#fbofw

Chapter Fourteen (Finale)

ao3 link || read from the start

Rating: M (language, sexual references and humour)

Relationships: Asoryuu (romantic) Kazuma Asougi and Gina Lestrade, Kazuma Asougi and Barok van Zieks, Kazuma Asougi and Susato Mikotoba (platonic)

Chapter CWs: DGS 2 spoilers

Preview:

For a moment Ryunosuke’s expression hardens, his brow furrowing with a familiar conviction, and Kazuma thinks he’s about to object. Then it softens as he lets out a sigh and slowly nods. “I… I understand what you mean. But you have to allow yourself some happiness – and I don’t care whether you think you deserve it,” he says, returning Kazuma’s rebuttal before he has the chance to make it. “What good is punishing yourself? Or anyone, for that matter. You should be happy. Even with everything you’ve done. And I think you know that, deep down.” There it is again. That unwavering resolve. That stubborn refusal to give up on him, no matter how much has changed between them. It would be utterly infuriating if Kazuma weren’t so hopelessly in love with him. ‘I really don’t deserve him,’ he thinks. ‘But… maybe that’s not the point. Maybe I don’t have to deserve him.’

A confession, and a new beginning.

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HERE IT IS! The final part of For Better or For Worse. My baby is complete. Thank you for all the lovely comments you've left on all the chapters and I hope this is a good and satisfying ending for you all!!

Violet Beardlsey <3

(dgs / tgaa OC) ie. youve heard of ocs made to marry ur fav now get ready for oc made to marry ur least fav but its a beard marriage used as the background to explore another character's sexuality and relationships in a historical context.

[IDs in alt text, click for better quality]

well, with the epilogue posted, this officially concludes the fbofw series. i wanted to thank you all so much for the constant support and excitement around the fics - it’s crazy to me that a simple idea i posted turned into a series like this. it truely means a lot that you all read and liked the content to put out, i really can’t thank you all enough

as always - feel free to send in questions about the series, reread it, or even tell me your thoughts!!

Chapter Thirteen

ao3 link || read from the start

Rating: M (language, sexual references and humour)

Relationships: Asoryuu (romantic) Kazuma Asougi and Gina Lestrade, Kazuma Asougi and Barok van Zieks, Kazuma Asougi and Susato Mikotoba (platonic)

Chapter CWs: DGS 2 spoilers, implied outing/homophobia and infidelity

Preview:

Ryunosuke tightens his grip on his hand again as the first few spots of rain start to fall from the thick grey clouds overhead. “Hey,” he says quietly, “It’s okay–” “No!” For the first time, Kazuma raises his voice. It cuts sharply through the quiet of the garden, enough to make Ryunosuke flinch. “No,” he repeats, tearing his hand away from his partner’s to run an agitated hand through his hair. “It’s not – You know, this whole time, I’ve been so… so angry. I’ve told myself that even now, even after finding the truth and gaining some semblance of justice for my father, I still lost so much. That there was a world where he’d come home, where everything would've been fine, and that our family would be whole. The ends justified the means. Justified my anger. Justified everything… But now what?”

Kazuma finally breaks. And maybe, starts to put things back together.

–

guess whose fic is no longer on hiatus. This is the penultimate chapter!!! All in all this part has been over a year in the making. I'm so grateful to everyone who is still here (or even ppl who are new. hi :3 ) and has left comments, kudos, etc. it really means a lot!!!! despite the break i have always loved writing this fic and im so glad so many people have enjoyed it!!!!

Chapter Twelve

ao3 link || read from the start

Rating: M (language, sexual references and humour)

Relationships: Asoryuu (romantic) Kazuma Asougi and Gina Lestrade, Kazuma Asougi and Barok van Zieks, Kazuma Asougi and Susato Mikotoba (platonic)

Chapter CWs: DGS 2 spoilers, implied outing/homophobia and infidelity

Preview:

She laughs. “Well, I know where I should go for any future weddings I have." She picks up her wine glass as she grins, her engagement and wedding rings catching the light of the candelabra. "Just in case of a divorce."

Kazuma wants to say it’s a joke – the sparkle in the newly-wed Lady van Zieks’ eyes and the mirth in her words certainly suggests so. But she’s also the kind of person who will find humour in even the gravest of statements and there’s rarely a way to tell if she is, in fact, being serious. Ryunosuke lets out a chuckle beside him, though his superior’s tight-lipped smile that borders on a wince feels a tad more appropriate. Despite the glare her father is giving her, it thankfully seems like the table is more than happy to move on from her statement; at least until the scraping of a chair on the polished hardwood floor below cuts through the tension as a guest abruptly moves to leave.

... After the ceremony, revelations are made and lessons are unlearned.

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Chapter Eleven

ao3 link || read from the start

Rating: M (language, sexual references and humour)

Relationships: Asoryuu (romantic) Kazuma Asougi and Gina Lestrade, Kazuma Asougi and Barok van Zieks, Kazuma Asougi and Susato Mikotoba (platonic)

Chapter CWs: DGS 2 spoilers, religion/Christianity, referenced homophobia, alcohol

Preview:

Eventually, the seemingly endless prayers and readings and constant reminders that marriage is sacred and holy and definitely not the cover that it’s being used as comes to an end. The gold of the wedding bands catch the flickering candlelight as they are presented and the priest speaks again.

“First I am required to ask anyone present, that if you know any impediment, why this man and woman may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony–”

Kazuma looks up.

“-- You must declare it now, or forever hold your peace.”

For a brief moment, he swears sees his mentor’s line of sight shift. From his bride, to his friend sat in the front row, to his apprentice sat in the middle. His gaze hardens, eyes narrowed slightly. A warning. Then, as quickly as it seems to have happened, Van Zieks looks back at Violet. ... In which Kazuma attends his first English wedding.

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