[kunauma]

𓈒 ི shot through the heart , kunauma ! ࿐ ࿁   ˙ she ╱ her ⪩⪨ white - american 𑄝 ᣟ ꉹ❤︎ᩙ seventeen ✶‎ ◌　﹒ infp - t ♥︎ ֵ ֺ ృ bisexual ့۫ ྀི ִ

꒰ 🪽 ꒱ ― before you interact mlist ask!

✉️ྀི . . . thank u sm for being here (੭´͈ ᐜ `͈)੭ !!

[kunauma]

ꮽ᱖ ⋆ before you interact . . . !

𝒔tevie does not welcome?

people who depend on artificial intelligence to do daily tasks or just use it daily, do not interact, you’re not welcome; yes that also includes character ai. dark content blogs (non - con, dub - con, stepcest/pseudoincest/incest, etc.) do not interact with me, i understand why some people write it; it just makes me super uncomfortable. and of course the basics, that if you fall into any of these categories, you’re just a horrible human-being: racist, homophobic, transphobic, maga, ice supporter, etc.

𝒔tevie's message to her readers?

likes, reblogs, comments, and so forth mean so much to me and help motivate me! i don’t mind spam liking or reblogging, but i’ve heard that gets you shadowbanned, so please try to avoid that! (｡•́︿•̀｡)

what will be present on 𝒔tevie's blog?

afab!readers, female!readers, and genderneutral!readers are what i write for. fluff, angst, and soft smut will present on this blog. i’m a sensitive person, in general, so mostly all my explicit material will be praise-driven, haha. If someone degraded me, during sex, i’d probably cry, but that’s just me, oops… (ᵕ—ᴗ—) /

what is the last thing 𝒔tevie would like to add . . . ?

please, respect me and other readers on my blog. disrespectful comments or asks will immediately be blocked, i will not be involving myself in someone’s hatred. and if you do send something disrespectful or rude; do it on your own account, not under an anonymous, that just makes you seem like a pussy! (˵ ¬ᴗ¬˵)

© 𓈒 ི stevie ! ࿁   ˙ ᓚ do not copy, repost, or train my work for artificial intelligence.

[kunauma]

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH !!

[kunauma]

ꮽ᱖ ⋆ toothless meets you and hiccup's newborn daughter.

you clutched the bundle closer to your chest, a small grin covering your face. small coos coming from the wrapped blanket. your finger stroked her cheekbone, bright emerald eyes shining up at you. brown tufts of hair stuck in every direction.

“i carry her for nine months, and she looks nothing like me.”

hiccup let out a watery laugh from his spot next to you. wiping a stray tear that was slipping down his freckled cheek. your eyes flitted over to him, giving him a soft look. his eyes filled with so many emotions. “she's perfect,” hiccup smiled, looking up at you. a small warble came from beyond the door, a scratch against the wood. hiccup sighed, shaking his head, with a barely concealed smile. hiccup placed a comforting hand over the both of you and the baby.

his eyes stared into yours, asking a silent question if you were ready for toothless to come in. you nodded, “he's family, ” you sighed contently, laying back, hiccup standing up quickly, to adjust the pillow behind you. you grasped the lapel of hiccups tunic, kissing his cheek appreciatively. hiccup's bright toothy smile staring back down at you and the little bundle.

“come on in, toothless, ”

a scaly snout, pushed into the crack of the door. toothless peculiarly sniffed the air, poking his head through the door. ears perked at attention, eyes immediately zeroing on you in the bed. a worried warble coming from the dragon's mouth, wings raised in worry. “she's alright, toothless.” hiccup motioned for toothless to step closer. toothless cautiously stepped forward, nose raising higher into the air. his ears peeking higher at the scent of you and hiccup mixed together.

“hi, toothless,” you grinned, as the night fury stepped up to the right side of the bed. toothless noses at your hand that was laid to your side. you chuckled, sliding your hand over the night fury's head to scratch behind his ears. toothless closed his eyes, a soothing purr reverberating from his maw. a small sneeze broke the moment, toothless's eyes snapping down to the blanket. his pupils enlarging into ovals, staring down at the baby.

hiccup reached over to pull wrap farther away from her face, so toothless could get a better look. “this is our daughter, toothless.” toothless was in a state of awe. his eyes shining brightly, against the candles lit around the room. a puff of air blowing over her hair, toothless staring even harder, as she sneezed again, as the air tickled her nose. hiccup nervously fiddled with his fingers, watching his dragon seem to be in trance, never looking away from the girl for a moment. “toothless, she's not going anywhere, bud.”

toothless gave a flippant sound in hiccup's direction. earnestly moving himself to get a better look. you lowered her closer to toothless’s eye sight. his nostrils flaring, as she blinked adorably up at the dragon. hiccup bites his lip, leg bouncing up and down, watching the three of you closely. before either of you could say a thing, her small hand emrged from the wrap, hands smaller than a baby nadder's head. you and hiccup held your breaths. her hand reaching up, toothless's pupils dilating, almost as if he was remembering something.

his eyes closed contently, as the baby's hand flatly pressed against his smooth, scaly, black, nose. hiccup choked, the tears he was trying to keep at bay, slipping down his face. your eyes watered, watching as toothless stayed there for however long she kept her hand against his snout. toothless cooed, pressing his face into the garment, she giggled loudly, at the feeling of toothless nudging against her.

© 𓈒 ི stevie ! ࿁   ˙ ᓚ do not copy, repost, or train my work for artificial intelligence.

[illumoria]

toji who rubs his girlfriend’s tummy after she eats a filling meal :3

toji fushiguro wasn’t someone who could be easily convinced to go out—a.k.a—he was broke. he usually stayed at home with you, enjoying your home cooked meals or 99¢ ramen whenever you were at work. he didn’t really pay any mind to the kinds of food he put into his body. if it kept him energized and tasted yummy, well then who cared?

well…you did. you disliked—no—hated his habit of just shoving whatever he could get his hands on into his mouth, not even bothering to glance at the nutritional information on the back of the packs of snacks he ate…it was insanity! as a secretary who worked at a law firm, you weren’t exactly bringing home six figures to spend on luxurious dinners and five star restaurants, but you still took your health into concern! eating nothing but clean, home cooked food—sometimes the occasional olive garden!

you guess it was time for toji to experience just that! maybe then he’d finally decide to take care of himself…

“toji!” you sighed, flipping off your work shoes as you entered your shared apartment, coat and purse in hand as you walked in. your tights allowed you to pad around the place quietly, feet floating while you made your way to your bedroom.

the door was already cracked open when you approached, the slight sliver allowing you to peek in on your boyfriend sitting in bed, munching on—you guessed it—cheap noodles in your dainty pink bowl.

another soft sigh left your lips as you opened the door, your body deflating as you watched toji’s eyes slowly pan over from the tv to your exhausted form.

“mmph—hey, baby.” he smirked, slurping the last bits of noodles before setting the bowl down onto your bedside table. at least he didn’t leave it directly on your polka dot mattress…

“hey…noodles again?” you mumbled, dropping your things onto the floor before instantly falling into his arms. a groan of relief escaped your throat at the sensation of toji’s warm, calloused hands gripping onto your sides, all sense and rationality suddenly exiting your brain.

he smiled as soon as you touched him, his finger tips gently massaging your skin through your shirt. “mmm, are you worried about me..?”

“i am.” you grumbled, voice muffled against his shoulder.

he could only let out a gruff laugh in response, deep voice sending pleasurable vibrations through your body.

“y’know i can survive—food doesn’t matter to me. it’s you i can’t live without.”

“don’t sweet talk me. i’m concerned about you. god only knows how you haven’t gotten sick from eating all this junk.” you pressed your cheek against his shoulder, adjusting the position of your head so your lips were just a whisper away from his ear. “why don’t we get some takeout today? my treat.”

“i don’t…i don’t want you doin’ that. we’re both broke as is—“

“hey!!!”

“lower your voice, woman…you’re right by my ear.” he grumbled, a smug little smirk adorning his face—one that he was glad you couldn’t see.

“just this one time please? i was gonna get takeout anyway!” you piped up, finally pulling away to stand up again. toji looked you up and down before yanking you back into him, hands squeezing your waist.

you yelped in response, your own arms flopping over his back. “toji!—“

“fine.”

you shut yourself up, breaking into a smile almost instantly. completely forgetting about how you were 3 seconds away from yelling at him.

“yay! i can get you to try some of this salad that i love from this local spot! they carmelize onions, it’s sooo yummy!”

he let out a soft chuckle beneath his breath, fingers smoothly sliding down your lower back as you rambled on.

“you’re like a puppy. yip yip yip in my ear.” he murmured, sending one sharp, sudden smack to your ass.

“toji!?!?” you groan in response, shimmying in his told to try and escape—

“go on, say my name louder.”

“you—you pervert!!”

“shh, just order the food…”

and order you did. you’d gotten two large salads, grilled chicken, chopped potatoes, guacamole and chips, and the cherry on top—2 brownies.

“don’t ya think you’ve bitten off more than you can chew..?” toji murmured, scooting closer to you on the sofa. you completely ignored him, focusing on the yumminess in-front of you. “shh..i just ordered more for you! you need it anywho…this—this is real food!” you giggled, allowing him to place one hand on your thigh while you began to unpack the food from their containers.

“mhm..whatever you wanna tell yourself, doll.”

you quickly grabbed a plastic fork, stabbing a couple pieces of salad before bringing it to your boyfriend’s mouth. “mm, say “ahhh”.

“you’re kidding.” he deadpanned.

“toji!”

“….ahhh.”

you smiled as he chomped down on the greens, watching his eyes wander skeptically. was he really thinking this hard over his rating?

“so…?”

“it’s alright…”

“c’mon!! it’s way yummier—and healthier than your noodles and chips!”

he paused for a moment, carefully squishing your thigh.

“does it make you feel better that i’m eating well..?”

“super better. like ten times better.” you beamed, already picking up some potatoes to shove into his mouth.

“then…it doesn’t taste so bad...” he replied, taking the opportunity to kiss you before you could turn back around to face him.

you almost dropped your fork—but he quickly held your wrist, simultaneously moving his mouth against your soft lips. you tasted like the coffee you had before you left for the morning and mint gum, probably chewed throughout the day… he loved the taste of you, loved the leftover essence of the things you had consumed knowing he’d be the last thing on your tongue. it brought him satisfaction, a feeling of peace.

“mmh—stop, we’re in the middle of dinner.” you whimpered, your fingers beginning to shake—desperately clutching to the plastic utensil.

“but i want dessert now.” he groaned, nipping at your lower lip. with much resistance you pull away, your lips now swollen. “and you call me the puppy.” you huff, “you’re the one more like a dirty mutt.”

“woof.” he snorted, laughing even harder when you shoved him before turning away—a feeble attempt to hide your warm and flustered face.

“eat your food…”

“just for you i will, “my highness.”

half empty containers and a few bitten into brownies later, you were convinced you were pregnant. with a food baby.

“tojiiiiiiiii, why’d you let me eat that muuuchh.” you whined, leaning against his body while he looked like he’d barely even taken a sip of water—completely fine. and definitely not bloated…it wasn’t fair! maybe it was his abs…could they be used as a protective layer from looking like a baby-baring male..?

“i told you from the beginning, sweetheart. you’re just so stubborn.” he chuckled, pulling you impossibly closer—until your head was on his chest.

“so full…” you whispered, eyes fluttering shut as you got comfortable against his warm-blooded body. always hot like your own instant heater. you thought you could peacefully lay down on him until suddenly—he placed his bare hand right against your stomach, caressing the soft, pudgy skin like you were a small animal. never in his life had he ever done that—so why’d it feel so…good? and why’d it make your heart beat so fast, and—

“my poor puppy, overstuffed yourself, hm?”

oh my god…

his palm continued to warm your skin, rubbing against you. “thing is…i’m not full yet, and i was promised dessert earlier..” he sighed, his fingers suddenly dipping lower, fidgeting with your waistband.

“toji…’m sleepy.”

“just one kiss then..?” he smirked, looking down at you as if you were a piece of meat. then and only then did you realize—you were never even going to reach the bed.

illi’s notez; yes he’s ooc, bite me >:( … also reader 100% works as higuruma’s assitant :33

🏷️: @vanillaascented @1cckedheart @nina-from-317 @kittens4kitty @daystarpoet

masterlist

[kunauma]

“my poor puppy, overstuffed yourself, hm?”

the way i turned into a feral beast over this line is insane

also when my moots are so talented : ໒꒰ྀི˶˃ᆺ˂˶꒱ྀི১

[yuucide]

why are there some writers on here proudly saying their fanfictions are ai slop

I didn’t come to read a robot’s story 😡 I wanted to read a story written by a writer who’s first language ISNT English ok

[takeatrip99]

just on my blog saying some bulllllshitttttttttttttt

[miraeofficial]

Does Idia Shroud baby-talk about his lover?

Yes.

Only in private matters. Where no one but his action figurines from numerous anime series displayed on his shelf bears witness to the most pathetic display of a man in love in the history of humankind.

Under the heavy blue comforter that covers his entire lanky figure, his feet remain exposed, and he is clutching onto his tablet with a death grip, revealing numerous photos of you he had secretly saved in a hidden folder from the past conversations and social media platforms that you were active on.

The soft, bluish glow of the screen illuminates his face, highlighting the longing in his yellow, tired eyes and the sharp set of teeth hopelessly grinning in the dimly lit room, mindlessly scrolling through the images. His bluish-flaming hair falls messily around his face, the tips of the ends painted with subtle pink streaks that required no words to indicate that this man is a lovesick fool.

Honestly, he doesn't know what possessed him to start doing it.

Just the sight of your photos, regardless of how you look, felt natural to him. Equivalent to how he expressed his cuteness aggression to feline creatures, such as cats or kittens. He just couldn't help but dotes on you in the same way.

"Look how cute they are…" Idia muttered to himself, his lips puckering up into a smoochy expression, making kissing noises at the screen. "Wanna bite their cheeks off…"

"Mwaa… mwaaa… my cute widdle babbyyy," he continued, planting soft kisses onto the hard surface of his tablet and his feet kicking behind him in sheer delight. "If only they can fit into my pockets…" he pouted, tracing the features of your photo with his finger, a wistful look in his eyes. "I would carry you around everywhereeee."

While this is a rather adorable (yet cringey) display of affection, unfortunately, some good things have to come to an end eventually.

"Big brother, what are you doing?"

Idia's eyes widened at the concerned tone in his younger brother's voice; his heart spiked with a mix of anxiety and embarrassment.

He attempted to shuffle his way out of the comforter but only made it worse by getting tangled up in it even more. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE—ACKK!" The material rolled over like a heavy burrito until Idia fell onto the bed with a loud thud, his limbs flailing as he tried to regain his balance, while his tablet smacked onto the floor with a clatter.

"Big brother!" Ortho called out worriedly, his robotic hands reaching out to peel off the comforter from Idia's flailing form. "Are you okay? You need to be more careful," he scolded gently.

When he finally managed to free Idia from the tangled mess, he was met with the most desperate look of embarrassment on his big brother's face.

"Pleasepleasepleaseeeee, do not tell [Y/N]!" Idia pleaded, his cheeks flushing a bright shade of red, and his yellow eyes darting around nervously.

Ortho tilted his head innocently. "Tell them what?" he asked, then his eyes squinted slightly with a mischievous glint. "That you're secretly baby talking Big Sibling?"

"OOORRRTTTHHOOOOO!!"

[twentymins]

tobio outgrew his high school uniform at the end of his first year. as he got taller every month, the sleeves were too short and the fit around his neck too tight, but he never really noticed.

everyone around him noticed though, especially tsukishima who never failed to snicker when he saw his whole wrists sticking out of his jacket and his stomach peeking out when he would raise his arms. you were the one to point it out to him, gently tugging at his sleeve one day during lunch break.

"you’re uniform is getting too small, kageyama."

"huh?"

the boy looks down at himself, especially at your fingers still pinching the edge of his sleeve. his cheeks reddened as a flustered frown lodged itself between his eyebrows.

"it’s not."

"it is."

tsukishima, who was watching the whole interaction from the side since the beginning, smirked in mockery at his teammate’s reaction.

"the shoulder pads are way beyond your shoulders and i can see your wrists."

"you’re not supposed to see the wrists?"

"no, you’re not."

tobio blushed even more as you tugged harder on his sleeve to get closer.

"order a new size for next month, or next week even better."

"does it look that bad?"

"no, you’re cute. and don’t let tsukishima make fun of you for it, ok?"

tsukishima, who was listening to your conversation, stopped smiling immediately as your head turned in his direction to send him a nasty glare. but kageyama couldn’t care less about tsukishima, he was blushing hard as he couldn’t stop thinking about the way you called him cute.

so when he passed through the school’s front gate with his new uniform falling right on his shoulders and long enough to cover the entirety of his arms, all happy and proud, he came to you immediately.

"did you notice? i changed my uniform."

he looked like a kid who just bought his favorite candy and wanted to share. you looked up at him and his excited grin and smiled back, before leaning up to kiss his cheek.

"nice. you’re all handsome now."

kageyama felt like he was gonna explode.

[wafflefries13]

Rivals (Multi TWST x Reader)

Summary: Night Raven College has never been lacking in drama and intrigue, especially where the magicless Prefect is concerned. And through all those adventures, she may have just stolen a heart or two... or more? Or Various mini-fics where the Twisted Wonderland cast duel it out for the Prefect's affections.

Warnings: AFAB reader, she/her pronouns, fluff, cannon typical shade, I really did not mean for Lilia to catch strays twice in this fic but here we are

Crossposted on my AO3 TheGhostInTheKitchen

Riddle vs Floyd 

Riddle knew he was distracted. This wasn’t like him at all. He’d been happy, more than happy, to help (Y/N) when she had asked him to help her study for her upcoming alchemy exam. But now, as they sat across from each other in the library, warm afternoon light casting golden rays through the book stacks, he couldn’t seem to even bother looking at his textbook. Rather, he found himself watching the girl across from him. How she would frown at a particularly confusing equation, tracing a sentence with her finger as she copied it into her notes, tapping her pencil against her lips as she silently read. Oh, Seven, he was staring at her lips too much. 

Riddle had to stop himself from flinching as (Y/N)’s eyes glanced up to him. He could already feel his face heating up as she smiled at him. Her eyes cut to behind him quickly before coming back to him. 

“Incoming, twelve O’clock,” She said. 

“Sorry?” Riddle asked, trying not to sound as flustered as he felt. Before he could even try to clear his head of the embarrassing pink hearts and sparkles that seemed to be clouding his vision whenever he looked at (Y/N), the back of Riddle’s chair was yanked back on the rear legs. He pinwheeled his arms, legs kicking out on instinct, as he grabbed anything to try and regain balance. 

“How are my two favorite guppies doing?” Floyd asked, looking at Riddle upside down with a sharp grin stretched across his impish face.                                

Riddle started turning red for an entirely different reason than before. “Floyd!” He snapped. He threw himself forward, causing the chair to slam back down on all four legs, hands slapping down on the study table. 

“Yes, Goldfish?” Floyd said. 

Riddle was completely ready to tear into Floyd for his chaos, a pretty standard routine for both of them by this point. But then he remembered who he was in the room with. His reprimand stuck in his throat. Taking a deep breath, he straightened his chair, back straight, lifting up his book. “As you can clearly see, I’m helping (Y/N) study. We don’t have time to entertain you.” 

Floyd started shaking Riddle’s chair. “Boo. What do you need to study for anyway? This is easy stuff.” 

Riddle was about to snap again when (Y/N) saved him by saying,“Don’t be mean, Floyd. It’s for me, not him. We can’t all be master mages like you two.” She chastised without any real power behind it, more like a line from a script she knew by heart to try and placate his naturally volatile personality. 

Floyd pouted, collapsing into a chair next to her and propping his chin on her shoulder. “I’m never mean to Shrimpy.” 

She made a half-hearted “MmmHmm,” sound and ruffled his hair while going back to her notes. 

Riddle felt his teeth grind together as Floyd looked at him sideways, smiling slyly. 

“Hear that, Goldfish? Shrimpy called me a master mage.” 

“I believe she directed that to the both of us. Although perhaps she’s being too kind to some parties.” 

(Y/N) lightly kicked Riddle’s foot under the table. “You don’t be mean, too, Riddle.” 

“I - I’m not - I would never -!” 

She laughed. “Don’t worry about it, I’m just teasing you. But hey, could you help explain this part to me?” She flipped her book around, tapping a section. 

Riddle gave a silent sigh of relief as he focused back on the book. But before he could properly read the section (Y/N) indicated, Floyd snatched it out of her hands, holding it high above his head. 

“Oh, I know this stuff!” He exclaimed. “I remember reading about this when we first got on land. There’s a way better book to go over it. Uhh, what was it called again?” He pretended to struggle for a moment before calling out the title, author, and exactly what section of the library it could be found in. 

“That’s perfect, thanks, Floyd!” He beamed. “Wait here, I’ll go grab it.” As she went around them, she briefly touched Riddle’s shoulder. A silent thank you for his help? An unspoken token of affection? A warning not to let Floyd get on his very last frayed nerve? Who could say. But the ghost of her hand tingled as he watched her disappear into the stacks. 

He turned back to the study table, only to be met with Floyd’s wide eyes staring directly into his, the merman’s face less than an inch from his own. Riddle let out a rather undignified yelp as he reflectively threw himself back, his chair almost toppling over for the second time that day. 

“You’re all red, Goldfishie,” Floyd said. “Not like the kind of red when you’re playing with me or yelling at those guppies in your dorm. It’s different.” 

Riddle brought a hand up to his cheek, feeling the heat radiating from his blush. He  cleared his throat. “Yes, well, it is rather warm in here.” 

“No,” Floyd said, drawing out the O. “I don’t think that’s it. I think you’re all red because of (Y/N).” 

It took Riddle a moment to connect that Floyd had used (Y/N)’s real name instead of his nickname for her. He blinked a few times, saying, “So you can be civil and use someone’s proper name, then.” 

Floyd shrugged. “(Y/N) is (Y/N), like how Jade is Jade and Azul is Azul. It’s different from Goldfishie. But you get it, right? You feel the same way about her, too.”  Riddle stared at him, mouth moving but no sound coming out as he tried to process Floyd’s accusation. Although, could you really call it an accusation if it was true? In response, Floyd just laughed, leaning back and clapping his hands together. “I was right, right? I knew it! You’ve got a crush on (Y/N)~.” He sang the last part teasingly. He sighed, crossing his arms on the study table and laying his head down on them. “Too bad, though, cause I like her too.” 

Finding his voice again, Riddle narrowed his eyes. “And what gives you the impression she feels the same about you?” 

“Why do you think she feels the same about you?” Floyd threw back nonchalantly. “She’s real pretty, and nice, and brave, and smart, and doesn't swim away like the other guppies around me. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. What’s that land term? She makes me have beetles in my stomach, or something.” He sighed happily. “It’s like how Pop talks about Mama.” Breaking out of his romantic stupor, he snapped back to Riddle. “How about a game, Goldfish? We don’t tell (Y/N). It wouldn’t be fair to try and influence her decision by making her feel guilty and confess too early. You got to work for what you want, right? We’ll let her decide. The deadline can be a week before summer break. How about it?” He held out his hand to Riddle, looking at him expectantly. 

Riddle felt like he was staring down the devil at the crossroads. He felt insulted by the insinuation that he treated (Y/N)’s feelings as a game. But then, maybe that was just Floyd’s unique vocabulary. Although this situation felt less like a game and more like a declaration of war. 

And if that’s how it was going to be, fine. He was Riddle Rosehearts, after all. Heartslabyul House Warden during his first year, top of his class, master mage with a unique spell that could send Floyd on his backside in three seconds flat. 

If this was war, then so be it. 

He clasped Floyd’s hand tightly, glaring at him as the taller boy grinned in victory. 

“Aww, look at you guys getting along.” They jumped apart as (Y/N) reappeared behind them, holding the alchemy book. 

Floyd hooked an arm around Riddle’s neck, bringing him in close. “Oh, yeah, Goldfish and I were just talking about a cool new game! I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. There’s a really great prize at the end. But it’s a secret.” 

“Well, good luck. If it’s between the two of you I’m sure it’s going to be a battle for the ages.” 

She had no idea. 

Let the games begin.        

Malleus vs Leona

“Leona,” (Y/N) said. She tapped his back a few times. “Leona, I have to get up.” 

“Mmph,” He grunted, tail flicking at her hand like it was a bothersome fly. 

“Leona, my leg’s asleep.” 

“So am I.” 

“You just talked to me.” 

“I’m sleep talking.” 

She laughed and Leona smiled. He could listen to that sound all day. 

They were in the conservatory, stashed away in one of the many groves of trees, one of Leona’s favorite places to hide away and nap. What had started as (Y/N) bringing him lunch in an effort to give a sick Ruggie a break had ended with Leona pulling her down and using her lap as a pillow. 

“Seriously, though,” She said. “I’m already late. I was supposed to meet up with-” 

She was abruptly cut off as she was unexpectedly pulled out from under him, his head smacking to the ground. Grumeling, Leona looked up, only for his annoyance to increase ten fold. 

Malleus stood over him, blocking out the sun, holding a surprised looking (Y/N) behind her back and under her knees, like some noble prince and princess in one of those old sappy stories his mother used to tell him. 

“Kingscholar,” Malleus said dryly. 

“Lizard,” Leona responded in kind. 

“Hi, Hornton,” (Y/N) said, either ignoring or trying to dissolve the tension rapidly building between them.  “Sorry, were you waiting for me long? I guess I lost track of time hanging out with Leona.” 

“Yeah,” Leona said, pushing himself to stand. “We were having a grand old time before you interrupted.” 

Malleus narrowed his eyes. “I’m sure. However, the child of man and I have an appointment this afternoon. If you’ll excuse us.” Still holding (Y/N), he spun around and began marching out of the conservatory. 

With a growl, Leona pushed himself up and stalked behind them. 

“What’s the rush?” He said. “Afraid (Y/N) has better things to do than stare at some old stone statues all day?” 

(Y/N) put up her hands. “Oh, no, I-” 

“(Y/N) had wanted to learn some of the modern fae language,” Malleus said. “After the events of the fairy gala, and considering the pixie population here at school. And who better than I to tutor her?”

Bell-like chimes immediately emanate from Leona’s mouth, causing Malleus and (Y/N) to both freeze. Leona smirked at Malleus, who had been able to clearly understand what the beastman said while (Y/N) simply looked on in admiration. 

“I know six languages,” Leona said, casually flipping his mane back. 

Malleus smirked. “I speak nine.” 

“I know a couple phrases in French!” (Y/N) said. “So I can tell what Rook is saying, like, a quarter of the time? That’s really impressive, though!” 

“Thank you,” “Of course,” Malleus and Leona both said at the same time. 

As the two continued their stare-down, (Y/N) wriggled down from Malleus’s hold. “So, yeah, the fairy gala! You really missed out, Hornton. I know there was a reason you couldn’t come with us, but it was beautiful! And the guys looked great on the runway! Leave it to Professor Crewel to pull off a whole capsule collection in less than a day.” 

Leona smirked. “You thought I looked cool, huh? Well, maybe it wasn’t an entire waste of time, then.” He frowned and added under his breath, “But I swear I can still hear Vil nagging me in my sleep.” 

“Perhaps, then,” Malleus said, taking her elbow and pulling her closer. “You should allow me to escort you to a ball in the Briar Valley. There is an upcoming masquerade celebration for a meteor shower. We dance through the night, there are strolling performers, the royal chefs prepare the most amazing feast. I’m sure you would look beautiful in Briar Valley attire.” 

Leona took her other arm, pulling her back to him. “Festivals in the Sunset Savannah are way more exciting than whatever stuffy charade they get up to. You liked visiting Sunrise City last time for the Bead Brawl, right? We can stop by the hot springs again, just the two of us.” 

“Really, Kingscholar, do you have no sense of decorum?” Malleus pulled her to him again. 

Leona tightened his grip as he tugged her back. “You’re the one who interrupted in the first place.” 

“Um, guys?” (Y/N) asked. The two princes continued as if they hadn’t heard her at all. (Y/N) sighed. “I wonder if Riddle has a foreign language study guide?” She said to herself. 

Both of them snapped to her, exclaiming at the same time, “No!” 

Ace vs Jamil

Floyd was suspicious. Crabby and Sea Snake had been acting weird during basketball practice. They started out fine, Sea Snake being snippy and rolling his eyes at everything, Crabby talking a big game and only half way delivering. 

But things had changed about half way through when Shrimpy had come into the gym. She has tried to sneak in, slipping into the bleachers with a book. But Crabby had laser-focused his attention on her almost immediately, missing a cue from another player and getting slammed in the face with the basketball. Floyd cackled and he caught Sea Snake trying to hide his smirk behind his hand. But the Scarabia boy quickly frowned when Shrimpy came rushing over to Crabby, fusing over him like a, what was the land term for it? A mother duck, or something like that. 

“I’m seeing spots,” Ace lamented. “I think my nose might be broken.” He held Shrimpy’s hand as she fussed over him. 

“Do you want to sit down?” (Y/N) asked. “I can get some ice for you.” 

“Oh, he’s fine,” Jamil said, tucking the basketball under his arm. “Not like he has many brain cells left to damage anyway.” 

“Hey!” 

“Maybe if you stayed on your toes more like me you won’t have this problem.” He took Shrimpy’s other hand, turning her focus to him. “Honestly, (Y/N), I don’t know how you put up with it. You can always come to me if-” 

“She can come to her best friend if she needs anything, thank you very much.” 

“Yes, her friend. Thank you for pointing that out.” 

Coach Lobster blew his whistle, calling everyone back into formation. Sea Snake and Crabby took their places across from each other, glaring. Floyd started bouncing on his toes in anticipation at the change of energy. Lobster tossed the ball up to start play, and Sea Snake jumped, smacking it away from Crabby’s hands. The two weaved and dodged around each other, almost completely ignoring the other players. Floyd found the whole thing hilarious, thinking the two were like fighting beta fish, competing to impress their potential mate. 

Finally, Crabby was able to get control of the ball, ducking and spinning under Sea Snake’s outstretched arms. In just a few short dribbles, he made it to the three-point line. Smirking, he looked over his shoulder at Shrimpy still watching from the bleachers. 

“This one’s for you, (Y/N)!” He called confidently. He lined up the shot, hopped as he threw the ball, and watched dejectedly as it fell a foot short of the basket. 

Sea Snake swooped in, easily catching the bouncing ball, side eyeing Crabby with a confident tilt of his head. “I’ll show you how it’s done, (Y/N).” He set up for his own shot, flinching at the last second as Crabby tried to knock the ball from his hands. The ball hit the rim, clanging and falling out of bounds. 

Sea Snake glowered. “I had that shot, Ace.” 

Crabby shrugged, pretending to be non-chalant while also returning Sea Snake’s dirty look. “Just trying to keep you on your toes, Jamil. We got to practice to be ready for anything, right?” Crabby said, throwing his words back at him. 

They both turned from anger to embarrassment as Shrimpy called out, “Don’t worry, guys! You’ll get it next time!” 

Floyd snatched the ball out of the hands of one of his teammates. “Hey, Shrimpy!” Floyd called out. “This one’s for you!” He easily made the shot from the half-court line. Shrimpy whistled and clapped. Floyd grinned wider as the two bessotted boys glared daggers at him. 

At least this would make the rest of practice more interesting. 

Deuce vs Azul 

“Look out!” Deuce jumped back just in time to miss (Y/N) as she sped past on roller skates. She wobbled to regain balance, two trays held high with precariously perched drinks threatening to fall. Deuce lurched forward, pressing underneath the trays to help settle them, ignoring the heat in his palms as they pressed against the back of (Y/N)’s hands. 

Regaining composure, (Y/N) sighed, smiling at him. “Thanks! Still not used to carrying stuff while skating. It’s making it a lot faster to meet orders, though!” She gave him a wink that did something funny to his heart before twirling away, threading through the tables of the Monstro Lounge. 

It wasn’t uncommon for (Y/N) to pick up shifts for the Octavinelle side business. With her available funds always in a perilous position, depending if Crowley decided to remember her existence that week, it never hurt to find employment from a more reliable supervisor. 

Or, as Deuce thought glumly, as reliable as you could call Azul. Deuce still didn’t trust the landlocked merman as far as he could throw him, or anyone else in this dorm. There was pretty much only one reason he’d come here, and that was to check up on (Y/N). Especially since she’d gotten that new uniform specifically when she worked at the Monstro Lounge. The skirt fluttered and swayed with each glide on her skates, the puffy cap sleeves giving the whole thing a maid-like appearance, the soft lavender of the vest complimenting her complexion perfectly. 

And it wasn’t like (Y/N) needed anyone to check up on her! Sure she got into trouble sometimes, they all did, but Deuce knew well enough that she was perfectly able to take care of herself. Still, he pushed back against the protective instinct to jump up and punch the next guy who happened to look at (Y/N) in a way he didn’t like.  

Deep breathes, Deuce, He thought to himself. Keep your composure. 

“Well, welcome to the Monstro Lounge!” A familiar voice chimed. “It’s so rare to see you back here after all that unpleasantness earlier in the year.” 

Deuce felt his back molars grind together as he looked at Azul. The other boy smiled in a way that Deuce was sure was meant to be welcoming, but he couldn't help but read it as slimy. Azul threw his arm around Deuce’s shoulders. 

“You mean when you tricked me and a bunch of other people into becoming unpaid labor? Or after, when you stole a bunch of people’s magic and almost killed us?” Deuce said. 

Azul waved the comment away. “Semantics. Anyway, that’s all in the past now, right?” 

Deuce plucked Azul’s hand off. “Sure. Semantics. Look, I’m just here to walk (Y/N) back to her dorm after her shift.” 

“Oh, of course, of course. You know, it’s been great having her here. Seeing her every day, for hours on end, in such close quarters. We’ve become quite close, I’m happy to say.” There was a gleam in his eye as he purposefully goaded the underclassman. 

“Oh, yeah,” Deuce said. “We sit together in class every day. And study together all the time. And hang out at Ramshackle. I’d even say we’re best friends. And you’re just her part-time boss, right?” 

Azul wasn't a fool, and he wasn’t nearly as oblivious as he considered Deuce. While it might have taken a hot second for him to acknowledge his own feelings for (Y/N), and maybe a night of agonizing self denial as he tried to fight off the warm-fuzzies that came whenever he merely thought about the girl, he’d come to the conclusion that by the end of the year, he’d have (Y/N) return his affections, no contract required. Of course, that meant taking out the competition. And, as much as he would loath to admit it, (Y/N) was extremely close to her fellow first years, the spade card soldier unfortunately included. 

While it might have taken Deuce a little longer to exactly name the emotions that stirred in his chest the longer he knew (Y/N), he wasn’t as clueless as Azul thought he was. If you’d asked him before, back when he was a delinquent, he probably would have brushed off any mention of a crush or the blush of first love as nothing but chick-flick claptrap. But now, actually experiencing it for himself, he more than understood why romance novels were so popular. 

They both watched as (Y/N) zipped by. She caught them looking and waved a hand in greeting. Both boys smiled and waved back, imagining her smile was only ever meant for them. 

“You know,” Azul said. “I think Octavinelle purple looks good on her. Much better than, say, Heartslabyul red.” 

Deuce could swear he felt a vein pop. “I think you’d look better in-” 

“Hi, guys!” (Y/N)  said, interrupting at just the perfect moment. The tension eased out of Deuce’s shoulders like butter on a hot pan. “Got you guys something. On me!” 

In front of Deuce, she slid a tall glass of fizzing blueberry soda, swimming with bursting boba pearls and topped with condensed milk slowly diffusing into the drink. “I had them mix it with a shot of protein powder. You’re getting ready for that track meet, right? You’re going to be awesome.” 

For Azul, she set a delicate bone china tea cup, decorated with purple peonies against a light blue background. The aroma of green tea, swirled with a light pink strawberry syrup floated up between them. Tiny crushed freeze dried strawberries bobbed in the steaming tea. “Got to take it easy, boss. This should help your throat feel better. You said it was feeling sore this morning, right?” 

Azul smiled gratefully and took the tea cup. “Thank you, (Y/N). What would we do without you?” 

(Y/N) shrugged. “Anything for my two favorite guys. Got another order here. See you!” 

Deuce and Azul smiled and waved, only long enough for (Y/N) to be properly out of eye sight.   They sipped their drinks as menacingly as possible, glaring at each other in an unspoken challenge. 

On the other side of the Monstro Lounge, Jade was setting up a betting pool. 

Idia vs Vil

It was inevitable at some point, Idia knew, that he’d have to leave his dorm room eventually. That didn’t make his trek across the snow laden campus any better, though. Normally, when he had a special order come in, Ortho would be able to grab it from the mail room for him. But this time it had been delivered to the school store by mistake, and his little brother was deep asleep in his charging chamber with an in-depth diagnostic program running. Of course, Idia could have waited for Ortho to wake up, but every second he went without the new exclusive Premo memrobelia while knowing it was so close already was torture. So, he chose a different kind of torture, slinging on his heavy coat and ventruing out to retrieve the package himself. 

It was still snowing lightly as he stepped into Sam’s Mystery Shop, the flakes evaporating inches from his hair. He started to stomp the snow from his boots, but thought better of it quickly, not wanting to drag attention to himself with the noise. There was some sort of satisfying revenge in the thought of tracking melted snow through the store for forcing him to come out here, even if it wasn’t their fault his mail had been misplaced. 

He tapped his fingers rapidly at the checkout counter as Sam slipped into the back store room to find his package. Just as he was finally starting to calm down from the overwhelming irritation of being perceived, his heart jumpstarted back to a thunderous beat when he heard a familiar voice call out, “Idia!” 

Swallowing hard, he turned around, seeing (Y/N) waving at him from a display of winter clothes. He waved back, expecting her to turn back to what she was doing, but his mouth went dry and his heart dropped into his stomach as she came over to him. His thoughts rushed as he tried to remember if he’d showered that morning, if he’d used mouthwash, was he wearing his good coat, should he smile now or would that look creepy with his sharp teeth, was he - 

His mind went from overload to bluescreen as (Y/N) pulled out a deep blue and lavender striped scarf from the box she was carrying and wrapped it around his neck. “Here, this one’s on me. Sam’s letting me sell some stuff I knitted to get some extra cash. You’re dripping snow everywhere, you know? Are you cold?” Idia regretted his ‘revenge’ now. 

“A-ah, no, I’m fine,” He stuttered out. He tried to quickly recall every dating sim he’d ever played in a desperate attempt to figure out how to talk to a pretty girl IRL. 

“There’s not much point in setting up a stand to sell if you keep giving things away,” Another voice chimed in from behind them. Vil stepped up, hands on his hips with that familiar calculating and slightly disapproving look, although his eyes softened and he smiled that perfect, practiced, magazine-ready soft smile as (Y/N) looked back up at him. Idia couldn’t help but notice Vil had a similar scarf and a pair of mittens personalized with a VS clasped in one hand. 

Was that the kind of guy she liked? High maintenance, pompous, proud, tall? He was tall. When he stood up straight, anyway, which he didn’t like to do since it brought even more attention to him than his bright blue fiery hair did. Ugh, this was exactly why he preferred to talk through a screen. Although, even Idia had to admit there was something special about being able to stand directly next to (Y/N). 

Vil, likewise, couldn’t help but wonder if Idia represented the kind of personality (Y/N) found attractive as he observed the other boy tug at the scarf she has so fondly wrapped around his neck. A silent genius, yes, but also a shut-in, a rambler, barely enough confidence to fill a tea cup until some invisible switch flipped and suddenly he would go on and on about how amazing he was. Honestly, the only real competition Vil saw in Idia were his amazing cheekbones.  

“Vil’s helping me set everything up,” (Y/N) said, unaware of the silent sizing-up the two others were doing. “It’s great to have someone who knows what they’re doing.” 

Vil tossed his hair like he was in a shampoo commercial. Idia rolled his eyes. “Well, I only promote products I believe in.” 

“Still, it was nice of you to post about it on MagiCam. I never thought my hobby would get 5,000 reposts in ten minutes.” 

“It was the least I could do,” Vil said, not-so-subtly flaunting the monogrammed mittens. “Your skills continue to astound me. Perhaps you should come to Pomfiore this evening for dinner and I can-”  

“I’ll take it all!” Idia blurted out. He slapped down a heavy black metal credit card on the cashier table. Sam seemed to materialize right out of the shadows, smiling brightly and swiping the card before anyone could get another word in. 

“Whoa, Idia!” (Y/N) said. “That’s way too much!” 

“Naw, don’t worry about it,” He said, shoving his hands deep in his pockets. “Ignihyde gets super cold anyway since we need strong AC to keep the computers cool. So you’re doing me a favor.” He pulled the scarf up to cover the bottom half of his face, hoping it would hide the blush quickly forming on his pale face, to say nothing of how the edges of his hair were sparking pink. “Plus, it’s like a SSR rank pull since you made it.” 

“(Y/N), spudling,” Vil said, putting a hand on (Y/N)’s shoulder to gently direct her attention back to him. “Since you’re out of stock, I’d love to put in a few more orders for personalized items. I have several contacts back in Maquillaville who would be thrilled to receive something so high quality. And, if you’d like to come with me during winter break, I’m sure having an in person model with the designer herself would do numbers. I’m sure Sam here could put in an order for more yarn. Alpaca, cashmere, velvet chenille, and the like. No, don’t worry about the cost, I’m more than happy to pay for it. It's important to support small businesses, after all. Wouldn’t you agree, Idia?” 

"Doesn't the Shaftlands get, like, six feet of snow during even a mild winter? The Isle of Heroes is way nicer to spend winter break.  You-You know, if you wanted to come over to my place during break instead.” 

“Oh, yes,” Vil said sarcastically. “I’m sure (Y/N) would love to spend her free time miles under water in a sterile facility where we nearly escaped with our lives. That sounds like a dream.” 

“Um, actually,” (Y/N) said, feeling like she was interrupting something. “Kalim already invited me and Grim to his place. Trying to make up for last winter break, I think. But thank you for thinking of me!” 

As Sam bagged up Idia’s new knitwear and discussed with (Y/N) about how much yarn she needed, added to Vil’s tab, of course, the two third years exchanged looks. Maybe they could call a temporary truce for the time being in light of a common enemy. 

Sebek vs Jade

“I think I caught something!” (Y/N) cheered. She yanked back on her fishing pole, heels digging into the soft sand of the bank of the river. 

She and Sebek stood in the dappled light in the forest around NRC campus. They had taken the easy trek out to a clear river that ran across Sage’s Island, just in time to catch the salmon migration as they went from freshwater to salt. Sebek had asked her to accompany him that morning, with an attempt at nonchalance while also blushing furiously and not being able to meet her eyes. Grim had declared that, even if it wasn’t tuna, fresh fish was still fresh fish and eagerly pushed his hench-human out with the knight. Although she had laughed afterward and said that she would have loved to accompany him, even if she didn’t have an extra mouth to feed. 

Sebek looked casually over at her exuberant flailing, his own posture as straight as his own fishing pole. “You’ve caught a rock.” 

“What? No, I-” With a yelp, (Y/N) suddenly fell back as her fishing hook dislodged from the riverbed rocks it had been snagged on. Sebek dropped his pole and lunged with his arms out to catch her, only to be beaten to the punch by a figure that stepped out of the trees. 

“Careful now,” Jade said, (Y/N) cradled rather fondly in his arms. “This isn’t exactly the way I pictured you falling for me, but I suppose it will do.” 

(Y/N) felt heat rise to her face immediately. Before she could formulate a response, her mouth opening and closing uselessly, Sebek grabbed her hands and jerked her back upright. 

“Thank you,” Sebek said, not sounding at all grateful. “Now if you’ll excuse us.” 

“Oh, not at all,” Jade said. Purposefully ignoring Sebek, he stepped behind (Y/N), looking over her shoulder at their collected equipment. “I didn’t expect to run into anyone during my hike today. It’s quite a lovely surprise. What brings you out, (Y/N)?” 

“It’s the salmon run,” (Y/N) said, picking her pole back up and trying to fix the line. “I’ve never been fishing before, but Sebek’s helping a lot.” 

“I see,” Jade said, glancing sideways at Sebek. “My, Sebek, I wouldn’t have taken you for one to lure our dear Prefect out alone in the middle of the woods. And not a chaperone in sight! What would your prince say?” 

Sebek spluttered at the accusation. “How dare you! As a knight of Briar Valley, (Y/N) is more than safe with me! Much more so than with someone already proven to be a swindler and confidence man!” 

“Oh, how you wound me, Sebek.” 

“Wait, I’ve really got one this time!” (Y/N) interrupted. A brightly colored red salmon jumped out of the water, the end of (Y/N)’s finishing line caught in its mouth. 

“Start reeling it in!” Sebek commanded. “Keep your rod up and pull it towards you.” 

“You want to give it side pressure,” Jade said. “Move your rod to the other side of how its swimming.” 

“That will just make the line slack! You’re going to lose it!” 

“Keeping the rod that straight will snap it.” 

“I’ve been fishing since I was a child training with Master Lilia, I know what I’m doing!” 

“Ah, that would explain the outdated methods, then.” 

Amidst their arguing, neither of them noticed (Y/N) take a step forward to try and steady herself against the surprisingly strong fish. Her foot landed just the wrong way on an algy-covered stone, her leg buckling under her, sending her cascading into the river and the fish zipping away to freedom. 

(Y/N) spluttered, wiping a hand down her face to get rid of the dripping water. She supposed she was lucky enough to have fallen into a shallow portion of the river, even if she was still soaked through. She pushed against the slippery rocks, turning herself around only to slip again, landing on her back. 

Huffing in finality, she laughed at herself. “Can I get a little help here?” 

“Honestly, human,” Sebek said, voice crossed with frustration and affection. “What would you do without me?” 

“My, so presumptuous,” Jade said. “Here, (Y/N), let me help you, free of charge.” 

(Y/N) looked up. The sun created halos around their forms, both extending a hand down to her. She gulped, hand hesitating in the air. Finally, she took both their hands in each of hers, hauling herself up out of the water. She tried not to notice their disappointed expressions as she wrung out her shirt. “Thanks, guys! Maybe I’m not built for the great outdoors.” 

“Nonsenes!” Sebek said. “You’re progressing quite well for a human.” (Y/N) winked at him. “Oh, just for a human?” 

Sebek blushed, clearing his throat and turning away. “Y-Yes, well, all things considered, I suppose you have become quite… formidable, given recent events around school. Even with your unfortunate disposition, I can see why Prince Malleus has grown fond of you.” 

“Just Hornton, huh?” 

“I told you to stop calling him that-!” 

Jade dropped to his knees, one hand coming up to hold (Y/N)’s knee and the other cradling the back of her thigh, just underneath the hem of her shorts. She let out a tiny gasp of surprise and Jade had to bite his lip to keep himself from smiling too obviously. 

Sebek, however, had no compunctions about hiding his emotion.  Fangs bared, he marched over, ready to snatch Jade by his collar and throw him into the river, or, more preferably, all the way back to campus. “What do you think you’re doing?! Such crude behavior is completely inappropriate in front of a lady!” 

“Just a moment,” Jade said, unbothered. He ran his hand up the back of (Y/N)’s leg, taking note of the goosebumps that followed. With a deft twist of his wrist, he dislodged a black, blobby leech from her skin, holding the wiggling thing up for them to see. “Please excuse me, (Y/N). I thought it best to remedy the situation as quickly as possible.” He flicked the leech back into the river. 

“A leech,” Sebek muttered. “How appropriate.” 

Jade grinned. “A distant cousin, perhaps?” 

“I was referring more to the blood sucking.” 

“Hey!” (Y/N) said, trying to lighten the mood. “I might not have caught anything, but you got a couple of big ones, Sebek! How about we light up a campfire and start cooking these?” 

Sebek puffed up his chest in pride. “Of course! For a trained knight to the Draconia throne, this sort of thing is nothing!”  He dropped to a pre-cleared area and started arranging various logs, sticks, and other kindling they had collected earlier into a short pyramid shape. 

“Ah,” Jade said. “So you’re choosing to make that type of fire.” 

“And? This is a perfectly standard way to cook in the wilderness!" 

“I’m sure. But, as the founding member of the mountain lover’s club, I’ve been out in nature my fair share as well. I think you’ll agree this configuration is much more efficient.” 

(Y/N) sighed inwardly. It was going to be a long day.  

Ruggie vs Kalim 

Kalim wasn’t used to this feeling. He wasn’t used to wanting anything, at least not something he couldn’t easily have. He wasn’t used to craving what someone else had. He’d always been the kind of kid to share his toys, give freely to whoever asked, with no thought of repayment.Yet anything he could ever want or dream of was always at his fingertips. The entire concept of envy was inexplicable to him. 

But now, standing in the small garden tucked behind Ramshackle dorm, watching (Y/N) and Ruggie laugh together as they pulled weeds, there was a strange twist deep in his gut. Was this what jealousy was? 

Trying his best to push the gnawing feeling away, he plastered on a bright smile, waving his arm above his head as he walked over to the two. He purposefully ignored the way Ruggie’s eyes narrowed and ears went back, instead focusing on (Y/N) looking up at him with the sweetest smile he had ever seen and a glitter in her eyes that made his heart flip. He was enraptured by the sound of her voice as she detailed all the work that had gone into the little backyard garden and how proud she was of its crop. She couldn’t have done it all without Ruggie’s help, she said, bringing back that twitching, strange feeling in Kalim’s chest. 

Was it so bad that he wanted her to rely on him like that? To have her first instinct be to come to him for any problem, no matter how small? To speak about him as if he was the air she breathed, like he spoke about her? 

He swooped down and lifted up a basket of zucchini, taking her hand to pull her up with him. He talked about throwing a party in her honor. She was amazing, didn’t she know that, for working so hard to make something so amazing? He felt like he was flying on a magic carpet as she laughed and thwacked his chest with the back of her hand. 

Kalim wasn’t used to the feeling of want. But he was more than ready to do whatever it took so that ‘want’ would become ‘have.’ 

Ruggie was used to this feeling. This feeling of wanting, of coveting, of hunger. He was also used to the feeling of perseverance. Of fighting for what he wanted. Of digging his teeth in and not letting go. He knew the weight of his own determination, the ache of hard work, the bloom of succeeding after long hard exertion. 

What was new to him was that hollow feeling being filled by nothing more than a few kind words and a sincere smile from a certain magicless girl. A girl who had stumbled into his life out of nowhere, turning everything upside down and chaotic but quickly becoming someone he couldn’t picture the rest of his life without. 

He watched Kalim hoist a basket of zucchinis over his head, smiling brightly as a few leftover yellow flowers fell from the vines. Ruggie sunk his teeth into a tomato, relishing the way the juices dripped down his chin, but his eyes never wavering from the other boy. 

Was he worried? No, not really. Sure, there was some apprehension watching how Kalim’s hand touched (Y/N)’s back as she leaned down to look at something he was showing her. But he wasn’t worried, not really. 

Ruggie had known plenty of boys like Kalim, whether from interacting with them at NRC or his grueling days back home in the slums of the Sunset Savanna. Boys like that were easy to figure out, all overstuffed with their own confidence that came with being born with a silver spoon in their mouth. They were used to things being easy. 

Ruggie jumped up, easily sliding himself between Kalim and (Y/N), pretending he had interrupted to show her a caterpillar slowly gnawing on a large leaf. He relished the way she gasped in delight and gently stroked the caterpillar’s back. Every smile, every sincere compliment, every laugh she gave him, the warmth of their hands brushing as they had worked in the garden, felt like refreshing rain rushing through a dry riverbed. 

Ruggie’s eyes cut up every so briefly to Kalim’s face, catching his small frown at the interruption. He had to bite his lip to keep from grinning. 

Ruggie had always been a fighter, and he wasn’t about to give up on his love so easily. 

Bonus: Malleus vs Ace 

It took Ace a minute to realize his eyes were open. It wasn’t until moonlight started to peak behind the clouds and pour in through the large windows of the Ramshackle living room that he realized what had woken him up. Rubbing sleep out of his eyes, he pushed himself up off the couch he was splayed over. He wasn’t sure when he had fallen asleep. He’d originally come over after getting hit with his House Warden’s signature spell again and wanted a quiet place to stew. But his bad mood had quickly devolved into a night of eating way too many snacks, jokes, and video games with his favorite Prefect. 

The floorboards creaked as he heard movement from above, padding down the stairs, and passing by the living room to the front entrance. He saw (Y/N)’s familiar silhouette pass by the door. 

“He-Hey!” Ace called out, voice still a little groggy from sleep. Tripping over himself, he rushed to the entrance hall. Why would (Y/N) be up so late? Was she running from something upstairs? Did something weird happen with the ghosts? Was she okay? Was there something-

Ace froze as he whirled around the corner, staring at the front door. The tall, dark, looming figure of none other than Malleus Draconia blinked back at him in surprise as (Y/N) hopped on one leg to pull her shoes on. 

“Oh, Ace!” She said. “Sorry, did I wake you up?” 

“Uh,” Ace said, now all too aware of the dried drool on his chin. “What’s up?” “Hornton and I were going on a walk,” She said, like it was the most casual thing in the world. 

“In the middle of the night?” 

“It has become routine,” Mallues said. “There’s something beautiful about exploring the grounds at night. It’s much more… intimate.” He seemed to smirk at the way Ace’s eyes narrowed at him as he said that. “Althought I didn’t expect you to have company.” 

“Oh, yeah,” (Y/N) said, pulling on her coat. “The guys crash here all the time. At least it gives me an excuse to clean up some of the other rooms here. Ready to go?” 

“I’ll come!” Ace quickly interjected. He tried to downplay his insistence by saying, “I mean, I’m awake already, so might as well, right?” 

“Oh, yeah, sure! Is that okay with you, Hornton?” 

Malleus pressed his lips into a thin line, looking down at the red head who stared back up. In any other circumstance, Malleus might have felt impressed at the younger boy’s insistence at not backing down. He smiled softly, taking (Y/N)’s hand and patting the back of it, taking pleasure in the way Ace stiffened. “Of course, my dear child of man. Whatever would please you.” 

“Great!” She said, squeezing his hand once. She stepped around him, opening the door for the two boys. “Don’t forget your coat, Ace.” 

As (Y/N) admired the fireflies that gathered on the Ramshackle lawn, Malleus and Ace stopped on the front steps. There was a moment when they both admired her, a carefree moment in a normally tumultuous environment. And then they remembered they were standing together, and not alone with the object of their affection, and the mood quickly soured. 

“I wasn’t aware you frequented Ramshackle Dorm,” Malleus said. 

“Oh, yeah,” Ace said, casually. “I’m here, like, all the time. (Y/N) and I are practically besties, you know? Like that.” He held up his pointer and middle finger crossed together. 

Malleus narrowed his eyes at his underclassman. “I see. Then, of course, you know all about the ball we had at Noble Bell College during the student social last year, yes? Why, I remember catching her in my arms as we fell through the floor when the fire lotuses bloomed. And then we danced the night away, hand in hand.” 

Ace tripped going down the front steps. He hadn’t known that particular saccharine detail, but there was no way he was about to admit that. 

“Y-yeah, well, then, she probably told you all about when we were in Playful Land, right? We went down a rollercoaster and she totally grabbed on to me real tight.  I mean, it was great and everything, for a while, anyway. Bet I looked super cool swooping in to save the day at the end.” 

“Intersting. Lilia told me you were quickly trounced by the fox’s unique magic and only managed to be spared by sheer coincidence and good luck.” 

Ace grimaced. “Yeah, well, he was stuck in a cage turning into a puppet the whole time, and he’s like a million years old, so maybe he doesn't remember right.” 

Malleus narrowed his eyes. “Perhaps you don’t remember who you’re speaking to.” 

Ace could already tell that whatever he was going to say next would be a bad idea, but by the Seven, he was going to say it anyway. He was saved by (Y/N) coming back up the steps. She stood between them, hooking her arms through each of theirs. 

“Come on!” She said. “The night’s not getting any younger. I’m glad you're both here. There’s nothing better than hanging out with my two favorite guys. Don’t tell Grim I said that.” 

“Your secret is safe with me,” Malleus said with a soft smile. 

Ace casually bumped her with his shoulder. “But I’m your most favorite guy, right?” (Y/N) laughed and shoved him back. 

“Hey, so,” She began, tone more serious and quiet now as the trio meandered through the silent streets of Night  Raven College. “I mean it, really. I don’t know how I would have survived this long if it hadn’t been for you guys. Not just the Overblots, I mean. But, like, everything. Things have been pretty hard from the word ‘Go,’ but knowing you both are here to help me… It just means a lot, is what I’m trying to say. I don’t know how I can ever really repay you.” She blinked hard, eyes suddenly misty. 

Both boys paused, their competition temporarily forgotten. Malleus stepped in front of them, taking both of her hands in his and leaning down so they were eye level. “My Dearest (Y/N),” He began. “I believe I speak for both of us when I say your happiness is of the utmost importance. No sacrifice is too great if it leads to your bliss.” 

“Yeah!” Ace jumped in. “You know, not to get sappy or anything. But with everything going on here, you know you can count on us for anything. We’ve got your back, no matter what.” Ace looked past (Y/N) at Malleus. “You know what I mean, right?” 

Malleus definitely knew what Ace meant. 

Bonus bonus: Ace and Deuce vs Jade and Floyd 

“Well,” (Y/N) said, dusting off the stubborn sand that still clung to her clothes. “All's well that ends well, right?” 

“Is that what we’re calling it?” Azul grumbled. 

The five of them, (Y/N), Grim, Azul, Jade, and Floyd, looked over at Jamil and Kalim. The taller boy was sitting cross-legged amongst the many piled high pillows and low couches in the Scarabia dorm common room. He was still clearly exhausted from his Overblot, but nonetheless he kept trying to stand and move around. Kalim would, not unkindly, push him back down, darting everywhere like an anxious bird to pick up various snacks, blankets, and tea to present to Jamil. Grim had already descended on the spread and was devouring a plate of baklava. Rushing over with a plate of petit fours, Kalim’s foot caught on the edge of an elaborate area rug, causing him to trip. He fell flat on his face, but popped back up with a smile, having saved the tiny cakes from damage. Jamil sighed, shoulders slouching, his face collapsing in his hand. 

“Well enough,” (Y/N) decided with a smile. “Seriously, I can’t thank you guys enough. You’re lifesavers, literally.” 

Floyd threw his arm around his brother’s and (Y/N)’s shoulders, bringing the three of them in a tight hug. “So, Shrimpy owes us one, huh? That’s fun. Got any ideas, Jade?” 

“Oh, I’m sure we could come up with a way you can repay us,” Jade said with a sly smile. 

Azul rolled his eyes at his friend's antics, heading over to schmooze with Jamil. 

(Y/N) felt her face heat up at the close proximity to the two boys, not to mention that particular look in their eyes that seemed a cross between playful affection and a predator that had just spotted its next meal. 

She laughed nervously. “Well, yeah, sure. Or maybe we can call it even from that time you kicked me out of my house.” 

“Aww, you know we didn’t mean anything by it!” Floyd pouted. “It was all part of Azul’s deal! We were just following orders, you know?” 

“Yes, I’m sure you took absolutely no pleasure in throwing me out on the streets.” 

“If we’re discussing pleasure,” Jade said. “I think a return visit to Ramshackle would be a fine way to settle this debt. There is some sort of charm I miss in that dilapidated old building.” 

“Hey, I’ve spent a lot of time fixing that place up!” 

“Perfect,” Jade said, leaning down so his face was level with hers, mouth next to her ear. “ Then you’ll have to personally give us a tour of all the improvements." 

Floyd squeezed a little harder, his own face coming down to her other ear. “Everyone’s still gone for winter break. Must be lonely up there. Jade and I can come keep you company.” 

Flustered and face burning, (Y/N) stuttered out, “Uh, well, if you wanted to come hang out I suppose that’s okay-” 

“(Y/N)!” 

The new voice broke whatever carefully crafted mood the two eels had cultivated. Looking up, Jade and Floyd with an annoyed frown and (Y/N) with curious wide eyes, they looked to the entrance of Scarabia that led to the mirror portal. 

(Y/N) was worried it was a mirage at first, a cruel hallucination caused by the stress of the last few days, exhaustion from dealing with a fourth Overblot, and the heat of the desert. But no, it was real. Ace and Deuce, running up the fountain-lined entrance of Scarabia, school blazers slung off and shirt sleeves rolled up. 

(Y/N) didn’t expect the sudden bursting in her chest. With a sob that surprised even her, she broke away from Jade and Floyd’s grip, running to meet the two other first years half way. She missed how the twins clutched at the air behind her, unwilling to give up a treasure or aching for the memory of the heat of her skin. Without waiting for a proper hello or explanation, (Y/N) threw her arms around the Heartslabyul boys in the tightest hug she could manage, hoping to convey all her emotions through that action since words had abandoned her. 

“Hey, hey!” Ace said, awkwardly patting her back in the outburst of emotion. Although he couldn’t help the feeling of self satisfaction that came with knowing (Y/N) was so happy to see him. “Easy, already! We came here to save you, didn’t we?” 

“We got your text!” Deuce said. His hands floated over her back, unsure how exactly a proper honor student would handle a situation with a crying girl. Even if his first instinct was to pull her close and never let go. 

She pushed back, still holding them at arms length and taking shuddering breaths to calm herself down. “I-I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I-I didn’t think you’d come! I didn’t even know if that text went though.” 

“Didn’t think we’d come?” Ace said, incredulously. “Come on, we go through three Overblots, a monster in the mines, a heist in the middle of the ocean, and you don’t think we’d come help our best friend out when we get an SOS text out of nowhere?” 

“Four Overblots, actually,” Jade said, him and Floyd sliding up to the reunion. 

“Not that you’d know,” Floyd added. “We already did all the hard stuff. Right, (Y/N)?” 

“Oh, yeah, right!” (Y/N) said. She wiped away the stray tears from her eyes. “You guys won’t believe the week I’ve had. Well, maybe you will, it’s kind of seeming par for the course at this rate.” 

“Wait, there was another Overblot?” Deuce gasped. 

(Y/N) nodded. “Yup. And I thought Crowley said these things were supposed to be rare.” 

“Not… Kalim?” Ace said, looking over to the common room. “You know, with the house warden trend and all.” 

“No, it was Jamil.” 

“What! Jamil? I play basketball with that guy! That doesn't…” Ace paused for a second, thinking. “Okay, wait, yeah, no, that actually makes sense now that I think about it.” 

“Well, we’re all okay now,” (Y/N) said. She took a step backward, tapping Jade and Floyd. “It wouldn’t have been possible without these guys and Azul.” 

“You went to Octavinelle for help?” Deuce said, sounding a little betrayed. 

“It was kind of a spur of the moment thing, and a flying carpet is actually really hard to drive, and I didn’t know if you guys had gotten my message or not, and things were getting really dire, and-” 

“No need to justify yourself, (Y/N),” Jade said. “Octavinelle is based on the Sea Witch’s spirit of benevolence, after all. Of course we would be more than happy to come to the aid of a damsel in distress. In a timely manner, of course.” 

“Yeah,” Floyd said, pulling (Y/N) into a backwards hug and resting his chin on the top of her head. “We already took care of all the hard stuff. So I guess there’s no reason you guppies need to stay around, huh?” 

Ace grabbed (Y/N)’s hand and pulled her back to his and Deuce’s side. “(Y/N) called us. It sounds like she just kind of ran into you guys by accident.” 

Floyd grabbed her back. “Well, we’re the ones who actually helped out. We’re all super close now. What’s that thing called, Jade?” 

“Trama bonding.” 

“Yeah, we’re totally trauma bonded.” 

“Hey!” Deuce interjected. “If anything, we’re way more trauma bonded than you!” 

“Okay!” (Y/N) said, holding her hands up between the two groups. “Not that I wouldn’t love to remember all the awful stuff that’s happened in the past few months, but I think we need to save Jamil again.” She nodded her head back towards the common room. While they couldn’t make out what he was saying, it was clear from Azul’s body language that he was trying to pitch something to the vice-house warden. Jamil looked like he was ready to throttle the merman. “Come on, you guys are here anyway. Might as well enjoy some time off  before classes start again.” Grim waved her over, proudly showing off that he had saved a piece of baklava just for her, since he was such a good boss for this hench-human and all. (Y/N) picked him up gratefully and inserted herself between Azul and Jamil. 

The two groups back at the entrance glared at each other. 

“Tweels,” Ace hissed. 

“ADeuce,” Jade shot back. 

“Don’t think this makes anything even,” Deuce said, punching his fist into his palm. Once he realized he was doing it, he shook out his hands and crossed his arms. 

“Yeah,” Ace said. “(Y/N)’s our best friend.” 

“Oh, did you hear that, Floyd?” Jade said, grinning. 

“Yeah,” Floyd replied, matching his brother's teasing tone. “He said ‘friend’.” 

“Well, friends are all well and good, but I think we’re interested in a little more than that. And if the position is open, who better than her recent saviors to fill it?” Floyd started cackling as the two quickly made their way over to the little party. 

“Wh- Hey, wait!” Ace called out. 

“There is absolutely no position to fill!” Deuce yelled after them. “And if there was, we’d get first dibs!”

[monoetr]

hands up

[redn1ghtcrawler]

Was supposed to be a warmup but eh…

[kunauma]

beautiful . . . Σ(°ロ°)

[avocad0ess]

I wonder who I would be today if I didn’t develop an obsession with fanficion when I was 11

[starry-crossing-zone]

General Storyteller - Rex

Summary: After the Battle of Kamino, Rex finds you surrounded by clone cadets. Length: 1.4k Warnings: Post-Battle; Lots of Teasing; Rex's Flirting is Improving

The battle of Kamino had yielded heavy and unfortunate losses, but the Republic managed to repel the Separatists in the end. Rex, after promoting Echo and Fives to ARC Troopers, sought out the generals. He walked over to where Jesse and Hardcase were relaxing, assuming they would have an idea.

“Has anyone seen the generals?” Rex asked, resting his bucket against his hip.

“General Skywalker’s at the south end of the city, but I have a feeling that you’re not asking about him,” Jesse quipped, causing Rex to narrow his eyes. “She’s with Kix in the infirmary.”

“You know how she always turns into a mother hen after battle,” Hardcase reminded his captain, leaning back against the wall. He elbowed Jesse with a mischievous grin. “She’s probably giving shinies heart attacks.”

“Well, if she can make our esteemed captain blush, what hope do the shinies have, Hardcase?”

Rex, tuning out the rest of their conversation, turned and made his way to the infirmary. Due to the overflow from battle, it had expanded into the mess hall. But Rex assumed that a Jedi would be easy to spot among the clones and Kaminoans. But when he didn’t spot you, Rex made his way over to Kix, who was setting another trooper’s ankle.

“Kix, have you seen the general?”

“She’s in the other room,” Kix stated, pointing to his right. “You won’t be able to miss her.”

Rex raised an eyebrow, but continued on his way. Stepping into one of the wings of the infirmary, Rex paused when he spotted exactly what Kix was talking about. You sat at the end of the room, smiling and talking with all of the young clone cadets gathered around you.

“And then the bridge started to collapse,” you retold dramatically as you carefully bandaged up a cadet’s wrist. “The Separatists planted detonators along the bridge and lured us onto it. And the tactical droid tried to blow us all up.”

“How did you escape?” one of the cadets asked, sitting on the edge of his seat.

“Well, we started running. Anakin and I pushed your brothers to safety with the Force because all of you and all of your brothers in every corner of this galaxy are important to us.”

You gently poked one of the cadets on the tip of his nose to emphasize your point. He blushed bright red, reminding you of another clone, and looked down at his feet bashfully while one of his brothers grabbed his shoulders from behind.

“And no good leader and certainly no good Jedi would say otherwise,” you added, looking out around at the clone cadets. 

Rex was quite sure that the meaning behind your story was not part of the approved Kaminoan curriculum, but he couldn’t help but smile at his younger brothers’ reactions to your story. You smiled and finished up with bandaging a cadet’s wrist before continuing with the story.

“But then we had to run to safety ourselves. Now, Anakin was lucky enough that he was standing close to the edge. So, he escaped easily. But I wasn’t so lucky because a lingering detonator went off right behind me, causing me to lose my balance.”

“What happened next?” a cadet gasped.

“Shhh!” one of the other cadets shushed his brother.

“I’m getting to it,” you promised them with a chuckle. “As I was saying, your brother, Captain Rex, grabbed a long gun—right out of Mule’s hands, mind you—and shot a cable at me.”

“Did he hit you?” one of the cadets asked quickly.

“Do you think I’d miss, Cadet?” Rex called out teasingly.

“Captain Rex!” the cadets called turning around to see him walking towards them.

They all jumped to their feet and stood at attention. Rex stopped in front of the crowd of his young brothers and dismissed them, urging them to sit down again. He turned to you as the cadets got settled again. And even though Rex felt a familiar heat start to climb up his neck, he moved to take a seat on one of the beds. Clearing his throat as you offered him a soft smile, he nodded.

“You were saying, General.”

“Right, Captain,” you mused before turning back to his brothers. “No, Captain Rex didn’t hit me with the cable. It landed in front of me and I held onto it as the bridge tumbled down. And with some help from some of your other brothers, he pulled me up to safety.”

“Captain Rex saved your life?”

“Yes, he did,” you stated without hesitation.

“To be fair, you’ve saved mine a number of times, General,” Rex spoke up, causing you to smile.

“Yes, shall I tell all of you one of those stories next?”

The cadets cheered but Rex got back to his feet and motioned towards the door. You nodded and slowly stood up, causing the cadets to sigh and whine. Giving them a kind smile, you kneeled down so that you were eye level with all of them again.

“I must go back to being a general. But you should try and find General Kenobi, for he’s an even better story teller than me. But which battalion is the best in the GAR again?”

“The 501st!”

“And don’t you forget it,” Rex added, causing his younger brothers to grin.

Bidding the cadets goodbye, you stood up and walked with Rex out of the infirmary. The two of you moved in silence for a moment before Rex turned to you with a soft look.

“You survived the battle alright, General?”

“I should be asking you that question, Rex. This is your home. All of your homes.” You sighed and added quietly, “I’m sorry we didn’t defend it better.”  

“Kamino was always a target to the Seppies,” Rex stated, turning to look forward again. “But thank you, General.” Clearing his throat a bit, Rex turned forward once again. “And thank you for looking after the cadets. They were bred for war, but they were never trained for it to happen in their own home.”

“Of course,” you returned, nodding politely. “I have a soft spot for children. I believe my master’s habits rubbed off on me.”

“It’s not a bad habit to have.”

“Well, and clone cadets are adorable. In a way, the clones and the Jedi have a lot in common. We were raised communally as well. It’s a setup most citizens find unnatural, almost.”

“Well, your people can move things with their minds. My brothers and I all share the same face. They might not be far off,” Rex quipped, causing you to chuckle.

Stepping into the lift together, you stood side by side as you made your way back to the upper floors of the facility. No doubt that Shaak Ti and Obi-Wan were looking for the two of you. Placing your hands on your hips and turned to Rex with a mischievous smile.

“What were you like as a cadet, Rex?”

“Top of my class, of course.”

“Of course,” you agreed teasingly, causing Rex to tilt his chin up. “But don’t tell me that you were always this stoic and brooding.”

“Brooding?” Rex repeated, earning a laugh in return.

“Come on, Rex. You must have broken a few rules in your time on Kamino.”

“I would assume as many as you did when you were a padawan, General.”

“My master was on the Jedi High Council, so I had an image to uphold.” After a moment, you added with a grin, “But also more time unsupervised. And, well, Anakin was a poor influence on me.” Your smile softened as you turned back to Rex. “Perhaps I’ll tell you some of those stories one day, Captain.”

“I look forward to it, General.”

Stepping off the elevator together, you and Rex shared a smile before Commander Cody called out to the two of you. Rex winced when he spotted Cody’s knowing look and you pulled on a more professional expression in the presence of the marshal commander.

“General Kenobi requested your assistance with moving some of the larger pieces of debris,” Cody told you. “He’s in the eastern part of the city.”

“Thank you, Commander Cody, I will go meet him.” Nodding to Cody, you turned to Rex, who returned your burning gaze. “I’ll see you later, Captain.”

And with that, you walked down the hall and away from them. You couldn’t help but glance over your shoulder at Rex. Staring after you until your figure disappeared around the corner, Rex ignored Cody’s stare and smirk. Rolling his eyes, Rex brushed past his brother.

“I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?” Cody called after him, causing Rex to wince.

“Stow it, Cody.”

[magicalmatcha]

— all mine

❝we had our downs but we had way more ups,let's make love❞

pairing — firelord zuko! x fem!earthbender!reader

synopsis — who was surprised when you and zuko were the first in the gaang to get pregnant?

content — fem!reader, mature content (17+), suggestive themes, pregnancy, mention of sex, no actual plot really, indulgent fic, takes place seven years before the legend of aang (which takes placed 12 years after ATLA) so Zuko is 22 and Reader is 21, no use of yn, not proofread

author's note — I didn't watch the leaks yet just clips and if I do I'll still be watching the movie to support the animators

The Princess of the Fire Nation, though she often felt that, as the wife of the Fire Lord, she deserved a far grander title, sat before her vanity, studying her reflection. One by one, she had dismissed her maids, choosing instead to prepare for bed on her own. In truth, the new trending fragrance they all insisted on wearing had begun to make her nauseous.

Though, lately, everything seemed to make her sick.

“Aang sent a letter.”

She hadn’t even heard him enter.

Slowly, she turned to face her husband, a faint crease forming between her brows. “My love, you spend all day in council, and the first thing you do after not seeing me for hours is talk more about the council?” she teased lightly, though there was a hint of tiredness beneath it. She turned back to the mirror, picking up her hairbrush and dragging it gently through her hair.

“Well, love, this isn’t about the council. Technically,” he replied, stepping further into the room. “It’s about Aang. He needs our help.”

“Our help?” She turned again, confusion softening her features as she rose from the vanity. Her green satin nightgown draped elegantly over her figure, the gold stitching catching the candlelight with every movement. The most prominent change, however, was the gentle, undeniable curve of her stomach.

“You knocked me up, dummy,” she teased, a small smile tugging at her lips as she approached him. Her hands slid to his shoulders, then to the ties of his robes, beginning to loosen them with practiced ease. “Or did you forget already?”

He laughed softly, the sound low and fond, allowing her to help him out of his robes as the fabric slipped from his shoulders.

“How could I forget?” he murmured, turning toward her.

His gaze drifted over her slowly, appreciatively, before settling on the curve of her stomach. His hands followed, almost instinctively, coming to rest there, warm, steady, protective. His thumbs brushed gentle circles over the satin, as if he could feel something deeper beneath it.

“When you carry the future of the Fire Nation inside you?” he said quietly, his voice softening. “A little piece of me…”

His eyes lifted to meet hers, something tender and unguarded flickering there.

“And all of you.”

She hummed softly, rising onto her tiptoes as her arms slipped around his neck, drawing him down to her. Her lips met his in a gentle, fleeting kiss, soft, familiar, almost teasing.

But when she tried to pull away, he didn’t let her.

His hand tightened at her waist, the other still resting protectively against her stomach as he followed her retreat, capturing her lips again before the distance could grow. Even as her heels lowered back to the floor, he bent with her, closing the space she had tried to create.

This time the kiss deepened, slower, warmer, lingering in a way that stole the breath from her lungs. It wasn’t hurried, but it wasn’t soft either; it carried weight, intention, something unspoken between them.

His thumb brushed lightly against her side as he tilted his head, pressing closer, as if memorizing her. The world beyond them seemed to fade, the council, the letter, everything, leaving only the quiet crackle of candlelight and the steady rhythm of shared breath.

When he finally pulled back, it wasn’t far, just enough for their foreheads to rest together, his lips still ghosting over hers, reluctant to let her go.

“I can’t get you pregnant again, can I? Double pregnant,” he teased, a grin tugging at his lips.

She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head at him. “Oh, you’ve certainly tried,” she replied, her voice laced with amusement. Her hand lingered briefly against his chest before she stepped back, just enough to create space between them. “But don’t try again, I need this thing out of me first.” "I don't know if I love you referring to our child as a thing."

She separated from him fully then, turning slightly as if to busy herself, though she didn’t miss the way his shoulders subtly slumped at the loss of contact. The warmth between them lingered in the space she left behind, unspoken but felt.

Her fingers adjusted the sleeve of her gown absentmindedly, her expression softening for just a moment before she glanced back at him over her shoulder. There was still a hint of her earlier smile there, though now tempered with curiosity.

“Now,” she said, more gently this time, “tell me what Aang wants.”

"That can wait for the morning." He mumbled, his eyes never leaving her lips as he pulled her back into another kiss.

“A village?”

Zuko sighed, steadying Appa’s harness as he helped his wife climb aboard. “Why would he possibly want us to go to a random village?” And why would he say pack a coat? We're going to a mountain aren't we?" she huffed, gripping the edge before finally pulling herself over with a bit more effort than she liked. "I hate mountains."

He lingered below for a moment, looking up at her, concern etched into his features. “Are you sure it’s a good idea for you to go? You can stay—I’ll be back in a couple days.”

She leaned over the edge slightly, brows knitting. “Aang needs the second-best earthbender with him, Zuko. I’m not disabled—”

She winced mid-sentence, her hand instinctively going to her stomach before she turned toward Toph. “Sorry.”

Toph shrugged easily. “Hey, I’m just glad you finally admitted I’m the better earthbender.”

“I give you your flowers when they’re due,” she shot back with a small smile.

Toph grinned, but it slowly faltered, her head tilting slightly as if listening to something no one else could hear. "Your heart must be beating really fast." "Is it?" The princess quirked her head confused. "Why else am I hearing two heartbeats coming from you?”

Katara gasped, her hands flying together in delight. “Oh my gosh, you’re pregnant! I thought your coat was just oddly bulky but you're pregnant! Oh my Gosh!" she exclaimed, immediately rushing forward to wrap the Fire Princess in a tight hug. “I thought they were just rumors, because surely you and Zuko would’ve told us!”

The princess blinked, caught off guard, before her gaze slid over to her husband, who was just now hauling himself rather ungracefully into Appa’s saddle.

“Zuko,” she said slowly, one brow arching, “I thought you told them.”

Zuko froze mid-step, staring back at her blankly. “I thought you did.”

There was a beat.

“Oh my gosh.”

“I mean, it was only a matter of time,” Katara chimed in, smiling knowingly. “You two have never exactly been subtle. And Zuko practically insisted on marrying you the moment he could.”

Toph snorted, crossing her arms. “Yeah, honestly? I’m surprised it took this long. Thought for sure you’d have a whole lineup of heirs by now if Zuko could keep his hands to himself for more than, what? two minutes?”

Zuko nearly choked, his face flushing a deep, unmistakable red. “That’s— I—” He cleared his throat, straightening awkwardly as he avoided everyone’s eyes. “That’s not— we’re not—”

The princess, however, looked entirely unbothered.

In fact, she looked amused.

“Well,” she said lightly, smoothing a hand over her stomach as she glanced at him, “he does have a bit of a… lack of restraint.”

Zuko snapped his head toward her. “You’re not helping.”

Katara laughed, covering her mouth. “I mean, you can’t blame them. You’ve both been—” she hesitated, searching for a polite word before giving up, “—like that since the beginning.”

Toph grinned wider. “Please. ‘Like that’ is putting it nicely.”

“Toph,” Katara warned, though she was still smiling.

“What?” Toph shrugged. “I’m just saying—half the time, I didn’t even need my feet to know when they were in the same room. The tension alone was loud enough.”

The princess let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “You’re all incredibly annoying.”

Zuko groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “Can we please focus on the actual reason we’re here?”

“Oh, no, no,” Toph continued, clearly enjoying herself. “You deserve this. All those nights you two kept everyone awake—”

“Okay, that’s enough,” the princess cut in quickly, though a smile tugged at her lips. She glanced at Zuko, amused. “He can’t get any redder. He’s about to turn into a tomato.”

Zuko let out a quiet, embarrassed huff, but didn’t argue, instead shifting closer and settling against her side, seeking some sense of refuge.

She softened slightly at that, her expression gentler as she let him.

“Let’s just go get Sokka,” he muttered, still avoiding everyone’s gaze.

The princess had shrugged off her coat minutes into the trip. They weren’t even close to Aang yet, and the extra weight had her uncomfortably warm, a light sheen of sweat clinging to her skin. The shifting air currents around Appa did little to help.

Katara, however, had not left her alone once.

The questions came one after another, gentle but relentless, curiosity shining in her eyes.

“How far along are you?”

“Five months,” she answered, offering a tired but polite smile.

“What’s the gender?”

“No clue.”

“Any baby names lined up?”

“We’re trying for something that blends earth and fire,” she said, glancing briefly at Zuko, “but nothing’s stuck yet.”

Katara brightened. “That’s so sweet—”

“Are you going to have more?”

The princess didn’t even hesitate. “Have you met my husband?”

Katara blinked, then laughed, covering her mouth.

Zuko, meanwhile, coughed into his fist, his ears burning all over again.

Through it all, his hand never left her, resting protectively over her stomach, thumb brushing slow, absent circles as if grounding himself in her presence. Every so often, his grip would tighten slightly whenever Appa shifted, like he could somehow steady both her and the child at once.

“Careful,” he murmured under his breath at one point, guiding her subtly as the saddle dipped.

“I’m fine,” she replied, though she didn’t pull away from him.

By the time the icy waters and familiar structures of the Southern Water Tribe came into view, the air had grown colder, sharper against their skin. Snow dusted the ground below, and the distant figures of Water Tribe members began to gather, pointing up at Appa’s descending form.

They didn’t have to search long.

Sokka was already striding across the snow toward them, boots crunching loudly with each step, his grin widening the second he took them in.

“Well, well,” he called, arms spreading like he was welcoming honored guests. “Look who finally decided to show up. Took you two long enough.”

His gaze flicked between them, lingering, calculating, before it dropped.

Then paused.

“…Whoa.”

Zuko stiffened immediately. “Don’t.”

But Sokka was already circling them, slow and deliberate, like he was inspecting something fascinating. “No way. No way. You’re serious?”

The princess raised a brow, unimpressed. “Very.”

Sokka let out a low whistle, dragging a hand down his face before pointing straight at Zuko. “I mean, I knew you two had issues with personal space, but I didn’t think you’d go and make it this… I don't even know the word for it. You two are freaks."

Zuko groaned, already regretting coming. “Sokka.”

“What?” Sokka shrugged, smirk growing. “You expect me to ignore this? This isn't even groundbreaking it's just expected from you both knowing you. This is, this is what happens when you two get even five minutes alone, isn’t it?”

Toph let out a quiet snort.

Sokka leaned in slightly, lowering his voice just enough to make it worse. “Actually, scratch that. Five minutes is probably generous.”

Zuko made a strangled noise. “Okay.”

Katara slapped a hand over her face. “Sokka—”

“No, no, I’m just connecting the dots,” he continued, clearly enjoying himself. “All those times you disappeared during meetings, all those ‘private discussions’ yeah, makes a lot more sense now.”

The princess tilted her head, completely unbothered. “You’re being very bold for someone standing this close to me.”

Sokka grinned. “I’m just impressed, honestly. You two had so much tension it was practically a natural disaster, and now—” he gestured vaguely toward her stomach, “—this is the aftermath. Surprised it took you this long."

Toph laughed outright at that.

Zuko looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.

Sokka wasn’t done.

“I mean seriously,” he added, folding his arms, “if this is what happens when the Fire Lord gets a little too… distracted, I’m shocked there’s not a second one already on the way.”

Zuko choked. “That’s enough.”

“Hey, I’m congratulating you!” Sokka shot back. “Just saying, next time, maybe let people know before you two go off and—”

“Sokka.”

“—expand the royal family.”

Katara shoved him lightly. “You’re unbelievable.”

“But not wrong,” he corrected smoothly.

The princess let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “Unfortunately, he’s not entirely wrong.”

Zuko turned to her, betrayed. “You’re encouraging him.”

“We've been married for eleven months and I've been pregnant for five of them, you lack restraint Zuko” she stated bluntly, though her smile gave her away. He shook his head leaning close so only he could hear her. "Who suggested riding me in the throne ro-" "Okay hush now."

Sokka clapped his hands together once, satisfied. “Great. Now that we’ve established the Fire Lord has absolutely no self-control—”

“Sokka.”

“—can someone please tell me why Aang is dragging us to some random village?"

The teasing was warranted, deserved, even.

The Fire Nation had taken your father, your brother. Zuko’s redemption didn’t erase that. Not to you. He had hunted you, cornered you, forced you into survival more times than you could count. While the others learned to trust him, to laugh with him, to move on… you hadn’t. Not so easily.

So yeah, there had been tension.

A lot of it.

It just… hadn’t been resolved in a way anyone else approved of.

His lips brushed slowly along the inside of her thigh, unhurried, deliberate, testing, teasing. The touch alone was enough to pull a quiet, unwilling sound from her, her breath catching despite herself.

“Just do it already,” she muttered, more breath than voice, her fingers tightening against the sheets.

Zuko clicked his tongue softly, unfazed. Another kiss followed, closer this time, but still not quite where she wanted, where she needed.

“Not until you say please.”

Her head tipped back in frustration. “Why would I have to say please?” she shot back weakly. “You said you were atoning for everything your nation did. Consider this part of your apology.”

A quiet huff of amusement left him, warm against her skin. “I’ve been atoning for two months now,” he murmured, his voice low, almost thoughtful.

Another slow press of his lips, lingering.

“And yet,” he added, “every morning I wake up and you’ve already taken my portion of breakfast because, apparently, ‘murderers don’t deserve to eat.’”

She exhaled sharply, somewhere between a scoff and something softer. “Well, when the Fire Nation killed my family, I couldn’t afford breakfast—”

“I know.” His tone shifted immediately, the teasing giving way to something heavier, sincere. His hand stilled, grounding. “I know. And I’m sorry.”

There was a pause, the air between them tightening, thick with everything unsaid.

“I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make up for it,” he continued quietly. “For what I did… for what I stood for.”

His placed a long kiss to her core, a soft moan (against her will) escaped her lips.

“Let me try,” he said, voice gentler now. “Even if it’s not enough.”

“I’m glad you all could make it, this village needs our help with—” Aang began, pulling back from Katara mid-sentence.

His eyes flicked across the group.

Paused.

Then widened.

“…Are—did—?”

He leaned toward Katara, lowering his voice into what he clearly thought was a whisper. “Am I allowed to ask people if they’ve gained weight?”

Katara’s eyes widened. “No, Aang. We’ve been over this.”

Aang nodded quickly. “Right, right. No asking.”

“…They’re pregnant,” she added quietly.

Aang blinked.

Then looked back at them.

Then back at Katara.

“…Zuko’s pregnant too?”

Toph snorted.

Sokka immediately burst out laughing. “Yeah, yeah, Fire Lord had a lot to do with it actually.”

Zuko’s face flushed instantly. “That’s not—”

“I’m pregnant, Aang,” the princess cut in, voice flat.

“Oh!” Aang straightened immediately, relief flooding his face. “Oh, that makes way more sense.”

There was a beat.

“…Congratulations!” he added, a little too late but entirely sincere.

Then his expression shifted, concern creeping in.

“Wait, are you sure you should be here?” he asked, glancing between her and Zuko. “I mean, with everything going on… I don’t want you getting hurt.”

Zuko immediately nodded. “Exactly.”

She sighed.

“I’m pregnant, not made of glass,” she said, crossing her arms lightly. “I can still help.”

Toph smirked. “Told you.”

Katara smiled gently. “We’ll keep an eye on you. Just in case.”

Sokka grinned. “Yeah, someone has to make sure Zuko doesn’t give himself an aneurysm trying to watch after the princess.”

Zuko shot him a glare.

Aang hesitated, then nodded. “Okay. I trust you. Just… be careful, alright?”

She gave a small, confident nod.

“Always.”

Aang clapped his hands together once, refocusing. “Right, so. The village has been dealing with a spirit. It’s been acting aggressively, and I think it’s tied to something in the mountain.”

The princess exhaled slowly. “…So you did drag us out here for a mountain.”

Aang winced. “Technically… yes.”

Zuko sighed. “Of course.”

Toph cracked her knuckles. “Good. I was getting bored.”

Sokka looked between them, grin already returning. “Alright, angry spirit, pregnant Fire-Earth Princess, and Zuko on edge. This should go great.”

She leaned slightly into Zuko’s side, her hand brushing his.

“Next time,” she murmured, “we ignore the letter and go to Ember Island."

He huffed softly. “…Agreed.”

love speaks! rushed and indulgent sorry i wish this was better but if i draft it it'll never get done. divider by @/cafekitsune

[ayzhen]

⋆˚꩜｡⋆˚࿔ sky walker - (song by miguel ft. travis scott)

𓂃𓈒 starring avatar aang

“baby!” was the first thing that shook you awake from your peaceful slumber. you felt warm, big, gentle hands on your cheeks, palms pressing them slightly together to urge you awake.

you grumble, turning in bed to the figure looming over you, a hand holding the wrists of his hands as you blink awake. you look and see your adorable boyfriend smiling down at you with the most gentle eyes you’ve ever seen in your years of living, the same ones that warmed your heart every time you looked into them.

“..aang..mh..let me sleep,” you mumble, nuzzling into his palms to which he laughs softly, leaning in to kiss your face all over, to which you giggle softly as he leans on top of you.

“goodmorning, sleepyhead, i wanna show you something,” he says looking at you with a bright smile, to which you sigh softly.

“aang..it’s-“

“please?”

and a few minutes later you were up looking at the mirror and freshening up as your avatar-lover sat on the bed, admiring your appearance.

“you’re so pretty, my dewdrop.”

“dewdrop? that’s a new one.”

“needa find one perfect. like you.”

he says with a soft smile, to which you see in the mirror as you turn and walk towards him, tilting his face up to kiss him softly. his hands respond and rest on your waist, leaning up eagerly before standing up, now tilting yours up to meet his, and your hands trail from the sides of his neck to rest on his chest.

he pulls away slowly, resting his forehead on yours gently. “ready to go?” he asks, rubbing soft circles on your waist with his thumbs.

“show me, mr. i need to wake up my lover at the light of the morning to bring her somewhere so important.”

he laughs before leading you by the edge of the balcony of your shared room, before hugging you close.

“we’re flying?”

“yeah, any problem, pretty?”

“..you have appa, aang. you don’t have to carry me.” you say, arms trailing to wrap around his neck.

“but i want to, and it’s different, i wanna give you the full experience,” he winks cheekily to which you huff a soft laugh, kissing his cheek.

“alright then, my sky walker, let’s take flight.”

and he leans backward off the railing, and you gasp as you grasp him tightly, feeling your joint bodies fall, as you close your eyes, waiting for this feeling to pass.

and everything felt light, you felt yourself levitate, a soft breeze around your bodies as you felt yourself go up, your clothes and skin feeling every air particle. you didn’t dare open your eyes either.

“hey, open your eyes for me, pretty.”

you open your eyes, meeting his soft grey ones as he looks from you to ahead of him, still holding you tight as you look past your shoulder.

it was beautiful.

above the clouds, it was something you’d see painted in your dreams. the sunrise flowing in across the horizon, the mountains painting a beautiful swerve of peaks meeting the sky as hues of orange, red, a deep purple lining the edge and soft yellows and pinks flowing in. you didn’t speak, eyes widened in wonder.

“it’s so beautiful..” you whisper from your lips.

“not as beautiful as you, though,” you hear from next to you, to which you turn and smirk faintly, giving him a soft kiss on his lips to which he leans into willingly.

“did i make it worth your while?” he asks with a glint in his eyes, to which you playfully rolls yours and hum, to which he takes as a yes.

a few moments pass as you savor the beautiful moment above the clouds together, just the two of you in solitude, with each other and eternal peace, before aang glides back down onto the balcony of your shared room and step back inside.

you let go of him and sigh, laying back in bed, pulling him alongside you, not bothering to close the balcony opening. a soft breeze trickles through as he lay there with you, side by side, facing you and you facing him. it was romantic, really.

you felt yourself doze slightly, eyes fluttering with him smiling in front of you, his warm hand caressing your cheek.

“baby?”

“hmm?”

“can i test a..pickup line?” he questions as you blink an eye open, smiling. “yes of course you can, aang.”

“well, you’re gonna love it.”

“mm? why’s that?”

“you’re gonna love it ‘cause you’re as cool as a breeze.” he says the last part with a soft but proud laugh.

you crack a smile, holding the hand he had on your cheek as you shift yourself closer in and kiss his lips softly, opening your sleepy eyes to look at him.

“you’re so cheesy.”

“and you love me.”

“so much.”

“well i do too, way, way more.”

[strawberrychansora]

husband!zuko flexing his biceps >3

you were sitting on the edge of the fountain in the private gardens, watching the sun dip below the palace walls, when you heard the heavy, familiar sound of boots against the stone path. zuko was walking toward you, looking more like the boy you’d fallen in love with back when you guys were teenagers than the fire lord who sat on a throne all day. he had ditched his heavy ceremonial robes for a simple, sleeveless tunic in deep crimson and gold, his hair pulled back into a topknot that a few stray strands had already escaped from.

"there you are," he murmured, his voice sounding low and raspy from a long day of meetings.

you stood up as he reached you, and he didn't hesitate to pull you into a hug. as his arms wrapped around you, the first thing you noticed was the sheer heat radiating off him—and then, the solid weight of his arms. without the layers of silk covering him, you could feel every inch of his biceps pressing against your shoulders. they felt like warm marble, thick and incredibly firm. you leaned into him, your hands sliding up his arms instinctively. your fingers brushed over the smooth, bunched muscle of his upper arms, and you couldn't help but let out a tiny, impressed hum.

"zuko," you whispered into his chest, your palms flat against his biceps now. "when did you even have time to train today? you feel... different."

he pulled back just enough to look down at you, a small, tired smirk playing on his lips. "i spent two hours with my uncle this morning before the sun was even up. why? is something wrong?"

"no, definitely not wrong," you said, squeezing the muscle under your hand. it didn't give an inch. "it’s just that this shirt really shows off how much work you've been putting in. your arms are huge."

zuko’s face flushed a light pink, his golden eyes flickering with a mix of bashfulness and pride. he shifted his weight, crossing his arms over his chest—an action that only made the muscles swell and pop even more against the fabric of his vest. the definition was ridiculous; you could see the way his biceps peaked and how the veins traced slight paths down to his forearms.

"it's just from basic forms," he muttered, though he didn't move your hands away.

"come on, let me see," you teased, giving him a playful nudge. "actually flex for me. i want to see if they're as solid as they feel."

he let out a soft huff of a laugh, shaking his head. "you're ridiculous. i'm the fire lord, i shouldn't be standing in the garden flexing like a show-off."

"please? just for your wife? no one is looking," you pleaded, looking up at him with wide eyes.

zuko sighed, but the corners of his mouth were twitching. he uncrossed his arms and took a half-step back. he took a breath, and then, with a bit of a dramatic flair he’d probably learned from uncle iroh, he brought his arm up and flexed. his bicep surged upward, the muscle becoming a hard, rounded knot that looked powerful enough to snap a spear in half. the skin was tight over the peak, and the sheer size of it made your jaw drop slightly.

you reached out, poking the center of the muscle with one finger. it was rock hard. "okay, you’re definitely not just doing basic forms."

zuko laughed, the tension of the day finally bleeding out of his shoulders as he relaxed the pose and pulled you back into his space. "are you satisfied now, or am i going to have to do the other arm too?"

"hmm, i would definitely like that," you whispered, your voice trailing off as your hands slid from his waist back up to his shoulders. you couldn't help yourself; the way the sunlight hit the definition of his arms was too distracting to ignore.

zuko let out a low, vibrant chuckle that you could feel vibrating against your own chest. he seemed to enjoy the attention more than he was willing to admit. "you're obsessed," he teased, though his eyes were warm and full of affection.

to satisfy your curiosity, he shifted his stance and grazed the other arm, tightening the muscle just enough for you to see the way his triceps flared and the skin pulled taut over his shoulder. he looked incredibly powerful standing there in the garden light, the dark fabric of his sleeveless vest contrasting against his skin.

he didn't let you stare for too long, though. before you could make another comment about his training routine, he reached out and cupped your face with his hand, his thumb catching your chin to tilt your head up. his expression softened instantly, all the lingering stress from his meetings finally vanishing.

he leaned down, his breath warm against your skin, and pressed a deep, lingering kiss to your lips. it was sweet and slow, tasting like the tea he'd had earlier and feeling like home. as he pulled you closer, his arms wrapped around you again, and you could feel the immense strength in his frame holding you steady against him.

"i think we should stay right here for a little longer," he murmured against your lips, his voice dropping into a low, private register that sent a shiver down your spine.

he pulled you in even tighter, his large hands splaying across your back and pressing you firmly against the heat of his chest. you could feel the rhythmic thrum of his heart beating against yours, steady and strong. he leaned in again, trailing his nose along the side of yours before burying his face in the crook of your neck, taking a deep breath as if your scent was the only thing keeping him grounded after a long day.

[kunauma]

he's so ungh