#mountain x reader

I had always loved gardening, from harvesting veggies to pruning and caring for delicate flowers. So when I joined the clergy, I naturally gravitated towards Primo’s beautiful garden, which was full of lush greenery. During my first few visit, always seen this one Ghoul in there watering, weeding, and fertilizing all the different plants that was in the greenhouse (Even the ones he kept away in a locked room) As Siblings of Sin we were always told not to mind the Ghouls as they were non-violent towards humans as long as we didn’t aggravate them. Yet, I've still seen Sisters and Brothers alike taunting the Ghouls. Lucky for them, they had chosen the calmer ghouls to tease, including the one always gardening.

 After I finished my first week at the Ministry, I learned it was hard not to see Ghouls everywhere, and I didn’t mind them. The retired ghouls were spread out through the Ministry, with some helping out in the library and others helping the retired papas move around the Ministry with their old age. Once I was moved to be one of Papa Terzo’s helpers, and he had introduced me to his loyal ghoul companion, Omega, who then made me fear the ghouls a little less. Eventually, I had gotten moved from Terzo’s helpers to help keep the ministry clean, but by then I had already won over Papa’s heart, so he had me move to sweeping up the greenhouse so it would be less work, and he must've remembered all the talks we had about different plants. 

On the first day of my new cleaning duty, I didn’t talk to the ghoul, but on the second day he asked me, “Do you like to listen to music?” I was, of course, shocked to hear his voice. For a ghoul so tall, I hadn’t expected him to have the kindest voice. “Of course I do.” The ghoul hummed and walked over to a small desk in the corner I hadn’t noticed yesterday and connected his phone to a speaker, and started playing the opening to Absolution. “You listen to the music the band makes?” I nodded my head as a reply, “I like Infesstium, but don’t tell Papa Terzo that.” he gave me a small laugh. “I’m Mountain.” I told him my name and he nodded, “Nice to meet you. Do you like plants or are you just on cleaning duty?” I frowned. “Cleaning duty, but I do like plants, so it’s not all too bad.” He smiled at me as he kneeled back down over a flower bed, grabbing his tools to plant new vegetables. I went back to sweeping, but this time we kept an idle chat as we worked until the clocks hit 6, which meant it was time to head down to the dining hall to eat, then have free time before we got to our rooms for the night. 

As Mountain and I walked down to the dining hall, he asked, “I'm guessing you’ve been here for about…two weeks?” I gave a nervous laugh. “Is it that obvious?”  He smiled at me, “Totally. For one, most Brothers wear belts with their uniforms because Dew will pants you at least once that or wear shorts under your uniform, either works. Plus, the pin on your shirt isn’t in the right spot. Don’t worry, you'll get in a week or so.” I hummed “I don't usually see you at dinner either so that's either means you don’t eat in the Dining Hall or your new.” he said turning to look at me as we walked down the mostly empty hallway “Well it's both actual, most of the Brothers found me too weird cause I ate lunch with Omega once so they don’t seem to like me very much, I usually take my food down to my room or the library.” He took a second before asking, “I can eat dinner with you. I mean, I don’t like the Dining hall very much anyway, cause it wasn’t made with ghouls in mind.” I'm sure he noticed the confused look on my face. “How so?” I asked, wanting him to elaborate further, “Well, you know the chandeliers that hang over the tables?” I gave him a hum in response, “Those aren't very good for us Earth ghouls if you have long horns like I do. Also, most of the water ghouls complain that they have fabric chairs because their skin is naturally moist, and the fabric chairs get uncomfortable to sit in after a while. Plus, you want fire ghouls sitting in a place full of old wooden tables with flammable linen tablecloths?” I picture the outcome of all for those ‘I never realized that, I would've thought they would make the Ministry more accessible for the ghouls though?” he gave a sad sigh “Sadly, most Siblings are scared of us. When I was first summoned, the idea was floating around of making a whole different building to keep us in, but Terzo voted not to. He’s done a lot to try and make life better for us here, especially now that he’s retired.” We had reached the tall wooden doors, where Mountain opened them for me. We had grabbed our plates of food and snuck out of the dining hall, trying to avoid any of the higher-ranking Sisters or any of the Cardinals. I hadn’t realized where we were headed until Mountain pulled me into the usually locked room in the Greenhouse. In the corner, there was a small metal table with two chairs, so we sat down and ate our food as we talked. 

After a while, we had fallen into a rhythm of heading to the greenhouse at around 12 and doing our respective chores until dinner time at 6, where we’d sneak off to the locked room to eat before he’d walk me to my room in the Brothers’ wing of the Ministry. Today, however, was a Saturday, which means we had the day off. I was peacefully sitting in my room reading the bible I had checked out from the library when my room’s phone rang. I walked over to the phone and picked it up from its hook. “Hello?” I asked the phone's receiver, “Hey….. come down to the greenhouse, I got a fun surprise for you.” His voice was…weird. He sounded drunk, but it being only 4 pm, I had to deem that incorrect. Plus, I hadn’t even seen Mountain drink anything stronger than that Great Northern brand beer he drank. I put on my uniform and walked downstairs to the greenhouse, where I opened the door to the locked room with the key he had given me a few weeks back. As I opened the door, a wave of smoke hit me. “Mount?” I asked to see him sitting on a small couch, smoking a joint. “Come join me, Sunshine,” he said, scooting over on the couch. “I’ve never smoked before,” I replied by fixing the door to keep smoke from leaving the room before walking over to the couch. He invited me to join. “Put it to your lips, but since it’s your first, don’t inhale, just let the smoke gently go in, alright?” he said calmly. I followed his instructions, but as the weed hit my lungs, I pulled back a coughed a little. He patted my “You’re alright, Sprout.” He said calmly. 

About an hour passed, and after a rhythm of Puff and Pass, we had smoked the joint down to a bud, where Mountain put it out on the ashtray nearby before moving to sit comfortably on the couch. We had heard the bell for dinner, which meant nobody was in the hallway, so he had picked me up and carried me off to his room since I was too high to even notice anything. He sat me down on the couch in his room and put a movie on the TV for me before grabbing snacks and coming to sit down. I hadn’t noticed it, but I had started to cuddle up with him. While we watched the movie, I was lying my head on his stomach while he ran his clawed hands through my hair. I let out a weak hum. “Mount? Do siblings ever date ghouls?” He gave it a second. “Sometimes, but mostly the Siblings don’t like it. Why are you asking, Sprout?” “'Cause you’re like so pretty, but in the ethereal way you know?” I mumbled without realizing the real weight of my words, “Sprout…” Mountain said, holding my face in his hands, “Mind if I kiss you?” I asked him, to which he smiled at me, “Sprout, I couldn’t say no to you if I tried.” I remember leaning forward and planting my hands in the hair at the back of his neck, and her hand was resting on his back, pulling him closer to me. “Sprout, let's get you to bed.” He said before carrying me off the couch and lying down on his bed. He gently took off my shoes and put them on the floor of his room before taking off my jacket and gently undoing my belt so it wouldn’t stab me while I was sleeping. In the process, he saw the band of the shorts I had on under my uniform's pants. “Sprout, I'm gonna put you in one of my shirts, okay?” I gave a small hum, to which he grabbed one of his shirts and put it over me carefully to take off my uniform's button-up underneath without seeing me without my shirt on, cause I was way too high for that. Once I was in more comfortable clothes, he laid me back in his bed before he got himself changed and turned off the lights. I cuddled up to him immediately as he laid down. I put my head on his chest and mumbled, more sober than earlier, “Love you, Mount.” he gave a small chuckle at my voice. “You coming back down, Sprout?” he asked, to which I just groaned. “Love you too, Sprout.” He said before I gently fell asleep to the soft purrs Mountain made as he wrapped his tail around my waist.

Sunlight glinted through the gaps between the tree leaves as we walked through the Ministry orchard, rows of trees sprouted up from the earth as far as the forests surrounding us. It was still fairly early in the morning with the sun still rising and the slight chill in the autumnal air. I breathed in the fresh air and exhaled, a smile forming across my lips at the scent of the earth and dewy blades of grass below my feet.

Mountain walked at my side with his hands full, after insisting on carrying baskets for all the apples we and his assistants would pick from the orchard today. A team of Siblings and earth ghouls were already starting the work at the farthest rows.

We met them and started to work at the following unpicked rows. Several baskets were laid out over the ground and most Siblings leaned a ladder against the apple tree trunks, trying not to miss a single fruit hanging off the branches.

“I'll grab a ladder and we can get started on helping.” Mountain offered just before I was going to say something. 

He was very skilled at anticipating my thoughts or requests of him, especially for a non-quintessence ghoul. I stood in place, observing the nearest tree and trying to spot all the apples it had grown before climbing up. The leaves usually liked to grow in a way that covered the fruit, hiding it from sight until the person picking the apples came down from the ladder. I was mentally mapping out where they were before going up, thinking maybe it would save some time. 

Mountain returned to me, though empty-handed, “No other ladders are left, but I was thinking you could just get up on my shoulders.”

“But, Mountain, your back- ”

“It’ll be fine.” He insisted calmly, amiably kneeling before me and gesturing for me to seat myself over his shoulders.

“Just for this tree. And I’ll work quickly.” I bartered firmly, holding my arms crossed over my chest.

He shrugged, “I won’t mind, it won’t be a problem. If it makes you feel better, you can help me with setting a salve on my back later.”

“Deal.” I nodded and walked over behind him, carefully seating myself over his shoulders.

Mountain held around my knees with his hands, slowly stepping up on one leg and balancing our combined weight together. He took a breath and shifted our weight again, then quickly brought up his other leg. I gently held at his horns, grateful that I could use them as handles. Mountain took a moment to hold his balance with me perched on his shoulders. His appearance transformed a moment later: fur growing over his enlarged hands, horns sprouting longer from his thick hair, flowers and ivy throughout the waving strands, his height growing up beside the tree, and his shoulders broadening as a stabler seat for me. 

“Good?” He asked, his voice deeper and gruffer than before.

“Yes, thank you. I can actually reach a lot from here.” I remarked, looking up at the tree’s highest branches just over my head.

My hand reached out, grasping for a red-yellow streaked apple. I managed to tug it off the highest branch, tucking it into the sack resting aside my hip with its handle across my body. Mountain stood patiently, holding my legs and standing perfectly still. Awkwardly maneuvering my body around to reach for the apples lower down and further from my arm’s length, I managed to fill the sack within a few minutes then passed it to Mountain. The earth ghoul emptied it into a larger basket, delicately enough not to bruise the apples, and passed it back up to me.

“Are you okay? Does your back hurt?” I glanced down at him once I fastened the sack around my shoulders and torso.

“I’m good.” He answered, clearing his throat slightly. 

“I don’t have much longer up here.” I assured him.

Mountain didn’t say a word, patient and uncomplaining, but I knew he wouldn’t tell me if his back was starting to hurt or if he wanted me down. So, I tried to make quick work of the rest of the tree. I pulled all the nearest apples off the branches then instructed him on where to step so I could reach the last few still left on the tree. Mountain took the next full sack down and emptied it, then handed it back up to me. When I tried to protest, he gave me a look and pointed out the handful of apples still left hanging up on the tree branches.

“Mountain…” I whined.

“Finish.” He insisted.

I sighed and guided him again, to the last few apples still left amongst the branches. The sun was starting to warm up the air as it rose higher in the sky. Siblings chatted around the ground and in between the trees below. It was a sweet scene, or at least it would’ve been if I wasn’t worried about Mountain hiding his discomfort from me. I peeked around the branches one last time and asked him to let me down when I made sure no other apples were left tucked behind the branches or leaves. 

Mountain was equally as careful in his process of letting me back down to the ground, landing on one of his knees before shakily bringing the other down beside it. My legs still dangled over the grassy earth with Mountain still somewhat un-glamoured from his demonic form and I reminded him of the fact. Instead of finishing his transformation back, he reached his hands back to hold the backsides of my thighs and lifted me from where I had been sitting on his shoulders.

I squealed in shock and tried to be still for him despite that, closing my eyes in fear of falling until I felt my feet land on the solid ground.

“Good?” He inquired.

“Good.” I nodded in agreement. “Thank you for being so helpful, but I’m not going to continue unless there’s a ladder I can use this time.”

“I’m fine.” He insisted. 

“It’s easier for me with the ladder. And that way you can pick some of the lower-hanging apples too.” I argued, trying to convince him towards my side.

He gave me a stubborn look but reached out to take my hand in his, pulling me in closer and making the massive difference in our height terribly obvious as I tilted my head up to look at him, “I’ll let you have your way this time. Thank you for caring for me.”

“Of course.” I smiled. “Now get started without me, I’ll come back once I have a ladder.”

"I know, I know," you set the basket down on your own workbench and try to ignore the sound of Mountain's footsteps, that too long stride approaching. You continue to ignore him as he kisses Primo's cheek and pulls the first Papa in for a tight hug. You do your best to not listen to that soft, deep, velvety voice talking to your Papa, regaling him with adventures from the road. The road he left you for. The glory and fame he left you for.

Silence falls and it's louder than the angry, little heart pounding in your chest, your blood - filled with white-hot rage - nearly deafens you as it surges through your veins, "I'm going to find some sangria," Primo laughs, shaking his head. He pats your shoulders, leaning in close, "Try not to kill him, dear. It will make a terrible mess."

You harrumph but neither confirm nor deny your plans for Mountain. You'd like to suck his soul out of his cock. You'd also like to kill him. Such is life though, the ups and downs. Primo leaves, shuffling through his emerald kingdom before slipping out the door, the little bells on the old, iron handle singing their goodbyes to their old, handsome Papa.

You continue to ignore the ghoul behind you. You can feel his eyes boring into your back, the tension rising with each breath you take; you do your best to keep your temper under control. Your hands shake and your lip twitches. You're sure you're sporting a Secondo-esque vein popping out on your forehead.

Mountain exhales and it's tinged with a groan of annoyance. You don’t even let him start, "You know what?" you turn, pointing your trowel at him, "I was doing fine. Really, and then. You waltz back in like you didn’t break my heart."

"I didn't mean," Mountain starts and you hold up your hand, silencing him. He blessedly obeys, folding his arms and shutting his mouth.

"You," you're voice warbles with emotion and it doesn't help anything at all, your spillways are threatening to break any second and then you’ll both be in trouble, "you're the one who said no attachments."

"I didn't think I'd get attached. I didn't think you would get attached," Mountain says, dropping his gaze, rolling the toe of his shoe on the floor, “I didn’t realize how I attached I was. I’ve never-,” he tries to explain but you cut him off again.

"No attachments?" you laugh, "You call all of that no attachments? That was just... just casual?"

"Baby, I -," Mountain starts and you silence him once more, poking him in the chest, glaring up at him. Damn him for being so tall and damn him for being so hot. Damn him for making you fall in love with him and damn him for leaving. And dammit all, damn him for coming back!

"Don't even think about calling me baby, you ass," you snarl, "All of those months, a whole year, tell me please," you hiss, "Tell me one more time how casual it was. Because it didn't feel casual when you fucked me in front of everyone on the altar. It didn't feel casual with you on your knees in front of me, mouth on me like," you lose your breath for a second, your cheeks turning red at the thought. Memories flood back, whether you like them to or not, and it's more than your eyes getting wet now, "It wasn't casual when my things were in your room. And it wasn't casual when I said I loved you. You said you loved me," you sniffle, wiping your cheeks with the back of your hand, "Mountain, fuck you. Fuck you for putting me on your arm and parading me around and making me think," your breath catches in your throat and you turn back to your herbs, throwing the trowel against the wall. You put your hands flat on the table and hang your head, crying quietly, "You know what? I don’t care. Just leave me alone."

It's quiet for a long time. You stand there crying, watching your tears make big splotches on the old, wooden table you're hunched over. Mountain standing behind you, still staring. He’s still for a long time and when he finally does move, you're awash with relief to know he's finally going. And then you feel him, right up against you, "If that was casual then I want to be casual with you for the rest of my life."

You shake your head, "No, I'm not falling for that."

"Turn around and look at me," Mountain says.

"You left," You obey, facing him, working up a glare that has even this old ghoul recoiling a bit, "You broke my heart."

"And it was and will continue to be the greatest mistake of my life and I am so, so sorry."

You blink up at Mountain, brow knit in confusion while your brain buffers. This is not how this conversation was going to go. You were going to tell him to fuck off at best. At worst he was leaving this greenhouse with a trowel in his temple. But no - you had not imagined it going this way. You had not even allowed yourself to fantasize the idea of Mountain coming back to you after all this time away. Your anger comes back in full force, "Not a fat chance in heaven," you shake your head, "You don't get to dump me like that, skip off on tour, fuck every Sibling that looks cross-eyed at you for months on end and then just come home and expect me to lay down and put out for you. No way. Not a chance."

Mountain stares at you, the corner of his mouth twitching upwards, "You're so goddamn stubborn."

"And you're an asshole. We're even," you narrow your eyes at him, "Stop smiling like that. It makes me wanna deck you."

"I didn't fuck anybody."

You're buffering, again. Ghouls don't lie. They're not incapable of it, they just don't have the fear and self-preservation and general shitty, human emotions twisted up in their hearts like we do. But this is a whole blue screen moment, "I don't believe you."

Mountain shrugs, "Still the truth."

You're standing there, slow blinking up at Mountain with your mouth hanging open. You shake your head, "Why?"

Mountain shrugs, again, "I didn't want anybody else."

"You didn't even call."

"You blocked my number,” he says, matter-of-factly. Cause it is a fact. He continues, “And then you blocked Dew's. And then you blocked everyone else's, too," he smirks. You look away and Mountain catches your chin with those long fingers you missed so much, pulling your gaze back to his, "I'm sorry," he takes your hand and presses it to his heart and your breath catches in your throat, "I'm sorry," he says again and you bring your eyes up to meet his and you see that those lovely, emerald and bronze eyes are shining with tears. This time, "I'm sorry,” his voice is the one shaking now, “And I will do anything to earn your forgiveness. Anything. Please, please forgive me.”

This time you believe him and you stare up at your ghoul, every inch of you wants him. You squeeze your thighs together, begging your body to calm down for just a few more minutes, “you left me, Mountain,” you whisper.

“Never again,” he says, cupping your cheeks, “Never.”

"You promise?" you look up at him, your hands on his wrists, tears spilling over, again.

Mountain nods, "I promise."

You throw you arms around Mountain's neck and he lifts you off the ground, feet dangling as he kisses you, "This goes against all of my morals, standards and general plan to never speak to you, again. Just so you know. I’ve thrown my scruples to the wind.”

Mountain kneels and brings you with him, laying you flat on the warm, hard floor, "that’s okay. You don't have to speak at all for this," he pulls off his mask and tosses it to the side, metal clanging on the cement. Your heart pounds in your chest and though the last few pangs of hurt and anger pulse through your veins, they are wholly overpowered by the ever present and frustratingly powerful need to be with Mountain. He pushes himself up onto his knees and you take his remark as an order and obey; keeping quiet, gazing at your ghoul. He pushes your dress up - big, hot hands sliding up your thighs, spreading them wide. His eyes flick up to yours to find you're not wearing underwear and you grin, a blush creeping along your chest. Still, you bite your lip and keep quiet.

Mountain has to hunch, curling over, as he wraps his arms around your waist and brings your center to his mouth. Your hands tangle in the mess of long, dark curls. He moans, mouth locking onto you, tongue rolling through the lines of your flesh, circling the tender entrance and teasing your throbbing clit, "M-Mount -," you start to whine, hips bucking, entire body aching for that first release after months of being absent his touch. His hand snakes up your chest, pauses to paw at you for a moment before cupping your jaw, his thumb against your lip, tracing the bow and curve until you open, sucking his finger into your mouth. He groans and the vibration sends waves of white-hot pleasure radiating through your body. You arch, Mountain pulling you up a bit, until you're looking behind you, stretched out, gasping for breath, orgasm after orgasm rolling through you. It's hard to see, let alone think and it takes a moment to realize you're staring at the perfect, onyx and ruby hem of Papa Emeritus the First's chasuble.

You flatten yourself out a bit, eyes sliding up to meet Primo's. He's standing there, hands on his hips, long-suffering look plastered on his painted face, unimpressed eyebrow arched high, "You didn't even invite me," he huffs. Mountain coughs, choking on spit and slick and surprise.

"Papa - what the fu-," he starts and, still coughing, grins up at Primo - surprise fading to devious smile, "There's always room for you."

"I am too old for floor fucking," Primo steps over you, "I just came to finish up with my flowers," he disappears down the long line of overgrown tropicals and vines, "Don't mind me," he calls, "Carry on, little lovers."

You smile at Mountain, his hands find your hips and he grinds your hot, wet center against his hard, tented pants, "Hardly casual," he groans, breath catching as you slick his trousers and slide against the outline of his cock.

"Oh, well if it is just casual," you lean up to kiss him and then take the ghoul by the horns, pushing him back down, "Baby, get me off, again," you exhale. Mountain smirks at you but doesn't argue, raising an eyebrow as he licks you from bottom to top, eyes flashing with lust.