#durin fluff

" may i ask for your hand, only if i may? " . . . 𝝑𝝔 knight who loves his prince/ss so much ! ft. rerir, dainsleif, durin, & varka x gn! reader (separately)

cw: monarchy au, knight! character x royalty! gn! reader, non abyss! rerir

synopsis. when the knight falls in love with his prince/ss

wc. 2k ; not proofread, might be ooc!

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rerir was very much so off the scale if you ask about dedication, but when it came to admitting his feelings about anything? ehhh, not so much... a sigh leaving his throat whenever he got to keep a secret eye on you based on the king's orders;

he was very much so sat atop the castle balcony just to make sure your 'escort' or whatever wouldn't hurt you, how dare he touch you without asking. he would've never done that.

was he jealous? nooo.... but was he just 'looking out for you'? definitely. just... just guiding you through the crowd while having a hand over your lower back.

yes, knight! rerir doesn't mean to do it, but his eyes always linger back onto you, even if you weren't there. and god even your father noticed,

but even when he noticed? he simply said he is watching over you forever, making sure you wouldn't be in danger anywhere at all, was he overprotective? maybe, maybe... but come on, he pledged his allegiance to you when you two were just kids, who could blame him for falling so hard and so easily.

rerir first fell before you became who he served, you were just kids when he was getting picked on by other kids at a school for the nobles that he managed to get in for being smarter than your average child. you shooed them off and offered him a hand, and that's when you started to eat lunch with him, studying with him, who wouldn't fall?

when he found out you were a prince/ss, his life's trajectory changed, scholar who? he's always wanted to become your guard and protect you for the rest of your life.

has all your number one hyperfixations, and best interests at heart all the time. his photographic memory? for knowing which foods you like best, and tells the chefs which ones to avoid. those flowers you were in awe over the day before? they're beside your bed now. the scent you were obsessing over for a week straight? well these bottles just arrived!

even now as you stared off into space, smiling and humming the tune you two always sang together—where was he looking? well, he wasn't just looking... he was admiring. dreaming, fantasizing, whatever you want to call it, he was daydreaming about a life where you two were just free; free to do whatever you want, living in an isolated little home far far from the city. he couldn't imagine it with anyone else but you.

"your highness, you cannot just space out the whole evening... you must greet guests." - "but having dinner with you is much more entertaining than they'll ever be."

...

"you wanna get out of here?"

always that courageous smile, always that brave stature, his live easy and chin up life had been totally turned into following you in the stupid little journey you end up getting yourself stuck in. even if it means getting in trouble, it is always to protect you.

he was enchanted by you, he was absolutely hypnotized by you, wrapped around your little finger. he could never leave you alone, nor could he ever not follow you, you are his duty, please love him back, your highness!

dainsleif loves you silently, and with loyalty to both the king and you... somewhat. he'll never admit his feelings, but yearns so badly for you; and it is very much mutual pining right under your nose.

"dain! come on! we have so much to do! just look at the festival!" you smiled, and the moon shone on you like you were a blessing from god himself,

"your- your highness! don't get that— your highness come back here!" he replied in split words, running right after you as you dressed in a commoner's clothes, hair in a mess, and a smile wider than the sun.

you were the sun to him.

the light in the dark.

the path he wishes to follow.

in which he did, he always did. he claims to be strict but the thing is, he always just let you do what you wanted whilst being right behind you to stop from doing something that would actually get you killed. he will scold you every now and then, but he will still trail you like a fox to the moon.

"isn't this delicious, i didn't know street food was so delicious and scrumptious as this!" you hummed in delight, taking a bite of the food on a stick, you hadn't tasted anything as good as this before. dainsleif was about to reply when you offered him a bite too. "you want?"

was it a coincidence he just happened to take a bite from the spot you bit? maybe, maybe not. but he still ate it anyway, staying silent as you proudly walk more along the streets, did you... did you mean to take his hand? "c'mon, they're playing! let's have fun too!"

and god was it bad he felt his heart bump in his chest seeing you interact with children, it's like you were made to care for them and he was obsessed. he was just sat to the side, eating a stick of whatever you two had earlier, watching in awe at the way you play so happily in kids' games.

if only he could just pick you up right here and now, run away to some rinky-dink village in order to live in peace while your father tries to find you. not that he would care too much anyways,

dainsleif wishes he could give you that adventurous little life you wanted so badly, the one where nothing would have to limit you, and no one controlled what you wore, ate, no nothing. just you and him.

"hey dain! did you see that? me and this little girl won! isn't that great?!" "one day..." "what was that?" "n-nothing, your highness."

durin was the cute knight that was assigned to protect you because of how truly strong he had grown during training camp and came out on top when he started out at the bottom. he was not familiar with english, but he learnt more to talk to you.

"and so, i told the noble to simply stop speaking to me, because who truly just asks for a royal's hand in marriage on the first day of meeting... doesn't anyone know about chivalry anymore?!" you continued on and on about a ball your father held in order to find you a partner.

"'rinnie? you listening?" "u-uhuh! yesyesyesyes, yes i am uhh.. your highness!" you giggle hearing his soft voice while he gazes at you confusedly, "is there any.. anything funny, your highness?" those big, adorable red eyes glanced into yours and you couldn't help but smile.

"please, just call me name when it's just us!" your smile was tantalizing, intoxicating even, he couldn't process anything anymore. god was it like puppy love between you two.

he would just call it caring for his 'best friend', is he secretly pining? who knows. it's totally not obvious when he literally melts when you cling onto his arm when he's on duty.

on duty = accompanying you out at any public events, even if people come up to you and ask 'is he even capable of a punch?' and gosh were you so proud of him whenever you talked about how great his skills truly were. "i-i'm not that good, i just got the hang of the basics..."

was he jealous when the prince trying to court you was flexing what he could do with one swift movement? what a joke this 'strong' royal was, he couldn't help but let a sigh out; he could do a hundred times his damage within milliseconds.

"'rinnie, are you jealous?" you question as you were on your way back from the party, holding onto his hand as he faces away. no his face isn't red, and no he wasn't... what are you even talking about!

"w―what? i am simply... keeping guard of you by standing right behind you." he fumbles over his words, sighing as he finally escorts you successfully to your room.

"here you are, your hi- i-i mean name, would you like um... any extra snacks before falling asleep like last time?" sitting you down onto your bed as you think about it; "no, but could you stay?"

"w-while you change?!" "no, silly! while i sleep!"

varka was promoted from the strongest, scariest, and bravest general of the mondstadt kingdom... to your bodyguard. you weren't exactly close beforehand, but gosh was he fun! to him? you were... well, the closest thing he's had to love.

he thought you were some uptight brat at first; yet he happened to find himself growing fond of you the more you two continued to talk, he realized you were just sheltered, way too much.

it was uncommon for varka to fall in love, i mean, he was totally into his work so of course he had no time for that relationship stuff. but god was he close to trying to have one with you; he loved loudly, but not enough for others to notice his affection for you.

"hey, your highness! hope i didn't keep you here so long..." your bodyguard was back from assisting the king, your father, with something, taking a large gift of bouquets, and your favorite snacks in one, "from me and your dad, whaddya think?"

placing them in your arms as you giggle, "i think they're amazing, var'. thank you for coming to the party mrs. and mr. rutherford! let's get going." you bow to the guests, politely rejecting the proposal of marriage with their son, "gosh, thanks varka, i don't think they would've stopped bothering me if you hadn't shown up."

you smile of relief, slowly following behind him as you two start to head to your room.

he didn't reply for a while; why? because he was just hoping, really, really hoping you would get the chance to at the very least get a slim chance of getting married to you because of all his strong feats. was it bad he wished it just the two of you walking back to your small cottage, talking about dinner with your two, maybe three kids?

"uhuh..." "are you even listening?" "nope." "have you realized we already went past my chambers too?" "ah, right, my apologies, your majesty, come along beautiful."

this wasn't the first time he tried his best to prolong your little duo time with him in order to just keep these dreams alive. going back to being a general? what even is a general?

all he knew was that you liked lillies, and wanted to see the outside world a little more beyond than just... crowns, and fancy clothing.

Durin

Oh yes definitely, he swears he doesn't mean to though!

He's already unused to this human form, having to pay attention to his footwork, when to spin and when to extend his arm is going to have him in shambles

Unironically enough, as soon as he steps on your foot once, he apologizes only to step on it again

Feels especially bad about it when he sees you trying to hide your wince lmfao

Quick learner though! He doesn't mind accidentally slipping on the soles of his feet, falling down on the hard marble floors if it means he won't hurt you again, accidental or not

Wanderer

I'd say no tbh

As a harbinger, he's definitely attended enough parties to get a hold of his footwork well enough to adapt and adjust to you

On the unlikely circumstance that he does step on your foot, he drags you away after the dance and offers to check if it leaves a bruise or something

(if it does he's sulking for the rest of the knight)

Generally though, he's already light on his feet, especially so with his Anemo vision that the chances of that ever happening is less than 0

If you ever step on his foot though he's just incredibly impassive about it, mainly because he just doesn't care

Lohen

This little shit steps on your foot on purpose

Doesn't even matter if he's half decent at dancing, you will still feel the pointy bit of his boot stomping on your poor toes

If ever asked, he says he does it for the pure sake of seeing your reaction

The amount of times you've made a pained expression just because of him scared off any potential dance partners for his night, and his stare alone scares off anyone you seems to take an interest to you

Good luck with him! You're going to find at least one chipped nail by the time you get home to see your poor foot

Flins

It's beyond laughable if you think that this man would ever trip over himself

He always has a hand on your lower back to guide you in the dance, and whenever he or you get close to accidentally stepping on each other's foot he's always quick to smoothly change dance positions for your dignity

He'd be the talk of the whole ballroom just for his charming maneuvers, but even you could tell that his whole persona is always a farce with the way he languidly kisses your gloved hand at the end of the waltz

Durin learns about playfighting, Wanderer gets a headache and reader almost gets a concussion

Tags: fluff, crack, durin attacks reader

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It started with a stupid comment.

You said something offhandedly, he gave you a sarcastic remark to gently poke fun at you. Nothing harsh, nothing cutting, like so many of his other words.

No, he’d never direct any actual bitterness at you. Though, others might not be able to tell the slight difference in tone when he talks to you. And the way his choice of words becomes a lot more forgiving. Not that they matter anyways.

You don’t miss the teasing glint in his eyes, the slight raise of the corner of his mouth. He knows what he’s doing, always having found amusement in poking and prodding at people to provoke a reaction.

So you do the obvious and swiftly swipe the pillow on his lap – that his book he is currently reading was laying on, oh, how handsome he looks when he’s completely absorbed in it– away from him, to smack him in the face with it. Lovingly, of course.

The plush hits his face with a soft thump, muffling the startled noise he made. The way it lands right back on his lap is almost comical. There’s a short pause, and you can practically hear his mind debating whether he should let out an exaggerated exhale and drop it or whether he should strike back.

After having stared into the wall with a deadpan for a few seconds, he seems to have decided.

“Really? That’s your move?”, he asks flatly, but you don’t miss the way his hand gently puts the book away. Minimising collateral damage of what’s to come.

You so saw this coming, and yet, the pillow being thrown your way startles you. You duck, barely dodging the ferocious attack that none other than your precious lover launched.

There’s no option other than retaliation.

Next thing you know, you find yourself pinned on the ground beneath the wanderer. He had given you a false sense of security right before he bested you, having pretended to be oh so weak with his wrists under your grasp. Of course you know that your boyfriend is much stronger than you, and still you gawked in disbelief when he easily freed himself from your grip and turned the situation right back at you.

“My, my, are you struggling?”, he muses condescendingly, looking far too satisfied with himself. And still, the look on his face is too endearing, the proud glint in his eyes, the smug grin, the way he inches closer and closer. “I’d almost call it cute, if you didn’t heinously ambush me”, he adds, letting out a dramatic sigh.

“Oh, please. I went easy on you”, you retort, making a show of threateningly leaning closer too, the playful grin on your face contradicting your actions.

“Ha, easy?”, he snorts, clearly in disbelief of your words. “Last chance to surrender”, he says in a singsongy voice. No outsider would ever believe you if you ever told them about this.

Right as you were about to shoot back a witty reply again, you hear a sudden gasp. Both of you turn your heads to its source, which is a very confused and mildly concerned looking Durin at the door.

Wanderer immediately backs off, looking like a startled cat. You instantly shift your attention to Durin, “Hey, you okay there?”

He looks even more puzzled, tilting his head to the side. “Wasn’t Hat Guy about to…”, he trails off.

You blink, thinking for a second before it clicks in your head. “Ohhh, that’s what you– You misunderstood! He’d never actually threaten me, Durin. We were just… playfighting?”, you correct his assumption, unsure of how to explain what he just witnessed.

Apparently it didn’t clear up anything, as Durin’s eyes widened in curiosity. “What’s playfighting?”, he asks innocently.

Wanderer looks like he wants to die on the spot, pinching the bridge of his nose and letting out a loud sigh.

Sensing the very slight, totally almost unnoticeable embarrassment on his end, you take it upon yourself to explain the concept of playfighting to Durin, letting your boyfriend give a tiny nod of approval at the end of your explanation.

Durin listens intently and concludes that it’s another weird human custom he hasn’t learned about yet.

To further ease your lovers headache that this must’ve caused him, you take Durin’s hand and try to change the topic. “How about we go and draw something nice? Come on, Hat Guy, join us. You have skilled hands, righhhht?” You can’t help the slight teasing.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

A few days have passed since that incident and you didn't think much more of it. Right now, you're in the kitchen, preparing lunch for the three of you. The pan sizzles, the chicken looking mouthwatering, if you say so yourself, prepared just how Durin likes it.

You hum a soft tune, taking a sip from your coffee. You're not really a morning person. Or a noon person either.

A soft patting on the floor distracts you, Durin sure is an energetic dragon. The kitchen door slams open with a slight creak and he looks at you with a determined and serious look, his wings slightly raised in preparation. Just what is he up to?

You don't have any time to ponder or dwell on it as he charges right at you, letting out a loud gruff when he tackles you to the ground with a heavy thud. You drop the wooden spoon you were holding, he almost tipped the pan with the burning hot oil over.

You rub your hip and groan quietly. Before even get to turn to Durin and ask what this is all about, he gets swooped right off of you.

Wanderer is holding him by the collar– careful to not be too rough– and reprimanding him. "What do you think you're doing? Surely you know that attempted murder is a crime", he scolds the dragon, who looks pitifully guilty and confused.

Durin tries to open his mouth to reply, but your boyfriend is faster, now crouching down besides you and checking your head for tender spots. "You okay? You didn't hit your head, right?", he asks hastily, concern taking over.

"I'm... fine", you reassure gently. Looking at his unconvinced expression, you add, "I landed on my hip. Just glad he didn't knock over the pan."

This seems to calm him down a bit, which allows you to worry about your very confused assailant.

"I assume I didn't do this playfighting thing right?", he mutters, eyes downcast. At least that memo landed. You can't help but snort a little though, this is amusing.

Patting his head gently, you confirm, "Not... exactly. You're meant to hold back."

"Yeah, it's called playfighting, not playkilling", Wanderer adds unceremoniously. Still, his tone sounds more relieved than upset.

Durin's guilty look is too pitiful to look at. You pull him into a hug, softly telling him it's okay and that he didn't mean to be so rough. He keeps mumbling apologies and promises to be more careful in the future.

Your boyfriend, in the meantime, took it upon himself to plate your carefully prepared lunch onto three plates, setting them onto the kitchen table.

spoilers for 6.2 archon quest under the cut. read at your risk if you haven't played the new archon quest yet.

Fili & Kili as pebbles (or any age range) showing Dis/Thorin/whomever what they like to collect and why they collect it

*rising from the grave* I immediately knew what i wanted to write for this thank you and this IS MY FLAVOR OF DURIN FLUFF

@toothlessgiroux

Fluff emoji how did i not know there was a boar?!

🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗

Pebbles hoarded. It was a fact well spoken of outside of Dwarrow walls and halls. A rumor turned legend outside of their sequestered communities; but one that held more that water.

Oh no it was a definite truth.

Dwarrow Pebbles hoarded from an early age. No one knows whose Amad or Adad decided to implement the Treasure Chest tradition nor the clever rule of how to painstakingly teach Pebbles how to manage their hoarded goods. But whoever it did was a genius, prayed to and thanked by many exhausted Dwarrow parents during clean up time with a menagerie of trinkets in their hands.

For you see: dwarrow dont hoard monetary valuables. They hoard memories and feelings because the heart is where they place the most value. With hidden names and promises bound in stone they place feeling and heritage above all else. Their oath and word like gold and gems. Whose hands passed over this object? That is more important than the value at the market place stall.

So each Amad or Adad brings, with bated breath and often amusement or wonderment stories of their pebbles hoard. What stories did it contain? What multitude did it hold?!

Such were the hopes of Lady Dís and King Thorin as they stand before Fíli and Kíli in the main room of the stone cottage. Dís eyes sharp with pride with each item Fíli shared: meticulously stored in his chest in a special place.

In a very Fíli way each item had a name and interestingly could or could not be by other items. One chicken feather couldnt go near an acorn because "they just dont like each other, Ama." He explains shutting the lid with a soft click of the lock. At 30 he barely stood to her waist but she saw the growing pebble slowly morphing into a teen and she was not ready for it.

"And you? Raklûn? Kíli?" She prompted watching as Kíli fiddled with his fingers beside his smaller treasure chest. Lost in his own world the dirt beneath his nails suddenly important, the cobwebs interesting, and "mimun?"

Looking over he hummed, "oh my turn? Uhm!" Turning to glance down at his chest he folds his hands behind his back, standing taller. His politeness sends a chill down her spine. Oh no.

"Theyre not ready yet, Ama." He declares nervously rocking on his heels. "I need to organize it more!" Shooting daggers down at Fíli he adds venomous, "you know i am awful at that and Fí isnt helping!"

" I helped! I helped you find your treasures because you lost all yours!" Fíli blithely retorts barely batting at eye. "Shall i let you scramble for your own next time?"

"Nuh uh!! Dont Fí! I need your help! Im lost forever without you and your treasure finding magic!" Kíli bemoans dramatically and whether its fake or real whos to say because they are children but they are also just that close.

Crossing her muscular arms over her chest, she sails a look to her brother. His arms just the same. The amusement dancing in his eyes. Both of them recognizing Frerin and Víli in that very moment.

"Kíli, open it up lets see what you have." Thorin beckoned with a toss of his head. "Keeping us all waiting like this we will lose our beards over the suspense of it all."

Dark eyes dancing from Fíli to the chest Kíli takes a moment, lips pursing. "Are you prepared to see the best rocks, uncle Thorin?"

" i was born for this moment, kíli. Show them to me." He coaxes meaning every encouraging word. Downcasting his eyes to the treasure chest, bumping his elbow with Dís in excitement.

Kíli takes a breath before the moment of truth. Breaking the seal he steps aside revealing his most important treasures of all.

Thorin closes his eyes once.

Twice.

Three times.

"Kíli?" He intones searching for clarification from the tiniest Durin before him.

Fíli's mirthful snickering is barely contained, tears building in his eyes.

"What?" Kíli beams up excitedly, hopping up and down, "arent they the best? And they move like this!!" He continues bouncing around pulling Dís over by her tunic, " arent they the best rocks, Ama?!"

Dís agrees her hands smoothing Kíli's hair. Doing everything in her power not to laugh at the hilarity of his treasure chest burgeoning with sticks, leaves, and moss. "Kíli. These toads are the best rocks i have ever seen in my life."

For inside Kíli's treasure chest were 15 incredibly confused but happy plump toads peering up at her with startled expressions. Wondering just exactly where the hell they were and if the would ever go home again.

Epilogue:

Dís has kíli put all the toads in the garden. Its a very upsetti time hes grown quite attached.

Fíli has to apologize for convincing Kíli that toads are living rocks.

Thorin thinks this is hilarious and immediately gets Dwalin who thinks this is CUTE and hilarious.

Both Kíli and Fílis treasure chests are now subject to a ' no living or flesh covered things' rule.

Either way, I'd love to hear your opinion!!

" it is my duty to... " . . . 𝝑𝝔 short little oneshots about knight! reader & their royals! ft. varka, albedo, durin, scaramouche x gn! reader (separately)

cw: sfw stuffy stuff, cringe writing eughhhhhh, knight! gender neutral! reader, royal! character, minor spoilers to durin's story quest (iykyk) doesn't rly spoil if u haven't been to the very last cutscene there im p sure, albedo durin & dainsleif are siblings here!

synopsis. when the knight falls in love with their royal... except it's your turn to yearn. (and their turn to be obliviously in love with you too)

wc. idk ; not proofread, might be ooc!

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varka didn't know what love was. he was way, way, way too busy for that stuff, i mean, come on he was a king, he had kingdoms to rule, villages to save, and knighthoods to reward. so when did it become enjoying himself by the side of his right hand knight's side? dodging the balls held by his mother and whatnot, he didn't need to attend those... not when the light guiding his way had been right here all along.

you didn't even realize, usually no one did... but the red that skipped over the pores of his face were not just because of the unfunny jokes you continued to deliver with the utmost confidence, god, no. if anyone else were to tell him that the chicken crossed the road to knock on the ugly person's house; he wouldn't even bat an eye. he wouldn't even be having that conversation. because no one else could be his knight like you were.

he only started to realize that as kids, especially when you had completely switched off from wanting to become a duke/duchess like your parents; opting to becoming by his side until your perish arrives rather than to rarely see him... he always questioned if you had planned this from the beginning.

"i wanna be... i wanna be like my mom and dad." - "then i wanna be a king like my papa!" a small silence was shared between the two of you, just as much smaller, adorable children who knew nothing about the future and what it held. "...then i wanna be your knight!" you got up from the patch of grass you both laid beside each other on.

"but you just said you wanted to be like your parents..." - "well, someone has to protect you!"

so was it some spell you had cast on him... making him think about having a life with you, not one where you stood by his side- but where you sat. on the throne. made for the partner he wanted, god what was he thinking?!

maybe you were some evil villain who aimed to capture his heart! and use his soul for the bad and the worse! ...well it's a good thing you weren't, you never were. even his parents appreciated you, so would it be so daring to ask for your hand in marriage in front of the rest of this ball tonight?

could be... you know it's never impossible as long as you believe. but that's not what he wanted to do, not when you were here smiling like you had just been proposed to.

"oh, god... i remember when your father always told us those jokes as kids!" you let out a sharp exhale, breathlessly still charming from laughing too much. pushing his hair back as he does something similar, "oh yeah, but yours are waaay worse now." - "ohoh, really?"

"yeah really."

and that set off your hand dashes to poke at his sides, making him straighten his slouched back, lifting off the wall with an exclaim. you both were sat nicely up into the same childhood hangout, a little bunker made so neither of your guardians could find you two. a small place so they wouldn't separate you.

"ha... i really remember when your mom was literally shouting in here every single time, trying to find you..." bringing your knees to your chest, keeping your eyes on him as you continued to reminisce. "uhuh, yeah." the blonde simply nodded, and without meaning to- his mind filled with admiration for yours.

maybe it's the way your eyes sparkled, or how you kept your glow even as you stood tall by his throne whilst he continued to give food to citizens who might've been in any problems as of recent. helping out children find homes- he was a very public king, that much is very clear.

it could've been how differently you treat him compared to other people, you really were his.... his guard. and he wouldn't have it any other way. (he wouldn't have it allowed anyway)

so was he in the hopes you'd admire him back? juuuust a maybe.

albedo who first found you through school- academics was his life, you know, alchemy was everything to him. experiments, books, theories, it all was available to him as the second prince in line to the throne; the royal life was never meant for him. and although he never really meddled himself into the business his parents, and elder brother usually handled... they still gave him the choice to honor knighthood to one to stay by his side.

and there was only one face he recognized.

that was the first time anybody had seen his default stoic expression passed over his face; the only time people would witness the crease, the reveal of the charming dimples he had never shown off... "i... i would like to call up [last name], [name]."

you had always promised to stay by his side for as long as you two were 'friends'... so why was he shocked to see you here- trying out to become his shield, and protector, as well as the sword to fend off any who doubted him. in which most didn't, but better safe than sorry.

"'bedo! there you are! you're always in the lab!" you jumped over a puddle of... something... and walk over to where the blonde had been hidden. mixing with what you could say was- well you don't really know, but that's just another question to ask, right?

"oh, it seems you've found me once more." his voice was quiet, as per usual, sighing a breath of relief to see it was you rather than a professor scolding him again. dipping another substance into the mixture he had been swirling for a while now. "what's that?" - "just trying to prove my father wrong. i refuse to take royal etiquette, so he explained,"

you tilted your head at his pause before he silently told you to back your face away from the vial momentarily-

POOF!

a smoke of unknown substances had flown into the air, spreading glittery sparkles of teal everywhere, including his uniform and yours. "oh, gosh, my apologies, snowdrop." albedo had come up with a nickname for you based on his favorite season; and you had one for him too. "no- it's- oh... i think it's just.. getting worse, 'bedo..." you chuckled a little as his ungloved hands tried their best to rub the sparkle off of your face.

"you know what, if you really become prince―whether or not it is next in line for the throne―i promise to protect you." - "...could i ask why?" the blonde's cerulean orbs kept themselves concentrated on removing the dust off your face. "because i know no one else would deal with the stupid little experiments you do."

...

"i, albedo rhinedottir, honor you, [name] [last name] with official knighthood, not only to stay by my side, but also be willing to place your life on the line for my life." ― "i abide to these laws, i accept your blessing with open arms."

...

"hey." you tapped the blonde―now prince―with your armored foot lightly, making his gaze remove focus from the crowd in front of the thrones at the moment. "hello." he replies sternly, but i'm sure we all know what runs through his head.

the more you progressed into the night, the more you two got to talk, but some papers today say... second prince, albedo rhinedottir, spotted turning red at most recent ball whilst welcome newly knighted rookies! who must be on his mind?!

durin hadn't even spared a thought at becoming royalty, not even once. his mother never mentioned any relation towards the hierarchy- so who would know that he was the true missing third prince of queen rhinedottir's kingdom? it truly was unbeknownst to him, and to you as well. it was... it was a very hard send off for him when he had to wave you goodbye―

he shook his head, long purple hair following as durin panicked. "[name]... i don't want to-" yet you quickly had cut him off, your heart truly goes out to your childhood bestfriend. "rin, you have to go. i promise, on my heart, and within my soul... i will find you, and meet you again."

...

it had been a year... or two, and he hadn't even seen you in the crowd for his coronation. not even at the ball when his mother allowed one commoner to be invited into all the parties he'd like; where... where were you?

you had left him worried sick, terribly, terribly, and utterly concerned for your whereabouts. not a single one of his invites went through, his guards never ended up getting them to you. he needed to know what happened, why did you disappear so suddenly?

even leaving his aunt worried for how little sleep her nephew was getting.

that was only up until the week after, staying curled up by his window sill once more, knees up and on his chest while he leaned out to try and spot the things you would. he never realized how much he loved you by the time you left without a trace. not a single one.

"durin..." the lady knocked on the door as her heels clicked, walking inside the room hearing the silence. "durin, please come with me for a moment, it is your turn to choose a knight of the top five cadets this year." - "is it a must...?" sadness filled his tone like a bottle half-empty half-full, yet there was little hope to be seen inside.

"yes, my love. come along." picking himself up, head slung down with shoulders of the same stature, his steps were slow as he tried his best to find the energy to move.

"today marks the six hundred seventh cadet training selection! please, top five, present yourselves towards third prince: durin drachenhaft-rhinedottir."

he could barely get himself to stare at the choices displayed to him... until he finally made eye contact with the one he had been longing to see for about... seven hundred, and thirty five days now? no he hasn't been counting!.... yes he had been missing you.

"i-i would like you."

picking yourself up from the position from once kneeling and now getting up on your own two feet. you stood tall, chin up and head down. his maroon red eyes would recognize your [e/c] eyes anywhere. his eyes widened in awe at seeing you in armor, now he sees what you had meant by finding a way to meet again, and stay forever.

"we meet again." you smiled as you kept your posture while standing beside him at the ceremony. his throne placed right beside his brother albedo's. "i suppose we have." a wide grin replaces the once blank expression he held... until―

SMACK!

"ouch!, what was that for, prince?!" - "how dare you disappear for how long!"

scaramouche, who was better known as kunikuzushi to you, frequented around the lakes outside of his castle. he was often not observed by his mother, not when his older sister- a total, and complete carbon copy of their mother was taking the throne instead. making sure the koi fish in each pond were fed, and filled, even if it caused bothersome trouble back with the employees in the ivory walls he got to stay inside.

that's when he spotted someone beating him to it.

"hey. you." a bag of feed in his hands that seems of the best quality yet, his small stature made it easy to recognize how much he were to feed the scaly friends you had just made. "hi! are you here to feed them too? i just ran out!" and before he could reply, you were already roping his arm into splaying the bits of food into the water, watching the water animals happily munch away.

one.

now, it's already the next week, there he was, doing schoolwork and whatnot because he was a better student, and a better student knew better than to play rather than study when he was dropped off to learn at this stupid little building for average little nobles to learn at. that's when-

"hey! it's you!"

a familiar voice that made him turn his little head, dark blue hair that of a longer haircut that seemed to slightly resemble his elder sister's. "oh god, here we go." - "it's been a while since we saw each other... have you been feeding them?" you were charming, chiming in on his exclusively-homework-only time to do what... bother him about the fish? "yes. they're doing much better now that it's just me offering them treats." - "liar! they like me better!"

"nuh uh," "yuh huh!" "nuh uh!" "YUH HUH!" "i.. i will not scream in a scholarly institute." "haha, i win!" "no you don't!"

two.

a knock on his door this early? must be important. must be mother. the young scaramouche thought quietly, walking up to the door and opening it to see his elder sister. "hey, kuni. mother mentioned to call you, proceed there." - "tch, whatever." and the older shogunate princess simply scoffed at the young boy's snarky reply.

arriving at the throne room never felt important to him, not when his role in the kingdom was basically just status for him to find women and men alike to entertain him. "greetings, my son. please, have a seat."

oh my shogun. what were you doing. sitting across the seat his mother, the royal highness, queen dowager, raiden ei, was gesturing to?! what?!?!

oh but the little wandering mind the small kunikuzushi needed to keep his feeling all under the wall he's built, he didn't want you to win again... no he'd rather perish than to lose to you! although the little red on his cheeks did not help at all,

"this is [name] [last name], kuni. please greet them hello." - "h.... hello."

three.

three strikes and he would've blown a fuse, three strikes and he would've already been screaming to kick you out. especially with how you were basically towering over him when you had been assigned to guard him since childhood?! were you just destined to bother him forever?! god, what a headache!

even now as you two were older, the persistence you kept between the two of you of challenges never ended. but neither did your loyalty when you had heard of his decision to leave his kingdom for good―

"must you really follow me out here, pest?" scaramouche's voice of irritation was clear when it was as low as the ground could be to the mantle of the earth. rolling his eyes as he hears the rustle of the ground, and cracks of leaves while walking behind him. "i'm assigned to protect you, aren't i?"

you chuckled. of course you would chuckle. was this god's way of mocking him?! by making him blush whenever you laughed?!

four.

now you're really exceeding the limit over here, knight.

cw: yandere! durin, gn! reader, still kind of fluffy in a way? durin isn’t too yan, but still considerably is

durin wasn't one to really know about social cues, in a way he was still learning about them. but how was he supposed to know that what he was doing wasn't healthy?

well, he didn't.

it was often that you two roamed around together, adventuring the places neither of you had gone to all while you stayed by his side and acted as his own tour guide (to certain places). and honestly, it would be natural that he would develop something for you.

he didn't know whether or not it was love, or if it was some new foreign feeling, he was still learning just as much as you when it came to things; so maybe... maybe you were feeling it too?

he only started to realize these 'feelings' rise to its maximum when someone started to touch what he had subconsciously marked all for himself.

i guess you could never really take the dragon instincts out of your favorite purple-haired dragon because he couldn't handle watching this asshole of a classmate put his hand on your shoulder like you were... as close as you were to him.

he wasn't- he could never be, you were his friend. but could you really still call this just being... friends?

...

that's not what he cared about right now.

he just wanted to get this guy off of you, that's all. - "name? i think our order is... is here." you hadn't noticed the way his hands had been tightly grasping at his tail as he held it, his face was still somewhat indifferent in your eyes but all you could do was nod and smile.

what did albedo call that... oh right! he'd feel a little pissy whenever you did this, maybe you were doing this one purpose? if so, why would you keep doing the things you did with him, with others? it made his... blood boil!

was this a test? because it was already starting to get hard from holding back a spit of fire whenever people would interrupt the nice little 'hangouts' he created for you both. why... would there ever be anyone else in them if its meant to be just you two.

"you know, durin i really appreciate us spending so much time together..." you lean forward a little, smiling with all the sweetness the world could offer; gosh was this another gift his mother left him?

"i... i appreciate you too." - "i'm so thankful to have you as my best friend."

durin is surprised to say the least, you coudl go as far as to say you could not live without clinging to him at every movement. or maybe at the very least by holding his hand, or jumping to hug him from behind.

“and i believe… yes this is what you’re searching for, ‘bedo!” the purple-haired dragon walked forward to his manekin-like brother, “ah, thank you, durin. wait, watch out—”

it was too bad he couldn’t warn him beforehand,

you already had jumped onto his back, arms surrounding his shoulders as your weight leaned onto him. of course he had more than enough strength to hold you up, but its different when you catch him offguard.

“oh my archons—name!” - “hi ‘rin!”

he honestly didn’t really mind, he was more than happy to be the receiver of your… what were they called, hugs! durin was definitely one to reciprocate it most of the time.

“i’m sorry, mister black cat… but i cannot leave! there is…” he loses himself through his sentence, of course he did not mean to take up prince’s bed again… but look at how you were clung arm-to-arm.