Thinking about...
...Reader and Nokto, of "friends" with benefits. You're desperately in love with him, but you're just another contact to him.
He makes love to you like you're the only one, and you let him fool you into thinking that you really are the only one.
His kisses are feather light, but full of heat and lust. You yearn for them to be full of love as he kisses his way over your skin, acting as if he was your lover.
You tell him the latest secrets, the hottest gossip, intimate scandals, promising information. You're so good for him, but you could never tell him that you love him.
...Though, how nice it would be, if his touches suddenly got more possessive. In public, his arms wrap themselves a little tighter around your waist. In private, he traces over your hands in a daze.
Suddenly you're not just a contact, but something more. But whether either of you are willing to cross that boundary is another story.
hi! Can I request for an ikepri hc with babyyy? Where they bring their baby to work with them! like Sariel bring his baby to work with him like perhaps to a teaching or the princes meeting with him, and his baby was just babbling there (awe ><) . For Nokto where he bring his baby to his meeting with some higher up, and while he was working, he's also playing with the baby ( I imagine between he or licht will get a twin or triplets, depends on you which one of them). Licht/Leon bring their babies to combat practice. For Jin I can't think of anything yet, so if you got one, pleas do it hehe ( I really cant stop thinking that he will really get a twin born) . You can do a pt 2 for other princes too if you want :))
Characters: Leon Dompteur, Licht Klein, Nokto Klein and Sariel Noir and how they are as parents.
Rating: General.
Word count: 1,394 words
Author note: I’m sorry in advance for any ooc parts on Sariel’s, he is the shortest bit I bit since I haven’t read his route, I probably will re-write it on another hc’s for funsies as well as do the other princes. But so far I’m pretty satisfied. Also this is more of them as fathers more than just with baby kids.
[୨୧] — Leon Dompteur
He is a fun dad, and he adores being a father.
There’s just something about having innocence in the palm of his hand, to be able to protect it, raise it, shape it. A memory of all things he could never have and a silent prayer to the sky above.
He applies the “be the adult you never had as a child”
He won’t ever mind tending to the baby’s needs, sure, people keep saying that wetnurses and nannies are there for a reason since he is the King, but it brings him joy to be able to help his child.
I don’t think Leon would bring the baby to combat practice, maybe during lunch breaks, but he tries to keep the little prince/princess away until they are older so they start to understand the art of war and combat.
But all of his men have sworn complete loyalty over the little one, most are eager for when the child grows up and has their division in the army to join their ranks.
He is super caring of both you and the baby, he always makes sure to thank you profusely for giving him a child (a first of many or so he plans *Wink wink*)
He takes pride in every achievement of the baby, “Yes, that’s my child!” big cheerleader dad.
Did the baby learn how to sit, crawl, and roll? He’d be over the moon. He tells everyone.
His brothers are so done with the conversation. They can’t help but love their little niece/nephew though.
He is a bit weak and wants to spoil the child rotten, but at the same time, he holds himself back. Wants to build character for his child but doesn’t neglect them.
He would never neglect them.
Instead, he wants to instruct the child that while they are part of the royalty, there’s an immense gap between social classes, but everyone is equal and their lives are as valuable as any other. They are in a privileged position and it's their job to make everyone’s quality of life better with the power they hold.
[୨୧] — Nokto Klein
While he looks like he doesn’t want to be a dad, he’d be the happiest man on earth to have a mini copy of him and you around.
Warning, this baby/babies(?) are completely spoiled rotten, he won’t care. Your kid(s) deserve the entire world.
You smack him in the back of the head from time to time because your baby takes longer to walk since Nokto is always carrying them around.
Just like Leon, he is also one to brag about anything and everything his child does, even as a baby.
It also serves two very useful purposes: to get more information or to escape meetings he doesn’t want to attend (but ends up attending anyways).
In the first place, he already likes bringing his child everywhere with him and bringing him to parties or social gatherings is a huge plus.
Everyone fawns about him and the baby, about how a great father he is and how cute the baby is.
“Oh, I know.”
Having a baby in his arms gets him a chance to start gossiping with other nobles and get more information after a good talk about parenthood.
His face would get so dark if anyone ever dismissed the feelings of a child, he thinks it's so important that his child or children in the near future (hopefully, if you wish) would feel loved and have all of their needs met.
As for the latter aspect, it seems that he has a telepathic bond with the baby.
Does he have to walk into a meeting? Thankfully the nanny comes running to him because the baby won’t stop crying unless he holds them.
He excuses himself for a moment or tries to call the meeting off, but since he can’t squeeze himself out of his duties most of the time he ends up attending and brings the baby with him.
[୨୧] — Licht Klein
He is absolutely scared and anxious about every action and decision he takes as a parent.
Don’t get it wrong, he adores you and your baby(s) and would be even more scared if you happened to have twins, knowing his story with his brother and he doesn’t want the story to repeat itself before his eyes.
He believes any child should be free of the burdens from their parents and he lives off by that since having children with you.
Those dark thoughts? Those past shadows and intrusive nightmares that present themselves before his eyes? He shakes them all off with the light that shines so pure from holding his kid(s).
Despite being a bit reluctant, knowing the tensions between him and his brother, the child seems to like Nokto a lot, and Licht relies on his brother from time to time, it's not what he would do often but he appreciates another figure the baby can start to trust.
A thing that brings him so much joy is being able to spend time together. With you leaning against his side and the child nestled between you in bed while he hums a beautiful lullaby he knows will soothe you both, or when you read out loud to them, while the child rests flat against his chest. It's such a calming scene, even when picturing it in his mind.
I also picture Licht as the type to not bring the baby to combat practice until they are much much older; and even if having a skill in combat is important as part of royalty, he relies on his brothers, maybe Yves or even Leon to start the child on their way of learning how to properly use a sword.
When the child grows he won’t even spar with them, he fears his style of combat is too beastly and ruthless, he doesn’t want to harm them by accident or to be violent toward them, even in practice.
He is such a loving father too, he wants to be present in every aspect of their life with you and he gladly takes on any tasks that require him.
Are you too busy one day or just want to spend a day by yourself? No troubles, he and the baby will go with Uncle Yves and have tea and sweets. Well, the baby will have milk and maybe Licht will have the entire tray of sweets since the baby is still too young to eat those.
[୨୧] — Sariel Noir
This man is a master at multitasking, so handling the baby any day won’t be of any trouble, after all, he almost raised the youngest of the princes so it's a piece of cake for him.
But he’d rather that you handle the baby at most times since his line of work can encounter some awful people that might stay on his bad book.
If he knows it will be a calm day with him staying at the office doing paperwork he’d certainly want the child to be with him.
He can be a busy man and wants to at least keep an eye on his child.
I can also picture him having a play-pen in his office, he can keep an eye out on the baby; if he happens to have moments where he needs to take a break, he’ll sit with the baby, watch them sleep, and play with them if they are awake.
His favorite times though, are at night, especially if hours passed without both of you seeing each other, he wants the domestic part of having a family of being a husband and a father.
Oh, but the clouds of not-so-nice thoughts are always clouding the back of his mind, telling him how he should not get attached as all of what you had built together could disappear at any moment by the desire of anyone that considers him a danger.
But seeing his face, you know how to scare those awful thoughts away, smiling, handing the baby to him, and watching his lips curl into a gentle smile.
As the child grows I can picture him being a stern dad, he makes sure his child knows that they are loved and he shows it with actions and quality time you spend together as a family.
Fandom: Ikémen Prince
Reader-insert: Gender-neutral
Featuring: Jin, Chevalier, Clavis, Leon, Yves & Nokto
Warnings: None
Additional Warnings: Mentions of an assassination attempt (Chevalier) | Food (Leon) | Suggestive Content (Nokto)
Headcanon: Types of kisses they give you
Part 2
(a/n): Happy Valentine's Day, guys!
To be honest, I wanted to post these HCs when I was done with the 11 princes + Rio, Sairel and Cyran. Yet writer's block has been mean to me. So, I figured this might help me get the writing mojo flowing, hopefully 🙏🏻
This post by @atelieredux inspired Jin’s part. And this post by @scorchieart inspired Nokto’s part.
Apologetic Kiss
The burgundy-eyed man heaves a resigned sigh and kneels down on his knees
He cups one of your bare feet in his large palm as you stare down at him from the sofa you are comfortably sitting on
He then presses his luscious lips to the bridge of your foot and peppers apologetic smooches up your leg till he reaches your inner thigh
He proceeds to affectionately nuzzle his cheek against your skin and gaze up at you with puppy-dog eyes
“I’m really sorry,” he pauses, pouting slightly as he studies your unamused expression before continuing, “Will you ever forgive poor old Jin?”
“That depends,” you reply.
His brows knit together slightly. “On what?”
You lean forward to hook a finger under his chin forcing his head up.
“On whether you’ll start relying on me or not,” your lips barely graze his and your breath tickles his skin while you speak
He stays silent for a long moment as he contemplates the idea thoroughly
He knows you have all the right to be mad at him for not telling you, once again, about his recent altercation with some criminals trying to wreak havoc in the kingdom
He keeps some things from you because he knows these sorts of situations are dangerous and he wants to protect you
But maybe, just maybe, he should tell you
His brows furrow further as you lean back against the sofa
He knows you won’t rush headlong into danger
It’s just that he wouldn’t know what to do with himself if you were to get hurt because of him
But, perhaps, relying on you wouldn’t be so bad.
He’d at least have someone on his side, and you might even be able to assist him
“Fine,” he finally says, “I’ll try to rely on you more from now on,” he vows, gingerly taking your hand in his large and warm palm before sealing his promise with a delicate kiss.
Lingering Kiss
It’s well past midnight, and unlike Chevalier, you are sound asleep, completely unaware of the danger approaching
The blond man is holding you in his arms, gently yet awkwardly running his fingers through your hair
His icy-blue eyes are closed as he basks in your warmth and the peace and tranquillity of the moment for as long as he possibly can
But after a few minutes, he gingerly lays your head down on the pristine, plush pillows
You scowl and mumble something incomprehensible in your sleep, evoking a tiny smile to tug at the corners of his lips
He has to leave soon to deal with some foolish intruders who wish to sever his head
Yet, he takes his time staring at your gorgeous, resting face bathed in the silvery light of the moon sipping through his big window
He allows himself to be captivated by your divine beauty but only for a fleeting moment as he brushes your cheekbone with his thumb
You stir and whisper his name, but sleep has its clutches around you and doesn’t seem to want to let go of you any time soon, much to your lover’s relief
Chevalier slowly leans down to press a lingering, affectionate kiss on your temple
Then, he climbs out of bed and fetches his sword, gripping it tightly in his hand
He gives you one last glance before walking out of the room with a heavy heart as he silently vows to come back to your loving arms as quickly as he can
Early-morning Kiss
Despite the sun not having come out yet, Clavis’s bleary eyes slowly flutter open, and he lets out a small yawn
A low purr resonates deep in his throat as he nuzzles his nose against your neck and breathes you in
Carefully, he peels his limbs off you before getting up
His movements are swift as he silently dresses up and fixes his tousled hair, utterly unaware of your furtive gaze
Once he’s ready to leave, he walks to your side of the bed and leans down to press his lips to your forehead, as he does every single morning
Much to his delighted surprise, the moment his lips graze your skin, he finds himself trapped as you wrap your arms around his torso
Your diabolical laughter rings pleasantly in his ears
“Going somewhere?”
He surrenders, resting his head on your shoulder
“Well, not anymore, hahaha.”
His body ends up on top of you as you gently thread your digits through his purple locks.
“Why are you up so early, love?”
“Have you forgotten already? We have breakfast parties on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. And it so happens to be Wednesday today.”
“I could never forget about such a joyous occasion.”
Clavis lets out a purr as you scratch a certain spot on his head that makes him melt willingly and completely in your arms.
“Can I help?” you coo.
His reply is definite. “Absolutely not.”
You purse your lips in a pout. “Why not?”
He raises his head and gives your cheek a loving peck. “What kind of man would I be if I needed help with such an easy task?”
“But preparing breakfast together is something that couples do. Doesn’t it sound nice?”
He opens his mouth to speak but only takes a breath and closes it again as he considers your words. A moment later, he climbs off the bed holding you tightly in his arms and he rushes out of your shared room
"Clavis, I’m in my night clothes!" You squeak as he carries you to the kitchen.
"Don’t worry, little bunny. You look stunning."
"That’s not the problem!" You can’t help but laugh and squeal all the way to the kitchen, and he can’t help the genuine smile that has crystallised on his face nor the way his heart flutters in his chest.
After that one morning, cooking breakfast with you becomes Clavis’s favourite activity
Smacking Kiss
Like that first night at the palace, you take Leon’s outstretched hand, and he steals you away and, not so discreetly, leads you out of the palace and into the lively town.
The citizens of Rhodolite are dancing and eating and drinking and having a good time, and you and Leon easily blend into the crowd to join the festivities.
The reason why Leon takes you there is for you to have fun and cheer you up, as you’ve been feeling low lately. And seeing you sad makes his golden heart break into a million pieces
So he does everything he can to make you forget about your problems
He buys food to share with you from every single stall lining the streets
Eating delicious food with a loved one always cheers people up, and you were no exception
Soon, you have a lovely smile on your face, and Leon can’t help but watch you as you enjoy yourself
To him, you are like the most entertaining book, one that won’t make him fall asleep as soon as he reads the first line
Or the finest work of art that he could just stare at for the rest of his life
He lets out a cheerful chuckle, earning your attention
You stare at him with owlish eyes and puffy cheeks, mid-chew
He reaches out with his hand and wipes a bit of sauce from the corner of your mouth before licking his thumb clean
The action, bold and intimate, evokes a blush to creep across your cheeks and neck
"You’re gorgeous, you know that?" He flashes you a dazzling simper and you swear your heart is doing backflips in your chest
Quickly, you finish chewing, and then swallow before clearing your throat
But before you can say anything, your lover is engulfing you in a tender embrace
One of his hands cups your cheek, and he tilts your head just enough so that you focus your gaze on him
And without warning, his lips are pressed against yours in a sweet, smacking kiss
But it doesn’t end there
He gives you another kiss, and another, and another
The small pecks are so loud that you’re sure people around you are staring
But you don’t care
You simply wrap your arms around his neck and pull him in to deepen the kiss
Chaste Kiss
Yves is seated between your legs in the tub, which makes him feel a tad bit nervous
He’s not used to being pampered, so when you offered to wash his hair for him earlier, he was thrilled
His nervousness, however, vanishes when you run your deft digits through his golden locks
He can feel his anxiety and stress melting away, and he heaves a delighted sigh
A ball was held at the palace earlier, and Yves happened to play the violin in front of all the guests
It had been your idea
And despite feeling a bit apprehensive at first, he ended up doing
And he’s beyond overjoyed that he did because everyone loved his performance
He can still hear people clapping and see their satisfied smiles
Though, there’s only one smile that he made sure to forever engrave in his memory; yours.
He wouldn’t have made it if it wasn’t for you
Heck, he wouldn’t have been invited if it wasn’t for you
Even since you lifted his curse, his life has changed for the better
It wasn’t an immediate change, but over time, nobles and townsfolk alike began to accept him and see him as the kind and compassionate Rhodolitian prince he is
"Haah," he accidentally lets out a soft moan when you begin to delicately scratch his scalp
His ears mirror the red roses in the gardens, and you’re sure that if you were able to see his cheeks, you’d see how flushed they are
You refrain from giggling at how cute he is and proceed to say, "You were great today, Evie. I’m really proud of you."
He stays silent for a moment, replaying your lovely words in his head over and over
"Do you really think that?" He asks in a pouty tone.
"Are you kidding? That was one hail of a performance, Yves!"
Your reassuring words draw a smile on his face, and for a moment he feels bold enough to say, "I could give you a private performance if you’d like."
He regrets saying that the moment the words leave his lips, but much to his surprise, you tell him you’d be delighted if he did
His heart flutters in his chest
You never fail to make him feel all warm and fuzzy inside
Swiftly, he turns to look at you
He’s smiling and his eyes are filled with unshed tears; he’s overcome with emotion
He cups your cheek in his soapy hand and leans in to bless your lips with a delicate kiss. A kiss that speaks of his adoration and devotion to you
Needy Kiss
It’s one of those nights when the voices in Nokto’s head just won’t stop their torturous speech
And not even the book you are reading to him is enough to silence them
Reaching his limit, Nokto took the book from your hands and put it aside
You give him a displeased look, but before you can protest, his insecure lips are on yours
His kiss is intense and needy, yet it’s not enough
He needs to get intoxicated on you to quell the yapping in his head
That’s always worked for him, so it should work now, he thinks as he deepens the kiss and relishes the delightful sounds you’re making
But it ends all too soon when you pull away and stare at him with concern in your bright eyes
He doesn’t like that look, and making you worry over him is the last thing he wants
The mere thought of burdening you with his problems makes his skin crawl
"Tell me what’s wrong," you gently ask, caressing his cheek with your delicate hand
He feels troubled, but decides to try and deceive you nonetheless.
"Everything is alright. I just… can’t keep my hands off you any longer."
He gives you a reassuring vulpine smile, but you are wiser than that.
"Something’s troubling you, isn’t it?"
He lets out a soft, dismissive chuckle and says you’re imagining things.
But when you give him that unamused look, he heaves a long sigh and slumps his shoulders
"You sure know me well…"
"I wish you’d talk to me instead of lying."
"I don’t want to burden you with—"
"Nokto, you’re not a burden, and your worries are my worries. So, please… talk to me."
Finally, he surrenders and proceeds to tell you about the voices, discovering that the more he talks with you about them, the quieter they get.
Since that day, he always uses your chest as a pillow as he talks and, sometimes, cries about the things that burden him, and he always falls asleep with a small smile on his face, his heart at ease after sharing his vulnerability with you
His kisses are still needy
But he no longer feels the necessity of getting intoxicated in you to forget
He kisses you so because he loves you and wishes to keep you in his life forever
🌸 Masterlist 🌸
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Your writing is just amazing and I absolutely love your detailed kiss fics, they're truly just such perfection! ❣️
I wonder if you could please do one for Nokto Klein?? Please and thank you! 🙏🏻
A/N: Here you go anon!
Word Count: 441
He is beautiful when he sleeps. He is honestly always beautiful to you, your silver-haired, silver-tongued love, but when he’s sleeping, there is an air of innocence about him that leaves you weak in the knees. His handsome, sharp features are relaxed into a softness that is only visible when his usual current of energy, the one that underlies his waking movements and ignites the spark in his crimson eyes, is at its lowest, at a mere hum instead of a bright stream.
But Nokto possesses a sixth sense when it comes to you, a supernatural knowing of when you are near, whether your gaze is seeking him across a crowded room or running over his sleeping face as tenderly as a caress. First his arm moves, his hand reaching out across the sheets and finding you. Once he has you in his grasp, he pulls you against the sleepy warmth of his body. Those eyes open, red depths already flickering with desire. His voice is still rough with those last, clinging tendrils of sleep and when he says your name, the sound slinks its way through you, slow and beguiling. It is a sensual purr that you feel in the base of your stomach, a provocative murmur that rolls languidly through your veins.
In the space between heartbeats he moves, rolling until he has you underneath him, his body pressed against the length of yours, welcome and thrilling. He lowers his head, moonlight hair falling across the sharp planes of his cheekbones as he whispers against your neck, the column of your throat. Silken words wrap themselves around your skin like ribbons. He binds you with velvet promises, his hands sliding over your forearms, nimble fingers curling around your wrists, arms pinned above your head. His words rain down on you, tiny drops of fire, driving you to the edge of madness. You want to feel that mouth on you, not just the ghost of his breath. You want to swallow each tempting word that drops from his lips like nectar.
You know the man you love. You know how to stop his cruel teasing. Holding that red gaze with yours, unafraid of the heat smoldering in them, you lick your lips, arching your body under his in a way that screams “more”. He may be a tease, but he is helpless in the face of his desire for you. His mouth crashes into yours, hungry and determined to feast. He feels like a draught of cold water to a body that’s burning. You respond eagerly, greedily, drinking in his lips and tongue, drunk on his taste and the wild rollercoaster of his hunger.
You're at the mercy of his masterful mouth, of his adroit touch. And there is nothing else in the world that could please you more.
Andy!! can i please ask for 🍬 & ikepri for the fandom? ♥️
hiii Gray!! ty for always being so supportive of my lil quests and games and such, it means so much to me 🥹 here is what the wheel of fate spun for you! ❤️
Nokto Klein x f!Reader
Word Count: 0.8k
Prompt: “You just can’t get enough of me, can you?”
Genre/Warnings: fluffy floof, surprise guest, reader’s pronouns and body not described but is carried; I write for a female perspective so please keep that in mind!
𝟸𝟶+ 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 - 𝟷𝟿 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚍𝚗𝚒
You knock on the office door in front of you, balancing the silver tray on one arm. You snagged it off a maid, claiming you’d only wanted to help out and assuring them you’d take care of things.
Things like your desire to see Nokto: he’d been away for almost a week, and even though he finally returned late last night, he left again so early this morning thanks to a meeting across town. But he assured you he’d be back at the palace by mid afternoon. So when you saw that lunch was being brought to the foreign affairs office, you jumped on the chance to spend even a bit of time with your prince.
You hear a noncommittal grunt from behind the door and decide that’s as good an invitation as any. Turning the knob, you push the door open and smile wide as you step inside.
“Nokto, I’ve brought you—oh,” you stop in your tracks, shoulders slumping as you take in the sight before you. “Hello, Prince Clavis.” A purple head of hair looks up at you, his furrowed brows of concentration morphing into a smirk.
“My my, you look incredibly disappointed. My feelings are actually a little hurt!”
“I’m sorry, that was pretty childish of me wasn’t it,” you apologize, sliding the tray onto the large wooden desk. “If I put together a lunch plate for you, can you forgive me?”
Clavis laughs at your wide eyes, flipping his book shut. “You drive a hard bargain. Nokto’s taught you well. If you stay and eat with me, we’ll have a deal.”
He begins to pour two cups of tea as you smile softly, assembling the plates before taking a seat in front of the desk. Clavis makes for enjoyable company, and is only too happy to fill you in on how work has been going for his faction, assuring you that no one is overworking themselves too hard, and slipping in the fact that Nokto has been increasingly grumpy as his time away from you lengthens.
You can't help but to giggle knowing Nokto is pouty and short tempered since he hasn’t been kissed and coddled lately, especially as Clavis replicates the sight. He laughs and pushes the silver tray closer to you, urging you to take the last cookie for yourself.
Thanking him, you lean back to pop the treat into your mouth—only for a hand to swoop in and grab it straight from your fingers. A whine of indignation slips out as you whip your head around, frowning at whoever stole your snack. It turns into a squeal when you realize Nokto is the thief, looking slightly tired but smirking down at you nonetheless.
“You weren’t even going to save me the last one?” He asks, faux hurt in his voice. You turn in the chair and reach up to press your hand to his cheek, thumb stroking his skin. Nokto leans into your touch with a sigh. “Not only that but I find you sequestered away with my brother. Has he stolen you from me?”
You pinch his cheek and roll your eyes. “Clavis has been a perfect gentleman, keeping me company until your return. And I would’ve happily made dozens more cookies for you.”
He grins and pops the treat into his mouth, turning to the third prince. “Well, I guess I owe you thanks for keeping my beloved entertained. But I’m afraid now I’ll have to take her with me to the kitchens for some of those cookies I’ve been promised.”
Clavis shrugs, piling the plates and cups back onto the tray. You reach over to take it from him but he stops you. “Go go, I’ll take care of this. If you two stay any longer I don’t think I’ll be able to get any work done at all.”
Before you can utter another word, Nokto whisks you out of the chair and into his arms. “You heard the man, we have to go now.” You laugh and throw your arms around his neck, mouthing your thanks to Clavis over Nokto’s shoulder. As he carries you out of the room, he presses his face into your hair and breathes deeply, mumbling about how much he’s missed you.
You tilt your head back to kiss him, feeling him smile against your lips. “Just a few days and you’re this needy? You just can’t get enough of me can you?” Tugging on a lock of his hair and grinning.
He stops in the middle of the hall and raises an eyebrow at you. “Didn’t you go looking for me first?” He asks teasingly.
“I mean, uh…” you stutter, unable to respond when he’s called you out so easily for your own neediness. “Just for that you only get 1 cookie.”
Warnings: feelings of incompetence, low self esteem, fluff, i'm gonna break your heart again
Summary: Nokto's duties can sometimes be overbearing, even for him. He starts to believe he was the wrong choice for king, when he finds y/n went behind his back to help him out.
"What do you mean they retracted from the agreement?", Nokto placed his hands on his desk as Luke told him the bad news, "why?"
"It doesn't say", Luke's eyes scanned the letter he held one more time, "Just, we won't be able to complete your request. No why"
Nokto scoffed and fell back in his chair, combing his silver hair away from his wrinkled forehead. He closed his eyes as he massaged his right temple, the pain of his headache imprinted on the muscles of his face. He saw behind his eyelids the changes of light as a shadow fell upon him. He peaked and saw Luke leaning closer, his own expression one of concern.
"We'll find another way, yeah?", he said encouragingly but Nokto knew it was only false hope.
"No...", he murmured, moving his hand to pinch his brow, resting his face upon it, "this was our in. Our only in to the black powder matter."
They stayed silent for a few minutes until Nokto thanked Luke and asked him to leave him to think. He sighed quite a number of times as he tried to think of a way to solve his problem. The gang that had denied his initial request to cooperate in exchange for papers of trade in legal goods, was aiding a group of Jadean extremists smuggle black poweder from Jade to Rhodolite hidden in wine bottles. Without them, he could not infiltrate the inner circle of that group. And without evidence he, a foreigner, could not accuse that group in the royal court of Jade, them being Jadean nobles themselves. He picked up the countless papers that lay on his desk, desperately searching for a way out. But it was nowhere to be found. Soon, he started pushing the papers away instead of stacking them neatly like he always used to. His subconscious enjoyed it way too much and so he got carried away, shoving more and more papers away, his face twisting in struggle.
It was in that moment that y/n entered. He had placed his hands on his head, fingers burried under his silver locks, and so he did not notice her right away. She stood in the doorway, confused, before running to him. She placed her hands on his cheeks and he startled. He immedietly raised his gaze, relief washing over him as he met her eyes and not anyone else's. But soon concern grew inside his mind as he saw her frown. He stood and cupped her cheek as well, studying her face.
"What happened?", he asked.
She let out a small scoff as if she couldn't believe his words. "I could ask you the same thing", she said, her tone slightly angry. She turned her face towards the fallen papers, her thumbs gently brushing his cheeks. She turned back to look at him and added, "What's all this?"
Nokto let out a dragged sigh. His body grew heavy an he laid his head on y/n's shoulder. "It's nothing", he whispered as he closed his eyes. He placed a kiss on y/n neck before returning to nuzzle in her shoulder. "I promise. I'm fine", his lips curled into a smile and he brought his hands around his love's body, keeping her close.
Once the evening came Nokto headed back to his room. Y/n had left him to work after the countless times he reassured her. He smiled as a warm feeling spread from his heart in reminisce. He was a lot more tired now, but he had done a lot of good work, enough for him to momentarily forget about his earlier failure. And just as he thought that, that feeling came back. How in the world did it end like this? Where did he go wrong? Negotiating was the one thing he always praised himself to be good at. The skill he relied on. And now...could he not do even that?
He opened the door. He frowned as he saw no sign of y/n lovely face inside. He looked at the clock; it was quite late for her to be working. Maybe she's in the library, he thought and made his way to it. His heart grew unsettled as he saw it empty. He even went as far as to enter Chevalier's hidden room, but he was only met with his threats and not his love's sweet voice.
The worry tugged on his heart again and again, like it was tied to it with an unbreakable string. It grew a bit stronger as he did not find her in the kitchen. A little more when he arrived in Sariel's empty office. And by the time he reached the garden it had turned into pure panic.
"Oww", Luke exclaimed as Nokto stumbled, quite literally, upon him.
"Luke!", Nokto pulled him on his feet, a task which was not easy to do. "Have you seen y/n?", his voice came frantic but his eyes were quite focused.
Luke didn't answer at first. His eyes grew wide and after a few seconds of thought he said, "Nope", averting his eyes.
Nokto clenched his brother's shoulders until he spotted a sign of pain in the latter's face. He drew a deep breath. "Luke, I'm only gonna ask this once", he said, serious, "Where is she?"
"The town", he finally said
"What? Why?"
Afyer those words, Luke broke down and confessed. "I told her about the thing with the black powder, yeah? And she wanted to help and so..."
"You let her go by herself?", Nokto's voice pitched like he had a mild stroke
"Of course not", Luke was quick to ease his worry, "Licht went with her"
But that was not reassuring at all. Now he was worried about two people instead of one. He grabbed Luke by the arm and dragged him along to the stables.
Soon they had saddled their horses and were on their way to town. Nokto knew the way quite well and so they reached the safehouse the gang used in no time at all. He kept his hand on his sword as they entered through the back door. These were dangerous people they were dealimg with. What would Nokto find? Was he on time? Was he too late? Licht would have protected y/n, even at the cost of his life. And that was another problem. He dreaded each step that took him closer to the truth, but he could not afford to not find out. Because perhaps he wasn't late. Perhaps he had managed to do this one thing. Perhaps this time he would be strong enough to protect those he loved instead of letting them protect him.
Footsteps. Were they found out so soon? Luke and Nokto hid in the shadows of the walls, waiting for those who approach to come into striking distance. They stoped themselves right before swinging their swords as Licht and Y/n appeared behind the turn. They seemed surprised to see them in there. Y/n was quick to grab Nokto's hand and pull him towards the back exit.
"Come. We don't have time", she said out of breath, "They're after us"
Nokto picked up his pace and hugged her waist, pushing her forwards with him as they gained speed.
"How did you come here?", Licht asked in his usual nomchalant tone.
"We rode", Luke answered.
"Good", Licht blocked the door behind them as they left the building, "We came in the carriage. Nokto, it's that way"
"And just what are you doing?", Nokto's worries had ready begun to ripen into anger
"We're gonna lead them away. You get out"
No. Not again.
"There's no way in hell, I'm-"
"You're the king, Nokto", Licht said, never raising his voice, "I'm bait"
Before Nokto could argue, Licht climbed on the horse and rode to the front of the building. They would have to have a talk later, but for now they were still being pursued. He felt y/n's hand tug on him towards the other end of the street. He had to get her out of there. He held her closer by the waist, makibg sure she was still at his side, and guided the two of them to the carriage. She fell on the seat and sighed.
"Oof, that didn't go well", she said as Nokto closed the door and the carriage started moving.
Nokto didn't say a word. He looked at her, the brave woman that held his heart. She went by herself, ignoring the dangers or perhaps despite them, to do what he couldn't. And what had he done?
"Hey", she touched his hand.
There was that look again. He recognized it now; it was concern. He turned his palm upright to hold her hand. His thumb played with the engagement ring on her finger. That ring had been the greatest excuse to get close to a woman that a man had ever used. Even then she intrigued him in ways no one else ever had.
"Hey, it's alright", she said, "We all made it out fine"
Nokto shot his eyes up. "Fine?", his voice came out louder than he hoped.
"Yes", she dared say, "Look"
She stretched her hands apart. Nokto leaned forwards, placing his hands on her thighs.
"You were lucky!", he said, his eyes piercing hers, "One mistep and you'd both be.....and I wouldn't be able to do anything to save you"
"Of course you would", she said, "you came..."
"And?", his expression twisted, "and what? You didn't need my help. And if you had, I probably wouldn't have reached you in time"
"Nokto, probably isn't cert..."
"And on top of that, I'd be the reason you'd get hurt.", he leaned back on his seat, burying his face in his hands, "why, Y/n, why? I can't lose you. I can't go back out into the rain. You brought me home. I can't-"
His eyes stung with the tears he kept from falling. She pulled his hands away from his face, he could not let her see him cry now. Not again. He could not be that weak again. He had to be strong for her. He could not fail her too like all the rest.
"Nokto I was only trying to help you", she looked deep in his eyes. A few tears fell from hers. Oh great, now he had made her cry. Good job. He cupped her cheek and brushed the tears away.
"I don't want your help if it puts your life in danger, don't you get it?", he said angrily, "You're precious to me."
"And you think you aren't to me?", she raised her voice, "Nokto you are my heart. I can't bare to watch you torture yourself like that"
"I'm not torturing myself"
"YES, yes you ARE", she took a deep breath before moving to his side and continuing, "I love you Nokto. I wanted to help you but I wasn't good enough. I can't do what you do."
She held his face in her hands and drew him close for a kiss. He kissed her back, making sure it was good. At least he could do that, right? His hands remained on her face, gently stroking her soft skin.
"I love you", he said leaning his forhead against hers, "I'm not gonna let you forget that. Even if I fail at everything else, I'll succeed in that"
She pushed his hands away and pulled him into a hug, burrying her face in his chest. It was so sudden that his heart begun to pound . Curious, he should be used to it by now and yet each time y/n touched him was like the first time. But he would never admit it of course. He was prepared to say something snarky, like 《if you want to get closer to me you need only ask and we'll get even more intimate》, but nor his mood nor the way she held him tight like it was the last time allowed him. He lay his head on hers, hands wrapping around her. It was like magic, they held each other and the clouds grew distant.
"Hey, Nokto", she said, holding him even tighter, "You're amazing"
"I'm no-"
"Yes, you are", she seemed confident in her words, "you are the most incredible person I have ever met"
"I don't think-"
"Stop doing that!", she yelled and squeezed him again so much that it almost hurt, "i need you to believe that you're enough Nokto! More than enough! You're perfect"
He was ready to argue again but she raised her head, pulling out of their embrace and forcing his face to gaze upon hers.
"You're perfect, to me and many others", she said, "Truly exceptional. And I love you. We all do. And that's why I'll forever do my best to support you in whatever you pursue"
He could not hold them back this time. Not when she was looking at him like that. He let his tears fall, a smile of true happiness stretching his lips. He kissed her on her nose.
"You are my treasure", she said, the words hitting so deeply it hurt. But that pain was the kind that could become an addiction and no one would complain.
"And you are mine", he said and he never meant anything more than he did that sentence. Because he always compared himself to his incredible brothers, measuring himself short. But in her eyes, there was no one else that compared. And that was worth everything.
