Under His Skin Masterlist

writers in the shower: yess and that would happen mmm such a plot twist YES THIS MAY BE THE BEST THING I WILL EVER WRITE

writers when they’re about to write on the blank paper: tf was i gonna do again

Comfort Prompts

“I’m here, I’m not gonna leave you.”

“Don’t say that you love me more than I love you. Trust me, you are the glorious sun to me, my everything and I love you with all my heart.”

“Repeat after me; I am worthy, I am worthy, I am worthy…and believe it, ‘cause you are.”

“Darling, perfect is just a word. Perfection is impossible and chasing after it will lead you nowhere. Just do your best and accept that the result is good.”

“When the most broken put themselves back together, they become the most beautiful angels. It’s okay if it’s sloppy or if a crack is still left open, you’re even more ethereal to me.”

“The longest and most difficult roads in life end in the best places. Be patient and keep going.”

“So what if the world is complex and overwhelming? So what if you can’t do it all, can’t be the best? Stop focusing on your image and focus on yourself. You have these years on this earth, enjoy them, don’t overthink it. “

“I’m love with your mind, soul and body.”

“The best thing you can do in life is to love yourself and let your passion help others to love themselves too.”

“I know you may feel alone right now but just remember how big the world is. How many souls will love you for who you are. They’re out there, don’t worry. Just get through, explore and you’ll find them. Just don’t forget to find yourself.”

“Can I kiss where it hurts?”

“Hey, it’s going to be fine. We’ll get through this together, hand in hand, okay?”

“It’s all about the little things. Your favorite tea, good stories, sparkly eyes, beautiful skies, the thrill of adventure, passion, the feeling of home. Enjoy them.”

“You’re not broken. Your mind is just built differently, get to know it, have a little chat with yourself. The most complicated minds tend to be the most beautiful ones, just don’t let it use you, learn to cooperate with it.”

“Hey, beautiful, you okay?”

“You’re amazing, did you know that?”

“I think I’m going blind from your beauty.”

“Everyone’s different. Everyone’s beautiful. You’re the most beautiful human I’ve met, and I’ve met myself!”

“Breathe, darling, breathe.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know that triggered you, I’ll never do it again.”

“Here, I’m going to make you some tea and we’ll watch a movie, that sound good?”

“ Magic is real. It’s not spells and cauldrons, no… it’s more subtle. Like, when the air seems electrified, when eyes speak more than words, when you sense something none of your normal senses detect. If you stop for a moment and look beyond, you’ll find it.“

“I know you don’t want to, but in the end, it’ll pay off. Just breathe, keep your head up and you’ll be fine.”

They knew they should turn away. They should absolutely turn away - some rabid jealousy, some savage thing, some desperation, rooted their feet to the ground. 

The one they loved glanced over. 

Their eyes met. Deliberate, air crackling, breath stealing.  Then the one they loved leaned in to kiss someone else, making a goddamn spectacle of it. Each pause another glance, each caress of a thumb a sick taunt and some promise all at once. You’re imagining it’s you, aren’t you? Look at what I can do. 

Everything else in the room had ceased to matter.

don't mind me, i'm just fond of thinking about SESSHOMARU having a human s/o that ends up targeted by other humans, who judge her for being a youkai's wife / partner. i imagine them trying to kill her because of that,

and she ends up dying with an arrow on her forehead, while she tried to run away.

of course, SESSHOMARU didn't hesitate to return her to life with tenseiga. but the image of his s/o dead, dropped on the floor with void eyes, and an arrow stuck on her forehead as their pale face contrasts with the blood dropping from her wound...

... to the point where it becomes a habit of SESSHOMARU, to always kiss his s/o on that spot, where the arrow was. he does it almost to be sure that his s/o is alive, there with him, as if that death never happened and that arrow was never stuck on that forehead.

i like to imagine that despite tenseiga's healing, his s/o might have a tiny scar, or even something very light where the arrow penetrated her head.

this was a totally 4am thought. 💢

meant to be

❀ yuki x reader (she/her pronouns used) ❀ 1,700+ words ❀ cw - angst ❀ italicized sections imply a flashback , y/h/c = your hair color , ʚïɞ indicates time has passed ❀

“are you absolutely certain you want your memories erased?” hatori asks with concern laced in his voice, as his hand hovers above your head.

you weakly gaze up at akito from where you were outside, her dark eyes pass straight through you without a single ounce of remorse. in the far distance, you can hear yuki’s footsteps growing closer and closer, desperately searching the estate for you.

hatori sighs when yuki’s cries turn into pleas that echo off the hollow walls.

“y/n?! please, where are you? don’t do this, i—i need you.” he screams, his voice breaking as he helplessly wanders around.

“yes, please.” you mumble, a tear running down your cheek as you stare blankly at akito. she raises a brow, and with an evil grin, she doesn’t bother to break eye contact.

darkness. your unconscious body falls backward and hatori catches you before you hit the ground, brushing some of your hair back.

yuki stands frozen next to akito as he watches your lifeless body collapse into hatori’s arms. his knees thud to the ground, bruises sure to form on the affected area, while tears stream down his face and onto the already damp grass below.

akito tsks, “i told you yuki, she can’t love you the way i do.” she rolls her eyes at his attempt of defiance, returning back to her house.

yuki shook his head, gripping at the grass with trembling fingers. akito was right; you couldn’t love him like she did. because you loved him better. so much better than anyone ever could.

“i’m going to take her home now,” hatori says, standing to his feet with you in his arms.

your face glistens in the unsuspecting moonlight, skin glowing more than ever. “no,” yuki begins, “i’ll take her home myself.” he sadly announces, holding out his arms for you.

against his better judgment, hatori allows him to do this, gently handing you to him with ease.

from the second story of her room, akito’s eyes follow the both of you until you’re out of sight, the feeling of remorse completely absent from her mind.

yuki brushes a tear away from your cheek. his bottom lip quivering as he scans over your delicate features in an attempt to memorize them.

“i’m so sorry y/n,” he whimpers, “you didn’t deserve this.” another one of his tears drops onto your face, staining your beauty.

he leans down and places a gentle kiss on your lips, it’s light and it wasn't enough for him, but he knows it’ll have to suffice for now. yuki can’t even bring himself to fake a smile as he nears your house, knowing these were the last few moments he had with you.

“i’m never giving up on us,” he breathes, his panicky cries becoming more frequent as he can’t contain his sobs anymore.

“…i will find you again. i promise.”

ʚïɞ

yuki’s eyes burn as the bright morning sun shines through his curtains. the memory of you plagues his dreams, like a nightmare he could never escape. he runs a hand through his silver hair, the constant sadness looming in his chest even years after.

the first day of his second year of college came sooner than he anticipated as he glanced over at his bedside clock and the time read 10:28.

shit.

he springs out of bed, rushing to simultaneously gather all of his supplies and get dressed and ready. before heading for the door, he slips the promise ring you had gotten for him on his ring finger, just as he did every day.

yuki steps onto the train, slightly out of breath from running. he sighs when he hears the familiar sound, just like in high school, the girls never failed to provide him with unwanted attention. so following close behind him were a group of his female classmates swarming him like bees to honey.

flattered as he may be, yuki does his best to politely decline their advances. “i’m sorry ladies, i’m just not inter—“

yuki’s sentence stopped abruptly when he glanced outside the train window, and there you stood. bag slung over your shoulder, y/h/c blowing in the gentle breeze as you read the train route map. all the overlapping voices of morning commuters and fangirls fade until they’re dulled, sounding as if they were in another room and all he could focus on is you.

his breath hitches in his throat, his eyes transfixed on your silhouette as you sit on the nearest bench, making yourself comfortable.

for a second he believes he’s hallucinating, perhaps the universe is torturing him once again with another dream of you. that this may be too good to be true, just another cruel joke by forces outside of his control, but no. you’re here, sitting a mere couple of yards from him.

most likely from the intensity of his stare, you look up, directly staring into his eyes despite the distance between you. yuki’s heart drops in his chest as you offer a small, innocent smile that has his mind racing a million miles a minute.

before he can exit the train, it takes off, sending him speeding in the opposite direction, knocking him back into reality. the fangirls remain at his side, but the entire train ride his mind is far from here.

bidding farewell to all the girls that had followed him, he finds himself too lost in thought to greet haru or momiji, completely forgetting about the urgency of getting to the class he was late for and slips his way to his first lecture hall seemingly undetected.

there's chatter when he enters, his presence enough to make the classroom stir, which the professor didn't mind either. yuki takes his seat, absent-mindedly pulling out his materials.

his head pound with so many questions.

how could this be happening? how were you here?

the last yuki heard you had moved away, unexpectedly, the day after everything happened. away from him.

“settle students, settle down. as i was saying, i’d like to introduce my teaching assistant for the semester: y/n. be nice to her, it’s her first year as a teaching instructor.” the professor instructs.

yuki’s head shoots up and there you are, once again, same gorgeous smile, waving to the class.

your eyes trace back to meet him, causing yuki’s cheek to tint a rosy pink. he can’t keep your gaze as that interaction alone reminded him of the first time you met.

the remainder of the class is spent stealing glances from each other, glances that last too long to be anything but familiar. and for a while, yuki believes he's going crazy. driving himself insane for no other reason besides love, or maybe, just maybe, you recognize him too.

when the instructor dismisses the class, of which yuki had spent most of the time admiring you, he stays behind. he wasn’t exactly sure why, he didn’t even know if he should approach you, but he didn’t want to just leave.

you pack up and recollect with the professor, until only you and yuki are left in the room. and you don’t fail to notice his presence either, the tension growing stronger the longer you two sit in silence.

“uh—excuse me,” you say, just as you finish gathering your things.

yuki gasps, caught off guard by your willingness to speak to him. although, it makes him giggle on the inside knowing that your first ever interaction began the same way too.

“yes? i’m sorry, did you need something?” he asks with pleading eyes. yuki didn’t know what you were going to say, but he almost pities himself with how desperate he must sound just aching to be able to talk to you

you shake your head, “oh no, i wanted to apologize.”

his head tilts with confusion, “apologize for what?”

giggling, a sneaky red tint fills your face.

the sound of your laughter is euphoric, yuki convinced himself that he’d never be able to hear the heavenly sound again, but here he was, basking in all its glory.

“i wanted to apologize if i made you uncomfortable with my staring during class, you just remind me of someone, but i can’t remember who,” you explain with a frazzled expression.

yuki knows it’s selfish to ever even attempt to remind you of the love you once shared. what kind of boyfriend would he be to put you through that again, so he says nothing for a moment.

but, he was never one to give up so easily.

“don’t worry about it, could i buy you some tea or perhaps lunch? maybe we can get to know each other? if you’re not busy, of course” he suggests, the words escaping past his lips before he has a chance to stop them.

you enthusiastically nod your head and yuki can’t help but feel the pink blush remain warm and present on his face.

your purity remained and possibly flourished as time passed on, even when he was no longer in your life. but he didn’t expect anything less, yuki knew he loved you for a reason.

ʚïɞ

“i’m still in school myself, but i was recommended to be a teaching assistant for this class because of my previous success in the course. it was a little scary, but i think i can manage,” you continue, rambling on even after yuki asked you just one question, but he doesn’t mind.

his face softens, staring at you with half-lidded eyes and a loving smile.

he doesn’t understand what he’s done to deserve this, to have you back into his life; a second chance with you.

“pardon me ms.y/l/n, may i see you in my office for a moment?” a professor asks as he walks past the two of you.

“of course sir! just give me one moment please,” you request, pulling a marker from your backpack. “sorry, i have to go, but maybe we could have lunch another time?” you say with a soft smile pulling yuki’s hand.

“oh—oh, yes! of course, that sounds lovely,” he stutters, flustered by the sudden contact.

you scribble something down on his hand, your delicate touch sends shockwaves through his body.

“okay, i’ll see you later yuki,” you smile, leaning up to place a kiss on his cheek.

yuki freezes for a moment, watching you exit the hallway, his mouth open slightly agape. he brings his shaky hand up into view and his eyes widen at the message you left him directly under your phone number.

‘thank you for waiting for me yuki’

and when he thinks back for a moment, he realizes he never even told you his name.

— 𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐋.

ending #1 to heart to heart and a branch from do you love me?

SUMMARY. holding on hurts, letting go hurts. regrets just seem to trail after you like a shadow but ultimately, you have made your decision — this is it. (right?) (3.2k+ words)

CHARACTERS. zhongli, ganyu (briefly), guizhong (implied/mentioned).

GENRE. angst, bittersweet breakup, lovers to exes (but it’s so obvi you still love each other).

CW. one use of a pet name, a breakup scene, repeated apologies, reader experiences a headache. + read the alt text on zhongli’s header for an extra summary!

THOUGHTS. this was long overdue, but thanks to those who waited! this was such a ride… 3,000+ words just to write a breakup scene?? indeed, that might be a sign to buckle up (maybe).

✰ main masterlist. // series masterlist.

Cold, so cold.

The night breeze was already nipping at your skin moments before but as you mustered the courage to hesitantly face your lover, it felt as if the goosebumps on your arms had all turned into thorns that began to prick at you slowly.

But you just couldn’t bring yourself to meet ZHONGLI’s gaze, not yet.

Keep reading

affectionate prompts

“  i’m happy when you’re around.  ”

“  i like having you here.  ”

“  i’m glad you came.  ”

“  just tell me what you need.  let me give it to you?  ”

“  why are you smiling at me like that?  ”

“  i trust you with parts of myself i’m afraid to show anyone else.  ”

“  you have a good heart.  ”

“  your eyes look so beautiful in this lighting.  ”

“  i’m all yours.  not going anywhere.  ”

“  you have my full attention.  ”  

“  i never want you to stop looking at me the way you are right now.  ”

“  follow me,  i have a surprise for you.  ”

“  you make me feel brave.  ”

“  come walk with me.  let’s get some air.  ”

“  c’mere.  sit down.  tell me what’s going on.  ”

“  i want you around.  if i didn’t,  i wouldn’t be here would i?  ”

“  it’s okay,  you can sit here with me for as long as you’d like.  ”  

“  here,  take my hand.  ”

“  stay still—  i’m trying to hug you.  ”

“  do you like my new dress?  ”

“  do you like my new suit?  ”

“  could you hug me again?  i think i need it.  ”

“  i like hearing your heart beating when i put my head on your chest.  ”  

“  i like watching you work.  ”  

“  just sit there.  i’m going to make you something to eat.  ” 

“  why don’t you tell me what i can do to make your day better?  ”

“  what’s on your mind?  i want to listen.  ”

“  i sure you hope you don’t think you’re walking out that door without giving me a kiss first.  ”

“  i know i need to go but—  one more kiss.  ”

“  here,  take my jacket.  you look like you need it more.  ”

“  keep the jacket,  looks better on you.  ”

“  you just make me feel good when you’re here.  i feel better any time you’re around.  ”

“  i don’t feel whole unless i’m touching you.  ”

[ GRIN ]  for one muse to reach out and playfully push the other’s cheeks up to make their lips curve into smile. 

[ PRESS ]  for one muse to poke either side of the other’s cheeks where smile dimples would be. 

[ BOOP ]  for one muse to playfully tap the other’s nose with their finger. 

[ LIGHT ]  for one muse to kiss the other’s cheek. 

[ WARM ]  for one muse to take off their jacket and drape it around the other who is cold. 

[ COMFORT ] for one muse to place a jacket or blanket around the other’s shoulders because they’re upset. 

[ TEASE ]  for one muse to squish the other’s face between their hands. 

[ SCOLD ]  for one muse to gently pinch the other’s cheek in response to something they said. 

[ REST ] for one muse to rest their head against the other’s shoulder while they talk. 

[ REASSURE ]  for one muse to place their hand on the other’s back as a subtle comforting gesture. 

[ SAFE ]  for one muse to wrap their arm around the other’s shoulders and kiss their temple. 

[ LEAP ] for one muse to run and jump into the other’s arms because they’re excited to see them. 

[ SEEK ] for one muse to track down the other at a crowded function because they noticed they slipped away. 

[ COMPANY ] for muses to sit on a balcony or roof together sharing a drink/food/joint etc. 

[ HELD ]  for one muse to offer their hand out to the other to hold to comfort them.

[ REACH ] for one muse to reach out and take the other’s hand to comfort them.  

[ LACE ]  for one muse to hook their arm around the other’s while they walk. 

[ INTERTWINE ]  for one muse to offer their arm to the other while they walk. 

[ DIRECT ] for one muse to pull the other into that kind of hug where their hand rests against their head and they tuck them under their chin. 

[ SLEEP ]  one muse discovers the other napping and simply joins them. 

[ EQUAL ]  for a taller muse to pick up the other and place them sitting on a counter/table so they can be eye level. 

[ URGE ] for one muse to move their arm to be around the other’s shoulder or over the back of a chair so the one sitting next to them can scoot closer. 

“i wanna hold your hand” - excuses for your characters to hold hands

prompt list by @novelbear

"your hands are cold...let me warm them up for you."

taking advantage of the fact that they're walking through a crowded place and holding their hand so that they "don't get lost"

maybe they get slightly jealous while out, so they grab onto their partner's hand to establish their relationship

"something's on your finger. give me your hand, let me see.."

mentioning that they want to compare hand sizes

pinky promising over everything so that it's easier to naturally intertwine their fingers with the others'

"okay, but if i'm right then you have to hold my hand!" "that's not much of a punishment but alright babes, whatever you say."

"can you hold this for me?" "there's nothing in your hand." "exactly."

going in as if they're just innocently fiddling with the other's fingers, then trapping them about thirty seconds later

making the effort to find where their partner is and dragging them by the hand rather than just calling them over to where they wanted them in the first place.

"you need me to hold your hand so you can read the instructions?" "it helps me concentrate!"

grabbing onto the other's hand out of nervousness

slowly intertwining fingers while the other is driving

"they always hold hands and rub it in everyone's faces, i want us to look cute too!"

going on a rant about how much they love to hold hands, hoping that the other would take the hint and offer

"can you hold my hand?" "of course, my love."

fruits basket ⇢ THIRD TIME’S A CHARM ft. hatori sohma

a three-step guide to hatori sohma’s heart.

wc: 3k

warnings: smoking. talks of soulmates but not really a soulmate au. f2l but you’re more like hatori’s annoyance (affectionate). he’s a simp in denial. fluff with one grain of angst. self-indulgent because i miss my seahorse bae

one: try to get into hatori sohma’s interests.

“i didn’t know you smoke.”

hatori turns to the sound of your voice and upon seeing your approaching figure, he instinctively scoots over to make room for you on the bench by the river.

“occasionally.”

“can you do that thing?” you raise your index finger to draw invisible circles in the air. “you know… smoke rings?”

“yes.” when your eyes light up, he quickly adds: “but i won’t.”

“you are not fun at all,” you tease lightheartedly.

for the first time since you sat next to hatori, you take a look at your surroundings—maybe it was the zodiac curse but despite the already bright green landscape made technicolor by the variety of flowers peppered among the trees and the glitters of sunlight on the clear blue waters, you don’t remember the sohma estate being so alive and vibrant.

bit by bit, you soak it all in before sliding your gaze over to the man beside you as he takes another drag. even with his somber expression, he still looks beautiful from behind the cigarette.

tearing your eyes away from him, you notice a pack of squares peeking out of his lab coat.

“can i try?” you ask.

hatori follows your line of sight and immediately shoves the small carton deeper into his pocket. “no.”

“why not?”

“it’s not good for you.” you open your mouth to protest but he interjects. “stop asking.”

“do one smoke ring then i’ll stop.” at your request, hatori looks at you as if his patience is wearing thin but you don’t budge. “if you never wanted to do it, you should’ve just told me you couldn’t.”

he pinches the bridge of his nose as he internally curses in frustration because you’re not wrong.

“fine,” he concedes, visibly against his will.

genuinely captivated, you keep your eyes trained on hatori’s lips, completely oblivious to the fact that his composed demeanor is now mere pretense and right underneath is a man extremely self-conscious and hyperaware of your close inspection. suddenly, his throat feels dry and his hands clammy.

he’s thankful you’re too preoccupied to notice.

forcing his thoughts away, he puffs at his cigarette and with his mouth formed into an “o”, he blows out a smoke ring. he waits until it fully takes shape in front of you before fanning it away, deliberately ignoring the awestruck gleam in your eyes.

“you have to teach me that,” you enthuse.

“i thought you said you’d stop asking.”

as a doctor, hatori is aware not only of the dangers of tobacco, but also the greater risks of secondhand smoking. and it’s his job to make sure you don’t suffer from any complication—not you in particular, he tells himself—so in spite of his cigarette still having a few drags left, he drops it to the ground and crushes it beneath his heel.

he’s just doing his job.

two: ask hatori sohma if he believes in soulmates.

shortly after sundown, swirly hints of orange and pink have begun mixing with the incoming muted shades of blue across the sky, the temperature of the wind dropping with it—rather rapidly due to the ocean breeze—but that doesn’t stop anyone from going for a swim, save for those dotted about the sand, and giving life to the seafront which only grows brighter due to the lampposts along the perimeter.

however, the oddness of your question pushes the scenery to the background as hatori searches your face for any telltale sign that you’re messing with him. you’re not.

“what brought this on?” he asks.

“just making conversation.”

“have this conversation with ayame.”

unable to count the number of times you’ve rolled your eyes at his curt replies, you’re surprised they haven’t stuck. “can you, at least, humor me?”

“no.”

typical, you think.

walking side by side along the boardwalk, you fall into silence that hatori quickly finds unbearable—which is ironic, considering he’s naturally a reserved man—so he gives in. “fine.”

something jumps in his chest when you turn to him, beaming, but he immediately shoves the feeling down before he can give it any thought.

“i don’t believe in soulmates,” hatori claims. “i think you choose the person you want to be with—or meet them through happenstance, even. but not fate.”

“so…” you drawl, a soft smile involuntarily tugging at the corners of your lips. “you spending time with me tonight—was it by choice?”

you choose the person you want to be with. hatori mentally kicks himself for letting the words roll off his tongue without a care. now you have him right where you want him.

“a coincidence,” he asserts in an attempt to shut you down, already predicting where you’re going with your ribbing. “you were alone and i happened to have some free time.”

“which you chose to spend with me,” you counter triumphantly but even the melodious laughter from your lips fails to blunt the daggers he’s now throwing your way. “okay, sorry. sorry. but assuming soulmates exist, who do you think you’d be with right now?”

“i don’t know,” he answers in one breath.

“what would you be doing right now?”

“i don’t know.”

“you’re the worst.” you huff, finally dropping the subject.

and he’s grateful because he’s lying.

he does believe in kismet.

bound by the curse for most of his life, it was as if he’d been walking on a path that was already carved in stone and waiting at the end of it was his fate with no one to share, only his for the taking—so like some sort of paradox, he refuses to acknowledge destiny altogether, even after the spiritual ties had already been cut. it’s all he’s ever known.

besides, indulging in the idea that something written in the stars could ever be within his reach—even if it was right in front of him taking after your image—is like setting himself up for heartbreak and disappointment.

and hatori sohma’s smarter than that.

three: say “i love you” to someone else.

“you’re quiet today,” hatori says.

“has shigure not annoyed you enough that you actually want me to talk?”

you know shigure hasn’t because he’s been gone for a while now, along with ayame, and hatori’s choice to stay behind is enough for you to assume his friends are up to some shenanigans he couldn’t care less about.

“you’re only half as bad as him,” hatori jokes, a small grin playing on his lips and you can’t help but smile back.

truth be told, your playful exchange can only do so much to mask your feelings until they threaten to spill out of you as soon as you open your mouth. and though you’ve surprisingly managed to keep them under control this whole time, it’s as if you’re constantly being pulled towards opposite ends of the spectrum.

hatori has his way of being within your proximity and still seem so out of reach—you’re never sure if he’s suffocatingly close or you want to be smothered by him.

but you can’t tell him that.

“i’ll just go for a walk,” you say instead.

the sudden announcement causes a look of worry to form on hatori’s face but despite the warmth blooming in your chest over his concern for you, you convince yourself it’s just the doctor in him.

of course, he cares. he cares about everyone.

“are you alright?”

“yeah, i just need some air.”

you leisurely tread the pathways of the estate, mentally counting your steps to keep your mind occupied but eventually losing track anyway as your thoughts drift back to hatori.

before you know it, you’re sat by the lakeside which you instantly recognize from the first time the sohmas took you to their family cottage for an outing.

“care to share the woes of your heart?”

the familiar lilt of ayame’s voice—and his dramatic language—soon echoes in the wind and a smile makes its way to your face, finding his theatrics somewhat comforting at a time like this.

sitting next to you, he asks again. “something on your mind?”

“it’s nothing.”

“perhaps this will lift your spirits?” he plucks a wildflower from the ground, presenting it to you. “may i?” when you give your consent, ayame delicately tucks it behind your ear, leaning slightly further as if to admire his work. “so beautiful and ethereal. truly out of this world.”

“stop.” you say, giggling as you take the flower out of your hair and lean on his shoulder. “thank you, aya. love you.”

ayame rests his head on top of yours. “i love you, too, darling.”

unbeknownst to you, hatori followed you quite shortly, unconvinced by the way you brushed off his concern. but he doesn’t expect to find you with ayame, lax and cheery as opposed to you being closed-off earlier—with him, the voice in his head adds and he wishes he could strike it off.

“can i ask you something?” hatori hears you ask his friend but it’s the familiar question which follows that has his ears perking up. “do you believe in soulmates?”

hatori’s not one to listen in on other people’s converstions so without waiting for ayame’s response, he heads back to the cottage, suddenly feeling like an intruder.

“i know that’s just your face but… why the long face?” shigure asks.

hatori groans. “shut up.”

whatever shigure is about to say dies in his throat as ayame enters through the front door alone.

“where were you?” shigure asks him, acknowledging his arrival.

“i was at the lake with y/n.”

“oh?” the former dog incarnate shoots hatori a knowing look, though he continues to address yuki’s brother. “and what were you two doing?”

“i was wandering around and found her lonesome. like a poor damsel in distress in need of a comforting shoulder so i let her take advantage of me.”

hatori winces at ayame’s ill phrasing. “did you have to say it like that?”

leaning closer, shigure whispers low enough just for hatori to hear. “maybe she needs your comforting shoulder, too.”

“i told you to shut up.”

hatori gets up to leave before shigure can get another word out—he knows shigure will get another word out. with no set destination in mind, his feet move on their own accord. soon, he’s at his usual spot by the river.

you cross his mind again. recounting the events from today, he fails to pinpoint what caused the shift in your demeanor—if he caused it. it only leads to more questions because what did he even do?

he pushes his thoughts away, reaching into his pocket for a cigarette to clear his head but when he sees you walking in his direction, he decides against it.

“why do i always find you here?” you ask as soon as you join him where he’s stood at the riverside.

“it’s peaceful.”

“i’m guessing shigure finally pushed you to your limit.”

“i spoke too soon.” his dry humor coaxes a chuckle out of you and it’s only then hatori realizes how much he missed the sound of it. “i saw you with ayame today.”

“he just stayed with me for a bit. seeing me all by myself must have been too depressing even for him.”

“are you sure you’re okay?”

“mhm,” you hum in confirmation. when hatori doesn’t pry further, you change the subject. “remember when i asked you about soulmates and you told me to ask ayame instead?”

“i remember.” and you did, he doesn’t say out loud.

“well, i did. and he does,” you tell him. “believe, i mean. he said meeting his soulmate would be a beautiful surprise—something about braving the search for the uncertain making the discovery all the more blissful.” you smile as you recall ayame’s words. you can’t fault him for his flamboyant idealism because you know he has a big heart to show for it—it’s who he is. “i know it’s ayame we’re talking about but i think it’s nice to believe in something like that.”

“do you?”

how a question so concise can hold so much weight, you don’t know. but something in the way hatori asks you feels like the load has been dropped to your chest.

i don’t believe in soulmates. to this day, you still hear hatori’s words loud and clear and it’s like your heart is going to cave in. because you do—at least, you want to believe in it.

“i don’t know... maybe?” you suppose that’s the safe answer. “maybe soulmates exist but not everybody gets to meet theirs. sounds unfair, doesn’t it?”

“you can’t let that hold you back.”

a chuckle erupts from your lips though the sound is free of humor. “i’m scared i’ll meet my ‘soulmate’,”—you air quote the word—“and they don’t feel the same way.”

“if they are what you say they are, i don’t think you should worry about it.”

“and if they’re not? i don’t know if i can handle that.”

hatori takes him time mulling his words over before settling on a response. “you can avoid it altogether but there’s nothing worse than spending your whole life thinking what could’ve been…”

you glance at his direction and catch him smiling to himself wistfully as if he’s reminiscing a fond memory. you wonder if he’s thinking about kana.

you’ve never met his ex-fiancée but from what you’ve heard, they seemed to be the epitome of fated lovers had akito not meddled. and as if the knife hadn’t been twisted enough, hatori was forced to erase kana’s memories—being the only sohma to possess that ability—to free her from the torment of her entanglement with the binds of his curse which, in turn, had become hers as well. all because she loved him sincerely.

without any recollection of her relationship with hatori, kana is now married to someone else and hatori seems to have moved on.

you look away from him, staring straight ahead and feeling ashamed because it feels so wrong to use that in your favor but…

“you think i should just go for it?” you ask hatori.

“i do.”

“even if it’s you?”

your voice comes out a whisper but the immediate hush from hatori, amplifying the tension encompassing you both tells you it’s enough to bring everything at a standstill.

the longer his silence drags on, the deeper your heart sinks. you can only wish that in its descent, it crushes the butterflies in your gut, putting an end to your foolish feelings once and for all. but you know it won’t.

just like how you’ve fallen for him, no depth is deep enough—your heart will just have to plummet endlessly. maybe time will numb you but you’re certain that one way or another, you’re always going to have love for him.

“this is the part where you tell me off,” you say in jest but it falls painfully flat.

“if i told you i feel the same way, would you start believing then?”

if it was possible for your entire system to shut down in an instant, you’re almost convinced that it already has because with your breath catching in your throat comes the pounding in your head that matches the beat of your heart hammering wildly against your chest.

you muster enough courage to finally look at hatori, almost flinching when you find him already staring at you. and with that, everything begins to fade out of focus until it’s just him—laying himself bare for the first time and yet, you’re the one who feels disarmed.

even at the zenith of your emotions, his touch still grounds you as his thumb gently swipes over the apple of your cheek. “you’re crying.”

“i’m nervous,” you sheepishly mumble.

“i think i’m the one who should be nervous. i heard you say you love ayame.”

you can never tell with the monotony in hatori’s voice so for a moment, you think he’s crushed but when you only find the affection he holds for you in his eyes, you decide to poke fun at him in your usual good-natured fashion.

“jealous?” despite the shake of his head, a smile creeps across hatori’s face. “he’s my friend, too. i do love him. and shigure. a little.”

hatori laughs—an actual laugh, you note—and closes the distance between the two of you, pulling you into his embrace as he presses a chaste kiss on your temple.

as infuriating as shigure’s teasing may be, hatori realizes it’s the little push he needed to take another leap. ever since what happened with kana, the notion of falling in love again seemed too big a risk but now standing on the edge with you, he doesn’t mind the free fall at all.

but hatori swears to die before he tells shigure. otherwise, he’ll never hear the end of it.

“i can’t believe you actually like me,” you mumble against his chest. “is it by choice or you know… ‘happenstance’?”

releasing his hold on your torso, hatori gently cradles your face in his palms, his purple eyes staring into yours so lovingly that it’s in full contrast with the words that come out of his mouth.

“i almost forgot how vexing you are.”

your smirk morphs into a full-blown grin. “you’re not answering my question.”

“figure it out yourself.” his words are muttered against your lips before he captures them with a kiss that swiftly grows in fervor, setting your nerves ablaze—and like ice to a flame, you melt into his touch.

the whole world is soon forgotten—just the two of you in motion as time freezes, giving way and lending itself generously to prolong this moment for your lover to commit to memory. perhaps this is the universe remembering what it owed him and handing it over on a silver platter.

there’s no more binding promise to tie hatori down but careful not to push his luck with jinxes, he doesn’t say anything definite. maybe it’s fate, maybe it’s coincidence, maybe it’s neither or both but one thing is for certain: hatori believes in soulmates.

how else would you have found a way to get under his skin and on his nerves then straight to his heart?

⋆‧͙˚*✧•̩̩͙*˚  Fairytale  ˚*•̩̩͙✧*˚‧͙⋆

I thought that writing Herbarium would free me from the Capitano agenda. But I was wrong and now we have a side story + epilogue written from Capitano’s POV…….pls don’t expect much from this, as it’s just a collection of dark fluff and bonus scenes which take place throughout Herbarium. Also, three cheers for Sumeru update ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶

To those who previously enjoyed Herbarium, I hope you enjoy this fic and don’t mind me tagging you. I will forever be grateful for your feedback!! And thank you once again to my dear friend @diodellet​ for peer-reviewing another self-indulgent fic :’>

Tw:: YANDERE, unhealthy relationships, kidnapping, violence, blood, murder, psychological trauma, mention of child abuse, mention of nsfw, spice, MINORS DNI

Note:: Female reader described as physically weak and smaller than Capitano, pre-release characterization of Capitano which will likely be obliterated by canon lore

♡ 3.3k words under the cut ♡

i. Once upon a time, an unlikely romance blossomed between a Monster and a Damsel.

The battlefield is a merciless place. A corner of the world nourished by violence and bloodshed, a place where only the strong could lay claim to honor and victory. For as long as he had been a Fatui Harbinger, Il Capitano had full control over this domain.

On the battlefield, there is no chance to appreciate the beauty of the natural surroundings, not when all would eventually be sullied by blood and death.

And yet here he is, standing in a peaceful meadow so far removed from the reality of the world. Having fallen victim to an opponent like no other, whose weapons take the form of melancholic glances and immortalized flowers.

“This is for you.”

She gives him flowers again. The dandelions are pressed between two sheets of parchment paper, puffy seeds flattened and denied of their promised liberation.

And just as he had done with that fateful bunch of windwheel asters, Capitano accepts her gift.

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