My Blog, Is A 18+ Blog. Minors DO NOT INTERACT. 

Capi this was so good💕💕

i walk the line.

You had joked with Ghost before about getting married, never with a tone serious enough for it to be taken into account, even if it was something you dreamed about whenever you were alone with your thoughts. What you hadn’t expected was the question to come up at such an inopportune time. 

Pairing: Simon "Ghost" Riley x Sergeant Reader

rbs greatly appreciated!

WC: 2.1 K

a/n: i hate giving my fics titles so just assume the song in the title is the vibe i want the fic to have lmao. also this is unedited and not beta read so beware of typos and shit

warnings: estabilished relationship, profanity, whump, description of wound, mentions of death, badly timed marriage proposal, medical inaccuracies, fluff, happy ending

It’s cold.

No, scratch that. It’s fucking freezing.

God, you hate the cold. Considering how much you despise it, it amuses you to think you might have been a desert creature in another life. A lizard, maybe. The types to scurry really fast and eat small insects all day. What a life.

You’re lost in your musings but you think there are a few very faint voices calling for you. Where are they coming from? Above? Seems like it. First, you hear their voices getting clearer, and recognize a word. It’s your codename, meaning, it’s your teammates voices. But why do they sound so agitated? Next, you feel pain. Quickly rising, scorching hot pain in your abdomen. 

Oh, that’s right. You were shot.

A scream echoes out wherever you are and only later you’d recognize it as your own, in the same moment you recognize Ghost’s own booming voice frantically calling out for you, and the heavy weight of Soap’s large hands holding you down so you wouldn’t trash as much. It had been ironic, really, how much the mission went smoothly, 99% of it being completed without a hitch, but right as you were about to celebrate success, some fucker neither of you had seen before had decided to put a bullet in you - any of you - blindly, and it so happened it would hit you. The offender was long gone, a throw knife lodged in his skull as quick as a blink of an eye in the split second after the gunshot was heard, but the damage was already done. A few seconds before it happened, you had groaned how much you couldn’t wait for evac to come so you could take a hot shower and sleep, since your bones were aching, and Gaz had laughed and called you old-spirited. So much for that shower, you think as you take in the surroundings of what you could see of the abandoned safe house from your position on the blood stained table. It was painful to think about if that same table was used in the past for a family reunion or to gather folks around for good news, before hell broke loose and war tore apart the people, so you didn’t think about it. Ghost called your codename again and you cast your eyes downwards to look at him, the fear in his eyes sending a chill down your spine.

“Hey! Talk to me, don’t you dare close your eyes!”

You had screamed as he was removing the projectile from your flesh, you realized. Was not your first rodeo, a thought that made you want to laugh bitterly, but just the idea of laughing made you wince in pain. His hands were currently trying to stop the bleeding, and after taking one look at the wound, you suddenly felt at peace. 

It was pretty shitty you were going to die in an equally shitty safehouse, but that’s the life you chose. So, against your better judgment, you chuckle lowly and decide to follow your superior’s orders.

“Keep talking, eh? Alright.” You groaned once more when he applied more pressure to your gaping wound. “L.t, do you- do you remember when i told you…I wanted to retire early and - fuck - get to the countryside and get a big ass dog?”

He looked up at you briefly, glad you were talking but clearly wondering where you were going with this. You knew he hated when you spoke of the future as if you were going to die - which, right now, you were pretty sure it was really happening this time - but you couldn’t help yourself. Of course he remembers that conversation, it was in the beginning of your secret-not-so-secret relationship. You had asked him what he would do if he wasn’t a soldier, and he had given you a very cryptic and vague answer that resembled a lot like nothing. In turn, you told him your wishes half heartedly, as if thinking of living for 10 more years was a very distant dream. 

The relationship between the 141’s Lieutenant and one of its Sargeants was a sort of urban legend going around. People knew it was happening, but didn’t dare speak of it, and no one had ever really seen any proof of it, so, it was best to avoid prying into Ghost’s private matters as to not risk being at the receiving end of his annoyance, and, in turn, you both found solace in having something that only the two of you knew about. It never hindered your professionalism and it had been going on for a few good years now, so it became somewhat naturalized between the folks coexisting in the same space as you and Simon after a while. However, that never stopped the natural curiosity to flourish in a few people - namely, your comrades, who always knew there was something going on given the fact you’d literally look at your superior with hearts in your eyes - so you had to ignore Gaz and Soap’s expectant eyes on you as you spoke so tenderly, the intensity of witnessing the start of what seemed like a very intimate talk momentarily sharing space with the worry they were feeling over you. 

“...Yes. I remember.”

He never forgets the things you say, even if you think it’s not important at the time. You hummed, ignoring the pain that came with it.

“Big dogs were never really my thing. I just-” A cough ripped out of you, and you didn’t need to look to know there was blood in it. “ I just thought it was the kind of thing you’d want. Big dogs fit you. It felt less scary to think about retiring once I added you in the equation.”

You were slurring your words and you knew it. As you regained your breath, you briefly saw a very wide-eyed and angry looking Price curse into his comm asking where the fuck was the goddamn chopper. Your codename being barked alongside the word “WIA” to a poor fellow soldier on the other side of the line left you with a bad taste in your mouth. You hate how scared Ghost looked, your big, scary, stoic Ghost, and you can’t help but feel selfish for leaving him, even if being shot was not your fault and wasn’t really in your plans when you left the base that morning.

“Stop talking like you’re fucking d-”

“We could have done it, you know?” Your laugh is, once again, bitter, and you’re acutely aware of the tears streaming down your face. Death has never scared you, but now that you got a reason to stay, you’re terrified. “Could’ve gotten hitched somewhere nice. Can’t really imagine you in a suit, though.”

The pain doesn’t stop, but it gets duller as you feel your consciousness slipping away, and you never fought so much to stay awake in your entire life. Simon yells something to Soap among the lines of getting something from somewhere so he can continue trying to save you, but you don’t register his words. His tone softens once his eyes are back on you.

“I’d wear a suit if you asked me to, sweetheart.”

“I know. I wouldn’t ask, though.”

Not caring there are other people in the room, you smile at him, well aware it must be uncanny to see Ghost be so tender towards another person, but again, you were the lucky one who got to see it every time it was just the two of you, so you got used to it with time.

Your vision starts spinning more and more, and your eyes start to close the moment you hear the familiar, faint sound of a helicopter getting closer, Simon’s big hands suddenly on your face to try to keep you grounded, and he sounds even more exasperated than before. He calls your name - not your codename, for once.

“Stay alive, do you hear me?! You gotta stay the fuck alive so i can take you to the bloody countryside and get bloody hitched-”

“You askin’ me to marry ya’ in my deathbed, sir?” You manage to slur out, your smile growing despite the panic you don’t have the energy to express settling in your bones, and Simon’s eyes widen even more behind the mask.

“Yes, I am, so stay with me, that’s a fucking order-”

You chuckle, closing your eyes as the frantic sounds around you all blur into a garbled mess. Faintly you feel your body being moved around, a strong wind on your blood and dirt caked hair, hear some more shouting, but then,

Silence.

——————————

Feels like the thousandth time you have woken up, and the feeling of coming in and out of consciousness is unbearable at best.

The first time - or the second, you don’t remember - there was a strong light above you, but you had no energy to open your eyes, so it lasted a measly second before you were out again. Later, you heard an unfamiliar voice saying something about an induced coma for a few days for a better recovery. You wondered if they were talking about you (they probably were). This happens a few more times before you actually feel your consciousness coming back for good, and, before you open your eyes, the first thing you notice is how warm it is, and, if you could, you’d smile. The spring air smells good, and you think you catch a whiff of cleaning products while you inhale, suddenly aware of how empty your lungs felt. The third thing you notice is the weight on your hand, and once you open your eyes, you find a familiar set of skeleton gloved hands on top of your own. A few years back you had told him with a laugh the print was very 2000’s, and he had just brushed you off with a scowl, but you’ve never been so glad to see the tacky thing. His thumb caresses your skin as he patiently waits for you to become more aware of your surroundings, and you instantly smile when you finally meet his gaze, which looks extremely relieved.

“Hi.” Your throat feels parched, voice straining as if you’d swallowed a kilo of sand, but Simon thinks your voice never sounded so sweet to his ears.

“Hi.” 

It hurts to move, but you do so anyway, slowly sitting up despite Simon’s protests just so you can see him more clearly and grasp his hand a little better. While you are busy cringing at the dull pain in your stomach from the stitches, he extends a glass of water for you, to which you grab and gulp down immediately, quenching your thirst and looking over at your partner with such gratitude an onlooker would have thought he was a literal godsend. 

“How bad is it?” Your voice still felt rough from disuse, but at least it sounded a bit more familiar to your ears. 

“Pretty bad.” He doesn’t bother you with details; he knows you were never a fan of hearing about your wounds descriptively. “But you’ve always been tough.”

You flash him a grin that has him silently flabbergasted both with how beautiful you are and how quickly you seem to bounce back from a near fatal injury. Suddenly, you remember your last words before you blacked out, and your smile turns shy as you cast your gaze down to where your hands meet.

“...Did you mean it?” 

Simon has always been extremely observant and smart, he knows what you are talking about immediately, and you like to think he is smiling under the mask as he goes back to gingerly caressing the top of your smaller hand with his thumb.

“I did, sweetheart.” His voice is low, and every time he calls you a pet name it has your heart doing somersaults. “I’m sorry I don't have a ring yet and I don't know when we would have some time off to have a ceremony, but I want to marry ya’. If you’ll have me, that is.”

Feeling like your smile would grow so big it would rip your face, you beamed at him, acutely aware of how you must have been looking like a mess with a - hospital - bed head and tired eyes, but you’d hoped he could notice the hearts in your eyes as obviously as you felt them. Things always seemed to fall in place with Ghost; no need for extravagance or huge acts, and the fact that your marriage proposal was exactly that, made you fall even more in love with him. You watched lovingly as he raised your hand to press a mask covered kiss on the top of it, and shook your head, laughing gently.

“Of course i’ll marry you, Simon.”

valentine’s day asks!

do you have a crush on anyone?

what’s your favorite candy?

favorite love song?

what was your first kiss like?

what was your last kiss like?

sexual/romantic orientation?

do you prefer poems or love letters?

favorite fanfic trope?

have you ever been in love?

favorite milkshake flavor?

dinner dates or brunch dates?

favorite flowers?

favorite perfume/cologne?

favorite candle scent?

what’s your ideal first date?

favorite love story?

what’s the most attractive thing a person could wear?

chocolate, vanilla, or red velvet?

snow, rain, or sun?

sweetest romantic memory?

favorite dating sim (and favorite character)?

fictional crushes?

what’s your dream wedding like?

what makes you blush?

do you believe in love at first sight?

do you believe in soulmates?

denim jackets, leather jackets, or bomber jackets?

what’s your sign?

are you single?

do you prefer to charm, or be charmed?

guitar or piano?

favorite romcom (or any romantic movie)?

do you fall in love easily?

valentine’s decorations: yay or nay?

would you prefer to propose or be proposed to? what’s your dream proposal?

cloud gazing or star gazing?

do you like to dance?

what’s your OTP?

kittens or puppies?

coffee, hot chocolate, or tea?

favorite soda?

do you prefer gazing wistfully out the window or lying dramatically over the sofa?

favorite ABBA song?

fuck/marry/kill? (anons name 3 people of your choice)

favorite pajamas?

favorite liquor?

do you think about love a lot?

a walk in the park or a walk on the beach?

hand kisses or nose kisses?

what’s your dreamhouse?

Bear 💪🐻

04/07/23

Oh my gosh thank you for everyone who voted!!😭💕

If you want to be tagged in the upcoming fic just send an ask to my inbox :)

Since I can't decide who to write for next and I've got a couple fics in the works for both of them, I'll let yall decide in my very first poll :)

Black Authors : Check The Original Post for UPDATES!

Here’s a list of Black authors. Masterlists are linked when available. Please send me a dm/ask for other authors recommendation or feel free to add to this list. I’m going to tack this on to my masterlist! Check the original post for updates!

Edit: The reason why I started this list!

Also blogs listed here could be 18+ to 21+

My Masterlist

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This was so fun to do!!

No pressure tag: @worksby-d

Thanks for the tag @uselsshuman 💕

Aesthetic Tag Game

Rules: go to Pinterest, search “[your name] core aesthetic” and create a moodboard from the first nine images. No need to mention your name.

Thanks for the tag @stillbeatingheart ! This was a fun one…..and surprisingly, I dig the vibe?

No pressure tags to @marcus-is-my-muse @cassiesinsanity @littlemisspascal and anyone else who sees it and feels like doing it…..

Subtle Acts of Love

Pairing: Garrick Tavis x fem!reader

Summary: Garrick shows you he loves you in small ways

Warnings: fluff

Word Count: 5.2k(this one got away from me haha)

A/N: Been a little MIA these last couple of weeks; I was on vacation and then last week was super busy. I've been wanting to write something for Garrick for a while now so I hope everyone enjoys this fic of Garrick and his sweetheart🥺

I'd love to write more for these two so send in any requests you might have about Garrick and Princess and I'll do my best to get to them! Not gonna lie I was listening to Alex Warren's song Ordinary and I felt like it fit perfectly! Hope you guys enjoy this!💕

Let me know who you'd like to read a fic about next :)

****Beware of typos lol(my computer is acting up) and constructive criticism is always helpful!

You had been studying for days, preparing for the upcoming Battle Brief exam that hung over you like a dark cloud. Your mind was drowning in the notes you had been taking during class containing outpost information, skirmishes, and other information that you swore was swimming around on the page in front of you. Despite your best efforts, the stress had started to seep into every facet of your life. If you weren't training or going to class, you were studying or eating in the dining hall and your friends had started to take notice. You noticed the sun's rays casting a warm glow over your room and you peeked out your window to see the sun setting in the distance. You sighed and rolled your shoulders to try and get rid of the tightness from being hunched over your materials. A knock sounded at your door and you jumped, the sound pulling you from your thoughts.

You got up to open it and saw your squad standing in front of you. "We're all heading to the dining hall, want to join?" Rhiannon asked. "I don't know," You hesitated, casting a glance behind you at the open textbooks on your desk, "I feel like I should keep going over the material for battle brief," You answered. "Oh come on," Ridoc groaned playfully. "You're going to ace the exam like always. I'm sure you could take a break to feed yourself," he went on. "Alright," You gave in with a small smile and Ridoc threw his arm around your shoulders pulling you into his side, jostling you.  "You know there's more to life than studying," He teased. You sat with your squad, munching on dinner as the boisterous energy around you reached its peak. You had to admit it was nice taking a small break but the upcoming exam still nagged at you at the back of your mind. I'll go back to studying after dinner. You decided.

A shadow loomed over you and you tilted your head up to see Garrick standing behind you and you smiled. Garrick had been your best friend since first year at Basgiath last year and the two of you had practically been inseparable since. "Hey you," He said, sliding his large frame on the bench beside you. His deep, raspy voice caused your heart to flutter. Just being near him, your body seemed to loosen and let go of some of the tension it had been keeping. Garrick must have noticed because his eyebrows furrowed. "Are you alright?" He asked. You nodded. "Just a bit stressed about the exam for Battle Brief," You replied. "You'll do great, I know you will. I know your studies are important to you but try not to stress too much," He said, rubbing his thumb along the back of your hand.

You nodded and though his words were comforting, the anxiety didn't leave completely. "I really should get back though," You replied, standing up. Your friends protested but you promised to spend more time with them once the exam was over tomorrow. "I'll walk you back," Garrick offered, rising to his full height. Admittedly, he had made you uneasy the first time you saw him because of how big he was; Violet had called him "the big one" the first time your squad watched him spar with Xaden and the moniker was fitting. But after you helped him the first time in math, you realized he wasn't always as scary as he seemed and now you couldn't imagine your life without him in it. You and Garrick strolled leisurely through the corridors-or rather Garrick strolled leisurely-and chatted a bit.

"Why are you so stressed about the exam?" He finally asked. "It's an important exam. I don't want to fail," You replied, as if it was obvious. The two of you had made it to the courtyard and the smell of honeysuckle amid the fresh air tickled your nose. "You always say that you're scared to fail but you never fail and you worry yourself too much about it. So why are you so stressed about passing school all the time if you're good at what you're doing?" He asked, leaning his back against a pillar as the two of you sat on the cobblestones. "I don't know....I guess I just don't want to disappoint my family. They were so proud of me when I got accepted to join the quadrant," You admitted. The swath of daylilies growing at the edge of the courtyard a few fingers length away caught your eye. You reached down and stroked the delicate petals and a soft smile graced your face; they were your favorite flowers with their showy and vibrant colors and they never failed to make you smile. "I just feel like if I fail, even an exam, I'll be letting them down somehow," You said, letting the petal slide along your fingers. "You're one of the best students I know, Y/n. I'm sure your parents would be proud of you no matter what," He said softly, watching you look at the flowers.

The next morning you woke up and the pit in your stomach about the exam was still there. Talking with Garrick helped but the anxiety wouldn't go away until the exam was over. You finished braiding your hair, strapped your daggers to your side, and grabbed your book bag. You sighed and opened the door and almost stepped on something laying on your doorstep before gasping softly. Laying on your doorstep bound together with twine was a bouquet of daylilies, the same ones you had stopped to admire yesterday. You picked up the bundle and admired the vibrant oranges, pinks, and yellows. You brought them to your nose and inhaled the sweet scent and noticed a small piece of paper tucked into the twine. "I know they're your favorite." It read and you noticed it was unsigned. I wonder who left them. You thought to yourself. It could've been any of your friends since they all knew you liked them. You stepped back inside, placed the flowers on your desk, and left for battle brief; and of course you passed the exam. 

"Oh, come on again?" You cried out, seeing the lack of your favorite dessert on the dessert table. "They have plenty of other good desserts," Violet offered, amused. "I know but I wanted the blackberry tartlets again," you said, craving the delicate little pastry. You settled for lemon squares and while they were delicious, they certainly weren't blackberry tartlets. "Want me to bribe the bakers to get some for you?" Garrick chuckled. "I know you're only teasing, but I'd love you forever," You laughed, and you missed the way the red crept up Garrick's neck as he smiled sheepishly. The conversation quickly turned, and you forgot about the missing dessert you had wanted.

"Don't overreach y/l/n!" Emetterio shouted over the noise in the sparring gym. "You open yourself up if you keep doing that," he continued. You had been partnered with a girl from third wing and although she was small, she was infuriatingly quick. She knocked your feet out from under you before you had time to register what had happened and pinned you to the mat forcing you to yield. Emetterio sighed but class had lapsed, and the girl got up and offered you a hand, giving you a small nod before rejoining her squad. You walked over to your own, undoing the wrappings on your hands. “Getting your ass kicked by a first year?” You heard behind you. You looked over your shoulder and saw Garrick standing beside your gym bag. “Oh, please like you never lost a fight,” You snorted. “Besides I was just distracted,” you said. It was true; you were still thinking about the flowers left anonymously a few weeks ago and... Garrick looked really good sparring with Xaden during your match. Garrick opened his mouth but before he could ask about it, your squad called for you. “I’ll see you later?” You looked at Garrick before grabbing your gym bag and he gave you a nod. You and the rest of your squad headed towards the showers to wash off the sweat and stink of sparring practice. Sawyer and Ridoc split from the group heading towards the male showers while you, Rhiannon, and Violet headed towards the female showers. 

The steam hit you in the face and suddenly you desperately wanted out of your gym clothes to feel the hot water wash everything away. "So still no idea who left those flowers?" Rhiannon asked, stripping off her shirt revealing a standard issue black sports bra. "No," You shook your head, setting your gym bag on the bench and taking a seat next to it. "I guess I should give up trying because it could be anyone." You slipped off your shoes and your shirt, leaving them in your locker to grab after your shower, before opening your gym bag to pull out fresh clothes. You scrunched your eyebrows in confusion. "What is it?" Violet asked, seeing the look on your face. "Not sure but it was sitting on top of my clothes," You murmured, pulling out a small but thick package wrapped in butcher paper and tied with twine. "Well open it I want to see what it is," Rhiannon said. You gingerly untied the twine and peeled back the butcher paper to find five...blackberry tartlets. You'd recognize the little pastries anywhere. The buttery crust held together a pastry cream layer, a blackberry compote layer, and topped with fresh blackberries dusted with powdered sugar. "Did one of you guys put this in my bag?" You asked but both of the girls shook their heads. "I love you but you know how the bakers are," Violet jokes, peeking out from behind the shower curtain. It was true the bakers were known to be a bit...difficult. It was common knowledge you didn't want to piss off the bakers who felt themselves to be superior and all important. "Someone must really like you," Rhinanon smiled before stepping into the shower. Yeah. you thought. But who?

Your squad, plus Xaden and Garrick were gathered in the common room studying or otherwise pouring over old books from the Archives. "So I heard you got another present from your secret admirer," Ridoc teased, looking up from his spot on the floor where he laid on his stomach, a textbook open but discarded. Everyone's head turned to look at you and you felt your face heat up. "Pastries in my gym bag," You murmured. "Not just any pastries...I heard they were the desserts you were wanting. Blackberry tartlets perhaps?" Ridoc wiggled his eyebrows, a huge grin plastered on his face. "Yes, they were," You said, a little uncomfortable about the attention focusing solely on you. "But they're not a secret admirer. I think they're just trying to be nice," You added, the weak defense clearly doing nothing to convince your companions. You happened to glance over at Garrick who was watching with an unreadable expression. Was he upset? You wondered. Did he care at all? Your little crush had bloomed over the last year and you knew you loved Garrick even if you never had the courage to say anything and you knew you wouldn't return the feelings your "secret admirer" had. You only wanted Garrick and you wished you could tell him.

"Please anyone who gets anonymous gifts has a secret admirer. Maybe you should try to find out who it is," Rhiannon joined the conversation. "If they found out who it was that would obviously defeat the point of the secret part," Ridoc snorted derisively. "Plus everyone knows two gifts is too early to attempt to discover a secret admirer's true identity," Ridoc added seriously. "Oh yeah who said that?" Sawyer laughed. "Everyone knows that!" Ridoc whined, shoving his friend's shoulder playfully.

"I don't but I wish I did know who it was so I could thank them and let them know how much I appreciate it," You replied. Even if you wouldn't return their feelings, it was still thoughtful what they were doing. "Maybe they already know," Garrick pointed out and you looked over. His hazel eyes always made you feel weak in the knees but there was something...different in them. "Maybe," You whispered. "Well, if they ever decide to stop being anonymous, tell them to send one my way too. I wouldn't mind tarts and a love confession," Ridoc smirked from his spot. A few laughed and the tension faded but garrick's look stayed with you.

The morning bell sounded, signaling classes were beginning soon. Your first class of the day was Dragonkind with Professor Kaori, and your steps were light but brisk, not wanting to be late. You rounded the corner and there he was- Garrick stood leaning against the wall, dwarfing the first years that passed by. "Cutting it a bit close today. Are you trying to make me late?" He joked, falling in step beside you. You rolled your eyes playfully. "I'm not the one making you late, you've got your own schedule," You laughed as you and Garrick made your way to Kaori's classroom. "I guess," He said with a lazy smile. "I can't just have you roaming the halls by yourself though," He added. You blinked in surprise. "I appreciate it but you don't have to always walk me to class," you replied. "I'd be fine." Garrick gazed down at you briefly. "I know you would be but I don't mind," he told you, his voice softer. A part of you wanted to argue but the warmth in his eyes made it hard so instead you gave him a small nod, letting the moment settle in. His presence beside you was comforting; like something you didn't realize you needed until it was already there. As the two of you walked a comfortable silence spread over the both of you- that was something you always liked about being around Garrick; you never had to fill the space with small talk if it wasn't needed- and you let your mind wander. 

It struck you how often he did this, walking you to your classes. How often he waited for you even though he didn't have to, seemingly always there. Most of his classes were on the other side of the academic wing so they weren't exactly close and yet, without fail, he always made a point to walk you to yours even if it meant he'd be late to his own. The two of you approached the crowded courtyard, students milling about as they gathered for their own classes. "So what do you think?" Garrick asked, a teasing glint in his eyes. "What?" You asked, shaking your head free from your thoughts. You followed his gaze and you realized- Garrick was close to his class but you were still a good several minutes from yours. You would make your class on time as always but he'd be late. Again. "Are you sure you don't mind risking detention just to walk me to my class?" You asked, a soft smile curling at the corner of your lips.

Garrick smirked at you, not breaking his stride. "It's worth it," he said, his voice unbothered. "Besides I've been late to worse things. A class won't kill me," He added. "And this...is more important than your class?" You asked, raising an eyebrow at him in bemusement. "Always," he quickly responded as if it was the most natural response in the world. "Besides you're stuck with me now whether you like it or not," He grinned. You chuckled and shook your head, knowing there was no arguing with Garrick once he made up his mind. By the time you reached your class Garrick was already glancing at the crowded hallway with slight frustration. "I should get going," He murmured but there was no real urgency behind his words. He was clearly in no rush to leave you, regardless if it meant he'd be late to his own obligations. "Thanks," You said softly. "I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have you walking to my classes everyday," You joked lightly. 

“I have no doubt you’d make it on your own but I’m in no hurry to let you,” He teased, giving you a wink. “Have a good class,” He said and with that he turned and started making his way through the crowd towards his own class. You stood there for a moment and watched him leave, your heart swelling a little. Walking you to class was one of those small things that amounted to something much more significant than what it seemed on the surface. It struck you and you realized that Garrick wasn’t doing these little gestures to simply pass the time; he was showing you in the only way he knew how that he cared. As you took your seat, you thought about the anonymous gifts that had been left for you and you wondered. Was Garrick leaving them for you?

You were tucked into a quiet corner of the library, your head hunched over the textbooks in front of you as you tried to get through some of your assignments that had piled up. It was late and the rest of your squad had already said goodnight and left. Garrick sat next to you and his warm presence filled the space. He didn't have anything to study and you told him he could leave with everyone else but he refused, remaining seated beside you. Your back ached with the hunched position you had been in the last few hours and your arms and legs felt stiff from sitting. You really should have taken a break hours ago, probably left with everyone else, but there was so much to do and you didn't want to fall behind. Your eyes crossed as you furiously scribbled down notes and you closed them, stifling a yawn. "I think it's time you stopped for the night," Garrick said, half amused, half serious but you shook your head. "I'll take a break in a few minutes," You said, cursing your voice for sounding weary. "You said that hours ago princess," he murmured. You looked up and noticed the fire had dimmed significantly and all but a few mage lights had gone out; maybe time had gotten away from you more than you wanted to admit. "Just a little longer and I'll leave," You protested weakly, but Garrick wasn't having it. "You won't be able to study efficiently if you're as tired as you are," He said and he had a point. You conceded and started packing up your things, putting your papers, notes, and pens in your book bag and closing your textbooks. You stood up, your body protesting from being in the same position for so long and you stretched. 

Garrick stood beside you and without missing a beat grabbed your stack of textbooks before you could even reach for them. "What are you doing?" You asked, wincing as you remembered the weight of them even though deep down you knew the weight barely bothered him. "Helping you," He said, nonchalantly. "But I can carry my own books," You replied. "I know you can but right now you're so tired you can barely stand," he pointed out. He grabbed your book bag from the chair and slung it over his shoulder, his body language effortless, as if carrying your things was nothing to him. Truth be told it wasn't and he did it often. "Just relax," He said, his voice gentle but firm. "You've been going at this for hours, I'll handle it now," He went on. "Let's get you out of there." He placed a hand on the small of your back, guiding you out of the library. Garrick's expression seemed soft, almost...protective, as though he were willing to take on your burdens for you. And that was just it- he wasn't just carrying your things he was carrying your stress. The weight you hadn't even realized you were carrying started to dissipate with every step you took, as though by carrying your things he was telling you it was okay to let go.

"I could've just taken a break," You pointed out, Garrick letting you lean against him slightly as you walked. "You could have," He agreed. "But we both know you wouldn't have. And I'm not going to give you the option of overworking yourself," his smirk returning, but warmer. You stayed quiet and your mind returned to the possibility of Garrick being your secret admirer. Could it be him? You wondered. The way he seemed to always be there when she needed him. The way the gifts had shown up seemed a little too coincidental to when Garrick had been around. You shook your head. Why would he do any of that? It felt a little ridiculous to think Garrick would be the one to be your secret admirer. Anyone could have left the gifts and you were sure Garrick also walked the rest of his friends to class and carried their things every once in a while. But deep down you knew he didn’t. You glanced up at him, catching his eye and he smiled at you like he always did but there was something different about him. Something... vulnerable and tender and you offered him a small smile in return. No, it couldn't be. Still, as Garrick helped you with your things you couldn't shake the feeling that your secret admirer was no longer as anonymous as they used to be. 

It was the kind of day that the exhaustion wasn't evident until you flopped down on your bed with a sigh. It had been a long day with classes and flying practices and your body ached from the drills. The sun had started to dip below the horizon, softly illuminating your room. You sat up and started to peel off your flight jacket and daggers, dropping them on your desk. You turned to undo your braid to shower and noticed something peeking out from under your pillow, your breath catching. Was it another gift? You wondered. You walked over and slid the package out realizing from the shape it was a book. You removed the soft cloth that contained the book and almost gasped out loud. It was your favorite novel since you had been a young teenager; you hadn't read it in years since you hadn't been able to bring it with you to Conscription Day. It was leather bound with the letters on the cover brushed with gold.

The leather showed signs of wear and the spine had a few cracks where the book had been opened too many times to count; it wasn't stiff like a new book, but had some give to it. The book was old and out of print now, nearly impossible to find in its original form. You opened the book and ran your fingers down the page; they were soft, the edges worn and slightly frayed from countless fingers flipping them. But this book contained something even more special and rare; marginalia. You thumbed through the pages and noticed notes, comments, and annotations from the author scribbled amongst many of the pages. You didn't even want to think about how someone could have gotten this, much less what it had to have cost. But who would even go through the trouble of getting this for you? And you realized, there was only one person it could have been.

Garrick.

The book was special to you as a kid, a gift from your parents, and you had only ever told Garrick about it. The novel was about a princess and her knight who conquered dangerous quests to prove his love, always bringing her something from his many fascinating travels across the land. You were afraid your friends would tease you for liking such material and although the teasing would have been good-natured, you wanted to keep it to yourself. You had only told Garrick about the book a while back. There was romance and danger and it had made teenage you swoon and daydream about one day having your own knight. You sat there, shocked that you hadn't realized it sooner; or rather believed it sooner. Garrick was your knight. He was the one who had left you the gifts. He was your secret admirer. The pieces were falling into place now. Garrick had been there to see you admire the daylilies and the next morning they were on your doorstep. Garrick heard you wanting the blackberry tartlets and the next day there they were in your gym bag. He always walked you places. Always carried your things. He never did this for anyone else. Now, a rare edition of your favorite book had appeared under your pillow.

These gestures and gifts weren't nothing to him; in his own way, Garrick was letting you know he cared about you and listened to you. In his own way, Garrick was trying to confess that he loved you. Not with big grand gestures but in subtle and deeply meaningful ways. Tears pricked your eyes because that meant more to you than anything. That he knew you wouldn't want him to admit he loved you in a big or public way. You asked your dragon along the bond to find out from Chradh where Garrick was before rushing out the door. You had to confront Garrick even if you were wrong-and you didn't think you were- and you had to tell him how you felt. Chradh and his rider are about to land in the flight field. Your dragon said through your bond. You ran towards the flight field passing the dining hall and academic wing before finally making it to the field just in time to see Garrick and Chradh touch down. 

You waited on the edge for Chradh to leave before approaching Garrick. "Is everything okay?" Garrick asked as you walked up to him. "Chradh said you were looking for me." "I'm fine but I need to ask you something," You said, your fingers curling protectively around the weathered spine of the book. Garrick tilted his head and something in his eyes shifted, becoming cautious. "Alright," he simply said. "This... this was under my pillow when I got back from drills," You told him, holding the book up for him to see. Something flickered across his gaze but it was so quick you couldn't even register what it was, and you continued on. "I told you about this book a long time ago. About how much it means to me. How no one else knew." your gaze searched his, watching carefully and your chest became tight but you pressed on. "And now it turns up. After the flowers, the pastries, always walking me to class, carrying my things, everything." Garrick's jaw tightened but he didn't say anything. The silence pressed around you two, thick and heavy with all the words being left unsaid. "You've been the one leaving me the gifts," You said, not as a question but a statement because you knew, but you wanted him to say it. "Haven't you?" You asked him. For a long beat, Garrick stood silently looking at you, something unreadable flickering in his expression. You began to grow uneasy. What if you had been wrong? Finally, Garrick let out a faint sigh and nodded. “Yeah I have,” he stated. The breath you had been holding in your lungs escaped and you stepped closer to him. “Why didn’t you just tell me?” You asked. He smiled a soft lopsided smile at you. 

“Because you deserve a knight,” He responded, echoing your words from so long ago. 

“You deserve someone who brings you things from his travels. You deserve someone who proves how much he loves you without ever having to say anything. You deserve everything you want Y/n,” He said. “I just wasn’t sure you’d want me to be him,” he confessed, sadness tinging his words. “Garrick…” You said, your heart thudding painfully in your chest. “I thought maybe if I could show you instead of telling you outright that you’d figure it out. Or even if you didn’t you’d at least smile a little more. I would’ve been fine with that much honestly,” He went on, anxiously running a hand through his hair and looking away for a split second. “But then every time I noticed you smiling and happy after I left something for you, it felt like I could breathe easier. Like maybe I actually had a shot,” He smiled. You closed the remaining distance between the two of you and looked up at him. “Garrick you always had a shot,” You whispered. “You just didn’t know it yet.” His hazel eyes, those stupidly beautiful hazel eyes, bore into you.  “Do you mean that?” he whispered back and you nodded. “I do. You’ve always been my knight haven’t you? Always watching out for me, always there,” You smiled. “I’m not really the best at this kind of thing,” His voice was low and earnest. “But I love you with everything I have. That much I’m sure of. And I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that you,” he promised.

The setting sun caught his eyes, making the hazel irises look like molten honey and it made you weak; you could stare at his eyes forever.  “Then you’re already doing everything right,” you smiled and it was big and bright and all you. That was all he needed to hear and he bent down slowly, giving you every chance to pull away but you didn’t. His lips met yours, moving slowly; it wasn’t a kiss filled with urgency or heat but a confession in itself. It was quiet and complete, brimming with everything he couldn’t put into words. You leaned into the kiss without hesitation, holding your knight as if you’d never let go. Garrick finally pulled back and smiled down at you, familiar and lopsided and you gazed at his face; it was perfect, even the scar running down one side. “I’ve wanted to do that since the first moment I saw in the Archives scowling at your reading list,” he said with a husky chuckle. “You mean the time when I dropped all my books and cursed the professor under my breath for assigning so many?” You laughed. “That’s the one,” he grinned. “I knew I was done for. Took me weeks just to speak to you the first time in math,” He grinned. 

You tilted your head. “You mean all those dumb questions about the equations were just your excuse to talk to me?” You teased. “They weren’t dumb! I stand by not knowing what the hell was going on in that class,” he laughed. “You had a better grade than me!” You said, shaking your head with a smile. “Yeah but only because I started studying after you helped me. I had to impress you somehow,” He flashed a grin. “Then you’ve just been trying to impress me this whole time?” You asked softly, looking up at the man who stole your heart. “Because you never needed to,” You whispered, wrapping your arms around his waist, still clutching the precious book. “I’d still do it all over again for you,” He said, leaning down and kissing you again. This time, you held your knight and didn’t let go. 

Can you make one where y/n is xaden's sister and he hates her for some reason she doesn't know about. Garrick finds her attractive and goes behind xaden's back to date her. After liams death Garrick is assigned as violets bodyguard (?) and because of that y/n and Garrick won't be able to talk much and she gets jealous a lot. Then one day xaden and her get into a fight for some reason and xaden accidentally finds out she's pregnant (he doesn't know she was dating garrick) he becomes concerned about her safety and explains why he hates her. Can you make it very angsty and the end fluffy?? Please

Sorry it took me so long to get to this! This sounds like an interesting fic and if a good plot line strikes me I will definitely write a story for this :)

Off Limits

Pairing: Dain Aetos x Riorson sister!reader

Summary: What happens when Xaden finds out about Dain having a relationship with you and makes it clear his sister is off limits?

Word Count: 3.5k(I went a bit overboard on this one!)

Warnings: angst(?), suggestive themes, cursing, fluff

Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who showed love on my first Fourth Wing fic I love you all sm! This was requested by an anon and honestly I had way too much fun writing this one so I hope you like it anon! 🤭Hopefully my writing is a bit better on this fic!

Not proofread so please be aware of typos! Hopefully you all enjoy and don't forget my requests are open. I'm hoping to post the first part to my oc story soon and also work on a few requests :)

***as always likes, comments, and reblogs are always appreciated***

The sparring gym was empty with the other cadets filtering out and heading in different directions in a sea of black. You and Dain remained behind to get one of those moments where it was just the two of you. Not only were you Xaden Riorson's sister, which came with its own challenges, but Dain was your wingleader and fraternization between a Cadet and their chain of command was strictly prohibited by the Codex, so you and Dain were forced to keep your relationship a secret until he graduated. The only people who knew were your squad. Dain stood before you, rolling his shoulders and looking infuriatingly at ease. Your eyes wander over his bare chest and down his sculpted abs. Gods how could he look so perfect covered in sweat? You thought to yourself. "You sure you're up for this Aetos? You're looking a little tired," you remarked, taking your place in front of him. Dain's lips quirked upward in a smirk. "Oh I'm sure," He took a lazy step forward onto the mat. "But I appreciate the concern," He added. "Whatever I just don't want you using being exhausted as an excuse when I win," You retorted playfully while shifting into your stance. "Show me what you've got then Cadet," he chuckled softly.

You struck first, fast and decisive just like he taught you, aiming for his ribs. Dain deflected it effortlessly without so much as shifting his stance. "That was predictable," he said, the two of you now circling each other. "I'm just warming up," You grinned. You feinted left and saw Dain's body shift to block the incoming blow, and you shifted your feet to the right to aim a well placed kick on his thigh earning you a grunt that sent shivers down your spine and made your body flush. Is now really the time to think about your wingleader in such a fashion? Your dragon sent down your bond, half-teasing half-disapproving. You rolled your eyes but said nothing ignoring that she was right. "Is that all you've got?" Dain teased, recovering quickly. You huffed, going in for a palm strike and Dain grabbed your wrist before your strike could land. He twisted your arm gently and spun you so your back was pressed against his front. "Nice try but you're allowing me too much time to counter," he whispered, his lips pressed against the shell of your ear. Your pulse raced and not because of the fight. Dain let go of your arm and stepped back. "Try again," He said, playfulness dancing in his golden brown eyes. "Are you enjoying yourself?" You asked. Dain smirked. "Immensely," He threw a half-hearted swing with his fist, leaving his middle exposed. You ducked under his arm and instead extended your leg, attempting to sweep his legs from under him. He dodged easily and hooked your balancing leg from under, causing you to hit the mat. "If you wanted me on my back Aetos you know all you had to do was ask," you flirted, springing to your feet.

You saw his eyes darken at your suggestion and you used his brief hesitation to lunge forward, aiming a strike at his side. His arm shot out, once again grabbing your arm but you used the opportunity to drive your knee into his midsection. He quickly caught your knee before it could do any damage to his ribs, and his eyes sparked with approval. "Better," He said. He lets go of you and steps backward. “Let's see what happens when I stop taking it easy on you,” He smirked. The next exchange was faster, sharper. He let you once again press the attack but any strike you attempted to land on him he countered with precision. And worst of all-he seemed to be enjoying it.

“Your stance is slipping,” he noted, as he effortlessly parried your next strike.

“Your mouth is slipping,” You shot back, unable to come up with anything better.

“Oh, you like my mouth just fine from what I remember last night,” He flirted.

Your next punch came faster than expected, grazing his jaw slightly. His eyes darkened, his pupils dilating with something you weren’t sure was irritation and you smirked. “That was decent but I wouldn't get too confident just yet," He said. Then he was moving fast, too fast. He pressed the attack now, his movements controlled and methodical leaving you with barely any time to dodge or block his strikes. His palm grazed your rib as you just barely twisted away, your breath coming faster. “Getting tired yet?” Dain asked, his voice way too casual. “You wish,” You taunted. He smirked and you took advantage of the distraction to aim a well-placed palm on his chest, driving him backward. You only just barely managed to shove him backward, his dense muscles working for him(in more ways than one) but you caught a flicker of surprise in his gaze. You carried it through with a high kick to knock him down but he caught your ankle, swept your leg, and you fell backward. He caught you before you could hit the mat too hard and trapped your body beneath his. He still had hold of one of your legs, holding it gently by the back of your calf and he pinned your wrists above your head with his other hand. You struggled against his grip but it wasn’t much use; he was bigger, heavier, and worse-entirely too pleased with himself as he smirked like he won something far better than a sparring match. “Not bad,” he murmured with his face just inches above yours. “But not quite good enough.” “You’re enjoying this way too much,” You remarked, your pulse quickening as he leaned in slightly.

His gaze flickered briefly to your lips and his smirk softened. “Maybe.” Before you could fire back with another retort, he pressed his lips against yours. The kiss wasn't rushed; Dain never rushed he was too controlled for that. The kiss was slow, certain, and firm as though he had already decided this outcome like he had the fight. His lips moved against yours with slow precision, savoring the moment. He wrapped your leg around his waist and ground his hips into you slightly, eliciting a moan from you. He pulled back, his lips ghosting over yours and staring at you with those brown eyes that caused you to melt. “Now that,” he murmured. “was a win.” You exhaled, a smile forming at the corner of your lips as you stared up at him. “Cocky bastard,” you teased. “Care for a rematch?” He smirked, sitting back on his heels. Before you could answer a voice rang out across the gym.

“Am I interrupting?" The voice was low, lethal, and way too familiar and it caused you to freeze underneath Dain. You look over to see your brother standing off to the side with Garrick next to him. "Xaden!" You squeaked. "Get the fuck off my sister Aetos," Xaden growled. His shadows surged forward, dark tendrils ripping Dain off and away from you and Dain slammed onto his back. Simultaneously, his shadows wrapped themselves around your wrists and pulled you backward away from Dain until you stopped at Garrick's side. "Xaden what the fuck!?" You exclaimed, your initial shock being replaced with indignation. You look up at Garrick who only offered a somewhat apologetic smile. Your brother didn't even glance at you, his entire focus on Dain who was picking himself back up with a clenched jaw. "You overstepped Riorson," Dain snapped. "I don't give a damn if she's your sister you don't get to pull that shadow shit with me," He said, his voice rigid. "You know Aetos I'm a bit surprised you had the audacity to go that far, " Xaden took another step forward, his shadows swirling around his feet. "I didn't think you'd be stupid enough to shove your tongue down my sister's throat," Xaden's voice dropped. Her face flushed with embarrassment and you felt Garrick shift beside you, a little uncomfortable. You watch as Xaden stares daggers at Dain and suddenly you weren't sure you recognized your own brother. The man standing in front of you was no longer the older brother who always looked out for you. Instead he was every inch the soldier that Basgiath had forged him into. For the first time in your life, you understood why so many people were afraid of him.

"What the fuck did you just say?" Dain's voice was tight but unwavering. "You heard me," Xaden replied. "And in case you forgot who she was I'd like to remind you who's been protecting her this whole time," Xaden's eyes smoldered with rage but Dain didn't flinch. "She's not your possession Xaden." "No she's not but I am her brother and that makes it my responsibility to make sure she doesn't end up in a situation she's going to regret when she gets hurt," Xaden said, his eyes narrowing. You stood frozen. Xaden said when not if. Does he really think Dain would ever hurt you? You looked up at the hulking man who stood beside you. "Do you think Dain is something I'd regret?" You asked Garrick. Garrick was one of your friends, going back to when you were kids and he always let you tag along with him and your brother, and you knew he would be honest with you. Garrick glanced down at you, hesitating for a moment unsure if he wanted to get involved. "No, I don't think so. But he and Xaden barely tolerate each other so seeing him with you was probably more of a shock than anything," he replied sincerely. "You deserve to be with someone who treats you right and loves you. And Dain seems to love you especially if he's willing to go toe to toe with Xaden to defend you," You smiled and he returned the gesture before Xaden and Dain's voices pulled you back. "I don't need your permission to do anything with her. I certainly don't need you to remind me how to treat her right. And I'm not going to be scared of you and back down like you want. Ever. Not when it comes to her," Dain growled and your heart seemed to stop. Xaden's shadowy presence seemed to grow even more oppressive as he stalked closer to Dain, their faces inches apart. "You're walking a fine line, Aetos. You think you can just play these games with her? Pretend like you're her hero while you're distracting her from everything else around her?"

Dain's nostrils flared and for a split second it seems like they may actually clash with each other. As much as you loved Dain, you weren't entirely sure he was a match for your brother. You opened your mouth to intervene when Professor Devera walked into the gym. "Professor Tavis? Professor Riorson? You're needed to attend a meeting with the other professors," She stated, looking at the situation before her before turning to leave a moment later. Professors? you thought. That must be why Xaden is back but why didn't he mention anything? Xaden's shadows seemed to disappear and his icy gaze glared at Dain. "This isn't the last time we'll be talking about this," He promised, his voice low. Xaden turned away making his way to the gym doors while Garrick gave you a reassuring squeeze on your shoulder before following his friend. You glanced at Dain who's eyes met yours and suddenly, that indignation came back full force. You spun on your heel and stalked after the two men. "Xaden!" You shouted, garnering brief glances from people nearby. Xaden and Garrick stopped abruptly and you came to a stop in front of them, your arms crossed. "Who the fuck do you think you are!" You asked your older brother and Garrick's eyes went wide. "Excuse me?" Your brother asked, peering down at you. "Why are you acting like a total asshole?" You asked angrily and you could hear Garrick chuckle. "Me?" Xaden asks with disbelief. "This is the first time I see you in months and you berate my boyfriend?" You snapped but you cringed inside. Boyfriend seemed a little...immature but you didn't know what else to say. "Considering what I saw him doing, you're lucky I didn't kill him right there," Xaden replied coolly and you gaped at him. "You could've chosen anyone y/n and you choose Aetos?" He asked, incredulously. "I don't need your approval for anyone I want to date," You spit back. "He isn't good for you," Xaden insisted. "You don't get to make that decision for me Xaden!" You raised your voice. "If you want to act like a big brother and look out for me and care for me, by all means please do so," You continued. "But I'm not a little kid anymore and you have to stop treating me that way. You don't get to decide who I can and cannot spend my time with," You finished. Xaden stared at you while you chastised him.

"So I'm supposed to just be fine with you picking probably the worst guy at Basgiath?" He asked you. "Yes!" You snapped. Your sharp words did nothing to dull the pain from Xaden's words. Could he really think your taste in men, or rather your decision making in general, was so bad? Despite how you were yelling at him, you desperately wanted his approval. "And he's not the worst," You continued. Xaden opened his mouth but you cut him. "You need to get over this Xaden because I'm not planning on breaking it off with Dain anytime soon," Once you were finished, you spun on your heel and stalked off. "We're in the middle of a conversation! Where are you going?" He called after you, ignoring the fact he was supposed to be in a meeting. "To fuck my boyfriend!" You shouted over your shoulder. You weren't actually going to fuck him, but you heard Garrick's laugh as you rounded the corner and the look you imagined on Xaden's face made the retort worth it.

Later that night you sat with the rest of your squad in the dining hall with Ridoc and Sawyer fighting over who was stronger-which led to an arm wrestle-Aaric looking somewhere in between bored and amused, Rhiannon shaking her head in amusement at the two boys' antics, and Sloane laughing as the arm wrestle came to a conclusion. You weren't even sure who won. You had tried to eat, you were certainly hungry enough, but the thought of Xaden and Dain's interaction gnawed heavily on your mind. Xaden had intercepted Dain in the corridor as he made his way to the dining hall with his wing and you were instantly uneasy. Xaden wouldn't actually kill Dain. Right? Violet noticed you were uncharacteristically silent. "You okay?" She asked, nudging your shoulder with hers. "She's just upset because big brother Riorson found out she's been getting it on with her wingleader," Ridoc said smugly. You fixed him with a glare and Rhiannon swatted the back of his head causing Ridoc to laugh out loud. "Seriously?" Violet grimaced at the brown haired man sitting across from her before returning her attention onto you. "He's not technically wrong," You muttered. "Dain and I were practicing sparring after everyone left. It escalated and I sort of ended up....underneath him," You finished. Ridoc and Sawyer tried to keep from laughing. "Xaden walked in as Dain was kissing me,"

You took a drink of your water to try and cool the wave of heat that caused your cheeks to flush. Violet's eyes went wide for a moment. "How did he take that?" She asked, everyone listening in. "About as well as you'd expect," You replied. "I'm surprised either one of them walked away alive." You went on. "Don't forget the shouting match you had with him in the courtyard," Ridoc threw out there. You scowled at him and Violet raised her eyebrows in curiosity to which you told her about your confrontation with Xaden. "So I told him I was going to fuck my boyfriend," You finished, your cheeks on fire. Ridoc and Sawyer collapsed with laughter, Rhiannon and Sloane smiled at you proudly, and Aaric had a slight expression of amusement on his face. "Wow," Violet said. "Yeah it wasn't my best moment," You admitted. "I saw Xaden corner Dain in the hallway and disappear somewhere before we all came to the dining hall," You told them. Violet sensed you were uneasy about your brother's conversation with Dain. "I'm sure everything will be just fine. Xaden and Dain may not always be on the best of terms all the time," Violet started. "But Xaden loves you and we all know how well Dain treats you. I wouldn't let it bother you so much," She finished, giving you a small hug.

You happened to glance up to see Dain appear in the entrance to the dining hall and he motioned with his head to follow him. "I'll be right back," You told your squad. "Good luck," Violet said. You made your way across the hall and rounded the corner of the dining hall entrance to see Dain standing a few feet away. "Well you're alive," You joked, but your tone was laced with a little relief. "How did it actually go?" You asked, worry in your eyes. "Xaden had some strong words and honestly I wasn't sure if I was gonna make it until Tavis vouched for me," He joked and you gave him a pointed stare. "Sorry," he said sheepishly. "So...is he....okay with this?" You asked, the nervousness clawing at you. "Xaden is Xaden. I don't think he's going to ever be too thrilled I'm with his sister but for now...yeah he seems okay with it," Dain nodded, giving you a smile. You felt your shoulders drop in relief. "We’d better head back before people start gossiping,” he said, the familiar twinkle back in his eyes and you nodded. His hand fell to the small of your back but you heard your name being called. You turn around and see your brother staring at you. "I need to talk to you," He said, his expression unreadable. Dain gave your waist a squeeze and left you and Xaden to talk.

You walked over to where your brother stood and crossed your arms, still a little angry with him. "Thanks for not killing him," you said sarcastically. "I thought about it," Xaden muttered. "Listen, I appreciate you wanting to protect me and I don't want you to think I'm not grateful for you. You're my brother; I'm always going to need you, it's just in a different way now. I'm not a little girl any more you don't have to keep protecting me. Dain...he isn't the enemy Xaden. He wouldn't ever hurt me and I trust him," you told him. Xaden ran a hand through his dark hair, sighing. The words stung he couldn't lie; but not in the way he had expected. There was pride in your voice, a sense of confidence and determination he hadn't anticipated.

"I know and I get you're an adult now....but it's hard for me to see my sister with someone who I could never come to terms with," he admitted. That was putting it lightly. You thought. "If he's good enough for me Xaden, why can't he be good enough for you?" You asked him. He could see in your eyes you just wanted him to say he approved of this relationship, of your decisions, and your words hit him like a punch to the gut. "I'm your brother Y/n no one is ever going to be good enough for you," it came out as a joke but deep down you knew he meant it. "Xaden you can't control everything. You need to let me make my own decisions and learn my own lessons," you said, a little frustrated but with a new understanding of where Xaden was coming from. "I can't be your little sister forever," you added quietly. His chest tightened and for a brief moment he saw a younger version of you in his mind.

When he looked at you, he no longer saw the small kid who always needed her brother to be there. You were no longer the kid who looked at him as though he hung the moon. You had grown up. "You're right. You're an adult now, capable of making her own decisions. But I'll always be here for you; that's what older brothers are for," he gave you a smile and you felt yourself grin. "And can you please try to not threaten Dain as much from now on?" You asked him. "He's not as bad as you think." Xaden raised an eyebrow at you. "We'll see." The two of you walked back towards the dining hall and you smiled to yourself. It was a long road ahead before Xaden would, if ever, be comfortable with you and Dain being together but at the moment he tolerated it. And that was enough for now.

from the valentine's asks, 14 + 43 🤩

I love doing these!

14. Favorite Candle Scent

Honestly anything to do with amber! I really love cozy scents!

43. Favorite ABBA Song

Honestly it's a tie between Honey Honey and Mamma Mia

Thanks so much for the ask!!