The nail polish I have on right now fucking sucks. Thats really all there is to be said.
But anyway! ! I got carried away with the cuddles and ended up writing an alt! Chapter end for those of us who don't want to wait ten years for the romance and horseman smooches.
Love them smooches.
Also I did War's POV /third person for the first part of this and I'm not sure if I should do that in the 'main' story because this is a reader insert and I don't want to misgender anyone by using they/them!
This has got some grade A fluff in my humble opinion tho, so... It's up to you!
And more headcanons bc damn I love War. I mean, the dude is probably fifty shades of fucked up from all he's been through, but I still love him.
The Advisor is weird.
Or perhaps its a human thing? War watches his Advisor struggle between warmth and comfort with a mix of amusement and worry. They're teetering on the edge of wakefulness, and he knows they won't be well rested when they actually do wake up.
He also knows how they look when half asleep (which is, in their terms, fricken adorable), and he's not certain if he wants to interfere with that. Granted, them being fully aware of their surroundings is a good thing if he factors in surviving.
Especially taking into consideration how frightened they appeared when discussing the possible separation. War is supremely irritated that the Advisor is the one that can actually be torn from his side, unlike the Watcher.
Not that he always harbored that sentiment, but recent events have made it painfully clear that the Advisor is worth much more than both their title and what War assumed. Not to mention their unshakable (and unearned) loyalty to the Horseman.
They're reckless, of course, and War has considered leaving them in a safe place while he does all the fighting, but he's certain that wouldn't be well received by the human. Not to mention what the Watcher would do if he made his less-than-professional attachment to his Advisor known.
He thinks they know, at least. It's hard to understand them (and War is not sure if that is because he's not used to socializing or because they're human). Sometimes it seems as if they are more similar to demons, always hiding their emotions and speaking in riddles.
The Horseman tries not to let the fact Samael appears to understand them better than he does get to him, but his pride takes a hit every time they exchange meaningful glances. Not to mention how they speak with Vulgrim, of all creatures.
He knows they're only trying to "play by the rules" but it seems maintaining his calm with this entire situation is easier said than done. Samael has no doubt noticed that he's even more aggressive than usual, having known each other for millennia.
Not to mention how they've taken to Ruin, which is...
Strange.
War doesn't know how to name how that makes him feel, truthfully.
He did very briefly consider kissing them when they so obviously faked being tired in order to give Ruin a rest though, and he has to wonder if they would be adverse to that. He's given them every reason to dislike him, from being abrasive early on in the quest to most recently (accidentally) injuring them, but they're...
Much too good for a Horseman such as himself. Too forgiving and clever and-
"Well?"
War barely twitches, tearing his gaze from the human to the impatient looking Watcher. "Do you need something?" He asks, his annoyance plain.
The Watcher growls, throwing its arms up, "Aren't you going to do something, dog?"
Like? The Horseman's reply must've been on his face, because the Watcher looks even more frustrated.
"Either help them sleep properly or we will be moving forward." It makes a fist, and War grinds his teeth in pain. "I cannot believe I've been reduced to a relationship counselor." It seethes, wings fluttering. "Are you going to let the Advisor die of hypothermia then? We could've saved much more time if you just killed them in the beginning, you know."
War feels a scowl on his lips, fingers itching for ChaosEater as the Watcher circles the human. Get back, he wants to tell it, recalling how scared they looked the last time the Watcher surprised them.
He is not quite sure what instilled such a reaction in the human, if its just a result of their journey or if its the Watcher specifically, but he abhors it.
War is also not quite sure if his reaction is to be expected. Perhaps that's why his siblings took such a shine to the human? Do they all have an innate desire to protect humans, or just this human?
They have been very forthcoming about their time with his siblings though, and War mentally goes over the most unlikely things they've said. Strife getting along so perfectly with a human, Death welcoming them into the fold, Fury trying her hand at mentoring.
Weeks ago, he brushed those off as the human embellishing their tales, but now, he can see it.
He can also see his siblings understanding when he carefully pulls the human into his lap, letting them slump against his chest. They barely stir when he does so, only murmuring what sounds like his name.
War blinks, looking back up at the Watcher for assistance.
"You're hopeless." The creature snaps. It returns to the gauntlet without another word and War is left... Here.
The human is tiny and delicate in his arms, the fresh bruises just reinforcing that image.
War has never felt so guilty for simply bruising someone. He meant to protect them, from that name and the very idea that he is back in some form or another, and he injured them.
Fuck.
He sighs, overwhelmed with unfamiliar and stifling emotions. When was the last time he cared for someone beside his siblings? Before the genocide, maybe?
And this infuriating little human managed to befriend him in a manner of weeks.
As if to prove that point, the human sighs, "War." It's clearer this time, and makes the Horseman feel like he's suffocating. They're dreaming of me, he thinks incredulously. It's not a surprise, given they're near constantly in one another's presence, but still.
He looks down at the human, taking in the messy hair and the bruise-like circles under their eyes. Their clothes, even freshly cleaned outfits, are ragged, blood stained, and no longer quite as form fitting (Strife will kick his ass for allowing the human to lose so much weight, he's sure. Fury and Death will probably just send him disapproving looks).
They're a mess, to be perfectly honest.
They looked much better when this journey first began, all fresh faced and already firing off sassy retorts, and War wonders what the actual fuck his younger self was thinking, brushing them off.
He'd kill to have that grin back, as the human would say. He obviously doesn't place killing on the same level as they do, but the sentiment remains.
They're a mess and War is completely enamored.
They only sleep a few hours at a time, and War is unsurprised when their eyes flutter open a meager three hours later. It takes them longer to wake up this time, either because they're exhausted or extremely comfortable, War doesn't know.
They look up at him sleepily, eyes narrowing in confusion. "War?"
He doesn't answer vocally, only giving them a minuscule smile.
Their own grin is bright and tired, "Good morning?" They yawn and return to laying against the Horseman. "Am I still dreaming?"
"No." He snorts. "Why?"
They pause, lips pulling into an adorable little scowl. "...I don't know... Wasn't I over there?" They vaguely motion over their shoulder.
"You looked cold." War smirks when they instantly flush with color, and he briefly imagines their eyes brightening in excitement. A pity humans are so hard to read. Their face is a mixture of different emotions, none of them easily transcribed by the Horseman.
"I am so sorry, oh my god." They finally say, scrambling backwards. "You didn't have to- fuck. I'm so sorry! I should've brought a blanket or just waited or- oh my god." They hide their face in their hands, completely mortified.
They only glance up when War begins laughing, and solely to ask, "What?"
He's laughing, and while part of you is all fluttery because of that, most is just horrified that he finds this situation comedic. He's watching your expression with obvious amusement, eyes bright and- goddammit, not now! You stomp down the part of you that wants to kiss him.
"There is no need for you to apologize." He finally replies.
You make a disgruntled noise in your throat, quickly getting to your feet so you can pace. "Fine, fine. Thanks anyway." You say, your voice betraying how totally wrecked you are.
It's not fine.
You just woke up in War's lap.
And you are seriously freaking out.
"You're welcome." War says, his voice still tinged with laughter.
You make a face and continue aimlessly pacing in front of him. You should eat, you know, and then get back to actually continuing on your journey, but War seems content for right now and you need to get a grip on your emotions.
Stop thinking kissing War, dammit.
Stop thinking about how happy he looks right now and if he'd kiss you back and wow, this is not helping.
War's watching you, you can feel his eyes on your side. "Are you well?" He finally asks.
"I don't know!" You answer too quickly, hiding your face behind your hands. You tilt your head, just enough to meet War's curious gaze. "Why are you so mean?"
He blinks, tilting his head curiously. "I am a Horseman," So its sorta expected that I'm mean, you fill in. "But I do not see how warming you is mean."
"Because, War!" You exclaim. Because I'm a filthy sinner and cuddling doesn't help me because while I should be trying to figure out how the hell I'm going to survive, all I can think about is how cute you are and how much I'd like to kiss you!
You, of course, don't say any of that, and simply give him some silly 'I'm still tired' excuse as you resume pacing.
War holds out his hand the next time you walk past him, still looking confused.
You're not quite sure what you expect to happen when you take his offered hand, but it isn't being yanked back down. You find yourself kneeling in the ash, directly in front of the Horseman. Granted, not pressed up against him like you were previously, but still enough to render you more or less useless.
Oh.
"If I have over stepped my boundaries," He begins, oddly serious.
"What?" You interrupt, eyes going wide. "No, War, that's not... Goddammit. Gimme a second." Holding up one finger to make it clear you need a second, you scramble to come up with a (preferably not totally embarrassing) explanation.
"It's not that you messed up. It's just..." You start, words failing you.
War is frowning when you glance up at him, although its not quite a scowl. The 'what is it then?' remains unsaid, but you know him well enough to hear it.
You kiss him.
Its abrupt and messy and not at all what you wanted your first kiss with War to be, but it gets the point across, dammit.
You're already trying to explain as you pull away, "Because I'm in love with you and that's-" so unprofessional.
But not as unprofessional as War smothering your apology with another kiss. War's is nothing like your hesitant, feather light kiss, its demanding and harsh and everything you wanted.
His eyes are bright, brighter than you've ever seen, when you break for air, and he looks happy. Not amused or self satisfied, but happy.
You can't explain what that does to your heart.
You kiss him again (as soon as you're not panting), cautiously placing you hands on his shoulders and leaning closer. He rests a hand on your waist in turn and- look at that, you are pressed right up against him now.
"War," You mumble against his lips, unwilling to pull away.
You feel rather than see his smirk this time, although the effect is about the same. Rude. Deciding that isn't quite the expression you'd like, you pull his bottom lip between your teeth.
Now who's smug?
War makes a low noise that sound an awful lot like your name when you release him, and you offhandedly think so that's how to make him stop calling me Advisor.
You'll have to remember that.
His hand slides from your waist to your back and you snap back to attention. Right. Kissing the love of my life. Might wanna concentrate on that.
You do just that, until the stars on your eyelids begin to be a little too much and you realize wow, I should probably breathe. Being a human is such a pain.
Not that War seems to mind, as he only tilts your chin up farther when you break away. You don't really have time to wonder what he's doing before he's pressing kisses down your throat.
Oh.
Fuck.
You must make some kind of noise, because War stops to stare while you try to catch your breath.
It takes you a moment to unscramble your thoughts enough to ask, "Enjoying the view?"
"Immensely." He says it without an ounce of irony, lips only tilting up when you feel a blush cover your face. "Making the one I love so happy is... Good. Better than I assumed."
The one I love.
The one I love.
The one I love.
The one that War, Horseman of the Appcolypse, loves.
You're not sure how many times you run that phrase before you can manage a reply.
"I meant what I said." You finally say, smiling as you press your forehead to his. Your lips brush his as you continue, "I love you. And not just because you're a really good kisser."