Jules

Eris hasn’t been himself since you left him 6 years ago

You had big dreams of going to college and making something of yourself, dreams you’d only whisper to him under the soft glow of your phone flashlight under pillow forts

He lost touch with you sometime during college, you left him behind to inherent his family’s business and you barely came back to visit after graduating college

He still follows you on all of your socials and he’ll be the first person to like all of your drunken, blurry shenanigans, all of your coastal pictures with bright waves and sunshine, all of your new friends and new boyfriends

Sometimes he feels like he doesn’t even recognize the person you’ve become when scrolling through your profiles, remembering how you said you hated snow and yet he sees you in ski gear, or how you were one for a small, close knit group and yet you posted a picture from a large friend group a bright side smile on your face

You’re unrecognizable in your pictures yet you look like you haven’t changed at all, your smile is still so wide your cheeks must hurt, and you still wear those dirty now-brown white converse and that vintage band t-shirt, your hair is still messy and you still make that goofy face in almost every photo; eyes crossed and cheeks puffed out

It’s easy to tell that he regrets not leaving with you

It’s not like you didn’t offer, in fact you almost begged him

He remembers that day in vivid detail, right down to the shadows dancing in your eyes, begging him to ditch his no good family behind and start over

“Come with me” you had whispered, his hands on your waist, you were watching him so intently and he wanted nothing than to run away with you, but deep down he knew he couldn’t just leave

He couldn’t leave his brothers even if they were beyond help at this point and he couldn’t do that to his mother, leave with no explanation

So when you were biting your lip, making promises of how it’s you and him against the world, of never looking back and headed towards a bigger and brighter future, he found himself taking a step away from you

The next morning, he wanted to call you, to drive over, to beg to take it all back, he’d go anywhere with you if you’d let him. But he didn’t know what to say, so instead he kept silent

If someone were to ask him about that night, how you left soon after, he’d say he didn’t regret it but the truth was that he did. He regretted it deeply, but the truth was that he didn’t let himself feel the regret

It was too late for him to do anything about it anyway

He hated seeing your face when he said he couldn’t go with you, how he said he had to stay here, and you both knew it was an empty promise that you two would stay in touch, make long distance work

Long distance didn’t last long, he didn’t even drive you up to college like he promised he would

He couldn’t say goodbye to you, he didn’t know how to say goodbye

So he sent a text to you the morning of, knowing you’d be packing up your blue Toyota, a quick ‘drive safe. I’ll miss you. See you soon’

Sometimes, after he’s had a few and feeling like talking a walk down memory lane he’ll pull up the text conversation between you and him. That morning he could feel the anger and hurt through the simple ‘thanks.’

To your credit, you tried to do the long distance, tried the phone calls and text messages but Eris had already let you go at that point, and when you had texted ‘coming home for thanksgiving. want to do something?’ He didn’t even let himself feel happiness at the prospect of seeing you again, he didn’t even answer

By that point he has forced himself to move on with some girl who’s father his own father was close to, and so when you stumbled into him while grocery shopping, he watched your face harden and your eyes turn to ice

He could tell how much you hated him, and that was the end of it, maybe before that but when asked when it was officially over, he’d point to that moment

He never heard from you ever again

And like those months before, he felt like he should’ve reached out to you, to apologize and take everything back

But like before, he didn’t know how, didn’t know what to say, so he left it go

So now he does what he has to do, he learns the family business, prepares to take over the business and watches you from a distance

He isn’t himself, his father and brothers may not notice as much, but his mother can see and can see the hurt and sadness he carries with him

He drives around at night, through the surrounding town and areas, reliving every aspect of your relationship, of happier and simpler times, back when he drive a 10-year old Chevy and you liked blasting the radio way too loud

He doesn’t let himself hope for a happy ending with you, he knows that time has passed, but he hopes that you are happy, he hopes that with every one of his likes on your photos and with every unsent text message he types out to you

He knows he won’t be happy without you, but he hopes you are, because you deserve to be happy, even if you can’t be that with him, here

Knows it’s too late, no matter what his mother might try to tell him, telling him he’ll regret it all if he doesn’t at least try

He hasn’t had the words for 6 years and he’s unsure if he’ll ever find them

But if he ever does, if he ever lets himself be somewhat hopeful, he knows you’ll be the first person he’ll text

Eris first date head canons

You and Eris met back at freshman orientation, and even back then when you barely knew him you wanted to smack that smirk right off his face

Not much has changed since then, maybe getting to know how much of a jerk he actually is once you got to know him

You and him had the same major, meaning he’s in most of your classes, meaning you and him have very similar classes, you can’t even get away from him you swear he’s everywhere

Eris enjoys the look of pure annoyance and frustration on your face whenever you see him in the library, or the dining hall, or walking into class right behind you

He likes seeing the glare you send his way whenever he plays devil’s advocate in class, tearing your point and argument to shreds and seeing your hand shoot right up after he’s made his point

Eris likes you, but he knows he has zero chance

Which is why he’s always around

Which is how he knew about your cheating boyfriend. He heard you whispering to your best friend about your ex in the library, you thought you were being quiet

Eris, sitting a respectable four desks down from you heard the entire play-by-play of how you learned your ex has been cheating on you for the last few months

He couldn’t help himself when he placed a piece of peanut butter candy on your usual seat in class the next day, he tucked his chin against his sweater to hide his smile when you let yourself smile seeing the candy

You didn’t question it, thinking it was from your friend, a literal sweet gesture

It seemed to go on from there, Eris hearing about your terrible days and him leaving candies on your seat.

Bad grade back? In a fight with your best friend from home? Feeling home sick? He’d find any and every excuse to leave you little candies on your seat

It went on for a few months before you even realized it wasn’t your friend who was leaving candies on your seat. You went to thank her for leaving an entire bag of sour gummy worms after you had a really bad midterm and she just looked at you, having no clue what you were even talking about

Eris knew he should probably stop with the candy, but you were finally able to look at him without looking like you wanted to kill him in class

So he continued

And now you were obsessed with finding out who your secret admirer was

You had theories, and sometimes you spent more time on that than your actual homework, but everyone needs a break every now and then

You never suspected Eris, because why would you?

Eris was content on never telling you, you two had a rocky start and he was fine with the distance between you two

He knew how much you despised him and how unlikely you and him were ever going ti happen

What he couldn’t stand, however was you thinking it was some other guy in the class

Cassian and how you were so sure it was him you told your friend it had to be him

He confessed to you it was him right after clsss that day, with the half empty family sized bag of candy he bought just to leave on your seat

And you stood there, open mouthed before confessing that you didn’t know what to say, so sure he was now doing this to mess with you because why would he do this for you

“Say you’ll go on a date with me” he shrugged, before even realizing what he even said to you

You almost laughed, because he just had to be messing with him

You surprised both you and him when you agreed to the date, Eris blinked once, nodded and then he left

He fucking left

That’s when you laughed

Eris texted you two hours later

He really spent the two hours figuring out what to even say to you

The date was for coffee, it was your idea because you could make a quick exit if needed to

He was early, he was really early because part of him didn’t think you’d show, but you did

You weren’t even sure you’d show up for the date

The few days leading up to the date you almost convinced yourself the conversation with Eris wasn’t real and didn’t happen

You read and reread the text conversation so many times over, you had it memorized. It helped with how short it was. It also helped that Eris was a terrible texter

Straight and to the point

Coffee Saturday at 12?

You took forever to respond, a simple yes which seemed to silly to have taken that much time. But now? You had convinced yourself his was a huge joke

And he was going to laugh, or stand you up which is why you decided to lug most of your books across campus and to the coffee shop. If you’re leaving the room, might as well be productive

But he was there, he had been for hours at that point, looking up every time someone walked in hoping it was you

He jumped up out of his seat when you walked in the door, knocking his textbook off the table

You held a hand over your mouth to stifle a little laugh at that, he was so completely different from his classroom persona, he even paid for your coffee

He was incredibly nervous, but so were you

You rambled a bit, but you didn’t even know what you were talking about because this felt so weird, coffee with a guy you spent a lot of time hating

But he sat there, patiently, listening to every word you said

He even offered to get you a second coffee, and then a third coffee

He walked you back to your dorm, carrying your backpack on his shoulder

You both stopped at the front of your dorm, your eyes wide as you looked at him, realizing he barely said a word the entire date

So unlike how he acted in the classroom

But Eris just shrugged, sliding your bag down his shoulder and holding it out to you before saying it was okay and that he didn’t mind, that he’ll just talk more the second date

Azriel never understood why you loved him, especially when everyone told you how bad he was for you, not that he minded though, you were his and he was going to keep you

You were a good person, a goody-two-shoes when Azriel first met you at the beginning of high school all those years ago

It ended with the two of you on the back of his motorcycle right after graduation, your white gown flowing in the wind behind you

Your parents definitely thought you were crazy for that one, Azriel remembered the whole fight that lasted for months

You didn’t regret it at all, you loved that summer when the two of you just drove

Finally stopping somewhere on the coast, it was a small town, you and Azriel got a tiny cramped apartment and you absolutely loved it

You got close with your two neighbors, Cassian and Rhys and they got along great with Azriel

He worked some odd jobs while you took night classes and waitressed, determined to make this work

Azriel always worried about your happiness, you got so stressed with classes and work and money and most days he felt everything was a huge mistake

He felt things slipping from his fingertips when you'd come home from classes, your bag dragging on the floor and you feel close to the point of tears some nights at how hard things got

You weren't sure when things got hard, but suddenly Azriel wasn't getting as many jobs as he used to, or school got harder, or your hours got cut again, you barely got a break anymore

Azriel got home late one night, after a night at some bar with Cass and Rhys. The two got Azriel drunk enough for him to start confessing all of his troubles to his two best friends, Azriel couldn't stop as he confessed his fears that you were ready to break things off with him and move back with your parents

Cass and Rhys shared a look over the top of Azriel's head, they never saw their friend in such distress

And so Azriel walked in the front door, ready for you to do your worse

But instead, you surprised him and you stayed, determined to make it work

Azriel headcanon

"You're back late" You whispered into the dark, cool dark shadows snaked around your body twisting in the sheets before you felt the bed dip behind you

Azriel softly sighed against your hair before placing a kiss to the top of your head, an apology "work" was the response you got, whispered into your hair as the shadows of his pulled you closer, tighter together

The shadows only lightened up a bit, just enough for you to wiggle between his arms to face the shadowsinger, his eyes were tired and he was fighting sleep just to spend a few minutes with you in the dark

You reached up, brushing your thumb along his cheek bones, clicking your tongue "You work too much"

Azriel adjusted himself, laying flat on his back, one of his hands dropped from your waist to the back of your knees to pull you on top of him

You watched him, chin on his chest as Azriel rubbed from your knee up to your hips, dragging his hand up and down, "I know" he tilted his head back to rest on the pillow before pinching your hips "All to keep you safe"

You pressed a kiss right over his heart, a silent thank you before pressing your ear to his chest, a silent thank you

Azriel squeezes your hips one last time before continuing his path earlier of down your leg and back up

Cassian head canons

For Cassian, summer meant one thing and one thing only- road trips.

He loved road trips, the summer he turned 16 he convinced his two brothers to squeeze into that beat up cherry red truck and just start driving the day after school let out

That lasted for only a few hours before their mother noticed them missing, but Cassian loved that adventure, windows down, music blaring, the open road. They did it every summer since

You had to learn to love and accept the road trips, you were the exact opposite of Cassian in almost every way. He was carefree and you were careful and guarded. He liked to go where life took him, and you planned out everything.

The first roadtrip you and Cassian went on was a challenge for you. You stood in your bedroom, clothes scattered around your room with an empty suitcase on your bed. "Cass, just please tell me a general location so I know what to pack." Cass had barely even looked up from his phone "No can do (y/n)"

You let out a huff as you looked at your boyfriend of almost a year "And why is that?" he shrugged "because I don't know where we're going, we're just going to see where the road takes us"

You hated that sentence, you blinked hoping Cass would peek up and laugh at your expression. He did no such thing

The next day you were sitting shotgun, and there was still no destination. You didn't like not knowing where you were headed, the first hour you hated the drive, by the second you wished Cassian would stop asking to pick a number exit to get off at, or which way to turn and to just pick a place; beach, woods, city, small town, something.

By the end of the first day you were ready to ask him to drive back home, that maybe this was something for him and his brothers but not you. It was only the end of the second day during sunset that Cassian pulled up next to some beach that you didn't hate it.

The windows were down, Cass had his hair tucked in a baseball hat that was backwards and your hair was in a messy knot at the top of your head. There was some country song playing on the radio.

Cassian asked you if you wanted to stop for the night, take a walk on the beach.

On that beach, you saw how happy this trip made Cass. You stayed a few days at the beach in a shitty motel room and hated the room but loved seeing Cass so happy.

So every year, you sucked it up for a few days just to see the smile on his face.

You still got annoyed that he couldn't pick a place, he claims that it took the magic out of it. It also drove you nuts how there was little to no warning about when you two would leave for the roadtrip. Sometimes his brothers would join, sometimes they wouldn't. It was very much thrown together and that drove you nuts how you had so little time to plan.

But this time, Cassian surprised you as he walked into the room you shared with him, carrying your suitcase. He placed it on the bed. "We're going to the beach"

That was all that he would tell you

You were confused as to why he suddenly told you where you were going but you still wanted more. What beach, how long, how much time do I have to pack

He was silent the entire drive, a ghost of a smile on his lips with the radio playing and you badgering him the entire time about what his plans were

You two got to the beach around sunset, Cassian looked over at you. "Walk on the beach?"

He was silent as you two walked on the beach, the tide coming to your ankles and he kept toying with your fingers as he held your hand before he finally tugged you to face him

He raked his fingers through his hair, breathing out a short breath and you were concerned. "You okay?"

Instead of answering your question he looked at you asking if you remember this beach and your first trip together, you snorted because how could you forget? You were dead set on hating the entire thing until you got to the beach. You nodded

Cassian produced a small box from his pocket, kneeling right in the water, "that's why I brought you here, to where it all started, promise me many more roadtrips and many more years? Marry me (y/n)?"

You had known Eris for as long as you could remember, being the daughter of one of the Autumn High Lord’s most trusted and closest adviser 

Which meant you saw a lot of Eris and his siblings even when you didn’t want to see them 

You watched Eris grow up too fast, he would kick your dolls when you were playing in his mother’s apple orchid or would tie your ribbons all in knots, once he placed your favorite book in the fireplace and tried to set it aflame, the only thing he managed to actually set on fire was his new orange tunic. 

You were confused as you watched your best friend turn into this cruel child, a copy of his father, but as you grew up you also understood. Most High Fae males in Autumn tend to be cruel and unkind, your father included 

However, your mother was gentle and soft, coming from the Summer court you always thought of her as a soft gentle summer breeze and found the beaches of Summer more of a home than the chilly Autumn mansion you spent most of the year at 

Your favorite childhood memories involved your summers in Summer, it was away from Autumn, away from the stranger who used to be your best friend and best of all it was always you and your mother. 

Your favorite memory was running barefoot in your Grandmother’s backyard trying to catch a firefly. Your laughter filling the air as you chased them, gently cupping your hand around the bug as it lite up and walking ever so slowly to show your mother and grandmother. “I caught one!” You’d open your hand slowly to expose the bug. The process would start again once the bug took off as soon as you opened your hands to show it off. 

You loved Summer, you were allowed to run barefoot in the grass and in the sand, your pockets full of seashells and your hair frizzy. 

Over the years it had become your safe haven, your escape for a few months you always spent summer in Summer and you always spent it without the Autumn males 

That was until this year, when the High Lord asked you during one of his formal dinners he held for his advisors if you would escort his eldest son to Summer on your vacation, something about minor court business and how the heir needed to learn how court politics worked if he were to be High Lord soon

There was a protest on the tip of your tongue but one look from your father and a gentle hand on your arm from your mother and a sympathetic look you swallowed the fight you so desperately wanted and gave a curt nod to your High Lord instead. “Of course, I would be honored to escort Lord Eris.” your eyes quickly flicked to Eris who had a smug smile on his face 

Eris didn’t need an escort to Summer and he told his father as such, but it was hard to turn down an escort when his father suggested you as the escort 

 He had missed you, had hated how things happened when you were both children, so when his father suggested you take him to Summer, Eris couldn’t turn it down, it was a chance for him to get his best friend back 

He had a whole plan, which started with him winnowing the both of you to Summer.

You were less than thrilled with that idea, your demeanor icier than the glaciers in Winter and as soon as your vacation house, your grandmother’s old house materialized in front of you, you pulled your hand from his throwing a curt “thank you” over your shoulder before marching into the house 

Eris followed you inside, he suddenly felt as if he had no clue who you were even though Eris knew everything there was to know about you. Even when his father tried to train him into a fit and proper lordling, something fit for his father he still kept his tabs on you. You were his best friend after all, even though he wasn’t much of a friend to you. 

He looked around the house, and was jealous of how much Summer suited you. You never seemed to fit in Autumn, you seemed happier just breathing in the salty air and had kicked off your shoes the second you got inside 

You felt his eyes on you, you only glanced over at him before walking out the back door. “What?”

Eris shook his head, quick to catch up, following you all the way down to the beach where you stood where the waves licked at your ankles and breathed in deeply. 

He wanted to apologize for everything, but he didn’t know how so instead he just stood by you, breathing in the air and closing his eyes, enjoying the breeze. 

He stood silently next to you for the longest time, Eris wasn’t sure how long you two just stood there, but finally you started walking down the beach, walking right where the water meets the sand and to your surprise Eris trailed behind you 

“You don’t have to join me, you know.” You said softly, the hem of your dress was wet against your legs where the waves splashed you and your hair kept whipping around your face. Eris shrugged, looking out over the sea. “I know.” He said quietly. “But I want to.” 

“Why?” You couldn’t help the question as it flew out of your mouth. You knew you should be embarrassed for talking to the heir like that, but you weren't. You couldn’t even make yourself feel embarrassed. 

Eris sighed through his nose shaking his head. “Making up for lost time, if its not too late?” His eyes looked into yours, hopeful you guessed and you tore away from his gaze, lifting your shoulder in a shrug.

“Maybe, maybe not.” You said, quick to continue walking, and Eris easily caught up. 

“It’s a long month.” You nodded your agreement, half hopeful he meant what he said, half hopeful that somehow things were able to be repaired between the two of you 

The Very First Night by Taylor Swift and Cassian head canons

Tacked to the bulletin board in Cassian’s room is a picture of the two of you, taken the very first night the two of you had met, at Mor’s annual Halloween Costume Party

You were dressed up as some fairy, an excuse to just wear a short dress, body glitter and cheap wings. You hated costume parties and Halloween but for Mor, you’d suffer through a few hours

Cassian on the other hand loved Halloween and went all out. That year he was a vampire.

Mor had been wanting to set the two of you up for such a long time, and that night she set a plan in motion. It involved a lot of drinks and stupid party games you haven’t played in ages like truth or dare and spin the bottle.

You’d friend had a mischievous glint in her warm brown eyes as she held up an empty liquor bottle “for old times sake?” She asked shaking the bottle in the air for emphasis and you shot her a look “aren’t we a bit too old for that?”

The answer was definitely yes but Mor wasn’t convinced

You can’t prove it but the game was somehow rigged because every time it was your turn, it somehow landed on Cassian

You did not mind that though, what you did mind though was the blurry photo Mor took of the two of you, sitting close together. Your head was thrown back in mid laughter and Cassian was shooting the camera a funny face. He pocketed the picture which now hung in his room

Where it still sat, mostly covered by various papers and other photos half covered and it hurts to look at that blurry photo but he can’t bring himself to take it down

He’s tried, many times

Once, Rhys tried “you’re just torturing yourself here Cass” he tried to reason, as Cassian smoothed out the wrinkle down the middle of the photo

He knew Rhys was right and knew the photo should be tossed, he just couldn’t bring himself to toss it and he couldn’t bear the thought of someone else doing it

You two had a whirlwind romance it felt like. Suddenly the two of you were inseparable

Wherever you went, Cassian was right behind you, usually your hand in his larger one

Cassian would suddenly show up at your apartment door with takeout and some wine, “I thought we could stay in tonight” he’d murmur dropping a kiss to the corner of your mouth

And you walking around Cassian’s apartment in nothing but his shirt that fell to your knees, trying to make pancakes

Until you weren’t, you’re not even sure what even happened between the two of you

You never talked about it, not even to Mor who tried to get you to talk, she tried to get the both of you to talk knowing how hurt the both of you were

Cassian however, remembers everything. The late night calls filled with fears of things you’d never do your voice all quiet and soft, and the early mornings filled with loud music and smoke alarms as you tried and failed to make pancakes

He remembers where it all went wrong, both of you snippy and itching for a fight after a long week from work

He wants nothing more than to take that fight back and do everything over again

So do you

But with you being stubborn and Cassian giving you your space, you’re not even sure if that’s even possible at this point

So when Mor calls you to announce she’s having her Halloween party once again, you’re looking at the green body glitter you have on top of your dresser, wondering if you could go back

You were too prideful to ask if Cassian would be there, but you weren’t too stubborn or prideful to hope he would be there

Cassian head canons for Starfall Week 2023 Day 3

“Character A and Character B meet at Starfall” 

You don’t know how your friend managed an invite the High Lord’s exclusive party, all week she had talked about wanting to meet one of the three brothers: the heir, the shadowsinger or the warrior 

You had just rolled your eyes at your friend. You didn’t know them but you’ve heard of them, it was hard not to hear of the stories people whispered about them in Velaris. How Rhysand, the picture of his father was the complete opposite of the High Lord, of Azriel the cool and calculated one, of Cassian the wild, fun-loving one. 

Since completing the Blood Rite decades ago, the three of them now spent most of their time in Velaris, breaking hearts wherever they went. 

Your friend flashed you one of her signature smirks as she grabbed two champagne flutes from a passing waiter. “Oh come on (Y/N), let loose have fun” 

So you did just that, dancing with her in the middle of the dance floor 

Cassian spotted you before you even saw him

He stood off to the side, on Rhys’s left side, Az on the right and Rhys’s little sister stood in front of Rhys. Her wings flared out slightly as she stomped her foot and huffed, at only 13 she was getting an attitude and Cassian knew it would only be a matter of time before she would be leaving a string of males broken-hearted behind her 

“I want to dance” She looked at the three brothers, her three brothers whom were all wrapped around her little finger and she knew it. As predicted, it was Cassian who broke first but not because of big, begging violet eyes but because of another female on the dance floor who was currently spinning away from drunken hands and looked like she needed saving

“I’ll dance with you princess” Cassian laughed at the face Rhys’s little sister made at the nickname, he was maybe the only brother who could get away with calling her that

Once they got to the dance floor, Cassian lost sight of you. He craned his neck, everytime his spun the young princess around to see if he could catch sight of your swaying hips, or long hair. He knew it was only a matter of time which is why whenever Azriel stalked close enough to the pair, Cassian spun the young girl to Azriel. She laughed in delight, stumbling into the shadowsinger 

Cassian winked at his brother “Your turn” 

Cassian had found you at the bar, he recognized the son of an advisor to the High Lord flirting with you, but you were sipping the drink in your hand, eyes darting around the room till they landed on Cassian

You had known that the heir to the Night Court and the two males he called brothers would be at the party, but you hadn’t expected to see them. The party was crowded and you were sure many females would be hanging off of their arms. Of course every female around Cassian had her eyes on him but none were hanging off of him, and he was looking right at you 

You had told your friend you needed a refill and went to the bar when the male in front of you had given you a lazy smile that you assumed females were supposed to find attractive. You politely smiled and talked, letting him go on and on about court politics, something you had zero interest in whatsoever 

But then the warrior had stepped in, a loop sided grin on his face chasing off the male talking, you knew Cassian was the least liked brother among the three, the less favorable one. Rhysand was the heir, Azriel was a rare shadowsinger, and Cassian was just Cassian. Maybe that’s why you were glad you ran into him and not the other two 

“You don’t belong here” Cassian said, eyeing you from head to toe. You arched an eyebrow. He wasn’t wrong but you didn’t think he’d come right out and say it. 

He wasn’t wrong, but you didn’t think he’d notice, or care. “Did the High Lord tell you to kick me out?”

“The High Lord doesn’t know” Cassian said, a little shrug. “I’m Cassian.” His eyes spelt out trouble and you wanted every bit of mischief he had planned “(Y/N)”

“So tell me, (Y/N), would you like to dance, or did I interrupt the conversation you were most hoping to hear tonight about Court politics” He leaned against the bar top and you fought the smirk you felt curving your mouth, instead you looked up at the sky. Starfall was in full swing and you thought you could touch the stars if you reached up high enough 

“What if I said you did interrupt the best conversation I had all night?” 

Cassian knew this wouldn’t end well, he could guess the second Azriel’s shadows caught wind of a party crasher the night would take a turn for the worst. But it wouldn’t be the worst trouble he’d been in if he was caught with said party-crasher. He knew the High Lord would somehow spin it that it was Cassian’s idea, so he decided to make the most of it. “Well, to make it up to you, may I offer you a dance?” 

You agreed, the upbeat song changing to a slower song

You kept your eyes anywhere but his, suddenly nervous that someone would notice you weren’t supposed to be at this party, let along dancing with him

“Are you enjoying the party?” Cassian asked you, your eyes flicked to his before looking around the crowd again. “It’s very nice.” 

There was a lot of things Cassian wanted to ask you, like how you were able to sneak past the guards posted, but he never got the chance because when he opened his mouth to speak, he felt a tug on the hem of his tunic 

Rhys’s little sister glared at him “Azriel said he’s tired of dancing” 

You had let out a little laugh

Cassian never hated his brother more now than he ever did “Tell him I am busy” he muttered to the princess, his eyes darting to you. She wasn’t phased by your presence, she brightly smiled at you before turning back to Cassian. 

“I’m going to see if I can find my friend” You said, a hand on Cassian’s shoulder, he looked like he wanted to protest. “I get another dance once she’s done with you” 

“I’ll return him to you” The princess offered, you snorted, nodding. 

“I will be right over there” You pointed to a place by the wall, Rhys’s little sister nodded before turning to Cassian

As soon as you left, Cassian saw a sliver of a shadow follow you before Azriel was walking across the party towards you

Azriel head canons for Starfall week day 2

“Character A loves Starfall, Character B hates it but loves making Character A happy”

Azriel didn’t used to hate Starfall, no he used to love it. Well, as much as he loved being at parties and dancing. It was being with his family, his brothers and that they weren’t running a court but instead, just being a family.

Now Rhysand is gone. Under the mountain. It was Rhys’s favorite holiday and now Azriel cannot stand it.

In fact, he refused to celebrate the holiday without Rhys, instead he sulks in his room or goes to the training ring to pound out his frustrations at his brother on a training dummy.

Which is where you find him, in the training room, sweat beading down his back and his hair clinging to his forehead

All week Mor, Cassian and even Amren warned you that it might be the best week to leave Azriel alone. That it wasn't your fault and to not take it personally, he just needs space this week

You could tell how much it hurt everyone around him that he pushes them away this week, his brother and the two females, the four of them like family and so you didn't listen to their advice

His shadows alert him of your presence, whispering to him of your mood, your downturned mouth and eyes that are usually so bright and full of life look like a hurricane pulled straight out of the Summer Court brewing within them

"Why do you hate Starfall?" You ask once he turned around to face you, Azriel paused his movements, before he took a slow breath toweling off his forehead, shrugging. He couldn't think of a good excuse to tell you. He had bit off Cassian's head earlier when Cassian had asked him to attend the party this year.

Azriel had seen the hurt flash across his brothers face before his brother turned to get ready for the annual Starfall party. He knew why Mor and Cassian insisted on holding the party every year "It's what Rhys would've wanted" Mor would say every year when she brought up the subject

"There were a lot of things Rhys would've wanted but that doesn't mean we have to do them" Azriel had told her, year after year

But then you stood in the entrance way of the training ring with your pretty dress that you had let Mor pick out because she enjoyed dress shopping and he heard you and Cassian earlier in the kitchen making various desserts and his shadows alerted him when you left that morning to bring Amren her Starfall gift. How you were making an effort with everyone this week because it was hard for everyone and so he nodded, surprising the both of you. "Let me wash up real quick and I'll be there"

You blinked, your only indication of surprise before you nodded, you were halfway back to the party when Azriel's shadows whispered to him that the storm in your eyes vanished and you were smiling

Cassian and Mor didn't know what to make of his appearance at the party. Mor had given him a knowing look when he appeared, freshly showered next to your side, Cassian pressed a drink into his hand with his signature smile

The only reaction he cared about though, was yours. Your smile was brighter than any star that was currently soaring across the night sky "You did come Shadowsinger" You couldn't help the smile gracing your mouth or the way your arms slide around his neck when his went around your waist, Azriel easily slipping you into a slow sway to the music playing

The brightness of the smile had eased some of the ache in his chest when he looked down at you "I told you I'd be here, didn't I?"

You had set your head on his chest, Azriel slowly spun you around as he tipped his head back to look at the stars

You didn't beg him to dance with you, but he did dance with you all night, even after you had complained that the heels Mor said you needed to wear with the dress was making your feet bleed, he told you to kick off your heels and you stood on his boots barefoot while he continued to spin you around

"Do you still hate Starfall shadowsinger?" You had whispered softly to him, your chin resting on his shoulder, you two the only ones left out on the balcony. The stars were all gone and were soon to be replaced with the sun, the rays just peeking over the mountain tops

He pressed a kiss to the side of your head "I guess it's tolerable" He mumbled softly against your hair. He was sure he'd always hate the holiday till his brother got back and they could all be together again. He knew you and Rhys would get along, would revel in making his life difficult. But he'd tolerate it for the time being, just so he'd get to see you smile once again.

"I think I can live with that." You decided, an attempt to pull away from his shoulder but one of his scarred hands brought your head back to his shoulder. "Should we go inside?"

Azriel shook his head, leaning his head against yours "We can stay here a bit longer if you'd want."