Put This Star Into The Inbox Of Your Favourite Blogs. Its Time To Spread Positivity.

☆ put this star into the inbox of your favourite blogs. it’s time to spread positivity.

Violet, you are so sweet😭💖 Thank you very much for this🥺 It literally takes away all the tiredness of the day 😭💞

Happy Birthday Sariel 💜

I’ll be uploading a modeling video later. So much editing to do

Leonardo request: he and mc break up (he breaks up with her so she will go back to her time and she does), and now it is her time and she runs into him after she has been back in her time for a while and he has lived through the years until he has finally caught up with her

if it is a happy reunion or painful because she is with someone, I leave up to you!

A/N: Here you go, lovely Bellerose. Thank you for your request!

Leonardo x female Reader

I had to pick a hair color for the reader in this, which I usually don't, so I apologize if that bothers anyone.

Word Count: 3157

You would think there is nothing that can rival the beauty of a moonlit lake, a sky littered with silvery stars, the soft whisper of grass as it's ruffled by a gentle wind. But the enchanting scene surrounding you is nothing compared to the glow of Leonardo’s golden eyes, the softness in his smile, the feel of his hands as they hold yours. His gaze lights a warmth inside you that spreads slowly like honey, sweet and delicious. He leans down and you rise to meet him, lips already parted in anticipation. 

It is not what you imagined. 

It is so much more. 

He tastes vaguely smoky, evoking the comfort of a fire on a cold night. And sweet, but not excessively so. More like chocolate and hazelnuts, rich and earthy and absolutely decadent. As he wraps his arms around you and pulls you close to the shelter of his body, you find another word to describe what kissing him feels like: home.

Leonardo extends his hand, helping you up into the carriage. The door closes and soon you are rolling over the uneven cobblestone streets, away from the concert hall. He’s tucked you under the protection of his arm, unable to resist the urge to hold you close. Even at night, when you are curled up in his bed, he needs to touch you. Maybe it’s only his ankle over yours or his hand on your back, but you are his lifeline to finding joy in the endless, weary march of time and he wants every single moment possible to be filled with you. 

Your sigh pulls him out of his reverie and he turns to look at you. Your sparkling diamond earrings swing gently with the swaying of the carriage as you look out the window and at the darkened city that rolls by outside of it. 

“Cara mia? Is everything ok?”

It takes you a moment to tear your gaze away from the glass, shaking your head as if clearing away cobwebs. 

“I’m fine. It’s just….” You trail off and he frowns slightly, nudging you with his lips to your temple.

“It’s just?”

He feels the way you sigh again, with your whole body, a wave passing from you to him. Whatever you’re feeling weighs on you heavily.

“The song Mozart played. ‘Sonata facile.’ My mother taught me to play that on the piano. And she knew it because her mother taught her. And I just always thought….” You lift your shoulder in a small shrug, glancing at the darkness through the window again. “I just thought I would teach it to my children someday.”

His heart feels like it's been dropped with sudden speed into a frozen lake, splintering as it crashes through the ice. Grateful you’re not facing him, he takes a moment to compose himself before speaking, his tone deceptively casual. “Children were a part of the plan then, yeah?”

Your earrings swing, glittering even as you speak in a quiet voice, hushed like dusk as it settles across the sky. “I was an only child with parents that were often away on business. That could be….lonely, sometimes. So I promised myself that I would have lots of children so there would always be noise in the house. And so they would always have someone to play with.” 

It is impossible for him to miss the flash of sadness that crosses your features, subtle like lightning too distant to be bright but unmistakable nonetheless. Long fingers of cold wrap themselves around his heart. What you have dreamed of for yourself is something he cannot give you. Something he will never be able to give you.

Even as you sigh again, nestling closer to him, resting your sweet cheek against his shoulder, he can’t shake it. 

And spends the rest of the carriage ride avoiding the sight of the darkness outside the window. 

The dishrag hits the marble counter with a satisfying whack. Untying your apron, you bid Sebastian a good night as you make your way out of the kitchen, your steps hurried as you make your way towards Leonardo’s room. Worry had been gnawing at you ever since you returned home from the concert last night. 

He had been unusually quiet, almost distracted in a way you were not familiar with from him. You asked him to unhook your gown and there was no provocative curve of his lips, no low sensuous murmuring. He had simply undone your gown and then proceeded to undress himself, the motions perfunctory, almost careless. It was only when you had joined him in bed after removing your jewelry and unpinning your hair, when you had slid your arms around him and pulled him to you, stretching yourself under him like a cat in its favorite patch of sunshine, that he returned to you, lowering his head to claim your lips, his hands coming to life as they slid their way over the curve of your hips, across the span of your ribcage before finally sliding up into the expanse of your soft auburn hair.

And even then, when he made love to you, it had felt….different. He was slow, exploring the entire expanse of your body, deliberately lingering, as if committing every part of it to memory. True, you had only been intimate a handful of times, but the times before this were electric, your body feeling like it might overload and burst like lightning, illuminating the whole mansion with the force of your radiance. But last night you were embers, glowing with the warmth of his slow, tender attention. And when it was over, you lay with your cheek against his heart, its steady rhythm lulling you to sleep.

He’s not in his room. Or the library. Or the dining room. Or the salon. You pause at the bottom of the staircase, wondering if you should go knocking on the doors of some of the other residents when Arthur approaches, a cup of coffee in one hand and a piece of dark fudge in the other.

“Hello luv. A bit late to be wandering ‘bout the place all alone. I’d offer you my company but….” His blue eyes are alight with mischief. “I’m afraid ol’ Leo might not be pleased with it.”

“Do you happen to know where he is? I’ve been looking everywhere for him.”

Arthur pauses, already a few steps up and gestures with the fudge to the top of the stairs. “Last I saw him he was visiting Comte.”

You thank him, pass him on the stairs and hurry towards the sitting room Comte uses on this floor. Your knocking gets no answer so you boldly enter. It’s empty. Disappointment shadows your heart and you are about to leave when you notice the door to the small balcony is open. 

He’s there, alone, forearms resting on the smooth stone of the balcony railing, a lit cigarillo between his fingers. The balcony faces the mansion’s gardens and he’s staring intently out into the dark as if he might be able to find some answers there.

“Leo?”

He turns, startled and then breathes out when he sees it’s you. “Cara mia.”

Frowning, you make your way to his side. “Is everything ok?”

He is silent, wrestling with a decision he needs to make. You wait, letting him battle it out internally, watching the thin plume of smoke from his cigarillo as it rises, twisting and turning as if anxious and unsettled.

“The door to your time will be opening again in two days. Maybe…..you should use it.”

His words are so unexpected you wonder for a moment if you understood them.

“What……why would you say that?” 

You can hear the tremor in your voice, the aftershock of his suggestion jolting you.

His jaw clenches, his gaze still searching the dark and silent gardens.

“Maybe you would be happier there. Could live the life you always dreamed for yourself. See your family again. Your hometown. There are a thousand reasons.”

You reach out, placing a firm hand on his arm. “And one very big, very stubborn one right here.” His breath shudders from his body as you pull, forcing him to turn towards you. “I made a commitment to you, Leonardo. We discussed this. I’m staying.”

He tosses his cigarillo over the railing, its small glow swallowed by the night. When he finally meets your gaze, the conflict in his beautiful eyes makes your heart ache. “Cara mia…..I cannot give you a family. I cannot promise you safety. I-”

Your hands reach up to cup his face, your grip determined. This is no time for gentleness. He needs to understand. You speak slowly, each word carefully weighed and measured.

“I want to stay with the wonderful, funny, intelligent, kind man that I have fallen in love with. For as long as I can. And there is nothing that can change my mind.”

He holds your gaze as you hold your breath, waiting. Finally he nods and you echo his gesture, nodding back in response. “Ok….” you whisper. “We’re ok.” You step into the circle of his arms, burying your face in the soft, rich fabric of his clothing. 

He holds you close, but his eyes remain open, once again returning to the impenetrable darkness of the gardens.

The next day he’s gone again but you try to keep yourself busy and ignore the uneasy feeling that keeps scratching at your heart. The sun sinks to its rest and the moon rises, cold and pale among its nest of stars, and still there is no Leonardo. No other residents have seen him and worry flashes in Comte’s golden eyes when you ask if he knows where Leo has been all day.

Your thoughts are heavy, each one hammering a different worry in your mind as you make your way up the stairs and to his room. He’s bound to come back from wherever he is and then you’ll be waiting.

It’s far into early morning when Leonardo returns, pushing his way through his bedroom door and stumbling inside. You sit up in bed instantly, sleep having only caressed you and never quite fully taken over.

“Where have you been?” You can’t keep the frustration out of your voice or block the sound of your thrashing heart in your ears. “I’ve been worried!”

His movements are slow, radiating something unusual. Something that slowly begins twisting your stomach into an uncomfortable knot. 

“A man can go out, yeah? Without a thousand questions.”

His voice is thick, perhaps with drink, perhaps with something else. Either way it sends a cold shudder through you as you slide out of bed.

“Leonardo…..what’s going on? This isn’t like you.”

He turns, his eyes liquid amber, unnaturally bright in the soft orange light of the lamp you left burning low.

“Then maybe you don’t know me as well as you think. Maybe I’m not the warm, intelligent, kind man you have fooled yourself into believing I am.”

Hearing your own words thrown back at you like daggers nearly sends you staggering back to the bed. A hand reflexively rises to cover your heart as if you had really been pierced by some wicked blade.

“That’s not possible. I know you. I know who you are and–”

He growls, closing the distance between you quicker than you can draw a breath. He does not lay a hand on you, instead pinning you in place with the force of his heated glare.

“I am a pureblood.” His voice is low, the words dragging over your heart like plow teeth across the earth. “I am eternal. You are a minute, yeah? A second in an endless succession of days and nights. A blink of an eye.” Your lips part but before you can even see if you are capable of sound, he continues. “I am dangerous.”

“You would never hurt me.” The words slip out, small and unsteady, but born of the conviction that still lives in your aching heart.

His eyes close a moment, freeing you from the pain of his excruciating glare. And then with a snap of his head, his fangs protract and he growls, the sound more primal than anything you’ve ever heard from him. A primordial fear skitters down your spine, sends goosebumps across your skin. He’s changed the framework from lovers, to something much more sinister: predator and prey.

“Get out.” 

You don’t know if you sob or if you simply turn and run. The way back to your own room is a blur of shadows. It is only when you have closed your door, have turned the key in its lock, that your legs turn to water and you sink to the carpet, your breath coming in uneven, painful gasps.

He has never threatened you before. You never thought he would.

Now the only sound you hear is the cracking of your heart as it splinters into a thousand tiny pieces.

The next day, when the door to your world opens, you walk through it.

He is not there to say goodbye.

Epilogue:  21st century London

The vintage bookstore is a popular one. Some people are milling about the coffee bar, deciding how they want their caffeine intake today. A handful of children are sitting on large, oversized bean bags, excitedly flipping through colorful books. There is a low buzz of people’s talking, an undercurrent of appreciation for stories and writing and reading that he is happy to be around. He is somewhere between the New Releases and Staff Favourites bookshelves, thumbing his way through a copy of “Love in the Time of Cholera”, when the small bell above the bookstore chimes, announcing another patron exiting or entering. He still doesn’t know what exactly caused him to lift his gaze from the page. Perhaps the hand of Fate caught his chin and pulled. 

He is not prepared for the sight of you. He has not seen you in over one hundred and thirty years. But now, as if by magic, there you are. For the first time in a century his heart leaps with emotion, hurriedly and haphazardly clearing away the cobwebs of loneliness that had settled there, delicate yet incessant. He steps behind the bookshelf, forcing his eyes closed. They want nothing more than to drink in the sight of you, an oasis in the desert of desolation he himself had created when he pushed you away that nightmarish evening.

The one where he had made the decision that he would not destroy your dreams by selfishly keeping you all for himself, robbing you of the chance to build the life you imagined for yourself.

So he did what he deemed necessary to make you leave.

You had stepped through the door that led back, your heart broken. And he had been the one swinging the hammer.

Time is a merciless teacher. Its harshest lessons were taught in the black heart of night, that gaping pit of time when no one could hear the rattling sound of his remorse, the anguished cries of regret. It was then, before the relief of morning’s pale light, that he understood what he had done. While he had, at the time, seen his intentions as noble, all he had truly accomplished was to destroy the chance at happiness you had been so freely and adamantly offering him. 

He breathes out slowly.

He has been given a chance. A gift. He must not squander it.

His golden eyes open and he peers around the bookshelf. You look the way he remembers. A bit older, maybe, but it's the same face that has visited his dreams countless times, the one he has kissed every angle of and traced with devout fingertips. 

The cold of a London winter has left your cheeks tinged pink, your hair dotted with tiny snowflakes that are slowly melting, glistening even in the book store’s artificial light. You look enchanting, like a fairy tale character from one of the children’s books on display. 

A knot has formed in his throat and he swallows against it, trying to ignore the twisting of his stomach and the roaring of his heartbeat. Leonardo da Vinci, for the first time in centuries, is nervous.

He’s about to step forward, to say the name that hasn’t crossed his lips in ages except for anguished whispers in his sleep, when something brushes past him, lightly bumping into his leg, and then haphazardly carrying on, barreling forward towards its destination.

“Mummy!!”

You turn and your face is alight, as bright and warm as summer. Dropping down, you open your arms and catch the cannonball of a little girl, pulling her close to you.

A man with a sleeping baby strapped to his chest brushes past Leonardo, offering a polite “Pardon me” before he stops in front of you, his shoulders dropping in relief.

“I’m sorry, darling. She saw you and took off like a shot.” He sounds slightly exasperated as he approaches you and his wayward daughter who has now thrown her small arms around your neck.

She has your soft auburn hair and bright, intelligent eyes. 

Leonardo’s heart is quietly crumbling in his chest.

You stand, lifting the little girl up along with you, much to her delight. “Did you find a book for the plane ride, Cara?”

This is what he wanted for you. So why does it hurt so much?

She nods, brushing her hair away from her face enthusiastically. “Yes!” She turns. “Show her, Daddy.” Your husband smiles, his warm golden-brown eyes softening at the sight of you two. One hand absently pats the soft baby carrier and its sleeping passenger while the other holds out the book. Your daughter reaches over, taking it.

Your husband looks a bit like him. Same brown hair, same golden eyes. Leo’s heart continues to break.

“Oh, a children’s guide to the most famous paintings in the world. What a good choice.” You slowly set her down and she reaches for your hand. 

“It has all the best ones in it, Mummy. Including your very favorite, the Mona Lisa!”

There is now nothing but dust.

You smile, running a hand over her hair. “I can’t wait to look at it with you.” 

As you wait in line to pay for the book, the small bell above the bookstore chimes, announcing another patron exiting or entering. You don’t know why you glance up toward the door. There’s nothing to see except the receding figure of a man in a long brown duster as he crosses the street, arm raised to hail a taxi.

Your gaze lingers, inexplicably drawn to him, until your daughter tugs on your hand. 

“Mummy?”

Jolted back to the present, you shake your head to clear the strange, momentary fog, offering the woman at the register an apologetic smile.

“I’m sorry. How much for the book?”

Tagging: @aquagirl1978 @alixennial @alexxavicry @queengiuliettafirstlady @rhodolitesrose @ikemen-writer @bellerose-arcana @thewitchofbooks @redheadkittys @dear-mrs-otome @firestar-otomeobsessed @curious-skybunny @kpop-and-otome @writingwhimsey @mxrmaid-poet @silver-dahlia @wendolrea @otomefoxystar @nightfoxqueen @myonlyjknight @kissmetwicekissmedeadly

Portrait of a Gentleman in disguise

Portrait of a gentleman in disguise

Fandom: Ikemen Prince

Pairing: Clavis x MC

Prompt: 14 - Masks

Part of  Fall Fluff / Autumn Angst Content Creator Challenge hosted by @aquagirl1978 and @violettduchess

Tag: Hurt Comfort Disguise Fluff

Word Count: 4.076

Author’s Note: A smile can hide more than what anyone could think, a disguise for a man who used to wear a mask to conceal his true self unbeknowst to anyone, an impenetrable armour he buit around his heart to keep his weakness away from prying eyes of anyone else but her, only capable to see through his layers straight into his core discovering a man whose genius went unknwon to many, ready to stick up to her belief never giving up to know him for real, finidng in the meanwhile a love worthy all the trials they faced together, becasue when the Leopard realize she is the one his heart desire he would stop to nothing to keep her safe and ensure her happiness with him against all odds, defeating everyone that dared to question his decision with the temper a true King is made of. 😉

Tag list

@kissmetwicekissmedeadly @lordsisterxotome @rhodolitesrose @aquagirl1978 @violettduchess @atelieredux @klutzyroses @randonauticrap @scorchieart @thewitchofbooks

You can find me on AO3 as QueenJuliet 😊

Thank you for everyone who will like, reblog, or comment please be gentle with me english is not my first language so please do not leave rude comments I apologise for eventual errors I hope you will like it 😊

Kingdom of abundance, the sun ever present in the sky as all the people smiled happily doing their chores, the atmosphere bright and light as in few other nations, talking amiably about the royals making the reign this way, few exception to that rule but not strong enough to overthrow the government, much to the delight of the royals living in the palace.

She still remembered his words, spoke in such tender tone coupled with the alluring gaze in his bright amber eyes making her heart beat faster as she locked her gaze with him unable and unwilling to look away all through the ride, smiling softly at the memory of his kindness, his silly antics and soft words enough to reassure her all through the way to that weird ball she was invited in, his presence strangely comforting making her feel safe despite what everyone said of him.

A smile to wear as an armour to conceive doubts fears and emotions behind a quiet still facade for anyone to look at, what a better advice from someone who used to learn how to hide his true self from everyone else all the while showing them a mask and nothing more, a spectacles all their to see letting them talk about him, his mischief catching more notice than his accomplishment ever did and so he continued for no one really knew what he would have done to be noticed be it for once, be it for a despicable reason even if this meant putting a lid on his true self never really sharing anything with his brothers, who by the way considered him no more than a prankster, not really paying attention to the small child screaming for attention with his whimsical tricks.

His mask stayed on with him, with everyone not faltering once, not even in front of Gilbert face, yet something swept in to change that when she among all people was appointed to chose the King and brought to the palace, playful by nature and with the amazing capability of understanding people she saw right through him from the start challenging him as much as she challenged her both of them determined to be the winner of that peculiar game they loved to play in order to discover more about one another.

“How do you see yourself as King ?”

His smile stay unmoved on his lips, a playful answer on the tip of his tongue but spoke with so much certainty she would have not hesitate to take it as honest if she did not knew better than to read between the lines of his overflowing confidence, a cover for insecurities too deep rooted in his core to be ignored shameful weakness he had to protect at very cost to avoid painful comparisons too harsh for his already wounded heart.

“The best King Rhodolite could ever have. I will make it a bright nation allied with everyone and enemy to none, improving each facet of culture. No one could do anything but love and acclaim me as the most wonderful King this country has ever seen in his whole history.”

A polite smile on her lips she thanked him for the answer, dwelling on his every words as she get through the day, thinking about every surface of that crafted lie told her, even though she was believed in every single words he spoke she saw as clear as the day he did, probably considering the scenery of him becoming King no more than wishful thinking, much to her dismay, sure his place would have been taken by a much more capable man than him, a genius prepared to take this place longer than he had, even though in her opinion there was no better man than him to begin with, compassionate and empathetic enough to love and be loved by all his people for his crafting nature and clever mind who soon will have gained the envy and admiration of the the nearby nations.

The idea of giving up on him far from her mind as she kept eating the food he so carefully prepared only for her, the mere idea of all the effort he went through to prepare it melted her heart keeping her warm during that frizzy autumn morning spent in the garden, leisurely spent chit chatting with the princes, ignoring their astounded gaze as she happily gnawed on strange looking biscuit widening her knowledge with seemingly random question she used to know their personality before switching to more deep question, absorbing every words spoken studying every body gestures coming from them all to know which one would have be the right one to sit on the throne.

Aware of his forlorn expression in his eyes when she ignored him for too long, feeling him shift unperceivable closer to her hearing him interrupt her question with casual question she almost could mistake for silly attempt to be under the spotlight, but she knew better than to be this fool to not see the bright glimpse of mirth flickering in his eyes as she gave him the attention he desired, not bothered in the slightest she gifted him that pure and candid smile he adored as she carefully took one of his bonbons, savouring it to the fullest shooting him a grateful breezy gaze before shifting her attention back to the princes, bidding them goodbye as the leave for the day she continued mindlessly to eat idly chit chatting with him, taking him aback with intense questions he strangely did not expected.

“Why do you hate Chevalier ?”

His smile faltered for a mere second, a glimpse of displeasure flickered in his amber eyes before he could conceal it, to collect his thoughts and put a lid on the his true self she had not so casually attempted to discover he closed his eyes briefly, adjusting the mask over his scars before he reopened them again, his gaze locked on hers with his usual smile back in place impenetrable and still as ever, but she dared to say that day was to be considered a success, for she managed, be it for a fleeting moment, to have caught something deeper hiding below the surface of the breezy fun loving trickster he presented himself to be, something he did not wanted anyone to see, desiring to conceal what he saw as weakness behind a smile all that to feel an equal to him, this thought alone make her heart clench painfully for him, her smile softened on her lips as she gazed at him, admiring how gorgeous he was bathing in the first light of the morning sun, wondering how someone so clever as him could not even see his own value, like she did from their first meeting as clear as day.

“He is the only thing standing between me and the throne. If I get rid of him it will be easy for me to be crowned in his place. I doubt someone desires for him to be the monarch but there is nothing it can be done if you chose him, so it would not really matter if he ends up being the King or not.”

“But for you it will.”

in his golden eyes a glimmer of dazzle, he looked intensely at her wondering what kind of spell did she casted on him to be able to see through his mask he so carefully crafted for this to be avoided, counting her in as one of the few person capable of seeing past it straight to his core, every word and gesture of hers speaking of affection and concern piercing in his heart a bit more each day, leaving him in awe not daring but begging for more needing craving it with every fibre of his being, things she never failed to give, before he knew it he was already so madly in love with her to not know what to do with himself, yearning more than he ever did in his life for him to be enough to let her stay. 

How she managed to see through him so clearly was still a mystery for him, though he had secrets to keep and a facade to maintain, despite what she would have discovered he had to make the show go on, to play the part of the funny gentleman, hoping … he did not even know what he hoped for anymore, a part of him desired her to see his true self to see his flaws his weakness and love him all the same deciding to stay against all odds while another part desired for her to go away, to settle in with someone better than a mediocre loser like him, someone who could have made her happy genuinely happy without all that issue he had, desiring for her happiness at the cost of his own was the first and definitive sign he really was madly in love in with her and there was no going back, feeling his heart beat faster at each gentle smile offered to him and him alone, fluttering with affection at each word of affirmation fleeing from her lips in her soft sweet voice that never failed to mesmerize him lost in his own reveries fruit of her magic love spell she casted on him.

He shook his head, enough to collect his thoughts speaking again, hiding behind a smile how her words hit the target of his own insecurities forcing a miniscule crack on his flawless mask letting her see a glimpse of what laid behind for a second enough to make him worry about her true intention, not able to craft any lie enough strong to cover his distaste for him he changed the subject making the unaware people of the kingdom star of his show, object of his words she surely would have seen through but he had nothing better to offer in the place of a lie that would have sounded far too shallow and fake for such an observative clever girl like her. 

“However I do not think he will manage to make people happy, that is, he is too heartless to satisfy their desires, moreover his obsession to save the kingdom at all cost already alienated him the sympathy of several persons for this I can not imagine how he will end up if he becomes King for real.”

She nodded politely, thanking him for the wonderful food he cooked going on with her day as usual, busing herself all afternoon writing down her recent discoveries, finding much to her surprise the great part of her notebook filled with information and thoughts about a certain hellcat everyone wanted her to avoid, she should have steer clear away from him but ever the contrarian she did the opposite guided by her everlasting curiosity, proving everyone she genuinely enjoyed to spent time in his company, taking any chance she could to discover more about that strange but gentle man who intrigued her to no end far more than all the others combined, worthy to have catched her attention all to himself for once.

Strange emotions wavering in her heart each time he flirted with her, Oh so cruel playfulness of his making her heart flutter and waver with every smile he so casually gifted her, revelling in that little, intimate touch of his fingers as he combed through her hair adjusting a rebel lock behind her ear looking at her with such a soft expression she was unable to do anything but lock her gaze to his admiring the way his amber eyes shone and flickered in the warm light of the setting sun, feeling bold strokes of red brush colouring her cheeks as he gallantly took her hand in his leaving a single feather like kiss on her knuckles, leaving her desiring for more, craving his touch his calloused hands on her skin, caressing her with reverence each kiss speaking of inherent devotion and heartwarming affection waiting for her as reward for her effort to see through him, to spend time actually understanding who he really was instead of dismissing him as a mere hellcat as everyone did, even his brothers, wishing to see his smile genuine and pure gifted to her and her alone, yearning to hear his laugh resonated still and clear the air letting the breeze carry that mirthful breezy sound all over the garden sliding unnoticed among the palace walls, filling her heart with love. 

“Do you love me for real ?” 

His smile faltered for the first time in a whole month, enough to let her see clearly through the crack on his mask before he could manage to dissimulate it feebly by taking her hands in his, brushing his lips over her knuckles lingering a bit longer on her ring finger, a promise and a wish she yearned for it to become true as her heart beat loudly in her chest in his alluring gaze, his eyes shining like molten golden in the warm light of the sunset while a bit more crooked yet honest smile appeared on his lips while his thumbs brushed over her hands still cradled in his warmer ones, affection seeping through that little gestures surpassing the soft yet stiff fabric of his gloves only obstacle depriving them from the intimacy of that act, faking a distance they both chose to close day by day getting to know one another despite interdictions and advices they ignored blatantly, their hearts tied with the red string of love growing tighter at each moments shared together.

His voice a low seductive murmur as he spoke gazing straight into her gleaming eyes to convey all the feeling he keep bottle up into his heart only for her, no words nor gestures enough to show the depth of the love and devotion he held for her but still he would have never give up crafting each and every day new ways to show his true feelings to the only woman that ever loved him not giving up to any of the whimsical test he invented to make sure his trust was well placed enrapturing him with how strongly she clinged to her belief remaining true to her heart against all odds.

“Of course I do  my little rabbit. How could I do anything but ?” gently he lift his fingers to brush over her cheek his touch strangely sensual as he slide his thumb across her cheeks, his eyes welled up with affection with an edge of playfulness as his feather like touch brushed over her lips 

“How can you doubt it ?” a glimpse of sadness flickered in his amber eyes as a forlorn smile curled his lips at the thought he was so useless and inept to have been incapable even to show her properly his love, he not so secretly harbored for her since the first day he meet her in town, growing fondly each day since that first breakfast party where she beamed excitedly at his homemade meals gnawing happily on a pink cupcake that in his eyes should have looked like a rabbit yet in the eyes of everyone else was anything but, expect in hers she was special like him in that moment he had the first of many proof she was the one he was looking for the only one who could understood and love him for who he really was.

"You are gorgeous and kind, clever and gentle, you have so many talents please trust me." it was the truth he really did think all he said along so many more thing he was way too shy to speak of for fear of looking weak and vulnerable in front of her eyes, freezed by the terror to see her run away after facing his true self, far away from being strong and mighty like his brother would have had but he cared little for in that moment she was the only thing that mattered in the whole world for him, more than anything and anyone has ever had, the only girl who decided to stick up with him long enough to see past his mask straight into his heart.

“Do you love me ?”

it was her turn to blush refusing to let him know the honesty on her heart for fear of being mocked, yet her trust in him could not be ignored fearing to hurt his feeling and so she nodded shyly her gaze locked on her fingers still laced with his slowly she raised her eyes to look at him with a sheepish smile on her lips only to be taken aback from what she saw, his composure she believed nothing could scratch was nowhere to be seen, his golden eyes misty moved by her honesty as a crooked yet gentle smile curled his lips, this was his true form, without filters his mask shattered to the ground its pieces mixed with hers, fallen immediately after his, and in that moment she sweared he never was more beautiful. 

Her smile gentle as she managed all her courage to stare at him in his eyes, for her love was too strong to be left misunderstood from him, too important was for her for him to understand to see her love even at the cost of mockery she had to show him, she owed him that to the only man who managed to gain her trust cherishing and encouraging her with words of gestures any time she felt down, hesitantly she leaned her face on his her lips trembling  lightly as she leaves a soft kiss on his cheeks.

His voice low and tender as he spoke, his hands squeezing hers tightly trembling unperceivably as he bare his heart to her

“I love you my sweet little rabbit.” her smile bright and warmth enough to put the sun itself to shame melting fear and doubts leaving his golden heart on display only for her to see

“I love you too my leopard.” his heart swelling with love and pride at that soft nickname she crafted only for him, the first to actually acknowledge his worth first to compare him with his royal animal far more noble than an hellcat everyone called him by.

Her sweet voice clear resonated in his heart placating his demons for a while, her eyes faltering not even for a second as she spoke to him of things too long kept as secrets into her, far from feeling bold enough to confess until now.

“You are the most amazing man I have ever met. You are such a kind, clever, sweet, playful, caring prince I doubt nothing you would be an amazing King the best Rhodolite has ever seen.” 

Taken aback hearing his same words quoted back at him he stared at her in disbelief, meeting her eyes gleaming in the dim light of the garden as she continued unbothered, determined to make him understand how much she loved him, not shying away from telling him every single thing she thought about him 

“Please trust me “

a troubled smile appeared on his lips looking back at her as her thumbs brushed over his gloves, his eyes locked on her for a moment she thought he may have burst out laughing at his naivete, laughing at her, it would have hurted more than what she could have ever said but she had to do this she had to prove him her love for his trust was at stakes if she give up now, betraying a whole month of confidence and secret they shared together after collecting enough to open up to another person she knew how hurtful her shyness could have costed him in that moment leaving him alone amidst the ocean of insecurities hidden behind his smile, her fingers reached to cup his face brushing her thumb over his cheeks feeling a single tear wet her fingers as he looked straight at her, he gulped uneasily at lack of words for once as his voice resonated in the air in a soft shy murmur 

“Do you really think that … of me ?”

she answered promptly as if it was already on the tip of her tongue waiting for her to speak a truth too long forgotten

“Yes.” gently she smiled at him squeezing his hands in hers hearing the note of sadness in his voice as he continued 

“Do you really think I am better … than him?” she giggled softly nodding all the while before looking back into his eyes, the smoldering warmth of her smile spreading in his whole body filling his heart with so much happiness he did not know what to do with himself

“Far better Clavis.” her gaze dripping with honesty as she proudly beamed

“You are and always will be the best.” a soft sigh escaped his lips, the coked sob of an insecure child mistreat and frowned upon since ever compared to his brother a lone star shining bright in the sky of their Kingdom made to be King, if not for that girl who first believe in him with all herself in an instant all that seeker of reconnaissance gone replaced by the approval he wanted to have from her and her alone. 

“Please do not doubt your value Clavis because I do not. You are so talented and empathic, a genius of your own believe me, you are incomparable to him because you have something he did not use.” he look quizzed as her finger reached for him placing her palm on his chest looking straight into his eyes, their heart beating in sync like ones as her words resonated in the air shattering years of loneliness and insecurities with her love 

“Your heart.” she cupped his face with both her hands murmuring few inches from his lips 

“I beg you do not change ever.” a surge of emotions impossible to contain pushed him to slide closer to her, cupping her face melting his lips on hers in a sweet slow kiss to convey all the love he felt for her, feeling her fingers curl on his shirt to steady herself amidst the wave of emotion washing over them.

Reluctantly he pulled away smiling tenderly at her before leaving an achingly soft kiss on his forehead, a promise he would have clinged to with all his being to protect her at every cost, ready to face the brutal beast himself head on if he dared to lay even a single finger on her, a gruesome duel worth to look at if he dared to wound her either with his sword or his tongue, smiling happily they run through the garden, finding the doors of the palace closed they chosen to change their plans dancing amidst the rain laughing carefreely like children, until they were completely soaked running through the palace halls ignoring the astounded gazes of the servants and indignant voices of his brothers complaining about things that had no idea about, huddling safely in her room not after a brief visit to his where she gathered a change of clothes for him, spending all night chit chatting of this and that, excited to know everything about one another staying up until dawn when they finally drifted asleep together their finger laced to one another so tightly to make impossible for him to leave her side, thing he resigned himself to not wake her basking in her gorgeous blissful expression he meet once more in his own dreams, thanking all the universe for that whimsical kind girl he was lucky to call his lover more than ready to spent all the eternity by her side doing everything he could to make her happy taking the moon and the sun itselves only to make her smile, knowing no boundaries for the things he would have done for her, their love something he never dared dream of but secretly yearned for, apple of his eyes he devoted his life to, only one capable of believing in himself even when he did not, of cherishing an hellcat everyone considered a bother, to make him smile when he finds the hardest to, to make him trust in his capabilities with her unwavering confidence in him and for this there was nothing in the whole universe he would have not done for her in the name of love.

Right Here | AO3

Characters: Clavis Lelouch x F!Reader

Genre: Romance, Fluff

Summary: A snowy night full of schemes and surprises. If you can stay awake, that is.

Word Count: 1.3k

A/N: My belated entry for @xxsycamore & @voltage-vixen's 'Tis the Season for Love CCC. My excuse for being late? I slept more hours the previous night than I did the past 4 combined. I still wanted to write something for this, even if it won't be counted ^^

Prompt: Sipping hot chocolate and then stealing a kiss

“Up… up… get up…”

The misty voice flitted in and out of consciousness, light and airy, as you battled between obeying or ignoring. While it called to action, it was also mellow and comforting, filled with solace alluring that lulled you back to dreamland no matter the words it formed, as you were more than willing to oblige.

It is most unfortunate that the voice was corporeal.

“Hey, I said get up!”

The downy comforter ripped away in an instant, ridding away with it the cocoon of heat you’d engulfed yourself in all night. Now gone, you feebly wrapped your arms around your form and brought your knees to your chest, squeezing your eyes even tighter as though it would banish the brittle cold.

For a moment, it actually seemed to be working. A gentle warmth sprouted from your arms through your chest and up to your face. You could see flutters of movement from behind your eyelids, and you opened them one at a time, blinking heavily to parse through the darkness. 

The first thing you noticed was that you were now sitting up. The second was the thick woolen sweater hanging over your neck and still-entangled arms, as though it had been forcibly thrust over your head. The third thing you saw, somehow after the other two, was Clavis’s beaming face inches away from your nose.

“Aha, at last! Hurry now, it’s just started!” he said. Leaping off the bed, he tossed you a pair of matching wooly socks and crossed to the door at the other end of the room. Curiosity powered through the grogginess, and you managed to wrestle the sweater correctly through your arms and slip on the socks before following him. 

Still unadjusted to the darkness, the short bursts of midnight blue seeping in through the high windows and Clavis’s repeated chirps of “Hurry, hurry!” played your guides down the hall. More than once you walked straight into a wall column or snagged your sock on the rug, but the increasing giddiness in Clavis’s voice kept you advancing. 

“Not your best time,” he said when you finally caught up with him. He stood atop a staircase, tapping his foot as you shuffled up the last few steps.

“If you’d told me where we’re going, I’d have made it faster,” you panted, clutching the stitch in your side. The midnight excursion took you to the opposite wing of the palace. The fact that you even made it all the way here without a torch and just out of bed surprised yourself, at least. “What time is it?”

“The time when the stodgy dream and visionaries scheme.”

“Did you just call me stodgy?”

“I have said nothing of the sort. I am only guilty of opening your eyes.” His face broke out in a conniving grin as he extended his arm. “Feel free to pass judgment after I’ve shown you.”

Even though you both knew you would accept in a heartbeat, you still allowed a few moments to pass before resting your hand over his. Your own version of a punishment, you thought, and the sight of his handsome features resting contentedly as he squeezed your fingers told you he understood.

“Right here, now,” he whispered, leading to a grand doorway and pushing through with his free arm. The ancient door scraped heavily across the uneven floor, but Clavis never lifted his eyes from yours as he heaved it open, gliding you both through when it was at last wide enough. The room itself was unremarkable, with thick sheets of dust coating heaps of forgotten furniture, peeling wallpaper and dust bunnies the size of actual bunnies limply trotting along as you passed, and a broken antique chandelier swaying ominously from above. But what immediately caught your attention was the enormous window that took up the entirety of the far wall and the glittering snowfall peering through, casting dancing shadows through the dusty air.

“Oh, Clavis…” you began, but were immediately cut off as he pulled you farther into the room. Arranged in a small section at the foot of the window, which you noticed had been methodically scrubbed clean, were two puffy chintz cushions and a large tea tray laden with various overflowing bowls and two large mugs covered with saucers. He quickly sat you down on one of the cushions, pressed a mug into your hands, and offered a bowl of what looked like tiny brown marbles.

“Chocolate-covered cherries?” he said, popping one in his mouth. “Sweet and sour, like my schemes. Or perhaps a chocolate almond — those have a nice crunch. And chocolate-filled dates just melt in your mouth…”

He was speaking in fast succession, lining bowls from the tray in neat rows in front of you. You wondered how he got the idea of covering things in chocolate, and soon felt a sinking sensation in your stomach.

“Clavis, you didn’t accidentally flood the kitchen in chocolate, did you?” 

Clavis blew a small raspberry, sat back in his cushion, and uncovered his own mug. “Preposterous. As if my genius creations could be the result of mere accident.” But you noticed how his gaze trailed out the window as he took a swig. “Try one, won’t you? Or at least warm up with the hot chocolate. Your hands are freezing.”

You kept your eyes on him as you plucked a treat from one of the bowls and bit into it. A gush of sweetness spread across your lips and you found yourself smiling unconsciously at the strawberry that peeked through the chocolate border. The same sweetness you felt as you continued to stare at him and how the snow reflected in his golden eyes. 

The room was still very cold, but your heart swelled at the sight. The cup was warm in your fingers. The hot chocolate scalding on your tongue.

“It’s cold,” you said.

Clavis’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Impossible, I just poured it. Here, switch with me.”

You giggled, inching your cushion until your elbows were touching. “Not the drink.” 

You could feel his arm tense even through the thick fabric of the sweater, but he had turned back to look out the window. “Sneaky girl,” he muttered as he raised his mug again. You set your own mug down and wrapped your hands around his left arm, gently prodding it into your lap as you too stared outside.

The snow descended in massive clumps, swirling and swerving in a hypnotic trance as a howling wind whipped across your view. Sometimes the movements were uniform, like watching paint dribble down a navy canvas, only for the scene to  jumble and shake as though the entire paint can splattered onto the window. You figured you must be up in one of the highest turrets as the misty fog was so dense you could not make out the palace grounds. Your only guess to how much had accumulated were the ever-growing lumps of pure-white piling softly on the windowsill. You threaded your fingers through Clavis’s, twiddling the silver band on his finger. He rested his cheek atop your head. Would this be how the years together would pile up in turn, you wondered.

Visionaries scheming echoed through your mind. Every day that passed by at his side, the term felt less like a threat and more a promise.

“Elysian,” you said, running your thumb across his freezing knuckles. Even after that previous sip, your mouth felt just as cold.

“I agree,” he breathed into your scalp. “A sight like this only happens once a decade, I’d wager.”

“No, you’re not seeing what I can.”

He lifted his head and leaned forward. “What, where? How can you see anythi—”

It was like kissing a block of ice. A blotch of chocolate lingered on his cheek as you slowly pulled back, and Clavis’s face morphed from frosty pink to ghost white before finally blooming into the most brilliant red as he blankly stared back. A sight, you wagered, once in a lifetime.

“Right here,” you said with a smile.

With this, I think I've reached my romance quota for the year.

Tagging:@atelieredux @queengiuliettafirstlady @violettduchess @venulus @thewitchofbooks @leonscape @rhodolitesrose @venti-tangents

If you would like to be added or removed from my tag list, please send me an ask or a message.

Blog Update!

Hello friends! Nice to talk to you again. I hope you have all been having a safe and healthy year!

This will be a quick update of things coming up on the blog. I apologize I haven't been as active in the past few weeks, I have been feeling rather off-color, but plotting this roadmap is giving me a clear goal to work towards moving ahead.

2 New Stories

Some of you may recall I teased 2 multi-chaptered fics back in September. I'm happy to announce that they are now each fully plotted and raring to go! They just need to be written. I have posted the chapter lists for them if you'd like to catch a sneak peek!

First of Many ◆◆ Three's a Crowd

They have each been a long time coming, and I worried that they would be too similar as they both focus on the same characters (Jin, Chevalier, and Clavis), but I wanted to deliver on the results of the polling I did last year. I hope you'll all look forward to them! The first chapters are being written now!

Tag List

I will be mostly focusing on those two fics in the coming months, however I do have some shorter one-shots in the works as well. I understand multi-chaptered fics aren't everyone's cup of tea, so if you would like to be removed from my tag list, please feel free to leave me a comment here or via DM.

Alternatively, if you'd like to be added on the adventure, also send me a comment here or via DM, and welcome aboard!

Requests

September was also when I last opened my ask box to fic requests. As a thank you to all the kindness and support you have shown me, I will be opening requests again for a small writing event next week.

I'll be posting details on this soon, so keep an eye out if you're interested!

That's all for now. Best wishes for all your future endeavors and I hope you all have a lovely rest of the day!

Keep rocking on!

- Scorchie