Hello everyone! How are you doing? I'm a new user here on tumbrl, and I decided to make this account to share some ideas and stories about my favourite series(whichever they might be). I notice there are not that many, so I took it upon myself. Or anything else in general. Feel free to leave a comment or suggestion for any possible ideas you might have! I'd be more that happy to write your requests!
If you are interest in checking some of my other works, you can find my accounts on wattpad under the names @/marshmallowmingi and @/NineTailedFox117.
I'm looking forward to meeting you guys. Even if you want a quick chat, I'll be here.
That's all for now. I hope you have a good time here! Love you all!
(I will add fandoms every time something interests me)
Hello everyone! I hope you're having a great day or night. Here's another small idea that had been sitting in the drafts for quite some time. I hope you enjoy. Happy reading! Until next time! ^^
Day Dreaming
Zeo Abyss x f!reader
W: abuse, injuries, blood, ooc behavior (let me know if I missed anything)
It was the fifth time this week. The fifth time she felt this nagging sensation, like someone was violating her space. But that couldn't be further from the truth. Because physically, she was alone. A body among bodies. Noone in the sea of people.
Yet, there was something. She couldn't place her finger on it.
She turned her head, scanning inside her small bookshop in case someone was watching her, someone needed her. But nothing. Everyone was lost in their own little world, speaking among friends, family. Eating their sweets and reading their books.
She sighed. Nothing out of the ordinary. She checked her phone. And for what? She knew she wouldn't find any messages or calls from loved ones. She was alone at her job. Her relationship with her parents was rocky, wanting nothing to do with the daughter that wouldn't be shaped into their mould. Her siblings had long since stopped talking to her, they didn't have the best relationship, even when they were younger. No friends from college or any other part of her adult life.
She was alone.
And as much as she tried to convince herself that she could handle it, she wasn't fooling anyone. Only herself.
How pathetic.
~~~~
Her garden was exquisite. She had thought and imagined every last detail, to the types of flowers, their colour, the animals that roamed around...
She pictured herself wearing a long, flowy, purple gown, its fabric and dramatic long sleeves swaying with the wind.
Something that she wouldn't dare wear in reality. She was sure there was not a piece of clothing like this anyway, or whether she could pull it off. But in here, she felt the prettiest woman in the world.
She looked around the makeshift space, where her eyes landed, the scenery bursted, filling its space with whatever she conjured. Real or made up creatures. Flowers with colours more vibrant than in real life.
A pair of white fawns, with long horns embellished with flowers passed beside her, their destination unknown. When a gust of air almost knocked her off the ground, she lifted her head to gaze upon a huge red scaled dragon.
She looked in the distance, drawing a huge castle, not yet formed, since she didn't know how she wanted it.
She imagined that someone was waiting on her from her unfinished castle, someone that wanted to see her just as much as she did.
And then something shifted. Something changed.
She turned around, the feeling of eyes at the back of her skull returning. But no one was there. But there was something.
She looked at her garden. She didn't know what compelled her to do so. And she saw it.
On a small part, in the far corner, was a patch of orange. Quite vibrant also, it wasn't hard to miss. That wasn't there before. She was sure if that. She had meticulously picked the flowers.
Tulips, poppies, calendulas.
That wasn't her. Even though she found the flowers beautiful, she wasn't the one to put them there. Besides, she didn't like orange.
What was happening again?
~~~~
The bell from above the door signalled another customer walking out. Maybe they had said good night, maybe they didn't. She hadn't heard them. And she sure wasn't ready to greet them back.
She sighed yet again, her shoulders slumping in the process. Closing her book and placing it gently on the counter, she stood up and moved to the now dirty table, picking up their trash.
She moved to the rubbish bin to dispose of the crampled papers and crumbles, when she saw him.
He was sitting at the far end of her shop, hunched over a book, wearing his usual orange and purple hoodie. He had his back at her, so he wasn't able to see the small smile that formed on her lips.
She would recognise that hoodie everywhere. The first few times, she thought he had nothing else to wear, but each time he came, and he visited quite often, he sported a different shade of it. Or different variations, with different colors and prints. But always orange.
She didn't know what his story was, they never really talked. She tried at first, but it seemed he wasn't keen on talking. Well, she wasn't going to blame him. And he was always the last customer to leave her shop. That's what had picked her interest.
There were a few times when she had to shoo him politely. He seemed so lost, as if he had not realised time had passed. He had apologised profusely, embarrassed by his actions and gone his merry way.
It happened again. And again. Until she stopped. After he quite embarrassingly asked her if he could stay until closing, with that sad and hopeless look on his face, she didn't have the heart to reject him. Besides, he was completely harmless. Always in his spot, always ordering the same thing, always leaving the same time.
It had become a routine. One that she wouldn't mind keeping.
She moved towards her pastry section, eyeing the two left over pieces. Orange pie. With whole slices of oranges and syrup on top. Not one of her bestsellers.
But his favourite.
She was in the process of putting it off the menu, since not many people seemed to like it. Besides, it took a hefty amount of time to prepare. But when a certain man came and ordered two slices the first day, and every day after that, she decided to keep it.
After that, he didn't even had to order it. It was always ready, on his table by the time he reached the shop. Always the same time.
Without wasting time, she boxed the remaining sweets and moved to his table and set them gently near him.
He turned his head to look at her, her eyes mesmerised by the sight each time she looked at him.
And he was the most beautiful man she had ever seen. But his eyes. They looked so.. Lifeless. Like someone removed any color and warmth from his blue irises. The dark circles under them were visible, even with the limited lighting.
Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't been so close to a human being before, let alone a man of his structure. She coughed awkwardly, willing to get his attention back to the box, with great success.
"I figured you might enjoy them. I was going to throw them out anyway." She added, maybe to appear.. She didn't know, less stalkerish?
She couldn't exactly say, 'I have been watching you closely, learned your order by heart, and now that we're alone, I thought of making you this as a gift because you seemed sad'. Wow. That was one way to put it.
After some minutes, which he seemed to be boring holes into the bag, his face moved again to look at her, but something changed in them. She didn't exactly know what. They glistened, like some film appeared on top of them.
"Thank you." He whispered, and without saying another word, he took the bag and after muttering a small goodbye, he walked out the door.
Strange. What happened all of a sudden?
~~~~
He had to leave. His mind and heart couldn't handle the way she was looking at him.
Once he stepped outside, it was like he entered another world. People were outside, walking, talking with their loved ones. His mind was bouncing from thoughts to thoughts, the close proximity to him making it hard to control his gift.
He searched his car, parked just a few meters away. He sighed in relief once he sat down, his face buried in his hands.
Tears were running down his face. For a reason unexplainable to him. He didn't know why he was acting like a crybaby.
Was it the memory of his parents words and actions? Was it the way his back throbbed with new injuries? Was it the way the sweet bookshop owner offered him his favourite dessert, so anxious and unsure of herself? Was it the thought that, after years, she was the only one that he felt such a connection to?
He looked down, seeing the sealed box on his lap. An unconscious smile graced his lips.
He remembered every interaction he had with her, though limited, each one branded on his mind. He had stumbled by accident on her small shop, intrigued by the colourful exterior and even more colourful inside.
And when he spotted her behind the counter, with that soft smile and kind words greeting him, he was a goner. He hadn't meant for this to happen, but who could stop the way his heart leapt every time he saw her?
With each visit, he was sure he learned something new about her. They hadn't spoken much, didn't have any interaction at all, but he could feel it.
From the way her smile didn't reach her eyes, from the way she made herself seem smaller than she was. How her eyes were always cast down, hollow and empty. It was as if he was looking at a mirror. And he didn't like that. He didn't even know her, and yet he was adamant on wanting to make her happy.
But he was a coward. A crybaby, a sensitive little boy that couldn't do anything right. Someone that hid inside people's minds, in order to deny looking at his own.
He hadn't meant to peer into her thoughts. Sometimes, when he was overwhelmed, it happened on its own, invading people's minds without his consent. But sometimes, when he was calm and collected, he could choose and focus on one person. And he got curious.
It was like a warm hug enveloped him. Like the sun after a rainy day. Like a warm cup of his favorite coffee.
And it was downhill after that. He visited every day. When things got rough, he went and got lost in her head. He knew it wasn't right. He was violating her in some sense. Because he could see, not only the things she imagined or wished, but her fears, insecurities, everything. But he couldn't stop.
Because he was a coward, someone not even worth to be in the same vicinity at her. How pathetic.
The moment his car reached his home, shivers raked his spine. He was dreading it from the moment he hurriedly left the shop.
Was this what a home was supposed to be like? Full of fear, apprehension, dread, emptyness. It wasn't like he could change anything. At least for the time being.
He took some deep breaths to calm his wildly beating heart, willing his body to move. He hid the box with the sweets in his bag, because, God forbid his parents learnt about his visits to the bakery.
The lights were visible from the many windows, meaning they were awake. He opened the door, making sure to cause the least ammount of noise.
"Well, well, look what the cat dragged in." His father's condescending tone reached his ears.
Don't react. Don't react. He spoke to himself.
He walked more inside, seeing his parents sitting in the living room. His mother, back straight and poised as ever sat on the plush white couch, not even turning her eyes to look at him. As for his father, he occupied the armchair, his trusty cane held in his hands.
He only nodded in response, fear shutting down any normal answer he may have given.
And that wasn't the right response.
He watched his father stand up and come to where he stood.
The first hit came to his stomach, effectively cutting off his airflow from the suddeness of it, that he doubled over, kneeling.
His bag fell from his shoulders, leaving his father with more room to work, because the next cane came on his back. Hard. Right on his previous ones. He swallowed any noises he wanted to make. He wouldn't want to make him angrier than he was already.
"I expect an answer when I speak to you."
"Yes. I'm sorry." He muttered weakly, putting a great effort into lifting his body from the floor.
"You'll be coming with me tomorrow. I have some things to take care of."
"Yes." He answered, not excited at all for this change in his schedule.
Neither of them commented any further and that was his que to move to his room. It looked like a hotel room, more than what a person's room was supposed to be like. There were no personal touches, no photos, no posters, no nothing. Only his bed, a bookcase with books about finance and other similar things and a desk. In the most boring colours.
He set his bag down and got ready for bed. He made sure to patch any parts of his body that needed treatment, and laid down on his bed.
He spent his time looking at the ceiling way more than he liked to admit. His head was filled only with the sweet woman in the book shop and her vivid imagination.
~~~~
His table was empty. The coffee had grown cold and the pastry laid lifeless on the plate.
She sighed for the uptinth time, her fingers drumming anxiously on the desk.
Why did it bother her anyway? It's not like anything would have happened. But he never missed a day. Was he alright? Did something happen?
'Gosh, relax, it's not the end of the world. Maybe he decided he didn't want to visit today.'
The hours were ticking painfully slow. The sky had changed a million colours, until it settled on its dark blue colour, and still no sight of her orange customer.
She packed the remaining sweets, five slices of orange pie among other things, and closed her shop. Her house was a few blocks away, so walking was the only way to go.
And before that, it was a police station. That was the only reason she felt safe this late at night at this neighbourhood. Not that there were many incidents, but better be safe than sorry.
Oftentimes, like this one, she visited the station to give the pastries to the officers, who were more than happy to receive them after a day's work. It was always the highlight of her day.
Her steps were slow, there was no rush. The night sky was bright tonight, the moon visible way too close to the earth, illuminating the scene.
She imagined the sun and the moon. She had read once people describing them as lovers, and she kept visualising them as such from then on. And what an unfortunate but breathtaking love story.
Lovers that would never meet, that would never share the same sky. Each one so selfless, that always made room for the other in the vast universe. The moon, sweet and shy, that couldn't stand the brightness and vigor of the sun. And the sun, who loved the moon dearly, gifted the stars to remember. To make it the most beautiful sight the world had ever seen.
And she stood there, seeing their exchange. The sun, a firey and bright being, while the moon looked silver and liquidy.
'So pretty.'
She stopped in her tracks and turned around, looking. Had someone spoken to her? What was that voice just now? And a male one at that. A quite familiar one at that.
There was noone around her. Not one that she could see anyway. She didn't stop looking around though, and that was when she spotted an orange hoodie, sitting at a nearby bench.
Her heart skipped a beat without even knowing. Her steps halted. She was left looking at the man she hadn't seen all day, sitting on a bench outside. What were the odds?
At that moment, the box in her grasp felt heavier.
~
He felt her before he saw her. The previous images of her thoughts, still lingering in his head. How expressive, how vibrant.
She was close, that was the sole reason he was able to unconsciously, at this point, venture into her thoughts. How he heard his voice inside her vision and how it cut so abruptly.
Why did this happen? He hadn't been able to talk to people's thoughts. Had she heard him? Did she knew something was off? Did she knew about him? Questions, on top of questions, that wasn't their day to be answered.
She had sat down, in a reasonable distance from him. He wondered why she decided to sit on the bench he occupied, seeing the three empty ones in their vicinity. But, he wasn't going to tell her off.
His hood was pulled over all the way, hiding his hurting face. His swollen cheek and black eye wasn't something that people wanted to see. And even more by her. He discreetly fixed it, bringing it lower and lower.
He saw movement from the corner of his eyes. He saw her rummaging inside a bag, pulling plastic utensils? What was she doing?
Suddenly, a plate filled with orange pie was placed in from of him. And only then did he turn his head to look at the sweet bookshop owner next to him, offering him the sweet treat.
His eyes bore into her, before signalling the plate, as if to confirm that this was for him. She slowly nodded and he gingerly took the plate in his hands.
"How..?" Was the only word he could muster at this point. He was filled to the brim with emotions and confusion he couldn't control, rendering him speechless to understand the situation.
"I recognise your hoodie. Not to sound like a stalker, but you always wear the same colour. You must really like it. Not that it's any of my business what colours you like or wear." She laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of her neck. Even with the limited lights of the lampposts, he was sure she was sporting a beautiful shade of pink.
He chuckled lightly, quick to reassure her that it was fine. Even though his chest constricted. She remembered him.
He tried smiling, which brought immediate pain on his face, making him wince. He ducked his head again away from her vision, hopeful that she hadn't seen his reaction.
She took a plate identical to his, putting another one of the sweets on it before she started munching on it. For the longest time, noone said a word.
The two lone souls shared sweets under the moon's watchful eye. It felt.. Peaceful, serene. The way neither of them made a move to talk, simply to not ruin the calm atmosphere.
And yet, there was no awkwardness, no fidgeting, she realised. At any other point in her life, she would have scrambled to find something to talk, anything to keep their conversation going. To not appear as uninteresting and boring as she really way. But now?
That moment felt entirely new to her, surreal even.
And even though she was itching to speak to him, just to hear his voice, for a reason she wasn't even sure herself, she remained quiet. Her curiosity would have to wait, until he decided whether he wanted to speak to her or not. Which was totally fine.
~
He kept stealing glances at her. She wasn't paying him any mind, too focused on her treat to acknowledge his battered self.
The cake in his plate was long gone, leaving its bittersweet aftertaste in his mouth. And a bittersweet feeling in his heart.
They didn't share many words. And yet he felt like they talked about everything.
He should have said something, but the calmness that surrounded him the moment she sat down next to him, rendered him speechless. How could she have such an effect on him?
It felt like time was running away. And this feeling reinforced itself when he saw her packing her things, ready to leave.
No, just a few more minutes. Just a second longer.
His hand made a move on its own, his fingers lightly grasping the sleeve of her jacket. She turned around to look at him, more specifically his hand. He almost squealed, letting her go at once.
What was he thinking?
"Do you need something?" She asked him sweetly, clueless about his internal turmoil.
How stupid, how embarrassing, how pathetic.
"Umm, no... I just.. Emm.. I wanted to say thank you for.. The.. Pie?" He replied, stumbling over his own words. What was wrong with him? He hoped his excuse was believable.
She giggled. And he almost forgot how to breath. It sounded so pretty, the sound reminding him of little wind chimes. The one's in his grandmother's house, where he used to spent hours watching them.
"It's quite alright. Matter of fact, you can have these." She said, setting the box next to him. "You seem to enjoy them, so.. They're yours."
"No, please, that's way too generous of you. At least, let me pay for them." He made a move to grab his wallet from his back pocket, but she stopped him.
"There is no need for that! I was going to drop them off at the station. So, please, there is no need."
He turned around quickly, ready to protest once more, when his hand accidentally moved his hoodie, just enough for his hurt face to flash at her.
Her eyes widened, moving closer to him as he watched like a deer caught in headlights, scrambling to cover his hideous face.
"Oh, my! What happened? Who did this to you? Did you.. Fall from somewhere?"
He cringed at her words, her concered face way too close to his own. She didn't touch, just observed, trying to identify the cause of the problem. The moment his eyes landed on her own pained ones, as if his pain was her own, any excuse he had to offer died on his tongue.
"Yeah, something like that.."
"It needs to be treated! Cmon, I have some ice in the shop we could use..." And took his hand gently in her own.
They both paused for just a second, noone understanding the lifelike sparks, buzzing on their skin.
"Please, don't trouble yourself! I'll get it checked at home."
"It may be too late. It looks kinda swollen. Please, it's only a couple minutes. I would hate myself if I let you like this."
After a moment of hesitation, he finally gave in. He realised, he was unable to refuse her, not when she looked like an adorable kitten. He was screwed.
So, he let himself be carried back into her shop. And that was his current predicament. Sitting in one of her chairs, a packet of ice wrapped in a towel held firmly on his face.
He watched her from his position, gathering things behind the counter he was unable to see. He was thankful for the ice numbing his face, effectively bringing his mind into reality. Into his current situation.
She came back minutes later, holding different medical things.
"You really don't have to do this. The ice is more than enough." He tried in vain to reason with her, but even his own voice sounded unconvincing to his own ears.
"It's no problem at all. Here let me just.." She motioned for the towel and gently took it away. She spotted some red on it, and soon enough, she saw the bruise on his cheek bleeding. Not a lot, but still there.
"It looks like it's bleeding. I will need to disinfect it and then put some gauze on top. Would that be alright? I promise, I'll be gentle."
He simply nodded. There wasn't much he could say at this point.
She looked down at his lap, his fingers twitching, pulling at the ends of his sweater. He was tense, fidgety. Had she overstepped his boundaries? Was this all too much for him?
She paused her movements, the cotton swab wetting her fingers with the excess disinfectant.
"I'm sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable. I just thought that, helping you was the least I could do."
He almost jumped from his chair, head and arms flailing around in an effort to reassure her.
"No, no. Please. It's not that. You're not making me uncomfortable. In fact, I kind of like your company. It's just that.. I don't want to trouble you!"
"But it's not trouble at all! I wouldn't have brought you here if I didn't want to."
"And I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to." He smiled to reassure her, wincing lightly.
She smiled at that. "If you say so."
And with that, she was back in business. She made sure to tell him beforehand any actions she was doing, hoping to cause him the least amount of pain.
He hissed when she passed over a more sore spot. She quickly apologised, cooing gently at him. She praised him, reassured him... As if she was talking to an injured animal.
And he would be lying if he said that this didn't affect him. That every time she told him that he did good, that everything was going to be fine, his heart did leaps inside his chest, his face stained permanently with the red colour.
Her fingers were almost softly on his chin, hovering near the skin, but never quite touching him. He could feel the warmth of her hand without even being in contact with it. Her other hand was carefully applying ointment on the bruised parts, around his eye, under it, on his cheek bone, then his cheek. Where she touched, fire followed her fingertips.
If he wasn't so enthralled by her, he would have bursted out crying. When was the last time someone had touched him so gently? When was the last time someone had treated and cared for his wounds instead of afflicting him with them? Why was this woman that barely knew him, acted as if she knew him her entire life?
"There. All done! I can give you some painkillers if you wish, and then you'll be all good." And without waiting for his response, she started cleaning around the table they were sitting.
He simply looked at her. He had no idea what expression he was making, but if anyone saw him, they would immediately understand.
Such adoration could not be described. Could not be captured by any camera or by any skillful artist.
This woman had done more for him in the span of a month than any other person in his twenty five years of living. Even when she wasn't aware, he was enveloped in her warmth. And today.. Today cemented that feeling.
She was his moon. His lighting beacon in this dark world. And he was going to give her every star in the galaxy.
"Thank you. For everything." He muttered, hoping to be heard and not at the same time.
Her lips quirked upright, acknowledging him. She turned her head to look at the clock, gasping at the sight. Two and half in the morning. Way later than she had anticipated.
"It's getting late." Her comment was left in the air, no meaning behind it. But he acted as if he was electrocuted.
Of course, how insensitive of him. He should have left, not waste her resting time.
"You should get some rest. I'll just see myself to the door." But wait.. Where was she going to go? Where was her house? It was already so late, it wouldn't be safe to walk to her house, even if it was close by.
"I could maybe drop you off to your house? If that's okay with you of course! I can drive us there. I wouldn't want you walking alone this late at night."
"Oh, there is not need for that. I have a spare room here, so I can crash here. But.." She chewed her lip, afraid to voice her thoughts, which were weird, and someone would have said that she was going crazy.
"Maybe you can sleep here with me. I have extra blankets. It might be dangerous driving this late at night."
His brain short circuited hearing her. Was she proposing he sleep here? In her room? With her?
She was right though. It was late, and he was feeling a lot more sleepy than he originally estimated, the thought of walking, let alone driving to his house sounded scary. He didn't trust himself. And he proposed to get her home! Was he planning on getting them killed?
"I can see you're tired. I can't let you drive like this. I promise, it's only for today."
"I suppose this is the most sensible solution. I promise to be a gentleman. You won't even realise I'm here."
And true to his words, he did just that. After helping her set the couch, which transformed into a bed, at the far end of the shop, he suggested he sleep on the floor.
She didn't know what compelled her to say it, but she persuaded him to sleep next to her on the bed.
By the time she went in and out if the bathroom to change, he was pressed to the far end of the couch made bed, closer to the wall, a fort of pillows splitting the furniture in half.
His face was conviniently looking at the other side, hiding himself so that she didn't have to see his red face. The thought of sharing a bed with anyone brought a wave of nervousness all over his body. But sharing a bed with his cute girl, definetly didn't help his case.
After not hearing much from her he turned to see her, a small smile sporting on her face.
"I.. I just thought this was the polite thing to do."
She chuckled lightly. "Oh, I understand. Don't worry. I appreciate the gesture." Even if she wouldn't mind the pillows not being there.
She took a set of blankets from a nearby cupboard, passing one to him, and he immediately took it, muttering a small thanks.
She opened her own, getting under the warm cocoon. The table light from her small desk was turned off soon after, darkness befalling into the room.
She stole a glance at him, seeing him laying stifly at his side, his day clothes still on.
"I'm sorry, but I didn't have any spare clothes that could fit you. It must be quite uncomfortable."
"What?" He turned, startled by hearing her talk to him. "Oh no, please. This is more than enough. The fact that you let me stay.. I was an inconvenience already. Please, I'm grateful. Don't worry about anything else."
She bit her lip, his words and tone were convincing, but she still thought she could accommodate him better.
"Sigh.. If you say so. I'll be more prepared next time."
They bid their goodnights, and each one tossed and turned in their side of the bed.
She stayed awake just a little longer, the realisation of what had transpired mulling inside her head. She could see and hear his body, going up and down with each breath he took. How calm he seemed, in complete comparison with the tense and fidgeting man hours prior.
"You never told me your name." She whispered, not sure if she was asking him or talking to herself. But the answer was quick.
"Zeo. My name is Zeo." A moment of silence. "Can I know yours?"
She replied.
"I've never heard of such name. It's beautiful." He spoke under his breath, and turned his body to face the wall.
~~~~
"Do you make these from scratch?"
"Yep! I found a recipe online and changed a few things to make it more.. Umm.. Tasty I guess."
"It's really good!" He commented, while taking another bite from the orange goodness.
"I've tried a lot. But yours is.. The best one."
"Don't you get tired? Eating the same thing everyday?" She asked him, more out of curiosity than anything. More like.. Because she wanted to hear his reasoning for that.
She was like that. Eating the same foods, the same drinks, doing the same things, all the time with no change.
Because to her it felt safe, like a constant in her otherwise tumultuous life. Because those things were simple.
She felt like she had more in common with this man than her own family.
He lifted his eyes from his food to look at her, sitting opposite from him on the table. A small lamp in the corner of the room was their only lighting, the sky turned a dark colour hours ago.
"It.. Umm.. It reminds me of my grandma." He spoke after a moment of silence. He didn't know what urged him to open up his heart to her, but he wasn't complaining. He was a goner the moment he set foot on her shop anyway.
It was the way she never pried, never asked for more than he was willing to give her. The way there was no judgement in her eyes, no malice or annoyance in her gaze.
And he felt his chest liberating, his soul searching someone to talk to, to share his life. And he wouldn't mind if that was the sweet bookshop owner.
"That's understandable, really. I just hope, I do it justice."
"Mhm.. It's not the same, but it's pretty damn good."
"Wanna hear a funny story?" She leaned closer on the table, watching him do the same, as if she was ready to spill the biggest secret.
"I was thinking of discontinuing the pie."
"Gasp! Really? Why?! It it so good."
"I guess, not many people like oranges. I had gone months without even selling one pastry."
"And then? What changed?" He asked her, sitting at the balls of his feet, ready to hear the rest of the story.
As if he wasn't the sole reason for that.
"Then came a pretty customer, wearing a pretty orange hoodie and asked me for two pieces. And then everyday day after that."
Her gaze was intense on his own. Or maybe this was his own imagination. But the way his breath caught on his throat was real. The way his heart was ready to burst was real. The way his chest felt warm.
"You kept this for me?"
"You seemed to like it. Hell, even love it. And I couldn't stop making food that made someone happy, could I?"
He had no words to answer. And what was he supposed to say? He smiled gently at her, muttering the only words that came to his mind.
"There is a place I would like to show you."
~~
"Wow, this looks like the perfect place for murdering someone."
"What? That's not why.."
"I know, I'm just messing with you."
He sighed audibly, shoulders relaxing after hearing her.
They had been walking for some time now. Zeo had drove them away from the city, towards the outskirts.
She had visited the place a few times, not venturing inside in fear of getting lost. She always stood outside, walking along the tree line, never brave enough to move past that.
"Where did you even find this place?" She asked, ducking under a log that had fallen sideways.
"I don't remember, honestly. Maybe I was driving at some point and stumbled across it."
"Weren't you afraid?"
"I was. But I... I needed to get away." He replied and helped her get down from a small hill, wiping their clothes from the dirt and moisture.
She didn't answer after that. Hearing the tone in his voice must have meant that this was a sensitive part. And she wasn't going to interfere or push for more.
He watched him from behind. Despite his tall build and sure walking, there was something that didn't fit. The way his shoulders hunched, how 'in' in himself he seemed to be. And let's not forget about the last time she saw him bloodied and bruised. There was something going on.
"Here it is! Phew."
"And I thought we'd never arrive."
"I promise you, it's worth it. The weather seems nice so far, so that's definitely a bonus." He smiled at her and motioned for her to move forward.
She walked just a few meters front, away from the surrounding trees until they reached a small clearing.
The night sky was on full display, the billions of stars flickering, like little diamonds. The city lights beneath them created a circle, the size almost comical, as it looked, swallowed by the surrounding nature. The air was filled with the scent of the night flowers, while from time to time a small owl could be heard.
"Wow! That's.. That's amazing."
"See! I told you, you were going to like it."
She couldn't keep her eyes away from the sight. From top to bottom and reverse.
She turned her eyes to look at Zeo, susprised that she didn't see him next to her. She spotted him soon enough, sitting at the edge of the cliff, his feet dangling from the edge.
She caught herself smiling at the sight of him. His face so peaceful, with eyes closed, hair blown gently by the small breeze.
"Mind if I join you?"
"Huh? Oh, yes! Of course!"
She took a seat next to him, not leaving much space between them. She could feel the warmth from his body at her side, almost saw the little twitch of his fingers.
How cute. She thought.
There was nothing for a little while. Only the sound of nature, the different bugs and animals, the leaves blown away by the wind.
His hand was just centimeters from her own. The urge to place her hand on top of his escalating by the second. And who was stopping her? Noone. Only herself and the fact of possible embarrassment.
But she did it anyway.
His skin was cold at first, but the more she held it, the warmer it became. His breath hitched upon contact. Like a hiccup. And it was difficult to go unnoticed.
"I'm.. I'm sorry I just thought..."
"Don't move it." He muttered, his eyes fixated in front of him, not even sparing her a glance.
And she didn't. How could she? How could she refuse this affection starved man next to her? How could she... How could she refuse her own self?
Her thumb had absentmindedly started stroking his knuckles, a gesture she couldn't control when she hold on to something. Maybe it was a way to not make it seem more awkard.
Only this time.. This time it was to comfort him, to reassure him. To silently say, 'I'm here. You have me.'
She blushed at her own thoughts. When was the last time she had felt that way? Especially for a man.
Maybe.. Maybe this was what she was wishing for. Someone to care for. Someone to care for her. Could this be it?
What would happen if she hugged him? Would he care? Would he reciprocate?
She could almost imagine how it would feel like. How her arms would wrap around him, buried in his warmth. How he would bring his body closer to hers.
There was movement. And his face turned to hers. Lips tight, eyes glassy.
Her own face contorted at seeing this heartbroken expression on his face.
It was as if he could read her. As if he was silently communicating and understanding what she desperately wanted to say.
"Please..." Just a simple word. Nothing more, nothing less. But spoken with such desperation, such sadness.
She slowly opened her arms, his body flying into her own. His face found it's nesting place at her neck, hands securely around her waist, bringing her as close as humanly possible.
She had no idea how he managed to fit there. He was much taller than her, but still. At this moment he balled up, becoming as small as he could get.
Her heart was moving at the speed of light. This.. This felt amazing.
She was almost certain that Zeo could hear and feel her heartbeat. It rang up to her ears. It was impossible not to. And she... She could feel him trembling. There was a light shaking that made her melt more into him.
"You're trembling dear."
He nodded, neither denying nor shying away from the affection.
"Please don't let go."
"I won't my sweet boy. I won't."
~~~
Today everything had been too loud. Loud customers, loud weather.. Loud noises inside her head.
She locked the door to her shop, watching carefully outside. The skies had been opened. Rain was pouring down from every corner, creating a white curtain on the pavement.
It had been like this all day. That's why she was in such a mood. That and the absence of a certain man. For almost a week now.
She sighed and moved away from the downpour, ready to start cleaning the place and make her bed for the night. How convenient that she had a small room to herself for times like this. This made her a little lighter, glad that she wasn't going to walk in the rain to her way home.
After some time, her eyes drifted on the clock mounted on the wall, each constant ticking making her slight headache worse. Almost ten o'clock.
She walked around the shop one last time, doing the final checkups, when a sudden noise from the door startled her.
She spun around, grabbing the first item she found, a lamp in this case. She could see a silhouette outside, the dim lights and heavy rain making it difficult to get a good look. Thank God she had locked the door.
She moved carefully closer, realising now that a man was outside. But she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw a familiar orange hoodie.
Her body moved on its own, dropping the lamp and almost running to open the door. Her hands were shaking, trying to find the hole to put the keys, them jingling with every sudden movement.
She quickly opened the door, a gust of cold air making goosebumps appear while the wind brought rain over her and inside the shop.
"Zeo, what.."
"I didn't know where else to go. Can I.. Can I come in?"
"Oh, my, yes of course! Don't just stand there.. Come, come!"
His hand automatically grabbed her own, letting her guide him inside the small, warm shop.
She locked the door behind her, closed the blinds and moved them to a couch nearby.
"Wait here. I'll get some towels to dry you off. And please take off your clothes. They'll stick and you'll get sick."
She saw him nodding and sprang into action. Gathering towels from her room, searching and finding some bigger blouses and big trousers, which she had the insight of getting. He shouldn't stay with his wet clothes on.
But once she moved in the open space again, nothing could prepare her for the sight in front of her.
Zeo was sitting on the side of the couch, naked on top of his wet clothes, his back barely touching the fabric.
And now that she was seeing him clearly, without the hood obscuring his face, her breath hitched. It was just like that night, many nights ago. If not worse.
Black and red painted his whole face, some places more swollen than others. And not just his face. She could hardly see some red on his back but she couldn't be sure without taking a good look up close.
He turned his head after sometime not sensing any movement from her.
The face that greeted her made her eyes sting. Such resignation, such dropped eyes, red and blotchy from, apparently crying. A look that screamed how much of a nuisance he was being.
"Please don't hate me."
Her gaze softened, brows pinching together.
She moved slowly, as if she was approaching a scared animal. And he might as well have been.
His back had become visible for her. And she tried really hard not to show any emotion, not let her tears fall freely down her face. No. She had to be strong right now.
Blood was coming out of various cuts, bruises and hits open to the world. She carefully placed the towel over his shoulders, not squeezing, not dabbing, just letting it sit on them, shielding the man in front of her.
She kneeled next to him, taking his face, his beautiful, broken face into her hands.
"How could I ever hate you my sweet boy?" She stroked gently his face, careful to avoid any sore spots. She didn't want to hurt him more.
Something akin to a whimper escaped his mouth, but other than that nothing else. And she didn't push the subject further.
"We don't have to talk about it. But I will treat your wounds the best I can. Is that alright?" He simply nodded.
"Great."
And just like that night, it was spent closing wounds, getting rid of blood, and hopefully bring some comfort to the troubled man.
She was itching to know what had happened. This wasn't just a simple fight! This looked like it was done on purpose. What monster would do this to him?
So, she zoned out. It was the next best thing she could do in this situation. Her hands were on autopilot, they had a lot to do anyway, giving her mind some space to wrap itself around this.
She tried to think of something more.. Uplifting.
It proved to be more difficult than she had hoped for. Whatever her mind tried to conjure, her thoughts always changed to blue eyes and mismatched hair.
He was all over her head. She remembered his soft smile, the way the corner of his eyelids crinked when smiling. The way his cheeks turned a cutesy red hue when he was embarrassed.
He was the most beautiful man that she had ever seen.
'Wow, do I look like that to her?'
The vision stopped abruptly. Her hands stopped. Zeo's body stiffened.
Was that a voice just now? In her head again? Could it be..?
"Zeo? Was that.. You? Were you, inside my head just now?"
He turned around like an electrocuted man, his eyes searching her own, trying to justify himself.
"Please, please. I.. I promise I'm not some weirdo. I didn't mean to.. No, I kinda meant.. But it wasn't anything bad.. I didn't do anything bad.. I just.. It was safe there." His voice quieted down at the end, ashamed of himself for letting his self get caught like this. How embarrassing! How crude, how pathetic.
She took a moment to ponder on what he had said. And she tried to recall all the times she had a similar experience. When strange things appeared on her visions, when a male's voice was prominent, when.. Orange made an appearance in seemingly out of nowhere.
"So it was you! I've heard that some people can read mind but.. Not to this extent." She exclaimed, rather too excited for Zeo's liking. He had expected a lashing, harsh words to be thrown at him at how weird this all was, how invasive.
"Yeah.." He drawled out.
"But what you said.."
"You'll probably think I'm weird."
"I've seen a lot of weird things in my life, trust me this one doesn't even come close. Besides, my curiosity of you needs to be satiated somehow, don't you think?"
"I suppose."
"Better yet.. Let's get you dressed.. I'll make us some hot chocolate and I'll brings some leftover sweets. How does that sound?"
He turned his gaze at her, seeing her carefree smile, in complete contrast with her anxious eyes moments ago.
And as he was putting clothes on his body and watched her behind the counter, gaze focused over the machine to make them their drinks, the knots in his stomack relaxed just a little. He was going to tell her the truth, what he was doing, why he was doing it. And she made it all so easy. He had an inkling that.. She wasn't going to go anywhere. That despite hearing everything, she would understand.
He sat on the couch this time, new, warm, clean clothes on his body, while a towel around his neck gathered the last moisture from his hair. His eyes never left her form, following her every movement, up until she walked with a tray, filled with said cocoa and sweets.
The orange treat sat silently on the plate, fingers hesitant to reach forward to grab it.
Sensing his hesitation, she took the plate and offered it to him.
"There is no reason to be nervous. You are.. Safe here, if you wish."
He nodded.
"I just.. Dont want you to think ill of me."
"That won't happen, my dear. I may be a little taken aback, but not for the reasons you might think." She brought her cup to her lips and took a sip.
"Mmm, it's really good. And at the right temperature. Drink some."
And he did. His heart already lighter at the sound of her words. And warmer by the chocolate.
"I didn't do it on purpose." He started after a moment of silence. "At least the first time. I've always had this.. Ability if you want to call it something. Sometimes it's unconscious. And.." He chuckled. "Some months ago I stumbled into your shop. And at some point I happened to.. Go into your mind.. And.."
He paused. His throat felt tight, the familiar stinging behind his eyes prominent. He tried blinking, but it didn't have the desired effect, because one treacherous tear fell down.
"It felt like a hug." His voice cracked, choked, trying to escape from his throat.
"It felt so warm and safe. It felt like.. Even for a moment.. I was not in this world. I wasn't so miserable and pathetic.. I was.. I was flying.." His buried his face into his hands, ashamed from his sudden confession.
She could only look at him. Was this how he was feeling all this time? Did he find peace and solace in her mind? The place where she escaped for almost the same reasons?
"Come here." She gestured him, opening her arms to make her point more straightforward.
He lifted his head, searching her eyes for any signs of disgust, or.. Anything at this point. But none. So, he moved. Hesitantly at first, until her soft smile and warm eyes, melted his soul. He gingerly placed himself in her arms, shoulders slumping from the simple contact.
"I'm not mad at you. I want you to know that. Well, it kind of amazes me how you could call this mess in my head safe, but.."
"It's endearing. And.. So, you.."
"It's me, I guess. I'm surprised you hadn't run. Seeing this part of me.. And yet staying.."
"I would never leave you." He shook his head, eyes upwards to look at her. "I couldn't even if I wanted to after the first visit."
"I wouldn't mind sharing that part of me with you." She whispered. Her fingers were lightly playing with Zeo's hair, curling it between them.
She was telling the truth. It didn't surprise her at this point. Because she knew. She knew that anyone brave enough to look at her, look deep into her soul, see what a mess she was, and yet decided to stay.. She wanted to let this person hold her body, her mind, her soul.
And the universe had responded by bringing in her path Zeo. A man, in just as much need for someone to understand him as her. To hold him, reassure him, treasure him for the person he was.
And she wasn't going to refuse. He was hers. Just as much as she was his.
And that sounded lovely.
Her fingers moved from his cheek to his lips, gently trailing along them.
He was frozen under her, as if he was put under a spell, watching her every movement, waiting to see what was coming next.
She bent her body forwards, placing her lips at the corner of his mouth, experimenting, gouging his reaction from this small intimacy.
His breath hitched, lips parted slightly from the foreign feeling.
"I've never kissed anyone before." He confessed, red painting his face.
"Me neither." She admitted. "Do you want me to kiss you?"
"Yes! But.. Do you want to kiss me?"
She smiled. "My sweet boy. Of course I do."
And with that, with her heart beating rapidly inside her chest, she placed her lips firmly on his own, for a quick peck.
And even that was enough.
He melted like candle in her arms, cuddling against her side like a cat.
His fingers lightly touched his lips, the feeling of hers still lingering. The smile adoring his face was etched permanently at this point.
"We kissed."
"That we did."
"Can we do it again? Please?"
"Anytime you want, dear."
He smiled, genuinely smiled at her, and relaxed at her side. His eyes drifted at the clock, feeling his eyes drooping on their own. And he almost jumped.
"Oh, it's already so late! You must be tired. I'm sorry I kept you awake this long. You have to open the shop tomorrow again.."
"Zeo, it's okay."
"No, it's not okay! You need to rest. You already work hard, at least do it rested!"
"You know.." She trailed. "The shop could manage with a day being closed."
"What..."
"I was thinking of not opening tomorrow. How about, we spent the day together? Walk in the city, or the park, grab a bite.. How does that sound?"
"That.. Sounds nice.. But are you sure? I wouldn't want you to miss work because of me."
She giggled at his worried state. "Of course it's fine. Besides, I wouldn't have offered if it was an inconvenience."
"Then, yeah. We can.. Go out tomorrow."
"Great! So, I'll clean up here, and you can go lay down. I'll be just a minute."
And he obeyed without a word. He took his aching body towards the now familiar bed and opened the blanket, making himself comfortable under the covers. His gaze was glued to the door, waiting for her to make an entrance.
He was almost vibrating when there was no noise coming from the kitchen, the lights turning off one by one. She entered the room, making a quick stop at the bathroom to change her clothes, and appeared seconds later at her side of the bed.
Zeo lifted the blanket, bashful at the silent move he was showing. The first time he had build a wall between them, now he was silently asking her to share the same blanket.
She giggled slightly, and complied with his request. They stayed facing each other, breaths mingling due to their close proximity.
"Come a little closer."
He didn't have to be told twice.
His body found its nesting place in her arms, curling against her like a cat. Legs tangled, breath hot against her skin, body shaking next to her own.
She was careful not to touch any parts of him that hurt, settling on one hand on his lower back, while the other petted his head lightly.
And as they laid there, on her bed, her sweet boy between her arms, she took a vow with herself. She wasn't going to let anything happen to him from now on. She might not know what was happening in its entirety, but she would do anything in her power to keep him safe.
"I know you will." He muttered on her skin, and lifted his face to look at her eyes. His lips found her own, trying to convey with actions what his mouth was unable to say.
And he knew, she was telling the truth. And for the first time in all those years, he didn't feel so alone in this world.
The universe had brought in his way what he was missing, and he wasn't going to let her go.
if you can give me some dashan x reader lemon, i wouldnt mind anyway. but he would just get it on it as jealousy. also fluff at the end. lmk if you're ok with it. ^^
Hello! How are you doing? I hope everything is going well. So, here is your request, I really hope you like it and thank you so much for doing so. Feel free to ask me anything anytime. Happy reading! Until next time! ^^
Forever yours
Dashan Wang x gn!reader
W: smut(and all that it entails), jealousy, fluff, occ behavior (let me know if I missed anything)
Today seemed like the perfect day. The sun was shining; there was not even a cloud present in the sky. Your favorite dress was freshly washed and ironed to perfection, the smooth and soft fabric hugging your body. The street vendor even added an extra piece to your order!
Small things that to anyone else would seem insignificant. But not to you. These were enough to fuel the whole remainder of your day.
"Yn! Over here!" Mei Mei's voice suddenly was heard next to you, a pair of arms wrapped securely around your neck. You managed to hold yourself last minute, or else you would have toppled to the floor.
"Oh, hello Mei Mei. You know, I have a feeling you're stalking me."
"No way! It's just that you seem to do the same things. It's easy to find you when I know where you are."
"That is literally stalking."
"Oww," she whined. "You know what I mean."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm just teasing you." You ruffled the girl's hair, seeing as she had glued herself to your side.
"So, did you plan anything for today? Maybe a date?"
Just hearing that made you sigh. Of course. A date. When was the last time you had gone on one? You lifted your head and looked in the direction of the Bey Lin temple, where your lover seemed to spend most of his time.
It had been days since you had last spent any time with him. Dashan was a busy man. Being the one that had the reins of the temple, he sure had his hands full with its management, the new recruits, and the training of said recruits. All in all, there were not enough hours in the day to do even half of what he was attempting at doing.
He would arrive at your shared house late at night and leave early in the morning, not leaving you any time to fully bask in his presence.
All his zeal, his compassion, his perfection-driven mind—all these qualities that made him, well, him, and the first things that made you attracted to him—were slowly turning against you. The passion and attention to detail he showed the first few years of your relationship slowly were becoming less and less. And he turned his focus on his work.
And you didn't know what to think of it.
"No, not today, Mei Mei. Maybe some other time. Today, I'm all yours. I haven't seen Dashan in a while, so I'm not so sure."
"Ugh, that Dashan. I swear. I'll definitely tell him when I see him. All he does is work and work and work."
"It's OK. Some things can't be helped. I'm sure he has a lot of things to do. So, shall we take a walk around here?"
"Oh, yeah, sure! But I'm serious! If I see him at the temple, I'll give him a piece of my mind."
You hummed in response and let the girl ramble on as much as she wanted. And it seemed she had a lot to say. At some point, though, her talking faded into the background, as you soon got sucked into your own thoughts.
You should definitely have a conversation about this. You could always visit him at the temple, but you didn't want to seem like some crazed and clingy person that barged into their boyfriend's work. That was highly inappropriate. You definitely didn't want someone breathing down your neck also. But still, this was getting out of hand.
You should find a way to solve this at the premises of your own home. Or any other time on that matter.
Laughing and giggling brought you out of your daze. It wasn't silent or secretive like that between friends. It sounded loud and clear, girly squeals, high enough to hurt someone's ear.
That could only mean one thing.
"Ladies, ladies, please, one at a time. I cannot love you all at the same time." Chao Xin's familiar voice cut through the air.
Turning your body around, you spotted him in front of a store, a flock of girls surrounding him. His flamboyant clothes and mannerisms did nothing to satiate the already excited girls.
Both of them walked closer to the commotion, not to intervene, but just to say a simple hello. After all, it had been some time since they had seen the male.
But upon arrival, they spotted another person lingering around.
Dashan was just meters away from this whole ordeal, as uninterested and bored as possible. He probably wished to be anywhere but there at that moment.
He looked absolutely beautiful, his long hair flowing in the small breeze, his posture lean and proud, as he should be.
But despite all that, you could see the tiredness under his eyes, the way his body slumped from time to time. He was exhausted, yet he was not going to admit it.
"Dashan…" you whispered, moving forward to stand next to your man, but something stopped you.
"Oww, Dashan, you look a little tired. Are you sure your partner is taking care of you? Why don't you come inside? I'll get you anything you like, my treat!" A sickly sweet voice spoke, and a puny girl went and stood next to Dashan. Her hands were on his exposed arms, urging him to move into the small restaurant that appeared to be theirs.
How dare they? Had women become so bold as to suggest, even think to make a move on him? Didn't they care if he was taken or not?
Your vision darkened. Before you had time to walk and remove that human leech from your man's arm, another body beat them to it.
"Now, now, babe. Though I admit my friend is hot as hell, he is out of your league. Why don't you come here, and I'll entertain you just right?" Chao Xin grabbed her waist, effectively removing her from Dashan. Even if she tried to protest, it was muted by the rest of the girls screaming.
You saw Chao Xin turn his body in your direction, sending a small wink. Of course. He already knew what was going on.
But what bothered you immensely was the fact that Dashan didn't even attempt to get her off him. You felt like you were overreacting, but hey, he was so tired to receive your affections, but now that a complete stranger girl touched him, he didn't even bat an eye?
Maybe you were overreacting.
But, as if an imaginary light bulb appeared in your head, you widened your eyes at the sudden thought.
Maybe this could be it. This was the way to gain your boyfriend's attention.
~~~~~
"You know what, babe, that sounds like an excellent idea!"
"You really think so, Chao Xin? It was the only way that seemed effective at that time. But… Ugh… Do you think it's stupid? I think I'm overreacting. Maybe I just need to talk to him."
"Well, I have to admit, it is a little strange, but who cares! You know, he was starting to annoy me. Work this, work that. I told him I could take care of it. But he said no. Do I not seem responsible, babe? Besides. Words won't have the same effect as actions. He seems to be too dense to just be told something is wrong." The man said sulking while taking a sip of his drink.
The small tea shop they decided to meet was almost empty, with them and another couple occupying the small space. But it was better this way. Less eyes and definitely fewer girls and their constant screaming.
"And let me tell you what! If I had a partner like you waiting for me at home, I wouldn't want to spend half as much time at work. I wouldn't even want to leave my bed..."
"Chao xin!" you laughed, a pretty red coating your face. Just the mere mention of what you could be doing was enough to make you blush.
He laughed along with you, the plan you had suggested already forming in his head. It would be so good! He could not believe his friend would be so dense and work-driven. More than usual at that! He could see how stressed and tired he was becoming; a few days off wouldn't be so bad.
"So, the ceremony is in two days, right?" you asked, stirring your own cup of tea.
At least twice a year, celebrations were held. One to welcome the new recruits in the temple and one to celebrate the ones that had passed their years of training and were officially becoming warriors of the temple.
You had not missed a single one. It was a celebration open to the public, with the warriors' families and friends present and anyone who wished to see this grand ceremony.
All in all, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.
"Yep! So you better get all dolled up, and then let me do the rest. You better not enjoy yourselves too much."
~~~~
Finally the day came. It was the two most slow and agonizing days of your life. Nothing had changed much. Still no sign of the man. More now than ever, seeing as he was completely swapped with the plans and preparations of the ceremony.
There was nothing you could do at this point. But today was going to be the end of it.
You looked at yourself in the mirror. The purple clothing fit you like a glove. The gold hand details of flowers and dragons on the lines really tied it together. Cinched around the waist and flowy at the bottom and sleeves, it was the perfect attire for today.
The light makeup on your face and the small jewelry adorning your body made everything come together. You looked… Really good.
A knock on the door brought you out of your trance, and you moved to open it, seeing Mei Mei standing outside.
"Wow! You look stunning, Y/N!"
"I could say the same to you, Mei Mei. This blue dress is amazing!"
"You think? I made it special for today! I'm glad you like it."
"Of course! So let's not waste time! Let's show you around, dear friend."
And with that, the two of you started your long way to the temple. You had to admit, you had gotten better going up the huge flight of stairs. Even though it intimidated you at first, with time it had started to even become enjoyable.
You could see people already on their way to the temple, chatting among themselves, clothing just as extravagant as the decorated stairs around you. Children ran past you, laughing and giggling, waving around ornaments and small kites.
You smiled unconsciously at the sight. Even if you still felt a little gloomy, the sight around you was enough to warm your heart. Even after all these years, you still could not shake the feeling of happiness and excitement flowing in your body. To think that Dashan was mostly responsible for this…
Drums and loud music were all that was heard from the top of the mountain the closer you approached. Louder and louder with each step.
And soon enough the grand temple stood before your eyes. Grant was a simple word to describe the sight in front of you. Lanterns decorated every angle of the space, flags with the temple's crest in every corner. Colorful ribbons, in any color you could imagine, small stalls scattered around, selling food or small tokens.
Your heart was beating inside you, your chest puffing with pride with what your lover had managed to do.
"My, my. Look at you ladies. You look rather ravishing today." You turned your head, seeing Chao Xin approaching the two of you. Leave it to him to make an entrance.
You smiled politely at him, averting your eyes around him. Where he was, most likely, Dashan was around. But to your dismay, he wasn't. You searched around in every nook and cranny of the huge place, trying to find his familiar face. The one you had missed more than anything.
And soon enough you saw him. He was standing at the entrance of the temple, where he would give his speech, talking with another person. And you couldn't help the way your chest tightened, the way your lips quirked up.
He looked stunning. His white and brown attire made him look more beautiful and well put together. His hair styled to perfection, small braids woven in them.
As if sensing someone's eye on him, he turned his body, his eyes landing on you. You smiled at him, waving your hand. He reciprocated the smile, nodding his head at you, before turning back to his conversation.
It would be a lie if you said that that didn't hurt. Your shoulders slumped, but only a little. Suddenly someone wasn't going to let you fall into your thoughts again.
"Come on, dear ladies. The night is still too young for such faces. We're here to have fun." A hand was wrapped around your waist, walking you towards a food stall. Yes. You were here to have fun. And at the end of the day, you would have what you came here for.
~~
Dashan's speech was heartwarming; anyone could see and feel the emotions falling from his words. The applauding of the crowd was enough to shake the whole establishment, the people erupting in cheers, congratulating him just as much as they did between them.
You clapped your hands; your voice carried among the hundreds around you. You saw him bow to the people around before walking down the stairs to mingle with everyone, a more personal connection and praise.
"Now, operation get Dashan to fall on your bed is starting now!"
"Well, you don't have to put it like that."
"It is what's going to happen. Make it short and sweet."
You scoffed lightly; Chao Xin's commentary never fell short. If everything was going according to plan.
You turned one last time to see where he was at the moment, just a couple of people away.
Chao Xin's hand hadn't moved from around your waist; if anything, it seemed to become tighter the more Dashan was inching closer.
His compliments were becoming louder, and his physical contact was more risky. If that didn't grab Dashan's attention, nothing would.
"I see you're enjoying yourselves." His deep voice cut through the air, his condescending tone bringing you back to reality.
"Oh, you have no idea, dear friend. Say, how about I steal your lover just for tonight? I have some things planned out."
His eyebrow twitched, his face darkening dangerously. You would be lying if you said that his angry face wasn't attractive. He appeared ten times hotter, the purple and red lighting making him look like some kind of deity.
He didn't have to speak; his irritation was palpable through the air.
"I'm afraid this will not be possible." And without saying another word, he grabbed your hand, dragging you off to who knows where.
You turn your body just in time to see Chao Xin mouthing a 'have fun', before he too disappeared in the crowd.
His grip on your hand was strong, didn't leave any room for escape. Not that you wanted to anyway. This was your doing. And you were going to enjoy every second of it.
"Dashan…" you started but were met with silence. Guess you really pushed his buttons.
You walked down the long corridor, the music and festivities becoming harder to hear the more you approached his room at the end of the long hall.
With one swift movement he opened the door, dragging both of you inside. It was closed right after with your bodies pressed right on it.
His lips were quick to find yours. And not the slow and gentle kisses he always liked to give. No. These ones were relentless, ready to consume your very being. His tongue didn't waste any time finding yours, not leaving you any time to react.
Hands were quick to remove both of your clothing, but careful nonetheless not to damage the delicate fabrics.
Your fingers tangled in his hair, having a death grip on them. Your lungs begged for air, but even if you tried to pry the man from you, it was no use.
"Tell me, dear…" Dashan's deep voice sent shivers all over your body, going straight to your core. Your heart was ready to burst out of your chest, your mind fuzzy and consumed by lust, not even able to fully comprehend what he was saying.
"Were you having fun?"
You nodded your head.
"Words, dear."
"Yes."
"Good girl," he purred, close to your neck, his mouth leaving hot and wet kisses, starting from the side, down at the top of your breasts before settling at the center of your chest.
"Did you enjoy someone else's company tonight?"
You could feel his hand moving from your waist, down over your thighs, finally settling between your legs, his palm pressing just right. You could only squirm and gasp, the sudden contact sending a new wave of pleasure through your body.
"Tsk, someone's not willing to speak. No matter, we'll do something about it." And with that, he tore off both of your underwear, bringing you away from the door, and pushed you gently on the bed.
Your back laid flat against the soft cushioning of the bed, Dashan's body hovering over you. It seemed he was taking it slow, deliberately just to get a rise from you. But no. All gentleness and slowness was thrown out the window the moment two fingers were inside you.
You gasped at the sudden intrusion but didn't make a move to stop him.
"Already so wet for me. And I didn't even do anything," he whispered against your ear, kissing from there down their neck until he reached their bare chest.
You couldn't focus on everything that was happening. The sensation between your legs, Dashan's playful hands and tongue on your chest… It was too much. But it was not enough.
You didn't have time to react when Dashan's fingers disappeared, giving him room to thrust quickly inside you.
You clenched around him, the feeling of being full making stars appear in your vision. The initial pain subsided quickly, disappearing within seconds. You bit your lips, trying to suppress your moans, to no avail.
"I want to hear you" was his simple request. And with that, he started his quick movements. In and out. Without stopping.
For a while, only your combined moans of pleasure and panting breaths were all that was heard inside the room.
"Were you that desperate to get my attention tonight, dear? Did you wish someone else was in my position?" Dashan's scornful remark was all that it took to get you out of your lust-filled stupor.
His comment, his intention wasn't clear, brought forth everything that had been going on inside your head. And you were pissed.
Your legs around his waist tightened without warning, his eyes widening at the sudden movement, before he was flipped on his back.
The momentum made you sink deeper into him, the new position bringing newer waves of pleasure. Beads of sweat fell down your forehead; the strain on your muscles was oh, so sweet.
But you didn't let him recover. No. Now it was your turn.
"Is this what you think? Huh? That… Ahh… I was willing to bed another man?" You started moving not long after, up and down, finding a slow but deliberate rhythm.
Your eyes trailed down on your lover, so beautiful sprawled on the bed like that. His olive skin was glistening with sweat, eyes closed, features scrunched. He was enjoying this. Maybe a little too much.
His hands gripped your thighs, being almost fed up with the change. His grip was bruising, lifting you up and bringing you down.
No. No. This would not do. You gripped his wrists and brought them to the side of his face, your body falling on his chest from the force.
You gasped and panted, the angle over him, sending jolts of pleasure. It was amazing. You had never felt like this.
"My boyfriend ignored me all this time, even letting another woman touch him, but I'm in the wrong?"
Dashan's eyes locked with yours, his confusion mixing with the sensations of his body. Something clicked in his mind. Of course. You were right.
His hips bucked upwards, trying to sync with the tempo his lover had started. He could feel your heat surrounding him, your tightness fitting him snugly, bringing him closer to his release.
"Hah... So, is this what this is?" He asked breathlessly, his chest puffing, trying to get some air in his lungs. Your face lowered, due to your position, lips falling on his neck. Kissing and biting, alternating between the two, until the flesh looked swollen and red. You wanted to make sure the marks would be visible.
"Fuck…" You heard Dashan whispering against your neck but otherwise made no movement to change or move their bodies.
"Do you know how hurt I was?" Another bite. "You, not talking to me…" A sweet kiss was placed on the spot. "And then I see another woman all over you?"
His whimpering was like music to your ears. You knew, though, that this wouldn't last long; maybe he was so overwhelmed and exhausted that he didn't even acknowledge himself doing that.
And as you had guessed, it didn't last long. His eyes opened, pupils blown so wide, one would think his whole eye was black.
"I hope you're enjoying this, dear." He spoke, and with one swift movement, he stood and brought them back down, now he being on top. Your legs were thrown over his shoulders, your own hands immobilized over your head.
"So this was your trick to get back at me?" He snapped his hips, his pace even faster and more vigorous. He was close to the edge.
"I told you before." He got close, kissing any part of your body his lips could reach, sloppy and wet.
"I am yours. And you. Are mine." Something resembling a growl left his lips, and with a final thrust, he finished, you following suit.
For some time, the only sound inside the room was your heavy breathing. The two of you spending some time to come down from your high.
Dashan had laid down on the side, pulling a tired but blissful-looking you in his arms. He gently kissed your forehead, nuzzling his head at the side of your face.
"You know… If I knew sex would be this good, you should be making me jealous more often." His teasing tone cut through the silence, breaking any lasting tension between you.
You slapped his chest lightly, but you were already feeling more light. "Shut up!"
"What? I'm being serious."
"Yeah, sure."
"I do." He chuckled.
"But on a more serious note." He turned your head to look into your eyes. "It wasn't my intention to make you feel like this. I'm sorry for neglecting you and for making you think I would prefer another one's company over yours, my dear."
You sighed, smiling softly hearing him talk. Of course, your beloved wouldn't think that. The sincerity in his voice was enough to melt your own insecurities.
"I know Dashan. I just… I wasn't in my best mood, and I… kind of misunderstood. I must apologize too."
"There is no need. I completely understand how my actions would make you feel. I promise… I'll make it up to you."
"I believe you." You lifted your head, placing a small kiss on his lips, sealing your guy's little promise.
"So, promise me you'll take care of yourself also. No working the moment the sun goes up till it goes down. I get that you have a lot on your shoulders, but it's important to regulate that. Okay?"
"Of course, my love. I admit. I may have overdone it these past few days..."
"Weeks"
"Now, don't be so dramatic."
"It's the truth."
"Very well. You have permission to drag me by my ears if I ever overdo it, happy?"
"Very," you snuggled closer, giggling against his chest.
"Are you still tired, love?"
"No. I'm actually more awake than ever."
"Would you like to see the fireworks then? I believe the time is coming. And I would hate it if I was the reason you broke your firework-seeing streak."
"Gasp. You're right. The fireworks! I completely forgot about them." You all but jumped from the bed, running towards the bathroom.
"C'mon, what are you waiting for? Let's get ready!"
And just as his lovely partner requested, after freshening up, you made your way to see the fireworks. You decided to move to a place more secluded, not fully keen on the idea of mingling with everyone again.
Just behind the building, there was a small hill, perched high enough to see the whole of the establishment. Your favorite spot. It had a great view, the whole city under your fingertips.
The light breeze was cool against your skin, carrying with it notes of music and smells of food. It truly did wonders, making you relax.
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself."
"When have I not?" You turned to lock eyes with his, seeing him already looking at you. His gaze traveled all over your body, eyes softening at the mere sight of his lover.
"I don't think I told you how beautiful you look tonight."
"You can start now. I don't mind."
"How could I refuse you?"
Suddenly, a loud voice cut through the air, announcing the start of the show. You excitedly looked at the sky, your face beaming even at the thought. You didn't take your eyes off it even for a moment, afraid of losing such a spectacle.
"Dashan, look, look!" You both saw it before you heard it. The sky erupted in colors, from reds to greens and purples. The sound was deafening, but that was part of the appeal anyway.
Dashan had lost interest after some time. Besides, it was something that he saw quite frequently. One could say he was getting tired of them.
What he was not going to get tired of, though, was the sight of the person sitting prettily inside his arms.
The purple dress-like clothes hugging your body, your soft hands clutching his own, the smile that was so beautifully perched on your face. And then your eyes. Your eyes seemed to twinkle, reflecting the fireworks, making it seem like stars inside your orbs.
How did he ever get so lucky? How could he even think of seeing any other expression on you besides smiling? He vowed to do anything, as long as that look stayed on your face.
How did he ever think of spending so much time away from you? Prioritize on a ridiculous scale something that wasn't you?
"Dashan, look! Isn't it pretty? Wow, it's different every year."
His heart swelled in his chest, hearing your voice. The urge to squeeze your body in his own and never let go, to kiss your lips till there was nothing left, getting more prominent.
It's different every year. That's what you had been telling each time, every year so far. And even though he never understood that, because to him it always looked the same, the sight of your face was enough to make him believe it.
"Yes. It's really pretty," he whispered, almost afraid of being heard.
"Ugh, you're not even looking! What could be prettier than that?"
"I'm already looking at them."
And as the last firework bloomed in the night sky, painting it a magnificent green, your lips sealed the end of the show.
Hello everyone! How are you doing? This is a small idea I had in my mind for some time. It's not yet complete, I just wanted to put something out for you guys. I really hope you like it. If you enjoy it, let me know if you have any ideas or requests. I'd be more than happy to listen to anything! Happy reading!
Synopsis: After being chased out of her house, reader finds herself inside a dangerous forest. There she meets somebodies that might change her life.
Shifters!Kyoya x Tsubasa x Ryuga x f!reader
Cw: reader referred to as witch, slight angst?, curses, ooc behaviour, fated mates, poly couple, shifters, fluff (let me know if I missed anything)
Part 1
They say the forest is cursed. They say that anyone who walks in has never returned. They say at night, voices and screams are heard.
The ones that managed to move close enough to faintly describe it, say of a line of trees and beyond that, a deep, deep slope, with no end on sight. They say that there is no way of climbing up once you've fallen down.
Only a way in. No way out.
Older generations speak of beasts and dragons, and fairies, none of them confirmed but plausible enough to believe. The dark aura around the place was enough proof and along with the screams, it didn't take long for people to start believing in these things.
A perfect way for the mothers to scare their children into behaving. Or a way for possible punishment, should anyone disobey the elders' rules.
But, there hadn't been an incident for a very long time. No one dared to come close, believing the rumors or not. It was dangerous nonetheless.
Those thoughts kept mulling over in her head, as she passed by it. Basket in hand with her freshly washed clothes, she walked in the direction of her home. But she could not help when her eyes drifted towards the forest. It was beautiful, that was something she could not lie about. And just as it was beautiful, it was just as dangerous. So she kept her distance. She could admire its beauty from afar.
She encountered more women going in the opposite direction of her, and she greeted them with a polite hello and small bow. Even if she didn't get anything more than a disgusted glance. It was okay. She was used to it. Or that's what she liked to console herself with.
It had been years since she had moved into the village. She thought that by now, the people would be more welcoming. But she could not fool herself anymore. Things were not going to change. Not after five years.
She could not understand what it was about her that made everyone hate her. She mostly kept to her self, helped whenever she could, answered any questions they had about her. And it seemed this wasn't enough. It was never going to be.
Was it because she spent her days close to the forest? Was it because she kept accumulating herbs and different things she found around?
They kept muttering that she was a witch. But that was far from the truth. She had no relation to that. But it seemed that anything she said, anything she did, it appeared like a threat to them.
And unfortunately, unbeknownst to her, today was the day the tip would overflow.
She stayed inside her house after her work was done. Over an open fire, she had started brewing some tea to calm her nerves. Her body was taught, bad feelings hanging all over the house. It almost felt suffocating.
Suddenly, something was thrown at her window, shattering it, glass shards flying everywhere.
She gasped and moved away, seeing an angry swarm of villagers outside, yelling at her.
Why? What did she do?
After the rocks, the next thing thrown where fiery balls of hay. So many of them. She had no time to extinguish the fire that spread so quickly around her house. She watched in horror as her things disappeared under the unwavering flow of the fire, books and furniture unsalvagable.
She had to get out if there if she didn't want to share the same fate.
She coughed and wheezed her way out and after managing to get some distance from her burning house and them, she demanded an explanation. At least, a resemblance of it. She was so shaken up, the words unable to leave her lips.
"Wha..what happened? Why.. Why are you doing this?" She asked, the tears leaving her face like waterfalls.
"Why? You have the nerve to ask you spawn of the devil? You wicked witch?"
"What are you..."
"You have been poisoning the ears and eyes of my people. You go around teaching the devil's words. People have heard you teaching spells to children, urging them to go to that forsaken forest."
"Please, I'm begging you, you've got it all wrong!"
"Liar! Look at her everyone! Even close to her death, she is willing to keep spewing lies instead of repenting for her sins."
"No, please-" A stone thrown at her head stopped her from talking. She hissed and brought a hand up to soothe the injury. She could feel how warm and wet it was, her own blood coating her fingers, painting her face red.
"Shut up! We don't need excuses from a witch like you! You should just die!"
"Yeah die!"
"Kill her!"
More people chimed in, effectively overwhelming her. Why? She didn't do such thing. She didn't. She was innocent.
"Do you have anything to say?"
"I'm innocent! I don't know what you're talking about. I would never do such a thing!"
"It appears you value your life no more. So be it. So, in order to keep my people safe, a punishment should be enacted."
People started yelling again after hearing that. She looked around mortified, how could they be so cruel to suggest all these things to happen to her?
The elder silenced them with a wave of his hand.
"How about we give her a taste of her own medicine? How about we get her where she is so infatuated with? How about we throw her to the beasts in the forest?"
No. No this couldn't be. She looked at him, begging him with her eyes to stop this nonsense. But his hard and stern face was all the answers she needed.
"Well, you heard people. Let's hunt that witch to the forest." As of cue, growls and barks were heard, her eyes falling on the dogs.
Their hungry eyes, salivating mouths.. They were hungry. And she was their prey.
She couldn't do anything at this point. There was no way out. She looked one last time at her house, or better yet, what was left of it. All her things, her books, her medicine. But none mattered. What mattered was to get away from these angry beasts.
She turned her back and started running. Never did she look behind her. She didn't want to see their faces.
She had reached the start of the forest. She knew what awaited her. Certain death. But it was better than getting eaten by those dogs or tortured and killed by the villagers.
So before she could think it through, she disappeared behind the tree line.
One, two, three steps later she was falling. Falling with no stop in sight. A small yelp was all the noise she made, before fear took over and blocked any further noise.
The leaves crunching beneath her was the only sound that was heard on the seemingly eerily quiet forest. That and her beating heart.
~~~~
"Water.. I need.. Some water." She muttered to herself. Just by speaking of it, it seemed to make her mouth drier.
She had been walking for what felt like an eternity. Her sore muscles, tired limps testament of that. She must have fallen unconscious after her fall. The first thing she remembered was waking up on the dirty floor, leaves and grass tangled in her hair and clothes. She had no time to waste though. She was alive. And she needed to find refuge.
She could feel the dirt and dried blood on her face and clothes. She needed to get rid of that.
There were trees, an endless sea of them in front of her, no exit in sight.
She was lost, she concluded. That was it. She was lucky enough to not encounter anyone or anything that could kill her, but she was going to find death by her own body.
She chuckled lightly, humoured by her predicament. Nonetheless, she pushed through. There was no way she would just give up and stay there to die. Maybe just maybe there was hope left.
Suddenly, there was a noise. She couldn't understand what it was at first, but after hearing it for the second time, she concluded it must have been an animal.
Her head frantically started searching around, hoping to find the mysterious creature. It sounded again from above her and lifted her eyes to see it.
And there it was! Perched on a high branch, the most magnificent eagle she had ever seen. It was huge! With shiny, white feathers that seemed almost iridescent, with eyes so strikingly beautiful.
It tilted its head at her, almost as if inquiring about her, curious about the sudden visitor in the forest. It chirped one last time, effectively bringing her out of her trance. She must have looked weird staring at it for so long, but she had never seen such a majestic animal.
"Oh, um.. Hello there." She voiced, but she sounded way too croaked in her ears. She cleared her throat, embarrassed by how she sounded.
"Sorry about that."
The eagle chirped again, as if to acknowledge her. She smiled seeing that.
How cute.
But she couldn't let herself be sidetracked. She really needed to find a way out. She started moving, walking to the opposite direction of the eagle.
That didn't seem to please it one bit, because it immediately started flapping its wings, making croaks again.
Is something wrong? What happened?
She turned to look at what was happening, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The eagle kept his antics, now clenching and unclenching its claws on the branch.
Did it... Did it try to tell her something? Maybe it was helping her? Gasp! What if it was trying to show her the way?
"Are you showing me where to go?" She whispered, afraid of her own thoughts that some bird could be trying to communicate with her in order to help her.
But the small chirped sound confirmed her suspicion. And she couldn't be more thankful and weirded out by the whole ordeal. I mean, the bird understood her? And her struggles? Then again, she realised, she was inside the forbidden forest. The myths may be true.
She bowed her body towards her feathery saviour, muttering words gratitude. And she was. She really would be eternally grateful to this animal. Unless, it was walking her into a trap. Which she had no way of telling.
Its eyes were glued to her as she walked to the opening, curious and intrigued about the way this human was acting.
He hadn't seen anyone like this in his thousands years of living.
'The others must have been notified. Time to see what awaits us. Maybe.. Maybe our prayers have been answered.'
~~~~~
There was something, lurking inside the shadows of the forest. It was currently watching a young maiden drink happily from the lake. Her appearance was, well, disheveled, and the creature almost felt empathetic towards her.
Because he knew. He knew how she managed to find herself in this situation. He knew what she was thinking, what she was feeling, what she had lived.
Because she had become one with the forest. She had, unbeknownst to her, merge her conscious with them. It wasn't anything she could control, it was what was really happening, there was no stopping it.
But despite all that, underneath all of this, there was something else. Something he couldn't place his finger.
After taking her last sip of the water, she let out a happy sigh and plopped herself on the plush grass. She would surely have the need to clean herself, but she decided to take a break for a moment and appreciate all that was around her.
She had no idea that following the path the eagle showed her would take her to such place. It was like she entered a whole knew world. The sun was shining brightly, trees way greener and filled with fruits, the huge lake in front of her. She could even make out small animals and birds, that only spared her a curious look before continuing with their business.
Peace and quite. That's what she wa feeling. When was the last time she let herself be this calm? There were no worries in her head, no fear of any man or woman hurting her. Finally.
She could almost feel the vibrations on the ground underneath her fingertips, meaning that something was approaching.
She slowly opened her eyes, too lost in the calm feeling to even care about what was coming for her. She had no care of whether she would be dead in the next minute. At least she would die peacefully.
There was something.. Something hiding in plain sight. She realised she wasn't alone, but waited. Waited for the creature to make an entrance.
And it did not disappoint. Because before her, stood a dragon. A real dragon. If she thought that the eagle was beautiful, this was downright breathtaking. It was huge, at least the size of the trees surrounding her, white in its colour with some golden and red on its scales. On its back sported a pair of golden and white wings, and much like the eagles, they gave off an iridescent feel.
She stood there, captivated. She could not belive that this creature was real and alive. She only had heard of them from some old books in her house, passed down from generations before her, but she brushed them off. There was no way they were real. But here she was, being proven wrong by the animal in front of her.
"Little human" A voice was heard from him. Deep, raspy, vibrating through the air.
She immediately stood up on her feet hearing him. He was talking to her. What an honor.
"Hello... Umm.. Dragon of the forest." She did a small bow to show her respect, using a meager title to address the beast, hoping to please him.
"I see there are some mortals who haven't forgotten their manners."
She smiled faintly hearing his praise, delighted to, for the time being, be in his good favour.
"The same could not be said about the people that have chased you. Here of all places."
"How do you.."
"I know everything about you, little human."
She gaped at him like a fish. What did he mean? How was that possible? Was he telling the truth. There were so many questions swirling inside her head but she didn't have time to voice them. The dragon spoke as if reading her mind.
"I know you have questions. Alas, it would be better to... Answer them in a more appropriate setting. And without this disguise."
She could only look confused at the dragon. This disguise? What did he meant. This question though, was answered on the spot.
It was the cracking of bones that send a chill down her spine, willing her self not to cringe at the sound. And with such a big creature, the sound was tenfold. The dragon srinked and srinked, in his placed standing a man. A very beautiful man.
With the tallest structure she had seen on a man, with the body to back it up. White short hair with a red tuft and the goldest of eyes she had even seen. On his head stood a golden head piece of a dragon, his arms adorned with the same golden pieces. There were some strange marking littered across his skin that she had never seen before.
"Feels much better" She heard him mutter, her eyes not leaving him for a moment. His eyes were glued to her the moment he transformed, calculating and cautious of her every move.
He moved, taking one step closer, while on instinct, she took one backwards. Despite her initial amazement for his being, he was still a man. A very attractive one, but a man nonetheless. And a man was much more unpredictable than a fire breathing beast.
"You have no reason to be afraid, little dove. I do not wish you harm." He sounded convincing, but it took great power in her part to stay rooted in her place and let him approach. He took slow steps, sizing her up, waiting for a sudden outburst.
"I merely wish to help you. Once you are fed, cleaned and healed, we'll answer your questions."
He stopped just a few centimeters away from her, she could feel his breath fanning the top of her head. She had not realised how big he was, but now, standing so close to her, she had to crane her neck to see his face. He didn't do anything after that, waiting for her to voice her thoughts.
"How.. How do I know you're safe? That I'm safe."
"You are not." He said. "There are a lot that could kill you. First and foremost.." He glanced at the lake. "The water you so graciously drank."
She gulped. Did he mean that... Was the water poisoned? She didn't taste anything weird. It was the freshest and cleanest water.
"What do you mean?"
"Should it have perceived you as a threat, you would have already been dead. So, the answer to your question? You are safe, as long as the forest feels safe with you."
She blinked once, twice. That was a lot of information. And most importantly, she would have been dead? If she was seen as a threat? She looked at the lake, its water still, reflecting the scenery around it.
"She has already taking a liking to you. So do not fret. Now please, follow me little dove. We have to get you accommodated. I would be happy to provide any additional information until we reach out home."
He turned around, and started walking, not waiting for her to follow. He knew she would do so. And she did. After gathering her self, willing to calm her beating heart, she started following on his footsteps. He promised information. And information she was going to get.
"How.. How should I address you?"
"Ahh, yes. It appears that my manners disappeared. You can call me Ryuga."
"Ryuga." She whispered, testing his name on her tongue. She could not see the man since he had his back on her, so she was unable to see the pleased look on his face. Hearing his name fall from her lips. It strangely pleased him.
"What would your name be, little dove?"
"Y/n."
"Y/n. A strange name. But a beautiful one nonetheless."
Her cheeks erapted in flames. It was all too much. She had no experience with the opposite gender in that department, so even these small interactions left her flustered. His nickname for her, which she had yet to comment on, the way his voice sounded, so deep and alluring..
"I've never heard of such name."
"My mother named me after my grandmother. They were not from this parts."
"I see."
Silence engulfed them. She didn't know what to say. She had so many things, but was unable to voice them. But it seemed it was a long journey. And the man hadn't started a conversation.
"How old are you?" She finally blurted, starting from the basics.
"I have lived long enough."
"That's too vague."
There was sound that sounded like a chuckle from him.
"I have lived long before this world was created. Is that a sufficient answer for you, little dove?"
"Umm, a bit better. Not that can understand how old is this old but.. So, you've lived here? All your life?"
"Yes. I was entrusted with the protection of the forest. This was my role and purpose."
He felt a presence beside him, tilting his head to look at her.
"Do you live alone? It must be quite lonely." Ryuga could see a small pout forming on her lips, and he had to admit, he found that adorable.
"No, my mates have been by my side."
Mates? What did that mean? Was that, another creature perhaps? Or did that mean his friends? Is that what they were called here? Mates?
"Your friends?"
"My mates."
"So.. Your best friends?"
Now it was his turn to tilt his head in her direction. He didn't know what friends meant to her, or even if she was familiar with the term. She was a human after all.
"We are.." He hesitated.. "Partners if you wish. Though it is much more that that."
"So, you are married?"
"Married?"
"Yes, you are like, husband and wife."
"Husband? Wife?" He had not heard of such terms.
She looked at his face, his head tilted to the side, looking like a curious puppy. So cute.
"I am not familiar with the customs of the mortals."
She giggled hearing him talk like that. "Then I guess I will have to teach about them."
"Yes. That would be delightful." He smiled softly at her and turned his head around, seeing the familiar opening of his home.
"It appears we are here. And the others are already inside."
He motioned for her to walk first, which she did with some hesitation. She had no idea what to expect, but whatever it was, she was going to go through that. The worst had already passed.
"Did you bring another stray here, Ryuga? But it smells nice and.. Oh. It is a female of all things." A male's voice stopped her in her tracks, his words echoing in her head.
"Excuse me?" She frowned hearing that. She couldn't exactly see who was talking to her, she could only make out a body hiding in the shadows of the house.
"Careful with that, Kyoya. Besides, you already knew who I was coming with."
"I know, but I couldn't help myself. She had such a teasable face."
"What does that even mean?"
"Hmm, I wonder." He smirked at her, walking at her like he was ready to pounce at her. But a hand came on his shoulder before he could make a step.
"I thought we already discussed this, dear." A velvety voice was heard, before a tall man walked from behind. He was... Ethereal. Words could not describe what she was seeing.
Tall, with a lean body, and not so much prominent muscles. White, long hair that reached his waist framed his face, whiter than any snow she had seen. His brown eyes shone bright, while what caught her attention were the little wings, stationed on the side of his eyes, reaching past his head. Feathers white, just like the rest of him.
He seemed almost familiar. There was no possibility she had seen him before. She was sure of that. Had she encountered him, she would have not forgotten him ever. And yet. She couldn't shake that feeling. She took one last glance at him. White hair. What wings. White feathers.
"Gasp. You're.."
"I see you remember me."
"Thank you." Her voice quivered. Water started pouting from her eyes. Now, that she felt safe and secure, now that there was no immediate danger. She let herself relax. She had no idea why she would be experiencing this. Why was she feeling safe inside a house full of predators?
She kept sniffing her nose, taking deep and slow breaths, hoping that this would calm her sudden outburst. She wiped her eyes vigorously but that didn't seem to stop the salty liquid from running down her face.
Because the more she cried, the more she found reasons to continue. Her hard life, her destroyed one, her abandoned home, her possible death by.. By possibly anything that breathed.
"There, there. Let it all out lovely." A body was stationed before her and before she could react, she felt herself enveloped into strong arms. She stilled, expecting the worse. But when he didn't move, she felt like crying even louder.
When was the last time since she had been held like this? She couldn't even remember her own family doing something like this. It felt so nice.
She nuzzled her face closer to the man's chest, completely unbothered by the rudeness or how forward this was. She took deep breaths to calm down. Her nostrils filled with his scent, like the forest, like the soil after the rain. A low vibration in his chest seemed to calm her down further. What was this? It almost seemed like.. Purring?
Something soft wrapped around her leg. She let out an involuntarily giggled at the ticklish feeling. That was her queue to move a little further from the man's chest, now the perfect opportunity to to study his face.
Clear blue eyes stared right af her, under them adoring his face were cross like scars. Long, green hair, tied in a low ponytail, while on top of his head stood two.. Ears. She could not recognise from which animal.
The same feeling in her leg caught her attention, and lowered her eyes to look at what it was. She was surprised to see a thin, long tail, with hair only at its end.
It reminded her of a cat, but, that couldn't be true.
"I'm not cat! What does everyone think that?"
"You are just a bigger version. Deep down, you are still a cat." Ryuga's voice sounded playful from behind her, but that seemed to irk the male more.
"That's not true? I'm a lion! I am the king of all living creatures!"
"I suppose so."
"Hey! Don't ignore me!"
Their sudden outburst was her excuse to create some distance between them. She understood quite quickly that this was nothing more than some playful banter, no harm or ill intent behind their words or actions.
Her attention turned back to the last male, which she had not introduced yet, finding him looking lovely at the two. So that's what Ryuga meant by partners. Mates.
His eyes fell on her next, his expression never once wavering. It was a little weird but she could not bring herself to care.
"We can move into a more quiet setting. I assume you would also like to clean yourself. It has been quite an eventful day for you." He extended his hand towards her, to which she gladly accepted. That seemed to please him.
"Yes, that would be great. Thank you again. For everything."
"I merely did anything worth praising. Nevertheless, you are very much welcome." He smiled at her and turned to look ahead of him.
He led them further and further away from their house. Birds were heard, chirping and singing, creating a tranquil atmosphere.
"I believe I have not introduced myself properly. You can call me Tsubasa."
"Oh, of course. How rude of me! You can call me Y/n. Nice to meet you."
"Pleasure is all mine, my dear."
Her heart skipped a beat. It appeared she liked hearing them say things like that to her.
He didn't explain further on why he was using such terms of endearment with her. Or anyone basically. But she wasn't going to complain. She was more than happy.
Silence stretched between the two for some time. Y/n took her time admiring everything around her. It was all so pretty, so different from what she had used to see. Her hometown did nothing to compare to this place.
The sound of running water brought her back to reality. The more they approached, the louder it became. It didn't sound like the light sound of passing water, so it must have been a waterfall.
"We are here." She heard beside her and walked forth. And soon enough she saw it. A huge waterfall, as high as the sky, letting water down into small, circular lakes. It was steaming hot, one could see the fumes.
"I will leave you to your own. Should you need anything, you may call me." Tsubasa spoke and turned his body to leave. Why? Where was he going? Was he going to leave her here? All alone?
"You.. You don't have to go back. You can.. Stay here.. If you want.." Her voice quieted down the more she spoke, almost afraid and embarrassed to voice her own thoughts. And she would be right. Who in their right mind wanted someone to watch them bathe?
"I do not wish to make you uncomfortable with my presence."
"No, no. Not at all. I just.. I kind of don't want to be alone. Is that alright with you? I don't want to overstep any boundaries."
He smiled softly at her. He could see from her flushed face and angsty behavior that she was nervous. Despite that, she was brave enough to speak to him.
He had started to realise why she was brought here. It wasn't an accident. A higher force must have heard their wishes. It was clear by the golden string attaching them. Though he couldn't be sure just yet, it was too early to tell. Still, that thought gave him hope.
Their final mate.
"I suppose I can indulge you for a while. There is no harm in that."
She nodded, elated that he had accepted her request. Which she still, didn't know what urged her to do it. There was no use backing out now.
Her clothes found their way to the ground. She went inside the spring, the hot water enveloping her whole body. She sighed, closing her eyes to this euphoric feeling. She felt like being cleansed, all the events, all her fears, worries washed away by the hot water. Her muscles relaxed.
"I see it is to your liking."
"It's really nice. I've never taken a bath like this before. It's so relaxing."
"I am happy to hear that." His body moved closer, movements so fluid, like the running water. He found a rock next to her and sat down, his eyes never once wavering from her own.
"The water will help heal the wounds. Though I wish it wouldn't have been yours." His hand took some of the water and poured it on the side of her head. It took away all the blood in a swift notion, the small wound closing within seconds.
She thought she was unable to get any redder than she was now. At least, she could blame it on the hot temperature of the water. But her beating heart was hard to ignore. The way he touched her face, the way he was looking at her. As if she was the most precious gem in the world.
Before she could embarrass herself, she jerked back, coughing, in order to mask her embarrassment. He copied her movements, turning his face on the side. From there she could see the wings on his face flutter and curl. That was.. Unexpectedly cute.
"So.. Umm.. Is there anyone else living here with you?" She started. She could get her mind away and it would be a good opportunity to answer some questions.
"No. Only the three of us. Since the beginning of time." He smiled fondly, clearly reminiscing their time.
"That must be lovely. And you are all.. Together?"
"Yes. The three of us."
Fascinating. She had never heard of such thing. Such type of a relationship. Then again, there was much of the world that she didn't know. Besides, she was sure that the village leader would have killed anyone that dared to say anything different of the regular. Much less in the relationship department.
"It sounds.. Nice. I've never heard of three people being together. And all men."
"Is it not common with your people?"
"I suppose no. Not where I come from at least. I have no idea what happens elsewhere."
She saw him nodding his head. She inspected his calm face, how his every feature seemed to compliment each other. She had never seen a more beautiful man than him.
And then suddenly something crossed her mind. Something she had spoken with Ryuga.
"I sense you have more questions, dear. Please, feel free to ask."
"Ryuga had told me something."
"Yes?"
"He said that.. The water could kill me. That it, you, know."
"Oh, I see. Yes, that does sound a little ominous. Alas, I am afraid that he was right. The moment you entered the forest, you.. Um.. How should I phrase it.. You became one with it."
"Like.. What?"
"Your mind, your soul, your existence, became one with it. All that you've experienced, the good and the bad, they merged with the forest. And subsequently to us."
She slumped hearing that. So, from what she could gather, these men, these men that she had know for less than a day, knew everything about her. This was what he was telling her.
"I am deeply sorry for upsetting you, dear. But it would not seem right to lie to you about this."
"Oh no, please. It is not your fault. If anything. It's just.. A lot to take in. It is quite scary."
"There is no reason to feel like this. This was merely a transaction that had to be done. We do not see any further than you want us to. We wish only for your safety. There are no ulterior motives. You are safe." He spoke with such authority. Each word he spoke carried its weight, urging you to believe him and bow to his will.
And she had no reason not to believe him. Which was a little unsettling on its own. But then again, she was talking to three ancient shape shifting gods. That alone should have been plenty weird. And there she was.
"Very well then. I trust your judgement. My only worry would have been.. Your reaction. Nothing more." She avoided his gaze, his reaction to her words left a pit at the stomach.
Though that didn't last long because his curled fingers brought her face to him.
"You do not have to worry about such trivial matters. What has happened is in the past, and it will remain there.View this.. As an opportunity to start anew. Does that suffice?"
He had a point. She had not thought about it like that. But he was right. It was like the universe had given her a second chance to live the life that she wasn't able to. Away from everything and everyone. Her and the three god guardians of the forest.
She nodded her head in acknowledgement, smiling softly at him.
Yes. This was going to be her new start.
~~~~
"You surely took you sweet time over there." Kyoya's teasing voice welcomed them into their abode. He send a wink her way which seemed to flare up her face all over again. The lion shifter along with Ryuga were sitting on the floor around a small table filled to the brim with food. They surely liked to eat a lot.
"I do not think we are that late."
"Mmhm. Whatever you say bird boy. Now, come along sweetheart. It's time to eat." He gave her a toothy grin and patted a spot next to him on the cushioned floor.
She gazed at the two men, a little nervous, waiting for their approval, maybe? Or some hint on what she should do? The only thing she received were their comforting smiles and a small push from Tsubasa.
So, she complied. After taking her seat, Tsubasa took the one opposite of her, right next to Ryuga.
"Here, try this! I caught it just today." The feline besides her brought something close to her face.
"Kyoya. Let the poor woman breathe for a moment."
"You're just jealous I get to feed her."
"I am.. Not?"
"Here, say ahh my dear."
She complied to his request, taking a bite from the food he was offering. It seemed like some type of meat wrapped inside a leaf. She had to admit, she did not remember when was the last time she had eaten meat. The villagers refused to sell her any, and she didn't have the heart to kill them.
And she had to admit, it was really good. She hummed at the taste, munching as slowly as possible savouring it.
"It's really good!"
"I'm happy to hear that. Here, have some more."
There was silence for some time, the four people immersed into their own food world. The occasional tearing of the meat or small words around them were the only noise that was heard.
It felt so.. Domestic. She had always wished to live like this. Be it with friends, or a family of her own. It warmed her heart.
The table was cleared withing minutes. Her initial skepticism about their eating capacities was proven wrong. Not even a bone was left on the table, courtesy of Ryuga.
He didn't eat every bone. Because of her. Which she did feel a little guilty about. But the moment she heard that crunch of teeth against the bone, she cringed and covered her ears, muttering apologies under her breath. Ryuga had reassured her that there was nothing to apologise about, and he promised to eat them alone, so as to not scare her.
She looked at him with astonishment. Why did a man that knew her for only a day, acted like that? Why did he care so much about her wellbeing and whether or not she was comfortable around them? Why change his habit for someone that had essentially walked into their house and lives?
"Do not do that lovely." Tsubasas voice brought her out of her inner space, his hand coming to her forehead, smoothing it out. "Frowing does not suit you."
"Yes! And you'll get all wrinkly. Like that old hag. And I refuse to let my mate look like that."
"Kyoya, don't be rude. She might be hearing you."
"Well good. It's been millenia since she visited. I think this is a good time."
She sat and watched them for a moment, listening to their conversation about someone. Some old woman, if she wasn't mistaken. What exactly had she walked herself into?
