Roses and wine. Items often brought as a lover’s apology or a celebration, but today, he brought them to a monument under the stars.
Heaving himself up onto the stone base (not as lightly as he might have done six years ago), Zevran took a moment to lay the roses by the feet of the stern, triumphant likeness of his Warden.
“Six years already, eh?” he chuckled, uncorking the wine and taking a swig of it for himself. “I think they’ve been kinder to you, than to me. Funny how things work out like that, eh?”
Leaning back, he rested a hand against the smoothly carved stone and closed his eyes. Moments like these were dangerous– far more than any assassin. Like this, with the cool Ferelden air lightly combing through his hair, he could imagine that it was a set of fingers instead. He could hear the crackle of a fire, the snuffling of his Warden’s mabari. The rise and fall of his lover’s chest against his back.
Any other day, he would try to distance himself. It was the reason why he had avoided this place– this monument. He had his sweetness with the Warden, now it was time to live in the present.
But now, he found himself dwelling on memories that had gone untouched for so long. How his lover’s eyes had flashed in the firelight, how his earring had gleamed upon their ear. The hushed whisper of his name under the cloak of stars, in nights much like this one.
Against this stone monument, he could imagine that instead of rock, it was warm flesh and smooth leathers he leaned against– a chest that would shake in laughter as he told tale after tale of his exploits in Antiva. It was almost too much. But on this night, he let himself remember how possible things had seemed then, despite having no guarantee of living to see the next day.
Closing his eyes, Zevran could almost delude himself that he could feel that familiar hand against his cheek. Or that the gust of wind carried soft words of adoration, whispered in an intimate tone. But when he opened his eyes, he saw that he was alone.
“It wasn’t fair, mi amor,” he murmured, his eyes growing cloudy. “We had such plans. You would have been the hero of the Fifth Blight, and I, your dashing lover. But the world took so much from you and it kept taking until there was nothing left. Ah… I suppose I wasn’t an exception, eh?”
Was it his fault, for thinking things would have been resolved so easily? For grasping for more than he was given, for the first time in his life? For believing that he, of all people, had a future?
Upturning the bottle, he left the wine to water the ground at the foot of the statue. “Perhaps I could not have made you happy,” Zevran said, glancing back with a smirk, even as his throat grew tight . “Perhaps such was never our fate. But I will never regret those days I shared with you, mi amor. You shall always stay in my heart.”
A sigh passed through him, as he turned his gaze to the stars. “I miss you, you know. Oftentimes, I find myself wondering how these six years would have passed, if I had been by your side. Perhaps you know peace now, and the passage of time is nothing for you. But these six years have felt like six lifetimes without you. I miss you,” he repeated, his eyes burning as slips of tears fell down his cheeks. “More than I can bear.”
Watching the dawn slowly peek over the horizon, Zevran felt a rush of melancholy, desiring nothing more than to experience this moment by the side of his love. But the sunrise was frigid, bringing nothing but fog and chill to his bones and weary heart. Soon enough, the commonfolk began to leave their houses to begin the new day, almost none of them noticing the abandoned roses left at the foot of their champion’s statue.
Behold, a 30-day OTP challenge! There may or may not be more of these challenges in the future, but for now, have fun with this one.
Your challenge is to create pieces inspired by 30 prompts in this challenge, one every day if you can. Create drawings, write short stories, or do any other form of creation. The prompts/inspirations are below the cut. If you’re thinking about doing this, be sure to reblog and share it!
You can message me here on tumblr or email at [email protected] and we can discuss details! Base prices are listed above (and in a readmore below).
I’ll be opening 5 slots for now.
Payment methods can be discussed but I would prefer to use Paypal.
look at this shot from the intro where alucard is kneeling as his mom being burned as a witch, representing how he’s carrying out her dying wishes by vowing to save wallachia from his father and protecting human life like she wanted in her final moments
((Happy belated AkuSai day everyone! Sorry I couldn’t post on the actual 7/8 as I was busy running a booth at a con. But!!! Here’s a little something for y'all ❤️💙))
The castle was cold. At first, it had been a bit of a shock to Axel, who had always loved the warmth of the sun. The drafty hallways offered little comfort, the tall windows looked out into an eternal night. His skin started to pale and crack as he felt himself wilting, much like a plant kept in the shade for far too long. It didn’t take much time before he became used to this, however, the leather coat he always wore the only barrier between himself and the cold, piercing darkness of his new home.
Perhaps it was out of necessity, or it was just coincidence- but as Axel learned to master his new powers over fire his body temperature also seemed to rise, as if the burning inferno inside of him was the replacement of the heart and soul he had lost several moons ago. The heat of his own body become enough to stave off the freezing temperatures, and during moments alone in his room when he wasn’t traveling through the darkness he was able to reprieve himself of the tight, bounding uniform.
The thick leather coat lay draped over his chair as Axel reclined in his bed, resting his curving back against the headboard as he propped a book open against his knees. Slanted green eyes roamed slowly across the page, pausing as he heard a quiet knock at the door.
“Come in.”
Axel finished reading the sentence before he looked up, only a little bit surprised to see the denim blue hair and pointed nose of his old friend across the way. There was a short silence.
“It’s been a while, Isa.”
The page was carefully marked and the book closed gently, Axel reaching to place it on the floor next to the bed before focusing his attention solely on the amber eyes boring into his. He waited expectantly, but Saix said nothing, staying near the door. Axel tilted his head curiously, watching him.
“Can I… help you somehow?”
Saix took a few steps into the room, his shoulders hunching upwards. He broke eye contact at last, looking more towards the side of Axel’s face than into his eyes.
“Yes, I need a full report on the last mission.”
Axel quirked a brow.
“I already gave it to you. I watched you file it.”
Something crossed over Saix’s face, subtle, but Axel wasn’t one to miss it. It was only then that he realized the slight tremors in the other man’s body as he shivered on the spot, curling in on himself.
“Ah, yes. That’s correct. You did. My apologies.” He turned back towards the door, flicking long hair over his shoulder. “I should take my leave of you.”
Axel stood from the bed before Saix could take more than two steps away, his bare toes curling against the chilled, concrete floor.
“Was there something else you wanted?”
His voice caused the other man to pause, one yellow eye looking over his shoulder at Axel. But again, he didn’t say anything. Axel closed the distance enough to reach for Saix’s wrist, tugging gently in an attempt to get him to turn towards him, look him full in the face, which he refused to do. And again, Axel noticed the subtle shivering, and frowned.
“You’re freezing…”
Saix sighed, turning at last to face Axel and shrugging, that same minute expression crossing his face, and before he could object Axel had pinched the finger of his glove and tugged the material off, placing his hand between his own two large ones.
“Saix, you’re like ice.”
Saix looked away, seeming embarrassed.
“Yes, Axel. This castle is cold. You know that. How you’re able to walk around without your coat on is beyond me.”
Axel lifted Saix’s hand to his mouth, blowing warm air across it as he rubbed warmth back into the pale skin.
“Come here, let me warm you up a little.”
Saix’s eyes widened, and before he could refuse Axel had wrapped his arms around the broader man in a loose embrace, the thin material of his black tank allowing the heat of his own skin to seep through. Saix froze, blinking as red invaded his vision- but the warmth was enticing, and he was still shivering, so Saix tucked his face against Axel’s heated neck as he forfeited his aloof front. It was useless to pretend he hadn’t come here for this exact reason.
“Sorry, you’re just- the only warm thing in this place…” Saix mumbled, closing his eyes as he tried not to breathe in the familiar scent of Axel’s neck.
Axel released Saix, removing his other glove so he could use the friction of his hands, brows drawn inwards in concern.
“You know, if you take that coat off-”
“Axel, I’m not here to-”
“I know. I just want to help.”
They stared at each other, Axel noting the pinkness that crossed the bridge of Saix’s nose, coloring the edge of his scar. But Saix reached for the large zipper, tugging it downwards until the coat dropped from his shoulders and piled onto the floor, leaving his matching black tank. He shivered harder with the loss of the coat, the hair on his bare arms raised as he crossed them determinedly. Axel brought Saix to the bed, pulling the thin blanket they were allowed up and over them before wrapping his arms around him once more, rubbing his hands up and down Saix’s arms in an attempt to bring heat back to the pale skin.
Saix tucked his face underneath Axel’s chin, not intent on looking the other in the face for the moment. The blanket helped trap the heat, and before long Saix was finally starting to thaw out, feeling warmth even in the tips of his fingers, everywhere except the hollow emptiness in his chest- but not even Axel could help with that.
“Any better…?”
Axel questioned him quietly, glancing down at the tops of blue spikes. He too was staring determinedly at the wall across from himself, trying to ignore the feeling of breath against his neck.
“…. yes. Thank you.”
They fell quiet again. Saix’s shivering slowly came to a stop, and soon he was able to unfurl from himself, his muscles unclenching from the cold.
The problem now was that he didn’t want to leave the warmth of Axel’s arms.
Saix glared against his neck as if this was Axel’s plan all along. But he stayed, and Axel’s arm loosened around him, now lazily slung across his waist, his hand still gently rubbing up and down his back.
They didn’t talk, but the silence became more comfortable the longer they lay together, until Axel found his eyelids becoming heavy. Their legs tangled together, and Saix didn’t object- Axel wondered if he was asleep, or just compliant at this point.
He decided it didn’t matter. Because for the moment, they could ignore the cold loneliness of the castle together.
An Akusai Hades/Persephone AU written for @flickrxsh in the @khsecretsanta exchange!! Hope you have a Happy New Year, and it was the best thing being your Secret Santa! Hope you enjoy!
In the time of gods and men, there was a nymph named Axel-- a herald of spring, whose subsequent job was to prepare the earth every year. That meant every flower had to be blessed to bloom, every river unfrozen, and every tree renewed. And this had to be done Every. Single. Year.
It was a monstrous bore.
“You ever think why we even bother having winter?” he loused one day, perched on the branch of a tree that had icicles still clinging to the boughs. “I mean, it’s an awful lot of work for something that’s just going to die again next winter.”
Roxas sighed, adjusting the closed bud of a forget-me-not and turning towards Axel with the all-suffering expression of someone who has heard this same complaint dozens upon dozens of times. “Don’t you ever pay attention to that speech they give us every year? Or did you manage to sleep through that again?”
“Guilty as charged,” Axel shrugged, a small smirk playing on his lips as he idly picked at the crown of leaves and branches in his hair.
“I swear, Axel, you sleep like the dead,” Roxas sighed, smiling despite himself as he turned towards the next flower bed.
“You’re just jealous that you couldn’t sleep through that tedious speech. It’s just as boring as everything we ever have to do. Spring dies, but then what? We’re stuck on the shelves ‘til the next year.”
“Well someone’s being morbid.”
“Call it a force of habit.” But then a certain gleam got into Axel’s eyes-- one Roxas had learned to dread. “But you know what would be really interesting for once?” he said, jumping down from the branch leaning against Roxas.
“Axel, don’t even--”
“Sneaking into Old Man Death’s kingdom,” Axel murmured conspiratorially, happy to try and persuade Roxas for the umpteenth time. “C’mon Rox! ‘The path to the underworld is easy,’ but the real challenge is coming back! Now that sounds like a good time.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” Roxas scoffed, brushing off the arm Axel had slung over his shoulder.
“And you’re being boring! It’s a challenge!”
“For idiots. Which, unfortunately, you fit the criteria.” Roxas sighed, finally turning around to face Axel. “Sneaking down into the underworld isn’t causing some minor mischief among mortals. Even the gods themselves must answer to the ruler there.”
“Which is exactly the sort of excitement we need! C’mon Rox… You gotta admit, this isn’t exactly the most glamorous job. What if we did something real? Something cool! Something that mortals would remember us for. Doesn’t that sound at all exciting to you?”
Roxas paused for a moment, and Axel could have sworn he had him then… But then the blond nymph sighed and merely moved onto the next meadow. “Nothing is worth the touch of death. Not when we are meant to bring spring and life into this world. Find me when you calm down, alright?” he added softly, leaving Axel to stand alone under the tree.
Thin lips twisted into a grimace, and Axel crossed his arms and huffed out a sigh. “Figures,” he mumbled, moving to lay against the trunk. “So much for that.”
“... So much for what?” came a quiet voice, not too far from Axel.
“Huh? Who’s there?”
“Just an observer,” the voice murmured, almost crooning with the creak of the branches. “Nothing to be frightened of.”
“What a creep... “ Axel muttered, sighing out through his nose. “Why don’t you bother coming out where I can see you, huh? You don’t sound exactly trustworthy hiding in the shadows like that.”
“If that is what you wish, then of course.” And from the shadows came a cloaked figure-- its hood obscuring most of its facial features, save for a lock of blue hair standing stark from the darkness of his robes. “Is this better?”
Axel gave a noncommittal noise at that, still not quite set at ease by the odd figure. “Whatever. There something you want?”
“Something that I want? No, no… But I did catch that there was something you desired.”
Green eyes snapped open at that, and Axel turned more towards the cloaked figure now. “I’m listening.”
“You desire immortality. Or to be more specific, to be remembered for your deeds. I can give that to you.” Extending a pale, deathly white hand from the folds of his cloak, the man snapped his fingers as a ball of fire encompassed his hand, flashing bright then leaving a vibrant fire lily poised in his hand. “My gift, to you.”
The nymph found himself strangely entranced by the flower, unable to tear his eyes away from it. “... What is it exactly? Looks like any old flower to me.”
A deep, amused chuckle emerged from the hood of the cloak, and Axel could imagine that for a second he could catch a glimpse of thin, bloodless lips. “It is so much more than that. This flower is a symbol of the possibilities that lay in wait for you. Drink from its nectar… and you will become so much more than you ever dreamed. More than a mere nymph… A hero. I see the thought pleases you?”
Quickly, Axel wiped off the dreamy look on his face and instead attempted to look passably nonchalant-- and absolutely not tempted by such a notion. “A pretty promise,” he sneered. “But that definitely doesn’t sound free. What’s the price for your second-rate daisy?”
“Very astute of you,” the figure smirked, managing to sound respectful and condescending at once. “My price is not anything you would miss. A trifle, really.”
“Quit beating around the bush and tell me.”
“... Allow me to witness what you become. Give me that, and you shall have your flower and the dreams that come along with it.”
Axel scoffed, smirking in satisfaction. “Some kind of bargainer you are. Fine, you can witness all you like, but that’s it alright?”
“Then we are agreed,” the figure nodded, “Come then, and claim your prize.”
With a prideful smirk, Axel sauntered over to the figure and plucked the flower from his grasp. “You know, I almost feel as if I’m cheating you,” he chuckled before letting the lily’s nectar drip onto his tongue. However, as soon as the liquid fell past his lips, Axel felt his legs buckle underneath him as he immediately fell to the forest floor.
Watching the crown of leaves and branches fall from the nymph’s head, the figure stepped closer as he watched the potion’s effects take hold. “I’m afraid that’s quite impossible,” he murmured, bending to scoop Axel into his arms as his hood fell back-- exposing blue hair and golden eyes. “For no one can cheat death.”
And so the god of death stepped back into the shadows-- eager to claim his consort in the kingdom of the dead.
i know im getting really annoying today, im so sorry. but final final question until i finish the really long one shot is thingy. do you mind if its platonic akusai?
psssh you’re totally fine!! feel free to keep asking things BECAUSE I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU YA DORK!! AND NOPE I DON’T MIND AT ALL!! tbh i’m just flattered that you’re writing a fic! go with whatever you want to do in the story!
