Iguin x brimmedhat!gn!reader (part 3)
I'm back with a new chapter about Iguin x reader!!! I think this chapter is the most normal and calm for Iguin.
❗A must-read! The events in this chapter take place before the first chapter! The reader's first encounter with Iguin and a few other moments before the reader begins to doubt their actions.
Could this be called the calm before the storm?🤔
Warning: possibly out of character, Iguin(???)(I think it will soon be possible to put it as a separate warning)
The cold rain beat against your face, the island with the tall tower grew further and further away, and only a lonely moon lit your way. You no longer had the opportunity or desire to stay in the Great Hall. Perhaps in the morning they would discover you were missing and go looking, but now you ran without looking back.
You didn't know where to run, what to do; the only thing that drove you was to get as far away from the Great Hall, from the pointed capes, from the restrictions, as possible. Finding the nearest large stone, you drew a teleportation spell, covering yourself with your cloak. The stone glowed brightly, and you passed through the opened gate. The next teleportation point was a dense forest. The rain no longer obscured your vision, but tree branches slapped your face and arms. You didn't stop, you simply couldn't.
Your lungs burned from the long run, and your legs buckled, but you kept up the pace. You could hear the sound of a river in the distance. And so you were already walking along it, trying to find a place to stop. Looking around, a small building appeared in the distance. Coming closer, you discovered an old, abandoned hut.
You carefully pushed the door, and it creaked open. The hut was empty and dusty. A single bed, a table, a couple of chests—everything covered in a thick layer of dust. The floor creaked unpleasantly in some places, and in others, it was completely absent. The boards on the ceiling desperately tried to hold back the rainwater dripping through the leaky roof. One of the windows was shuttered, and the other opened onto the dense forest.
The hut was old, but quiet and peaceful, and the main one was very far from any living creature. You exhaled with relief. Only now did you feel all the pain and fatigue from such a long journey. Approaching the bed, you shed your wet cloak and muddy shoes. The bed creaked unpleasantly beneath you, but the blanket warmed your frozen limbs and protected you from the cold, rainy night. "This is my new home now," you thought, falling asleep with that reassuring thought.
Slowly, day by day, you're settling into your new home. The roof is sealed, the dust is cleared, the floor is repaired, and there's a whole host of chores to do. The river near the hut was a great help in terms of both water and food. Now the table is littered with papers and ink stains, and the chests are filled with clothes hastily packed for the journey. And most importantly, it's easier, more pleasant, and calmer to breathe here. During your time here, you've already managed to try out a couple of spells and use them on your own body. Now your hands are adorned with black designs, and your fingers are almost always smeared with ink. It seemed like life was getting better and you could find peace and security, start life anew. Until you meet your new "friend."
One day, while also drawing new designs on your own body and gradually filling your hands with ink, a stranger appeared before you. It was a moment, one moment he wasn't there, the next he was levitating above your floor and smiling maliciously at you. You step back in horror. "Who the hell are you?!" you protest. The man only giggles disgustingly. The next moment he's holding your wrist and examining the designs on your body. "Your magic is so tainted by these pointed caps, but that's okay. I'll help you find the right path." He drawls, and you desperately try to pull your hand away. "Let me go!" you exclaim, wrenching your hand away. Seemingly having admired you enough, the stranger releases you from his strong grip, although you wouldn't guess that he's that strong. Losing your balance, you fall backwards. "I'm asking you again, who are you—" you exclaim, seething with anger, when suddenly he interrupts you. "My name is Iguin, the Sight of the World. And I am here to help you." Still levitating in your home, Iguin extends his hand. "Accept my help and become one of us." You glance incredulously from his hand to his masked face and back again.
An awkward silence fell. Now that the brimhat himself is right in front of you, offering to become one of them, you're plagued by doubts. If you accept his offer now, there's no turning back. You swallow nervously. Even though Iguin flashes his sweet smile, you sense distrust in the back of your mind. But do you have a choice? Having escaped the Great hall, having broken so many rules, how are you any different from the brimhat before you? "Nothing" hits you hard, the truth. You look at him again. Iguin is still waiting patiently, or maybe he just enjoys watching you suffer. But there really is no choice, and you accept his "helping hand," rising from the floor. "I knew you'd do the right thing, my dear friend." He squeezes your hand tighter. You grimace and snatch your hand away, but this time it easily slips from his grip. "We're not friends. We just share the same views." Your words make Iguin laugh. "Yes, yes, you're right. Then accept my first gift to you." You look at him skeptically. How unbearable it truly is to not see the other person's eyes. Out of nowhere, a book appears in Iguin's hands. "Your drawings are great, of course, but they're just childish babble. And this will be your first step toward free, real magic." You carefully take the book from his hands. You examine it with interest, flip through a couple of pages, and study some of the spells. You don't know anything about what exists, which piques your interest even more. Iguin gently lifts your chin with his finger, forcing you to look at him. Now he's closer, face to face. You feel his breath on you. "We'll meet again, my dear friend." And in an instant, the hatter vanished into smoke.
This meeting with the mysterious brimhat took place one sunny day, when you were drawing protective spells for your house to protect it from prying eyes. "Mm, not bad, not bad," Iguin muttered thoughtfully behind you. You turned sharply, meeting his face. "What are you doing here?" you asked, frowning. "Do I really need a reason to visit my new friend?" He looked so genuinely perplexed that you weren't sure if he was playing with you or not. You raised an eyebrow and crossed your arms. "Do you have that much free time?" Iguin sighed with displeasure. "You're right, I have a new surprise for you." He pushes you toward the center of the house. You respond with hesitant steps, glancing over your shoulder. He pauses, his hand moving from your back to your waist, and his other hand lifts and holds yours out in front of you. You're drawing with this hand, which is why it's practically blank, unlike the other, whose fingers already show small designs.
"Accept my new gift for you," Iguin whispers close to your ear, running his ink-blackened fingers along the outside of your palm. You remain silent, watching his movements. He traces the design from your fingers to your wrist, slowly drawing out the details. The spell bears little resemblance to the familiar circle; it's shapeless and completely unfamiliar. The silence is broken only by the hum of the wind and your loud breathing. The Brimhat's presence is only a sense of his presence. His breath fanns your cheek, and you feel the light, steady beat of his heart against your back, so close is he. Yours is clearly beating faster with anticipation of the unknown, yet so intriguing that you don't dare move.
"That's it," Iguin announces contentedly, and without giving you a chance to admire his work, he places his hand over yours, guiding you. He moves your hand as if you were holding a doorknob in the air. "And now," a shudder runs through you from the closeness of his skin, from his breath against your ear, from the calm of his voice. "Close your eyes and imagine any place."
"Anywhere?" you swallow nervously, but close your eyes. "Whatever your heart desires. That's the point, there are no boundaries." You inhale deeply and imagine the farthest place from here, just to try, still not trusting the brimhat behind you. "Imagined it?" you nod slowly. "Great, open your eyes." As if in a trance, you do everything he says. Your hand is still clenched, as if holding the doorknob. Iguin pulls it toward you, and a bright light and a strong wind blow in front of you, forcing you to close your eyes.
Rubbing your eyes with your other hand, you slowly look around. In the middle of your house, a door has opened, leading to the snow-capped mountains. A cold wind blows from there, blowing snow into your home. You step forward hesitantly. Iguin releases you, allowing you to step through the door. Your bare feet touch the cold snow. "This isn't an illusion," you think incredulously. You knew teleportation spells, but never over such a long distance, and sealed in your hand at that. You look at your hand again; the black design is still emblazoned on it.
"Well, how do you like it?" the brimhat asks, levitating next to you. You just look at him, then open the main door again. This time it's a sandy beach, burning your feet after the cold snow. The sound of waves and the smell of the sea surround you, leaving the cold and frost behind. Iguin, smiling contentedly, merely watches from the sidelines. You open several more doors, gathering a string of different places around the world behind you.
It seemed you couldn't stop. You look up at Iguin. He's hovering in the sky, watching you. "So, how do you like it? How does it feel to be free?" You look back, staring into all the doors that have opened behind you. "...Mesmerizing." Iguin only laughs in response. "Wonderful!" You look back at him again. The Brimhat is already in front of you, holding out his hand.
"There's more to come, I'll show you the real world of magic." For some reason, now there's no doubt, no fear, no caution, only interest, intrigue, a desire for more, to acquire all the knowledge of this world, to see it all with your own eyes. The doors slam behind you, cutting off any escape. You confidently place your hand in his, and he lifts you into the air, holding you close. It seemed so much closer, but he holds you tighter.
"The whole world is in your hands, you just have to want it. No one can take your freedom away from you again, so experience it fully." At that moment, his voice sounded like a bolt from the blue. One moment you stare at him, and it seemed he did too, the next, he lets you go. Realization comes a few seconds later, but you're already plummeting. Your throat tightens, you can't even scream, trembling through your body, and your head is treacherously empty. Iguin still smiles slyly, waving sweetly. Already expecting a painful landing, you close your eyes, but to your surprise, you're greeted by the featherbed of your own bed. You open your eyes and look around nervously. Your familiar home, your bed, and for a split second, it seems like it was all a dream. But the front door is open, an unfinished protective sigil is on the floor, and a strange, new drawing is on your arm. You sighed with relief, but remembering the brimhat, you frowned and ran your hand through your hair.
The days passed one after another. The Brimhat continued to visit you, bringing with him a multitude of books, ink, and "his trinkets," as he called them. These were mostly jewelry or household items with various spells. Sometimes you felt like a doll in his hands, one he enjoyed dressing and decorating, which still haunted you, though not as much as before. It was as if the fear had subsided and been replaced by curiosity.
It was already dark outside. You sat at the table, continuing to study the books and spells, surrounded by candlelight. Lost in your own thoughts, you didn't notice the person behind you. You flinched at the sudden sensation of something on your head and darkness before your eyes. Sighing, you touched the fabric on your head.
"A brimmed hat?" you asked, pulling it down to the back of your head, revealing your gaze again. Iguin was already smiling at you contentedly, as always. "How do you like it?" You take the hat off your head and examine it. It's fairly ordinary, except for the small bell on the very tip. You smirk at the gift. "Good." You put it back on and walk over to the mirror in the corner of the room. "Very good."
Iguin flies up behind you, still smiling convincingly, and taps the bell with his finger, causing it to ring. You smirk at his actions and the new gift. "That's not all." He seems even more pleased with everything happening than you are. The mirror is small, so you can't fully see his movements. You turn to ask what it is this time, but a cloak with the same fur trim at the neck as Iguin's falls over your shoulders. Now in the mirror, near your face, you see the brimhat's toothy grin. "You're really spoiling me today," you chuckle, examining your new appearance in the reflection.
You abruptly turn to face Iguin. You place your hands under his chin and lift his head closer to you. Now it's your turn to tease him, or so you thought. "And how do I look?" You whisper, not taking your eyes off his lips. His hands settle on your wrists, stroking them. Iguin is silent for a moment, considering his answer. His hand moves further under your sleeves, caressing your elbows. Your hands move to his face, gently stroking his cheeks. How far will he let you go?
Iguin straightens up, towering over you, and moves indecently close to your ear. It seems as if he'll touch you with his lips. Your hands move to his neck. "Like a blank canvas, slowly but surely filled with the artist's brushstrokes." His whisper is sweet, as are his words, but you sense a feigned flattery in them. You only smirk again, though your throat feels dry. His hand moves to your shoulder, then to your nape of the neck, holding you tightly, causing you to inhale sharply. His other hand falls to the small of your back, carefully lifting the hem of your shirt and sliding over your bare skin. It's usually cold in the house, so his hands always feel too hot against your frozen skin.
Iguin's hand instantly turns you toward the mirror, and you look at each other again. You hadn't noticed how flushed your face was until you saw yourself in the mirror. The blush from your cheeks trails down your neck, leaving a slight tingling sensation. "Accept my last gift for today," his breath fanned your skin. His hand still holds your waist in place under your clothes, pressing you tightly against his chest, while the other lifts your hair at the nape of your neck.
Your tongue feels stuck to the roof of your mouth, and you can't speak, only swallowing nervously as your saliva flows freely. Sweat trickles down your forehead, and your fingers twitch on either side of you. You notice this in the mirror and clutch the brimhat's pants. Breathing heavily, you try to anticipate his next move, but he only slowly strokes your skin. Your head is a blur, and you're not sure if your trembling is from fear or anticipation, or perhaps both. You look at Iguin again and lick your lips. He gives you a toothy smile in response, and you see only his hand move to your chin, holding you still. "Don't move," he says, and the last thing you see is Ivgin's open mouth with teeth near your neck.
The next moment, you wake up on your bed. Looking around nervously, you notice it's already morning outside. A brimmed hat and cloak hang on a chair, a half-read book lies open on the table. And you're alone in the house, as always, as it should be. "Was it a dream?" you whisper, touching the back of your neck with your fingers. But instead of the expected sensation of skin against skin, you feel a sharp jolt down your spine, as if struck by lightning. You hiss painfully and sit up abruptly. Rising from the bed, you try to see your nape in the mirror, which is extremely difficult. All you can see is the familiar ink.
You didn't bring it up, still unsure if you'd dreamed it, but Iguin had suspiciously started running his fingers over your neck, or poking it, or, even without seeing his eyes, feeling his gaze on that very spot. This made you doubt it. Finally deciding to raise the issue, Iguin looked at you, puzzled.
"I don't understand what you're talking about." One moment he looked completely sincere, but the next he would break into his nasty smile. This made you wary of the brimhat.
