This piece was written as a part of the anniversary event for the @konoblog-simps Discord server. Be sure to go to the MASTERLIST to read and support the pieces by the other writers for this event.
Domestic Life
(Levi Ackerman x GN!Reader)
Word Count: 890
Warnings: None
Dating humanity’s strongest soldier was anything but what you might expect it to be. Confidence on the battlefield certainly did not translate to confidence in romantic situations by any means, and the whole process of learning to navigate a relationship on his part had been extremely clumsy, yet also endearing. Levi was rough around the edges, to be sure. His jokes were crude and he was always overly brutal with his honesty. However, you couldn’t imagine being with anyone else because living with Levi Ackerman was a surprisingly wonderful treat that only you got to enjoy.
“Levi? I’m home!” You walk through the door of your modest sized home and hang your jacket on the hook that your grumbly boyfriend had installed on the wall after the hassle of moving a coat tree around so he could sweep and mop the floor became too much.
“In the kitchen.” You’d already known where he was by the smell of dinner wafting through the house, and you smiled to yourself when you peek in and see him standing in front of the gas stove in his favorite apron. You knew not to tease him about it since you’d already heard him defend himself plenty of times with the long spiel about how tough it was to get grease stains out of his clothes.
Levi glances over at you in the doorway and the way that scowl on his face always seemed to melt into a warm smile when he saw you never failed to warm your heart. There was a time when you never saw him smile at all, and that’s where many of the misconceptions about his personality had come from. As he grew more comfortable about your though, his frowns became far less common and you’d never forget the first time you’d heard him actually laugh.
“I’m just going to get changed,” you tell him and he nods in understanding. That was already part of the routine you two had settled into.
“Dinner’s almost ready.” He always seemed to time the meals right so that they were fresh and ready to eat by the time you came home. Sometimes you complained that he didn’t let you help him with the cooking, but he always waved off your concern. He’d never admit it, but it made him feel good to spoil you when you came home. That was another thing people got wrong about Levi. They liked to say he was a cold man with a tendency for violence, but you disagreed. He was a hardworking man, with a tendency to selflessly devote himself to protecting the safety and comfort of the people he cared about.
By the time you finish changing and come back out, dinner is already on the table and Levi is asking you about your day. He sits across from you quietly, but he isn’t just going through the motions. He actually cares and listens to every word. He gets fidgety when he can tell you’ve had a rough day, but he offers the most comforting words that he can. He makes sure to tell you about himself as well. Most days things at his tea shop go smoothly, which is a relief to the both of you. Levi had experienced more than his fair share of bad days while in the scouts, so a quiet and easy job was a blessing now that he was essentially retired.
“C’mere.” His tone is soft but insistent as he beckons you over to the comfy sofa the two of you had squeezed into your living room when you moved in. He had agreed to let you do the dishes while he prepared two mugs of hot tea, but afterwards he needed to have time to sit and relax with you once all the chores were done.
He wraps his free arm around you after spreading out a blanked over your laps, and enjoys a moment or two just being with you. Sometimes the two of you talk about your plans for the following day, or discuss projects you want to do around the house. Levi sometimes brings up his desire to start a garden in the yard, but it’s the one thing he never seems to follow through with. Other times, you’ll pick a book off the shelf and take turns reading chapters to each other and discussing them. Usually, Levi ends up taking over the reading completely because it makes him grumbly if your tea grows too cold.
At the end of the day, when all the candles have been blown out and you two are tucked safely together in bed, he’ll really show you his vulnerable side by laying his head on your chest and allowing you to run your fingers through his hair. He’s used to putting on a brave face and staying strong for others, but these private moments with you are the only time he will let someone else take care of him for a change. And even then, he never falls asleep before you. To everyone outside the four walls of your home, Levi Ackerman has a very distinct image and reputation. He’s known as humanity’s strongest soldier, which is certainly a fitting title. For you, however, he was more that that. He was an incredible man and the world’s most perfect partner.
Kakashi x Civilian Fem!Reader, Petite!Reader
Warnings: None, just fluff
A/N: My entry for Day 4 of @konoblog-simps ‘s Discord Server Anniversary Collab. The theme for this day is “Song Piece”, so the works are inspired by a song. I wrote a fic inspired by Switchfoot’s “Learning to Breathe”, and I just think that it fits Kakashi’s life so much. This is my first time writing a Kakashi fic in 3rd POV. I just wanted to try something different and I hope you guys will enjoy it!
Link to the song here.
As the soft morning light entered the room through the window, his eyes rested lazily on a comfortingly familiar form standing a few feet before him. Her body bathed in the soft and diffuse light, he let himself admire her from afar -- her hair cut to the way she had always wanted it, her skin which seemed to glow under the morning light, the way her apron was tied tightly yet unevenly in her back. Her petite frame moved rather lithely as she moved about in the kitchen -- lithely, in his eyes, albeit she never saw herself that way. With her back to him, she was humming to herself as she prepared breakfast for him. It was amusing to see her awake that early in the morning, considering she was never a morning person herself. He softly chuckled to himself at her attempt, but at the same time was touched and a little bit guilty by how much effort she was putting just for him.
Stubborn as she was, she insisted on coming to his apartment early in the morning. As soon as she had learned that he had been injured in his last mission, she immediately sought for him in the hospital, worrying over him as she stayed beside the hospital bed every day. When he was released and was finally allowed to recover at his house, she made it a point to visit him in his home each day, taking care of him and attending to his every need. Guilt filled him and he felt that she didn’t need to make such an effort for him, as he had told her several times. But as always, she dismissed all of them and attended to him, anyway. He was grateful, nevertheless. Her presence was a great comfort to him, more than he would like to admit to himself. She was a breath of fresh air, the warmth in his cold existence, a welcome change in his dreary, tragic life -- and he often doubted if he ever deserved her, at all.
Hello, good morning, how you do?
What makes your rising sun so new?
Her sweet, muted voice rang in his ears, filling the room. As he sat on the edge of his bed, he watched her move in the kitchen. He marveled at her cheerfulness, a quiet kind of grit that she possessed. She was not unlike anyone else -- she, too, faced daily hardships that life never failed to bring. He knew also what she had to endure each day. Anxiety and worries pestered her constantly -- anxieties, albeit not as dreadful as those normally haunting a shinobi, but he would rather not let it be any other way. And yet, she carried her burden silently, trudging on each day after a long exhale, and replacing it with a cheerful smile on her face. A smile that he knew -- although he wondered why -- was meant for him.
I could use a fresh beginning, too
All of my regrets are nothing new.
How did she do it, he mused, to carry on as if nothing was bothering her? He could see that she was trying to stay strong for him, despite her own worries and fears. She already had so much to concern herself with, and he felt guilty for having to add himself to her list of worries. Life as a shinobi meant that death always loomed around the corner. She needed not bother herself with him… he who was marked and followed everywhere by tragedy. He believed he must be cursed for everything he touched crumbled to dust, and he feared that she might too, as well.
Her innocence and peace reflected the kind of life she led compared to the one he had, and he was determined to make her life stay that way. It was a stark contrast to his life. It somehow disturbed him that being with him might taint her purity, and so at one point decided to let her be. And yet, she floated her way towards him each time, pulling him back gently to her arms. It was no use. No matter how hard he tried, he always found himself gravitating towards her, his darkness attracted to her light.
A small smile formed in his lips. Her light. For such a long time, he had been shrouded in darkness, burdened by the ghosts of his past, never once believing he would ever emerge from it. Not that he thought he ever deserved to be free from it. And yet, her light found its way through the cracks of his walls, illuminating his life. He had discovered hope again, however small, and found something to look forward to as he woke up each morning. Before her, he was falling into a bottomless pit, unable to break his fall. And then she came, and suddenly he found the strength to climb out of his hole. As if he had found purpose again.
That he found himself having that sliver of hope that he somehow deserved her and a life, no matter how many times he believed that he didn’t.
That his burden, although still present, somehow felt a little lighter than it used to. As if he was able to breathe a little easier again.
As if, even just briefly, he felt like himself again.
He still sat on the edge of his bed, unmoving, with the chore of preparing himself for the day now lay completely forgotten. He must had been completely immersed in his thoughts as she repeated her words to him, and she giggled when she saw him staring pensively into space. He wore his jonin jacket still unzipped, his unruly hair even more disheveled without his forehead protector.
“I said, ‘Breakfast’s ready,’” she said as she gave him an amused smile, her hands playfully on her hips. “And what’s with the dreamy look?”
He snapped out of his reverie and chuckled, bringing his hand to the back of his neck. “Ahh, nothing really.” Unfurling the roll of bandage that had been lying idly on his hand for quite a while now, he bent down to wrap his lower leg with it, only to wince at the pain caused by the injury on his side which hadn’t fully healed yet.
“Do you need help?” Her voice was sweet and light, yet laced with concern.
“Nope, I got it,” he assured her albeit the struggle he knew he would face. She huffed, smiling as she shook her head, and he didn’t really make an effort to stop her when she reached for the roll on his hand and knelt before him.
They both kept quiet as he looked down at her while she carefully wrapped each of his legs with the cloth. His heart swelled with admiration and love for her. How she patiently took care of him and chose to be with him was beyond him. And yet, he couldn’t help but feel grateful towards her for choosing him. With her by his side, life had become a lot easier for him.
“There. All done.” She looked up and beamed at him, and confusion crossed her face as she was met with another faraway gaze from her lover.
Slowly, he took her hands in his own. Her labor-christened hands, compared to his own which were marred by blood and mistakes, were immaculate. He pulled her up from the floor until she was standing before him. Without a word, he pulled her closer to him, wrapping his arms around her waist as he rested his forehead right above her chest. She was a bit taken aback by this sudden gesture of affection, but then her face eventually softened and her hands rested on his head, fingers running through his silver hair.
There was something to look forward to in life again. Each day had become a lot more tolerable and appealing, and the future more promising. Kakashi couldn’t be any more grateful for her presence in his daily life, and he certainly couldn’t deny wishing that she would never leave.
As she lifted his face and grazed her lips along the thin, long scar along his eye, his thoughts wandered back to the simple yet elegant ring he had seen in the jewelry shop right across the bookstore. Perhaps later when he gets home from his mission, he can drop by the store.
Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to ask her. He couldn’t see himself being with another woman, anyway.
Truly, because of her, he had never felt more like himself.
And alive.
I’m learning to breathe, I’m learning to crawl
I’m finding that you and you alone can break my fall
I’m living again, awake and alive
I’m dying to breathe in these abundant skies
The Konoha Simps is back with another collab for you all! In honor of the year anniversary of our server becoming a home we have a weeks worth of events for you. Each day for the week of June 6th-June 12th, 2021, we’ll have a new theme and some new pieces for you. We hope you enjoy these as much as we enjoyed writing them. 😊❤️
Day One - Fluff (June 6th, 2021)
Day Two - Angst (June 7th, 2021)
Day Three - Smut/Lime or Free Day (June 8th, 2021)
Day Four - Song Pieces (June 9th, 2021)
Day Five - Holidays (June 10th, 2021)
Day Six - Places (June 11th, 2021)
Day Seven - Seasons (June 12th, 2021)
We hope that you’re all excited and we can’t wait for you to join in on the fun. We will be linking the character and creators to each day for now. The masterlist for these will be updated on the days that they are released, but we wanted you to know what’s coming around the corner !
Summary: As the Kazekage Gaara has many duties that keep him from his personal life, but you’ve never let that stop your friendship. As your feelings grow deeper and he starts to show his own, he feels that the perfect night to show you is the night that celebrates his fifth year as Kazekage.
A/N: This is part one of two for my contribution to the Konoha Simps Server Collab. You can find the rest of the amazing works right here! If you want to be involved in future collabs or even just be in a place to meet new people and talk about anime feel free to join us. Konoha Simps Discord Server
Warnings: fluff, one kiss (I swear it) 😂
Word Count: 1.7k
*10 Years Earlier*
Gaara’s eyes were trained on you as you moved around the battle arena. Temari had dodged every one of your attempts to hit her, flawlessly soaring around with the help of her Tessen. Gaara watched in awe as Kankuro came up beside him and nudged his arm. “The way you’re looking at her little brother…” He chuckled teasingly. “It’s like you’re in love with her or something.”
Gaara looked over at him with a glare. “Shut up Kankuro, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He crossed his arms and looked away from him.
Kankuro let out a hearty laugh and watched the two females in front of him. “Ahh, young love. It gives you life, doesn’t it Gaara?”
Gaara growled and sand started to twirl around Kanukuro’s body. “Knock it off Kankuro. I’m not afraid to bury you.”
That’s when Temari and you stopped and watched them. She reprimanded them as she saw Gaara’s sand circling Kankuro menacingly. “Knock it off you two. You’re distracting us.”
The sand fell back to the ground immediately and his eyes found you, a small smile spreading as you looked back. “What are you two arguing about now?”
Kankuro looked at the ground and then at you. “We’re not arguing about anything. I promise.” He waved the two of you away. “Just get back to your training. It looks like Y/n needs a little more of it if she can’t even hit Temari.”
You raised your fist to him. “Listen here you meathead. Keep it up and I’ll clock you one.” Before you could get close to him a fist made of sand came from the side and sent Kankuro falling to the ground underneath him.
A laugh erupted from you as you watched a smirk spread on Gaara’s face. “Be nice to Y/n Kankuro. She’s doing amazing. Temari is a tough girl to beat.”
*Present Day*
A smile spread across your face as you sat upon the couch that lined the far wall of the Kazekage’s office. Gaara looked up from his papers and questioned why you were smiling like an idiot. “What’s got you looking like that Y/n?”
You hadn’t even noticed that he had been watching you. You had been busy with a stack of papers that sat next to you, trying to help Gaara catch up on what he had to do. Tonight was the night of the fifth anniversary of the day he became Kazekage. There was a big celebration and you didn’t want him to miss it. “Nothing really. I was just thinking about the day when we were younger that you knocked Kankuro to the ground for insulting me.”
Gaara leaned back in his chair and chuckled. “He had it coming. He shouldn’t have been making fun of you when Temari had always proved to be one of the strongest in our squad.”
You placed the paper on the couch and stood, walking to the large windows and looking at the crowd forming below. Gaara spun his chair around to look out with you. “Holy moly.”
He placed his pen on the desk behind him and crossed his arms. “Are there a lot of people forming out there?”
“Yea.” You stood on your tiptoes to see better. “There’s a ton of people already. What time are you supposed to make your entrance on the balcony?”
“About an hour.” He looked nervous. It didn’t matter how long he had been Kazekage, getting up in front of all of those people always made him nervous. “I know I shouldn’t worry about it. It’s not like it’s the first time in five years that I’ve gotten up in front of people… But I just worry that the opinions of people will change at the drop of a pin.”
You turned and leaned against the wall. “The people of Suna love you Gaara. How could they not? You’re the most amazing person I know.”
And just like that, the butterflies came back to taunt him. He had known you since you two were ten years old, now you had both turned twenty. And in all that time he never had the courage to tell you what he wanted too. He hadn’t ever felt anything like it, but the fear of being rejected controlled him. He had been dealing with those butterflies for ten years now. Ten years of your smile making him melt, of your laugh making him want to shout to the heavens, of your touch making him want to pull you into him every time.
As for you, you had never gotten the courage to tell them that you had felt the same way. You were afraid of ruining the friendship that the two of you had built in all this time. You were afraid that one wrong word could mean that you were no longer together and that you were no longer friends. The fear of something like that happening was the one reason that you had never told him sooner.
But as the hour window that you guys had left closed you began to forget about all those things, even if it was just for a moment. You had to help Gaara get ready to make that special entrance onto the balcony and look down upon all his people below. You held his Kazekage robe out for him, helping him place it over his everyday attire and then handed him his hat to place upon his head. As he finished dressing he took a deep breath, those waves of nausea that he always felt before stepping out before his people hitting him like a truck.
You placed your hand on his chest and his heart started to beat harshly against his chest. “You’re going to do amazing Gaara. You always do.” You leaned forward and placed a kiss on his cheek. The man looked like he might explode at any second. “Good luck.”
Gaara smiled weakly as he tried to keep himself from running in the opposite direction. “Thank you Y/n.”
As you watched his step out on the balcony you had nothing but admiration painting your face. You had always loved to watch him doing what he loved. He had been nothing but amazing at being the Kazekage. The people of Suna loved him and were devoted to him.
As he gave his speech all you could think about were all the time you had helped him through his anxiety of going out there. He had gotten the job at a very young age so that last thing that he had known how to was run a place like this. You had helped him through every step, granted you were the same age, you had showed him that he could do it. You had helped him get over his fear that the people of Suna would hate him since he had been a Jinchuriki.
When he bowed to the people before him and walked back into the office you couldn’t help but let a beaming smile spread across your face. “I told you that you’d be amazing out there Gaara.” You approached him again and pulled him into a hug. The timid man wrapped his arms around you weakly and stepped back quickly, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
“It’s getting dark enough for us to see them now.” Gaara continued to rub his neck as he looked back at the door to the balcony. “I’ll take off these robes and we can go watch the fireworks?”
“I’d love that.” You placed your hands together and jumped slightly, your childhood love for them showing.
Gaara held his arm out to you, letting you lace your arm through his. The door to the balcony slid open as both of you approached it and one of the guards handed Gaara a blanket. As he placed the blanket onto the ground he motioned toward it. “After you, my lady.”
You smiled and sat down, waiting for him to take the place next to you. As he did you both watched the sky. At any time the fireworks would start and your attention would be drawn to them. Gaara had never believed that he deserved this celebration, but trying to stop the people from doing it was bad for morale. As you watched the sky you felt his eyes on you, but you ignored it, too afraid to look over at him.
As you looked down at the ground you knew that there was one thing that you had wanted to do, but you were hesitant about it. A loud sound ringing through the area pulled your attention away from the ground. The colors that erupted in the sky forced your eyes to shine with color as Gaara watched your face. The courage that he needed had disappeared, but he knew that he had to work through it. It had been long enough, he had to do it tonight. Now or never.
The sound of his voice made your turn to him. You hadn’t even heard what he had said, but you had instinctively moved. You didn’t even have time to ask him what he had said before his lips touched yours. But you didn’t pull away. Your lips danced against his as the fireworks exploded over the two of you, lighting up the darkness that was starting to fill the village as night fell. Gaara placed his hand on the back of your neck and spoke against your lips. “I’ve wanted to do that for so long.”
You touched your lips to his again before finally getting the courage to say the three words that you had wanted to tell him for so long. Wanted to tell him in a sense of more than a friendship like you had so many times before. “Gaara. I love you.”
His lips lingered against yours as you felt his body shaking, a chuckle barely heard over the sound of the fireworks above. “I love you too.”
A/N: This is my contribution for the first server collab of Konoha Simps. The theme used was Fireworks. They said that fireworks symbolizes the release of suppressed feelings. A huge thanks to my amazing wifey, @bakubabes-hatake for always, always motivating me to write.😘 This song inspired me to write this piece. Find all the wonderful works here! Apology in advance, English isn't my first language but I do hope you enjoy this one! ❤
🍭🍡🍭🍡
You can't help but stare at his smile. This man, the one and only man, who can give you this weird feeling, a blissful feeling whenever you're together. This inexplicable joy when he's around. The feeling of love and contentment.
You feel your heart racing as he leans closer to you.
"Obito... I --"
"Y/n?"
That shivering feeling when he uttered your name.
"Y/N?!" You woke up from the loud knock from your door. You knew that voice. Another knock and it made you jump from your bed.
"Y/nnnnnn?! It's me!" Someone hollered outside your door.
With sleepy eyes, you dragged yourself out of the bed to answer the door. The man's eyes grew wide seeing you in your sleep wear -- a white tank top that hugs your perfect curves matched with black tight shorts.
Rubbing your eyes, you asked him "Obito? What are you doing here?"
"Y-you wear that to sleep?!" he stammered as his eyes were still glued at you as you noticed him shaking and sweaty.
"Uhh. Yeah?" you wondered and yawned.
He turned to look away, but his blushing cheeks are still evident.
"Uh, I-I see. Uhm. B-bakashi asked us to meet him in the Hokage's office." stuttering as he kept his eyes away from you.
"Oh, did he say why?" The three of you have been best friends since you can remember. So this is new to you, knowing Kakashi, he hates early morning meetings.
"He just said that it's important. So we gotta head there now, Y/n." He gave a half-smile as he threw his arms to the back of his head.
"You wanna come in while you wait for me?"
He blushed again at your question, "Uhm, you sure it's okay?"
You nodded as you let him in your apartment. "I'm gonna make us coffee, please make yourself comfortable."
🍭🍡🍭🍡
You entered the Hokage's office and both of you were surprised to see that Kakashi was already waiting at this early hour.
"Sorry for the short notice, but I have a mission for the two of you," he said as he tucked his hands in his pockets.
"Mission? You, idiot! Did they officially make you the sixth Hokage for you to give out missions?!" Obito complained.
"Obito, I am already the sixth Hokage. The Recognition day is just for formality." Kakashi boasted, he really knows how to annoy his best friend. "And anyway this mission is urgent." He declared.
"What kind of mission?" you ask.
Kakashi crossed his arms as he leaned on the desk, "An ancient Scroll of Seals was stolen from the Kazekage. Gaara specifically asked for a skilled shinobi from our village, and he believes that it was an inside job. They already have a suspect actually." He explained.
"You have to go undercover. You can't let anyone recognize you as shinobis." He handed out a brown envelope and Obito took it. "The details about the suspect are all there. Oh, and by the way, you have to go to the Sand Village and act as civilians, more specifically, as husband and wife."
"AS WHAT?!" you both yelled in unison.
"Kakashi, is there a specific reason why we need to go undercover as husband and wife?!" you blurted.
"Y/n's right!" Obito objected, but as you turned to look at him, you noticed him blushing again. "I mean -- we can go as normal civilians, r-right?"
"The Kazekage and three of us are the only ones who are aware of this mission. You can’t speak about this to anyone. He can't seem to trust his subordinates. We still don't know if the suspect works alone or if he has allies within their village. If you go there as a married couple, it'll be less suspicious."
"You idiot --"
"It's okay, Obito. Kakashi's right." You cut him. "I just hope we can make it back before your recognition day."
"Y/n, are you sure you're okay with this?" Obito implored.
"Obito, we've done thousands of deadly missions before." You smiled at him. Yes, you did missions with Obito and Kakashi. This is just a retrieval mission. This is nothing compared to the missions given by the previous Hokages. But this one is different.
"You can go start packing now if you wanna be back before the recognition day. I want my best friends to be with me on that special day. After all, I'm the Hokage. Right, Obito?" He bragged.
"Whatever you say, you idiot." Obito retorted, "Let's get going, y/n."
"Hey uhm, you go, I still have questions regarding the mission. I'll meet you at the gates?" you asked.
"Oh, okay. I'll meet you there." Obito slowly walked out of the room. You turned to Kakashi as the door shut.
"Kakashi. What was that?" You sounded worried and anxious.
"Hmm? What do you mean?" He walked around the large wooden desk. He turned his swiveling chair and sat lazily on it.
"You know, you can count on me on S rank missions, right? But this? This is just a simple retrieval mission! Why don't you send someone else? Why does it have to be Obito and me? And are you serious with that married couple bullshit?"
Kakashi sighed as you bugged him with your questions.
"You just told Obito you were okay with it, didn't you?"
"I only agreed because I don't want him to think I'm not comfortable doing this with him!" You snapped.
"It's just a cover, y/n. What could possibly go wrong? As you said, this is just a simple mission."
"This is far different from the missions I’ve handled before. You know what could happen if I go on this mission with him! I can't keep pretending, Kakashi. These feelings I have just get stronger every goddamn day." You sighed.
"Then why don't you just tell him the truth?" He asked.
"You think that's easy?" He doesn't understand.
You give up. You can never win against Kakashi. "Nevermind. See you when I get back."
You headed to the door and left him.
As you walk home, you try to convince yourself that everything will be just fine. As you reach your apartment, you gather all your essentials.
"Two days tops. Finish the job in two days. Then that's it!" you thought.
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Your journey to the Sand Village was rather quiet. You are not used to this. Obito is usually cheerful, loud, and always giving random compliments about you. But today, he didn't even utter a single word to you. As you reach the Sand Village at past midnight, you both try to look for a place to settle in for the night. You entered an old looking inn and let Obito do the inquiry. Your legs feel numb, your shoulders stiff, you’ve been leaping from tree to tree the whole day. And as you reach the outskirts of the Sand Village, you change from your ninja uniforms to civilian outfits and Obito did the same. He has been awkwardly quiet the whole time.
“We only have one vacant room left, are you going to take it?” asked the young lady from the front desk.
“As long as it has two beds, we’ll take it,” you said, your exhaustion painted in your face.
“I’m sorry, maam but the room has only one bed.” The lady smiled at Obito and it made your eyes narrowed at the young lady.
Unexpectedly, you felt his arms wrapped around your waist as he pulled you closer to him, “Doll, it’s okay, there’s no need for two beds.” he whispered in your ear. He's so close you can feel his warm breath on your cheeks. He gave out a chuckle.
You forgot you were still undercover, “Oh yes, so silly of me. Miss, we’ll take the room.”
“Okay, then. Please enjoy your stay!” She handed the room keys.
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Obito unlocked the door and turned the knob. You followed him as he entered your shared room. You stared at the bed.
“It’s okay, y/n you can take the bed. I can sleep on the floor.” His voice was tight and serious. You study him as he drops his bag on the floor. You felt the cold rush of the wind blowing as he opened the windows. He has been giving you the silent treatment, you so decided to break the ice.
"Obito. Is there something wrong? You've been awfully quiet since we left the village. Are you okay?" You approached him.
"Wrong? No Y/n, nothing's wrong" He denied.
"I'm your best friend. You can't lie to me. I know something's bothering you." You insisted.
"Best friend, huh? Of course. I'm just your best friend. That's why you have the guts to lie to my face. I heard you and Kakashi." He ruled as he turned to face you.
His words shocked you, freezing your body in place. You swallow the building lump in your throat as you pressed your lips together. There's no more point in lying. He knew it. He knew everything.
"Obito, I've been meaning to tell you. Believe me. I have always loved --"
"Just save it, Y/n, please. Let's just get it over with this mission." He walked towards the door.
"I thought you --"
"Well, you thought wrong, princess." He slammed the door shut. Leaving you alone in the dark room.
Tears start to pool in your eyes, your chest feels heavy, it's like the air has been sucked out of the room. Warm tears had started to roll down your cheeks as you slowly sat down at the edge of the bed. You covered your face with your cold hands trying to muffle your cries. You laid yourself in the bed, staring at the ceiling. Blaming yourself for falling hard for your best friend. So this was the price you have to pay. Hopeless love in exchange of friendship. You covered and curled yourself under the sheets. This is just a bad dream. Just. A. Bad. Dream.
🍭🍡🍭🍡
You stretched your numb arms only to feel that the bed was cold and empty. You slowly opened your heavy and swollen eyes, you searched for Obito, but there was no trace of him.
If it wasn't for the mission, you wouldn't have the reason to get up from the bed.
🍭🍡🍭🍡
After taking a shower and putting on a nice sundress, you went down to look for Obito. The young lady from last night was back in the front desk.
"Hi! Good morning, uhm have you seen my… husband?" You asked her politely.
"Oh you mean, him?" She giggled.
"Hello, wife." As you face him, he holds your chin and kisses you. As soon as his lips parted from yours, it left you dumbstruck and speechless.
"Shall we?" He winked and held out his hand but you can't help but stare at him. "Y/n?"
"Oh… Yes. We should go." You took his hand as he bid goodbye to the young lady.
"You could at least do your part and act like my wife, y/n." He whispered as both of you exited the inn. "You're good at pretending anyway." He grunted.
You felt another pang of guilt.
"Obito, about last night…"
"Forget it. Not interested, anyway."
You felt embarrassed and hurt. You just want to finish this stupid mission, get back to the village and punch Kakashi right in the face.
🍭🍡🍭🍡
"I think that's our guy." He signaled. After hours of surveillance, you finally confirmed the suspect.
You both were sitting on a bench, while your guy was eating his ramen not too far away from your position. You both settled on the bench waiting for the man to move. You try to focus on the mission but the flashing images of last night's incident kept replaying on your mind on loop.
"So… How long have you been hiding that from me?" his voice brought you back to your senses as he gazed at you.
"I… pretty much a long time." You confessed. "I wanted to tell you but," You clenched your jaw, trying to hold back the tears from falling "I can't risk our friendship. And, I’m not sure how you’re gonna feel about it."
There was another odd silence between the two of you.
"This mission is important; we can't let our personal issues get in the way." He sounded stern.
This sudden change from his behavior made it clear to you that he's really not into you. And it rips your heart apart. You sat right next to each other but he still feels like he’s so far away from you. You’ve been dying to grab him right now, to hold him close, to kiss him, and to make him yours.
You get his point, "Of course," you agreed.
The man stood up from his seat and paid the ramen guy.
"Come on, we have to follow him." You complied quietly as you let Obito lead the mission. He rose up and stretched out his arms, "Let's go, princess."
"Wait, does he really have the scroll?"
You watched him as he activated his Sharingan. "He has the scroll. But wait a minute," he sounded intrigued. "His chakra. It's… weird. It's… familiar."
He tried to study the man. “I mean look at him, who would wear a coat and a hat on a hot day like this?" he muttered as he expressed his disbelief.
The man started walking casually along the busy street of the Sand Village. You both tailed on him while keeping a safe distance. You slowly grabbed Obito's arms, you noticed he became stiff and surprised as you clung on him. "Relax, Obito. Husband and wife, remember?" you quietly reminded him. The least you could do, is to focus and make sure you accomplish this mission.
“So, Kakashi mentioned that this mission is exclusive for us, right? And that nobody knows about it. Just us and the Kazekage?” he sounded unsure as he kept his eyes fixed on your target.
“Well, that’s what he said,” you confirmed. “Why?”
“I know that this may sound weird but, I have a feeling that we know this guy.” he stated.
Hearing Obito’s theory made you anxious. You both halted when you saw the man turn and entered an inn.
“Is he luring us in?” you asked. "Why do I have a feeling that he already knows he's being followed?"
“There's only one way to find out."
🍭🍡🍭🍡
You both entered the building and started searching for the man. You have combed all the rooms in the first floor, but he was nowhere to be found.You both climbed up the stairs as quietly as possible. You reached the first room on the second floor, just when you're about to open the door, Obito clasped your arm and pulled you closer to him. When you looked up at him, he put an index finger to his lips, "Let me," he whispered.
He grabbed the door handle and slid it open only to reveal a very familiar man.
“YAMATO?!” you both screamed his name.
His face was as white as the snow, his eyes grew wide as you guys barged in his door.
“What are you doing here?” Obito asked.
“Did Kakashi send you?” you interrogated him. You rushed towards Yamato as he nervously stepped back.
“Well, I’m on a separate mission actually.” he chuckled nervously as he scratched his head.
“Separate mission? What mission? I thought Kakashi said that this mission was exclusive for us.” Obito was puzzled.
“Well, uh yes. But you see, Kakashi sent me here to make uh sure that uhm..” he was avoiding any eye contact and was already stuttering.
“To make sure that what? Spill it now, Yamato before I slit your throat!” you said furiously as you took out one of your Kunai and pointed it at him.
“Kakashi’s gonna kill me...” he muttered under his breath, beads of sweat were already forming on his forehead and upper lip.
“What does Kakashi have to do with this?” asked Obito, who seemed like he still was not getting the point to all of this. Your eyebrows twitched in annoyance.
“I will kill you now even before he gets his chance! Start talking now, you tree man!” you demanded as you inclined your head and gave him a death glare. You are fuming right now, something in your guts are telling you that this was all Kakashi’s stupid idea!
“Well, you see, Kakashi asked me to help him finish his last mission before he could officially accept the responsibilities for being the Sixth Hokage,” Yamato said, trying his best to stay as calm as possible.
“His last mission?” you repeated as you exchanged glances with Obito.
“He said that both of you were uh… giving him endless headaches. That you guys should just…” he paused as he rubs the back of his neck.
“Just what?!” you both exclaimed.
“Just date already!” he declared. You froze. How could Kakashi tell Yamato about your secrets?
“Tch,” Obito snorted. “How would I date her if she likes Kakashi?” He crossed his arms over his chest as he looked away, his words left you bewildered.
“Wait up, you said you heard us talking in the Hokage’s office?”
“Well, weren’t you referring to Kakashi?” he questioned.
“You idiot! So that’s why you were avoiding me the whole day when we left the village? Because you assumed that I liked Kakashi? You dumb ass! I was trying to confess to you last night but you won’t let me finish!” you cried.
Your words struck him, his cheeks were blushing crimson again. “Y-you mean --?” swallowing the forming lump in his throat, “the mission was… fake?” he asked, giving you a perplexed look.
“Oh God. You really are the dumbest of all the Uchihas, aren’t you?!” you sighed in exasperation as you pinched the bridge of your nose.
“Obito,” Yamato butted in, “Y/n just admitted her feelings for you and you’re asking if the mission was fake?” he facepalmed. “Y/n, please enlighten me -- what did he do to make you swoon over him?” he teased.
“Me? Swoon over him?!” a flush crept up your face.
“For heaven’s sake. You both are dumb, you know? I can’t believe this is what Kakashi has to deal with everyday. You guys are so exhausting. Work this out, you two.” he retorted in annoyance. He collected his things and headed to the door.
Yamato shut the door behind him and Obito did not make any effort to come closer to you and you were frozen from where you’re standing. No one talked. You could cut through the tension with a knife.
“I’m sorry about last night, Y/n. For driving you away…” Obito finally said. “I shouldn’t have treated you like that.”
“Okay… How else would you have?” you smiled dryly.
“Princess please, I need you to just listen to me, okay?” he bit down on his lip.
He grabbed both of your hands and brought them to his chest. You could feel his heart pounding below the skin, a very similar tempo to yours. “I like you, wait, no. I love you. The only thing that kept holding me back was that I really thought you liked Kakashi. I confronted him. But he said that you liked someone else, not him. That Bakashi, he should have told me the truth! Y/n, I can’t keep pretending anymore. I can’t pretend that I don’t want to hold you or that I’m not falling in love with you. I can’t and I won’t, not anymore.”
“What?!” Your jaw was on the floor. “You like… me? But last night --”
“Last night was a mistake.” He held both of your wrists in one hand and cupped your cheek with the other. Everything that he had said last night was starting to make sense a lot more sense now. It was heartbreaking, but now it made sense.
“You were so infuriating, I was trying to tell you that I love you last night,” you said as you leaned into his palm.
“I am not infuriating!’ he denied.
“Okay but you’re dumb!” you jested.
“Okay, I’ll take that. But I know you love me.” his thumb traced your bottom lip, and he moved even closer to you.
Your heart skipped.
“So what are we doing then?” you asked, distracted by his touch on you. “Are we… together? Like, together together?”
“Well if you’ll have me, yes,” he said as his eyes flickered. “I want you, Y/n. Just as you are.”
“I want you too,” your smile grew along with his.
“I meant what I said, princess. I love you.” his forehead pressed to yours, as you close your eyes in relief.
“I love you too, dumb ass.” you pressed your lips onto his and he took you gladly.
His arms slid around your waist, while the other went back to the back of your neck, to hold you in place as he kissed you like it was his last.
“I’m really sorry about last night, for being an asshole,” he told you through the kiss. It was mostly tongue and teeth, desperate and messy. “ Let me make it up to you, Y/n.”
He was intoxicating and all you could do was nod, your eyelashes fluttering as his lips travelled down your neck, sucking on your skin.
“MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!” Yamato appeared in the window making Obito’s posture straightened. He kept his hands on you, pulling you close to his chest like you were in danger.
“Maybe that’s why Bakashi and this tree boy get along so much,” he murmured.
“Huh, why?” you asked.
“They’re both cockblockers.” he whispered.
“Hey! I heard that!” Yamato narrowed his eyes. “So are we getting back to the village?”
“Uh, we’ll stay a little longer.” Obito replied, as he smirked at you. “I have to make it up to her. We might miss Bakashi’s recognition day though. I plan to ravish my princess and we have to make up for all the times we should have been together.”
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This piece was written as a part of the anniversary event for the @konoblog-simps Discord server. Be sure to go to the MASTERLIST to read and support the pieces by the other writers for this event.
Hurt/Comfort
(Jean Kirstein x GN!Reader)
Word Count: 1.6K
Warnings: Heavy themes of marriage
(Shoutout to @undersero for inspiring this idea)
The clock sitting up on the mantel was the most unoffensive object you could think of. It was a beautiful, handcrafted thing that had been gifted down to you and your boyfriend by his parents when the two of you had finally decided to move in together. They’d told you to think of it as an early wedding gift which had made both you and Jean blush and sputter awkwardly. It was a sweet memory, but you had no idea when you’d actually be able to make their wishes come true. You and Jean were still trying to get established and weddings were expensive and time consuming to plan. You knew that first hand since you’d been helping your best friend with their wedding, and the time on that gorgeous mantel clock was telling you that there was only an hour or so before you had to leave for the ceremony and you were still sitting at the floor of your living room wrapping silverware for their reception.
“Babe,” Jean peeks out of the bedroom, hair still damp from the shower while holding up two ties. “I have no idea what to wear to this thing. What does ‘dressy casual’ even mean? Are we dressing up or looking casual?”
“We already talked about this yesterday,” you sigh while grabbing another fork, knife and spoon from the pile in front of you and lining them up on the napkin to wrap them as neatly as possible. It was one of the easier things your friend had asked you to do for the wedding, so you had kind of brushed if off as something you could do once everything else was taken care of. But once you started on the task and realized how much of a pain it actually was to get the creases perfectly and to tie off the napkin without letting everything else shift and unravel, you began to worry you wouldn’t get it done in time. Combine that with the fact that you had to do over one hundred of them after a long week of working a full-time job that didn’t pay nearly enough, and you were starting to become panicked and cranky.
“You just said we were going to be outdoors,” you could hear the frown in his voice. “It’s going to be insanely hot out today. Do I need to wear a jacket?”
“No,” you reply shortly, fingers fumbling to hold the flap of the napkin down while tying the ribbon around it in a perfect bow.
“Do I even need to wear a tie?” He asks.
“Jean!” You huff and look over at him sharply, “Please. Can’t you see that I’m working on something right now? I have to get these done and I haven’t even started getting ready. I’m sure whatever you pick out will be fine.”
Jean bristles at your tone and you didn’t blame him. It wasn’t his fault you’d put this job off to the last minute. But maybe you did hold him at least a little responsible for the fact that you two hadn’t even talked about getting married, at least not seriously. You’d dropped more hints than you could count while going through the wedding process with your friend, but he always seemed to shy away from the topic.
“I’ve just never been to a beach wedding before,” He says, “and I don’t want to be the only one over or under dressed.”
“I don’t have time to help you go through your closet right now,” you hold up your hands, wanting him to understand that his wardrobe was the least of your concerns at the moment. “Sorry. Maybe when I’m done with this.”
“Well how long is that going to take?” He eyes the pile of silverware in front of you warily.
“Not that long if you offered to help.” You hadn’t meant to sound as accusatory as you did, but the stress had been building up within you as the date approached and it wasn’t as if you could take out the burden on your friend. It was their wedding and you didn’t want them worrying about a single thing on such an important day.
“What?” Jean recoils and then furrows his eyebrows. “I’m not doing that! You’re the one that took on this job and waited until now to do it.”
“When was I supposed to do this, Jean?!” You gape at him, hating that he actually called you out. “I’ve been working every single day only to come home and do stuff for this wedding. Rehearsal dinners, re-fittings, making center pieces, collecting RSVPs and helping with seating arrangements. It’s a lot!” Tears had already begun to burn in your eyes. Deep down you knew that you weren’t mad at Jean. You were just overtired and overworked. Plus, all this wedding talk had made you both wonder and fear if your own relationship with Jean was going anywhere.
“You know what?” He throws up his hands. “All I asked was for some help with what to wear and you turned it into this huge thing.”
“Wow! Forgive me for expecting some sympathy and support from my plus one…” You roll your eyes, trying to calm yourself down by looking at your lap and taking a few deep breaths.
“Well maybe I don’t want to be your plus one anymore.”
You blink, processing his words for a moment and not believing they’d just come out of his mouth. You couldn’t help but wonder if there was a deeper message in there and it made you feel terrified to look up and meet his eyes again.
“I didn’t mean that.” He has the decency to try and backtrack but the words had already been said.
“Didn’t you?” You finally look up at him, anger and hurt in your eyes. Jean looks surprised and falters for a moment before coming over and sitting on the couch in front of you.
“What does that mean?” He whispers.
“For weeks I’ve been doing nothing but wedding stuff, imagining what this process will look like for us and hoping that you’re starting to feel inspired to take that next step too… but it seems like you’ve only been more distant lately.” You hated to say it out loud because it might just pave the road to a destination you really don’t want to arrive at. Jean is silent for a few moments which only serves to make you dread his reply all the more.
“Is that really what you think?” He finally asks.
“What?”
“You really think I don’t want to marry you?” He tilts his head curiously. “There’s nothing I want more than to be with you forever.” He says it calmly and firmly as if it were the truest thing he’s ever said. “And of course, all this wedding stuff has been making me think about us and our future. I know it’s a lot to take on and I’ve probably delayed us too long for so many trivial reasons, but I know it’ll be worth it. Marriage was always in the cards when I decided to be with you.”
“But then why haven’t you said anything?” You ask quietly. “I feel like you’ve hardly talked to me at all recently.” Jean laughs and shakes his head.
“Honey, you’ve been going full steam ahead with all this stuff that I haven’t had a real chance to properly spend time with you. You get home and immediately start on a project or get ready to run out the door again to go to one of your friend’s appointments.” He finally moves off the couch to kneel next to you on the ground, gathering you in his arms. “To be honest, sometimes it felt like you were the one that wasn’t talking to me.”
He had a point. Suddenly it was so obvious. Poor Jean had been putting up with you and all your running around lately, and you had the nerve to accuse him for being distant. Before you could even try to feel guilty though, your boyfriend is assuring you that everything is okay.
“You’re a good friend to help out so much with this wedding. I wasn’t really angry that you were taking the time to do all this stuff for them, but I did miss you.” He grimaces a little then. “And maybe I was a little resentful that you asked for my help when I haven’t even gotten to spend much quality time with you lately. I shouldn’t have snapped at you though. That wasn’t right.”
“And I shouldn’t have gotten so wrapped up in all of this and neglected you,” you bring your hands up to cup his face. “I’m so sorry Jean, for that and for accusing you of not wanting to be with me.”
“No need for apologies,” he assures you before leaning in to press his lips to yours sweetly. “You’ve been under a lot of stress. I should’ve offered to help you a lot sooner.” He pulls away and looks at the pile of silverware. “Show me how to do this and we’ll get it done in no time, okay?”
Your lips pull into a smile and you nod your head, a feeling of relief settling over you as you grab a set of silverware, a napkin, and a ribbon. “Thank you so much,” you begin to show him the steps of how to roll it all up and tie the bow neatly. “And once this is done, I’ll help you pick out something appropriate to wear.”
The mantel clock continues to mark the passing time as the two of you sit side by side, the pile of silverware growing smaller with every minute. At first, it had seemed to be counting down the moments to an urgent deadline, but now it almost felt like it was ticking forward towards a wonderful future where you and Jean could finally enter a new chapter and take the next step in your relationship.
This piece was written as a part of the anniversary event for the @konoblog-simps Discord server. Be sure to go to the MASTERLIST to read and support the pieces by the other writers for this event.
Historical/Bridgerton AU
(Diluc Ragnvindr x GN!Reader)
Word Count: 3.9K
Warnings: Strong themes of marriage
Diluc Ragnvindr was young, devastatingly handsome, absurdly wealthy, and most importantly, single.
By all accounts, he was the most sought-after and eligible bachelor in Mondstadt. He was the first and only son of the renowned Ragnvindr clan and owner of the lucrative Dawn Winery, which represented almost the entire wine industry in the country. Even with his obvious displeasure during social gatherings and open contempt for the city’s proud Knights of Favonius, mothers flocked to him whenever they had a chance, eager to impress him with the long list of accomplishments and talents their unwed children possessed. He could truly have the hand of anyone he wanted, yet each and every person that attempted to entice him was met with a polite but prompt rejection.
“How high must his standards be?” You overhear someone ask while walking about at the annual summer Windrise picnic event. It was a day everyone in the city always looked forward to. There were games and activities for anyone to enjoy, and it provided a chance for young people to meet outside of a ballroom. It was also the perfect place for families to eat and chat together while enjoying the fresh air. “I don’t think Diluc has even danced with a single partner all season.”
“Perhaps he simply doesn’t wish to marry,” you chime in, catching the gossipers off guard. They fluster and scramble for a reply, but you’re already bidding them good day and continuing your walk. Perhaps it wasn’t very nice to put others in such awkward situations, but it bothered you sometimes how they loved to spread rumors and talk behind other people’s backs. Your antics weren’t regarded fondly amongst the people of Mondstadt though and you also found yourself single after a few seasons of officially being out. It wasn’t the worst situation, but you certainly hoped you wouldn’t end up alone and stuck at your family estate your entire life.
You head away from the crowds and turn towards the stream, admiring the crystalflies fluttering gracefully around the statue of the seven before making your way to the water. The sounds of the current moving through reeds and over rocks was calming, and it was nice to have a moment alone, even if the solitude was a mere illusion. Drama thirsty members of society were always watching.
“Master Diluc, perhaps you’d like to join me and my family for a game of croquet? I’ve heard you’re quite skilled at the sport, so perhaps we could learn a thing or two from such an expert.” Glancing over, you realize you’d stumbled upon the heir to the Ragnvindr estate himself. He was talking with a lady you knew from the flower shop in town, but his body language suggested that he wasn’t very comfortable.
“That’s very kind of you to offer, but I’m not actually here to enjoy the festivities.” He declines and his attire suggested that he was telling the truth. He was wearing his usual dark colors which did not suit the summer theme of the event very well. “I was just returning from some business.”
“But it won’t take too long,” the girl presses, looking ready to latch onto his arm and plead shamelessly if she needed to. Diluc holds his ground though and shakes his head.
“Regrettably, I am already behind schedule.” He bows his head respectfully, his long red ponytail falling over his shoulder. “Perhaps another time.”
“Oh, but I insist.” The girl steps forward. “If your schedule is truly so full, do you not deserve a break?”
Diluc looked to be losing patience by this point, and you weren’t sure what made you want to step in but before you could second guess yourself you were making your presence known.
“Um...” You felt awkward once the attention was turned to you. “I believe Mr. Ragnvindr has… already promised to take me for a walk around Windrise.” Both the girl and Diluc looked shocked and a little outraged by your assertion. You probably should’ve thought of a different excuse. Of course, Diluc wouldn’t know to play along. He just assumed you were another suitor making a snatch for his hand.
“A gentleman never goes back on his word,” you remind him to give a little push. Even if he was unaware of your intentions, surely he’d pick the lesser of two evils. A walk was far less of a commitment than playing an entire game of croquet which could be drawn out purposely to keep him occupied longer. He seemed to deliberate his situation for a moment before giving in to defeat.
“A short walk,” he agrees, “but then I really must be on my way.”
He steps away from the lady and offers you his arm. You gladly take it and allow him to lead you off. Perhaps you would’ve felt bad about stealing him away from that desperate girl, but this was the way the game was played. People would stop at nothing in the pursuit to get themselves a suitable partner to marry, and your tactic could hardly even be considered underhanded compared to what you’d seen and heard in the past. You wait until you’re out of earshot of anyone else before speaking up again.
“If you were to need to leave suddenly in the middle of our walk for some urgent business,” you glance up at him with a small smile, “I should not be offended.” His attention snaps to you and his tired red eyes get wider. It was the first time you’d ever been this close to him, and you took note of the smoothness of his skin and warmth of his eyes. It was easy to see why people tended to swoon in his presence.
“I’m sorry?” He asks, causing you to smile wider and pat his arm.
“I’m giving you a chance to escape,” you reiterate. “No hard feelings. That girl was right about one thing, you look like you could use a break.”
“You can’t be serious.” His deep voice held a note of genuine surprise. You could also tell that he was wondering if there was a catch to this deal.
“I could always call that girl back over here…” you suggest.
“No! No.” His face takes on the slightest look of amusement and what actually sounded like a chuckle escapes his lips. “That won’t be necessary. If you’re quite sure, then I think I will take this lifeline. Thank you, truly.” You reply with a nod of your head while releasing his arm. He adjusts his gloves until satisfied and then looks around to make sure the coast is clear. After thanking you one more time, he hurries off, away from the picnic in the direction of Dawn Winery.
Only a week past before you saw Diluc again. Both of you were attending the same ball, hosted by Mondstadt’s calvary captain Kaeya Alberich. The two had grown up together, so it was probably the host himself that had strongarmed Diluc into attending the event. However, their relationship didn’t explain why half hour into the evening Diluc was suddenly crossing the room and headed straight for your location.
“Would you join me for a dance?” You’re sure that he can tell by your face just how surprised and apprehensive you are. He never asked people to dance, so what was going on now? He raises his eyebrows, encouraging you to agree. You figured it was only polite to accept since he’d blindly trusted you before.
“That sounds lovely,” you take his hand and let him lead you onto the dancefloor. Without looking, you already knew every set of eyes in the room was on the two of you.
“You must be mad,” you insist as he begins guiding you smoothly through the steps of the song. “I thought you were one to avoid being in the spotlight.”
“Normally, you’d be correct.” He hums, “But I was thinking that perhaps you and I can agree to an arrangement that might benefit us both.”
“An arrangement?” You voice held a note of annoyance. “Is that what counts as a proposal these days?”
Diluc clicks his tongue at the mere suggestion. “Of course not. But if people were to think I was courting you, I think we’d both find ourselves in favorable situations.” He continues to lead you through the dance, seemingly immune to the stares of everyone around you. “Having my attention will certainly spark the curiosity of the town, and soon enough you’ll have suitors lining up to win your hand.”
It sounded arrogant, but you could tell he was just being honest. Because of his status, his opinion was highly valued. So, if he were to be pursuing you, that meant you were worth pursuing.
“I understand,” you nod to show you were following his logic. “And if everyone thinks you have your sights set on me, they’ll know to give up the chase and leave you alone. Right?”
“Precisely.” Diluc confirms. “You’ll have your choice of suitors and I will be free from the constant pestering of every single person in Mondstadt.”
You take a moment to consider this suggestion. A ruse like that would most certainly work, and while you weren’t too keen on jumping into any old marriage, this wasn’t an opportunity you could afford to miss out on. Your chances of finding someone decreased with each passing season, and it would be even worse for someone with a reputation of being too outspoken like you.
“You do know that you’ll have to make this look convincing,” you tell him seriously. “You’ll have to show up to every ball, dance with me and give me your attention, and appear to be hopelessly in love with me.”
“Obviously,” he states confidently. “So, what do you say?”
“I’m in.” You flash a brilliant smile as if he’d just said the most charming thing ever. He smiles back, shocking you with how soft his normally stern face became with just a simple change in expression.
Even after just a single dance and a few exchanged smiles, the plan was off to an incredible start. When you awoke the next morning, your family informed you that you’d have several visitors to entertain throughout the day. It was a little pathetic actually, how suitors were suddenly clambering over one another to compliment you and bring you gifts just because Diluc had given you his approval. Still, he’d remembered to have a giant bouquet of flowers sent to your estate just to fan the fire a little more.
“You seem to be the talk of the town,” Diluc teases from across the table. After dancing together at a few balls and letting the gossip spread, he’d deemed it appropriate to invite you and your family to the winery for dinner.
“I’ve had no shortage of suitors sniffing around, that’s for sure.” You confess, “I should be able to secure a proposal from someone decent by the end of the season.”
“Someone decent?” He scrunches up his nose, a habit you’d come to find quite endearing. “Surely there must be someone of better quality than that.”
“In this town? I wouldn’t count on it.” You snort, gaining a sharp look from your family for making such a rude sound. You apologize politely, but as soon as they look away you hear Diluc chuckling at you. He clears his throat when you send a glare his way, but after a moment you both start quietly laughing again.
“Well, I’ve done as much as I can.” He admits with an amused smirk, “I can make you appear more desirable to them, but I cannot make them any more appealing to you.”
“You’ve done plenty,” you assure him. “I hope things have been just as successful on your end of the deal.”
“You’ve no idea,” he confesses. “It’s so nice not to have to worry about people trying to trick or manipulate me into marriage every time I walk out the front door. And if spending time with you is the price to pay, I must say it’s a small one indeed.”
“That almost sounded like a compliment, Master Diluc.” You grin across the table and he smiles softly right back.
“It was meant as one,” He promises. “I shall miss your company once you’re married.”
A bittersweet feeling stirs in your chest. You felt exactly the same way. Through all the dancing and fake flirting, you’d really gotten to know Diluc under all those stubborn walls he put up to keep others away. For as stern and intimidating as he tried to be, you’d learned that underneath it all was a kind, gentle, and attentive man. He’d even surprised you by showing you he had a sense of humor, albeit a dry one. It was actually quite lovely to be around him. He emanated warmth and safety. And somehow, he’d become more than just a man you’d made a deal with, but also a real friend.
“And I shall look back fondly on these memories,” you tell him before going back to your dinner.
Half a month later and it was nearing the end of the season. You knew it was time to devote your complete attention to a single suitor and secure yourself a marriage proposal. You’d dragged the ruse with Diluc out as much as you could, and you almost wished it was really him that you were going to marry. None of your options felt that spectacular when compared with him. Still, you steeled your nerves and made your choice.
“Yes, I’d love to dance with you!” You put on a fake smile and take to the dance floor at the next ball. It was hosted by none other than Jean Gunnhildr, so everyone in Mondstadt was sure to be in attendance. They’d notice right away that your first few dances of the evening weren’t with Diluc, and that would hopefully encourage your other suitors to be bolder in making a move.
“Oh, Master Diluc seems to be quite jealous.” You glance over at the man after overhearing some people gossiping. He really did appear to be glaring at the one you’d been dancing with. You give him a curious look when you catch his eye. He didn’t need to play his part that well. Evidently, he took your look to mean that he should come over because not a moment later and he was stalking over purposefully in your direction.
“What are you doing?” He hisses with a scowl on his face. Despite trying to keep his voice down, the aggressiveness of his behavior attracted eyes from all over the room.
“What do you mean?” You ask, feeling shocked at his accusatory tone. This wasn’t the kind of drama you wanted to start at a party like this and you didn’t see how it would benefit either of you.
“You can have anyone you want and that’s who you pick?”
“I… don’t see how that’s any of your business.” You weren’t sure what his angle was and you searched his face desperately to figure out how you were supposed to play along. Nothing about what he was doing made sense to you though.
“Dance with me.” He holds out his hand expectantly and you shake your head defiantly.
“No.” It was hard to know if it was the right or wrong thing to do, but Diluc had turned and stormed off again before you could second guess it. Part of you worried that you’d offended him somehow, but the other part of you worried that his bold stunt would scare off all the suitors that had only been interested in you because of Diluc.
Your fear was not unfounded. People seemed hesitant to approach you or talk to you for the rest of the evening, and who could blame them? Nobody in their right mind would reject Diluc Ragnvindr unless there was something seriously wrong with them. Too bad they didn’t know that the whole thing had been an act; one that quite possibly had just blown up in your face.
When you got up the next morning, you hoped the day before had simply been a bad dream. By the looks on your family member’s faces though, you knew it was just wishful thinking. Resigned to your fate, you find a spot in your sitting room and try to get lost in a book. Maybe if you were lucky, you wouldn’t be required to attend any more events for the rest of the season.
“A Mr. Diluc Ragnvindr is here to see you.” A household staff member bows from the doorway and you shoot right off the sofa you’d been lounging on.
“Uh, okay.” You hadn’t been prepared to face him so soon, or at all really. “I suppose we have to let him in.”
You quickly try to straighten up your appearance before he comes in, berating yourself a little in the process for even caring what he’d think. When he walks in though, you are reminded of just how handsome he really was. Perhaps that fact had gotten lost somewhere as you’d developed a closer relationship with him. However, now that the friendship had apparently dissolved, his strong intimidating aura had come back.
“Can I help you?” You knew you sounded cold and detached, but you weren’t sure how else to act. You heard your family members shifting on the furniture behind you and knew they were listening in and feeling just as curious about this visit as you.
“I’ve come to apologize.” You blink in surprise. It was the last thing you would’ve expected. If anything, you figured he would come to chastise you for making the both of you look foolish the night before. He takes your silence as a sign to continue. “The way I behaved yesterday was out of line. I know that.”
“Why did you do it then?” You ask, arms folded over your chest. “You completely sabotaged any chance I had of ever getting a proposal. The only person who benefits from any of this now is you.”
“It wasn’t my intention,” he presses on, avoiding your eyes and fiddling with the cuffs of his gloves. “I just… I was just overcome.”
“Overcome…” you let out a laugh, “with what?”
“Jealousy.” The answer is shockingly honest and you almost can’t believe your eyes when you see a hint of pink on his cheeks.
“What?”
“I…” He sighs in frustration, rubbing a hand over his face before addressing you properly. “I saw you dancing with those other people and I got jealous.”
“I’m going to need a little more explanation than that.” You were scared to make any assumptions at all. His jealousy could be childish in that he just wanted the attention back on him, or it could be more serious.
“When we were talking at dinner a couple weeks ago, I said I was going to miss your company.” He begins his explanation hesitantly. He clearly hadn’t rehearsed this meeting, but you were determined to hear him out. “I kept wishing we could continue this deal between us indefinitely. Then neither of us would have to deal with all the nonsensical drama and gossip we both clearly despise.”
So far, his speech was not going well. Not only had he just revealed the ruse openly in front of your family, but what he was suggesting was ludicrous. Keeping up the act that he was courting you beyond this season was not an option, even if you wanted it to be. Both of your reputations were at stake and you weren’t willing to shirk off your duty to marry just to enter a different kind of sham of a relationship. The longer it went on, the more suspicion and criticism the two of you would face.
“I know that would be an impossible thing to ask of you,” Diluc seemed to be following your same line of thinking, but there was still more that he needed to get off his chest. “But when I saw you dancing with those other people, I wondered if they really deserved you. I wondered if they would appreciate you the way I do.”
The speech had taken a sudden turn and there was no way to stop your heart from fluttering. Was it too much to hope that things might actually turn out all right?
“What do you mean?” You ask a little breathlessly, forgetting about your family’s presence in the room entirely as your imagination took off.
“Even though our courtship was staged, the bond we formed was not.” He explains, folding his arms and averting his gaze again. “Without the pressure of marriage looming overhead, I was able to relax around you and really get to know you. I learned that you have this incredibly disarming presence that can even put someone like me at ease. You’ve made me laugh and feel more carefree than I have in a very long time. And, somewhere along the way, I began to look forward to our time together. I found myself wanting to know more about you.”
“Diluc…” the confession left you a bit speechless, yet the man in front of you surprised you even more by stepping forward and taking one of your hands into his own.
“I can’t help but wonder if any other suitor would try to see more in you than just someone to decorate their arm. Would they even care to get to know the real you after asking for your hand?” He finally looks up to meet your eyes. “Because I would. I would cherish every moment with you and relish in the things we learn as we spend more time together. I would do my best to provide you the happiness that you’ve provided me this season and work every single day to be worthy of you.”
He releases your hand and takes a step back again, much to your dismay. By now your heart was racing in your chest and you felt as if you might just float away if he let go of you for too long. You heard gasps from your family when Diluc reaches into his pocket to pull out a little black box before getting down on one knee.
“Diluc…” you say his name softly, tears already welling in the corners of your eyes.
“Will you marry me?” He asks, his voice steady but thick with emotion.
“Yes.” It was an easy answer. Diluc was far from perfect, and both of you were bound to make errors along the way, but it would be a marriage that was real. You’d both be able to be yourselves, unhindered by social standards and able to explore love in a way most people never got the chance to.
“Really? Thank you.” There were tears in his eyes too as he stands back up and slips the ring onto your finger. You both ignore the clapping and cooing coming from your family. “I promise I won’t let you regret it.”
“I know you won’t.” You look down at the ring and then rush forward to wrap your arms around him tightly. It was an action that toed the line of what was appropriate, but you couldn’t find it in yourself to care. At the beginning of the season, Diluc had just been some antisocial rich man that was understandably critical of Mondstadt society and married to his work. And now? He was the diligent, attentive and honest man that would soon be your loving husband.
tagging my fellow Diluc lovers @kaysayshey and @meganwriteshq
