PAIRINGS: Kalim Al-Asim x gn!reader / Jamil Viper x gn!reader
SUMMARY: The party infiltration doesn’t quite go as expected.
WORDCOUNT: 2.8k
WARNINGS: none (please tell me if I missed any)
NOTES: happy new year everyone!!
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The Asim's palace was massive, the gold details on the roof and walls were reflecting beautifully under the moonlight, it was breathtaking. Standing before it, you felt smaller and more insignificant than ever. Taking a deep breath, you tried to steady yourself before beginning the walk toward the entrance, wiping your sweaty and clammy palms on the loose red pants you're wearing, while trying to make them stop shaking.
Around you, a couple of well-dressed guests were stepping out of carriages and making their way to the entrance too, their clothing wes beatififull and expensive. Most likely made out of real nice fabrics, all their gold accessories were probably real. Unlike yours. You've noticed rich people had this certain aura around them.
Like nothing could ever burden them, which is probably right. They could never survive a single day in the slums you come from.
You look away from them, keeping your head down and avoiding eye with anyone. You tighten the bag on your waist, it was simple red one Mira had quickly made from some stolen fabric Elias got for her— the lovesick fool. you had tied it around your waist, trying to make it seem like it was apart of your outfit.
You adjust the intricate top you were wearing, hoping to make yourself look slightly more presentable. and finally stopping in front of one of the gate guards.
He looked up at you, a calculating look on his face, before looking back down to the scroll in his hands. "Name?" He asked, his voice quite deep, and firm.
You shift in place slightly, fingers playing nervously with the fabric of your pants. Confidence, Mira had told you, stand taller, make yourself look rich and powerful. You straighten your back, trying not to show the immense hesitation you felt.
"(Y/n).." you hesitating for a second before your gaze dropped to the fake gold bracelet on your wrist. The red gem glinted faintly, while catching the palace's light. You forced a smile, lifting your chin slightly. “Jewela. Nice to meet you!”
You wince slightly at how rushed it sounded. You didn’t have a last name—no one in the slums did, except maybe a couple of the elders. You shouldve asked Mira on what to do, you clench your fists for a moment, as you take a sneaky breath in, trying not to panic as the guard scanned the scroll in his hands again.
You wait, hiding your shaking hands behind your back to appear more graceful—or at least to keep the guard from noticing them. What felt like hours was, was in reality, only a few seconds.
He looked back up at you, a slight furrow in his eyebrows. "Not on the list. Please remove yourself from the grounds."
Your heart dropped at the sentence. Of course this wasn’t going to work. What was Mira thinking? You tilt your head in a slight bow, making the guard raise an eyebrow in surprise. Slowly, you turned to leave, panic already growing in your chest. But a voice behind you made you freeze.
"What’s going on here?"
You perked up slightly, looking back at the guard. His face turned pale as he quickly straightened up and bowed, his eyes focused on someone behind you.
"Master Kalim, what are you doing out here?"
The world seemed to stop at the name. Your breath hitched in the back of your throat as your eyes widened. This was not good. This was very bad.
You were screwed.
He would know you weren’t on the list. He’d figure out you were just some dirty street rat trying to sneak in, and then—what? Have you executed?
You squeeze your eyes shut for a moment, taking in a deep breath, trying to calm yourself. When you open your eyes again, you force a small, polite smile onto your face, turning to face the person behind you.
A small gasp escapes your lips, and you quickly cover it up with a cough. It was the guy from before, at the market. The one you bumped into. Of course, the person you bumped into was one of the richest people in the Scalding Sands, the eldest Asim child.
You glance at him, hoping he wouldn’t recognize you. He looks at you, tilting his head slightly to the side as he squints his eyes at you. You widen your smile, before bowing your head slightly in an attempt to seem respectful.
You notice his gaze soften, and a smile quickly spreads across his face before he opens his mouth to speak. This is it, the moment he’ll tell you he recognizes you, the moment he’ll make sure you get arrested and thrown into jail, making sure you rot there for the rest of your life.
But instead, in a lighthearted voice he says something else, “You have really pretty eyes!”
The genuineness in his tone catches you off guard. You can tell he’s being sincere you've always been good at noticing out when people lie.
You blink in confusion. “Huh?” The word leaves your mouth as you raise your eyebrows at him, trying to make sense of what just happened. It takes him a couple of seconds to react, before his eyes widening in realization. Then, he’s apologizing left and right.
“No, don’t apologize—” you start, trying to stop him from making a bigger deal out of it. But before you can finish, he grabs your hand, a sudden, carefree grin on his face. “Here, as an apology, I’ll escort you inside!”
You blink, completely stunned. He smiles at you, while letting out a laugh, and before you can even protest, he starts dragging you through the gate. Behind you, the guard is left calling out to him, confused, still pointing out that you’re not on the list.
The inside of the palace was even more breathtaking than the outside. Beautiful golden arches all around you, with detailed carvings on them. The air in the ballroom was filled with the sound of conversation and beautiful traditioal music from the scalding sands.
Kalim’s wide smile never faltered, as dragged to past the groups of people, with some of them staring at you with raised eyebrows. Your mind raced as you tried to think of a way out of this, without raising to much of a scene.
“(Y/n) Jewela, right?” Kalim said, looking over his shoulder, to which you let out a small hum. “Ive never heard of that last name before! Are you visiting?”
You force a polite laugh at the question, before shaking your head slightly as the white-haired male comes to a stop and looks at you with a grin. “N-no, I’m from here.. where just.. not as well know. My family likes to stay undeground!” You reply, hoping the awnser would satisfy his curiosity enough.
He didn’t seem to notice the hesitation in your awnser, which made you quite glad. As his attention quickly shifts to the band infont of you. “Well, you’re going to love this party!” He jumps on the balls of his feet in excitement. "There’s food, music, and the best dancers in all of the Scalding Sands!”
You nodded again, trying to keep your smile intact as you start to feel slightly sick to your stomach. The stares from the people around you doubled in size, and intensity. Like they knew you weren’t supposed to be here, and it scared you.
The both of you stare at the band for a minute, before kalim turns towards you with an even bigger smile that before, "We should dance!" He says pulling you slighty closer by your hand that he was still holding.
You blink in surprise at the notion, trying to process the suggestion. Dance, with him. You feel fear overtake the panic you were feeling, but you quickly plaster on another polite smile.
“Oh, I don’t think that’s such a good idea…” you tried, your voice quiet. As you glanced at the crowd, where more faces turned to watch the two of you. Their gazes felt sharp, judgmental. Like they were about to pounce on you and eat you for lunch.
“Come on!” Kalim laughed, looking at the crowd around you. “It’ll be fun! Don’t worry about them,” he added, his voice growing slightly quieter as he gestured toward them with his free hand. “They’re just jealous they didn’t ask you to dance first!”
You felt your cheeks warm up at the statement, though you couldn’t quite tell if it was from flattery or embarrassment. “I’m... not very good at dancing,” you muttered, attempting one last time to decline.
“That’s okay!” Kalim beamed at you. “Just follow my lead!”
Before you could try to protest anymore, he dragged you into the crowd of dancers. The lively music was quite nice, and his enthusiasm was infectious. Though your first couple of steps were awkward, Kalim’s energy made it hard not to smile.
He twirled you around, his laughter ringing out like a melody. “See? You’re a natural!” he grins, voice full of encouragement.
You let out a laugh of your own, your nerves from before disappearing, if only slightly. As the two of you danced, you couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly he moved, like he’d done this a thousand times before. And despite everything you'd seen and heard about people like him, this wasn’t so bad. He wasn’t so bad. Maybe Mira was wrong about them.
The both of you were having fun, not at all caring about all the stares and whispers around you, at least until someone cleared their throat loudly behind you.
You froze mid-step, turning your head to see a figure standing slightly away from the both of you. Their sharp gray eyes stared into your own, their expression unreadable but clearly unimpressed.
“Kalim,” the figure said, their tone calm but firm. “Your parents are asking for you.”
Kalim’s grin faltered for just a moment as he quickly took a glance at you before he nodded. “Okay! Please lead me to them, Jamil!” he grinned again, now finally letting go of your hand.
The figure’s gaze—apparently named Jamil—shifted to you. His gaze made your skin crawl slightly before he bowed toward you, his eyes never once leaving you.
You sent a small, polite smile before bowing slightly yourself. He raised an eyebrow briefly before turning to lead Kalim away, who waved at you with a grin, making you return it halfheartedly. Slightly hoping this would be the last time you meet the white-haired male.
The buffet table infront of you was big, elegant dishes with meats, fruits, and delicate pastries lay all over the table. The scent of spices filled the air, making your stomach rumble as you looked at it all. You hesitatly raise your hand towards the food, while looking around you. Before grabbing a small pastry and stuffing it into your mouth.
A satisfied hum leaves you as you taste it, it was really good. Better than anything you've ever stolen before. You quickly make you way to the end of the buffet, a more calm side of the room. Before placing a few things in your bag, while trying to keep a neutral expression, making sure no one suspected anything.
As you reached for another plate of food— mainly bread and fruits, your attention was pulled toward a conversation to your right. A group of servants were whispering. Their voices were low but clear enough for you to overhear.
“The treasure room has more guards tonight,” one of them murmured. “I heard they’ve been reassigned there for portection of all the treasure's.”
“The windows would the only way in now,” another servant added. “I’ve seen the vault door locked tight tonight, so there’s no way in from the hallway.”
You smirk slightly, pretending to casually reach out for a drink as you edged closer, ears strained to catch every word. “It wouldn’t be long before someone catches on,” the first servant muttered. “Better keep an eye out to the windows when switching shifts to the kitchen.”
Before you could fully digest the conversation, you heard footsteps approaching as the group disperses, and you quickly take a sip of the drink as you grab another pastry, hoping to make yourself look busy. You quickly finish whatever was in your glass as you put it down and slowly make your way to the exist of the ball room.
The loud talking of the ballroom fades into a muffled hum as you slip through the quieter hallways of the palace, you admire the beautiful decorations as you try to quietly make your way though. The golden detail on the walls gleam faintly in the dim light, the soles of your shoes were silent against the polished floors, you remember one of the older boys in the slums teach you and Mira how to quietly walk like this.
You feel your heart pound with a mix of fear and exhilaration. If Mira's plan worked, you'd be out of here before anyone realized what had happened, with jewel you could sell and money that would last you all for a lifetime.
The servants' words replay in your head. The windows, the treasure room. It sacred you slightly, if you mess it up your life would be done for in the blink of an eye. Still, desperation fuels you, and you’re determined to find it.
Eventually, you spot an ornate archway leading to an open courtyard. The cool night air greets you as you step out, you scan for any sign of guards, and find none. Your gaze shifts upwards, spotting balconies and terraces that line the palace. A route to the roof. You exhale sharply and move into the shadows.
Just as your fingers grip the edge of a window covered by latticework to climb, you hear the distinct sound of footsteps behind you. You immediately let go and make yourself look presentable.
You see a figure walk through the arch you just came from, as he look at you. His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Are you lost?" The voice is calm but sharp, with a slight tinge of suspicion. It wasn’t hard to tell he found you suspicious.
You recognize the figure to be the same one as before in the ballroom, the one that had stopped your dance with the asim heir—Jamil was his name if you remembered correctly.
His dark eyes seemed to pierce through you, one of his brows raised in a question that felt more like a challenge. His arms are crossed, but his posture relaxed, it put you slightly on edge.
“Oh!” You exclaim, forcing a sheepish smile as you force yourself to walk towards him. “I—I didn’t mean to wander off. I was just… trying to find the exit.” You let out a nervous laugh, wringing your hands. “I need to leave. My sibling… they got injured, I just received a message.. and I need to check on them.”
Jamil’s expression doesn’t shift, but his eyes flicker briefly toward the arch you both had come from. “The main exit is on the other side of the palace,” he says coolly. “You’re heading the wrong way.”
Your heart races, but you try to keep your tone as steady as possible. “Oh, I—thank you for letting me know. I must’ve gotten turned around.”
His gaze sharpens, and for a moment, you swear he’s about to call your bluff. But then, he steps backwards and gestures toward the hall he had come from. “Allow me to escort you out,” he offers, tone polite but firm. “I wouldn’t want you to get lost again.”
You hesitate, you felt your mind racing. Refusing would only make him more suspicious, so you force down any hesitation you had and nod reluctantly, a forceful grateful smile fromjng on your face. “That’s very kind of you, thank you.”
As he leads you through the halls, his posture remains calm, but his sharp eyes occasionally flick toward you, like he was studying every move you make. You try to keep your expression neutral, but the weight of his gaze makes your skin crawl with fear.
When you finally reach the grand entrance, Jamil stops and turns to face you. His expression is unreadable as he bows slightly. “I trust you’ll make it home safely.”
You force a polite nod, murmuring a quiet thanks before stepping out into the cool night air. As you walk away from the palace, you feel the intensity of his gaze on your back, as though he’s memorizing every detail about you.
Once you’re out of sight, you exhale shakily, you could sneak back in. But you didn't want to risk it, so you walk back towards the dirty slums you came from a frown etched on your face.
Jamil: Hmm, the width of this street is much narrower than I thought… If it were to turn the corner here…
Ortho: Jamil Viper-san! What are you doing here of all places? The afternoon classes will begin soon.
Jamil: Ortho… Maybe you could hear me out.
Ortho: Th-That's a pretty serious look you got going on… Sure. If you're alright with it, I can listen to what you have to say…
Jamil: So, tomorrow is my birthday…
Ortho: Huh, your birthday!? Happy Birthday!
Jamil: Thanks. I'm happy to celebrate it, but because of it, I'm in a bit of a conundrum.
Jamil: Well... It seems that Kalim has been plotting something for my birthday.
Ortho: Eh, plotting something? Is he planning something ominous…!?
Jamil: So, after coaxing hints out of him, and gathering more info from other folks around me, I finally was able to piece together his plan.
Jamil: Apparently, he's been planning alongside my dormmates on throwing a birthday parade in my honor down main street.
Ortho: Oh, nice, that sounds fun. Isn't it a good thing that he wants to throw a parade?
Jamil: Seriously… Do you even get how expensive parades can be, not to mention the difficulties of pulling one of successfully?
Jamil: I was so worried about it, I stole a glance at their plans, and just as I expected, it's not well thought out at all.
Jamil: If, somehow, it was to be a disaster and he says, "let's try again tomorrow!" it could further inflate the costs and labor.
Jamil: Plus, I'm not supposed to know about it, so I can't stop it. If I try to run interference, they might try something else which would also be just as bad…!
Jamil: That's why I thought about what could be done to successfully pull this off quick and painlessly, while minimizing any damage Kalim and the others could do...
Jamil: Which is why I am now secretly examining the proposed parade route prior to the event.
Ortho: Eh. So, you're telling me that you're basically doing the prep work for your own parade…?
Jamil: Don't remind me… I'm feeling pretty embarrassed by it already…
Ortho: B-But hey, you're still excited for your birthday, right? Especially since it's your special day!
Jamil: ….Yeah, I guess it's okay. It's a day where I don't have to stress about so many things.
Ortho: Oh, hey, so, what about if you try to surprise everyone else during the parade instead?
Ortho: Maybe you could shoot off fireworks at the front of the parade, or try summoning something via magic!
Jamil: I see… I mean, it is pretty irritating to always be on the receiving end of surprises. Might not be bad to see their shocked faces.
Jamil: Thanks, Ortho. I'll think about it.
[Scarabia Dorm – Lounge]
Jamil: Alright, now. I think I'll put together my lunch for tomorrow before taking a shower… Hm? Oh, what are you guys still here for?
[Scarabia mob students stand there awkwardly]
Jamil: Eh, nothing? Don't worry about it? What's that plate you just tried to hi… No, nevermind.
Jamil: I know nothing. That's right, I know nothing… So, please… Please let things go as planned…!
Jamil: …Whew. Tomorrow's a busy day, so I guess I'll finish up what needs to be done, too.
[Scarabia Dorm – Jamil's Room]
Jamil: Ah, whew. Today was another full day…
[Scarabia Dorm – Jamil's Room]
[Jamil's roommate greets him]
Jamil: I'm back. …Yeah, that's right. There were so many people in the washroom that it took forever to take a shower.
Jamil: You were done pretty quickly, though… Oh, are you actually studying for once?
Jamil: What, because you're going to be busy tomorrow? Oh, so you're saying you're not studying because you want to… Nah, don't mind me, doesn't matter the reason, better you go ahead and do it.
[paper slips to the ground]
Jamil: Hey, you dropped something… Oh, right, the Headmaster did send out a notice earlier.
「Survey on Quality of Life Improvements for the Student Body」
Jamil: Quality of life improvements, huh. Then they should start with making the shower rooms bigge… Achoo!
Jamil: That's no good. I should dry my hair quickly before I catch a cold.
Jamil: Oh, I almost forgot, I received some hair milk from Najma for my birthday. I should apply some before drying.
Jamil: Urgh, the scent's pretty strong. What is this scent…? Lotus flowers? Oh, she should know this is way too fragrant for me!
Jamil: Is she just trying to mess with me even for my birthday? No, wait, she's more the type to have not put that much thought into it.
Jamil: I'll make sure to at least thank her… Before going back to my usual oils from tomorrow... Hey, I'm going to use the dryer.
Jamil: I can't really take my time drying my hair in the shared washroom. Especially since I require a lot more time…
[starts blow-drying hair]
Jamil: …Improvements, huh. Now that I think about it, I guess it could be useful to have a large standing mirror in the room.
Jamil: Whenever I'm setting my hair in the morning, it's pretty inconvenient that I can't see the back of my head. What I'd really like is a three-sided mirror.
Jamil: If I had known there wouldn't be one in these rooms, I probably would have brought one. Or maybe, I should write and request one.
Jamil: …Nah, it'll just get in my roommate's way. And I wouldn't want it to be used without permission… I dislike having to share my personal items.
Jamil: If I were to try and request some kind of new implement for the room, I think it'd have to be…
Jamil: A COMMERCIAL-GRADE REFRIGERATOR!!!
Jamil: That's exactly what I need! Ah, yes… It would be insanely convenient to have a refrigerator in my room!
Jamil: Sure, there is a fridge in the dorm kitchens, but it is a little too far from my room. Like, the last time I made ice cream…
Jamil: I'd have to wake up in the middle of the night and make countless trips back and forth to the kitchen to stir it. That was frustrating, especially since I was sleepy, and it's a good distance away.
Jamil: It'd be better if I had one in my room. And then I might as well also get a wide sink, stove and oven too…
Jamil: …Wait, that's basically a whole kitchen, huh? I guess it's not really something you'd put in a bedroom.
[finishes blow-drying hair]
Jamil: Alright, it's mostly dry now. I'll just apply some oil, and… done.
Jamil: Hey. Sorry for all the noise again today… WAIT, HUH, HE'S ALREADY ASLEEP EVEN THROUGH THE LOUD HAIR DRYER NOISE!?
Jamil: Geez, he doesn't have a care in the world, huh. I almost feel kind of jealous.
Jamil: Alright, then. Time to look over my notes and prepare for tomorrow, then go to sleep.
[Scarabia Dorm – Jamil's Room]
[alarm rings]
Jamil: Hrn… It's morning already… Yaaawn.
Jamil: I'm still sleepy… But there shouldn't be a crowd in the bathroom this early… I should go wash my face while it's empty…
Jamil: Whew. I feel more refreshed now that I've washed my face… I really do like it in the mornings, since no one else is around.
Jamil: Looks like my roommate is still sleeping, so I'll just go ahead and quickly finish up my appearance for today.
Jamil: I guess I'll start with my makeup. Hm… Yeah, I think I'll just go with my usual palette.
Jamil: First, my sunscreen and colored lip balm. And I'll need eyeliner… Ah, looks like it's almost gone.
Jamil: I still have some spares, but I'll have to make sure to buy some extra.
Jamil: It was a little frustrating when the last eyeliner I would always use took off on Magicam and became hard to find.
Jamil: It's annoying when you can't even keep using the cosmetics you like because they go out of stock.
Jamil: I'd rather they keep a consistent stock of their standard products, instead of trying to come out with new colors each season.
Jamil: I'll have to look for some other brands next time, something that's water proof, and won't come off even if I sweat from running or cooking.
Jamil: …Alright, I'm done. Next, I just need to set my hair.
Jamil: First, I'll take my hair oil and rub it into the ends of my hair to moisturize it… Good. Just from first glance, it doesn't look like there's any damaged strands.
Jamil: It's nice that ever since I've grown out my hair, I don't wake up to bed head, but… I never expected to have to spend this much time taking care of it.
Jamil: Letting it grow out may be easy to do, but it wouldn't do to let it go wild. Grooming it well should be the bare minimum of etiquette.
Jamil: Especially since I don't want to be seen as unsightly…. I'll just finish the braids with magic… And, done.
Jamil: …I've set it as perfectly as I normally do, but since today's my birthday, maybe I should try to spruce myself up just a little more than usual?
Jamil: Today should be a pretty long day, so I think I'll use a stronger eyeliner… Might not be bad to add a splash of color, too.
Jamil: Not only do I have the dorm party, but my clubmates have also reached out, and I promised to get together with my classmates, as well.
Jamil: …Ah, well. Looks like today is going to be one busy day. Heheh.
[Main Street]
[birthday celebration cheers]
Ortho: Ah, I spy Jamil Viper-san! Looks like he's having fun celebrating with everyone.
Ortho: Heheh… He was griping a lot yesterday, but he definitely seems like he's enjoying himself. He looks so happy!
Ortho: Hey, Jamil Viper-san! I'm here to celebrate, too. Happy Birthday!
Jamil: Hey, Ortho! You came all this way to join the celebration, too? Thanks, everyone.
hello, your oc x canon is cute, but could you not tag your oc x canon with the Kanata Yatonokami x reader tag please? When I search for Kanata x reader posts, I’d expect to see x reader stuff, not oc x canon, thanks so much! not trying to be mean or anything :(
of course 😋. i will try to don't do it again, sorry for the inconvenience!
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