader, reader is referred to as (y/n), dialogue is matched to event, flirty and smirky jade, rook is a very french wingman
story masterlist | next chapter →
Your mind is racing with maybe a million different thoughts as you follow Jade to the rest of the group, your nervousness shooting through the roof as you realize what you just did.
Oh god…I kissed his cheek? Why did I do that??
You suddenly think back on a conversation that you had with Ace and Deuce while walking to class, when you just might have let your little crush slip. The pair had looked at you like you were genuinely crazy and rattled off twenty different reasons why it was a horrible idea, (number one being how he blackmailed you not that long ago, which is a fair point). Ace had even taken you by the shoulders and physically shaken you, trying to “fix” your brain since ‘there has to be something wrong with it if you like that crazy ass dude’.
Maybe there was…but could anyone really blame you? It’s hard to not be charmed by his gentlemanly persona, and he’s especially cute when he nerds out about his interest in mountains and mushrooms…and maybe also you found it a bit attractive and funny when he messed with people.
Jade’s perfectly smooth and polite smile didn’t do anything to help your spiraling, but it was only after looking at his face for a moment that you realized there was a smudge of your lip gloss on his cheek. It was luckily not an extremely pigmented color, but you knew there would be at least one person who would immediately take notice of the small glossy spot…
Damn the French.
“What’s this long pole-lookin’ thing?” Grim asked, making himself rather comfy on Malleus’ shoulder while you were away.
“That’s a telescope—a rather old-fashioned one.” Jade answered, gesturing to the wide variety of newer model telescopes.
“Modern telescopes and binoculars are technological marvels! That even holds true for opera binoculars. They have lenses with layers of coating that provide a clear, illuminated view even when the stage is dark. And since they give you a wide field of view at low magnification, it’s easy to take in the whole stage and track the most minor of movements…” Rook explained, splaying his arms out in his usual dramatics, his passion for the topic shining through.
While he was talking, you took this opportunity to hopefully make sure nobody noticed your lip gloss on Jade’s cheek. You nudged him, his dual-colored eyes flicking over to you with curiosity. You tapped slightly on your cheek and subtly pointed to his, trying to signal the issue, but he only gave you a closed-eye smile and an almost unnoticeable shrug in return, his gaze returning to Rook.
Cheeky bastard.
“...There are even ones with image stabilization, enabling you to enjoy a play without worrying about keeping your hands steady. Not only that, but they come in compact, elegant designs that make them easy to carry around.”
“You’re quite well-informed. You almost sound like an expert in the field.” Malleus remarked, which seemed to make Rook almost smug.
“Heh heh, well, I do own several pairs.”
“Several…?” Riddle questioned, brows raised in question.
“I don’t own any old-fashioned types like these, though. This gorgeous design is tasteful in its own right. I’d love to add one of these to my collection. I’ll buy it.”
“Thank you for your purchase. One moment, please.” The vendor of the stall carefully picked up the telescope, going to wrap it in tissue paper.
“I was under the impression one telescope or pair of binoculars would be enough for anyone, but…clearly not, in your case.” Riddle muttered, seeming a bit weirded out at Rook’s strange hyperfixation. If Rook noticed this, he paid no mind, happily awaiting his new addition to his collection.
Maybe I need to be a bit more like him. He’s so carefree.
“Here you are, sir.” The vendor said, handing the bag over to Rook.
“Merci.”
“Ooh, they’ve got cans of tuna for sale over there! A whole boatload of ‘em!” Grim exclaimed, jumping down from Malleus’ shoulder and running towards the stall.
“Mind you, we literally just ate…” You muttered, appalled at Grim’s one-track mindset.
“Canned tuna is actually one of the Sunshine Lands’ specialities.” Jade announced, making Grim perk up from where he was looking at the different cans.
“What? It is?”
“Yes. You see, tuna is ordinarily canned using vegetable oil. But in the Sunshine Lands, they use olive oil. Hence the tuna ends up taking on some of that rich olive flavor. And when you use that canned tuna in salads or the like, the olive oil it’s packed in also doubles as a dressing.” He explained. “Incidentally, we use Sunshine Lands tuna for our sandwiches at the Mostro Lounge. Azul insists no other kind tastes nearly as good.”
“Ooh, they’ve got tuna in jars, too! All of it looks so good!” Grim looked at the cans and jars in awe, eyes sparkling at the sheer amount of the stuff.
“Those are jars of hand-processed, high-end tuna.”
“Sounds good to me! Hench-human! Buy some to take back!” Grim ordered, pointing at the tuna jar that he wanted. You deadpanned at him, quirking an eyebrow at him.
“Me? That's my money, Grim. Do you have fancy tuna money?” His ears flattened as he looked away from you, pouting.
“No…”
“Then you’ll have to just get the regular tuna then.” You stated, making him grumble for a bit before relenting, seeming to still be happy with regular cans of tuna.
“I guess I gotta go with quantity over quality anyway! I’ll get the regular stuff.” He said pointedly, huffing and turning his back to you as he bought the tuna with his allowance.
“Thank you for your purchase.” As the vendor began packing up the tuna cans, Riddle hummed in approval from your side, his arms crossed in satisfaction.
“Well done, (Y/N). Grim makes trouble for you far too often for you to spoil him all the time.” You laughed nervously at his statement, knowing that you most definitely spoil him much more than you should, (how can you ignore those cute kitten eyes? That’s your son!).
“Haha, right…” You chuckled, watching in amusement as Grim struggled to carry the heavy plastic bag with his tuna. You were about to help him out, but he swatted your hand off with his paw, giving you a small glare and dragging the bag over to Malleus instead.
Is this…how it feels to raise an angry teenager…?
Leaving the tuna vendor and looking over the rest of the market made you realize just how big it really was. The different stalls were spread out widely, and there was a large variety of all different kinds of wares. You followed behind the group, taking a bit more time to look at some of the items.
After all, every single item here is basically a Twisted Wonderland special, if you really think about it.
There was a stall selling hairpins that particularly caught your interest, the metal accessories having various charms and designs on them to make them unique. Some of the pins had delicate flower charms with leafy engravings crawling down the sides of them, while others were themed after different marine animals and embedded with different colored gems.
“Tu les aimes? These would look lovely in your hair,” Rook suddenly popped up beside you, eyeing the hairpins you had been looking at. He picked up one that matched the color of your dress, holding it up to your face with a scrutinizing eye before nodding, a pleased smile on his face. “Oui. You have a natural beauty, Trickster.”
“Oh please…” You waved him off, walking away from the stall. “I really can’t afford those, anyways.”
“Do try to keep up, you two. It would be a terrible shame if you got lost.” You jumped as Jade suddenly appeared behind you, his smooth voice cascading over you and making your heart stutter, (why was he standing so closely behind you?).
This guy…
“Right…” Your voice wavered a little bit as you turned around, Jade’s proximity making his chest the first thing you see. You quickly sidestepped him out of sheer panic, eyes bulging for a moment before you schooled your expression.
“Ah, pardonne-moi, I had not realized we had fallen behind!” Rook exclaimed, hooking his arm in yours and leading you rather quickly towards the rest of the group, leaving Jade behind in the dust. You looked back at him to see his usual smile on his face as he walked, though you could’ve sworn his eyebrow twitched, (maybe you were imagining things?).
“Trickster…this name is one quite befitting of you. You are making efforts to steal his heart, non?” You blanched at Rook’s words, suspiciously looking at the ground as the two of you walked. Of course, you knew he was going to see the little lip gloss mark, but you didn’t think it would really be so quick…
“I think he knows…and I think he’s messing with me. So I’m messing with him too.” Rook’s eyebrows shot up at this, pulling you to walk faster as Jade approached from behind, (rather quickly, you might add).
“You believe he sees you as entertainment?” He whispered, his voice low.
“...Yes.” You sighed, feeling a bit conflicted now that it had been finally said out loud. Of course you didn’t want this to be the case, but you couldn’t possibly imagine there being anything else to explain his actions as of late.
“Ahh, the troubles of young love.” You raised an inquisitive brow at this, to which Rook only smiled mysteriously. “There is much for you to discover, (Y/N).” With that, Rook unwound his arm from yours, rejoining the rest of the group who weren’t too far ahead.
He said my name…what the hell…
“My, Rook seems to be quite animated today.” Jade replaced Rook at your side almost immediately, his hand at his chin as he smiled.
“Isn’t Rook always animated?” You questioned, looking ahead to see Rook with one of his arms thrust out, loudly proclaiming something in French about the fruits that a vendor had for sale.
“Ah, yes, well. He seems to be rather smothering today.” There was an icy tone to Jade’s words for a split second, making a shiver go down your back despite the sun beating down on you. “Shall we move along then?”
You didn’t respond as the two of you walked over to the rest of the group, Jade’s words bouncing around in your head like some kind of word puzzle. It didn’t help that he kept his hand kept barely touching the small of your back as he led you through the market, making sure that nobody bumps into you or that you get lost.
What does that even mean…?! What game is he trying to play here??
“There’s so much for sale, it’s hard to decide what to buy. It makes me feel like I’m on a treasure hunt.” Rook’s words brought you out of your mind, making you realize that you both had rejoined with the others.
“For sure. What other kinda neat stuff’s around here…?” Grim agreed, sniffing the air a bit and looking around, his eyes bright as he scanned the different stalls. “Ooh, let’s check out the bottle over there! It’s got a whole model ship inside.” He pointed towards the stall that was nearby, whining about Malleus’ ‘slow’ walking pace as everyone crowded around the stall.
“Ah, Lilia’s brought me back a ship in a bottle as a souvenir before.” Malleus notes, leaning down to take a closer look at the bottle.
“Hmm?” Grim plopped down from Malleus’ shoulder, standing on the table and staring quite intently at the bottle. “Wait a minute…The ship’s bigger than the opening to the bottle. Somethin’s fishy here! How’d they manage to squeeze it in?”
“Very observant, Grim!” Jade praised, making Grim have a rather satisfied smirk on his face as if he had discovered something revolutionary. “The truth is, they put the ship in when it’s still a baby, and it grows up inside the bottle.” Jade’s teeth flashed in his mischievous grin, unable to hide his amusement at Grim’s naivety.
“Mrah?! This ship’s alive?!” Grim asked, completely falling for Jade’s little trick. You snickered a bit at this, keeping your hand over your mouth to cover your smile, (it earned you a harsh glare from Riddle, but come on…it was funny).
Riddle sighed at this, shaking his head in dismay. “Of course it isn’t. Don’t tease him, Jade.”
“They build the model ship inside the bottle, Monsieur Peluche.” Rook explained, pointing at the tiny parts of the ship. “They insert tiny components and assemble them with tweezers.”
“What a hassle…!” Grim exclaimed, almost pressing his face against the bottle to try and see where the pieces connect.
“It looks like a full-fledged seafaring vessel. Assembling one would be a very laborious task.” Riddle noted, examining the model ship a bit closer.
Malleus seemed a bit puzzled at everyone’s fascination, a hand to his chin as he examined the ship model as well. “Couldn’t you simply use magic for that?”
“Mages capable of the precision needed to assemble such a minute model aren’t exactly commonplace.” Riddle clarified, to which Malleus slowly nodded his head in understanding.
“Is that right? I notice all the ships in a bottle on sale here are the same model.”
“According to legend, the couple the Forever Float ceremony originated from held their wedding on the deck of a ship.” Jade said, pointing to some of the ship models having a wedding design on the deck. “This design comes up frequently in picture books and other illustrations.”
The bottles depicting the wedding design contained miniature figures dressed in fancy clothing, with tiny models of all different kinds of foods in the background. The bride and groom were dressed in their appropriate attire, with the bride seeming to be throwing her flowers up into the air towards a crowd of waiting hands. While none of the faces on the figure were visible, it was clearly a very joyous occasion, with confetti and glitter scattered across the deck.
You smiled warmly at the scene, the depiction reminding you that this place you had been sent to still had similarities to your own world. “That’s so cute!”
Jade nodded at your statement, smiling. “Yes, and it’s amazing that someone could reproduce every detail of this elaborate design at such an adorable size.”
You continued to eye the wedding scene on the miniature boat, contemplating whether or not to buy it.“Hm? You gonna buy this too, hench-human?” Grim asked, noticing your increased interest in the display.
“It would make an excellent decoration for your room. It’s very emblematic of Ultramarine City, as well as the Forever Float ceremony.” Jade added, eyeing your reaction. You pondered on it for a moment longer, Jade’s gaze on you making you crack.
“Okay, I’ll get…” You looked over the different bottles for a moment, eventually pointing at one in the back. “This one, please.”
“All right, let me wrap that up for you!” The stall vendor plucked it from the rest of the displays, going to wrap it with paper so that it wouldn’t break.
“Why’d you choose that one, (Y/N)?” Grim asked, looking at the different bottles. “Aren’t these all the same ones?”
“Almost. These ones in the back,” You started, pointing towards an open spot where the other bottles could be seen. “They have the Sea Witch and her eels in the water, see?” At your words, everyone took a closer look at the bottles that were in the back.
“Incroyable! You are correct!”
“I wouldn’t have noticed it if you didn’t point it out, (Y/N). Good eye.” Riddle agreed.
You looked over at Jade after paying, feeling a bit of a shock when you saw his intense gaze on you. The corners of his mouth were upturned slightly less than usual, and the serious look in his eyes made you feel as if he were scrutinizing you. You gave a small, awkward smile, which immediately made his expression go back to his polite self.
What was that…?
Riddle walked over to some other stalls, prompting you all to follow behind him. “I suppose the prevalence of horses here is why the shops sell so many horse-related souvenirs. There are photos and illustrations, wood carvings, silver charms…”
“They sell horse tack as well. Perhaps I’ll get something for Silver and Sebek.” Malleus noted, though it was clear he wasn’t in his element when it came to choosing such a gift. “Hmm, but what to choose? They’ve got saddles, reins, horseshoes…Rosehearts. You’re familiar with horseback riding. Which would be your choice? It seems they both hold your horsemanship in high regard.”
“Do they? They’re both quite good themselves, though I’d say I hold my own in their company. Hmm, a suitable souvenir for equestrians…” Riddle pondered for a moment, looking around the different stalls nearby. “Perhaps brushes to groom their mounts?”
“Oho. Brushes, hm? I see many different kinds here. Which would be the best for them?”
“Let’s see…Silver mentioned wanting to put extra effort into hoof care for the next riding competition, in which case he’d probably appreciate one of these brushes with stiff bristles suited for cleaning horses. As for Sebek…He’s been wanting a thinning comb, as I recall. Something to help smooth out his mount’s shaggy mane so he can braid it. It’s important to ensure the horse looks its best at competitions. And I’m sure Sebek would love it even more if the comb came from you.” Riddle said, nodding in satisfaction.
“Fascinating. Your insight has been most helpful.” Malleus responded. “From listening to you speak, I can tell that they both take their club activities quite seriously. It’s good to be diligent. To commend them both for their efforts, I shall purchase this hoof brush and this thinning comb.”
“Great choice. I’ll bag them up!” The stall vendor took the items and bagged them, giving back the correct amount of change.
“That’s nice of you, Tsunotaro. Like Riddle said, I think they’ll love the gifts.” You mentioned, to which Malleus smiled.
“I’m pleased to hear that. They’ve both been doing very well in their studies, so I was looking for items to purchase for them.”
Aww, so cute…
“Now, where to next?” Jade asked, now that you all had reached the end of the market.
“Hey, (Y/N)!” Grim suddenly yelled out. When you turned to face him, you were suddenly hit with a splash of cold water all over your torso, the shock of the cold water making you shiver.
“Grim!”
“Myahaha! How’d you like my water gun?!” He exclaimed mischievously, pointing the water gun at the others, who all had their hands up in surrender.
“Now I’m all wet…” You grumbled, looking down at the wet spot across your borrowed dress. You knew Grim didn’t have any ill intention by it, but you had a right to be a little annoyed…
A dark teal colored handkerchief appeared in front of you, Jade holding it out to you in offering. “Perhaps this might help, though you’ll dry off quickly enough. Today’s a hot, sunny day, after all.”
You hesitantly reached for the handkerchief, but before you could grasp it Jade slotted it into your hand, his fingertips ever so gently sliding against your own before he pulled away. The calm smile spread on his lips almost seemed to be taunting you in some way, his face showing absolutely nothing of his thoughts.
As per usual, you were left gaping like a fish out of water, while he moved on like it was a daily occurrence.
Malleus examined the water gun Grim was currently pointing at him, curiosity in his eyes as he tilted his head. “Is that a water gun shaped like a fish?”
“Yup, bought it over there. It’s the perfect weapon to soak my hench-human with.”
“In the boat date that the prince and mermaid went on in the legends, there were fish in the cove who circled the ship, spouting seawater like a fountain. Someone made a water gun based on that visual, and it became a tremendous hit.” Jade seemed to think of an idea as he gave a slight ‘aha’, his eyes showing a bit of mischievousness. “What would you say to using these guns when we give our trials of love tomorrow?”
“Spraying seawater from the boats? What a charming little prank.” Rook said, clearly delighted at the idea.
“Couldn’t you simply use magic to splash water on them without going to all that extra trouble?” Malleus questioned, making Rook shake his head.
“Non non! Keeping things playful will add an element of excitement to the ceremony.”
“Indeed. We could also keep our magic in reserve and escalate our way up to that gradually.” Jade added. There was something about his words that made you feel like he was scheming something up for the trials, but you did always find it rather difficult to get a good read on Jade, so maybe he was just overly excited about the water guns…?
Probably not.
“Oho, really? What an amusing thought. Very well, I shall purchase one of my own.”
Riddle hummed in agreement, following everyone to the stall selling the water guns. “I like that idea as well. Let’s all get one.”
The vendor of the stall was very pleased with the amount of water guns you had all purchased, eagerly bagging them up and wishing you all a good day. You were feeling quite tempted to get Grim with it as payback, but you held off instead, biding your time until the time was juuust right…
“Everyone, look over there! People are dancing under that tent.” Rook announced, pointing towards a nearby tent.
“Yes, dancing is a celebrated pastime in the Sunshine Lands. This takes me back…” Jade said wistfully, a hand to his chin as he reminisced. “I remember seeing people dancing in this plaza years ago. I was terribly unaccustomed to bipedal walking at the time, so the sight of people dancing so freely on land was positively dazzling to me. That helped motivate me to practice walking, and over time, I gradually mastered not only walking, but running as well. Coming here makes me want to move my body more. On that note, would you all care to join in on the dancing?” He asked, gesturing to the tent nearby.
“How would that work?” Riddle asked, seeming a bit unsure about Jade’s proposition. “I’ve practiced ballroom and party dancing, but they’re doing some sort of festival dance I don’t know the steps to.”
“Likewise, actually.”
“Non, non! You mustn’t overthink it, Roi des Roses. Roi des Dragons. Simply have fun dancing to the music as you see fit. The same principle applies to both parties and festivals.” Rook tutted, already subtly moving to the music that was playing from the tent.
“Is that right? Today is as good as any to try something new, I suppose.”
Contrary to Malleus, Riddle still seemed unsure about the idea, his eyebrows furrowed. “‘Having fun dancing as I see fit’ is too much of a challenge for me.” He said simply, though he sighed after a few moments. “But they do say when in a foreign land, do as the locals do…”
“Let’s turn that frown of yours upside down, Riddle.” Jade urged, making Riddle sputter in shock as he took a firm hold of his shoulders. “Come along, now!”
“Hey…! Stop pushing me, Jade!” You chuckled a bit at the silly sight, watching as Jade pushed Riddle towards the tent, Malleus following behind. Rook had already joined in on the dancing, his arm looped with another local as they spun around.
“C’mon, let’s get dancin’, (Y/N)!” Grim tugged on the bottom of your dress, making you realize that he had ditched Malleus and came to find you instead, his big blue eyes looking up at you with excitement.
So cute!
“I’m not sure I can…” You looked down at your attire, not wanting to ruin it before the wedding tomorrow. You had come this far in the day without damaging it, and you didn’t want to do any damage now, (the dancing did seem rather fun, however…).
“Don’t worry, (Y/N). I’ll lead, if you’ll have me.” Jade was now suddenly in front of you, a hand extended out to you. “It would be a shame if you missed out on this opportunity.”
“I just don’t want to ruin the dress…” You explained, a bit embarrassed. “I can’t pay for it if it’s damaged.” Jade merely chuckled at your concerns, as if it was something so silly that you were concerned about.
“Then I shall take extra caution. Does that ease your mind?” He asked, his voice having a clear teasing tone as he gazed at you, his question lingering in the air.
“C’mon, (Y/N)! It’ll be fun!!” Grim said excitedly, tugging on the bottom of your dress. Grim’s cute kitty eyes plus Jade’s rather convincing self…
“Ahh…okay, I’ll join!” You answered, placing your hand in Jade’s outstretched one. He gave you a soft smile, his fingers wrapping around your own and gently pulling you towards where the dancing was taking place. Rook was doing a full dance show to the music, urging on Malleus and Riddle who were a bit awkward in their steps, but seemed to be enjoying themselves, (until Grim used their heads as stepping stones, which made Riddle turn quite red).
The music that was playing was upbeat and light, and it seemed like the locals who were dancing were doing so in specific steps, which made you a bit unsure…maybe Jade happened to know this specific dance?
“Are you feeling nervous?” Jade asked, making your eyes snap back to him.
“A little bit…” You admitted, looking around to see if anybody was looking at you. Realistically, you knew that nobody would care whether or not you danced for a bit with your friends, but your mind still made you think about how people might judge you for doing so. “I know it’s silly, especially since there’s other people dancing too-”
“It is far from silly.” Jade cut you off before you could say anything further, effectively shutting down your train of thought. “It is a natural feeling that the mind produces, but do try to not concern yourself with it.” His free hand went to your chin, tilting it up slightly to make sure you were looking him in his eyes. “Just stay focused on me.”
Aah…
“R-Right…okay…” You murmured, stumbling over your words. You were sure your heart was beating loudly enough that he could hear it at this point, but all he did was give you a small smile and let go of your chin, pulling you a bit closer to where everyone was dancing.
You hadn’t been sure what Jade had in mind when he had proposed dancing to you, but you weren’t expecting it to be so fun. He had started off easy and small with you, keeping your hand in his ‘in case you lose balance’ as he led you through a simple routine that matched the music.
“You’re a quick learner, (Y/N).” He noted, smiling as the two of you continued dancing for a bit. It wasn’t his usual polite smile, perhaps it was something a little more carefree? Maybe that isn’t the word for it, but it’s absolutely enchanting.
You giggled at his words. “I have a really good teacher.” Jade suddenly twirled you, making you let out an ‘ah!’ as you spun, promptly being pulled back into his embrace.
“I’m pleased to hear that.” He said, his eyes fixed on your own. “It took me quite a while to learn how to dance properly. After all, we don’t have dancing like this under the sea.”
“I’ve been on two legs my whole life and you’re better than me, so your practice paid off.”
“Ah…Your words touch me, truly.” His voice took on a tone of sudden seriousness as he continued dancing with you, his hand holding your own just a bit more firmly. “To have someone as exquisite as you say so…I’m honored.”
“Aah…” Was all you could manage to let out, averting your gaze from him and focusing on your steps as you attempted to calm yourself down. He always knew exactly what to say to fluster you, and it was going to be the death of you.
After you were a bit more comfortable, he gathered everyone else around and went over the steps to a group dance, which you found to be rather simple as there were only 5 steps repeated while going in a circle. There had been a few beginner moments, like when you stepped on Malleus’ foot, who clipped Rook with his elbow, who in turn accidentally ran straight into Riddle, who finally stumbled back into Jade. Grim had been safe from the chain of events, laughing with everyone as you all righted yourselves and went right back into dancing, poking fun at each other as you got used to it.
The locals eventually began to dance with you all as well, looping their arms with yours and making the circle suddenly much bigger. Other townspeople saw the circle and began to join in as well, and even other tourists began to join in, clumsily falling into place with the rest of you.
Yet, with the addition of so many more people, you drifted farther and farther away from the rest of your group, although you were mostly looking for Jade. Your eyes kept catching glimpses of his teal hair while you were spinning and switching partners, but every time you tried to partner with him, the two of you got dragged in two different directions. You shouldn’t have even been trying to partner up with him given how you’re supposed to be beating him at his own game, but you can’t help it…
You do like him, after all.
Just as you were starting to get dizzy from all the spinning, the music number suddenly finished and you were pushed into someone who stopped you in your place, your vision still spinning for a moment.
“You seem to be a bit off-balance, (Y/N). Do you need to sit down?” Of course Jade had been the one you ended up with, his hands settled firmly on your shoulders as your vision refocused.
“Ahh, I’m good. Just did maybe too much spinning.” You laughed nervously, putting a hand to your head.
“We can’t have that, there are still many activities for the rest of the day.” He chuckled at your words, his hands leaving your shoulders and instead leading you to a nearby bench, gesturing for you to sit down. “Rest for a moment.”
Loud chattering drew your attention to the rest of the group, who were walking over to where you were seated. Grim had found a place on Rook’s shoulder, pumping his little fist in the air in excitement.
“I never could’ve imagined this when I was younger. Dancing is delightful.” Jade chuckled, bowing slightly to you all. “Thank you for making this such a memorable experience, everyone.”
“Roi des Dragons, Roi des Roses, you were both fantastique!” Rook complimented, clapping his hands.
“You…think so? I was focused so hard on coordinating with everyone around me, it was all a blur…” Riddle said hesitantly, still out of breath from all the movement. “I had reservations about such lively dancing at first, but after trying it, it wasn’t so bad after all.”
Malleus nodded in agreement, not a hair out of place even after all the dancing. “It never hurts to try new things. I have one more thing to share with Lila and the others now.”
“The onlookers were all in a tizzy about Malleus. I could hear them whispering his name.” Jade remarked, a teasing look in his eyes.
“I can see why, considering how elegant and eye-cating his dancing was.” Riddle noted. “ You seemed to enjoy yourself as well, Jade. Are you satisfied?”
“Yes, very much so. In fact, what if you mark the occasion by putting on the same dance in class sometime?”
“There’s no ‘occasion’ to mark. Absolutely not.” Riddle said flatly, making Jade give a disappointed frown.
“Alas, what a pity. However, I believe it’s about time we returned to the wharf. Are you feeling better, dear (Y/N)?” Your heart leapt at the sudden term of endearment again but you managed to keep your face rather neutral, nodding as you stood up.
“I think I just needed to sit for a moment, so we can go if you all are ready.”
“Wonderful. Shall we?” Jade led everyone to where the carriages were waiting, once more helping you inside in his usual fashion. It was something you were still getting used to, but…it felt nice.
There was silence between you and Jade as the carriage began to move, and although your body was beginning to tire from the day’s events, your mind was absolutely racing with all kinds of thoughts. You knew that Jade liked to play games, but you found this to be rather cruel, especially after he was so gentle and understanding in teaching you how to dance…
Maybe…?
You shook your head at the thought; getting your hopes up again would only make it hurt more in the end, so you shouldn’t have even let yourself begin the thought.
“Is something weighing on your mind?” Jade suddenly asked, his brows slightly pulled together in worry. “You seem to be lost in thought.”
You waved him off, forcing a smile. “It’s nothing, I’m just a bit tired from all the activities today.”
Jade didn’t seem fully convinced, but he also didn’t push the subject either, merely nodding politely. “Well, if there is anything troubling you, I would be happy to listen. I wish for you to enjoy this trip as much as possible.”
You could only smile in response, your words suddenly dried up.
He’s making this really hard.
a/n: NEW FORMATTING WHAT YALL THINK it was a bit boring so i wanted to make it prettier ... this took a while but i think it was worth it :,) i was really trying to get the flirty parts but still slowburn parts if that makes sense !! i hope you guys enjoyed <33
Can I make a request with twst wonderland just something funny and cute or ya know itty bitty suggestive when the boys got stuck on an island with Stitch and they get flustered whenever they see their s/o in there swim or when they go out to swim or surf 🏄♀️
💖💖💖
P.s I hope you except it’s just the twisted wonderland boys that were in the Stitches Tropical chapter event
꒰𐔌 𝗦𝘜𝘙𝘍𝘚 𝘜𝘗 ⋆｡𖦹 ˚ 𓇼 ˚｡⋆
‧₊˚ ┊ featuring: azul, floyd, riddle and lilia !
┆ ⤿ 💌 ⌗ i did not add ace and jack, im not the best at writing for the first years unfortunately (˘･_･˘)
ᛝ notes ― can be seen as a fem/gn reader . established relationship . fluff . i haven't read this event, hopefully these aren't too ooc. sorry for the lazy writing/lack of it, ive been sick :( . drabble format
𐔌 . ⋮ AZUL ASHENGROTTO .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
azul wasn't prepared, he thought he was ready for this. he had his business mindset at ready, a plan set in stone but most importantly ― a calm face.
but then you walk out and onto the beach, your swimwear that exposes the majority of your skin, hair styled in a beautiful flower clip and your curves catching his eyes in a way he couldn't describe.
his mind goes messy, thoughts pooled out of him faster than the way you smile up at him ― the sun sparkling in your eyes.
azul felt his cheeks grow warm, cursing under his breath he immediately tries to recooperate his surroundings and adjusts his glasses.
he would wave back at you with a professional smile, only to trip over his ankle and tumble into the sand and just lay there utterly embarrassed.
"ahem, you should be more cautious, my dear. the sun can easily burn your skin when you're wearing .. that ! ... yes, that's why i'm blushing, it's horribly hot out here !"
sitch is cackling at him when you end up going for a swim. you invited him to come along, only for him to politely refuse. he would much rather watch you from afar, where you can't see his flushed cheeks.
he refuses to make eye contact with you for sometime, not that you noticed, he was always somehow nearby anyways. be offers you a towel, more sunscreen and will gladly pull you under the umbrella and just sit with you in the shade. for azul, as well, needs a cool down.
𐔌 . ⋮ FLOYD LEECH .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
floyd is anything but subtle, immediately all in your face saying how hot you are ― leaving in for a kiss, but you refuse because you know how far he will take it and you both are in public.
that leaves him pouting, but he can't stay mad at you when you're wearing his favorite outfit on you, your bathing suit. it's a simple set of your choosing and your hair neatly tied back.
he immediately wants to go in the water with you, pulling you by your wrist and drags you under. oh well, there goes your neat hair but floyd doesn't let you pout about it because he circles you like you're the most interesting thing in the water.
arms wrapped around you, his webbed fingers dancing over your skin, planting lingering kisses across your shoulders and nibbling your soft skin.
that's when he finally slows, getting a good look at you. wet, your smile sincere and your body looking mighty fine.
"awh, look at you, shrimpy~ i can gobble you up in one bite ... BWHAHA , look at your face ! don't worry, ill enjoy you like this for now~"
his grip on you tightens, he pulls you along the waves and when you suggest surfing ? stitch, get the boards he's joining you.
he switches back to chaos mode, dunking water on you, pushing you off your board and always stealing a kiss on your lips whoever may be looking.
𐔌 . ⋮ RIDDLE ROSEHEARTS .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
he's not prepared, no matter how many times he's told stitch he is. he expects you to show off skin, mentally telling himself he's seen you in outfits as such before ... minus the skin exposure.
he hears you cheer his name, riddle immediately turns around, his flower necklace flowing with the wind as he locks eyes with your figure. he immediately turns pink, his breath hitched and he blinks slowly.
he's respectful when you hug him, his hand hovering for a moment before they rest at your hips, careful not to hold you too tight.
he watches you in the water, occasionally he will join you if you beg and it turns into a water fight with stitch. you and riddle team up against the blue creature and eventually turn against each other.
he would be strict when it comes to sunscreen, if he had too, he would apply the cold cream against your back himself while he "lectured" you.
"there are many rules when one goes to the beach, wearing sunscreen is the most important. you can get heavy burns, irritation on the skin― why are you staring at me like that. i am not blushing, no don't laugh !"
he's pacing back and forth, afraid he'll touch you too much or you'll get uncomfortable and need his assistance to change. if you offer to surf with him, he's just sitting on the board and watching you. face still red, eyes locked on your figure.
whenever you or anyone asks he immediately changes the topic.
𐔌 . ⋮ LILIA VANROUGE .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
the only one who is not caught off guard―not even a flinch. in fact, lilia is having the time of his life. he loves seeing revealing clothes, and what's better than a bathing suit.
you tell him not to cause a scene, but do you know who you're dating. he says he will be on his best behavior, until he finally sees you.
his eyes are staring at your chest, no hesitation. be comments on how bold you must be, to wear such revealing clothing around your spouse.
he's obviously teasing, but he gets you blushing more than you get him blushing―it starts to get annoying every once in a while.
he offers to apply sunscreen on you, his excuse to touch you and maybe wiggle a finger under your rib or arm to get you squirming under him.
"my, how very bold of you, little one~ you look gorgeous in whatever you wear, but this has to be my top favorite. khee hee hee~ oh, look at your face, your absolutely adorable~ not as much as me, however~ ... i jest, darling. now, let me apply sunscreen to your skin, and you can do me next~
he prefers to lay on floaties rather than get in the water with you, but you get revenge from his earlier sunscreen stunt by pushing him in anyways, immediately retaliating by starting a splash fight.
Hello! I’d love to request a Qifrey x Reader who’s also a teacher and has an atelier of her own with three little apprentices that are also around the girls age, I imagine a cute little playdate between all the girls and Qifrey and Reader are just on their own for awhile <3
3 is fun but 6's a party
Qifrey x reader
cw: none/this is pure fluff
AN: I saw this come in and vividly remember my excitement upon reading it, this is such a cute idea. anon your brain is so big thank you for blessing us with this 😌
Spring had settled gently over your atelier, not in a sudden bloom but in quiet persistence, soft green unfurling along branches, petals scattered like forgotten thoughts across the grass, the air carrying that delicate warmth that lingered on skin without ever becoming heavy, and your home stood open to it all, windows wide, curtains stirring lazily as if they too wished to wander outside. Your three students were gathered near the doorway, trying and failing to remain composed, their excitement spilling into hushed giggles and restless shifting, the promise of new companions far more captivating than any lesson you could have given them that day.
“You may greet them calmly,” you reminded, though your tone lacked any real strictness, and they nodded quickly, only to lean forward the moment movement appeared beyond the trees.
When Qifrey finally stepped into view, the moment felt almost storybook in its timing,
sunlight catching faintly on his figure as he approached with his own students close by, their curiosity as bright as yours were eager, and the stillness lasted only a heartbeat before it broke into motion, the children meeting somewhere in the middle with hesitant introductions that quickly dissolved into laughter, names exchanged, small displays of magic attempted and corrected and admired all at once, until they drifted naturally toward the open meadow beyond your atelier, drawn by space and sunlight and each other.
“They won’t stay near us long,” you said, watching them go.
“They shouldn’t,” Qifrey replied, a faint smile touching his voice more than his lips. “Days like this are wasted on supervision.”
You glanced at him then, amused. “And yet here we are.”
He met your gaze, something lighter in his expression than you had seen before. “Perhaps not entirely.”
The breeze carried the scent of blossoms between you, and without needing to say more, you gestured toward the path that curved away from the atelier, leading not to your usual garden but further, toward a place less often used.
“There’s a clearing by the river,” you said. “It’s quieter there.”
He inclined his head, and together you walked, the sounds of the children fading into the background, replaced by rustling leaves and the distant murmur of water, the world narrowing into something softer, something more shared.
The river clearing opened slowly between the trees, sunlight scattering across the water in shifting patterns, the surface broken gently by the current, while wildflowers grew freely along the edges, unstructured and bright, bending slightly with the breeze as if greeting your arrival. It was less carefully tended than your garden, but perhaps because of that, it felt more alive, more willing to breathe.
“I come here when they become too loud,” you admitted, stepping closer to the water’s edge.
Qifrey followed, his gaze moving across the clearing with quiet appreciation. “It suits you.”
You glanced back at him, a small smile forming. “Untamed?”
“Unrestricted,” he corrected gently.
The distinction lingered, warm rather than sharp, and you turned your attention to the river again, kneeling briefly to trail your fingers through the cool water, watching the ripples spread outward, distorting the reflection of the sky.
For a while, you simply existed there together, not speaking, not needing to, the quiet filled with small sounds, the wind shifting through branches, the distant echo of laughter, the steady presence of someone who did not demand conversation to remain close.
“They’re good children,” you said eventually. “Yours.”
He stepped nearer, though still not quite beside you. “They are. Though not without trouble.”
“They shouldn’t be without it,” you replied, glancing up at him. “It means they’re trying.”
That drew a softer expression from him, one that lingered just a moment longer than usual. “You speak as though you’ve never struggled.”
You let out a quiet breath, standing again, brushing your hands lightly together. “I have. I simply learned not to fear it.”
His gaze settled on you more fully then, attentive, thoughtful. “That’s not an easy thing to learn.”
“No,” you agreed. “It isn’t.”
The breeze shifted again, stronger this time, carrying petals loose from nearby branches, a few catching briefly in your hair before falling away, and without thinking, his hand lifted slightly, hesitating only a fraction before brushing one from your shoulder, the touch light, careful, but undeniably present.
“Sorry,” he murmured, though he didn’t immediately step back.
“It’s alright,” you said softly, and for a moment neither of you moved at all.
The distance between you had changed, not visibly at first, but in the way your awareness of it sharpened, the space no longer empty but filled with something unspoken, something waiting, and as you both shifted slightly, it was toward each other rather than away.
“You carry a lot,” you said quietly, your voice thoughtful rather than questioning. “More than you say.”
He exhaled, the sound almost lost to the wind. “And you see more than you should.”
“Perhaps,” you allowed, a faint hint of amusement in your tone, though it softened quickly. “It looks heavy.”
There was a pause, not uncomfortable, but deliberate, as if he were deciding how much to let you see.
“It can be,” he admitted finally. “But it’s… necessary.”
You studied him for a moment, the steadiness of his posture, the restraint in his voice, the way he held himself as though always prepared for something unseen.
“Not all of it,” you said.
His gaze shifted, meeting yours more directly now. “No?”
You shook your head slightly. “Some of it… you’ve just gotten used to carrying.”
The words settled between you, not challenging, not forceful, but true in a way that was difficult to dismiss, and something in his expression softened again, the edges of his composure easing just enough to reveal what lay beneath.
“You make it sound simple,” he said.
“It isn’t,” you replied, stepping a little closer without quite realizing it. “But it can be… lighter.”
The space between you narrowed again, your shoulder brushing lightly against his arm, the contact subtle but grounding, and this time neither of you pretended it hadn’t happened.
“You speak from experience,” he observed.
You nodded slightly. “From choosing it.”
He considered that, his gaze lingering, not searching but understanding, and when he spoke again his voice was quieter.
“I don’t think I’ve allowed myself that choice.”
“Then maybe,” you said, your voice just as soft, “you could start with something small.”
There was no immediate answer, but he didn’t look away, and the silence that followed felt fuller than any words could have made it.
The light had begun to shift toward evening, the gold of afternoon deepening into softer hues, the air cooling just enough to be noticeable, and the sounds of the children had grown more distant, their energy settling into something calmer, though still bright, still present, and yet it felt as though the world had drawn inward around you, narrowing to the space you shared.
“I think this counts,” he said after a while.
You tilted your head slightly. “What does?”
“A small start.”
Your smile came easier now, softer but more certain. “I think it does.”
The moment lingered, stretching gently, neither of you rushing to fill it, and when his hand moved this time it wasn’t hesitant, his fingers brushing yours before settling, a quiet, intentional contact that sent a subtle warmth through you, and you responded just as naturally, your hand turning slightly to meet his, the connection simple but steady.
He stepped closer then, closing what little distance remained, his gaze lowering briefly before returning to yours, as if giving you time to stop him, to question it, to change your mind, but you didn’t, your breath catching just slightly as you held his gaze, the world around you softening into background.
“You’re very calm about this,” he murmured.
“I don’t feel very calm,” you admitted, a faint warmth touching your voice.
That drew the smallest hint of a smile from him, and then he leaned in, slow and careful, the movement unhurried, deliberate, and when his lips met yours it was gentle, a quiet warmth rather than anything overwhelming, the kind of kiss that felt like a question answered rather than one asked, your hand tightening slightly against his as you leaned into it without thinking.
It lasted only a few seconds, but it was enough, enough to settle something between you, enough to make it real, and when you parted there was no awkwardness, no uncertainty, just a quiet understanding that hadn’t been there before.
In the distance, laughter rose again, one of the girls calling out loudly, the sound carrying easily through the trees, and you both glanced toward it before looking back at each other, something lighter now in both your expressions.
“We should go back,” you said, though you didn’t move immediately.
“Yes,” he agreed, equally unhurried.
For a moment longer, you stayed where you were, hands still loosely connected, the river continuing its quiet path beside you, petals drifting past on the breeze, spring unfolding gently around you as if acknowledging what had begun, and when you finally turned back toward the meadow, you walked side by side, close enough that your shoulders brushed again, this time without hesitation, without question, the space between you no longer something to be crossed, but something already shared.
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Thinking about a what if moment where you rescue Minajael during firelit sky event but didnt know he was a prince.
You were looking at a stall for a souvenir when you noticed him.
A beautiful man, you assume, from the little glimpses of his visage. You assume he’s someone with a rich family from the way he tries to hide, but his gold jewelry gives him away.
That’s when you notice the guards coming and the man tensing. You shouldn’t get involved but darn your soft heart for those who want freedom from daily troubles.
You grab him and run from Mina’s guards. He seemed to be in trouble and you tended to attract it, so why not help out. You kept reasoning to yourself.
Placing money at the stall and thanking Kalim for his generosity mentally as you both ran down a street and a few alley turns. Thank you Jamil for showing you this less tracked path.
You both catch your breath as you raspily advise, “Maybe next time you try to escape whoever they are…take off your earrings. They are kind of a dead giveaway and…they might have a tracker.”
“Who are you?”
“A random tourist visiting the area with some friends.”
That made him tense.
Yep, he’s definitely someone rich with the way he’s acting. You couldn’t blame him, rarely do people help without wanting something in return or maybe he thought you knew him and wanted to use him.
“Why would you help me?”
You shrug, “I guess I have a soft spot for people who want to escape the confines of their daily lives.”
Before he could open his mouth, you heard a call for you:
“Minion?! I’m hungry!”
“Prefect, where are you?!”
“Oh, that’s me I gotta—”
By the time you turned back, he had disappeared.
Ah yes, the disappearing act, why am I not surprised.
You casually advise before running off to your group, “Take off your earrings or check them for trackers. That’s how another friend is always found.”
Minajael Tealrajah eyed you as you met with an orange haired friend and, what he assumed, a talking familiar.
He fingered his earrings.
A tracking spell, huh?
The last thing you ever expected was to see the guy you helped rescue on the opposing team during the inter-school tournament between RSA and NRC.
…Nor did you expect him to recognize you as he smirks and waves from his side. His red-head companion looking between you two in confusion.
You internally smack your forehead as you feel your fellow first years turn towards you in shock.
You really did attract the princes, the rich, and the troubled ones, didn’t you?
This was inspired by @onyanjuu whose fics has me kicking my feet and giggling. I had this in my drafts for a bit and I had to finish it after getting bit by June’s Mina fics. 💞🥰💚
Some notes:
I love playing around with potential what ifs and the Disney movie scenes so I had to combine fire lit event and the Jasmine and Aladdin bazaar scene with them. Since I feel we would be the Aladdin to Mina’s Jasmine.
The tracking device in the earrings were influenced by the lore we learn about Leona and Cheka and how they had trackers and protection spells on them as children.
Speaking of Mina’s earrings, I also kept using that as a reference because 1) they are very pretty, 2) they are gold which kind of gives his status away, and 3) jasmine when she was at the bazaar she also had her big gold earrings and even when I was young I was like “girl, your earrings are a giveaway…” so I thought that would be fun to constantly poke at especially since Mina apparently keeps escaping and gets caught too. Lolol 😂😂💞💞
on a sunny day, blade gives you a gift. fluff, wc 0.8k.
You shield your eyes from the sun as you manage to catch Blade approaching, just now noticing him across the blistering rays.
He leans over you slightly, with a slight raise of an unimpressed brow. "There you are," he murmurs, exasperated, as if he's been chasing down a wild goose.
"What's your deal? I was trying to get some shade. This planet is miserable," you drawl out with a sigh. Perfectly dramatic. You suppose it's only fair to match his energy.
You sit up to get a better look at him, eyeing his disguised attire. You swear he always overdoes it on the layers. Better safe than sorry, sure, but does he really need to wear a coat on top of a cloak? At least he has sunglasses to match the weather. Though he's propped them up on his head to talk to you.
You smile.
"Why're you out and about anyway? I thought you wanted to stay behind. You're not required for this mission, y'know." You kick your feet, the soft thud they make against the boulder you're on, playing on loop at the back of your mind. His eyes flit down at the motion, and you swear you catch a hint of fondness in them, a mote of dust suspended in the sun's rays.
"This is for you," he says, tone plain, moving something out from behind his back. An umbrella extends from his hand. You take it with curiosity and a grin.
"So the sun won't feel as harsh," he adds, as if you didn't know. Lucky for him, you find this habit of his very endearing— explaining the gifts he gives to you, as if it makes it less thoughtful, as if you need an explanation.
You open the umbrella, the polished wood smooth and cool in your hands. Camellias adorn it, painted with care as they circle its expanse. Adoration blooms in your chest at the sight of them.
You give him an amused look, and he glances away, guilty. Perhaps others would say it's uninterested, but you know better, know him like the back of your hand, know his scarred hands better than any other.
"Bladie." you purr, if only to snap him out of his stupor. He rolls his eyes at the name you and the others so love to torment him with. You giggle to yourself slightly at how it gets his attention.
"Thank you. This was a lovely, thoughtful gift. You're so considerate, as always," you beam, and you know you're starting to fluster him.
"It's nothing," he mumbles, although you can tell deep down he lives off the praise. You move out of the shade, and what a relief it is to bask in the sun with your gift. He eyes you up and down. "Is it working out alright?"
"Hmm," you drawl, tapping your chin as if you were deep in thought. "I think we should test it out together. Make sure it holds up well."
He groans, but he holds his hand out for you to take. Besides, you are no fool. You bet he was planning this all along. You link your arm with his instead, and he wraps his arm around yours, the quiet acceptance something you'll never stop appreciating from him.
Falling into step, you squeeze against his side, waving at him with the excuse that you both simply must be able to fit under it. You take in the bustling sights of the city, a lovely pair. You can tell Blade still has his guard up in case anything goes awry, but you also know you're finally, finally getting him to relax a little.
"Blade," you hum, and he turns to you, gaze soft. It almost makes you feel bad for what you're about to say next. Almost.
"You stink. You should take some of those layers off."
He blinks. "I- what?"
"Seriously, it's like...so..." You laugh, as he gives you an unamused look. "Okay, sheesh, I was kidding! You smell fine. Maybe."
"Why do I listen to you?" he sighs, and you laugh.
"Because you loveeee me, and I love you." You poke him over and over to emphasize this, until he grabs your hand.
Bringing it up to his mouth, he presses a chaste kiss to the back of it.
Now it's your turn to fluster and sputter. You probably would've fallen back if he weren't holding onto your arm so tightly. You can't believe he pulled a move like this...out of nowhere, in public? Did someone kill Blade and replace him with an imitation of a clone? You actually think you hear him breathe a chuckle at your reaction.
"Nevermind. I hateeee you," you groan, bumping your hip against him slightly.
Under the shade of a gentle umbrella, camellias dancing with grace, Blade smiles. You think it to be lovelier than the sun.
a/n: hi loveys, i apologize if i am not as active on my blog as i used to be!!!
i went from posting something daily to now every couple of days – to explain some of it, i had to work 40 hours this week and am in the process of moving countries! (+ other personal matters) i will be on here as much as i can while balancing everything, please bear with me 🥹
he’s the type to accidentally fall for you during a study session that was supposed to be strictly academic… but now he’s staring at you like you’re a puzzle he can’t solve.
you’ll be explaining something simple and he’s nodding way too seriously, then suddenly goes “wait… say that again” just so you keep talking because he likes your voice (he will not admit this).
his notes start off neat and organized, but slowly turn into random scribbles like “([name] laughed here)” or “ask her about that thing again???”
walks you back to your dorm every. single. time. even if it’s literally a 2 minute walk. safety first… but also he just wants 2 extra minutes with you (cuz he’s a sappy boy in love).
he gets flustered in the most obvious ways. like you lean over his shoulder to look at his laptop and he just freezes. brain buffering. system crash. where did he go???
when he finally confesses, it’s lowkey messy and rushed because he overthought it for weeks. he’s like “i like you– no, i’ve liked you– WAIT that sounded weird–” and you’re just standing there smiling because yeah… you knew. he made it too obvious.
dates with him are simple, but so soft. late night convenience store runs, sharing snacks on campus benches, studying together until you both fall asleep.
itoshi rin
he does NOT go to university to socialize. he goes to get his degree and leave. except you are… an unexpected complication.
you probably meet because you sit next to him in class and he’s silently judging everyone BUT you… because you’re the only one not being annoying.
at first your interactions are literally just:
“do you have a pen?” “yeah.”
and that’s it. but somehow that turns into you being the only person he tolerates.
he doesn’t text much, but when he does it’s dry and straight to the point. except you notice he replies to you faster than anyone else. like hm okay, interesting…
one day, it’s raining and you didn’t bring an umbrella, and he just stands there for a second before silently holding his over both of you. doesn’t even look at you. just walks.
he shows love in quiet ways. walking you to class without saying anything. saving you a seat. sending you a PDF of notes at 1 AM with no explanation.
when he realizes he likes you, he gets irritated. not at you. at himself. because now you’re always on his mind and it’s messing with his focus.
his confession is blunt and slightly aggressive like “i don’t like distractions. but you’re… different. so just– just stay.” and honestly? that’s basically poetry coming from him.
he’s not big on PDA, but his hand will always find yours when you’re walking together. like it just happens. no announcement. no eye contact.
itoshi sae
he’s that one student everyone knows about. top of his class, lowkey intimidating, always looks like he has somewhere better to be (also hot as hell).
you meet him through a group project and at first he’s like “i’ll handle most of it” because he doesn’t trust anyone else to do it right.
except you do do it right. actually, you do it really well. and suddenly he’s looking at you a little longer than necessary.
he respects competence. and you have it. which is why he starts inviting you to study sessions that are suspiciously one-on-one.
conversations with him are calm, sharp, and kind of intense. he’ll ask you questions that make you think deeper than you expected.
he’s not overly affectionate, but he’s very intentional. if he spends time with you, it’s because he chose to. and that means something.
you’ll be talking about something random and he’ll just quietly watch you, like he’s memorizing the way you think.
his version of flirting is subtle. a small smirk. a “you’re smarter than you look.” which sounds backhanded, but somehow isn’t???
when he confesses, it’s straightforward and composed: “i don’t waste time on things that don’t matter. you matter.”
dates are clean and put together. nice cafés, quiet walks, studying in aesthetic libraries where he absolutely gets distracted by you, but will never tell you that.
nagi seishiro
he did NOT want to go to university. reo dragged him there. he’s tired. he’s bored. and then you show up and suddenly… things are slightly less boring.
you probably meet because he’s skipping class and you catch him lounging somewhere random on campus.
he asks you to sit with him like “you look interesting. keep me company.” and you’re like um… okay???
he gets attached fast, but in a very low-energy way. like now you’re just… part of his routine. congrats.
he will text you at 3 AM saying “are you awake” and if you are, he’ll ask if he can come over to your place and have you sit next to him while he plays games.
studying with him is a joke. he’ll rest his head on your shoulder and go “this is too much work” after 5 minutes.
but if you’re struggling? suddenly he’s paying attention. explaining things in his own lazy way, surprisingly smart when he wants to be.
he’s very physically affectionate without making a big deal out of it. leaning on you, holding your sleeve, using you as a pillow.
his confession is casual like “i like being with you more than doing nothing… so that means i like you, right?”
dates are literally just you two existing together. naps, snacks, random walks. it’s simple, but it feels so comfortable and safe.
mikage reo
rich university boy energy, but make it actually charming instead of unbearable.
he notices you early on. like day one. you just stand out to him and now he needs to know everything about you.
finds excuses to talk to you. group projects, club activities, “oh you’re in this class, too?” (boy already knew.)
he’s generous in a natural way. buying you coffee, sharing notes, offering rides. not in a show-off way, just he wants to take care of you.
introduces you to nagi like “this is the girl i told you about” and nagi just goes “oh. you’re the interesting one.”
he’s very attentive. remembers little things you mention and brings them up later like it’s nothing.
when you’re stressed, he’s the type to plan a whole day for you. study schedule, breaks, food – he’s got it handled.
he flirts confidently, but not arrogantly. lots of smiles, eye contact, soft teasing.
his confession is smooth, but genuine. something along the lines of “i’ve met a lot of people, but none of them are you. so… let me be yours?”
dates are well thought out. cute cafés, late night drives, spontaneous trips. he wants to give you experiences you’ll never forget.
bachira meguru
you meet him in the most random way possible. like you’re sitting outside minding your business and he just plops down next to you like “hi :) you look fun!”
no introduction, no context, just playful energy. and somehow you stay.
he treats campus like his playground. dragging you to random clubs, art rooms, empty fields at night because “the air feels different here.”
he’ll doodle in your notebooks. not even asking. just suddenly there’s a little drawing of you with a smiley face and he’s like “that’s how you look to me.”
studying with him is… chaotic, to say the least. he’ll focus for like 10 minutes, then get distracted and start telling you about some random idea or game.
but he’s weirdly observant. like he notices when you’re stressed before you even say anything and just gently nudges you out of it.
he’ll grab your hand out of nowhere and pull you somewhere like “c’mon, let’s go somewhere fun” and you don’t even question it anymore.
his affection is so natural it barely feels like a “moment.” it’s just constant. leaning on you, laughing with you, existing with you.
his confession is soft, but honest. like he’s been feeling it for a while, but only just realized what it means. “i like being with you the most… like, more than anything. so i think that means i love you.”
dates with him feel like you got dropped into a side quest you didn’t sign up for, but end up loving anyway, like one minute you’re painting on some random canvas, the next minute he’s dragging you through the city at night, laughing like he just discovered happiness and decided you’re part of it.
shidou ryusei
oh naur. this is a problem from day one.
you meet him because he’s causing a scene. arguing with a professor, laughing too loud, doing too much in public spaces.
somehow you get dragged into his orbit and now he’s obsessed. like immediately. zero hesitation.
calls you weird nicknames within 5 minutes of knowing you. none of them make sense, but they stick anyway.
he thrives off your reactions. if you get flustered? he’s doing it again. if you get annoyed? even better.
will absolutely show up uninvited to wherever you are like “missed me?” (he did not tell you he was coming.)
studying? with him?? good luck. he’ll last 2 minutes before he’s sprawled across the table complaining about how boring it is.
BUT he’ll randomly drop something insanely smart or insightful and you’re like… oh. so you can think. when you want to, at least.
his attention is intense. like when he’s focused on you, it feels like nothing else exists. it’s a lot, but also… kind of addicting.
his confession is chaotic and loud. probably in public. something like “I LIKE YOU, OBVIOUSLY. WHAT, YOU DIDN’T NOTICE???”
dating him is loud, unpredictable, and a little insane. but you’ll never feel unwanted a day in your life.
karasu tabito
he checks you immediately. like within minutes he already has a read on you and it’s annoyingly accurate.
probably meets you through a mutual class or group setting and instantly starts teasing you like he’s known you forever.
his humor is sharp. he’ll make little comments that have you like “??? wait–” and then realize he’s right.
but he’s not mean about it. it’s more like… he enjoys getting a reaction out of you.
he sits way too close when you’re studying together. like sir, there is space, so why are you here–
will casually lean over your shoulder to read your notes and make some comment like “yer smarter than you act, huh?”
he’s observant in a quiet way. notices your habits, your moods, what you like… and then uses it against you (affectionately).
if someone else flirts with you? he’s suddenly right there, inserting himself into the conversation like he belongs there (he does).
his confession is lowkey, but loaded. something like “yer interesting. i don’t usually stick around for people… but i’m still here, aren’t i?”
being with him consists of quiet cafés, late-night walks, him sitting a little too close while teasing you just enough to keep you on edge, like the whole thing is a game he’s enjoying way too much.
kaiser michael
oh BROTHER. this man treats university like his personal stage.
you don’t meet him quietly. he notices you because you didn’t immediately fall over yourself for him like everyone else does.
that intrigues him. now you have his attention. congratulations… or condolences.
he approaches you like it’s a performance. confident, smooth, a little dramatic. “you’re different. i’ll allow you to entertain me.”
you’re like… absolutely not. and that’s exactly why he’s hooked.
he’ll test you. little comments, subtle pushes, trying to see how you react. he wants to understand you.
and when you don’t play into his ego? he’s obsessed.
studying with him is actually productive, but intense. he expects a lot and weirdly pushes you to do better. there’s also a lot of unspoken tension.
he’s very aware of control. but with you, it slips sometimes. like he’ll catch himself staring or getting annoyed when you ignore him.
his affection is complicated. he’ll act like he’s above it, but then do things that prove the opposite.
his confession is layered. something like “i don’t like needing people. but you’ve made yourself… necessary.” (and he hates how true that is.)
his dates are carefully curated experiences – fancy places, perfect atmosphere, him watching you more than anything else, like he planned the whole thing just to see how you’d react to being in his world, except you become his world.
ness alexis
you meet him through kaiser. there is no escape. he’s always there.
at first, he’s polite, but a little… intense. like he’s analyzing you to see if you’re “worthy” of being around.
once he realizes you’re staying? you can bet that he’s locked in.
he hovers. not in an annoying way (okay maybe a little), but he just likes being near you.
he’s surprisingly sweet. like he’ll help you with things without you asking, remembers your schedule, makes sure you’re okay.
but there’s this underlying edge to him. especially when it comes to kaiser. the dynamic is… complicated.
if you praise him? he short circuits a little. like he’s not used to it and doesn’t know how to handle it.
studying together is actually really nice. he’s focused, patient, explains things clearly.
but if someone else gets too friendly with you? his mood shifts. subtle, but noticeable.
his confession is quieter, almost hesitant. “i… enjoy being with you. more than i should, probably.” like he’s unsure if he’s allowed to feel that way.
dates with him are soft and attentive. he plans everything around what you like, keeps things calm and close, and the whole time it feels like you’re the center of his focus in a way that’s considerate… and a little intense underneath.
I got the notif that requests were open and sprang to shoot my shot!! Could I perhaps request some third year housewardens with an s/o who comes to them after a bad day? I know you only do three at a time so pick the three you'd like of the four!
Okie baiiii ty!!
❝ get me out of here!! ❞ feat. vil schoenheit, idia shroud, & malleus draconia
↪ how would they comfort their partner after a rough day?
content ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⊹ ࣪ ౨ৎ˚₊ headcanons, gn!reader (gender neutral reader), reader not referred to by name, idia is awkward lol
masterlist!
vil schoenheit:
♡ When Vil notices you walking in the hallways slouched over, he initially thinks that you’re intentionally trying to get a rise out of him. He’s told you so many times to walk with your shoulders back; slouching does nothing good for your back, and you look so much better when you walk with the confidence he knows you have.
♡ However, when he went to approach you, he immediately noticed how your eyes were cast downwards, staring at your own feet as you walked, and…was that mascara smudged under your eyes…?
♡ Oh, he needs to deal with this immediately.
“Dearest, walk with me.”
“Wha-Vil?!”
♡ He appears from seemingly nowhere, gently taking your hand and making you walk with him. If you try and question what he’s doing or where he’s taking you, he’ll only hush you and keep moving, not in a rushed way, (because Vil Schoenheit does not rush) but in a way that makes you know he means business.
♡ Once you’re led through Pomefiore’s mirror, he will promptly lead you to his room, practically ignoring anybody who tries to get his attention and directing any concerns to be brought to Rook since ‘I will be occupied for the rest of the evening’, leaving his dorm members gaping as he walks past them with you in tow.
♡ After the doors are shut and it’s just the two of you alone, Vil will lift your chin up to look at him, giving a disapproving tut as he fixes your hair and carefully wipes the smeared makeup from your face.
“My dear, what in the Sevens has happened? You’re beautiful, but this is not you.”
♡ If you decide to tell him about your day, he will carefully listen, holding your face in his hands as you explain. He might make small comments about certain events, but he will stay quiet for the most part, waiting for you to finish venting. When you finish talking, he will sigh, seeming a bit irritated.
“This school of potatoes certainly tests you, doesn’t it…no matter. I am here now.”
♡ If you don’t want to talk about your day, he will merely kiss you gently on the forehead and say that if you do end up wanting to talk about it, he will be here. Always.
“Now then, your skin is crying for my help. Come with me, dear.”
♡ He will lead you to his personal bathroom, gesturing for you to hop on the sink counter, (which is rather large…you suppose he needs space for all his routines). Vil will put a headband on you to keep your face clear and he’ll proceed to gently wash your face, his fingers smoothly gliding over your skin. Once he pats it dry with a towel, he’ll apply a few serums and then a moisturizer, finishing it off with a chaste kiss.
♡ Once he’s done with you, he’ll do the same for himself, taking off his own makeup. He might chat a bit about his day to you, but for the most part it’s a quiet routine, the sounds of water running and calm breathing filling the room.
♡ Perhaps the most surprising part of all is when he lifts you off the counter and into his arms, one arm secured under your knees and the other under the middle of your back, (it’s worth mentioning that this was quite easy for him, which only made you flush even more).
“Why are you so surprised? Can I not be romantic with my darling?”
♡ Vil will carefully set you down on his plush bed before joining you, pulling you closer to him. It’s not often that he has a completely free day like this, so he’s glad that he’ll be able to spend the evening with you and hopefully get your mood up. He’ll ask if there’s anything you’d like to do, perhaps watch that one movie you had been wanting to see?
♡ He will insist on making dinner for the two of you himself, almost trashing on your usual diet, (which he consistently says does not live up to his standards, but there’s only so much you can do with your limited budget). Of course he’ll make something he knows you like, just…healthier! He wants you to be by his side for a very long time, so he wants you to be healthy.
idia shroud:
♡ As soon as you stop responding to his messages halfway through the day, he’s overthinking and thinks that he’s done something to make you hate him. He’s surfing the internet searching for ways to apologize if you don’t know what you did wrong, and he’s speed ordering your favorite food to be delivered right when you get off classes.
♡ He’s so anxious that he actually goes onto campus to find you, which is a huge shock for the students who are walking by him. Idia has burrito-ed himself in his hoodie, the ties scrunched all the way and only showing his eyes and mouth. It’s right around when classes are supposed to get out, so where are you…?
♡ When he finally spots you, he’s surprised that your usual friends aren’t surrounding you, (which he had been anticipating, and trying to think of ways to get to you without talking to them). Whatever, this works in his favor!
♡ He’s completely forgotten that he has no idea what to say to you when he nervously approaches you, (he’s not really one to have a way with words) but his words are really gone when he sees the tears in your eyes threatening to spill out. When you see him standing awkwardly in front of you your hands quickly go to your eyes, hurriedly wiping them with your sleeves.
“I-Idia!? What’re you doing here??”
“I-uh…I was…I wanted…”
♡ He’s stumbling insanely over his words right now, but now he knows he’s messed up since you were on the verge of crying…what did he do though?!
“I thought maybe I did something to make you upset because you stopped responding to me and so I came to find you but obviously I really messed up if you’re crying so maybe I should just go-?!”
♡ His words are abruptly cut off when you start to actually cry, covering your face with your hands in embarrassment. He’s awkwardly hovering his hands over you now, unsure of whether or not he can touch you since you might be mad at him but also unsure of how to comfort you in the first place.
“It wasn’t you…my day’s been absolutely awful, can we just go?”
♡ As soon as the last word leaves your mouth, Idia is on a mission. His arm is hooked with yours and he’s walking fast, weaving expertly through crowds of students who are trying to return to their dorms, moving so fast that you’re shocked this is the same person who spends all day in his room.
♡ When the two of you finally make it back to his dorm, he damn near slams the door behind the two of you, exhausted and panting like he just ran a marathon, (which he kind of did, at least in his terms). When Idia looks up and sees you wiping your eyes again, he’s suddenly reminded of what you had said earlier.
“Um…do you wanna have some snacks?”
♡ He curses himself for it because he sounded stupid, but those thoughts are immediately washed away when he sees the small smile on your face as you nod, and now he’s pulling out every single snack that he knows you like and opening up a bottle of your favorite drink.
♡ If you want to talk about your day, he’ll listen silently, unsure of if he should be saying anything. He silently agrees with your troubles though, making a note to have a personal vendetta against the people who made your day awful, (not that he was going to do anything to them…probably).
♡ If you decide to keep quiet, he’ll sit with you in a comfortable silence, the only sounds being ones of chips being crunched and wrappers being opened. If you cry he won’t shame you for it, instead hesitantly wrapping his arm around your shoulders and pulling you closer to him, letting you get all your snot and tears on his hoodie.
♡ He’ll order your favorite food to be delivered to his dorm, and if there’s anything you want to watch or play he will do it with you. He’s unsure of how else to comfort you aside from hugging you and listening to you, so if there’s anything else you want to do he’ll do it in a heartbeat!
malleus draconia:
♡ First off, whoever made you have a bad day should really be concerned for their safety in the near future.
♡ Malleus is delighted when he first spots you in the courtyard; he wasn’t expecting for you to be here, but he’s always delighted to see you!
♡ As he approaches you, he thinks to himself…don’t you have Potions class right now? His pace now quickens as worry spreads throughout him, wondering if there was some kind of accident in class, (not really a logical train of thought, but give him a break, he’s worried!).
♡ He’s relieved when he sees you’re not physically injured, but his worry immediately spikes when he notices that your eyes are bloodshot and that your cheeks are wet with fresh tears.
“My love, what has happened? Are you feeling well?”
“...Yeah.”
♡ He’s confused by this response, and waits for a few moments for a further explanation. The one word doesn’t really answer either of his questions, and this change in personality worries him even further. He’s beginning to think of bringing you to the infirmary or to some kind of hospital to see what was wrong with you before you speak again.
“Today has just been…awful.”
“...Ah. I see. Shall we go somewhere more private, then?”
♡ He waits until you silently nod before helping you up from the ground, taking your school bag and bringing his hands to your shoulders. When you blink you’re suddenly in Diasomnia, the sudden location change throwing you off a little bit. Malleus’ hands on your shoulders are grounding though, and he carefully swipes a finger over your cheek to wipe your tears away.
“My love, what ails you? What can I do for you?”
♡ He’ll quietly listen if you decide to share what happened, though you’ll be able to hear the telltale thunder and lightning outside of the dorm building as Malleus listens, his expression becoming more and more perturbed. He’s beyond angry at how you’ve been wronged time and time again today, but he can also tell that anger is not what you need right now, so he stays silent.
♡ If you don’t want to talk about it he’ll be worried but won’t push it, saying that he will always be at your side if you ever do need to talk about anything, (he does not play about his partner).
♡ Admittedly you both are skipping the rest of your classes, which warrants a very panicked knock at the door not too long after the two of you arrive at Diasomnia. You could hear Sebek and Silver from outside the door, arguing with each other about how they could both lose track of Malleus after taking their eye off of him for just a moment.
“Silver, you should have been watching him closely! You were sleeping!”
“You were there too, Sebek!”
♡ Malleus merely shakes his head with a chuckle, excusing himself for a moment to talk to them. They aren’t exactly whispering, so you’re able to hear the conversation pretty well.
“Silver, Sebek.”
“My lord! You’re back at the dorms?! The next class is in just a couple minutes!!”
“Yes, I’m quite aware. You two may go ahead, I shall be here for the remainder of the day. There is something I need to take care of.”
“But-!!”
“Sebek, you heard him. Let’s go.”
♡ You could hear Sebek protesting as Silver dragged him away from Malleus’ room, which made you giggle a bit. Malleus seemed surprised to see this, but his surprise melted into a soft, loving look as he walked back to you.
“I’m pleased to see you smile. I was worrying that I may never see it again.”
♡ As he reaches you his arms wrap around you gently, one of his hands moving to the back of your head to hold you against him. It only lasts for a bit before he pulls away, but his quiet warmth and comfort was more than enough to start making you feel better, (you feel a bit sheepish to admit it, but your heart is beating uncontrollably at the loving look in his eyes).
♡ He’ll gently ask what you need, since he’s unsure about how to make you feel better. He will go based on your words, so if you need some cuddling time with him? He’s bringing you into his bed and pulling you close to him, smoothing his hand over your head as he whispers words of comfort. If you’re feeling hungry? He’ll ask for something to be made in the kitchen and brought to his room. If you want to be distracted? He’ll offer to take you to see some of the gargoyles around campus, as he’s quite good at talking about them endlessly.
a/n: haii anon THANK YOU FOR REQUESTINGGG !!! i'm not even gonna lie i actually did write all four of them, but i wasn't rlly pleased w how leona's part came out ToT i might rewrite it and add it in later, i think i need to reread book two or the savanaclaw manga Lawl ... i hope you all enjoyed ! <3
Hiiii do you think you can write Jade leech courting head cannons? Kinda like how he’ll act with a crush and then try to make advances towards you? I need cute stuff I’ve been a bum!!!
⋆. 𐙚 ˚❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ jade leech courting headcanons
↪ how would jade act when trying to attract the object of his affections? (+ how would he confess?)
masterlist
♡ If Jade Leech is anything, it’s a man of patience. He’s the type to bide his time, carefully doing just enough to make you notice his feelings towards you, yet at the same time making his actions seem ambiguous enough that it makes you second guess. It’s not done with the intention of making you feel bad, but more so that he finds it absolutely adorable when you subtly pout as you stare at him, trying to figure him out, (which has never worked, to his pleasure).
“Hey…why do you keep doing things for me?”
“Should I not be courteous to you?”
“Agh…”
♡ He prefers to be fully informed, so he will research courting rituals for humans, half through looking online and half through asking some of his peers, who are rather alarmed at his sudden curiosities in courting. He’s glad that he did research though, since he was not aware that there were so many differences between merpeople and humans…(thank goodness he hadn’t decided to open his mouth at you yet).
♡ Always the gentleman, he will consistently walk you from class to class whenever he has the opportunity, and he’ll even walk you all the way back to Ramshackle when you decide to leave for the day, saying ‘you can never be too careful’. Jade will always hold the door open for you, will always pull your chair out for you, and will always make sure nobody else is approaching you with any…ill intentions, (or conversely, romantic intentions).
♡ He scares off any competition rather quickly. How, you ask? A man has to keep his secrets sometimes, no?
♡ Jade is quite the opposite of big romantic gestures; he much prefers the subtle approach. At first, it’s small things, such as having your favorite drink already made and waiting at your usual time when you come to the Lounge, sliding it to you across the bar with a knowing smile. That test you had been stressing out about all week? Jade hands you his perfectly curated notes from his previous year, his handwriting neat and tidy throughout the pages as he thoroughly explains the concepts you were confused about. You got to the lunch line too late and your favorite food is gone? He actually accidentally took a second serving, which he’s more than happy to offer up to you, if you’d like?
♡ As he becomes a bit bolder, he will also be more touchy than you might think. His hand might casually brush yours when he’s walking you to your next class, yet he won’t move away, keeping the same distance and allowing it to happen multiple times. If the hallways are crowded, his hand will rest on your shoulder as he leads you through, (it’s also quite easy for him to walk through students, since most of them tend to steer clear of him and Floyd). His face might get rather close to yours as he insists ‘there’s something on your cheek’, lightly dabbing your cheek with a napkin, (he enjoys the way you fluster oh so easily).
♡ Jade is a planner, and one of his more mischievous plans involved him serving you a rather messy dessert that he knew you would like, counting it as a ‘kitchen experiment’ and a potential addition to the menu based on your opinion. When the dessert inevitably gets all over your hands and mouth, he’ll chide you for being a messy eater, (as if it wasn’t part of his plan) and gently wipe your hands with a damp washcloth, (he’s a freak but we love him).
♡ No matter how much you might suspect his feelings, he will be tight-lipped until he feels like the moment is right. After all, where’s the fun in letting the cat out of the bag so quickly?
“Shrimpy, can ya just ask Jade ou-”
“Floyd, I believe I hear Azul calling for you.”
♡ Ignore that.
♡ If you show genuine interest in his hobbies, you’ll be able to see a rare moment of weakness from him. He’s never been all too bothered by the fact that everyone seems rather weirded out by his fascination for various plants and the mountains, which is why he’s so surprised when you end up asking him to tell you more. He’s really never minded, so why was his heartbeat getting rather fast at your inquiries?
♡ Any time you do something to surprise him, he just gets even more intrigued by you. Jade likes to think that he has you figured out for the most part, but if you do something that clashes with the idea he has of you? It does a little something to his heart.
♡ When he asks you to be with him, it’s done intimately and without any prying eyes. He’ll ask Azul if he can use the Lounge after hours for ‘personal reasons’, which Azul is rather curious and suspicious about…yet agrees to it. From there, he’ll purchase the best quality ingredients for your favorite dishes, (which he knows quite well at this point, he might have been practicing) enlisting Floyd’s help to cook, (more like bribery, since Floyd was rather reluctant to help).
♡ Mysteriousness is something that Jade always emulates, but it’s a bit moreso when he sends a cryptic Magicam message, asking you to meet him at the Lounge. It’s short and to the point, which you can appreciate, but your mind can’t help but race with different ideas of why he would possibly be asking you to visit the Lounge after hours…
♡ When you arrive, he greets you at the door, his usual neat and tidy dorm uniform a bit undone…his bow-tie is nowhere to be seen, and his suit jacket is gone, leaving him in his purple dress shirt and wow, even the top button of his shirt is undone and his sleeves are pulled up…
♡ Good lord, this man is trying to kill you.
♡ Jade will lead you to a table filled with perfectly done dishes, a bouquet of your favorite plant in the middle of it all. When you inquire about the special occasion, he will only lead you to sit down and tell you to enjoy, (and he’ll act butthurt if you keep questioning him instead of beginning to eat, he spent so much time on this after all!).
♡ It’s only once you’re finished eating everything that he’ll ask, his eyes seeming to be looking into your soul as he begins to speak.
“My, never did I think this day would come…To find someone who piques my interest as much as you do is quite a rare find indeed, Prefect. I seem to have given my heart to you, but I do hope you’ll keep it.”
a/n: HIIII ANON THANK YOU FOR REQUESTINGGG !!! <333 i love jade hehehehe ... although i realized halfway through writing this that the other crushing headcanons i did were similar to this, so i also added the little confession part! but i went a bit more detailed than i usually do for headcanons bc of that as well hehehe but i also just love jade .... i hope you all enjoyed !! <33
⋆ Summery: How HSR men would react to you going to sleep without them
⋆ Warnings: not proofread (like usual), implied afab! reader but can be interoperated however you like!, dan heng is in his amphoreus form (because i like that one), angst for phainon if you're desperate
⋆ A/N: hi everyone! happy new years! (＾▽＾) sorry for not posting since christmas, someone gifted me the plague. but i'm back and have more free time! i hope to get some works out in the next couple days! enjoy! ♡＾▽＾♡
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Blade
A Stellaron Hunter's journey takes you to many places, and with these places brings long tasks. These journeys sometimes have your husband coming home during the most sound hours of the night. He never says it outright, but he does enjoy it when you manage to stay up late enough to see him come home at the end of his day. You have your own daily duties too, however, so you can't always muster up the energy to stay up late.
One particular night, you had already made your way to your bed by the time Blade got home. You were already deep in sleep as he finally made it to your bedroom. When he first walks through the door, he pauses for a moment, just to watch you. He likes to admire you from a distance, not interfering. You looked peaceful, yet lonely with an open spot at your side.
Blade has always been so gentle with you, especially at night in the comfort of your sheets. He dares not to wake you from your slumber. Once he's laying next to you, it's almost like his body instinctively moves to be as close to yours as possible. As his arm secures around your body, he places a gentle kiss to your shoulder.
"May you sleep well, my love."
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Jing Yuan
It's actually rare that you make it to bed before he does. Typically he's the one you end up joining in bed after he's long asleep. Every once in a blue moon, though, his duties as general bleed long into the night. He always insists that you go to bed on your own when he knows of these long nights. Still, it does pain him when he can't wish you goodnight.
Today you decided to challenge yourself and try to stay up just for him. To no one's surprise, you failed. By the time Jing Yuan gets home, you're deep in sleep on the couch with a book that fell out of your hand and is now sprawled on your chest. The general couldn't help but let a shallow chuckle escape from his lips.
“My my, didn’t even make it past midnight, did we?” Despite his teasing, he breaks no sweat scooping you up and carrying you into your bed. After getting himself (and you respectfully) ready for bed, he holds you close under the covers, playing with your hair.
“May you beat me to sunrise, my dear”
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Dan Heng
“I promise, to heaven and back, I will only be gone for a little while. I will return home to you no matter what.” Those are the words your loving (and mildly exaggerating) partner said before he went out on a late night walk before bed. You can’t really blame him for being dramatic, though. After his journey through Amphoreus, he never wants to be away from the ones he loves for long again. You’ve also accepted that this may just be his personality.
Despite his promise that he’d be back soon, you still find yourself quickly drifting off to sleep in his bedroom. Like he promised, he does come home. For his welcome gift, he finds you dreaming right where his body normally lay. "I'm pleased you managed to make yourself comfortable." Even Dan Heng knows his bad isn't the comfiest bed in the universe.
He can't stand to leave you by yourself for too long. He holds you tight and close to his body, not risking letting you go (and also so he can fit on his bed). He has trouble going to sleep that night, because he wasn't relaxed or having a nightmare, but because he couldn't stop looking at you in his arms.
"Don't worry darling, nightmares won't find you while I'm with you"
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Phainon
The two of you have the same routine every night: you always go to sleep together. There's no specific reason, you both just mutually love to see each other off to a land of dreams. There are rare occasions, though, when a situation comes up in Okhema that causes your partner to be out late. While these nights are few and far between, it still kills Phainon when he can't be home at a good time to be with you.
One time, he didn't even take his boots off before (quietly kind of) running to your room to see if you were possibly still awake. Unfortunately, you were already snoozing in your freshly washed bedsheets.
"Ah, I'm sorry my starlight." Phainon sat on the side of the bed and held your cheek in the palm of his hand. "I promise, these long nights won't be forever. I swear it." He gets out of his day clothes, and is soon holding you in bed, pressing soft kisses to your forehead as he admires you in the moonlight.
"I will see you at dawn, my sunshine"
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Aventurine
Nights are always late for the strategic gambler, that's why you two connect. You've always had a night owl in you, and as you've grown with your lover, that part of you is now always present. Still, there are some nights where even you fall victim to the young night.
This was one of those nights, where you find yourself falling to sleep on your sofa, watching a Penacony classic. When Aveturine finally makes it home, he sees you deep in slumber (and you even left all the lights on smh). "Well well," the gambler lets out a chuckle, "not everyone can win against the bet of the night."
Ah, if only the Stoneheart member was as sleepy as you this fine night! Sleep doesn't want everyone right away. Until it's his time for slumber, he sits on the floor next to you. As he watches the movie playing on the TV, he leans his head next to yours, occasionally breaking his watch to admire your sleeping beauty.
"Don't worry, I'll join you soon sweetheart"
thanks for reading! have a wonderful day/night! (＾▽＾)
a/n:
My understanding of his character is still limited to what we know so far, so I apologize if there are any inaccuracies. Hopefully, we’ll get to learn more about him soon.
This fic is also uploaded on Ao3: Here
Italics are used for flashbacks.
Minajael couldn’t fall asleep.
For the past few days, his thoughts had been occupied persistently by a certain someone.
It began on the first day of the tournament between NRC and RSA.
“Excuse me, where do I put this?”
A voice cut through the room while Minajael was drinking from his bottled water. He turned around, only to see you holding a box of bottled drinks in your hands.
Minajael quickly walked over and took the box away from you.
“Let me help you.”
NRC had given RSA students their own rooms to rest during the tournament, and Minajael had chosen the pantry to cool himself down for a moment, away from the others. He had just received a call from his parents regarding another potential marriage arrangement, and his mood had been particularly sour ever since.
The box landed on the counter with a dull thud.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Against his better judgment, your words irritated him.
“No need to call me that. Just my name is fine.” The words came out colder than he intended, and he could see how you were taken aback for a brief second.
“Oh, sorry. I just wanted to be polite.”
“Well, you don’t call Leona and Malleus with that title, do you?”
“…True.”
You fell silent after that, shutting your mouth as you glanced at him from the corner of your eyes, a hint of reluctance in your expression that made Minajael feel a flicker of guilt.
He sighed.
“…Sorry. I got agitated for no reason.” he said, more politely this time, genuinely meaning it.
You only shrugged, smiling lightly at him.
“No worries. I’m used to being a rage dump.”
?
Minajael raised an eyebrow at your statement, but you only met him with a smile.
What kind of wretched situation are they running at NRC.
He had heard rumors about several students overblotting in NRC, though he was never entirely sure if they were true. However, he had seen that video of STYX breaking into the school and taking some students away, and as a prince, he was not unfamiliar with the organization.
Which means the rumors were, at the very least, partially true.
The thought made him remember something else.
Minajael’s gaze shifted toward you.
Of course he knew who you were.
You were, in a way, quite well-known in NRC, and your name had come up more than once even among RSA students. He had seen you as well, scattered across photos and videos on his cousin’s Magicam, often appearing somewhere in the background or at his side.
Though he rarely paid much attention, he knew enough.
You were close.
“Hey, you’re… friends with Kalim and Jamil, right?” Minajael asked.
“Hm? Oh, yeah. I do.”
Minajael went silent for a moment, weighing whether he should continue or not.
“…How is Kalim doing?”
The question left his mouth quieter than he intended, but you seemed to catch it anyway.
It had been a while since he last saw his cousin, or even contacted him.
Minajael had always been a different kind of prince growing up.
He always asked, “Why does it have to be done this way?” to his parents and teachers alike, over and over again.
As a prince, he understood that it was his duty to become a wise and just ruler, and for that reason, he always tried his best in both academic and social studies. He excelled to the point that, by the time he reached fifteen, there was barely anything left for him to learn within his age range, and he had already been given advanced studies on a university level.
People praised him constantly for his intelligence and his flawless composure.
And yet, the question remained.
Does it always have to be this way?
Minajael feels so suffocated. He rips his royal robes that make it hard to breathe at the end of each day.
He begins questioning more things, challenging more ways.
He admits that he has not been in his best behavior as a prince most of the time. He throws a big fit when his parents do not allow him to attend RSA when he receives the invitation, until they are forced to finally agree to let him go.
Minajael wants freedom. To live outside the life he has always been ‘supposed’ to live.
To see a whole new world he has never seen before.
And even if he ends up having to live in it, he wants to live it his own way.
Thus, he does not understand Kalim.
His cousin, though not a royal, is still an heir to a very powerful family. Hell, Minajael could even say he carries the same expectations as a royal.
The only difference is that he is given more freedom than someone who must always be on their best behavior.
That’s why he does not understand why Kalim does not take it.
Despite how others see Kalim—as oblivious, carefree fella—Minajael knows he is nowhere near a fool.
He can command an entire army with a single word, and they would be willing to die for him.
And still—
he chose to remain in that position.
Walking around every day with a retainer who did everything for him, to the point where he could not even do certain things himself.
Minajael especially despises how he keeps his silence, even when he disagrees with what others do, or what his family tells him to do.
And that is why Minajael is not close to him.
The clash in their beliefs. Their views.
They barely spoke, even though Minajael still had Kalim’s number.
“Ah, yeah. I remember. You are his cousin, aren’t you?” Your sudden words pulled him out of his reverie.
“Yeah, we are.”
“Hmm.” You seemed to be thinking, ignoring him for a moment. “Why don’t you ask him yourself?”
Minajael blinked.
“…What?”
“Why don’t you ask Kalim how he’s doing yourself?”
Minajael closed his mouth.
“…I’m not sure if he wants to talk to me.”
You tilted your head.
“What makes you think he doesn’t?”
Minajael leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms as he closed his eyes.
“…Nothing.”
Minajael remembered the last time he and Kalim had a conversation, and it did not end well.
They met during a family dinner, and at the time, Minajael had been at the peak of his rebellious phase. He had been so frustrated with Kalim. Frustrated that he seemed unable to understand his perspective, just like everyone else.
So he lashed out at his younger relative unjustly.
He had been too embarrassed to show his face ever since.
Minajael opened his eyes to see you giving him a slightly awkward look.
“A bit rocky, isn’t it?”
He said nothing.
“Well, if you want to know—he’s fine. I think he’s even happier these past few months. Though again, I’m just a third party. That’s only based on how I see him. I don’t know what’s actually on his mind.”
Minajael studied your expression for a moment before huffing.
“Well, good then. At least he’s not stupidly falling into endless poison or kidnapping anymore.”
There was a brief pause between the two of you before you raise your hand.
“Permission to ask something, Your Highness.”
“Minajael.”
“Your Highness Minajael.”
“Tch.” Minajael clicked his tongue in slight irritation, but you didn’t seem to care.
“…What is it?” he said.
“This might be a bit nosy of me, but I’m kind of offended by the way you spoke about my dear friend, so I want to know. Why don’t you like him?”
Minajael had to admit, your bravery was almost admirable.
Very few would ask such a question to a crown prince, let alone him, with such a straight and unbothered expression.
You seemed genuinely curious, slightly irked, yet at the same time, not particularly concerned about him or the weight of what you were asking. And still, you asked anyway.
Much to his displeasure.
Fine.
Since you were brave—or foolish—enough, and you were, after all, both Kalim and Jamil’s friend, he supposed he could give you an answer.
“It’s not like I dislike him,” he said.
“I disagree with his way of living.”
You raise your eyebrow in interest.
“I don’t agree with his way of living. He lives solely by his family’s expectations. Kalim Al-Asim has always followed what the people around him tell him to do. Even his personal retainer.”
“He has no initiative to do something himself, and constantly lives in a role assigned to him. Even when that role, and what he does, has nearly gotten him killed over and over again.”
“I can’t understand someone who refuses to step outside his own cage. Even when the door has long been opened.”
Now it is your turn to cross your arms over your chest and close your eyes in thought.
Minajael said at last, pouring out the final piece of his thoughts on Kalim.
You blink. Likely taken aback by his outburst.
“Hmm…”
Minajael watches you.
He expects an argument, but you give him nothing. The silence stretches longer than he is comfortable with.
His fingers tap once against his arm. Then still.
After a minute, you open your eyes and look straight into his, wearing the same unreadable expression you seems to always have.
Then, you step closer. One step at a time.
He scrunches his eyebrows, questioning your movement.
You stop directly in front of him and lean your face forward. Minajael instinctively inches back, caught between confusion and a ? what the fuck?
And then, your eyes change.
There is a sharpness to them now, a flicker of irritation that cuts whatever words he had in his throat.
“What do you know about his life?”
Minajael stunned on his feet.
Then, a set of footsteps drags your attention toward the door. You see Neige LeBlanche standing in the doorway.
“Oh! You!” he beams.
“Hi, Neige.” you greet him, already strolling over and leaving Minajael behind.
“It’s been a while since we last met, isn’t it?” Neige says.
“I know, hasn’t it been… in Fleur City, right?”
“Correct! How have you been?”
Your distant chatter with Neige fails to register in Minajael’s mind as he remains stuck, trying to process your words.
“What do YOU know about his life?”
Minajael finds, to his irritation, that he does not have an answer he is willing to say aloud.
“Hello, want to buy our fresh lemonade?”
“It’s you again.”
Minajael looks up to see you smiling brightly at him, a tray strapped to your body and a hat perched on your head.
You beam. “Hello, Your Highness. Would you like to buy some fresh lemonades?”
Minajael grunts at your words.
Well, he understands that what he said the other day might have annoyed you enough that you are now insisting on addressing him with the very title he dislikes.
When he doesn’t respond, you lift a hand to your forehead, as if shielding your eyes from the sun.
“Today is very hot. Surely you’d want something refreshing while you watch the tournament?”
Minajael’s gaze drifts toward the sports field below, where a break between matches is currently underway and the staff prepare for the next event. Having finished his own competition yesterday, he chose to remain in the stands today, watching the games while blending in with the crowd.
He sighs. “Okay. One lemonade.”
“You don’t want two? It’s buy two, get one free right now.”
“…No. I’m here alone.”
“Surely you’ll get thirsty watching for so long?”
Minajael closes his eyes.
You—
He really isn’t sure if you are trying to annoy him or if this is simply how you are.
Deciding it is better to agree than waste any more energy, he exhales.
“Fine. I’ll buy two.”
“Then you’ll get three.”
“…Alright.”
You hand him the cups one by one, and he nudges the person beside him.
“Excuse me. Would you like some lemonade?”
The boy startles. “Eh? Uh—sure,” he says awkwardly, taking the cup from Minajael. At Minajael’s prompting, he passes the other one to his friend sitting next to him.
“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe Prince Minajael talked to me,” the boy whispers to his friend, as if Minajael cannot hear.
Minajael takes a sip. The cool, citrusy taste washes over his throat instantly, cutting through the heat. He glances over the rim of the cup and notices the ‘Mostro Lounge’ stamp printed on it.
“Thank you,” he says to you.
“My pleasure. Thank you for buying our drinks. If you’d like to treat the others in this row as well, don’t hesitate to call me.”
Minajael lets out a low chuckle at that.
“No, thank you.”
You smile and move along, offering your drinks to the others nearby. Minajael watches you from the corner of his eye.
Against his will, his thoughts drift back to your conversation yesterday. Truth be told, he hasn’t been able to get your question out of his head.
What do you know about his life?
It was such a simple question, yet it has been circling his mind ever since.
He has always been prone to overthinking, and your words have only given that habit more fuel.
What does he actually know about Kalim’s life?
Minajael pauses on the thought.
Minajael did not know.
He knows the environment Kalim grew up in. The guards, the precautions, the constant vigilance that follows him wherever he goes. None of it is unfamiliar to Minajael. If anything, it is simply another variation of the life he himself has always known, shaped differently but rooted in the same expectations.
He knows the incidents as well, the poisonings and the threats. Things that, within their circles, are not treated as distant rumors but as quiet facts, acknowledged and then set aside as part of reality.
But that isn’t what you asked.
You asked what he knows.
What Kalim sees when he wakes up in the morning. What he notices, what he ignores. What he fears, what he dismisses. The weight of the things that happen to him, and the way he chooses—consciously or not—to carry them.
Not the story.
The person inside it.
…and Minajael realizes that he does not know.
“Hey.”
He calls out when you return to his row.
You turn immediately, raising a brow in question.
“I would like to apologize for my previous conduct. It seems I have offended you, and spoken ill of someone you care about.”
You chuckle.
“There’s no need to apologize. I’m the one who should apologize, honestly. It seems I judged you as well.” You shrug lightly. “What do I know about your life—or Kalim’s, anyway?”
You purse your lips, as if wanting to say something more but unsure whether you should. Minajael waits.
“Have you talked to Kalim?” you finally ask.
Minajael’s brows draw together. You really do have a knack for being irritating, don’t you? Why would you ask something so personal?
You raise a hand quickly. “I know, I know. I shouldn’t ask something like that. But in case you forgot, I’m nosy, so I can’t really help it.” You gesture casually. “But hey, if you don’t want to answer, that’s fine.”
Minajael studies you for a moment. “Did you talk to Kalim about this?”
“And ruin my chance to see his reaction when he gets a message from his dear cousin? Absolutely not.” You smirk. “I’m waiting for both his reaction and yours.”
Minajael rolls his eyes. “No, I haven’t.”
“What a pity.”
Minajael exhales softly, unimpressed. “You seem overly invested in matters that do not concern you.”
“I sell drinks to people for a living,” you reply lightly. “Getting involved in things that don’t concern me is practically a job requirement.”
“That hardly makes it appropriate.”
“Neither is judging someone based on a life you’ve never actually asked about,” you return, just as easily.
Minajael’s gaze sharpens slightly at that, though his expression remains composed. “You speak as though you know him better.”
“I don’t,” you shrug. “But at least I’m aware that I don’t.”
There’s a brief pause, the noise of the crowd filling the space between you.
You tilt your head, studying him for a second longer before your brows draw together, not in mockery, but something closer to mild disbelief.
“For someone who’s said to be free,” you say, “you’re quite trapped in your own mind, aren’t you?”
Minajael’s jaw drops open in disbelief.
You have already walked away, continuing to sell your drinks as if nothing happened, leaving him behind in his shock.
“Hey, want to buy some lemonade? Prince Minajael of Scalding Sands buys from us, you know.”
“Uh—”
“So do famous actors Vil Schoenheit and Neige LeBlanc. And Prince Leona Kingscholar, and Prince Malleus Draconia, and the famous Kalim from Al-Asim. Everyone buys my lemonade.”
“You’re just naming your friends!” a Heartslabyul student chirps.
“Yes, and?”
Minajael cannot stop staring at you, watching your utterly ridiculous upselling tactics unfold without a hint of shame.
This girl, honestly.
And that is how he ends up in this situation. Staring at the ceiling for what feels like hours on end. He hasn’t been sleeping properly for the past three days, your words lingering far longer than they have any right to.
He curses inwardly. Minajael really is a fool, an avid overthinker, and you—why would you make it worse? He truly doesn’t understand.
He exhales sharply, turning slightly against his bed when yet another attempt at sleep fails him, his mind already circling back to the same thought it has been trapped in for days now.
For three days now, he has been turning your question over and over in his mind, as if circling it long enough will somehow make the answer appear.
Somewhere along the way, the question shifts.
It is no longer just about Kalim.
It becomes about the freedom he always believe in.
What do you know about his life?
The more he thinks about it, the more it begins to unravel something he has never thought to question before.
Minajael has always considered himself free. Not in the naive sense of having no responsibilities, that would be ridiculous for someone in his position, but in the way he carries himself, the way he speaks as he pleases, refuses what he dislikes, and does not bend easily to expectations placed upon him. He has always believed that this, at the very least, sets him apart from those who simply accept everything handed to them without resistance.
Kalim, in his eyes, has always been one of those people.
Carefree to the point of carelessness, too soft, too willing to accept everything with a smile no matter what is done to him, as though the world has never given him a reason to think otherwise.
That is what Minajael has always believed.
And because of that, he has never once considered Kalim to be free.
But now, forced to sit with that belief, he finds it… strangely rigid.
Because Kalim, despite everything that surrounds him, despite the restrictions and dangers Minajael knows all too well, still does as he wishes in the ways that matter. He speaks to whoever he wants, trusts as he chooses, gives freely without hesitation, and moves through the world without that constant edge of judgment Minajael himself cannot seem to let go of.
Kalim does not measure others the way Minajael does.
He does not confine people into neat conclusions, does not decide what they are and leave them there.
He simply… accepts.
And Minajael, who has always claimed himself to be free, cannot help but notice how narrow his own thoughts begin to feel in comparison.
Because what is that freedom worth, if it only exists within the limits of his own understanding?
What does it mean to be free, if he is still bound so tightly to his own perspective that he cannot see beyond it?
He has always thought of himself as someone who moves as he pleases, yet here he is, circling the same thoughts, the same judgments, the same conclusions, unable to step outside of them even when he tries.
It feels, suddenly, like being trapped in something he had never noticed before.
Minajael exhales slowly, the tension in his chest settling heavier, his gaze fixed on the unmoving ceiling above him.
For all this time, he has looked at Kalim and thought him naive.
Now, he is no longer certain which of them truly is.
The thought lingers until he finally lets out a quiet sigh.
…He really has to talk to Kalim tomorrow.
“Hi, Mina!” Kalim waves enthusiastically when he spots Minajael in the crowd.
Minajael smiles as he weaves his way through the sea of people, making his way toward where Kalim and Jamil are standing.
Jamil bows the moment Minajael stops in front of him, earning a slight scrunch of Minajael’s brows in disapproval. “My prince.”
Minajael catches the faint smirk tugging at Jamil’s lips, so subtle no one else would notice, but he does. At this point in his life, he already knows Jamil is a little shit, and will take any chance to tease him simply because he can.
…Right. Focus.
He didn’t come here for that.
“How have you been? It’s been a while, hasn’t it.”
“It sure has!” Kalim beams. “My dad asked you to come visit one of these days. He misses you, and so does Mom.”
Minajael smile.
The conversation flows easily between the three of them, carried by Kalim’s cheerful tone and Jamil’s constant, dry interjections. Minajael finds, somewhat to his own surprise, that it is not unpleasant at all.
Perhaps it is simply because they have all grown older now, left behind the sharper edges of their younger selves.
Or perhaps—
He finds himself studying Kalim for a brief moment, the thought returning before he can dismiss it.
“I think… I may have misunderstood you.”
Kalim blinks, clearly caught off guard.
“Eh?”
Minajael exhales softly, almost as if reconsidering his own words, before shaking his head.
“It’s nothing. Pay it no mind.”
“But you just said something serious!” Kalim leans forward slightly, concern already creeping into his expression. “Did something happen? Did I do something?”
“No,” Minajael answers, more quickly than intended. He pauses, then adds, calmer, “No. It has nothing to do with you.”
Jamil’s eyes narrow slightly, his gaze flicking between the two of them, clearly catching onto something beneath the surface, though he says nothing.
Minajael straightens, smoothing over the moment as if it had never happened. “I simply had a thought, that’s all.”
Kalim still looks unconvinced, but he nods anyway. “Okay… but if something’s bothering you, you can tell me, you know?”
Minajael hums noncommittally.
There is a brief lull, but it does not linger long before Kalim starts talking again, effortlessly filling the space as he always does.
Minajael listens, responds when appropriate, but his thoughts have already begun drifting elsewhere.
After a while, he steps back slightly.
“I should take my leave.”
“So soon?” Kalim asks, visibly disappointed.
“I have something to attend to.”
Kalim brightens immediately. “Oh! Then don’t let us stop you. But come visit soon, okay? Dad will be really happy!”
“I will,” Minajael replies, the promise coming easier than he expects.
Jamil inclines his head. “Safe travels, Your Highness.”
Minajael gives him a look, but says nothing, already turning away.
Kalim scrunches his brows in confusion.
“What was that about?” he asks, turning to Jamil.
Jamil narrows his eyes slightly, suspicion settling in. Minajael is not the type to say something like that without reason.
His gaze follows Minajael’s retreating figure, tracing the direction he is heading, until he spots you, standing with Grim, casually eating an ice cream.
Understanding settles in almost immediately.
Jamil grins.
“I see.”
Kalim blinks. “You do?”
Jamil lets out a quiet chuckle, folding his arms. “You really can’t mind your own business, can you?”
“What do you think freedom is?”
You jolt lightly at the sudden voice beside you, lifting your head to find Minajael standing there, looking at you with an expectant sort of calm.
You tilt your head, confusion clear on your face.
“Ha?”
“What is freedom to you?” he repeats.
You stare at him for a moment.
“…Did I suddenly get a pop quiz or something?”
END
a/n:
I can’t get him out of my mind, help. I just really love bratty pretty boys.
This fic is inspired by a Twitter thread discussing the not-so-close relationship between Minajael and Kalim, and how Minajael and Leona, or even Malleus might not have been exposed to the same kind of dangers that Kalim—and even Jamil—experienced growing up. It’s interesting to think about how those differences shape their beliefs.
Personally, I think both Mina and Kalim have their own perspectives, and neither of them is wrong. The way you define something depends on the life you’ve lived. For Mina, freedom might mean autonomy, while for Kalim, it could simply mean survival.
I do want to write longer fics for Mina, but since we still don’t know much about him, I think it’s better to wait until more information comes out so his personality and characterization can feel more real.
I also can’t wait to meet Alice and see him have a standoff with Ace and Riddle. It’s going to be so cute. Ace is still my favorite and will forever be my Alice, but I can have little room in my heart for a new one. I have a big heart after all.
Hey hey I just saw that your request were open if I misunderstood ignore me haha 😅 but can you make a one shot with Ace, where the reader feels scared to fall in love because guys in the past have made them feel unlovable and Ace figures out so he does whatever he can to make it know he love them (reader can be fem or gn!)
⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ (ps I love your work sm, I stay up reading it)
↪ summary ♡ ˎˊ˗ in which you decide avoiding ace is a good idea, (he is not pleased)
↪ content ♡ ˎˊ˗ oneshot [3.3k words], gender neutral reader, reader is yuu, angst to fluff, reader is tired of being let down by men (same)
masterlist
It feels like it happened either really slowly or really fast, and you’re still unsure about which one it was. There wasn’t a specific point in time that you could look back on and say ‘Yes, this is when I accidentally fell head over heels for my supposed best friend’, so maybe you had always felt like this in some way.
You’re sure as hell not going to try and figure it out.
While it’s true you’re in a different world, it seems obvious to you that the male population acts mostly the same, which you weren’t too surprised about. Your first meeting with Ace was evidence enough of this, with the way he made fun of you for being magicless and how he was just an overall asshole, (something he himself has admitted to, and also admitted to regretting).
Which is why you’re done. You’re done with breaking down every single wall you have and letting someone in, only for your heart to be broken by the end of it. It’s utterly exhausting to be thrown away time and time again, and maybe fate was telling you that you were destined to be alone forever by sending you to a different world. You’re sure as hell going to take it like that, that’s for sure.
Ace makes it so hard though. He makes it hard with his stupid jokes that still manage to make you laugh, with the specific way he smiles at you like you’re the only other person in the world, and with the way he almost makes you forget every single stupid problem in your life. He shows up for you time and time again, which makes it harder and harder for you to quell your feelings for him, and as frustrating as it is you can’t help it.
“You feelin’ alright? You keep spacing out today.” His worried whisper pulls you from your thoughts, and you can see his eyebrows are pulled together as he’s looking over at you, Trein’s voice droning on in the background.
It’s exactly things like this that makes it hard.
“...Yeah. Just tired today.” You murmur. It’s a bad excuse, and you can tell that he’s not at all convinced by it, but he ends up letting it go for now, giving you a suspicious look before he goes back to doodling in his notebook.
Why does he have to be so damn perceptive?!
The more your feelings grow, the more power he has over you which is absolutely terrifying. The only solution you can think of is to stop seeing him, and as hard as it’s going to be to avoid him, it’s just something that you’ve accepted. You’ve started getting to class early instead of walking with him and Deuce, which they both notice almost immediately and question you about.
“Hey, why weren’t you at the usual spot? We were almost late ‘cause we were waiting for you…” Deuce frowned at you, his demeanor like one of a kicked puppy, which made you almost waver in your decision. Almost.
“You guys don’t have to wait for me anymore; I’m getting tutoring before school, so I’ll be here early.” Ace scoffed at this, which made you quirk an eyebrow at him. “Something wrong with that?”
“Can’t you just ask Riddle for help or something? He’d probably do it if you asked.”
“I don’t wanna bother him, plus it’s tutoring from Trein himself.” You say shortly, noticing how Ace rolls his eyes dramatically at your explanation.
“...Whatever.” He still sits down next to you but it seems clear that he’s irked by the situation, which squeezes your heart a bit. You know it’s for the best, but it feels awful to have him be upset because of you…
Despite this, you continue on, dodging lunchtime with them and sitting with practically anyone else you could find, (although it was mostly Malleus et al., since you knew Ace wouldn’t approach you if you were with them) and heading straight back to Ramshackle after classes, giving some half-assed excuse every time. Every time he would question you, and every time you would give a lame response and leave before he could see the frown that seemed to be permanently on your face these days.
The worst part about it is that he’s still there for you.
When you had fallen asleep in class and been woken up by Trein asking a question, he had quietly mumbled the answer under his breath to you, making sure that you got it right, (you could only praise whoever was watching over you that it was Magical Analytics).
When Grim had used all your food money for the day on tuna, Ace had used his own pocket money to buy your lunch and even brought over a couple bags of groceries for your dinner that night, telling you not to look into it too much.
It was totally a cliche, but he’d even kept you from tumbling down an entire flight of stairs, grabbing your hand and pulling you back after he saw you trip over your feet. He’d pulled you a little too much and you ended up crashing into his chest, the warmth from his body immediately seeping into yours as you stayed frozen for a moment. When your mind had caught up to what happened you’d immediately pulled away, stumbling over your words and saying something about Grim needing to be fed before fleeing, leaving him in the dust. He’d had a conflicted look on his face as he’d watched you run off, seeming like he wanted to say something but couldn’t.
You felt awful.
With every day that passed like this, it was another day that you were filled with the realization that you really didn’t have anybody. Avoiding your friends like the plague was supposed to work well in theory, but in reality you felt ten times worse. Of course, there were your other first-year friends and your upperclassmen who you could turn to, but…it just wasn’t the same. Ramshackle was much quieter now, filled with just the sounds of creaking and the ghosts whispering amongst themselves about you.
Was this really better than…?
A loud knock at the door startled you awake, your eyes snapping open and looking around to see yourself on the couch in Ramshackle. Had you fallen asleep after classes…?
Another loud knock at the door makes you jump a bit in surprise, getting up and immediately feeling a bit dizzy from rising too fast. The knocking persists however, so you blink it away and make your way to the door. “I’m coming, jeez! What’s going on that you have to knock so…loud…” Your words slowly disappear when you swing the door open and see Ace standing there, his hair damp from the light drizzle of rain outside.
“We need to talk.” The usual light and teasing tone of his voice was gone, and the way he was looking so seriously at you was making your heart jump in your throat.
“Wha-Talk? Talk about what…?” You managed to get out, trying to play dumb. He furrowed his eyebrows at your words and stared at you disapprovingly, clearly seeing through your act, (it’s unfortunate that he knows you so well).
“Seriously? You’re just gonna act like you haven’t been avoiding me for weeks?”
“I…” You started, trying to give some sort of response back to him, but failing miserably. What were you supposed to say right now? You can’t just say ‘I’m in love with you and I’m terrified of it’ because how was he supposed to react to that? It’s better this way.
Yeah.
“You…?” He asks, making you realize you still hadn’t thought of anything to say. “Did I do something to you? If I did…I’m sorry. I’m an idiot and I don’t know what I’m doing half the time-”
“No!” You suddenly blurt out, fumbling with your fingers. “You didn’t do anything…Well, not on purpose. It’s not anything you did, okay? It’s just…”
God, he’s going to kill you one day.
His lips pressed together to form a small pout as his dark red eyes stared at you, seeming to be searching every part of your face for some kind of answer. The dampness from the rain was beginning to make the ends of his hair stick to his face, the ginger color changing to a darker shade of orange from the rain.
“I…I like you.” The words come out before you can stop them and Ace’s eyes widen as he stares at you, and then suddenly the words all come tumbling out and you can’t stop. “I like you so much and-and…I’m scared because I swore I would never…It’s not something you would ever get. To open up fully to someone time and time again and for them to leave you, it hurts. It hurts so much…” Your voice cracks slightly and warm tears slide down your cheeks, dripping off your chin as you suddenly realize what you just confessed to. “I…Just forget this happened. I have to go.” You go to push the door closed, silently scolding yourself for actually telling him, but Ace suddenly steps forward, his hand catching the door and stopping it.
“Wait.” He says softly and you can only stare at him, frozen in place and absolutely terrified of what he was going to do next. He looks down at you and you swear that he’s seeing right into your soul with how intense his gaze is, which is so not like him and it somehow makes it so much scarier.
Instead of any harsh words or abrupt departures, Ace walks into Ramshackle, carefully removing your hand from the door before shutting it. For a long time there’s no words between the two of you, the light pitter patter of the rain hitting the roof being the only noise as Ace holds your hand in his, his fingers brushing over your skin. His eyebrows are furrowed as he looks down at your hand and then back to you, studying you.
“Do you really think I would do that to you?” He suddenly asks, now holding your hand with both of his, his warmth soothing the chill that had set into you long ago. “You think I would leave you that easily?”
“I just-I don’t-” You’re cut off as Ace pulls you into him, his arms wrapping around you in a tight embrace.
“Idiot…” He murmurs, his head resting on your shoulder. “I like you…so much. I’ve been agonizing for weeks, trying to figure out what I did. Deuce is totally sick of me complaining.” He chuckles softly, and the sound makes your heart skip a beat. It had been weeks since you’d heard his laughter, you’d missed it.
“I’m sorry.” You said quietly, unsure of where to put your arms as he continued holding onto you. “I’m just…I’m terrified.”
Ace pulls away from you, his hands resting on your shoulders as he gazes at you intently. “I would never-will never leave you. Not in a million years.”
“...You don’t know that.” You mumble. “Who’s to say you won’t get bored of me in a couple of months? Or maybe you’ll want to be with someone who can give you more than someone like me?”
His eyebrows were pulled together, his gaze almost questioning why you would ask him such a thing. “I won’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Fine.” Ace finally says, his eyes flaring. “I’ll show you.”
“What?”
“I’ll show you.” He says, his voice laced with determination. “I’ll show you just how much I love you.”
Love?!
He had given you one more hug before leaving, swearing to show you his true feelings and that he was going to ‘prove himself’, (whatever that meant?) and you spotted him running all the way down the road back to the Mirror Chamber, (he had mentioned that it was way past curfew, which made you realize how late it actually was).
You hadn’t been entirely sure what he was talking about, and you had been entirely thrown off at his sudden love confession, (he also seemed a bit shocked that he’d said it given the wild red shade of his cheeks, but he didn’t take it back) so when he showed up at your door the next morning bright and early, you were a bit surprised to see him.
“Ace…? What’re you doing here?” You questioned, an eyebrow raised at him. “Usually you’re still asleep.” He rolled his eyes at your words, his ears turning a bit red.
“I thought I’d walk you to school from now on. Whatcha think?” He asked, his hand moving to rub his neck, (a nervous habit that you’ve noticed he has).
You giggled a bit at his awkwardness but nodded along. “If you’d like to, then sure.”
“Ace is here?” Grim asked, walking to the doorway to get ready to leave with you. “Why’s he here?”
“He’s gonna walk with us to school.” You explained, feeling your cheeks warm a bit. Grim didn’t seem impressed, instead looking at Ace with a suspicious expression.
The whole walk to school Grim kept bothering Ace, and the two of them bickering made for an eventful walk to campus. For the first time in a while, you walked to class with Ace and Deuce, with the latter giving you a proper scolding for avoiding them for so long.
“If Ace does something to you, don’t get me mixed up in it! It wasn’t the same without you, (Y/N).” He said sadly, which made you feel worse about your little disappearing act.
“I’m sorryyy, I’ll buy lunch today?”
They both immediately caved.
You were sure that after a week or two of ‘proving’ his feelings that Ace would get tired of it and give up, so you were really just counting down the days until that conversation. You were really trying to not fall for him even harder, but wow, it’s actually impossible.
He was still the same old Ace in a sense; he would tease you constantly and would act like his usual smug self, but there was something more to it now. Even while teasing you, he would affectionately ruffle your hair and give you that big smile that made you weak in the knees, then tease you even more about the blush that was slowly creeping up your neck. He would get your favorite drink from the vending machine and place it on the back of your neck, the sudden coldness always making you shoot up in your seat and playfully glare at him.
Most importantly, he was there every day.
Every morning you would open your door to see his smiling face, sometimes a bit out of breath if he had woken up late and ran over. He would always walk with you to campus through rain and snow, and even if he wasn’t prepared with an umbrella, he would use his uniform jacket to cover you both as you ran.
Every evening after classes were over and you were ready to go home, he would walk you back to Ramshackle, and sometimes he would convince you to stop by Sam’s for some snacks, which he always paid for. There were days when he even convinced you to let him stay for the evening and the two of you would cook something simple, lounging around on the couch and watching shows on his phone until it was dead. There had been one night where the two of you had ended up falling asleep on the couch, and you had woken up in the middle of the night to his arm hanging over your shoulder, your head perched on his shoulder. You had almost wanted to wake him, but he seemed to be sleeping so peacefully, (and it was so nice to be with him like this) that you ended up going back to sleep.
Surely, he’s going to get tired of me soon.
Those same words kept ringing in your head with each passing day, and yet…it didn’t happen. He would message you every day; sometimes he would just send you dumb memes he thought you would laugh at, and sometimes he would send more bold messages, saying things like ‘you’re looking extra cute today’. You were invited to every basketball game to cheer him on, with Ace saying that you’re his ‘special motivation’ to play extra well, (which Jamil actually attests to when he asks you to keep attending). He would snap vague pictures with you and post them if you agreed to it, saying that he didn’t want you to think that he was keeping his feelings a secret, (and if he was feeling extra bold, he would give you a kiss on the cheek when taking a selfie).
Which is why when you finally kiss him, you feel rather pleased when seeing the completely shocked look on his face.
It was after one of his basketball matches where they had won because of him; you had immediately shot up in your seat and cheered for him along with the rest of the first-years, screaming excitedly when he had made the winning basket. His teammates all rushed in to congratulate him, clapping him on the back and hyping him up. You knew he had been practicing extra lately to try and perform better, so seeing the proud, happy smile on his face made your heart soar.
“(Y/N)!! Did you see it?! I made the winning basket! Jamil and Floyd even said that I did really well today!” He gushed, words tumbling out in his excitement.
“Of course I saw; we were all screaming your name, but I don’t think you heard.” You teased. “You played really well; I was super impressed.”
The adorable grin that spread across his face was priceless, and it only made you feel more sure in your decision. He quickly turned smug after his moment of glee, shrugging his shoulders like it was no big deal. “Heh, this is what it’s like when you’re a basketball prodigy, get used to seeing it.”
“Actually, come here for a moment?” You asked, waving him a bit closer to you. He quirked an eyebrow out of curiosity, stepping a bit closer to you.
“What is it, (Y/N)?”
“Do you want a reward?” You asked, a mischievous smile playing on your lips.
“Huh?” His ears turned a bit red as you took half a step closer to him, the distance between you two small enough that you could see the light freckles decorating his cheeks. “Uhh, yes…? What’s the-”
You suddenly grab the front of his jersey and pull his face towards yours, crashing your lips into his. It’s awkward only for the moment when he’s frozen, but he sinks into it almost immediately, hands cupping your cheeks. The kiss is soft and comforting, yet it’s also deep and loving, like he’s putting all his emotions from the past months into it. His lips move softly against yours, his thumbs gently brushing over your cheeks.
When you pull away for air you smile giddily at him, savoring the look of absolute shock in his eyes.
“Does this mean-?”
“Yes.” You respond, letting go of his jersey and pinching his cheek. “Don’t let me down, promise-? Ack!” He moves fast, his arms wrapping around your waist and lifting you with ease, spinning you around as he cheered loudly. “Hey, shh! Someone’s gonna hear!”
“Good! You’re finally mine, it’s something to celebrate!” He yelled out, setting you down after a few moments and squishing your cheeks together. “I won’t make you regret this, I swear.”
“Do you pinky-promise?” He rolls his eyes at this, giving you a smug smile and hooking his pinky with your outstretched one.
“Yes, I pinky-promise.”
a/n: HAIII apple anon thank you for requesting !! <33 okay NOT to get all touchy feely here, but i actually am living this request rn in my life, so i reallyyyy got into my feels while writing it, hence why it got a lil angsty there ... i fixed it tho ur welcome all HAHA !! real talk doe i h8 men lmao bc why've i been dumped four times ... #wheresJadeAt... I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED AND HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS DONT RELATE TOO MUCH LIKE ME </3
Varka x reader // gender-neutral reader // TW: mentions of bruises.
Soft early morning light filters in through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the sheets.
Varka's snores rumble softly against your back, breath puffing steadily against your skin. You wake softly; eyes fluttering open as you groggily take in your surroundings.
You're curled up against Varka's chest, cheek squished against the soft fabric of the pillows. His arm is haphazardly thrown around your waist, the other curled under your thigh, palm warm against the aching muscle.
The man grunts as you shift, immediately tightening his grip around you with a grumble. "..s'too early." he complained, rolling over onto his back so that you're splayed across his chest like a big human blanket. Varka's eyes are open now, the gentle blue illuminated in the morning light. "..mornin' cutie." he rasps, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead as he combs his fingers through your hair.
You scowl, gently swatting his hand away with an indignant grumble. He only laughs, something soft and so him that it makes your chest hurt. Varka takes your hand in his, bringing your hand to his mouth. He presses a series of kisses to your knuckles; a quiet apology for the intensity of the night before.
"How are you feeling, meine süße?" The blond asks, softly, brow furrowed in concern. rubbing a thumb over the slight bruises on your wrists from where he held them too hard. "..m'okay, just tired." You bury your face into his collarbone, breathing in the faint scent of oak and sweet apples.
The Grand Master sighs, pressing his cheek against your hair, hand coming to rest on your back. Not putting on any pressure, just there. Firm and grounding and warm. "..love you."
"Love you too, Var."
The two of you stay in bed, tangled in the sheets until late afternoon when the sun is warm.
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my hands ache. help. im sorry its so short I have a buttload of requests to get done.
