I Really Enjoyed Your Last Akechi Write Kind Of A Polar Opposite, How Would Akechi Be With A S/O Who

I really enjoyed your last Akechi write 👀 Kind of a polar opposite, how would Akechi be with a S/O who feels they're never good enough for him even though he reassures them he loves them for who they are (and that it should be him feeling that way because of what he's done)?

An Angel of His Own (Goro Akechi x Reader) 

𝗔/𝗡: 𝗜𝗠 𝗦𝗢 𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗜𝗧 𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗛𝗛𝗛𝗛 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁. 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗶 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻. 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗶 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗽𝘀

𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚? ⇒ 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩

𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙧?

When he enters his apartment after a long day, there are only two things he finds himself excited about, time and time again.

The peace and quiet of his own house. And you. 

By the time he had unlocked the door and pushed it open, you were already flittering around the entry room. You’ll be waiting dutifully. Quietly. All for him remove his shoes and his gloves at the door so that he may show you some form of affection before venturing further into his home. Even as you greet him, he sees it. Hesitance still lines your eyes but you try to hide it with a smile. A shy one, but a smile nonetheless. And it’s something he knows he can deal with just by the way you relax into the small kiss he delivers to your forehead. 

This time, he cups your cheeks just to tug you a little closer, subtly enjoying the way you shiver against the touch of his cold fingers against your feverish cheeks. You’re so expressive. Even when you don’t want to be, he can’t fault you for it. He’ll never fault you for it. He likes being able to know what you think and how you feel. It’s a sure change from the office- where there’s nothing but grim looks and serious eyes. Where everyone hides behind a mask in between stone walls. Unwilling to show how they truly feel unless there’s a way to benefit from it. But there isn’t. And that’s just one of the things he can’t help but appreciate about you. 

Work was hard today. But isn’t it always when you’re just a lap dog for the sick and twisted minds behind a great nation? Still, he doesn’t want to bother unloading his extra baggage onto you. It takes one look in your eyes to tell that you’ve also had a rough day. The way fingers and fiddling behind his back is a sure sign that you’re struggling with your homework and are hesitant about asking for his help. In fact, he’s sure that if he walks past you and steps just into the kitchen, he’ll be able to spot a neat little pile of your homework with half the page covered in question marks and little circles for him to check over later. Right next to whatever delicious dish you had cooked for the two of them to enjoy tonight. 

But he can think about the office and food and homework later. Right now, all he wants to do is focus on you. 

“I missed you today.” He can’t help but murmur into your ear as if the world itself is too loud. Truthfully, there’s nothing to fight over your attention with besides the ambiance of the apartment. But even if there were an opponent, he knows it would have been an easy victory for him. The quiver of your bottom lip as his blunt admission of his feelings makes it known to him just how wrapped around his finger you truly are. If only you knew that he was the same way for you- if not ten times worse in the rawest, most powerful of ways. “Did you miss me?”

“Yes.” Your response to his question is a quiet lull. But the giggle you let out as he presses a chaste kiss to the tip of your nose is anything but. It brings a smile onto his face- something that only you can do. If he’s being honest, all he wants to do right now is indulge in you. Hold you, love you, be with you. But that’s an activity for another time. You’re getting antsy in his grip. Squirming and shifting as if you didn’t want to be close. But he knows you too well. And he has no doubt that once he lets go, you’ll just be on your way to try to prove your worth to him with whatever laundry list of chores you must have gotten done before his arrival. As if he could see you as anything less than priceless. “I made dinner! And I repotted the rest of the plants and cleaned your office. Do you want to see it?”

“I do.” He promises, and somewhere in the back of his mind, he can imagine himself saying those exact words on a different occasion as effortlessly as he is now. You light up. You always do, but you light up to his acknowledgment, and it serves as a painful reminder of those dark days when you thought that you would never be good enough to stand by his side. Tears you shed, the lies you must have told yourself. You’ve come so far from those days, but it still lives on inside of you. But in the end, he’s learned a way to combat the cruel songs your own head tells your heart. “I do but... why don’t we eat first? I’ve been waiting all day to see you, you know?”

Reassurance. 

Smiles when you can. Touches when you want them. “I love you” when they’re not needed. And “I love you too” when you need them the most. That’s how the two of you have learned to live with each other. That’s how he learned to live with you, despite being in complete and total awe of your presence. It starts with simple things. You were always so shy. Always so unsure. He thought he would easily tire of reminding you that you can text him about anything. He thought he would grow a short fuse when emphasizing that he wouldn’t be in a relationship with someone he thought beneath him. He thought this, he thought that. But he didn’t think just how hard he would fall in love with you. 

An angel is what you are. The type helps him loosen his tie as he puts on his house slippers before guiding him to the kitchen. An angel that cooks his favorite meals because they’re filled with worry for his health. An angel who he was more than willing to move into his flat after just a few short months of being together. For your safety. For your security. And for his adoration and happiness most of all. 

Because when he unlocks the door to his apartment after a long day of work, he leaves behind all that he was. The powerful prince under the guise of a workhouse. The brains beneath the fool’s cap. The calm that hides the storm. But he unlocks it every day with a tired smile on his face because, in the end, he knows it’ll lead him to you. 

So call him mad for his worship of you. Just like others have called your devotion to him madness as well. But at the end of the day, they’ll never know what it's like to carry his sins on their own backs. They’ll never know what it's like to be damned such as he was from the moment his piece of shit father laid his eyes upon his mother. They’ll never know what it’s like to kill and kill and kill while hoping that a murderer, own found, could still know love. They’ll never know. 

And so they will never learn to appreciate the two things that bring him happiness at the end of every single day until he dies like the way he appreciates them. And he hopes they’ll never find out too. 

For the peace and quiet of home belongs to him and him alone, even if it’s paid for money dyed red with blood. And the angel that comes with it? Well… let’s just say there’s not a single pretty metaphor that would do you justice in a world such as this one. But when he thinks of that little velvet box tucked in his nightstand, underneath all the files he knows you won’t go looking through, he realizes that maybe only one word is needed to keep his angel down on earth with a lost soul such as his. One word, that looks powerful. A word that looks familiar. A word that’s not even a word at all. But rather…

A word that belongs to him all the same. 

😭😭✨

scara’s electro mark on the back of his neck would totally be an erogeneous/sensitive spot and no one can change my mind<3

Yours, not hers

characters: scaramouche/wanderer x nb!reader

warnings: fluff, light angst, reverse comfort, takes place after scara’s defeat, slight body dysmorphia and mentions of self harm, soft scara🥹

notes: honestly same tho. and as someone who has a very sensitive neck, i absolutely know how he would feel like lmao

scaramouche hated the mark.

it’s hideous, disgusting, wrongly shaped to signify his failure as a puppet, the reason for him to get disregarded but moreover an eternal reminder of his mo- no. his creator.

wanderer hated the mark on the back of his neck.

no matter what happens, he always tries to keep in hidden, away from prying curious eyes. buried deep under layers upon layers of clothes to at least pretend that the mark is non-existent.

sometimes he would even end up clawing, scratching or even cutting at the small part on the back of his neck as if trying to cut out the electro symbol, carved deeply into his flesh since his creation. but the bloody marks, bruises and scars would end up healing faster than than normal due to him being a puppet of a god.

never leaving a scar. never leaving a mark. just the damned, cursed motherfucking purple electro symbol left behind. shining proudly and perfectly as if trying to mock him.

and this time it was no different. the young puppet sitting on the edge of your shared bed with a frown and a glare. hands twitching, waiting, wishing to reach out and claw at the symbol again.

taking a deep breath in and letting it out after a while, wanderer slightly shook his head. no. he shouldn’t harm himself any further. you would be sad once you find his neck angry, bleeding red with scratch marks and dried blood under his fingernails. he would hate to make you sad.

letting out a heavy sigh, the young man laid down on the bed, facing away from you- feeling ashamed about thinking of harming himself and breaking your promise.

sucking in a short breath, jolting harshly when arms came to wrap around his middle suddenly, pulling his smaller frame closer to cuddle with his back to your chest.

wanderer loved this feeling. being wrapped securely around you, feeling your warmth seep into his own cold skin, warming his body, warming his heart. the feeling of your heartbeat thrumming in a repeated rhythmic way against your ribcages, the feeling of the thumps against your chest soothing his pain, easing his own non-existent empty heart, pouring into the hollowness of his chest and filling it to the brim with your own.

wanderer loves you.

but sometimes he can’t help but scowl at you- more of a pouting- when you lean down and place a small peck against his electro symbol. face flushing in embarrassment, eyes narrowing back at you in a faux anger- a poor attempt to hide the small glimmer in his eyes- pouted lips twitching to try and control his muscles from forming a smile.

fortunately he always loses in this silent battle between you two. letting out a huff with mutterings of “you’re so clingy” or “you’re hopeless” slipping out from his lips which is already starting to curve up into a smile.

yes, the puppet loves you. hopelessly so.

shuddering with a suppressed groan when the short man felt your lips against the back of his neck once again, pressing on the electro symbol. a quiet, poorly attempted muffled chuckle falling from his mouth when you continue to press kisses against his neck, one hand coming up to rest on your hair- slightly tussling them in the process.

“yours. not hers” when wanderer heard that phrase muttered from you, he felt himself softly smiling. eyes crinkling upwards, lips forming a smile with his cheeks turning even more red.

yes. wanderer loves you so.

Do You…?

date 45 | masterlist | next <3

- YN GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER!!!!!!

- bruh I’ve playing volleyball for gym and the guys in my team SUCK

- NEVER GIVING ME THE CHANCE TO HIT 🤕

🏷️ @palebluedotmp3 @panbiabee @totomotsu @fi-chanwrites @itsrosebabe @clever-username96 @yawnchair @p3achiee @haitani-22 @rxdyzsoull @comehome2myheart @yeonmay @critter-junior @kunikame @beeomgui @bowloficecubes @orangesandmarmalade

Wakasa canon needy boyfriend HEHEHE 💖💖💖 he needs attention always !

[ NEEDY ] IMAUSHI WAKASA.

“waka, please,” you sigh tiredly, but wakasa can hear the smile in your voice—he can even feel it as your lips press against his forehead in a gentle kiss. but he doesn’t let the soft touch of your lips bribe him into letting go, however. instead, he’s shifting more weight to press onto you as his face hides in the crook of your neck, pulling an exasperated groan out of you as you glare down at him.

“no,” he mumbles, latching onto your body tighter, “stay.”

“i can’t.”

“yes you can.”

“i need to get up,” you huff, “i’ll be late for work—again.”

“then be late. just tell them you had important things to do.”

“cuddling in the morning isn’t important—”

“that’s rude,” he interrupts, pouting into your neck as his hands squeeze your hips, “it’s important to me.”

you can’t help but roll your eyes, can’t help but purse your lips as you look down at the mess of hair under your chin as wakasa tucks himself into you. it’s a losing battle every morning—a constant back and forth that you know you’re powerless to win.

at first, imaushi wakasa seems like a distant guy. he seems like someone you’d get lucky to even hold hands with, someone who keeps his space and maintains his composure. at least, that’s what you used to think. it doesn’t take long after dating to realize he’s quite the opposite—that he’s clingy in the mornings, that he needs far too many kisses throughout the day to be normal, that he follows you around the house like a lost puppy, that he can’t sleep without you playing with his hair at night.

it’s funny at first, it’s cute and makes you just a little giddy that a renowned gang member is as needy as he is around you—but sometimes, like right now for example, it’s just a little inconvenient too.

“wakasa, you have to let go—”

“don’t wanna,” he grumbles, grabbing your hand and planting it over his head. you sigh—and yet, you’re tangling your fingers into his long tresses and scratching at his scalp. and really, you hate to admit it, but maybe it’s not entirely his fault that he’s as spoiled as he is—you never seem to really be able to fight against him, giving him exactly what he wants no matter how many times you tell yourself not to.

“you’re so damn needy,” you mumble, slowly rubbing circles into his back as he sighs happily. you eye the clock wearily, watching as the seconds tick by and the minute hand moves slowly but surely until you’re late—just like you are every morning with him.

“no ‘m not,” he murmurs—and then his head tilts up and his lips tug into a tiny pout as you pull your hand away from his head. “why’d you stop?”

“see?” you snort, pinching his nose affectionately, “very needy.”

your hand moves to cup his face, rubbing a thumb over the swell of his cheek. and there’s something satisfying about seeing someone like him pout as he presses his face deeper into your palm, something that makes your chest swell fondly as he closes his eyes and leans into your touch, something that makes him that much more human. sometimes, you almost don’t think it’s the same person—the man you’ve watched punch noses in can’t be the one sprawled over your body right now, can’t be the one who whines for five more minutes of cuddles in the mornings as you’re running late for work.

“can’t you just call in sick,” he grunts, plopping his head onto your chest, staring up at you as he props himself up on his chin.

“no,” you roll your eyes, “you ask me this every morning. the answer is still the same.”

“if you loved me you would,” he grumbles, glaring at you as you poke his curled lips with a giggle.

“don’t i love you when i run late every morning for your extra cuddles?”

“hardly.”

“you’re ungrateful,” you flick his forehead, chuckling as he clicks his teeth and swats your hand away, “i risk my job for you every damn morning.”

“you don’t need it,” he insists, “i’ll take care of you, and you stay with me in the mornings. it’s a win-win, see?”

“i don’t think being stuck under you is a win—”

“oh yeah?” he grins, making your heart skip a beat, “but you never seem to complain when you’re under me,” he says cheekily.

and he’s unfair—looking up at you in that handsome way he does, throwing you that lopsided smirk with a strand of hair loosely hanging across his face. you tuck it behind his ear, trailing your thumb along his cheeks and across his nose, tracing over his lips and under the crinkles of his eyes.

for a moment, you think maybe wakasa isn’t the only one who’s needy—you think maybe you need him just as badly as he needs you too.

“waka,” you groan, throwing him a dirty look as he snickers. “i really have to get up—”

“just five more minutes,” he pleads, flopping back onto your chest and snuggling against you, tucking his head under your chin. and when you kiss his forehead, he’s sure he’s won—just like always.

“you said that like twenty minutes ago,” you raise a brow.

“this time for real,” he mumbles.

it’s a lie—you know it as well as he does, but you don’t think it’s a morning without imaushi wakasa clinging to your body until you’re more than a little late.

so with a fond smile and a roll of your eyes, you wrap your arms around him as you kiss the top of his head, pulling the blanket over his body as he sighs in content.

“you’re a liar,” you snort, shaking your head as he smiles victoriously into your shirt.

gray omg u get me sobsob he’s so baby CRIES 🥲

Remember My Love

You’ve fallen for someone else. Asra has been in love with you, but with your memories coming back you soon remember the past romance you once shared with him. But does he still love you?

asra alnazar x gender neutral reader

word count : 4.1k

contains: angst with a happy ending , mention of dying

Asra hadn’t remembered when it happened, but he knew he never wanted to imagine a future where you weren’t in it. The reality of that thought was coming true right before his very own eyes. He hated it. The smile on your face was the brightest he had seen in a while. This was as you gathered your belongings for another trip, one he was sure was to see your lover.

“You’re leaving again?” He asked. He knew the answer before you responded. Of course, you were leaving. His violet eyes followed your every movement as you gathered the last of your things from the surface of the glass counter in the shop.

You flashed a warm smile, giddy to see the one you were spending most of your time with nowadays. “I’ll be back before you know it!” You never even turned to look at him, he noticed. Did he behave like this before setting out on a mysterious journey of his own? “Do we need anything for the shop? I can get it while we’re out?”

Asra hesitated with a response. Instead, his gaze dropped to the floor beneath his feet, a frustrated sigh slipping past his soft lips. In the middle of your excitement and his sudden silence, you turned to face where he stood. “Asra,” Your smile faltered at the sight. If anything you assumed he was just tired. “did you hear me?”

His eyes met yours and he opened his mouth to speak, but, as if unable to find the right words, no words came out. He was looking forward to spending the day with you. Was it selfish of him to assume you’d want to do the same? “Sorry, I just thought today would be a bit different.” Asra’s soft-spoken voice was withdrawn and restrained. The change in his demeanor confused you.

Your head cocked ever-so-slightly to the side. What do you mean?” You could tell he was holding back, but what was the question? With as much time away from home as you spent, you and Asra hardly hung out as frequently unless it was arranged. Neither of you had anything planned for the day, at least from what you remember.

Asra was your best friend. Not just because he was your only friend, but because you knew the magician better than he probably knew himself and vice versa. Unbeknownst to him, he had mastered the ability to hide his feelings, and now it began to slip. It was clear that whatever was bothering Asra was now getting the better of him.

Before anything, his well-being came first. “What’s wrong, Asra?” You stepped closer to him, your brows knitted together to match the concern you felt.

His saddened expression quickly turned into a forlorn smile. “It’s nothing to worry about.” He partially lied. A part of him knew it wasn’t your fault that you were with someone else. You were bound to give your heart away. He just hoped it would always be for him. The other part wanted you to know he loved you so much it hurt. It hurt so much. But the thought of losing you to his damning confession was too awful to think about. He’d have you in whatever way you offered, if it were only as friends, then so be it.

You saw it first, and then felt him pull you into a hug tighter than most of the ones you previously shared. His lips timidly brushed against your forehead, so light you could’ve easily mistaken it for his fluffy angel white hair. He held you for a minute or two, his eyes screwed shut to stop the burn of unfortunate tears.

Something was wrong. His body tensed under your touch. A dim undertone shadowed his usual glowing ambiance. Rather than seeing it, you sensed it. You pulled away to search his eyes. His usual bright ones held a shiny gloss over them. “Asra?” You let his name linger on your lips.

“I think I needed that,” he attempted a joke. A faint smile traced the outline of his lips, but the depth of his purple eyes outed his facade of contentment. “How long will you be away?”

You didn’t respond as your eyes traced his features. You wanted to get to the bottom of his unusually typical strange behavior, but knowing Asra, he’d talk on his own time. So you let it be for now.

Removing yourself completely from his embrace, the intense moment between you still lingered in your mind. You stared inquisitively at him. A feeling of déjà vu washed over you, though you couldn’t recall when déjà vu ever felt so real. So familiar? If you were being honest, more and more often did you two share moments like these. “Oh. Right, uh, I’ll be back before you know it. No more than a few hours.” You shook the dazed feeling away as you murmured a response.

Arsa languidly nodded, as he came to terms with what would be. But it didn’t stop him from catching your hand in his before you slipped out the door. “Please be safe.” You heard him say.

And you replied with a forced smile, “Of course.”

When he’s sure you’re gone, hot tears pour down his face. He won’t forget the look in your eyes each time you meet your lover. Or how enthusiastic you became about rambling about them every time you returned home, after a few days. He didn’t even know if you still considered this your home. With how much time you spent away, he wasn’t sure. Asra wished to make you smile like he used to. To laugh even when he told the most ridiculous joke in the world. It confirmed how much you loved him, despite his flaws, so why couldn’t you love him now?

His silent cries soon turned into gasping in between breath-consuming sobs. Imagining you with someone else was unbearable, but he didn’t have to imagine anymore; it was a reality.

Everything seemed to strike him at once. He could never stop loving you, no matter what happen. The reality of your unrequited love, and you holding the heart of another only made it worse. He remembered the days where he had your heart for himself. The promises you once made to him, forgotten— he never forgot. He cried and cried until his head furiously throbbed and his throat was sore.

You were clueless about Asra’s predicament at the shop, too busy accepting a bundle of flowers from your partner. A smile found its way to your face. “Aw, you didn’t have to, you’re too sweet!” You beamed up at them, he was a few inches taller than you but not very much.

His smile was captivating, and the words that passed through his lips were just as charming. “I wanted to find something equal to your beauty, but standing here looking at you, nothing dares to compare to it.” With a voice like velvet and smoother than an aged bottle of wine, he passed for a perfect lover.

A hot warmth crept up your neck and a blush covered your cheeks. You playfully nudged him, steering him away from the narrow path you walked on together. “Aren’t you just a smooth talker?”

His smile only grew as he looped his arm through yours, falling back in step next to you. You had to have been walking for quite a while now, and you had no idea where they were leading you. Even the fifteen minutes you’d spent giving him puppy dog eyes weren’t enough for him to tell you. You’d be lying if you said your legs weren’t getting tired.

“How much further until we’re there?” You glanced at him, but his attention was elsewhere. They simply stop, grinning at you before coming to stand behind you.

His hands were warm as he brought them up to rest on your arms. He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss on your head. “Close your eyes for me?” They sweetly inquired.

So far you had no reason to not trust him, so you did as he asked, and within seconds he was leading you somewhere different. No more than five minutes passed when he gave you the okay to open them. You gasped at the view before you.

Vibrant green grass stretched out for miles across an open piece of land. Dandelions and daffodils and other colorful flowers peeked through the soil, adding to mother nature’s beauty. Overhead, the sky was a beautiful swirl of orange, red and purple where the sun was setting. A flock of birds flew above, opposite the sun’s placement. Sunlight bounced off the few trees around, creating a light green shade on the leaves.

It was an image straight from the page of a fairytale.

“Do you like it?” You could see him nervously fidgeting beside you in your peripheral vision.

In awe, the burst of affection in your chest was unable to be tamed. No one had ever shown you something like this. “This is incredible! Where.. how did you find this?” The view was persuasive enough to question if you were even still in Vesuvia.

You can tell he took pride in your reaction as one hand reaches for yours and the other cups your cheek. They laughed as if you said the funniest thing ever just now, “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

Your head turned to kiss his palm, before your free hand covered his. “Try me.”

Nervously, he chuckled, “It was after we met. I couldn’t stop thinking about you and how much I yearned to see your face again. It was driving me crazy just thinking about you.” His gaze searched the pools of your earnest eyes, his admiration for you crystal clear. He smiled to himself, letting his attention fall to your intertwined fingers between you. He quietly laughed as if he couldn’t quite believe it himself, “That night I took a walk to clear my mind, but nothing worked.”

The seriousness his face expressed made your breath hitch. “I wanna show you something.” He said, pulling you to a more secluded area. Lined in a row were four trees, all equally balanced with smooth bark. It almost resembled wax figures, except for the leaves that danced in the wind. The closer you got, the more you realized there were markings on the tree. Letters and symbols. “That walk led me here. I’d heard about this place ever since I was a kid, I believed the talk of this place only rumors until then.”

Curious, you inched closer. Unmistakable words were carved in the wood; Initials of lovers sealed in a heart with loving affirmations. “What is this place, exactly?” You walked around them one by one, eyes dragging up and down the bark.

“They call it Loveland Respite.” He informed, hands pulled behind his back and smiling.

By the time you reached the third one, your eye was drawn to something that made you pause. You’d recognize that handwriting anywhere, or it was that of someone who wrote just like you. You noticed the initials in the wood. Everything about it called out to you. The ‘A.A’ was all too familiar. No one could replicate the perfect handwriting you saw around your shop. But why were your initials there? In your handwriting?

Not quick to catch on, your partner analyzed the tree. “I can tell they loved each other.” You hardly heard him over the sound of your heart pounding against your chest. You knew it was silly, but you were sure it was attempting to break free and rest where it belonged. It certainly didn’t feel like yours at the moment.

The further down you scanned the tree, you saw there were more than one marking of initials that ironically matched you and Asra’s letters. The carvings were perfect, or as perfect as they could be. In fact, this whole tree was covered with them. Maybe it was all a coincidence?

A coincidence invalidated, as you reached the very bottom.

‘I love you always. I am yours forever - Asra Alnazar.’

right under it was a response,

‘I love you in this life and the next - Your Love.’

next to that was your name.

The energy emitting from the tree set goosebumps on your skin. Your mind acted on its own, your body a puppet of the compelling, intimate, and well—known magic. Your fingertips barely grazed the engravings when you felt a rush of dizziness overwhelm you. With your palm rested against the tree your heart felt full and heavy.

Like a stab to the heart, everything you once forgot flooded back to you. All you could think about was Asra. It was his warm smile that made you feel like a helpless fool. Kisses filled with passion and love that you can never get enough of. His hot breath tickling your skin as he whispered sweet nothings into your ear each night before you retired to bed and every morning as you woke. The restless nights when your name rolled off his tongue while he made the sweetest love to you.

Yet, there you were, here with someone else, ready to give a heart that wasn’t yours away to someone else. Your heart belonged to Asra.

Beside you, your now partner was startled to see tears brimming in your eyes. “Oh! Did I say something wrong?” Concern and worry flashed across his face. “I’m sorry… Did I- Did I make you cry?”

You quickly shake your head. “No! Of course not.. I should be the one apologizing. I—” You swallowed the lump growing in your throat. “I don’t think I can do this.”

Their eyebrows furrowed. “You can’t do what? I don’t understand.”

A vision blurred by tears made it difficult to read his expression. You didn’t want to hurt him, but you couldn’t reciprocate any feelings for him. Not when Asra was around. “I have feelings for someone else..” You were afraid he’d think you led him on, so immediately you kept going to explain, “This tree, I think it gave me my memories back and my life before this. I wish I co—”

He stopped you with a hug. That you didn’t expect. “You don’t have to explain anything to me. I know what this place does. It truly is magical.” He pulls back to watch your face. “Asra will be happy to hear.” A genuine smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Your mouth parts slightly in shock. “Did you know?”

He shrugged, “I knew you two were close, but anyone in their right mind can see that he’d do anything for you. He loves you more than anyone could ever love you. If those tears are the effect of getting your memories back, then no one can deny you two are meant to be.” He was taking this easier than you expected.

“Are you mad at me?” you ask, to which he shakes his head. A soft laugh comes next.

“A bit jealous, oh absolutely. Mad?” he pauses as if to think about it, a shy grin turning his lips, “Not at all. I’d never get in the way of love. But I will be if you don’t get home and tell him right now.”

He offers to see you home like the gentleman he is. You smile the whole way with just the image of him in your mind. Halfway there, you run into Julian who manages to tag along. The walk felt shorter on the way back, but maybe it was the excitement you couldn’t bottle up. When you reach the shop, you bid your goodbyes to both of them and let yourself inside. 

You decided against calling out to him, you wanted your return to be a surprise. You reached your shared bedroom to be greeted with a woeful sight; your smile dropped and your heart shattered. If you hadn’t known any better you might think he was sick, but you saw him like this once before, and it was nothing of a good reason.

In his sleep, he rested both hands on his forehead, clutching his head to stop a headache. His eyelids were puffy and dried tears stained his cheeks. His face was still a light shade of red which meant he had been crying not too long ago. His damp hair was splayed across the pillows in every direction possible, a few strands stuck to his sweaty forehead.

You dropped your bag on the ground and walked over to the bed. You kicked off your shoes before gently crawling next to his sleeping form. He stirred a bit, feeling the bed sink beside him and you stilled your movements, waiting for him to stop so you could continue. Settled and comfortable, you lean down to press a gentle kiss to the hot skin of his red nose. 

Your chest tightened as you studied his sleeping face. You didn’t have to guess to figure out you caused this. “I’m so sorry, Asra,” Your shaky breath whispered. You wanted to ease his pain, not be the cause of it. “I never meant to hurt you.” Quiet cries shook your body as you rested your head against his chest. You had no intention to wake him up. Maybe if you caught on to the signs earlier everything would be okay.

You heard soft sniffles from Asra, then the soft cries of your name fell from his frowning lips. Damn did that hurt.

You pushed yourself up, ready to comfort him in any way possible. Your fingers played with the ends of his white hair as you tried to comfort him. “I’m right here, Asra. It’s okay, you’re okay now.” You peppered his face gingerly with kisses after each word and his eyes gradually opened.

“Y/N..?” His voice was hoarse, broken. “Oh, Y/N.. You’re back.” Swayed by the taunting nightmares of you leaving him forever, his arms flung around your waist. His cries were quiet, but yours were only getting louder.

“I’m sorry,” You repeated, and this time he was conscious to hear you. 

Even during his worst moments he still looked out to make sure you were okay. “Did something happen, what is it?” The worry was in his tone. He shifted his position to get a good look at your face. “Are you okay,” He palmed your face while his thumbs brushed away the freely falling tears. When you didn’t answer, he pulled you against his chest. Even if he knew you didn’t remember, Asra never forgot when you told him his heartbeat gave you comfort like nothing else.

Suddenly it was hard to find the words you were eager to say before you entered the shop. The rhythmical thumping of his heart was music to your ears, your peace amidst the mess. With your breathing evening out, your finger tapped his chest to match the beating against his chest. “I always loved this sound the most.” You truthfully told him.

Despite the fact that the angle you were in prevented you from seeing him, he looked down at you, hopeful. ‘Always’ implied you knew something to some extent. Did that mean you remembered the sound? Was it just another feeling? If you did remember, was that all? He refused to get his hopes up. He had been disappointed too many times before, so he only mumbled, “I know,” into your hair.

Comfortable silence fixed itself between the two of you. If it weren’t for the bubbling love in your chest, you would have fallen asleep in his lulling embrace. First, you had to tell him. “The strangest thing happened today,” you started, it earned an attentive hum from Asra. “Have you ever heard of a place called Loveland Respite?” Arsa’s heart skipped a beat hearing the name. Of course, he did, how could he not?

“Why do you ask?” There was that hope again— this time evident in his fearful tone. Already, he was assuming the worst. He wondered if your partner had finally confessed his love for you there. Did you two finally carve your initials into a tree?

You leaned back far enough to read his face. “It’s a really beautiful place. But the most beautiful thing is what I saw.” You smile to yourself with a fresh image in your mind. “Have you been there?”

He breaks eye contact to look anywhere but your burning gaze. The times he had been there were too hard to think about. He nodded his head hesitantly.

“Asra, look at me,” But he didn’t, too afraid his eyes would convey any longing emotions he hid, “please?” You delicately added.

How could he say ‘no’ to you?

As soon as your eyes meet, you lean closer in space. “Can you tell me about the first time you went?” Your intentions were good, but the sound of him swallowing his nervousness meant he didn’t really want to.

“It was after we..” he trailed off, white eyebrows pulling together while shaking his head, “After I fell in love with someone.” ‘You’, he wanted to say. “I was with them that day when we found it. We left in the morning after spending the whole night under a tree. We returned every month to retrace and add our initials in the wood, but they wanted a tree specifically for us.” Asra didn’t realize the smile creeping up on his face as he told you of the past.

You might’ve been jealous if you hadn’t known he was talking about you. “I thought it was silly at first, but it was the best thing ever when they told me it was a way for our love to be everlasting if something ever..” his voice quivered, fighting back the raw emotion conveyed in his sentiment.

“.. If something ever happened to one of us.” You finished the sentence in unison. His lips parted and his eyes grew wide, anticipation lingering in his beautiful eyes you so often got lost in. That much you could remember. Five years ago when you first started dating, it was the first time you knew you were made for each other, and you looked forward to a future with Asra as the love of your life. Three years passed where you forgot what his love felt like. To know it was unwavering throughout dying in the plague and your memory loss— It gave you great joy.

His gaze cautiously flickered between your lips and your pupils. Unable to move, he delicately whispered your name. Your lips were so close you felt the warmth of his breath warm your skin. Solace breezed through his body when your lips softly collided. Neither of you dared to get the kiss going, so you stayed pressed against him. When you pulled back, he welcomed the warmth rushing to his face. “You remember?” His question lacked confidence as not to assume anything, as timid expectancy showered over him.

Containing the wide smile on your face wasn’t an option. “I remember, Asra. I remember everything.” Even you were shocked hearing it out loud. Asra’s eyes hinted at his disbelief. His heart beat faster than normal for the first time in what felt like forever. “I don’t know how, but when I touched that tree, our tree, everything came back to me.”

Realization hit him harder than a truck. An act of magic forged by the two of them while they were in love. He knew exactly how it happened .. but he’d have to explain it later. Without warning, Asra rushed forward to claim your lips in a passionate, hungry kiss. A kiss that conveyed his desperation, the longing to be with you like this again, and most importantly his love for you. It was everything a lover’s kiss should be. A sensation that could only be defined as his pent-up frustration and affection overwhelmed your senses.

The kiss was sensual and sweet and everything but rushed. His lips glided against yours in a dance of fervor with an intensity, flipping your heart flip like nothing else. “I love you, Asra.” He sighed into your mouth at your unfeigned declaration. Visibly, he looked and felt so much lighter in the split of a second.

“Oh, how I missed hearing you say that.” He lets out a hearty laugh, a smile so wide his dimples caved deeply in his cheeks. You joined in with your giggles, overcome by his infectious delight. It is repeated over and over again as if he can’t believe the reality of the situation, “I love you. I’ve always loved you.” He covers your face with quick, gentle kisses, leading down your neck, and back up to steal your lips in a kiss again. “I’ll never tire of saying it.” He nuzzles his face into your neck, pressing a wet kiss below your ear. “I missed you every day when we weren’t together like this.”

Your eyes slide shut as your head falls back, giving him more access to trace your skin with his warm lips, “I need you, Asra.” You gasp when his tongue trails past the sensitive skin above your clavicle.

“So have me, my love.”

these were like 3 months ago but i still like them a lot