Warnings: Fluff, insecurity, brief mentions of biting and hair pulling.
Authors Note: I used to write preferences like this years ago, but I wanted to try writing some for my current fandoms :)
Gurney: When you close the gap between you and place your lips on his, he loses himself in the kiss before quickly coming back to his senses. He'd step away from you slightly, a part of him fearing that your affection is some kind of joke, or worse, that he's somehow taking advantage of you by accepting your advances. Once you've given him the proper reassurance, gurney will put his initial reservations aside and happily make up for your awkward first kiss.
Feyd-Rautha: When you close the gap between you and place your lips to his, Feyd-Rautha instantly takes hold of your hair and sinks his teeth into your lip. It's impossible to catch such a confident man off guard, especially one as psychotic and unpredictable as him. He relishes the kiss and the metallic taste that blooms in his mouth. Now that you've made your interest known, Feyd-Rautha has a twisted mind full of plans for the two of you, none of which include letting you go anytime soon.
Duncan: When you close the gap between you and place your lips on his, you can feel Duncan smirk before deepening the kiss almost instantly. He wastes no time pulling you closer and bringing a hand to rest on the nape of your neck. What feels like forever passes before you pull away, nearly gasping for breath. Duncan, being the man he is, goes back to his previous task as if he didn't just turn your world completely upside down. Though the small smile and glint in his eyes tell you he's waiting for his next chance to recreate the moment.
Stilgar: When you close the gap between you and place your lips on his, Stilgar's body stiffens against yours and his blood runs cold. His mind immediately starts racing, thinking about all the now-blatant signs of interest you'd shown him and how he should react now that you're in his arms. Unfortunately, his lack of reactions leads you to pull away. You only barely move before Stilgar's recaptures your lips, giving you a searing kiss in return.
Rabban: When you close the gap between you and place your lips in his, his instincts have him shoving you away roughly. While he doesn't want to reject you—and much less hurt you—the sudden contact triggers his warrior instincts. He gets worked up, yelling questions about what you were thinking and why you'd want to kiss him in particular. His demeanor turns uncharacteristically shy and bashful as he listens to your reasoning, and he doesn't object to a redo. This time he lets you take the lead, bending down slightly to give you better access to his lips and touch starved body. Any and all forms of kindness are completely foreign to him, but if your kiss is anything to go by, he's dying to learn more.
Warnings: Fluff, insecurity, arranged marriages, mentions of children, cultural differences, very lightly implied age difference
Authors note: Dune and the arranged marriage trope go together better than milk and cookies
Gurney Halleck: When he’s informed of your arrangement, he’d be more confused than anything. In his mind, he’s an old man past his prime with no need for a spouse. Gurney would have questions, but he ultimately wouldn’t put up much of a fight. Instead he’d accept the union, but he keeps you at an arms length. It’s in his nature to ensure your health and safety, and it’s through these actions that Gurney begins to truly fall for you. Perhaps you return his caring gestures or ask that he trains you to protect yourself—but it’s after he notices that you truly do trust and rely on him that he makes his feelings known.
Feyd-Rautha: When he’s informed of your arrangement, Feyd-Rautha shocks everyone by putting up no protest. Instead, he begins thinking about how positively this will affect his reputation along with all the things you both will learn from each other. Regardless of your status as a fighter, Feyd would be delighted to be the person to put a blade in your hand or to finally have a worthy opponent. He’s also just as interested in whatever it is you are passionate about, regardless of his familiarity or skill level. Despite the circumstances, you both are equally excited to have some to engage in your various hobbies with, and a love forms easily between you. With the time you spent together laying the groundwork, it isn’t long before you accompany each other in other aspects of your daily life. Given what you knew about him before taking his hand, you’re outright shocked at how willing Feyd is to forge an actual relationship with you. As such, you’re just as shocked at how openly affectionate he is from the moment his feelings appear.
Stilgar: When he’s informed of your arrangement, Stilgar simply shrugs and goes about his day. In his culture, it’s not uncommon to marry out of obligation or responsibility rather than love. This is especially true with him being a Sietch Leader. Nonetheless, he treats you with nothing but respect and kindness. Always ensuring you are safe and as comfortable as possible. He knows the expectations that come along with marriage (cohabitation, having/caring for children, etc) but he makes no mention of them, instead letting you set boundaries and lead the way. Love will blossom between you when you inquire genuinely about his culture/beliefs along with taking his wants and desires into account. Even if you don’t see eye to eye on everything, it’s during these deep conversations that Stilgar gains a new level of respect for you that quickly becomes genuine love.
Rabban: When he’s informed of your arrangement, Rabban will react in the only way he knows how—anger. He’ll put up a massive fight but ultimately go through with the marriage—if only out of fear of his uncle’s retaliation. Given that he’s the Harkonnens most notorious warrior, he’s so rarely ever around that it’d be easy to forget you were even married in the first place. Despite this, your insistence on sharing a simple meal or just being in his company whenever possible is what earns you a place in his cold heart. In the end, proving that you see him as much more than the Baron’s attack dog will slowly (but surely!) bring ruin to his defenses.
Yooo I'm always happy to see new Dune writers! 🫶 Could you write sth about Feyd and Rabban competing for Reader's affection? Can be HCs or written, whatever suits you most
Competing for your affection headcanons | Feyd-Rautha & Rabban x reader
Warnings: mentions of blood, possessiveness, bullying, polyamory, and implied mental abuse.
Authors note: I have some ideas for a full fic, but I wanted to get some headcanons out first!
From the moment their feelings arise, they are deeply competitive with each other and wholly possessive of you.
This often leads to physical fights between the brothers, only ceasing once there is a heavy mix of blood and humiliation.
The one thing they can both agree on is that if a threat arises, they will stop at nothing to keep you safe and defend your honor.
Neither one of them is going to try to woo you in a typical or expected manner.
Feyd-Rautha will put his focus into mind games and wearing you down mentally, while Rabban takes an uncharacteristically soft and physical approach.
Rabban fails to understand why Feyd is so outwardly cruel to you and often wonders if he should mimic Feyd’s actions as a way to win you over.
Meanwhile, Feyd takes pleasure in harassing Rabban over his glaring soft spot for you.
The interactions you have with them are wildly different for each brother.
Rabban needs someone to see through his rough exterior and grant him kind words and soft touches. Both things he’s never once received before.
Feyd-Rautha needs devotion, challenge, and the illusion of control. Attend his fights, dress his wounds, and call him sweetly by his title while also alluding to the fact that you will always hold the upper hand.
Their egos and emotional immaturity will eventually lead to their demise, which in turn allows you to toy with the situation as you wish.
If you choose to solely pursue the Na-Baron:
Rabban will descend into an absolute rampage, unable to cope with his unrequited feelings.
Feyd-Rautha, on the other hand, will grow even more confident at his perceived “victory”.
He’ll even go as far as dressing you up in Harkonnen dress and parading you around.
Behind closed doors, however, he’s completely at your mercy.
As Feyd gains more power and you make more public appearances as a couple, the reality of your relationship becomes more widely known.
It’s not long before it becomes glaringly obvious that while Feyd may have birthright and claim to thrones, you are the one truly in control.
If you choose to solely pursue the Count:
Rabban will take you back to his planet of Lankiveil before Feyd-Rautha can sink his blade into his brother's chest.
While at first he feels like he must be harsh to you, it quickly melts away until you see more signs of kindness from Rabban than you ever could have expected.
Rabban has had a hard life, and he doesn’t quite know what to do with or how to convey his feelings to you.
What he does know is how good treating you well makes him feel.
What starts as small gestures—like keeping you well fed and teaching you to defend yourself—eventually manifests into him waiting on you hand and foot.
Controversy will arise as the public becomes aware of your relationship.
The great houses, the brutal society of Geidi prime, and even the rest of the Harkonnens are completely incapable of understanding how you turned their fearsome Beast into your personal lap dog.
If you choose to pursue them both:
It will take careful planning along with keeping their behavior on a tight leash, but the reward certainly outweighs the risk and labor you need to invest in the relationship.
Initially they’ll both be needy, angry, and complicated. Frustrated as to why they can’t have you alone, while also being grateful to receive any affection in return.
You often have to act as a mediator between them.
Over time—and using your love as a common ground—a strange form of respect grows between them.
The Baron does not keep his disdain for your relationship a secret, afraid of how it will affect the House as well as the Emperors and the Bene Gesserit’s plans.
Feyd and Rabban are quick to match his words with their own unconcealed threats.
While their words barely phase him, The Baron is shaken to see the heirs finally getting along even momentarily.
With each of your unique skills now working together, both Feyd and Rabban are happy to serve your personal soldiers while you strategize to gain them more power over House Harkonnen and eventually the Imperium.
A/N: I know Jessica’s parentage is no common knowledge, but I needed it as a plot device. It’s an AU after all! (:
The silence filling up the room shouldn’t feel so loud, yet it did.
After all, there was a bunch of former enemies and people so incredibly different that it seemed impossible for them to join forces.
While most people were shooting hostile looks towards the Beast, you rather busied yourself with the other Harkonnen’s instead.
Rabban had assured you that most of them he imprisoned himself due to their moral scruple, which is uncommon among Harkonnens in general. Even though trained to become strong and merciless soldiers, their character made them seemingly unfit for battle - so House Harkonnen wanted to get rid of their ‘weak blood’.
Rabban did not seem to mind all the hatred directed at him, his eyes glued to you in deep concentration. Well, even if he did notice, he was probably used to that feeling his whole life...
...you however were not able to bear with it anymore, asking to be excused before you disappeared through one of the hallways.
Glossu rushed after you immediately, and much to your surprise no one dared to stop him - maybe they were just glad to not be in his presence anymore.
“That madman claims to be in love with the witch...” a Fremen spat, and luckily Rabban wouldn’t even look back to the gathered people, ignoring them and fully turn his attention to you.
“Nonsense” one of the Harkonnen’s whispered, thinking to know him after years of having served for his army. “The Beast is going to kill her as soon as he finds out about the bastard she’s carrying.”
Most Fremen were itching to draw their blade and follow to protect you, but a single look of Kasra showed them their place.
“This has nothing to do with our fight” Thufir spoke, being the only one answering to what everyone was thinking. “Y/N needs to settle this herself...”
You ran until your feet got sore, only stopping when you had reached the fauna laboratorium of Liet Kynes. The plants had long since withered, since there was no one taking care of them for such a long time.
“Y/N...” You shuddered at the voice, withdrawing your hand from a crumbling leaf. Rabban reluctantly came closer, doubtful due to your reaction. “You’re still afraid of me...”
Still, he couldn’t help but reluctantly placing his hand on your cheek, starved from the time you’ve spent apart. All this time of yearning for you, and now that you were united again, he didn’t know what to do or what the future would bring.
“I’m shaking because of something else” you spoke softly, contently leaning into his touch. “Then what is the reason?”
“Thrill of anticipation, I guess.” You smiled up to the man who glowered in confusion. “Of what?”
There he was: A man that struck fear into the hearts of monsters and men alike, dreaded among the whole known universe - standing in front of a woman he once deemed a possession, now all subservient and deeply respecting.
You could see so much raw emotion rampaging behind his eyes - reaching from confusion over fear, to pure fondness.
“You were foolish to come here” you changed the topic, unsure how to reveal the news to him. “The Fremen don’t forget that easily. They can barely contain their urge to kill you, and they’ll come for you again...eventually for me as well.”
“Well, then I’ll protect you with my life!” Rabban could only scoff at your preaching. “All this time, I couldn’t stop thinking about you...” he uttered almost pained by your distant behavior, “...and I hated it.”
He wasn’t done talking yet, for the first time since you knew him using this many words - and chosing them wisely. “I’ve sent my legions into doom - for you. If my uncle wouldn’t have killed me, the emperor would. To set an example. If it’s all the same, I’d rather die after seeing you one last time.”
You were surprised at his honesty - the Beast sure had changed. Was this your doing?
“But I care.” Your voice decreased in volume with every word, the last part being but a whisper. “...because my child would lose it’s father.”
Like this, you tossed your gown to the floor, revealing your current state without further explanation.
Rabban’s expression was indecipherable, wordlessly staring holes into your swollen womb. Was it shock? Anger? Regret? With every minute passing, anxiety paralyzed your mind and body.
“...I-” His voice broke off, vocal cords cramping from the weight of realization. “I’m sorry.”
“What for?” You rose one eyebrow at him, stepping closer as soon as he tried to back away. “Stay, Rabban. Please.”
“You never had a choice. I robbed you of so much.” The former soulless man now possessed at least a fraction of consciousness, which was eating him alive. “This is my fault.”
“Enough.” Much to his surprise, your voice was vibrating in a genuinely jubilant tone. You cheerfully grabbed both of his hands and led them to your belly, making him feel the slightly stretched skin. “Do you even know what love is, Rabban?”
“Weakness.”
The Beast’s palms were still firmly placed onto your lower abdomen, unmoving as if stunned by the feeling. As if he was expecting something to happen but not knowing what it was. So for quite some time, his eyes simply wandered from your womb to your eyes and back, his orbs full of awe.
There was a life blossoming inside of you, and only now, after being the cause of so many deaths, he would slowly begin to understand how precious a single life can be.
It was almost an endearing sight, seeing the gears in his head turning as he tried to grasp this meaninful moment - until you finally broke the silence, making him lock gazes with you: “So, what do you feel for me, then?”
His answer was simple and without hesitation. "You are my weakness.”
A smile crept to your lips. That suited him, you thought. The man whose strenght was fueled by hate - up until now.
In an instant, you pulled the man down to your height, locking your lips with his. Rabban immediately complied, moving against your mouth as his hands around your waist pulled you as close as humanly possible.
“I love you too” you purred when he finally let go off of you, just to place another, quick and tender kiss onto your lips. “Just as I love this child, since the very first day.”
His hands were still lingering onto your body, no intention to ever let go - as if you were to disappear again if he did. A fragile vessel that could break apart if he wasn’t careful enough.
“It will loathe me.” Rabban avoided your gaze when he stated his theory, but even though his expression was as cold as ever, you could feel the sorrow in his words.
“She” you corrected him, reassuringly caressing his side. “And she will be the proud daughter of a man that was strong enough to overcome his past and lead the universe into a brighter future.”
The Beast was scanning your face for any hint of a lie, if only a most tiniest one - but your look was stern, and loving nonetheless. “I am sure of it.”
Your attempt was rewarded as a crooked smile tugged on the Beast’s lips, squeezing the flesh of your shoulders ever so slightly.
Especially now, where everything inside of the Rabban was undergoing such a huge change, the promising future did not lift the burdens from his past sins.
It was only natural for him to be afraid - you were too.
Becoming pregnant from your former kidnapper...that alone sounded crazy. On a foreign planet at that, in the middle of a war no one knew the outcome or consequences of.
And Rabban never knew what it was like to be a father. His own childhood was a living hell, with the only people he desperately tried to see as a family torturing and manipulating him. As did you not know how to raise a child, after your mother’s life ended way too early and your father attempted ending yours too.
“M’lady...” Glossu was quick to switch to that respecting title, reacting the only way he was conditioned to do. Before you could understand, he had already fallen to one knee, facing the ground to demonstrate his respect. “I promise you my undying fidelity.”
“Rabban...” you cupped his cheeks, making him look up again. And the smile you gifted him was so warm, he thought it could illuminate the whole room. “Stand up, my count.”
“Sayyadina!” A yell interrupted that meaningful moment, and immediately Rabban got to his feet again, visibly tensed.
“It’s alright” you whispered only for him to hear, before turning your attention to the Fremen in the doorway. “What is it?”
“The Muad’Dib and his mother seem to have followed us with some of our brethren!” Obviously, they wanted to function as backup, in case the handover would go wrong. “A smuggler entered as well, probably to hoard old treasures of the place. They are fighting!”
Shocked, you frantically looked up to Rabban - who seemed to have understood pretty quickly. “Impossible...” he gritted, “I killed them for sure...”
“Rabban...” Your hand on his shoulderblade made him snap out of it, and since there was no time for explanations, you rushed to the main hall again...
...just to witness yet another unnecessary act of violence unfold before your very eyes.
“What the hell is going on here?!?” you yelled so loud, there was no need for you to use the voice to make everyone in the room fall silent and listen to what you had to say.
It was Gurney Halleck, and even though you were relieved to see yet another person you thought dead alive and well, you wouldn’t waste a thought to the reunion.
His knife was pressed to Jessica’s throat - god knows how he managed to get this far against a Bene Gesserit. Even though he possessed a superhuman strenght and battle-knowledge, she probably held back as a sign of goodwill.
“Release her at once!” you ordered the man who threatened the pregnant woman, and your harsh tone was even more surprising to him than the fact that you were still alive.
“We’ve all been through a lot, but we need to cooperate and make this work out!” Thufir supported you and tried to ease the tension between all sides, at least managing to keep the others from fighting against each other again.
“She’s the traitor!” Gurney’s roar echoed through the room. “It has to be her! That night, she betrayed us. I am sure of it!”
“What makes you so sure?” Until now, you wouldn’t waste a single thought about who deactivated the shields back when House Harkonnen and the Emperor slaughtered House Atreides - but this catched your attention, even though his accusation seemed ridiculous.
“Her own heritage!” Jessica grid her teeth, fingernails digging deep into Gourney’s arm but to no avail. “I’ve spend my time on this planet as a smuggler. Got my eyes and ears everywhere. Word spreads fast among the people on Arrakis...and according to Paul's vision, Jessica Atreides is the daughter of the Baron.”
Your arms were crossed behind your back, eyes closing as a deep sigh escaped your throat. “Well, that’s most unfortunate...” you stated, calm and confident. A reassuring smile stretched across your face as you tried to get closer. “But I don’t think any less of her. And your heritage alone doesn’t make one a traitor.”
“After all...” and with those words, Rabban finally entered the room as well, revealing himself to his dead enemy. “I am in love with Jessica’s cousin, as it seems.”
Knowing what this sentence would awake in him, your allies were quick to disarm Gourney in his moment of shock - but even while restrained, his hateful glare pierced the Beast with all ill intentions.
“It was your doctor” Glossu enlightened you all, his voice lacking a healthy amount of empathy as usual, not even shook by his relation to Lady Jessica. “His name was Yueh, I believe. My uncle ripped his wife apart to make him comply.”
“How dare you...” Halleck could not care less about his false conclusion towards Lady Jessica, now that he saw the man that imprisoned and scarred him. “After I told you what they’ve done to my sister, Y/N, how could you?!?”
You didn’t know whether it was the strenght of Gourney’s grudge, or them releasing him because most people gathered here wanted to get rid of Rabban as well - yet somehow, he manged to free himself from their grasp. “Gifting him a heir after he took our families...are you out of your mind?!?”
Only one thing was clear: You must get used to it now. The screaming, the disappointment. Former friends attacking you without hesitation, looking at you as if you were the pest itself.
For you voluntarily surrounded yourself with the darkness, his influence letting your pure soul become stained.
That was what they saw, at least. And it was your own decision.
“I hope you’re prepared to die for this iniquity!” he exclaimed, and the former master of arms was as quick as you remembered him.
Maybe you could’ve evaded his attack - you had been teached the way, after all. But that wasn’t necessary, because Rabban was aware that you did not intend to fight your old friend...
...and so Gourney’s dagger pierced Rabban’s abdomen.
“Dying, huh?” The Beast would only so much as twitch his upper lip when the pain kicked in, standing unfaltering to shield you from any incoming danger as his blood mixed with the sand.
