Sevika is known as "Zaun's Scariest Woman," but when she's alone with you, she could give the sweetest, most innocent dog a run for its money.
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Sevika barely uttered a word when she came in that night. You thought to scold her when she didn't greet you as normal, but judging by her rigid shoulders and perpetual scowl, she'd had a particularly crappy day.
When she finally finished her longer-than-usual shower and night routine, she clambered into bed, reaching to pull you closer before burying her head in your chest. She sighed, then inhaled, then sighed again.
"Hi, baby," she finally said.
"Hey. You...feeling better?"
She nodded and tightened her grip around you. "'m sorry. Didn't mean not to speak earlier. Wasn't mad at you or anything. Just...had a day. Needed to unwind."
You brushed strands of her loose hair out of her face. Innocent strokes traced arcane marble, massaged her skin until you journeyed to train fingers through dark hair. "You know I'd help you with that if you asked."
She buried her face deeper, muffling her voice. "You're helping a lot now."
You smiled.
Having moved to lay between your legs, Sevika rested there, nuzzling her nose into the side of your breast. She breathed. Deeply.
You sat with her for an unspoken amount of time, feathering your nails across her scalp and down her neck for the occasional shiver that rolled down her spine. She wasn't sleeping—not yet, anyway, even in the dim, amber-lit bedroom you shared—but soaking in the comfort. For a person like Sevika in her line of work, high stress was a given, an expectation. Day in and day out was a fight for survival and a fight for freedom. There would always be days like this, where she'd come back to you in one piece but her mind shattered from the day's events, where she'd search for solace in your embrace to help piece herself back together. You always regretted destroying that modicum of peace with the same probing question that came to mind.
"You wanna talk about it?"
Indignation colored the breath that escaped her flared nostrils, and she slow-blinked into the distance. You'd seen that expression enough times to know what fueled it. She left the question to linger in the air. You respected it.
She reached for your free hand. Pulled it close and kissed your knuckles one by one. Then pressed her lips against the heel of your palm. Another. Then another. And on and on until she inched higher and landed in the center of your palm. Like a meditative process, the motions calmed her, relaxed her facial muscles 'til serenity returned to take control.
"Not now," she whispered and motioned closer to fit her scarred cheek between your collar and neck. "Just wanna lay with you."
And so you did.
Silence overcame once more and for a time you lay still, only interrupted by the sporadic moan that escaped Sevika as she succumbed to sleep.
i’m getting likes on my fics again which like 1) thank you! 2) one day I will get around to cleaning up my masterlist and writing again (maybe). anyways thanks y’all
Sevika works hard for Zaun's liberation and you make it a priority to remind her to take care of herself. You just… weren't expecting that this time would lead to a painful conversation that strengthened your love for her.
cw: femme!reader, fluff, 10% hurt 90% comfort
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You left work early with an extra, flighty bounce in your step. The normally congested streets of the Lanes weren't as crowded this early afternoon and you thanked Janna for it. No street vendors yelled their latest sales. No massive lines at the food stalls. Great for you as you grabbed a hearty lunch made perfect for a quick delivery.
The Last Drop closed at four in the morning as per usual, so you slipped through the back entrance and down the hall to front of house. The cleanup crew polished tables and mopped the floor while a small group of Silco's goons lounged around out of their way. Ran waved at you from the opposite corner of the bar, and you greeted them back. Gustove, tattooed mountain of a man that he was, leaned against the staircase. It took him longer than he'd admit to notice your presence, but once he did, his small, dark eyes focused on the bag in your hand.
"Toll for the staircase?" he rumbled.
"It can be if that makes you a troll. Or you could just move and go fuck yourself."
"Hehe. Startin' to see why you two like each other. Boss was upstairs talkin' to Big Boss. She might be in her office now, though."
You thanked him and ascended the staircase. Silco's office was still lit, but the door was shut. No voices crept past so you assumed he was alone. Sevika's office was at the end of the short hall. Before you knocked, you pressed your ear to the door.
A trademark string of sailor's curses breached the barrier. Then a light thud. And another salvo of swears followed by a loud huff. She was upset. Then again, when wasn't she after dealing with Silco's stringent demands? What would it be this time? Deal gone wrong? Incorrect shipment manifest? Fresh meat out of line?
You rapped on the door and the response was immediate.
"If it's not important, shove it up your ass and fuck off!"
You croaked out your best impression of a mindless baritone goon, attempting horribly to keep a laugh at bay. "Sorry, boss, I'll come back later."
"What the—baby, that you?" She sighed. "Come in. Please."
You laughed and entered Sevika's office, locking the door behind you.
Sevika's cherry desk was nearly empty, neater and tidier than usual. You expected an unruly pile of shipping manifests dating back months strewn about and stained with coffee, whiskey, or cigar ashes. But no, it was just her ash tray, writing utensils, and a few sheets of paper cradled in her bronze hand.
Sevika relaxed back in her chair, legs spread wide. Her frown lines softened as you perched on the corner of her desk closest to her and set the bag in front of her.
Her brow raised. "You brought me food?"
"Well... A little birdy stopped by and told me you might be stuck here for a while." You smiled at the exasperated "fucking Ran" that slipped out of her mouth. "And you're not exactly the best at stepping away sometimes. Didn't want you to go hungry."
Sevika set the papers down and beckoned you forward. You accepted, and she pulled you on to her lap to wrap thick arms around you. When you settled your head at her chest, she hugged you closer and hummed. "And it smells like my favorite, too..."
"One of your favorites. You do have a lot of favorites, Vika."
You gazed at her, and she flashed you a quick and vulnerable smile, one that exposed the shallow gap between her front teeth that you fell in love with. In seconds, you closed the distance, but Sevika beat you to the kiss—a slow and sensual claiming of your lips that tasted of longing and love.
You shivered.
She dragged her lips across your cheek and held you there. Held you.
There.
"I don't deserve you," she murmured.
Her words blended together like the shame of uttering them clearly would ruin her stern and stoic reputation. It was nonsense, of course, both the assumed thought and her words.
"Don't say that."
"I mean it."
She inhaled deeply. Hugged you a little tighter. Her jaw shifted against your cheek, a sure sign she had trouble voicing her thoughts. Sevika was never one to mince words, but even that level of confidence wasn't maintainable one hundred percent of the time. Being vulnerable wasn't her forte, and neither was yours pulling that vulnerability out of people. And yet you both made the effort because it was worth it in your eyes.
"You keep... doing these things," she started. "Getting me food or making me breakfast. Reminding me to take breaks. Waking me up when I need to be. I... dunno, I just... I like it. It's just... I'm still getting used to it."
The sincerity in her voice kept you silent. Getting Sevika to open up took months and months of effort, so you wouldn't squander the opportunity to hear her out now, not when she'd made so much progress. But everything she mentioned was true. You did cook extra eggs and sausages and toast for her before you left for work. You did graze her scalp to pull her from slumber to start her late work days when you returned from yours. You did remind her to drink water and stretch and get some food in her when she'd forgotten. You did it all and you'd do it a thousand, thousand more times because, well...
"Sev. I do it because I want to. I like doing those things for you. I like taking care of you." You felt her lips widen against your cheek for a split second. "But you take care of me, too, you know? I love when you walk me home from this place and keep me close at your side. Love that you come up with ideas for our dates. Love that you let me rant about my shitty days at work. Love that you... Love that you...let me in..."
Sevika breathed, long and hard. Her lips parted in what you assumed was a rebuttal or protest. You gave her time and eventually she got there.
"Yeah, but it's not the same."
"Says who?"
She grumbled.
"No, you're not getting out of this. Answer me," you chided gently.
"You do a lot for me. A lot. Feels like no matter what I do, it'd never be enough to match."
You pulled away to look at her, take in the beauty of cloudy, gray eyes. Sevika was, by all means, a confident woman—in style, dress, demeanor, and outlook. In that moment, in that pocket of space existing between you two, shielded from the outside world, it wavered.
And it hurt to look at.
"Sevika." You didn't miss the fleeting glance away when you used her full name. "It's not a competition, my sweet bear. Sure, there are some days where I feel like I'm not doing enough to help. But you do so much. Not just for me but for Zaun too."
Sevika scoffed bitterly. "I'm not as good as you think I am."
"Don't change the subject." You cupped her cheek and pulled her in for a kiss to match her previous one. She softened. "Everything you do means the world to me. I mean that. Okay?"
She sighed.
"Sev..."
Her jaw clenched, and she blinked in rapid succession. A flash of weakness and vulnerability shone before your eyes, shadowed by insecurity. Zaun was a rough place where the dogs who exposed their bellies ran the risk of being gutted. With that and her...history, it made logical sense to guard her feelings. While Sevika hated expressing them, you found her all the more endearing when she did open up.
"Yeah... Yeah. Okay."
"Okay?" you reaffirmed.
Whatever tension existed between you melted and you were both left stripped naked and bare for the other to embrace. To consume. To love. Your foreheads grazed for a moment. Burned with the intensity of the mid-day sun. Because that's what you were to the other. The biggest and brightest star in the sky—warmth and passion and pain and love, all wrapped up in an imperfect ball with a gravitational pull unmatched by anyone else. And neither of you would have traded it for the world.
You kissed Sevika once more, and with one deep breath, she regained her resolve and nodded. Pulled away.
"Come on," you said, leaving Sevika's lap. "Eat. Before you forget and get even grumpier."
She shot you a teasing glance as she pulled the bag of food towards her. Any trace of grump or vulnerability left her entirely as her eyes sparkled at the dish contained within.
Golden rice nearly overflowed the container, complemented by hearty chunks of perfectly cooked mutton. Off to the side was another container that Sevika opened to reveal a light mixture of vegetables, spices, and yogurt. The visual simplicity belied the aromatic and flavorful complexity of the entire dish.
"Mierda, cariño, I haven't had this in months. Extra meat, too? And you got it spicy, didn't you?"
"Just the way you like it."
Sevika pushed her papers to the side and patted her thigh for you to return. "C'mere. Eat some. I'll walk you back home when we're done."
You pursed your lips. "And you say you don't deserve me."
Sevika's face brightened like a chemtech bulb went off in her head. The dots connected and for the first time, it was like she truly understood exactly how much she—and her actions—meant everything and more to you.
cw: vaguely implied childhood abuse, mentions of sex
words: 2.8k
Werewolf Sevika...
Background
…is not actually a werewolf. She is half-Vastayan, born to a Wolf Vastayan father and fully human mother. She jokes that she may be part Kiilash given where her ancestors originally emigrated from near Shurima. There may be a hint of truth in that, unbeknownst to her.
Wolf Vastaya are largely unknown to the general human population because of their innate shapeshifting ability. Most prefer to keep a low profile and blend in to human societies as a way to combat and/or avoid discrimination and the complications that arise from it. Piltover and Zaun are port cities with diverse populations. Discrimination, while inevitable—especially between residents of the twin cities—isn't as commonplace as other cities across Runeterra. The Wolves have, however, made it a point to keep in close contact with each other for solidarity and safety.
Vastaya know Vastaya. Sevika's father taught her how to recognize other Vastaya by scent. She's discovered only a handful of other Wolf Vastaya living in Piltover and Zaun though none are related to her. She has developed community with them with at least one possessing the common goal of liberating Zaun.
In the deep forests outside the twin cities, Sevika's father disciplined her in the art and thrill of the hunt. She sharpened her senses, honed her tracking, and expanded her critical thinking skills. While his lessons were integral to Sevika's development, he wasn't a gracious teacher and worsened as he fell into alcoholism later in Sevika's childhood.
Vander was a close, older friend from her preteen years when he and his mixed martial arts teacher took Sevika under their wing. Together, they taught her how to defend her herself but learned she suffered from an anger management issue due to trauma. During one stressful sparring session, she became so frustrated and angry that she shapeshifted and nearly tore her mentor's head off before he subdued her. Injuries were minor, but from then on, he and Vander worked on helping Sevika channel her anger through training and meditation.
Through Vander, Sevika met Vi. They were never close, but Sevika saw herself in the young, scrappy girl's tenacity and drive. In Vander's absence from working the mines, she would placate Vi and cave to her pleas to spar. The girl hit much harder than expected.
Vander introduced Sevika to Silco. She was fascinated at his dream of unifying the Undercity as she always felt her people deserved independence from under Piltover's iron thumb. She doesn't agree with his every method to achieve that goal, but for her, the ends justify the means.
"I'm not ashamed of my lineage. Knew about it early…from my father. Said it was good to know to keep myself safe. To me, it's another weapon. But you don't brandish a weapon unless you intend to use it. I may be proud, but I'm not stupid.
"I'm telling you this for a reason. We have a common goal and a common enemy. I'll say this once: I'll follow your lead, but I am not your attack dog." Sevika stared Silco down. She kept amber-gold eyes at bay as his heart hammered in his chest. This information she was willing to part with for Zaun's sake, but the rest of her cards she cradled close to her chest.
Sevika never bothered to divulge her "secret" to Jinx when the girl was younger. Jinx was perceptive, however, and knew something about her was "off"—the sudden changes in schedule and gradual shift in eye color over the course of the month were key hints. Jinx was a smart girl and managed to piece the story together through observation and eavesdropping around Silco's office. She grinds Sevika's gears, but the idea of being seen as "different" or a "monster" was a line she never crossed because of the sense of kinship in that experience.
Singed created a special shimmer variant specifically for Sevika. It's much less addictive than the street variety and made to work with her biology.
Sevika met Ran and others through Vander's bar. The two started off antagonistic towards each other until the antagonism…evolved. Eventually, they became best friends while working under Silco. Ran is a few years younger than Sevika and the first person Sevika voluntarily told about her lineage. As Sevika is Silco's right hand, Ran fills that same role for Sevika herself. Sevika trusts them more than anything—from taking charge of the underlings when Sevika's too busy to challenging Sevika about her most controversial Undercity food takes. That, of course, doesn't stop them from being a little shit towards Sevika for the sake of their own amusement.
Prey animals are uneasy around Sevika; predators are either neutral or hostile. Wolves sometimes hunt with her. Domestic dogs love her.
Magical
Vastaya need magic to survive but being half-Vastayan means Sevika isn't as reliant on it. Piltover's recent experimentation with the arcane, however, has made Sevika stronger.
An impressive healing factor is the Wolf Vastaya's second key feature of magical prowess (next to shapeshifting ability) due to being close descendants of the Vastayashai'rei. Sevika heals faster than humans and many times more so around the full moon. Where a paper cut may take up to a week for a human to heal, Sevika would heal it within a day. Her healing factor is so strong that it is possible for her to completely regrow appendages over a significant period of time…
…However, natural magic is volatile and unpredictable. Magical injuries may heal extremely well, not heal correctly, or not heal at all, regardless of severity. In Sevika's case, the cannery explosion left her without an arm and with arcane scars on the left side of her face and neck that extend down to her ribs. She decided to forgo waiting for the arm to heal because of the long-term risk.
Like other Vastaya, it's possible for Wolf Vastaya to manifest their own magical ability in other ways. While Sevika herself doesn't actively use her magic often, she has found a creative way to conjure it. Healing, while accelerated by magic, is still a biological process. Sevika discovered that by consciously channeling and overdriving her healing, she could generate enough heat to radiate from her body. Concentrating this in one area, like her hands and claws, she could inflict serious burns to an enemy. There are drawbacks to this. She can't heal while using this ability, and after she does, her healing factor slows for a period of time.
Sevika has not achieved the pinnacle of her magical capabilities and her state while shapeshifted reflects that. Actively using a great deal of magic while shifted will cause magical lines to appear on her skin that glow amber-gold. Her arcane scars follow suit. She's unaware of what she'll look like when using magic to her fullest potential.
The scars may change color depending on the circumstance. Normally, they are electric-blue. Under the influence of shimmer, they glow purple.
During a shift, magic does not account for clothing. Sevika can and will destroy her clothing if she isn't careful when shifting. If she plans to beforehand, she will either wear easily removable clothing or strip nude.
Physiological
The moon does not dictate when Sevika shapeshifts; she has full control over that herself. While a full moon would make her more likely to shift due to optimal hunting conditions, the urge is akin to "going for a run sounds fun right now" as opposed to "if I don't shift, I will temporarily lose my sanity." She does find it rather fun to hunt on full moons.
Her senses and healing ability are all superior to the average human's but wax and wane with the phases of the moon. They are at their strongest during the week of the full moon, peaking on the three days of, while they dull to their weakest during the week of the new moon.
Possessing an accelerated healing factor does not mean injuries hurt any less. Her pain threshold and durability are no different than any other mortal.
Sevika has two main forms: human, her most natural form, and bipedal wolf hybrid. Because she's half-Vastayan, she's unable to shift into a full wolf like her father could. In human form, she has no visible animal characteristics save for longer and sharper canines but can shift any part of her body at will including her eyes.
On average, Sevika stands between 6'1" and 6'2". Shifted, she towers at just over 8' on digitigrade legs.
Sevika has mastered a "half-shifted" form that she uses for intimidation, combat, or mobility. In this form, her claws and fangs grow out, patches of fur sprout around her face and body, her ears are pointed, and her eye color changes. Her body does not change dramatically otherwise.
The chemtech prosthesis was custom-made to adapt to Sevika's changing body through intricate machinery. The arm's internal mechanisms "unlock" to extend, widen, and better match Sevika's body proportions for stability when she shifts. It does not adjust in her half-shifted form.
While shifted, she is capable of quadrupedal locomotion when needed.
Sevika has an accelerated metabolism. She can eat a lot, especially around the full moon and during heat. Shifting, while easy and relatively painless, does take energy to perform. She often hunts in the forests around the twin cities, sometimes eating her kills on the spot, other times taking them home to prepare and store like her father taught her.
Likewise, her metabolism affects the way drugs interact with her. She would need to consume a greater amount of a common drug than what is normal to feel its effects. Alternatively, she can use drugs that have increased efficiency on Vastaya. Once upon a time ago, her father had lamented the "weakness" of common alcohol and decided to brew his own. This decision had lasting consequences on Sevika's childhood and adulthood.
Sevika's hair grows quickly. She prefers keeping it short but isn't opposed to letting it grow out into a wolf cut that reaches the top of her shoulders.
Sevika does not "act like a wolf/animal" in human form. No weird animal quirks and behaviors outside of her grunts and sighs having more of a "growl" to them.
Sevika's eyes are naturally two different colors. In human form, they're light grey. When shifted, they are amber-gold. She uses her eyes as another weapon for intimidation, a trick she learned from her father. "Most humans find it unsettling to discover a pair of golden eyes in the dark. It stirs up something…primal within them. A deep-seated fear and anxiety. A stark reminder that they aren't the only apex predator in the food chain," he'd said.
Smell is her strongest sense. She can accurately identify a person by scent after meeting them once even through perfumes and colognes. On the flip side, pungent, unpleasant scents can render her incapacitated or cause nausea. Since she's lived in Zaun her entire life, she's grown accustomed to the poorer air quality. She has a high capacity to recall certain memories based on scent.
Heightened senses bolster Sevika's honed ability to "read" people well, including sensitivity to hormonal and mood changes over time. With the insight she gains, she's capable of diffusing tense situations or negotiating deals in her favor. Of course, senses are never enough to succeed; these are skills Sevika has practiced over many years of surviving in the Undercity.
Wolf Vastaya run hot. Sevika's average body temperature is higher than a human's. She can withstand colder climates with ease. She loathes hot showers but makes a great makeshift fireplace for a loved one to cuddle up to.
Her fur color is primarily black with reddish-brown undertones and some splotches of dark grey. She has a dark grey "collar" around her mane that narrows as it descends the middle of her chest and abdomen.
Her mane is thick and extends down her chest to cover and protect her breasts.
Long, sharp, and black, her claws are strong and durable enough to easily gouge through softer rock and metals as well as rend flesh.
Sevika may be an experienced and skilled fighter but brute force rarely leads to favorable outcomes. Shifting is an absolute last resort to defend herself. She knows from traumatic experience how damaging her claws and fangs are and will brandish them as a warning unless she's pushed far enough to use them.
Yes. Tail.
Relationship
Trust issues from bad past relationships make it difficult to reveal her lineage to partners. Once she does trust them, however, she is unfathomably loyal to a fault.
That trust and loyalty extends to protectiveness. She prefers keeping her partner close at her side. She will put her body and life on the line to protect her partner.
Size kink meets cuteness aggression. Nothing gets her riled up more than the juxtaposition of her size compared to her partner, especially while shifted—how she engulfs them in a giant bear hug, how small they are lying on top of her buried in her fur. So cute that she wouldn't mind eating them… (out?)
For all the faults she believes she has in a relationship, Sevika knows she has jealous tendencies. It's not a rare occurrence for her to use her eyes to ward off suitors trying to press their luck with her partner.
Stubbornness is an understatement with Sevika. On the rare occasion she gets into a fight, she's adamant she'll heal quickly from her injuries (and she does). In truth, she hates putting her partner through the pain of seeing her at a low point. She loves and appreciates being taken care of, being seen as worthy enough for love and attention.
While Acts of Service is Sevika's primary giving love language, her secondary is Physical Touch. But it's more than just the electricity of skin on skin contact. It's the sensation and closeness of being with her partner. Committing their unique scent to memory. The savor of their tears and skin on her tongue. The drumbeat of their heart against their ribcage. The subtle contortions of muscle under the cover of darkness, imperceptible to the human eye. Every facet of her partner's existence noticed, studied, appreciated, and loved whilst intertwined with her own.
Sexual
Sevika does not have a menstrual cycle. Instead, she goes into heat twice per year, once every six or so months, give or take 1-2 weeks. During this 5-10 day period, she's much more sexually aroused and distracted than usual. She would gladly roll around in bed and fuck the nearest willing woman for hours if she could. Thankfully, she has basic self-control and pockets deep enough to spend extra time at the brothel. But all the self-control in the world isn't enough to hide consistently-blown pupils due to constant arousal.
Ran loves to tease Sevika about her dilated pupils during heat. "Oh, you're in heat this week? You must be having the time of your life right now sitting through Silco's boring ass meetings. I bet eeeeveryone can see those eyes of yours, chica." Sevika would promptly tell her to fuck off.
During heat, Sevika's clit swells in size, nearly doubling while shifted. The extra sensitivity plays a role in increasing her desire for sex, and it does provide additional pleasure when doing so. That hasn't prevented it from becoming a nuisance otherwise, however.
Sevika is no stranger to kinks. She has an oral fixation—loves to bite (gently enough, with her teeth) and be bitten by her partners. Skin broken through teeth or nails is nothing to her with her healing factor. She prefers topping in a dominance and submission dynamic. Primal play is a huge interest for her, but something she'd have to establish a deep level of trust to explore.
No shifting during sex. It's one cardinal rule Sevika lives by unless she's established an unbreakable bond with her partner, and then only if asked first. Self-control on its own isn't the issue. Her claws, fangs, size, and strength are what need to be kept in check. Fracturing a person's hip after thrusting too hard is not an experience she wants to live through again.
Sevika and Ran have history. Extremely brief history to be exact. They fucked once after spending months dancing around each other in secret and knew immediately they'd never do it again. While they both delight in BDSM dynamics, their roles and expectations are incompatible and they learned they work much better as close friends. They openly share BDSM experiences with each other for feedback (and sometimes share their casual sexual partners). Ran, of course, still jokingly flirts with Sevika on occasion just to piss her off and make her eyes roll.
Word has gotten around Babette's about Sevika's lineage due to some of the brothel girls' own backgrounds and perceptiveness. Ran has told Sevika that "the girls would totally go crazy and give you a huge discount if you wolfed out" but Sevika thinks they're bullshitting. None of the girls have asked her about it and she prefers to keep it that way.
When two male patrons stumbled out of Babette's on shaky knees, they sneered under Sevika's neutral, grey gaze. Not regulars from what she could tell, else they'd exercise more caution behind those upturned snouts and puffed out chests. All in all, the interaction didn't faze her but did make her shake her head as she stepped into the brothel.
The lobby glowed a gentle crimson. A stick of lavender incense burned on an ornamental stand on a corner shelf. Giggling and half-faked moans echoed from the back rooms. The usual heady ambiance, one Sevika had grown to find familiar and comforting, one that made her mouth water the second she entered its embrace.
The Yordle Madame was decidedly missing from her front desk perch, in her place a young, human male with dark curls barely reaching his brows. When he looked up, he nearly did a double take.
"S-Sevika?"
"Miguel."
"You're here...? Today?"
"Yes," she deadpanned, leaning in. "Now fuck off and go get your boss."
Without another word, Miguel power walked to the back. It took less than a minute before Babette padded up to the front to greet Sevika.
"My favorite client. You are..." Babette wet her thumb and flipped through the large leather-bound schedule book. "...four days early." She furrowed her brows. "Or did you need to see me in my office to talk?"
Sevika rested her bronze forearm on the desk. "Don't need intel. I need a break. Silco's been riding my ass the whole week."
"Well, good, because it's been unusually quiet lately. Not that I mind. But that, uh... problem you took care of over a month ago sure was a loudmouth."
A former client and troublemaker who thought he could get away with shortchanging a worker and trying to put his hands on her. Sevika reveled in stalking him down the street and beating his ass within an inch of his life. Luck would have it that she was there to begin with considering Silco's business association with Babette's, but it wouldn't have mattered; she'd have done it regardless whether the girls asked or not. All she needed was a description and time.
"You do look a little worse for wear, hun. More so than usual. I'm sure the girls will be more than happy to remedy that. And to thank you for that... incident."
Sevika grunted. "Who's available now?"
"Give me one tick." Babette flipped through the book once more, mumbling to herself.
A door whispered open and shut in the background. Sevika glanced up and caught one of the lingerie-clad girls tiptoeing out. She was curvy, light-brown complexion and impossibly dark hair, with a smattering of freckles decorating her shoulders and a six-inch burn scar marring her right shoulder blade. An intricately carved grey wolf mask covered her face, one that she was aiming to move before she focused on the front desk.
She tilted her head. "Sevika?"
The mask gave her away instantly. Sevika remembered her from their second appointment a few weeks ago—the mischievous transplant who spoke before she thought. New at Babette's. She was energetic and excitable, always eager to learn and submit. Her more haughty clients thought her inexperienced and easily pliable. She wasn't. Years of delicate practice colored her every touch and kiss; Sevika herself had enough experience on the receiving end to tell. And by Janna did she know how to use that fucking tongue of hers.
"Ahh, look who it is," Babette continued. "Lupe was just finishing up her break. She's free now if you want her."
Lupe sauntered over to Sevika who rose to greet her properly.
"Hi Sevika," she purred, slinking around until she latched herself on Sevika's right arm. Her nails tickled Sevika's bicep.
Sevika gave her a slow once-over, wetting her lips over the woman's barely-contained tits. "Who else is free?"
Babette turned a page. "Only Xu and Harley for now. You... want all three? With your usual?"
"Yeah. All three. Two hours this time."
Babette cocked a brow. "Guess Silco really did do a number on you this week." She penned in the booking. "Okay. You're set. Two hours with the girls. Let them know if you need more time. Ruby room is unoccupied downstairs."
Ruby room, the biggest available with the largest bed. Naturally.
Lupe squeezed Sevika's arm and pulled her towards the back. "C'mon. I'll get you set up and get the other girls. You know they miss you, right? You haven't been around the last few weeks."
"Do they now?"
Sevika ducked her head as she descended the creaking staircase to the basement. The air was a touch cooler but the headiness still hung heavy. Though it was early in the day for the brothel, a handful of rooms were occupied with new whispers, gagged screams, and leather smacks to accompany them.
Lupe led Sevika to the back corner room and sat her on the sofa. Sevika relaxed into it, spread her arms across the back of it, and sighed. She shut her eyes, grunting in acknowledgment when Lupe said she'd be back.
The past week flashed through her mind. Whatever stick Silco had shoved up his ass had been lodged in there too far. Probably little Jinx grinding his nerves on top of the anxiety of closing the next few shimmer deals. Every minor detail was scrutinized and grounds for some form of snippy, backhanded remark or reprimand like Sevika was a goddamned child. She had far too much patience for her own good sometimes. Useful for keeping her own anger issues in check, but not so when even Ran had to verbally knock some sense into her in private. Yesterday, she finally had enough. One sassy comment and she snapped back at Silco until he adjusted his tie, half-apologized, and shut his mouth for the rest of the day.
Outside of today's earlier business, he left her alone, so she took the rest of the day off. Hell, she'll probably take tomorrow off too. Catch up on sleep or something. She deserved it after closing his deals and enduring his crybaby bullshit, and there was nothing of importance to worry about for at least the next three business days.
She thanked the universe when the Ruby room's door opened and shut again. Three bodies loomed into view when her eyes creaked open, every one as delectable as the last. Each claimed a spot on the sofa—Xu nestled at her right, Harley tucked into her left, and Lupe between her spread legs, no mask.
Xu's striped tail tickled Sevika's fingertips. She grazed her claws from Sevika's thigh up to the clasp of her poncho, undoing it as she dragged her fangs past Sevika's jaw to whisper in her deep, sultry voice. "Hey, Sevikaaa."
The poncho changed hands over to Harley, who folded it and set it aside for later. Submissive and demanding, she emboldened Xu's possessiveness, attaching her own full lips to Sevika's neck. "Mmm... we missed you, Sevika." Her words released in an attempted purr that likely gave Xu a run for her money and a reason to roll her feline eyes.
Lupe cupped Sevika's chin. Her thumb feathered over the arcane cracks, the softness sending shocks down Sevika's spine. "I told yooouuuu."
Sevika scoffed. She relaxed further into the couch save for the occasional twitch from Xu and Harley's eager, roaming hands around her now-exposed torso and—when the hell did they undo her shirt?
"Please. You only miss me 'cause I tip well."
"You do tip well," Xu chimed in. "In more ways than one."
Sevika had a quip fired and ready to go, but the words died in her throat when Harley traced her happy trail down to muss the hair between her legs.
"Oooh, look who's sensitive today," Harley sang. "Betcha gonna make the two hours worth it?"
"Keep talking and I'll make you tap out first."
"So, what do you want to start with, Sevika? Massage sound good?" Lupe asked, a twinkle in her emerald eyes.
"Massage sounds perfect."
The ladies immediately took to their roles—Xu slow undressing while Lupe and Harley prepared the bed and toys.
Babette had even said as much once. That the girls genuinely liked her and missed her on occasion. Flattering as it was, Sevika never took much stock into it. It was dangerous territory, succumbing to the siren song of the "girlfriend experience" that made most regulars question their life decisions. Entertainment and comfort was part of their job. Still, she'd eavesdropped on plenty of hushed conversations between client and worker on her visits—fake giggles to feigned hobby interest and everything in between. None of them ever spoke to her in the same manner, in the same faux-flirty lilt engineered to wrench out extra tips.
Luck, perhaps.
The notion lit a small flame in her core, though. For all the shit she endured, perhaps it eased her enough to know that somewhere in the dark streets of the Lanes she called home that someone—or some few—appreciated her presence and existence.
The command from behind snapped you out of your brief reverie. You spread your legs apart and placed your hands behind your head with elbows spread wide. Held still. Naked and still with your eyes cast downwards.
Warlord Ambessa Medarda hummed as she circled you. "Hm, faster this time, eh? I'd almost believe you'd been practicing without me. Even still..." Her words lingered. She stopped behind you once more, and you shuddered when her lips ghosted the shell of your ear. "...your stance"—she pushed the inside of your thigh with two fingers—"needs work. I expect them wider."
You widened.
"Forty-five degrees, pet, like I taught you," she scolded. When she reclaimed her spot in front of you, she examined the space between your legs. "Not sixty and not thirty. Don't make me repeat myself. Understood? Speak."
"Yes, Warlord."
Despite your official status as her beloved concubine, you didn't have the luxury of undermining her right now. Ambessa was a large and intimidating woman, ruthless and cunning beyond her stature. The scars decorating her dark skin dictated a thousand stories of war and betrayal, situations of life and death you'd never be able to comprehend. In what world would you jeopardize her position and claim to authority for a temporary ego boost? This wasn't the practice session for it. You'd have ample opportunities in the future.
"Straighten your back, little one." When you did, Ambessa proceeded with her study of your form. "I did inform you this banquet is important, didn't I? I see you've taken that to heart. But did I tell you why?"
You did not respond, only made the minute adjustments to your form as she demanded.
"We Noxians respect power over all, no matter what form it takes. What better way to display such power than through the subjects you command?" She paused. Gave you a once-over. She cupped your cheek with a large hand, then ventured south over your collar to balance one breast in her palm. Your lack of a reaction earned you a pleased nod. "The banquet is nothing more than a gathering of warlords eager to boast about their claims. Important, still, but a...networking event, so to speak."
You swallowed as her touch lingered at your breasts, unable to help the shiver from the possessive graze of their undersides.
"You'll be on display. At my side, of course. You are my most prized pet, after all. But you will be scrutinized by the other warlords. Touched..."
She pinched a nipple.
"...Fondled..."
Kneaded your ass.
"...Violated."
Two fingers slid along your cunt.
You whimpered and flinched, nearly dropping your stance.
"Your ability to keep your composure reflects upon me." She teased your entrance before breaching slowly. "What kind of lord would I be if I couldn't train my own pets? That's why I demand perfection from you. All of you. But especially my prize."
You dripped around the one finger that had entered you, and a single bead of your arousal slid down your thigh. You fidgeted in place, mentally begging to be put out of your misery in this godforsaken position. But you had to hold on. For you and for her.
"I have high expectations for you, pet. I need to know you're ready for what comes ahead. It'll be a special day for us both."
Your breathing grew erratic. You blinked multiple times in succession, hoping to rid yourself of this nightmare.
Another finger filled you as the pad of her thumb caressed your clit. Your breath hitched and you could not take any more.
Ambessa shot you a look that bordered between mischief and pity, a look you barely caught out of the corner of your eye. "Hm? Is there something you need to say? Speak freely."
"M-May I come? Please..."
"Already?" Her scarred lip twitched in mirth, and she withdrew her fingers, pulling a groan from your chest. "I've barely touched you."
You whined.
Ambessa tutted. "Ah ah. Don't you dare. Use your words."
You sighed instead. "Please, Warlord? Please let me come..."
It may not have shown on her face, but Ambessa broke in seconds. She found your whining unbearable, but hearing you beg never failed to make her falter.
"You did improve your timing today. Though, I still expect better from you in your positioning." She pressed her palm against your pussy, and you jerked against it, breaking your rigid stance. She sighed dramatically.
"You may."
You only lasted four thrusts after she plunged back into you. Noxian swears dribbled from your lips as your orgasm ripped through you. Shaking and spent, your knees buckled and you collapsed into her chest. Your heart clamored in your ribs while hers beat with the whisper of a soft drum, utterly calm and at ease. When she pulled her hand away, your cunt twitched and grasped at nothing.
She held you close, and you floated away in her arms to land in the plush satin of the canopied bed you sometimes shared with her on nights you desired her embrace. When your brain reset itself and your attention returned, you opened your mouth and stuck out your tongue as you were trained to clean up your messes after making them.
Ambessa wiped her still-wet fingers across and down your tongue, painting your mouth with your own essence. "You should know, pet, I don't plan for anyone to touch you in the ways I do. It would be an act of aggression against me. We Noxians may exhibit pride in our strengths, but we aren't barbarians. You can at least expect a level of respect when you're there."
When you cleaned off her fingers with your lips and tongue, Ambessa cupped your chin. "Now, what do you say?"
You locked eyes with hers, the only time you were allowed during your training and scenes. "Thank you."
"Good," she husked, and released you thereafter. "That's enough training for today. Now, come. We both need a bath. That is...if you can still walk."
Sevika Hockey AU where Sevika is the team enforcer and Reader had been traded to the team in a legendary deal as their new star player.
------
The game had been close all night. Physical, too. High-sticking and cross-checks under the referee's noses drew out the nastiest insults from the crowd. You saw and heard and felt it all.
But you tuned it out. You had a job to do.
The Zaun Wolves needed an experienced star player added to the roster to help mentor their rising rookie hopeful, and in an odd turn of events, the Noxus Generals decided to part ways with you, the player they'd drafted with the number one pick only five years ago, for a draft haul in the off-season.
After a rocky rookie season and a sophomore slump, you were on the upswing in your career. You'd posted some record statistics during your time with the Generals and judging by the two goals you'd achieved tonight, you'd say the Piltover Progressors were learning that you lived up to your reputation.
It was no secret in the league that Zaun had beef with Piltover as rivals, but no one informed you just how much the Progressors hated the Generals. To them, you were the bastard child of both, and they were keen on making you feel every bruise in your first bout this season.
This team was fucking ruthless. Not only were they trying to box you out from getting the puck, but when you did manage to snatch it away, another player would check you against the boards with their entire body weight and sneak in an illegal hit to go with it. And Janna bless the rookie Vi for coming to your defense. She was scrappy and never backed down from a fight, but she lacked the muscle mass to take the bigger players down completely. Still, you appreciated her effort.
Your saving grace, however, was the large woman sitting anxiously in the penalty box whose eyes locked with yours whenever you skated by. Sevika was one of the older vets on an already fairly young team, and the team's one and only enforcer. You learned over the off-season that while she didn't speak much and wasn't the best player on the Wolves, the team listened wholeheartedly to her wisdom and rallied behind her when it mattered. Much different to the militancy you experienced on the Generals.
Your defenders did their damnedest job keeping the puck away from the Progressors during the penalty. The penalty clock wound down to the last fifteen seconds just as you saw an opportunity to seize the puck and take a shot on goal.
You launched yourself across the ice to gather the puck. With quick stick work, you coiled back for a slapshot and before the end of your stick collided with the puck, a heavy body slammed into you. You lost balance and tumbled to the ice, losing the puck. They'd knocked the wind out of you, and you struggled to stand as the crowd yelled about another missed charging call.
You stood, finally, just in time for Sevika to hop out of the penalty box a second before stoppage of play. She rolled over to you and gave you a once-over.
“You good?” she asked.
You shook your head. “I'll be fine. They're startin’ to piss me off though.”
She nodded. “Gotchu.”
You skated into position behind your center for a face-off near your goal. Play resumed with your center winning the bout and passing over to Vi who took the puck to the other side of the ice. You followed. She passed it to you, and you played keep away with it before passing back to the center. The defender who tagged you grew sick of watching the clock and took it up on herself to check you into the boards when the puck came flying back to you. You lost it in the scuffle.
When you recovered, you saw Sevika sailing over to the defender, grabbing her by the jersey to pull her back.
Sevika then dropped her stick and gloves.
The defender followed suit.
The crowd hollered and screamed, went wild as the two danced around each other on skates.
The defender took a couple of feint jabs, but Sevika didn't fall for it. She kept her guard up and when the defender missed a big swing, Sevika followed up with a sharp uppercut. She grabbed the front of the defender's jersey and held her in place as she pummeled the defender with a flurry of right fists to the cheek and jaw. Her blows echoed off the ice, somehow overpowering the deafening crowd. The defender tried to no avail to fight back, but managed to sneak in a few lucky hits to make Sevika bite her own tongue.
The defender stumbled down, and finally, the referee broke up the fight for another stoppage of play.
Sevika grinned at the crowd, circling the ice with a bloody mouth. With one last glare at the defender, she yelled words that reassured your growing trust in her.
“Yeah, try that shit again and see what I do!”
On her way to the penalty box, she gave you a quick wink before slamming back inside to sit down.
Most of your team were slow to warm up to you during the off-season when you arrived in Zaun. Sevika had been the slowest. She acknowledged you, sure, but actually talking to you outside of work-related topics was like pulling teeth. It wasn't until she stumbled upon you skating around the ice in the brisk hours of the morning did she make the effort to engage. She'd always been first one in, last one out, and for once, someone had her beat.
You loved what you did—the juxtaposition of gracefully gliding across ice with the heaviness of pads protecting your person—but nothing came easy. You were smaller than the average player and faster because of it, but what you couldn't accomplish in raw strength, you made up for it in accuracy and finesse with the puck at your blade. But shooting a frozen piece of rubber into a goalie's five-hole took practice. Ten thousand hours of it. You'd told Sevika then why you were there and while the acknowledgement she gave you then was nothing but a gruff scoff and quick smile, her demeanor towards you changed from then on.
You came to learn that she valued nothing more than hard work and dedication. You weren't some gifted player with natural-born talent with access to the best resources at your disposal. You were you—an Ionian who had worked their ass off from sun up to sun down to have any hopes of being the best player in the league.
As the clock wound down to the final five minutes, you checked the scoreboard. Sevika's penalty time would take you down to the final three and you only had to endure from there.
The Progressors took their timeout. You locked eyes with Sevika for two long seconds during the team huddle, who only gave you the faintest of nods, an action that only said “I got you.”
Your opponents kept up the pressure but laid off the dirty plays for the rest of the game. The message was loud and clear to them: fuck with you and they'd answer to Sevika.
Summary: Thomas has a date and his sides do their best to keep him out of trouble, all the while looking after each other.
Warnings: Minor food mention, minor swearing, negative thinking. Let me know if I need to tag anything else!
Word Count: 4,992
A/N: This is a...very different format then what I usually write. I wrote this in just a couple of hours but it usually takes a few weeks when I'm working on a fic, so I apologize if this isn't my best work. I just had this idea floating around in my drafts for a while and thought it would be a good fic for the one year anniversary of the Sanders Sides! I really hope you guys enjoy it!
Side note: I didn't give his date a name and kept his features up to the imagination because the alternative felt almost like making an oc to ship a real person with and I wasn't comfortable with that. Also, if the sides are arguing while in Thomas' mind think of it as when you're trying to make a quick decision and your brain is running a mile a minute, as in, Thomas is not just standing there blankly lol.
[Read on AO3!]
“Here, Thomas. This red shirt looks amazing on you. Wear this tonight.”
“I think the blue one would be a better match, it doesn't clash with his hair as much.”
“Um, excuse me?”
Roman turned his attention to the logical side, holding the red button up shirt in one hand, the other resting on his hip. He looks Logan up and down and sneers, “The last time I checked, I was the romantic side, not you.”
Logan rolls his eyes and grabs the blue polo from the closet. “I wasn't aware that made you the designated fashionista out of the four of us.”
“Well of course it does!” Roman exclaimed, clearly not picking up on his sarcasm. “The red shirt is obviously-”
“Blue. You'll thank me later, Thomas.”
“Red.”
“Blue.”
“Red!”
“Blue!”
Thomas puts his hands up and says, “Guys, please! Can we just agree on something!”
Logan and Roman are too busy glaring at each other and arguing to notice Patton slip between them to set a simple, gray long-sleeved shirt on the bathroom counter. It matches. Thomas silently thanks him and slips it on, ignoring his creativity and logic so he can start working on his hair. Patton goes back over to Virgil and sits down next to him on the bed where the anxious side is currently holding his head in his hands. Patton pats his back and Virgil only grunts. Did they really have to pull this crap already? They didn't have much time before Thomas had to leave to go pick up his date. Virgil was already on edge and the arguing wasn't helping his nerves one bit.
Roman finally notices Thomas' choice of an outfit and he huffs, throwing the shirt on the ground. “Fine, don't listen to me! You're romantic side! I mean come on, Thomas! This,” he gestures wildly around him, “is my thing!”
Thomas runs more product into his hair with his fingers and sighs. “I know, Roman. But you have to work with the others too, we've talked about this.”
Roman deflates a little and drops his arms to his side. “I...you're right. I apologize, Thomas. I'm just...”
“Are you nervous, kiddo?” Patton asks from his seat next to a still distressed Virgil.
Roman bristles, “No! Of course not! This is a date after all! Why would I of all people be...” He trails off. Who was he kidding? They were all connected, of course they knew. Roman sighs and joins Patton, sitting on the other side of him and quietly says, “Yes.”
Patton just smiles and rubs his back with his free hand, “Hey, that's okay! This is the first date we've had in a while, it's normal to be a little bit nervous!”
Roman leans against Patton's side and Virgil feels those old scars from Thomas' last relationship start to sting again. They needed to keep it together and play their parts if they wanted this to go smoothly. Virgil wasn't expecting anything good to happen tonight but he could at least hope it was just disappointment they had to deal with and not sadness or anger. Disappointment fell on him, sadness was Patton's to bear and although the moral side was currently smiling and excitedly trying to keep everyone’s spirits up, Virgil knew Patton was just as nervous. Maybe even downright scared.
Logan rubs the sleeves of the polo still in his hands and says, “Ten more minutes before we have to leave, Thomas.”
Thomas nods and walks out of his bathroom and back into his room. He spreads out his arms and asks, “How do I look?”
Roman sits straight up, a smile planted back on his face and exclaims, “Amazing as ever! Though, I still think the red-”
“Adequate. You're date will most likely find you more appealing than usual.”
Patton claps his hands and says, “Aw, you look so gosh darn handsome, kiddo! He'll love it!”
Virgil bites his tongue, thinking that the outfit was alright but not great and his face could be clearer and his hair was always a mess and they'd probably think he was a slob...but the others don't wait for his opinion anyway and it wasn't like Thomas didn't know that was what he was thinking. Virgil could let them boost him up a little, no harm in that.
“Right. Okay. Got my keys, wallet, pants are on, I think I'm all set!”
Logic hangs the shirt back up in his closet, brows furrowed in thought but Virgil is the only one who seems to notice. Great. He hates having to be the one to call them out.
“What's on your mind, Lo?”
They all turn to Virgil and then their eyes are on Logan who clears his throat and pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
“It's just...I'm not sure I understand why you're all so nervous.”
Patton cocks his head to the side. “Well, it's a first date, Logan. Anyone would be-”
“But the two of them have already established that they have, ugh, feelings, for each other. This isn't a stranger Thomas met online, it's someone he's known for years and had started to develop a romantic interest in months ago. Isn't the more obvious response to be excited about the beginnings of a potential relationship?”
Roman is the first to answer him saying, “Why, that's precisely why we're worried, Specs. We want tonight to be as perfect as it can be.”
“But one can assume that everything will turn out just fine! Thomas likes him, he likes Thomas. They've been friends for years, they're far past the awkward getting to know each other stage. They date, they become partners, maybe copulate-
“Logan, please!” Thomas yells, turning bright red.
Logan sighs and his voice is calmer when he says, “Apologies. All I’m saying, is that there doesn't seem to be a need for all this tension.
“Yeah well, I'm trying my best here.” Virgil draws his knees up to his chest and looks down at the floor. He really wanted them all to be happy but, he was anxiety. He couldn't always help it.
Logan reaches out and then draws back, he shakes his head and says, “That's not...Virgil I didn't mean to-”
Thomas' phone goes off and all five of them jump, Virgil actually whimpering as he's startled. Patton puts an arm around him.
Thomas turns the alarm off and says, “It's time to go. Guys, look...”
The sides turn their attention to him and Thomas does his best to literally pull himself together.
“Yeah, I'm pretty nervous. Heck if I'm being honest, I'm terrified, but I know it's been long enough and I really miss having someone to take care of and vice versa. Just...be on you're best behaviors tonight, okay? It'll be...it'll be fine. More than fine. I'll have an amazing night.” Thomas knows full well that he's saying this to himself, just as much as he is to the sides.
Logan beams at him. “That's the spirit, Thomas!”
Virgil buries his head against his knees and tries his hardest to calm down. Those nagging shadows won't leave him alone right now. They've been whispering to him all day and the closer they got to the date, the harder it was to tune them out.
Because, what if it's all some cruel trick and they get stood up? What if Thomas says the wrong thing and he gets upset and leaves right in the middle of it? What if he turns out to have been an asshole this whole time or what if-
“What if we get hurt again?”
Patton looks up when he feels everyone's eyes on him and quickly puts a smile back on his face. “Oh don't mind me! I was just-”
“No. We're not doing this again.”
Logan walks over to them and kneels down in front of Patton, he puts a hand on his knee and says in a hushed voice, “Patton, while that is an unfortunate possibility, nothing good will come out of dwelling on those thoughts. Thomas has learned a lot since...since the last time. We won't make the same mistakes again and we certainly won't let someone else hurt him.” He glances over at Virgil who clings tighter to Patton. No. He would not let that happen again. He'll keep them all safe but...what if keeping them safe means making Thomas unhappy?
Virgil stays silent but gives him an understanding nod. Logan turns back to Patton and says, “We have to look forward to the future, Patton, not shy away from what it has to offer.”
Patton wipes at his eyes and this time when he smiles, it's genuine. “Okay. Thanks, Teach.”
Thomas takes a moment to get a good look at each of them and then says, “Alright...you guys ready?”
Roman is the first to go, stopping to rest his hand on Patton's shoulder before he sinks out. Logan follows, then Patton. Virgil and Thomas meet eyes for a moment, and then he joins the others.
Thomas thinks, as he gets into his car and heads over to his dates house, that it's both a blessing and a curse to have the ability to deal with oneself so intimately.
One thing Thomas still didn't know about his sides is exactly what happens when they sink out and into his mind. He knows they have rooms sure, and he knows now that when he visits them, he's just projecting a part of himself into that section of his mind while his physical form stays where it is. What he doesn't know, is that when Thomas doesn't need to see them directly, they assumes a new form entirely.
The closest thing to describe them would be ghosts. They seemed to float around in the openness of the mindspace, a giant window where they could see through Thomas' eyes in front of them. They all glowed a different color. Respectively, Virgil was a deep purple, Logan a dark blue, Roman a brilliant red and Patton a light, teal blue. They had no solid facial features but they could feel each other more intensely than they could in the physical world. Right now, Patton was beaming and the feeling from his smile was warm against the others forms.
P – He's almost there!
R – We should have gotten him a gift! If only someone hadn't talked Thomas out of stopping to pick up flowers.
He glares at Virgil who just rolls his eyes and repeats himself from earlier.
V – That would be too awkward. He would have to go back inside his house and find a vase and someplace to put them and, ugh.
L – Do not forget this dates circumstances are different from the others Thomas has been on recently. We know this person fairly well. There's no need to try and 'woo them' with trivial gifts.
R – It's still a date, nerd! You're supposed to shower your love with gifts!
P – Now kids, there's no need to fight...
Thankfully, the sides had gotten good at keeping their arguments low enough that Thomas didn't have to pay much attention to them. He was pulling up into their driveway now and Virgil could feel how anxious he was, which in turn, made him anxious and if he wasn't careful they would just bounce back and forth until one of them started to panic. Virgil kept his breathing even, the nervousness Thomas was feeling now was healthy. This was a new situation, he needed to have his guard up.
Thomas got out of his car and took a deep breath in and out, shaking his hands as if trying to shake off some of his nerves and then walks to his front door. He knocks three times. His date answers exactly thirty seconds after. Logan was counting.
He grins as soon as he sees him and says, “Hey, Thomas!” His date looks him up and down and whistles, “Looking good, man.”
R – DID YOU HEAR THAT?! HE SAID-
P – Hush!
Thomas swallows the sudden lump in his throat and chuckles nervously. He had always been very outspoken, this shouldn't be so surprising. “Thanks. Um...”
R – Tell him he's the most beautiful man you've ever seen. That his eyes sparkle like-
V – Do you have any chill?
“...you too.” He cringed inwardly, feeling Virgil cursing his awkwardness.
His date just laughed and started to head towards his car. “You don't have to be so worked up, okay? Let's just, you know, hang out like we always do.” He smirks as they get into his car and adds, “It's just not so platonic this time, if you know what I mean.”
He raises his eyebrows up and down and Thomas snorts out a laugh. They could all feel him starting to relax. It was just like Logan said, they knew this person, there shouldn't be anything to be afraid of. Virgil still wasn't convinced. The others could get all comfortable if they wanted to but he wasn't letting up. He promised Logan he wouldn't let Thomas get hurt again. He wouldn't break that promise, even if it meant making Thomas a little more anxious.
They stop and get dinner first. A nice sit down restaurant, but nothing too fancy. Despite what his date said earlier, everything still felt somewhat stiff. They stuck to safe conversations while they waited for their orders (“How's work? “Good, good. And you?”) but after a while, they slowly fell back into something familiar. Making dumb jokes and geeking out over things just like they always did.
Virgil feels Logan's presence behind him as he reminds Thomas (again) to stop drinking so fast or he'll choke.
L – I know what you're doing.
V – Making sure we don't die? Yep.
Logan actually chuckles and settles down next to him.
L – Thomas is doing really well, but I can still sense that he's anxious.
Virgil doesn't respond. He was determined. Not even Logan could talk him out of this. To his surprise, Logan smiles at him.
L – Thank you.
V – What?
L – I asked you to protect us and that's what you're doing, isn't it? Making sure he doesn't put too much of his heart into this one date?
Virgil stays silent, he's not sure how to respond to that.
L – You're managing to keep his anxiety levels low enough that he can enjoy himself, but high enough that he doesn't go too far. I'm quite proud of you, Virgil.
Logan leaves him then, just in time to go over and stop Roman from throwing another unnecessary compliment at his date and Virgil stares at the screen, trying to process all of what he said. He never really learned how to take a compliment.
After dinner, they go to an aquarium, an idea all four of the sides could easily agree on. A little nerdy, a little romantically cliché, fairly quiet and basically perfect. Roman pushes Thomas to slip his hand into his dates before Virgil can stop him, but he just intertwines their fingers and smiles at Thomas who's thankful that the dim lighting could shadow his blush.
They enter a room with a giant jellyfish tank right in the center and his date runs towards it, eyes wide and full of wonder like a little kids. The butterflies Virgil was doing a good job of controlling up until now, fluttered helplessly inside Thomas and he sighed.
He turns around and says, “I love these guys. They're so freaking cool, don't you think, Thomas?”
Thomas hums in agreement and walks over to them, he's feeling nervous all over again. “Some jellyfish can actually clone themselves.”
R – Oh no, not this again.
L – What? I was just thinking how fascinating it is that in some cases, an injured parent can create...
“...hundreds of baby jellyfish with pieces of itself”.
V – Logan! Knock it off, you're making us look like an asshole!
P – Virgil, watch your language! But...Lo, maybe ease up just a little before-
“Seriously? That's freaking awesome!”
They all stare in shock at the screen, even Logan who truly didn't mean to get over excited. It had proven to have negative effects on people in the past.
They take Thomas' hand again and drag him to another tank. “Alright smart guy, know anything about these cuties?” He points to the butterfly fish swimming around in the tank and looks at him expectantly. Thomas looks at the fish and then back to his date and gulps. “Um...”
The three of them focus in on Logan who would probably be sweating right now if he was in his physical form.
L – Uh. Those are-
R – He knows what they're called, Genius!
P – Be nice...
R – You got us into this, Logic! Just dig down in that big head of yours and tell him, Logic! What do we know about butterfly fish, Logic?!
L – I don't know, okay?! Do I look like a marine biologist?
R – No, but you do look like a jackass!
P – Creativity!
Roman flinches at Patton's raised voice. Virgil tries his best to tune them out while he focus on keeping Thomas from sinking.
(V – Tell him the truth. It's fine, Thomas.)
“I actually don't know anything about them.” He laughs nervously and adds, “But I got a whole lot of jellyfish facts if you want!”
He raises an eyebrow at him and Thomas wishes he would let go of his hand because he's trying hard to keep them from shaking.
“Why do you know so much about jellyfish?”
Thomas shrugs. “I don't know, I get bored and start researching random stuff when I can't sleep. I just happened to have read the entire Wikipedia article for jellyfish once and managed to retain some of what I learned.” He gives another awkward chuckle and then adds,“Super weird, right?”
“That's actually kinda cool.”
“It-it is?”
“Yeah! I mean I always knew you were smart, just another reason why I fell for you I guess. Among other things.”
Roman stares at the screen, and then slowly turns to Logan who looks just as surprised. Then his aura glows a little brighter and a smugness, that could only have been directed at the fanciful side, washes over them.
“Oh,” was all Thomas managed to get out.
His date quickly looked away from him, and cleared his throat. “Ahem, anyway! Give me more facts about jellies.”
Thomas feels Logan's presence flex happily in his mind and says, “Yeah...I can do that.”
They had been out for several hours but it felt like only a short amount of time had passed. When they walked out of the aquarium they were greeted with the night sky. It was past ten p.m and they both had work to do the next day which meant...this was it. Their date was coming to an end.
There was a strange atmosphere in the mindspace. Happiness, because the date went so well. Sadness, because it was over. A hint of fear, because...what comes next? Virgil feels Roman sigh and glances over to see Patton circling around him. Trying to cheer him up, whispering to him.
P – Don't worry! We can ask him out another time! I'm sure he had a good time too!
Virgil got the feeling it wasn't just Princey he was trying to convince.
The drive back was quite but the atmosphere was much more comfortable than it was at the start of the date. Thomas catches his eye at every stoplight and he always greets him with a warm smile. Virgil can't help it as he flickers and the butterflies in Thomas' stomach flare up, every single time.
When Thomas pulls into his driveway, there's a sense of sadness around them now. He didn't want this night to end but it was getting late. Logan reassures him in the back of his mind, that the date seemed to go well so he would most likely ask to meet again. Roman pushing for Thomas to ask first this time, ignoring the anxious energy Virgil pushes onto that idea.
They sit in the car in silence for a few moments until his date says, “Well...this is my stop.”
“Yeah. Sorry, I drove as slow as I could.”
He laughs and then bites down on his lip nervously. He hesitates, then finally manages to say, “I know this is gonna sound dumb but...can you walk me to my door? Please?”
Thomas tenses up. That smile driving the butterflies in his stomach crazy. Such a harmless request and yet-
R – Oh my god.
L – What? He is simply asking Thomas to walk with him to his door? Perhaps he has some irrational fear of the dark or-
R – He wants us to kiss him.
L – Roman, please, he's obviously...
Logan's words trail off as he reassess the situation, then his form flickers. He goes to push his glasses up, forgetting momentarily, that he was in the wrong form. A nervous habit he pretended he didn't have.
L – Oh. Ahem. I believe you may be right for once. This scene does look very textbook.
Roman's form is glowing brighter than ever now. His smile is so wide and bright the others can't directly look at him without squinting.
R – Thomas! Listen, as soon as you get to his door you sweep him off his feet and-
V – NO! Are you freaking kidding me?!
Roman fixes his gaze to Virgil and glares, his form changing to a fiery, dark red.
R – This is my territory, Anxiety. I'm not letting you ruin this for us.
V – They don't want a kiss you idiot! He’s...he’s going to tell Thomas he doesn't want to see him anymore...
R – What?!
Fear shoots through Thomas but he's thankfully gotten good at hiding it. He puts on a smile on says, “Yeah. Of course I will.”
They both get out of the car, his date leaning against the passenger side as he waits for Thomas to walk around from his side. He smirks at him and, man it would be great if his sides would stop bickering in his head and just let him enjoy this.
They all get the message loud and clear and the three of them turn to Virgil. He shrinks into himself but his aura starts to glow brighter as he works himself up.
V – Oh god, what did we do wrong this time? Shit. Shit, shit, shit this was a bad idea, I knew it! Thomas has been lead on before but this bad?
P – Virgil...
V – I messed up. I messed up so bad Thomas is gonna get hurt again I messed up I messed up I-
Virgil feels a warm presence wrap around him, he tries to shrug it off, literally holding his arms around himself and shaking back and forth. The presence doesn't relent, moving all around him, annoying but somehow comforting all the same. Virgil looks up at Patton's smiling form. He sticks close to him, pushing as much positive energy as he could on the darker side.
P – You're doing so good, Virgil. You've been such a great help tonight, I'm really proud of you.
Virgil shakes his head and Patton brushes his fingers through his spectral hair.
P – I know you're scared...I'm scared too, but...we'll be alright, Verge.
V – You can't know that.
P – No. But you can't know that this will all fall apart either.
Virgil stares at him wide eyed. Patton was giving a lot of himself to this person and after they were burned so hard the last time...that should scare him. Virgil should be pulling him back in, protecting him. Protecting all of them. But...
Thomas and his date have reached the door. Logic thankfully taking over for the small talk that was commencing. Roman, for once, patiently waiting beside him. He glances at the other two, a pleading look on his face. Virgil looks back to Patton who just nods reassuringly.
Maybe this time...
“I uh, had a really great time tonight, Thomas. Seriously you're um...pretty great.” He snorts and rubs the back of his head, his cheeks are flushed and gosh he was so pretty. Roman is practically whining as he looks back and forth between Thomas' vision and Virgil. They wanted this so bad. Virgil takes a deep breath, in for four seconds...
“I'm so dumb...sorry.”
“No, no! You're...you're perfect.”
...hold for seven seconds...
He giggles and Thomas' heart is racing so hard he's starting to worry that they can actually hear it. His date hums and rocks back and forth on his heels, not quite meeting Thomas' eyes. “I know this is cliché as hell but I didn't want to do this in the car. I just...look I know this is only our first date but I've liked you for so long and you...said you felt the same?” It came out as a question and Thomas could only nod, as Logic was busy keeping Roman and Patton in line. Both of them waiting with bated breath, their forms blindingly bright.
…breath out for eight seconds.
“Yeah. Yeah uh, fuck it. You want to skip all the awkward dates and just...be my boyfriend?”
Logic short circuits. Princey is staring starry eyed and completely dumbstruck. Anxiety can feel how fast Thomas' heart is beating and that usually works him up but now. Now he doesn't know what the hell to think. They're all frozen and just vaguely aware that Thomas is staring at his date (boyfriend? Boyfriend?!?!?) mouth agape like an idiot and they're finally snapped out of it when Morality let's out a joyous shriek.
Thomas squeaks out a giggle and then quickly slams his hand over his mouth (Patton, please!). His date just laughs and says, “You're such a dork. A cute dork.”
R – I'm going for it.
V – Roman, wait!
R – I'M GOING FOR IT!
V – ASK FIRST YOU IDIOT!!!
Thomas takes a deep breath and says, “Can I...kiss you?” They're cheeks flush pink and he nods.
Logan and Virgil stand back and let Roman and Patton take over as Thomas takes his face in his hands and gently pulls him into a kiss. Everyone is glowing now, a feeling of pure happiness washing over them so strong, not even Virgil could overpower it. It's short, far too short in Roman's opinion, but he lets up and when Thomas pulls away, his date is the one looking love struck and dazed for once and a fierce sense of pride, coming from Roman, fills all of them. Roman turns to Virgil and smirks and Virgil just shakes his head with a smile of his own. Patton is floating around the space, cheering and Logan finally gains some control back and goes to calm him down.
“Wow.”
“Yeah...”
“So...is that a yes?”
Thomas let's out a surprised, oh! And then nods, “Yes! Of course!” They both laugh and their date boyfriend pulls him in for another kiss, much to Roman's delight. It is late and Logan insists on saying goodnight, so Thomas does just that. A kiss on the cheek, a wave as his new boyfriend goes back inside and then he just manages walk, not skip, back to his car. Once inside, he leans back against the seat and-
V – Hold it...
-makes sure that no one can see him-
V – Okay, now.
-and then loses his shit. He actually screams and bounces in his seat, throwing his hands up triumphantly. Virgil feels Patton around him again, whispering 'thank you', over and over, he doesn't say a word but he smiles. Yeah, this was kind of terrifying. It could end just as bad as the last relationship, or way worse even. Virgil had no way of knowing but the others might be right, something new didn't have to automatically spell out disaster.
On the ride home, Virgil feels Thomas call out to him and he manifests in the passenger seat. He beams at him and says, “About what Patton said earlier. I'm proud of you too, Virgil. I couldn't have done it without you.”
“Ahem!”
Roman had appeared in the backseat, arms crossed in a pout. Thomas glances at him in the rear view mirror saying, “And you too, Roman. I'm so blessed to have all of you, just the way you are.”
“Eh, good enough, I suppose.”
Thomas shakes his head and chuckles as Roman sinks back into his mind. Virgil rubs the sleeve of his hoodie between his fingers, his voice is soft when he says, “He can still hurt you.”
Thomas lets out a heavy sigh, “I know. I'm not letting my guard down but...I got a good feeling about this, Verge.”
Patton had a good feeling about his last partner too but Virgil keeps that to himself. There was no reason to upset him right now, especially after all the good that came out of tonight. Thomas was still riding on that high and he wasn't going to bring him down just yet. He does however, sit up and give him his best menacing glare and says, “Don't screw this up.” He couldn't not pump at least a little bit of fear into him, couldn't let him think he was going soft.
Thomas doesn't seem to be fazed, he just grins and says, “I'll try.”
Virgil shakes his head, “Nope. Not good enough. Don't. Screw. This. Up.” And then, as he sinks out he adds, “You got this.”
As Virgil retreats back into his mind, Thomas grips the steering wheel and whispers to himself, “Yeah. I got this.”
A/N: *blows a kiss to the sky* I put a lot of energy into this, here's hoping it helps the universe send Thomas an amazing boyfriend.
