I FINALLY FINISHED HER
i really had a hard time drawing her mouth, rather drawing this one or just mouthless/j :D
just wanted to join the Mirko Art trend :>
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beautiful manâ¨
đ¸! selfie
âď˝ĄË â pairing: wriothesley x gn!reader âď˝ĄË â wc: 1.4k âď˝ĄË â summary: you play a harmless prank on your close friend, neuvillette, and he decides to retaliate by sending you to the fortress of meropide for your so-called âcrimesâÂ
You werenât exactly a hardened criminal.Â
Sure you had some bouts of harmless thievery as a child but even then you always returned the item to the owner out of guilt. So, how you got sent to the Fortress of Meropide for messing with your friend was beyond you.
Naturally, it just so happened that your friend was the Chief Justice, and your little prank happened to be pouring out an entire salt shaker into his water as he took a small trip to the restroom. But in your defense, Neuvillette had ordered the last La Lettre a Focalors on the menu and wouldnât even share a bite with you.Â
You huffed at the memory. Salty water was too kind of a punishment, looking back at it.Â
Still, you didnât expect such a petty thing would have you branded as a criminal. If you had known, you wouldâve added the contents of the nearby pepper shaker into Neuvilletteâs water as well. That way, this sentence would have at least felt more justified.Â
After your paperwork was processed, Madeline told you to enter the lift and wait for someone to give you a tour. This would be your new home for a wholeâŚseven days. You hoped you could survive it.Â
You tapped your foot as you waiting for your tour guide, eyes scanning across the dark, metallic room. Despite the dim lighting, the Fortress sounded more lively than you would have expected.
Just as you were starting to grow impatient, you spotted a familiar figure walking your way.
Wriothesley, you recognized. You had a brief run-in with him only one before in your lifeâ When you were hanging out in Neuvilletteâs office waiting for him to finish the last of his work, when Wriothesley decided to pay the Iudex a surprise visit. Judging from the amused expression on his face, it would seem he remembered you too.
Now, whether it was a good or bad memory, you couldnât exactly say. Though, for the sake of your time here, you sure hoped it was the former.Â
âPrisoner 8072,â he greeted with a chuckle.
You waved sheepishly. âThatâs me, reporting for duty, sir.âÂ
âAt ease, solider.â
You rolled your eyes, secretly please he went along with your antics.Â
He beckoned you to follow him as he began to show you around the fortress. âNow, before we start the tour, would you like to tell me how you landed here?âÂ
With an innocent look on your face, you shrugged.
Wriothesley raised his brow expectantly. âMy sources tell me it was an attempted poison of the Iudex.âÂ
Your jaw dropped. âIs that what Neuvillette is telling people?!â
âJust me,â he admitted.Â
You almost laughed in disbelief. âWell, itâs a little too late to defend myself nowânot that I had a fair trial in the first place, mind youâbut I at least have to say that poison the Chief Justice speaks of is measly table salt!â With a huff, you folded your arms across your chest. âPowerful Dragon of Water my ass⌠If he thinks table salt can poison himâŚâ
Wriothesley chuckled at your pouting, patting your shoulder as a sign of sympathy. âFor a week-long sentence, I would have expected that you put pepper in there as well.âÂ
Your eyes lit up. âThatâs exactly what Iâm thinking!â
He nodded in agreement, humoring you as he showed you to the cafeteria, offering you a free meal that you graciously accepted.
âWhile a week-long sentence may be unjust for your the level of yourâŚmisdemeanor, I do still hope you can enjoy your stay here,â he said as the two of you finished up your food.Â
You considered your thoughts before stating, âI might. If you keep treating me to these free meals.âÂ
Wriothesley laughed, the noise coming deep from his chest, and you grinned in return.Â
âOh, what would the other prisoners think if they saw their duke playing favorites?â he said in mock despair.
âSo you admit Iâm already your favorite?â
âDo you find pleasure in putting words in my mouth?â
âAmongst other things.âÂ
His eyes widened and you flushed as you realized the implication of what you had said.
âSalty water,â you clarified as you cleared your throat. âThat is all I was referring to.âÂ
He nodded solemnly, trying his hardest to keep a straight face. âOf course. Words and salty water.â
âExactly.â
âNoted.â After a brief pause, Wriothesley quickly changed the subject. âBefore I lead you to your dormitory, let me show you my office.âÂ
You followed along dutifully, making sure your mouth was glued shut until the embarrassment wore off. When the door closed, he beckoned for you to have a seat on the chair in front of his desk.
âTo earn your keep here, we use a currency called Credit Coupons,â he explained. âNow, typically, the most steady and secure way for an inmate to earn these is by working in the production lineâheating an shaping metals. A physically demanding job even for the strongest of individuals.â
You almost broke out into a sweat at the thought. Neuvillette would definitely be getting an earful from you once you were free from this injustice.Â
Wriothesley laughed at the horrified look on your face.
âBut luckily for you,â he said, âby special order from the Iudex himself, it was request you do administrative work in the office with me instead.â
âOh, my gods,â you sighed in relief. Neuvillette was safe for now.Â
âDonât get too excited yet,â he warned with a teasing lilt to his voice. âAre you sure itâs better to be trapped in here with me for seven days than to brave the production line?âÂ
You quirked your head to the side. âYou seem friendly enough.âÂ
âIâm glad you think so.â He stood up from his chair, pushing it in and waiting for you to follow suit. âThough brief, I look forward to working with you.âÂ
âYou as well.â
He nodded. âNow, it is getting late. Allow me to me conclude this tour by showing you the dormitories.âÂ
The thought of seeing your new bed for the week excited you. You were tired from walking around so much and you couldnât wait to shower and collapse on a mattressâno matter how thin it may be.Â
Wriothesley dropped you off at the door of your room, watching as you examined the place. You blinked slowly.Â
He laughed. âNot to your liking?âÂ
âIâve seen hotel rooms that look worse,â you said while shaking your head. âI can manage!âÂ
âIf it is too uncomfortable, donât hesitate to let me know. Perhaps I can provide you with some special accommodations.â
You hid a smile. âSuch favoritism already. Is this what being friends with the Chief Justice does for you here?âÂ
âConnections donât quell you any favor in this part of Fontaine,â he said. âThis treatment is based on your own merit.â He paused. âAnd the fact that the Iudex specified that he didnât intend for this to be a genuine prison sentence.â
You almost snorted at the revelation, the pieces clicking together. âIs this his prank in retaliation for me adding salt to his water?!â you groaned, only upset because you didnât think of this first. âWhat an abuse of power.â
Wriothesley chuckled. âSuch is the life.â
As he got ready to leave you to your bed quarters for the night, he paused at the exit. You looked at him expectantly.Â
âDid you need something?â
He shook his head. âNo, not at the moment. I only wanted to say, I look forward to your assistance around the office tomorrow.â
You smiled in agreement. Who wouldnât want a break from real life and escape to a prison ruled by a surprisingly benevolent duke?Â
âAlsoââ you looked up to see his sideways grin ââtomorrowâs breakfast is on me.â
With a chuckle, you found yourself agreeing to his offer. âIâll look forward to the morning then.â
âHave a good night in your temporary home.â
As Wriothesley left the dormitory, you couldnât shake the smile from your face. If you were going to be here for a week, you might as well make the most of it. At least with the Duke, your time wouldnât be so bad.Â
Maybe even after your sentence, you would still come and visit him.
You closed your eyes as your head landed on your pillow. It was harder than you expected. Quite uncomfortable, actually. You made a face.Â
Perhaps Wriothesley could come up and visit you when this was over instead.Â
A fox plushie hehe
My friend is embarrassed and thinks sheâs the only one and I said id prove her wrong.
this is something I never thought I needed
"Who's Dabi?"
lil comic of an au my friend and i have been talking about!
Another ones ehe
If you wonder, shes from liyue and is cryo too (maybe I'll make a post talking about her ^^)
This was so good...!! (I already imagine how elegant reader and wrio looked :'D)
Wriothesley x fem!reader; fluff, shared feelings, implied mutual pining or some sorts + Sigewinne, Furina, Neuvillette appeared as cameos!
You had agreed to extend your work in the Fortress, much to Wriothesleyâs delight. However, recently, he found it harder and harder to spend time with you, and it left him feeling restless.
((The story is a sequel of my previous fic here! Although you can always read it separately, the build-up is somewhat connected to the previous one))
Words: 3.1k
Notes:Â
Iâve always wanted to do the continuation of my previous stories, but I clearly went overboard for this one since I didnât plan this to be this long. But, I mean, itâs Wriothesley, who could resist? ;) and don't judge the title pls HELP
Enjoy the story!
â˘~â˘~â˘~â˘
No, Wriothesley wasn't a jealous man.
As a responsible warden of the fortress, he remained focused on his professional duties, fully acknowledging the demands they entailed.
However, ever since youâve agreed to extend your work at the Fortress of Meropideâwith Neuvilletteâs permission, of course, Wriothesley had unconsciously developed a habit of seeking you outâwhether it was to hand you some documents or simply to ask about your day.Â
Yet, it had been a week since he had a proper conversation with you, since the conflicting work schedules you two had left little time to spend with each other. And somehow, it was starting to bother Wriothesley more than it should.Â
Wriothesley exhaled as he stood up from his office seat, leaving piles of documents sprawled on his desk. Despite his usual preference for lunching in his office, he found himself walking towards the cafeteria.
As he approached the bustling cafeteria, his hopes lifted momentarily when he saw you already seated, only to deflate when he spotted you already seated⌠with another young man in front of you.Â
Oh. He thought to himself.
In that moment, he recalled that your latest work involved cooperation with some of the fortressâ members. Right, it was business matters and heâs the Duke of Meropide, he got nothing to worry about, right?Â
So, he greeted you, asked about your day, and went back to his office.
â˘~â˘~â˘~â˘
Wriothesley surely wasnât a jealous man...
Another day, he discovered that you were done for the day as your work for the day was finished. He was just about to step out of his office to search for you when, to his surprise, you appeared right in front of the office doors. What luck, he thought to himself. However, your sheepish smile hinted at something else.
âOh, hi, umâ Iâm here to tell you that I wonât be here for the weekend.â
His plans to ask you out crumbled inside his head.
âOh, you got called in by the court?â
âNo, but Iâve got other things to do,â you replied as you gave him an apologetic smile. âIs that okay?â
Well, he couldn't just outright refuse; after all, you deserved a break too. However, his mind raced, wondering about the nature of the 'other things' you had mentioned. Was it work-related? Or perhaps it was something more private?
"Of course, donât worry about it," Wriothesley reassured you with a smile, trying to bury his own thoughts as he mentally cursed himself for his train of thought. "I'll see you next Monday then."
You thanked him and went off. He sighed, hoping that you would be available for the weekend so he could at least ask you out. But for now, he would have to wait.
â˘~â˘~â˘~â˘
Wriothesley definitely wasnât the jealous type... or so he believed.
But lately, he couldn't shake this nagging feeling of restlessness. You seemed busier than ever, going back and forth between the surface and the fortress. And, to make matters worse, you were spending less time with him compared to a certain assistant. This young man had been assisting you in the latest case at the fortress, and he seemed to be handling it well. In fact, it was Wriothesley himself who suggested you to appoint an assistant in order to lighten your workloadâas you seemed to have some business to take care of on the surface, only to find himself now competing for your attention.
It was like his own idea to help you had turned against him, backfiring in the most frustratingly ironic way possible.Â
Massaging his temples, Wriothesley groaned as his thoughts swirled in his head.
âFeeling unwell, Your Grace?â Sigewinne's soft and cheery voice interrupted his brooding as she entered his office, carrying documents from the infirmary.
âOh, Sigewinne, itâs nothing,â Wriothesley exhaled. âThanks for the documents though.â
âIf youâre wondering about y/n, sheâs already gone to the surface,â Sigewinne said softly, yet, her tone masking a hint of mischief.
Wriothesley sighed in defeat. âRight, the event tomorrow. I figured she'd be attending.â
âDidn't she tell you?â Sigewinne asked innocently.
Oof.
Wriothesley fell silent, then replied, âNo, but I had a hunch.â
âI saw her heading to the surface with Antonioâthe assistant, did I get his name right? I heard thereâs a ball in the event, right? Maybe theyâre preparing for it,â Sigewinne added, her smile widening just a bit, her eyes anticipating his reaction.Â
Wriothesley lifted his head to stare at Sigewinne, at a loss for words.
Wait, were you actually planning on dancing together with Antonio?
She giggled innocently at his reaction before continuing.
âBut youâll be there too, Your Grace. And for security reasons, I donât see any problem,â she chirped, her amusement evident in her voice.
With a grumble, Wriothesley stood up and headed straight to his room. âSecurity reasons, right⌠Iâll need to think about tomorrow's outfit thenâŚâ
Sigewinne watched him go, giggling softly to herself.
âRacing hearts, rising blood pressure, uneasiness. Yep, those are the physical symptoms of jealousy, alright,â Sigewinne mused to herself.
âHuman emotions are truly interesting.â
â˘~â˘~â˘~â˘
You stared at the dress laying on top of your bed at your dwelling in the surface, mentally preparing yourself up with confidence to wear it for the event tomorrow. In fact, Furina had picked the dress together with you. Classy, beautiful, drop-dead gorgeous; was what she commented. But honestly, when was the last time you'd slipped into something so elegant?Â
As you lay back on your bed, your mind wandered over the events of the past few weeks.
--few weeks before--
âA⌠ball, you said?âÂ
"Yes, in fact, Lady Furina will be hosting the event. And we are expected to attend as representatives from the court," Neuvillette explained, his tone as flat as ever. Beside him, Lady Furina nodded eagerly. âThe ball will pose as the closing ceremony.â
"Ah, I see... so the event about three weeks away," you replied, your confidence faltering slightly. "To be honest, I'm not exactly skilled at dancing..."
"Oh, nonsense! A Fontainian lady must know how to dance!" Lady Furina interjected, her voice brimming with determination. "Fear not! I'll personally train you at least twice a week until the ball. How does that sound?"
You swallowed nervously, anticipating her rigorous training methods. You glanced to Neuvillette, only to found him nodding in agreement.Â
"Um... alright, thank you for the offer, Lady Furina. I'll try to make time during the weekends."
"Excellent! It's settled then!" Lady Furina exclaimed with a wide smile, her hand clasped in front of his chest. "Meet me in front of my house this weekend!"
You closed your eyes, recalling the training sessions with Furina as you tried to gather your confidence for tomorrow. Although you could safely say you were doing okay-ish with the training, your mind kept wandering back to a certain man in the fortress, leaving you longing for the interactions you shared with him.
â˘~â˘~â˘~â˘
The next evening, the venue began to fill with people, the atmosphere bustling with liveliness. You positioned yourself near the Palais Mermonia members, keeping Neuvillette in your sight as you glanced over at Furina, who was already engaged in conversation with other people.
As you talked with various guests, your thoughts often drifted to whether Wriothesley would attend the ball. The idea of dancing with him crossed your mind, but so far, he was nowhere to be seen.
Come to think of it, you hadnât told him a thing about your secret dancing lessons.Â
âYou havenât found a dance partner??â Furina's panicked tone was evident as she approached you, her arm linked with Neuvillette's, signaling that they would dance together.Â
âUm, well, not yetâŚâ you mumbled, feeling a bit flustered.
âOh, my! I wonât allow you wasting your skills today! Let me seeâŚâ
Furina pondered for a moment before suggesting a few Palais Mermonia attendees as potential partners. However, none of them really piqued your interest. If you want someone, it would beâÂ
âWriothesley is also attending this event too, in case you are wondering,â Neuvillette added suddenly, catching you off guard.
Your eyes widened slightly at the unexpected mention of Wriothesley's presence. You knew Neuvillette must be offering his personal opinion, perhaps based on his own observation of your close working relationship with the Duke, in addition with Wriothesley's request to extend your stay at the fortress. However, the comment had caught you off guard, and you went silent, a faint blush tinting your cheeks as you hid your excitement.
But your reaction had caught Furinaâs attention as her smile turned into a mischievous grin. âAh, the Duke of Meropide! How could I forget?â she exclaimed dramatically, holding her hand up to her face. âI saw him near the gardens earlier. You should go check him out!â
Although you realized her attempt on teasing you, you found yourself nodding hastily and made your way outside to the place she had mentioned.Â
âAnd the ball is starting in fifteenâ!â Furina added rather enthusiastically, her voice trailing behind you.Â
And so, you went outside. The atmosphere was less crowded than indoors, but there were still plenty of people mingling about. You paced around in search of Wriothesley when suddenly, a young man intercepted you from the side, introducing himself.
âGood evening, mâlady. You're as lovely as a fresh rainbow rose. Would you do me the honor of a dance?â
âThank you, but Iâm actually looking for someoneâŚâ you began, trying to politely decline.
âA dance partner, perhaps?â he persisted, holding out a real rainbow rose this time.
âIâm sorry, but I really shouldâ ,â you attempted to excuse yourself, but he wasn't taking the hint.
âThe ball's starting soon. It'd be a shame not to enjoy a dance with such a beautiful ladyâŚâ
Feeling pressured but unable to escape his persistence, you were about to step away, but a reassuring hand suddenly clasped your waist, holding you close from the side.
âThe lady clearly indicated she wasn't interested.â
Relief flooded through you as you immediately recognized the voice. Looking up, you saw Wriothesley standing with a polite â or perhaps, intimidating â smile on his face, standing rather menacingly in front of the persistent man. The young man went off immediately, clearly taking Wriothesleyâs cue.
After the man had hurriedly retreated, Wriothesley released his arm from your waist and turned towards you, his gaze lingering for a moment, a small smile playing on his lips as he took time to admire your delightful appearance. He then bowed slightly towards you, lifting your hand with a gentle touch and pressed a small kiss to the back of it.
âMâlady,â he murmured, his voice low and husky.Â
You were stunned by his gentlemanly gesture, as you just felt a flutter of butterflies inside your stomach. âWriothesleyâŚâ You found yourself momentarily at a loss for words, struck by how incredibly charming he appeared in his formal attire.
âYou look stunning,â he complimented, his warm gaze met yours, a stark contrast to the coolness of his icy-colored eyes. You shyly thanked him for his kind words, feeling a warmth spreading through you at his sincere compliment.
As the two of you were lost in the brief moment of admiring each other, he cleared his throat, subtly regaining his composure as he glanced around. ââŚAre you perhaps, waiting for someone?â he asked as his curiosity piqued.Â
âOh, well, I wasâŚâ
Wriothesley immediately caught onto your choice of words.
âYou⌠were?â
âMhm, but not anymore,â you replied with a warm, sheepish smile.
A hint of confusion flickered across Wriothesley's face, his thoughts momentarily jumbled. Wait, so you weren't waiting for Antonio, which meantâŚ
You sensed his slow realization and couldn't help but let out a small laugh as you added, âYou, Wriothesley. Youâre the one Iâve been searching for.â
Your words came out cheesier than intended, and you felt a blush creeping up your cheeks as you scrambled to explain. But Wriothesley did not seem to care as his smile grew wider. It was what he had hoped to hear.Â
But then, before he could say anything, your attention shifted to the direction of the building, with the music began playing from inside the hall, signaling that the ball had already begun as people started flocking into the building. Â
Observing the dwindling crowd, Wriothesley turned to look at you. âAs much as I want to dance with you, I donât think weâll make it in time inside.â
You returned his smile at his eagerness to dance with you. You looked around, taking in the serene atmosphere of the nearly empty garden. âItâs fine. Instead⌠Iâd hate to miss the beauty of the moon tonight.â
He gave you an affectionate smile as he seemed to understood the hint, and extended his arm towards you. âWell then, mâlady, may I have the honor of a dance?â
With a nod, you gladly accepted his hand. âOf course, Your Grace,â you replied, earning a small chuckle from him at your sudden formality.
As the music played softly in the background and the moon cast its gentle glow upon you, you and Wriothesley began to dance. The waltz you had practiced with Furina proved its worth as you both moved gracefully under the enchanting night sky. You realized that you had been longing for his company for this whole time.
As you danced, you became acutely aware of the close proximity between you and Wriothesley. Your faces were just inches apart, and his eyes seemed to be locked onto yours with an intensity that made your heart race. His hand rested firmly on your back, providing a reassuring support, while the other held yours with a gentle yet firm grip.Â
âYou dance well,â you whispered softly, breaking the silence.
âI could say the same about you,â he hummed, his eyes affectionately locked on yours as you two transitioned into a slower dance. âHave you been practicing in secret? Or were you just naturally gifted?â
You gave a small laugh at his remark. âActuallyâŚâ You paused, shying away for a bit. âIâve been attending dance lessons with Lady Furina these past few weeks.â
âOh? Is that why you've been going back and forth to the surface?âÂ
âMostly, yeah, since I agreed to return her favor,â you explained with a sheepish grin. âBut she also roped me into helping compile some data for this event. I must thank you for offering me appointing an assistant to help with the job though. He really did his job well.â
âWait, I thought heâs also coming to this event?â He stopped the slow dance momentarily, still holding you in his arms as he processed the new information.
âAntonio? No, heâs taking care of my duties today in the fortress, as I instructed him yesterday.â
Wriothesley went silent as everything seemed to click inside his mind, a chuckle escaping his lips, amused by his own thoughts. You looked at him in confusion, but he waved off your concern with a dismissive smile.
âNever mind, itâs not the time to dwell on petty things,â he said, his focus returning to you. âI donât want to spoil the moment dancing with you tonight.â
You stared at him for a second, before nodding in agreement, letting go of any lingering questions inside you as you both resumed your dance under the enchanting moonlight. It felt like you were dancing without a care in the world, lost in each otherâs embrace.
As the song reached its conclusion, you both stopped gracefully, locked in a gaze neither of you wanted to break. A warm smile played on your lips as you looked into his eyes, feeling the warmth of his gaze that he returned to you.
In that fleeting moment, as the night air wrapped around you like a gentle caress, there was a subtle shift in the atmosphere. His eyes began to flicker between your lips and your eyes. You were ready to surrender yourself into the silent invitation as you slowly leaned forwards, feeling his breath brush against your skin as your noses almost touching.
Seeing you responded to his silent cue, a faint smile tugged at the corners of Wriothesley's lips as he too began to close the gap between you, inching closer. Finally, his lips met yours as he kissed you gently, sealing the moment carefully with a tender embrace.
Despite your racing heartbeat, you melted into his soft kiss, feeling his hand cupping your cheek gently that made your heart flutter. As the air around you seemed to grow warmer with the intensity of the moment, you pulled back slightly, needing a moment to catch your breath. Your cheeks flushed with a rosy hue as you met his gaze with half-lidded eyes, the heat of the moment still lingering between you.
He leaned in closer, as if to pull you into another kiss, but then abruptly halted, his body rigid as his eyes widened slightly. He then quickly turned his head to the side facing the bushes, while his hand remained protectively on your waist.
âWhoâs there?â he asked, his voice a bit demanding.
Slowly, a small figure behind starting to emerge behind the bushes, revealing Sigewinne who slowly tiptoed out.
âOh, Iâm sorry, Your Grace, I thought I was hiding well,â she said with a sheepish smile. âI didnât want to bother, so I waited.â
Wriothesley immediately released his hand from your waist, bringing it to his face to hide his embarrassment. âAh, itâs youâŚ, what brings you here?â
âMonsieur Neuvillette was searching for you, and I happened to spot you here,â she explained, her tone light and playful.Â
Wriothesley let out an exasperated sigh, his hand falling to his side. âRight.â
Then, Sigewinne glanced at you with a mischievous gleam in her eye. âLooks like your jealousy was a tad unnecessary, Your Grace,â she teased.
âHuh, where did that come from?â Wriothesley responded with a bemused expression.
You stood there, momentarily stunned, before Sigewinneâs words finally sank in. ââŚJealous? Of whom?â you asked, glancing between them in confusion, before it dawned on you as you recalled your lingering questions from your mind.
WaitâŚcould it be?Â
A smile tugged at the corners of your lips as Sigewinne continued, âAh, you see, this big man was actually jealous that new assisââ
âUgh, spare meâŚâ Wriothesley groaned, turning to walk away, not wanting to hear the rest of Sigewinneâs teasing. You laughed softly as you followed behind with Sigewinne as she started to explain her observationsfrom the past few weeks.
As you walked, you caught Wriothesley stealing a glance back at the two of you, a playful smirk tugged on his lips. It seemed like he was content with how things had turned out.
And so, the rest of the night unfolded with cheers and laughter, with everyone by your side. Despite the lingering feeling of a certain unfinished business, you couldn't wipe the smile from your face for the entire night.
After all, you now know that the feelings were mutual, right?
I can't stopppp (â âŻâ °â âĄâ °â ďźâ âŻâ ︾â  â âťâ ââ âť
Lil fella came home yay
THE CUT THAT ALWAYS BLEEDS
Keigo Takami is in love with you, and you don't love him back
Hanahaki disease, angst, fluff, workplace romance
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Keigo starts his morning the same way he has for the past two months, by coughing up a handful of bloody petals.
It splatters against the pure white of his toilet bowl, and he watches, knees digging into the floor and hands grasping the lid as they wash away, the water turning pink as the red petals disappear. Itâs disgusting, really, the way heâs sprawled on the toilet floor, and on any other day he wouldnât even consider touching the lid of any toilet, even his. But he doesnât care, because the pain in his chest is aching, and his lungs burn as tries to breathe in, and Keigo cannot stop thinking about you.
The first time heâd coughed up a petal, it was after a week of pain. He thought it might just be the flu, or some other illness heâd caught from flying around in the cold winter winds. But then one night it had reached its peak, and Keigo was in slight disbelief at the red rose remains in his hand after heâd coughed his lungs out. It was small and bloody. He didnât know what to think of it, so he didnât. Maybe he swallowed something when he was flying, who knows. It wasnât anything to worry about, he decided.
And then it happened again. And again. And itâs been happening ever since, now two months later, only getting worse and worse as the days go by. It was only after a week that he looked up his symptoms, the flowers and the blood and the constant pain in his chest, and the internet said there was only one thing it could be.Â
Hanahaki disease. It originated in Japan, apparently, and was rare, but real. Keigo skipped past all the useless information to find what he really needed. He found itâs a disease where someone coughs up flowers due to unrequited feelings for somebody. And he knew, the minute he read those words, that his unrequited feelings were for you.
Keigo had never loved anyone in his life. Not his parents, for obvious reasons, and his training at the Hero commission had meant that he had no time for it anywhere else. Not that there was anybody in there to love, anyway. And now, as a Pro hero with his own agency, he didnât want love. It complicated things, and he was in no position for a relationship anyway. He barely had time for himself, so how could he deal with a relationship? So Keigo filled the empty parts of himself with meaningless sex with whoever he found. At parties, at award evenings. It was just the physicality of it, skin on his own. He craved it and got it where he could. It pissed his publicist to no end, but they usually kept quiet, and scandals always did good for the agency.Â
And then he met you.
His assistant had quit. Something about better opportunities, work closer to home. He had flashed her his best smile, sent flowers to her home, and waited dutifully in his office for you to walk in the next day. And you did, perfectly pressed shirt and black skirt, smiling so sweetly at him and introducing yourself, and he knew it was over.Â
Itâs not his fault. What couldnât he love about you? You were funny, you were kind. You brought him breakfast every morning and started leaving a pillow and a blanket in his office when you knew heâd come off a night shift. You actually spoke to him like he was a person, not Hawks, not the Number two hero. It didnât take long for the feelings to start but he thought he was pushing them down well enough.
These flowers tell him heâs not.Â
He flirts with you, and the two of you joke around, but nothing ever comes of it because he knows you donât like him back. And even if you did, Keigo would never do you the horrible favour of burdening you with loving somebody like him.
Keigo sighs, pushing himself gingerly to his feet. He clears his throat and it stings from the acidity of throwing up. He moves on autopilot, shrugging on his coat and typing the laces on his boots. His mind races with thoughts of you, of how long he has left. The final stages are apparently whole flowers and he ignores the voice in the back of his mind that says judging by what he just coughed up, heâs getting dangerously close to the end.
The weather outside is cold and bitter. Keigo hates winter, hates how he has to bundle to avoid the sharp, piercing wind whenever he flies. Itâs harder to patrol in the dark and youâre less likely to leave the agency for your lunch break, so it also means he canât use it as an excuse to take you out. He steps out on his balcony, sliding the door behind him, and he shuts his eyes.
Sometimes he thinks in another life, heâd tell you. In another life maybe he was just an assistant like you, someone normal, someone you deserved. That after his shift heâd get to come home and youâd have cooked dinner or heâd bring home takeout. He craves normalcy, to have a home with someone, and he canât help but dream itâs with you.
He slips his goggles on and pulls up the gaiter around his neck. He steps forward and with one strong flap of his wings heâs in the air.Â
The flight to the agency doesnât take long. Nothing really does, to be honest. Heâs not patrolling today but he still keeps an eye on the ground, the sky still dark as the world wakes up around him. He lands deftly in his own office, and the wide windows being pushed open already lets him know youâre in the building too. He runs a hand through his hair, quickly checking his reflection to make sure he looks good. He does, obviously, but he canât help but worry. Thereâs a familiar knock on his door, and you donât wait for him to let you in before you enter.
Today, youâre wearing a long pair of trousers that hug your legs, the white blouse you have on buttoned up apart from the top two, a small sliver of skin exposed to show a small gold necklace he got for you at a Christmas party, holding two coffees.
His heart pounds and he coughs into his sleeve. Your eyebrows furrow and you step forward, empty hand reaching out.
âAre you okay, Hawks?â You ask, and he nods.
He clears his throat, swallowing away the feeling prickling it. He nods, flashing you a toothy grin. âYeah, now that youâre here.â
You roll your eyes but he doesnât miss the small smile on your face as you set his drink down on the table. He takes a long drink of it and you wince.
âGod, I donât know how you drink that. Itâs more sugar than coffee.â You scrunch your nose and he shrugs.
âI need the energy, babe, you know that. All that flying around burns calories quickly.â
One of his feathers shuts the window, another two hanging up his coat. Your eyes follow quickly. He might be trying to impress you a little, but itâs been a long enough time of you watching this show that heâs sure it doesnât do much. The skin tight thermal might, though. He may or may not be flexing a little when he stretches, but he doesnât see any harm in that.Â
You nod, pulling out your phone, eyes quickly averting away from him. âOkay, so. Luckily for you, today is just paperwork. No energy necessary.â You sigh, sitting down heavily. âI hate paperwork days.â
He knows exactly why. The long, tired hours of writing and reading. Anyone would hate it, but Keigo? Keigo loves paperwork days. A whole day with the two of you in a room? What couldnât he love about that?
He sits down across from you. It feels a little weird, too formal, with you across his desk. He doesnât use it much. His office is pretty empty. There's no decorations, no plants, nothing. It's empty because Keigo doesnât care. He doesnât like this office. The only thing he likes about it is that itâs the place he spends the most time with you. He wishes you were closer.
He coughs. There's a familiar feeling itching in his lungs and he begs to a God he doesnât know that he wonât throw up flowers in front of you.
âAw, come on. Paper days are fine. And Iâll order food for us later.â
You perk up at that. âReally? Letâs get yakitori.â
âAnd this is why I love you.â He coughs again and you peer at him.
âAre you okay? You keep coughing today.â
He nods. âDonât worry about it, babe, Iâm good.â
You keep looking at him. âIf youâre sick, go home.â
âNo, Iâm fine. The number two hero doesnât get sick.â
You donât look convinced but you hold up the first set of papers. His fingers brush against yours as he grabs them. The two of you sit in silence for all of five minutes before Keigo groans. You look up, amused.
âIâm bored.â
You sigh. âMe too. But as your assistant I have to tell you to keep going.â
Keigo pouts. You tap the pen in your hand against the desk.
âNo way to get out of this?â He says. âNope.â
âNo work parties I can look forward to?â
You shake your head. Then you sit up suddenly. âWait. Oh my god.â
Keigo sits up too, immediately mirroring your panic. His wings curl out behind him. You cover your face with your hands.
âWhat? Youâre freaking me out, Y/N.â
âThere is a work party! Tonight. That Iâm supposed to be planning. And I completely forgot!â You groan.
Oh. Thatâs easier to deal with. âItâs fine, donâât worry. Weâll sort it.â You shake your head and it ruffles your hair, and he wishes he could reach forward and brush it behind your ear. âNo, I don't know what to do. Itâs for Kayleeâs birthday! Everyone loves Kaylee, I love Kaylee, thatâs why I offered to plan this for her.â You ramble.
Keigo catches most of your babble. He quickly moves off from behind his desk to stand in front of you, his hands coming to rest at your shoulders. âBreathe, girl.â
You do, chest moving up and down slowly. Like this, with you still seated and him standing, he towers over you. He thinks for a moment.
âLetâs just go now.â
âWhat?â
âWeâll just go get the stuff you need right now. Shouldn't be too much, right?â
Your eyes glance at the paperwork on the desk. âWhat about all that?â
He hums, and you look up at him again. This close, Keigo can see you so much clearer, so much brighter. Another cough rumbles in his chest and he ignores it. âWe can do it another day. Blame it on me.â
You bite at your bottom lip, considering his offer. You stand up and nod, determined.
âOkay. Okay, let me get my coat. Iâll meet you at the front desk.â
And then youâre out before he can say another word.
â----------
Keigo thinks this is torture. Real, honest to God torture.
Youâd refused his offer to fly to the marketplace, so now the two of you were just walking down the street. Heâd left his feathers at work, and changed into the most civilian outfit in the agency. It always felt weird without them on his back, the heavy weight something heâd been used to since he was born. But for you, Keigo thinks he might set them all on fire.Â
What makes everything worse is that youâre walking with your arm linked in his. You had been since youâd walked out the agency, animatedly talking and pointing at the things around you. It was hard to focus on much when your fingers squeezed his bicep every time you saw something you liked.Â
âOkay, so. I need a cake, and decorations. And like, snack food.â
He nods. âYes, maâam. Can we squeeze lunch in there?â
âThereâs always time for lunch, Hawks.âÂ
The first stop the two of you end up at is a supermarket. You pass him a coin to grab a shopping cart and he immediately starts running around with it, and you tut.
âHawks, enough. People are looking.â
Your words should sound annoyed, but thereâs a soft fondness behind them that has his head reeling. You take the cart from his hands and he lets you walk ahead, because the feeling that heâs started to dread builds in his torso, and he grabs the tissue out of his pocket and he coughs.
Itâs loud and grating and it scratches the back of his throat. Heâs lucky that thereâs nobody around to see him gag into his hand, the petals tickling as he spits, blood splattering against it. He breathes heavily, once, twice, and tears prick at his eyes. He curses, eyes screwed shut. Not today, not like this. Not when he finally has a day alone with you. He throws the tissue in the trash outside the shop, and goes in to find you.
He finds that grocery shopping is fun. Heâs never actually been before. His groceries are kindly delivered by the Commission straight to his front door, so heâs never actually done this before. Itâs exciting. He likes the little line you get between your eyebrows whenever you get annoyed at him for putting random things in the basket.
âHawks, enough! We donât need six loaves of bread!â
âWe do! We can make those little hors dâoeuvres with like, pesto on them.â
You mumble some choice words under your breath, putting them all back. âHawks, this isnât some Hero commission party. Weâre getting a bag of Doritos and dip and calling it a day.â
Keigo pouts and you drag him over to the basket. âHere, you push this.â
You take him to the produce aisle and he boos as your throw in a few vegetables sticks. Keigo gags again, holding up the celery sticks. You snatch them out his hand and toss them back in the car.
âStop. We need something healthy so we can eat a carrot stick and feel good about the cake Iâm going to buy.â You tap your head knowingly and he grins.
âI donât look healthy enough as is?â He stretches out his arm and the windblower youâd found for him in the agency billows around his arms.
You snort, patting him on the chest. âOh, yeah. You look great.âÂ
It leaves him winded, just for a second, and then heâs back.
The cake aisle is his favourite one. You steer him clearly away from the childrenâs cakes, because heâs sure you saw the light in his eyes when he noticed the Marvel cake.Â
âCan we get chocolate?â He asks, and you shrug.
âI donât know. You know what Kaylee likes?â You step a bit closer to the shelves, peering at the different boxes.
Keigo hums, tapping the corner of his chin. He walks around the cart until heâs right next to you. âHow about that? Red velvet. And it looks cute.â He points to the one near you, arm reaching over and brushing against yours.
âHm. Yes. Thatâs- Yes. Red velvet.â You nod.
Keigo glances at you and he finds the two of you are closer than he realised. He thinks if he leans in just slightly youâll be kissing. He smiles, soft and sweet.Â
âYou look pretty this close.â
âSo I look ugly from afar?â You joke, but you sound nervous.
Keigo's eyes dart to your lips. Itâs so quick but he sees the way your cheeks flush. âYou never look ugly. Donât I compliment you enough?â
You shove him away softly, reaching for the red velvet cake.
âEnough out of you. Go grab candles.â
And Keigo does, in the next aisle over, and hopes you canât hear him coughing up another handful of petals.Â
âââ
The two of you finish up quickly, despite Keigoâs efforts to long out the day as much as he can. The coughing only gets worse, and heâs surprised you havenât noticed the amount of times he disappears to hack up his lungs around the nearest corner.
But itâs fine, he tells himself. This is about you, about helping you. He can deal with this problem later.Â
You, who are sitting across from him in the tiniest table known to man at his favourite yakitori place. Part of him is a little annoyed about the whole âcivilian disguiseâ, because whenever the owner sees itâs him he always gets a few extra sticks. But he canât complain. Your legs are touching his, seeing as youâd shoved the both of you in the farthest corner of the shop possible. Which also happens to be the smallest in the shop.
âOkay, so, when we get back Iâll set up everything and weâre done!â You speak around a mouthful of food, chicken almost falling onto the table.
He nods, mouth also full. âPerfect. And youâre sure you donât need help setting up?â
You shake your head. âI should be good, thereâs not that much to do.â
You place the now empty stick on the table, dusting your hands. âThanks for this, Hawks. Really.âÂ
He just smiles. âDon't mention it. Anything for my favourite assistant.â
âArenât I your only assistant?â
âSo? Youâd still be my favourite if I had more.âÂ
You snort, picking up another stick. âSure, sure.â
The grocery bags crinkle beneath the table. And like this, without his wings and without any eyes on him Keigo can be selfish and pretend like this is real.Â
You glance around the restaurant. âI like this place. Why havenât we come here before?â
Keigo shrugs, polishing off another two sticks. âItâs usually busy around our lunch time. We should come more though.â
You nod. âDefinitely. Thereâs this ramen place too, we should go there. Itâs by that supermarket we went to.â
Itâs so casual, so calm, and his heart is racing.Â
âOh! I found this song. I think youâll like it.â
You dig in your purse and pull out the same ratty wired earphones he makes fun of you for everyday. He rolls his eyes and you glare at him.
âNo. Shut up.â
âJust let me buy you a nice pair of AirPods, babe. Seriously, these are dying.â He flicks the wire thatâs covered in tape and you tut, pushing his hands away.
âNever. I'm a wired earphone supporter till I die. Come here.â
You scoot your chair closer to the table, but they donât really reach. âFuck. Okay, wait.â
You stand up, dragging your chair so itâs right up next to his. You sit down, and your hand comes up to brush his hair out of the way so you can press the earphone in his ear. And if you see his breath hitch you donât say anything. Just hit play, your own earphone in.
And the pure bliss of having you this close, close enough that he can smell the sweet scent of your perfume, lasts about a minute before he starts coughing.
He reels it back as much as he can, wincing as he swallows the petals that try to crawl their way out his throat. He drinks water, washing away the taste of metal from his mouth and he barely even registers your hand on his shoulder.
âHawks? Are you alright?â Thereâs panic clear as day on your face, and he nods.
âY-Yes. Donât worry, I think I just swallowed a piece of chicken wrong.â
Youâre not convinced as easily as before. âThat didnât sound normal, Hawks. Should we take you to the doctor?â
âNo, itâs fine, babe. I promise.âÂ
He holds up his pinkie. You just stare at him for a moment, eyes searching for a lie. But you seem to believe him, because your hand comes up and your finger curls around his.
ââ-
The party is going well, he thinks.
Kaylee looks happy. You did well with the decorations, as best as you could do with an office room and an hour. Thereâs pink balloons and streamers that Keigo wants to scream that he bought with you. But thatâs stupid and desperate, so he doesnât.Â
Youâd all sang and cheered as she blew out her candles. She looked nice but Keigo couldnât keep his eyes off you, grinning so hard it was like your face was about to split in half. People were milling about now. Keigo likes to think he knows all his employees but heâd be lying if he said he recognised every face that had come to greet him.
There is one face he could recognise anywhere.
âBirdbrain! What are you doing here?â
Rumiâs voice is loud and full of energy, and he canât help but mirror the grin on her face the second she claps him on the back.
âItâs almost like this is my agency.â He raises his eyebrows. âWhat are you doing here?â
âKaylee and I know each other from ages ago. She used to intern when I was working with Best Jeanist.â
Keigo nods. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees a guy approaching you. One of the office workers he canât name. His wings are back on his body and he wishes he could send one over to listen to what youâre talking about.
âBut- Are you even listening to me?â Rumi says.
âYes. I am.â
âNo. Youâre not.âÂ
Rumi follows his eyeline, to where youâre handing out slices of cake. She nods, understandingly. âI see. Have you asked her out?â
âWhat? No. Why would I- Sheâs my assistant.â Keigo splutters.
Rumi laughs, clapping him on the shoulder once more. âOh, Hawks. Has positions of power ever stopped you before?â
Keigo frowns. âNo, itâs not like that. Iâm not trying to just hook up with her.â
âOh.â Rumi looks at you again. âYou actually like her?â
âYes. No. Itâs- Itâs complicated.â
Rumi hums thoughtfully. The two of them were quite blatantly staring at you now, and Keigo is sure youâd be quite weirded out if you caught them. But he doesnât need to worry about that, because your attention is stolen away by some guy. Keigo doesnât even know his name because heâs some irrelevant worker that doesnât even matter.
But he seems to matter to you. Because you are smiling and laughing, and you nudge his shoulder when he says something Keigo itches to hear.
âWell. Maybe try telling her. She wonât wait around forever.â Rumi nods towards you and he shakes his head.
âThatâs⌠I donât- Just leave it.â Keigoâs voice sounds bitter in a way heâs not used to, and Rumi peers at him.
âBirdbrain? You doing okay there?â
Heâs not. How could Keigo be doing okay, when Rumi is annoyingly right? You wonât wait forever. Keigo doesnât even have forever. He has a few weeks left if his research is correct. And for some dumb reason Keigo didnât seem to think about the fact that he might live to see you with someone else.
You move slightly closer to him, and Keigoâs fist clenches.Â
He doesnât even know the guy, but can he be surprised? Youâre perfect, youâre you. It makes sense that heâs not the only one in love with you. Keigo sees the hand this guy places on your elbow, the way he smiles at you whenever you laugh. He knows that look because itâs how he looks at you everyday.Â
And then it starts. Slow and slight. It stirs in his lungs, just a tickle, but he knows, he knows what comes next.
Rumi notices the way his face pales, and she shakes his arm. âHawks? Youâre freaking me out, whatâs wrong?â
And he tries to answer, but all that comes out is a choking noise he canât even recognise as a sound his own body made. And the feeling builds up all too quickly, and Keigo thinks he might be dying. Heâs rushing out the room to try and make it to the bathroom, but he doesnât make it further than out the door, because the pain in his chest is splitting, like somebody is trying to push their way out of his skin. He drops to the knees and he clutches at his stomach, and he coughs and coughs and thereâs blood, and thereâs flowers now, fully grown flowers-
And then everything goes dark.
ââââââ
Keigo opens his eyes to the bright white ceiling of a hospital room. Itâs not something he hasnât seen before, and the slow blink back to life and the few seconds of peace before the pain kicks in are always the worst. He blinks harshly before slowly, slowly sitting up, arms almost buckling from his weight.Â
He hates the weakness that comes with injury, the embarrassment. If he was still training at the commission they wouldâve sent him back on the field before heâd even gotten up. But, he doubts heâd have gotten a disease quite like this over there.
Itâs only after heâs pushed himself into a sitting position that he sees you.Â
Arms crossed as your head leans back against the wall behind you, asleep. He has no idea how long itâs been, but judging by the fact youâre still wearing the clothes you were wearing in the office, he assumes itâs the same day. He glances out the window and its pitch black.
And you look beautiful. Even with the mascara smudged beneath your eyes, the worry on your face even visible in your sleep. Keigo looks away, but not before you wake up and catch him staring. You blink like you might be dreaming, before you bring your chair closer to him.
âHawks. Youâre- Youâre awake.â You whisper the words like if you say them too loudly they might not be true.
He smiles as best as he can. âHey, pretty. The party still going on without me?â He tries for a joke but your eyes prick with tears.Â
âDonât. Donât joke right now. Nothing about this is funny.â You sound serious in a way heâs never heard before, and some sick, twisted part of himself is giddy that itâs all for him.
âYou promised you were fine.â
Keigo wants to turn away because the hurt on your face is his fault.
âIâm sorry. I just-â He sighs. âDid you see?â
âYes.â
âDid anyone else see?â
âNo. Rumi stopped them from coming out into the hall.â
He nods. You shake your head, hand coming up to rub at your eyes.Â
âHow long has it been?â He asks.
You check your watch. âItâs one in the morning so. About six hours.â
Keigo falters. âWait- Youâve been here for six hours?â
You frown. âWell obviously. I- They said Iâm your emergency contact. And someone had to be here to tell you what the doctor said.â
He knows already. From the sharp pain in his chest he knows.
âIâm assuming you know itâs Hanahaki?â
He nods. You nod.
âYou-â You curse. It takes a few moments for you to get the words out.
âHe said you donât have long. The petals, he said theyâre starting to look like flowers. Fully grown ones. And that means youâre in the final stages.â Your voice cracks and Keigo thinks he might throw up again.
âOkay.â
You pause. âOkay? Is that all you have to say? Okay?â
Keigo frowns. âY/N, I-â
âDo you not get it, Hawks? Youâre going to die. He says youâre going to die if you donât either tell the person or- get the surgery done.â
Keigo shakes his head immediately. âIâm not doing the surgery.â
Your lip quivers and you pull yourself even closer. Your hand grabs his and itâs cold where his is warm, and you squeeze.Â
âYou have to, Hawks. The world canât lose you. I canât lose you.â You whisper.
And your words sound so raw, so vulnerable, and it tears at his inside more than the roses growing inside them.
âJust try. Try, okay? Tell them how you feel and see. It- It might be reciprocated. It definitely will be. I mean, who wouldnât be in love with you?â You laugh wetly, eyes glistening with unshed tears.
But thereâs something else behind them.
Jealousy.
And thereâs a small flicker of hope that grows beneath his bones. And he looks at you then, at the tears that gather on the bottom of those fluttering eyelashes. And he reaches up, brushes the curve of your cheek.
And your breath hitches. He feels the heat on your face from how close he is, and he thinks he might cry.
âItâs not fair.â His voice sounds so weak, so awfully weak and he wants to scream.Â
âWhat is? Whatâs not fair?â You ask.
âI canât tell her. I donât deserve her.â
You look so confused. Like heâs said the dumbest thing in the world. âWhat?â
âIâm not- I work almost everyday, and when I am off Iâm too tired to do anything. My place is more of a prison cell than an apartment. I- Iâve never even been in a relationship before. Never even thought about it. I canât- Iâm not allowed, Y/N.â
And now his voice cracks and your hand squeezes tighter. And his voice sounds unfamiliar. This desperation, the frantic panic that fights against his words is so unlike him. Keigo has never been vulnerable with anybody in his life, but that look in your eyes makes him feel like he can tell you everything. All the dirty horrible secrets he keeps locked inside himself.
âItâs not fair. I donât know if I can even be there for someone. Itâs why I never said anything, I didnât want to mess up a relationship thatâs so important for me for one I canât even commit to. Itâs not fair on you, Y/N. You deserve better.â
He feels like thereâs a weight thatâs left his shoulder when he finishes speaking, rambled words he can barely remember. Heâs out of breath when heâs done. Waiting anxiously for you to say something. Maybe this real version of Keigo is too much for you. He has half a mind to tell you it was just a joke, he didnât mean it if it means youâll stop looking so shocked. Keigo just needs you to say something.
âI deserve better?â
He doesnât expect that. âWhat?â He says, confused.
You swallow roughly and he watches the sharp lines of your throat as you do so. âYou said âyou deserve betterâ. You as in, me. As in⌠Iâm the one you have feelings for?â
Shit.
âI- Did I say that? I think itâs the medicine, itâs making me all-â
âAre you in love with me, Hawks?â
The room isnât silent. The machines heâs hooked up to all make a low humming noise, and he can hear people and nurses walking and talking outside. But when you say those words it feels like the world has stopped.Â
He could lie. But Keigo wonât get the surgery, so he figures he might as well let you know how he feels before he dies.
âYes.â
You freeze for a moment. Then your hands come up to cover your face and he immediately misses the contact. And then your shoulders start shaking and he thinks you're crying.
Keigo sighs. âItâs not that awful of a thing. No reason to cry.â
âIâm not crying. Iâm laughing.â
When you look back up at him there are in fact tears running down your face, but you look happy. And hope claws its way out of him.
âThis funny to you?â
âNo. Your stupidity is, though.âÂ
Keigo is quiet for a moment, confused. âDo you mind elaborating on that?â
âHawks, do you think itâs normal that I do all your paperwork with you? Or that we get lunch together almost everyday? Do you think any other assistant in all of Japan would stay as late as their boss, especially when heâs a top ten Pro hero who rarely finishes before ten in the evening?â
âI-â
âDo you think itâs normal that I wear this necklace you bought me everyday?â And you reach into your shirt and pull it out, the gold catching against the light.
âHawks, I spend every waking second Iâm in that agency with you if I can help it. Iâve had job offers a million times better than what I do for you, and Iâve rejected every single one because I wanted to be with you.â
Keigo doesnât say anything. You grab his hand again, but it feels a little more threatening this time.
âYou donât get to decide if I deserve you or not, I do. Itâs- I canât believe you. I donât care about all that. Weâll figure it out together.â
And Keigo just closes his eyes, because this canât be real. He must be dreaming, because Keigo doesnât get things like this. Love. Nothing like that look on your face thatâs all for him.
âYou sure you're not just saying this because Iâm dying?â
And you laugh, and let your tears fall freely, and Keigo can finally breathe clearly for the first time in months.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
this is for lysa if ur anyone else stop reading...?
JKKKKK guys i love hawks so much i can't explain... he was my lover for so long i miss him
also i loved writing this i literally did it in ONE NIGHT?? plz give me more ideas pookas
LOVE U ALLL HAVE A GOOD NIGHT