The Outlander takes a leap of faith, joining a fleeing Arcann on his journey after the Voss heal his mind. Together, they'll discover what it means to redeem oneself, and perhaps, find each other along the way.
Rating: T
Pairing: M!Imperial Agent x Arcann (redeemed)
Word Count: 2.3k
Tags: Enemies to Friends to Lovers
Read on AO3
"Arcann!"
Eight shouts across the crumbling courtyard, his call prompting Arcann to turn aroundâif briefly. "Come back. We can talk about this!"
Arcann hesitates, though every bone in his body shudders at the earnest look the Outlander pins him with, as if he were not talking to the man who imprisoned him for five long years, who he hunted to the ends of the galaxy and back for the mere sin of bearing his father's spirit. Those eyes of deep bister bore into him like a needle, piercing past his futile attempts to school his expression into something less vulnerable, and he feels as if he is being picked apart, dissected underneath that all-seeing, magnanimous gaze. His prosthetic fingers clench and unclench, longing for the safety of a saber beneath his grip, torn. He cannot trust him, yet he feels compelled to try, if just to ask his enemy why.
He takes one hesitant step forward.
His father steps out from behind the Outlander with a smile.
Arcann balks, panic setting in. "No," He breathes heavily, shakily, scrambling to get as far away as possible from the specter of him, unsteady and weak as he is, and he hates the fear the grips him like a vise. As if he were still a child, gazing up at the dispassionate visage of their emperor as blows rained down on his defenseless back. Even behind the safety of his mask, he cannot hide. Not from him. He is too open, too exposed out here. "You are not alone!"
Eight's face morphs into alarm as Arcann moves to flee, and Arcann almost regrets spurning him. He frantically punches in the coordinates to a system far, far away from here, from all this, from himself.
What he does not see is Eight rushing past Valkorion's ghost, sprinting straight through him as if he were nothing at all.
The tiny ship suddenly dips with extra weight, a loud thump alerting him to an uninvited intruder. When Arcann turns around, Eight is climbing aboard his shuttle as it leaves the landing pad, flinging himself into the bay with nary a second thought. He hears the dismayed shouts of the Outlander's comrades in the distance, but they are too late to join him. Arcann's countenance gives way to sheer bewilderment, and his eyes flick to his father's ghost standing alone in the courtyard.
As the flight doors slam shut, the last thing Arcann glimpses before the jump to hyperspace are Valkorion's features drawn tight with surprise.
-/-
Eight slowly rises from the floor of the shuttle, hands raised placatingly as Arcann remains hunched over the nav computer, too wounded to try and escape to anywhere away from him in their small, cramped quarters. There is nowhere else to run, and Arcann eyes him distrustfully as they square off in the cabin.
"I won't hurt you," Eight says, soft and low, and Arcann would find his tone soothing if he did not know what he was capable of.
"You followed me," Arcann snarls, moving to launch himself preemptively at his enemy, only to stop short in a wheezy wince as the exertion pulls his wounds open. The Voss healing ritual had more or less closed his deepest injuries, but even force-aided healing required time for the skin cells to regrow. It only hastened their recovery; it could not replace what was lost.
The same could be said for his current state of mind, if he wanted to go down that path.
Eight looks like he has more to say, but he purses his lips when he notices the blood soaking through the white of Arcann's robes. Wordlessly, he fishes out a kolto injector from his belt and offers it to Arcann, who merely looks upon it with wariness.
He glares at the item. Why was he being shown such mercy? What did he have to gain by alleviating his suffering? Was this all some sick patronizing ploy to get him to lower his guard?
"It won't bite, you know," Eight huffs, bemused by his stubbornness. He holds it out again.
Arcann has half a mind to smack it out of his hand, but the lancing pain of his injuries and his swimming head urges him to do otherwise. Minutes pass as they stare at each other, and Arcann admits he might need the accursed thing the longer he stays upright, with their surroundings starting to waver as a dizzy spell overtakes him. Reluctantly, he accepts the kolto, though he snatches it outright from the Outlander's open palm like a common vagrant, unwilling to get within close range of him.
Eight smiles at him not unkindly. It only fuels Arcann's mounting irritation.
A shudder passes through him as he injects the kolto, feeling its effects almost immediately. The aches and stabbing sensations subside, and the fog that pervades his mind clears somewhat, though he remains hazy, like someone had stuffed his head full of cotton. He straightens up in the presence of his loathed enemy even as his back complains, and he hates how Eight's gaze flicks to his prosthetic hand steadying himself on the console, as if he required help to stand. Arcann thinks back to when he had placed the Outlander in carbonite, and briefly wonders if this was how he felt emerging from his icy tomb.
He tosses the thought aside, surprised at himself for feeling anything at all towards the other man. It was absurd to reminisce on pain that he had caused the Outlander when he had revisited it on him twofold. Arcann's prosthetic still bore the marks of their fierce battle, having gone without repair the entire time since his mother had fled with him into space.
Mother⊠Arcann frowns, his pulse quickening. He had felt Senya's life flicker and fade into nothing back in the shrine. He had called out to her in vain, desperately reaching towards that faint light that had shone through his pall of darkness and rage, and then she was gone.
She had saved his life in place of her own.
Arcann suddenly feels his knees buckle, unable to bear the weight of his present circumstances. His mother had died for him, a failure who couldn't even retain the throne. He had lost everything. His vision for the galaxy, the war, even the Outlander. Now his mother lay dead and cold on Voss while he languished here, alive despite his wishes to be anything but. His breathing grows labored and rapid. He sinks to the floor, guilt mixing with a deep sense of shame as he a tremor runs through his body. How could he� He doesn't notice the shadow that falls over him, nor the gentle hand that hovers over his thigh as the Outlander kneels before his balled up form.
"Hey," Eight says quietly, concern coloring his features.
Arcann doesn't respond, folding in on himself tighter. He flinches at the warm hand that sets itself on his leg. Eight has removed his gloves, and his touch is feather-light, a courtesy that Arcann does not expect from his longtime enemy. No, what he does expect is for those same hands to reach beneath his neck and strangle him in his moment of weakness. Such was what he deserved and more.
The pain never arrives.
"Hey. Look at me," Eight repeats, and his tone is firm yet grounding. When Arcann doesn't, Eight, to his surprise, reaches for his chin, and with the slightest bit of pressure, turns his face to his.
Their eyes meet, and Arcann's breath hitches.
He's never seen the Outlander up close. Not like this, anywaysâin the light, Eight's eyes are a rich, dark teak, the color of the earthiest of soils and rain-soaked wood that remind him of the Eternal Swamp's bounties, but more devastating is the sheer calm reflected in them. How could he be so collected in a time like this, trapped with the man who had once run him through like a plaything? As his panic wavers, he notices other things. The handsome shape of his nose. The ribbon of scar tissue that glides across one high cheekbone to the next. His scruffy brows, and the shape his mouth makes against wet lips as he speaks next.
"Breathe," Eight commands, and Arcann, against his better judgment, does. "There we are." Eight grabs his non-prosthetic hand and suddenly places it up against his chest, which startles Arcann. What was he doing?!âhe stops, realizing he can feel the Outlander's heartbeat beneath his fingers, his pulse rising and falling, a steady rhythm that feels louder to Arcann than the blood rushing to his ears. Badump. Badump. He focuses on the sound, the sensation, letting all else fall away. Soon enough, his own heart is matching Eight's beat for beat, and Arcann stills, his breathing evening out. They remain like that for awhile, two hearts beating as one.
Arcann stays there for longer than he likes before snatching his hand back, a furtive expression crossing his stoic features as he eyes Eight uneasily, unsure of what to make of him coming to his aid. An awkward silence reigns as he flounders on how to respond, too caught off-guard by everything that had occurred since Eight had invited himself onto his shuttle.
Eight, however, seems unfazed. "Feel better?"
"âŠSomewhat."
"Good."
They stare at each other.
Arcann frowns. He opens his mouth to speak, closes it, then shakes his head. "Why are you here, Outlander?" He asks, the question coming out sharper than he intends. What have I done to deserve this? Why haven't you attacked me yet?
Eight doesn't react to his provocations. "I think you know why. There's not many people who would trust you to go alone after the stunts you've pulled." Harsh, but true.
Arcann doesn't begrudge him for his candidness, but it doesn't answer his real question. His fingers idly twitch, remembering his heartbeat. "You're helping me."
"I'm choosing to have faith in your mother," Eight replies as casually as discussing the weather, "She vouched for you. I want to look out for you. We have the some goals."
Arcann thins his lips at the mention of his mother. "My mother isâ"
"I wouldn't go that far," Eight says softly, sympathy in his eyes. "She's in the hands of the Alliance now. They'll take care of her."
Arcann mulls over this piece of information. He spoke as if there was a chance she still lived, against all odds.
Somehow, he wanted to believe him. But it was foolish to trust, and Arcann grew weary of being made a fool. No. The Outlander had shot down him and his mother both before. He would not fall for his lies. "You're not going to kill me?" He asks with hostility in his voice, tired of ignoring the bantha in the room. "You have ample chance to do so, if that is why you came after me. I don't understand why you are staying your hand."
Eight tilts his head. "Do you want me to?" Defiant, almost mocking in his ambivalence.
It grates on Arcann's nerves to no end, and he feels something in him snap. "Do not joke with me, Outlander. I will not laugh at your antics." He snarls, striding over in one swift step, and he shoves Eight down with the force.
Eight tumbles to the floor, and Arcann meets him there, pinning both his wrists to the cold durasteel in a vice grip as he bends over him.
Eight looks up at him with an unreadable expression but makes no move to struggle, instead lying limply in his hold as the seconds tick by.
Arcann growls. "Do something. Fight back!"
"I don't want to fight you," Eight says calmly. "I've beaten you already. There's no need for us to keep going."
"I still live," Arcann hisses, "finish the job. Finish what you started, or I'llâŠ"
"Or you'll kill me?" Eight's eyes lock onto him like a hawkbat's, sharp as a knife. "I don't believe you." He flexes beneath him, and Arcann cannot help but be drawn to the arch of his back. "You could've tried the moment I came into this shuttle, but you're holding back as well. I think we can come to an understanding."
Arcann's fingers tighten on their hold on Eight's wrists, digging into his skin. He doesn't answer for a long time, caught by his simple observation. What anger, what hatred he felt for the Outlander had become but simmering embers in the wake of his humiliating defeat, and all he felt now was confusionâconfusion towards the Outlander's mercy, his mother's selflessness, and his place in the world now that he had been removed from the playing board entirely. Did he still want to kill the Outlander for robbing him of a throne he did not have the strength to retain? It hardly mattered now. His father would never have spared him, nor spoken these kind, cloying words.
Perhaps there was truth to what Eight was saying.
He hesitates. "I'm not a man you should be trusting so readily."
"I don't. Not yet," Eight smiles again, and this time it looks more fond. "But I'd like to."
Arcann falls silent, stunned. He scoffs and quickly looks away, a churn of indescribable emotions pooling in his gut as he releases him. "âŠDo what you like. It matters not to me." He stalks back to his corner of the cabin and turns his back to him, refusing to look at him any longer.
He would not give him that chance. He would get rid of him as soon as they landed, and then Arcann would not have to be haunted by his father or any strange, gentle outlanders any longer.
As they settle in their respective seats away from each other for the remainder of the long ride, Arcann can still feel Eight's gaze on him as hyperspace lulls him to sleep.
He dreams of impaling him once more, but this time Eight draws him in close, and they die together on each other's blades.
Greek God Poseidon! Oboro Shirakumo x Female writer! Human! Reader.
(I do not own Shouta Aizawa/ Eraserhead, Hizashi Yamada/ Present Mic, Oboro Shirakumo/Loud Cloud, or Keigo Takami/ Hawks or any other characters mentioned within the My Hero Academia main series or the Vigilantes spin-off. Both series and all characters within this fandom belong to Horikoshi Kohei and Hideyuki Furuhashi. If this isn't your cup of tea, blend of spices, or brew of coffee, move along. Reader discretion is advised.)
TW: Stalking, monster attack, accusation of wrongdoings, polygamy, rumors, and gossip.
WC: 5,078
(Photo isn't mine, forgot where i found it)
You stood on the balcony, drinking your morning coffee, and looking at your private beach and dock access, happy you chose to move to this fishing town after graduating college to make a new start for yourself. You applied for a job as a writer for the small newspaper the town had, getting a position where you wrote stories about the local legends and kept up a rumor column, just to keep things exciting for the people who lived there. As you were beginning the day, you settled into your at-home office, looked over your notes for the new story you were getting started on, and warmed up your computer. While reading your notes, you found out that the most recent rumor was an older one that had resurfaced: Locals report that a mysterious man comes from the sea when the fishermen return with their hauls of seafood. He was seen about three months ago when the men came in last, standing about 6â6â, tanned skin from many hours under the sun, eyes that were as blue as the sky, and pale blue hair that seemed to move with the clouds and change color with the weather.
His name was Oboro Shirakumo, and he left a trail of broken hearts behind him. He was known to court one of the single women in the town for a few weeks while he was on shore leave in search of his wife, most of the women in the small fishing town Before he would return to the sea, he would break up with the woman he was courting by letting them off easy the night before he would go on the ship.
Most of the women were understandably upset at his rejection, those that had been rejected by him would line up with the few remaining single women in the town, wait by the docks on the day that the boats would return to port, and watch the crowd for this mysterious man to appear so the women he had left heartbroken could get some answers and hopefully have a second chance at a relationship with him.
The rest of the town would also gather just to see who this mysterious man would accept as his partner while he was on land.
You checked your calendar, almost spitting out your coffee, as today was the day that the fishing boats were due to return to port. You quickly saved your Word document, shut your computer down, grabbed your notebook, threw it in your favorite bag, and ran out the door. You sprinted down the street to the docks, where you could see the fishing boats pulling into port and the men scrambling about the boats to tie the mooring lines to their respective moorings secured on the dock.
Straight ahead was a crowd of people who you could only guess were the group of women searching for Oboro. You approached the outskirts of the market area where a distinct group of women were huddled together and muttering amongst themselves as the men came off the boats, hauling their catches in giant ice chests.
You stayed near the sides where the fishmongers, butchers, and other townsfolk were clearing a path for the fishermen to make their way to the storehouse. You had heard from the women that this Oboro had a mysterious air about him that made the ladies swoon whenever they got close to him, and you wanted to see just how mysterious this Oboro Shirakumo was for yourself to see if the rumors that the locals spread about him were true.
The locals were buzzing with excitement at who Oboro would pick this time to be his partner, saying that its boat was The Briny Trident and to watch for its bow pull into her harbor, since it was said that the woman carved into the bow was to be Amphitrite herself, with how beautiful the carving looked. You watched as every other boat slid into their respective slips along the dock, tying off their moorings to the piers. You walked along the dock, reading the names of the boats and finding that every other ship except The Briny Trident pulled into their slips and lowered their anchors into the harbor. As you walked, A small part of your heart was hoping that Oboro would pick you for this time that he came to port, but you didnât want to get your hopes up too much, so you kept your head down as you evaded the crowd gathering at the remaining empty slip and waiting for The Briny Trident.
A cry of joy from one of the women made your head whip around when the last pier at the other end of the dock filled with a light gray ship that had a dark blue trim and lettering on the side. You followed the surge of women that approached the boat, all of them craning their necks in hopes of being the first one to see Oboro on the deck of the ship as it pulled into port.
To prevent yourself from getting mauled by the desperate crowd of distraught women, you stayed near the back of the crowd, scanning the deck of the ship for any sign of a man with Oboroâs description. None of the shipâs crew looked like the man every woman was hoping to see aboard the ship until you noticed movement in the captainâs quarters. You walked around the group of women, crowding each other to the other side of the ship just in time to see a man with Oboroâs exact description sneak off the vessel, sneak into a smaller boat wearing a disguise, and carrying what looked to be his duffel bag. He looked up from what he was doing, and he saw you. He lifted his finger to his mouth in a gesture to tell you to keep quiet while his eyes, oh, his eyes were the same color as the blue sky above, and they stared right into your soul, selling the point that you never saw him escaping off the back of The Briny Trident in one of the lifeboats to escape the mob of distraught women waiting for him. You subtly nodded and walked away as if you hadnât seen anything.
You kept your head down as you walked past the women, demanding that Oboro come forth and pick one of them to be his wife and settle this predicament. A few of the women he had dumped were distraught, still wallowing in the loss of such a man as their husband, while others were angry and wanted revenge. You walked past the crowd and turned onto the vacant street to evade the chaos that was at the docks.
Walking up the street, you turned another corner to head home when an arm yanked you out of the main road and into an alleyway. One hand covered your mouth before you could scream, and you were now face-to-face with Oboro.
âIâm not gonna hurt you. Just stay quiet. I have a few questions for you. Are you gonna stay quiet?â Oboro asked. You nodded in agreement, and he removed his hand. You stared at him in stunned silence for a moment before he had to wave his hand in front of your face to get your attention. âHey, are you listening? I asked if you knew where I could get some supplies before I head home. Everything seems to have changed since I was last in town, and youâre the one person that doesnât want to maul me or beat me to a bloody pulp. Do you know where I can get food and some supplies?â The man asked. You blinked and looked him in his stormy blue eyes.
âThereâs a convenience store farther in town. âGreen Goddess Groceryâ is the name of the store. Do you want me to take you there? I know a quick route through backroads so youâre not seen by the public.â You offered and gestured behind you.
âSure, that would be helpful. Thank you⊠Whatâs your name?â He asked.
âIâm Y/n. Iâm a local writer for the newspaper.â You responded. Something lit up in his eyes before he took your hand in his and locked eyes with you.
âNice to meet you, Y/n. Iâm Oboro. Iâm sure you probably know who I am by now.â He said, rubbing the back of his neck, embarrassed.
âYeah, youâre quite the celebrity around here. Câmon. Letâs get you out of here before the angry mob catches on your scent.â You said and led him out of the alleyway and into the main road. He followed you down the sidewalk and to the Green Goddess Grocery.
âThis is the place, huh? Seems smaller than I thought it would be.â Oboro said as he looked at the faded, flickering sign above the store.
âDonât judge a book by its cover. The women who run the store always seem to stock the best produce and essential items you can find in this town. The next best shop is in the big city about an hour away. Trust me, Ms. Chlora and her sister, Ms. Phyll, have the best this town can offer, far away from the big city.â You told him as you went inside. You split off from him, deciding to pick up a few essential items you needed like milk, bread, and eggs. You first went to the back of the store and pulled out a gallon of milk before picking up a carton of eggs. You were on your way to where the bread was when someone tapped your shoulder. You looked behind you to see Oboro standing behind you with his hands in his pockets.
âI have no idea where anything is. Can you help me?â He asked while keeping eye contact with you.
âSure⊠why donât you ask Ms. Chlora at the cash register?â You asked, looking around him to see the back of the womanâs head. Oboro moved to shield you from looking at the woman and locked eyes with you.
âIâd rather get help from you than her⊠She looks busy anyway.â He said while keeping his eyes on yours. You peeked around Oboro to see Ms. Chlora and Ms. Phyll whispering about you and Oboro, probably speculating why the man was choosing to be seen with you instead of doing his shopping alone like he normally did when he came into port.
You noticed how tense Oboro had grown since the two of you arrived in the store. He pulled you into the bread aisle, where he was thankful the shelves were high enough that he could be hidden in the aisle safely.
âOboro! Whatâs going on? Do you know those women? Have they threatened you in any way?â You asked, concerned for the man trying to seem fixated on what type of bread to pick.
âNo, they havenât threatened me at all. I just know them from somewhere. Iâm going to get my groceries, and I want you to meet me outside.â He spoke before grabbing a loaf of bread off the shelf, walking down the aisle to grab a jar of crunchy peanut butter and grape jelly, and then turning around the corner to continue his shopping.
You continued your shopping and carried your basket up to the cash register, where Ms. Chlora had been replaced by Ms. Phyll.
You placed your items on the conveyor belt, being cautious of Ms. Phyl,l who was staring daggers right into your forehead.
âHe is Mine.â She muttered under her breath just loud enough for you to hear. You looked up at the woman, seeing that her once steel grey eyes were now a vibrant shade of blue.
âExcuse me? What did you say?â You asked as you walked closer to the register, pulling your card out to pay for your groceries. Ms. Phyll stayed quiet as she scanned your items and rang up the total. You glanced over to where Oboro was pretending to choose what prepared meal he wanted when he was watching your interaction with Ms. Phyll.
âHe. Is. Mine! You are not worthy to be the King of the Oceanâs bride! No human woman is worthy!" She shrieked and began to lunge past the counter, her clawed hand reaching out to grab you. You took a step back, groceries abandoned on the counter, when you felt arms wrap around you, pick you up, and carry you outside to safety.
Once you were on your feet again, you looked at the man who had rescued you. It was Oboro, and he was currently barricading the door with a nearby plank of wood to keep the two women, now looking like humanoid creatures made from seaweed, from banging on the door, trying to get to Oboro.
Oboro turned to face you, walking over to you and pulling you by the arm down the street until you were a safe enough distance from the store. He had pulled you onto the long, dirt road that you knew led to the abandoned log cabin in the middle of the woods. Your eyes widened, and you pulled your arm from his grip.
âWhat the fuck are you doing? That abandoned cabin is creepy as hell!â You exclaimed. He turned to face you, his eyes looking cold and serious.
âThe cabin isnât abandoned, and the creepiness factor shouldnât be your main worry right now. You should be concerned about the two kelp sirens that almost gutted you.â Oboro said, throwing his arm out to the side, gesturing back down the road where the store was holding the sirens.
âWhat do you mean they are âkelp sirensâ? I thought Ms. Phyll was one of your bitter exesâŠâ You said, now thinking back to what she said just before she lunged at you. âYou are not worthy to be the King of the Oceanâs bride! No human woman is worthy!â You recalled in your head.
âWhat did she mean by âKing of the Oceanâs brideâ? Oboro, what did she mean?â You asked, keeping your eyes on the man in front of you. Oboro looked to the dirt path and took a deep breath.
âWe should talk about this inside. Itâs not safe out here.â He told you, looking you intensely in the eyes. You sighed, hesitating before you responded.
âAt least tell me the cabin doesnât have a history of murders?â You asked. Oboro chuckled and shook his head.
âNo murders have happened there, trust me. I should know since I live there when Iâm not at sea.â He responded, smiling at you.
Your eyes widened in shock as you received this news. Oboro was the mystery man who would occupy the otherwise desolate cabin. Everything was making sense now, why he would pick someone from the town and take them up here, to this cabin, and romance them for however long Oboro was in port for. âWhy are you taking me to your cabin?â You asked as he led you up the steps and onto the stained spruce porch.
âYou, my dear, are the next person whom Iâd like to spend my shore leave with. If things go right, you might be the last woman I bring here.â He told you as he pulled out an old, weathered gold key from his pocket and unlocked his cabin. He swung the door open for you to enter. You peeked inside to find that the interior wasnât dark, damp, and covered with cobwebs but lit, clean, and looked like someone lived inside. The cabin did not look abandoned or desolate like you thought it was whenever you looked up to where this cabin sat, overlooking the small fishing town.
You held Oboroâs hand on the small of your back, guiding you inside before he shut and locked the door behind him, keeping whatever dangers that would come up to the cabin outside and away from the two of you.
âMake yourself at home. Judging by the clouds I saw on the horizon, weâre in for a long, stormy night.â Oboro spoke, making sure the windows were locked and secure before walking into the kitchen, filling a kettle with water, and placing it on the stove to boil. You, however, were stunned to silence, processing the fact that this mysterious man who had all the women in the town fighting over who he would pick to be his bride had picked you out of all the women in the small town to be his potential wife. Someone he had never laid eyes on before, someone who never thought that all the commotion that happened on the docks each time the boats came into the harbor wasnât worth the time or effort just managed to catch his eye the one time you decide to go down to the docks to check out the commotion, just so happened to convince him enough that you were worthy enough to be his bride.
Your eyes wandered over to the man standing by the stove, waiting for the water to boil. He pulled two ceramic mugs down from their hooks on the wall and placed them on the counter.
âYou like tea or coffee? Or do you prefer hot cocoa?â He asked, looking up at you when the kettle came to a boil and just began to whistle.
âIâd like some coffee, please.â You responded, thinking the caffeine would help keep you alert while youâre alone in the cabin with Oboro.
You watched as he opened a cupboard, pulled down a container of instant coffee, and scooped a spoonful into your mug and another scoop into his mug.
âHow do you take your coffee?â He asked. You told him how you liked your coffee. He handed you a cup of coffee and sat across the table from you with his own cup of hot, steaming coffee. The two of you sat in a comfortable silence as a storm rolled in, thunder rolling and rain falling against the roof of the cabin, making everything feel cozier and relaxed. You watched Oboroâs eyes stare back into yours as he drank his coffee. As you stared deeper into his eyes, the dark blue eyes that resembled the color the waves would get before a storm hit the coast, you could see the rolling waves that one would find in the middle of a storm. While you stared into his eyes, you heard the sound of waves crashing against the beach roaring in your ears before Oboroâs hand waved in front of your face to break your trance.
âHey, you ok there? You seemed to zone out for a moment. I thought I lost you for a moment.â Oboro spoke, his voice seeming to ground you in reality.
âYeah⊠I thought I could hear the waves all the way up here on the hill, and I swore I saw churning waves found in the eye of the storm. I know thereâs something different about you, but I canât seem to place just what exactly is different about you.â You said, shaking off the unnerving moment with a small chuckle, and taking a drink of your coffee. Oboroâs face went serious when you mentioned that there was something different about him. He set his mug down on the table, and he took your hands in his.
âY/n, thereâs something I need to tell you before anything goes forward between us. This could change the way you look at me, so brace yourself.â Oboro said as he kissed your knuckle and locked eyes with you. Your face contorted into one of concern when he took your hands in his.
âWhat could you be keeping secret that could change the way I see you? Arenât you just some fisherman that all the women in this small port town seem to be swooning over?â You asked.
âNo. Iâm not just some fisherman, Y/n. Iâm Poseidon, God of the sea, Storm Bringer, Earth Shaker, and Iâve selected you to be my new wife.â He responded. A beat of silence fell between the two of you before you cracked a smile and burst out laughing.
âYouâve got to be kidding me. Thereâs no way that you, of all people, could be the literal god of the ocean.â You told him, not believing what he was telling you.
Oboroâs face hardened when you didnât believe him. âYou really think Iâm not Poseidon? Guess Iâll have to show you then.â He spoke, standing up, and looked outside to where rain was still coming down. With a furrow of his brow, the rain began to come down harder, wind blowing against the cabin so hard that you could hear the wind whistle against the exterior of the cabin. The wind was blowing so hard that you saw some of the trees bending over to one side so far that you were afraid they would snap and cause damage to the area. You could see that at the bottom of the hill, in the town, the waves were violent, crashing against the rocky wall that protected the town from the impact of the waves hitting the coast. They churned up white foam that sprayed over the railing, soaking the road into town, and making the conditions dangerous for anyone to be outside of their homes right now. There was no way a normal person could do this in such an instantaneous manner. You believed him now, believing that he was a god as he had told you.
âOboro! I believe you! Please stop. Donât cause any damage to the town, please.â You begged him, standing up and grabbing his arm. Oboro made the winds die down to just make the branches in the nearby trees sway back and forth, the rain dying down to a gentle, comfortable pattering against the roof and window panes, and the waves settle down to their normal rolls that would break against the jetty. Oboro looked back tatyou, frustration in his eyes as he walked over to his mug, drained the last dregs of coffee before going to the carafe and refilling his mug again.
âYouâre not like the others. They immediately believed I was Poseidon and fell for me hard; some of them even tried pushing a proposal before I went back to sea. Youâre not like that, are you? Youâre the type of girl who wants to take things slower and not rush a relationship. Youd be willing to stay here while I go back to the sea, wouldnât you?â He says, walking back to the table, and sitting across from you again. You stared at him in stunned silence as you were processing the fact that you were in the presence of a god. Oboro warmed his hands in his cup while he waited for your response.
A beat passed between you two, letting you have enough time to think up a response.
âI honestly never thought Iâd end up in a relationship. I came down to the pier to see why all the women in the town would gather and make a big deal of seeing whoâd you pick to keep your bed warm while you were on shore leave. Did they all come together because they wanted to see who the god of the sea would pick to be his bride? I thought you already had a wife, Amphitrite, right?â You spoke, your memory of Greek Mythology coming in to help you right at the opportune time. Oboroâs eyes narrowed as he looked up at you. He let out a deep sigh, setting his cup back on the table, and looking you in the eyes.
âYes, I am married to Amphitrite; she is my queen. But she isnât like my sister Hera or my niece Persephone. She wouldnât come searching for you on land, enacting her wrath because someone like you, some beautiful mortal being, caught my eye. Sheâd keep you safe from any other man that would dare try to hurt you or take you from me.â Oboro responded.
âThatâs good to know⊠am I expected to move to Atlantis to live there, or can I stay on land?â You ask him, secretly hoping you could stay on land. You didnât know if youâd survive underwater, no matter what godly magic would allow you to breathe while within the palace. Youâd rather stay on land and keep your normal job writing for the newspaper. Oboro ran his thumb over the handle of his mug, letting the corner of his mouth tug up into a smile before he answered your question.
âNo, youâre not expected to move to Atlantis unless you want to, then Iâd take you there personally. But I know youâd rather stay on the surface since you just moved into town to start a new life here, right? Working for the local newspaper, writing articles about the goings on within the town, yes? Donât be surprised that I know that, itâs written all over your face, Y/n.â Oboro spoke as he stood up and went to the kitchen to put his mug into the sink to be washed later. He walked back and sat down across from you to keep answering any questions you may have for him.
âYes, Iâd like to stay here on land and keep my job at the newspaper.â You told him, taking another long drink of coffee, letting the warmth of the ceramic warm your hands.
âThat will work. I do have one condition, though. You get to move into this cabin, instead of wherever youâre living now. Iâll send you money when I can so you can get food and anything else you may need. The cabin is already paid for, so you donât need to worry about rent or the utilities.â He said in a reassuring tone.
Your eyes widened at the situation that was handed to you: a house, free of rent, enough money given to you to pay for whatever your little heart desired, and a partner who would come back from the sea and spend his shore leave with you. You watched Oboro take your hands in his, kissing the back of your hand and locking his gaze with yours.
âSo, what do you say, my dear? Do you want to be my new wife?â He asked, rubbing his thumb over the back of your hand.
âYes, I accept your offer. When do I need to move in?â You asked, watching him hold your hand, stand up, walk around the table, and sit next to you.
âYou can move in whenever youâd like, but Iâd prefer that you move in before I go back to the sea.â He spoke, putting his arm around your shoulders and placing a kiss on the side of your head.
âWhen do you go back to sea?â You asked, leaning into his touch.
âI go back to the sea in three months, more than enough time to move you in here.â He told you, enjoying you leaning into him.
âYouâre right, itâs not a whole lot of time, but packing up all my stuff and moving it up here in three months can be doable.â You responded, resting your head on his shoulder, and enjoying this moment with Oboro, until a question struck your mind.
âDo I have to become your new wife immediately, or can we have a relationship first?â You asked, looking up to him with a furrow on your brow.
âWe can have a relationship first if thatâs what you prefer to do first. I donât mind waiting before marrying you. Iâll wait as long as possible for you.â He spoke, smiling, and running his hand through your hair.
âWe should wait for the storm to pass before we go to your house and pack up your things,â Oboro suggested, looking outside to see the rain coming down a little harder.
âCanât you just make the storm go away?â You asked, raising an eyebrow in a questioning manner that made Oboro chuckle and shake his head.
âI donât have control over all the storms. My brother Zeus controls the thunderstorms, and my other brother, Aeolus, makes the windstorms. I cover the rainy part of storms. I could stop the rain, but I heard that some humans like the noise that the rain makes when it contacts a window, or the roof of a building, or a car. Am I wrong? Do you not like the noise the rain makes?â He asks, concern lacing in his tone as he looks down at you, as he sits up to turn the rain off outside.
âNo, I love the rain. I just thought you could make the storm go away sooner⊠I am excited to move in with you, Oboro. Or do I call you Poseidon?â You asked, a smile tugging at the corner of your mouth.
âYou may call me Oboro. It would keep my cover amongst the other townsfolk that donât know Iâm a god.â Oboro told you, pulling you to the couch near the fireplace, waving his hand to light the fireplace, and settling in on the couch, gesturing for you to join him, and stay safe and warm with him while the storm raged on outside. You followed him to the couch and sat next to him, letting him lay a blanket across your lap and wrap his arm around your shoulders. He placed another kiss on your head before closing his eyes and listening to the gentle crackle of the fire burning in the fireplace. You rested your head on his shoulder and let out a contented hum. You were excited to start your new life with the god of the sea.
The end.
my first little drabble on my blog and ofc it had to be for my husband anakin, there is more to come! because i love doing stuff like this. i hope you guys enjoy <3 check out my masterlist here!
how you found out anakin loves his hair being played with was on a whim. the both of you were on borrowed time, soaking up each otherâs presence while you had the chance. anakin was laying on his back with you curled up to his side. the atmosphere was calming and overcome with the serenity of silence. his hand rubbed your back and your eyes were closed along with his. until a spark of interest within you was set alight. you opened your eyes and looked up at your forbidden lover who had a peaceful look on his face. you smiled, and slowly reached your hand to his long locks of hair.
at first, you swirled the strands around your pointer finger to test the waters. anakin payed no mind to your fiddling so your fingers reached for the top of his scalp where your nails began to massage. he groaned quietly in the pleasured feeling that tingled through to the bottom of his spine. goosebumps riddled his skin.
he moved his body to rest his head on your chest and wrapped his arms around your waist. âkeep going.â he said and you did as he commanded.
not long after that he promptly fell asleep with how relaxed you made him. it was probably the deepest sleep anakin had in a long time.
it would become part of your bedtime routine, where anakin would lay as he did before; his head on your chest and his arms wrapped around your waist, cuddling into you as you massaged and played with his hair. sometimes he even let you platt or braid it if it meant he could keep you away from your jedi duties.
it was adorable you thought. anakin may have already such a soft side for your eyes alone but seeing him so vulnerable like this was surprising. you cherished it everytime it happened as someday, this would all just be a memory.
Summary: A scary vampire captures a young pianist and refuses to let her leave his mansion.
Pairing: Shuu x Chiyo
âContent Warning: This is a Diabolik Lovers OC x Canon story. Please keep in mind, that it can and will feature dark topics and canon typical violence, as well as sexual content.â
Chiyo looked out the big window of the manor. The sickle of the moon big, white and glowing against the night sky. How long has it been that she has last seen the sun? She couldnât quite remember. Even then, seeing it from behind the window was completely different than being outside and enjoying it on her skin. Most of the time she was not even allowed to do that; the curtains remained closed the whole day.
She pulled her legs up on the large windowsill that she sat on and sighed. She didnât even hear her captor enter the room.
âWhy do you keep staring out the window all the time?â
The sudden question made her jump.
âShuuâŠâ she said.
Over time she decided to drop the honorifics. Using polite tone with someone who kidnapped you seemed very strange. Although it also seemed strange to her to just casually say his name like that too. She only hoped it grated him that she wouldnât show him respect. Respect he demanded from her, him being a vampire, seeing himself above her.
She didnât like how he leaned so nonchalantly against the window wall. Too close to her; way too close. He looked at her expectantly, waiting for her answer.
âI am looking at the moon, is that not allowed?â
Shuu huffed and pushed himself away from the wall, standing right in front of her now. Clearly he didnât like the way she still talked back to him, but she couldnât do anything about it, she still had her pride, even as a woman. And she didnât exactly want to become friends with him anyway. If she was going to rot away in some monsterâs scary mansion she could at least rot away defying it until her last breath.
âYouâre always talking back to me, refusing to obey, do you have a death wish?â
Chiyo refused to look at him. âYou might have imprisoned me here, but I am not your puppet on a string. I still have my free will.â
Shuu leaned his hand against the wall. Chiyo pointedly looked away.
âYou talk of free will⊠what power do you have to oppose me, youâre just a weak human,â he said.
âHalf-humanâŠâ Chiyo corrected quietly, eyes trained on her feet.
âIs that so?â he asked.
Chiyo pressed her lips into a thin line and kept staring at her feet. Maybe if she ignored him long enough, heâd leave her alone. It only seemed to increasingly annoy the man next to her as he forcefully grabbed her chin and made her look at him.
âAnswer me when I ask you something,â he said.
She glared at him. How many times did she have to repeat herself? She had mentioned it before already, but Shuu had never seemed convinced. It wasnât her fault for being brought up in the human world and leading a mostly human life. All she knew was that her father was a vampire, she didnât know much else about him as he rarely showed himself to her. Her mother seemed absolutely in love with that man, but she wasnât sure how much to trust her in that regard. If you fell in love with a monster there simply was no way for your sanity to be completely intact. Nevertheless, she hated being looked down upon by him. Being half human and half vampire at least gave her the illusion of being able to talk to him on the same level, as equals.
Shuu let go of her chin, pushing her away roughly.
âHuman or not, you sure are as stupid as one.â
She watched him walk around the room and make his way to the piano to pick up some music sheets.
âI hope you at least prepared for today, the guests will be here soon,â he said.
âYesâŠâ she said, still not looking in his direction.
She wasnât sure how Shuu had found out or had heard her play, but it didnât really matter, as it wouldnât change the outcome in any way. Sometimes Shuu would make her sit in front of the piano and play for hours on end, even whole nights. Every time sheâd mess up, he'll punish her in one way or another, mostly hitting her fingers or sucking blood from them, which in turn would cause her to mess up more frequently from the pain she felt.
She took a look at the music sheets Shuu provided her a few days ago. He really wanted her to play La Campanella in front of a full room of people. She didnât dislike the piece, but she found it hard to play so many fast paced tunes, and knowing Shuu, he expected her to deliver it flawlessly. Or was he setting her up for failure? She wasnât sure but hoped it wasnât the latter; surely he didnât want to cause a scene at his own event. Although she couldnât help but wonder why he would host them in the first place. He didnât exactly seem like a sociable person, so maybe Reiji, his younger, but a lot better organized brother, made him do it?
Chiyo didnât have any more time to think about Shuuâs true intentions, because Reiji came into the study to fetch her. Apparently the guests were arriving at this moment and her piano performance was to start while they waited for dinner to be served. She rarely interacted with Shuuâs younger brother, mainly because Shuu explicitly forbade her talking to him unless it was completely necessary. In general, she was not allowed to talk to anybody. It made for a rather boring day to day life, given that all she could occupy herself with were some old books and the piano sheâd come to hate more than love lately.
Reiji seemed stricter than Shuu, but also more reasonable. She wondered if she could persuade him to let her go from this mansion, although it was probably unlikely.
The big room she was led into was already bustling with people. She heard the faint clink of glass on glass, as the guests started to drink their champagne and wine.
âI trust that you are aware of the proper etiquette for events like these, but just to be sure: do not do anything reckless. You are to entertain the guests with your music, do not initiate any conversations on your own,â Reiji said before he let her enter the room.
Chiyo pressed her lips into a thin line, everywhere the same thing.
Donât make a sound.
Smile.
Look pretty.
âI know.â
She could feel the eyes on her as she entered the room and made her way to the piano. Most of the glances she got were curious, most likely brought by the fact that she was a new face. Â She caught Shuu looking at her. His eyes traveled slowly from her head to her toes, practically drinking in her figure. She had worn a simple dress for this occasion, the only interesting thing about it being the delicately embroidered flowers at the hem. Even though the dress was modest, she felt exposed the way he kept his eyes on her, not sure if her shortness of breath came from her nervousness or the tightly laced corset.
Quickly she tried to focus on the task at hand: she was supposed to play music. Once Reiji announced her briefly, she did a short curtsy and got her music sheets ready.
Playing music was one of the things that always helped the girl relax and get her mind off things. Even while the room was full of strangers, once she started playing, it was as it was only her and the smooth keys of the instrument. She managed to get through the hard part that she was dreading before almost flawlessly. Shuu most likely caught her slight slip-up but didnât say anything for the time being. The guests clapped once she finished the first song and Chiyo let out a shaky breath.
She provided background music until the last guests left the party. The whole night she could feel Shuuâs piercing gaze on her, it was as if he was staring daggers into her back, and she wasnât sure why. Did he hate her performance that much? She tried to ignore it and pretended to be deeply fascinated by a speck of dust landing leisurely on the dark lacquer surface of the piano.
The fall board slammed shut suddenly and Shuu was standing right next to her, looking down on her.
âAre you going to keep sitting here forever?â he asked.
She was lucky her fingers werenât resting on the keys, or she could have kissed them goodbye. It was hard for her to mask her shock at this manâs willingness to hurt her so deliberately.
âWhat, am I not allowed to do that anymore either?â
She tried to mask a bit of her fear with annoyance.
âIâll bring you back to your room,â he said, completely ignoring her question. She looked up at him in distaste and sighed. A scene wasnât something she wanted to make right now, maybe she would get to retreat to her room peacefully like this. She stood up and followed Shuu towards her chambers. Soon, sheâd get back to her room, the door locked behind her, so she wouldnât be able to leave, and sheâd cry herself to sleep, as always. It has been a while, but the tears still wouldnât stop every time she laid in bed.
Shuu stayed silent the whole way and she wondered whether he was angry with her for some reason.
As soon as they arrived, Chiyo made her way to the desk in the corner of the room, to put away the musical sheets. Sheâd been careless while doing so, because the edges of the paper slid against her fingertips and left a shallow but stinging cut in the delicate flesh.
She hissed and put her left hand towards her lips to alleviate the pain a little. Cuts like these were the worst kind, unassuming but incredibly painful.
âShow me that,â Shuu demanded.
Chiyo shook her head. âItâs nothing, I was careless and cut my finger, thatâs allâŠâ
Shuu clicked his tongue in annoyance and came closer, grabbing her wrist and yanking her towards him.
âWhy do you have to keep making things complicated and be so stubborn all the time?â he asked as he examined the cut on her finger. She tried yanking her hand back, but his grip was too strong for her.
âLet go of me!â she cried.
âStop being annoying andââ
Shuuâs attention shifted to the ring on her finger, and he frowned. Chiyo followed his gaze and gasped. She has been successful so far in hiding her engagement ring from him, either taking it off in time or not showing her left hand to him. This evening she decided to wear it to calm her nerves, it made her feel hopeful that Ruki would come for her after all.
As if he was able to read her thoughts Shuu then said:
âWhat? You still think that guy will come and save you? Pathetic.â
âYou donât know anything about him! Iâm sure heâs trying to find out where I have gone!â she cried and frowned at him. Shuu let out a short breathy laugh at that.
âYou think he cares enough about such a rebellious woman like you? I bet heâs currently out and about fucking someone else,â he said and looked at her with cold and menacing eyes.
Tears pricked her eyes and threatened to flow down her cheeks. She tried to hold them back, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing her in her most vulnerable state.
âLiarâŠâ she said quietly. Truth be told she wasnât convinced by her own words either. Maybe Ruki did not want to get her back.
âAm I now?â he asked while putting her hand to his mouth and running his cold tongue along the side of her injured finger. Chiyo winced at the sensation; it felt so strange but mostly appalling, having her fingers licked by a man she disliked. Having her fingers licked by anybody would have felt weird, but she really didnât want him close to her right now, if ever.
Her pulse quickened when his tongue went down from her wounded finger, along the palm of her hand and traced the artery on her wrist. She felt heat rise to her face and she gasped.
âAre you also going to call me a liar when I say that youâre enjoying this?â he asked without waiting for a response before he sank his sharp fangs into her wrist.
The girl cried out in pain. He had sucked her blood before, but not like this; she wasnât sure how to feel about it. This was⊠different.
âWho⊠in their right mind⊠would enjoy that?â she said between shallow breaths and gritted teeth. His dark laugh sent vibrations through her whole arm as he kept sucking her blood. He held her firmly in place and lapped up what little blood had spilled down her forearm.
âA pervert like you, I am guessing,â he said with a dirty grin on his face. She frowned at him but cursed herself for blushing at his comment.
âThat was punishment for your little mistake earlier,â he said, ânow for this thingâŠâ
He turned his attention back to her engagement ring and her eyes widened in fear. She thought he had forgotten about it by now.
âTime for you to take this worthless piece of junk off your finger finally.â
Despite her protests, Shuu slid the ring off her finger with ease and put it into his pocket. Surely he was going to throw it away somewhere Chiyo would never be able to find it again. It made her feel even more hopeless, having the only thing she had left, that still held some memories of home, taken from her. It filled her with despair seeing it gone.
Shuu took her left ring finger into his mouth and forcefully bit the place where her engagement ring sat on previously, making Chiyo hiss in pain. Once he was done he proudly looked at the result. A ring of teeth marks now adorning the finger.
âThis should be enough for now to remind you who you belong to,â he said.
Chiyo couldnât say anything in return, all fight had left her for tonight.
âYou better rest up now, I want to listen to you play the piano again tomorrow. Donât make mistakes next time.â
With that he left the room and locked it as always. Chiyo slumped down onto the floor, a huge sob running through her whole body. That sob was the catalyst for a dozen smaller ones as she cried her soul out. How, just how did it ever come to this? She never asked for anything like this to happen. The tears ran down her cheeks so violently as if she had never shed a single one of it in her life. She shook uncontrollably as she cried and cried pathetically on the cold floor until her body grew increasingly heavy and tired. Her eyes hurt and she had to close them eventually. She didnât even notice when she drifted to sleep.
She jumped once she woke up. Looking around the room she soon realized that she must have fallen asleep on the floor. She stood up and looked outside. It seemed like she only slept for a few hours at best, as it was light outside; the early morning most likely. Back then it used to be her favorite hour of the day. Back when her life wasnât⊠this. The air would always be fresh at this time, and she had enjoyed taking walks while most of the household was still asleep. The moment she looked at the garden outside, she made her mind up: She had to leave this place!
Should she just jump out the window? No, it was way too high up for her to safely land without hurting herself. Besides, the windows wouldnât budge when she tried to open them. She sighed. The door was locked as well, so she wasnât able to use it as an exit.
Unless she could pick the lock somehow.
She tried searching for a brooch or hairpin that she could use for her escape. Reiji had provided her with a wardrobe full of dresses that were the latest fashion trend, as well as a vanity full of the prettiest jewelry she has ever seen. She rarely made use of it though, feeling out of place and like this stuff was not hers; it wasnât after all.
Digging through the jewelry box, she finally found a piece with a big enough needle and got to work. It wasnât the easiest task, as she has never had to pick a lock before, but she needed to persevere. This was the only plan she had. Her only chance for freedom.
After what felt like an eternity she heard the lock click. She gasped and tried opening the door slowly. It had worked! It had really worked! Shuu and his brother were probably asleep right now, so her only worry were the servants that might be walking the hallways. Cautiously she stepped out, the brooch clutched tightly in her hand. It was so quiet she was scared to breathe, so scared was she of alerting anybody of her presence. Steadily she willed her feet forward, hoping that she would reach the entrance soon.
The hallway was long, and she was on a higher floor than the main entrance. Since she wasnât allowed to walk around freely she also didnât know the mansion well, so she wasnât entirely sure which stairs led where and which she had to take to actually arrive where she wanted to arrive. Her shoes clanked uncomfortably against the hard stone stairs, no matter how softly she tried to set her feet down. Once she finally reached a carpeted area she let out a sigh of relief. She didnât encounter any servants, or familiars as the vampires used to call them, so far and she wasnât sure if that was a suspicious thing or not. She didnât know much about their schedules either, only that one of them would bring her meals at set times.
Finally she saw the biggest pair of stairs of the mansion, the exit almost in her reach. As she began climbing down, she noticed how the walls were full of paintings. A particularly huge one caught her attention â it portrayed a beautiful woman, blue eyes and wonderful blond hair. This woman oozed elegance even when it was only an oil painting. The closer she looked the more she noticed how her features looked similar to Shuuâs. Was this his mother?
âWhere do you think youâre going?â
Chiyo gasped and turned around in surprise; she got caught. At the top of the stairs was standing none other than Shuu. She had to act quickly; the door was only a few flights away after all.
Turning around again she dashed down the remaining stairs towards the door. She could hear him groan in the background as he went after her, but she wouldnât waste this chance, not when she made it this far already.
She crashed against the door, frantically trying to turn the knob, but it wouldnât budge.
Locked.
Desperately she looked at the massive piece of wood in front of her. Why wouldnât it open?!
Before she could try anything else, her body was turned around and shoved roughly against the door. With both of Shuuâs hands on either side of her, she was trapped with no place to run now.
Before she managed to finish her protest he smashed his lips onto hers. Chiyoâs eyes widened in shock, no way this was happening. She tried her best to push him off her, but he didnât budge.
âStoââ
Her protest was in vain, and her opening her mouth only let him slide his own tongue in. Him sucking on her tongue like that felt shameful and embarrassing; she wanted to cry again. The chances of anybody taking her back when another man already had his way with her diminishing by the second.
She put her arms over her head defensively, which finally made him leave her lips alone and pull away a little.
âPlease! Iâm sorry! Iâll stay here and behave and do whatever you want, just please⊠please donât do this to me!â She started sobbing uncontrollably, sliding down the door until she was a crying mess on the floor. Then it dawned on him.
âYouâŠâ he started and crouched down in front of her, âyou've never kissed a man beforeâŠâ
Chiyo put her arms down and looked at him confused with red eyes, face full of tears. What was he saying? Of course she had never kissed a man before!
Shuu sighed, an expression on his face sheâs never seen before. Was that⊠regret? He stood up suddenly and reached out his hand to her.
âCome on, letâs talk in your room. I don't want you to sit on the floor.â
Moments later she found herself on her bed, leaning against the pillows. Shuu sat at the foot of the bed, not saying anything at all. Once she calmed down enough she decided to break the silence:
âI thought you wanted to talkâŠâ
Shuu sighed.
âLet me ask you something,â he said.
Chiyo fell silent, waiting for him to go on.
âAre you scared of me?â he asked.
She looked down at her hands, starting to fidget. There was no use lying here, it wasnât as if they were best friends after all.
âI am scared. Scared of this dark house and being all alone in here. Scared of making you angry and scared of you biting me because of stupid reasons. And I am also scared of you kissing me without me wanting it,â she said, still not looking up at him.
âIâm sorry about that,â he said, âI didnât know you were that inexperienced.â
âBut youâre not sorry for keeping me here?â
Shuu shook his head.
âNo⊠because I donât want to let you go.â He turned his head towards her when he said that. Her breath hitched in her throat at the look he gave her. It looked so sincere and almost⊠sad.
âI like listening to you playing the piano. It lets me relax and fall asleep. And I also donât feel like that other guy deserves you, so no, I am not sorry for keeping you here.â
Something in his words made Chiyoâs heart beat faster in her chest and her face get warm. She felt touched at his sincere appreciation of her. For the first time she felt almost seen by someone. A slight grin appeared on Shuuâs face.
âWhat? I say something nice once and you become a mess? Your face is red,â he said with satisfaction in his voice.
âDonât tease me, people donât usually compliment my skills muchâŠâ
Shuu leaned back on his hands; his eyes trained on her face. The blush on her face pleased him, she looked adorable like that, but he would never admit that out loud.
She averted her gaze. âI donât know, he didnât seem to particularly mind whatever I occupied myself with⊠but he also didnât seem to particularly care.â
Shuu seemed in thought, as he played with the chiffon trim of her dress. Then he let out a long breath. âDo you really want to go back? To him?â
Chiyo shrugged and crossed her arms above her knees. Both situations were quite shit for her, no matter how she looked at it. Yes, she would be unhappy in a relationship with Ruki, where she would most likely have to be a docile wife, submitting to her husband. But here she was trapped in a dark house where she was never allowed to see the sun again, much less feel it on her skin. Locked away in this room, with all those dresses and jewelry she never asked for until Shuu would decide to come see her on a whim.
âI donât like being locked up,â she said, ânot figuratively or literally.â
âI feared youâd run away if I gave you too much freedom⊠so I ended up taking it away from you,â Shuu said. He sounded like he was sorry.
âThatâs what made me run away in the first place!â she leaned forward, her hands dipping into the soft mattress.
âI know!â
He grabbed her hand, making her lose her balance. Her other hand landed on his shoulder on instinct. She gasped; their faces were so close now. She never noticed before how long his eyelashes were, how pretty his clear blue eyes looked framed by them. She has never seen the ocean, but she was sure that it would look exactly like what she was seeing in front of her now.
âI knowâŠâ he repeated.
Chiyo felt his arm around her waist, holding her in place, giving her balance. It was strange⊠she didnât dislike the feeling at all. She let out a shaky breath as her eyes darted to his lips briefly. He pulled her closer, and it felt like her heart would fall out of her chest any moment. She was sure he could hear it hammer, even though he chose not to comment on it. He also didnât try to kiss her again; even though now she felt like she wanted him to do it? Maybe this time he waited for her to make the first step. To show him what she wanted.
It took all her confidence and willpower to make her body move. She moved her face closer to his and gently pressed her lips against his. A clumsy and timid attempt at a kiss.
Shuu smiled against her lips. âOpening your mouth would make it easier,â he teased, taking advantage of the girlâs surprise, deepening the kiss. His cold tongue ran across her lower lip and traced the fangs of her upper teeth, making her shiver.
âHeh⊠you are a little vampire after all,â he said and kissed her again. His hands guiding her to straddle him. Her legs landing on either side of him.
Chiyoâs face was burning up from how much she was blushing, a sudden moan escaping her, making her blush harder. She was so embarrassed but was left wanting more. Shuuâs chest vibrated against hers as he chuckled.
âNice sound⊠hey, it will feel even better when you stick your tongue out,â he said.
Stick her tongue out?! She wanted to protest, but the way his voice sounded so deep in her ears, she couldnât help but do as told.
It wasnât long before she was a moaning and panting mess in Shuuâs arms. She didnât mind his hands roaming her body, slipping under her dress, grabbing the soft flesh of her thigh, rubbing his knee between her legs. Her head was spinning; she didnât know what to do with her own hands, so she buried her fists in his shirt. She was sure it would wrinkle terribly afterwards, but she couldnât bring herself to care enough.
Suddenly, Shuu drew away. She looked at him panicked; did she mess up somehow?
âYou look like a deer in headlights,â he said amused.
Then he sighed. âYou know that if I keep going you wonât be able to go back anymore, donât you?â
The fog in her head that was caused by her arousal lifted momentarily and she blinked at him dumbfounded. She looked down, frowning. She had to make up her mind now, stay here with Shuu or hope that she could go back to the life she had to leave behind. As much as she hated the way she was brought here and treated initially, it seemed like Shuu genuinely took an interest in her. His touch was gentle, and she couldnât deny how good it made her feel. But if she let him continue, her social standing and reputation would be ruined forever, at least amongst the human society.
âI will give you this chance right now. If you say no now, I will bring you back,â he said.
âY-you mean I can really choose to go back?â
He nodded.
Wasnât this what she wanted all along? For him to let her go? But then why did her heart feel so heavy at the thought suddenly?
âIf I decide to stay⊠youâll stop locking me up in my room?â she asked.
He nodded again.
âAnd Iâll be able to go outside during the day?â
âYouâll be able to go wherever you want at any time you desire,â he said.
His words were sincere, she could feel it. It was almost as if there was another person in front of her than the one she got to know before. Chiyoâs heart fluttered in her chest, a fuzzy feeling spreading inside of her.
âThen set me freeâŠâ she said.
Shuu frowned.
ââŠfrom the life Iâve led before.â
Set her free from the expectations and bounds of a society that cared nothing for her and her desires. Chiyo was fed up with having to hide parts of herself, of having to hide her passions. To hell with it, to hell with all of it!
She could feel the tension leaving Shuuâs body, as he leaned forward, his nose brushing hers.
âGladly.â
His kiss was hungry, possessive, different from before. But loving, still so loving. It made her melt in his arms. Soon, she found herself pressed against the pillows again, Shuu placing a thousand wet kisses along her jaw and neck. Her hair, that she had previously put up in a low bun, came loose, pooling around her mostly naked shoulders and neckline.
A loud whine escaped her as soon as Shuu sucked the sensitive spot behind her ear.
âDo you have any idea how sinful you sound right now?â he groaned against her neck.
Not knowing what else to do with her trembling hands she grabbed the linen fabric of his shirt again. Much to Shuuâs amusement.
âGo on,â he whispered in her ear, âundress me. I know you want it.â
She would be lying if she said she didnât want to do it, but she was still embarrassed; she has never seen a naked man before. As if sensing her hesitation, Shuu kissed her again, giving her the encouragement she needed. Her fingers were still trembling as she tried to unbutton the shirt, earning herself a chuckle from the man above her.
He kept whispering dirty things into her ear, spurring her on. She pulled the fabric over his head, messing up his hair a little in the process. Somehow he looked even more attractive to her this way.
Her eyes ran down Shuuâs naked torso, taking in every detail, running her fingertips along his abdomen, mesmerized by how his muscles flexed under her touch. Hands trailing lower and lower.
âDirty girl⊠are you having fun?â he teased, and she snapped out of it. She looked up at him, a sheepish smile and faint blush on her face.
âIâm sorry,â she whispered.
"Don't be..."
Shuu pulled her into an upright position, his hands getting to work behind her back. It was his turn to undress her now, his fingers working swiftly through the hooks of her bodice. He was no beginner and Chiyo could not help but feel somewhat glad that he knew what he was doing. Still, she felt exposed, chest heaving, her top half only clad in undergarments now. He kissed her again, his arms working their way under the lower half of her dress and the petticoat layers, pulling her hips closer to him. Her own arms snaked around his neck, pressing her chest against his, moaning into the kiss when she felt his hand slide up the leg of her undergarments and squeeze the underside of her thigh firmly. Her back arched in pleasure, making her hips brush against his.
She gasped, breaking the kiss.
âYouâre hardâŠâ she breathed against his lips.
Shuu hummed in approval. âHmm, and youâre wet.â
Chiyo let out a drawn out mewl when he traced a finger along her folds, brushing slightly along a bundle of nerves that made her hips buck into his hand involuntarily. How did he sneak his hands down her underwear without her noticing?
âDirty girl⊠keep making those beautiful sounds for me,â he said nibbling on her earlobe, moving his fingers up and down gently.
Every inch of her felt hot, her skin flushed, yet whole body was shivering. Her nails dug into his skin, the sensations making her head spin again. Shuuâs voice rang in her ear while he dipped one finger in, then two. They went in easily with how wet she was. When she looked up she could see right into his eyes, watching her intently, his gaze helping her relax a bit. There were so many new sensations she had to get used to, his fingers inside of her feeling foreign but not unwelcome.
âAre you okay?â he asked.
âYesâŠâ her voice came out as a short breath, body jerking when Shuu curled his fingers inside of her. A cry of pleasure escaped her.
âGood, because Iâm not stopping.â
He bit her earlobe again and moved his fingers faster inside of her. Chiyoâs hips moved on their own against his hand, she needed more friction. It was as if her body knew what to do on instinct, the way she moved, making him adjust, so the palm of his hand rubbed perfectly against her clit. She thought sheâd go crazy if it went on for any longer. A loud cry filling the room.
âS-Shuu, I donât think⊠I donât think I can take it any longerâŠ!â she moaned.
Shuu groaned against her ear, his fingers sliding in and out of her faster and faster.
âThatâs okay, just let it out⊠you can do that for me canât you?â
Shuuâs voice kept egging her on, the knot in her stomach feeling bigger and bigger. She fisted the skirt of her own dress, arching her body, pressing herself further into his hand until finally she felt a wave rush over her, all muscles in her body relaxing at the same time. Her hands let go of the fabric she was clutching so tightly before, only now noticing the sweat on her forehead and how out of breath she was. The fingers inside of her moved slowly for a while longer, helping her ride out her high before retracting, leaving her feeling empty.
She whined weakly as she watched him put his fingers to his lips, eyes widening when he licked them clean.
âWhat? Donât make a face as if what I am doing is so scandalous while you lay in front of me half naked,â he said with a teasing grin on his face. She grumbled, embarrassed by his words. However, her body still ached for his touch, so she really was not one to protest.
âYou knowâŠâ he said coming closer again and hovering over her, âIâve been wondering how this part of you looks undressed for a while now.â
Chiyo gasped when he pulled down her chemise, revealing her naked chest and hard nipples. Even though her body still felt sensitive, she still arched her back again when he started playing with them, rolling her nipples between his fingers and relishing in the beautiful sounds this made her do. He grabbed her harder, massaging the soft flesh of one breast and planting kisses on the other side. His tongue traced her other nipple, and she could feel him suck on the flesh above, causing a red mark to form there. The girlâs breath hitched in her throat when she felt him graze his fangs against that very spot.
âShuuââ
He sunk his fangs into her chest, her protest turning into a desperate mewl. She has never felt like this while having her blood sucked before. Fingers fisting in his blond, messy hair she pulled him closer. She was so dazed she didnât notice him working his own hands to remove her skirts. He pulled them over her head swiftly, leaving her bare and exposed in front of him. On instinct, the first thing she did was try to cover her body; however Shuu held her arms in place.
âDonât hide your pretty body from me,â he said.
Pretty? Chiyo could feel her face heat up again. Itâs not like she disliked her body or anything, but hearing a man compliment her â having Shuu compliment her, made her burn with want. She reached up to cup his face and kissed him, taking the initiative herself for once. It took Shuu aback and almost made him lose his balance, but he quickly regained composure and kissed her back.
Guiding her hands down his body to the hem of his pants, he whispered in her ear seductively: âCome on, donât make me wait longer.â
Curiosity taking over her, she couldnât help but touch him through his clothes, earning herself a deep growl from him. She felt that one in her core. Impatiently and still a bit clumsily she unbuttoned his pants and helped him out of them. She was mesmerized by the way his hard length looked, already leaking from the tip. She swallowed hard, unable to tear her eyes away. Timidly she reached out her hand.
âCan Iââ
Shuu was amused that she even felt the need to ask but told her to go ahead. She stroked him slowly and carefully, unsure how much pressure to apply. He closed his own hand over hers, helping her find the right pace and groaning into her ear, giving her a confidence boost. She leaned forward and started kissing his neck. His skin was only a little colder than her own, but she could make out a faint pulse underneath.
Suddenly she was grabbed by the hips and pushed into the mattress, hearing Shuu curse above her head. His breathing was ragged, and he seemed to be getting impatient.
âIâm going to make you mine now,â he said.
Chiyo looked up at him, her hands on his shoulders. She could feel him hard against her wet entrance; the thought of him stretching her out and claiming her caused her to moan.
âYouâre that eager for me to make you a woman? Donât worry, Iâll even be gentle,â he said, placing a kiss in the corner of her lips. He slid the tip up and down along her folds, making her legs tremble when she wrapped them around his waist.
He inserted himself slowly and steadily, but it still wasnât enough for Chiyo to feel completely comfortable. It turned out a manâs length was much more difficult to take than a finger. Tears pricked in her eyes; she really wanted him to fill her whole, but it still hurt. She tried to focus on Shuuâs deep voice that whispered into her ear.
Good girl.
Youâre so wet.
Relax.
Youâre doing well.
Take it all like the pervert you are.
He took a moment to let her catch her breath when he was finally fully inside her, waiting for her to give him a sign to move. Once the initial sting subsided, she could feel her muscles twitch around him, how nicely he stretched her insides. She hummed in satisfaction and pressed him closer, tightening her legs around him.
Shuu got a hold of her hands and pinned them above her head, thrusting in and out of her. His pace was steady and slow at first, forcing shivers of breath out of Chiyo. But he wasn't able to keep it like that for too long. His thrusts were deep and hard, getting faster and faster the longer it went on. Soon the girl could feel nothing but pleasure pool in her abdomen.
âAaaaah! S-Shuuâ"
âYouâre such a dirty girl, moaning like that and sucking me in on your first time. Go on, cry out my name louder. I want everyone to hear who you belong to.â
Moans kept on coming out of her mouth, out of control, a mix of incoherent pleas and his name on her tongue.
Shuu started thrusting even harder and faster inside her, his forehead resting against hers.
âTell me youâre mineââ he breathed.
âIâm yours, Shuu. Iâm yours!â Her own hips moved up to meet his halfway, feeling a carnal need to have him even deeper inside of her. Soon she would reach another peak, she was sure.
He hit a spot inside her that made her shut her eyes tightly and arch her back. Making her clench down on him so tightly that he cursed. He buried his face in her neck, pressing himself deeper inside, his pelvis rubbing against hers.
âFuck⊠the sounds you makeâ You lewd woman.â He let go of her hands to grab her hips and pound harder into her.
âAah-Haah! Shuu! If you do this Iâm going toââ
âThen come. Come for me and Iâll fill you up nicely.â
Desperation seeped into his voice; he really needed her as badly as she needed him. And so she came. Toes curling and fingers digging into his back, leaving red marks, crying out his name in so much pleasure, it turned into sobs.
His lips found hers. Her pussy gripping him so tightly he simply had no other choice but to reach his limit shortly after. His warm seed filled her as he held her in place by the hips, his grip bruisingly strong. She moaned against his kisses loudly, the unknown sensation overwhelming her yet again.
Shuu looked at her as he tried to catch his breath. He looked the most beautiful to her right now, his hair messy, cheeks slightly flushed and his eyes looking down on her filled with something that she could only describe as love.
She looked up at him, a tired but satisfied smile dancing on her lips, earning herself a comment from Shuu. But she was too tired to talk back, or move, for that matter. Eventually, Shuu pulled out of her and maneuvered them around on the bed, so they were laying properly on the pillows and under a blanket.
Chiyoâs head was resting on Shuuâs chest as she listened to his heartbeat. It felt oddly human, this situation. His breathing was steady, as he was dozing off. She smiled to herself and hugged him tightly.
This big bad vampire was not that bad at all.
A/N: Not an Everlasting Spark update but a treat nonetheless! This piece has been sitting in my fanfiction folder for quite some time now, as I kept revisiting it, thinking it is not good enough yet. But I decided to battle perfectionism today by posting!
This little one shot is an AU where I wanted to explore a hypothetical situation in which Chiyo would have been raised by humans. I don't remember exactly but I think I aimed it to be set around the 1860s, but please don't expect a lot of historical accuracy...
In any case, I hope you enjoyed and thank you for reading!
The Airport Incident: A Byers-Hopper Siblings Tale
Based off of this photo. 500+ words.
Mikeâs plane was supposed to land around 10:30 in the morning, so naturally El (and, to be honest, Will) wanted to get there hours in advance to make sure that sheâd be there when the plane landed. Itâs a mystery as to how she got Jonathan and Argyle to agree to wake up at seven oâclock during spring break so that they could be at the airport at eight.
Argyle, of course, supplied snacks while they waited at the gate for Mike, but he and Jonathan also ate all of them within the first hour of being at the airport. Will was starting to get hungry himself and he spotted a vending machine a few gates down.
He had brought the painting he had been working on, in anticipation that he could show Mike. It was really important to him, and he hesitated to leave it with his siblings and Argyle, but he also didnât want to bring it all the way to the vending machine with him. Will decided to put his trust in his siblings and asked them if they could watch over it while he went to get some snacks and a drink. They said that it wouldnât be a problem.
Will left to get his food and drink and came back to a horrendous sight. Jonathan and El were now standing, using his rolled up painting to speak into. El had one end pressed up against her ear, while Jonathan spoke total nonsense (probably something at Willâs expense) into the other end, causing El to giggle.
âWhat the Hell? I trusted you guys,â Will frowned, placing his food on his chair.
Jonathan whipped around to face Will, the painting still attached to his mouth. âAwh, câmon, Will. We were just having a little fun. Waiting around for Mike was getting a little boring.â
âYeah, we were bored,â El echoed.
âThen play hot hands or something, and leave my painting out of it!â Will snatched his painting back out of Jonathanâs hands.
He carefully weighed the pros and cons of what he was about to do, but quickly discarded any rational thoughts, and smacked Jonathan over the head with it, making a hollow thumping sound. He then turned to El and smacked her in the shoulder. She let out a tiny yelp and frowned at Will, as she rubbed her upper arm.
âDonât touch my shit.â Will simply said, picking up his food from his chair and sitting back down. He added, âI canât wait for Mike to get here already. I canât stand you guys anymore.â
Jonathan and El followed suit. They looked at Will and then exchanged glances saying âWhatâs his problem?â without actually saying it. It caused them to have to stifle their laughter so Will didnât give them dagger eyes.
âDamn, that little dudeâs got some serious sass, bro.â Argyle commented.
Jonathan jumped in his seat and turned around to face Argyle. âJesus, I forgot you were here.â
He wasnât even offended by what Jonathan said. He just grinned and replied, âItâs all good, man. That purple palm tree delight has memory wiping capabilities, my friend.â
Will was listening to all of them, and rolled his eyes. Yeah, he definitely was ready for Mikeâs plane to land, so that he had someone else to talk to. Someone who wasnât his siblings or Argyle.
Various self-help guidesâa lot about managing your time efficiently
A scarf in a very specific blue that he insists you wear from the moment Autumn hits until Spring gets unseasonably warm
A classical record in a language you're not sure has existed since before God himself (you also don't own a record player which he knows so he insists you come to his office or room to listen to it together)
Leviathan
One of a set of plastic rings from an anime you've never heard of, let alone seen, that he insists is very valuable
Blind boxes from sets he's already completed that he demands you never open to maintain their collectors value
A piece of a "lucky" snake skin from the non-fish Henry
Asmodeus
A golden-framed lock of his hair
A lot of autographed self-portraits with instructions for the most aesthetically pleasing places to put them
An invitation to some event that you're reasonably sure was an orgy but never attended, much to his dismay
Satan
A tome of protection spells that, quite literally, weighs more than you do, making it incredibly impractical and unwieldy
A bottle of... What is that? Sometimes it glows in the dark. You hadn't dared to ask when you saw how happy he was to present it to you, so now you'll likely never know
A voodoo doll that looks suspiciously like Lucifer that he insists you use any time you're stressed or angryâand don't hold back!
Mammon
Given that Mammon actually does seem to have crow-like tendencies, it's unsurprising really that he tends to bring you useless baubles of varying types just because they're shiny
Occasionally he'll leave small-winning lottery tickets in your room and "let you" keep them because "I like ya, I guess"
One time he brought you a live animal (lizard???), although you couldn't identify the speciesâsomething about being an exotic pet in the devildom that could breathe toxins to keep away would-be suitors attackers (Lucifer returned it to whoever pawned it off on his brother originally)
Beel
You would think it would be food, but actually it's just a collection of candy wrappers he found really pretty or interesting
Sometimes he'll give you the prizes he gets from cereal boxes if he doesn't accidentally eat them
A two person trip to a place called Inner Volcania that he won from an eating contestâthe thought was sweet, but it turned out to be... not the greatest location for humans
Belphie
Gifts from Belphie are few and far between, but one time he gave you a hand-made coupon for One Free Napâalthough he refused to clarify what the usual cost of a nap was
Occasionally you'll find new pillows in your room that he thinks you'll like (after he tests them out first, of course)
He gave you a ring one time (your initial reaction to him pulling it out is a story for another time) but it turned out to be cursed so that it violently shocked any of his brothers that touched you except him (and Beel)
