3. Takao Kazunari: Knight in Shining Armor

{Kingdom AU}

You were (F/N) (L/N), the sole queen of Shūtoku. Six months ago your parents were killed on the road to a trade agreement with Kaijou by goblins. You were alive but barely living as you mourned over their deaths isolated in your room. The advisors decided you needed to come back to the real world and deal with your kingdom's problems as queen.

You pursed your lips as you stared at the novel in your hands, the jumbled mess of lines becoming words as you focused back onto the page. Takao, your most trusted knight and best childhood friend, poked your knee with his foot and you looked up at him with a dazed, confused expression.

"You've been on that page for the last fifteen minutes, Your Highness." He pointed out. He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head to the side. "What's troubling you?"

"It's nothing." You reassured, shaking your head. You narrowed your eyes and kicked him in the shin, wincing as you felt your toes bruise against his armored leg. "Don't call me 'Your Highness', Sir Takao. That's annoying."

"The others would have my head if they heard me speaking informally to the Queen of Teikou." He replied, shaking his head.

You sighed and shut your novel and laid it on your lap. "Kazunari, I don't feel well. Can you get my medicine out of my bag in the back?"

"Of course," he grinned.

He got to his feet and slid out of the carriage with practiced ease. You reopened your novel and tried to pick up where you left off. Truth to be told, you felt perfectly fine. It's just that it was hard to think with Takao around.

The door of the carriage opened and you didn't look away from your novel since you were in the middle of a sentence. "Thank you, Kazunari."

No response.

You furrowed your eyebrows and turned your head. "Kazunari?"

Your eyes widened in horror and a scream caught in your throat. A goblin stood where Takao should've with a nasty sneer on its face. It had dark green skin with a texture similar to leather that was left outside during a storm. Wrinkled and disgusting, it was about five feet tall and had a twisted sword pointing at you.

"C'mere, Yer Highness." It snarled. Judging by the masculine voice, it was safe to assume it was male.

"What do you want?" You demanded, your voice cool and unwavering. You reached behind you, knowing that there was a hidden sword underneath the cushions.

The goblin growled and took another step forwards. "You, a course. Jus' get over 'ere already. I'd hate to ruin that darlin' face of yers."

You gripped onto the handle of the sword and narrowed your eyes. "What makes you think that I would be stupid enough to follow your orders, you lowly grunt?"

The goblin bared his teeth and leaped at you with a throaty shout. You whipped the sword forwards and gasped as it slid through his torso like knife through butter. He groaned and coughed up blood, covering your nice (F/C) dress in crimson. You whimpered and through him to the side and held your sleeve to your face to block out the awful stench and terrible sight.

The carriage came to a jerking stop and the door flew open. Takao stood there with his bloodied sword drawn and held a hand out to you. "We have to go. They're sending reinforcements and we'll be dead if we don't run now."

You wordlessly nodded and gripped onto his arm as you got out of the carriage. Dead bodies were littered about and you would've thought they were dead if it weren't for the deep gashes and spurting blood. Takao pulled on you and you looked away and started running.

To your shock, Takao didn't lead you down the road - no, he forced you into the forest. You gasped for breath as you hurdled over roots and ducked under branches, all the while holding onto him as if your life depended on it. More than once your dress would get caught and he would cut it off while muttering there was no time. By now your hair was a wild mess and your shredded dress was right below your knees.

"I SEE 'EM!"

You screamed when an arrow whizzed past Takao's head and he pushed you roughly to your right. If he didn't have an iron grip on you, you would've toppled over at the force. You could hear the goblins yelling behind you and water running in the distance. More arrows flew past the two of you and your sickness was threatening to knock you unconscious.

Falling over from your lack of coordination, you openly sobbed, "Kazunari, I can't go on any further! Please, just go get help and-"

"Don't be a drama queen, (Y/N)." Takao snapped. He scooped you up princess-style and started running again. "I'd die before I left you behind."

The forest opened up and he skidded to a stop. Below was a river that led to a waterfall that you knew was infamous for killing boaters. The goblins howled in the distance and Takao set you down.

"Take off your heavy layers." He ordered as he threw off his armor.

"This is mad." You whispered as you complied. "Kazunari, what's your plan?"

Takao grinned and grabbed your hand, intertwining his fingers with yours just like when you were little. "Goblins can't swim. We have a better chance at living if we do this."

You paled. "Oh, God."

The goblins' screeches were getting louder as they came closer. Takao counted down from three and the both of you jumped into the river. You gasped as you fought to stay on the surface, the current quickly dragging you through the water like a ragdoll. Takao pulled you against him and you started panicking when the edge was near.

"We're going to die!" You screamed.

Takao's face turned pink and he shyly chuckled. "If this is the end, I need to tell you something."

"What are you even talking about?" You shouted over the roaring waves. You furiously kicked to keep yourself up and clung to Takao's chest for support.

"I've been keeping this a secret for a while now because I know it's forbidden." Takao took a deep breath and leaned his forehead against yours. "(Y/N), I'm in love with you."

You blinked, not processing what he just said. "Eh?"

Takao smiled and kissed you. Your eyes nearly bulged out of your head and the kiss was cut off when you forgot to move and sunk into the water. You came up spluttering and choking on water and he helped steady you. The sound of the rushing water was too loud for Takao to hear your reply then before you knew it, the two of you were being catapulted over the waterfall.

*\(^o^)/*

You woke up with a parched throat and massive headache that made you whine aloud. Cracking your eyelids open, you found yourself staring at the top of a cave with the only light being a small fire. You turned your head and watched as Takao, shirtless, well-built Takao, tended to the fire by dropping logs onto it. It crackled and sparks floated into the air before disappearing like they were never there.

You weren't a fire spark. Your people were probably looking for you already, worrying about the queen without a heir. The closest thing they had was your royal dog, (D/N). You shivered when you realized the goblins were after you.

Well, that was part of it. Your hair was soaked and you were also wearing a torn, damp dress that clung to you like a second skin.

Takao glanced over at you and hurried to your side and offered you a flask of water. "Are you okay, (Y/N)?"

"The last thing I remember is going over the waterfall." You paused and took a drink. "Are we alive?"

"I think so," he laughed. He sat cross-legged in front of you and set his chin on his hand. "I didn't hear what you said before we went over."

You stiffened and hid your face because you clearly remembered screaming at him. "Ah, it's nothing."

"It must be something." Takao cooed. He tickled your sides and you squeaked and tried to fight back your giggles. "Tell me, (Y/N). Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell-"

"Fine, fine! Just stop!" You gave up, prying his hands away from your sides. You held onto his hands and observed them, marveling at how much larger they were than yours before timidly meeting his curious stare. "You said that you loved me and I said that I loved you, too."

Takao gasped and leaned forwards with an excited smile. "You're telling the truth?"

"Yes, I am," you assured, blushing.

Takao caressed your cheek and brought you into a second kiss. It was passionate and loving, riling up the hormones within you. You tangled your fingers in his hair and he ended up hovering above you and softly kissing your neck as your fingers explored his chest.

"I know another way to warm us up other than the fire." You smirked, slyly chuckling.

Takao stopped his actions and raised his head. "Do you really want our first time to be in an abandoned dwarf camp?"

"Stop being a baby." You grumbled. You rolled over so you were straddling him and teasingly peeled your dress off, exposing yourself to the gaping hawk-eyed male below you. "I've been under a lot of stress, Kazunari. As your queen, I demand that you help me."

Takao gulped his nerves down and matched your mischievous smile. "As you wish, Your Highness."

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Writing that last bit made me blush a bit >///<

I had fun writing this AU. My first ever real fandom was The Lord of the Rings so it was really fun for me to use some of those elements in this oneshot.

I'm sorry that my writing's been a lot slower, but just remember that one day I'll update.

Requests are CLOSED. I'm not taking any at the moment and it'll be mostly coincidental if I write for a character you requested. I'll keep who you want in mind, but that's about it.

Happy holidays, my lovely readers! I hope you guys enjoyed this oneshot and tell me what you thought of it :3

Lots of love, Cora-chan <3