Splash

do they?

24 and 35 for Peter please?

24. “If I trip over one more of your shoes, I’m throwing them all away.”35. “I’ll just tell your mom on you.”_____________________________________________________________

“Dan Reynolds, put that down!” you yell across the chaotic apartment, rushing towards the mischievous seven year-old holding the kitchen knife. He grins at you and drops it on the floor with a clatter before rushing away to find another part of the home to wreak havoc on.

Whoever said babysitting is fun is a dirty liar.

Placing the knife safely back into the block, you turn around and look for where the little monster went. Then you hear a knock on the door. Groaning, you head towards the door, already thinking of how you’re going to tell Mrs. Reynolds that you can’t babysit anymore. You cry out when you trip over something just as you reach the door, and you place your hands against it to regain your balance.

Looking down, you see another one of Dan’s shoes. “Daniel, if I trip over one more of your shoes, I’m throwing them all away!”

With that said, you open the door, and are shocked to see a cute boy around your age, smiling softly down at you with his hands in his pockets. “Hey, I-I’m Peter. I live in the apartment next door.”

You smile bashfully up at him, internally wishing he didn’t see you in this state. “I’m (y/n).”

He smiles crookedly, and your heart melts a little. “So, you’re the Reynolds’ babysitter this week?” You nod. “That’s a crazy thing to take on. Do you mind if I come in?”

Shaking away your mindlessness, you open the door wider and allow him to enter. “Watch out for the shoes,” you warn.

Peter looks around the home, and a blush dusts your cheeks at the state of the apartment. “You know,” he says, “this is the best I’ve seen this apartment when sitters come.”

You scoff. “Seriously?”

He nods. “Daniel!”

“Peter!” You hear the little boy squeal before he comes flying around the corner in his pajamas (that you barely managed to get on him) and hugs Peter around the tops of his legs.

Peter laughs, and your mouth drops open in shock. “Hey, kiddo. Having fun?” Dan turns around and gives you his mischievous grin again and nods. You resist the urge to scowl down at him. “Good!” Peter exclaims. “But it’s time for you to go to bed, but first you have to put your shoes away like (y/n) said.”

Dan crosses his arms and fixes Peter with a glare. “But what if I don’t wanna?”

“I’ll just tell your mom on you.”

Dan’s eyes widen with shock and fear and he rushes away, beginning to pick up his shoes and put them on the rack by the door. You look up at Peter in shock. “How–”

“If there’s one thing you need to know about Dan, it’s that he’s terrified of his mother.” Peter laughs. “Kinda weird, actually, because his mom is the sweetest and,” he leans over and whispers, “spoils him rotten, if you can’t already tell.”

You laugh, and watch as Dan trudges toward his bedroom, mumbling a half-hearted “good night.” Peter and you say it back, and you finally get a good look at the apartment. “This is going to take forever to clean up,” you realize.

Peter glances over at you, and now, it’s his turn to blush. Your (h/l), (h/c) hair is thrown up in a messy ponytail with strands falling out, but he couldn’t care less. And your eyes are beautiful. He gulps and looks away before you notice him staring. You just might be one of the most beautiful girls he’s ever met.

“You know,” he starts, scratching the back of his neck. “I could stay and help you clean up.”

You look up at him and shake your head. “Oh, no no no, that won’t be necessary, you’ve helped enough already.”

“I don’t mind!” Peter insists, already moving to the kitchen and putting dishes in the sink. “With two of us, it shouldn’t take as long.”

Smiling, you move to the living area and begin to pick up the various toys and put them in a basket that the Reynolds’ keep for Dan. You and Peter make small talk as you work, and he’s right–it does go much faster than it would if it was just you. Sooner than you would have liked, the two of you are done cleaning, and you stand at the door together.

“It was really nice to meet you, Peter,” you say, smiling up at him. “And thank you so much for all of your help.”

“Anytime.” He grins. “The next time you babysit, I’ll be happy to come over again. The Reynolds’ know me, so I’m sure they don’t mind.”

Your heart drops–you weren’t planning on babysitting for Dan ever again–but flutters when you think about seeing Peter again. “Sounds good to me.” You smile.

Peter scratches the back of his neck. “So, um, could I, maybe, have your number? We could go see a movie sometime, or do something else, or…” He trails off, laughing as a blush comes over his cheeks. You’re blushing too.

“Sure,” you whisper, getting your phone out of your pocket. He smiles, and the two of you exchange numbers, before continuing your awkward stalemate by the door. He’s smiling adorably down at you, and you up at him. Neither of you want to leave quite yet.

Gathering your courage, you stand up on your toes and press a quick kiss to his cheek. “Bye, Peter.”

By now, he’s blushing madly. “Bye,” he whispers. You smile once more at him before shutting the door behind you. Leaning against it, you smile to yourself. There’s something about that boy.

Little do you know, he’s skipping back to his apartment, thinking the same thing.

If You Only Knew

Pairings: Bucky x Reader

Summary: Bucky visiting you after you got hurt on a mission.

Words: ~500

A/N: Super duper short and quickie and bad, but it’s a little apology because I haven’t posted anything in millions of years & I’m super sorry for that.

Careful knocking coming from the door of your room dragged you awake from your calm sleep. You opened your eyes, rubbing your temples as the bright light sent hard waves of pain to gnash through your head.

Yet a bright smile took over your face as soon as you saw Bucky, peeking in from the crack of the door.

”Hey,” you smiled, letting out a soft laugh as you saw the big bunch of your favorite flowers in his hand. ”Please tell me you brought chocolate as well.”

His concerned frown losing in a battle with the amused smile, Bucky nod his head slowly. ”I did – Y/N, are you –”

”I’m okay, Bucky,” you smiled at him, nodding your head as a sign for him to come in. “To be honest, I’m way more than okay now that you’re here.”

Walking over to your bed, the brunet pulled you into his safe embrace, rocking you back and forth as his lips pressed gentle kisses to your hair.

”Gosh, Y/N I – for a moment I thought I lost you,” he mumbled, his heart arching in his chest.

”I know,” you whispered. ”But it’s just a little wound –”

”Little wound?” the brunet cried out, pulling slightly further from you. ”Doll, they shot you –”

You tried your hardest to fight back your laugh, yet failed as a bubbly laughter escaped your lips. ”To my leg, Bucky, and as much as I love to see the worried side of you, I truly am okay. The doctors said that I’ll be walking in no time –”

”Are you sure?” the man mumbled with a worried frown, letting out a relieved breath as you nodded your head. ”You know,” he spoke after a moment of silence, smirk taking over his lips, ”I’ll hate you forever for doing this to me.”

”For getting shot?” you snickered, making him space to lay next to you to the bed. ”How caring –”

”Just, stop talking, okay?” he laughed. ”It’s hard to be mad for you if you keep joking –”

”Oh, but I happen to know that you love it when I do that,” you chuckled, pressing your forehead to the crook of his neck. ”And to make a stop to all the hating,” you yawned, “I need you to love me.”

Smiling, Bucky played gently with your hair until your calm breathing told him, that you had fell asleep. Shaking his head with a smile, Bucky pressed a soft kiss to your forehead.

”If you only knew,” he then let out a soft laughter, “that I’m already in love with you, Y/N.”

Everybody Approves (Bucky x Reader)

I’m really sorry it took me a while to get this imagine out. And also sorry if I didn’t write exactly what you wanted, I kinda got inspiration from rewatching both CA:TFA and Avengers. And i kind of made it so it’s the team notices how touchy-feely they are. I put lots of BFF Steve as well. This is also super long. (title is supposed to imply everybody approves of the relationship haha)

Prompt: It would be really cute if you wrote something about Bucky/reader and how they randomly pull each other into kisses and hugs cause they are still in the honeymoon phase of their relationship. Please and thank you 💕💕

also- crying seems to be a theme in this. It gets quite feel-y towards the end. Hope you enjoy, especially Anon who sent this in!

@steven-fightme-rogers

You opened your eyes in the morning to see the bluest pair of eyes you had ever set sight on gazing down at you.

“Were you watching me sleep?”

“May-be.” Your wonderful boyfriend of a few months dragged out the syllables as he smirked down at you.

“That’s creepy.”

“Maybe it is. But you’re adorable when you’re sleeping. Couldn’t help myself.”

And with those words, Bucky trapped you underneath his sturdy frame, forcing you to cuddle with him. Not that you minded, of course.

“Buck!” You giggled as you tried to get out your boyfriend’s so-called “death grip”.

Keep reading

Good Enough - Steve Rogers

N/A: I hope that you’re feeling better now! And if you don’t you can talk with me if you’d like! 

(Masterlist)

Nearly six months of relationship, six months of new feelings and situations, six months being Captain America’s girlfriend. You were really happy alongside Steve Rogers, in fact, you’ve never been so happy before. Steve was really a good man, even with his flaws, everything made him the hero he was. Everything about him remembered how he was special … and how you were so simple. While Steve was born to greatness, to make a difference and participate in the important role of saving the innocent… You felt you were just a worker ant inside the huge anthill. You had no super powers, you had no super intelligence or was a spy or former assassin. You weren’t an important political office nor was a famous celebrity. You were just you.

You sighed heavily, looking to the clock hanging on the wall of the bakery where you worked, it was almost 7 pm and your second shift would soon end. And you would have to go home and face those blue eyes. It had been a month since you started working the two shifts at the bakery, including asking for your boss to help you with the excuse that it was necessary that the submanager had to be all the time in the store. It was a pathetic excuse, but at least there you felt you belonged somewhere. The store returned to fill with new customers as it was getting late, making your mind stay again busy with work and away from your inner problems. You moved from one side to the other, taking orders from everyone and asking for new products to the front of the store until Camille - one of the attendants and your greatest confidant - came to where you were in the store background with a worried expression.

“He’s here, (Y/N).” she whispered, while she adjusted your hair automatically. “And he looks concerned.”

You took a deep breath, straightening your shoulders before forcing a relaxed smile and march to where Steve was standing at the counter. By spending more time away working, you could better hide your emotions, but you felt guilty because Steve didn’t deserve it. He had no fault to be what he was and that you couldn’t reach the same level as him. You leaned on the counter to stretch and reach the face of the super soldier kissing his cheek and making him smile.

“Hey, soldier.”

“Doll, I was worried… Will you take a lot to go home?“ Steve put a hand to your face, stroking your cheek and then placing one of your strands hair behind your ear.

“Huh, sorry, I completely lost the time… I’ll go home soon.“ you smiled weak and Steve just nodded.

“I need to go on a meeting at Stark right now, but when you get home you send me a message?” he leaned over and kissed your forehead, you nodded silently and gave a brief ‘see you’ watching him leave the store.

You needed to leave.

Once you got inside the apartment you shared with Steve, you went straight toward the closet, grabbing your bag and throwing your things in it and then close it. You’ve thought about taking a shower and change your uniform for a warmer clothes, but afraid that Steve could get home you just picked up your bag and left. After locking the apartment, you picked up a paper and wrote a direct explanation before passing the key and the paper under the door. While you walked away from the building, you didn’t know if it was the crying or the cold that was making you shiver.

“(Y/N), I’m home!” 

Steve hummed when entering the dark apartment, finding it strange to have no answer, he turned on the light and closed the door. He sought you throughout the apartment, calling out your name and felling his chest tighten even more. It was then that he noticed the key and paper near the door, walking with long strides and ducking to get, Steve felt his body freeze when he read the message.

‘You deserve someone better. I’m sorry, but it’s better this way.’

Steve didn’t think twice, rising quickly and opening the door, he ran toward the street. It was cold and snowing, you couldn’t have gone far if you were walking. He walked for 20 minutes. For 20 minutes, he wondered what he had done wrong and blamed himself for not having noticed that you were unhappy. But he loved you and he would do anything to fix what he had done wrong, he would do anything to make you happy again. Then he saw you lying in the street banks, near the bus stop, your suitcase on the floor and snow beginning to cover you. Steve ran toward you, horrified watching the scene before him. He gently took you in his arms and then easily held your bag, walking back to the apartment in silence. The super soldier held you tight against him, trying to warm your delicate body. You didn’t move because of the cold and it worried him. He didn’t want to lose you for something like this. He wouldn’t stand. While you were unconscious, Steve took off your wet clothes and gave you a hot bath, then he dressed you with his warm clothes and laid you in bed with some quilt layers to keep you warm. He made sure to pack your stuff back in the closet before lying down at your side and snuggle you against him. Steve just fell asleep when he felt that your body was already in a safe temperature and that you were sleeping due to exhaustion.

“(Y/N)? Honey? Darling? Baby? Doll?” Steve whispered in his ear, trying to wake you gently, still feeling his heart tighten worriedly, but then sighing relieved to see you open your eyes lazily.

“W-what? Steve?” you asked sleepily for a second holding your breath and automatically trying to get away from him, but Steve held you in his arms preventing you from leaving.

“Don’t… (Y/N), look, I’m sorry. I know it’s my fault, but-”

“No, Stevie, you are perfect! The problem is… I’m not good enough… You need someone to pitch to live in your world… you … I-I …” you didn’t know what to say, feeling your eyes fill with tears, you choked slightly trying to hold back a sob. Steve watched you painfully, hugging you tighter and allowing you to hide your face in his chest.

“So this is the problem? (Y/N)… You’re everything to me… You’re what brings me down to earth. You’re what makes me sober amidst all the craziness that’s my life. Remember when we first met? You saw me as Steve, you saw me just like another man trying to flirt with you and you said no… And slapped me! At that moment I was sure that you were the woman of my life." he murmured, stroking your hair and your  back in an attempt to calm your crying and end your insecurities. If he had known before, if he had noticed… You’d never fell those things. Steve sealed the top of your head and sighed. "I love you, (Y/N). And when I say this, I mean it.”

“Are you sure?” you whispered, raising your face to look at Steve, your eyes looking for him to try to see any hint of regret, but you just found love and care. “I don’t have super powers nor am hyper intelligent, or rich or anything…”

“Hey, I love you because you’re just you.” Steve smiled tenderly, stroking your face with one hand and briefly kissed your lips, pulling out a small smile from you. “And that’s good enough for me.”

Surprise...?

Based on Anonymous Prompt from Drabble Games: OMG. I think 73 would be perfect (replace CIA w/ hydra or shield I guess) if you’re up to doing it. Idc who with. You’re work is amazing btw and almost all of your Steve fics have me melting 😍

My parents dad thought I was working for an insurance company in New York when really I was joining the CIA S.H.I.E.L.D. so I just sort of never mentioned when I met you on an assassination-gone-wrong and now we’ve been married for five years and they still don’t know you exist, this has gotten wildly out of hand and you won’t stop laughing about it

A/N: OH MY GOSH I am so sorry this took me literally forever.  I filmed this week (and it went really well!) and then I was a little busy during the week and then I had severe writer’s block and I can give you a whole string of excuses but here it is (finally) and I am so, so sorry.  I’ll do my best to post at least one story every day until all the requests are filled (although don’t let this stop you from sending one in).

-

“It’s not funny, Steve,” you whine, struggling to keep a straight face.

“I don’t know, (Y/N).  I think it’s pretty damn funny.”

“Language,” you mutter.  Steve shakes his head.

“(Y/N), this is hilarious,” he laughs and you can’t help but giggle.  You love his laugh.  It’s absolutely infectious and entirely genuine and it’s one of the many things you love about your husband. 

“It’s really not,” you reply.  “He’s gonna kill me.”

“I’m sure it’s not that bad,” he replies, his laughter finally starting to die out.

“My dad is gonna kill me,” you moan.  “Like, it’s bad enough that I lied to him about working for an insurance company, but now…the fact that I’m not only dating you, but have been secretly married to you for five years?  I’ll be lucky if I’m not disowned.”

“Why not just tell him we just started dating?” Steve suggests, and you can see that he’s on the verge of laughing.  “And then in a year, we can have a second, fake wedding.  And then you don’t have to tell him you work for S.H.I.E.L.D.”  You shake your head.

“First,” you say.  “We don’t want to have another wedding.  Because my dad will go crazy.  Fireworks, ice sculptures, doves, you name it, he’ll want it for the wedding.  Second, the minute he sees you, he’ll know that we must have met through S.H.I.E.L.D.”

“Tell him we met online,” he suggests and you snort.  

“‘Yes, Dad,’” you say mockingly.  “‘This is Steve Rogers, better known as Captain America.  I met him on eHarmony.’”

“I met you when I came to purchase insurance.”

“I’m pretty sure no company insures superheroes.”

“I ran into you at the coffee shop.”

“Since when do you have time to go get coffee?”

“Do you have a better solution?”

“Tell him the truth and pray to the gods of Asgard that he’s not too angry.”  Steve nods and looks at you curiously.

“Why now?” Steve asks.

“What do you mean?” you reply.

“Why are you finally coming clean to him now?” 

You look up at Steve and take a deep breath.  You reach into your pocket and pull out a small, folded piece of paper.  You hand it to him and watch as he unfolds it, his face slowly stretching into a smile.

“I figured he should know who the father of his grandkid is,” you beam.  

Steve looks at you with a look of pure happiness on his face.  He pulls you into a giant hug and kisses you gently.  

“Well, I think I can face any scary father-in-law now.”

-

You reach the restaurant where you’re meeting your dad.  Steve helps you out of the car, slipping his hand into yours as you walk inside.

You take a deep breath and decide it’s time to drop the second half of the bombshell.

“Steve, there’s something you should know,” you say as the waiter escorts you to the table.

“What is it?” Steve smiles and you savor the look on his face.  It might be the last time you see it tonight.

“My dad…he’s-”

“Steve?” 

You look up at find your father, Tony Stark, sitting at a table, a look of complete and utter shock on his face.

“Tony?”

An awkward, uncomfortable grin spreads across your face as both men turn to glare at you.

“Surprise…?”

*internally screaming* SIRI KNOWS THE TRUTH!!!

i will not ask you why you were creeping (in some sad way i already know)

this is part three to this azriel and his best friend fic :)

azriel x reader

word count: 5.8k

warnings: mentions of bad family dynamics and childhood trauma, mentions of canon typical violence

summary: starfall has passed, but the revelations of the night keep her anxious and a little embarrassed. there's nothing like having a best friend to ease all your worries - until he goes on a mission, that is

a/n: here it is finally!! I hope you enjoy it and make sure to let me know what you think :) all feedback is welcome! if you want to be added to the taglist let me know here

“Oh, he did not say that!”

“I swear to the Mother, Az! And he looked so pompous too!” a rare laugh bubbled out of the shadowsinger’s lips. He was sitting up over the navy blue covers of his bed, almost doubled over, his stomach hurting from laughter.

“I cannot believe you kept this story from me for a full week” she giggled in response.

The pair of best friends were currently locked inside Azriel’s bedchambers, after she came running into his room about an hour earlier with one groaned out in exasperation explanation - “Cassian and Nesta,” she had practically growled out while throwing herself head first into his pillows “again! It’s the fifth time this week!”

The cause for her visit in his chambers may have been out of a need to escape the sounds that the mated pair made, but Azriel welcomed her with open arms and a big smile, as always. That was one thing about her best friend - there was always some form of smile on his face, each time he saw her.

It was special, that he reserved those moments for her only - and their other family members too - sweet, even.

“You got any other recent stories from your studio for me?” Azriel asked with a quirked eyebrow as he settled back against his bed, biting on one of the freshly baked cookies she had brought with her.

“Not really, you know. Starfall season is over so there’s not that many customers now” she had opened up a dressmaker studio a few decades earlier, despite Azriel’s insistence that she did not have to work, that Rhysand had enough money to support her.

But she had wanted to work.

She never had the chance to before and even though it initially came as another piece of defiance against her parents - she had a need for many of those when she first fled her hometown - it quickly became a great passion of hers.

Dresses were one of the few things from her old life that she did really love, despite how poorly she used to make them for the first few years. She’s pretty sure Rhysand had spent more money to keep it open than the shop actually made. He would never admit it to her though. Now, however, she was one of the most renowned dressmakers in Velaris.

She still pictured her parents' faces if they found out she was a working female now. This was one of the few things they couldn’t bring her down about.

Yes, it was outrageous that a highborn female like her chose to work - with her hands too - but she was successful at what she did. They could insult her about it all they liked, but they couldn’t take her skills away from her.

Sometimes it felt like a sole proof that she could do well in life without them, without their money and prospects and marriage and the golden cage she had spent her youth in.

Sometimes it felt like a lifeline to hold onto, when anxiety and guilt wrecked her guts.

She was still, so, so embarrassed about starfall. She woke up the morning after already dreading seeing Azriel again after he saw her fall apart like that.

Despite it not being the first time. Despite it likely not being the last time either.

But he acted as though nothing had happened - took her out to breakfast before helping her tidy up the studio for opening in a few days.

She knew that the good weeks now were like sunlight before the storm. She could feel the unease already brewing deep inside her. The two months mark would be here soon and- she didn’t even want to think about the mess that would follow.

Azriel knew. Of course he did.

He acted calmly, though, maybe so she could anchor herself to him, try and mirror his behaviour. He made sure she knew he was there for her, offering more long flights over the Velaris skyline than usual or bringing her new fruit flavoured pastries from a bakery down the street to her studio.

Only he could act like that and make it not feel like pity.

She didn’t know how to express gratitude, so she resolved to baking. Example: the cookies they were both currently snacking on.

She had just finished hers and now she lay flat on her stomach, playing with the shadows curling around her fingers.

“They’re so cute” Azriel visibly stopped in his tracks, the hand holding his cookie up to his mouth freezing

“Excuse me?” she glanced up at him

“Your shadows. They’re cute” her eyes momentarily gained focus after sensing Az’s startled reaction, a hint of sharp amusement awakening in them. He opened his mouth to argue, but before he could say anything, his shadows just about tripled in quantity. Curling and brushing around her whole body, twining around her fingers and lifting individual strands of her hair into the air.

Her eyes widened and she let out a giggle.

“Stop this. Right now.”

“I’m not even doing anything!”

“You know exactly what you’re doing” she burst out laughing at that, genuine joy shining off her eyes

“I’m not doing shit, it’s them!” and Azriel was shaking his head, nothing but fondness in his eyes as he looked at her, laying there in his sheets and blankets, catered to by his shadows. Something akin to a string pulled at his rib.

Eventually, Azriel spoke “Fine” he shrugged his shoulders and brought the cookie back up to his mouth to bite. t was intimate to see him so at ease. Laying in bed, posture and body fully relaxed shadows leisurely curling around the entirety of the room. It was vulnerable how safe they both were in each other’s presence.

“Fine?”

“You’re their favorite. Can’t argue with that” he said between chews.

She gasped, quirking up, legs bent and kicking in the air. “You really think so?” Azriel laughed softly.

“Of course I do”

She pursed her lips, and poked her cheek with her tongue in contemplation. Finally, she huffed “You’re making me blush so we’re changing the subject,” he was shaking his head again, smiling softly at her, arms bent behind his head, resting against the headboard.

“Any missions this week?”

“Yeah. One in the continent. Tomorrow” a bit of loaded silence followed, and then

“What? Really?” his eyes softened when he noticed how she visibly deflated. She stopped kicking her legs, the fingers playing with his shadows stilling their movement too.

“I just found out today, sweetheart. But it should only last one day”

“Yeah, okay then” she moved up the bed to sit next to him, moonlight reflecting against her nightgown “Promise you’ll be careful?”

Azriel could swear something even the Mother herself could not explain was happening to his heart.

His fingers clenched and unclenched as he fought the urge to do something. Gods, he was barely able to breathe when the sweet scent of her shampoo hit his nose and there she was kneeling next to him like it was nothing.

Green eyes wide, hopeful and waiting looking up at him and golden-brown curls cascading down her shoulders and over her breasts.

She was in his bed, covered in his scent, shadows and blankets, clad in nothing but a nightgown after bringing him godsdamned cookies to eat.

How was he expected to function properly?

Her full lips parted when he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Of course I promise, angel,” Azriel replied with a raspy voice. And with that, the night went on.

After a while, her movements started to become slower, sluggish even. Sleepy girl.

“Tired?” she only nodded.

He sometimes wondered whether the reason behind how often she became sleepy when next to him was because she felt safe.

Mother, he hoped it was.

The alternative was far more daunting and sent a spike of alarm through his mind - was she overworking herself at the studio? No, surely his shadows would have informed him of that.

“Want me to walk you to your room?” his heart clenched awaiting her response, before immediately warming up when she said:

“What, you won't let me sleep here? No sympathetic cuddle for your best friend?” her smile was sheepish as she already lowered herself onto the pillow he usually slept on.

Azriel chuckled, laying down next to her, bringing the covers and a wing to keep her ever chilly body warm.

“All the cuddles my best friend wants, she gets”

“Wake up,” there was a voice disturbing her sleep. Azriel’s voice. “Sweetheart. Wake up”

“Leave me alone”

A chuckle escaped Azriel’s lips as he crouched in front of his bed. He let her sleep in when he sneaked out of bed earlier to get ready for his mission.

Partially because he had wanted to let her sleep in, and partially because she turned into a demon whenever someone tried to wake her up.

“Come on, angel,” he brushed a hand down her hair. She was laying on her side, facing him, features relaxed.

A familiar feeling warmed his chest to see her like that. And he hated that he had to leave, that he couldn’t get under the covers next to her and-. He has work to do.

Azriel tried again in a soft, warm tone “Open your eyes”

The groan she let out was bordering on growling “Seriously Azriel if you don’t-”

“I have to go”

A bit of silence ensued, her brow furrowed and then she was groaning again, turning onto her back. “Your mission wouldn’t get ruined if you slept for an extra hour, for Mother’s sake”

He didn’t say anything, waiting for her to open her eyes.

After a few seconds she scooted closer to him, but stayed on the bed. She draped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder, barely awake.

Sleepy, grumpy girl.

The movement made him sway and spread out his wings to balance himself. Absent-mindedly, he buried his nose in her hair.

“Be careful. And come back to me quickly, alright?”

“Alright. I promise”

She slowly raised herself up onto her elbows, eyes lidded, still half asleep, movements slow. “M’ sorry if I was mean”

“You were actually quite nice. For your standards”

“Hmph”

“Go back to sleep. I’ll be back for dinner” before his sentence was out, she had already laid back on the bed and snuggled her face into his pillow.

“M-” she yawned, eyes drifting close “Mkay”

After sparing one lengthy glance at her soundly sleeping form in his sheets, Azriel was out the door to meet Rhysand who would give him some final instructions.

He would also give him shit for making him wait for the extra fifteen minutes that the spymaster spent trying to coax his best friend awake.

He wouldn’t pay it any mind.

The day at the studio was incredibly boring, as she had expected. The post-starfall lull came every year without fail.

At one point she had considered closing shop for the day, but working seemed to be good on her mind.

Working meant she didn’t worry about her parents, and about Azriel. Who hadn’t even told her what his mission was about. Or where exactly it was.

Was it because she had talked over him so much that he hadn’t even had the chance? Gods, she hoped not. And she hoped he wasn’t offended she fell asleep on him mid-conversation, again.

It kept happening and she wanted to stay awake for longer to spend more time with him, the Mother knew she did, but her eyes always closed on their own accord. Which was especially strange considering that for most of her youth, she had huge trouble with sleep.

Whether it was waking up in terror in the dead of night, or being unable to fall asleep at all - she had dreaded almost every nightfall back in her family estate. Even though it was the only time she could ever really be herself - unjudged and unguarded.

She shook her head - those years were well past her.

Well, she hoped so, at least.

The day passed quickly - she spent it starting up on some projects that she may or may not finish just in time for spring to arrive.

Except for when a few customers came in, the quiet of the shop had been filled with her soft humming. And a little bit of talking to herself.

Well, not entirely to herself. She spoke to the shadow that Azriel always left with her when he left on missions. Or the shadow stayed behind on its own whim, as her best friend never mentioned leaving it with her.

Either way, with Azriel away, it was the sole subject of her babbling. Up until afternoon, that is, when Elain Archeron came into the shop.

She was alerted with the presence of a new customer, courtesy of the bell hanging over the door.

“Just a second! I’ll be right there!” she squealed out from the backroom. She hadn’t expected any more customers today, especially so near closing.

“Oh, it’s alright!” came a soft voice from the main room of the shop “Take your time”

“Oh, hi Elain!” she said walking to greet her friend “What brings you here?”

“I was just running some errands and wanted to check up on you” if even Elain of all people resorted to this gentle handling and coddling her, then she didn’t even want to imagine what would go down on dinner tonight.

They all still talked about starfall, then.

She appreciated the worry, she really did, but frankly there was nothing for them to do. And she couldn’t ask a High Lord to send out a letter telling her father to frankly, fuck off. Even though he probably would, if it came to it. But she did not want to let someone else handle her life for her, ever again.

She would be fine. Even if dismissing the whole situation probably didn't prove that she could, in fact, fix all of her problems on her own.

The female must have noticed her lack of response and opened her mouth to say something, but she was quickly cut off “I’m fine, Elain, really” she told her friend with a tight lipped smile.

“Are you sure?” something about the look in the middle Archeron sister’s eyes told her she didn’t entirely believe her. Elain gripped both of her hands in hers and continued on “Because if you’re not-”

“I’m alright, really” she assured

“Well, if you say so” the female dipped her head sheepishly, words slow and unsure.

“Can we change the subject, please?” she walked toward the counter near the back of the studio “I have these new projects here, maybe you could take a look…”

The two females ended up taking more than just one look at the projects, as they were now, well over an hour later, sitting on the wooden floor of the shop, papers scattered around them.

Elain gasped as she looked at the time, saying she was supposed to meet with Lucien in a few minutes. She left quickly after complimenting her unfinished works.

She stood up from the floor, wiping her hands on the skirts of her dress. She had a bit of time for a general clean up before Cassian came to fly her to the house for family dinner.

She sighed out through her nose and fixed the ribbon holding half of her hair up. If she was perfectly honest with herself, she would say that she’d much rather hide in her bedroom all night than deal with more coddling from her family.

Maybe it was some long-ago built in shame for expressing vulnerability. She was supposed to sit pretty, quiet and pliant. What was scary was how sometimes, when she fell apart or was especially exhausted - that was a form she craved taking.

But she was alright now and it was ridiculous for her to require this much attention from the people around her.

As she went on with tidying up the studio, her mind wandered over to Azriel. She worried for him, as she always did, but she knew how experienced and seasoned he was. The mission wasn’t anything for him to even bat an eye over, she was sure.

And anyway, he was probably already on his way home.

Azriel did not yet appear to be on his way home. Her stomach churned as she squirmed in Cassian’s arms.

“What do you mean ‘he hasn’t reported to Rhys yet?’” she looked up at him, and wide eyes demanding explanation

“I’m sure he’s alright, seriously. I did not mean to worry you” Cassian replied with a light voice as he soared over the city. When she didn’t reply he looked down to find her still staring at him sternly, jaw clenched and eyes squinted. Uneasy in his arms. “If I knew this would be how you’d react, I’d never would have told you”

“Well that’s comforting, Cassian.” he bristled a bit, eyes softening at her worry.

“He probably just got held up somewhere. This has happened before, remember?” Cassian tried to reason “He usually comes home late”

“But he always reports it, no?”

Cassian sighed, adjusting his grip on her.

“I’m just worried, Cass”

“I know. But he’s fine, I’m sure of it”

Her worry had not eased one bit in the next half hour.

After immediately taking notice of Azriel’s absence at dinner, unease started to creep up her chest. It was possibly a bit unreasonable to get overly worried, this soon. This wasn’t the first time he was late from a mission.

But why hasn’t he reported back?

Everyone else at the table seemed to think exactly the same way Cassian did - that everything was fine. But she had a bad feeling about this.

She swore she could feel worry and anxiety in her chest as though someone had tied a string to her rib and actively pulled it. But with some more convincing from the inner circle, she chose to dismiss the worry for a little while.

If he didn’t get back when they were done eating, that’s when she would seriously start worrying.

“So, I heard you and Azriel are going on a trip to Summer Court soon?” Feyre asked in a light tone, a fair try at deflecting the conversation.

“What? Summer?” Cassian gasped at hearing the question. He looked at her, eyes wide with betrayal. “You guys know I can’t go!”

Nesta chuckled, patting her mate’s arm.

“You’ll live, big guy”

“Well,” she looked at Cassian, and smiled sheepishly “that’s because Az and I were planning on going alone”

Cassian just sat there, mouth hanging open, staring at her in disbelief. Nesta was fighting her smirk; Feyre, Elain and their respective mates were chuckling, while Mor was outright laughing in Cassian’s face.

“And you all knew about this?”

Silence, broken by a few giggles, engulfed the dining room of the House of Wind.

“Traitors” Cassian huffed, slumping back in his chair with his arms crossed.

And for a moment, a comforting lightness came over her. Her friends were all laughing, the evening was peaceful and Azriel surely would be home safe and sound soon.

That feeling lasted all but about ten seconds before a sharp voice cut through it like a knife.

“Well, it’s good to know you and Azriel will be gallivanting around another court while we will be left to deal with your family, once they come here” Amren spoke smoothly from her chair at the other end of the table, eyes sharp and focused.

The room was casted in a heavy silence.

Before she could open her mouth to say something, Rhysand was already shaking his head in disapproval. Violet eyes held warning in them as he spoke to the female. “I think that’s enough, Amren”

She scoffed. “What, you make a show of breaking down over this on Starfall and now Azriel is taking you away to have a vacation just when things will get dirty here?”

“I-” she stammered. A doe closed into a corner. “We haven’t decided on when we’re going-”

“Like that’s the issue here” there was a hint of disdain in Amren’s voice as she replied, before bringing her wine glass to her lips.

She looked down at her like she was a bug under her shoe.

This was strange, even for Amren - yes, they were never close friends, but their relationship was also never outright hostile like this. “What exactly is it that you’re planning to do when your father does come here, eventually?”

She didn’t say anything. Shame, so distinct that she could actually feel it cutting into her chest, burned her as she looked around the room.

Wide eyes confused the glances the rest of the inner circles were exchanging as hostile against her, when in reality they were meant against Amren. She felt her breathing become shallow, and more shame licked at her.

Stupid, foolish girl.

“That’s enough.” Rhysand said with finality, at which Amren smirked but sat back and looked away. Nesta glared at her.

She should be fine. She shouldn’t need this defense, all this coddling. She hated that about the matter of her parents so much - the subject left her feeling so defenseless.

Any thought of them was like twisting a knife that had been stabbed through her for her whole life.

The worst thing was that deep down, she knew Amren was right.

She had no plan, no idea what to do, and did in fact hope that her summer court vacation would overlap with her family’s visit. If you could even call it a visit.

The word invasion crossed her mind.

Gods, what a mess this was. She was.

And most of all, she felt stupid for wishing Azriel was here. She shouldn’t need anyone. She usually didn’t need anyone.

She shook her head, not wanting to ruin the evening for herself more. There were things to worry about, now that they were halfway through eating and Azriel was still not here.

With a picked up heart rate and shaky hands, she went on eating her meal. She didn’t look up from her plate once, so she didn’t see the worried glances her friends were exchanging.

Not like it would’ve been better on her mind if she had.

She has been pacing her best friend’s bedroom for half an hour now.

He should be here. Something is wrong, for sure.

More and more nightmarish scenarios passed through her mind as she ran her hands through her hair for the thousandth time.

Just when she was about to step out of the room to find Rhys or Cassian and Nesta, the door opened.

She stopped dead in her tracks as she watched the shadowsinger stumble into his bedroom. Her eyes zeroed in on the hand he was clutching at his stomach. Red stained his fingers.

Her breathing went in and out in short gasps and she didn’t notice the surprise on Azriel’s face when he saw her there.

Her presence alone was enough reason for happiness for Azriel to forget the pain shooting through his abdomen.

The sight of her, however, was not.

Her usually composed hairstyle was a mess, and when she moved to stabilize him when he stumbled in her direction, he noticed the bit through the skin on her fingertips. The look on her face didn’t help either.

She was scared. Worried.

“Are you alright?”

She stopped dead in her tracks, again, and then with a furrowed brow looked down at his abdomen, and then back to his face.

“You’re hurt” her voice was strained, heavy

“I’ll be fine” he went to go inside his room, and she caught him when he almost fell “Just need to-” he gasped “Lay down”

“No, Az, you need help,” she directed him into the bathroom instead and led him to sit on the closed toilet lid. “Here, I’ll get Rhys to call Madja”

“No”

She gave him a stern look. Sweet, caring girl. “Azriel.”

“I can patch myself up,” he laid back against the wall “No healers. And I’ll be fine s’long as you’re here, angel. Been thinking about you all day” he said with closed eyes.

Gods, he must be delirious from the bloodlost, she thought.

If he won’t see Madja she’ll have to heal him herself. A bunch of shadows handed her a medic kit.

Time was a blur as she set everything out and went to start stopping the bleeding and healing the cut. She knelt before Azriel, movements quick, but precise. Her brow was furrowed with concentration, but worry, too.

Why hadn’t he let anyone know that he was hurt? What has happened?

Azriel hissed in pain as she disinfected the already healing wound. He would be fine, she exhaled in relief.

“Sorry,” she grimaced, looking up at him. “I’m almost done”

Azriel looked down at her through lidded eyes, a small smile donning his lips.

After a moment, when he still wouldn’t look away, she continued on her work with pink-tinted cheeks. Azriel’s stupid smile widened.

He could get stabbed everyday if it meant she would take care of him.

Soon, she was done and helped him to bed.

With assistance from his shadows, she had managed to change him into sleeping clothes. The wound was almost healed already, but she still bandaged it up, just in case.

She exhaled for what felt like the first time in hours. Gods, she knew something was wrong. Still, something inside her eased at having him back at her side, even if hurt. At least this way she could personally make sure he would be taken care of.

And she had to admit to herself, as selfish as it was, she was eternally glad to have him here after that cauldron damned dinner. A feeling of safety came back to her chest like a puzzle piece being set in place.

Now that he wasn’t actively losing blood, Azriel could think a little straighter. He sat against his pillows as she fluffed them up for him, brow still furrowed with worry. He lifted a finger to smooth the lines of her forehead.

“You should be better soon, Az. How do you feel?” she gripped his forearm in her hand. Her wide eyes bored into his hazel ones.

“I’m alright”

She let out a sigh in relief that he was at least feeling better. “I’ll tell Cassian that you won’t come to training and I’ll go to Madja for some tonics for you first thing in the morning. I also read somewhere that-”

“Sweetheart” he interrupted her gently “I’m alright, really. No need to do any of those things”

“No, Az, you’re not training tomorrow morning. No way” he straightened up a little when he saw the seriousness in her eyes. The worry, the stress. Gods, she must have really worked herself up over this.

“Alright, okay. I’m not training tomorrow” he murmured gently, reaching up to tuck away a strand of her hair that fell out of the meddled up hairstyle.

She breathed out, nodding.

Sweet girl.

There was an aspect of vulnerability to their relationship that made it quite different from any other ones in their lives.

For example, Azriel was the only one who knew the true details of her past. Of why she acted the way she did when the subject came up, and he knew how to handle her when she got soft and sensitive about it too. And she let him. Only him.

It went the other way around as well.

She knew everything about his childhood and why now so often he kept to the corners and the shadows.

Why he sometimes felt as if he should not touch her with his bare hands. And she knew how to coax out his soft side, too. In fact, after a while it started coming out around her against his own will. And after a while, he started to love it, how safe he felt around her.

But there were corners of his mind that Azriel was still too wary to let even her into. Corners that he visited in his nightmares and in his darkest moments, but ones that somehow felt all too powerful over him.

That’s why when a heavy silence encapsulated Azriel’s darkened bedroom, when the air became heavy and both their breathing shallow, when the pair realized just how close they are to each other and she looked at him wide eyed, so expectantly, as if something groundbreaking were about to happen, lips already opening for him- He pulled away.

That was why he started some meaningless conversation, trying to ignore the way her face fell when he sat back, further away from her.

That was why he hated himself a little more than on his worst days as he told her minor details of the beginning of his mission, eyes not missing the water lining her eyes.

He swore, his shadows had never scolded him as much in his entire life as in that moment. And they were right to.

The conversation went on until Azriel succumbed to the tiredness of being wounded and fell asleep. She watched his breathing even out, and then stared at him for a little while more.

Then, she debated going back to her room to sleep, but quickly rejected that idea. What if something happened to his wound while he was asleep? No, she should stay. But it also felt wrong to lay next to him after he-

No, she must have misinterpreted the situation. Azriel would never try to-

Right?

She tried to dismiss the thoughts from her mind.

Gods, what was wrong with her?

She laid down in an armchair she had dragged to the side of his bed. Her best friend was hurt, and here she was thinking about kissing him. About how she wanted to but-. This is not the time and place.

Sleep wouldn’t claim her for a long time, so she resorted to sitting there and counting her best friend’s breaths. After a while, their steady rhythm pulled her eyelids to close.

The room was still dark when Azriel opened his eyes. Moonlight streamed in through the opened curtains.

Azriel hissed as he turned around. A sharp pain pulled at this stomach and he looked down to see bandages wrapped around his torso. The wound must not have fully healed yet.

His eyes took in his surroundings and the first thing he noticed was that the armchair pulled up to his bedside.

And the person in it.

With a furrowed brow Azriel took in his best friend, still dressed in her work dress, curled in the chair in a position that must have been uncomfortable to fall asleep in.

What was she doing? Why hadn’t she laid down next to him? Possibilities passed through his mind, and finally he landed on the most probable one - that she wanted to watch him while he slept without disturbing him.

He shook his head as he started getting up. Selfless girl.

Too selfless for her own good, if it meant she would have to deal with back or neck pain in the morning.

But her care was a sweet feeling that even after decades of knowing her felt strange to Azriel. Any other member of his family would’ve known he could patch himself up and not worry themselves into madness about one singular stab wound that was nothing new for him.

Because he would’ve been fine. He had no doubt that if something actually life threatening were to happen to him, his family would take care of him.

It was a sweet, strange feeling that she would care over things he discarded as insignificant. That anyone would ever enjoy taking care of him, and willingly take time out of their day to do so.

He breathed out through his nose as he reached down to scoop her into his arms.

He hoped she wouldn’t wake, if only because she would scold him from carrying her when wounded.

And as he laid her on his bed, he thought about how there was one part of her he would probably never understand.

That unfiltered, unprecedented care she had for him. He knew he reciprocated it, that it went both ways, but somehow her care towards him seemed greater.

Maybe it was because he was harder to love. There were many more ugly sides to him that she frankly lacked.

Maybe because sometimes when he touched her he could feel that ugliness actually seep into her skin.

By the Mother, if he were any less of a selfish male he would’ve stopped this a long time ago. But neither did he have the honour to make her aware of his darkness, as cheap as that may sound, nor did he have the guts to make her his fully.

He couldn’t bear to taint her. Not as he looked at her face pressed into his pillow. Not as he thought about how soft her skin was under his fingertips. And certainly not as he thought about the endless streams of tears she let out as she seeked comfort and safety in him because of how badly she was treated by the people meant to love her.

She entrusted herself to him and he was to ruin her with himself, now?

He ran a hand through her hair as he felt his own hatred for himself run deeper and deeper.

Sometimes, in his worst nightmares, he saw something horrible happening to her. Such a tragic incident would make her his match. In his worst nightmares, she always knew that it was all his fault, and still decided to stay. Putting herself on a clear path to destruction, for him.

And, truth be told, he didn’t know what to make of it. What to do. This was one of the only areas in his life, where Azriel felt stuck.

He was hers, for eternity and he has known that for a very long time. But there was a part of him that couldn’t let her do that to herself. That couldn’t let her accept the curse of loving him.

Could he protect her from himself? Did he want to?

He used to think that he could accept this, whatever they had. Whatever form of friendship or relationship she would offer, he would grab handfuls of.

Now, however, he knew there was a problem that made his chest tighten, heart rate pick up and scarred hands clench and unclench when in close distance to her.

The impatience that grew simmering hot in Azriel, waiting to spill over.

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