Flufftober 2023

Flufftober 2023

Day 2: "Just hold me" [x Dog]

The way you were shaking after having to fight a literal massive demon was concerning, to say the least. Swiveling as soon as someone touched your shoulder, ready to swing on whatever was behind you.

Dog caught your hand with ease, despite his usual boyish innocence he understood what happened without a word. Gently kissing your knuckles in an attempt to help you calm down. Taking a deep breath, you shuffled a little closer.

"It's okay honey bear." Dog hugged you gently, "What do you need me to do?"

"Just hold me." You whispered against his chest, "Please."

That was all it took for Dog to scoop you up, walking away from the battlefield without a second thought. He wasn't about to argue or worry about anyone else for a little while. Not when you needed him for comfort.

"[Name]," Dog mumbled into your ear, "Is there anything else you need me to do?"

Shaking your head slowly, "Just hold me. Please."

"I've got you sugar mouse." He rubbed your back in soothing circles, "Just relax with me."

You nodded slowly, nuzzling closer. It was cozy tucked in Dog's arms like this, despite having been shaken only a few minutes prior. He had no problems carrying you through the city, all the way back to your apartment. There was nothing that could stop him, not when he was focused on a personal mission.

"Here, let me unlock the door."

You shifted enough to work with the keys while Dog stood there, a soft smile on his face as he watched you. Neither of you wanted to do much else today, after the fight in the middle of the city it was cuddle time.

Whumptober 2023

Day 4: "Stay, please" [x Raju]

Raju floated in the middle of the living room, taking in what you said while you panted heavily. This wasn't his idea to begin with, he had no clue why he was even here at the moment. Sure, Raju had lived with humas before...

But not one quite like you.

The thing was, he wasn't completely used to someone wanting his presence, concerned this deeply for his safety. All things considered, love wasn't something he contemplated. Especially not for himself.

But here you stood, breathing hard from yelling at him for how reckless he was in battle. Telling him off for being gone most of the year, despite promising to visit more often. Promising to show up for the holidays...

Raju didn't know how to feel, but one thing rang clear in the silence.

"Why do you keep coming back? Just leave!"

But Raju couldn't move. He wanted to stay, he truly did. There was just so much he needed to get used to, things he never thought about with his huma family. Things that never once crossed his mind.

The tears still streaming down your face made walking difficult but you made the attempt to march off anyways. After all the waiting around you did this past year and a half, you just needed a nap... with or without Raju's answer.

Before you could pass through the hallway...

"[Name], wait." Raju had a blood thread attached to your sleeve, tugging you back as carefully as possible, "Stay, please?"

"I'm going to bed." You grumbled, voice drained of emotions post-outburst, "That's all."

"I'll join you."

It wasn't exactly a command, there was a hint of plea in Raju's voice. But he probably could have asked instead of...

"Whatever."

You trudged into your bedroom, why should you care that he was following you anyway? Flopping onto the messy spread, you burrowed under a fluffy blanket and tried your best to ignore the floating half-man you were supposed to be dating.

Its not like you could tell anymore.

Raju didn't need sleep however. Instead opting to just hover there, watching over you. One slender hand, his only hand left after everything he'd been through in life, caressed your back slowly. He could at least help ease you to sleep.

That didn't stop him from mumbling under his breath though, "I'm sorry [Name]. I know I can't keep using the same excuses. You don't deserve to be left alone for months on end, not by someone like me. If you still want me gone, I won't fuss. I just want to know you're okay... I'm sorry I hurt you with all this..."

Even half asleep, you couldn't deny how badly you wanted to forgive him. But all you could manage was grabbing onto his cane before dozing off.

Whumptober 2023

Day 5: Overhearing a Caretaker mildly complaining [x Klaus]

Break a leg huh? Welp, you broke a leg alright, and Klaus was determined to take care of you to the best of his ability. But you knew it was putting too much on him, asking him to watch over you like this when he should be at work.

Even if he can just take care of the paperwork, it wasn't fair to ask him to take care of you. Not like this.

But he was stubborn. Your leg bone had broken, damn near splintered when you fell. Moving was difficult, Klaus wouldn't leave your side for a second, occasionally resigning to carrying you around because he could. It made you feel like a doll.

The worst of it was how damn careful you had to be about your frequent headaches. Laying back into direct, bright lights wasn't helping at all. And you only had a few ways you could lay without risking further injury. It was only a matter of time before Klaus got annoyed with it, you were certain.

"I'm unsure what to do Steven." Klaus's voice woke you from a fever nap, "It's been getting rather dark lately. Far too early. And [Name] can't handle the bright lights."

You laid still, pretending to still be fast asleep. The pause and sigh told you that Klaus was on the phone, and not at all happy.

"Of course we've tried nightlights. We've also tried flashlights." Klaus passed very close to the couch where you were laying, "But the way it throws shadow... I hate seeing [Name] frightened like that."

Klaus stopped suddenly, turning back to where you were. From his point of view, you were still asleep. While he listened to Steven suggest a variety of solutions, Klaus knelt by your side. Each possible outcome had its drawbacks, and while Klaus could appreciate the help, he didn't care for the accusatory tone Steven used.

This was his beloved [Name] after all, not some random person off the street.

"Steven, I'm well aware of how this must look from your point of view. And believe me, I do find it frustrating to be held back by so many inconveniences."

Your heart squeezed a little hearing that, knowing that Klaus was too much of a gentleman to say it to your face. Or even admit out loud that this was your fault. It hurt on so many levels.

"Even so, I will be back in the office soon." Klaus's hand rested gently across your back, "[Name]'s last doctor appointment went very well and they should be more than capable of caring for themselves soon. I believe Dr. Estevez mentioned crutches."

Finally hanging up, Klaus absently rubbed your back. He just wanted you to be okay. He knew you weren't trying to make things difficult, and the way you were bedridden was only natural after the accident. All he could do was hope for best situation, and that you weren't awake to hear him venting to Steven.

Klaus would die if you'd overheard. He was terrified what you might think of him. What your thought process might lead you to...

Late to the- [Klaus x Reader]

Requested by Anonymous ⏱️

The quiet of the house as Klaus finally got off work was uneasy. He knew all of this was his fault, working too late once again and leaving you alone with the children for far too long...

Settling into a chair as quietly as possible, a warmed-over plate of Bavarian pot roast sitting in front of himself. Wistfully thinking about how dinner must've gone earlier today, how he would've talked with the children. Warning them against talking with their mouths full, enjoying the day-to-day chatter, gently reminding the children to finish their vegetables, and meeting your eyes from across the table.

Blurry visions of what could have been... should have been, faded as he wiped at the sparse tears from under his glasses. Slowly getting up and cleaning away what little mess there was, Klaus was breathing a little heavily. The weight of his grief and guilt hitting him in full force.

Marching down the hall on tired feet, Klaus stopped just shy of your shared room, contemplating the risk of waking you up. Instead, he shuffled back to the living room. Sinking into the couch cushions, Klaus fell asleep to the ideas of the person he wanted to be... how badly he was failing at being a father and husband.

"Shhh!" "But!" "Shhh!!"

Klaus's eyes opened slowly, five children looking down at him. He knew how bad this must look to them, yet...

"Shatzchen, is there something you needed?" He sat up slowly, trying his best to make things seem normal, "What is going on?"

Before Damien could answer, Yvonne piped up, partially bouncing up, "Why aren't you sleeping in the bed with Mama?"

He was squirming at this, keeping this façade was going to be difficult, "I didn't want to wake Mama up last night. I came home far too late mein Shatzis, that's all it was."

The worried looks being exchanged between the children had Klaus squirming even more. This was his worst lie to date, and right to his children's faces at that... He could tell they weren't believing him this time. Until...

"You must've been extremely late Lieber." You stepped in from the hallway, "To be out here once again."

Now the children were just confused, looking back and forth like little meerkats. As much as Klaus appreciated your backup on the matter, he was also concerned about your willingness to lie to the children. Though he could very easily say that about himself at the moment.

"Quite late mein Herz." Klaus hung his head a little, "My apologies."

Klaus was tackled in tight hugs, several small arms wrapped around him as you walked into the kitchen. It was clear that you were just trying to keep the peace, but the conversation wasn't over with. Just delayed until the children were too busy to pay attention to the conversation.

It wasn't until after lunch that you were approached by Klaus. Shyly shuffling, struggling to find the words to start the conversation. As much as he wanted to-

"Klaus, I'd rather you woke me up." Your eyes didn't leave the book that weren't even reading, "I know how much this weighs on you. That you want to be here to spend time with us. But fact of the matter is that your job is very demanding, I've known that since we started dating and it hasn't changed throughout our marriage."

Klaus was barely able to make eye contact when you looked up at him. But the pain behind how strictly you were talking hit him like a ton of bricks. Kneeling down to your level, a gentle hand resting on your knee as he mirrored your deep seated pain.

"I know it all sounds harsh like this, but--"

"Liebling, please don't apologize." Klaus carefully squeezed your knee, "I shouldn't have put you in such a situation as to lie to our children, and I... I know it hurts you to be like this. It hurts me to be absent in my family's lives. I've only ever wanted to be here for all of you. And yet..."

The urge to smack Klaus with your book was strong, however...

"Honey, you're doing the best you can." You sighed a little, "The children and I know that, we understand-"

His head popped up, "I don't want you to understand. I'd prefer that you be upset, blame me for the broken promi--"

"Why should I blame you for the fact that there are terrible people in the world?" Your foot came down very close to his knee, "Because I know you wouldn't break a promise without a damn good reason and so do your kids."

Looking like a scolded child himself, Klaus laid his head on your lap in defeat. He knew you were right, he knew he couldn't continue arguing with you over this either. Deep down he knew this would blow over soon enough, that you weren't truly upset with him... just how he was going about inflicting his own punshiment.

At least he had today to make up for the time spent in the office.

Whumptober 2023

Day 1: "Don't panic, it won't hurt" [x Chain]

Hellsalem's Lot had some of the worst wasps you'd ever seen. You couldn't reach the stingers embedded in your back and sitting wasn't very comfortable; given that you couldn't lean back at all. That's how Chain found you, sprawled out face down on the bed.

"What...?"

"Wasps." You groaned, half rolling over, "They got my back and I can't get the stingers out."

Chain sighed. It would be tricky, but she could get a lot of them out at once using her invisible werewolf abilities. Though she didn't know how it would affect you to have someone phasing through your body. The people she fought tended to have very negative reactions when she phased through them.

"Okay, just lay still." She lifted your shirt slowly, "And take a deep breath. Don't panic, it won't hurt."

The deep breath you took was exhaled sharply as something went right through your skin. It felt so cold, it burned; though it was vaguely hand-shaped. Chain was doing her best to move quickly, she could tell that you weren't thrilled about this arrangement.

"Almost done." She said, "Just a little more and they'll be out."

The teeny dribbles of blood from the open wounds hurt Chain a little. There wasn't much left to do except ointment and bandages, which was far easier than removing the stingers. Though Chain was quick to kiss around the small plastic strips, and that made it feel just a little bit better.

Flufftober 2023

Day 11: "Don't say that!" [x Femt]

Things had quite literally blown up in your face, the soot on your nose simply wasn't coming off anytime soon. Not helping the matter was your lover giggling like the lunatic he is. Your attempt to improve in alchemy was looking more and more futile with each failure.

It was difficult to keep the hurt out of your voice as you sighed, slowly packing away your things for the day. This was starting to feel like a waste of effort.

"Oh come now Dearie," Femt wiped at a small tear that formed under his mask, "Don't go looking so glum when the final result was so much fun."

"I just... I just can't laugh this time." You rolled up the transmutation scroll, "Maybe I'm just not cut out to be an alchemist. With how much I keep failing. This is hopeless."

Femt had an arm around your shoulders in no time, "Don't say that! Come now Dearie, you got this far. A little smoke and soot isn't gonna deter you, is it?"

"That was the 82nd time this week hon." You pushed the large leather satchel back on the desk, "I don't know how many more failed attempts at a base-level transmutation I can take. Especially with how easy it's supposed to be."

"Well, you know what they say 'Rome wasn't built in a day'." Femt was still trying to lighten the mood, "Of course I don't know why they said it, seems rather obvious. Nor do I know who 'they' are... But you can't expect to get everything right in the first week or two of trying, can you?"

Despite knowing Femt was right, this still left a bitter taste in your mouth. You weren't just starting out, this was something you had to keep coming back to because it just never worked. No matter how many times you tried. This. Always. Happened. And you hated it.

"Either way, I do know what will cheer you up." Femt started steering you out of your little lab, "And it doesn't include you being harsh on yourself. Honestly, talking about my favorite person like that. You should be ashamed Dearie. You know how much it would upset Celia to hear that kind of talk from you... I should sic her on you once we sit down."

All you could do was shake your head and smirk a little. Because of course Femt would bring up Celia, as if the little rag-a-muffin was going to do more than lick you. But there was always tomorrow to try and figure out what keeps going on with your transmutations.