#xgn!reader

Vergil:

Vergil.exe has stopped computing. Rebooting. Rebooting.

Vergil would most likely to be the type where if it were anyone else, you know they'd likely be getting a hell of an annoyed glare by the time they wake up. That, or they'd be carefully moved to sleep in a different position at least. Granted you still may get a small lecture even as his crush if you've been neglecting your body and not getting enough rest. It's a lecture out of love and concern he swears.

Though, fortunately for his crush, they unknowingly have a number of benefits with Vergil. And fortunately getting to peacefully sleep on his shoulder gets to be one of them.

Fortunately with being half devil, both him and Dante are basically living furnaces, so he can't entirely blame them for deciding to make him their nearest pillow. Doesn't mean he at all knows how to react at first when it happens, of course. It wouldn't be surprising if he froze up at first, determined to not move a muscle to risk waking you up and having an even more awkward moment to deal with.

Congrats, you get to have sleeping-cat-on-lap privileges. And unless there is an emergency great enough to warrant him moving, Vergil is likely not going to budge an inch as mentioned. Man would probably have a book on hand anyway to read while you slept, moving ever so carefully as he did.

He does ponder about what to say when you do inevitably wake up, going over various scenarios in his head so as not to make a fool out of either of you. The last thing he needs is to give Dante or even Nero any material for future teasing.

Dante finding out about his not-so-secret pining was a headache enough with what he gets every time you're somehow brought up in conversation. The walls and furniture of Dante's shop have scarcely known a stay of not being impaled since.

Much like his brother, Vergil has secretly thought about little moments like this, little private moments of intimacy and trust the two of you might share; especially on late nights and gloomy rainy days that are perfect for cuddling on the sofa while Vergil reads. Preferably reading to you if you'd be interested in listening, even if its just something to help you fall asleep.

It's one of his favorite day dreams that always fills his chest with a warm and pleasant flutter (even compared to the ones that leave him preoccupied with the last minute cold showers that last much longer than usual).

Nero:

Similar to Vergil, Nero has that awkward moment where he's not entirely sure what to do, eventually going the route where he tries to play it cool and act like it's no big deal or anything. Not like his heart is secretly racing what feels like a million miles an hour while he tries to "get his head together."

So long as nothing big is going on, he'll likely try to find something to keep his mind occupied while you blissfully slept. No point in getting more flustered than he already was, and god forbid Nico or Dante saw him like this. He'd never hear the end of it knowing them.

Nero would undoubtedly try to make sure there was little noise around while you did, even giving Nico the stink eye if she decides to be her usual loud self. Hell, the teasing will be tolerable if she can at least do it when you're not around and definitely not while you're passed out on his shoulder. If you saw him as flushed and embarrassed as he was, he think he might just spontaneously combust on the spot. Or at least he quietly hopes he will anyway.

Is definitely the type where he'd try to find ways to make you more comfortable while you sleep. Are you shivering at all? He'll try and carefully get a blanket (though will probably end up getting some silent support from Kyrie--we do love a good wing-woman).

Does you neck look a little uncomfortable? Cue Nero trying to carefully reposition you as best he can so you don't wake up with a sore as hell neck. Last thing he needs is you to wake up with a massive crick in your neck from falling asleep on him wrong of all things. He wants to be associated with nice things; especially when it comes to feeling comfortable to sleep against him like this.

Despite his best attempts to play it off later like it's no big deal by the time you wake up, it's hard not to see his adorably flushed face as he smiles. If nothing else, it will certainly be one of those rare moments he'll treasure for as long as possible. Now, if only he could work up the nerve to confess and ask you out properly...

_________________________________________________________

How could things have ended so poorly? So quickly? Your mind couldn’t comprehend.

You stood with Lucy Gray in the crowd of people, near the front as you watched you who recognized as Spruce and what you had heard to be his sister. be brought up, about to be strung up on the big old tree. The two of them looked defiant, while also being horrifically beaten. Dried blood and bruises covered their faces and exposed skin. Dirt littered and stained their clothes and hair, and yet they still held their heads high. Honorable. But what had they done?

As Coriolanus’ eyes scanned the crowd, he spotted the familiar head of dark curls that belonged to his beloved Lucy Gray. Though next to her was you, Sejanus’ beloved Y/N. His heart pounded seeing your pained and confused face. You truly had no idea what Sejanus had done….maybe it was better that way anyway. Had you known you would have been up there beside Sejanus. And that would have been such a waste. He agreed that you were good, too good and too kind. Often too much for your own good. But then again, you and Sejanus had that in common. And his mind went back to the moment everything had started to gone wrong.

“You can’t show that you know or saw anything anything, Sejanus. You need to pull yourself together. If we’re all caught…they might suspect Y/N too. And you want to keep them safe right?” Coriolanus’ had asked Sejanus. And Sejanus’ dark eyes had widened at the mention of your name.

No. No, no, no, no. You couldn’t be wrapped up in this. You didn’t know anything about the rebels, or the plan of escape, the weapons, his meetings with Billy Taupe and Spruce. Would you really get caught in the middle of it all if himself and the others were caught? You had no knowledge of anything. You wouldn’t. Your life in Twelve wasn’t all sunshine, but it was better than many.

You had expressed this to him too. That you did what you could for the District. Handing out free bread to those who were starving. Often you have the Covey expired pastries and sweets when you could. You were kind. Genuinely so kind and almost too kind for your own good.

It was ironic for Sejanus to think so, but it was true. You were a good person. One of the few he had met in a long time. And he had sworn to himself and you to keep you safe. He was just about to pull you aside and ask for you to come with him. Away from the districts, to travel up North away from it all. That was until Coryo shot Mayfair. And then Spruce shot Billy Taupe. And it was all going wrong.

Sejanus quickly shook his head, looking at his friend in tears, “no….no they have nothing to do with this Coryo, you know that…” he whimpered with a desperate shake of his head. He failed onto keep from the violence. But he would always make sure you were safe.

Coriolanus nodded, keeping his hands firm on his friend’s face. “I know they don’t, Sejanus. I know. But in order to keep them safe and out of this, you need to pull yourself together. You need to collect yourself and walk back out there like nothing happened. We’re the only lose ends left right?” He asked, and Sejanus nodded again, taking a shaky breath. “Hey…we’re brothers, remember? Brothers...and I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe,”

How that would change so quickly. Coriolanus remained at the front stage of the hanging tree, his gun firmly in his hand while hearing his friend beg for him. Him. Coriolanus Snow. Sejanus Plinth’s best friend. His murderer. And Sejanus didn’t even know. You didn’t even know.

“Please…please coryo…..Coryo…” his voice repeated as he was dragged to his spot, the noise fitting around his neck as the head peacekeeper replayed the recording of the Jabber Jay. You looked on horrified next to Lucy Gray, looking around in shock.

“No….whats Sejanus doing here? He hasn’t done anything. There’s been a mistake,” you say rather in disbelief and frazzled as you watched your boyfriend struggle against the pace keepers before being brought up on stage. You listened in horror as the recording

“No….no there’s been a mistake!” You shout, all eyes moving towards your figure. Lucy Gray’s eyes widened, shaking her head. “Y/N, stop it..” she warned quietly, anxiously.

But you didn’t hear her as the crowd parted to show you. Senjsnus’ eyes widened through the tears. He didn’t expect you to be here. With all his fear he felt, what really made his blood run cold was seeing you. The panic on your face, the disbelief. He never got to tell you everything. The plan to run away together. He wanted to make sure he had everything planned out to the second to make sure it was perfect.

Sejanus wanted to tell you about the life you both could have together. A family. Away from the districts. Away from the Capital. And away from the Games.

"Y/N..." Sejanus gasped, jerking in the restraints, only to earn a warning from the peacekeeper. You weren't supposed to be here. He was scared, but he did not want you to see what was about to happen.

"Sejanus! There's been a mistake! Please!' You called out, the stinging in the back of your eyes as some of the peacekeepers moved. Lucy Gray had seen this. Lil...the girl about to be hung now had done this exact same thing when her lover had been hung. Quickly, Lucy Gray moved forward and quickly pulled you back.

"Y/N, you need to stop or else you'll be up there next," She whispered harshly as you fought her for a moment. How could you remain quiet?

"No....no...no...Y/n! Ma!" Sejanus's voice rang out before there was a sickening crack of several necks as the floor below the three people gave out.

You stared in horror through your tears as the body of the love of your life twitched and swung back and forth by rope that killed hundreds already. You felt like the whole world stopped. Your blood ran cold, and it was like someone had sucked everything from you. The warmth, the love, the hope. Everything that Sejanus had given you, the light and hope for a new and better life, was taken from you within seconds. Who could do such a thing? Sejanus didn't have enemies. None that you could think of at least. But at the moment you couldn't think as you tried to come to terms with what just has happened.

"Oh my god...Sejanus..." You sobbed, feeling your legs give out from beneath you. Lucy Gray was quick to drop down beside you, wrapping her arms comfortingly. Though Sejanus' voice continued to ring out in the air.

The Mockingjays all flew around the crowd and trees, repeating his last words, "Y/N! Ma!"

His voice was scared, desperate for the ones he had loved most. A District boy turned Capital turned rebel. you stared as the ground in horror, tears streaming down your face as your body shook with sobs and shock. Lucy Gray was gently rubbing your back but you couldn't feel it. You couldn't feel anything. Just numb.

So Lucy Gray allowed you to remain like that, sobbing until there was no tears left. Your eyes and face red and puffy, a blank and lost look in your eye. By the time you even got to your feet, a majority of the crowd had left.

"No...don't look," Lucy Gray had gently ordered, keeping your gaze down from the sight of the tree. You were shaking, and nothing like the best friend she had known. She wrapped a supportive arm around you before leading you out of the area without another look behind you both.

Coriolanus felt his own stomach churn as he had heard he snap of his former classmate, his squad member swung behind him, and watched as you had fallen to your knees in pure anguish. As the look in your eyes turned from hopeful and light to a blank and pained look. All for Sejanus. Maybe he had more of an influence than Coriolanus originally had thought. The same boy who had gotten himself into more trouble than he was worth.

The very same boy he had met on the playground when they were eight, the same boy who had given him the gum drops, the one who Coriolanus had almost died for in the arena, the reason he had to kill.

But then he had to remind himself that it was not his fault. He had to report Sejanus, he was trouble, a rebel. Sejanus had been ruining everything with his guilt and urge to help others. But that was all over now. Sejanus was no more.

Poor Sejanus.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

You took a long sip from the drink in your hand before gently slamming it onto the table with a satisfied sigh. You don’t usually drink very often, but you and Illinois decided you were gonna celebrate this one. It wasn’t every day you solve an unsolvable riddle and finally find the lost emerald of the Angel Islands. The same one adventurers had been searching for, for decades.

The alcohol tingled in your throat and you could feel a warm sensation flow through your body. You relaxed back into your chair, body aching from dodging all those traps and getting covered in nicks and bruises. In fact, you and Illinois probably looked like ghosts with all the dust and grime covering your bodies along with your slightly tattered clothing. You both hadn’t bothered showering in all the excitement, hygiene could wait. Right now you just wanted to soak in a job well done.

“Can I see it?” You ask him. He pulls the emerald out of his bag, and you see the lights of the pub reflect off its smooth green surface. He tries to dust it off with his sleeve, but all he accomplishes is moving some of the dirt around, so he holds it out to you. You reach out a hand to take it, and he gently places it into your palm, fingers lingering just a moment longer than necessary.

You hold it up to the light and spin it gently, even with the dust covering it you could see the bright green color of the emerald and all the perfectly cut geometric shapes reflecting inside of it. “I think this is one of the prettiest things I’ve ever held.” You say in awe.

“Well, that’s hurtful seeing as though you’ve held onto me at least once~,” Illinois speaks in a relaxed but confident tone. You look up at him, he was holding his chin in his hand while resting his elbow on the table. He was sitting across the table from you and was looking right into your eyes. You don’t know if it was the adrenaline of finding the treasure, the dim lighting of the pub, or the booze, but he just looks so, so serene. And, well, pretty. Really pretty. You know he flirts with anyone and everyone as a joke, but you can’t help but have your heart skip a beat whenever he looks at you with those dark brown eyes of his. They always had a mischievous glint to them, as if they were always hiding something, just out of reach.

“Ha. Ha- I meant like an object, I don’t think I’ve ever held anything so valuable.” You respond sarcastically. He smirks.

“The gems pretty an all, but I’d rather look at you any day.” There’s the usual flirt. “You’re more valuable than any fancy rock.” That- that one surprised you. Your eyes widened. For some reason, that line felt different than his usual flirts. It sounded more personal. Almost…genuine. You searched his eyes for some sort of sign that he was joking, but he just looked back at you. His expression, almost dreamy.

“How much did you have to drink again, Illy?” You ask, trying to hide the heat rising to your cheeks.

"I might have had a few shots." He responds chuckling. “But I’m just being honest! You don’t give yourself enough credit. I never would have found that emerald without you. Hell, I’ve been trying to solve that riddle for years!” Your cheeks are probably red now. Illinois. THE Illinois was complimenting, YOU. The cocky bastard who calls himself pretty without a second thought was praising your riddle-solving ability?! You hid your flustered face as you took another sip from your glass. You had to take him out for drinks more often.

A group of a few performers started playing some music on the small stage they had in the pub, and you could see a few people get up and start dancing. Most of them were couples holding hands swaying to the smooth tones being played throughout the pub. You smiled at the scene, it seemed like they were having fun. Illinois noticed your expression and a grin started to grow on his face. You could hear his chair slide out as he got up and made his way over to you. 

He bowed slightly, and extended his hand out to you, “May I have this dance, partner~” You can't help but snort at his cheesiness, but when he didn’t back down your eyes widened.

“Are you kidding? Illinois I can’t dance!” You say incredulously. Instead of taking his hand, you reach to put the emerald back in Illinois's bag, but before you can pull your hand away again, Illinois gently grabs your wrist. 

“I didn’t ask if you were any good. I asked if you wanted to dance, with me.” The last part came out way softer than you’ve ever heard him speak. It made your heart skip a beat, and, what were you going to do? Say no to the hot Indiana Jones rip-off that managed to steal your heart with his rugged charms and southern accent? You weren’t an idiot! You hesitantly place your hand in his outstretched one, and he smirks.

“Do you even know how to dance?” You ask, still a bit unsure. He scoffs, and puts on a mock offended expression.

“Do I know how to dance?” He mimics is a bad impression of your voice. Now it’s your turn to look offended. “How about you just follow me and find out~” He winks at you before gently leading you to the dance floor. Oh gods you weren’t going to survive this.

He turns to face you and puts your hand on his shoulder. He puts his own hand on your waist and grabs your other hand with his free one. “Just follow my steps darlin’, I know you're a genius but just, don’t think too hard, ok? Just feel the rhythm of the music.” You take a deep breath and try to relax, you look down and follow his footsteps as best as you can, only stepping on his feet once or twice. “See your-  ow-  You’re doing great handsome/beautiful-  agh-” 

“I’m sorry! I told you I’m not good-!” You apologize. He just smiles and laughs.

“You’re doing fine darlin’, I’ve been through way worse. We’ve both been through worse just today, actually.” You smile and laugh as well.

“Yea, I guess you’re right.” You both start to get into a comfortable rhythm, stepping and swaying to the music. You got lost in the feeling of the moment, the atmosphere felt almost magical. You forgot all about your aching body and all the dirt covering you both from head to toe, you were just fully captivated by this moment.

That was until Illinois got an idea, and shot you a smirk. Oh no, what was he planning? Just as the music ended on its last note, and before you even knew what was really happening, Illinois moved his hand across your back, spinning you slightly and pulling you into a dip. You stare into his eyes, his face only a few inches from yours. You were both panting slightly, and your eyes were locked on each other. Illinois slowly starts to lean in a little closer...

...before he quickly plants a small kiss on your nose. Surprised and incredibly flustered you push yourself out of his arms. He starts laughing so hard that you can see tears forming in the corner of his eyes. You try to hide your own smile at the ridiculousness of this whole situation, and instead start to scold him.

“What was that!? I swear, if you do that again I will throw you out the window you- what are you doing?" He stops laughing to turning his head towards the window. Looking outside, you could see the pub was on the side of a cliff.

"Checking how high the drop is to see if it's worth it~" Your face was enough to make him erupt into laughter again. You just sigh, crossing your arms.

Finally, his fit of laughter stops. He walks up to you, putting both his hands on your shoulders. “Aw come on sweetheart, I’m just teasing. You know I love you.” You blink, taken aback by his words, did he really just say that? He couldn’t be drunk already, you were watching him, he only had like 2 shots of whiskey. So where was this coming from? You decided not to question it, and instead see if he was really being genuine, or just messing with you again. Oh, gods above you hoped this wasn’t a joke. 

“Oh really, you love me? Prove it.” Wow ok, I guess his confidence was starting to rub off on you. His smirk grows into a full, genuine smile. He gently takes your hand again, and when you squeeze it in affirmation, he dips you again, and this time, he doesn’t miss.

(A decade earlier, 40-year-old Bruno)

It was subtle at first. When he first saw you, it wasn’t “love at first sight” or anything cliché like that, no. You were just another face in the crowd to him, just another person to avoid. It wasn’t until he actually ran into you that you caught his attention. Where everyone else was treating him like he was a walking curse, you were kind to him and didn’t look for an excuse to leave upon seeing him as others did.

He began to leave Casita more often, his sisters noticed. They saw it as him trying to be more active in town when in reality, all he wanted was to see you. And by “see you”, it was more like discretely following you around to get more information about you. If Bruno didn’t want to be seen, you weren’t going to see him. That didn’t mean he wasn’t there. It’s why you felt eyes on you anywhere you went.

The more information he got on you, the more that he saw what he experienced wasn’t an act, the more he wanted you. Unfortunately, with the way his family reacted to Pepa and Julieta finding their husbands, Bruno didn’t want that kind of attention. He didn’t want that attention on you either since it scared him that someone may come along and take you from him.

Bruno entertained the idea of finding out how to create a false vision plate, showing you and him together so that everyone around you would believe you were destined to be with him. But that would mean drawing attention to himself. Ew. He was too terrified to go looking to see your actual future, afraid of seeing something that he wouldn't like.

Even if he did somehow have you agree to be with him, he wasn’t exactly sure how that would play out. He was already jealous seeing you give attention to other people and that would mean you would have done the same for his family and there was no way his family would have just ignored you. But you were his. No one else’s.

When you came to him for a vision at Abuela’s coaxing, he nearly had a heart attack. Out of all the people who wanted him to use his gift, he was hoping it would have never been you. But knowing that Abuela had been trying to find him a purpose and how you were, you did it out of kindness which only killed him more.

He was absolutely terrified as he led you up to his vision cave, so much that he had overlooked the fact that he was finally alone with you. Would he show you something that would make you hate him? When you reached the top with him and before you entered the cave, you stopped him, actually TOUCHING his shoulder and telling him that if he wasn’t comfortable with it that you wouldn’t force him and just tell Abuela that you had gotten some benign vision that she couldn’t check on. He had to stop himself from grabbing and kissing you right there.

After that, you two had to kill time so it would seem like you had gotten a vision. He began to have ideas. Granted, at least Abuela knew you were there, but it didn’t stop him from fantasizing. He could just lock both of you in the vision cave. He could confess everything to you and assure you that you were meant to be with him. He could take it even further than that and convince himself that it was what you had wanted. No one could stop him. If he thought he could get away with it, he would have kept you there in his tower. But he wasn’t stupid. Even if he convinced Abuela that you left without her knowing, there would have been someone who knew you were there. He was the last one you were seen with. With a broken heart, he had to let you leave him when the time came. The gentle caress on his cheek and the soft affirmation that you believed that his gift wasn’t a curse when you left was like adding gasoline to a bonfire. He had to have you, one way or another.

However, the day that Mirabel didn’t get her gift may have very well saved you from whatever he had in mind. Bruno didn’t think it through when he saw Mirabel’s vision, instinctively wanting to protect her from the stigma his visions carried. If he had, he knew he would have done it differently. For instance, he would have probably left Encanto altogether… and taken you with him whether you were willing or not. He wouldn’t have had his family anymore, but he would be damned if he couldn’t have you in exchange. Unfortunately for him, when he realized what he had done, it broke him.

(Present)

If you thought that he forgot about you, you’ve got another thing coming. You were all he thought about within the walls of Casita, even dedicating some of his telenovelas to you and naming one of his rats after you. When that rat had babies, he’d choose a successor. It was like having you in the palm of his hand. He couldn’t say how many times he wanted to leave the walls to check on you, to make sure you were okay, maybe even bring you back with him. At least then no one would have known where to look for you.

When Casita was being rebuilt, he caught sight of you again and it reignited his desire to have you trifold. You had barely changed. You were still kind and caring and didn’t look like a day had gone by since the last time he saw you. Even if it did, he wouldn’t have cared.

It hurt him to think about you moving on without him in those ten years but he accepted it. That didn’t mean he was going to stop, however. That just meant he may have had some hurdles to overcome, be it a spouse or children. While the spouse would have had to go, if you did have any kids, he already saw them as his own since they were already half you, though it made him jealous that your attention would be divided between him and the kids. The false vision idea did come back, possibly to give to the spouse to make them leave. If they took the kids, that was a bonus.

He was in better shape now than he was ten years ago considering how much work it was maneuvering within the walls. He used to do it just for the hell of it and to hide from people he gave bad visions to but never to that extent. That meant no place you went was off-limits to him anymore, including your bedroom on the second floor of your home.

Though, it did become harder to keep tabs on you with Mirabel shadowing his own movements, making him wonder if his behavior was somehow hereditary and she was displaying signs of it herself without realizing it. It kind of creeped him out but didn’t discourage his behavior toward you. Well, it kind of did, considering it was hard keeping her quiet and not blowing his cover. The last thing he needed was for you to find out that he was stalking you. The only way he would get around this was to give Mirabel something to do before heading out to see you.

Several times he had conversations with himself about inviting you up to his tower for a vision, thinking back to when he had you all to himself in arms reach and regretting not taking that opportunity. He would talk himself down, reminding himself that as enticing the idea was, he drew the line at hurting you that way and refused to cross it. He didn’t want you to hate him and believed that was a surefire way to cause it. That didn’t stop him from enjoying the thought of it. You never had to know.