Cassian Week 2025: Day #3 "Atonement" (both art and fic by me)
@cassianappreciationweek
“Pack your things.” Nesta flinched at the sudden order, Cassian bellowing it as he entered through her window and marched to the closet. Standing up, she reached out a hand, only to put it back as he wrenched clothes and a small leather pack.
“Cassian. What happened?” There was no response from him, just more fabric shuffling and the violent clack of hangers ringing together. “Cassian!” she demanded, forcing him to face her. His left eye was swollen, his lip and nose split and oozing twin trails of blood, and Nesta felt anger surge and thunder inside of her chest. “Was this Rhys?”
“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Cassian countered, reaching for her hand, “Considering…I left him unconscious in his office.” Nesta’s jaw fell open.
“But…why?”
“Because I’m sick and tired of it, Nes.” Cassian pushed past her, stuffing the bag in a frenzy. “Of the fights. Of Rhys constantly badgering and belittling you over and over! Of having to choose between him and…you.” He sighed, dropping the clothes he was holding. “I told him that he needs to start respecting you, that he can’t expect me to just stand by while he hurls threats and…” Nesta tried to look at him, but Cassian turned his head away. “He tried to pull that High Lord dominance and I…kind of lost it. Mor had to pull me off of him, and I came straight here.”
“Cassian.” Nesta grabbed the sides of his face, forcing him to her, “I can handle Rhys. You didn’t need to do that.”
“It’s more than that, Nes,” he replied, his voice low and cold, “I know you can handle him, but I’m tired of him thinking I’m only good for one thing. I’m tired of feeling like I’ll forever owe him, that I—we, have to live our lives by his rules. He may be High Lord, but I’ll be damned if he is going to say one more word about you, make one more threat, without suffering the consequences.” Cassian sighed, trembling as the words just kept on spilling out, words that had surged in his head for months and months, along with the guilt and shame. “I’m so sorry, Nesta. I’m sorry for everything. I can’t stop thinking about it. The hike, laughing at you when you fell on the stairs, the sex…” Cassian pressed a fist to his lips, “I was supposed to be taking care of you, and I fucking took advantage of it.”
“Cassian,” Nesta called, trying to calm him down, “We both agreed to do that.”
“But you were in my care! I was supposed to help you get better, and I knew that sex was something you used to…cope. I couldn’t just put aside the bond, wanting to be with you, for one second. I practically leapt that the chance and it…” He sighed once more, “It doesn’t matter. I can’t change what happened, but I can stop listening to Rhys, stop thinking that he knows best when I know in my gut what he’s doing is wrong.” Casein’s hands rose to cup both her cheeks, pressing his forehead to hers. “I’m choosing you, really choosing you this time, so we’re done here. Let him Rhys with the Illyrians himself.”
Nesta swallowed, “What about Feyre?”
“We have our own lives, Nesta. Me, Az, Mor? We’ve all lived with each other for way too long. We need space, to find ourselves, to actually remember what it’s like to want what we want, and be who we truly are.” Nesta let his words sink into her, truly absorbing what he had said. She had many of the same feelings, but frankly, it was more trouble to fight and claw back against the Night Court than it was to just sit back and let it wash over her. She hadn’t realized just how light Cassian’s new perspective made her feel, that he was trying to make a change.
“How are we going to get out of Velaris without him knowing?” At that, Cassian gave an actual smirk.
“Because I have another brother, and he’s been feeling very much the same way.” As if to punctuate his words, the shadows of her room peeled apart, and Azriel shunted in through a winnow. He turned to Nesta and gave a small nod, turning to Cassian.
“Everything’s ready.” Nesta blinked.
“What’s ready?”
“I have a cabin,” Azriel replied, “A small place, remote but well-outfitted. It’s stocked and it’s far from here, and I made sure that Rhys doesn’t know about it.” The sound of a buckled strap made Nesta glance back to Cassian, his bag over his shoulder.
“I just want some time away from all of it, Nes. Some time of just…me and you, without all the pressure and the bullshit. For us to see, what life is like if we can just…be together.” Cassian stepped forward and kissed her, brushing a hair back over her ear before continuing. “Let me make it right. Let me prove myself to be a mate worth having. I can be better. I want to be better. But not while we’re here. Not while Rhys sees us as political pieces and not fucking people.”
Nesta took a deep breath, then gave a playful smile, her arm hooking around Cassian’s shoulder.
“Then steal me away.”
