When you stumble across II in a tricky situation with a woman who won't take no for an answer, you immediately jump in to rescue him by pretending to be his girlfriend without thinking about the consequences. As a result, you end up having to keep up the game for the rest of the tour. Its only pretend, but the rules you both try to set in place keep getting broken, and behind his intimidating mask, II is proving to be more irresistible than you were prepared for.
I just want to give a shout out to the wonderful @blueraineshadows , who has been here in the fandom writing amazing fic requests for people since the beginning and whose writing is simply outstanding! Her current fic Blood Bound is breathtakingly captivating and equally devastating and if you haven't read it I urge you to give it a go! Actually, go read her other works, you won't be disappointed! 💚
Would you like a little sneaky peek at III's story from my AU series??
Tags: smoking/swearing/mild drug use
Trope: childhood friends/forbidden love. For context, you and III are reunited at a fancy dress party and you are dressed as a rather sexy honeybee 😏
A taster below the cut....
No more guitar boys. End of.
But, his eyes though.
Shit.
You'd regressed back to your 14 year old self; crushing hard on a tall boy with pretty hands, and even prettier eyes. Combined with his leather jacket and his white-blonde, fade cut hair, you were done for; your gaze constantly seeking him out as you moved around the room.
Feeling flushed, you made your way out onto the patio. The sun had not long dipped below the horizon throwing the garden into shadows, but the seated area was lit up with garden lamps, and fairy lights were strung over the pergola. You rubbed at your bare arms. Summer was rushing in with longer, sunnier days, but the evenings still cooled down just enough to remind you that it wasn't quite here yet.
Smiling at a few people as you passed them, you made your way through the tables towards a low stone wall that surrounded the lawn. A children's play area on the far side was your destination, and you perched yourself on a swing, rocking back and forth on your Doc Martens as you sipped your drink. A moment's peace from the hustle and bustle inside.
"Hiding?"
You jumped, heart kicking into high gear as III emerged from the shadows.
"Fuck me, you trying to kill me?" You gasped, hand on your heart. "What the hell are you doing hiding out here?"
His low chuckle was borderline sinful. "Sorry, little bee. Did I scare you?"
You rubbed your hand against your chest, taking a breath to slow your startled pulse. "You're lucky I don't sting your ass," you grumbled.
III moved to take the swing next to yours. "That's cute," he grinned. He took a drag from a roll up, the tip glowing in the darkness, before holding it out to you. "Want some?"
No basic cigarette, then. No wonder he was lurking in the dark. You eyed the joint, your gaze drifting back to him as he released a plume of smoke into the air above you.
"Still smoking, then." You remembered him and your brother thinking they were being stealthy at the bottom of the garden behind the shed, when they really weren't.
His mouth curved into a smile as he grasped the chain of his swing, leaning towards you. "Don't tell me you're a good girl," he murmured.
"I am," you said, tilting your head and leaning towards him. You plucked the joint from his fingers. "For the right person."
He watched you, amusement teasing at his mouth. It was hard to pull your gaze away from his after that deliberate tease, but you did. With a smirk you settled on your swing and took a drag, inhaling slowly. You closed your eyes, savouring it before releasing your own plume of smoke. "Not bad," you said, holding the joint back towards him.
"Not bad at all," he smiled, his little finger grazing the side of your hand as he took the joint back.
You swallowed, ignoring the tingle of awareness it stirred. That was the first time he'd touched you tonight, and your inner 14 year old self was swooning like an idiot.
"Where's your friend?" You asked, grasping the swing chain a bit tighter.
"On a call with the love of his life," III shrugged, slumping around a chain as he made his swing rock with his long legs. He tilted back, looking up towards the sky. "He's got it real bad. I reckon he might make it official with this one, you know. Put a ring on it. That's what every other fucker our age seems to be doing lately."
"Not you?" You asked, turning to look at him.
His eyes swung your way from where he was hanging back, his nose screwing up. "Nah, my lifestyle doesn't really lend itself to settling down; drowning in nappies and wailing kids. Ugh."
"I bet IV was saying the same thing before he met his girlfriend," you suggested. "The right person probably changes everything. People wouldn't have babies otherwise."
He sat up, eyeing you curiously. "Is that what you want? Forever, and kids, and stuff."
You shrugged. "I don't know, maybe," you said. "Right now, I'm happy doing my thing. I'm enjoying touring with the business. I didn't expect to be doing that with my life, and it's actually great. So, I guess I'm open to whatever feels right."
"Hmm," he hummed slowly, taking another drag.
You both swung on your feet, lost in thought for a moment as the party continued on across the lawn. You took a mouthful from your drink, finishing it.
"I'm sorry I used to pull your hair," he said, out of the blue. "I was a bit of a cunt when I was younger. So, I apologise if I ever hurt you."
You met his gaze, surprised. "You never hurt me," you said, truthfully.
He had pulled your hair though, but it had never been rough. You'd tried to retaliate of course, but he'd always outsmarted you somehow. A true king of mischief. He'd pinned you down and tickled you, tripped you up, soaked you with water pistols and slammed water balloons in your face when you weren't expecting it. But, you'd never hated him for it.
"Well, that's good. I was still a little cunt, though," he grinned.
"Does that mean you've grown up now, and you're sensible?"
"Well…" His mouth twisted as he considered that and you laughed.
"I'll take that as a no," you chuckled.
"I don't do boring," he said, leaning around his chain again, his long fingers curled around the cool metal. His gaze drifted over you, slowly, and you fought to stay still on the swing seat. "And, neither do you, I reckon," he said, softly. "Little honeybee."
Your gazes met in the darkness, something hot and dangerous stirring low in your belly. You were no sweet and innocent teenager anymore. Your body knew what it liked now, and somehow he was waking it all up with just one simmering look. He was not a young boy anymore, either. He was still gangly and mischievous, but his face had sharpened into that of a man, the added touch of his moustache merely enhancing the look.
But, it was his eyes that had you. Beautiful, baby blues that suggested innocence, but what lurked beneath was far from it.
Dangerous boy.
The added bonus of being older and wiser was the confidence to hold these moments without crashing out. You'd flirted and played with enough blokes to know that caving at the first flutter of eyelashes was a big no. No matter who he was. You'd learned how to play, and he was right; you didn't like boring.
You leant forward around your own chain, holding his gaze until you were mere inches from his face. Your pulse thundered at the proximity, his pretty eyes glittering from the glow of nearby fairy lights. You curved your lips into a slow smile and felt a glow of triumph when his gaze dipped to your mouth.
"I do like a bit of chaos," you murmured. "I guess I learned from the best."
When his eyes darted back up to yours, you had to harness every inch of self control to back away from him. Adrenaline was pumping wildly as you stood up from the swing, smoothing the tulle miniskirt that you knew was scandalously short enough to reveal the curve of your bottom in tight, black hot pants. He was watching you, his eyes burning into you as you took a few steps forward.
"Best get back to the party before I'm missed," you said sweetly, throwing a smile over your shoulder.
"Of course," he said, his voice deep and soft. "Fly back to your guests, little honeybee. Such a good girl after all."
Fuck.
You were the image of cool restraint as you crossed that lawn. At least, you hoped you were. The effort made your hands tremble.
Smooth bastard. Just like any other guitar boy.
He wasn't just any other guitar boy, though. He was the one who'd started the obsession.
You and III are reunited at a fancy dress party after several years apart, and it awakens the crush you'd had on him as a teen, but you are not a kid anymore and those feelings could be a lot deeper than you'd thought.
The wait is over, readers! Thank you for your patience while I poured my heart into this.
He was the boy who sought desperately to heal the only light in his life, taking to the darkness in order to fix what was broken, but losing parts of himself along the path of the damned.
She was the girl who was born with the blue fire in her veins, a daughter of magic so ancient, the answers lay buried in time forgotten.
Alone, they were capable of marvellous feats of magic, each gifted in their own right. She became his new light, and he taught her how to dance with the dark.
Together, they could destroy the world.
Sebastian and his MC.
A quick study in smoke and silhouette in ProCreate. Hand drawn.
My next multi chapter story for II is cooking nicely. I’m 6 chapters in so far. It’s linked to A Dragon’s Weakness (Vessel), and House of Cards (IV), and the trope is ‘fake dating’.
Want a little snippet? 👀😏
Check under the cut…
Much love, Raine 💜 xx
Fic snippet:
His jaw tightened, his shoulders going rigid. "Why did you act like we were…together? You let her think that."
"So did you!" You immediately protested, a blush of your own colouring your cheeks as you recalled the way he'd held your waist. "You didn't exactly correct her, in fact you went along with it! I was only trying to stop her, and I panicked once I'd started."
He rolled his eyes and put a hand to his head. "Why didn't you just say one of the others was looking for me? The tour manager, or something?"
You cringed. "Yeah, that does sound more likely," you mumbled. "Shit, I'm sorry. I've probably made this so much worse."
"You think?" He scoffed. He shook his head, staring off towards the darkened lawn, his sigh leaving his mouth with a cloud of vapour into the chilly, night air. "She is never going to leave me alone," he muttered.
You remembered the way Flick had smirked earlier as she thought about her next conquest, the aim to get her rare diamond, and you'd even called him that. Oh, you were such an idiot.
"How long has she been chasing you?" You asked, wondering what it was he thought you knew.
He eyed you, his face so stern, nothing like the warmth you'd caught earlier. "Long enough for me to be done with it," he said. He shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe your stunt will work, although I highly doubt it. It's not even real. She'll see right through that in the cold light of day."
"We could keep up the pretense," you smirked, trying to inject some humour into the moment.
His eyes widened. "Are you fucking kidding? How bloody drunk are you?"
Your lips parted, but your mind drew a blank on words. You had been kidding, but maybe it wasn't a completely dumb idea. Your gaze wandered over him. You knew that under that loose hooded top was a tight body; you'd seen him strutting around in his vest top backstage, or even shirtless and painted in smooth black body paint. He had pretty hands, hands that were talented, and surprisingly gentle as they'd squeezed your softness. You bit your lip as your tipsy brain arrived at the conclusion that II was actually rather sexy, with his tattooed skin and beautiful, blue eyes. You could play girlfriend, you realised. Easily.
Collection of fics. NSFW. Identity free. Sleep Vessels as characters in AU settings, any similarities to actual events is coincidental. Fics posted on Ao3. Requests welcome.
An Offering - Vessel x You (NSFW)
Short fic where you discover a new band and catch the eye of the mysterious front man. Is it a coincidence, or are there other forces at work here?
His Best Girl - III x You (NSFW)
Working on the crew of the band, you develop a crush on the bassist. Does he feel the same?
In Every Lifetime - Vessel x You (NSFW)
Vessel and III are housemates, III is your best friend. Set before Sleep Token become famous.
A Dragon’s Weakness - Vessel x You (NSFW enemies to lovers) Part 1 in a series of 4.
Long, multi chapter fic. Working as the temp wardrobe assistant on tour, you clash with Vessel, but the tension soon turns into something much more fiery in the forced proximity.
House of Cards - IV x You (NSFW friends with benefits) Part 2 in a series of 4.
Long, multi chapter fic. IV is your neighbour and friend, and you start a friends with benefits situation with him after you break up with your boyfriend, not expecting any feelings to get involved.
The Romantic Ruse Rulebook - II x You (NSFW fake dating) Part 3 in a series of 4.
Long multi chapter fic. You end up pretending to be II's girlfriend during a tour to help him out of a tricky situation, but behind his stoic control is a man who is slowly making you want to break the rules.
A Symptom of Being Human - III x You (NSFW childhood friends/brother's friend) Part 4 in a series of 4.
Your crush on your brother's best friend is reignited when III comes back into your life. Only trouble is, your brother has a no touching rule when it comes to his friends and his little sister. You and III try to fight temptation when you have to spend a summer tour together.
The Love You Want - Valentine’s Day one-shot with Vessel. Fluffy romance.
When you are let down on Valentine's Day, you almost give in to the urge to wallow, but then you decide to take yourself out. What you didn't expect, was to meet someone who would make your evening rather special after all...
Out now on my Ao3
Decided to give it to you early, plus I have a busy weekend ahead.
