Happy pride Lawlighters đ€đłïžâđđ€
husband!arlecchino x wife!reader wlw sfw angst
tw : angst, slight comfort, arle makes reader cry, reader is sad, arle doesnt know what to do, arle is bad at comforting but shes doing her best :(
sorry for being gone for ages, not proofread
arlecchino being a fatui harbinger meant that she would often always come home late after you, her 'dear' wife, had fell asleep. she prioritised work over everything and forget the plans you two would make. she often ends up neglecting you, it had been a while since she actually gave you affection, physically, or any words of affirmation.
more recently, arlecchino had been more distant than ever, you two barely talked or even saw each other. especially since she was always in and out the house and taking on unusual working hours. you knew her work was stressful. you understood that, but she would never take your advice to take breaks. you would usually bicker over these subjects over and over again, constantly.
even when today was your 2 year anniversary, today was no different to any other.
you woke up in the morning, alone as usual. the light rain hitting against the window reflected your state of mind. as your hold on the covers tighten, you just silently really hoped she had stayed in bed for just a while longer. not soon later, you got out of bed, the living room was cold since the heater was broken. you'd have to make a mental note to get it repaired.
knowing it was your 2 year anniversary, you had gone out and spent time to buy her a pretty silver ring and an beautiful boquet of flowers. her favourite of course, lumidouce bells. you had spent the whole day waiting for her to come home from work. you laid out your gifts for her on a table in your shared room, excited for her to come home. perhaps she was going to surprise you by pretending to forget.
but the hours passed.. seconds felt like hours.. before you knew it, it was already midnight, you were still waiting.
an gnawing feeling of disappointment and doubt was clawing at your heart. you had already cried a few times today. suddenly, you receive messages from childe. you were rather close with him. apparently, she had been seen around one of the new recruits around zapolyarny palace alot more recently. he thought it was only right to tell you.
you felt like tearing up all again. thoughts of arlecchino forgetting your 2 year anniversary and having an affair plagued your mind. you start doubting yourself as you look in the mirror. all you see are your puffy eyes and tearstained cheeks, glossy from the moonlight casted upon your shared bedroom.
you take a good look at yourself, wondering if you were ever even good enough for the infamous, unfeeling harbinger. you no longer felt like you were even relevant to her anymore.
arlecchino had already entered your home and walked into your shared room. you didnt even notice her presence especially since you so distraught. the second she walked in arlecchino noticed the gift box and bouquet of flowers.
it wasn't until she noticed then, the realisation had actually set in that it was your anniversary today. the intoxicating smell of lumidouse bells filled the air. she felt her heart heavy with guilt. her chest tighten slightly.
she saw you looking at yourself in the mirror, not noticing her. quietly she walks behind you. as she gets closer to you, she sees your teary eyes. she already knew this was all her fault. she felt remose drown out all her feelings, but she didn't show it, of course.
being too lost in your own thoughts, you didnt notice her until her arms wrapped around your waist. you was hit by the smell of her cologne. you flinched a little after being pulled out of your thoughts. you only just remembered you looked like a mess right now.
"my apologies, my dear.." she whispered lowly to you into your ear as she looks at you through the mirror.
arlecchino was warm. a warmth you hadn't felt for a while. you missed the days where she would cuddle up with you in bed, showering you with words of affirmation and just.. talk again. the thought of it made you tear up once more.
you lowered your head, pulling away from her. arlecchinos eyes narrowed with an hint of sadness. she was pained. you didn't want to be mad at her, but you both knew sorry wouldn't suffice.
"you always forget.." you whispered out. you really hoped your voice wasnt too hoarse for her to notice.
she took your hand, gently pulling you in once more. her eyes peered into yours. she could see the disappointment on your face, the puffy red eyes and your tear stained cheeks up close. she ran a hand through your hair, her gaze narrowing. she really wanted to fix things between you two, but she didn't know how to.
"i really am sorry... i got caught up in work-" she mused before getting cut off by you pulling away again from her touch. her hand that was running through your hair fell by her side immediately again. you denied her touch, she felt something stab her heart in a way she hasn't felt before. she didn't like it.
you didnt want to be angry at her. you was just disappointed that she had forgot about your anniversary. such an important date.. the day you two got married.. she had forgotten like she did all the dates you two would of planned and even adjusted to her schedule. you turned away from her.
"you say that all the time..." you replied quietly after a long pause. your voice was shaky despite how much you tried to stabilise it. you felt your throat closing up. that feeling of despair was bubbling in your stomach. you faced the balcony, away from her with your head hung low. you felt your eyes blur from the tears pooling in your eyes. you were a mess.
guilt consumed arlecchino as she watched you turn away from her, your words like a sharp dagger to her heart. she stepped closer towards you. her blackened hands firmly holding your shoulders in hopes of being able to get her words across to you.
"i mean it. please, look at me." she asked you with an subtle sigh of exhaustion.
you shook your head. you felt tears run down your cheek. you tighten your grip your clothes as your let our a breath you didn't know you was holding. arlecchino's lips pushed together subtly. she wanted to say so much, but she was never good at expressing herself. she didn't want people to know she was weak. especially not to you, she was your husband after all.
"childe told me that you have been around this new recruit for the past few weeks.. are they better than me? is that why you always come home late now?" you murmur, quietly with your voice cracking at the end.
your emotions were running wild all over the place. you were unable to control your feelings of anger and disappointment in her right now. arlecchino's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. her front cracking ever so slightly. you couldn't tell but from the inside she was getting panicky. she knows who your talking about.
unfortunately for arlecchino, she just had to work with this stupid new recruit who wouldn't get off her ass no matter how many times she had told her to. she quickly shook her head after being pulled out her thoughts.
"no. that's not it at all. i promise you." she paused, taking a moment to say the right words.
"yes, i have been working a lot more lately, but its not what you think dear." she felt her heart sink deeper the conversation dragged on.
she really hoped you didn't get the wrong idea. she should of known better. she should of just gotten rid of that shameless recruit when she didn't obey her commands to leave her alone.
your teeth gritted together at her words. it was so stupid. you felt like she was just feeding you lies just for the sake of it. you took a shaky breath.
"don't lie to me! you remembered their birthday yesterday and not our anniversary!" you raised your voice at her in anger as you turned to face her.
you could hear how held back your voice was. you didnt want to shout at her. your teary gaze met her stoic ones.
arlecchino stood there speechless, the realization sinking in. she saw the angered look on your face. she never saw it often and she hated it. her eyebrows furrowed slightly, she had indeed remembered that fatui recruit's birthday but not your anniversary. it was only because the recruit kept nagging arlecchino about it.
she shouldn't of listened to anything an pathetic, low life of an fatui recruit said. seeing you in such pain made her heart ache with guilt. she took a step closer, her expression filled with remorse.
"my dear, i'm so sorry. i didn't mean to forget. i've just been so busy with work. please believe me, it's not about her-"
"i'm sure it is all about her! i know you were out late with her having dinner on her birthday! am i just a backup to you? is that all i am to you!?" you cry out. you felt your chest tighten.
arlecchino's heart clenched at your words. she was practically dragged into having dinner with her, but she had no romantic interest in the recruit. her eyes narrowed in subtle remorse and guilt.
"no, no, no. dear, your not a backup. not at all. your my priority, you know that already.."
she reached out, firmly holding your shoulders before you pushed her hands off you. she was getting more worried now, she didn't know what to do in moments like these.
"dont touch me!" you sobbed out, your voice hoarse.
"if you want to remember everything related to her and nothing about us, then fine! i dont want to see you right now!" you shouted at her. leaving the room, shutting the door with an small bang.
arlecchino took a few steps to go after you before stoping immediately. she nodded with an sigh as she processed your words. she wanted to reach out, to explain, but she knew she had hurt you deeply.
she knew she had did wrong. arlecchino was angry at herself for letting things get this bad. more sadness that she had caused you so much pain. arlecchino knew you preferred time alone to calm down. she knew it was only right to not see each other for now. she had to think of how to make everything all better. she could hear her head berating herself with insults and comments on how bad of an husband she is to you.
time ticked by slowly for arlecchino. the guilt and worry gnawed at her insides as she waited for you to come upstairs. she knew you needed time to cool down, but the silence was deafening. she replayed the argument in her head over and over, regretting every careless mistake she had made. her eyes drifted to the gifts you got her, a fresh bouquet of her favourite flowers and a pretty ring. she gently slide the ring onto her finger.
fuck you had even remembered her ring size.
arlecchino had taken you for granted, neglecting your needs and your relationship. she couldn't believe she let things get this bad. after two long, agonising hours, she couldn't bear it any longer. she walked out of your shared room and slowly made her way downstairs.
arlecchino quietly opened the living room door. she let out a shaky breath, feeling the coldness of the room. her eyes widened slightly as she saw you asleep on the couch, clutching the plushie she had gifted you not long ago in your arms. the room was dark, and she could see the gleam of fresh tears on your cheeks in the moonlight. the sight of you, alone and sleeping in the cold room broke her heart.
once again, she felt guilt rush to her heart, she knew that the heater was broken. arlecchino silently cursed herself for not being able to sustain you with the comfort and warmth you deserved.
arlecchino carefully walked closer to you, her footsteps almost inaudible. her eyebrows furrowed at the sight of your shivering form and the tears rolling down your cheeks, even in your sleep. she could only imagine that your dreams were plagued by negative thoughts, likely centered around her and the argument you two earlier tonight. the despair consumed at her heart, knowing she was responsible for your tears.
gently, she knelt down beside the couch. her hand instinctively reached out to wipe the tears from your cheek, her touch feather-light. she let out a shaky breath, it really was cold here. it was only then she had realised it had been weeks since she had been this close to you. the realization of her neglect only fueled her guilt. she gently brushed a strand of hair away from your face, her fingers lingering on your skin longer than they should of. she felt warmth bubble within her after being away from you for a while.
she really had to make up for everything, tenfold.
arlecchino thought it was only right to start showing she did care. she was never good with her words, just her actions. carefully, she lifted you into her arms. she carried you out of the cold room. her narrowed eyes softened slightly as she looked at your tear-stained face, still asleep from exhaustion.
quietly, she stepped into your shared bedroom and gently laid you down on the soft, warm bed. ensuring not to awake you from your sleep. as she tucked you under the warm covers, her heart swelled with love and guilt. arlecchino wanted to sleep with you. hug you and whisper sweet things into your ears. make it all up to you and take your pain away.
but not just yet. she knew she had no right to be near you just yet, especially not after all the pain she has caused you the past weeks. she had to respect you and give you space, for now. she thought it was only right if she got a taste of her own medicine. to atone to her mistakes.
she left the warm shared bedroom, closing the door with a soft click. arlecchino stood in the hallway for a moment, looking at the closed bedroom door. she took a deep breath, readying herself for the cold night ahead. she slowly walked down the stairs and settled back onto the cold couch in the living room.
she felt sick for leaving you alone so often. the couch was uncomfortable and cold, but she knew the night tonight was not as cold as the nights you had to endure without her.
she would take the week off for you. she will make sure to shower you with love and apologise to you. she will make sure to make up for forgetting the anniversary.
she may not always be the most expressive, but she wants to make sure you know she cares. you were the only spark in her life and she never wanted you to blow out.
she silently promised to show you the love and care you deserved, starting from this moment forward.
tbh i only thought of this bc my radiator was broken đ
König, quien estĂĄ con reposo medico en un paĂs extranjero, solo quiere silencio en una ciudad ruidosa entonces decide frecuentar una biblioteca cerca de su residencia. Pronombres femeninos. No tw por el momento
âËïŸâ§ïœ„ïŸâËïŸâ§ïœ„ïŸ*âËïŸâ§ïœ„ïŸâËïŸâ§ïœ„ïŸ* 01 âËïŸâ§ïœ„ïŸâËïŸâ§ïœ„ïŸ*âËïŸâ§ïœ„ïŸâËïŸâ§ïœ„ïŸ*
Sabias que estaba mal, era incorrecto, inmoral.
Sin embargo ahĂ estabas arreglando tu cabello frente al espejo dentro del baño de tu trabajo, sabes que estĂĄ mal pero aĂșn asĂ decides retocar tu maquillaje y rociar un poco de perfume en tu cuello.Â
Era la tercera vez esa semana que aquel hombre entraba a la biblioteca y se quedaba cuatro horas haciendo nada, simplemente se sentaba en un sofĂĄ del fondo y cerraba sus ojos mientras recostaba su cabeza. Aquel hombre era hermoso, magnifico, majestuoso.Â
Su altura alcanzaba fĂĄcilmente los dos metros, no solo era alto; aquel hombre era agraciado por donde fuera visto, una espalda ancha y unos brazos musculoso, probablemente no le resultarĂa difĂcil alzarte para luego...
No.
Sabes que estĂĄs actuando de una manera acosadora, sabĂas que reconocer cada caracterĂstica de su rostro sin alguna vez haber hablado con el era raro, pero, pero tambiĂ©n sabias que no podĂas evitarlo; aquel hombre era magnifico, un rostro masculino bien definido, nariz recta, su labio inferior era mas grueso que el superior y su labio superior tenĂa cicatriz que cruzaba hasta su mejilla, cabello rubio al ras y unos hipnotizantes ojos azules.Â
Te hubieras inventado una conversaciĂłn, probablemente hubieras chocado con Ă©l accidentalmente mientras regresabas libros a sus estantes y entonces habrĂa surgido una conexiĂłn, preguntarle si tiene un genero favorito, gustos musicales; tantas maneras de iniciar una conversaciĂłn si no fuera por ese anillo en su dedo anular.Â
Un maldito circulo dorado arruinĂł tus planes.
Era obvio que semejante hombre iba a estar casado, ÂżCĂłmo serĂĄ ella?Âżo Ă©l?ÂżserĂan felices? mierda, era algo con lo que no contabas.Â
Sabes que estĂĄ mal, sin embargo ya es muy tarde para arrepentirse cuando llegas hasta su lado, intentas tocar su hombro y antes de poder reaccionar ya estĂĄs contra el piso con el encima tuyo. Todo da vueltas y entonces sientes su pierna en tu espalda para evitar que te muevas, su respiraciĂłn es acelerada y su agarre es fuerte.
Todo se siente tenso y pasan unos pequeños segundos hasta que finalmente aquel hombre habla, pero no estĂĄ hablando tu idioma y tu no puedes tener mas confusiĂłn. Su voz es ronca y grave, esto causa estragos en tu estomago y si el escenario fuera diferente probablemente te estarĂas derritiendo ante aquel acento.Â
Cierto.
Aquel hombre seguĂa sobre ti y tu solo podĂas pensar en su voz, probablemente era la falta de aire que llegaba a tu cuerpo debido a la posiciĂłn en la que te tenĂa o tambiĂ©n podĂa ser esa atracciĂłn hacia Ă©l. Como fuera, debĂas actuar rĂĄpido antes de que aquel hombre te dejara inconsciente.
-ÂżpodrĂa por favor dejarme ir?- soltaste un suspiro de alivio cuando por fin te soltĂł, sin previo aviso te levantĂł y te dejĂł de pie, todo el esfuerzo puesto a tu cabello quedĂł arruinado, tu labial barato completamente esparcido en tu rostro. Aquel hombre habĂa causado un desastre en ti y ni siquiera de una manera sexual. Sus ojos mostraban arrepentimiento, casi pudiste compararlo con un cachorro al que acaban de regañar; aquello era imposible pues no existĂa un cachorro tan grande como aquel hombre. Sacudiste tu ropa sacando el polvo inexistente mientras aparentabas tranquilidad, por supuesto, que un atractivo hombre te tacleara era completamente normal, algo de todas las semanas.Â
Pudiste notar nerviosismo en su postura, tras unos eternos segundos de silencio, aclarĂł su garganta y hablĂł:Â
-Yo⊠de verdad lo lamento, fui tomado por sorpresa y aunque eso no tiene justificaciĂłn de verdad me disculpoÂ
Su voz era todo lo contrario a cuando hablaba la lengua que escuchaste anteriormente, esta vez era suave y arrastraba algunas silabas haciéndolas sonar cargadas, probablemente alemån. -No tengo excusa, yo-
-EstĂĄ bien- Lo interrumpiste - TambiĂ©n tengo culpa, no debĂ acercarme de esa manera a ti.Â
Ambos se miraron sin saber que decir a continuaciĂłn, tenĂas el presentimiento de que podrĂan estar ahĂ parados disculpĂĄndose todo lo que quedaba de tarde. Antes de poder reaccionar volviste a hablar:Â
-Lo lamento
-Lo siento
AhĂ, ambos al mismo tiempo ofreciendo disculpas te diste cuenta que te llevaba una gran diferencia de altura; estabas frente a el y no llegabas a su hombro.Â
-De verdad no hay necesidad de pedir disculpas, ya es algo del pasado- probablemente te iba a doler la espalda por el resto de la semana pero no podĂas desaprovechar la oportunidad de hablar con tu crush- De todos modos solo venĂa a decir que estamos por cerrar.
Era verdad, nadie habĂa presenciado el incidente porque ya no habĂa nadie en la biblioteca aparte de Ă©l y tu. QuerĂas cerrar pronto, subir a tu casa y tomar un buen baño de burbujas.Â
Ambos se sonrieron, aquella sonrisa rara e incomoda, dejaste el paso libre y entonces el iba delante y tu detrĂĄs hasta la salida. De verdad era un hombre grande, un paso de el eran dos tuyos y rĂĄpidamente te dejĂł atrĂĄs, mientras se disculpaba en voz baja, a su paso dejaba una fragancia masculina; un olor agradable que impregnĂł tus fosas nasales. Frente a la puerta de la biblioteca quedaron frente a frente y repetiste por ultima vez.
-De verdad ya no debes disculparteâŠ..
-König, mi nombre es König.
Dios, König estaba nervioso y extremadamente asustado, nunca pensĂł que ella se acercarĂa de esa manera hacia Ă©l, sabia que el entrenamiento no era una excusa; ella era una civil y la biblioteca no era el campo de batalla.Â
Estas en casa, todo es seguro.Â
Una frase que debĂa repetir todo el dĂa, cada segundo en su mente pues esta a veces lo traicionaba. Estaba perturbado, tanto ruido en sus misiones hicieron que el ruido de ciudad fuera insoportable, tan detestable que debiĂł buscar un lugar silencioso y nada mejor que una biblioteca. Nunca esperĂł que esta estuviera dirigida por alguien tan bella.
Era claro que eras mas joven que Ă©l, probablemente todavĂa en tus veinte y Ă©l ya se sentĂa un ser prehistĂłrico cerca tuyo. Tenia miedo de inhalar muy fuerte y llevarse tu juventud, sabia que no iba a la biblioteca solo por el silencio, si habĂa sido la razĂłn inicial pero cuando te vio inevitablemente pasaba casi todos los dĂas ahĂ, solo para sentir tu presencia.Â
Esa atracciĂłn hacia ti no le gustaba para nada, pues sabia que su esposa probablemente lo odiarĂa.
pairing âžș knight/warrior!choso x princess!reader
summary âžș you, the princess of the nation, and choso, the son of your father's most trusted general, have been inseperable since birth. but after many deem it inappropriate for him to be so close to you, the distance between you and him only deepens after he leaves for war. when he comes back older and a more handsome, bigger version of the choso of your childhood, you both grapple with love, duty, and test the bounds of propierty.
warnings âžș smut, fluff, angst, hurt/comfort, fem!reader, reader has a vagina, classism? not really, reader may seem pushy at times, not edited, very sweet love confession, happy ending, fingering, breast worship, virgin reader, mutual loss of virginity, mentions of sexism and archaic beliefs about virginity, pathetic choso, soft dom choso, p i v sex, gentle choso :(, me being really horny about his HAPPY TRAIL
a/n it's something about a hot decorated warrior that crumbles at the thought of you...
general masterlist
You and Choso had been inseparable since birth.
As the princess of the realm and the son of the generalâyour fatherâs most trusted advisor and sworn brotherâit seemed ordained by fate itself that you should become steadfast companions. And companions you were; as babes, you darted through the royal gardens, frolicked in the halls of the palace, and devised schemes to escape the ever-watchful eyes of your tutors. Only the constraints of your education would separate you. You were confined to lessons in the classical tongues, the harp, and courtly diplomacy, while Choso immersed himself in the arts of the sword, the strategies of war, and the unyielding discipline of a soldier.
âChoso!â you squealed, your laughter ringing through the royal gardens as you fled from an imagined dragon. You ran toward him, your skirts billowing behind you, and found him poised and ready. His knees were bent, his gaze unwavering, and his small wooden sword clutched tightly in his hands. He glared past you at the phantom threat with the solemnity of a true knight.
âI will save you, Your Highness!â he roared and lunged, hacking away at the demon passionately. You cheered him on, giggling at his act.
âYouâve done it!â you cheered, clapping your hands in delight. But then your eyes widened in feigned terror. âLook, another one approaches!â
Choso spun around at your warning, his attention diverted just as you had planned. Seizing the moment, you imagined the dreadful beast closing in on his unguarded back.
âWatch out!â you exclaimed, grabbing a fallen branch to defend him. With a bold leap, you placed yourself between Choso and the imagined peril, brandishing your twig as though it were a knightâs blade.
âIâve got you!â you declared, laughing as you swung your newfound weapon, the pair of you lost in the unrestrained joy of childhood.
Of course, while the king, your father, appreciated you so closely acquainted with his generalâs son, your mother did not seem to think it wise that you become estranged from the daughters of nobles; after all, you would need to forge relationships early on to strengthen your future court. This led to many a playdates being interrupted.
âYou didnât need to save me!â Choso whined, pouting while crossing his arms.Â
However, you held out a pudgy hand, patting his hair as if to soothe him. âItâs okay, Choso. If you ever need saving, Iâll always be thereââ âYOUR HIGHNESS!â You heard footsteps running towards where the both of you were sitting idly. When parrying the imaginary monsterâs attacks, you had tumbled on top of Choso, your dress and limbs entangled with his and both of your hair unruly. Hearing your governessâ voice led you to pout, for you were sure to earn a scolding for fooling around with Choso rather than practicing the violin for the nth time. Alas, you couldnât escape herâas well as Chosoâs nannies, who had appearedâand you both looked sheepishly at their horrified faces. Â
Frowning, Chosoâs nanny stomped towards the both of you, untangling you both impatiently and, once you were both standing, giving Choso a light smack on his head while bowing towards you. âYour Highness, I apologize, but the both of you mustnât do such things anymore. You both are far past the age that this is appropriate.â
âWhat?â You pouted, disappointed in having to back to your room, confined to practice your violin with those dreadful, boring tunes. âWhat isnât appropriate about this? Weâre just playingââ
âYour Highness,â your governess began, her strained smile barely masking her displeasure. âIt is not fitting for a princess to engage in such⊠undignified behavior. You must remember your station. A young lady of your rank is expected to conduct herself with grace and decorum at all times.â
Chosoâs nanny, now tidying his tousled hair with brisk, efficient motions, added in a sharper tone, âAnd you, young master, should remember your place. You are not her equal but her servantâs son. Such familiarity is unbecoming.â
At her words, Chosoâs face turned pale, his gaze dropping to the ground. His hands clenched into small fists at his sides, but he said nothing, his lips pressed tightly together. You could see the effort it took him to remain still, his shoulders stiff with tension.
âChoso?â you called softly, tilting your head to catch his eye.Â
However, he did not look up, though his voice came, quiet and steady. âIâm sorry, Your Highness. I⊠I wonât do it again.â
Your brows furrowed, your chest tightening at the sight of his downcast expression. âWhat are you apologizing for?â you demanded, your voice sharper than you intended. âYouâve done nothing wrong! We were only playing.â
âYour Highness!â your governess interjected, her tone scandalized. âSuch defiance is unbecoming. You must understandââ
âI understand perfectly,â you snapped, cutting her off. âI understand that I donât care for these rules. Choso is my friend, and I decide what is and isnât proper!â
Chosoâs nanny inhaled sharply, but he quickly stepped forward, shaking his head fervently. âPlease, Your Highness,â he murmured, his voice almost a whisper. âDonât⊠donât say such things for me. Iâll⊠Iâll do as Iâm told. I promise.â
âChoso!â you exclaim, betrayed as the sting of his words settling in your chest. His gaze still refused to meet yours, fixed instead on the ground between you.
Your governess, sensing her victory, straightened. âYour Highness, you must return to your chambers immediately. Your music tutor is waiting. And as for you, Master Choso, your training will resume at once. I trust there will be no further disruptions.â
Neither of you spoke as the governess and the nanny ushered you away in opposite directions, their sharp voices ringing in your ears. Yet, as you glanced over your shoulder, you caught one last fleeting glimpse of Choso, his hesitant gaze finally meeting yours for the briefest of moments. It held a quiet resolve that only deepened your frustration.
âWait and see,â you muttered under your breath as you were dragged back toward your chambers. âIâll change this someday.â
That was the last time he ever spoke your name aloud; now, you were only Your Highness and The Royal Princess. It irritated you to no end; you were his friend, not his superior. But he insisted, falling deeper and deeper into the depths of social proprietary and hierarchy his nannies and parents were no doubt pressuring him into. You could only take what you had; if he was refusing your affection, he would at least not refuse royal commands of rendezvous.
Years had gracefully unfolded since that day, and now, as teenagers, your clandestine meetings in the royal gardens had blossomed into cherished rituals beneath the cloak of night. The gardens, adorned with that glowed under the moon's gentle gaze, became the sanctuary where you and Choso could momentarily escape the rigid expectations of courtly life.
As you approached the secluded alcove near the ancient marble fountain, your heart fluttered with a mixture of anticipation and nervous excitement.Â
And there he was.
Choso waited beneath the willow tree, his dark eyes darting between the swaying branches and the dimly lit path beyond. The shadows stretched long in the garden, and the faint sound of patrolling guards put a furrow in his brow. He shifted on his feet, arms crossed tightly as though bracing himself for some reprimand.
When you finally appeared, dressed in your lighter night robes, he let out a small breath of relief. âYour Highness, you shouldnâtââ
âCan you stop that?â You whine, brushing him off and making a move to sit in the swing right by the tree. You lightly swing your feet, establishing a gentle rhythm while you grin mischievously at him, meeting your lighthearted eyes with his furrowed, slightly worried ones. âDonât be such a spoilsport, Choso. No oneâs going to catch us.â
He can only shake his head, for after years of friendship had led him to know one universal truth: if there was one thing, it was that your mind, once resolute, could not be changed. âI donât know how you keep wanting to risk them discovering this.â Then, he sighs, lamenting weakly, âand why I have to dragged into this.â
You flash him an innocent smile, about to give a cocky response about how youâre the princess and itâs not like Choso doesnât want thisâŠright? but both of you pause, deadly still, when you hear the undeniable clinks of armor.
Patrolling guards.
Chosoâs head snapped toward the sound, his body going rigid. It kind of dazes you, in a way, how his curriculum as a warrior leads him to be so alert. Itâs also this moment that you realize how grown you both are becoming; it feels as if youâre stuck as a dainty princess, while heâs steadily growing taller and bigger, a smaller picture of his formidable father.
âSomeoneâs coming,â he whispered, his voice barely audible over the rustling leaves.
You froze, exchanging a wide-eyed glance with him before instinctively ducking behind the grand marble fountain. The cold stone pressed against your back as the guardsâ footsteps grew louder, accompanied by the bobbing light of their lanterns.
âWhoâs there?â one of them called out, his voice sharp and commanding.
Choso shifted beside you, his breath quick and shallow. Your hand brushed against his arm in reassurance, but it did little to ease the tension radiating off him. The guardsâ lanterns swept methodically across the gardens, their shadows flickering on the trees.
âStay still,â Choso mouthed, his dark eyes fixed on the approaching light.
The guards drew closer, their boots crunching against the gravel path. You could feel your pulse hammering in your ears, each second dragging on unbearably.
Then, a faint rustle to your leftâa squirrel darting across the underbrush. The guards turned toward the noise, their lanterns swinging wide.
âMustâve been an animal,â one muttered, though he sounded unconvinced.
âKeep looking,â the other replied gruffly. âThe kingâs orders were clearâno oneâs to linger in the gardens after dark.â
The pair continued past, their voices fading as they moved toward the far side of the grounds.
You let out a shaky breath, but before you could fully relax, Choso grabbed your hand, pulling you to your feet. âWe need to go deeper,â he said urgently, his voice low.
Without waiting for your agreement, he led you away from the fountain, weaving through the hedges and into the denser parts of the forest. The shadows thickened as the soft glow of the garden lanterns disappeared behind you. Branches brushed against your arms, and the earthy scent of moss and damp leaves filled the air as you ran.
âChoso!â you whispered breathlessly, struggling to keep up with his longer strides. âTheyâre gone!â
âNot far enough,â he replied, glancing back at you. âWe canât risk them doubling back.â
The forest grew darker the deeper you went, the canopy above blocking out most of the moonlight. Finally, when the sound of your own breathing seemed louder than anything else, Choso slowed to a halt beneath a towering oak.
âWe should be safe here,â he murmured, releasing your hand.
You both sank to the ground, the soft carpet of moss cushioning your fall. For a moment, neither of you spoke, too winded to do anything but sit there, catching your breath. Then, a stifled giggle bubbled out of you, unable to contain the absurdity of the chase.
Choso shot you a warning look, but his resolve cracked when you pressed your hands over your mouth, failing to muffle your laughter. A small laugh escaped him in turn, and soon you were both doubled over, trying in vain to quiet yourselves.
âShhh!â Choso whispered, though he was grinning. âYouâll get us caught.â
âYouâre the loud one,â you whispered back, nudging him playfully.
Soon, the laughter slowly subsided, leaving only the sound of rustling leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. Choso leaned back against the tree, his expression softening as he glanced up at the canopy. His eyes caught on something above, and he pointed. âLookâfruit.â
Following his gaze, you spotted the cluster of small, round pomengrenates hanging from a low branch. Choso stood, brushing dirt from his trousers, and reached up to pluck one. He examined it briefly before biting into it, his movements unhurried and deliberate.
âAre you just going to eat that without offering me one?â you asked, crossing your arms.
He smirked, holding another pomengrenate aloft. âYou want it?â
âObviously.â
But instead of handing it over, Choso lifted it above his head, his smirk widening. âCome and get it.â You stood up, moving closer to him to make a motion to grab the fruit. Alas, the effort was not fruitful.Â
âChoso!â you hissed, glaring at him as he kept the fruit just out of reach. You try many things: you grab his shoulder, tickle him on his stomach, and arms. However, it all is in vain.
âYouâre the one who wants it,â he said, his head peering down at you in amusement.
You stood, determination written all over your face. âFine. If you think I canâtââ
You leapt, swatting at his hand, but he easily moved the fruit higher, his height giving him the upper hand.
âYouâre insufferable!â you said, laughing despite yourself as you tried again, this time jumping with more force. Still, you missed.
âPerhaps you shouldâve been born taller,â he teased, a mischievous glint in his eye.
âOr perhaps you should stop being such aââ Before you could finish, he lowered the fruit suddenly, pressing it into your hand.
âThere,â he said, smirking. âSatisfied?â
You took a triumphant bite, your glare softening into a grin. âFor now.â
Settling back down, you both shared the fruit in companionable silence, the earlier tension of the night dissipating in the quiet forest. Yet, as you sat side by side, something about the way his gaze lingered on youâor perhaps the warmth blooming in your chestâmade you wonder if these late-night meetings were becoming something more.
And then, years later, he left for war. Choso left for the battlefield, summoned to serve alongside his father as the generalâs son.Â
The morning he departed was etched into your memory with painful clarity. The air was crisp, the kind that stung your lungs when you breathed too deeply, and the courtyard was alive with the sounds of preparation. Soldiers moved with purpose, their boots striking against the cobblestones in rhythmic determination. Horses snorted and pawed at the ground, their breaths rising like smoke in the cold air.
You stood at the edge of it all, your hands clasped tightly in front of you, trying to keep your expression composed. This was no place for a princess to display her feelings, no matter how tightly they knotted in her chest. Your father was nearby, speaking with the general in low, serious tones, his gaze sweeping over the troops with pride. Your mother was absent, as always, too preoccupied with courtly matters to concern herself with the departure of soldiersâeven one who had once been your constant companion.
When Choso emerged from the crowd, his figure clad in the red, utilitarian uniform of a soldier, it was as though the rest of the scene blurred. The boy who had once darted through the gardens with you, his hair wild and his hands dirtied by mischief, now looked every inch the man his father had raised him to be. His hair was tied back, his face set in an unreadable mask of calm, and he carried himself with a solemnity that felt foreign.
He always did make you feel like a child. While you were still delaying acceptance of your fate as the princesâfuture queenâ-he had grown into a man, fated to be a war general.Â
He approached slowly, each step deliberate. When he stopped before you, he did not smile. Instead, he bowed low, his dark eyes briefly meeting yours. âYour Highnessââ
But you had enough of that godforsaken title. âWhy must you leave?â You cried, your voice breaking as Choso stood before you in the courtyard.
The image of the steeled soldier crumbled as his eyes softened in fondness and melancholy. âYou know I must.â
You shook your head fervently, as if to vehemently deny what was undeniably the truth. âYou know thatâs not true.â And it wasnât, for it would only take an imperial command of yours to bar him from ever entering the battlefield.
But it was his dream; you saw the way he looked at his father. To deny Choso the sword and the glory he was destined for was to chain him down, and you knew that. So instead, you shook off the idea, then blurted, âYouâll write to me, wonât you?â
The question hung in the air between you, heavy with expectation. He hesitated, a flicker of somethingâguilt, perhapsâcrossing his face before it smoothed back into neutrality. âIf time allows.â
That was all he offered. No promises. No reassurances. Just a vague, distant answer that left your heart sinking.
Outraged, and a bit petulant, you exclaimed. âWhat do you mean if time allows? Will you be so busy that you wonât have time? Are you not at least going to grant me some peace of miâwhat is that?â
In the corner of your eye, you see something in his hand catch the sunlight, and glimmer. He hesitates, his hand clenching before inevitably opening his palm. A timid, âFor you, Your Highness.â
An instinctual donât call me that dies out in your throat as he shows you what he was hiding. In it he uncovers a small, delicate objectâa pin shaped like a blooming flower, its petals carved with meticulous detail and painted in hues of white and gold.
You stared at it, your hands trembling as you took it from him. âWhat is this for?â
âItâs a symbol,â he explained, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant. âOf where Iâll always be, even if Iâm not here. Keep it with you, and youâll know that... that Iâll do everything I can to return.â
âOh, Choso.â Your bottom lip trembled as tears welled in your eyes, threatening to spill over. Your fingers closed around the pin, the intricate craftsmanship biting into your palm. Somehow, the weight of it felt heavier than it shouldâve been. âI donât want a pin, Choso,â you whispered, voice cracking. âI want you to stay.â
His expression softened, and for a moment, it seemed like he might reach out to you. But then he stilled, the rigidity in his posture a clear reminder of the boundaries he refused to cross.
Even so, you didnât want to seem ungrateful. The gift, despite your pain, was beautiful, and its meaning wasnât lost on you. You sniffled, brushing a tear from your cheek with a trembling hand. âBut it is beautiful, regardless,â you murmured, holding it up to the light. The golden edges of the petals gleamed softly, like sunlight captured in metal. âPut it in my hair?â
Choso blinked, caught off guard by the request. His gaze flickered between you and the pin, uncertainty etched into his features. âYour Highness, Iââ
âPlease,â you interrupted gently, tilting your head slightly toward him. âJust this once.â
He hesitated for a long moment, his fingers flexing at his sides as though he were battling some internal conflict. Finally, with a barely audible sigh, he reached out and took the pin from your hand.
You held your breath as he stepped closer, his presence steady and grounding despite the whirlwind of emotions inside you. His hand brushed against your hair and your neck as he carefully gathered a small section, his touch warm and deliberate. You could feel the calluses on his fingertips, earned from countless hours of swordsmanship, yet his movements were painstakingly gentle.
âThere,â he said softly, stepping back to examine his work. His gaze lingered on you, and for the first time in what felt like forever, his formal mask cracked ever so slightly. There was something in his eyesâsomething raw and unspokenâthat made your chest tighten.
You reached up instinctively, your fingers brushing against the cool metal of the pin now nestled securely in your hair. âHow does it look?â you asked, trying to keep your voice light, though the lump in your throat made it difficult.
Chosoâs lips parted, but no words came. He swallowed hard, his gaze darting away as if he couldnât bear to look at you any longer. âItâs beautiful,â he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.
The horn sounded again, louder this time, breaking the fragile moment between you. Choso stepped back, the walls of propriety rising between you once more.
âThank you,â you managed, your voice steady despite the ache in your chest.
He bowed deeply, avoiding your eyes. âGoodbye, Your Highness.â
And then he was gone, leaving you alone with the faint scent of earth and steel, the pin in your hair a bittersweet reminder of the distance that now separated you.
For weeks after, you found yourself restless, wandering the garden paths where you had once talked and laughed together. You scribbled letter after letter, pouring out questions and updates, recounting bits of palace gossip and even sending sketches of the places youâd been. But no reply ever came.
At first, you tried to excuse itâsurely, he was too busy, too occupied with the rigors of war to respond. Still, you kept writing, sending your letters to the front lines with the faint hope that one day, youâd receive one in return.
âAny news of the generalâs son?â you would ask your father over dinner, feigning casual interest.
âHeâs doing well,â your father would reply, distractedly cutting into his meal. âHis tactics in the northern campaign have earned him commendation. A fine young soldier.â
You pressed further, ignoring the disapproving look your mother shot you. âAnd... is he safe?â
Your father raised a brow but indulged you. âOf course. The reports say heâs advancing quickly through the ranks. A promotion to captain is already under consideration.â
Your chest swelled with pride at the thought, but it was quickly eclipsed by frustration. If he was receiving such accolades, surely he could find the time to write a simple letter?
âWhy do you trouble your father with such questions?â your mother chided later, her tone clipped. âThe generalâs son is serving the nation. You should focus on more important matters, like preparing for your duties.â
But your concern for Choso only grew. Whenever news from the front lines arrived, you would listen intently, hoping to hear his name mentioned. When you did, it brought a fleeting sense of relief, but it never lasted long.
The silence from him felt heavier with each passing month. You couldnât understand itâhow could someone who had once been your closest companion, who had sworn to always protect you, sever that bond so easily?
And yet, you never stopped writing. Each letter was folded with care, sealed with your personal wax stamp, and sent off with the same unwavering hope. Even if he didnât reply, even if you didnât understand why, you couldnât bring yourself to stop.
The city was alive with celebration, a symphony of cheers, music, and the occasional crackle of fireworks that lit up the night sky. The soldiers had finally come home after a long winded war, and you just couldnât miss out on the excitement. After Chosoâs departure, you had grown. Before you were a gangly teenager, but now you were a young woman. With this came you forming your own opinion, independent of our parents, and had developed a habit of frequently sneaking out of the palace.
You couldnât bear to stay confined to the palace, not when the air was thick with excitement and the news of the armyâs triumphant return had set the entire city alight. The soldiers, clad in polished armor that gleamed even in the dim light, strode through the streets in small groups while the people cheered on the sidelines. They carried themselves with the confidence of men who had seen battle and emerged victorious.
Young ladies lingered at the edges of the crowd, their eyes alight with hope as they watched the soldiers pass. Some called out to them, their voices playful and lilting, while others merely smiled shyly, clutching kerchiefs or flowers they clearly longed to offer. The soldiers, for the most part, maintained a stoic demeanor, though a few exchanged grins or nodded in acknowledgment, their faces betraying a mix of pride and exhaustion.
Children darted between legs, waving tiny flags and shouting in delight, while their parents looked on with a mix of relief and gratitude. The scent of roasted chestnuts and spiced wine wafted through the air, mingling with the faint metallic tang of the soldiersâ armor. It was a night of unity, of celebration, where the lines between commoner and noble blurred in the shared joy of victory.
Draped in a simple cloak to conceal your identity, you slipped past the guards at the palace gates, your heart pounding with both exhilaration and trepidation. The anonymity of the cloak felt liberating as you merged with the crowd, the world suddenly vast and unguarded in a way it never was within the palace walls.
Laughter surrounded you, the contagious energy of the revelry lifting your spirits as you wandered farther from the familiar confines of royal life. You paused to admire a street performer juggling flaming torches, your cloak billowing slightly in the breeze. But before you could move on, a sudden gust snatched the handkerchief tucked into your cloak.
You gasped, your fingers grasping for it, but the delicate fabric was already airborne, dancing above the heads of the crowd. You watched helplessly as it soared higher, carried by the playful wind. Instinctively, you gave chase, weaving through the throng of revelers as your heart raced with the thrill of pursuit.
The handkerchief drifted out of sight, disappearing beyond the swell of people. Your steps faltered, and you stood on tiptoe, scanning the crowd in vain. It was only then that a firm hand shot up above the sea of heads, catching the fluttering fabric mid-air. The sight of your handkerchief, caught in a strong, gloved grip, sent a jolt through you.
Your gaze traveled upward, and there he stoodâa figure that was at once familiar and startlingly different. His broad shoulders and proud stance were unmistakable even before he turned, his dark eyes locking with yours.
âYour Highness?â His voice was deep, steady, and entirely too familiar. Then, his eyes went to your hairâyou, still wearing the hairpin he gave you that dayâand they filled with a conflicted, longing sort of expression.
Your breath hitched, and for a moment, you froze. He looked so muchâŠbigger. He always had muscles due to his frequent physical lessons, but he was so much taller now, his face a lot more sculpted. Before you could interpret what the lurching in your heart meant, he took a step towards you. But before he could take another step toward you, you turned and ran instinctively, the sound of his voice chasing you as surely as his footsteps.
Fuck, fuck, FUCK! If Choso knew you had sneaked out, he would send you right back, citing useless things about duty and protecting you. While your traitorous heart started beating faster as soon as you saw himâdifferent, but still undeniably Chosoâyou knew your liberty was at an end if he sent you home and informed your parents of what you did.
You bolted as fast as you could, your cloak billowing behind you as you darted into a narrow alley. Footsteps echoed against the cobblestones, heavy and deliberate, chasing you down. You reached the end of the alley and stopped, your chest heaving, unsure whether to keep running or face him.
âYour Highness,â the voice came again, closer this time.
You spun around, and there he was. Choso. But he wasnât the boy you rememberedâhe was a man now. Broad shoulders filled out his uniform, the insignia of his rank glinting on his chest. His hair was tied back, revealing a face hardened by battle and time. Yet his eyes, dark and intense, still held the same quiet depth youâd known as children.
He dropped to one knee, his hand over his heart. âYour Highness.â
You gaped at his display. Since when did he start kneeling? âWhat are you doing?â
His voice came out, devoid of the warmth you had once known. âItâs protocol, Your Highness.â His head remained bowed, his knee pressed to the uneven cobblestones, the hand holding your handkerchief resting against his heart.
But you were in denial, scrambling to pull him up by his arms. It was futile; he was way stronger than you, and at your touch, he jumped back, as if stung. Wounded, you urged him. âGet up,â you stepped closer, âChoso, itâs me. You donât need toââ
âI must, Your Highness.â His tone was calm but resolute, his gaze fixed on the ground. âUnless you are issuing an imperial command, I have no choice but to honor the rules set forth by your station.â
You stared at him, your chest tightening. âAn imperial command?â The words tasted bitter on your tongue. You didnât want commands; you wanted familiarity, the easy camaraderie you once shared.
âYes, Your Highness.â He finally lifted his gaze to meet yours, his dark eyes steady and unreadable. âIf you do not wish me to kneel, then say it as such. OtherwiseâŠâ He lowered his head again. âThis is my place.â
âYour place?â You felt a flicker of anger rise in your chest. âChoso, your place is by my side, as it always has been! Donâtâdonât treat me like some distant monarch.â
His shoulders tensed, and you thought you caught a flash of somethingâguilt, perhaps?âin the way his fingers tightened around the handkerchief. But still, he didnât move.
Frustrated, you stepped even closer, your voice rising despite your efforts to remain calm. âGet up,â you said, reaching out and tugging at his arm. âI said, get up!â
âI cannot,â he said softly, the words cutting through your frustration like a blade. âNot unless you order it as my superior.â
You stared at him, a mix of hurt and disbelief swirling in your chest. âFine,â you said, your voice trembling. âIf thatâs what it takes, then I command youâget up, Choso. I command you to stand!â
For a moment, the tension lingered in the air, thick and suffocating. Slowly, reluctantly, he rose to his feet, towering over you with a presence that felt both familiar and foreign.
But as you looked up at him, your frustration only grew. âThis isnât you,â you said, your voice softer now, tinged with sadness. âYouâre treating me like Iâm just your princess, like Iâm someone you barely know. Do you even know how much it hurt when you never wrote back to me? I kept sending letter after letter, but it was like you didnât care. Like you forgot about me.â
Chosoâs jaw tightened, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. âIt wasnât my place to respond, Your Highness.â
It was that damn phrase. âYour place?â you echoed, now even more bitterly. âYou were my friend, Choso. My closest friend. Now you stand here, calling me Your Highness like Iâm a stranger, like we never ran through the gardens or talked under the stars. I donât even know who you are anymore.â
For a moment, his expression softened, but it was fleeting. He straightened, his demeanor distant once more. âItâs dangerous for you to be here,â he said quietly. âI need to call for a carriage to take you back to the palace.â
Your heart sunk to your derriere. If Choso did indeed send you back, your parents would undeniably discover that youâve been sneaking out. âNo!â you snapped, stepping forward. âYou canât. If my parents find out I was here, theyâllââ
âTheyâll ensure your safety,â he interrupted, his voice steady but firm. âAnd thatâs what matters.â
You stared at him, now anger bubbling in your chest. âSo youâll just hand me over like Iâm some burden to be dealt with? What about you?â Then, in a strong fit, you bursted out. âAre you going to stay here and fool around with girls while Iâm locked away in the palace?â
His eyes widened briefly at your accusation, a flicker of surprise breaking through his stoic mask. But then his expression hardened, and he took a step back. âThatâs not fair,â he said quietly.
âFair?â you shot back, your voice trembling. âWhatâs fair about any of this, Choso? Youâre not even trying to fight for usâfor the friendship we used to have.â
He hesitated, his hands curling into fists at his sides. âItâs not that simple,â he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
âThen make it simple!â you demanded, your heart aching with every word. âStop pushing me away. Stop acting like I donât matter to you anymore.â
For a moment, you thought he might say somethingâsomething real, something that would bridge the growing chasm between you. But instead, he turned away, his voice steady and distant as he said, âWait here. Iâll call for the carriage.â
You watched him walk away, the ache in your chest spreading until it felt like it would consume you entirely. The handkerchief in your hand trembled as you clenched your fingers around it, your anger and sadness swirling into a storm of emotion.
And yet, even as he disappeared into the bustling streets, a part of you refused to believe this was the end. You couldnât let it be.
Ever since his return to the palace, Choso has been ignoring you.
Itâs not that you were spending every hour and every minute with him before, when he was just your childhood friend. However, you would meet everyday, whether it to be sneak off into the gardens at night, or meet for lunch or dinner. Even a request of yours couldâve secured a visit to town, the both of you going to town to eat pastries and street food while accompanied by a chaperone. Of course, that was due to your incessant pleas to your disapproving mother, but you could score an occasional playdate outside the palace every month or so.
But it feelsâŠdifferent. And he feels different.
You oft find yourself daydreaming about him, older and a decorated soldier. And before you can catch yourself, you find your cheeks heated and your heart set aflutter. Itâs a bit mind-boggling, really. Ever since Choso left, none of the future dukes and lords had ever caught your attention, even at balls. Their gentle, weak disposition didnât compare to your Choso, you always thought. Back then, you had always thought of it as pride for your best friend, but nowâŠ..
Musing aside, youâre tired of this distance Choso has created between you. So you choose to seek him out.
The castle courtyard was alive with the sharp clang of swords and the rhythmic stomp of boots on hard-packed dirt. You leaned over the balustrade of the upper terrace, concealed behind a stone pillar, watching the soldiers below. It wasnât the sparring or the strategy that captivated youâit was Choso.
The sun bore down on him as he moved with precision and power, his blade a silver blur as he sparred with one of the veteran knights. His whole torso is bare; damp with sweat, the sun shines against the cords and cords of muscle that then lead to a string of hair that trails into his trousers. The muscles in his arms ripple with every swing and parry. You bite your lip, feeling a warmth creep up your cheeks that you stubbornly attributed to the summer heat.
He had changed so much. Gone was the boy who had laughed with you under the willow tree and run with you through the gardens. In his place was a man who carried the weight of war on his broad shoulders, his every movement deliberate, his expression unreadable. And yet, despite the distance he put between you, you couldnât tear your eyes away.
When the sparring session ended, Choso handed his sword to a squire and wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. You straightened as he turned, half-expecting him to glance up and spot you. But he didnât. Instead, he spoke briefly to the knight, his gaze fixed firmly on the ground.
You took a deep breath, steeling yourself. You couldnât keep hiding and watching from afar. You had to speak to him, to demand answers for why he had been avoiding you since the day in the alley.
Quickly, you made your way down to the courtyard, your pulse racing as you rehearsed what you would say. But when you reached the training grounds, Choso was already heading toward the barracks.
âChoso!â you called out, your voice echoing across the courtyard.
He froze mid-step, his shoulders tensing before he turned slowly to face you. His expression was neutral, guarded, but there was a flicker of something in his eyesâsomething he quickly masked.
âYour Highness,â he said, bowing his head. âWhat brings you here?â
You frowned, frustrated by the formality in his tone. âI wanted to speak with you,â you said, stepping closer. âYouâve been avoiding me.â
He shook his head, his dark hair falling into his eyes. âI havenât been avoiding you. Iâve been busy with training and my duties.â
âThatâs a lie,â you said, crossing your arms. âYou always find a reason to leave whenever I try to approach you. You didnât even look at me after the alleyââ
âYour Highness,â he interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. âYou shouldnât be here. Itâs not proper for you to be seen in the training grounds.â
âProper?â you repeated, anger flaring in your chest. âSince when do you care about whatâs proper? You didnât care when we were sneaking out or when we were running through the gardensââ
âThat was different,â he said, his tone softer now. âWe were children. Things arenât the same anymore.â
âWhy not?â you demanded, your voice trembling. âWhy are you pushing me away?â
He hesitated, his gaze flickering to the soldiers milling about in the distance. âIâm not pushing you away,â he said finally. âIâm doing whatâs best for you.â
âWhatâs best for me?â You laughed bitterly, shaking your head. âHow can ignoring me and avoiding me be whatâs best for me?â
Choso didnât answer. Instead, he bowed his head again, his hands clenched at his sides. âForgive me, Your Highness. I need to return to my duties.â
And before you could stop him, he turned and walked away, leaving you standing in the middle of the courtyard, your heart aching with every step he took.
You paced the length of your chambers, clutching the skirts of your dress. Itâs been two times that Choso dismissed since his arrival. Did he abhor you so?
It was as if an invisible wall had been erected between you, the builder of it Choso for some mysterious reason. Proprietary aside, it would be okay for the occasional chat, would it not? After all, he was still a noble in his own regard, and a conversation or two wouldnât be frowned upon. So why was he ignoring you entirely?
You couldnât take it anymore. If he wouldnât come to you, then you would ensure he had no choice but to stay by your side. If he truly detests it, you will let him go, no matter how painful it would be and how ardently you would mourn your friendship. But you needed to know.
Resolved, you marched to your parentsâ audience chamber, where they were seated in quiet discussion. Your father looked up first, his brows furrowing slightly at your abrupt entrance. âWhat is it, my dear? You seem troubled.â
Your mother glanced at you as well, seated right next to the king, her sharp gaze assessing. âHas something happened?â
You straightened your shoulders, facing them both, willing your voice to remain steady. âFather, Mother, I have a request.â
Your father tilted his head, curious. âGo on.â
You hesitated for only a moment before speaking. âI would like Choso to be assigned as my personal guard.â
The queen blinked, her lips pressing into a thin line, and questioned, âChoso?â
âYes,â you said quickly to prevent your mother from getting a word in. âHeâs proven himself in battle, hasnât he? Heâs been promoted several times for his skill and loyalty. Who better to protect me?â
Your father leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard thoughtfully. âItâs true heâs risen quickly through the ranks. Heâs a fine soldier.â
âAnd heâs someone I trust,â you added, stepping closer. âHeâs been by my side since we were children. I feel safer with him than with anyone else. With me growing into adulthood, there would be no one better to be by my side.â
Your motherâs gaze sharpened. âThis wouldnât have anything to do with his recent return to the palace, would it?â
You met her eyes, refusing to back down. âIt has everything to do with the fact that I need someone I can rely on. Someone who knows me.â
Your father exchanged a look with your mother, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded. âVery well. I will speak to the general about the arrangement.â Then, a little wryly, he adds, âAlthough, I did hear that it was him that reported you when you were sneaking out in public. Perhaps it would be a fine match.â At that, your mother visibly bristled at the memory of hearing that you were out, unguarded.
At the kingâs words, relief washed over you, but it was quickly tempered by your motherâs stern voice. âThis is highly unusual, you know. A princess requesting a specific guard. People will talk.â
Inwardly, you rolled your eyes, but showing sass to your mother would mean that she would argue further. Instead, you went and showed her your pride. âLet them,â you said, lifting your chin. âI donât care what they say.â
Your father chuckled softly, knowing you would say something of the sort. âSpoken like a true princess.â
âThank you,â you said, bowing your head. âBoth of you, Father and Mother.â
As you left the chamber, your heart raced with a mix of excitement and nervousness. This was your chanceâyour chance to bring Choso back into your life. Whatever walls he had built between you, you were determined to tear them down.
The water was warm, steam curling gently around you as you leaned back in the large marble tub. The golden light of the setting sun streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting vibrant patterns across the tiled floor. It was one of the few moments you had to yourself, free from the watchful eyes of attendants and the endless constraints of royal duty. You closed your eyes, sinking deeper into the water, allowing yourself to relaxâuntil the door to your bathing chamber slammed open.
âYour Highness, why did youââ At first, Choso raised his voice slightly, storming in. Then, he stopped right in his tracks as he noticed you, and your face, your neck and then the rest of your body engorged in soapy, steamy water. Blushing furiously, he turned, scrambling for the door. âMy apologies, I didnât mean toââ
He was rigid as he stormed toward the exit, and you couldnât help but stifle a giggle at the sight. âChoso, wait,â you called, your voice laced with amusement. He stopped abruptly, halting awkwardly in his tracks. âWhile I appreciate your enthusiasm for your new title,â you teased, âIâd prefer if you didnât barge into the bathing chamber. Let us count ourselves lucky that you had not seen⊠more.â
It was nearly impossible not to laugh now. Even the back of his neck was flushed a deep crimson, and it struck you as absurdly endearing. The aloof and stoic soldier who had spent weeks ignoring you had crumbled into a shy boy at the mere sight of you in a tub. You supposed it made senseâheâd likely not had much interaction with women, what with his rigid dedication to the army. Still, his reaction felt... exaggerated.
Choso let out a shaky exhale, his voice strained when he finally spoke. âI apologize,â he said, his tone clipped as though to mask his discomfort. âBut I must askâwhy did you instate me as your guard?â
The answer was simple, and you played absentmindedly with a soap bubble as you replied, âBecause there is no one I trust more than you.â
For a moment, the room was silent save for the faint dripping of water. Then, Choso spoke, his voice low and almost pained. âWhy must you do this to me? Why must you torment me so?â
What?
His words pierced through the lighthearted atmosphere, leaving you stunned. A pang of hurt welled in your chest at the sharpness of his tone. âDoes it torment you to be in my company?â you asked, laughing scornfully to hide the sting.
When he didnât answer, the silence was louder than any words could have been.
âIf it torments you,â you continued bitterly, âthen so be it. You have already had my one liberty stripped away. Mother and Father have doubled the surveillance on me, all thanks to you.â The memory of your recent restrictions only added fuel to the fire of your frustration. âIs this not fair? An eye for an eye, then. Perhaps your torment will teach you to stop pretending you know whatâs best for me.â
Still brimming with anger, you lifted your chin and gestured to the door. âYou may leave now.â
For a moment, he stood there, the weight of his presence filling the room. Then, with a stiff nod, he turned to the door. âYour Highness,â he murmured, his voice cold and formal.
And then, he was gone.
You really do abhor dinner parties.
Thereâs much wrong with them, and if you had to, you could do a systematic rundown of every single grievance. The first and foremost was the absurd inability to properly enjoy the food. The chefsâ hard work deserved to be indulged in, not nibbled delicately with those ridiculous little spoons. And then there was the matter of breathing, which you could barely manage with your waist cinched so tightly and your bodice forcing your chest up like some cruel display. Sitting down practically demanded you forgo the simple luxury of air.
But the worst part? Having to entertain men.
âAnd I have acquired double the profits of Lord Gojo,â Lord Naoya declared, puffing his chest like a rooster preening in the henhouse. His voice boomed with self-importance, his words spilling out in a showy, rehearsed cadence.
You couldnât help yourselfâyou smiled. And while it appeared to him as admiration, it was born of pure amusement. The man clearly thought you were too dim to know better, but you were well-versed in state finances. Lord Naoyaâs exaggerated claims were as transparent as glass.
On your right, Choso sat silently, his role as your personal guard justifying his unusually close position. He had been quiet all evening, his eyes scanning the room more than his plate.
âAnd surely, a woman as lovely as yourself would agree that business acumen is the truest mark of a manâs value,â Naoya continued, leaning closer to you with a smirk you found utterly punchable.
You giggled, not at his words, but at the sheer absurdity of them. You bit your lip to stifle a laugh, but your amusement couldnât be fully hidden.
When you finally turned to glance at Choso, however, your mirth faltered. He wasnât looking at Naoya anymoreâhis dark eyes were locked on you, his brows furrowed, lips pressed into a thin, disapproving line.
He looked very upset.
You blinked, confused, before glancing back at Naoya, who was still prattling on, utterly oblivious. Was Choso⊠angry at you?
It didnât make sense. After you had initiated him as your guard, heâd been resigned after that confrontation in your bathing chambers. Ever since, youâd seen him stoic, protective, and even exasperated, but thisâthis was different. The weight of his gaze lingered on you like a reprimand, and it unsettled you in ways you couldnât quite explain.
âYour Highness, I trust youâd agree,â Naoya pressed, oblivious to the charged air.
âAgree?â you echoed, snapping back to attention. You hadnât been listening, too distracted by Chosoâs silent brooding. âOh, of course,â you said vaguely, waving your hand with a polite smile. âI couldnât agree more.â
Naoya looked pleased with himself, but you barely noticed. Your focus shifted back to Choso, who had turned his head forward, his jaw tight. You leaned closer to him, lowering your voice so only he could hear. âIs something the matter?â
He didnât look at you, his tone curt. âNothing, Your Highness.â
Your stomach twisted at the formality. The night had already been exhausting enough, and now Choso was acting like youâd personally offended him.
âChoso,â you pressed, your voice softer now, âif Iâve done something to upset youââ
âItâs not my place to say,â he interrupted, finally looking at you. His gaze was sharp, cutting through your defenses. âBut if I may offer counsel, Iâd suggest not wasting your smiles on men like him.â
You blinked, taken aback. His words werenât loud, but they struck with the force of a hammer.
âWhat does that mean?â you whispered, your amusement long gone, replaced by confusionâand something else you couldnât quite name.
âIt means,â Choso said, his voice low, âthat heâs not worth it.â
His words hung in the air between you, heavy with implication.
Before you could respond, the clinking of glasses drew everyoneâs attention, and you were forced to look away as a toast was made. But even as the room filled with polite applause and laughter, your thoughts were consumed by Chosoâs quiet but pointed remarks.
When you glanced back at him, his focus was elsewhere, his expression carefully neutral. Yet something about the tension in his shoulders told you that the conversation wasnât overânot really.
And for the rest of the evening, Naoyaâs words became nothing more than background noise, drowned out by the quiet storm brewing in Chosoâs eyes.
The air in your chambers was warm, the faint crackle of the fireplace soothing you as your maid finished tugging the laces of your nightgown into place. The fabric was delicate, thin enough to feel the cool evening breeze against your skin despite the room's warmth. With a bow, the maid excused herself, leaving you alone with your thoughts.
Ever since that dinner party with Naoya, Choso had been more distant than ever. Before, it had seemed that he had warmed up to the task of being your guard; whenever you walked through the garden, you eventually warmed him enough that the both of you could converse during the stroll. Of course, it hadnât returned to what it was like before, but it was still progress. However, now it seemed that all he had to offer was curt responses and avoidant stares.Â
The change grated on you, more than you cared to admit. You werenât naĂŻve; you knew something had shifted that night. The way he had looked at you, the way his words had cutâit all lingered, a splinter in your chest that you couldnât pull free.
Still, tonight was meant to be routine, a brief reprieve from the emotional turmoil. You always ended your evenings with a massage, a small luxury that helped soothe the tension from the day. Summoning Choso to your chambers, you intended for him to call for the maid who usually performed the task.
When he arrived, his expression was as stony as ever. âYou called for me, Your Highness?â
âYes, Choso,â you said, smoothing your hands over the hem of your nightgown. You lazed back on your chaise lounge, head against pillow as you looked at him. âI need the maid for my massage. Could you fetch her?â
He hesitated. âThe maids have retired for the night. Shall I summon someone from the servantsâ quarters?â
You frowned. The thought of disturbing anyone at this hour felt excessive. Then, your gaze drifted to Choso, his broad shoulders rigid, his hands clasped behind his back in his usual formal stance. An idea struck you, and you spoke before fully thinking it through.
âThen youâll do it.â
His dark eyes snapped to yours, wide with disbelief. âYour Highness, Iââ
You tilted your head, feigning innocence but unable to fully hide the mischief in your smile. âOh, come now, Choso. Youâre stronger than any maid. Surely, your hands would be better suited for the task.â
For a moment, he simply stared at you as though youâd just declared the sky was green. His lips parted, but no words came out, his gaze darting nervously around the room before settling back on you. âI donât think thatâs⊠appropriate,â he said carefully, his voice low and strained.
You leaned back slightly, arching a brow. âAnd why not? Itâs just a massage. Surely, as my personal guard, itâs your duty to ensure my comfort, no?â
âYour Highnessââ
âChoso,â you interrupted, your tone softening as you leaned forward slightly, letting your hair cascade over one shoulder. âYouâve sworn an oath to protect me. Are you really going to deny me such a simple request? Besides,â you added with a teasing smile, âI trust you. Who better to take care of me?â
His jaw tightened, and he looked away, his shoulders visibly tensing. It was rare to see him so uncharacteristically flustered, and you found it almost endearing. Still, you could see the war waging behind his eyesâthe struggle between his rigid sense of propriety and his inability to deny you.
âChoso,â you said again, gentler this time, âitâs just us here. No one else needs to know. Please?â
The word seemed to undo him. After a long, weighted pause, he exhaled sharply, his hands clenching at his sides before he gave a stiff nod. âAs you wish, Your Highness.â
You smiled in satisfaction and shifted, lying down on the chaise lounge with your head resting on your folded arms. The thin fabric of your nightgown clung to your back and shoulders, leaving little to the imagination, but you paid it no mind. Choso, however, hesitated, his gaze flickering over you before he finally moved to kneel beside you, his movements almost painfully hesitant.
You settled onto the chaise lounge, lying on your stomach and pulling your hair over one shoulder to expose the curve of your neck. The thin fabric of your nightgown clung to your body, leaving little to the imagination, but you paid no mind to it. Choso, however, lingered for a moment longer than necessary, his dark eyes flickering over the exposed skin before quickly darting away.
The tension in the room was palpable, and though you couldnât see his face, you could feel his hesitation. The silence stretched, heavy and awkward, until finally, he knelt beside you, his movements stiff and deliberate. His hands hovered just above your shoulders for a moment, as if he were debating whether to go through with it, before he finally made contact.
The first press of his palms was firm, his calloused hands warm against your skin. He worked in silence, but his touch was tentative, almost reluctant, as though every movement was a battle against himself. His fingers found the knots in your shoulders, but his grip tightened slightly as you let out a soft sigh of relief.
âYouâre good at this,â you murmured, your voice languid. âI shouldâve asked you sooner.â
Choso didnât respond, but his hands stilled for the briefest moment, his jaw tightening. He resumed a beat later, his touch growing more confident as his fingers moved lower, kneading along the length of your spine. Yet, there was something almost possessive in the way he worked, his hands lingering at the curve of your back, brushing the edges of your nightgown with an intimacy that felt deliberate, even if unspoken.
Heat pooled in your belly, but the mood shifted when Choso spoke, his voice low and edged with something that made your breath catch.
âDo you let all your guards do this to you?â
Your eyes snapped open, the sharpness of his tone cutting through the haze. You turned your head to look at him, frowning. âWhat?â
He straightened, pulling his hands away, anger visible on his face. âDo you let all your guards touch you like this, or am I just the special fool?â
The accusation in his voice stung. You sat up on the chaise lounge, clutching the fabric of your nightgown to your chest. âWhat are you implying?â
âIâm implying,â he said, his eyes dark and filled with something unnameable, âthat you smiled at Naoya like he was the only man in the room. That you entertained his nonsenseâhis liesâlike you actually enjoyed it.â
A sharp laugh escaped you, incredulous and hurt. âYou think I was flirting with Naoya? That I would ever entertain a fool like him?â
âYou did tonight,â Choso shot back, his jaw clenched tightly. âYou smiled and laughed at him, as if he deserved it. As if you werenât above him. The you I knew wouldnât have entertained someone like Naoya for a second. Itâs like I donât even know you anymore.â
That cut deeper than it should have. Your breath hitched, and frustration welled in your chest, bursting free before you could stop it.
âYou donât know me anymore?â you echoed, your voice trembling with emotion. âWell, Choso, I donât know you either! Youâre the one who left me without a word. Youâre the one who never answered my letters, who pushed me away for no reason. You didnât answer them for years, Choso. For years! How can you stand there and talk about me changing when youâve done everything you could to shut me out?â
He flinched, as if your words struck a nerve. His gaze fell to the floor, his hands curling into fists at his sides. âI didnât answer because I thought it was better that way,â he said quietly. âBecause I knew⊠whatever this wasâwhatever we wereâit couldnât last. I didnât want to make it harder for you.â
Your heart cracked at his words, tears threatening to spill over. âYou didnât want to make it harder for me?â you repeated, your voice rising. âYou made it unbearable, Choso! You didnât just leave me, you abandoned me. Without explanation, without closure. You were my friend, my closest ally, and you just⊠disappeared!â
âI was avoiding the inevitable,â he said, his tone low and bitter. âI was saving us both from something that could never be.â
âAnd why not?â you demanded, stepping closer. âWhy couldnât we have stayed friends? Why couldnât you have stayed as someone I trusted, someone I could rely on?â
Choso let out a harsh, incredulous laugh, his head bowing as his hands rose to rub at his temples. When he looked back at you, his eyes burned with an intensity that sent a shiver down your spine.
âYou think I just want to be your ally?â Chosoâs voice cracked, his tone harsh and trembling, a storm barely contained within him. He stepped closer, his shadow stretching toward you in the dim light. His dark eyes blazed, raw and unguarded, piercing straight through you.
âDo you think I want to spend the rest of my life standing at your side, pretending it doesnât destroy me every time you smile at another man?â he continued, his voice rising with emotion. âDo you think I want to be some nameless figure in your life, someone who exists only to bow, to nod, to follow orders while the rest of the world gets to bask in your warmth?â
Your breath hitched as he took another step, the space between you shrinking.
âI donât want to be your ally, your friend, or some loyal servant,â he said, his voice dropping to a rough whisper. âI want you. I have always wanted you.â
His confession struck you like lightning, setting every nerve ablaze. You could see the anguish etched into his features, the way his hands shook as if he was struggling to hold himself back.
âI want to touch you without wondering if itâs inappropriate,â he went on, his words tumbling out, unrestrained. âI want to kiss you without the weight of the crown between us. I want to wake up beside you every morning, knowing youâre mineâtruly mineâand not just some unattainable dream Iâve been foolish enough to carry.â
âChosoâŠâ you whispered, but he didnât stop. He couldnât.
âI want to tear apart every damned rule, every line drawn between us,â he continued, his voice thick with frustration and desire. âI want the world to see that youâre mineânot Naoyaâs, not some princeâs, not anyone elseâs. Mine.â
He let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair, his composure unraveling further. âBut thatâs not what the world allows, is it?â he said, his tone laced with venom. âBecause Iâm not a prince or a duke or anyone worthy of you. Iâm just a manâa soldier. And the world says I canât have you.â
His chest heaved with the force of his confession, and his eyesâGod, his eyesâburned with a pain so deep it was almost unbearable to witness.
You swallowed hard, your heart pounding as his words sank in. âYou could have had me,â you said, your voice trembling, tears stinging your eyes. âIf youâd just stayed, if youâd let me in instead of shutting me out. We could have figured this out together, Choso. I would have fought for you.â
His expression faltered, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through his anger. âAnd what would you have me do?â he asked hoarsely. âStand beside you while everyone whispers that Iâm unworthy? Watch as suitors line up for your hand, knowing I canât stop them because itâs my duty to protect you, not love you?â
âI donât care what the world says!â you burst out, stepping closer, your voice rising with desperation. âI donât care about duty or station or rules. All I ever wanted was you, Choso. You, as my friend, my ally, myââ
âYour what?â he interrupted, his voice low and rough. âSay it. Say what Iâve been longing to hear and dreading all at once.â
Your breath hitched, tears streaming down your face as you met his gaze. âMy everything,â you whispered.
For a moment, the tension between you hung thick and electric, the weight of years of unspoken words pressing down on you both. Then Choso stepped back, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, his jaw tight.
âThatâs why I stayed away,â he said quietly, his voice breaking. âBecause I knew if I didnât, Iâd lose myself in you completely. And I wouldnât be able to let you go. This is why I must stay away.âÂ
For a moment, he lingered there, his hand flexing at his side as if fighting some invisible force. His gaze dropped, and when he finally turned away, it was slow, deliberate, each step a struggle. He didnât look back as he crossed the threshold, the heavy sound of the door closing behind him echoing in the silence.
The silence in your room was suffocating. Curtains drawn tightly, the dim flicker of a single candle cast wavering shadows on the stone walls. Plates of untouched food sat on a tray near the door, abandoned by the maids you had dismissed hours ago. The only sound was the faint rustle of your gown as you shifted on the edge of your bed, your arms wrapped around yourself as if trying to hold your broken pieces together.
A soft knock broke the stillness, tentative and almost hesitant. You didnât answer. You didnât want to see anyone, let alone speak. Whoever it was would surely leave if you didnât respond.
But the door creaked open.
Your heart twisted. âI told you all to leave me be,â you said hoarsely, your voice barely louder than a whisper.
âIâm not one of your maids,â came a quiet reply from a voice that was all-too-familiar.
Your head snapped up, breath catching in your throat as Choso stepped into the room, closing the door softly behind him. His dark eyes, always so steady and unreadable, now held an uncharacteristic uncertainty.
âGet out,â you said, your tone sharper than you intended, though the hurt behind it was impossible to mask. âI have nothing to say to you.â
âI know,â he murmured, taking a hesitant step forward. He held something in his handsâa small stack of parchment, edges worn and yellowed. âBut I have something to say to you.â
You frowned, your gaze darting to the papers he carried. âWhat is that?â
âLetters,â Choso said, his voice thick with emotion. He swallowed hard before continuing, âThe ones I wrote to you but never sent.â
You stiffened, your heart lurching painfully in your chest. âWhy are you showing me this now?â
âBecause I should have given them to you a long time ago,â he said simply. âAnd because I need you to know⊠what I couldnât say before. But what I feel I must say now, for I am done with pretending I am not a selfish, selfish man.â
He stepped closer, setting the letters on the bed beside you. For a moment, he hesitated, then knelt before you, his hands resting on his thighs as he looked up at you with a mixture of guilt and determination, as if he had made a decision. And you fight desperately to not yourself believe that, perhaps, he has changed his mind, that he will finally take you in the way you desire.
But you steel your heart as you cautiously look at him.Â
âRead them,â he said quietly. âPlease.â
Your fingers trembled as you reached for the stack, the paper cool and rough beneath your touch. The first letter was dated years ago, the ink slightly smudged, as if his hand had lingered too long on the words.
My dearest friend,
Iâve written and torn up this letter a dozen times. How do I explain the ache I feel every night I march under foreign stars? How do I explain that even on the battlefield, amidst the chaos, my mind drifts to you? I think of our secret meetings in the garden, the way youâd laugh as you dared me to meet you in the willow tree every night. Do you remember that night we barely escaped the guards? Your laughter, your gown splayed across the forest floor. I dream of those nightsâof you leaning close to steal the fruit in my palm, staring up at me, the world disappearing, and wishing I could ask for more. For you close to me not under the pretense of stealing the pomegranate in my hand, but for something more.
Your voice broke as you read, tears pooling in your eyes. Choso remained silent, his head bowed, but you could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands curled into fists at his sides.
You moved to the next letter.
The scent of jasmine haunted me on the journey here. Every step of the way, I remembered you crouched beneath the trellis, daring me to pluck the flowers despite the gardenerâs wrath. When I handed you the bouquet, your smile made me feel invincible, as though I could conquer kingdoms just to see it again. I wished then that I could have told you the truthâthat every reckless moment we shared was a reprieve from the weight of duty. I wanted to kiss you in the moonlight, to tell you that you were more than a dream to me. I tried to, in part, with the hairpin I gave you, one that amplified your gentle beauty even more than I thought possible. But how could I ruin what little time we had?
âChoso,â you whispered, your voice trembling. âWhy didnât you send these?â
âI was a coward,â he admitted, his voice barely audible. âI thought⊠I thought it was kinder to stay away. To bury how I felt. But it wasnât kinder, was it?â
You shook your head, unable to speak as you continued reading, each letter peeling away the walls youâd built to protect yourself from the pain of his absence.
When you reached the last letter, your breath hitched.
If I were braver, Iâd tell you this to your face: I love you. Iâve loved you since the first time we ran barefoot through the gardens, laughing until we couldnât breathe. Iâve loved you since you bandaged my hand after my sparring lessons, scolding me and treating me gently as if I werenât a warrior, as if my rough, damaged hands were worth your care. I love you with a desperation that terrifies me, that kept me awake in camp as I replayed your smile over and over. If I lose you now, it will be my own doing. But still, I love you.
Your tears fell freely now, soaking the parchment. Choso rose slowly, his hands lifting as if to touch you but stopping just shy of your skin.
âSay something,â he pleaded, his voice raw.
Instead, you surged forward, wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling him down to meet you. Your lips found his in a kiss that was fierce and unrestrained, pouring every ounce of longing, anger, and love into the connection.
Choso froze for a heartbeat before melting into you. The kiss deepened, his lips moving against yours with a hunger that matched your own.
His hands moved to grasp your waist, as if afraid you might vanish. Before they could touch you, he paused as if doubting his ability to be able to touch you. To your frustration, the heat of his almost-contact pulled away. âYour Highnessââ
âChoso,â you pleaded, grasping his hands in yours and placing them on their rightful place: your body. You dragged his hands down your torso, helping him explore your curves sensually, intimately as he squeezed his brows together, eyes shut, conveying his inner turmoil. His resolve almost cracked as you begged him, âTake me. Please.â
With agitation, he withdrew his hands from your grasp, painfully clenching them by his sides as he groaned. âYour Highness, youâre playing with fire. I mustnât. Your body is of a thousand gold, and I would never dare to touch you with my handsââ
But you interrupted him by snorting. âIf it is of a thousand gold, or whatever archaic term the royal legends have invented, then you are a thousand gold richer.â You gently took his face in your arms, kissing his forehead. âI am yours, and if you believe that anyone will have my heart after you, then you are most grievously mistaken.âÂ
He still looked at you, both kneeling on your bed, with a conflicted expression. You gave him a reassuring look before pressing another gentle kiss to his lips. Then, you teased him softly. âWill you not fight for my hand? Will you truly let me be promised to another man after this?â
His eyes darkened in a possessive manner, as he joined his lips against yourself furiously. âI would never,â he punctuated his interruptions with a searing kiss. âlet anyone have you after this.â
With tender hands that heavily contrasted his desperation, he slipped the shoulder of your dress, dragging the hem down and down until your breasts were bare to the air. âSo, so beautiful,â he whispered before enclosing your nubs in his mouth, kissing them both tenderly.
You could only but gasp, victim to his ministrations as he sneaked another hand up your legs, gently caressing your thighs until he met your core. He groaned, louder than ever, when he was met with the bare heat, wet with your desire and arousal all for him. With painstaking gentleness, he eased a finger in, drinking in your moans and sounds of pleasure.Â
He couldnât help but smile at the small scream that escaped you when he curled his fingers up. It seemed he had found the place that pleasured you most, one that you had stayed unbeknownst to. And he definitely couldnât stop himself from torturing and repeatedly hitting against it with the way squeals of his name left your mouth whenever he did so.
Before you knew it, an unknown feeling washed over you as Choso kept continuing his touches, one that seemed like worship with how he was looking for your reactions, for your pleasure. A gush of slick escaped you, and Choso kissed your breasts one final time before drawing out his finger.
You peered down at him, flushed, as his eyes stayed trained on you while he slowly drew his finger inside his mouth, seeming to savor your taste. At last, he pulled it away from his mouth and asked, voice hoarse, âhow are you feeling?â
You laugh bashfully and look away, blushing. âYou know you donât need to ask that. But,â and you pause, looking at him through your lashes, âyou know I want more.â
The flush that was only apparent on his cheeks spread to his entire face and neck and he whines as he buries his face in your breasts once more, now to evade eye contact. âDonât say things like that. It makes holding back even more arduous.â
You stroke his hair, smiling softly. âWould you have any qualms about taking myâŠmaidenhood if you were my husband.â
His answer is immediate. âAbsolutely not.â
âSo you want toâŠmake love with me?â You heat up at your own words, nervously looking at him in fear of his rejection.
He pauses, but then slowly nods. âWell, yes, butââ
âThen we shall put archaic traditions aside. Choso,â and you look at him mischievously as he squints at you, âI command you to make love to me.â
The reaction is immediate. As if animated again, he pins you down against your mattress, eyes feral as he takes your lips with his once more. With both hands, a riiiip echoes across the room as he entirely tears your shift in his bare hands. Mind you, it was not weak material, and you lay dumbfounded as he strips his shirt off.
You donât even have time to admire his bare torso, muscled as you knew it would be. Your eyes automatically trail down to the string of hair that leads down to his v-line as he rids himself of his trousers.Â
What gets uncovered makes you pray for your life, and you gasp, eyes wide. âHow is that even supposed to go insideââ
He says your name, reassuringly, as he presses a soft kiss to your forehead. âI will take the utmost care of you. I promise.â He lines his length with your entrance, and, with another kiss, he pushes in gently.
When his member first breaches you, you gasp, dizzied by the fullness. Then, as he slowly bottoms out, you whine while impaled on his cock. âMore.â
Basking in the euphoria of your clenching heat around him, at your request, he curses. He pulls out his lengthâslowly, gentlyâand then slams back in, and you squeal, whispering a breathless utter of his name once more.Â
He continues making love to you, the sounds of his devotion echoing across the room. When you both climax, it is down with a prayer of the otherâs name, as a promise. That you are both each otherâs, and no qualms about proprietary and status could any longer apprehend either of you.
When the both of you settle down, him having gently cleaned you with a cloth, he collapses next to you in bed, bare arms engulfing you and pulling you closer. As you both lie there, skin to skin, you giggle at your own thoughts.
At the sound, Choso perks up, looking at you in soft amusement. âWhatâs the matter, my love?â
Ignoring the way your heart fluttered at the nickname, you replied, âI daresay you will be the strongest prince consort in the history of our kingdom.â
The mention of the weak nobles that had ascended the throne in centuries past makes him snicker smugly. âI would agree,â he muses, amused like you. âThey would not have been as tall as me, or as strong, or as good in bedâ-â
âChoso!â you squealed, grabbing a pillow and smacking him with it.
Grinning like a devil, he dodged with ease, catching your wrist and pulling you down onto the bed. Before you could protest, he wrestled himself on top of you, pinning your arms above your head and smothering you in kisses.
After his barrage was over, he turned solemn once more. âIâm serious,â he murmured, his tone softer, more sincere. His dark eyes searched yours, and his voice dropped to a near whisper. âIâll protect you, stand beside you, love you until my last breath. Youâre my queen in every way that matters. And no matter what, Iâll never leave your side again.â
Your breath hitched, his words settling deep in your chest. Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes, but you smiled, warmth flooding your heart. âAnd Iâll hold you to that, my love.â
He leaned down, capturing your lips in a kiss that was equal parts promise and devotion. It wasnât hurried or frenzied, but slow, a tangible declaration of everything you both had endured to reach this moment. Here, in the quiet of your chamber, with his weight grounding you and his lips marking you as his, you found the only place you wanted to beâby his side, now and always.
general masterlist
a/n AHH HI POOKIES!! I HOPE YOU GUYS LIKED MY FIRST CHOSO FIC?? let me know if i do him justice this was written with my pussy and me having a specific hyperfixation :3 anyways i really enjoyed writing this and i hope you guys did too :')
comment and reblog to let me know ur thots ;3
synopsis. you find sanzu after a fight at a party and end up introducing yourself and helping him patch up. turns out sanzu isn't as extroverted when it comes to speaking to girls, rindou finds out.
contains. smut, first time (sanzu's a virgin), nervous sanzu, bold reader, mentions of violence, busted lips, bruised knuckles, kantou!manji era, nude/explicit photos, oral (m), sanzu gets head for the first time, koko rindou and sanzu are best friends idc.
author's note. sanzu's so pretty but i just know that boy has never felt the touch of a woman, hence why i wrote this lmfao. call it a power move or whatever đ (i wanna see more submissive sanzu honestly). fanart credits: caravaggist
âMy head is fucking killing me,â Sanzu said with a pained groan. He began coughing until he started laughing, running purely on adrenaline. âI beat that fuckerâs ass, didja see that?!â
âShut up, stop being so loud.â Sanzu winced when Rindou smacked him upside the head. He looked down at his busted, bruised knuckles and cursed. âWeâre so fucking dead.â
âTold you not to drink that much,â Koko sniped, gesturing with his chin over at Sanzu. âGot us into a goddamn fight.â
âNot my fault you guys are such wimps.â
âYeah, whatever.â Koko doubled over to catch his breath, slumping against a car.Â
âAre you guys okay?â you called out, steadily approaching the three boys.Â
Your heart nearly stopped when they all turned to meet your eyes, but there was one you couldnât take your eyes off of the most. He had green eyes and crazy pink hair tied up into a ponytail. Youâd been eyeing him for the majority of the party, just small glances over at whichever end he was loudly talking at. The entire time you had been taking extra shots for courage to approach him but pussied out each time. When you were upstairs, there was loud shouting, chanting, and the sound of things breaking as a group of boys managed to get into a fight. You didnât see the full thing, only coming down the stairs the exact moment you saw the three of them run outside, tearing down the street and around the block in record time. A quick scan of the party, you saw the pink haired guy was no longer there, so your feet went running before you could even think of what you were doing.
He was much prettier up close, an ethereal kind of beauty you rarely ever see. Not many people can rock long pink hair but he manages to make it work well.
You ran out, taking off after them. It was a miracle you found them, having guessed which direction they mustâve took off in.Â
âWho are you?â Kokonoi asked, looking strangely at you.
âI was at the party,â you gestured down the street, âand saw everything. Are you guys okay?â you repeated, walking a little closer to the group.Â
Kokonoiâs hostility dropped down a few notches and he nodded. Rindou shrugged and rolled his neck, trying to ease away the stiffness residing in his bones. Sanzu, on the other hand, just stared at you dumbfoundedly. He didnât say a word, just stared at you with half wide eyes that only widened when you met his gaze. You held eye contact for a few seconds before looking down at his knuckles. Out of the three, Sanzu was probably the most roughed up, having done the most the entire fight and caught the most strays. His lip was busted and his knuckles were bruised.
âOh that looks really bad. One second,â you said, pulling out a tissue from your pocket âCan I?â you asked, looking into his eyes. He doesnât say yes or no, and Rindou isnât even sure heâs breathing anymore. He doesnât stop you as you hold his bruised hand and lift it up to your face for examination.Â
You placed the tissue onto his knuckles. âIâm sorry that happened by the way. I donât know how it started but Iâm sure you guys didnât deserve it.â
Kokonoi snorted and Rindou elbows him roughly. âEh itâs whatever. Bottom line is we won, so.â
âYou guys shouldnât be fighting like that though. Especially in public. The police got called and are probably on their way here.â
âWait seriously?!â Kokonoi whipped his head up at you and you nodded. He cursed under his breath. âWe better get going again. Donât wanna have to get bailed out again.â
Again?
âTrue that,â Rindou agreed, dusting off his pants. His head was pounding and he might probably have a concussion, but all that didnât matter to him. He just needed to get out of here. âCall Ran, heâll come pick us up.â
âHeâs gonna fucking kill us,â Kokonoi replied.
âBetter him than Mikey.â
âButââ
You tuned out the rest of their conversation and continued dabbing Sanzuâs knuckles, who still hadnât said a single word since you approached. You blinked up at him and removed the bag from his hand.Â
âYour lip is bleeding,â you announced, and he almost flinched away when your thumb rose to his lip. âDoes it hurt?â He shook his head. âCan I put this on your lip?â You shook the tissue in your hand.
He nodded slowly and your smile nearly sent him straight to heaven. You pulled a water bottle from your purse and wet the tissue, pressing it on his lip and held onto his chin, tipping his head upright so you could see what you were doing better. Granted the tissue probably werenât helping at all, but you had to work with what you had.Â
âThis looks really painful,â you murmured, fixated on the damages done to his face. He has these two pairs of twin scars on both sides of his mouth that you think are so cute. Without thinking, you let your thumb trace the diamond outline gently. You pull the tissue away from his lip and pocket it. âDoes your lip hurt?â
Sanzu shook his head and you smiled. âThatâs good.â
Rindou looked over at Sanzu weirdly, wondering why the loudest person in the group was suddenly so quiet. He didnât have time to explore that train of thought deeper because Kokonoi spoke up.
âRin, Sanzu. Ranâs on his way now. Letâs go.â He pocketed his phone and turned to you. âThanks for the warning about the cops by the way. Really appreciate it.â
âItâs no problem.â
A black car pulled up to the curb and the window rolled down. âYou three are so fucking dead,â Ran said exasperatedly.Â
âAs long as Mikey doesnât find out weâre gooââ Kokonoiâs relief came crumbling down as his biggest fear came to light. The passenger seat window rolled down and Mikeyâs face came into view. He didnât look mad, honestly he didnât look like anything. Just emotionless, but that was enough to scare the absolute shit out of Koko. âBoss, we can explainââ
âGet in the car.â
Kokonoi swallowed but obliged, his feet dragging behind him as he walked around the car to get in.
You looked back over at Sanzu whoâs eyes hadn't left yours. âGuess this is goodbye. Iâm (Name) by the way. Whatâs yours?â
Whatever reaction anyone was expecting, it wasnât for Sanzu to completely stammer over his words, forgetting who he was, or how to form a literate sentence. âMe name? Who isâIâwhat, huh?â
Rindou looked at him like he grew two heads, even Mikey raised a confused brow. You pressed your lips together in a thin line to stop yourself from laughing and Sanzuâs ears burnt with humiliation. Frankly he was mortified with those being the first words heâs said to you ever. Rindou thankfully saved him from more embarrassment by grabbing the back of his collar hard.
âHis name is Sanzu by the way,â he told you before dragging him towards the car, kicking him into the backseat. The door slammed shut and you watched as Rindou entered the front next to his brother and then the car pulled off, recklessly rounding the corner.
You stayed there for a minute, blinking, then smiled giddily down at the floor before making your way back to your friends inside.
~*~
âYeah theyâve definitely got a concussion,â the nurse said, snapping her gloves off. She stepped away from the three boys at the table and handed them each plastic cups of water. âMake sure you drink plenty of water and get plenty of rest.â
âThanks doc.â Mikey wrote her a check and she nodded, thanking him before exiting the room. He looked at the three in them in disappointment. They each had an annoying habit of crashing random parties going on in the street and getting shit faced, then turning up to work and events hungover or too exhausted. Now they have hit the final nail in the coffin by getting in a physical altercation with strangers and the police are probably looking for their asses right now.
âI have nothing to say to you three. You heard the woman, get plenty of rest,â he scolded before leaving the room.
âWho wants to bet the medical bills are coming out of our paycheck?â Rindou asked, sliding off the table. He rubbed his head exhaustedly and yawned.
âI might just have a heart attack if I see that,â Kokonoi responded, shuddering.
âThat girlâŠâ Sanzu muttered under his breath, scratching his chin.
âWhat?â
âThat girl,â he repeated louder as if he just came to a sudden realisation, âwas a fucking angel!â
âOh. Welcome back to earth Mr. Who me is name I what?â Rindou mocked, amusement written all over his face as Sanzu rolled his eyes.
Kokonoi laughed loudly. âOh yeah! What the fuck was that all about?â
âShut up,â Sanzu grumbled and closed his eyes, blocking their mockery out. He tried to picture your face again behind his closed lids but the concussion was slowly getting worse and your face was starting to fade from his memory. âI need to find this girl and redeem myself. Whatâs her name?â he said snipply, snapping his fingers at the two boys for them to hurry up.
âStop being a weirdo. You probably blew your chances anyway,â Rindou stated.
âNah uh! It wasnât that bad!â
âWho me is name I what?â Kokonoi repeated and Sanzu groaned loudly.
âKeep making fun of me whatever! But when I find her and make her my future wife I donât want to hear shit from any of you.â
âWow,â Kokonoi fake gasped. âYou can tell your future kids the story of how you met!â
âFuture wife huh?â Rindou chuckled. âSo weâre just skipping past girlfriend?â
âGotta aim big.â
Kokonoi shook his head. âThat girl wants nothing to do with you.â
âYeah? Well why did she patch me up and not you two fucking idiots then? HUH?â Sanzu gestured to his busted lip. The two boys had nothing else to say and just rolled their eyes, muttering whatever under their breath. âExactly, shut the fuck up.â
Sanzu traced his scars with his finger. He could still feel the gentle trail of your finger on his skin and closed his eyes once more, picturing you in front of him, staring up at him with such care in your eyes as you genuinely found yourself worried at his injuries. He looked down at his knuckles, still bruised, and pictured your hand in his. He regretted not saying more to you earlier, regretted not actually having a conversation with you and telling him his injuries looked worse than they actually felt.
Sanzu stood up and Rindou called out to him. âOi. Where the hell are you going? Weâre heading back to mines.â
âIâm going back to that party to redeem myself.â
âItâs been like an hour and itâs almost three am. Sheâs long gone. Let it go.â
Sanzu shook his head, condescendingly clicking his tongue in a way that ground Rindouâs gears. âDonât be jealous Rin.â
âJealous of?â
âI got a girl that wants me for me, not my dick.â
âThatâs something only a virgin would say,â Kokonoi inputs, laughing when Sanzu instantly closes his mouth. âNo way, are you actually a virgin?â
âNo Iâm not!â
âYes you are!â
âIâm not!â
âWhoâd you lose it to?â
Sanzu scoffs. âLike anyone remembers that,â
âOkay playboy.â Rindou laughs. âI remember mine.â
âSo do I,â Kokonoi high fives Rindou. The two of them look at Sanzu. âWell? Whatâs her name?â
âI was high. Donât remember,â Sanzu shrugs. Rindou looks over at Koko who both equally look unimpressed. âANYWAY! It doesnât matter because Iâm going to find that girl and redeem myself tonight.â
Kakucho enters the room. âFind what girl?â
âRedeem yourself for what?â Kokonoi asks.
Rindou laughs even louder. âRedeem himself for âOh friend who I am what?ââ
Sanzuâs ears burn when Koko joins in the laughter. âAlright so just forget my question. Cool,â Kakucho rolls his eyes.
âSanzu got us into a fight tonight and some girl helped him with his busted lip and now he thinks heâs in love.â
âI donât thinkââ
âWe know,â Kokonoi interrupts.
Sanzu shoots him a glare. âIf youâd let me finish,â he says snarkily. âI donât think I'm in love. I know I am.â
âIn love with a girl you donât even know the name of?â Kakucho asks hesitantly. He should be used to this by now honestly, it's not the first time Sanzu got hyper fixated over something, except in this case it's someone. In actuality, he should be worried for this girl, knowing how obsessive Sanzu gets at times. Picturing the boy in a relationship was something Kakucho just could not do no matter how hard he tries.
âIâll find her name. You forget who I am and what I do in this goddamn organisation?â
âAside from dragging us to useless parties and getting us involved in unnecessary fights?â Rindou asked.
âYou had fun tonight, stop acting like you hated it that bad,â Sanzu complained.
âWhat did this girl look like?â Kakucho asks.
Sanzu describes your appearance from your height all the way down to your eye colour, recounting to his friends every single detail he managed to observe about you the entire time he spent staring at you. They all looked at him with concern. Sanzu noticed their glare and shrugged. âWhat?â
âSurprised you didnât count every single lash of hers honestly,â Kokonoi rubbed his forehead exhaustedly when his head pounded again. âThis headache is killing me. Gonna head home.â
They all said goodbye and waited for him to leave the room.Â
âI think I know the girl,â Kakucho said, recounting the horrifying moment of Sanzu describing you in as much detail as possible.Â
âWHAT?!â Sanzu exclaimed far too loudly for his head and Rindouâs to handle, a sharp pain shooting their heads. âAh fuck,â he groaned, rubbing his head.Â
âAre you serious?â Rindou asked, looking at Kakucho who nodded.
âYeah. Someone like that lives on my floor. I see her leaving every morning.â
âTo Kakuchoâs we go!â Sanzu grinned, grabbing the younger boy's hand and dragging him outside. Rindou reluctantly follows behind them, wanting to see where this situation was heading.Â
Kakucho ended up being right, and when they entered the lobby of his apartment, they saw you collecting your mail. Sanzuâs feet felt frozen to the floor as he just stared at your side profile. He almost had a stroke when you turned to face in his direction, and he swore you were looking directly at him when you broke out into a smile, waving your hand.
âHey! Havenât seen you in a while,â you said and Sanzu was confused. Itâs only been a few hours, hasnât it?Â
You were walking and he stood up a little straight when it looked like you were heading towards his direction, only for his heart to do a complete 360 when you hugged Kakucho instead. It wasnât an affectionate hug, both your hands barely lingered on each otherâs body, just an awkward side hug that lasted barely 2 seconds.
âYeah, you know. Iâve been busy with work and stuff.â
âAh cool cool. Iâve been collecting your mail though.â You handed him his mail. He thanked you and held them under his arm.Â
You looked at two boys next to them and then gasped. âOh its you!â You pointed between Sanzu and Rindou, who only nodded, asking how youâve been. Sanzu was frozen again as you and Rindou gave each other basic small talk, only breaking out of his stupor when Rindou elbowed him hard in the stomach.Â
You bit down a laugh when you saw Sanzu clutch onto his stomach in pain. âOh my god, are you alright?â Sanzu could hear the laugh in your voice, but didnât feel offended the slightest.
âIâm good, yeah. Just distracted.â
âOh. Am I boring you?â
He was too scared of the fact you thought that about him to notice the playful hint in your voice. âNo! Not at all. I just have a concussion that's all.â
âNo way. Does it hurt? Are you okay?â You hesitantly lift your hand up and press it on his forehead which is burning up. âYou need to get some sleep right now.â
âItâs too late to drive right now.â Kakucho says. âYou two can just sleep at mine.â
âOnly if I get your bed,â Sanzu adds.
âFuck that. Sleep on the couch.â
âBut Iâm concussed.â
âAnd whoâs goddamn fault is that?â
Sanzu rolled his eyes. Kakucho sighed. âFine. You can get the bed.â
âLetâs fucking go,â Sanzu grinned and started heading towards the elevator. The other two boys followed them and Kakucho looked behind at you.Â
âYou coming?â
Sanzu pressed the button and turned to look at you and Kakucho as you shook your head. âNo, I'm heading back out.â
âRight now?â Kakucho says and looks at his watch, âItâs almost 4 am?â
âI know,â you sigh exhaustedly. âMy friend, well kinda friend, I guess wants me to come to his house. Just got his text a few minutes ago.â
âAt this hour?â Kaku says sceptically.
âSo a booty call?â Rindou says and gets elbowed by Kakucho, telling him to mind his business.
You laugh. âI guess if that's what you want to call it. I donât sleep with him, he just uses me to impress his friends it feels like.â Your eyes slide over to Sanzu who has a scowl on his face and looks away almost immediately after you make eye contact. âI donât wanna do it but he scares me so I feel like I have to.â
âWhatâs his name?â Kakucho asks.
âWhy? You gonna hurt him?â you ask back. Though you and Kakucho are only neighbours at best, youâre well aware of what he does and his reputation around town. The Brawler is his nickname, or was, back when he was in Tenjiku. But you didnât know what his role or job entailed, all you knew he was in some shady shit and you wanted no part of it.Â
âDepends if I know the guy or not.â
You roll your eyes. âHis name is Osanai.â
âWait a minute,â Rindou says, âIs he tall? Smokes all the time, blonde hair? Kinda tan?â
âYeahâŠâ you say slowly, sceptically, âhowâd you know?â
âWeâve actually been kinda looking for that guy. Mikey wanted to see him, didn't he?â Rindou asks Kakucho who shrugs and points over to Sanzu whoâs been awfully quiet the entire time. âDidnât he?â Rindou asks Sanzu again.
âOh. Yes he has.â He looks up and meets your gaze one more time before looking away.Â
âWhereâs he at?â Rindou asks, approaching you.
âI dunno probably his house?â
âOkay but where genius.â
You give him Osanaiâs address and he starts heading outside. âWait! Donât kill him or something.â
âWhy do you care what we do? Doesnât he scare you?â
âI mean yes but that doesnt mean I want him deadâŠâ
Kakucho sighs. âSanzu wait here with (y/n), me and Rindou will sort this out.â
Sanzu instantly looks at Kakucho. âWaitââ
âJust do it,â Rindou snickers before the two of them leave. Sanzu watches them go with a betrayed look on his face, already thinking of 101 different ways to kill Rindou once he got back home. You look up at Sanzu and smile at him.
âSoâŠyou can go home if you want. I don't need a babysitter.â
âNo it's fine I'll uh wait here.â
âWe can go back to mine?â you ask a little hopeful.
Sanzu opens his mouth to speak but the words can't seem to come out. He resorts to nodding and you smile, taking his hand in yours and walking up to your apartment.Â
~*~
Three hours in and youâve been binging shitty movies together, laughing at the bad plot and horribly written characters. When you first saw Sanzu at the party, he was outgoing and the life of the room honestly. Maybe your opinion is a bit biased because you were focused on nothing but him, but he had this energy that attracted you to him. Now, in front of you, heâs nothing like he was a few hours ago, he seems shy and reserved, keeping to himself but heâs still funny and cracks a few jokes that make you cackle every now and then.
âWait you got a little, iâll get it for you,â you say, cupping his chin and turning his face to you. He watches you with wide eyes as your thumb comes up to his lip and wipes some tomato sauce off. you make continuous eye contact with him as you bring your thumb to your mouth and lick the sauce off the tip. Then, you almost give the guy a heart attack when you go back in with your wet thumb and wipe the remnants of the sauce on the corner of his mouth.Â
His pizza flops in his hand and something else rises in his pants as you pull back, sitting reasonably closer than you did before, resting your head on his shoulder, continuing to watch the movie. Itâs hard for him to even focus on the TV with you sitting this close to him right now. He can smell your shampoo, your perfume, can feel your body heat warming him up and heâs actually going to pass out if you continue clinging to his arm like that. He clears his throat and shifts in his seat a little, hoping his boner goes down and praying you donât see it.Â
Just to be on the safe side, he nonchalantly grabs a couch cushion and places it on his lap, claiming he's cold. You donât buy it one bit but only smirk at the hidden implications. You let out a fake yawn and shift even closer to him, bringing your feet onto the couch, shifting into a lying position.Â
You look up at Sanzu and smile slightly. âIs this okay with you?â you ask, batting your eyes at him.
âY-yea. It's fine. cool.â He swallows thickly and turns to look back at the TV.
The cushion gets in the way and you click your tongue, sitting upright and almost bashing him in the jaw with your head. You toss the cushion away and Sanzu's about to protest before you lay back down, your head only inches away from his crotch. His erection was going down slowly but now it might as well sprung back up.Â
âOh wait a second,â you said, sitting upright and Sanzu almost panicked when you pointed down at his crotch. âYou okay?â
âIâsorry. I didnât mean toââ
âNo, it's fine,â you laugh. âThese things are uncontrollable, I know.â Sanzu sighs in relief. âDo you need any help?â you ask and he blinks at you.
âWhat?â
âNevermind,â you clear your throat. âThat was a dumb question.â
âNo wait!â he says abruptly, making you jump. âI mean, yeah, if you donât mind.â
âReally?â you perk up a little.Â
âYeah I guess.â
You move to sit next to him, your head only inches away from his. âThis is gonna sound a bit creepy but,â your eyes drop to his lips, âIâve been wanting to do this since I saw you tonight.â
âReally?â
âYeah,â you say absentmindedly, distracted as you ran your finger over his scars. âThought you were so pretty.â
âPrettyâŠ?â
âYeah, youâre really pretty Sanzu.â
He bites his lip, fighting the urge to look away from your intense eyes in the dark. Youâre leaning in closer and his eyes close and then he feels your lips pressing against his. It starts off with short pecks that linger a little too long before you're actively moving your lips against his. Your hand cups his face and you pull him closer, sucking on his lips and entering your tongue into his mouth. He moans softly when your fingers find their way to his hair, scratching gently at his scalp.
You pull away and plaster kisses to his neck, gently pushing him down onto the couch, your body basically straddling him as you kiss down his throat.
His body feels hot and he can't focus anywhere but your lips going down his body. Your fingers grab the seam of his shirt and your lips tickle against his skin as you mutter, âTake this off.â
He obediently does as heâs told and lifts his arms up as you help him remove the shirt. You toss it on the other couch and sit upright to examine his chest. His abs were faint but visibly and you bit your lip, running your finger along his chest.
He stares up at you as you look distracted at the sight of his bare chest. You make eye contact and smirk a little before lifting your shirt up and over your head. His eyes go wide at the sight of you in your bra. You go back down and kiss down his stomach, fingers moving to unzip his jeans and pull them down.
âWait wait wait!â You freeze and look up at the boy in front of you, tilting your head in confusion. He swallows thickly. âI haven'tâŠdone this before.â
Your eyes widen in surprise. âReally?â
âShocking, I know.â
âOh. It really is. I thought girls would be all over a guy like you.â
âWhat do you mean?â
âLike I said before, youâre really pretty Sanzu.â He instantly looks away and you laugh. âYouâre shyer than I expected Sanzu. At the party you were really loud and stuff, I didn't expect this. Itâs cute.â
âIâm not shy.â
âYou said less than 100 words to me tonight and weâve been hanging out for almost four hours.â
â...â
You laugh and sit upright, leaning back in to kiss him. âDo you still want me toâŠâ Your fingers trail down his body, rubbing the outline of his cock in his briefs.
âIf you want to.â
âI obviously do, that's why I'm asking you.â
âSure then.â
You give him one last kiss before settling back between his lips. His cock has never felt more sensitive than in this moment when your fingers wrap around his cock, pulling it free from his boxers. It stands tall against your face and you lick the tip, not ceasing eye contact. He feels obligated to watch you suck his cock and desperately wants to look away because he knows he will bust in less than ten seconds if you keep staring at him like that.
You take him in your mouth and he moans so loudly, the sound soft and heavenly. You smile around him and begin to suction your cheeks as you take him lower. Your tongue swirled around his shaft every time you bobbed. He was throbbing inside you, your heavy eye contact and warm mouth making him grow harder.
He finally broke the eye contact to throw his head back, a long groan of âfuccccckkkkkkk,â leaving his mouth as he placed his hand on your head, bobbing you up and down. You moaned when his hips bucked up into you.
You pull off his cock and jerk him off, his words dying in his throat when he feels your tongue lick his balls, sucking gently on them.
He sits up and holds the back of your head, his fingers digging into your scalp as he pants heavily. Your eyes squeeze shut as you focus on pleasuring him, putting your mouth back onto his cock and taking him deeper than you did before, your fingers gently massaging his balls.
âIâm gonnaâfuck, iâm coming,â he groans and without warning holds the back of your head, pressing you down and came inside your throat.Â
Honestly you were shocked he lasted this long. Your body felt so warm and hot hearing his pretty moans, and the sight of him with his mouth open, head thrown back was something youâd never forget. His grip on your head ceased and you pulled off his cock, eyes teary and watery and mouth full of cum.
âOh shit,â he mutters, watching you take a minute before swallowing. His dick twitches again. Without thinking, his thumb comes up to the corner of your lip and wipes a stray drop of cum. Before he can remove his thumb, your head turns and you suck the tip of it. âYouâre actually trying to kill me, arenât you,â he groans and you giggle around his thumb.
âAre you a virgin too if youâd never gotten head before?âÂ
He nods shamefully and you canât help but kiss him again. âWant me to take it?â you ask, forehead resting against his.
He blinks at you before not-so-subtly dropping his eyes down to your cleavage. âyeah.â
You grin and push him back down onto his back, slipping off the couch. He watches you strip down naked, your bra and panties are tossed to the opposite couch. Thanks to the help of the tv, your body is still a shadow but the outline of your body makes him instantly hard again. You climb back on top of him.
His hands migrate to your hips, and with absolutely zero confidence with what heâs doing, his hand slides towards your clit and you gasp when his thumb snakes its way to your folds. âYouâre really wet.â
You squirm, slightly embarrassed but bite your lip, amusement in your voice as you say, âYeahâŠthatâs supposed to happen.â
âI know that,â he grumbles, still rubbing your clit in circles, wetting his fingers with your arousal. âIâm not an idiot.â
He pulls his hand away and you grab his wrist, guiding his finger into his mouth, watching him suck your juices off his fingers. âGod thatâs hot,â you pull his fingers out and lean back down to kiss him.
âI'm going to get condoms,â you say against his lips before pulling away. He nods and watches you head down the hallway when his phone buzzes.Â
rindou: we found osanai so weâre heading back right now
sanzu: hell no just go homeÂ
rindou: ???? walk home then tf
sanzu: don't think that's an issue honestly think i might be sleeping over if you know what i mean ;)
rindou: what? youâre getting laid? YEAH RIGHT
sanzu: IM NOT LYING
rindou: i never once ever in my entire life found you funny but youâre telling some good jokes right now
sanzu: 1) im always funny, 2) im serious. i would send you proof but then youâd see my dick and thats gross
rindou: would rather bleach my eyeballs honestly. you could barely look this girl in the eye and you really expect me to believe youâre fucking her?
âIâm back!â you call out making sanzu jump. âWhatâre you doing on your phone?â you ask, snatching it from his hands and reading the messages.Â
Itâs a miracle itâs dark right now because Sanzu doesnât know what heâll do if you saw him blushing from embarrassment right now.
âHeâs fucking rude. Why doesnât he believe you?â you huff, handing him his phone back before your face lights up. âWanna show him?â
âShow him whatâŠâ He hopes youâre not heading in the direction youâre so obviously going.Â
âYou know what I mean, câmere.â You sit back against the couch and pull up the camera app on his phone. You hold the phone out in front of you, âStick your tongue out.âÂ
He does so and you stick yours out also, just barely grazing his as you snap a bunch of pictures. You take a couple more in different poses, putting your lips in a kissy face and kissing his cheek, his lips and resting your forehead against his as you smile at the camera.Â
You sit upright and scroll through the photos, smiling at each of them. âSend these to me after yeah.â You toss the phone behind you and rip open the condom. You reach behind you and slip it easily down his shaft before aligning it with your pussy. âReady?â
âYeahâŠâ The tip nudges your clit before slipping inside, warm heat instantly engulfing the tip of his cock and his mouth falls open, panting breathily as you continue sinking downwards, watching the pleasured look on your face as your pussy squelches trying to accommodate his entire length.
âOh fuck,â you whimper, fixing your hands onto his chest for support. You bounce experimentally, ripping another moan from your throat it sinks you a little lower.Â
âShit, shitâwait,â He digs his nails into the fat of your ass cushioned against his thighs.
âSanzu,â you moan, collapsing down onto his chest, wrapping your arms around his shoulders. He can hear your breathy pants beside his ear, sending shivers down his spine.
âYou feel so fucking good,â He huffs against your ear and you sit upright, pushing your arms behind you to his knees and start swiveling your hips in circles that turn to full on bouncing on his cock.Â
His eyes are focused on your tits that swing in motion with your movements and he canât help but lift you up and down on his cock. âFuck,â He gropes and squeezes your cheeks as you whimper, clenching around his cock with every bounce.
âTouch me please,â you whimper, looking down at him, grabbing one of his hands and bringing them up to your tits. He squeezes it and runs his thumb along your nipple, sending ripples of pleasure through your body, giving you more motivation to continue bouncing.
âWait, slow downâ oh fuck.â His body was tense, and you were sure he was leaving fingernail shaped dent marks on your hip with how tight his grip was. His cock felt so good, having a slight tilt to it that hit that spot no other guy had been able to reach. You couldnât stop bouncing, his words falling on deaf ears.
âWait wait wait stop,â he gasped, his grip getting tighter, bringing you to a stop. Wasting no time, you lean back down and begin kissing along his jaw as he catches his breath, impatiently wiggling your hips just to feel something. âI just came,â he admitted.
You froze and shot up, looking down at him. âFor real?â he nodded, wiping a shameful hand over his face. âThat's so cute,â you giggle and kiss him.Â
You lifted yourself up and off his cock and laid down on top of him. âDid you like it?â you ask, tracing your finger along his chest.
âYeah, it felt so good.â
âYay,â you smiled bashfully.
âYou didnât finish though.â
âEh it's not a big deal. I wanted to make you feel good.â
âStill thoughâŠâ he mutters, pouting at the fact he didnât make you feel as good as he felt.Â
His phone buzzed and he sat upright to grab it.Â
rindou: having fun loverboy??? u busy humping her pillow to text me back? asshole
Sanzu scoffs and you lean your head against his shoulder and read the messages. âSend him the photos.â
He turns to look at you, your lips almost brushing against his in the process. âYou sure? Youâre kinda naked in them.â
âI don't really care. Itâs just a boob. You can crop it out if youâre that worried.â
âOkayâŠâ He crops your chest out of the photo and stares down at the photos once more. He's never deleting these. He sends three different photos to Rindou, not even bothering to caption them and turns his phone off, waiting for his response.
âOh wait! Gimme your phone!â You hold your hand out as he hands it to you.Â
âWhatâre you doing?â
âAdding my number,â you hum and add your number to his contacts, adding a heart after his name. Youâre never usually this forward, but you knew you wanted Sanzu from the moment you saw him, and you werenât going to let him slip away. âCall me when you get home. okay?â Your forehead brushes against his and your eyes dart down to his lips, fighting the urge to kiss them.
âOkay.â
You give into temptation and kiss him slowly. Your thumbs traced along his jawline as you hum, almost lazily enticing your tongue with his. His hands ran teasingly along your body, cupping your ass and pulling you back on top of him.
The doorbell rang and you sat upright, cursing under your breath. âIâll get it.â You press one more kiss to his lips and slip off the couch to re-dress. Your shirt was backwards and your pants were inside out, but you didnât care as you answered the door with a cheery, âyes?â
Kakucho rubbed his forehead with a world heavy sigh and you instantly felt all colour drain from your face. He was with Rindou and probably saw the photos. âHow can I help you Kaku?â
âJustâŠjust tell Sanzu to come on, letâs go.â
Sanzu appears behind you,redressed, and gives you a hug goodbye, his arms lingering around your form for much longer than Kakucho considered friendly. You pull away and whisper in his ear for him to call you when he gets home. He nods and you plant another kiss to the corner of his mouth.
Sanzu is about to deepen the kiss before Kakucho grabs him by the back of his shirt and tugs him out of your apartment.Â
Hello! Apologies. I was unsure how to contact you! But for your transgender reader headcanons, what does the reader identify as? Male? Female?
male pls, sorry 4 no specify andd, can you do it angst to fluff? srry, it's my first time doing this đ«đ«
THAT BOY IS MINE .á I CAN'T WAIT TO TRY HIM .á
*+:ïœĄ.ïœĄ SUMMARY. yuuta's the shy, unassuming guy in your media and ethics class, the kind of moral and upstanding guy who's never seen the real world before up until coming to college. of course, he latches on to you and your drastically different world. wc: 5.3k
contents. 18+ mdni, yuuta okkotsu x female!reader, smut, porn with a dash of plot, overstimulation, body worship, oral fixation, a lil bit of a corruption kink, edging, unprotected sex, virginity loss (yuuta), praise kink, pet names, hair pulling, reader being a lil unfair, drunk sex
When Yuuta comes, itâs a sight to behold.
His eyes screwed shut, desperate and mindless pleas tumbling off the edge of his lips like a waterfall, begging for release. He canât help but rock his hips faster into yours, a pace that sends you off to your third orgasm of the night, but you canât linger on that for too long when Yuuta falls apart like itâs a revelation. Like he loses himself in the sensation of it all, all strangled gasps and whimpers as you praise him through it, giving him something tangible and steady to hold on to.
God, he gets so desperate, drunk off your pussy and doesnât stop rutting into yours even though the aftershocks of his orgasm send tremors down his spine, completely and utterly spent but unwilling to give up on the high, and you feel so unbelievably warm.
"Can you give me another one, baby? Please?" Your hand's already snaking back down to his swollen, aching cock, a mischievous lilt to your voice. 'Cause you already know what he wants.
You can hardly believe that you only took his virginity just a couple hours ago.Â
Yuuta has that baby deer lost in the woods look to him, the kind of moral, upstanding guy that seems to have been sheltered all the way up until college. You remember the first time you saw him, you accidentally mistook him as part of one of the college tour groups, raising a brow when he nervously asked you where the lecture hall for the media and ethics course was.
"I'm so, so sorry, I justâihavenoideawherei'mgoingâand⊠and this professor has a â rating on ratemyprofessor.com and I'm going to be so screwed, how do Iâ"
He had shaken his phone with his schedule in front of you then, all wide eyes and flushed cheeks, and you could barely conceal the annoyance on your face. Still, you took pity on his poor soul, looking like he was on the brink of bursting into tears. "Yeah, fine, fine, just stop waving your phone in my face. Dude, how did you even get on this side of campusâgod, you're hopeless, just follow me."
When Yuuta hesitates to follow you, already three feet away, you turn around with an exasperated look. "You comin' or what?"
"YâYes ma'am!" He's stumbling over his words again, embarrassed with the fact that he called you ma'am, thinks that you're definitely going to abandon him there and then, but to his and your surprise, you don't. You merely huff, motioning for him to keep following you. "I mean⊠sorry, yes, I'm right behind you!"
It's no wonder you walk with such purpose and intent. Wherever you went on campus, people naturally tend to carve out a path for you. It's an observation that does not go unnoticed by him, surprised at the easy way in which students on campus held a quiet respect for you. He thinks can understand whyâhe believes you're stunning in a way that's almost unfair, sharp eyes appraising him and elevating his heart rate with just a few words.
Can't focus on much else but stare at the way your hips sway from side to side as you march confidently through campus like it's a playground.
Yuuta would find out much, much later that he might've just accidentally fallen onto the devil's lap.
You look over your shoulder to check that he's still following you and you almost burst out chortling at the way he looks, giving you the world's largest puppy dog eyes and hanging on to your every step. He's taller than you, yet his pace barely matches yours. "You sure you're a college student?"
"YâYes! Of course!" His words come out quicker than expected, a little bit too defensive. He rubs his neck sheepishly. "I just transferred."
You hum, a small sign of acknowledgement, weaving past a large group of students also hustling to their next class. "So you got a name or what, transfer?"
"Yuuta! Yuuta Okkotsu. And yours?"
You tell him your name, and Yuuta makes a mental note and locks it away for later. He rolls the letters over in his mind until it's permanently engraved into his memory. It's pleasant, it's sweet, and it's you. God, he can't believe he's only just met you and he's already this down bad, like a puppy nipping at its owner's heels, desperate for any crumb of recognition. He seriously needs to pull himself togetherâŠ
The walk around campus is pleasant enough, if not a bit quiet, as Yuuta struggles to maintain small talk and you struggle to really find a will to care, your steps hurrying just slightly as you glance at the time. You were already running slightly late, and then you picked up the stray rushing behind you.
"Well, here we are. Media and Ethics with Professor Yaga," When you finally arrive at the lecture hall, you whip around to face him, only to find his eyes trained to your ass. Yuuta almost instantly gets flushed, stumbling over his words in an attempt to explain himself. You can vaguely hear him trying to say there was just something, a bug, a stain, whatever, but catching Mr. Goody Two Shoes acting pervy is kind of entertaining. Huh, you wouldn't have expected that.Â
Instead of humoring his little excuses as to why he was staring at your ass, you merely wave him off with a small smile. "Okay, weirdo. Just do me a favor and try not to get lost again, yeah?"
"Right! I'll tryâŠ" You're already walking away and heading off to your seat before he can finish his sentence. "Not to get lost again."
Gingerly, he finds a spot cramped in between two friends who glare at him as he sits down and he winces, mumbling soft apologies. You're a few rows down, chuckling and goofing around with who he assumes are your friends, a boy with platinum blonde hair and a girl with a blunt, black bob. You settle into a comfortable banter with them, and for a moment, Yuuta appreciates you at your most natural state, all smiles and unfiltered laughter. He can see the column of your throat as you laugh unabashedly, and instinctively, he licks his lips, dry and parched so suddenly.
As if you can feel the weight of his stare, you flip around in your seat to meet his tired, dark blue eyes. Your brow raises and a side of your lips curl, as if challenging him.Â
If he was any other guy, a better guy, maybe someone who was more sure of himself, he would've risen to the occasion, meeting your eyes with just as much intensity. The kind of guy who meets you head on, who would have confidently asked for your number earlier, and maybe even a date.
But alas, he was only Yuuta Okkotsu, and Yuuta Okkotsu is unfortunately the kind of guy who goes red from head to toe and buries himself back into the crook of his textbook at the notion of being caught staring so openly. He gets too caught up in his own mind to notice the cheshire-like grin that creeps onto your face, turning back to face the board with something akin to trouble written all over your face.
Maki turns around to glance back at what you were looking at earlier, and sees nothing but an unimpressive ball of white fabric and dark black hair trying desperately to avoid eye contact with your row. She snorts, and you roll your eyes. "Looks like you got a new admirer again."
"Hm, something like that," You think about his wide eyes, like a deer caught in headlights, and it's decided. "Call it my new project."
And you suppose that's where your little cat and mouse game began.
You quickly discover that yours and Yuuta's schedules conveniently align. He's rushing through the doors of your next class almost every time, perpetually late and flustered and embarrassed about barging into whatever classroom or hall and garnering dozens of speculative eyes. And every time, he meets yours somewhere in the crowd, but never fully returns it, just rushes down to a seat and pushes his head down.
Such a shame. He's a pretty boy, and you like the way he goes pink all over.Â
Sometimes when lectures get a little too dull, you allow your mind to wander, thinking about how overwhelmed and discomposed Yuuta could become if you just sank down to your knees in front of him, eyes never leaving his as you pull those pants down, give him a little kiss here and there, then leave a hot, wet stripe down the length of him, watch as those hands, those surprisingly strong and veiny hands try to push you down entirely. How delicious he would tasteâ
This time, it's him who catches you staring, but your mother did not raise a coward. You stare back more openly, bottom lip catching between your teeth and gaze darkening. Just the slightest bit of reactions sends him spiraling, and you delight in the way he seems to get just a little bit lost, his lips parting slightly and leaning in slightly, wanting to close the distance between you despite being several feet apart.Â
That's when you break your little staring contest with him, facing back towards the board with barely concealed satisfaction. It's like Yuuta just had a bucket of ice cold water splashed on him then, blinking rapidly and forcing himself to concentrate once again as if nothing ever happened.
After class, you see him fiddling with his waistband at the corner of the hallway, and you crack up.
You know that you're just being so mean, at this point, but when Yuuta hears you, all dazed and feverish, it's worth it. So you get a little bit more bold, a little bit more open with your game.Â
Forgoing leggings and sweatpants for jeans and tight, little skirts, shorts that hike up a little bit too far and shows off the expanse of your soft belly when you reach over and hand Inumaki a pencil or a pen, tank tops that should, quite frankly, be outlawed in your city, exposing soft skin and your plush chest. You keep your distance, however, never quite allowing him the satisfaction of going past a few words with you or polite interactions.
Yuuta's a gentleman, even if his eyes betrays his actions. Taking only what you give him, opening doors for you when he sees you coming down the hallway, obeying so sweetly when you ask him to throw your trash away for you, the only times he can drink your full figure in and capture your full attention.
He's different, you realize, from other people you've previously fooled around with. You can see how much he's trying so hard to remain composed, never letting his eyes linger for too long, never once touching you. Other guys would've broken by now, but not your Yuuta. He's a good boy.
You make your move one Friday after lecture, and it's a familiar dance you and him have come to recognize. Yuuta's already at the door waiting to push it open for you and you beam, positively radiant, lips wrapped around a cherry red lollipop. There's a light smack! as you pull it away from your mouth, tongue peeking out just slightly to cherish the taste.Â
As always, he's watching intently, as if committing the sight to memory. You absolutely love the idea, of Yuuta making himself cum over and over again at mere thoughts of you.Â
To be quite honest, you've spent hours pondering if he's the type to torture himself through it, pulling away just when he's about to finish, chest heaving and panting with need before letting himself cum after a long session, or if he would rather push himself through orgasm after orgasm until he's shedding tears, begging for no one but himself to stop.
"Say, Yuuta, you got any plans for tonight?" The question is anything but innocent, and there's that pink glow that radiates from him once again, surprised at just how open you are. "Don't get any silly ideas. I'm throwing a little party tonight."
You let your tongue swipe across the shimmering head of the lollipop, delighting in the way his Adam's Apple bobs. "You should come."
For a moment, Yuuta doesn't say anything until he realizes he's just been standing there, staring at you slack-jawed. "OâOh! Yeah, for sure, I can go! Uh⊠where is it? And when?" Instead of responding to his questions, you grin excitedly, like a shark who's just successfully lured its prey into the belly of the beast. "Perfect! I'll text you the details. See ya later, Yuuta!"
He nods furiously, flabbergasted more than anything, until he realizes he's never given you his number before. "WâWait! But my numberâ" Too late, you were already off to your next destination. "I never⊠gave it to youâŠ?"
His phone buzzes suddenly, startling him and amassing a few stares from passersby. Sure enough, there's an address, a time, and a winky face emoji from you that makes him rub his eyes to make sure that what he was seeing was right. Fuck. If the address was right, he was definitely going to get lost. He still has no idea where left and right were on campus.
Another buzz on his phone with detailed instructions on how to get to your place. Just in case. No excuses, Yuuta, you typed.
God, you were going to be the death of him.
But sure enough, he arrives at the designated place and time (not that you ever had any actual, real doubt that he would show, absolutely not), and is met with a house party at full steam, smoke radiating from some of the windows and a few people alternating through rounds of beer pong. There's some heavy R&B blasting from the basement that thrums through his spine as he tries to navigate his way through the crowd, searching for the illustrious host.
Just when he's about to give up hope, he finds you on a worn leather couch in a room off to the side of the house, surrounded by a haze of smoke and purple neon lights, looking so dangerous and gorgeous that it forces the ability to vocalize his thoughts right out of him. At the same time, you spot him, and it's silence between you two for a second.Â
You smirk, and his heart skips several beats.
With one pretty manicured finger, you're gesturing him to the spot next to you. Wordlessly and hopelessly, he follows.
"You made it," He falls down next to you with a plop, sinking down on the leather and sitting so nicely, hands properly situated in his lap. He turns to look at you with a sheepish nod and you laugh, because you don't know what else you should've expected. It's the closest that you've ever been to him, and it's like he's already going into overdrive. "Did you get lost on the way or did you find me okay?"
"It's quite a party," Yuuta's distracted by your shimmering stockings, adorned with glitter and tiny little rhinestones. He normally loves when you're all exposed for him, bare legs crossed during lecture, but he thinks he likes this a lot more. "Your directions were super helpful," he murmurs.
"What ever would you do without me, hm?" You're suddenly so close, he can feel your breaths mingling in the air, and you're looking at him with those dark, dark eyes like you want to devour him. For a split second, your gaze flicks down to where his heart is pounding so loudly in his jugular, and there's another sharp spike between his legs.
It's honestly so unfair, this effect you have on him. Barely even a minute, and you've got him panting at your feet like a dog.Â
He inhales and chuckles shakily. "I don't know," I don't want to know. Don't think I can ever stand a day without seeing you, without hearing you, God, please I just want you so badâHe allows himself to be bold, to see if what he's feeling is true, impossibly long lashes drifting to the floor as he lets his next words escape him quietly. "Let's hope I don't find out."
"Hope not," Your smile's all pearly teeth and he can see your canines glinting even in the low lights. The party really gets in full swing all around you, and he can vaguely hear the shallow whoops and screams of his cohort having the time of their lives. "Say, Yuuta, you wanna have some fun?"
It's a blur of bodies and pounding music from that point on, the only times when he really feels lucid is when you're holding onto his hand, taking him from one part of the party to the next with that same, sly smile like you're taking him down the rabbit hole. He doesn't drink that much, intoxicated off of your presence alone, and it's addicting. The rush gets to his head and you convince him to play a round of beer pong with you, relishing in the way you embrace him after he sinks a ball into one of the cups and feeling the shape of your breasts against his chest, hot and sweaty, and he just wants to taste you, wants to lick up your shoulder up to your jaw and wrench beautiful noises out of your pouty lips.
It's a silly, stupid game, shooting balls into cups, but when he wins the game for the two of you, you're looking at him so ecstatically, overjoyed and nearly falling into his lap. "Yuuta, Yuuta, baby, holy shitâdidn't think you had it in you. Good job!"
Your praises set something on fire inside him. "I can win another," His voice is hoarse, pleading, and he knows he can win another. "Watch me."
All night, he's glued to your side, fetching drinks for you, holding your purse, winning more and more games just to see you happy, just to hear you praise him a little bit more, harmless words that you don't even know carry so much weight for him.
It's almost 4 AM when the party really starts to wind down, and that buzz of alcohol's just starting to really get you flushed, and you motion to your friends to wrap it up, to get going. But not Yuuta.
Yuuta helps you up the stairs and into your room, and he takes a moment to soak it all in, your room and all of its treasures. It's filled to the brim with mementos, photos, and clutter that's been specifically tailored for your taste, and his head's swimming, overwhelmed from being wrapped up in you. "Yuuta?" Your voice is soft and inviting, looking back at his form by the door as you fiddle with the zipper of your dress. You know you can reach it by yourself, but the tension you've felt all night goes taut, string suspended after months of pushing and pulling, and it makes you bolde, more confident. "Wanna help me?"
"SâSure, yeah," He murmurs, never quite fully meeting your eyes. His hands work diligently, undoing the zipper, and watching as it descends to your lower back, exposing your spine. "There⊠there you go."
"Thank you," To his surprise, you shuck the whole fabric entirely, leaving you exposed in just your underwear. His eyes widen, trying to avert his eyes from your figure, but you reach for his hands, willing them to stay at his sides. "It's okay, Yuuta. You can take a look."
Yuuta surges forward in an instant. It starts as a chaste, innocent kiss, fast and spurred by the rush of alcohol and desire in your veins, and in a mere second he's pulling away. "Sorry, I don't know what came over meâ"
But you're even faster, pulling him back in by his waist and kissing him deeper, with more ferocity. When you lets him up for air, you see just how much he needs you, how much he wants it, and you sober up rapidly, pushing him up aggressively against the bathroom wall and making him give in.
You may be a little too aggressive, but you can't find it in you to care, when Yuuta's squirming against you, unabashed hands sneaking to grab at the globes of your ass and press himself closer to you. You nip and nibble at his lips, tongue swiping over to soften the blow as your Yuuta slowly loses his mind.
When he gasps, you're probing your tongue into his mouth, hot and filthy, drawing moans out of him when you suck on his bottom lip, exploring him for all his worth. You kiss like you're parched and he's your oasis, unrelenting and unforgiving with the way you wrench him even closer by his hair, and he moans, a depraved and nasty sound that only serves to satisfy you further.
The wall's nice, but your bed's even nicer, grabbing him and forcing him down on the downy mattress to climb up on his lap, rocking into his hardness and dragging your clothed pussy over the rough material of his jeans, never leaving his grasp only to mutter praises you know he likes. "Mmmmm, Yuuta, you're soâ"
You gasp when he pulls you down even further, his hips involuntarily griiiinding you down in a way that sends shivers down your spine. "Don't stop. More, more, more." And who were you to refuse your baby?
Yuuta's so needy and demanding, and his actions are sometimes rapid and unrefined, but he makes up for it with sheer enthusiasm, in disbelief that he's finally got you in this position. You also find out that he's eager to leave marks all over your pristine skin, sucking marks that will surely bloom purple on your collarbone and the highest peaks of your breasts. He's running on instinct, you realize.
He paws at your underwear, desperate to get the flimsy fabric off as you giggle and finally shuck them off your legs. "Slow down, Yuuta!" But he can't pay any mind to that, 'cause in seconds, he's mouthing at your sweet, sweet cunt, until his jaw's drenched, mindlessly flicking his tongue back and forth, finally getting the taste of you imprinted onto his tongue, his body, his mind.
"Such a pretty baby," You coo, a hand coming down to grab at his hair and press him closer to your cunt, sighing delightfully when his nose brushes your pubic bone and his tongue slides up and down, up and down, setting a pace that makes you rock against his face. "So good for me, baby, so sweet. Always takin' care 'f me."
Diligent, obedient, wrapped in the palm of your hand as he eats you out like you're his last meal, and you swear you see the glimmer of tears in his eyes. "God, you taste so good, holy shitâ" obscene, graphic words that you would've never imagined Yuuta saying.
Your back arches when he forces you to grind even closer down the bottom of his face, thighs wrapped securely around his head and nails scratching at your ass, intensifying the feeling of falling down this slippery slope with him. There's lewd sounds all around you and it's all you can hear, eyes closed shut as you soak the bedsheets underneath you.
Yuuta's tongue scrapes against your clit and you jolt, helpless whines tumbling out as he takes note, wraps his lips around the bundle of muscles and sucks, harshly and unforgivingly. There's stars behind your eyes, and you're gripping onto the sheets, waiting for that string to snap and it doesâcursing and mouth parting in a silent scream.
It takes a second for you to become lucid again, but you come back to awareness with Yuuta still licking off your juices, hot tongue lazily cleaning you off so generously and with so much care, a thumb stroking the smooth skin of your thigh, like he didn't just make you ascend to heaven a few minutes before.Â
He only pulls off of you with a slight push, and he looks up at you like you've just deprived him of oxygen. Yuuta's sprawled over your pink comforters so innocently and you lick your lips, eyeing his jeans with desire. "Mind if I return the favor, Yuuta?"
When he doesn't answer, you ask again. "Yuuta?"
"I'm sorry, I've neverâI've never done that before," It's that familiar flush again, painting a brilliant blush onto his cheeks. "Or any of this before, really, umâI got a little⊠excited, I'm sorry." Oh. Well, that's a first. "ButâBut give me a second! I can go again, I swear, I promise, it just takes me a little bit of timeâ" "Yuuta," You reach forward to cup his face, and he slumps onto your touch so easily, inky blue eyes encircled with exhaustion going softer at your touch. Slowly, you drag yourself back onto his lap, excitement rushing through you at the prospect of taking every single one of his firsts. Hell, you'll wait all week if you have to. "I can wait. We've got until sunrise, yeah?"
To pass the time, you strip off the rest of his clothes and lay him down on the bed, content to just lick and nibble at the milky expanse of his neck, captivated by his soft sighs and little whines. Something stirs you to play with his nipples, pinching and squeezing the bud until Yuuta's breathless, begging you to stop and keep going at the same time. "Hm, you like that?"
"YâYes! Don't stop," He whimpers when the pad of your finger swipes across the sensitive skin, hips raising to the air. "Don't stop, please, please, I need it, I needâ"
"Needy, needy, needy," You tut, but you keep going anyway, and you feel dizzy from the amount of power he's just placed on your hands. "What do you think about putting some clamps on these, huh? Maybe for next time. Think you'd look so pretty, don't you think?"
You lick a soft, velvety stripe up his neck to nibble on the outer lobe of his ear, thrilled with the way he gasps, leaning further into your touch. "Just picture it. Some sparkly little clamps on these, while I jerk you off nice and slow, force you to feel it all. Pulling away just when you reach the edge. Think you might actually lose your mind." Your laugh is piercing, and he gets hard once again at the thought of being completely and utterly at your mercy. "You ready for round two, Yuuta?"
He's at a loss of words, only able to nod uselessly and watch as you climb back on top of him, groaning when he feels to heat of your pussy on top of his cock, ramrod hard again and already leaking pre-cum. He swallows the lump of his throat, unable to tear his eyes away, but he regains his sanity for a moment. "CâCondom?"
"Nah, Yuuta, we don't need it," You giggle, aligning the angry and red, leaking tip of him to your entrance, rubbing it around sloppily to lubricate yourself with his and your juices. You moan quietly at the sensation, trying to regain your composure. "I'm on the pill and I'm clean. Besides, you're a virgin, right?"
"UhâŠUhâhuh," Yuuta can't stop looking at where you're almost connected, mesmerized. "You're my first." Your grin gets even wider. He was putty in your hands, he would do anything if you asked him to.
"Hm, 'f you play your cards right, maybe I can be your last," You see the glint of hope in his eyes just before you sink down, delighted with the way his lips fall slightly open, heart beat elevating. The stretch is harder than you expected, groaning lowly as you force yourself to descend fully down until you meet his pelvis, resisting the urge to start bouncing right then and there, not when Yuuta looks fully ready to combust. "YâYou alright? Heh, lookin' a bit pale."
You're a bit nervous, yourself, but you're not gonna admit that and betray this nonchalant image you've curated. When you move even slightly, hips readjusting for your comfort, Yuuta squirms. Patience, patience. You huff. He's big. "Give⊠give me a second to adjust. I'mâmmmf!"
Yuuta can't help it, he can't stop the way he pounds up into you and causes you to yelp, desperate to feel your velvety walls clench around him. He looks at you with restraint that's very quickly fading. "SâSorry! nghhhâ" He grabs onto your hips, subjecting you to another brutal thrust that wrenches helpless moans from you in turn. "I'mâI need, just let meâ"
"I'll be good, promise, swear, fuck, just need to fuck you so bad!"
He's babbling even as he starts fucking up into you with a renewed vigor, the picture of depravity, eyes rolling back as he takes his pleasure for his own. You're on top, and yet he's the one controlling the pace, veiny hands forcing you to meet every single one of his thrusts as if you were nothing more than a doll. "Oh god, oh god, oh god, feels so good!"
Your second orgasm of the night surprises you with a jolt, tongue lolling out and lost in an orgasm-fueled haze, and Yuuta's capturing your mouth with his, tasting you, drinking in your moans and mindless pleas. How the tables have turned, boneless in his lap now, as he keeps murmuring praises for you.Â
And yet, he doesn't stop. He's insatiable, you realize. You've unlocked a complete fucking monster, a monster that keeps fucking you through your orgasm.
"Ugggh, Yuutaaaaaâ" You don't even know what you're begging for at this point, tears involuntarily pulling at the corners of your eyes. It just feels so good. Your previous partners have never made you feel this good, to the point that your toes are cooling and there's a string of drool connecting the two of you together. Yuuta pays you no mind, eyes closed shut as he chases his own high.
His pace grows ragged and uncontrolled, and his voice is hoarse, murmuring wanton pleas that makes you ache with need. Your beautiful, beautiful boy. "Can I cum? Oh please, let me cum, fuck, going to be s'good for you, mmm, 'll fuck you every day, be your last," He moans, low and long, like he can barely contain himself any longer. "Let me cum, please."
"Yes, yes, yes, cum for me, Yuuta, mmf! Mmâlet me see you fall apart, cum inside me," Your words are what brings him over the edge, and he's collapsing into your touch, nothing but your name and your pretty face carrying him through.
When he slowly returns to lucidity, it's a familiar sight as he encounters your devilish smile. "Can you give me another one, baby? Please?"
Sunlight's streaming through the window by the time you get through with him, true to your word, fucking him every which way until you've lost track of time. He's so eager to learn, so eager to memorize every way to pleasure you, until he's nothing but a boneless heap on your bed, reduced to soft moans and whimpers.
The air's thick with sex and your sheets are soaked, but it doesn't matter, not when the prettiest boy in the world's panting and heaving, in a daze after cumming over and over and over. It fills you with a sweet sense of satisfaction, and you're not even close to being done.
You'll take care of him for now, wash off the musky headiness of sex and all your juices, press innocent kisses on all the marks you've left, shower him with praise and comforting words, let him rest for a bit, but it's only Saturday.
By the time you're done with him, you'll truly be the only thing left on his mind.
© ROSESAINTS á â do not repost, translate, plagiarise or claim any of my works as your own. requests are OPEN .á
jesus no
Happy Valentines Sonic !
bro was discombobulated
this is pretty much what happened. right.