Creativity Must Be Present {Oneshots for The Boiz(tm)}

Tranquil Embrace

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   It didn't take very long to reach her cottage after your run-in with Lucio, but it still seemed slow as you felt everyone's eyes were on you, watching your every move, waiting for you to slip up and expose yourself. Expose that you weren't really who you say you are...

   Who you think you are?

  Who are you?

   As you stepped up to her door, your hands were trembling terribly. Faust noticed your dread and doubt suddenly surface and weigh on your shoulders.
   "Friend?" She asked. You swallowed the lump growing in your throat, tightly clutching at your loose scarf as your heartbeat sped up and your chest was rising and falling rapidly. You felt as though you couldn't breathe—that you had been trapped in a box stripped of oxygen. Your legs shook and you struggled to move even the slightest bit.
   Before you could reach your quaking hand to the doorknob, it swung open before you, revealing not Portia, but Asra. There was a bright and excited smile on their face until they took in your distant, panicked expression, and within seconds, he slowly gathered you up in their arms, scanning your eyes for any discomfort. But all he saw was a lost look swimming in your (e/c) hues.  Asra ran their fingers gently through your (h/l) (h/c) locks, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead before turning to Portia.
   "I'm really sorry to intrude like this, Portia, but could we—" Asra didn't even need to finish asking before she replied.
   "Oh, of course! Here, use the couch. I'll be out in the garden." She offered a kind smile and shooed herself out the back door.

   "(Y/n)?" Asra called, bringing your mind back and grounding you as you met his gorgeous orchid-royal purple eyes. His hands are gentle around yours, lightly brushing his thumbs along your (soft/pronounced) knuckles with a caring smile lingering on his lips when he watches your thoughts slowly collect.  "Are you doing okay?" They ask, noticing Faust lift her head from your shoulder and peer up at you.
   "Friend okay?"
  "I'm.., it's, uh..." Frustration bubbled in your chest as you searched for the right words to describe what you were feeling, your eyes darting around different decorations that caught your distracted eye. Asra caught on to your struggle immediately and scooted closer to you, drawing your hands to his lips to give them each a soft, warm peck.
   "Don't worry. Take your time, (Y/n)." He smiles up at you through his white eyelashes. "I'm not one to rush things, you know."  You were thankful for that, as always. Asra has had quite a knack for making even the most anxious people feel calm and warm. Although his reassurance did help, it wasn't getting through your panic-stricken mind. They noticed that, too; in slow, easy moments, Asra took in a breath and let his eyes flutter half closed as they guided their magic to wash over you. You aren't very good at expressing your emotions—you aren't entirely sure if you were back then, either. Maybe that's part of the reason situations like these between you and Asra come to them like second nature.  Either way, you were beyond thankful when his warm sensation enveloped your every curve, a fond smile finding its way to their full lips when he both saw and felt you physically relax, growing tranquil within the familiar loving embrace.  Realizing that fact, you were struck with an idea. You let your own eyes close, drawing in a deep breath and letting your lungs fill with a sense of lightness that spread from your chest down your arms, torso, and legs. As the concentration was shifted to your subconscious, your eyes open slowly, catching the glimpse of your rainbow-colored aura apprehensively reaching out into Asra's own, the glittering purple and rainbow array mesh and swirl around each other as if they had minds of their own. But the closer you peer, the more you notice Asra is gently coaxing and guiding your aura in a path to wash over him.
   You smile back at him thankfully, giving yourself that one last burst of comfort and confidence to wrap their figure in a blanket of rainbow. In an instant, you can tell your panic, fear, and doubts all crash into them; you move to pull yourself back, but he only pulls you closer, pressing his hand to your chest, right over your heart, and drawing yours to rest atop their chest. A stronger wave of gentle calmness tingles along your skin like snuggling with Asra under a big blanket during a frigid winter evening. The feeling trickles into your thoughts and you sigh in relief. You can feel that their not just suppressing those thoughts—it's almost like your talking to him about each and every one of them, and Asra's easing you through the episode lovingly and patiently as always, without even opening your mouths. All you two need is each other.

   A few minutes after you had been guided through the worst of it, you were able to stand on your own—although Asra kept their arm wrapped lightly around your shoulders, still letting his magic continue to sooth you as they called for Portia.
   "Is everything alright?" She asked, concern written all across her features as she looked you over with an apologetic smile. Asra glanced to you, knowing you preferred to answer questions about you on your own—when you could.
   "I'm.., honestly not doing super good. I'm really sorry, Por—"
   "Ah ah ah, don't you dare!" She waggled her finger at you teasingly. "Really, there's no need for you to apologize, (Y/n). It happens to the best of us." Her smile grows a little brighter in reassurance, and you smile back; you're comforted and happy that she understands how bad it makes you feel to be singled out for your unique situation.
   'Oh, great.' You thought to yourself. Just as you were feeling relatively okay, your thought process just had to bring all back full circle to your "problem."  Your lover and friend both noticed your backtrack, Portia then helping to lead you carefully out of the cottage, and even offering to help walk you back to the shop.
   "We appreciate you, Portia, but I.., hm—" He struggled to find the words without making it sound too harsh, but she got the gist and waved you both off, wishing you to feel better soon.

××××

   You were nearly there, just a little bit farther, and you would see the warm and familiar door of the magic shop. Unfortunately, the sailing's been a little too smooth. Out of the corner of your eye, you could see Lucio was rambling dramatically to Julian—who looked about ready to request himself another hanging—a few feet from you and Asra. When the elder Devorak caught sight of your condition, you could see his posture suddenly stiffen upright, prepared to rush over and help with whatever he could, until he recalled he was already with another... "client."  Lucio seems to have a sixth sense that tells him when someone's not actually focused on him, because not even a second ticks by before he's already whirled around and spotted you.
   You tried to groan, but it came out as more of a whimper as you tried to press yourself further into Asra's hold and help usher the both of you home faster. The other Magician didn't protest; didn't question the sudden hurry, and even tried to cast a little extra magic to put a little more pep in their steps. But alas, Lucio seems to travel on foot faster after being an almost-ghost for so long. Strange, I know.
   "You—!" Before he could even begin to insult you, Julian had pressed a rapid kiss to a jar full of river leeches that he pulled from his coat's pocket, wound back his arm, and chucked the jar at Lucio, nailing him directly in the head.
   "Oh no! Ex- I mean, er, C-Count—! Count Lucio! Oh dear, oh heavens, we must get you on the cot immediately!" As the tall and lanky doctor spun the goat around and shoved him in the door of his clinic, ignoring his incessant squealing, he leans over his shoulder, mouthing a genuinely guilty 'sorry!' before following in right after.
   "Hm~ looks like those leeches were useful after all." Asra teased, smiling at you fondly when you chuckle.
   "Alright Love," they started in a soft voice, "let's get you home. I'll make the tea this time, Magician's promise."
   "That's not a real thing—"
  "Well, it is now~" As they press a kiss to your head and idly rub their thumb over your arm, you sigh in content. It'll definitely take a little more time, but everything will be okay. You bound the Godsdamned Devil; you'll get through this. With the help of your beloved boyfriend and family-like friends, of course.

HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED THAT, I KINDA STRUGGLED WITH WRITING IT BC ON MENTAL THINGS AND ISSUES WITH A FRIEND TELLING ME TO DO SOMETHING THAT I'D RATHER NOT SAY, BUT I'M SURE JUST BY SAYING THIS, A HANDFUL OF YOU CAN GUESS WHAT IT WAS :D

ANYWAY, HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS ONESHOT, HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY/AFTERNOON/NIGHT! AND REMEMBER! DON'T BE AFRAID TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN REQUEST!

CATCH Y'ALL ON THE FLIPPITY-FLIP-FLAP
DEUCES