Needed The Fluff After Kinktober >.

needed the fluff after kinktober >.<

San traces gentle patterns on the exposed part of your waist, his gaze fixed on the subtle shift of your breathing. With your back turned to him, he can't see your face, but he's certain you're fast asleep. If you were awake, he wouldn't dare to touch you. Arranged marriages aren't uncommon, especially among royal families. They serve to solidify bonds, bringing prosperity and peace to kingdoms, but not necessarily to the individuals involved - the groom and the bride.

It wouldn't be truthful to say that you two love each other or even that you are friends. Even after two years of marriage, your professionalism remains the primary barrier. Since childhood, you've been immersed in rigorous studies to prepare for your role as the empress of the nation. Your life was predetermined long before you were born. Hence, San comprehends completely why you maintain such a cold demeanor toward him.

But, he can't help but yearn for you. His thoughts constantly gravitate toward you, in a way that should be ordinary for a husband but not in your circumstances. He shouldn't love you, but you're making it incredibly difficult for him. Your conduct with those around you, the way you carry yourself, and the genuine kindness you extend, even to those beneath your station, it all makes it harder for him. He sees how you pay attention to your advisors during crucial meetings, noticing the subtle furrowing of your brows when issues with the crops or markets are brought up. Your effortless thoughtfulness is simply captivating; how could he not fall for you?

San places a quivering hand on your hair, toying with a curl between his fingers. He leans in to plant a tender kiss on it, but as you stir slightly, he withdraws his hand abruptly, pretending to be asleep, shutting his eyes tight.

You turn, still in your slumber, but San doesn't open his eyes. He knows you'll wake soon, as the sun begins to filter through the balcony, altering the hues of the sky. You emit a soft murmur, and San senses your eyes opening as you let out a gentle gasp. He feels you shift away slightly, understandable since your noses were nearly touching. San remains motionless, his eyes closed, his breath held.

He remains that way for several minutes until he feels you sit up on the bed. You sigh and stay put. San softly opens his eyes, stealing a glance at your profile. Your gaze is fixed on the horizon, the soft morning light accentuating the curve of your cheek.

"I need to get pregnant," you murmur softly, a tender hand caressing your belly, your eyes glazing over, lost in thought as usual.

"What?" San blurts out, rising to his knees, his eyes wide. "What did you just say?"

You turn to him, embarrassment flushing your face. You open your mouth, then close it, resembling a fish caught off guard. You didn't expect him to be awake this early. "No—I—I just—"

"I'll give you a son," he interrupts, his voice trembling, his hand running through his hair. "If you let me, I'll give you anything." His tone carries a hint of desperation. He had refrained from any physical contact since the beginning of your marriage. It would have created more distance between you, rather than bringing you closer. He didn't want your first night together to be the result of obligations. That would have been too cruel for his heart—feeling you so close, yet your heart so far away. No.

Your face flushes, and the overwhelming urge to conceal yourself becomes unbearable. You shake your head, swiftly discarding the golden covers from your body. "You must have misheard me," you hastily interject, planting your bare soles on the chilly floor. Before you can rise from the bed, San seizes your forearm and gently guides you back, prompting an unqueenly gasp to escape your lips.

He remains silent as he caresses your hairline with a tender hand, peering at you beneath his long lashes. Both of you linger in silence for a moment, locking gazes. The room is so quiet that you can almost discern the rhythmic thumping of his heart, although you can only feel it through the thin fabric of your nightgown.

"I like you," he murmurs into the void. You part your lips to reply, but he doesn't allow you to continue. "I don't know you, but I like you. I would say I love you, but I don't want to push you. So I'll settle for 'I like you.'" He concludes, his lips pressed together in an anxious frown.

You remain silent for a while, simply gazing at him, your eyelashes fluttering. San senses that he might be on the verge of being sick, until you break into a faint smile. Your hands find their way to his face, both of them cradling his cheeks, as your thumbs stroke gently.

"I don't… I don't know you," you mumble, and it's the truth. You hadn't taken the effort to learn more about him beyond the superficial information an empress should possess about her emperor, essential for ruling over a country by his side. "But I can learn. I can try."

Your voice barely rises above a whisper, and you both chuckle like children discovering something shiny.

He leans down over your body, planting a gentle kiss on the gold earring adorning your left ear and then another at the juncture of your ear and neck. He lingers for a few moments, inhaling your natural scent as he feels you shudder at the touch of his lips against your skin. A smirk tugs at his lips before he swiftly jumps out of bed, leaving you alone in the opulent chamber. You hear him exuberantly cheering with the knights outside the door, and you can't help but smile at his youthful enthusiasm. He's making a complete fool of himself, and you turn in the bed, burying your face in his pillow, releasing your own muffled scream of excitement, your feet kicking up in the air. You find yourself laughing, carried away by the rush of adrenaline.

Suddenly, someone clears their throat from behind you. You turn to find the rotation of maids, poised and ready for your daily morning routine. Flustered, you promptly compose yourself, rising to sit and smoothing down your hair. The youngest maids attempt to stifle their laughter behind their sleeves, while you attempt not to perish from embarrassment.

masterlist | taglist in comments

hey lovely 😊 would you mind adding me to your permanent taglist? thanks so much 💕💕

hi baby, not at all, thank YOU

𝓪𝓻𝓶𝓼 𞋈✩ղitᦸ ... ♫

⠀

i read your name to the tune of strawberry beret

i dont even know where i last heard that song but AAAATINY CAFE

THATS SO CUTE BUT IDK THE SONG THO?? I ONLY KNOW RASPBERRY BERRET BY PRINCE

STEEL AND SILK (001)

wooyoung walks up behind you, making sure to tighten the straps of your odm gear. his affectionate gesture catches you off guard, causing you to blush slightly. he doesn't seem to notice, though, as he's too focused on laughing at a joke san just cracked. playfully, he slaps your butt and winks at you before returning to his place among the soldiers. your smile fades when erwin begins his speech about the upcoming expedition beyond the walls.

you and the boys have finally joined the survey corps, embarking on your first mission to explore the dangerous areas outside the walls for expansion. it's natural to feel scared, but you take comfort in having your boys by your side.

the speech ends, and you all are finally able to relax and move around. while some are practicing with their odm gears, you find a quiet spot, observing the boys as they laugh and joke around. your attention rests on connie and jean teasing mingi, who's screaming about adjusting the saddle on his horse and how they're not letting him. a warm hand touches your back, and you turn to see hongjoong's soft eyes looking at you.

"are you okay?" he asks gently, and you can only smile in response, struggling to find the right words to convey your emotions. his understanding gaze puts you at ease.

"it's okay, baby, i understand," he says, sitting down next to you. for a while, you both remain silent, the laughter and cheers of the corps filling the gaps. he pulls you closer into his arms, planting soft kisses on the top of your head.

"you know," yunho chimes in as he hands you a bowl of stew mikasa cooked, taking his own seat beside you both and scooping some into his own bowl, "it's funny how the highest-scoring soldiers in the tests are the ones sulking."

"shut up," you laugh, blowing on the hot liquid before offering a spoonful to hongjoong so he can taste it.

as the night goes on, you all gather around the campfire, the realization of venturing beyond the walls, where danger lurks, dawning upon you all.

taglist: @hyukssunflower @cqndiedcherries @ad0rechuu lmk if you want 2 be in my permanent taglist

hi please do not use tags that are not directly relevant to your fics, I understand wanting them to reach a wider audience but it is really annoying seeing them pop up in a place it does not belong 😭 thank you

omg thank you so much for bringing up the issue w me, ive only been on tumblr for a month so the tags can get a lil bit confusing, ill work on it!!