Back in Your Arms; C. Stressmonster x Reader x C. Iskall
Happy underrated hermits week! The fantastically talented @boop-ity came up with the idea to dedicate a week to posting fics for hermits we feel aren’t written for enough, and I am thrilled to participate! I adore Stress and Iskall, and there aren’t nearly enough fics about either of them on this website!
In which Y/n finds solace in their lovers’ embrace after a long day
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Y/n had always been a perfectionist.
It was their fatal flaw - the trait they were always slowest to admit for fear of being teased. They couldn’t help but follow things through until they were without mistakes or inaccuracies. It was hard to allow projects to go unfinished when they could so easily sacrifice days of sleep and proper health to complete something to its fullest potential.
That was how they found themself awake at some odd hour of the night, wiping sweat from their forehead and leaning against a nearby tree for support. Before them: a tall, finally completed, project.
Y/n beamed at it. Having dedicated many days and nights to the creation, they could finally say it was done to perfection. All of the kinks had been worked out, the color pallette was fantastic, they were truly proud.
They heaved a huge sigh of relief that they hadn’t even realized they’d been holding on to. As it escaped their lips, they began to feel the weight of their neglect to their body. Their shoulders ached with tension, their knees bruised from hours of crouching into small spaces to fix tiny details. Their eyes were heavy with sleep, and Y/n wondered, briefly, how big and dark the eyebags they’d surely acquired would be.
Unsurprised by their body’s reaction to their perfectionism, Y/n yawned and decided it was finally time to retire. Afterall, they had days worth of sleep to catch up on.
Picking up their elytra from a nearby shulker box, (they’d deal with the chest monster another day), Y/n tugged on their wings and readied their rockets. They took off with a bang, soaring up into the clouds so they could collect enough momentum to go home.
‘Where is home today?’ they thought silently, trying to recall what Stress had told them earlier. They hadn't been trying to ignore her, they’d just been so caught up with their work…
Y/n wracked their brain carefully, trying to remember the way that her lips had moved when she’d informed them where she and Iskall would be sleeping for the night. The hermits had yet to make a combined base as it was so early in the season, so they typically switched between homes to all spend nights together. It worked well for them.
Just barely, Y/n could recall Stress mentioning something about a cave.
“Must be Iskall’s then,” they thought aloud, altering their direction to head toward the cavern in question.
They soared in soon after, coming to a gentle landing on the stone flooring. Or at least, as gentle as a sleep-deprived, winged-hermit possibly could. They caught their footing and pulled off their elytra to set it on a stack of things nearby.
The cave had flourished since they’d been gone. Y/n were quick to notice a few new additions to their partner’s home. There was a more reasonable access to the amethyst farm, a staircase decorated with hanging plants. Most noticeably, however, was a large statue made of diorite which appeared to have been built in a corner.
Y/n quirked an eyebrow at the shrine, deciding they’d have to ask Iskall about it another time. For now, they needed to find the bed.
They wandered off in the direction they remembered to be toward the bedroom, careful not to make another sound. Peering in through the doorway, Y/n caught sight of two masses on the bed.
Stress was closest to the door, sleeping on her back with her head turned inward. She was facing Iskall, who was laying nearly on top of her, his head on her rising and falling chest, and his arms flung over her tummy.
Y/n saved a mental image of their lovers, entering the bedroom without another thought. Looking to the dresser, they sorted through the clothes for something suitable for bedtime. Many of their own items had ended up at Iskall’s base since the start of the season, but they still found themself reaching for their partner’s clothing rather than their own. Y/n made quick work of putting on the pajamas.
“Finally decided to join us, hmm?”
Y/n jumped out of surprise, movements faltering for only a second. Attempting to quell their racing heart, they finished pulling the bottoms over their legs and spun back towards the bed.
Stress was staring at them, blinking her eyes slowly. The sleepy smile she wore seemed to widen upon sight of her lover’s face. She made a move to sit up in bed, sliding upwards only a little bit before Iskall began to shift. Worried she’d wake him, Stress decided to stay put.
“I missed you,” Y/n replied, finding their way over to her in the dark.
They sat down on the side of the bed, pausing to cover their mouth as a yawn forced its way out of their mouth. Feeling a gentle touch on their back, Y/n couldn’t help but lean into the physical contact. Long nails rubbed circles on their skin, sliding under their shirt in a way that communicated no ulterior motives, only pure adoration.
“Wouldn’t ‘ave to miss me if you’d just come to bed like a normal person,” Stress teased under her breath.
Y/n chuckled quietly and shook their head. They knew she was right, but they also couldn’t see themself overcoming their unhealthy dedication to their work anytime soon.
“I’m here now, aren’t I?” They answered instead, pulling their legs up onto the mattress. Turning around to face their partners, Y/n sat up on their knees. Stress’ hand fell between them, landing on their leg.
Y/n leaned down closer to the woman. Using one hand to brace themself on the sheets, they cupped her face with the other and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Stress’s hair smelled like strawberry conditioner, and Y/n couldn’t help but move their fingers from her jaw to the brown, silken locks.
“Y/n’s here?”
Iskall’s voice was rough with sleep. He was beginning to sit up, though his eyes remained shut.
Y/n leaned up from Stress, observing as their partner attempted to find them with his hands. He was grasping at the air, face contorted into a look of determination.
Stress rolled her eyes, guiding his limb to Y/n’s. They squeezed his palm in theirs, pulling it up to their lips to kiss the back of it.
“Come to my side of the bed,” Iskall demanded, provoking a gasp from the woman in between them. Y/n could make out a shadow of a smirk on his lips, and they couldn't help but laugh at his childish request.
“You can’t just steal them from me!” Stress argued, though Y/n could tell she wasn’t really upset. There was a lightheartedness to her tone.
“They already greeted you. My turn.” Iskall retaliated, gently tugging on their arm to encourage them to move closer.
“You got a kiss too! We’re even,” Stress reasoned, only to be met with a shake from Iskall’s head.
“Not enough. Need more.”
Y/n bit the inside of their cheek, used to their partners’ bickering. These sorts of clingy debates were fairly common between their lovers.
“Well, what about the middle of us?” Stress gave in, raising an eyebrow at Iskall. He’d given up on sitting up by this point, his head still on her chest.
Iskall was silent for only a second before he made a hum of affirmation, rolling off of Stress to make room for Y/n in between them.
Cheering for her success at coming up with a solution, Stress scooted over as well, patting the space in between them.
Y/n climbed over Stress, careful not to step on either of their partners. They slid under the covers as strong arms wrapped around their middle. Their back was pulled against a pillowy chest, a face burying itself in the back of their neck.
Iskall’s breath was hot on their skin, his beard tickling the exposed flesh. It was an endearingly familiar touch, and so, Y/n leaned into it.
Moments later, Stress shuffled closer to them. Y/n was quick to pull her into their embrace, resting their chin on top of her head as the woman nestled into them.
The three laid there, cocooned in each other and breathing quietly. Y/n could feel the inviting call of rest pulling them into the dark. They smiled to themself and accepted its invitation without hesitation. In the arms of their lovers, they fell asleep at last.
