Yelena Belova And SirenFem Reader.

It’s so perfect

Heros Fall

Natasha Romanoff x Daughter!reader, Yelena Belova x Teen!reader

After your mom’s death, a surprise visitor comes and takes you in

Word Count: 1,356

A/N: Idk if the title fits (I might change it) but I hope you enjoy this! There are translations for the Russian at the bottom. Reader is about 15/16

Warnings: Possible Black Widow spoilers (if I forget any, please let me know)

Even over the sound of your laptop playing Moonraker, one of your mom’s favorite movies, you could hear the sound of a car pulling up outside the trailer. Since your mom died and the Avengers defeated Thanos, you couldn’t stand being in New York so you left and came here. It was where she told you could always go to feel safe, even if she wasn’t around. You hadn’t felt the same since she died so you hoped being here would do something but at times, it made you feel even emptier. 

Keep reading

Reblog if you’d be okay if your friend came out as transgender

let’s see how many transphobics we can weed out

i for one think that editors/gifmakers should get free 1080p+ versions of media directly from the source without fear of copyright conseuqences bc we do free labor to advertise and keep buzz around shows. do you know how many times i’ve seen tags that are like oh maybe i’ll watch bc of this on my gifs or times i’ve watched something that was not on my radar at all, that i didn’t even know about, because of a gifset? the amount of times a fanvideo has convinced me or my friends to watch something? or to consider an aspect of the show i didn’t before and reignite interest in it and thus continue to talk about it?

Rent help needed!! ♡

*URGENT: PLEASE READ/SIGNAL BOOST**

Sunday, August 22nd: Hi everyone, I’m Gemma, a bi, mentally ill disaster, who’s in desperate need of help, as things have gotten worse and I'm really struggling to pay my rent and keep utilities on and due to late bills, my account is overdrawn and I really need help.

As most of you are already aware from my previous post, I have been struggling financially for quite some time due to my welfare benefit (Universal Credit) being under a review, which is due to my worsening mental health and the UK’s controversial changes to how benefits are assessed and assigned. And at the moment, I'm currently struggling to get by, as my application for Disability (PIP) was declined and I am currently awaiting an appointment for a WCA (Work Capability Asessment) from the DWP to assess my mental and physical health, and my debt from overdue bills is piling up to an amount that I'm really struggling with.

I know this is a huge ask, and I'm completely heartbroken to be asking for help again, but I still desperately need some as I don't have anyone else to turn to and my rent is due next week, and I'm really struggling to pay off my overdue account.

If anyone could spare any amount to help me, even if it’s just £1/$1/€1, it would literally save my life, and sharing definitely helps just as much as donations. Nobody is obligated in any way to donate if they can’t or don’t want to, I know we’re all struggling right now.

£12/£400

PayPal | Ko-Fi

@thebibliosphere @ndiecity @normal-horoscopes @bihet-dragonize @shareyourdollar @justsomeantifas @mortemia @posts-from-a-weirder-timeline @toastyglow @deadgodjess @taffybuns @carry-on-my-wayward-butt ❤

Billy Russo Masterlist🦋

Here you can find all my Billy Russo stories.

Organized from the oldest to the most recent.

guide: fluff=♡ angst= • smut= **

⚠️If you are underage do not interact with my NSFW fics⚠️

•───｡♡｡───••───｡♡｡───••───｡♡｡───•

One Shots:

Irresistible Attraction**

Billy Russo x Reader

Good Girls Turn Bad**

Demon!Billy x Reader

Because I'm Broken●♡

Billy Russo x Reader

Working With The Enemy**

Billy Russo x Enemy!Reader

You Belong To Me**♡

Billy Russo x BestFriend!Reader

Next Door **•♡

Billy Russo x Neighbor!Reader

Ruined Girl**•

Billy Russo x Reader

Forever and Ever/part1

Hades!Billy Russo x Persophone!Reader

Fic:

Favorite Crime **•♡

Billy Russo x Rawlins!Reader

Drabbles and Headcannons:

You and Billy are late for a meeting**

Billy and a Latin!Reader ●♡

Karen discovers your secret♡

The little Padfoot ♡

Billy is a sugar daddy**♡

Billy and his secretary**

Stalker!Billy**

Billy meets Anvil's rival CEO

Drunkenness hits (900-follower event) ♡

I don't want your pity (900-follower event)•

Silly Superstitions (900-followers event)♡

Forever (900-followers event)♡

Wake up with you (900-followers event)♡

This fucking dress (900-followers event)♡

Don't say no♡

Just so I don’t loose it

The Darkling Masterlist

My Masterlist

»»---------------------►

War of Hearts • Series Masterlist

Aleksander promised you eternity with him. Alina Starkov took that from you both. Now you’re going to finish what your lover started.

The Three of Us • Part 1

You’ve managed to locate the mythical Morozova’s stag and have arrived at the Little Palace to share the news. You’re eager to meet the infamous Black General, and to hopefully see your childhood friend Alina.

Vengeance & Vanity • Part 1 • Part 2

You’re by Aleksander’s side on Stormhond’s ship as you search for the Sea Whip. That is until things go drastically wrong, and you’re separated from Aleksander - held captive by the enemy as they return to Ravka.

can you please talk about the 'make me your villain' line?

Well I don’t know what exactly you want me to talk about in regards to it, so I’ll just share some of the Thoughts I have on the line and it’s context! I’m incredibly fond of the way the scene is portrayed in the show and how it differs from the one in the books, so I’ll be delving into that a bit as I go along.

(There are some gifs of the scene below, so tw body horror for Alina’s antlers and mild mentions of abuse. Also sorry in advance to Nonny for talking about the whole scene instead of just the line.)

I think the best thing about this scene in particular is how much it reveals about the characters and their relationship dynamics, especially when considering the acting choices that went into both Aleksander and Alina.

In the show, Alina is sharp and angry - confrontational - whereas in the books, she’s a lot more passive. In both the books and the show, Aleksander defends himself to Alina. He wants her to understand him. He wants her to remain by his side. But the way it plays out and his reasons for doing so are wildly different between the medias.

In the books, it’s Alina that’s brought to the Darkling’s tent. He’s already sitting down and tells Alina to do so as well. She complies warily but remains silent, and in fact doesn’t speak at all until he finally orders her to. Yet still, she refuses to talk about anything important. It’s the Darkling that brings up Mal and it’s Mal the discussion revolves around for the vast majority of the conversation. The Darkling is in control the entire time, relaxed and calm, drinking kvas as he runs Alina in circles and threatens the other man. Almost the entirety of their conversation is made up of Alina scrambling to regain control, both in regards to Mal and herself. She’s the one pleading and begging and trying to gain any foothold she can. Alina doesn’t even challenge the Darkling or push him to defend himself until the conversation turns to that of it’s own accord.

Then when the conversation does turn from Mal to how the Darkling betrayed her, their disagreement becomes a very brief back and forth. The Darkling gets exasperated and frustrated and angry with Alina for not understanding. The conversation barely focuses on their romantic relationship and instead on his plans, on Ravka’s future, on how her power is useful, on his own “greed for power” and his intention to rule. There’s hardly any mention of his goal to free the Grisha. Throughout the conversation, the Darkling’s façade cracks but he remains largely dismissive and condescending, cruel and calculating, uncaring and unremorseful. The parts of the conversation that do focus on their relationship that Alina brings up don’t do so for long, and are turned back on her as an argument.

Compare that to the Darkling in the show coming to Alina in her lavish tent and immediately praising her. They’re both standing, and Alina has no qualms about not only talking immediately but also making demands, a big contrast to how the Alina in the books wanted to “remain diplomatic”. In the show, it’s Alina that brings up Mal, only to have him immediately dismissed as a subject when the conversation instead centers entirely around how betrayed Alina feels.

It’s Alina that sits first before the Darkling and then stands first. It’s the Darkling that sits while Alina stands, him that pleads with her to understand why he did what he did. It’s Alina that holds the power as the Darkling scrambles. It’s her that challenges him without prompting and demands explanations and truths and reasons. Her that turns the conversation back on him.

The issues brought up in the conversation are different as well. The Darkling has a whole passionate speech about how the Grisha are persecuted and how he did it to save them. He gets frustrated with Alina for not understanding but instead of being dismissive or angry he gets upset and even more erratic, clearly desperate for her to remain by his side. The conversation focuses more on Alina and Grisha suffering and their relationship instead of his “greed for power”. It focuses on how he did it “for us” instead of for Ravka. How he did it “to help us” and he mentions “you and me” and doing things “together”. The entire scene centers around their relationship and the balance between them, the hurt and betrayal and desperation and his need for them to stay together and understand each other. Even if those emotions are sometimes used as a means of manipulation, that doesn’t make them any less genuine. The Darkling is very open and emotional and vulnerable in this scene. And he’s making himself vulnerable to Alina.

It’s two entirely separate power dynamics. And with such different characterizations and relationships, the meanings of the scenes change.

Now, I really love the way the show portrays the line so I’ll talk a bit more about that for a bit. First, some context.

Here’s Aleksander defending himself:

He’s revealing a lot to Alina with this line. Telling her how the fold was unintentional, how it’s affected him. He’s speaking angrily and passionately, he’s expressing himself a lot here, clearly worked up and desperate for her to understand.

The pain he feels at the use of the Fold by his oppressors is genuine and understandable. He created the Fold to protect his people when they were persecuted. He intended to make an army to save his people and instead by mistake made the Fold. It was an act of desperation because of the Otkazat’sya hunting and persecuting his kind. It was created because of centuries of oppression and generational trauma. The fact that West Ravka has been making a habit of giving Grisha to the Druskelle because the Fold gives them no oversight and the fact that the king of Ravka uses the Fold to exploit thousands must be genuinely upsetting to him. And he’s admitting that to Alina. Not only that, but he’s telling her honestly that he hadn’t intended for it to become what it did.

Most importantly, however, him defending himself here so openly and emotionally is a sign of how much he wants her get it - how much he wants her to take his side. People don’t defend their actions to someone this much and this passionately unless both the reasoning behind the actions and the person they’re addressing are important to them.

Next, we have Aleksander entreating Alina and pleading with her:

He’s asking her to rely on him, to take his hand, to trust him, to understand him, to stay by his side. Most importantly, he’s asking her to be his other half. He’s asking her to accept him. He’s pulling her closer, meeting her eyes, grasping her hands, touching her. The way he leans down when he speaks, the earnest curl of his shoulders, how he honestly believes that the only way they can do this is together and how more than that he wants it to be so.

This is a request. I’d say it was begging but then I’d probably get shadow sliced in my sleep.

Again, he’s appealing to her. He’s making no move to hide what he’s feeling or step back, instead coming in closer and making himself vulnerable. Communicating his emotions in the hopes that they’ll help change her mind. He wants her to stay, and not only to stay but to do so willingly and in full (or more likely at least partial - just enough) acceptance of him.

The way he looks at her in the first gif is him realizing he needs to make more of an emotional appeal. That he needs to commit to this - to finish the full admission and put himself out there as much as he’s asking her to do. It isn’t just her needing him, it’s him needing her.

This part is definitely begging man idk what to tell you.

Now next is the rejection and realization:

Alina pulls away first. She distances herself and shakes her head and protects her chest. She removes his hand from her body. She rejects him.

In turn, Aleksander adds a degree of separation between them as a means of self defense. Right now he’s calculating and dealing with the rejection. He’s hurt and protecting himself, as Alina is doing. Most importantly (to me at least) is that he doesn’t pursue her. He backs away when she backs away, likely because he’s upset, but also I think for a few other reasons that I’ll get into in a moment.

This is the hurt and rejection and heartbreak turning into realization and acceptance. It’s about to be resolve.

Then he says the line:

and then he does this:

First of all, it’s so good!! I love this line so much I would literally die for it. Anon if this was in reality what you wanted me to talk about, here it is: I think Ben Barnes is a spectacular actor and I think he’s taken Aleksander to a whole nother level and I think this line is a masterpiece of acting. His micro-expressions are on point and he’s captured the essence of Aleksander’s character in the show so well and the dramatic way he says it is award worthy. The nose scrunch is adorable of course, and the look he gets in the last gif is *chef’s kiss* beautiful. I absolutely adore the emotions conveyed here. He’s emotional and bitter and angry, but most importantly he’s resolved.

And that’s what I love. The last six gifs, from the moment he’s rejected and he realizes there’s no redemption, are representative of the way he commits and self destructs - the way he feels as if there’s no other option and decides this is the only road he can go down.

With the fold, he didn’t intend to make it, but he now sees it as useful, even if he occasionally regrets it. This is the same thing. He regrets it, but what is done is done. He doesn’t see a way to redeem himself and so accepts the circumstances and acts on them. It’s very much a “this might as well happen now” mentality paired with an opportunistic mindset. Why not use the fold now that he’s created it? Regret or not, intentional or not. Why not keep going downhill with his plans now that Alina has shown him he can’t come back from it? Even if he regrets losing her, even if he wants to change things.

Aleksander has been doing what he’s doing for a long time. Change is hard. But it’s especially hard when you’ve done the same thing for centuries. He’s on a path and he’s going to go down it until he dies. That’s what he thinks needs to happen because he sees no other way. No other way has ever been presented to him. And when so many of one’s habits and ways of living have been born of trauma, they become even harder to shake. And idk, I just think that’s a neat part of his character. I think it’s interesting. And I think it might have potential if the writers do him justice.

Also, the “make me your villain" line here is so achingly emotional, it’s the literal exact opposite of how it happens in the books, which is straight up dismissive.

Here’s an excerpt:

He slumped back in his chair. “Fine,” he said with a weary shrug. “Make me your villain.”

Which is very book!Darkling tbh. It’s also in the middle of the scene. He doesn’t leave afterwards. It isn’t the fall of the axe, it’s his resignation to Alina’s stubborn ignorance. It’s him leaving an argument in a very “agree to disagree” manner. He’s exasperated by Alina’s behavior, not agonized over it. In the show, the line is dropped before he leaves. It’s the break of an emotional buildup, the last line of pained resignation for something he cares deeply about but can’t hope to win. It’s his response to rejection and pain.

The two scenes really couldn’t be more different, but I adore them both tbh.

Anyways, that’s just a few thoughts on the scene. Here are another few highlights though:

Alina in the books is very passive and trying not to goad him in this scene. She calls it “being diplomatic”. It's so different from how show Alina treats the situation that I could die.

His response to “you lied to me” in the books is completely different from the one in the show. “Don’t pretend this is about Ravka’s welfare. You lied to me. You’ve been lying to me since the moment I met you.” His long fingers tightened around the glass. “Did you deserve my trust?” he asked, and for once, his voice was less than steady and cold. “Baghra whispers a few accusations in your ear, and off you go. Did you ever stop to think of what it would mean for me, for all of Ravka, if you just disappeared?” Strangely enough, for how emotional he is in the show, he actually gets more emotional about it in the books. That could be for a number of reasons, but the scenes played out so differently I thought it was worth mentioning. Plus I love both responses so much.

The below line is interesting I think in that it lightly parallels the scene in the show when the collar’s getting put on her. it’s the only time in the show aside from micro-expressions where we actually get to explore how much Alina not wanting her powers hurt him. “That isn’t fair.” “Fairness!” he laughed. “Still she talks of fairness. What does fairness have to do with any of this? The people curse my name and pray for you, but you’re the one who was ready to abandon them.” Of course, the abandonment is referencing a few things about Alina and not just a single quote she made a while ago, but since the show is so much faster than the books, those two quotes are the only things that much up. Alina in the show says she doesn’t want her powers and then he mentions it about four episodes later when he’s taking those powers from her.

“Baghra whispers a few accusations in your ear, and off you go. Did you ever stop to think of what it would mean for me, for all of Ravka, if you just disappeared?” - Kinda reminds me of the “you matter - to eVeRyOnE” scene in the show ngl.

Someone get show Aleksander some kvas, how come book Aleksander is the one that gets all the nice things?

Poor Alina, she looks so hurt I just want to give her a hug. Although I think it’s interesting how they’ve changed the antlers in the show. I think lore-wise it’s cooler and actually makes more sense, but since I also think the reason they did it probably didn’t have as much to do with lore as depicting Darklina as “horrifying” I’m not that into it.

When I first got into SaB I got spoiled for the Darkling’s character and read all this stuff about he was abusive and awful, so I went into the show expecting to hate him and hate Darklina. I watched about six episodes with that mindset but couldn’t really resist the pull of the ship, so when he first said the “make me your villain” line I was very conflicted. I read it as an abuser blaming his victim. It felt uncomfortable. Now, however, after watching the show so many times and reading the books, it’s easier for me to examine the intricacies of the scene in more detail and realize it isn’t like that at all. I think the emotional complexity of the line in the show vs the total brutality of it in the books is brilliant, and I love how much it conveys about his character in both aspects.

Still though every time I watch the scene now I picture the meme of that skit where the guy shoots someone and then goes “oh, why did [somebody else] do this?”

Alina’s reluctance to engage with the Darkling about his reasons and motivations in the books vs her desire to do so in the show is so incredibly compelling to me. The below book quote is Alina when she’s refusing to speak. It’s so viscerally different from how the scene plays out in the show, and of course I have tons of explanations and theories, but I don’t want to make this post a million miles long lol. It’s just a very honorable mention cause I love it. “I have nothing to say.” “I imagine you have a great deal to say.” “If I tell you to stop, you won’t stop. If I tell you you’re mad, you won’t believe me. Why should I bother?”

“I’ve had enough of your lies.” “And what lies are those?” - Alina, pulling out a fifty mile long scroll of grievances: Well, for starters-

Aleksander’s look of confusion in the show during half of this scene makes me simultaneously want to hug him and slap him and laugh in his face.

“You spun all this guilt around your burden, the sins of your father. There was no father” - Idk why this cracks me up so much but I DIE every time I hear it. “there was no father” lakjsdlfkjas yeah there sure wasn’t.

I love how she asks him about his plans to usurp the throne in the show and he just goes dead silent like a kid about to get scolded if he reveals the truth. In the books he has no problems just straight up admitting to it without hesitation lmfao.

Parallels but not really (show then books) : “I could have made the Grisha safe but you never gave me a choice." “Perhaps” “Baghra whispers a few accusations in your ear, and off you go. Did you ever stop to think of what it would mean for me, for all of Ravka, if you just disappeared?” “You didn’t give me much choice.” “Of course you had a choice. And you chose to turn your back on your country, on everything that you are.” Last line on the above quote is also a parallel to the one he says in the skiff scene in the show, right before he gets tracker tackled into the fold like a little bitch.

Kinda weird that book Alina just assumes he’ll be a tyrant of a ruler when up until now he’s been a very reasonable and actually highly competent one.

“He reached out and touched Morozova’s collar, letting his long fingers spread over the rough bone, then slide up my neck to cradle my face with one hand. I felt a jolt of revulsion, but I also felt the sure, intoxicating force of him. I hated that it still had an effect on me.” Again, in the show it’s Alina that grabs his hand and puts it on her chest. In the show, he initiates hand holding contact, and she’s the one that brings his hand to her chest to feel the collar. Is this because show Aleksander is more horrified by what he’s done? Book Aleksander doesn’t seem to care and in fact seems to like it, so I suppose he’d touch it willingly. I don’t think show Aleksander wants to touch it or look at it, I think what he did to her disturbs him. So is her bringing his hand up to her collar a way of saying “face what you’ve done? This is why I can’t forgive you?”

The way he admits in the show that “I never intended for it to be the blight it’s become” is so strange to me because it’s very soft amidst all of the other extreme emotions. First he’s extremely cold and then he’s extremely hot, but this line is just... soft and honest. It feels like the most real line in the entire scene. I think it might actually be true regret.

“Fine. Make me your villain,” is one of Aleksander’s least manipulative lines idk why people seem to think it’s him being so villainous. It’s the epitome of “there’s nothing more I can do here. bye.”

The difference between priorities in the show and the book really is so fascinating though. Him mentioning that he’s doing this for them in the show while in the books he admits clearly to doing it for Ravka is so wild. The scene in the show really does have a lot more romantic overtones.

I think it's notable that book Aleksander wants her to understand him and fill his loneliness just as much as show Aleksander, but in the books he values the means and circumstances of her cooperation a lot differently than show Aleksander does. Book Aleksander doesn't really care that she's upset with him - not to a great extent, at least. Whereas show Aleksander cares very much.

The bi panic omg I need more

Hi! Can I please request a Darkling and reader oneshot where they're married and she always look very elegant but in reality she's a great strategist and fighter?

Maybe Alina meets her when she is presented to the king, and is amazed by her and then sees her fighting in the training grounds and Alexander can't help but make some proud remarks?

Thank you so much, and feel free to change it a bit.

ADORED

The Darkling/Aleksander Morozova x reader

warnings: Alina’s POV, canon up to a point, Zoya bashing (canon episode 3), everyone has a crush on you, milf!reader, Alina is bi deal with it, vague descriptions of reader’s body.

summary: Alina meets the most adored person in the Little Palace; General Kirigan’s beautiful wife, Y/N

word count: 2037

taglist: @tranquilitymoon @thefifthweasley @savannah-elliott @ateliefloresdaprimavera @fandomstuffff @all-art-is-quite-useless @for-bebbanburg @mrs-brekker15 @the-abyss-gazed-back @timeknightt

@buckystarlight I mentioned writing this agessss ago lol 😅

dedicated to my wife and loml @aleksanderwh0r3 

. . .

Alina walked down the staircase, noticing two guards walking side-by-side behind her. she attempted to walk out the door, but was stopped by two other guards. 

a feminine voice came from her right. “Alina! there you are!” two girls wearing blue keftas came up to her, taking her arm on either side. one was tall, with hair tied up in neat braids, while the other was shorter than Alina, with a braid down her back.

“we’ve been looking for you!“ the second girl said, guiding her away from the guards. “we weren’t properly introduced earlier. I’m Marie, this is Nadia,“ she said, pointing to herself then the girl on Alina’s right, who was smiling at her. she liked them already, it would be nice to have friends here. 

“why are the guards keeping me inside,“ she asked, noticing that the guards were behind them again, their faces stoic and eyes blank.

“you’re supposed to be in training now... are you really a mapmaker?“ asked Nadia, looking at her quizzically.

“were you really attacked by Fjerdans?“ interjected Marie

“how many Fjerdans did you kill?“

“kill? I barely got a swing off at one,“ explained Alina, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

“sounds like our timing is perfect.“

“welcome to the first part of your new daily schedule,” said Nadia, just as the trio entered a large courtyard. 

“combat training,” Marie and Nadia said in sync. Grisha wearing all different colour keftas stood in the yard, some just talking, some practising hand movements, and others fighting. eyes followed them as they walked.

Nadia and Marie brought her over to where a muscular Shu man was training people in blue and red keftas. alongside him was a slightly familiar woman in a black kefta, just like General Kirigan’s. her hair was tied back neatly, and her hands were clasped together behind her back. “who’s that?” she asked no one in particular

they didn’t even need to ask who she meant, all three of them staring at the beautiful woman in black, who at that moment laughed at something Botkin said. she clapped him lightly on the shoulder and the students with them looked on enviously. “that is Y/N Kirigan, isn’t she perfect?“ Nadia sighed, making Marie roll her eyes.

“Kirigan? she seems familiar...“

“General Kirigan’s wife,“ Marie explained, poking Nadia to tell her to compose her dreamy expression. “only they wear black keftas. she participates in every aspect of Grisha training, but she’s closest to Botkin. apparently they’re old friends, though she looks younger than her age. there’s a portrait of her grandmother in the main hallway, they’re identical, that’s probably why you recognise her.“ 

"how old is she?"

"30s, I'm guessing, though it's hard to put an age on her, she’s gorgeous.” Alina agreed completely.

just as Alina was about to ask Marie another question, Botkin came walking over to the trio. Mrs. Kirigan followed behind. “Sun Summoner,” he called, “all of Ravka’s foes want to kill you before you can destroy the Fold. It’s a great honour to have so many enemies.”

“a very warm greeting,“ Alina remarked under her breath. 

“he’s always like this,“ replied Nadia.

“you must learn to defend yourself fast, do you know how to fight?“ 

“Botkin, she’s been here two minutes, let her breathe, hmm?“ a voice from behind him called. Alina blinked as Y/N walked past Botkin, lightly smacking his shoulder. her hips swayed as she walked, and Alina could swear she saw a Grisha boy’s jaw drop behind her.

“we don’t have time to dawdle,“ grunted Botkin, but his eyes were fond when he looked at her. behind them, the Grisha training weren’t trying to hide their glances either, some of awe, some of respect, some of lust, just like the boy, who had wisely closed his mouth.

“I’ve had some training,“ Alina said, not wanting to seem weak in front of the others.

“show me. pick an opponent,“ declared Botkin, and Y/N rolled her eyes at him, before shaking her head and walking to the side, back to her awaiting students.  

Alina had done a lot of stupid things in her life, but she liked to think that she had a good head on her shoulders. 

but punching Zoya right across the face, although satisfying, meant being thrown across the yard by her Squaller abilities, and then everything going black.

when she opened her eyes again she saw the two very worried faces of Nadia and Marie over her, asking if she was okay. 

“I can’t believe she did that,“ exclaimed Nadia

“she’s just jealous,“ said Marie, “can’t bear the idea of anyone else being favoured by General Kirigan.“

“favoured? but he’s married?“ Alina’s thoughts began to clear.

Marie rolled her eyes, “and she knows that, she’s his favourite student by far, but acts like she’s his wife instead of Y/N, it’s ridiculous”

“does she know? Y/N?“

“of course, though I doubt she cares. Y/N still trains Zoya, I actually think she's quite fond of Zoya, saints knows why“ 

“she’s so perfect,“ Nadia sighed dreamily

“Y/N or Zoya?“ 

“Y/N, she’s so cool... though I have a better chance with Zoya. I don’t know why she wastes her time pining over him... when she could be with me,“ Nadia said, just as Alina looked over her shoulder. Botkin was scolding Zoya, before sending her away, as she went she shot dirty looks at the three of them, before marching off, kicking dust behind her

“Alina! are you alright, darling?“ 

Alina turned to see Y/N walking briskly towards them, looking concerned.  Nadia’s eyes widened when she saw her, and she turned her head to avoid embarrassment. 

“oh, I’m fine, umm, Mrs-”

she was cut off by light laughter. “oh please darling, call me Y/N, or General if you insist on formality. but I don’t think that’s necessary. are you sure you’re alright? did you hit your head hard?”

saints, Alina could see why Nadia had such a big crush on you. you and General Kirigan were an attractive couple, a very attractive couple.

“I fell on the straw so I’m alright, I swear... Y/N“

she smiled again, and Nadia made an almost inaudible choking sound. “either way, you should get checked out. I’m sure Nadia and Marie will take you, they’re good girls”

even Marie was blushing a bit, but stayed composed. “we will, thank you General Kirigan”

“please Marie, call me Y/N, and I’ll see you later on, especially you Alina,“ with another smile she was gone, black kefta sweeping around her legs, hips swaying slightly. 

“see what I mean? perfect“ Nadia sighed, and the two girls, though they didn’t say anything, agreed completely

. . . 

dinner was held in the most beautiful room Alina had ever seen. when she told Marie this, she laughed. “if you think this is beautiful, you should see the ballroom.” she could feel eyes on her the second she entered the room, eyes that flickered over her face, eyes specifically, and her kefta. Nadia and Marie took no notice of their stares, sitting on either side of her, acting like shields to the prying gazes.

a gold plate was set in front of her, and Marie gasped excitedly. “it’s to celebrate your victory with the king!” just as Alina lifted her fork the doors swung open again.

Y/N laughed as she and Fedyor walked in arm-in-arm, as all eyes left Alina and made their way to her. her hair was loose from the tight up-do it was in earlier, and her kefta wasn’t buttoned up to the top anymore, instead revealing more of her neck, and her collarbone. Fedyor took his seat beside Ivan, and to Alina’s surprise, Y/N walked over to where they were sitting.

“how was your first day with Baghra, Alina?“

a sharp jab in the ribs from Marie shook her out of her stupor. “it was... a good start.”

“meaning she was cranky and hit you with that cane of hers?“ Y/N laughed, raising an eyebrow. Alina didn’t even reply before she started again, “don’t worry about it love, I’ve known her since I was a child, and she’s cranky with me as well. anyways, I’ll allow you to eat your dinner. I see that you’ve been given a bit of special treatment by that husband of mine.”

from anyone else the words would have been patronizing, or mocking, but the sincerity and good humour in her eyes made Alina feel at ease. “just this once, I’d rather eat what everyone else eats”

“enjoy it love, you’ve earned it“

“is it true that you eat our food too?“ Nadia blurted, looking like she instantly regretted her words. “I mean... General Kirigan doesn’t eat with us, but you do, and I was just- uhh- nevermind “

“Nadia,“ Marie hissed, but Y/N just smiled. “it’s alright Marie, and yes Nadia, I have always preferred eating what my friends and students eat. I think that dinner is the best time of the day to be together as a family, no?”

Nadia just nodded rapidly, unable to recover quickly from her name being used. Y/N straightened her back, and brushed hair out of her face, “I’ll leave you too it then, talk later girls,” and she was gone, taking an empty seat beside Fedyor, who grinned upon seeing her, and immediately involved her in some argument with Ivan. 

beside Alina, Nadia put her head in her hands and Marie sighed deeply, as the three of them watched Y/N laugh at Ivan’s stoic expression

. . .

General Kirigan had Alina meet him early the next morning. “the training yard won’t be busy this time of day, come.” he walked quickly, and Alina struggled to catch up with him. the sun had just risen and golden sunlight poured into the Little Palace, filling every crevice with light. 

he was right, upon entering the yard, only one person was there already.

Y/N grinned when she saw them, and stopped what she was doing to come over and greet them. Alina hung back, so General Kirigan could embrace his wife, but instead you pushed right past him, bringing Alina herself into a hug.

her arms were snug around Alina’s shoulders, and Alina found herself greatly enjoying the warmth. Y/N smelled like fresh linen, a flowery scent, and there was a vague scent of a masculine cologne, one she recognised from the General himself. it was Heaven.

“good morning Alina, how did you sleep? I know it’s early, but I prefer training alone, I hope that’s alright?“ Y/N spoke very fast, still holding Alina’s shoulders. Alina just nodded before Y/N turned again, back to where she was. 

“my wife, though she has abilities, enjoys physical fighting as well. most Grisha rely solely on their gifts, but Y/N thought it best to show you both ways,” General Kirigan explained, as Y/N took position, flashing them a smile before starting

though she had no opponent, and was basically fighting thin air, she moved with such elegance and precision that it was hard for Alina to take her eyes off her. Y/N was like a blur, reaching what seemed to Alina to be impossible speeds and agility. 

Kirigan watched her fondly, adoration and worship clear in his eyes. “she’s incredible,” he murmured

“everyone who meets her agrees“ Alina replied, remembering the fond glances from Ivan and Botkin, two of the most serious men that Alina had ever met.

“she’s spent years forming connections, she believes that a life without friends is a life failed. they really do adore her“

when Y/N finished the training, not a hair nor her clothes were out of place, her smile wide as he came over to them again, looping her arms around Kirigan’s waist and kissing his cheek.

“well, what do you think love? fancy some extra classes?“ she asked Alina, and Alina gulped, as she watched Y/N’s chest rise and fall quickly due to exertion.

“will Botkin mind?“

“Botkin will be happy with whatever decision I make, so?“ she looked so hopeful and Alina’s heart leaped

“I’d love to!“

Nadia was going to lose her shit

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