Danni

[kissing your forehead gently] I got you.

Aaron Lycan x GN Reader

Fluff

---

Aaron was really, really bad with people. He had been a lord once upon a time - a position that demanded people skills and discretion - but the blade had dulled from underuse these last few years. And now here he was, the only person around to watch his travel companion weeping inconsolably over a dead rabbit on the side of the road.

"I don't think you should be touching it. It might have diseases-"

"ITS SO SMALL!" they sobbed, clutching the poor brown thing to their chest.

Aaron agreed. It was, in fact, small. And it seemed fine save for the fact that it was laying in a patch of oniongrass with no indication of movement. He squatted beside his fellow traveler and gingerly laid a hand on their shoulder.

"Maybe it's just sleeping?"

That seemed to do the trick. They gasped softly and looked down at the rabbit. Both stared intently at the little fluffball. It's nose twitched subtly and for a moment, Aaron thought his companion was going to burst into tears all over again.

"See? Sleeping." Aaron offered a reassuring, although awkward, smile.

"Oh, by Shad's Blade I'm an idiot-" they groaned, tucking the critter back into its hiding spot. They went to pinch the bridge of their nose, but Aaron caught their hands before he could think.

"I- um- you need to wash your hands. It could still have been carrying something-" he justified the action poorly. Aaron wished he covered more than just his eyes.

"Right." Agreed his companion, though they didn't withdraw from his touch. "Sorry for that. I have a weakness for small animals."

"No need to apologize. You have a big heart." The words fell out before he could stop them. Aaron was sweating. And still holding their hands. He wanted to sink into the ground. Aaron's hold loosened, then-

They kissed his cheek.

"I'll be right back." His companion said softly, wandering over to the stream they had been walking parallel to.

- @zvahlne

anything for you *mwah* (i have never written Trav before 0_0)

Travis Valkrum x GN reader

Hurt Comfort

---

You probably weren't supposed to be thinking about how hot someone looked while laying in the dirt wounded, and yet, here you were, watching purple fury rain upon those who dared cross paths with the island's resident warlock.

The circumstances were fuzzy. The whole day, really, passed over your brain like clouds. Probably the sudden head trauma, you supposed. Still, the invitation was fresh in the back of your head.

"Meet me in the clearing." The note had read, signed in purple ink with a sharp 'T' and a flourish. The village broadly disapproved of your ongoing relationship with Travis ("it's profane, gods damn it!" you could hear the elders hiss), but it had never stopped you before.

The clearing nestled between the mountain peaks was decorated when you got there. Strings of dried crocus hung between the branches, and a path of twinkling candles led to the center where your partner waited, tucking and untucking his silky hair behind the sharp point of his ear.

"I was starting to worry you'd lost the note." He held out a hand when you came close. He did this all the time. Travis twirled you around and leaned you back like the dancers in storybooks.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." You answered, decisively tucking his hair around his ear and reveling in the way his face flushed.

The date was nice. Travis had been honing some new spells and wanted to show off, and you were happy to oblige if it let you hold his hands when the magic was still fresh and tingly. You stood nose to nose, fingers entwined, primed to plant a tender kiss on the tip of his nose when it all went sideways.

The breath had been knocked out of you, though it was hard to parse if it came from the arrow that grazed your shoulder or the hearty leathery wings guarding you from further harm. Travis looked you over. Frantic wasn't a good look on him, and the waves of magic billowing from him made it difficult to focus your eyes on his face. You settled for making eye contact with the horns jutting from his temples instead.

"I'm okay." You started, only to glimpse an imp readying another shot. Without thought, you grabbed Travis by the collar and threw both of you aside. The arrow sailed over your heads, and the young warlock snapped his attention to the attackers.

He said something over his shoulder to you, but it was inaudible over the sound of blood rushing in your head. That was fine, though. You applied firm pressure to your wound while Travis cut through the imp squadron with ruthless efficiency.

The last beast crumbled to ash, and he squatted at your side, pressing a lavender hand into the cut.

"Does it hurt?"

"Yeah. Nothing that won't heal with time, though."

"Good."

He set about wrapping the wound, careful not to nick your bloody sleeve with his claws, then helped you to your feet. Unnecessary, but you certainly weren't complaining.

"So, any chance we could get a do-over?" Travis flushed.

Ask and ye shall receive!

Laurance x GN Reader

Hurt/comfort

---

You had always been the calm one. Keeping a level head was always one of your strong suits and it had landed you your reputation around Meteli. You talked Lord Haydn out of prosecuting Castor for his chicken-shenaniganary. You soothed Cadenza when Joh was found dead. You held Laurance's hand when his sister disappeared with no leads.

You were unraveling, now. Your lungs were ablaze and your legs begged you to stop, but the terror in your soul wouldn't let you. Lady Aphmau of Phoenix Drop had sent word that Laurance - your Laurance - had been found on the edge of town. You assumed you'd have to identify his body, just to be sure. Then you'd be responsible for funeral arrangements. Or perhaps you'd share that burden with his family. You squished the thought down. You had been misinformed. That was it. Laurance hadn't died rescuing his beloved sister. Aphmau got it wrong the first time. That's all.

Phoenix Drop was alive and electric. There was a tension in the air, and it seemed to grow when you grabbed the nearest guard - some poor young man with a dog - and demanded to know where your darling boyfriend was. He was kind enough to shake off the terror for a moment to point you towards the house on the hill.

Aphmau met you inside. She caught your shoulders as you tried to push past.

"I know you're feeling a lot of things right now-" she started.

"Where is he? What happened to him?"

"-but I need you to take a deep breath. You can't go down there freaking out. It'll only make things worse."

Why would she say that? Of course you were calm. You were always calm. You were the calm one!

She modeled taking a deep breath, and you followed her example. Now wasn't the time, you decided. Aphmau gave a nod and led you down to her basement.

Laid out on a cot was his body. Your breath caught in your throat. His warm skin was marred with purple bruises and wrapped in thick bandages. He was wearing threadbare underclothes and his hair was a tangled mess. You staggered over and knelt beside him.

The corpse took a ragged breath and your stomach fell through the floor. You reached out and carefully ran your fingers through his hair.

"Y/N..?" He rasped.

You wanted to scream. To cry. To throw a chair. To hold him in your arms and never ever set foot beyond Meteli ever again. Your brain tried to formulate a response.

"Are you dead?" It managed to spit out. Stupid brain.

Laurance laughed, his voice hoarse and tired, then he coughed. He opened his eyes. They stared up, unfocused, searching for your face. Once, they were green like the first sprouts breaking earth in the spring. Now, the irises were cloudy. Black and purple fissures spiderwebbed out from the pupils, and they couldn't lock on to your face. He sighed and blinked, glancing away.

"That's a complicated question, my love."

He held out a hand, and you took it. You held your entwined fingers over your heart, then planted a gentle kiss on the back of his hand. He squeezed back.

"I never stopped thinking about you. I pictured your smile, even when they tore my heart from my chest."

"I thought you'd died...that you'd left me."

"Death could never stop me from coming home to you."

Recovery was a long and hard road, you knew it in your soul, but there was not a god nor divine warrior nor force of nature that would stop you for being right there.

You leaned in and planted a kiss on the tip Laurance's nose. He melted.

"Rest, dear. I'll be here when you're awake." You whispered.

"I love you."

@my-writing-street

Oh hell yeah. Never done Zenix before.

Zenix x GN Shadow Knight Reader, nowhere near canon compliant

---

To absolutely nobody's surprise, being in Hell sucked. Dying and being remade was supposed to make you better. It was supposed to have made you free. Instead, you were stuck watching the days drag by under Gene's scrutiny. And he didn't even have the decency to be interesting!

"I'm of half a mind to tear this place apart myself." You growled, watching him parade around the fortress like he was Shad's favorite commander.

"I'd like to see that." Zenix leaned on the railing beside you, gazing over the lava sea. There was a piglin raiding party in the distance butchering a ghast for fun. Best entertainment they had down here, really.

"If I hear him talk about the Great Plan one more godsdamned time..."

Zenix grunted his agreement. He turned over his gauntleted hand, watching the crackling power dance across the clawed fingertips. He dug the claws into the deep red brick. The rocks crumbled to dust under the pressure and tumbled into the sea below.

"We can do it without him." He said slowly.

You laughed. "Yeah, right. You know how this works, Zen. You defect, you die."

"We don't need Gene. We could get to the overworld by ourselves and go from there."

"And be hunted like dogs for the rest of our unnatural lives? Great idea."

"He wouldn't bother. We stay under the radar once we get back and he wouldn't have reason to go after us."

For a moment, your cold, dead heart stirred. Zenix was nuts, but that conviction...

"What's your plan?"

It wasn't a great plan, but you expected it from him. It was a clean three step path. Step one:

You raced across the bridge, only steps behind Zenix. You'd both dispelled your armor before slipping out the front so it wouldn't alert anyone to your escape, and so you'd be faster than your pursuers.

Step two:

An arrow whizzed past your ear and gazed your companion's shoulder. Resistance was expected. Escapees were few and far between and the lucky ones were just executed to save everyone the trouble. Foot soldiers chased after you, shouting commands you handily ignored. Zenix stumbled, and you caught him by the arm.

"No time to fall!" You said over the pounding and pulsating of the magic that kept you both animate in your ears.

The two of you made it over the bridge and scrambled up the soulsand beach. The wails of the dead echoed over the plane, but this was no time for distractions. You were almost there. A black frame made of jagged glass jutted from the sand. Purple magic ebbed and flowed from it with the rhythm of a heartbeat. Step three was in view.

You collapsed, rolling unceremoniously like a sack of turnips, pain bursting from your calf. An arrowhead lodged itself in the muscle, and black oily pitch leaked from the wound. Shit.

Zenix hauled you to your feet.

"We're only a couple feet away."

"Leave me! Get out of here!"

"Not without you!" He insisted, dragging you alongside him. Another arrow. This one found purchase in his side. The two of you leaned hard on the portal frame.

Step three. You locked arms and tumbled through the portal together. Your stomach did loop-de-loops and your whole body felt stretched and squished to impossible scales, but soon it was over. You tumbled out of the portal. The air was so much cleaner. You took lungful after lungful and you squished the grass under your hands with a slight laugh.

Travis x Shadow Knight!Reader?

Ooh I like it I like it-

Travis Valkrum x GN Shadow Knight Reader

Mild Angst

---

Magic was in his blood. It was a part of him, and it always had been. Yours was a curse, plain and simple. You were a monster waiting to happen, and he was a monster hunter. You knew how this would end.

You weren't paying attention.

"On your left!" Travis called.

The imp drove its dagger right into your side. The pain was dull. You manifested your blade and cut the beast down the middle without a second thought. A blast of magic skirted your other side, dissolving the other monster in an instant. The fight was over. You slumped down against a tree, not caring about the snow seeping into your pants.

"Are you okay?" Travis appeared at your side, his hand glowing a soft purple.

"Fine." You lied.

He went to heal the wound, but you caught his hand by reflex.

"Don't. It'll fix itself in a couple minutes."

"Not if it gets infected."

"It can't get infected."

"Don't tell me you're immune to blood-born illness too."

"I don't have blood, Travis."

"I would feel better if you let me give it a boost."

You let his hand go. The magic that washed over you was, for the first moment, pleasant. Like being kissed by a wave at the beach. It soured quickly as your own magic hissed and snapped in response. Travis didn't pull back.

"You look uncomfortable."

"It's nothing."

"You don't get stabbed like that over nothing."

He was right. Damn him. You sighed.

"Your magic. It's not...evil."

Travis made a face. Not what he'd been expecting, apparently. He sat against the tree, knocking elbows with you like it was the most innocuous thing in the world,

"It is, though."

"But you can cast healing spells, and shields and-"

"And all of it comes from a demon. Seems pretty evil to me."

"You're not just killing things with it, though."

"Neither are you."

You frowned down at your hands. They were scarred and battle-worn. Some of them were from before your death and un-making, but most had come after. Travis reached down and cupped your hand in his, raising it to eye level.

"Summon your sword." He instructed.

You shot him a sideways glance, but he didn't balk. You channeled your power, and the long, blood-red blade appeared in your hand. Travis held out his own hand beside yours and cast a spell. A ball of crackling green fire sprung to life at his fingertips.

"Magic is just potential. Your sword could hurt, but it could also protect. This fire could destroy, but it could also warm. Don't write yourself off." He said gently.

The sword in your hand felt so heavy most days. You remembered the pain your body and soul suffered to earn it. The hurt threatened to swallow you. But your eyes settled on the warm fire in the warlock's palm.

"Do you really think so?"

"I should hope so. I learned it from watching you."

Your face flushed. He was kidding. Probably.

The sword turned to ash in your fingers and blew away. You leaned your head on Travis's shoulder, and he extinguished his fire. You snaked your fingers between his. The cold would have been uncomfortable if not for the warmth permeating your soul.

We all do, man.

Pirate Garroth x GN Mer reader

First meeting

---

Garroth was out of his depth in more ways than one. For one, he was several dozen feet underwater. Not a strong start. Additionally, he was chained to a steel ball and rapidly sinking. Also not a good thing. And to top it all off, he was hallucinating. That was the most reasonable explanation he could come up with about why a very pretty magical creature was frantically trying to pick the locks on his shackles.

The stories were as old as the sea itself. When a sailor was on death's door, the ocean would throw them one last bone. Different people told different stories about what kind of favor the ocean gave. In some versions, it transformed you into a mer to save your life. In others, it sent a mer to end your suffering. Garroth would've appreciated his mother's stories more if he wasn't living one.

"Almost..got it.." the mer - a person startlingly reminiscent of a shark - gnawed on their lip while they twisted the metal shivs in the lock.

He really shouldn't have been surprised. Deathbed visions were a sight to behold indeed.

The shackles clicked, and suddenly the weight dragging Garroth to his death was gone. He inhaled out of habit. Bad move.

The mer startled as he choked, each cough flooding his lungs with more and more fiery salt water. They moved quickly and wrapped either arm around his chest, then swam straight up.

They broke the surface, and mercifully, Garroth's savior kept his head above water while he continued to hack up his lungs. They patted his back gently.

"There you go. No more water. Good." Their tone soothed the building anxiety in his chest.

"Thank you." He finally rasped. "You saved my life."

"It's no trouble." The mer smiled gently. They had at least two rows of teeth packed into their mouth. Garroth probably should have been more afraid of them.

"It seems the old mariner's tales are true."

"Some of them. What did you do to piss off your crew bad enough to kill you?"

The two squinted at the ship shrinking into the horizon. Didn't seem like anyone had noticed Garroth's rescue. Good. It would make falling off their radar that much easier. He would miss the ship, though.

"We took a job for a prince. It all went sour, and it seems my crew thought it would be easier to kill me than for me to come clean to our benefactor."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"Occupational hazard."

"Let me help you get to shore. You don't have the stamina to swim by yourself."

They were right. Garroth felt like he's been filled with sand. The only thing keeping him conscious was the wonder of being in the presence of a real, actual mer. Zane would have been jealous.

The Mer, who helpfully informed Garroth of their name as they travelled, carried him to the nearest beach town. They were local to the area (as local as one could be living in the water beside the community, not immediately among it), and knew the best place to leave the pirate to ensure treatment.

"Donna combs the area every couple hours. Based on the time, she'll be here soon. Tell her Y/N sent you."

Garroth knelt in the chest-high surf in front of his rescuer. He owed them his life, and as it stood, that didn't seem a debt he could repay. He held out a hand, which they accepted.

"I wouldn't be alive if not for you. If you ever have need of something, you'll have my aid without a moment's hesitation."

Garroth lifted the hand up and planted a chaste kiss on the back. His heart was beating out of his chest, and his mer's face flushed.

"Thank you, Garroth. It's been an honor helping you."

LMAOOOOO YOURE SO CHILL DW I WAS GUNNA GIVE IT A SHOT BC YOURE SO ACTIVE ON MY BLOG BUT THIS IS WAY MORE IN MY WHEELHOUSE

Here's my best shot! I don't think I've ever written Sasha before-

Sasha x Masc Shadow Knight Reader

---

The Nether was organized once upon a time. Gene kept a tight leash on his troops, and for a while it was fine. They ran drills and worked their skills so they'd be ready when the Shadow Lord found the right body.

Everything went sideways when Zenix came back. He tore open the realm barrier and sucked the magic out of your comrades like they were fruit off the vine. There was a way out just behind him. You had to make it past. You ran alongside a half dozen other shadow knights.

Zenix cracked a wild grin and swung his blade, reducing most of them to dust. Pain burst from your side. Not a good sign, but there was no time. You kept pushing. Zenix's presence grew at your back and your hair stood on end. You were going to die.

Suddenly, the oppressive force halted, stopped by something more interesting than you. Zenix lunged after Gene, who was racing along the bridge back into the fortress, and you watched, clutching your side.

Sasha appeared at your side. "That illusion should distract him for a bit. We have to move."

She yanked you along to the wobbling rift and shoved you through, then hopped in after. You tumbled out the other side into a damp, dim cave. The light of the portal cast purple shadows across the stone, but the air was so much cleaner. Back in the overworld at last. Still, you fought back the panic rising in your chest.

Sasha leaned against the wall of the cave, forcing breath in and out of her body.

"He's gone mad." You wheezed, staring at the swirling portal.

"We have to get out of here. If he comes back through, we're next."

She wrapped an arm around your waist and draped yours across her shoulders. She was sturdy and had very little trouble hauling you up the stairs (who builds stairs in a cave?) and out into the setting sun.

"We'll get to Bright Port and then I'll patch you up." She said, leading the way through the abandoned village.

"I'm fine. We can make it further."

"That's the adrenaline talking."

"I'm-"

You were not fine, actually. You doubled over, and Sasha hurriedly leaned you up against a sturdy tree.

"We're doing this now." She said firmly. She pulled a potion bottle from her hip and popped the cork.

Your side felt like it was on fire. You hadn't felt pain like this since you'd died. Sasha helped peel off your sweat-sticky shirt and assessed the damage. She didn't say a word. She just poured half the contents of the bottle directly onto the wound.

"AGH!" You hissed and recoiled.

"That'll start the healing process. Sit still. I'm going to set up camp."

"But we're not far enough from the portal."

"You can't move any more tonight."

"If Zenix comes-"

"I'll make him regret this." Sasha said, staring at the stab wound.

She gathered firewood and set up a campfire on the edge of the woods. Neither of you needed to eat, so you agreed to wait until you made it to civilization. First meal back had to be special, after all.

Sasha sat beside you, poking the fire with a stick while you took small sips of the other half of her potion.

"I'm glad we made it out." She said finally.

"Thank you for helping me."

"I hated you the least. Besides, I thought you could be a good asset while I looked for someone who can help. Nothing more."

"That's why you're being so helpful, right? Because I'm so useful?" You cocked an eyebrow at her. She flushed.

"Exactly. This is a tactical move."

oh i like the way you think-

Also gunna tag @zvahlne bc I think you'd like this one (while I work on your V-Day request)

MT Travis x Masc Reader

---

You were glad your guards were on break when it all went wrong, because if they knew what kind of shit you'd gotten yourself into, you'd never be allowed beyond the castle walls ever again. That being said, 'kidnapped by pirates' was NOT how you wanted to start your peace negotiations.

Prince Valkrum wiggled his hands, but it was no use. The ropes binding both of you were sturdy.

"I swear, we had nothing to do with this." He whispered sharply.

"The Kingdom of Gal'ruk does have a well-recorded pirate problem." You grumbled, recalling your civics tutor's words.

"I intended this to be a regular outing before our peace negotiations. I thought the boardwalk would be safe. I'm sorry."

Your stomach twisted a little. He looked so pitiful with his big, sad eyes and his busted lip. Hardly the warlord you had anticipated. He seemed more inclined to write songs about epic battles, not lead them.

"We aren't dead yet. It's a start." You sighed.

"Amber must be looking for us. It's only a matter of time."

"These pirates seemed organized. If they're smart, they've got her and my guards on a wild goose chase. I suspect we're on our own."

You watched the captain - Redbeard, known for his ruthlessness, not a good sign - bark orders at his men. They flinched when he looked at them, and hurried around the ship like they were on borrowed time. The crew could be bribed, perhaps. Or threatened. As it stood, the crew was busily moving chests, crates, weapons, and a large mirror.

"Do you have a plan?" The other prince asked, his tone hushed.

"I have some observations. The plan comes once I have enough information."

You saw a faint smile flash across his face. "I see Tu'la's reputation holds."

"We are good at what we do." You agreed.

The captain strutted over, looking down his beet-red nose at the two of you. He cracked a wicked, pockmarked grin.

"I thought I was lucky snagging one prince, but two? Irene must be smiling at me!"

"You'll pay for this, Redbeard!" Travis snapped, straining against his bindings like a feral animal.

"Sure I will. Ru'aun's been allied with Gul'rak for generations. If it looks like the Prince of Tu'la staged their kidnapping, they'll have to go to war. And y'know who gets an assload of money when there's war?"

"You're putting thousands of people at risk for that?" The prince was aghast.

"Typical." You spat.

Redbeard chuckled and meandered away, sure his scheme was going to succeed.

"I believe I have a plan, Prince Valkrum."

"Travis. You can call me Travis."

"I believe I have a plan, Travis." You repeated, your tone softening around his name.

"What is it?"

"I need your trust and that mirror."

Travis's eyebrows knit like he was doing mental calculus. He glanced up at the mirror, then to you. He nodded once, then launched into a dramatic performance.

"OH, OH! I DEMAND THE MIRROR. I SIMPLY MUST SEE MYSELF! MY BEAUTIFUL FACE MUST BE PERFECT IF I'M GOING TO BE SOLD!"

You played up your own reaction. A big, heaving sigh. A head-roll to go with the eye-roll. "Please, bring him the big mirror. He'll shut up if he can preen all over."

A pair of lackeys groaned and waddled over with the floor-length looking glass. Travis made a show of turning his head this way and that way, leaning as far as his bindings could let him. He occasionally stole a glance at you, and you kept shaking your head. Close, but not yet.

"That's enough!" Redbeard threw his hands up and stomped below deck. "Bring me a beer!"

Perfect.

In one quick motion, your leg flew out from under you and you knocked the mirror-holder off his feet. The glass shattered, and you bumped a shard back toward you. You snatched it and sliced yourself free, then Travis.

"Shit!" The other pirate gasped. The prince of Gul'rak took his chance and kicked the man as hard as he could.

You snatched the dagger off his hip and held out an arm to keep Travis behind you. The deck crew stood frozen in fear as you and the other prince slowly backed up to the gangplank.

The moment your feet touched sand, you took off. You raced around the side of the island, straight into the waiting arms of Amber and your guards.

"PRINCE!" Amber gasped, checking over her ward. He had some cuts and bruises, but otherwise, he seemed fine.

"I'm fine, Amber. Please, check on them first." He took your hands gently. You hadn't noticed until now, but you were bleeding. The mirror shards, it seemed.

"Good gods!" The royal guard gasped. "What happened!?"

"They saved our lives. Amber, please see to it that Y/N receives proper care. We'll revisit the peace talks once they're healed."

"Of course." She turned to the other guards and started dispensing orders.

Travis cupped your hands in his. "I owe you a great debt."

"Thank you for playing your part. I couldn't have done it without you."

"I hope our negotiations won't be too affected by this."