Feysand AU where Rhys needs extra credits in college so he joins the art classes on a whim but instead of painting the model they brought in, he paints the young art teacher who has freckles dotted like stars.

ELUCIEN | FAKE DATING MODERN AU

(I've been writing this for months and the difference between reading the smut I've written when I'm ovulating vs. when I'm not is just...enlightening.)

I don't know if anyone's ever talked about it but considering the Court of Nightmares is homophobic as a whole (or atleast that's what's hinted), has no one considered that Azriel's known Mor swings for the other side this whole time but keeps this pretense up so no one would guess otherwise about her?

Like, I know Azriel thinks he's not good enough for her but you can't tell me Mor's done a great job of hiding it from everyone for 500 years.

The one where Nessian are roommates and the sight of Cassian in sweatpants cripples her.

Unedited.

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Nesta didn't know husky, croaky voices did it for her.

But pair that with the largest, most unreal set of muscles on a person's back, thick veins on display as they stretch and the happy trail leading to what she was sure was a happier place, Nesta knew it was a system overload even for her.

Slamming her glass of water down, she startled Cassian who had just walked into the kitchen, stretching and wishing her a good morning.

But it wasn't a good morning.

The slightly husky, deep undertone with which he had delivered it was hinting on thoughts that had no business taking up space in her head. Thoughts of tangled sheets, naked bodies on top of each other, same words but preferably whispered against her ear while the bed rocked-

"You feeling okay?"

There it was again. Goosebumps ran from the bottom of her feet to the tip of her hairline as she shivered.

This was not what she had in mind when she temporarily moved in with her sister.

Mold in her own house had forced her to find other places to stay except Feyre had stepped in and offered the spare room at her old flat to Nesta for as long as she liked.

And forgot to mention that someone else was currently occupying the other bedroom.

Nesta would never forget stepping out of her own room early in the morning and noticing the most attractive man she had ever laid eyes on in her life, doing pull-ups on the makeshift rod in the kitchen entrance. Shirtless. In grey sweatpants.

Nesta had stood speechless until Cassian had noticed her, hopped off the bar and made his way toward her. Wiping his sweaty hands on the sides of his sweatpants, he'd offered her one "You must be Feyre's sister, I'm Cassian"

And because she was allergic to all things civil, Nesta had responded with "Why are you doing pull-ups in my house, Cassian?"

Cassian had laughed, undeterred that she had ignored his hand completely "Because it's not only your house, Nesta"

If Nesta hadn't desperately needed a place to live, she'd have strangled Feyre for putting her next to a man who would give Poseidon a run for his money.

Soon, she'd learned that Cassian was having his studio apartment renovated and had also moved in at the same time on Rhysand's suggestion. Feyre had apologized profusely for the miscommunication and offered to look for other places with her but Nesta was not going to trouble her sister any more than she already had.

"It's only a couple weeks" She'd said.

"Are you sure?" Feyre had asked anyway.

In hindsight, no. She wasn't. Every morning, day after day, she refused to be subjected to her own version of a strip show.

If Cassian wasn't doing pull-ups, he was doing something else that brought to attention all those God-like muscles flexing as he moved about. But Nesta's personal favorite was when he did the quad roll outs.

Oh, the amount of times she'd been making her morning cereal while he loosened his trunk sized thighs and hamstrings on those quad rolls picturing herself lying under him while he stretched.

"I'm fine. Coffee?" She coughed, hoping like hell that she wasn't drooling as she shamelessly ogled the veins on his arms.

"No. And you should stop drinking it too"

Nesta rolled her eyes at that "I will when herbal tea starts giving me the caffeine boost I need"

Cassian smiled at her quip but moved around her to start prepping for breakfast. They weren't the best of friends but they had a routine and like good roommates, they followed it. Cassian would cook breakfast while Nesta got ready and she would do the dishes in return. He vacuumed and took the trash out, she'd do all the grocery shopping and make a list of everything they were running out of. On weekends, if they were both home, Cassian would invite her to go to the gym with him (Nesta refused every time) and Nesta would ask if he wanted to watch a movie together (Cassian had watched more chick flicks than her and he was proud of it).

It was all because she had slowly developed the stupidest crush on her temporary roommate that she was still here, subjecting herself to torture like this. Her house had been mold free for two weeks but she refused to move back in, promising herself it was the last day she stayed but Cassian would do something ridiculous like leave her breakfast covered on the kitchen island on days he had to leave early or just have her favorite flowers in a vase on the center table (neither of them would comment on it) or softly flick her forehead if he caught her pouring herself more coffee and she'd melt on the inside every single time.

In the six weeks she'd been living with him, Cassian had never brought a girl home or even brought up the fact that he was seeing one so why he had never even hinted on asking Nesta out was beyond her. She wasn't above asking him herself, she was just too chicken to actually do it. So here she was, overstaying her welcome in hopes of something happening.

"Shoot. I forgot to take the trash out. When's the recycle day?"

Nesta glanced at the calender "Saturdays. That's today. I'll take it" She put her mug down and moved toward the trashcan the same time Cassian did.

"No, I'll do it" He pushed her hand away and Nesta could've sworn electricity charged between them. Before she could overthink it, her phone ringing snapped her out of her reverie.

"Eris Vanserra?"

Nesta favored delaying picking up the call as she turned to Cassian who had also noticed the caller ID.

"You know him?"

"Yeah. Sleazy bastard. Why is he calling you at 8 in the morning on a Saturday?"

"We're working a case together" With that, she picked up the call "It's 8 in the fucking morning, Vanserra"

Cassian laughed and Nesta smiled, putting the phone on speaker as Eris began talking "Weekends don't pay your bills, Archeron"

Nesta made a face at her phone before responding "As far as I know daddy pays your bills so I don't know what you're whining about"

Cassian shook his head, still smiling as he reached around her and took the trashbag out. Nesta watched him go, distracted by how his hair swished, wondering if the strands were as soft as they looked. So distracted she was, she barely caught the end of what Eris was saying.

"Enough chit-chat. You better have a valid reason for calling me so early in the morning"

"We have a lead"

And Nesta was paying attention.

By the time Cassian returned, Nesta was hunched over the island, listening intently on the phone that was off speaker now as she rapidly made notes in the notepad she kept exclusively for grocery lists.

Half her torso was leaning on the island as she supported the shoulder balancing her phone while she wrote. The arch in her back really brought to attention the curve of her ass and those long, long legs Cassian had dreamt of resting on his shoulders too many times than was appropriate.

Hair flowing down her back, her tiny pajama shorts riding up, Cassian wanted to stop watching but couldn't. Nesta Archeron was the Psyche of Greek Mythology on most days, untouchable in her tower, a beauty that rivaled Aphrodite's. But in the mornings, oh she was a sight to behold.

Face free of makeup, hair tied haphazardly above her head, wearing matching pajama sets and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, Cassian had never found a woman attractive like he did Nesta.

But if there was something he liked even more than seeing Nesta ruffled and rolled out of bed in the morning, it was the slight part in her lips, the darkening of her gaze as she'd take him in doing whatever exercise he was when she caught him.

He was aware of the effect he had on her, he just didn't know what to make of it. Most days, Nesta would snap out of it in record time and bark at him to put on a shirt but some days he'd catch her looking on with a gaze so inviting, he almost took her up on the offer.

If only he hadn't promised Feyre that he would make absolutely no moves on her sister, act respectfully at all times and make her feel welcoming, he'd have acted on his baser instincts much faster.

"I'll make a draft that you can proofread but I'm not coming into the office on a Saturday, Eris" Nesta was saying on the phone, straightening as she closed her notepad "Whether I have a social life or not is none of your business"

She was listening to whatever Eris was saying, getting more and more heated by the second before Cassian plucked the phone from behind her.

"Get fucked, Vanserra"

And hung up.

Nesta watched with her mouth slightly agape before she burst out laughing, Cassian joining in.

"Seriously though, Nes. You don't have to verbally spar with him every time, you can just hang up on him, y'know?"

"I know but what if it comes off as me throwing in the towel, waving the white flag, surrendering? I'd rather die"

Tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, Cassian moved closer, unable to help himself as he unconsciously trapped her between the counter and him "Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? Even your surrender may come off as a threat for a secret coup, I assure you no one would ever assume you're waving the white flag"

"Good. Because I'd- what are you doing?!"

"You can tell me your plans to take over the world while you sit there looking pretty" Cassian had already moved on to taking a pan out like he hadn't just tilted her world upside down by casually lifting her and setting her on the counter next to him like she was as weightless as a piece of tissue paper.

"You think I'm pretty?"

"I'm not blind, Nes. You're easily one of the hottest chicks uptown. No wonder Eris Vanserra has the hots for you"

"Eris Vanserra has the hots for me?"

Cassian shrugged, his back to her "You're beautiful and smart. Your beauty is striking cuz you can back it up with intelligence. You also won't take shit lying down and give back twice that you receive. And that mouth of yours..."

"What about it?"

Cassian set the pan on the stove, pausing. He was treading dangerous territory and he should retreat when he could still keep his head above water.

"What about it?" Nesta repeated, sharply enough that Cassian turned to her.

He grinned as he made his way toward her and flicked her nose "You should wash that mouth out with soap. You curse worse than sailors do"

"And?"

He wasn't supposed to secretly enjoy that she knew he had more to say that he was holding back on, that sitting on the countertop she looked like what birthday wishes and dreams were made of.

"And it's the most attractive thing in the fucking world"

Cassian could tell the exact moment her breath caught, the tensing in her shoulders and the way her fingers flexed on the edge of the countertop. He hadn't realized how close he was leaning into her space, the scent of roses and dark chocolate filling his nostrils.

He made a move to step away but Nesta latched her legs around his waist to keep him rooted. Cassian's eyebrows shot up in question as Nesta repeated "And?"

"Fishing for compliments, are we?"

"Cementing in the fact that the guy I have overstayed my welcome for does think I'm pretty. Whether he'll ask me out for a date after this remains unconfirmed"

Brows furrowed, Cassian asked "Overstayed your welcome? What are you talking about, Nes?"

Suddenly, Nesta wasn't sure where her previous bravado had disappeared to. Lowering her gaze, she flexed her fingers "The work in my apartment finished two weeks ago, I'm not sure why I'm still...here"

Her voice had significantly lowered but Cassian's grin was widening every passing second. Nudging her chin up, he implored "Ask me"

"What?"

"Ask me again"

Nesta blinked "And what else, Cassian?"

"And I've been dying to kiss that mouth since you first moved in"

Nesta pulled him in, giving him permission to do exactly that.

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Initially, I was going to write an extended fanfic with spice, but this has been sitting in my drafts for months and I really just wanted to talk about Cassian in grey sweatpants so whoop- here it is.

I also love the idea of them being roommates, so I don't know, maybe I'll write a part two if I feel like it. For now, I'm working on an Elucien fanfic so hopefully, I'll finish that one soon.

Whatever you do, do not think about Elain torturing Lucien by pulling all her hair off her back and over her shoulder, and asking him to tighten the strings on her corset.

Lucien, praying for strength from higher forces, has to block out her scent, the feel of her soft skin beneath his fingers, her hair that's tickling the side of his face, her nape, the slope of her throat, the dip of her waist- so, so tiny and the curve of her ass.

When he finally (miraculously) manages to tighten and ties all the strings together, Elain turns and shyly holds a box up to him, the lid open and displaying the single petal shaped ruby pendant with the rosegold chain, the delicate piece being the first gift he'd given her when he officially started courting her.

Her request does not have to be voiced. Carefully, Lucien takes it out of the box and lays it against her chest, once again trying to keep his focus on the task at hand and off the generous view of her cleavage and the supple skin of her breasts that was accentuated by the corset. Once Lucien is done, he steps back to admire his handiwork and catches his mate's eye in mirror, noticing her mischievous expression. She loves putting him on the spot. Courting her before they accepted the mating bond meant he could not act on his baser instincts that were begging him to rip the corset off her and take her to bed instead of the dinner they were getting ready for.

That doesn't mean he doesn't get his own revenge. Months later when he can finally undo those strings for a change, he does so with deliberate slowness that drives Elain half-mad until she turns and pulls on his belt, her mouth scrunching up in exasperation while she tries to make Lucien go quicker, rid her of her clothes faster. And he does. Until all she's wearing is the ruby pendant, one he hooks two fingers in and pulls her up with to kiss her while he's buried so deep in that she can feel him in her stomach.

Later, Lucien decides Elain needs a matching crown.

You can be an Elucien shipper and still like the Night Court/IC. I promise no one is going to hunt you down and carve your heart out. Some of you take it too far and it's exhausting.