Heyaaa, part 2 is here; yayyy!! It only took me... a few weeks at least-
My writing process on these two was me brain overloading too much because if it isn't obvious these two are my TOP FAVES. Juju being number one of course.
Now let me stop yapping and lets get on with this~ — ᧁ꠸ꪜꫀ ꠸ꪀꪻꪮ ꪻꫝꫀ ᦔꫀᦓ꠸᥅ꫀᦓ ꪮᠻ ꪗꪮꪊ᥅ ꫝꫀꪖ᥅ꪻ~
Brief Introduction: This is a debut series I had planned out on an “What if”. Based on this post I made, long story short. What would it be like to be sandwiched between two villains? Because if both hot, why not have both?
REMINDER: This is a work of fiction and is meant to be for entertainment purposes! So try not to take these too seriously.
Gender Neutral MC ^ ^ & Robin nickname is used A LOT (and used as a reference to the MC ^ - ^), first pov perspective & more nicknames.
Note: Some parts might have hints of some events that happened in both of their routes.
Did not proofread this btw so apologies-
This pair is LETHAL. You get both sides basically, the sweet and spoiling Victor and the sadistic but caring Jude, this relationship is born from the constant desire to protect the one they cherish the most.
» Its very one-sided this relationship. Both of them are possessive men and its natural that at first they tried to battle to the death; until they came to an agreement to share as it only made the one they loved sad.
» These two are YEARNERS. The robin lives rent free in both of their minds 24/7 and they miss you a lot. They both are busy men after all.
» Most likely, you'd be spending more time with Victor than with Jude, as Jude's still a member of crown and has to do missions and he has his own company to take care off as well. While this actually irks him as he doesn't wanna leave his princess alone with him. Little does Jude know that this will actually help build trust between them.
» Victor in the meanwhile, is actually taking this more seriously than the both of you thought he would. Victor is the type to spoil people around him especially Crown so that'll increase ten fold with you both.
» The robin shall be spoiled rotten but in different ways because Victor and Jude are the perfect example of Sweet and Spicy.
» Victor's always gentle in holding you and treats you like your the Queen Victoria herself! While Jude takes the opportunity to always be holding some part of you in public, claiming to be doing this because his princess can sometimes be super daft and blind. (He's thoughts not mines).
» You guys always try to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner together! Sometimes these include panic dates, going to fancy restaurants, or them cooking up a delicious full-course meal that'll for sure make your tummy growl embarrassingly.
» Such gentlemen these two are! Especially Jude— to your surprise— but thats Victors doing as he doesn’t want Jude to accidentally treat their Robin incorrectly now. Even if Jude knows thats what his dumb princess likes sometimes ¬⩊¬
» Much to Jude’s displeasure, he’s room was the decided landing place for your nightly cuddles and other activities…
» You three usually sleep in a position where they’re both hugging you from each side tightly. Jude’s head tucked under your face while Victors tucked his head above your face. Soo cute.
» Overprotective pro max these two, don’t be surprised to find someone tailing you because of the worry you sometimes would cause them.
» Of course they know that their robin isn’t some weakling but Victor and Jude have so many enemies and it cannot be avoided if said enemies found out your connections with them. So better safe than sorry right?
Will they fall in love?
» Respectfully babes.. I don’t think so. NOT UNLESS, yes not unless; Victor opens up enough that Jude decides to trust him fully.
» Its canon that even Jude finds some of Victors actions suspicious and Victors secrets are no doubt harmful (in a way).
» Knowing Victor however, it’ll take awhile. So until then, Jude feels more respect and platonic affections than romantic feelings unlike with his princess. But it isn’t outta the realm of possibility babes🥰
» In an event (I think it was the new year’s one? I don’t remember lmao) Victor gave Jude baked peaches? It was a peach dessert of some kind and Victor would definitely use that as a bargaining chip for when he wants Jude to do something in the name of your relationship.
» Victor lets you style his hair thats a given and he does the same to you! And Jude gets his hair styled too! How? Victor holds him down and lets you do the work thats how!💖
» Ya’ll know how Barbie has a HUGE walk-in closet type thing? Well babes you have a whole room just for all the gifts they both buy either on impulse or purpose (mostly on purpose).
Last Thoughts: I'll give these two a solid 8/10 relationship wise. These two can work together and make their robin very happy! In their own separate ways of course... They also don't mind making a "peace" contract for your sake. But they still lose points because some habits are encouraged by each other, such as stalking and pushing ya away. Though thats a story for another time~
Part 2 is concluded! Thank you for reading this fellow robins!
Villainous Trouple: Part 1, part 2(ur here!!), part 3, part 4, part 5 & part 6
(This is my only account and I do not post any of my work here in other platforms, if you see em; kindly let me know immediately. Reblogs are fine just not reposts please.)
Taglist: @rawr-mortgage @hinanhi (If you wanna be added just let me know!!)
An Interview with Crown's Ruthless Mobster: Jude Jazza's ABCs (NSFW)
Word count: 2264
Tags: NSFW - MDNI
Notes: I only play in the English server and haven't read many translations so I'm building up these headcanons out of that limited knowledge, and I apologize if anything feels ooc due to that. I do love Jude a lot, so happy birthday boy.
A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)
Jude has a tendency to be rough in bed and being the practical man that he is, first and foremost on his list is taking care of any bruises, injuries or bites you might have. He's surprisingly tender about it too, hands moving over your wrists with a gentleness that bellies the way they'd been clutching at your hips earlier.
He'll both tease you and throw the occasional praise through the whole process. "What's ya lil' bird brain thinking? Blushing now when I'm tending to your bite mark but not while I'm balls deep inside ya?"
He'll tend to your physical needs with flying colors, but he will be a bit coarse when faced with the mushy feelings the afterglow of it all will bring to his chest. He'd probably get better at it with time, but Jude is the kind of person that has a hard time dealing with softness, even or especially when he's head-over-heels.
Once you fall asleep, he might allow himself to hold you as tenderly as he truly wants to. Hands running through your hair and lips pressed against your forehead, warmth spreading all over his chest and a smile tugging at his lips. Foolish princess.
B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)
Jude is proud of his mouth. He's proud of his sharp tongue that can and will say the filthiest things to get you all nice and wet without even having to lay a finger on you. He's proud of the way you'll tremble when his lips finally come close to your skin, he's proud of the marks his teeth will leave, he's proud of the way you'll squirm on his tongue when he's got you pinned down and your thighs shaking around his shoulders.
He has a fascinating relationship with your eyes. Always so open, so earnest, so loving. Those damn beautiful eyes have been his undoing from the very start, and even now when he's intertwined with you they always seem to see right through him. Right through to the rotten tender core inside him. He loves it. He hates it. He doesn't know what to do with it.
C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)
He enjoys the sight of you covered in his essence, he'll pull out to cum on your stomach and chest. He'll pull out when you're sucking him off just to see your face covered in his cum too.
D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)
He has dreams about you. They started even before you got together, he would wake up sweaty and panting in his room, underwear annoyingly tight around his hard length from the dream of your warmth. It annoyed him to no end, he'd often opt to take a cold bath to wash it away, but sometimes he'd still have to give in to the heat running through his veins. Nowadays, if the dreams return he'll have you repay him for it.
E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)
Jude hasn't had any serious partners before, he doesn't have the time for that. But he is experienced enough to know what he's doing, at least in the pleasure and pain department. He's newer to the emotional side of a relationship and how it will bleed into your more… intimate moments.
F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)
Doggy style. Jude likes to take you from behind, he enjoys pressing your head against the mattress as he relentlessly pounds into you, your whines barely muffled by the sheets. He also likes to pull on your hair and bring you close so he can whisper the kind of dirty things that will have you gushing and clenching around his length. Nasty princess, leaving bites on your shoulder and hickeys down your back always has you trembling so hopelessly underneath him.
G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)
He's prone to tease and humiliate, but there's nothing humorous about the moment with him. He's more on the serious side.
H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)
Jude keeps himself clean, if not too groomed. His pubes match the darker shade of his hair.
I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)
Not very romantic. Jude is… awkward when faced with genuine feelings. He craves it more than anything else, but his love is rough. It will seep through the cracks, in a gentle caress during a heated moment, or in the softening of those bruise-colored eyes when he meets your gaze.
J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)
Jude is a busy man, he doesn't have much time for it. He'll do it when it gets to be too much, but he'll be quick and methodical about it. He'd much rather save himself for a proper session with you and let off all the pent-up energy then.
K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)
Biting/marking. Jude is a biter, he loves to leave his mark on you. How could he resist sinking his teeth into your flesh when you always whine so pathetically at the sharp pang of pain?
Degradation/Dirty talk. He has a dirty mouth and he will run it, he will say the filthiest, most humiliating things to you to get you all worked up even before you're in the privacy of your room. He's unrelenting even when you're flush together, knowing exactly what to say to have you crumble under him. He wonders if he could simply talk you into cumming one day.
Edging. He'll edge you until you're begging him for release, and even then he might not give in at all. You'll forget even your own name, but not his. That's all that will remain in your head as he brings right to the edge of pleasure only to pull back and drag out your need.
S&M. Obviously. If you're looking for someone to dom you and know exactly how to blur the line between pain and pleasure until you're a whimpering mess, Jude is your man.
L = Location (favorite places to do the do)
Jude would rather be somewhere completely private. He might even make a separate room for your… riskier activities, and when the mood is right or softer then his bedroom will suffice.
M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)
Seeing the heat in your eyes when he lets his mouth run in public, that obvious heat that lets him know there's some dirty little fantasy running through your pretty little head just because of one sentence he said.
Showing him that you care. Jude is someone that's been craving softness and warmth all his life, even if it disgusts him to admit it. Seeing you give it so freely to him will have the softer parts of him warming up, and contradictorily… he will also feel the need to bite. To show love in the only way he has known to for so long: rough, primal. Not any less worthy of compassion.
N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)
Dubcon/Noncon play. Jude can be into playing scenes with you, he will fulfill whatever fantasy you can come up with. But not this one.
O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)
Jude prefers to receive, but is skilled at giving too and will be merciless about it when he does.
P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)
Jude will only be slow when he wants to torture you. He will have you naked and begging for him before he has even removed his pants. Once it's time though, he will be as unrelenting as the sea during a storm and it will be exactly what you need.
Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)
He'd rather take his sweet time, but isn't opposed to having you come on your own in public and wait until later for his own pleasure.
R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)
A kink for a kink. Jude is surprisingly open to experimenting and trying out things you'd be into, but he's a negotiator even in bed. If there's something that crosses a personal limit then he will be skilled at talking you out of it.
S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)
Good stamina, but he prefers to torture you first for a reason. He has plenty of other ways to get you to cum while he recovers and drags out the night.
T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)
Jude owns toys and loves to use them on you regularly. Make an enticing enough proposition and he might let you use one on him some day.
U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)
He's horrible. He'll tease and degrade you constantly, he'll drag you to the edge over and over until there's nothing in your head but the need for release, the need for him. It's reassuring in a way, to have you come undone so completely in his hands, all for him.
V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)
He's not very loud, but his breathless sighs and groans will give away how much he's enjoying it.
W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)
Jude loves your back. He loves to mark it, he loves the shiver that will run up your spine when he runs his hands over it. Sometimes he will kiss it with a tenderness that will leave you breathless and aching. Such a foolish princess, trusting your back to someone like him. But it is his his back to have now, to hold steady, and to torture when he wants to.
X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)
Thick, very thick. Average in length, and will have you feeling a little too full and sore after.
Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)
Not that high, but when he sees that need in your eyes he's down.
Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)
Jude isn't quick to fall asleep at all. Not to mention he has to make sure you've received proper aftercare. Once he's sure you're fine, and have fallen asleep, he might take some time to have a smoke or go through some documents if needed. Other more humiliating days, he'll simply watch you sleep, the moonlight caressing your figure in a much gentler way than he ever could.
Bonus: Excerpts from an Interview with Crown's Mobster.
Watching Jude is almost like looking at a fresh bruise, you already know there was violence, and said violence left its mark and its ache behind. Jude's got a perfectly manufactured scowl to keep those not worthy of his time away from him, everything about him is a warning sign: Do not come here, there is pain here. Yet when he leans back in his office chair and those amethyst eyes finally notice Kate, there's the slightest of tenderness at the edges.
J: What are ya doing here?
K: I have come to interview you.
J: Hah? The hell ya lil' bird brain come up with now?
K: As I said, an interview about... your horrible sex etiquette.
Jude's eyebrows rise before he scoffs at her answer, his trademark smirk giving away that he's not entirely opposed to this game.
J: What's in it for me?
K: I- I'll be your servant for a week.
J: That so?… Make it two weeks and we're talking. I'll work ya to the bone, princess. Have you pay for every bit of information I give ya.
─────
On D, Dirty Secret:
Kate's blush is deep and evident and she fruitlessly hopes that Jude won't comment on it -
J: Heh, are ya that pleased to know I've had nasty dreams about you?
K: N-no
J: Wanna know the details, dirty bird?
K: ….
Jude's derisive laugh booms through the office, warming Kate even further.
J: Offer me up something nice and I might tell ya… Maybe explain in detail how ya ridiculously soft skin got me all riled up in my sleep?
K: STOP.
─────
On W, Wildcard:
K: The dresses…
J: Took ya this long to catch up? I thought ya were a little sharper than that, princess.
K: Well, who's the one getting all worked up just because I trust you?
─────
J: That it, then?
K: Yes…
Jude puts out his cigarette in the ashtray, and takes one more swing of his whiskey. Kate's own glass had already been emptied, but she'd opted not to refill it. She doesn't need the drink to warm herself up anyway, those distracting purple eyes are doing more than enough for that.
J: Not bad.
Jude's mouth curls up into a smirk as he meets her gaze dead-on, Kate knows he's all too aware of her squirming.
J: I think your payment should start now.
A whimper escapes Kate's lips unbidden, and Jude reaches out to run his hand up the column of her neck before grasping her chin sharply.
J: Or maybe that's exactly what ya want me to say? Tch. What to do… I kinda wanna watch ya squirm a little longer.
K: Jude..
J: There's that pitiful little glare, think ya can put up a better fight for me tonight?
tag list: @aquagirl1978 @cyborgspoonie @ike-garden2024 @noirsariel @rkmaru @rubia8 @welp-back-on-my-bs let me know if you'd like to be added or removed ❤️
660 words. yandere themes. may be ooc. features: darius vogel, nica schwarz, ring schwarz.
꒰ summary ꒱ what if an interest turned into something… more?
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ darius 𖦹 vogel ೀ 🪽
was this so-called “love,” or maybe it was a twisted obsession? regardless he had fallen too deep with (…or was it “for”?) you to go back to a point before he knew you — far too deep.
admittedly, it was initially just an interest he had toward you. he wanted to get to know you, as you were crown’s fairytale keeper.
but it was as he was getting to know you, as he spent time with you, that he came to a realization.
although the whole of humanity is inherently flawed, there was one exception: you. maybe it was because, while you remained grounded, you also remained pure. while you looked kind, there was still a gentle fire in your eyes. everything about you was a perfect balance.
even if you weren’t cursed, he felt you were fit for his “family” — and more.
because you were the one and only perfect being in his eyes; that must be why he was drawn to you. the fact he could be so close to that one perfect thing was enough to send shivers, an illusion of “love.”
“ this world has no need for those impure souls who steal the bird’s song away. i will rid the world of all of them, so won’t you sing for me, fairytale keeper? ”
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ nica 𖦹 schwartz ೀ 🍒
he normally wasn’t one for much deep affections, so what was it with you that made him think about you so often? maybe it was because even when he would act friendly with you, your reactions felt so… genuine.
yes, those reactions felt so raw — he almost couldn’t believe it himself. whenever you two ran into each other, he would casually greet you, calling you “robin” and teasing you. he gets more of a kick every time you make a retort, claiming it’s worth teasing you (playing with you). he enjoyed making you dance atop his hand.
but despite being the one teasing you, it almost seemed as though you would sometimes play with his feelings as well, making him feel something between love and bitterness.
so he would hold your hand, and play with your feelings in turn, like he would a toy. so that if you fell in love with him, he could watch you pine in an unrequited love.
he may not be able to reciprocate your feelings, but at the very least, you can fall into a bitter warmth together.
“ i told you that all you have to do is not hold my hand, but if you’ve taken it of your own will, won’t you become my plaything? until there’s nothing left to lose, for me… and for you, robin. ”
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ring 𖦹 schwartz ೀ 💍
there is no such thing as being too protective when it comes to ring. at first, he had tried to push you away, because what reason was there for you to get close to him? if dari had ordered him to kill you, he would do exactly that.
and yet, you had reached out a hand to him, asking for a friendship. nika had warned him — “you can’t make friends with them, ring” — and yet the hand that reached out to him seemed so warm and gentle…
it was a somewhat fragile friendship, and it felt like a single word from dari or nika could shatter it to a million pieces, seeing as you two were in different organizations. and yet, you had shown him so many firsts.
eventually, he became scared, anxious, even. what was this feeling?
he wanted to protect this friendship he had with you, he wanted you to show him more and more “firsts,” he wanted to protect you.
“ if dari orders me to kill you someday… i would still do it. that wouldn’t change — i owe him my own life. but, if that were ever to happen, i would kill a part of myself after for you. ” if he were to remember you, would you show him more firsts after the last?
fin.
꒰ tag list . ꒱ @drachonia @weepinglycoris @letter-from-afar comment to be added or removed!
Warnings: mentions of violence (not active), mentions of blood/injury, jude being jude, established relationship (and bickering), brief name-calling from both sides (re: bickering) + the usual ikevil crimes (as per queen's orders)
💜 Full credit goes to @natimiles for the images! 💜
After returning to our side of palace, Jude rambles on about how I could've gotten killed, about how I'd carelessly been kidnapped, and all the dangers I'd put myself in this past mission. You'd think we were married, the way he's scolding me.
As he comes closer, all up in my face, cigarette pressed between the corner of his lips, I grin smugly, further irritating him.
"The hell ya makin' that face for, princess?" Jude sneers.
"You talk too much," I retort.
"Oughta have yer ass pay me back for all 'a this. Tch, so annoyin'," he groans, running a hand through his hair as he takes another drag, exhaling as he tries to calm himself down.
"Hey Jude?" I start.
"What?" He asks, an edge to his voice as he comes closer again, amethyst eyes inspecting my body for any further damage. "Speak up, I can't hear you," he teases, done with his ogling.
"Would you just shut the fuck up-"
"Listen here you little-"
"-and kiss me already?"
"Hah?" Jude's eyes widen, cigarette dangling from his lips. His eyes then narrow, looking at me smugly. "Always knew you were a little harlot."
"Only for you, Jude." I grin, legs dangling off the corner of the infirmary table, hands slowly letting go of their grip on it. "Now are you gonna kiss me or not?"
"Why should I?" Jude retorts, but still moves in closer anyway.
"You gonna make me actually have to pay you or something? So stingy."
"Princess," he warns.
"Jude."
"Masochist."
"Sadist."
Jude laughs, leaning in with an expression so minutely different, you'd have to squint to see the way it softens when he looks at me. But I can tell, I can always tell.
"Damn right I am. An' don't you forget it."
He pulls me close into a brusing kiss at last, tasting like the cigarette that had just been on his lips, and the dried blood still on mine. Just as bitter as our cursed love will always be, even amid the sweeter moments. But I wouldn't have it any other way, even when the time comes when we're inevitably dragged to hell together.
tags: PTSD, trauma-bonding, implied mental illnesses, fluff, angst, hurt/comfort, pre-relationship? established?? yeah these guys don't even know...
a/n: these two have been possessing my mind for the past couple weeks. so... here's the fruits of that.
It was their new tradition. Perhaps it was more like a ritual. Elbert couldn’t sleep with others in the same room and suffered the occasional terror in the night, but it was different with Sasa.
When he fell asleep, he forgot about her presence, as did most others. He could sleep soundly while still having the solace of another when things became scary. And in the case that said scary monster came to admire the Earl’s beauty, Sasa was there to protect him, for she kept a dagger up her sleeve (a bejeweled one– a gift from Elbert when their arrangement first began).
Tonight they were lying in bed together, entirely clothed and slightly far from each other. Both laid on their back, hands held in each other’s. They could hear the summer bugs buzz and chirp with the moonlight and breeze, combined with lonely piano notes echoing through the halls. It was humid, even in the bedroom, the air sparkling with the tension of a coming rain. “Earl Greetia,” Sasa called out. Elbert opened his eyes and glanced over. In the still and quiet, Sasa’s voice was barely a whisper and her accent seemed thicker. “We should talk about it.”
Elbert met her gaze, held it, then nodded. “We can talk. About… what?”
Sasa let go of Elbie’s hand, who briefly reached out to yank it back, but Sasa went too far for him to grasp it. “You should know what would happen if you ever…” Sasa stared down at the floor, the moonlight illuminating her back. She rubbed her foot over the shadow the gentle shine cast. “You should know what I would see, if it ever happened.”
When Sasa looked over her shoulder, she saw Elbie right behind her, sitting on his knees and staring at her intently– yet it seemed like he was about to shiver out of his own skin. “All right,” he murmured, laying his head on her shoulder. “It won’t happen,” he reassured.
“But if it does,” Sasa insisted, “I want you to know.” She took the dagger from her sleeve and unsheathed it, watching her reflection in the metal glint. “I doubt that I’d sob and moan like the others affected by your ability,” she went on, “The worst moment of my life is a time that I think about constantly. I used to be paralyzed by it. Not anymore.”
“You don’t have to tell me, if it makes you sad,” Elbert said, running his fingers down her back. “I don’t want you to be sad.”
“I’ll be happier if I tell you,” Sasa said. Elbert finally detached from her, pulling back to focus on tracing the supposed scars that swam across her toned back. “Where should I start?”
Elbert gazed across the room, then sighed and crawled beside her. He held his knees close to his chest, laying his head on them. Sky blue eyes met her golden ones, they squinted to focus in on a strange, vine-like burn that ran up her shoulders and under her chin. They softened when they landed on her expressionless face. “The beginning… That’s where stories usually start, I think.”
Sasa inhaled. “Yes. They do.” Her sight broke from Elbert, and she stared down at the floor. “I was a noble, once. I don’t remember much from that time,” she explained, running her hand through her scalp. Elbert took the liberty to do so for her, twiddling with her powder blue locks that reached to her shoulder. He admired every inch of them, entranced with the way moonlight shimmered on the color. “My parents would often forget about me,” Sasa continued, “But when I made myself, they’d recognize me and hug me. ‘Where did you go, Sasa? You keep sneaking up on us!’ they’d say.”
“Other than you, my family were the only people who ever truly remembered that I existed.” The ghost of a smile flashed upon Sasa’s face, and Elbert almost gasped.
“Can you do that again?” he asked, shyly. Sasa shrugged and nodded, allowing the curve in her lips to appear again. Elbie’s eyes brightened with the short spark of his greedy madness, but when he breathed it vanished.
“Does this please you, Earl Greetia?”
“Very much,” he responded, his finger just barely grazing across her lower lip to trace it. The same dainty hand pulled back soon after. “Please, continue.”
“Of course,” Sasa said. She hummed absentmindedly, watching a pinned butterfly on the wall so intently, as if thinking it would twitch with life or any moment. “I didn’t know much about my parents, I guess. I was always wandering off and exploring, escaping their watch so I could run to the garden and lift rocks, watch the bugs, other frivolous activities of the sort… I don’t remember the date of when it happened. I remember snow, but not much else. It’s all a fog, really.” Sasa’s chest tightened. She squeezed her eyes shut. “So foggy, but so clear. I can’t forget it, even when–”
“You don’t have to tell me.” Elbert quickly took a light hold of her forearm, and she opened her eyes again.
“I want to,” Sasa said, louder this time.
Elbert let go of her. “You don’t have to.”
They glanced at each other, then down at their shoes. Sasa grasped the fabric of her pants. “My mother and father rushed into my room and told me we were going to play a game of hide-and-seek. No matter what, I couldn’t get caught. I was shoved into the closet, and she kissed me on the cheek. Father was sweating so much, I thought I could smell it, as far away as I was, and kept pushing my mother out. We have to go, we have to go, he kept… kept repeating…” Her breathing suddenly slowed and her eyes widened, but they weren’t staring at anything any more. That bright gold was pointed to the door, but vision had been robbed from her. Voices swirled around her head, mocking her and drowning out everything else. They laughed and giggled with a reverence for their wicked deeds. They didn’t say much, other than what they could. Their voices were so clear, their figures so visible despite the darkness. They weren’t real, but they were. Those figures lived in the deepest hallways of her mind, a space they often escaped from just to taunt her. One was buoyant, one was teasing, one was made from pure malice.
Elbert hesitated, but put his hand on her knee. She didn’t react. He shook it with no strength. She breathed again, then pointed her unfocused gaze to the Earl’s closet, bursting at the hinges with beautiful suits and dresses that Alfons had yet to pawn. “Three men came into the room,” she recounted. “I couldn’t see them, it was too dark. I couldn’t hear them, either. I was so scared. But I can still recall what they said in that cold, uncaring voice. Found you, one of them sang, as if he were an actor on stage. The tallest one circled them like a fox, holding a pistol to my mother’s head. The other one must’ve been the leader. They didn’t do anything until he said so. He put a sword to my father’s throat. He asked him to reveal where the children were. And my father…”
Elbert held his breath. He only let it go when Sasa didn’t finish. “Your curse… Did he forget about you?”
“I wasn’t the focus of their attention any longer. He insisted no such children even existed, and my mother did the same. I had to watch them say that and beg for their lives. My mother was in tears. The man with the pistol spoke. They aren’t lying, he said. Then the leader responded, How odd, I could swear… We’ll go and check for any other witnesses, a servant or any of the like. I swear there was another… You two, On your knees. Stay.”
Sasa ran her finger down the flat side of her dagger. Suddenly, she stood up and threw that dagger at one of her own paintings in the room. A black, void filled mist on the canvas, filled with bright screaming colors. Cutting through the madness, though, was the most detailed object Sasa could ever draw– A red eye pointed directly at her, glaring through a cabinet door drawn ajar.
Elbert’s eyes widened.
“I remember it so well,” Sasa spoke with a reverent fever. “I held my hand over my mouth, hiding my breath. I was just about to peek out and see the faces of two of those men, just barely in the dim moonlight. I thought he was gone. I thought…” She was transfixed with the knife in her painting. The eye, the evil eye! Sasa couldn’t see anything else. She was back in that dark closet, cramped and tucked away. The one eye peeking inside and staring right at her. There wasn’t a pair– no, it was one single gaze, locked straight onto her. Sasa dug her dagger deeper into the painting, tearing all around the eye. “He looked straight at me. He saw me. With glee, he was ready to kill me. I saw it in his eye, that evil, red eye. I gazed right at that eye, and he in mine. Yet simply, he turned to the others,” she mumbled, “Nobody else is here. It’s time, the red-eyed man said. He handed my parents his sword. That evil eye, same color of their blood pouring onto the ground. I don’t need that man dead. I’m going to tear his eye out. I– I’m not greedy, I don’t need both, just that horrible–” Sasa raised the dagger and stabbed back in. “Horrible!” She swung again. “Terrible!” She swung again. “Evil!” Again. “That evil eye!”
Before she could stab the dagger back into the eye, a weight was laid onto her back. The blade hung in the air and Sasa froze. Weak arms were wrapped around her waist and a chest was on her back. Blonde hair was on her shoulder, but the body was cold. Sasa didn’t breathe. Elbert’s arms felt more and more like an iron bar, but they hadn’t moved or tensed at all. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, nuzzling his head deep into her shoulder. “Will you… sit with me?” Sasa could easily see through his thinly veiled plea, but obeyed his wish anyway. She barely even moved her own body. Elbert did that for her, laying her on her usual side of the bed. “Sorry,” he whispered, “I know I said ‘sit,’ but… I think we’d both prefer this.” Sasa didn’t respond.
Elbert’s chest grew tighter and his eyes thinned. “Let go,” he said, kneeling at her bedside. Delicate hands came to hers and the tight grip on the bejeweled knife loosened, each finger releasing one at a time like a flower in bloom.
“Now you know,” she sighed, her voice hoarse. “What would happen if…”
“It won’t happen.” Elbert caught her thought. “Thank you.” He put her knife in a velvety box on the nightstand. “Do you feel better?” Sasa nodded. Elbert smiled slightly. “Have you found him yet?”
“Yes,” Sasa said, her gaze glued to the ceiling. “I’ve found all the men who were there that night, in fact.” When she let her head fall to the side, her bleary golden eyes stuck to the Earl.
“I had a feeling you did.” Elbert swallowed and looked away. “What will you do to them?
“I don’t know,” Sasa replied, rolling onto her side. “When my mentor, Lila, found me, she told me– raised me to one day kill the awful men who ruined my life. But now I– I don’t know if I should. Would Lila hate me?” She fit her hand into the arm she was laying on, the features of her face scrunched up towards her nose. Her brows furrowed deeply. “Killing is a cycle.”
“It is,” Elbert whispered, resting his head on crossed arms, tilting to the side to keep his sight of Sasa perfectly in view.
Silence stretched out until dawn began to break, the dark night sky suddenly overcome with a cloudy, light blue hue. Sasa turned to the window, then sighed. She could feel Elbert’s gaze on her, admiring her with that crazed obsession. With a start, she shot up and turned to Elbert. “We will do a few things now, Elbie.” Elbert’s shoulders jumped, but his gaze never wavered. “I am hungry. I want a bowl of fruit.” Her tone was surprisingly firm, and she stood up with the determination of a soldier.
“Okay,” Elbert mumbled.
“Good. Shall we?” Sasa asked impolitely, throwing the door open and storming off without the Earl behind her. No matter, for it only took a moment for him to run up to her side. Just as he caught up, a yawning figure in the shadows passed by. He glanced once, then twice.
“Lord Elbert?” The butler called out, rubbing his eyes. Elbert stopped and took a closer look at Alfons. “What are you doing, running in the halls like this?” He asked again, reaching out drowsily to put a hand on his shoulder. “Whatever is beautiful now will be beautiful in the morning,” he yawned. Alfons felt a tap on his shoulder. His eyes widened and he turned to see whoever the ghost could be. “Good lord!” he shrieked. Then, he let out the heaviest of sighs, his shoulders slumping and his usual wide grin relaxing into something of annoyance. “Hello, Sasa.”
“Elbert will be fine with me,” Sasa insisted, taking the hand off of the Earl’s shoulder and standing in front of him. “You–” Sasa pointed a finger at Alfons, still shielding Elbert with her body, “I do not like you when you– Боже, какой запах– You smell of raunchy sex, cheap perfume, and cheaper booze. I do not like it! Too strong a smell, like how blood is! Go! Wash off before you talk to any of us! Это отвратительно! Nothing against you, but it upsets my nose! Go! Go!” With a final huff, Sasa left her hand out for Elbie to grab, who quickly did so, and dragged him off down the hall. As they turned the corner, the echoes of Sasa’s complaints continued. “I can still smell it!”
Alfons watched as they left with an unamused expression, his ears beginning to tune out the Russian insults still being bounced off of the walls. “It’s too late for this…”
They didn’t speak until they made it to the kitchen. “Wait,” Elbert said. Sasa did as told. Elbert pointed at the floor. “Someone’s in there.”
Sasa shrugged. “No problem. Stay here.” Sasa threw open the door, then closed it behind her. Although Elbert didn’t want to upset Sasa further, he could help but put his ear to the door.
“Out,” Sasa ordered.
Two voices gasped. “Sasa!” Victor and William yelped in unison. Then, the pair both met her with happy greetings. “Are you here to bake with us?” William asked. “We’re making scones and a cake. Harrison, Kate, and Roger went on a mission earlier, so Victor thought we’d get a headstart on some welcome home treats. Victor, are there any Russian desserts we can make?”
Victor hummed with a theatrical glee. “Oh! We have some extra cookie crumbs and cocoa here! What about Kartoshka? Did you have some during your time in Rus–”
“Out, I said!” Sasa broke through their chorus of baked sweets. The two were silent. She refused to glance William’s way, instead having her body face Victor entirely. “I apologize, I do not mean to seem harsh. Let me speak.”
“Of course,” William assured.
“Good. Now, I want a bowl of fruit. Healthy, nutritious, still sweet. It is for Elbie and I.” Sasa crossed her arms.
William wore a warm grin and motioned for Victor, who already had a bowl in hand. “You always know what you want. That’s good. It makes you a nice fit for Elbie.”
Sasa didn’t acknowledge him. William didn’t mind, and Victor soon handed her the food. “There’s apple and orange slices, some cherries, strawberries– There’s plenty left over for you, William– and raspberries, and blueberries! Sweet fruits, like you asked.” Sasa reached out and thanked him, but Victor didn’t hand it over to her yet. “Also, I added some lemons there, too. I have a feeling Elbie is going to want some.”
“These aren’t for Elbert,” Sasa denied, snatching them from her Majesty’s Aide. “He doesn’t like sweets as much as I do. They are for me. I am not making anything for him. If he wishes to have some, that’s his choice.”
Victor and William glanced at each other. Then, both nodded, wearing obvious smiles. Together, they become a chorus of hums and yes, of course’s. Sasa didn’t notice anything amiss, so she left as quickly as she could. Elbert stepped back from the door just before it opened. Sasa held out her hand for him. He took it. Sasa gripped the bowl tightly and dragged him down the halls. “I want to go to the beach now. The one you like,” she stated. She let go of Elbert then, and stepped behind him. “Lead the way.”
—
The sound of waves was soothing to those noise-filled ears. It made a nice ringing in the walls of his skull, anchoring him toward the banks of some far off shore, made from his mother’s long skirt that smelled like fresh dew and wet poppies. A hint of salt kept him in reality, the fragrance becoming something of a guide to a weak mind that tended to wander.
There was another noise this time, too. Messy crunching with no care for etiquette and manners beside him. Elbert opened his eyes and turned to his partner-in-crime, her chin dripping with the sticky juices of overly sugary fruits. He eyed her, then the bowl. “May I?” he asked, his fingertips lingering near the rim. Sasa shrugged and offered it to him. In return, Elbert gave her a handkerchief with a butterfly embroidered on the left corner. He dug through the fruit to find an orange slice, then lightly sucked on it.
“Sorry,” Sasa said as she cleaned her mouth. “I’m not used to so much food.” Elbert tilted his head with curiosity. “At the girl’s orphan asylum I was raised at, there was never much to go around,” she explained, “Lila drilled it into our head: every bit of warmth and food that you keep to yourself is being taken from your sisters. Remember that. She was always trying to stir conflict between us, make rivals and betrayals out of these girls.”
“I’m sorry,” Elbert sighed. “May I ask… Who is Lila? You talk about her fondly… and with hate.”
Sasa squinted at the horizon, watching as the dark night became more and more light. A blue tinge was on everything, and she could see the peeks of daybreak coming over the tide. “She found me after my parent’s death. Apparently, I was catatonic while I was over their bodies. I can’t really remember much about what happened after that event, so I have to take her word on it. Raised me at the girl’s asylum with the others, but I was her favorite. I was moldable, something she could turn into a great weapon of vengance… or something of that poetic ilk.” Sasa rolled her eyes. “She died many years ago. I was supposed to inherit the orphanage, but I refused. I still have a mission to carry out.”
“I see,” Elbert murmured, his voice swallowed by the ebbing pulses of the ocean on the shore. He sucked on the other edge of the orange slice in his hand. “I’m sorry your childhood was like that.”
Sasa cracked a smile, something she only did for the Earl. “You’re acting like you had it any better.”
A joke? From Sasa? Not a very good one, mind you, but even the attempt made Elbert’s heart feel light. He wanted more. “Do you have more jokes?”
“No,” Sasa stated.
“Ah,” Elbert hummed. “Will you smile?”
“Sure.” Sasa did as he asked, showing him a blank smile with her eyes half-lidded, as per usual.
Elbert smiled back. “Beautiful.”
“Thank you.” Sasa then returned to her expressionless slate. “I want more fruit.”
Elbert took a bite from his, then handed her the bowl. Sasa nodded and shoved an apple slice into her mouth, chewing with her mouth open as her hand drove in for another strawberry. Elbert slowly sat down on the sand and patted the spot beside him. Sasa followed him down.
“I have more one question,” he said.
“Go on,” she said, her head tilted towards his shoulder. He nodded. Sasa’s head nuzzled itself into the nape of his neck. Elbert’s chest felt a mysterious jitter and a surge of warmth came to his usually cold ears and hands.
“That man you spoke of,” he started, quietly. He then paused, watching the water as he chose his next words. “The red-eyed man. Is it…?”
“Lord Rex? Yes,” Sasa confirmed. Her throat suddenly tightened up. “I figured that out a long while ago.”
Elbert’s lip creased into a thin line across his face. His mouth felt dry. “What are you going to do about… it?”
Sasa’s eyes slowly closed. “I don’t know,” she whispered, hiding her face in his shoulder. “I want to stop talking now, Elbie,” she pleaded, her voice suddenly waivering. “Let’s listen to the waves.”
Elbert opened his mouth to say something, but when he saw the peace on his dear Sasa’s face, he couldn’t bring himself to push further. He felt this odd tightness throughout his body, a coil in his stomach just waiting to spring and… and… he didn’t know. It scared him how much he didn’t understand this feeling. It wasn’t his greed, it was different– worse, maybe– and he couldn’t decipher this new want of his. Usually, his greed made wants become needs, as if he’d die without them, but this wasn’t that. The greed made his entire body shake with anticipation, but this felt more bitter. It made him ache, not writhe. It made him feel… nice. He felt peace and crazed lust all at the same time and it sent his head reeling.
That tranquil expression on her face… He wanted to preserve it for eternity. So, he breathed out in a poor attempt to untie the knots in his stomach, then rested his cheek on top of her head. Strangely enough, he wasn’t focused on the sound of the waves, but instead the way her chest gently rose and fell with soft, sleepy breaths. He didn’t want that sound to stay with him, to be his, but he did crave it. He longed for time to pause and draw this momentary peace to last for years to come.
Day 4 of Kinktober: Visions of Temptation hosted by @xxsycamore
Featuring: Ikemen Villains | Roger Barel x f!reader
Tags: mdni, orgasm control, orgasm denial, cunnilingus, vaginal fingering, restraints, bondage, teasing, pwp
Prompts: Orgasm Control/Bondage/Shibari | "Hush now. I'm only trying to help you."
ao3 link here.
Tears streamed down your face. It had been hours. Hours of Roger relentlessly teasing you. Hours of stimulation and coming close only for Roger to pull away. Hours of being denied release. The sheets beneath you were soaked in your arousal, the wet spot cool and damp on your back.
“Roger…” you whined, pulling at the restraints tying you to the headboard, trembling from how raw your skin felt against his calloused hands. “I can’t– I can’t take anymore.”
Roger ran his tongue up your cheek, catching the tears falling from your eyes with his mouth. “Yes you can, lil lady.”
“I can’t.” You were exhausted from being brought to the brink of pleasure only to have it ripped away from you over and over again. Your body ached, the flesh on your chest, your inner thighs, and your slit on fire Roger’s endless taunting. “Roger, please…” You pleaded with him desiring either sleep or release, but no more of this.
“But you’re crying such delicious tears for me.” His voice rumbled through his chest to you, which normally felt wonderful when you laid against him, but today only pushed you closer to the edge.
His mouth lapped up the last of your tears and moved back to your breasts, his teeth catching on your inflamed, erect peak eliciting a sharp hiss from you. “Doesn’t it feel good when I do this?” He swirled his tongue over where he nipped, soothing the skin with his tongue.
It did. Despite feeling exhausted and spent and raw, you still felt a delicious little tingle spread through your lower belly when he touched you.
“Or when I do this?” Roger gave the sensitive area above your slit a little flick.
Your body jerked from the hot flash running through you. “Y–yes.” The sharp sting of tears pricked your eyes again. “I want to cum, Roger. Please, I need to cum.”
Roger dragged his tongue down your torso, ending with his mouth suckling on your clit. “Hush now. I’m only trying to help you.”
A long stroke of his tongue against your slit brought out a drawn-out, high-pitched whine from you, and you bucked your hips against his mouth greedily wanting more than what he was currently giving you.
“Not yet, princess. I’m not done with you quite yet.”
You groaned as a finger entered you. Then two. Then three. It was amazing what he could do with just his fingers, to you.
“Should I add a fourth?” Roger smirked, gazing at you with that lustful cheeky look in his eyes.
Normally you’d play along, tease him back, but you were too far along for that. You licked your lips, knowing that you looked absolutely desperate. “Yes, please,” you pleaded, wanting him to plug you completely, stretch you beyond your limits.
“Hm…” Roger appraised you, his eyebrow arching as he took in your crazy, sex-addled eyes, swollen and puffy from the tears you’ve shed. “Maybe I won’t.”
You screeched, a primal, strangled cry ripping from your throat. “Roger!” You pulled at the restraints, all four limbs desperately attempting to free themselves from their silky prisons.
Roger curled his fingers against the sweet spot within you that he knew so well, delighted at how your body jerked off the bed at his touch. “Hush, my pet, it’ll be worth it when I let you come undone on my cock, and you’re going to take it so well, aren’t you?”
You fell silent because you knew. You knew what waited for you when Roger was done teasing you. You knew how deliciously you would come undone when he finally allowed the bulge in his pants to finish you.
Roger chuckled as he used his tongue to lap at the glistening mess on your inner thighs. “Good girl. Let me love you a little longer. I promise I’ll be done soon.”
Fluffy, sweet indulgent nonsense that I thought of whilst avoiding sleep at 3 in the morning about a week and change ago lol.
Alright, so this is my first reader insert in thirteen years! I have been working on this for the last few days in between work and whatnot and most of the time was like, 10% writing and 90% worrying if I was writing this bastard man that I have grown to love very rapidly correctly or not. I'm open to suggestions on how to improve, I just ask that it be kind/respectful, please. :)
Also! No beta, we die like the dude in the prologue.
Today had been long and irritating.
You had tagged along with me and Ellis today, as usual. An early morning of routine business turned into a busy afternoon of hunting down people who had broken contracts and taking them to task. That quickly escalated, and you nearly got yourself hurt. Again.
We had just gotten back to Crown Castle a few hours ago and had gone about our business. It had been a couple of months since your initial one-month tenure had come and gone, and you had stupidly decided that you were going to stay.
I couldn’t understand why. Crown wasn’t a place for someone like you—soft, kind-hearted, and ridiculously naive. You belonged somewhere safe, somewhere untouched by the dark and violent world I—and all of us—were steeped in. Yet, here you were, stubborn as hell, refusing to leave. Maybe you thought you could change us, make us better. Foolish. But damned if it wasn’t… endearing. Tch. I must be getting soft.
As I walked through the halls of the castle, I noticed light peeking out from under your door. You were still awake? It was definitely past midnight at this point. Curious, I approached the door and knocked with the knuckle of my index finger.
“Oi, Princess! The fuck ya still up for?”
“Oh! Come in, Jude!”
I opened your door and stepped inside, pushing the door shut with my foot, my hands in my pockets.
“What are you doing?” you asked, your head cocked to the side curiously.
I raised an eyebrow and spoke, “I asked first.”
“I can’t sleep, so I thought I’d get a book from the library and try to read myself asleep but… then I got sucked into the story.” You admitted as light pink dusted your cheeks, returning your attention to your book. You were sitting on your bed, atop your covers, eyes scanning the pages of an open book in your hands. Your room was lit by the lamp on your desk near your typewriter, casting a dim warm glow over everything, including you. Your hair framed your face, and you were dressed in your nightclothes like you had started getting ready for bed but never actually went to sleep.
I strolled up to your bed and plucked the book from your hands.
“Hey! Give that back!” You swung your legs under you, trying to swipe the book from me. “Jude!”
Ah, that cute little face and the way you said my name when you were all frustrated would never get old.
“Why? Ya readin’ somethin’ ya shouldn’t?” I teased, holding the book just out of reach. I took a step back, skimming through the pages. “Is that why ya can’t sleep? Gettin’ all hot ‘n bothered?” My eyes scanned the words.
She stood beneath the crumbling archway of the cathedral, where the moonlight filtered through the cracks and bathed her in a silvery glow, her heart pounding with the weight of forbidden love.
I rolled my eyes. Tch. How boring. Just some romantic penny dreadful. Figures. You would be into this kind of shit. Star-crossed lovers and all that nonsense.
“Ya realize none of this is realistic, yeah?” I asked, waving the book dismissively. Your cheeks puffed into an adorable pout, and I chuckled.
“I don’t read it for the realism, Jude,” you replied, matter-of-factly. “I read it because it’s entertaining. Fun.”
“What’s so fun about somethin’ so obviously false?” I asked, flipping through a few more pages while you leaned over, trying to grab your book again. I held it out of reach. “Yer gonna get it back when I decide ya can have it back, got it?”
You sighed, crawling back into bed, sitting against the headboard. “That’s better.”
“Why are you playing keep away with my book?” you asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Repayment for nearly gettin’ yer clumsy ass hurt again.”
You growled lightly. Adorable. “But I didn’t! You were there!”
I huffed, rolling my eyes. “Yeah, well, ya shouldn’t need me to save ya all the time. Learn to stay outta trouble.”
You gave me a defiant look, your chin lifting slightly. “I’m not helpless, Jude. I can take care of myself.”
A smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth. “Yeah? Then why were ya about to get skewered earlier?”
Your cheeks flushed, eyes widening. “I was just… distracted.”
“By what? Thinkin’ of garbage like this?” I asked, holding up the book and waving it lightly.
“It’s not garbage!” you shot back, your eyes blazing with a fire I rarely saw. “It’s a good story, and I like it.”
“Tch. It’s drivel, Princess.” I glanced at the open pages, scanning a few more lines with a sneer. “Moonlight, forbidden love... absolute nonsense.”
You crossed your arms, a stubborn set to your jaw. “If it’s so bad, then why don’t you prove it by reading some of it?”
I raised an eyebrow, a chuckle rumbling in my chest. “Ya want me to read this crap? To ya?”
“Yeah, I do.” You leaned forward, eyes gleaming with challenge. “I bet you can’t get through a single page without falling asleep.”
My tongue ran along my bottom teeth beneath my lip as I walked closer to you and leaned down, towering over you. “Is that a dare, Princess?” I looked at you, my smirk widening into a grin. “Alright, but don’t blame me when ya realize how bad it is.”
“Alright,” you said, settling back with a satisfied smile. “But you have to read it properly. Like you mean it.” You shifted, laying down on your side, facing me, your head cushioned perfectly by your pillow.
I snorted. “Fine. But if I read this and prove it’s trash, ya gotta stop readin’ this stuff.” I lightly tapped the spine of the book to your forehead. “It’ll rot yer little brain even more than it already is. Got it?”
Your eyes sparkled. “Deal.”
I sighed, sitting down unceremoniously into a chair that was by your bedside, my ankle crossed over my knee. “Alright, let’s see what has ya stayin’ up all night.” I cleared my throat, holding the book up to catch the dim light. “She stood beneath the crumbling archway of the cathedral…”
My mind drifted through the pages at first, words blurring together without much meaning. But then, something in the story caught my attention, and I found myself tuning in, focusing on the text. Gradually, I realized my voice had softened, losing its earlier sarcasm. It settled into a steady rhythm, low and even, as I read for a few more pages.
Every so often, I glanced up at you. Your expression, once filled with intense focus, began to relax. I watched as your eyes fluttered, fighting to stay open. You looked so determined to stay awake.
I trailed off mid-sentence and raised an eyebrow, my lips curling in another smile. “Oi. Sleepyhead. Still there?”
I got a mumbled affirmation in response, to which I chuckled through my nose and nodded. I set the book down before getting to my feet, careful that I didn’t make too much noise doing so. Well, at least you were about to finally get some much-needed shut-eye.
Before I could move away, you reached out and grasped my fingers with a gentle hold. My eyes widened as I looked between you and our hands.
“Wait. Don’t go yet.” Your eyes were trained on our hands, another faint blush spreading across your cheeks. “I want to hear more of the story.” Your voice was low and shy.
“Yeah?” I asked, tilting my head as I observed you, another smirk lifting my lips. “Can’t get enough garbage, can ya, Princess?”
“No, it’s not that.” Your blush deepened. “I just… I like the sound of your voice.”
Damn. Didn't see that coming. You’re clueless. Who the hell would say something like that? My voice—harsh, grating, like broken glass or nails on a chalkboard and that's what you wanted to hear? But of course, it’d be you, wouldn’t it? Blind to every possible warning, looking up at me with those big, pleading eyes. Damn you. And damn me for sticking around.
My hand was still in yours, your skin soft and warm against my calloused fingers. Your gaze lifted to mine, and you looked so… pitiful. Pleading.
I sighed. “Yer daft, ya know that?” I moved to sit back down, your hand still holding mine. Crossing my ankle back over my knee, I reopened your book, propping it up on my thigh. I glanced at you; some of your energy had returned, your eyes shining with that dumb happy look as you nuzzled into your pillow.
“Thank you, Jude.” Your voice was soft and sweet, making my heart lurch. I kept my face impassive.
“Yeah, yeah, be quiet ‘n listen.” My tone lacked most of its usual bite as I found the last page I had read.
My fingers were still in your grasp. Strange. I could’ve pulled away at any point, but I didn’t. Maybe you thought if you let go, I’d leave. While reading, I moved my hand, lacing my fingers around yours. I didn’t look up, focused on the page, but I heard a small gasp before you squeezed my hand slightly. Damn. Almost enough to make a man melt.
Without pausing, my thumb began rubbing yours absentmindedly. Your skin was soft, untouched by the harshness of this world. What a novel thing in a place like this.
It wasn’t long before I heard your gentle snoring. I chuckled softly, watching you for a moment. So peaceful. Dreaming without a care while a man you knew was dangerous held your hand and read you to sleep. You were insane.
I stood, marking the page I had stopped on, and set the book down on your nightstand. Reluctantly, I removed my hand from yours and shrugged off my coat, covering your sleeping form. You immediately melted into the warmth, your shoulders relaxing as a lock of hair fell across your cheek. My fingers hovered above you.
Do I dare?
Taking a breath, I gently moved the errant lock from your cheek without touching your face. You scrunched your nose, muttering softly before settling back into sleep. My hands found their way into my pockets as I gazed at you a moment longer.
“Sleep well, Princess,” I murmured under my breath. I crossed the room to turn your lamp off and then made my way to the door, pausing at the doorframe for one last look over my shoulder before exiting and closing the door quietly behind me.
This was fun! It was nice to slip into old shoes again and write something that I used to do so frequently. I may do more of these! Lemme know if you want to be tagged, should I decide to do more in the future!
request; no, it’s for @flash-exchange with the prompt “sparklers/firecrackers”. requests are currently open (though with a queue)!
wc; 494.
tags; elbert greetia x gn! reader, may be a bit ooc, fluff, presence of fire, could be pre-established or established relationship, romantic undertones.
summary; you and elbert take a stroll together on the beach, where you light a sparkler with him under the moon…
it was a serene night on the beach — a night like any other, in a secret hideout.
“lord elbert.”
you stopped in your tracks, turning back to look into those eyes as deep blue as the ocean whose shore you two were strolling aimlessly upon. even in the darkness of the night, illuminated only by the full moon and the dimly flickering stars, you felt you can make out those colors with clarity, especially as his eyes widened slightly.
“i want to share another secret with you, here in our secret place. that’s why i brought these.”
holding out a bag with a beaming smile, you used your other hand to take out what appeared to be two sticks.
one for you, and one for him. two sticks — just for the two of you.
“are they just sticks?” lord elbert’s voice was soft, but you could glean a quality of curiosity. “what… do we do with them?”
his movements were a tad awkward and stiff as you handed him one of the sticks.
“of course, we’re going to light them.”
“…?”
you used a lighter to light a spark on the wire end of the stick, causing the flame to spark outward with a crackling noise that almost seemed like applause. after you readjusted your grip, you lit lord elbert’s stick.
he stared at it with an unchanging expression, but you could tell he was focused on it from the way the flames so clearly reflected in those glass-like blue eyes.
“is this beautiful?” he finally asked following a bout of silence.
“to me? yes, it’s very beautiful.” your lips tugged into a small smile. “both when it’s alight, and when the flame goes out.”
“when the flame goes out?”
“i mean, things are beautiful because they fade away. when you leave behind the used stick, it is proof that someone was here, using them. and i think that’s beautiful.”
lord elbert closed his eyes, as if deep in thought. in the end, his only reply was a small “i see.”
then, after sparing the sparkling flame one last glance, he threw the stick into the ocean, watching as the waves that approached the shore rhythmically swallowed up the flame.
just as you had said, the only thing that remained after the flame extinguished was a stick that can no longer be used, not by him — but not by anyone else either.
“wh—hey! why have it go out so soon?” your voice was a little dejected, though you didn’t feel all that mad either.
lord elbert didn't reply, but the silence with him was comfortable.
and just as you found comfort in his quiet, slightly melancholic nature, elbert couldn’t help but find a similar comfort that the sparkler, which had originally came from your hands, was used by no one other than himself.
it was a strange source of comfort, yet it brought a small, perhaps fleeting smile to his lips.
