Rhys X Reader - Blog Posts

In The Middle Of The Night (Short)

Pairing: Rhys x singer!reader (f).  Summary: Rhys and reader are roommates and he has nightmares. Warnings: None. Word count: 424 A/N: Just in case you were wondering (you weren’t), the song I envision the reader singing is All Too Well by Taylor Swift (the 10 min version, obvi), but feel free to choose something else if that’s not you.

***

The nightmares didn’t stop. I had them every night without fail. I thought they’d get better with time, but it almost felt like they were getting worse.

I would always find myself awake multiple times a night. Sometimes, I’d pace around my room or fly around the city to clear my mind. Sometimes, I’d just go downstairs for some water.

On one of those nights, I happened to find (Y/N) asleep on the couch, surrounded by books. Her hair was in a messy braid and she was still in her day clothes. Her lips were slightly parted and her breaths were even. She looked so peaceful; beautiful. 

I gently took the half-closed book from her hands and marked her page, placing it on the coffee table. I pulled the throw blanket off the back of the couch and covered her with it before going back upstairs. All thoughts of my previous nightmare had been replaced with (Y/N)’s angelic, sleeping face.

***

About a month later, I had a particularly bad nightmare. I found myself outside (Y/N)'s bedroom door, as I did every night occasionally to listen for her even breaths through the door and make sure she was okay.

Tonight, however, I heard nothing.

Not a single sound; no breaths. I ran a hand through my hair, pacing up and down the hallway and wondering whether or not I should go in. If she’s awake, she’ll think I’m creepy for coming into her room in the middle of the night, I thought. As I paced above the staircase, I heard… music playing very softly. It was really quiet, obviously magically muffled so not to disturb. It wasn’t coming from a tv or a radio; someone was playing the piano downstairs and singing.

Singing. The sound was so melodic; the most beautiful voice I’d ever heard in my existence. I sat down on the top step and leaned against the wall. I’d never heard the song before. It was sad, but it was so beautiful and poetic and I wished I could remember all the words.

My mind became hazy and my eyes grew heavy. I told myself I’d only close them until she finished her song, and then I’d go back into my room and rest.

For the first time since Under the Mountain, I fell into a dreamless sleep. The next thing I knew, it was morning and my neck hurt. I awoke in the same spot, sitting on the top stair.

With the throw blanket draped around me.

On the Roof

Pairings: I initially wrote this as an Az x reader but I think it accidentally came out as a Rhys x reader. Idrk, you figure it out🫠  Summary: Reader is Rhys’s mate, but is having a Nesta moment (thinking she’s not good enough for him). She flees Velaris and Azriel is sent to watch over her/convince her to come back. Warnings: Curse words, insecurities, angst. Word count: 737

***

“What are you doing?”

The shadowsinger whorled around at the sound of your voice. Part of him was amazed; it wasn’t often someone managed to surprise him.

You’d caught him on the roof of your apartment building, waiting for you to get home from work. You knew he’d been watching you for about two weeks, but you hadn’t actually been able to catch him in the act until now.

“I was… uh…” he stuttered, not sure how to proceed. You crossed your arms, raising a brow at him.

“Did Rhys send you?” Your voice was calm, trying to hide the anger that you felt. He swallowed.

“Yes,” he admitted. “But… I also wanted to come.”

“Why?” Pure curiosity, again hiding the anger.

“I…” Another swallow. “I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

You blinked. “I’m fine.”

“Okay… good,” he responded. It was quiet for a few moments. “Rhys misses you. He wants to apologize; he’s been a wreck since you left.” You let out a long exhale, fighting the urge to roll your eyes. 

I’m the one who left without an explanation, but of course he wants to apologize, you thought. Perfect Rhysand, always being so caring and attentive and fucking perfect. 

A shiver ran up your spine. You slowly approached where he stood next to the railing and looked out over the city. “I’m not coming back to Velaris.”

“Why not?” You were shocked at the question; you didn’t think he cared that much. But then again, you were really good friends with Az before you left. You always felt like you could talk to him. He seemed to get you when no one else did. You silently cursed yourself for ruining that friendship, and all the others.

“I don’t want it.” You fought to keep your voice from breaking. As usual, he knew exactly what you meant.

“(Y/N), he’s your mate.”

“That means nothing.”

“That means everything!” He wasn’t yelling by any means, but his voice was definitely louder than you’d ever heard it. He turned back to face you and exhaled. “You’re really fucking lucky, you know… You’re lucky to even have a mate at all; some of us would give anything for that bond.” 

Your ears heated. Az hadn’t yet been mated. He never spoke about it, but you knew it had to have been hard for him to be the only un-mated male in the group. You saw the way he looked at Cassian and Nesta sometimes, like he was happy for them, but he craved that closeness with someone.

“But,” he continued. “You’re also lucky to have a mate who loves you so much. You’re lucky to have a mate who would do anything for you; who would go to the ends of the Earth just to make you happy. You’re lucky to have a mate who is such a good male. And you’re too fucking blind to see it.”

A hot tear rolled down your cheek and anger exploded in your chest. “Don’t you get it? That’s the fucking point.”

“What?” His voice was riddled with irritated confusion. You focused on the railing; you couldn’t meet his eyes.

“He’s so fucking good. He’s kind and he’s patient and he’s generous. He’s… perfect. And… I’m not. I’m a terrible fucking person. He should hate me. I deserve it. He shouldn’t be shackled to me for his entire existence just because of some archaic mating bond. He deserves better.” Tears fell freely down your face now and you could feel Azriel’s stare soften. 

He wrapped an arm around you and you cried into his chest. You felt him press a soft kiss to my forehead and he rubbed your back. It was quiet for a while, besides the sound of your sniffles.

When you ran out of tears, you pulled back enough to look up at him. “Do you think I should go back?”

“Yes. I do.” He knew it wasn’t the answer you wanted to hear, but he could never lie to you. “And not just because of Rhys. Everyone misses you… Cass, Mor… Even Amren.” He tucked a lock of hair behind your ear, his voice soft. “I miss you.”

A shiver ran up your spine and you hugged him even tighter. “I miss you too, Az. I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have just abandoned you.”

“Don’t be sorry.” You felt his hands gently caressing your back. “Just come home.”

“Can You... Hold Me?”

Pairing: Rhys x f!reader Summary: Reader is a prisoner UtM and asks Rhys to cuddle her in a moment of weakness. He comes to a shocking realization. Warnings: None (literally just fluff). Word count: 487. A/N: This is literally so short, I’m sorry, rip.

***

“Rhys?” Her voice shook a little and my heart broke for her. I turned back to her. I will never forget the look on her face… pure, unadulterated fear. She paused, but eventually asked, “Can you… hold me?”

“Yes,” I breathed without a second thought. She made room for me and I climbed into her tiny cot, wrapping my arms around her as she nuzzled into me.

I would do anything to help her feel less scared and less alone, but I’d be lying if I said I had nothing to gain from this. Sure, I was used to being physically used by Amarantha, but I hadn’t had this kind of innocent intimacy since long before Under the Mountain. It felt… good.

Too good.

Her head rested between my neck and my shoulder. I held her close to me, gently rubbing her back as her body calmed. I didn’t expect her to fall asleep right away, and she didn’t. In fact, she practically clung to me and stared at the wall for at least an hour, thinking. I wasn’t sure if talking would help, so I just kept quiet and decided to wait for her to come to me. She didn’t, though. She stayed quiet. Staring. Drowning in thought. 

It took a long while, but eventually, I began to feel all the tension in her body begin to ease. Her eyes fluttered closed and her breaths were even.

But I couldn’t bring myself to leave.

I realized that I wanted to stay like this forever. Holding her, rubbing her back, playing with her hair. Just watching her sleep.

I hadn’t felt anything in my heart for decades. I’d often wondered if it had simply gone dormant or if the ability to love was yet another thing that Amarantha had taken from me. But I felt something then, like a firework in my chest, exploding into brilliant colors of light and happiness.

I knew then that I loved (Y/N). 

It startled me and I quickly cast the thought out of my head, far far away. I was too afraid to even think something like that in this place. Should Amarantha find out, she wouldn’t hesitate to kill (Y/N), not just out of jealousy, but also to spite me; just to show me that she could. Another show of the power she held over me… over all of us.  

I couldn’t love her; that would only complicate things and put her in danger. So I swallowed the feelings; buried them deep down and tried to explain them away.

She’s the first girl who’s touched you like this in a long time, I told myself, and you're just clinging to her because of it. You don’t actually like her; you just need to feel loved and appreciated. Yeah, that must be it.

That must be why I just laid there for hours and hours and watched her breathe.