#i kept skipping so my teacher gave me a warning LMAO | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

weemssapphic · 1 year

Note

Would you be willing to write Larissa Weems x nb!teacher!reader smut (still female anatomy though, but without a focus on r’s chest please) where they are watching the school play/musical and Larissa starts teasing reader? Like caresses on the inside of r’s thigh, inching dangerously close to their clit, etc., to the point that they have to leave to go fuck it out somewhere else (you can choose where exactly). And if you could, maybe strong praise kink with dom!Larissa? I love your writing so much omg omg omg it’s so good!!

hello! thank you for the request, and the compliment! <3 i had fun writing it so i hope you have just as much fun reading it and that it lives up to your expectations. also Enid is clearly my favorite Nevermore student so SUE me lmao. as always, ao3 link is in the title! ^^ warnings/content: nsfw (cunnilingus - Larissa receiving, fingering - reader receiving), dom!larissa, teasing/edging, semi-public sexual activity, praise kink, mentions of marking/scratching

words: ~3.9k

when the lights go down

“Hey, you’re gonna do great, okay? I promise!” Enid was practically trembling under your gaze, eyes wide, and you pulled her into a tight hug. As the teacher in charge of Ophelia Hall, you’d grown close to the young girl in your past year at Nevermore. She saw you as a bit of a mentor, often staying after class to help you clean up your classroom and ask you for advice, which you happily gave her - she reminded you a bit of your childhood best friend. You found yourself biting back wide grins as she would recount the latest gossip about her peers, always bursting with more energy in a single second than you thought you’d ever had in your entire life.

Other students bustled around the two of you as you stood backstage, when the lights out in the auditorium began to dim.

“I gotta go okay, and you’d better get back in the dressing room. Break a leg, kid,” you gave her a final smile and pushed her towards the girl’s dressing room, waving to some of your other students who were huddled behind the curtain and giving them a thumbs up before sneaking out the back. You hurried your way through the hallways and slipped into the auditorium, scanning the rows for a place to sit.

The entire front row was reserved for the teachers and your heart skipped a beat at the fact that the only empty seat left was next to none other than your boss, Larissa Weems.

“Hi,” you were breathless when you arrived at the seat. “Is this seat taken?”

“I should hope so,” Larissa looked up at you, her smile blinding, gesturing for you to sit.

“Enid’s very nervous,” you whispered in her ear, committing the way her eyes crinkled at the outer corner to memory.

“Miss Sinclair will be excellent. I’ve played Audrey myself, in fact -”

Oh? You wanted to probe her further on this revelation, but your conversation was cut short by the overture of that night’s show - Little Shop of Horrors.

The students were fabulous of course. Enid had nothing to worry about - the second she began her solo in “Skid Row (Downtown)”, you knew her worries were for naught. You couldn’t help but glance up at the blonde sitting next to you, wondering how she might have sounded in the same part. She was watching the stage with rapt attention, lips parted slightly, eyes sparkling.

Your cheeks warmed as sapphire eyes met yours in the darkness - you’d been caught staring. You averted your gaze back to the stage, trying your hardest to focus on your students and the production they were putting on - not that it wasn’t spectacular, truly. But your thoughts kept wandering back to a certain blonde principal, whose body heat you could practically feel radiating off of her at such a close proximity.

To how she would look gracing the stage with her regal presence, to how her angelic voice would sound crooning out some melody or other (you hadn’t known she could sing, foolishly hadn’t presumed she was into musical theater - what else didn’t you know about her?). To how lovely she looked tonight, a string of pearls kissing the smooth skin of her neck, a cream-colored dress caressing every curve of her body.

Christ, stop it. You chanced another glance at the blonde - only to realize she wasn’t watching the musical at all. She was watching you, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

“Larissa?” You felt utterly exposed under her gaze.

“I feel I’ve flustered you,” she whispered, ducking her head so no one else would hear her. You could see amusement sparkle in her eyes.

“I’ve just been trying to picture you as Audrey this whole time,” you whispered back, reveling in the giggle she had to suppress at your comment. You’d never heard Larissa Weems giggle before, much less been the reason for a giggle of hers - you wanted to commit the sound to memory, to take it to your grave as a treasured gift.

“I knew it,” she smirked. “I promise I’ll tell you all about it sometime, darling.” You couldn’t help but notice how her voice dropped a bit at the pet name, subtly yet still noticeably. She placed a reassuring hand just above your knee, giving it a gentle squeeze, and it took every ounce of willpower not to openly shiver at the touch.

You turned your attention back to the stage, acutely aware of how Larissa’s thumb began to trace soothing circles on the inside of your thigh. At first, you weren’t sure she was aware she was doing it, when you peered at her out of the corner of your eye and she was watching the current song “Mushnik & Son” as if it were the most riveting thing she’d ever seen.

It soon became apparent, however, that she was more than aware of her actions, when her hand shifted higher on your thigh, subtly but definitely higher. Her thumb pressed insistently into the flesh of your inner thigh and you had to suppress a moan, cheeks burning brightly in the dark auditorium.

Ms. Thornhill, who was sitting to your right, turned to look at you with furrowed brows, and you sputtered out a weak cough in an attempt to conceal the moan that had peeled from your chest moments before.

You were disappointed to note the sudden absence of Larissa’s hand on your leg, cursing yourself for ruining the moment. Great. Now she won’t touch you for the rest of the evening.

“Sorry, Marilyn, I think I’m getting sick,” you shot her an apologetic glance, clearing your throat awkwardly.

Her eyes searched your face for a moment before her features softened, her hand giving your shoulder a sympathetic squeeze before she turned her attention back to the stage. You let out a defeated sigh and slumped back into your seat, stewing in your own misery at the desperate, building ache between your thighs.

The fabric of your slacks shifted slightly as Larissa’s fingers returned to their former position, continuing their tantalizing ministrations. What was Larissa doing? Surely this woman would be the death of you… Her palm was warm against your leg and a fresh wave of arousal pooled at the apex of your thighs as you shifted in your seat in an urgent attempt to gain some sort of friction to relieve the tension building in your core.

Larissa’s hand caressed the top of your thigh, stopping just shy of your center, coming to rest. She leaned back in her seat as Enid began to croon out “Somewhere That’s Green” and you huffed in frustration, the coil behind your navel wound tight. You glowered up at Larissa until she finally, mercifully, looked down at you, eyes darkened with desire.

You bucked your hips up into her hand, forcing her fingertips to brush against your clit. She sucked in a breath, eyes darting down to your lap then up to the stage, as if contemplating something.

Her lips brushed against your ear, breath fanning across your neck, the hairs on the back of your neck standing up as goosebumps erupted on your skin. Her voice was low and breathy as she murmured in your ear. “Follow me in 2 minutes, darling.”

With that, she stood and left the auditorium. You watched her go, mesmerized by the sway of her hips, slightly dizzy as you wrestled with your own desire.

The longest 2 minutes of your life.

Once you were sure you’d waited long enough, you followed Larissa’s path out of the auditorium. As soon as the door swung shut behind you, a pair of strong arms pinned you to the wall of the hallway and a warm mouth latched onto your skin, peppering open-mouthed kisses down the column of your throat. Larissa’s body pressed flush against yours, trapping you between her and the wall.

“Rissa,” you whimpered as one of her thighs came between yours and pressed into your center. You felt as if you were burning alive from the inside, desperate for her touch and already absolutely drenched.

“Shhh,” Larissa silenced you with a searing kiss, swiping at your lips with her tongue. You moaned into her mouth and she nipped gently at your lower lip.

“Come with me,” Larissa threaded her fingers between your own, the close contact sending a shiver up your spine, and began a brisk pace down the hallway. You followed in a daze, hardly able to believe your luck.

You’d harbored a crush on the woman since you’d started at Nevermore. Well… to call it a crush would be a bit of an understatement. You were quite sure you were in love with her. Everything about her drew you in - the soft, almost maternal smiles she would give passing students, the little creases that would form between her eyebrows when she was deep in thought, the way she seemed to be able to calm your nerves with nothing more than a hand on your shoulder and a whispered praise in your ear.

But she was your boss, for fuck’s sake. Not to mention intelligent, stunning, put-together, a consummate professional… Why would she be interested in you? And yet here she was, dragging you down the hallway to… your own classroom?

Larissa fished her master key out of the pocket of her blazer and unlocked your door, all but pushing you into the classroom, locking the door behind the two of you.

“Don’t you look simply divine tonight?” Larissa husked, inching towards you like a tiger stalking their prey. You stepped back out of instinct, bumping into your desk. You couldn’t even the count the number of times you’d sat at that very desk, picturing yourself bent over it as Larissa towered over you, fucking you into oblivion. And here you were…

You gulped audibly, every nerve-ending in your body alight, heat pooling in your core. Larissa’s pupils were wide, eyes darkened with lust in a way you’d only seen in your wildest fantasies.

She stopped in front of you, her breath warm and delicious on your face, raising the hairs on your arms. “I have wanted you since I first met you, my darling.” You whimpered, reaching out desperately and rather pathetically to pull Larissa towards you by the lapels of her blazer, rushing to crash your lips together. You felt the blonde smile against your lips, her hands coming to rest on your waist.

“Tell me, can you be good for me tonight? Do you want this just as much as I do?” Her whispers against your lips shot straight to your cunt.

“Yes, Larissa, god yes. I want this.” Larissa smirked, sliding the blazer from her shoulders to reveal bare arms, pale skin dusted with light freckles that you’d never been privy to before. You traced them with your eyes, struck by the sudden sense of intimacy you felt clawing at your heart.

A whimper clawed its way from your throat as a warm hand cupped your cheek, forcing your eyes to meet sapphire pools, swimming with lust. The pad of her thumb grazed over your bottom lip, dragging it down then letting go, her eyes watching intently as it snapped back into place.

You found yourself white-knuckling the desk behind you in an attempt to keep your knees from giving out as Larissa’s fingers began to toy with the button of your slacks, her teeth sinking into her lip in question. “May I?”

“Do you have to ask?” Your voice was hoarse as you tried to rasp out an answer. The salacious smirk you received in return had you nearly melting on the spot, and Larissa wasted no time in dragging the slacks down your legs, nails raking at tender flesh on their way down.

Larissa pulled you in for a heated kiss, teeth and tongues clashing, picking you up to set you on the edge of your desk. She rounded the desk until she was behind you, pulling you back against her until you could feel the swell of her breasts pressing deliciously into your back.

Larissa’s hot breath ghosted over your neck as she nibbled on your earlobe, before her lips latched onto your pulse point. Her hands soothed over your torso, moving lower and lower until her right hand finally dipped between your thighs, knuckles brushing the damp patch at the center of your underwear. You felt a groan from Larissa’s chest vibrate against your spine.

“So wet already and I haven’t even touched you yet?” The low timbre of her voice caused a fresh wave of arousal to leak out of your core.

“Larissa, I-I need you, you have no idea,” you hissed as her fingers dipped beneath the waistband of your underwear and teased your entrance.

“I think I may have an idea, my darling,” the blonde cooed, finally applying the pressure you’d been searching for as she swiped two fingers up your slit. You moaned, bucking your hips up just as her fingers reached your throbbing clit.

She began to massage the bundle of nerves, drawing a series of moans from your lips as her own lips focused on your neck, your jaw, your shoulder, leaving little bite marks which she soothed with her tongue.

“Rissa, please, I need more,” you gasped, rolling your hips in time with her fingers in search of more friction.

You could feel Larissa’s smile against the bare skin of your shoulder as her fingers dipped lower, spreading your folds on their way to your dripping hole. She dipped the tip of a finger into your entrance, immediately letting out a groan directly into your ear.

“I love how wet you are for me.” Her finger dipped further into your core, pumping slowly in and out, before adding a second finger, stretching you out.

“You take me so well, my love,” Larissa cooed, her thumb coming up to continue drawing languid circles around your aching clit. Long, slender fingers curled into your sweet spot and you arched into Larissa’s touch, hips twitching.

Larissa could sense that you were getting close as your walls began to clench around her fingers, drawing them further into you, as your thighs began to tremble. She withdrew her fingers from your cunt, tracing your entrance with the pads of her fingers as she slowed her pace on your clit to languid strokes.

You whined at the loss of contact, bucking your hips up as the coil behind your navel twisted almost painfully.

“What do you say, darling?” The blonde teased.

“P-please,” you didn’t care how desperate you sounded, you needed Larissa inside of you again.

“Please, what?” She peppered soft kisses down the side of your neck, fingers gliding through your wetness so lightly you almost felt you were imagining her touch.

You squeezed your eyes shut, desperately rutting your hips against the air. “Please fuck me, I-I need you inside.”

Larissa’s fingers pressed more firmly now, giving in and providing you with more friction. She slid back inside you, curling her fingers just so as her thumb circled your clit.

“Right there,” you panted out between moans. “Faster.”

Larissa obliged, adjusting her pace as she added a third finger. You teetered on the verge of your orgasm, thrusting your hips up to meet her fingers, thighs twitching. The air between the two of you was charged with electricity, your body tingling from head to toe.

“That’s it my darling,” Larissa cooed, and you let out a low whine, your pussy clenching around her fingers. “You like being called mine?” You felt more than heard Larissa’s low chuckle as you nodded against her. You would be hers in whatever capacity she would allow it, in whatever capacity she wanted or needed you to be.

“You’re doing so well for me,” she murmured. “Can you come for me?” Reaching behind you, you grasped at Larissa’s shoulders to steady yourself as you reached your high, thighs quivering as a string of obscenities dripped from your lips.

Larissa’s left hand was splayed across your stomach, pulling you firmly into her, grounding you as you rode out your climax. Her lips were on your ear, whispering faint praises that were lost on you in the moment, too focused on steadying your breathing.

“You look so ravishing when you come undone like that,” Larissa whispered in your ear as your breathing slowed. You turned your head, fingers twisting into the blonde’s silvery strands to pull her in for a bruising kiss.

She brought her fingers up to her lips, shining with the evidence of your orgasm. Her tongue swirled obscenely around the digits and she let out a guttural moan, immediately pulling you in for another kiss so you could taste yourself on her tongue.

“Fuck, Larissa, I need to taste you.” You watched the grin unfold on Larissa’s face as she dragged you towards the edge of the desk, sitting back in your desk chair - your desk chair, the one you sat in 5 days a week and would surely never see the same way again. She hiked her dress up around her waist, hooking her fingers around the waistband of her white lace panties and dragging them down her legs to reveal her own glistening arousal.

“Come here and take care of me, then,” Larissa husked, and you were off the desk and perched on your knees between her legs within seconds. After pressing alternating kisses up the insides of Larissa’s thighs, you flattened your tongue and dragged it slowly up her cunt.

“Just like that, right there,” Larissa breathed. Your lips closed around her clit, tongue flicking at the sensitive bundle of nerves, pleased with the low whine you were able to elicit from the blonde.

She draped her thigh over your shoulder, the tip of her heel digging sharply into your back, a delicious mixture of pain and pleasure coursing through your body. Your arms wrapped around her legs to steady yourself, surrounding yourself in Larissa.

“That feels so good, darling,” she moaned as she writhed beneath you, fucking herself on your face. You lapped at Larissa’s core, letting out unrestrained moans as you were finally given the pleasure of being able to taste the woman’s sweet nectar. The heat of her on your tongue only fueled your own carnal desire.

Larissa’s breath hitched in her chest as your tongue dipped into her entrance. “You know exactly how to make me feel good,” she breathed, her hands weaving themselves into your hair, fingernails scratching at your scalp.

You groaned into her pussy, the vibrations drawing heavenly sounds from her throat. Gazing up at her, you were in awe of her blissed out face, eyes screwed shut, head thrown back in ecstasy, mouth hanging open. Her cheeks were flushed the most adorable shade of pink and you felt wickedly proud of yourself in that moment to be the one bringing Larissa to the height of her pleasure.

Suddenly, Larissa’s hand pulled at your hair and forced you to still your movements.

Larissa had stilled above you, her attention turned towards the door of your classroom. You strained your ears, unable for a moment to focus on anything but the dizzying sensation of Larissa Weems on your tongue, Larissa’s skin pressed against yours.

But then you heard it, the hallway flooding with students. The musical must be over by now, everyone must be heading out of the auditorium. Would anyone come looking for you? Or for Larissa? Surely no one had even noticed the two of you were gone. Right? In any case, it was too late now.

Your eyes wandered back to the principal, who was gazing down at you with a fresh sense of unadulterated hunger - cheeks flushed, chest heaving.

“Are you going to finish what you started?” Her voice was low and raspy, barely audible above the ruckus of students and staff just outside the door.

You were all too happy to oblige, bringing your tongue back to Larissa’s center. She rolled her hips against your face, pressing her heel firmly into your upper back as her thighs began to twitch around your head.

“Make me come, love,” Larissa whispered, letting out a series of soft, breathy moans. Your gaze traveled up her body and you let out a loud groan when you caught her kneading her breasts, rolling and pinching her clothed nipples between her fingers.

“Shhh,” Larissa cooed softly, “Can you be quiet for me, love? We wouldn’t want anyone catching us.” You whimpered and nodded softly, though from the smirk Larissa was giving you, you were quite sure that she was at least a little bit turned on by the illicit nature of your situation.

“I’m s-so close,” Larissa gasped quietly, and you could tell that she was by the erratic way her hips bucked against your face, the way her heel slipped a little on your back, scratching at your skin, the way her thighs began to tremble, closing around your ears. She was losing her composure, and you were absolutely drunk on the sight.

You flicked and sucked at her clit as she came, her hands weaving themselves back into your hair to push you farther into her center, breath quickening above you. You licked at her core, gladly drinking up every drop of arousal she had to offer as she rode out her high until, finally, her thighs loosened their grip around your head and she sank back into your office chair.

When you looked up at her, she gazed down at you through heavy-lidded eyes, lipstick smudged around her mouth, a blissed-out smile playing on her face. Her hand came to cup your cheek, thumb grazing over your lips before she pulled you up for a kiss, mewling into your mouth as she cleaned her own essence off your chin.

“I suppose we’ll have to wait here until everyone has gone back to their dorms,” you teased as you straddled Larissa’s lap, eager to be as close to her as possible. Larissa hummed in agreement, pressing her forehead against yours.

The two of you breathed in tandem, simply enjoying being in the other’s company as the din in the hallway slowly faded. Larissa’s hands pressed into your back, dipping under the hem of your shirt and pulling you against her while your fingers traced patterns across the freckles on her shoulders.

“You’re stunning, Larissa,” you whispered into the crook of her neck. She craned her head back slightly to peer down at you, a faint hint of amusement glittering in those gorgeous, sapphire eyes.

“I could say the same about you, love,” she murmured, pressing a kiss to your hair and pulling you possessively close. “However, as much as I would love to spend the night ravishing you, it is getting a bit uncomfortable here.”

“Hey, you’re the one who ordered these chairs for our classrooms,” you grinned up at her, raising an eyebrow in defiance.

“That was before I realized I’d be fucking you in one, Y/N,” Larissa replied dryly, ushering you off her lap and smoothing her dress. You dressed almost numbly, unable to take your eyes off the blonde for too long, turning her words over in your head.

The two of you made your way to the door of your classroom. “Larissa?”

“Yes?” Her voice was gravelly with desire as she smirked down at you, fingers threading through yours to pull you down the hallway in the direction of her own quarters.

You cleared your throat and quirked your brow, trying to play it cool. “I believe you said something about ‘spending the night ravishing me’?”

“Oh, darling, you didn’t think I was done with you?”

thank you to the bestest writing buddy @afeatherformills for helping me edit this and work out some things!

#larissa weems x reader #larissa x reader #larissa weems #principal weems #principal weems x reader #clearly choosing little shop as the musical was something so personal to me haha

361 notes · View notes

hu4ngs · 5 years

Note

found you through wattpad! since you've never written a jeno book, can i get a enemies to lovers au for jeno?

helloooo hahahahah! thank you for requesting

• so first things first, we should get to the bottom of the reason why jeno even hates you and vice versa

• it would be a lot of factors but the main factor would probably be because you’re as annoying as a middle schooler

• you were in phase, where you’d try so hard to be the teacher’s pet, so it just makes you annoying

• jeno doesn’t do a lot of his homeworks, so he’d always get detention for it

• you hate him simply because he hates you lol you don’t really know why he hates you but the feeling’s mutual baby

• so now you’re in your senior year of high school, you’ve toned down the annoyance

• you’re not really a teacher’s pet anymore but your name still leaves a good taste in their mouths when they talk about you

• jeno was still as lazy as ever, though he’s actually trying this year since he wants to graduate

• but he’s failing LMAO thats what happens when you don’t pay attention in class until the last minute kids

• so anyways, you’re not the only person jeno has beef with. in fact, his advanced algebra teacher hates him too

• “how many times are you gonna fail my class, mr lee?”

• jeno at this point was already mocking his teacher as he started blabbing about how he’s gonna fail and he’ll have to stay for another year

• “put your head in the game or i’ll call your parents.” he warned

• jeno almost shit his pants when he heard that

• anything but his parents

• so that day he goes to the smartest person he knows, renjun

• “dude i need you to teach me algebra please i’ll pay you”

• renjun was shocked

• jeno???? genuinely wants to learn???? it’s the end of the world

• renjun, being the smart guy he is, he agrees. he is desperate for $$$ anyway so

• but 3 weeks into the constant classes renjun realises he couldn’t take it anymore

• he doesn’t have the ideal patience of a teacher, because he was slowly losing his mind trying to teach jeno simple mathematics

• “hey jeno, it’s nothing personal or something, but like, i really can’t do this anymore”

• jeno felt like his heart SANK

• “why”

• “it’s been three weeks and we’re still learning the same topic. i can’t take it anymore”

• “i’ll pay you more”

• “no that’s fine”

• so that’s how jeno became tutor-less again

• jeno looked so defeated and heartbroken, and it made renjun feel bad, jeno is his good friend after all

• “i mean, i have a friend, they can tutor you, if you want?” he offered

• jeno went ecstatic again

• so renjun gave him his friend’s number

• so jeno immediately texted the friend renjun mentioned

• “hey i heard you’re tutoring for advanced algebra”

• “yeah who’s this tho”

• “lee jeno from class 5-B”

• then there was a long pause

• jeno was like ???? hello ????

• and then after a really long time they replies

• “you sure you want a tutor from me? i’m y/n from your class”

• jeno was fuming

• it’s literally the loud, annoying ‘middle schooler’ in his class

• so now jeno’s torn between passing his class or feeding his ego

• he chose the first one surprisingly

• so you two start meeting up

• he gets agitated by everything you do and you’re just like ????? hello??? you’re stupid without me ????

• so this routine goes on everyday, and everyday jeno just realise you’re not as bad he thought you’d be

• it’s because you’re really patient with him, and most importantly you’re not giving up on him,,,

• now he’s touched and feels bad for being mean to you

• today isn’t any different

• you arrived, and you hand him the iced tea

• he’s shocked

• “what’s this?”

• “you’ve been studying hard lately. you deserve a treat”

• jeno could’ve sworn his heart skipped a beat

• but he didn’t think much of it

• at least until nighttime came

• and he couldn’t sleep

• he’s thinking about your ice tea, your act of kindness around him, your constant assurance that he’s doing fine, he’s thinking about you

• then he felt his heart skipping a beat again

• i didn’t take him long to realise he’s attracted to you

• now he’s back to think about you. your smile, the way you’d hit his head when he says “i don’t know”, the way you’d apologise for that, the way you laugh

• oh no

• but he’s sure you’re just doing this bc you’re nice

• you probably don’t like him back

• but it’s worth a try right?

• no!!!!!

• basically you’ve kept this poor boy up the whole day

• now he’s cranky at school

• “so who are you gonna ask out for prom?”

• jaemin was nudging him that morning

• jeno’s annoyed that he’s being bothered and that he had forgotten all about prom

• but it’s alright prom is like a month away

• “leave me alone”

• “i’m thinking of asking y/n out”

• “no!!!!”

• oops he yelled

• jaemin is stunned

• “whats wrong with you?”

• jeno doesn’t wanna answer that

• so he looks away, totally ignoring the confused jaemin

• then during lunch, the prom topic arose again

• chenle and jisung weren’t going they’re planning on playing video games on that day

• renjun was gonna ask his classmate out

• haechan was gonna go solo

• now its just jaemin and jeno

• jaemin was still thinking of asking you out

• it’s not that he likes you or whatever, but you two are chemistry partners and he thinks you’re a fun person

• and he’d love to have fun on prom night too

• jeno wants to take you out too

• b u t

• he just has a strong feeling that you’ll reject him

• plus jaemin is also gonna ask you out!!!!!

• jaemin, aka the biggest flirt ever!!! is going ask you out!!! how is he suppose to impress you over jaemin!!!!

• after much thinking jeno decides to just man up and ask you out the simple way during his lesson later

• he came to the conclusion you’re a simple person, and you’d probably hate something too big as a promposal

• so you two are in an empty classroom again that day

• no ice tea today, though bc you were running late

• but its ok. today jeno bought you peach tea

• there was also a sticky note on the can asking you out for prom

• it wasn’t much, but oh well

• he was fiddling with his fingers while he waits for you

• then you finally arrived

• “sorry i’m a little late”

• “you’re always late”

• you shoot him a look

• jeno’s always like this though

• “shut up” you told him

• he laughs nervously

• you notice the drink

• “you bought your own drink today i see?” you said

• your hand stretched over to the can to see what he drinks

• you thought maybe next time you’d know what to buy him

• as you turn the drink around you saw the sticky note

• “go to prom with me, y/n?”

• with a cute little flustered face he drew at the bottom of the sticky note

• you’re shocked

• you’re sure this dude HATES you

• whats going on

• you’re flustered AS HELL

• jeno’s also flustered now

• “is this from you?”

• you finally ask

• he slowly nods

• “but… why me?”

• jeno was surprised you’d ask that

• “what do you mean ‘why me’? i can’t think of anyone better to ask out to. you’ve been the kindest person to me this whole time even though i was acting like a semi-asshole to you most of the time. and i don’t know, y/n, i guess after all that kindest and patience you’ve shown me i kinda fellinlovewithyou”

• he’s nervously laughing,,, he can’t believe he just gave that long speech

• “you’re IN WHAT with me?” you yelled

• “i SAID i might have fellinlovewithyou OKAY”

• your face is red as hell now

• so is jeno’s

• so you two are just sitting across of each other, faces red

• “well… honestly, at first i was only nice because you’re paying me to teach you… but after a while it became a habit? you’re not a hard person to tolerate with.” you admitted

• please stop showering him with compliments this boy is a blushing mess ok

• “so… is that a yes to prom?”

• “are you crazy? of course its a yes!”

• jeno is an awkward boy his love was return so now what

• so he’s just awkwardly fiddling with his fingers now

• and you’re like ?? wtf

• and then hes like “wait… do you um… lovemeback though?”

• and you’re like wat

• “well it’s too early to use love, i do like you though”

• and then jeno pause for a minute, before deciding you liking him is fine too

• “so by saying yes to prom will you also say yes to being the love of my life?”

• “yes… but you need to stop being so cheesy though”

357 notes · View notes

mimiplaysgames · 5 years

Text

Beloved Memories, in Notes (Vol. VII)

Pairing: Aqua/Terra Rating: T (for horror elements) Word Count: 11,074

Summary: His mission was to be her friend, but she didn’t want any. Terra and Aqua meet. Terra is 9, Aqua is 8.

Read on AO3

A/N: This chapter was always going to be the angsty one of this collection (kind of, it ends well). This specific story is honestly my favorite in this collection, and I’m so excited to move on with it. I’m very proud of the ending to this tale, and I just want to be able to cover it lmao.

****

A Tale of Stars, Pt. 2

It was hot, and it sucked.

There was still hay sticking to Terra's arms after he brushed them all off, his sweat just as sticky as the humidity that clinched him. The Master was in just as much of a grumpy mood.

Cows always made Terra laugh though, and Abigail's moos were a welcome cheer for a morning that could either go really well or really badly. Terra needed to be on his best behavior, for this was his very first mission - and he barely even started real Keyblade training.

He already had a to-do list to make him successful. The first step (and the most important): to be Aqua's friend.

But this was also the hardest.

Aqua was in the backyard, pumping water into a pail out of an iron press, before dragging it back to the Widow Tweed's quaint farmhouse, with Tod the fox tailing her feet closely. He noticed that she barely gave either of them the courtesy of a glance when they strolled out of Abigail's barn.

An owl stood at a tree watching them, and Terra didn't know which was weirder: that an owl was out at dawn, or that it enjoyed the company of a sparrow and a woodpecker.

Mrs. Tweed handed them their breakfast (plain old sausage with a sprinkle of salt), and Terra only finished half when Aqua appeared again, hair in classic long pigtails as usual, with Tod following her like he was her best friend. She straggled toward the woods in a daze that made her seem more like a zombie than anything, as if this was the most basic routine for the most basic day and she didn't know what else there was to do.

"You should join her," he heard the Master say.

Terra chewed on his meat with spite. "She doesn't like me."

"She does not know you as a person."

"Still hates me."

"Then she'd be the fool," Eraqus said with confidence. "To pass judgment on mere glance would say much about her and nothing of you… You still have your responsibilities, however, so you must try."

Terra stopped a piece from reaching his mouth, his fingers grasped tightly around his fork. "What if she says no?"

"Then you respect her decision."

A more frightening possibility crept into his mind. "What if she says yes?"

"Then you join her." Like it was the easiest thing in the world.

Terra stuffed as much sausage into his mouth until his cheeks almost burst because he hated all the answers and pouted at his Master. It didn't work.

"Continue with that and your cheeks will sag," the Master grinned.

The image of long flabby cheeks terrified him, so brave Terra faced his fears, swallowed all the sausage at once (which hurt), and raced over before she disappeared into the trees. This was still a mission, and he was still being tested.

"Aqua," he panted, and she at least treated him with the decency of acknowledging his presence. "Are you going out to play?"

"Yeah," she said lowly. Honestly, she looked super-exhausted, despite that it was morning.

"Can I join you?"

She turned and left him behind. "Sure."

Now what was Terra supposed to do? Follow, he supposed.

Aqua walked with the grace of someone who memorized where all the uplifted tree roots would snag her, barely putting any thought of where to step her feet while Terra took an extra second or two just to make sure he wouldn't trip. Tod led the way, excitedly rushing onward only to have to come back because they were going too slow for him.

They walked in silence - Terra didn't know what to talk about.

Toys - does she still have any? Pets - I don't know a thing about them, much less foxes. School - well, we obviously don't take the same classes, and I don't study math, so we can't even talk about something we hate.

Her silence sucked just as much as the heat, and why, oh why did Terra have to deal with this?

They reached a pond, where a creek ran the end of its trail into its reservoir, and willow trees overlooking the surface and dragonflies dancing on longrass.

"Do you want to skip rocks?" Terra asked. "It's really fun."

She sat on a log, bringing her knees to her chin and saying nothing in return.

Tod went ahead and buried his nose in the crooks of pebbles that littered the ground, sometimes yipping at something he found, which were mostly uninteresting - frogs, maybe.

"It's really hot," Terra said, and he didn't know if she agreed - she said nothing.

"Maybe we can swim?" he asked, and immediately blushed. Normally he'd strip to his shorts but he probably shouldn't be asking girls to take off their clothes to go swimming with him.

Again, she said nothing, her eyes drifting off into some made-up land. Terra had never seen a child, even at the orphanage, who looked this horrible.

The adults running the orphanage always said that having parents was the best thing that could ever happen, and that each child could have a pair as long as they behaved well. Terra never really wondered if having them (or losing them) would hurt just as much, too.

It was suddenly too quiet. Tod stopped his hustling of innocent forest insects, and slumped his shoulders while he waited.

He and Aqua looked the same: abandoned.

Finally, she spoke. "Copper is late."

"The hounddog?"

"He always comes," she said with a tighter grip around her knees, like she was remembering a punishment.

Copper was late and Tod was sad about it, too. That was what hurt them: missing someone.

Aqua huffed, willing whatever cloudy thoughts that haunted her to go away and stood up with her head held high, marching deeper into the forest. If Terra didn't know any better, he'd say that she was ready to punch somebody.

He and Tod followed, and it turned out that they hiked somewhere uphill, where they eventually reached a rundown farm within several acres of empty land, half-neglected and half-loved.

She gasped - Copper was there, a rope tied around his neck for a leash, where the weight of an empty barrel kept him grounded. Nearby, a much, much bigger gray dog snuggled in his own barrel and snored.

The children sneaked up to the wooden fence that marked the beginning of the forest and the end of this farm's territory. Aqua held Tod closely, quieting his fidgeting and stopping him from racing across to the dogs.

"Mr. Slade is so mean," she whispered with disdain. "He's always trying to keep Copper and Tod apart. Who would do such a thing?"

It was still Terra's opinion that a fox and a hound were strange friends indeed considering their nature.

Maybe he expected Aqua to know better, and yet here she was on the verge of going back to hiding in her mind.

Well, his mission was to be her friend, and he read in books in that friends made each other happy. If she wanted Tod and Copper to play together, as weird as that was, then he was going to do just that.

"What are you doing?" she hissed, Tod squirming more in her arms.

Terra had lifted one leg in between the logs barring up the fence, and ducked under to get to the other side. "I'm getting Copper, what does it look like?"

"Chief will hear you."

If she was talking about the snoring dog, then he didn't know what she was so worried about. Terra was training to be a Keyblade Master, after all, what was a mangey old mutt going to do?

"I can sneak."

"You're going to get in trouble," she barked like a mean teacher.

"No, I won't."

"Yes, you will."

He liked her less when she talked.

"Calm down." He dismissed her with a wave and crept, keeping his body close to the ground as he waddled over, the grass patches taller than him. This farm really needed a lawnmower.

Aqua huddled behind a bush, watching him closely and mumbling small prayers to herself as she kept a firm hand around Tod's snout. She worried too much.

Terra, on the other hand, crawled confidently - he was more afraid of Mr. Slade catching him in the act than of an old, tired dog sniffing him out.

He chose to do this for her, and was going to see it through.

Copper was very smart and perceptive, understanding the consequences of being caught by a large quadruped such as Chief, so he shied away from Terra at first.

Of course, Copper was still a young puppy, and the moment Terra followed through on some unspoken promise of releasing him from his prison, he yipped.

"Shhh," Terra said, ever so gently holding Copper's snout. He held his breath for a few seconds, Chief wiggling and kicking his feet from the sudden noise -

Only to go back to sleep.

Terra was more relieved than he wanted to admit. "Don't you wanna play with your friend?" he whispered, and started to head back to Aqua and Tod with the puppy riding in his arms.

But then Chief finally got a whiff, and finally started barking.

Chief spit, Chief noticed exactly who was in Terra's arms, and when he did, Chief lunged with a loud growl. Terra's heart jumped straight up into his throat at the sight of such carnivores, and he swallowed it back into place.

Luck smiled on him though, since Terra only managed to escape because Chief, too, was leashed.

Aqua immediately bolted back into the thicket, with Terra and a pup in his arms following closely, the bark of an angry, old man inching closer, throwing a gunshot for a warning but even then, that faded into the background, too.

*****

Tod and Copper reuniting turned Aqua into a different person - though she was still stuffy, ungrateful at worst, as she yapped about how they were teaching these little innocent animals terrible lessons that could get them into trouble later on, and wasn't this considered dognapping, blah blah blah.

(Honestly, it wasn't dognapping if they were going to return Copper, right?)

But - and that was a huge but - Aqua was at least more willing to talk, more brave to look him in the eye when she did (he realized she had very large, bright eyes, making it hard not to stare).

Who knew that all he had to do was steal someone's pet to open her up?

He could have snarked back by saying that she wasn't a perfect princess either since she was now happy that Tod and Copper were together, but he kept his mouth shut.

She did make some good points, after all. If the Master ever found out what he did, he'd fail the mission.

But... if he didn't do this for her, then she would definitely refuse to be his friend, and that meant he failed, too.

Ugh, Mr. Slade shouldn't have been a jerk in the first place because he made Terra's life miserable (and everyone else's included).

As Tod and Copper rolled in the dirt, Terra kicked a rock and said, "No one should know."

She fiddled with her apron, her dress sprawled over the log they sat on. "Okay. I won't tell a soul."

The worst feeling was keeping this from the Master, and Terra never expected this would ever happen in his entire life.

Was it worth it?

He didn't know. He knew he felt content when Copper approached him with a wagging tail, when the pup crawled onto his lap for a short snooze, alongside his best friend Tod, who helped himself to Aqua's lap.

They looked peaceful, like they had been given a second chance at something important to them. Terra felt like he was a hero, which was always what he wanted to be… and the Master did always say to do what was his heart told him was right.

So would he really get into that much trouble if Terra argued that this was the right thing to do?

Maybe.

That uncertainty was too much of a risk, and Terra didn't know how to feel.

It suddenly dawned on him - this was his first secret that he shared with someone else. Anyone else in his entire nine-year-life!

Wait, it wasn't like they actually promised to keep it to themselves - they merely agreed to never speak about it. She gave him a simple nod when she complied, afraid of the consequences that would chase her if it ever got out. It was not a pinky-squeeze, not a handspit, or a blood oath.

He understood perfectly. This was about survival, not friendship.

*****

By evening, Mr. Slade blamed Tod for the dognapping - he didn't actually see the fox though, and therefore had no basis for his arguments.

The Master's presence was imposing enough to shut it all down. Eraqus was so much taller than Amos Slade that a shotgun to the chest didn't really diminish how intimidating he was, and since everyone thought of him as an investigator, his dismissal of the Case of the Missing Puppy was final.

By morning, it was time for Aqua to go back to school, and Eraqus offered to take her (for protection protocol).

The three of them traversed twisted, muddy backroads to the town square, since the main road would take her right by her destroyed house and it was best to avoid all of that for now. It would have been a pretty stroll, tucked away in the forest trees with the sun shining through the canopies, if it wasn't for the heat. Terra couldn't wait to leave this world and never come back.

It didn't help that Aqua wasn't very receptive to Eraqus trying to open conversations with her, and it left Terra feeling like he had to start back at square one all over again. It was a wonder how the Master didn't feel so personally attacked by her silence.

Being such a small world where everyone knew everything, the people in town cast looks on Aqua as they walked by, whispering gossip and identifiers as they pointed to the girl whose parents were brutally murdered in a town where such things never happened.

When they approached the schoolhouse, children gathered in the windows to look down on her as she crept closer to the entrance, and while Terra couldn't hear what they were saying, they were absolutely riled up like she was a spectacle at a zoo. It was rude.

Since Terra couldn't join her because he wasn't a student, Eraqus took him to the public library - a small wooden thing that was pathetic in comparison to the castle's massive archive.

Eraqus left him behind so Terra wouldn't be in danger, since he was going straight to the outskirts of the town to investigate the last sightings of the demon wrecking this town apart, appearing as a man seemingly named Ardyn.

The Master had only one request: "Let us not kidnap any more puppies today, shall we?"

Terra feigned innocence. "Sir?" When that didn't work, he continued, "Yes, sir."

Equipped with only one ceiling fan for reprieve (it barely worked to keep him cool), Terra busied himself to a number of random books; a good Keyblade wielder spent his time studying about the world he was investigating, as it helped him fit in better.

He tried really hard to be quiet - really, he did. He was the only one there aside from the librarian, a young woman wearing a bun and glasses that made her look older. But he did a spectacular job at being noisy even though it wasn't his fault; the wooden floorboards under him just wouldn't stop squeaking with every step he took.

It turned out that Terra didn't have to be so respectful with keeping up the integrity of the library - a young guy marched into the library, his muddy boots stomping like crackling whips onto the wood beneath.

Immediately, he and the librarian hit it off like they were flirting, and Terra wondered why he ever tried so hard being quiet.

Much of the talk was boring - news of someone's married cousin, and whether she had time Saturday night to go look at some horses… Hopefully she realized that this guy chatting her up was the lamest of the lame and she wouldn't agree to it.

She dodged his question entirely by changing the subject, acting like she didn't hear him. This was where it got interesting - she brought up the subject of the murderer, and asked the guy if he heard anything new.

"Yer tellin' me you didn' hear?" he gargled. His teeth were yellow. "They found the preacher's daughter."

The librarian hesitated. "Is she…?"

He shook his head. "All mangled up by the river. Funny thing is the fog's still rollin' when it shouldn'." He wasn't creeped out about the death, but acted like he was important enough to deliver such news. "Word is she was covered in oil when they found her."

The librarian at least had the decency to be upset. "The poor thing. Who found her?"

"That investigator comin' from the city." They were talking about the Master. Terra pretended to read, with one stack of finished books to his left, and a dwindling shorter stack of unread ones to his right, but he inched a little closer to listen more. The man continued, "If he hadn' found her, she'd continue ter sit there and rot."

Images of the Master finding a dead body burned in Terra's mind. Eraqus was strong, always had been - a hero had adopted Terra the day they met. But suddenly it scared him to think about the Master following Ardyn's trail.

"Makes me wonder," the man continued, his finger lifted in the air as if to make a point, "if Jim Bob'll get his fair share."

"Jim Bob, was that the one who beat his horses?"

"Is that what you 'eard?" He pulled on his suspenders. "Ha! I 'eard he poisoned 'em."

"Well, I don't believe any of it. Jim Bob loves his horses, I figured that nastiness was the work of that creeper."

"Did ya hear? Jim Bob claims the creeper doin' all of this lives in his paintings. Crazy loon. And 'pparently the creeper fancies hisself a fedora. Can you believe that?"

The librarian leaned forward, making sure she heard correctly. "You don't say?"

At this, Terra stood up, and the two adults suddenly quieted, as if their conversation was too inappropriate for a kid.

Not like Terra cared, waltzing up to the front desk with a very specific task in mind.

"Ma'am," he began, giving her a smile. "May I ask for a book about fedoras?"

She blushed at the proof that he heard their every word. "W-what are you needing, exactly?"

"I want to know what one looks like." Terra smiled wider, ignoring the way the man cleaned his own teeth with his tongue.

The librarian nodded quickly, like she had just been given orders by someone very important, and rushed off to find a book from a nearby shelf. She did Terra the favor of flipping through it for him, handing it over with pages showing off hats: fedoras, some with large rims, others short, all of them with similar dips at the top.

"You're a very smart boy," he heard her say, making him look up.

"Thank you, ma'am."

She squealed with glee. "And so very polite, too, they don't make kids like you these days no more." She leaned on her hands, looking down on him from her desk. "I've never seen you 'round here before."

Terra cleared his throat. He was instructed to tell very specific stories should anyone ask. "I'm from the city, miss."

She leaned further at the sound of his answer, like he was just as much of a specimen - it reminded him of the way people gawked at Aqua. "You don't happen to be the investigator's son now, are you?"

My dad?

That was right, if anyone asked, he was supposed to agree. Eraqus was so focused on proper obedience that the most proper way to address him was always "Master," and Terra wondered if it meant he was doing something bad if he lied about their relationship.

Was he, really, if he was lying for a mission?

Either way, it made him feel good to say yes.

*****

When school was over, Terra had instructions to find her.

He'd spent so long being the only kid at the Land of Departure that seeing a mass of children rummaging through the school grounds was like a punch to his heart, reminding him of the orphanage. It made him wonder how the ones he left behind were doing… did they find parents? Did they still hope for some or did they give up? What about Miss Quistis, the lady who ran the orphanage - was she still there? She always smiled.

Terra spotted Aqua, surrounded by other girls and one boy, who asked her incessant questions and ate all of her answers. Aqua was either uncomfortable or shy - he couldn't tell.

This was where Terra was completely useless, making new friends. He was going to be a Keyblade Master, a hero and savior to anyone who needed help, so sure, he'd be brave in the face of danger, or in the game between life and death.

But he remembered the lesson he kept facing again and again at the orphanage: other kids didn't want him around.

So he did what he thought he'd never do again: sit on a bench by himself and watch the others talk and play ball.

He was already so good at staring at rocks that he didn't notice that another child approached him -

Aqua, with her hand extended. He almost thought she wanted him to save her from her nosy friends, but he wasn't going to be fooled that he was necessary in a predicament like this.

"Come play with us," she said.

What was that about being a savior when she was the one to save him?

He was shaking when he took her hand, and didn't know if he was shaking harder as she led him through groups of wandering kids that broke off into their own cliques. Mostly he just stood there when she introduced him to her friends, and needed verbal permission to play skip rope with them.

Terra was smart and got the hang of it, and let himself enjoy some of the games - that is, until the other kids gaped with eyes wide open at someone behind him. The yard surrounding the school dulled into silence - and it wasn't because the kids went home.

Some pudgy kid with a round face, a mean look, a swollen eye, and oily hair approached their group, and with such vigor that everyone else made space for him, like he was king and they were terrified of him, and he knew he terrified them and he took pride in that.

"Looks like the cursed girl is back," he chipped in, and no one had anything to retort.

"Shut up, Pap," Aqua snarked, and the other kids stared in shock.

"Best be on the lookout or else being 'round her will curse your parents, too," he said with cackle, searching for nods of agreement from the other children nearby. He was a giant of a child, definitely a head taller than Terra.

What was most surprising was how literally no one mentioned how cruel that was to say - it nearly made Terra want to punch this Pap in the face… but adults always punished him for getting into fights.

Aqua's lip quivered for a moment before she went cold. "The only reason why no one went after your dad was because his breath stinks. Who'd go near him?"

Pap's face twitched at the sound of giggles from the other kids. "You know," he said with a crunch of his knuckles, "Preacher said your parents must have sinned an awful lot to get what was coming to 'em."

Terra searched for any adults who might be watching. There was no one.

Pap continued his crap. "So yer one to talk. I normally don't hit girls."

"Try me!" Aqua shrieked, pushing him like she didn't care in the world what could happen to her.

That pissed Pap off.

He went ahead, fist in the air for a clean strike.

Despite urging him on, Aqua scrunched her fists into her skirt, like she didn't know what she got herself into.

Terra had no choice.

Grabbing the fist, twisting the arm over, and tripping Pap by the ankle came so fluidly, so naturally, that all the children blinked once just to realize that his huge butt landed on the ground before he even got close to Aqua.

"That was easy," Terra smirked, now standing in between an idiot covered in dirt and Aqua.

It was easy. No one compared to Master Eraqus.

There were some loud gasps and name-calling from the crowd, followed by silence.

"Y-you don't belong here, ain't got no reason to-" Pap's surprised stutters and the drool coming out of his mouth was the first sign of him turning his heel and leaving them alone, yelling something like "I'mma tell my pa!" before he disappeared.

The crowd dissipated slowly, giving Terra and Aqua stares like they were the next most dangerous thing. Like they were freaks, even though Terra had just stood up to the one bully terrorizing them. Why? Not even her friends wanted to be near her, acting like she wasn't even there.

Aqua sniffled behind him, but she just left him alone when he asked if she was okay, taking a place on a bench near the road.

Maybe Terra was used to that by now, but he followed her, paying no mind how she refused to look at him. "Don't think about Pap, he's stupid," he said.

"He is stupid," she croaked, before raising her voice to a yell. "And school is stupid and everything is stupid."

She glared at her lap and Terra didn't know what to say. The other children eventually left the school in droves, some walking together to wherever they've decided to go, while others had their parents pick them up.

"Who usually picks you up?" Terra asked after a while, hating the silence.

Aqua raised her head to meet him in the eye. She didn't cry, but she looked like a pet anxiously waiting at a windowsill for its owner. She looked like Tod.

"My daddy."

Terra didn't have a good reply to that. Eraqus wasn't around - Eraqus wasn't around, and a horrid thought lurked in his stomach. What if they were both now left alone here for good?

It lasted for merely a second. Thankfully.

"I apologize for my late arrival," the Master said, which didn't matter. He still came and Terra found his breath again. "Would any of you like treats? Maybe some flavored ice for this dastardly weather?" He wiped his brow with a handkerchief.

Aqua didn't reply, but reached out to hold his hand with both of hers, and hid her face in his robe. Terra was still processing whatever it was that made him nauseous.

Eraqus smiled but acted like nothing out of the ordinary happened. "I am quite fond of lemon flavor myself."

******

The walk back to Mrs. Tweed's farm seemed longer, and the Master filled it with random stories of the games he used to play as a child. Terra had heard some stories about the past before, but Eraqus left out certain key details that would have marked him as a foreigner to this world, and one day Terra would have to do the same.

Aqua didn't say much, just gripped the Master's hand tightly as she followed him, her eyes lazy and missing, like the road she was staring at didn't exist.

It didn't matter that she never spoke back, the Master kept looking over his shoulder to see if she was listening, smiling at her like she gave him acknowledgement of his words.

Then, she stopped on her feet, and the Master complied. By now, the sun was halfway down to setting.

"I told them," she whimpered.

"Told who what?" the Master asked.

"I told my parents about the bad man."

What dropped first was the Master's smile, then he knelt before her. "The bad man?"

"Mm-hmm," she nodded. "We met him at the summer fair. At night. He sat at a table drinking ale and we passed by him. He asked about me, and my parents answered some questions like I went to school and I danced."

"Was that all?"

She shook her head. "I told them he was bad."

Eraqus cocked his head, more attentive than ever. "How did you know this?"

Her face contorted, her brows scrunching into wrinkles and her lips bending at the center. "I just knew he was bad. I pulled on mama and told daddy to stay away, but they said I was rude."

Then the first tears Terra saw on her face fell, and she struggled to breathe. "They didn't believe me," she said.

She wailed, the most horrid sound Terra had ever heard, and it was so loud that it filled his ears and invaded his chest, and he nearly cried from it, too. It hurt to hear it and it hurt to think about why.

Eraqus picked her up, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and her legs around his waist, with words that said, There, there, you are safe and sound, safe, safe, safe, as they trudged down the road, leaving Terra to carry her bookbag.

She was limp, all her energy seeping into sobs on the Master's shoulder, and all the noise she made frightened the rabbits and the birds nearby.

******

Since they got back, Abigail fussed hard like the air was suffocating her.

"She's doing a little better," the Master observed when he found Terra alone in the barn, brushing the cow, which really helped her calm down.

But now it was Terra willed into silence, Abigail's chewing of hay filling the room.

"Are you alright?"

Terra nodded. "Is it true you found the preacher's daughter?"

Eraqus' nostrils flared and he inhaled. "Word surely spreads far in this world. Yes, Terra, I did."

The Master took his place on a short stool normally setup for milking, but instead of fetching a pail, he rubbed on the hairs of his mustache with his thumb and forefinger.

"This man, if he could still be called one, is very predatory… I saw him today."

Terra nearly dropped the brush. "What?"

"Ardyn, I came into contact with him at the horse farmer's home. It's become a dreary place. Even with the sunshine, the halls of that house stay dark." Eraqus cleared his throat and took the milking pail, though he did nothing with it. "A terrible thing, the darkness. Being near it for too long will compel anyone to commit atrocities they otherwise would not do with a sane mind." He raised a finger at Terra, ready to lecture. "This is why you must never tread on that path, lest you want regrets, Terra."

"Yes, sir."

"Ardyn had found refuge within the oil paintings across the farmer's house, and I've chased him. He would appear and disappear at a whim, taking occupancy in frames he didn't belong… until he stepped out of one."

"And then what happened?" Terra asked quietly. "Did you fight?"

Eraqus nodded, and Terra's stomach dropped. "Unfortunately, he melted into his own shadows, escaping." He took a side glance. "I do not believe this beast is blind like it describes in my records."

"Sir?"

"Terra, do you remember your lessons about the nature of light and darkness?"

Of course he did, he was a good student. He recited, "Light attracts darkness, and darkness will hunt down the light. They are designed to recognize each other."

"Yes. Yes, indeed." Eraqus stared at nothing, gathering thoughts before he put them to words. "Aqua's intuition in recognizing the darkness only asserts my suspicions - I believe he hunted her down for the immensely bright light within her."

"... Why did he go after her parents?"

"Hmmm… the more I ponder over it, the more I see why the records have him labeled as blind. As a hunter, he is barely decent. When I fought him, nothing about his movements and his aversions to my presence gave me the impression that he couldn't see. It was more of… he can sense light when it is near. It alarms him but it deceives him. What I have noticed is his breath, it is so deep when he fights it as though he is drowning."

"So he sniffs the light when it's around?"

"In a way. He approached Aqua's house in daylight, when she was in school, so it would be sensible that her presence would be smeared all over her home, where her parents resided unaware."

"Then why doesn't he find her now?"

Eraqus, pensive and tense this entire time, sighed, like he just remembered that he was talking about human beings. "She is grieving. We all have light and darkness within us, Terra. Grief and rage will cloak our very best selves, and while she is under that state, it hides her from him.

"This is why," Eraqus continued, needing Terra's attention, "it is important that she understands there are others who care about her. To give her inner light a chance to shine again, and remember what it feels like to be happy. A dark mind lends to a dark heart and too much of that will warp her. Do you understand what I am saying, Terra?"

"Yes, sir. I've been trying to make her smile."

"Good. I know I can count on you." Eraqus' smile was brief as if he didn't have the time for it. "As for the preacher's daughter, unfortunately I believe she was mere collateral. A source of light that he found confusing, and he attacked her as such. There is so much darkness to be found in many worlds, Terra, and they wear many faces but this is the most gruesome that I've seen in my lifetime."

So Ardyn could find anyone with enough light, and just… end it all.

"Why?" Terra choked. "Why would anyone do that?"

Eraqus rubbed his student's head. "The reason will differ for each, but it is all senseless and primitive."

The tears were hot and Terra wasn't strong enough to stop them.

Eraqus reached to hold him, alarmed at the sight. "What has gotten into you? Are you frightened?"

Terra sniffed quietly and nodded, using his forearm to wipe his face.

"What if you die?" he squeaked.

"Terra, look at me." He was gentle, but firm. "I will not die."

"Aqua's parents died. And the preacher's daughter."

His Master sighed, rubbing Terra's arms before brushing his hair out of his tear-stained face. "Terra… they had no means of defending themselves, but I am very different. You have no reason to fear. Dry those tears."

He swallowed. "Y-yes, sir."

"If this is too much for you, I can send you home where you'll feel safe."

"No, sir." He stared at his Master's shoes. Under no circumstances did Terra want to go home, abandoning the mission, wondering for days if everyone was okay. And Aqua was so sad, today. "If I leave, then Aqua will be all alone, and I want to be brave."

"You possess an extraordinary amount of courage, capable and necessary for any true Keyblade wielder." Eraqus leaned over to make sure that Terra understood correctly. "The amulet I gave you, Terra, do you still mind it?"

"Y-yes, sir." Terra hurried to pull the knotted, looped cross from under his shirt. "I don't even take it off for a bath."

"Very good. You remember what I told you?"

"If anything-" He swallowed. He didn't want anything to happen. Now he wanted to go home and have Eraqus all to himself. "If anything happened, I need to stay calm and find you."

"And it will protect you. Be mindful of the fickleness of protection spells, Terra. They are powerful but they expire."

"Yes, sir."

The Master wiped Terra's face with his robe, and brushed through his hair with his fingers. Then he took the pail near him, ready to take on Abigail. "You are dismissed, Terra. Take some fresh air outside." He gave a smirk. "Let us hope the next time we speak of such evils, you would be a stronger, braver Keybearer ready to take on the challenge."

"Yes, sir."

******

Dragging his feet on the ground as he welcomed the cool breeze that hit his face, the vastness of the stars above him made this world seem bigger than it truly was. The forests beyond faded into darkness, the shadows mean under the moonlight.

At least Aqua was there, settled in the grass where Tod curled on her lap, his bright red fur the only spec of color to be seen in a night like this one. She was watching the forest but she was not really on her guard, like she didn't consider that something dangerous could be hiding where she couldn't see.

She wasn't crying anymore but her face was still puffy, and Terra took a spot next to her. She nudged over to give him more space, lending him a half-smile as a greeting. The grass was soft but itchy, too tall and in need of grooming.

"Everyone at school now knows me as the girl with no parents," Aqua said, eyes downcast with her hand sunk in Tod's vibrant red fur, and a tone that said she'd rather be known as literally anything else. She sounded tired, too - sick of being sad.

"I don't have any parents either."

She gaped at him with a pity he didn't comprehend. "Mr. Eraqus…?"

For once, Terra shook his head. "He's my teacher."

"Oh…" And there she was again, sad, and he got the notion that it was for him even though he didn't need it. "What happened to them?"

"They gave me up when I was a baby," he said simply. He lived with this knowledge all his life; it wasn't a big deal. Well… it kind of was. All the children went through a phase at some point that maybe they didn't deserve to have a family. But it really wasn't that big of a deal. It wasn't. "I grew up in an orphanage… but I have Master Eraqus now. Everything's great."

"But you live with your teacher."

"The best teacher ever."

She quieted. "...Do you even go to school?"

Terra didn't know what to say. He was supposed to talk about Eraqus being his father this entire time that he didn't have backup answers. "Sorta. I'm his only apprentice. We live in a special academy up in the mountains."

"Really?" She eyed the West, toward the direction of what these townspeople called mountains in this world. "Where?"

"Uh, very far away."

"Hm. So is it a lie that you're from the city?"

"No!" He said too quickly. "I come from a city - a really big one. All the buildings there are taller than your mountains here."

She gave him a… snooty look. "There's no such thing as a city like that."

"Yes, there is."

"No, there isn't."

"It's true," he pleaded. She was such a hard nut to crack. "Okay fine, there's more to it but... can you keep a secret?"

She lit up. "Yeah."

"You have to promise not to tell anyone, or I'll get in trouble."

"Cross my heart."

If she put her heart on the line, then she was serious. "The Master and I aren't from around here."

"Well," she scoffed, "duh."

"No, I mean…" He waved to the sky above them, stars twinkling like they wanted to be noticed. "We're from very, very far away."

It took her a second to think about what he was saying, then she rolled her eyes. "Are you saying you're aliens? That's ridiculous."

He laughed – it wasn't the response he expected, but it wasn't exactly the wrong interpretation either. "Kind of? We are from a distant star, and we flew from there."

"Pfft."

"I'm not lying."

"Sure, you're an alien."

Why she had to be such a snob at all times, he didn't know. Still, Terra felt like a complete idiot – here was someone finally willing to listen to him, to share a secret with and be his friend, and he blew it. He hated the silence penetrating between them now.

Aqua suddenly threw her hands in the air, as if she had enough exasperation to last her the day. "Aliens are supposed to have green skin, okay? They look like bugs, with antennas, and they're bald-"

Like she was the expert.

She said it in a way as if asking him to prove her wrong, and he swayed right back into smiling. Maybe he didn't blow it after all.

"There's more to the stars than you think," he said smugly.

Aqua crossed her arms and studied him for a bit.

What she said next surprised him - not because she believed him, or because she had her own secret to tell, but because he never really experienced someone who missed him before.

"Does that mean you'll have to leave soon?"

Those brief moments where she was smiling were so short.

"Maybe…" And Terra found himself sad, too. "Yeah. When the Master catches Ardyn, we'll have to go back home."

He didn't know if she was going to cry, but she didn't. She turned her nose up at him.

"You can't leave."

"Why not?"

"Because you're my friend now, and I won't let you."

Terra laughed because he had no other reaction. He didn't want to leave either, but he didn't say that out loud. What he realized instead was why she was so attached to Tod and Copper staying together: friendship meant a lot to her, maybe even as much as him, even though he didn't have any.

"We should find Copper tomorrow," he said. "It's wrong that they're separated."

She lit up. "Tod is lonely without him."

And Terra didn't want Tod to be lonely. "We could think of ways to get him back so we aren't caught."

"Promise?" She leaned near him, scanning his eyes for his oath.

Terra traced over his heart with one finger, and swore his first promise to someone who wasn't Eraqus. "Cross my heart."

******

After school the next day, Aqua minded her chores with such focus and speed that she finished earlier than expected and sought out Master Eraqus in the barn.

When she asked, "Mr. Eraqus, can Terra come out to play?" it was proof that yes, Terra did have a new friend. She was ready for the woods, replacing her dress with overalls and an excitable Tod by her feet.

Eraqus of course was pleased to hear that and sent Terra a smug grin before agreeing, which was probably the first time that Terra could remember being let go from his chores early.

Finding Copper was easy, and getting him out wasn't as hard as anticipated. Amos Slade relied too much on his intimidations, apparently, because Copper was there just the same. It took stealing a dog muzzle to contain Chief's barking so no one would be alerted.

Terra felt bad. He promised Chief that they'd all come back, even though Aqua told him that Chief hated Tod and wasn't nice either to anyone either.

Little Copper though was delighted.

And it turned out, babysitting small animals was tiring, and the two of them still went at it with their games while Terra and Aqua took turns lazily guessing the shapes of clouds.

They even talked some more about what he did as Eraqus' apprentice: what kind of classes he took, how far into defense training he had progressed so far, and whether he ever had to tolerate something dumb like math.

His answers were pretty honest except he never once mentioned the word Keyblade. It was a Keybearer's most important clause to keep that secret.

Watching dog and fox toss and tumble, practicing their survival skills on each other, gave Aqua a peculiar idea.

"Can you teach me how to fight?"

"That'd be fun. You're gonna show Pap's who's boss?"

"It's something I've always wanted to do, but Mama said it wasn't ladylike. It's too ferocious."

Terra stood up, at the ready. "It's not hard."

She hopped to a stance, her hands already in lifted. "Then show me."

"Well first…" He grabbed her wrists and brought them closer to her face. "You need to always protect yourself, and this will make it easier."

Then he lifted one open palm. "Try hitting me."

She threw her fist, and it smacked enough to sting.

"Ow," he whined.

Aqua's knuckles were already red from one punch, and she winced.

Terra shook his hand to relieve the pressure. "You hit hard, which isn't bad, but you're also hurting yourself." He lifted his other palm to spare the first. He remembered the way Eraqus spoke to him when he taught, going back to his earliest lessons. "Try thinking about your strength coming from your back, and use that to direct the punch."

It took several times, and Terra often switched palms for her to strike (it helped ease his pain). But Aqua took his lessons much faster than he expected, honestly, finally getting the proper amount of force in her punches without expecting her fingers to break.

"We use the same advice in ballet," she said.

"Really?"

"It's to make sure you're in alignment and you're moving properly."

"Oh!" He dropped a hand after she finished another throw straight into the center of it, now leveled off so that it didn't sting him anymore. "The Master and I talk about that stuff all the time. I didn't think it'd be useful in dance."

"Pfft." Suddenly she leaned off her focus on slugging and stood as straight as a rod. "Observe."

With feet turned out and a curve at her elbows, Aqua started to… well, bend her knees repeatedly.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"It's called a plié," she said as though he should know better. "Try it with me."

Turning out his feet was more uncomfortable than it looked, and he copied her movements, even when she brought one arm out to her side and swept the other across and over her head.

It looked easy to copy and honestly he got bored, but she started laughing -

He realized he never really heard her laugh before. It sounded like small bells, with a sparkle to her eyes. She looked different, alive almost.

"What's so funny?"

She mimicked what he was doing: hunched over, with his arms so curved that it looked like he was about to scratch his side and his head. "You look like a monkey."

"I do not."

He gave up, stomped his foot on the ground and swore to himself that he'd never dance again.

"Aww," she breathed, swallowing the rest of her loose laughs to regain some composure. "I didn't mean it that way. We can try something different."

"How about this," he interrupted, with a finger to command her attention. "We do a little competition and whoever wins gets to decide what game we should play."

Terra already had an idea in mind where he was sure he'd win.

"That sounds fun! What should we do?"

"Whoever does a handstand the longest wins."

Initially, he expected her to be intimidated, but she replied with, "That sounds easy. Let's do it."

It sunk his stomach, but he knew that he was good with this, so he should still be fine.

They bent over, and on his count of three, they lifted their legs into the air and balanced on their hands.

The blood rushed to his head, but he'd done this so many times that he breathed through it.

"Should we count it out?" he heard her say, his gaze somewhere off to the forest where Tod and Copper took a break from their roughhousing.

"What?"

"Count it out, like how many seconds it takes to do this?"

What was harder than breathing was talking in this position. "Nah."

"Okay." She sounded like she had no struggle in the world. "I used to take lots of gymnastics. I really miss it."

He really wished she would stop talking so he could concentrate on staying still.

"Cool," he muttered.

"I had a teacher who thought I would do well in competing," she continued, "but Papa wanted me to stay in school."

"Okay," he huffed.

"I've always wondered-"

He groaned, falling over onto his stomach into the thick grass underneath him, his head light. She glanced behind her, and with a smirk, gracefully went back on her feet and looked over him.

"I win!"

"Obviously."

"And I choose the game of…" She took a finger to her chin, very proud and very dismissive of his utter disappointment. "Hide and seek."

"Seriously?" He was going to refuse because he had pride and hurting it made him fume.

"I won, so we have to play. But Tod and Copper stay with you."

"Why?"

She waved her arm at him, already on her way, like he asked her a silly question. "They'd give my location away, and I'm not gonna let you cheat."

"Fine." He buried his face in arms against a tree and started to count out loud, listening closely to the direction of her steps so he had as many clues as possible; he was going to find her so quickly, she'd know immediately that he was worthy of respect, and she shouldn't ever laugh at him again.

"... Eight, nine, ten. Ready or not, here I come!" he yelled, the branches and bushes that surround him lightly swaying to a song he couldn't hear. The wind was just as gentle, leaving him alone to hear his own breath.

Copper sniffed the air, and Terra had the sinister thought of asking him to track her down - but that would be cheating, and Terra was better than that.

When he started his trek, the animals took notice. Tod's ears perked a little too much, like trying to decipher a sound that was garbled.

Terra went down the trail he believed she took. "Aqua?" he called - this never worked in hide and seek, but maybe it would trick her into giggling.

Tod and Copper followed closely at his ankles, never running ahead, never falling behind - which was weird, wouldn't they immediately react if she was nearby?

"Aqua," he called again, listening in for any ruffling.

It was quiet, like the forest was dead despite its lush green vitality, despite that it was daylight.

At this point, Tod's fluffy tail curled underneath him, and Copper dagged himself too close to the ground, chasing a scent in the dirt that took him in circles.

At this point, Terra spotted an owl - an owl - up at this hour, watching him like he was prey.

Getting into a staring contest with an owl was useless, and the longer Terra looked at her, the more he realized that she was waiting for something to happen.

The owl hooted, and against such quiet, it was thundered in his ears. Tod and Copper perked up at the warning -

And split from him, sprinting so quickly it was like they had to win a race to be allowed to live.

"Wait a min-"

They were gone, the owl leaving with them.

Aqua probably would yell at him for losing them.

If he'd ever talk to her again, that is.

"Aqua?" he called again, desperate for an answer. Praying that he'd find her fast, tripping over loose tree branches, hearing nothing but the noise of his own footsteps.

"Looking for someone?"

The voice came from behind.

A tall, tall man watched him with a diabolic smile. Wavy hair to his shoulders the same color as wine like it begged to be touched, thickly dressed in messy layers like he was homeless, like he was cold (it was way too hot for that).

Terra's heart beat and it went cold the moment he noticed the large-brimmed fedora.

"I-" Terra swallowed. A Keybearer was supposed to be brave. "I'm not, mister."

"Hmm," the man named Ardyn rubbed his chin. "I was wondering if you could point me in the correct direction," he said, words clearly pronounced and laced with an amusement that'd never die even if threatened. "I seem to have lost my way."

Terra nearly asked to please not hurt him, he didn't do anything wrong. "Town's over that way, mister." He pointed north, away from the Widow Tweed's farm.

Another voice rushed to his side. "Terra, don't!"

It was Aqua, breathless when she grabbed his hand. Her pupils shrunk to the size of flies, and she whispered to his ear, "It's the bad man."

"Aha!" Ardyn exclaimed like greeting an old friend he forgot about. "How long it has been to see you, Aqua." Ardyn slipped off his hat and bowed his head to give her a more respectful greeting.

Aqua shuddered, her grip on Terra's hand cutting off circulation to his fingers.

Terra didn't know what to do. This man looked bigger than his Master, and Terra never defeated his teacher in hand-to-hand combat before.

So he froze.

Worse - the moment Ardyn straightened out, his face was different: glowing yellow eyes, black oil seeping from them and from his scalp and from his mouth. He was already a dead man who spoke.

"It's been a pleasure," he said as he wore his hat again. "Good night, sweet child. Sleep will certainly hurt less."

Terra gripped her hand back.

Aqua hid behind his shoulder.

Ardyn raised a palm, the glow of magenta and black puffs of smoke electrifying at his fingertips.

Terra looked away, shut his eyes, got closer to her.

It hurt. It was sore like a dull hit to his chest and it banged loudly -

But he flew, with Aqua grabbing him by the waist and flying with him, as the blast threw them background and they used the momentum to float away, past the trees, past Tod and Copper who were still running, until they were dropped to the ground, rolling in a mess of fallen leaves.

Terra was alive, and finally he breathed. They were near Mrs. Tweed's house, her chimney sticking up above the trees.

He scurried to his knees and fiddled with his necklace, pulling out the knotted symbol. It disintegrated into dust after carrying them here.

The plan! Stay calm. Find the Master. Immediately he stood on his feet, and slipped on leaves.

The mission! He still had to protect the mission. He turned heel and went back to Aqua.

"What was that?" he heard Aqua mumble. She was still picking herself up, removing leaves from her hair.

"Magic. C'mon." He grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her, running as fast as he could.

"Master!" he cried when they got near the farmhouse, Tod and Copper yipping from their fright.

Abigail fussed and she was loud enough that they heard her from the barn. In the distance, Chief wouldn't stop barking. The wind howled, and the clouds darkened. A gunshot ruptured in the distance.

Eraqus stepped off the front porch, telling the widow to stay indoors. "Step inside," he instructed Terra and Aqua. "And stay inside."

"Master-"

"Now."

Another gunshot, closer this time.

Copper and Tod followed them inside the house, rushing under furniture. Mrs. Tweed locked the door behind them as Eraqus continued his way into the field. Terra climbed the kitchen counter to take a look.

"Stay away from the windows!" she commanded, and Terra jumped off to head upstairs.

"Wait for me," he heard Aqua squeak but he paid no attention to her.

He rushed through the upstairs hallway, into the master bedroom, right to the windows where he threw the curtains open.

Moments ago it was broad daylight but now it threatened to storm.

Eraqus summoned his Keyblade in a crackle of light, Ardyn now creeping close.

The demon hunched over, the oil dripping out of his coat-sleeve. Sparks of purple light surrounding him, and the ghosts of swords and axes and cleavers swirled in the air in a cycle, a record of ages that passed by for how long this thing had been living.

He used them to strike the Master, slicing and dicing and scratching metal with metal.

Deflected, far enough to strike a tree nearby the second-floor window and Terra and Aqua had to duck.

"Your Master is a sorcerer?" she asked.

It wasn't incorrect. "Eh?"

"I read about them in books," she said as they peeked over the windowsill.

"Shh."

Eraqus summoned chains, gold and blinding and huge, to whip Ardyn - it was the coolest thing Terra had ever seen him do.

Ardyn said something indecipherable, and with a yell, Eraqus summoned something larger: a giant warp that swallowed the demon away before reshaping into a giant keyhole in the sky.

One that the Master promptly locked, the sound of the turnkey snapping everything into silence.

The sun fought through the clouds, and the wind calmed slowly.

Eraqus trudged back to the house, holding his arm as he dismissed his Keyblade, and he limped enough for Terra to bolt back downstairs, leaving Aqua to follow him once again.

The house was messier, like it survived a small earthquake with books toppled over and desks in the wrong position.

He found the Master settled on a loveseat while Mrs. Tweed rushed to get him water.

"I was unable to vanquish him," Eraqus said through large breaths. "But he has been barred from ever coming back to this world."

"Miracles do exist!" Mrs. Tweed exclaimed as she handed him a mug. "Bless you, good sir. I never in my life expected such a spectacle when you showed up around here."

"Miracles," the Master repeated. That was going to be the story for the rest of time to these people, of a man who came from nowhere to perform miracles that saved the town, Mrs. Tweed being the only witness to a harsh storm that raged and died in a matter of minutes.

Terra sat closely to his Master, not to take his hand or to hug him, but to listen to him calm down.

In the chaos, Terra didn't realize that it made him scared to watch Eraqus march his way to battle. Knowing now that everything was alright, it took all his strength to look like he wasn't overwhelmed.

Now the people of this world were safe, and Eraqus was the hero. The thing about his Master was that he showed no fear in the heat of battle, when Terra nearly wet his pants earlier. If he was ever going to get better, he had a long way to go.

Mainly, Terra was just happy that he still had family at the end of it all.

"I want to do what you do," he heard a small voice pipe up.

Aqua stared hard at Eraqus, determination on fire in her eyes, awed and fierce and hopeful.

The Master wasn't surprised by her admission. "You want to save people?"

"Yes," she said simply.

Mrs. Tweed threw her hand to her chest. "In all my life-"

"I want to banish demons," Aqua continued.

"That sounds perfectly unsafe," Mrs. Tweed said.

Eraqus chuckled. Terra thought that he may have succeeded his first mission because it gave the Master what he wanted - a new, promising student. "It can be a dangerous life, but I assure you that she would be safe with me."

Mrs. Tweed eyed Terra, suspicions mounting in her mind. "The young boy, he is…?"

"Yes, ma'am," Terra said. "I'm his apprentice, and I'm training to do the very same thing."

"Aqua," Mrs. Tweed implored, "you are certain?"

A sad cloud hovered over Aqua's eyes before dissipating in an instant. "Thank you so much for taking care of me, Mrs. Tweed… but I've been called a hippie all my life for my name. I don't belong here. I never did."

Eraqus stood straighter, interlacing his fingers and addressing the widow. "I only take children who have no families nor a place to go, children who I am certain will perform spectacularly."

Aqua leaned forward with a hand to her heart. "Please take me. I'll be a good student. I can do ballet and gymnastics, I'll make perfect grades and-"

"You have a strong heart," Eraqus said to her with a warm smile.

She blinked, not understanding what he really meant but she nodded anyway.

And Terra saw it - or felt it, he wasn't sure. It was like a tug to his own heart, a flash and a tickle before it faded. This was what Eraqus was talking about.

He saw the light within Aqua, a warm, strong embrace, like he was meant to feel safe with her and meant to keep it protected.

It was pretty even though he couldn't really see it.

And Terra wondered if he emanated the same. He thought that one night when he tried to bring it out of himself and he couldn't, and how he went to sleep wondering if he had it at all.

He wondered if his was as strong as hers, and if he was doomed to fail because it wasn't.

******

Aqua said she cried more than she expected when she said goodbye to Mrs. Tweed, even though Terra never saw anything.

She was stronger when she said goodbye to Tod, rubbing the fur on his chest a little while longer because she never wanted to forget the way it felt.

"Do you think they'll stay friends forever?" she asked Terra.

If she was talking about Copper… "Of course they will." A fox and a hound were opposites by nature, in a violent cycle that would never end but friendship was supposed to be strong and indestructible, and Tod and Copper were the very best of friends. Nothing would tear them apart.

"Always stay together, okay Tod?" she whispered to the fox, before giving him a quiet farewell.

This was a few days after the battle with Ardyn. By this time, people started visiting the farmhouse to ask Eraqus all sorts of questions: if he was a magician, if he was sent from the heavens, if he was the devil, if all the demonic stuff was nonsense, if the murderer was killed…

Either way, Eraqus respected the laws of the world and they all had to wait until papers were written, agreed upon, and signed for his protection over Aqua as one of his own.

Today was the day to finally take her to the Land of Departure. She didn't have much: one pack of luggage, and one hard, gray folder.

When Terra asked what was inside, she said it was the only picture of her parents that survived the fire.

The three of them hiked into the woods. She started asking the basic need-to-know: what a Keyblade was, the eternal fight between light and darkness, where the Land of Departure was located -

"We're going to fly there, right?" Aqua asked.

Eraqus shot Terra a look, now that she admitted that she knew information she wasn't supposed to know.

"We are indeed." Eraqus stopped the hike, halting the other two behind him, and bent to his knees. "I have one question left for you, Aqua."

By the sound of his voice, Terra knew he was testing her.

"In the deepest part of your heart, why is it that you want to wield the Keyblade?" he asked.

She took a moment, the folder with her parent's photo wrapped in her arms. "I want to make my parents proud. I want to make sure nothing like this ever happens again to someone else."

By the way the Master nodded, she passed. "The Keyblade is a powerful weapon, Aqua. You are still young, and you won't be able to conjure your own for a few years, but you must always know that your strength is bright and strong. It is not to be used for purposes of vengeance."

Aqua nodded. "Revenge feels yucky to me."

With that, the Master was relieved. He patted her head. "Admirable. When we arrive at the castle, you will spend the rest of the day for leisure, but tomorrow we will start your first formal class."

She beamed, and Terra remembered similar excitement at the thought of starting classes with Eraqus, too. He used to be called a nerd for liking school.

"We're going to be students in the same class," she said to Terra, like she was looking forward to it.

Terra didn't know how to respond. Class was class, students were students. Friends were… they acted like they cared. "Uh, yeah."

"I can't wait, Mr. Eraqus," she said. "I'm going to make the best grades."

"W-wha?" Terra stuttered.

"First I must start your bequeathing, Aqua. Come." He gestured to her over by the nearby creek.

"This is going to be fun," she said to Terra before hopping over.

He watched the bequeathing, similar to how he went through it for the first time years ago, when the Master summoned a giant key and spoke a few fancy words. The energy from the magic passed from the weapon through his fingertips, up to his heart to ignite something that Terra later realized was probably always there.

The Keyblade was picky about who it chose and it chose Aqua today.

What it'd be like to wake up to a new person in his home, Terra had no idea what to expect. They would play and swap stories, he'd have a new fighting partner. Maybe he'd be allowed to go into the woods without supervision.

Something about it bugged him, though. Was it possible that he could be kicked out of the academy if he didn't measure up? What if Eraqus liked her better and liquified his adoption?

What would happen once Eraqus found out that her light was brighter than Terra's?

Suddenly, having a friend sounded like more trouble than it's worth.

To be continued...

This chapter makes references to the Fox and the Hound (1981).

#terraqua #terra #aqua #eraqus #ardyn izunia #the fox and the hound #kingdom hearts fanfic #kh fanfic #LOOK WHAT CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD #my fic

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cilliansaccent · 4 years

Text

The Peaky Designer - Cillian Fanfic, Chapter 7

Hello, welcome back. Below is the next instalment of my fanfiction!

Leave a like or a comment if you liked it, or if I can do anything better! Please, it would mean the world and to understand if anyone is enjoying my writing. Also, sharing/reblogging would be even better.

PLEASE READ:

I will not be including Cillian’s family as it’s kinda weird since he has children lmao. Just a mention of his parents and a previous lover.

I will indicate in a chapter if there is smut in the beginning and before the actual scene!!

I will add trigger warnings if there is any!!

There is a variety of levels of swearing during a chapter, I will not hold back, everyone swears.

The timestamp for the Fic is now 2016 and onwards!!

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Background: Gabrijela Babic is a Croatian girl from Sydney, Australia. She is born in the year 1991 on the 24th of December. She studies a Fashion degree in a University with a major in Game Design as well. Her teacher in the fashion designer class managed to nail an Internship on the set of Peaky Blinders with the shows very own Costume Designer, Allison McCosh. There, she travels to London for under a year to learn how to be one, working alongside the actors as well the man she admires, Cillian Murphy. But, her platonic feelings for the man begins to grow into something more, and she wonders whether she should pursue them or let him go for fear of her strict parents and her three older brothers…

Characters:

Swantje Paulina as Gabrijela Babic (swalina on Instagram)

Cillian Murphy

Word Count: 2,835

!!Warnings!!: None.

Date: March 2016

Chapter Name: A Day in Bath

Brief Chapter Outline: Gab spends the day in Bath with Cillian

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Logan rolled over and laid on his back, panting softly. They had gone another round this morning. "Damn." She laughed softly, pushing her hair out of her face, "You are so wild." "I didn't hurt you, did I?" He turned to face her now. "No. You didn't. You were very good." She leaned over and kissed him deeply. "Mhm." He smiled and pulled her on top as they continued to kiss slowly and deeply. Though Gab's phone began to ring and she pulled away to grab it, "Hello?"

"Hey, Gabrijela." Cillian's voice made her heartache. "Hi, how are you?" She asked as she rolled off Logan, sitting upright. "I'm doing fine. May I come up?" He asked. "Uh, um. Yeah. Give me a moment." She said and hung up. "Logan uh, you gotta go." She said with a blush. "Why? Who was that?" He asked as he sat up, sitting in the bed. Waiting for her to tell him. "Uhm... Cillian. I promised him today I'd hang out with him." Gabrijela got up and grabbed their various clothing across the floor. She hastily tugged on her pyjamas. "Cillian? Why?" Logan frowned as he started to get changed. "Why not? He's a nice guy, besides we got a friendship going. We got stuff in common." She didn't like the judgement like tone Logan used. "Huh. Alright. Seems like you both are quite close." He said as he put on his watch, a strange look on his face. "Yeah. We're friends... why?" She tilted her head to the side, he was holding back something. "Logan. Talk." He sighed, "We heard you spent the night with him while on set." He said finally, looking at her, "And... overheard things." Gabrijela's cheeks warmed, and she looked away quickly, "Nothing happened. Whoever said they heard something was wrong." "Gabrijela, your face clearly speaks the truth. Whatever. Just know you gotta be careful." Logan fixed his hair in the mirror before tucking his phone and wallet into his pockets. "Be careful? For what? We didn't fuck." She snapped, "Ugh. Why does everyone have to tell me what I should and shouldn't do?" She groaned in frustration. "I'm not saying anything. Just be wary." He said with a hint of annoyance. "Whatever, you do what you want." He said and headed to the door. "I'll see you tomorrow." And he was gone. Gabrijela sighed, sitting on the couch. "Fuck." Cillian was waiting by the door for ten minutes, he was about to call her when the door opened up and Logan stormed out. His shirt was rumpled. "Huh, hey," Cillian called, he wasn't surprised but also disappointed a little. "Hey, man. Sorry I didn't see you there." He turned to Cillian. "Hey before I go. I want to ask you something." "Uh, go ahead." Cillian nodded, he was holding the door open. "What's your deal with Gabrijela?" He asked, there was something dangerous in Logan's eyes. "Nothing. We're friends, I'm only making her feel comfortable and welcomed here." He replied kindly. He wasn't and would never stoop to a low level of possessiveness. "Huh. Right. Yeah." He shrugged, "Just back off from her, hey? She's young." Cillian raised a brow, "Excuse me? What are you implying?" "Nothing. Just some rumours." Logan said and got into his Uber before Cillian could heckle him more. "What on earth..." He shook his head and headed up to the apartment. He knocked on the door. Gabrijela opened the door, "Come in." Cillian came in, noting the sleepy eyes and her messy hair. As well as the marks on her neck. "Did you want a drink?" She asked as she headed into the kitchen to pour herself cordial. "No, thank you." His eyes skipped over the messy bed and sat on the stool. She felt like she was making everything so uncomfortable. And his eyes were trained on her like a hawk on a prey. "Cillian, I need to tell you something." She said softly as she sipped her drink. "I saw Logan on the way in," Cillian said and their eyes met. "He said something." She continued, "About... What happened. In the trailer." Cillian stilled, but his expression didn't waver. "What about it?" "Someone heard... us. He said rumours are moving around." She twisted the cup around in her hands. "Who? Did he...?" Cillian leaned forward a little. "I don't know. He didn't say who." She looked up at Cillian. He sighed and held out his hand and she placed hers in it, "He doesn't have to worry. It won't happen again." "I'll make sure to tell him to rid these rumours. God... He ruined my mood now. Especially what we did-" She paused, pulling her hand back. "Anyway. I better get ready," She said and went to the bathroom. Cillian sighed but shook his head. He would cheer her up, today was going to be fun. Gabrijela was dressed in a mini skirt with a black and white checkered pattern with frayed ends. She had a short-sleeved red top and her favourite thigh-high suede boots. She kept her hair out but had a hairband on her just in case. Gabrijela had a good taste in fashion and she always looked so fucking good. Cillian was always mesmerised by how she looked. Everything looked so right on her. He gave her a smile and together they headed out. He let her take over the radio and she put on something they would enjoy. And the car ride ended up as a karaoke session. He was shocked as to how good she sang but it didn't stop him from singing. Gabrijela was back into her bright mood all the way to Bath. Once they arrived in Bath he found a good spot to park and got out with her. "Welcome to Bath. It's a lovely town." He said. She was in awe, "It's beautiful." She said as they walked through the streets. It was busy today, there was a lot of tour groups around and general tourists. "I uh also managed to get us tickets for the Roman Baths. Let's go do that first, we have all morning and afternoon to explore." He said. They headed further into the Roman Baths, skipped the line and was able to go right on in. Cillian took photos of her, and she posed in each shot. She had explained she wanted her Instagram to look nice despite him rolling his eyes. Long as she was happy, he was. And he didn't mind taking photos of her, a good excuse to admire her. She convinced him to take some pictures together and he obliged. Another good reason to have his arms around her. After the Baths they wandered around, she took pictures, went into shops and bought some souvenirs. There were times where they had to stop when fans recognised Cillian, and Gabrijela watched with a cute smile as he chatted with them and signed things. Then it was time to move on, they went further into the town where there weren't many people and she found good spots to take photos. "Why don't you be a model?" Cillian randomly asked as he stood close to her side as they looked through the photos. "Oh, no. I'd have to starve myself and work on a twenty-four-seven shift. No thanks. I like my sleep and how I look." She laughed softly. "Yeah, true. And you look just fine. Natural." He placed an arm around her and quickly moved back with her as a bike flew by them. She gasped, "You love to compliment people hm?" She looked up at him, grinning. "Especially if they catch my interest." He admitted and her cheeks went a shade of pink. "I catch your interest?" She asked, staying close and pressed to his side. He nodded once, "Yeah. You're uh... Almost like a female version of me." She let out a bark of laughter and he did as well, "Well, damn. Thanks. I'm hot and got good taste in music." She nudged him. "Exactly why you are a female version of me." He squeezed her side and she let out a sound. "Come on, I'm getting hungry. You gotta feed me." She huffed and they headed back to the main square. By late afternoon, there was still a heap of people around, not if more than earlier. Most of the restaurants were booked out so they grabbed some burgers and chips from some restaurant and took their goodies to the park near the bridge. They claimed a chair beside the river and ate their packed burgers. "In uh, darling Harbour, I was with my mum and we were eating Maccas. And um, a seagull had flown past my mum's shoulder and slammed into her burger, knocking it out of her hand as it was swarmed by a million of em." Gab giggled. "Really? They're vicious. I've always wanted to come to Sydney, but I never get to." He said. "Well, how about after you film? You could come for a week or two and I could... show you around. Take you on a tour. I've got my license." She offered. "You'd do that?" He looked at her with a mouthful of food. She laughed and quickly took her phone out, snapping a picture. "Hah! Got it!" "No! Delete that! Hey!" He tried to grab her phone but she hid it from him. "I won't post it nowhere! Oh my god so cute." She poked his cheeks and he shook his head. "Terrible." He said as he finished his food. "Indeed. But back to your question, yes I would do that. You have been making my week here wonderful, it's only fair to return the favour." She wiped her hands on a tissue and faced him. She had crossed her legs, brushing a little against him. "Well, when we finish filming I might take a little trip to Sydney." He mused, resting his arm behind her. "Good! Come as soon as you can, it'll be summer and we could go to the beach." She said, "I know the best place." "Bondi?" He asked. "Ew no. It gets too packed and there isn't much shade there unless you go all the way to the grass area." She shakes her head. "Alright, I trust you in where we go." He said. "Just like I trust you in the places you take me." She patted his chest before they stared out at the water. After a bit, Cillian offered to go on a walk with her and they did. The park began to have less and fewer people. They found another bench and claimed, watching the ducks swim and chase each other. "I want to say something," Cillian said finally after some silence. "Go ahead." She turned to him, now giving her attention to him. He looked troubled, his arm was behind her again on the bench. "You can say it, Cillian. I trust you." She placed a hand on his knee. He sighed and looked at her, "I shouldn't do this but... I like you, Gabrijela. You are a sweet, smart and beautiful girl. I don't want anyone to use you in ways that you don't deserve to." It was her turn to sigh and she looked away, "What is this about?" "Nothing. I just... Wanted to tell you that." He went to touch her chin to turn her back but she grabbed his wrist and looked at him with hard eyes. "I don't need someone to tell me what to do." She said, her tone harsh. "I'm not. I just want-" "What? Are you worried about Logan and me? Because we fucked?" She hissed softly. "No! No, Gabrijela-" he sat back, running a hand through his hair. "God. I care about you that's all. I just want the best for you." She scoffed and stood up walking close to the bank of the water, arms crossed. "I wonder if my parents called you so you can check in on me." The words came out before she could bite them back. "Gabrijela." He stood and went to her side, "Why would you say that?" She could see the hurt in his eyes. Guilt washed through him and she shut her eyes briefly, "I'm sorry Cillian. I didn't mean to say that. God I- Everyone at home says the same thing. And it just bugs me." His expression softened and he took her arm gently, "Don't get mad hey?" His thumb rubbed her skin gently, up and down. She held his gaze, it was so full of tenderness and worry. "I won't. I promise." She whispered. They stayed close like that, and she felt this pull to him. She looked at his lips, those lovely lips that were on hers a week back almost, moaning her name. "Cilly." She swallowed, stepping closer to his body. Her hands now laid flat on his chest. His arms automatically moved around her waist. The willow tree they stood under hid them from anyone who walked by, but there was barely anyone here anyway. "We shouldn't." He whispered, circling his nose against hers. "No. We shouldn't." But neither pulled away. "But no one is here." She replied, her lips brushing along his. He kissed her hard, there was no space between their bodies as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Kissing Cillian was like taking a breath of fresh air, like taking a leap off a cliff. His hands moved down her back and cupped her ass, lifting her up a little. A soft moan escaped her before he walked backwards and sat back down on the bench. She moved to straddle his hips, their lips never breaking. She let her fingers brush along his jaw and down his neck. She gripped the dark blue shirt he wore, wanting so badly to undo the buttons. His hands slid down her thighs, then back up and snaked under her skirt. She felt a cool breeze tickle the exposed skin of her ass and moaned, "Cillian, wait-" She gripped his wrists, kissing him. "Not here. We can't- Ah." She moaned when his hands removed from her thighs and to her breasts. "Gabrijela." His lips moved down to her throat, and he began to lift up her shirt. Then she heard people talking, and it sounded like they were heading this way. She pulled back and sat beside him, hastily tucking in her shirt into her skirt just as a group of young teens walked by. She panted as she rubbed her thighs together. As the teens wandered away she relaxed, her legs parting a little. "Cillian- Cillian we cannot." She bit her bottom lip gazing up at him. She wanted him so badly, Logan was... Logan was a mistake, she thought. She had only thought of Cillian the whole time, hoping and wishing it was him on top of her. But Cillian was someone she was to work with. And she had to take this internship seriously, she could be easily kicked out if anyone caught them. "Fuck." He said in a reply, he breathed fast through his nose. "I- We promised we wouldn't do this." He looked back at her again, cupping her face with one hand. "I know. But I can't help it." She placed a hand over him as she leaned in to kiss him again. The kiss was soft, he pulled back to speak, "Same here." He kissed her again and again and again. "No." She said heartbreakingly, "Cillian we need to stop." She pushed him back. "Mm," He nodded, sitting back and facing the river. "We should head home. Busy day tomorrow." He said and they stood and walked quietly back to the car. The trip home was quiet despite the music playing softly. Cillian parked down the road as there was no room when they had returned to London. He walked with her back to the apartment building and they stood face to face at the foot of the stairs. "I had fun today." She smiled, "Thank you. I want to do that again when we have time." He nodded, "Next weekend, hopefully." He said, but he wasn't sure if he could handle being with her all day again. All he could think of was kissing her and touching her. With her free hand, she took his. She looked up, meeting that hungry gaze that matched hers. Despite saying what she said earlier, she said, "You can stay the night." Cillian took a moment and squeezed her hand, "No." He stepped in close and patted her cheek gently, "We need our rest. Have a good night, Gabrijela." He pulled away from her and headed down the street. She watched the car pull away and reached up to touch her lips. She had to be careful and tread lightly. She worked hard to get to where she is right now, and she couldn't let her heart get in the way.

#cillian murphy #thomas shelby #peaky blinders #fanfiction

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jawnjendes · 5 years

Text

shawn meets... | aria

SUMMARY: in the life of a rockstar, shawn mendes comes across some unique people. sometimes, things stray from the norm. (AU, shawn x every one of my oc’s)(continuation of goth gf)

AN: time jump lmao. sry in advance.

***let me know if you wanna be added to the taglist

previous chapter

aria’s [abandonded] origin story | aria’s playlist | masterlist

Eight months later.

Shawn was beyond tired. Shawn was not allowed to be tired. Shawn, the sun has almost gone down and we still have so much to do today! Stop sleeping and pay attention!

Honestly, nobody was keeping track of how many interviews had been done today. Shawn should have kept track, that way he would know how many were left before he was done for the day. He was only half listening to what his manager Andrew was saying.

“A lot of Internet stars want you these days,” he said. “This girl was the only one who had something interesting to do with you. Good thing you stayed in your sweats today.”

Oh yeah. A majority of the interviews Shawn did today were done over the phone. For some goddamn reason, he and his whole team had to move from place to place for each one. This was annoying, and this was Hollywood, apparently. At least he didn’t have to change for this interview, whatever it was going to be.

Andrew was leading the team through a plaza somewhere in Los Angeles. Shawn was just on autopilot at this point. He took a dinner break a couple of hours ago, but he just wanted to be done already. He wanted to go to bed, even if he wasn’t planning on sleeping. He couldn’t really sleep these days, and it was by choice.

The team stopped in front of a door that said “DANCE STUDIO” in white letters. As usual, Andrew made Shawn wait outside with Jake the bodyguard while the rest of the team went inside. It was a moment to let things sink in and breathe while he was almost alone. Shawn had to put on his happy mask once again, even if it was the last thing he felt.

“How you holding up?” Jake asked, watching him carefully.

Shawn knew what he was asking, but shrugged it off. “Just a little tired.”

“Nightmare,” he said with a nod.

“What? No, I don’t have those anymore.”

“I wasn’t asking, I’m telling you.”

He stayed quiet. It’s not like anything could be done about it right now. There’s other things to worry about. Andrew always told Shawn just to not think about it. Think about happier things, like walking into this damn studio.

Andrew came out of the room after a few minutes, gesturing for them to enter. Here goes another round of answering the same questions he’s been asked all day.

There were two studio lights stood on either side of a camera set up in front of the mirrors that spanned across the wall. It wasn’t the huge Hollywood set up he had gotten used to. There were chairs lined up against the wall away from the camera, and there was no crew either, just two girls handling everything. The life of YouTubers.

A blonde girl in glasses was fixing the lens on the camera, but she looked up and smiled at Shawn when he entered the room. The other girl with curly brown hair was doing the splits in the middle of the hardwood floor. She looked up as well, and was quick to get up and greet him.

"Hi! I'm Aria Mercer, it's so nice to meet you!"

Aria was very short, given that her head was tilted up to look Shawn in the eyes. She was in red sweats and a One Direction tee, making him feel better about his drab appearance.

"And I'm Sophie Jensen!" said the blonde as she approached the group. "We've heard so much about you! We love your music!"

Shawn grinned. "Thank you, it's nice to meet you too."

"So, you showed up in the appropriate attire, that's good," Aria said. "You ready to dance?"

Shawn's eyes widened. "That's what we're doing?"

"Your people didn't tell you?" Aria shot a mock disappointed look to his team, who had all collectively went to sit in the chairs against the wall. "But yeah, I'll be teaching you a few simple moves. Nothing dangerous or strenuous."

Sophie went back to the camera, looking into the viewfinder and pressing a button. "It's recording. Whenever you guys are ready."

For once, Shawn was glad Brian wasn't here to witness this. Lucky bastard got to go back to the hotel early. Still, he was going to see this in the foreseeable future, and that was enough to make Shawn nervous.

"Gotta warn you," he said to Aria, "I'm a huge klutz."

"It's okay, we'll have fun!" she reassured, and she reached over to rub his arm.

Her tiny hand left so many tingles on his skin. Shawn resisted the urge to scratch it away as Aria greeted the camera.

She didn't obnoxiously project her voice like other YouTubers. She wasn't like the rich socialites who were running the platform these days. She was a dancer, and she was bubbly and full of energy.

"Have you ever danced before?" she asked Shawn.

"I literally fall over twenty times a day," he replied. "Dancing feels out of my element, but I'm down to learning."

Aria giggled. "And you've got me as your teacher, so everything will be okay."

The first thing she taught him was the formation for a simple ballet turn. Shawn learned very quickly that standing on one leg with your toes pointed was challenging, to say the least.

"Okay, stay like that," Aria said, stepping towards him. "Let me fix your posture."

Shawn wanted to laugh, but he would lose his balance. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, Aria circling his body.

"Okay, relax your shoulders," she said, patting the area, "but squeeze your back muscles, it'll keep you straight. And squeeze your butt muscles too, it'll keep your legs straight."

She didn't touch that area, but her tiny hands were low on his hips. "Hm, so broad. You definitely have a dancer's body."

"Thanks?" he strained out.

"Elongate your neck as well, chin up."

His muscles were starting to hurt, clearly not used to having them flexed this way. He quickly gave out and lost the position.

"You do all that just when you turn?" he asked Aria.

"Claro que sí! And that's just the surface. There's spotting so you don't lose balance. And then there's the art of making it looks graceful and effortless."

With that, she did the turn. No, she did a pirouette, maybe five turns in a row. Shawn had a new appreciation for dancers now.

Aria taught him more moves, like the five positions of ballet. They were simple enough, but Shawn felt like his ankle might pop off during fifth position. He felt quite goofy with his arms up in the air, but Aria looked, as she said, graceful.

"And back to fourth, and plie," she said, bending her knees.

It looked easy, Shawn never skipped leg day. But with the position his feet were in, he was far from elegant. He couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous he looked in the mirror.

"I take it you've danced your whole life?" he asked her.

"I have. And back to first."

"What's, like, the craziest move you can do?" he asked, now curious. He also wanted to see how flexible this girl was.

Aria tapped her finger to her chin as she thought about it. "Huh… good question. A fouette, I think. Either that, or an aerial."

"I have no idea what either of those things are, you have to show me."

An aerial, he quickly learned, is a no handed cartwheel. Aria took three large steps and practically did a front flip. Again, she was graceful as hell and made Shawn feel inadequate even though this wasn't a profession he planned to pursue.

A fouette was an incredibly complex turn that left Aria panting after she did ten in a row. She was a fucking champ.

When the video was done, the team was quick to rush Shawn, surround him, and get him to the next location. For once, he wasn't having it. He was quite taken with Aria after the short 30 minutes he spent with her.

"Wait!" he snapped, yanking his arm out of Jake's grasp. "Can't I thank our lovely host?"

Aria, who had quickly occupied herself by talking to Sophie, looked up in his direction.

"We have to go!" Andrew strictly told him.

"Just give me a minute!" Shawn said back.

With several stern looks, the team backed off. Shawn then approached Aria with more confidence than he should have had after being brutally humbled by the art of dance.

He put on his best smile. "Hey, just wanted to thank you for the experience."

"No problem." She smiled. "Showing people the way of dance is kinda my thing."

"Well, you're really good at it."

"Aw, thanks!"

Shawn looked at her, then at Sophie. Then, he gently took Aria's shoulder and led her away from the other girl. He cleared his throat before speaking again.

"Look, uh, tell me if this is too forward, but… I was wondering if you wanted to come by my hotel later tonight."

Her brown eyes widened, and then she looked down. "Dio mío. ¿En serio?"

Shawn blinked. "You just spoke Spanish."

"Sorry, I'm just a little thrown off. You're being serious?" She was blushing.

"Yeah. Kinda wanna see what else you can do with those legs." He smirked.

"Me va a dar algo," Aria mumbled. Then, she caught herself. "This is crazy."

He tilted his head. "How so?"

She chewed her lip as she looked at him. There was a look in her eyes that held the answer to his request. "You ever had like… a free pass? Like, you and your significant other talk about your crushes and which celebrity you'd go for. You're my free pass."

Shawn raised his eyebrows, flattered. "So that's a yes?"

Confliction spread on her features. "How long are you in town for?"

"I leave tomorrow." His heart started to race.

"I'll message you on Twitter later, okay? I, uh, need to see if I have something already planned."

"We have nothing planned!" called Sophie, obviously eavesdropping.

Aria's cheeks went even more pink as she looked at Shawn. "Okay, I guess I'm free!"

"Awesome. I'll send you the address." Shawn winked, even though he wasn't very good at it.

Still, Aria was beaming as she went back to her friend.

The only person who was supportive of this impulsive decision was Brian. It was a good thing Shawn brought him along on this weirdly wonderful journey. Shawn told him everything over dinner with the team, leaving out some details of the dancing part.

Brian high fived his friend. "It's about time you come back to your old self! Shawn the bachelor, revived!"

Shawn couldn't quite remember his old self. He hardly had any time to think about it. Brian sometimes reminded him of that old self, it was good to have him here.

"She was really hesitant," he said, "she might not even show up."

"But you took the initiative, and that's a good sign! Besides, if she ghosts you, it won't be hard to find someone else."

That was mildly comforting. More fish in the sea, and Shawn's sea recently expanded.

"Gotta get under someone to get over someone," Brian added.

Shawn couldn't argue with that. This Aria Mercer girl was a good place to start, given that she was completely different from the last girl he was with. This girl was smaller, and more bubbly. Flexible. Amazing curly hair. Shawn could definitely get down with someone who wears more than just one color.

If only he could find beauty in color again.

It wasn't until he was back in his hotel did Shawn start getting nervous. He sent Aria the address and his room number through a Twitter DM, forgetting to add a cheeky "can't wait to see you." After that, he jumped in the shower. Sure, it was just a measly hookup, but he wanted to be clean at least. He even made the effort to order a bottle of patrón to the room.

The bottle was delivered by the time Aria notified him of her arrival. Shawn thanked the room service person with a crisp twenty and quickly ushered them out. Shawn placed the patrón and two glasses on the table, and then checked his reflection in the mirror.

He took a deep breath to calm his nerves, but still jumped when there was a soft knock on the door. Maybe he should have waited an extra thirty seconds, because Aria still had her fist up when Shawn wandered.

She quickly put her arm down and grinned. "Hey."

"Hi. Come in," Shawn said.

His heart was pounding wildly when the two of them were officially shut inside the hotel room. Aria walked in front of him, making him get a look at her bare legs in tiny pink shorts. She placed her tiny backpack on one of chairs at the table.

Shawn noticed the golden lightning bolt and two clear circles on the pack, piquing his interest.

"You like Harry Potter?"

"Hm? Yeah!" Aria said. "I'm obsessed."

"What house are you?"

"Hufflepuff! You?"

Of course the first girl he hooks up with in months is the same Hogwarts house as-

"Gryffindor," he replied.

"Cool."

Silence fell between the two of them as they stood in front of the bed. Aria looked around the room, biting her nails. Shawn couldn't figure out how to step into the next part of this night. He wasn't typically nervous or awkward, but that was only because before this, he was getting intimate with the same person consistently. There was no reason to be nervous then.

"So, uh…" he trailed off.

"Do we just…?" Aria asked, taking a few steps closer.

Neither of them remembered hookups being this awkward.

"Do you want a drink?" Shawn asked, but Aria spoke over him.

"Come closer."

So he did, feeling his heart in his throat. Nervous energy radiated all over, it was almost suffocating. It wasn't the fun type of nervous.

"Closer," Aria said softly.

There was an inch of space left between them. Shawn was looking at her, but she wouldn't return the gaze. He gently placed his hands on her upper arms, slowly moving his head closer, bending more than usual given the height difference. This was like a bandaid that needed to be ripped off. Once that was done, then everything else could come naturally.

"I can't do this," Aria said when their noses were touching, her voice slicing through the silence like a knife.

He moved back, removing himself from her completely. His body suddenly felt much less tense, almost relieved. Before he could even think of anything to say, Aria kept talking.

"I thought I could do it because you're my free pass, and you're insanely gorgeous. But I need to be honest - I have a boyfriend."

Shawn felt his stomach drop. "You-"

"But he gave me his blessing!" Aria frantically interrupted. "I texted him, and he sent me a voice clip of his approval! You can listen if you don't believe me!"

She hurried to her Hogwarts bag, opening up the zipper and digging inside. Meanwhile, Shawn sat down on the bed, his mind spiraling.

He wouldn't have been able to do this either. Come to think of it, he wasn't even that attracted to Aria. He hardly knew her, apart from the fact that she posts dancing videos on YouTube. Hell, he didn't even think about what he wanted to do with her, he just went through the motions.

Aria turned back to Shawn, phone in hand. She stopped in her tracks, noticing his hunched shoulders. "Are you okay?"

Shawn didn't really speak of the ache in his heart to anyone. Again, there was just no time. Sometimes he was tempted to call Camila on the rare days off, but she was just as busy these days. He thought about texting Alessia, but she didn't speak to him anymore. Shawn didn't talk about it, but keeping it in wasn't doing it anymore.

"You were honest with me, so I owe you just the same," he began. "I only wanted to do this because I'm going through a breakup."

He expected her to scoff, or make some comment about how pathetic he is, but Aria simply sat down next to him. Her brown eyes were soft and sympathetic.

"Getting over someone by getting under someone." She echoed Brian's words. "I've been there."

"Hey, I'm sorry for putting you in this position-"

"It's okay," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, I did the same thing when I was twenty years old. Actually, the guy I'm dating now was one of my rebounds."

Shawn cleared his throat. "Is that how you ended up together?"

"Nah, that's a whole other story. But while we're being honest, I have to tell you. Sleeping around isn't gonna heal your broken heart. A wise man once said that numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it."

Ain't that the fucking truth. Shawn felt the ache deep in his bones. It hurt so much it knocked the wind out of him.

"Did you love that person?" Aria asked after a moment.

Shawn couldn't stop himself. "I was so in love with her. She was the first person I ever loved, and it was everything I could have asked for."

"And it feels like you'll never find that again," Aria continued, rubbing his back.

Shawn nodded and took a breath. "Look, I'm sorry I'm dumping this on you. This is probably the opposite of what you expected to happen."

To his surprise, she grinned. "You're lucky I'm nice and have a need to protect heartbroken individuals. If you had hit up my friend Sophie, she would have kicked you while you were down. Besides, sometimes it's just easier to vent to a stranger."

Well, she wasn't wrong about that. Shawn felt more ramblings bubbling up the longer he sat with her. So maybe he would end up spending the night with Aria Mercer.

"Tell me about you, though," he told her. "I don't want this whole thing to be depressing."

The two of them sat up against the headboard, chatting for a while. Shawn learned a little bit more about Aria. She's been dancing since she was a toddler, but she took a hiatus from it after graduating high school. Her favorite color is red, she's a Virgo, and she graduated from that fancy university for vloggers two years prior. That's where she met her first love.

"I got really lucky that the first guy I dated was my first real love," she explained.

"The guy you're with now?" Shawn asked.

"No. That's Joe. My first love was named Dan," she said. "I gotta say, it's been almost five years since we broke up - and I'm very happy with Joe - but a small part of me is still soft for my ex."

Shawn nodded his head as he listened. "Why did you guys break up?"

Aria opened her mouth to answer, but she gave him a look. "You first."

"Fine, but we're opening that patrón."

She giggled. "Okay. I'll pour the glasses, you start talking."

For a moment, Shawn thought about it, thought about Ann. He hasn't seen her since the breakup. He has been back to Toronto in the four months they've been apart, but he never went looking for her. Why would he?

"She… she's insanely private," he began as Aria returned to the bed with two glasses. "She didn't want me talking about her in interviews, or even to my friends. I mean, people in our circle knew about us, but she always thought I was going to tell everyone her secrets or something."

"So paranoia was the cause?"

"I wouldn't say paranoia. I know she wanted her privacy, and I tried very hard to respect it. But people still managed to find her social media and some went to the extent of following us around in public."

Aria made a face. "Oof. I know what that's like."

"Yeah. I kept waiting for her to ask me to stay before they flew me out here. Kept waiting for her to tell me to drop everything and stay with her. But she never did. She pushed me to pursue this, and she chose to stay behind."

"That shows that she really loved you. She wouldn't let you give up all of this for her. We all make sacrifices for our careers."

Those words sunk in as they both took a drink. Shawn screwed his eyes shut momentarily as the bitter taste consumed him.

"Isn't all of this supposed to be worth it?" he wondered. "I know she's not the only girl out there, and she was incredibly different from me. But I haven't gotten the studio time I was promised. I haven't written a song in weeks. All I've been doing are photoshoots and interviews!"

Aria shifted in her seat, kicking off her shoes. "Hey, it will be worth it! Look, me and my ex broke up for kinda the same thing. He's also a YouTuber, and he was gonna go on tour. He asked me to go with him, to drop out of uni, but we were already falling apart. I just knew there wouldn't be room for me in his world. So we broke up, and I stayed in school. In that time, I formed a dance group, I got to interview one of my favorite bands, and I protested the shutdown of our campus."

Shawn took another sip of his glass. "Have you talked to your ex since?"

"Nope! Actually, he came out as gay last year, and I sent him a congratulatory tweet. He didn't reply." She chuckled sheepishly before draining her glass.

The two of them looked at each other for a moment. Then, Aria made a face, screwing up her eyes.

“We’re not pretending that this is good, right?” She held up her glass.

“Hey, it cushions the blow,” Shawn replied.

She scoffed and began typing on her phone. “You like slushies? Tacos? I’m postmating Taco Bell.”

Soon enough, they were munching on a 12-pack of mediocre tacos and putting patrón in their large Mountain Dew slushies. The mood lightened a lot quicker, and soon they were talking about other things. Soon, Shawn was laughing and half the patrón was gone. Boundaries and walls were coming down.

“What band did you interview?” Shawn asked.

“Five sauce,” Aria said. “It wasn’t even an interview. I made a dance to one of their songs and taught it to them. It was a jokey-joke video, but I got to talk to them and thank them for making amazing music.”

She pulled up the video on her phone and showed it to him. It was pretty hilarious to see the members of 5 Seconds of Summer try to dance as well as Aria did. It was like the video she did with Shawn today.

“I wanna meet them,” he said wistfully. “And I wanna meet Niall Horan.”

Aria gasped. “I love One Direction! Is Niall your favorite?”

“Honey, you have no idea.”

They talked about celebrity crushes. Aria’s were Demi Lovato, Liam Payne, and, still, Shawn.

“And I still didn’t make the cut,” he joked.

Aria smacked him shoulder. “We got this far. But evidently, I love my mans too much.”

“More than your ex?”

“Oh yeah.” Aria grinned to herself.

“You said his name is Joe, right? Is he a YouTuber too?”

That was when they fell down a YouTube rabbit hole. Aria showed Shawn her boyfriend’s videos, the ones she was in prior to their relationship. Apparently, they were friends for five years before becoming an item last fall.

“I don’t wanna talk too much about my love life, though,” she said. “Y’know, knowing that yours is…”

Shawn waved it off. “Hey, I’m feeling a buzz. I love love, even if I don’t have it. Tell me, girl.”

Aria thought for a moment. “Okay, here’s a fun fact. Me and Joe saw Bella’s video that had you in it.”

He gasped softly. “Really?”

“Uh-huh! So Joe looked you up on Spotify and, and it was raining too! We had a cozy day with blankets and kissing and stuff and we listened to your music. And…” She paused, smiling softly. “When You’re Ready was playing the first time I told him that I love him.”

“Dude… that’s fucking beautiful.” Shawn placed a hand on his chest and sniffed. “I wrote that song about my ex.”

Aria scoffed. “Well, now it’s about me and Joe! It’s a Jaria song!”

Shawn was going to remember that. It’s a Jaria song.

“Why don’t you just go to him now?” he asked her.

“He lives in London,” she replied. “I want to live with him, but neither of us can agree on a place to live. He likes it hot, I like it cold. I don’t wanna be too far from family. We’ve still got our careers to think about.”

“But you were going to hook up with me?”

“Because he told me I can! Look!” She picked up her phone again and played a voice clip.

A male, British voice filled the room. “Well, how often do you get to say you fucked Shawn Mendes? Go on, love, have your fun. But if Dianne ever comes round again, I’m shooting my shot!”

“Who’s Dianne?” Shawn asked.

Aria waved it off. “No one. But do you see? I was telling you the truth. Joe and I fucked a lot in the past and fucked other people too! It’s kind of an open relationship, or… it was. I need to talk to him about that now.”

“Wow…” A memory came to mind. “My ex wanted to fuck one of the girls from Little Mix.”

Aria sat up on her knees. “I love Little Mix! I’ve choreographed so many dances to their songs!”

“Show me!”

If Aria was sober she might not have done it. She stood up in front of the bed and performed little snippets to four different Little Mix songs. She was so passionate and happy. If only she was single, and if only Shawn wasn’t hung up on some flowers…

They didn’t sleep together, but they shared a bed. They both woke up early the next morning to loud knocking on the door. Having been through this for a few months, Shawn didn’t have to guess what it was. He was probably running late to something, or the team was just in a hurry to get the day started.

“I’m sorry,” Shawn sleepily mumbled. “You’re gonna face my manager.”

“Fun,” she mumbled back.

She rolled out of bed quicker than he had anticipated. She grabbed her shoes and stumbled to her Harry Potter bag on the table. Then, she gave Shawn a salute.

“See ya round, rockstar.”

“Hey,” Shawn called as he sat up. “Thanks for sticking around. I know you didn’t have to, and I really appreciate it.”

She smiled. “Let me know when you’re in LA or London or something. Maybe you’ll get to meet Joe.”

“Yeah, I’ll let you know.”

“And listen, don’t let your people push you around all the time. They work for you. Demand more studio time if-”

More sharp knocks. Aria sighed.

“You have more power than you think,” she continued. “Demand more studio time. Demand counseling if you really need it. Don’t let them take advantage of you.”

Shawn nodded, feeling a pit in his stomach. “Thank you, Aria.” He stood up and went for a hug, his chin barely touching the top of her head. Who knew a girl that small could be so powerful?

Anyway, Aria made a quick but polite greeting to Andrew as she exited the hotel room. As soon as she was gone, the team filled her absence. Tiffany walked in pulling a clothing rack with today’s outfit choices. Anna came in with her bag of makeup and hair products, gesturing for Shawn to come sit in the chair by the table. Jake walked in looking strong and mighty as hell. Brian was the last one to enter, two coffees in hand.

He had an eager grin on his face as he approached his friend. “How was she?” he asked, handing him a coffee.

Before Shawn could answer, Andrew piped up.

“Speaking of women,” he said, “since you want to get over someone, we got someone else for you to theoretically get under. I talked to Justin on the phone last night, and he thinks it’s time everyone saw the romantic side of Shawn Mendes.”

“I don’t want a girlfriend,” Shawn said. “Actually, I have some stuff I wanna talk to you about.”

Andrew said nothing as he typed on his phone. When he finished that tasked, he disregarded everything his client had said. “You’ll like this girl. She’s a friend of yours, after all.”

next chapter

_______

taglist: @normalcyisoverrated-beyou @justordinaryjen @chillingbythesea @iloveshawnieboi @shawnsunflower @someoneunimportantxx

#shawn mendes #shawn mendes fanfic #shawn mendes imagine #shawn mendes blurb #shawn mendes smut #shawn x oc #shawn meets fic #hehehehehehehehehehehehe #things are gonna get wweird after this

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maaaaaatryoshka0325 · 5 years

Text

Not Afraid of the Dark - Seo Changbin gang AU series part 3

Requested: Seo Changbin modern gang series.

Description: you’re a college student, so is he. Big difference? He’s a gang member.

Warnings: violence, cursing, all that good shit.

(Part1) (Part2) (Part4) (Part5) (Part6) (Part7) (Part8) (Part9)

He almost seemed soft. But he was a gang member, right? Can he be soft?

“If you ever need anything, let me know or one of us know.” He said.

“What?” You asked, thrown off guard.

“You kinda saved my life, I owe it to you. The guys trust you too.” He said.

“You already helped me.” You said.

“How? That man? That was nothing. I would’ve done it whether you had saved me or I had happened to pass by.” He said.

“Would you have really?” You asked.

“Yes. I don’t like when men do that to women.” He said, looking serious.

You nodded and gave him a small smile.

“Alright.”

“I should head back. See ya.” He said.

“Wait. Give me your phone.” You said.

“You haven’t even taken me on a date first.” He joked.

“Well I was gonna say let me give you my number so you can tell me if you got home safe but never mind. I don’t care.” You rolled your eyes and was about to turn away but he put his phone in your hand. You put your name and number in it.

“Be careful.” You said.

He smiled at you and nodded before walking away. You walked into your dorm and threw your stuff on your bed before pulling your hair back and washing your face. You felt refreshed and laid in your bed. An unknown number appeared on your phone.

Unknown: hey I just got home, now that you have my number you can call me whenever you need something. Goodnight Sweetheart

You: Goodnight

You plugged your phone into your charger before falling asleep. You dreamed about being chased down an ally, a man screaming for you to stop. You ran into a dead end, panting and gasping for breath. Two strong hands grabbed you and spun you towards them. They had no face, just a shadow over a head. You went to scream but nothing came out, and then you felt yourself fall and land on something soft. You saw black feathers on the ground and when you looked up, you saw a man with long, black feathered wings standing protectively in front of you. For some reason, you felt safe. You felt secure. He slowly turned around.

You woke up instantly and sat up. You checked the time. 11 AM. You groaned and got up to brush your teeth and take a shower. After your shower, you sat down at your desk and started to work on your homework. It was about proper surgery care and you honestly couldn’t focus. The dream had you all kinds of messed up. You let out a dramatic sigh and decided to go to a cafe to get some caffeine in you in hopes of it distracting you and so it can get you a little pumped.

You texted Nina to meet you and she was seated at a booth with Chul.

“Hey guys.” You said, sitting down with them.

“Hey Y/N, how has your weekend been?” Nina asked.

“Pretty good. Have you been studying for your test?” You asked her.

“Yup! I brought some flash cards with me so Chul can quiz me.” You said.

“Did you bring your homework Y/N?” Chul asked.

You nodded and pulled out your pen and notebook as you sipped your coffee and took notes. You read the textbook and then filled in the sheet while also writing notes in your own book. You knew writing it down helped it settle into your brain, so you did it quite often. You heard Chul quiz Nina over her vocab and what you could hear, she really has been studying. Nina has an attention problem and tends to procrastinate a lot (ok but same LMAO), so you and Chul constantly push her to do better, and she’s been improving.

“I’m impressed Nina. You’re doing so well.” Chul praises her and she giggled excitedly.

You took a good look at them. Nina was one of the cutest people you know besides Nari. She had big eyes, gorgeous, shiny black hair, and she’s half Japanese. She speaks both Korean and Japanese fluently. Looking at Chul, he was very handsome and he has brains. He’s pretty tall, being 178 cm. He had a nice undercut and dark brown hair that he would sometimes part like an idols. The more you looked at them, you thought they’d be a cute couple. Nina needed someone to take care of her and Chul has a nurturing personality, mainly from being the oldest of two little sisters.

“Earth to Y/N, are you listening?” Nuna asked.

“Huh?” You asked.

“And I thought I never pay attention.” She said, face palming.

“Sorry.” You laughed.

“She asked if you did well on your test.” Chul said.

“Oh, yeah I have it with me.” You said, pulling out the test paper and showing them.

“Wow, you only got one wrong. Probably because of the wording.” Chul said, reading over the question.

“That’s what I was thinking. It was easy but I was so nervous about the test I didn’t even bother thinking it was a trick.” You sighed.

“You still scored a 95% Y/N, that’s incredible.” He said with a smile.

You like it when Chul went over your work. He noticed how good you were at what you wanted to do, and it you were ever confused with academics, especially anything to with numbers, he’d gladly help you. You treated them both to some yummy cafe food and then headed back to your dorm to finish your project. You bought two extra coffees, one to finish the rest of your homework and study and one for the next day. You sat back down at your desk after putting the second coffee in the fridge and went over your homework and notes. You didn’t have a test for another two weeks, but you planned on getting every word right. After studying you went to bed early for once, wanting a decent nights sleep.

As you sat in class taking notes the next day, your phone buzzed and a number popped up. You saw the messages from before and knew it was from Changbin.

Changbin: Can you come outside real quick?

You: For what? I’m in class

Changbin: C’mon it’s important!

You sighed and raised your hand, asking to be excused for a bit. Good thing you never skipped class, so your teacher allowed you to go. He was lucky it wasn’t a busy day and you finished your notes. You stepped out of class and walked down the hall and outside to the garden. You saw him sitting on part of the wall that came down and around the middle of the garden. He was wearing tight black jeans with zippers on the thighs and a chain attached to his right side, alone with a black hat and a long sleeve black shirt that complimented his chest with a chain around his neck.

“What’s so important you needed to call me here during class?” You asked.

“Can you take these out or can I do it myself?” He asked, pointing to the stitches.

“You can’t take them out yet! It’s only been three days, it’s not even healed yet!” You whisper yell.

“They’re making my skin itchy.” He groaned.

“Are they? Or is it because you know they’re there?” You asked.

“Yeah, that.” He said.

“I’ll take them out when it’s healed. Don’t scratch at them or anything.” You sighed.

He nodded then looked at the small pond. You couldn’t help but admire his side profile. He had a recently cut under cut and his hair was parted under the hat. His jaw line looked great off to the side too. He looked at you sideways and smiled at you when he saw your eyes on him.

“Like what you see Sweetheart?” He asked.

“Shut up. I was just wondering how a dummy like you could be the best fighter. And stop calling me that.” You huffed.

He turned towards you with a smile and shrugged.

“We dummies have to be good at something.” He said.

“Y/N.” You heard your name and turned your head to see Nina and Chul approaching you. Chul had a suspicious look on his face and Nina looked confused.

“You two know each other?” Chul asked, giving Changbin a dirty look.

Before you could respond, Changbin stood up with his hands in his pockets.

“Don’t worry, I’m going, see you later Sweetheart.” He said, giving you a small smirk before walking away.

“You two are friends?” Chul asked.

“It’s complicated.” You said, walking back to class.

Chul walked into his business class. He knew Changbin well after being in class with him. He was no good, even if he hardly talked. He still hung around with that group. They were a gang and he knew it. Why else would all of them be in business?

He walked into class and walked straight in front of Changbin’s desk. Changbin wasn’t paying attention until he saw Chul’s hands on either side of his desk before he looked up.

“Oh, I know you. You’re Y/N’s friend. I thought you looked familiar.” He said.

“What are your intentions with Y/N?” Chul asked.

Changbin looked confused at first then realized what Chul was saying.

“I don’t have bad intentions with her.” Changbin said.

“Bullshit. I know what you are. You’re no good.” He hissed.

“That’s enough.” Woojin said, approaching Chul.

“No, Woojin it’s fine. He’s protecting his friend.” Changbin said as he looked Chul straight in the eyes. “She helped me and I owe her a lot. I’m not going to hurt her in any way, shape, or form.” He said calmly.

Chul stared hard at him until he heard the teacher walk into the room before walking over to his seat. The other members glared at him and took their seats beside Changbin.

You walked back through the garden after classes ended and saw the boys standing there. Changbin was once again sitting on the wall as they talked. You saw Jeongin look up and he smiled at you.

“Hey Y/N.” He called and waved you over.

“Hey guys.” You said as you approached them and smiled.

They all greeted you but Changbin was pretty silent.

“You okay?” You asked him.

“Your friend was about to get himself in some big trouble.” Jisung said.

“What?” You asked.

“We have business class with him, and he confronted Changbin about being friends with you. He got real rude.” Jeongin said.

“I’m so sorry Changbin. He can be a little over protective. I’ll talk to him.” You said.

“Nah, it’s cool. I understand.” He said, look at you with a small smile.

You nodded and leaned against the wall as the members talked.

“I’m surprised you kept your cool. You used to love fighting.” Hyunjin said.

“Yeah, I also like not being kicked out of college.” Changbin said.

You felt slight anxiety fill you. Chul has run his mouth to a gang, who were potentially dangerous.

“Hey, we won’t hurt Chul.” Minho said.

You looked at him in shock. Did he just read your mind?

“You have it written all over your face. He’s no threat to us, he won’t be touched.” Minho said.

They all nodded in agreement. Chan rubbed your shoulder to calm you and Jeongin squished his cheek against yours.

“It’s ok Nuna, we promise.” He said.

You felt better at their words, and when you looked up, you saw Changbin’s genuine eyes on you. And for some reason, your heart fluttered.

#straykids #kpop #kpop imagines #stray kids #straykidznet #changbeanie #changbin #seo changbin

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hoshi-u-love-me · 5 years

Text

Highschool Senior!Taeil AU

Pairing : Moon Taeil × Reader

Genre : idk honestly lmao

Word Count : S.H.O.R.T

Warning : this is a product of my boredom and weirdness, so beware of abnormality

A/N : what I wanna say is alr typed out in the warning section lmao

It was lunch time and by all Gods was I hungry.

Me and my other 3 friends went out of class to eat at our favorite place; the bleachers on the soccer field.

And to no surprise, some of the hot popular dudes are playing soccer against one another. There's Yuta; the Japanese transfer student who's basically captain Tsubasa, then there's also Taeyong and Jaehyun; the dream boats, the ones everyone lusts for, then Mark and Johnny; transfers from Canada and Chicago respectively. Rumor is, the both of them would tick off their teachers by speaking in english during class. What ticks them off is the fact that what they did was supported by the curriculum, so the teachers can't actually punish them as they would probably want.

Last but not least, a rather uncommon face amongst the usual lunch period soccer match players.

The senior Moon Taeil.

Rumor has it that he managed to pass his classes by smiling at the teachers both males and females. They say that you really haven't experienced love until Moon Taeil smiles at you. And another one said that his voice is what you hear when you arrive at the gates of heaven.

I really do wonder the accuracy of the last rumor because it meant somebody had actually died and came back to say that they heard Moon Taeil's voice, but since Moon Taeil is on earth does that mean he's lucifer??? Or one of lucifer's minions??

But nevertheless, it's a definite rare occurence for him to join his friends in a game of soccer.

The four of us ate whilst watching the game on the field, the other popular boys who doesn't feel like playing cheered for whomever they want to cheer on. Personally, I kept my eye out for Taeil. He might be a dark horse.

But as the game progress, and as I saw how brutal the game had become.

I had come to a sudden realization.

A simple yet life-changing realization.

A realization about Moon Taeil.

About THE Moon Taeil and it's something that I felt.

I....

I.... think...

I think that...

Something is seriously wrong with him.

Who the hell trip on the grass, falling flat onto his ass during a penalty kick?

And within 10 minutes of the game, he had fallen approximately 4 times by failing to kick a ball that's right in front of his foot. And after that he managed to ram into Mark and ended up falling together, sandwiching Mark between him and the soil.

But lucky for his bum, the game soon came to an end and they rejoined their friends on the very bottom of the bleachers.

"I swear to you, he only has his left hemisphere working... his motor skills are out of hand- how did he pass 3rd grade PE?" I muttered to my friends as my eyes follow the movements of Taeil.

His eyes then met mine.

His beautiful, round, dark brown orbs.

It pierced into my own and he soon shot me a smile.

Realizing that, the boy next to him, a lower classmen, Donghyuck told him something while pointing at me.

Taeil's smile then turned to a smirk and soon he approaches.

"SHIT WHAT DO WE DO!?" One of my friends whisper-yelled once we all comprehend what's going to happen.

"Stay cool! No matter what, don- Hey, Taeil Sunbae" the other one was cut off when Taeil arrived, he stood right in front of me, a couple of flight bellow but somehow his height is still the same as mine sitting down.

His smile never faltered and his gaze was fixed on me, "Hi, I'm sorry to come here and bother you all, but I couldn't help but notice that... you were looking at me?" He said.

Man, if he knew what made me not be able to shift my gaze from him.

But to be polite, I smiled back and answered him, "yeah... that was some... skill you show on the field"

He seem to be proud of it though, as his smile grew half an inch, "why, thank you! But I'm a little thirsty, would you mind me asking for some of your drink?" He pointed to my bottle.

I shrugged and handed him it.

And once the bottle reached his hand, he tilted his head back, and he drank it.

Honestly, at this angle, he looks like a fine piece of art.

His adam's apple bobbing as he gulp down.

His sweat from the previous activity running on the side of his neck.

But boy do I wish that image would last.

Because before you know it, he hunched forward and coughed hard.

He had choked.

He had choked on water.

He had choked on water as he show off.

I winced at him and leaned forward, standing a little and pat his back.

"Are you okay? You drank too fast, I think you should try and breath in a little" I gave him a half-smile, not knowing what else to do.

Meanwhile, at the bottom, half of his friends are face-palming themselves due to the secondhand embarassment and the other half were laughing like hyenas, led by Donghyuck himself.

Taeil soon recovered.

His face red from all the blood rushing and the coughing.

"Well, that was embarassing... I was going to stun you, but all I did was embarass myself..." he laughed sheepishly.

That made me giggle a little, "well, it did made my lunch way more interesting that it originally was, so at least you achieved something"

He was about to answer back, when one of his friends, called him, saying that they're all going to grab some sandwich at the cafeteria.

"Catch you later?" He asked, eyes looking hopeful.

Feeling a little giddy, I nod and smiled at him, "sure"

He looked pleased with my answer, then he turned back and skip his way to the bottom to rejoin his friends.

I was gonna say that he did charm me in his own way.

But as his foot came in contact with the edge of the last step.

As he flail helplessly.

And as the people in front of him were met with his own body.

And as his face kissed the grassy earth.

I couldn't help but think to myself...

A thought that appeared merely seconds ago

And a thought that I would never thought I'd use to describe Moon Taeil...

What the hell is wrong with that guy ?

#nct #kpop #nct 127 #nct u scenario #nct u #nct imagines #nct scenario #taeil #moon taeil #sm #sm ent #nct127 #nct 127 scenario #nct 127 imagjne #nct 127 imagines #taeil scenario #taeil imagine #moon taeil scenario #moon taeil imagine

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welovekpopscenarios · 6 years

Text

5 Times Winwin Tried to Kiss You and One Time He Did (50s!AU Winwin x Reader)

Admin: Mimi

Or, the story of how Winwin pined for years over his best friend who he just could never kiss.

Fandom: NCT 127/U

Genre: Fluff, bit of angst

Pairing: Winwin x Reader

Warnings: Very brief mentions of alcohol and smoking, otherwise none!

Word Count: 6k+

A/N: Back at it again with another fic lmao I wanted to write for someone other than SVT (I can’t help it they’re my bias group !!) and I thought up this kind of story a while back (I always liked the 5 times kind of fics) and decided Winwin needs more love because i rarely see fics for him. Also this was supposed to be Preppy!Winwin but there wasn’t really much preppy, unless you squint. Happy reading, feedback is loved and helps a lot!

The lively atmosphere of the playground; the laughing children climbing wildly around the monkey bars or soaring high above the world on the swing sets, the waiting parents lost in deep conversation with each other about the changing world, even the chime of the ice cream truck that had crowds gathering to get a taste of the frozen treat, all fell deaf to little Sicheng’s ears as he stared at you sitting peacefully in the sand box and building your own bizarre creations. He did not know it at the time, being much too young to understand anything about the world around him, about himself, about feelings, but years later he would realise that this overwhelming feeling of happiness and warmth and all things good while he watched you was what the romance novels liked to call ‘love at first sight’.

While he didn’t have the best grasp at social cues and manners, there were some things he picked up from his parents. Like, saying please and thank you, offering your seat to the elderly woman on the bus, and how to treat someone you like nicely. And he reasoned, since his mother and father liked each other so much, that whenever they pecked each other’s lips sweetly every so often, that it was just something that people do when they liked each other.

And he liked you very much.

So, when Sicheng introduced himself to you (albeit very nervously, sweaty hands wiping on the rough fabric of his shorts or fiddling with his suspenders), and you smiled at him, inviting him to build sandcastles with you, he thought it the perfect opportunity to show you just how much he liked his new friend.

And so, he leaned his face towards yours, puckered his lips, and prepared to try something new with someone who made him inexplicably happy and excited-

-only to receive a mouth full of sand and a very shocked expression on your face.

He doesn’t remember much after that, it was all a rush of spitting and wiping sand from his lips and you screaming in his ear about how you should “ask a gal first before you kiss ‘em! It’s what my sister told me!”. He went home that day with a pout and teasing from his parents. But meeting you was something he would never forget.

How could he, when you remind him of that disastrous moment nearly every chance you could?

He doesn’t associate it with malice, however.

He indeed gained a friend that day, one for life, and one that would unintentionally cause him more grief with affairs of the heart than he anticipated.

That awkward phase between being a child and growing into the terrors of being a teenager are full of new discoveries. New things you learn in Sunday school, things about your body that you most certainly would not learn in Sunday school, or any school to be honest, and listening to the radio to hear about all the new things scientists have found or inventors have created. Something new, every day, whether it was in Sicheng’s life or the lives around him.

The one Sicheng remembers the most (and probably loathes the most for the nerves it brought him), was the discovery of love and relationships.

Taking an interest romantically in someone was becoming more and more frequent for him and all his friends. He sees it everywhere; from his own parents, from that older kid in his neighbourhood -Taeil – walking hand in hand with some upper-class girl, shy smiles on both their faces, saw it in all the romance movies they played in the movie theatres his mother would take him to see on Saturdays if he behaved well that week. And while at first, he had not thought much of it, preferring to continue playing football with his friends and living his youth up while he has it, he seemingly can’t ignore it much when you gush on and on about getting “a total dreamboat who will sweep you off your feet and marry you.”

And he can’t explain why he gets so annoyed when this non-existent “dreamboat” of yours is mentioned.

Hanging at the bridge’s underpass by the river where all the ‘cool’ kids go with his friends, he’s introduced to the game ‘Truth or Dare’ for the first time. He always heard about it from the older crowd, figured it sounded like a fun game he’d love to try.

But he was not expecting Yuta to point at Sicheng with a grin and dare him to kiss you on the cheek after Sicheng made the mistake of choosing to do a dare.

Sicheng had felt his stomach plunge to the gravel and dirt beneath him, felt his face go as hot as a fire, he was sure he’d have steam coming out his ears, and felt the nerves eat at him so bad he was close to puking.

But he had to do this. He couldn’t be a chicken like the boys were calling him, despite his nerves, despite the sweat practically pouring out of him, despite the strange skip of his heart as he looked at your small, pretty smile as you sat across from him in your yellow sundress with a pure white bow on your head.

And just when he began to make his way over to your form to finally kiss you, much like he had all those years ago in that dingy sandbox, you shook your head no, and caused all the embarrassed heat in his body to leave his body so fast he was surprised he didn’t faint.

You acted much like a saint in that moment; you hushed the others’ whines, explained that good friends wouldn’t pressure someone they care about to do something that clearly causes them great distress, and that this game would be much more interesting if it was kept to doing silly dares and answering weird questions.

The boys grumbled, but agreed, and quickly enough the attention was averted from Sicheng to poor, tiny Mark, who was asked to dip his new hat in the river which would effectively end in him getting an earful from his mother about ruining his Sunday best. Sicheng was left in the clear. Free to not worry about the dare or about girls and relationships for another while.

It doesn’t explain why he was left so bitterly disappointed for the rest of the day, even as he walked his bike back home just in time for his supper.

It was roughly when Sicheng was 15 that he realised he loved to dance.

And it was roughly when Sicheng was 15 that he realised he was completely and utterly in love with you.

He wonders why he never came to this conclusion earlier, on both things – it was so obvious, even his parents could see it. With every dance move they watched him perfect, they also saw the inquiring look directed towards your form, awaiting approval and showers of praise (which you always gave, without fail). He was something akin to a puppy following after its owner – and wherever you went, he definitely followed, like the lovestruck fool he was.

He tried focusing on his dancing, and it worked for some time. The guys around him would make fun of him, call it girly and dumb. And he did not understand why for some time – just because he chose to use his brain and his feet to dance to his heart’s content rather than stick on a leather jacket and have his hair slicked back while he worked in a garage and smoked all day, does not mean he should be judged for the life he chose.

He was worried his parents thought much of the same, but he should not have doubted them. His mother, with her calm aura and sweet smile, praised his abilities and encouraged him to pursue dancing more. And his father, a man stern and set in his ways, had nothing more to say other than aim for a good college when he finishes school and that he was proud of him.

And that was all Sicheng needed to decide he wanted to go to one of the top colleges in the country to make something of himself.

He tried getting involved in as many things possible regarding dance – after school lessons, competitions, anything that was available where he could hone his skills and master the art of dance.

So, when his school decided to host a musical, and he heard you were going to join as the Princess, he was overjoyed.

Unfortunately, however, he did not land the lead role of the Prince. Instead he played the understudy.

He tried to remain positive about it; he could still dance and perform when asked to, he just might not get the chance to show everyone unless the lead actor – a guy nicknamed ‘Ten’ – was unavailable to perform the role.

Still, it did nothing to squash the churning of his stomach when he heard that the Prince was to kiss the Princess at the closing of the play.

But his golden opportunity came towards the final weeks of preparing for the play, when Ten was out sick during rehearsal of the final scene, and so Sicheng was called to fill the position and help you rehearse.

The final scene.

The one with the kiss.

Those nerves from years ago came rushing back in an instant in the form of red cheeks and a swarm of butterflies in his tummy, but to say Sicheng was overjoyed to finally have this opportunity to kiss you was an understatement.

He knew all his lines and cues, having practiced the diligently every night before bed without fail, that even the teacher was impressed, and Sicheng couldn’t stop the swell of pride in his chest even if he wanted to.

You were flawless in your role, as expected, you always did everything so well, and he was in awe at your acting abilities, comparing your skills to those big actresses like Grace Kelly, Marylin Monroe, and Jayne Mansfield. So in awe, that Sicheng almost forgot about the upcoming kiss at the end of the Princess’ speech.

Almost.

He waited with baited breath as the Princess in front of him declared her love with wide eyes and a loving smile, and then it was time for him to reach up with his hands, grasp your face with his trembling fingers, and lean in.

He could feel your breath against his lips as he got closer, could feel the heat radiating off your cheeks, could see your eyes flutter shut that had his heart racing. He was so close, the tip of his nose brushed against yours-

-when the school bell suddenly rang to signify the end of the day, and jolted both himself and yourself away from each other in surprise.

Noise erupted throughout the auditorium in the form of the rustling of bags, the shuffling of feet and the farewells of everyone on set, the teacher shouting that he will see everyone at the same time on Monday.

Sicheng stood there, dumbfounded, stuck in a daze as he watched you gather your things and put away your props. He was brought back to the present once you waved a hand in front of his face, his eyes blinking rapidly as they focused on your beautiful eyes that were glimmering with faint amusement.

“Come on, you goof, or you’ll be locked up in here for the weekend and miss out on seeing that new film that you wanted to catch. What was it…’Singing in the Rain’?”

Truthfully, he had forgotten about that. He was only really thinking about how he might break that damned school bell without getting caught or how he might convince the principle it was one of those greasers if he did. He sighed, a long winded and weary thing that carried more weight than one might imagine. Sensing the dip in his mood, you put on your best smile (but he thinks they all look stellar), and linked your arm in his, your poodle skirt brushing against his pants and your opposite hand squeezing his bicep.

“Come on, let’s ice the blues away with a milkshake from the old diner, huh? You can tell me all about this film and convince me to see it.”

Of course he went with you, to the classic hangout since when you were both 12, and of course he sat across from you and admired the way the lights lit up your face, or the shape of your mouth as you told him all about the book you read recently.

The sweetness of the chocolate shake in his grip failed to make today’s predicament any bit better, and the chocolate turned to ash in his mouth as he though about how Ten would be the one to kiss those soft lips of yours that he longed after for so long.

(The play was a success, but Sicheng did little celebrating after the peck Ten placed upon your lips that had you grinning from ear to ear and giggling like a true princess in love.)

By attending one of the most prestigious colleges in the country and living his dream of dance, Sicheng did not think he would be dragged into the lifestyle of drinking, smoking and overall delinquency that was growing in popularity with the youth of today, yet here he was donning his silver mask as his disguise, being jostled around by overzealous young adults jiving to Elvis Presley’s latest hits and wanting nothing more than to return to his books in the safety of his dorm than standing in the large, bright and noisy dance hall.

He has to admit, the spins and lifts of the crazy couples on the dancefloor were intriguing, certainly different from the elegant and poised moves that Sicheng grew up perfecting, and yet the fast paced and insane dances moves were interesting all the same.

Still, did not change his opinion on preferring the warmth of his bed sheets over pretending to be drunk and having a great time and dodging every cigarette that was offered his way. He doesn’t care about seeming ‘preppy’, as people are so bent on calling his ‘kind’, he’d much rather be comfortable and not standing awkwardly in the wicked heat of this masquerade party.

And yet, as he adjusted the sleeves of his neatly pressed suit jacket and corrected his dicky bow, he reminded himself of the reason he was even here to begin with, and Yuta’s dastardly plan.

To finally kiss you after all these years, using his mask to fake his confidence and give him the courage to, at last, press his lips to yours.

A stupid plan, really, and Yuta had been near sleep deprived after the dance hall he had attended when he thought of this plan, but Sicheng saw the logic in it.

Sort of.

He watched as you twirled around in the pretty red frilly dress Yuta said you would be wearing, the gold sequins of your lavish mask glittering in the dim lights of the hall, grooving to the band playing on stage and giggling with the friends around you. The rouge of your lipstick matched your dress perfectly, he thought absentmindedly, wondering if it was as silky as his handkerchief as he imagined. He was shoved rudely out of his daydreaming by Doyoung (who was also a part of this foolish scheme by sneaking his way into a passing conversation he overheard between a blushing Sicheng and an erratic Yuta who would not lower his voice!)

“They’re going to play a slow song next,” Doyoung informed him, and when Sicheng simply stared at him blankly in return, he sighed and rolled his eyes with impatience. “A dance for couples. A slow dance.” Silence. “Christ, Sicheng, you aren’t too drunk, are you? This is your chance, nincompoop! Dance with her! Kiss her!”

Doyoung gave Sicheng a push, nearly flattening the poor boy in front of all the people, but with a thumbs up and a wide grin from the pusher himself, Sicheng composed himself and made his way over to where you stood.

He could feel his heartbeat in his throat, and his hands shook more than the floor boards beneath his feet, breathing laboured as he gathered his courage and stopped before you. The music was beginning to take a slower turn, and everyone in the room quickly found a partner, bodies moving in gentle waves and turns, heads laying on shoulders and hands holding on tightly.

You looked up at Sicheng in what he could only guess was surprise, given the obstacle that was the mask covering most emotions on everyone’s faces. He sucked in a breath, released it a moment later. This was it.

“Would you like to dance with me?” he asked, subconsciously deepening his voice in fear of you recognising him too early and rejecting his offer. You looked at him in silence, your eyes squinting and scrutinising his form, attempting to decipher if you knew him or not while Sicheng stood stock still with nerves. It was like you were looking through him, at his heart that was beating faster than a drum and picking him from the inside out. Finally, you spoke.

“Will you tell me your name?” your voice carried a tone of amusement to it, and it melted Sicheng’s body into a more relaxed stance.

“Dance with me and maybe you’ll find out,” he replied, extending his hand to you, which you took bashfully and with a twinkling giggle.

Smooth one, Sicheng. Yuta will definitely not let him live that down once he hears about it.

Leading you to the centre with as confident a grip he could give, he turned to face you, placing gentle hands on your waist, gulping when you wrapped yours around his neck, and began swaying the both of you smoothly to the blues of the music.

You stared at him with curiosity swimming in your eyes, a light upturn of your lips displaying your amusement. Sicheng smiled shyly, feeling his cheeks flare with heat at the close proximity he had rarely experienced with you before. (He’s a man, damn it, he was taught to respect boundaries.)

“So, will you tell me your name now?” you asked, voice as soft as cotton so as not to ruin the atmosphere of the hall around you.

He almost forgot to answer you, too awestruck at the beauty of the moment, of you; a soft smile playing at your rose painted lips, the lights set up around the room glittering like stars upon your skin, he almost forgot to breathe. The band played its blues gently in the background, the tones washing over the both of you so sweetly it could send Sicheng to Cloud 9 right now if he wasn’t so hell bent on staying on the ground and getting a kiss from you.

“Ruins the purpose of the masks, doesn’t it?” he settled for, hands squeezing minutely around your waist. “Much more exciting this way.”

You huffed out a breath – stubborn as always – and those rouge lips of yours pouted up at him.

“I’d like to know who I’m spending my time with, stranger.”

“You’ll find out eventually,” he chuckled, and he delighted in the bashfulness overtaking your features. “For now, I’d just like to dance with the most beautiful girl in the world.

Even above the blissfully slow love song, he could hear your intake of breath, and he waited in tense silence to find out if he had overstepped his boundaries and pushed you away completely. He could see it in your eyes, could see the war you were waging with yourself on whether to give into the excitement of dancing with a tall, dark and handsome stranger who would willingly give you compliments until his voice grew hoarse, or to back away and return to being the responsible and mature person you were who never strayed too far from the lines of safety.

The former won the battle.

“This is just like those romance novels,” you giggled, teeth nipping at your bottom lip to contain the gorgeously dopey smile you get when you’re flustered threatening to break out. God, he loved you so much.

“Really?” he asked, clearing his throat against the cracking of his voice. You laugh good naturedly, endeared at the now sudden goofiness of your knight in shining armour. Nodding, your hands fidgeted slightly behind his neck, skin brushing against his, goosebumps erupting and hairs raising. He shivered in excitement.

He hummed, his feign of nonchalance allowing him to revel in this newfound confidence and spur his actions. He stepped closer to you after a moment of consideration, chest pressed to chest, and he was terrified that the thumping of his heart was enough to alert you that this knight was not as brave as he seemed.

“What happens in these romance novels? What happens to the couples?” he whispered, breath fanning across your heated cheeks as you stared in dumbstruck awe. Your arms tightened around his neck, buzzing with an emotion you couldn’t explain, yet you were ready to dive into the unknown, he always knew you were looking for something more than you could get. And you deserved whatever it was you were after.

“They…they kiss. A kiss so good, the gal’ lifts her leg and gets so lost in the moment she forgets her name,” was your breathy reply, and Sicheng could feel his stomach tighten with a nervous giddiness he’s felt twice in his life, both with you beside him. The band were finishing up the song, if the lengthy notes and drawn out vocals were any indication, and Sicheng knew, this was his moment.

“How?” he asked, giving you an out should you have wanted to take it, but you refused, staring deeply into his eyes and ignoring everything around you, giving Sicheng an undivided attention he was unused to experiencing. You leaned ever closer to him and he mimicked your actions, inclining his head towards yours and gazing upon your lips, blood red petals he longed for, for so many years, finally within his grasp.

“Like…thi-“

“Oh, there you are.”

You flinched away from Sicheng as if you had been burnt, and simultaneously he took a step backwards in shock of such a rapid action, staring dumbly as none other than Johnny Seo waltzed right up beside you in his leather jacket, wrapped his arm around your waist and pulled you tight against his body like nobody’s business. You could not form a sentence properly, only stumbling your way through a greeting as Johnny grinned down at you and ignored Sicheng like he wasn’t even there to begin with. Sicheng remained silent, stuck in a haze and shoulders slouched like the heaviest weight was just thrown on his back.

“Been looking for you everywhere, Dollface,” he laughed, pinched your side, earning a yelp for his action. “Look, I know I’m late and I didn’t show up to bring you here, but what’ya say we get outta here? This place blows,” he suggested-but-not-really-suggested, seeing as he was already tugging you out of the room towards the double doors and to the fresh air. Of course, Sicheng was left standing there, in the centre of the dancefloor while a jive started up around him and dancers gave him odd looks for staying still, but he couldn’t find it in him to move – the shock rendered him useless and the jealousy burning in his heart simmered throughout his body while his brain fought to keep him from following after Johnny and doing something stupid.

Out of the corner of his eye, he vaguely saw Doyoung and Yuta standing side-by-side, facepalming and cursing Johnny’s existence for ruining this ‘perfect plan’.

Sicheng would mimic their actions if he had the energy to.

Sicheng reckons he should just give up at this point, despite Yuta’s and Doyoung’s insistence that he keeps ‘fighting for your love’.

As if. You weren’t interested in him in anyway.

You’d asked him that Monday after the dance if he had gone and what he thought of it. He replied he had, lied that he hadn’t stayed long and asked if you enjoyed it. You said you did, but that nothing major happened. And that was that. No mention of any ‘mysterious man’.

Sicheng was left extremely disappointed after that conversation.

But, now he had Christmas to look forward to, and seeing his parents once again in a happy and festive setting and one so full of the love he’s been deprived of and-

God, he needs to stop listening to Doyoung’s rambles.

So preoccupied was he with packing his suitcase for the trip and hopping into his dad’s navy Chevrolet and pushing you completely from his mind in hopes that he’d be over you by the time he returns to college, he forgot just how close both his and your parents were with each other.

And that they decided to have a Christmas party together in your house.

Just lovely, he thinks from his position in the armchair by the window, watching the snow fall in delicate flakes to join the mountains of it on the ground while the party is well underway around him. He couldn’t care less about socialising right now, despite it being what his parents would expect him to do as a golden child.

Regardless of his neat sweater and crisp shirt, he felt unkempt and restless just being in your vicinity; his skin itched for him to stay away from you, his brain screamed to ignore you, yet his heart wept to have you close by his side like you always were.

“Sicheng, darling,” his mother called, drawing his attention away from the flurries outside as he turned to her with a questioning stare. “Can you refill my glass for me? The drink is in the kitchen,” she asked, hand extended to pass her glass to her son. Sicheng sighed quietly through his nose but did as he was told, grabbing the glass and rising from his spot, walking away from the conversations airing around the living area and towards the kitchen.

Only the be stopped by you walking out from the kitchen once he reached the doorway.

You smiled at him, stumbled awkwardly as you tried to side step him only to have him do the same, and giggled at his endearingly flushed face.

He gulped, kept his gaze on the floor, and nodded in your direction, intending for that to be the extent of the interaction so he could return to moping by the window in peace as soon as possible, until your father, ever the rambunctious man, hollered: “look, love is in the air for these kids! Look at what they’re standing under, honey!”

It was with dread that Sicheng lifted his head simultaneously as you raised yours, to find that stupid and embarrassing little weed looking plant hung high on the doorframe above both of your excruciatingly close forms, too close for Sicheng’s heart to beat at a semi normal pace.

You lowered your gaze to his, heat rushing to your cheeks and a lopsided smile plastered on your face, and yet you remained where you were, perhaps waiting for Sicheng to make a move so you could reject him kindly once again, he thinks. He bit at the skin of his lower lip, watched as your glittering eyes flickered between his own dark pair and his mouth, and that familiar nervousness came crawling back to him. You both ignored the catcalls and teasing comments of your parents, not taking your attention off each other for one second. His throat constricted, he swallowed dryly, you leaned forward just a smidge, and-

“I won’t kiss you if you don’t want me to.”

He was surprised that this strange, lowly, meek and quiet voice was his own, rejecting something that he sought after the second he realised he couldn’t see himself living with someone that wasn’t you. You looked stunned, your lips parting and your eyes wide, but you composed yourself quickly, your expression morphing into something so blank Sicheng had great difficulty deciphering what was going through your mind.

The parents all groaned and expressed their displeasure at Sicheng’s unwillingness to give you a peck on the lips (not that he didn’t want to, he desperately did, with every fibre of his being, he just valued your comfort more than his wishes). His mother, the angel that she was, was quick to dissuade the negativity in the room. “He’s a gentleman,” she complimented, “he knows better than to just kiss a girl because of some silly plant.”

The parents laughed, returned to their conversations, and Sicheng was virtually alone with you, that same hollow look upon your face staring at him while the pair of you stood in relative silence. His hand flexed around his mother’s glass, knuckles turning white from the grip, and trained his sight on his brown shoes, the toes skimming the tops of your saddle shoes.

“If you’re such a gentleman” you began, voice quiet and laced with a hesitancy Sicheng was not familiar with hearing. “You shouldn’t leave a girl hanging like that and ask her on a date if you aren’t gonna kiss her now.”

His heart nearly leapt out of his throat, and he was sure his eyes were nearly as wide as dinner plates right about now. Blood rushed to his cheeks like a tsunami, and was sure if he opened his mouth, nothing but a distressed wailing sound would leave his body. You looked as nervous as he felt, afraid that you had put your foot in your mouth and ruined your beloved friendship with the only person you ever cared about in your life.

“How about you take me to the pictures this Saturday? Pick me up at 7?” you offered, taking control of the situation and Sicheng had never been more grateful for your ability to take charge of a situation, because he was damn sure he just lost all ability to speak in this moment, too busy dancing away in his head and committing this moment to memory for it to be played over and over and over again at night when he will lie awake with butterflies in his stomach and a grin on his face.

So, he nodded, smiled like an idiot, nearly cried with happiness when you laughed shyly and ran back into the living area, and sauntered into the kitchen to finally refill his mothers drink.

It was funny, really. How after all this time, after the pain of being so close yet so far, that the fact he now has a date with you was actually so easy to achieve because of a stupid holiday tradition.

He took a sip from his mother’s drink, the burning liquid trickling down his throat and added to the dizziness he felt after his encounter with you.

What an idiot he was.

Truth be told, Sicheng wasn’t paying any attention to the film rolling in front of his eyes, much too busy overthinking the way you leaned closer to him and brushed your shoulder against his when you reached for the popcorn.

He couldn’t even remember the name of the movie to begin with. Whatever you had suggested, he had said yes immediately to in hopes of making you happy (which, he did).

You really had him wrapped around your finger, didn’t you?

(He doesn’t care, he thinks happily, as you meet his gaze and smile at him. He doesn’t care at all.)

His mind was racing about what he should do once the movie was finished – walk you home? Take you to your favourite diner? Go for a walk in that park? He honestly couldn’t choose, didn’t know what to choose exactly, and in the blink of an inattentive eye for Sicheng, everyone started filing out of the doors of the cinema, a lively buzz in the atmosphere of people their thoughts on the movie and where to go from here.

Sicheng wants to ask them to be privy to that bit of info himself. Where does he go from here?

“Sicheng?” he heard, and turned his head towards the voice. You looked at him with a stunning smile, the bright lights of the theatre’s signs not glowing nearly as bright as you were to him in this moment, with yourself all dolled up for little old him, and he did not feel one bit worthy to stand here with you.

“Yes?” he answered quietly, his trembling fingers pulling at the sides of his trousers, flitting in and outs of his pockets, a nervous tick, and one you caught onto immediately. Your hand slotted perfectly into his when you grasped it, and he prays to anyone that’ll listen that you won’t get repulsed by the sweatiness of his palms or the shakiness of his fingers.

“I had a really fun time tonight,” you confessed, offering a gentle squeeze of reassurance. His heart skipped a beat (a regular occurrence with you, it seems), and he was positive his cheeks were pinker than a strawberry macaron. “I…I don’t know why we didn’t do this sooner,” you mused with a light laugh. Sicheng nearly choked on his spit.

“Wait, what? You would have done this sooner?” he grimaced at the incredulous crack of his voice, and appreciated your attempts at stifling your laughter.

“Well I’ve…I’ve liked you since I was 15, but I was just too chicken to say anything, didn’t wanna ruin our friendship,” you admitted, scratching at your cheek and avoiding his stare as you focused your attention on the ground. Once this newfound information processed in his mind, Sicheng laughed.

And laughed.

You stared in bewilderment as Sicheng seemingly lost his mind, bending over in a full blown cackle, face red and short of breath, and attracting the stares of many passer-by’s. You bent over to become level with his face.

“Sicheng, are you ok? Everyone’s staring at us, wacko,” you giggled at his form, still very confused at what was so funny.

Catching his breath, Sicheng stood upright and sighed airily, a dopey grin plastered on his visage.

“I’ve been in love with you for as long as I can remember, this is so bogus,” he laughed. “I’ve wanted to kiss you for as long too,” Sicheng added, still a bit out of it from his laughing fit, wiping tears of mirth from the corners of his eyes. You bit at your lip, a furrow in your brow telling him you were thinking hard about something.

“So do it, hot stuff.”

“Do what?” Sicheng asked dumbly, and you rolled your eyes playfully. Really, he laughed all sense out of him. So, you took charge.

Slipping your hand out of his, you lifted both to gently take hold of his dumbstruck face, leaned in, and placed your lips upon his.

Finally.

Sicheng almost couldn’t breathe but refused to move away, leaning his forehead against yours, hands fumbling to take hold of your waist and hold you close against his chest. It was the kind of kiss like he had always seen in the movies – passionate, full of love, and made all sorts of things happen with his heart and body. Fireworks, butterflies, chills, tingles, none were an accurate description to how unbelievably happy he felt in this moment, how comforting the motion of your thumbs stroking his face felt, how perfectly soft your lips felt against his, everything was just so, so…

Long overdue, if he was being brutally honest.

Air eventually became a necessity, and so it was with great regret (that the moment couldn’t last forever) you pulled apart, gasping for air and refusing to look anywhere other than at each other. Sicheng smiled sweetly, reaching up to stroke at the apple of your cheek.

“Did anyone ever tell you it’s rude not to ask someone to kiss them before you do?” he teased, recalling a misfortunate memory of a shabby sandbox and the beginning of a long history.

You grinned, pinched playfully at his cheek. “Maybe. But I’ll apologise later. Now give me another kiss, we have years to make up for.”

Sicheng, for all his poise and grace, would gladly run like a madman to obey that request.

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deepdickdaniel · 7 years

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Kang Daniel | Rival!AU

prompt: anon request - “hi! can you write an au where Daniel and the reader are always competing with each other for some reason and end up liking each other? lol thanks!!”

note: my first request! thank you so much for sending it in and remember that my ask is always open! also, i’m using american high school years (freshman - senior year) for this au!

you honestly weren’t sure when exactly your friendly rivalry with daniel started

was it when you tried b-boying in middle school and he couldn’t stop his laugh when he saw you fail to lift yourself off the ground?

or was it when you shot the basketball into the hoop on your first try during gym class when he had been trying for the past fifteen minutes?

the world may never know - it only knew that a rivalry existed

even as you guys entered high school, you just felt a raging desire to beat daniel at every thing that he wanted to beat you in

in freshman year, you guys didn’t even know what to compete in

you guys ended up competing to see who could get the most average grades

you read right: the most average grades

you literally made your teachers add up all the grades for exams and find out the averages

whoever had the closest score to that grade won

you guys kept this up for at least three months until a kind senior that daniel knew, jisung, finally knocked some sense into y’all

“stop intentionally getting lower grades just to be closer to the average! that just shows how dumb you guys are!”

and in sophomore year, you guys competed to see who could volunteer the most time at the local animal shelter

the two of you literally bolted to the shelter right after classes let out, which turned into another semi-competition by racing

he always won but his mom made him go home earlier than you so your times always ended up evening out

and on halloween of that year, you guys wanted to see who could dress up in the most ridiculous costume

he dressed up in a ballerina costume

you dressed up as him lmao

you had on a baggy t shirt and a snapback turned around over your head

the best part? you were wearing bold white glasses to pay homage to his middle school self

he wanted to die when he saw those and admitted defeat just to get you to take them off

in junior year, you guys took part in a “who can feed jaehwan the most disgusting food?” competition

whoever was able to make jaehwan throw up won

spoiler alert: daniel won because he didn’t even bother trying to think up of ways to make food digusting - he just literally put a whole bunch of things in a blender and made jaehwan drink it

also in junior year, you guys had a class trip to an amusement park and battled it out by seeing who could go to the most attractions

you won because he refused to go into the haunted house without seongwu

“you need to hold his hand, huh???”

“shUT UP NO I DON’T”

you were in senior year when you started running out of things to compete in

then you guys remembered that there was such thing as a senior prank

so you already know you guys tried that

you blew up balloons and put them into every single underclassman’s locker

while daniel filled the halls with plastic cups filled with water

you won because he got in trouble for that LOL

you were passing by the principal’s office when you saw him getting scolded

tbh, he was scared of his punishment at first but then he saw you watching him so he decided to act really cool

“daniel, what you did was very dangerous”

“teeeeechnically, it wasn’t because they just had to avoid the cups?”

and with his charming smile and beloved reputation among the teachers, he got off with just a warning

but you both decided you couldn’t be competing in things that could get you in trouble - you wanted safe fun!

so when you saw a freshman by the name of park jihoon flashing around aegyo, you both stared at each other with mischievous smiles

you guys literally had a competition about who could ruin jihoon’s jeojang the most

you did some disgustingly cute/sexy combo of a jeojang

while daniel was extra and called the class to watch him

he took out a cutesy headband and started doing the jeojang several times, making various weird faces

you didn’t even know he had a double chin until that day

he won that competition because the whole class was cheering and to be honest, you couldn’t help but cheer as well

this is when you started to realize your feelings for him: when you couldn’t help but giggle and blush a bit at the embarrassed and flustered cringing daniel did after his little performance

you found him to be so cute but also such a good sport for doing it and in front of the class nevertheless

so you went home that day and just started reminiscing about all the time you’ve spent with him

due to how much you guys have competed with each other, you saw each other a lot

and throughout that time, it was inevitable that you would have fallen for him

just because you guys competed in practically everything, that didn’t mean you guys didn’t get along

you guys were actually good friends and learned a lot about each other, especially during the time you volunteered together at the animal shelter

the first time he held a kitten and a puppy to try to get them to play with each other, you remembered feeling a weird warmth

and when he wore that ballerina costume, you saw how manly his body had become through the thin material of the leotard

when jaehwan actually got nauseous, daniel got so guilty and took really good care of him and you were able to see how sweet he was

and at the amusement park, he was so cute when he was pouty at the idea of going into the haunted house alone

you also saw him picking up all the plastic cups, one by one, even though he wasn’t punished to do so during his senior prank

the jeojang was the last straw for you

“oh my goodness, i’m in love with daniel”

coincidentally, the next day, daniel came up to you with a new proposition: whoever gets the person they want to go to prom with them first wins

this was your chance!!!

you never backed out of a challenge and even if he rejected you, it was senior year - you didn’t have much to lose

except your beautiful friendship but whatever right?

so you bravely went up to his locker after school ended and waited for him to arrive

when he saw you, he looked confused and then smirked

“ah, ready to admit defeat?”

“go to prom with me”

he wasn’t going to admit it but he was shook!!!

he looked at you strangely, but you could tell he was trying to hold in a smile

“um, excuse me?”

“i’ve been in love with you since basically freshman year and i want you to go to prom with me”

you honestly didn’t know where you were getting this courage but it was worth seeing his shocked face

that face slowly turning into a teasing smile

“nope!”

you gaped at him, lowkey hurt at his rejection - he noticed this and corrected himself really quickly

“just because you would win this competition if i said yes!”

and he skipped away happily while you glared at the back of his head

the next day however, you arrived to your locker and opened it to find a whole bunch of balloons floating out of it

at first, you thought it was a revenge prank by some underclassmen

but then you started seeing writing attached to all of the balloons

there were variations of compliments on one side and had “will you go to prom with me?” on the other

you turned around after reading one of the balloons to see daniel holding one of them by the ribbon

“go to prom with me?”

it was your turn to be surprised as you took the balloon from his hand

“this is why you rejected me?!”

he just shrugged,

“i can’t lose another competition to you”

jaehwan appeared next to you guys, holding all of the escaped balloons in his hands and giving you a pleading face

“please just say yes, you guys have been doing competitions for years and i was the victim of one of them...for the sake of the student body, just love each other already”

daniel laughed and looked at you after jaehwan said that

“well, you already love me and i already love you...sooooo, why don’t we end the war and make peace?”

you pretended to think about it and giggled internally when you saw that daniel was starting to get nervous

you gave the poor boy a break and nodded

“only because i’m in the lead - okay, we can have a draw, i’ll go to prom with you!”

and when he hugged you, you let the balloon go, and with it went the competitions you took part in for all those years

you could hear your entire school sigh in relief at no longer having to see the “sexual tension” between the two of you

instead, they gagged on a daily basis at how cutesy you guys would be due to your insistence that you loved daniel more

“no way, i have more love in my body since i’m taller. you’re just a shorty so you can’t love me more”

“my heart is bigger and it’s full of love just for you!”

your school couldn’t wait until you guys graduated

#kang daniel #kang daniel scenarios #kang daniel imagines #wanna one scenarios #wanna one #wanna one imagines #rival!au #request #daniel scenarios #daniel imagines #daniel

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jugxbets · 7 years

Text

Archie's Little Sister: Chapter Five

i>A/N: okay, so a couple of things i would like to mention: i don’t write it out here but i’d like to think that Fred gives Archie a hard time for what he said/did to Alex. I didn’t write it out because there was no where to put it in way that it would make sense to the story. Just keep in mind that Fred definitely gave Archie a horrible time. i also wanted to mention that i’d like to think Cheryl and Alex always fight and argue like Cheryl and Veronica do, i just don’t have any good insults for them to say to one another so i don’t create the dialogue lmao, and last thing, someone made a suggestion but i only fulfilled half of it, if that makes sense? idk man but anywaaayyy I know the last chapter was intense but that was the point! i hope you’re all enjoying.

Warnings: swearing, angst, smut(mild), flashback

No Summary.

——————————————————————————

“Heart of Darkness”

Alex began avoiding everyone. She was still upset. At Archie. Veronica. Betty. Jughead. Everyone. They all knew and kept it from her.

She started waking up earlier than everyone at her house to cook her own breakfast and walk to school by herself.

Archie and Alex haven’t spoken to each other since that night.

She and Fred hadn’t talked about it either. She’s been avoiding him too. She was ashamed.

It was bed time. Alex couldn’t sleep. Archie was punching his punching bag in his room very loud. She was annoyed. She tried to tune him out with music in her ears but that didn’t work.

She heard her dad talking to him.

She got up and stomped to peek her head out the door.

“Dad, tell him to shut the fuck up, will you?” She shouted and slammed the door.

She went back into her bed and hid under the sheets.

Her dad knocked at her door.

When she didn’t respond, he opened it.

He pulled out the chair from her desk, placed it in front of her and sat down.

“What’s going on?” He asked.

“I can’t sleep. Stupid Archie is being too loud.” Alex muffled.

Fred sighed.

“Alex, this has got to stop.” Fred got to the point.

She didn’t say anything.

“You need to move on.” Fred tried to get her to talk again.

He got up and pulled the sheets of off her. He held them and sat back down.

She glared at him. “I don’t want to move on.”

“Then you’re never going to be happy.” He shrugged. “Then Archie’s going to be unhappy, and i’m going to unhappy. Do you want that?”

“Yeah, i want all of you to feel my pain.” She hissed as she snatched the sheets back from her dad.

When she got them, she covered herself again. She didn’t put them over her head again. Instead, she turned around so her back was facing him.

He sighed. “Come on, Alex. It’s been weeks. Don’t you think you should forgive Archie?”

She scoffed and sat up to look him in him in the eye.

“Are you kidding me right now? He’s an asshole. He doesn’t deserve to be forgiven. He’s fucking selfish, like mom. He always will be.” She snarled.

“Come on, he feels really bad.” Fred tried to reason with her.

She scoffed once again. “Of course you’d be on his side!”

He groaned. “Stop it.”

“No. He can go to hell for all i care.” Alex said laying back down to her first position.

“Alright, i know you didn’t want to talk about it, but i do. Why do you feel so betrayed?” He finally asked.

She shut her eyes in frustration.

“I confided in him with a secret and he ratted me out.” She sat up again.

She tried being discreet as possible. He already knew what it was, but he decided to skip that talk.

“Secrets have a way of coming out, Sweetie. you know that.” Fred responded.

She scoffed. “You know, i do everything for Archie. Every fucking thing. I lie to you for him, i cover for him, i help him with his music, which i supported when no one else did. this one thing, the ONE THING i asked for him to do for me, and he couldn’t. Tell me that’s not selfish.”

Fred didn’t say anything.

She took a deep breath.

“He called me a slut, dad. All because of that old ass teacher that he was trying to defend.” She angrily said.

She tried holding her tears back. She had been crying about it for weeks. She was done.

“I swear if you didn’t hold me back, i would’ve killed Grundy right there and then. I literally tried to protect and in return i got betrayal and slut shamed.” She chuckled humorless.

“Stupidity runs in the family.” She continued.

She got up to go to the bathroom. When she opened the door, she saw Archie eavesdropping.

She scoffed and pushed him out of her way.

“Alex—” He was cut off by her slamming the door.

He sighed.

Fred came out of her room.

He shrugged. “I tried. This is your mess, you fix it.”

Archie sighed once again.

Fred patted him on the back as he walked back downstairs.

Archie had been trying to apologize for weeks but Alex kept ignoring him. He asked his dad to talk to her but now he realized he’s got to do this on his own.

Archie went back into his room and thought about how he would get Alex to forgive him.

He agreed with everything she said. He feels horrible about the whole thing. He wishes he can go back in time.

——————————————————————————

It was the next day. Everyone was at school. The gang tried talking to her but she ignored them.

She didn’t even go to the meeting Betty needed her in. She wanted to see the murder board but she figured she’d look at it another time.

She was sure that Betty or Archie had told the rest of them about her and Jason.

She didn’t care anymore.

She went to her classes and minded her own business. Everyone tried to talk to her but she would walk away.

During lunch, she decided to go to the bleachers to avoid seeing them in the lunchroom or outside.

Too bad they had the same idea.

Alex was at the highest point of the bleachers while they were at the bottom.

Alex minded her own business and blasted music through her headphones.

She saw them glancing over to her every once a while but she didn’t let them see her.

She saw Valerie approach them. Well, Archie. She saw her slip something into his jacket pocket then she got up and left.

Alex rolled her eyes.

Then Cheryl approached them. She was inviting everyone to Jason’s memorial. Alex felt like shit. She knew she had to go but she didn’t really want to. They all knew about Jason so they felt weird talking about him now.

Kevin glanced over to her and noticed she had been there the whole time.

“Oh, hey, there’s Alex.” He said as he turned around and walked over to her. Alex tensed up.

“Hey, Grouchy.” He ripped an earbud out of her ear.

Everyone looked at them.

“Don’t, Kevin.” She rolled her eyes.

He was taken back. “I didn’t know either, you know.”

She looked at him. “What?”

“Yeah, and i mean i don’t really care. Archie and i aren’t that close. But i get why you’re mad.” He gave her an understanding nod.

Her eyes soften. “It’s not just that, really.”

“I know.” He gave a half smile.

Then she saw Veronica get up. She walked over and sat right next to Alex, leaving her between Kevin and Veronica.

Alex sighed heavily.

“You can’t stay mad at us. Come on, We miss you. And Archie feels really bad about the whole thing.” Veronica nagged.

Alex scoffed. “Good. And all of you should know that i can hold a grudge for a very long time. So leave me alone.” She hissed as she got up and walked away.

Alex walked back into school. She was speed walking and crashed into Cheryl, making her drop the invitations she had in her hands.

“Jesus, watch where you’re going, Brows McGee.” Cheryl quickly reacted.

Alex sighed. “I’m sorry.” She bent down to grab the invitations for her. She got up and gave them back.

Cheryl smirked. “I didn’t see you with the gang.”

“I’m not talking to any of them.” Alex muttered.

Cheryl ran her tongue over her teeth.

“Well, since i didn’t see you, i didn’t give you one of these.” She handed out an invitation for Alex.

Alex grabbed it. “Thanks, i guess.”

Cheryl nodded.

“I’m sorry, Cheryl. About Jason. I know this must be a tough week. But we don’t have to go at it with each other right now. I can be there for you.” Alex offered.

Cheryl sighed. “I suppose we can post pone the fighting until next week.”

Alex smiled. She genuinely felt bad for Cheryl.

“I’m having a sleepover. You should come.” Cheryl invited her.

Alex furrowed her brows. “Uh, okay, sure.”

She wasn’t expecting that.

“Great!” Cheryl squealed.

“When?” Alex asked.

“The night before the memorial.” Cheryl smirked and raised a brow.

Alex gave her a look.

“I don’t want to be alone the night before i bury my brother.” Cheryl answered her to her facial expression.

Alex nodded. “Alright, i guess.”

“See you then.” Cheryl said as she walked away.

Alex proceeded to go to her class.

——————————————————————————

It was dinner time.

Alex was catching up on some homework in her room.

Fred began knocking at her door. He entered when he saw that his door wasn’t closed all the way.

“Hey, sweetie.” He greeted.

“Hi, dad.” Alex said, not looking from her text book.

“I could use help with dinner.” Fred hinted.

Alex scoffed. “What? Archie bailed on you?”

Fred sighed. “You are not a second choice.”

She rolled her eyes. “Aren’t I?”

“Come on, stop being stubborn and help me with dinner.” Fred tried convincing her.

She scrunched up her face. “I am not cooking for Archie or his hussy.”

Fred was confused.

She finally looked up at him. “Oh, you don’t even know, do you? He’s got one of the Pussycats in his room right now.”

He walked out of her room and went to Archie’s. He left her alone for the rest of the night.

——————————————————————————

It was the next day at school. Alex got more annoyed by the minute. She hated everyone and everything.

She didn’t want to be mad at Archie anymore but she couldn’t help it. Whenever she thinks about him, she wants to cry.

She missed him. She couldn’t admit that. But she was struggling. She hates the tension around the house. She hated having to ignore him. But he deserved it.

She missed the gang. Playing detective with Jughead and Betty. Jughead. She missed him the most. She missed putting Veronica in her place when needed. But also the girl talk with her and Kevin. It was exhausting for her to be mad with so many people, but again, she couldn’t help it.

Cheerleading helped with her emotions sometimes but it was getting harder to avoid any of them.

During the end of practice, she decided to go to the bathroom. She didn’t want to run into Veronica or Betty on the way to the girl’s locker room.

She stayed inside a stall for 15 mins, on her phone.

When she finally got out, she noticed Veronica and Archie sitting on a bench in the hall.

Veronica walked away, glancing back at him.

Then Alex noticed the bandage on his hand. She gasped and rushed over to him.

“Archie! What happened?” She asked with her tone full of concern.

He froze as she sat by him and inspected his hand.

“You’ve got to be more careful, this is your playing hand.” She said, tightening the bandage.

She finally glanced at him.

“What?” She asked.

“Y-you’re talking to me..” He stammered.

Her attention went back to his hand. She sighed. The bandage wasn’t on right so she decided to fix it.

“I guess my anger was wiped out clean as soon as i saw your hand.” She forced a chuckle.

His eyes softened. He didn’t deserve her, he thought.

“Alex..” He began. She cut him off.

“Don’t, Archie.” She warned him as she continued to take care of his hand.

He sighed. “Why won’t you let me apologize?”

She didn’t look at him. “I already know what you’re going to say.”

“‘I’m sorry, I wish i never said that, i didn’t mean it, i wish i can take it back and blah blah fucking blah..’” She trailed off as she mocked him.

He smiled. He missed her humor.

“I’m just not ready to forgive you, Arch.” She shrugged and finished putting the bandage on his hand.

She looked at him.

“Just hear me out.” Archie pleaded.

She nodded.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. You’re not a slut. I shouldn’t have said that. And i shouldn’t have mentioned the Jason thing in front of everyone. I’m an idiot and i didn’t realize how much you do for me. I don’t mean to take you for granted. I love you, you’re my baby sister. All i should be doing is protecting you, not insulting you and making you feel like shit. I’m just sorry, man. I miss you. I wish there was another way to say i’m sorry for you to actually believe me.”

Alex scoffed as she knew what he was going to say.

Although, there was a difference between knowing it and then hearing it.

Her eyes blurred as they filled up with tears.

“It’s not just that, Arch. You didn’t tell me about Grundy. You and everyone else lied to me. And the fact that you thought what she was doing to you was okay..”

Archie cut her off. “She wasn’t…”

She glared at him. He sighed.

“I don’t want to fight with you anymore. But i went after her.”

She scoffed. “You can’t be serious.”

“I didn’t tell you because i was scared of your reaction.” He admitted.

She sighed heavily.

“I’m sorry.” He apologized once more.

“I want to forgive you, Arch.” she sniffled. “I just can’t.”

“Then don’t. Just talk to me. Please.” He begged.

She nodded hesitantly.

He went in for a hug to which she returned.

“I missed you too.” She whispered.

They pulled apart. Alex wiped the tear that sneaked its way down her face.

She felt obligated to apologize to him as well.

“Uh, sorry I pushed and slapped the shit out of you.” She chuckled.

Archie smiled. “Don’t be. I deserved it.”

“Oh, good. Then i’m not sorry.” She laughed.

He laughed with her. “I missed this.”

She smiled.

“Now,” she sniffled. “What the hell happened to your hand and why did you bandage it so terribly?”

He laughed. “Veronica did it for me. And I, uh, fucked up. I didn’t mesmerize my plays and i kept getting distracted.”

Alex chuckled. “Why am i not surprised?”

She took a deep breath. “So, Val?”

He sighed. “So, Jughead?”

She let out a stifled laugh. “I’m not even speaking to him. Besides, i think he’s more into Betty.”

His brows raised. “So you do have a thing for him?”

She scoffed. “Tell anyone and i’ll deny it.”

He chuckled. “Uh, yeah, Valerie has been helping me with my music. She’s really sweet. Super pretty.”

She saw him blush. “I don’t approve but if she’ll make you happy, whatever.” she shrugged.

He laughed. “Come on, let’s get home.”

“Actually, i should probably stop by the Blue and Gold office. Betty needed me earlier and i blew her off.” Alex said as she got up.

Archie nodded. “I can wait for you if you want.”

She shook her head. “It’s fine, i’ll just see you at home.”

He nodded once again. “I’m gonna work on your forgiveness, Alex.”

She smiled and rolled her eyes at the same time.

“Love you, Arch.”

“Me too.” He chuckled.

Then she walked away.

She walked into the office but only saw Jughead there. She was debating whether to say something to him or not.

His back was facing her, so she didn’t think he’d notice she was there.

She turned on her heel and walked towards the door, but Jughead heard her come in.

“Why didn’t you tell me about Jason?” Jughead asked, turning around to face her.

She paused. She turned back around so she was facing him.

“Two can play this game: Why didn’t you tell me about Archie and Grundy?” He crossed her arms across her chest.

“I’m done playing games with you, Alex.” He scoffed.

“What games?” Her brows furrowed. “You lied to me about it and you didn’t say anything when i asked you millions of times.”

He scoffed and walked up to her. “It was none of your business. It wasn’t even mine.”

She let out a humorless laugh. “Okay then, whatever went on with Jason and I, is none of your business.”

He didn’t say anything.

She tried walking away but Jughead grabbed her arm.

“Stop.” She hissed as she tried to take her arm back.

He didn’t let her go.

“Come here.” He whispered.

He yanked her into him and roughly kissed her.

She pulled away, in shock. She stared at him.

Moments later, she kissed him back. Hard and longingly.

She put her hands through his hair, causing his beanie to fall while he pulled her closer by her waist.

He gently backed her up, not breaking their kiss and lifted her on top the desk she was against.

She moaned into his mouth as she felt the cool desktop hit her thighs.

His hand made its way to the side of her neck, his thumb running along her jawline, while her legs were around his waist.

Finally, Alex realized what she was doing and pulled away.

“No, stop.” She said while her breath hitched.

His brows furrow. “Why? What’s wrong?” He said as he tried to catch his breath.

She pushed him away gently and hopped off the table.

She sighed. “You’re not going to manipulate me. I’m still mad.”

He scoffed. “I would never do that, Alex. I’ve been wanting to kiss you since the longest.”

She shook her head. “We can’t, Jug.”

“But why?” She swore his voice almost break.

“I need a break.” She whispered. “I’m sorry.”

She looked at him and his eyes were glossy.

“I still love—”

“Don’t say it.” He raised his voice.

She looked down at her feet as her eyebrows furrowed.

She noticed Jughead’s beanie on the floor and picked it up.

She offered it to him. He took it.

He ran his fingers through his hair before he put it on.

Such an endearing sight.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered once more before leaving the room.

——————————————————————————

It was the night of the sleepover.

Alex didn’t know Cheryl invited Veronica. She wasn’t exactly pissed but she didn’t plan on talking to her until tomorrow.

They were having dinner with Cheryl and her family. There was tension. The Blossom family never had a problem with The Andrews. Half of them were red heads. But everyone’s a suspect of their son’s torture-murder case.

She could tell they didn’t want Veronica or Alex there.

Alex wasn’t even sure they wanted Cheryl there. Their own daughter.

They all began eating. It was awkward. To Alex anyway. They all seemed pissed.

Alex just kept to herself while Veronica tried to be nice.

Cheryl’s mother and father, Clifford and Penelope, subtly insulted Veronica. Alex thought it was best not to say anything.

Alex observed both of them. They were very mean and uptight. Cheryl’s grandmother was also at the table but she didn’t say much.

Alex kept awkwardly glancing at Veronica while she did the same.

Dinner ended. The girls decided to go back to Cheryl’s room.

“You can guys can get changed. I’ll just be a minute.” Cheryl gave a small smile before she walked out.

Alex raised a brow. Veronica nodded and smiled back.

“Is it just me or were her eyes glossy?” Veronica asked as she zipped down her dress.

Alex shrugged. “I mean tomorrow is Jason’s memorial, so.” She trailed off as she took her jewelry off and put them in a small purse.

Veronica sighed. “So are we cool, or what?”

Veronica slid the dress off and threw it to the side.

Alex looked at her and rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, i guess.” She exhaled.

Veronica looked at her. “I’m sorry, okay? Next time Archie does something stupid and I know about it first hand, I’ll tell you.”

Alex chuckled. “Good.”

Veronica didn’t bother to take her jewelry off and put on a blue, satin top and shorts.

Alex scoffed. “Why do you and Cheryl insist on being so fancy?”

Veronica shrugged as she grinned. “Its a lifestyle.”

Alex proceeded to take her shirt and jeans off. She brought her favorite black, baby doll dress and put it on.

Veronica scoffed. “And you call me fancy.”

“I don’t like sleeping with pants on so i went with a dress instead.” Alex chuckled as she shrugged.

Veronica nodded.

The girls proceeded to get ready for bed.

Veronica was tempted to ask about Jason. When she was about to, Cheryl came back and she was dressed in her sleepwear as well with her eye makeup slightly messy.

She had a bottle of Vodka and a couple of small glasses in her hands.

“This is for later, as soon as the ‘rents are asleep.” She smirked as she lifted the goodies to show the girls.

Veronica and Alex smiled.

She set them down at her night stand. There was a book.

“What’s that?” Veronica said as she sat down on Cheryl’s bed.

Alex joined her.

Cheryl sighed. “It’s a photo album. It has a bunch of Jason’s pictures in it.”

Cheryl picked it up and sat on the bed with the girls.

Alex was nervous. She hadn’t seen him in so long.

She opened the book and there were baby pictures at first.

Cheryl told the stories behind most of the pictures. They were short and to the point but nonetheless cute.

The girls giggled and chuckled as she turned the page. There was a huge headshot of Jason right away.

Alex looked at it and sighed. Veronica noticed Alex’s mood but didn’t say anything.

Cheryl smiled.

Her smile was full of sadness.

Veronica’s eyes softened. She looked at the photo.

“I hope this isn’t weird, but Jason was crazy handsome.” Veronica began.

Alex rolled her eyes.

“The handsomest.” Cheryl insisted. “Something tells me he would’ve liked you.”

As if.

Alex sighed.

“Why did you invite us tonight?” Alex asked.

Cheryl’s mood changed.

“Yeah, why not Tina or Ginger? Aren’t they your besties?” Veronica added.

“And yet, that night at the pep rally, after I had my panic attack, you helped me.” Cheryl softly said. “Not them.”

Veronica nodded.

“And you,” Cheryl turned to look at Alex. “help me choreograph the squad. Everyone says my moves are a joke, but you help me make them better.”

Alex gave her a small smile. Cheryl sighed as looked down at the book.

“Cheryl,” Veronica began. “You’re allowed to say goodbye to your brother.”

Cheryl looked back up at Veronica and Alex.

“But, why does it have to be..” Veronica got cut off.

“In front of people?” Cheryl finished for her.

“Yeah.”

“Everything with Jason’s been so..” Cheryl paused as she tried to find the right word to explain herself. “Public. Everyone had an opinion. Has been gossiping. Saying he got what he deserved or that he didn’t. I just.. I want everyone to know that i’m..”

She paused. “I’m sorry.” She continued. “And that Jason deserved a… A better family than what he got.”

Alex looked at her dolefully.

“Then do it.” Alex interjected. “I’ll help you. We’ll help you.” She glanced at Veronica to which she responded with a nod.

“And let Penelope and Clifford Blossom do their worst.” Veronica smiled deviously.

“Oh, they will.” Cheryl muttered. “They’ll kill me.”

Both of Veronica and Alex’s eyebrows furrowed. They shared a look.

“They won’t. We’ll see to it.” Alex reached over to hold her hand with her own. Cheryl gave a small smile.

Then she perked up. “Enough of this.”

She got up and put the book back in it’s place. She grabbed small cups and gave each of the girls one. She then grabbed the bottle of Vodka with a smirk.

“Shall we play a little game called ‘Never have I ever?’” Cheryl said.

The girls smiled.

“You just love games, don’t you?” Alex asked sardonically.

Cheryl laughed in response as she opened the bottle and poured some into their cups.

“Alright, ill start us off.” Cheryl put the bottle back on her nightstand and sat back on the bed.

“Hm..” She tapped her fingers on her chin as she pretended to think. “Never have I ever gotten to 3rd base?”

Both Cheryl and Veronica drank up. Alex didn’t.

“What? Lies!” Veronica nudged her. Alex chuckled as Cheryl giggled.

“No, i’m not lying. I swear.” Alex grinned.

Cheryl narrowed her eyes but then shrugged. “Your turn, V.”

Veronica stopped to think for a second. “Never have I ever hooked up with someone I barely know?”

Alex scoffed and drank up with Veronica while Cheryl didn’t.

“Boo.” Cheryl said bored.

They laughed.

“You’re no fun!” Veronica teased back.

Cheryl chuckled. “Your turn, little Andrews.”

Alex sighed.

“Never have I ever made out with Jughead Jones.” She suddenly blurted out.

The girls paused. They shared a look while Alex chugged the rest of her drink.

“What?” Veronica let out a small laugh.

Alex finished her drink and wiped her top lip. She was breathing heavily, seeing as she chugged for 2 minutes straight. She felt slightly tipsy.

“Uh, yeah..”

“Details! Now!” Cheryl screeched.

Alex sighed as she recalled the memory.

“I went to the Blue and Gold office earlier today and he was there, and we kissed..” She shrugged.

“That’s it?” Cheryl scoffed.

“Yeah, what initiated the kiss? How did you feel? Are you guys together now?” Veronica asked.

Alex’s head began to spin.

“Uh, I don’t know, it just happened, and i felt great honestly but I didn’t feel so great after. Aaand, no.” Alex answered.

“Wait, why?” Veronica’s brows furrowed.

“Ugh, i blew it.” Alex whined as she put her hands over her face.

“What happened?” Cheryl asked as she thought about the worst thing possible.

“I told him I needed a break. From relationships.” Alex muffled.

Veronica gasped. “Idiot! Why would you do that?”

Alex sighed as she got up the bed, frustrated with herself.

“I don’t know.” Alex groaned as began to pace back and forth. “Because I do? I really regret it now. Now all i want to do is be with him. But i blew it.”

Cheryl smirked. “Or maybe you didn’t.”

Veronica grinned. “Yeah, just tell him that you weren’t thinking straight and you want to be with him.”

Alex scoffed. “It is not that easy.”

Veronica groaned. “Yes it is!”

“He’s totally smitten with you. Just talk to him.” Cheryl agreed.

Alex groaned once again. “Why am I so stupid?”

She threw herself on the bed.

Veronica giggled. “You’re not. You just thought it was best at the time. But it’s okay, he’ll understand.”

Alex nodded. They continued their game for a few more minutes but then started getting ready for bed.

They all slept in Cheryl’s bed. It was big enough.

Alex was nervous about tomorrow but she knew she had to pull herself together.

——————————————————————————

It was morning. The girls got ready for the funeral.

Alex put on a black, tight, short dress. The top was strapless with sheer long sleeves.

They heard people coming in already.

She was doing her makeup when Veronica went to check on Cheryl.

“You ready?”

“Just about.” Cheryl said barely above a whisper. “You go ahead. I’ll be down.”

Veronica nodded and walked out.

Cheryl turned from the mirror to face Alex.

She finished applying her lipstick. She looked at herself once more and stood up.

“Ready to do this?” Alex asked, looking for reassurance.

Cheryl nodded.

——————————————————————————

Alex walked downstairs. She looked around for Archie.

She saw Jughead and Betty. She got past her awkwardness and approached them.

“Hey, guys.” Alex greeted through a sigh.

Betty smiled “Hey, Alex. You’re not mad anymore?”

Alex shook her head. “No. I’m over it.”

“I’m really sorry, Alex.” Betty apologized. “About everything.”

“It’s fine.” Alex offered a small smile. She glanced at Jughead who hasn’t said a word since she approached them. “Uh, sorry i blew you off yesterday. How is everything going?”

Betty sighed. “You have a lot to catch up on.”

Betty explained the whole situation.

“Shit, Betty. I’m sorry about Polly. I’m glad she’s okay.” Alex sympathized.

“Me too.” Betty smiled lightly. “And if you don’t mind, we’d really like you to join us again.”

Jughead tensed. Alex noticed.

“You made solving this case easier.” Betty continued.

Alex nodded. “Of course.”

Betty brightened. “Thank you! Um, we’re actually going to snoop around Jason’s room later. You should come with, help us look for something. Anything.”

Alex nodded. “Okay. I guess i should’ve asked yesterday since i spent the night here. I could’ve easily gone into his room.”

Betty’s eyes widened. “You spent the night? With Cheryl?”

“And Veronica.” Alex nodded.

Betty scoffed. “Oh well. See you later.”

Alex nodded as she saw her and Jughead make their way to their seats.

Alex felt sad that Jughead didn’t say anything. She was sure Betty was going to ask him.

She spotted Archie and greeted him. Valerie was with him. She rolled her eyes.

“Hey, how was the sleepover?” He went in for a hug. She returned it.

“It’s was okay. Pretty fun actually.” Alex chuckled.

He did too. “I’m glad.”

“How was your night?” Alex asked.

“It was fine, i guess. Couldn’t sleep.” He said as he stared at the huge picture of Jason.

Alex turned around to see what he was looking at.

“Yeah, me too.” She forced a chuckle.

“Hey, Alex.” Valerie forced a chuckle. She noticed Alex trying to ignore her.

“Hi.” Alex said uninterested.

Alex walked away into her seat, next to Kevin. She heard Archie apologize. She scoffed softly. He sat next to her with Valerie following. She ignored Valerie while she talked to Kevin.

Alex noticed Jason’s jersey in his hands.

“Why did you bring that?” She whispered.

“It’s for Mrs. Blossom.” Archie said as he scanned the room looking for her.

He found her, got up, and offered his condolences along with the shirt.

Everyone turned around as saw Penelope stroking his cheek and hair.

Alex furrowed her brows and scoffed.

He returned to his seat.

“What the hell was that about?” Alex said as she kept glaring at her.

“Did she just touch your hair?” Kevin asked in disbelief.

Archie shrugged. “She misses him. I don’t blame her.”

“That was really sweet what you did.” Betty commented behind them.

“She deserves it. More than I do.” Archie insisted.

Alex rolled her eyes.

Veronica walked up to them.

“Days like today really put things in perspective, huh?” She said with a hushed voice.

She proceed to sit in front of them. “I mean, at least we’re here. At least we’re alive.” She turned around.

The memorial began. Cheryl walked down an aisle, wearing what she wore the day Jason went missing.

Alex smirked. She helped her get dressed and went over Cheryl’s speech a million times before she came down.

Everyone was murmuring and whispering. They were shocked.

“Oh, my god.” Veronica’s jaw dropped.

“Yes.” Kevin fiercely said.

“I helped her.” Alex blurted out as she kept her eyes on Cheryl.

Everyone turned to look at her.

Alex grinned at the look of her parent’s faces.

Cheryl began speaking, which made them turn back to her.

“Welcome to Thornhill.” Cheryl began. “Thank you all for coming.”

“If you’ll kindly take you seats.” Cheryl gestured with her hand. “I’d like to start the memorial with a few words about Jason.” She continued as she took her gloves off.

Penelope tried to stop her, but Cliff held her down. She turned to look at Alex, who seemed pleased with herself.

“You are only making things worse.” Veronica whispered to her.

She glared at both of the girls. Then she turned back around.

Cheryl proceeded with her speech. She mentioned that the last time she saw Jason, she was wearing the dress she was in. She swears she feels closer to him when she puts it on. She mentioned that even though they were twins, she demanded to have her own birthday party. Until one year, Jason convinced her to combine their parties. She didn’t know why at the time but years later, she realized. It was because no one wanted to go to hers. And Jason didn’t want her to know. Her voice broke as she also mentioned that Jason protected her every single day.

“I wish, that day at the river, I had protected him.” She sobbed.

Alex got up. Archie tried to stop her but she didn’t let herself.

Cheryl turned to his casket. “I’m so sorry, Jay-Jay.”

Cheryl sobbed. Alex held her.

“It’s alright, Cheryl.” Alex assured her. “I can take it from here.”

Cheryl moved to the side as Veronica also stood up and consoled her. Alex walked to the stand and cleared her throat.

“I think what Cheryl is trying to say is that Jason will always be apart of her. Dead or alive. She has so many memories of him that she’ll hold on to forever.” Alex choked up.

She was saying the speech for Cheryl, but Alex felt these things too.

“Cheryl,” She turned to her. “Mr. and Mrs. Blossom, Jason will always be in your hearts. He will always be protecting you.”

Cheryl was still sobbing softly into Veronica’s shoulder.

Alex walked back to her seat, getting questioning looks from everyone.

A very pissed off Penelope walked up to the stand.

“I think we’ll adjourn now to the Winter Salon for a light supper.”

She tried her best to smile and walked off.

Everyone stood up.

“What the hell was that about?” Archie whispered.

Betty pulled Alex to sneak off with Jughead upstairs.

“I’ll explain later.” Alex whispered back as she walked off with them.

“We have to be quick.” Betty whispered as they ran up the stairs.

Jughead opened the door softly.

The door was creaking.

He began to walk in with the girls following.

Alex started feeling nostalgic. She remembered the few times Jason snuck her in.

The bed they slept in. Fucked in. Cuddled in.

The many arguments they had here and in the graveyard.

Her first time…

Jason sneaked into his house, with Alex following. It was way past midnight. They spent all night making out in the graveyard. But Jason had other plans tonight. He tiptoed up the stairs with Alex doing the same. She giggled as they made it to his room.

They started kissing again. Sloppy and rough.

Moments later, Jason tossed her on his bed. He crawled on top of her with her shuffling nervously under him.

He put his hand on her hip and continued to kiss her.

He pulled away. “You’re so hot.”

Alex smiled. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

He chuckled.

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him again.

He pulled back once again and took his shirt off, revealing his very defined body.

Alex’s heart began to beat fast.

“Uh,” She nervously began but got cut off by Jason kissing her.

He trailed his hand down from her hips to her thigh, then went up her skirt.

He pulled her underwear off. She gasped.

“D-do you really think that’s a good idea right now?” She stammered.

He smirked. “It’s a great idea.”

She pushed him off. “I-I don’t really want to, Jason.”

He scoffed. “What? With me?”

He laid down beside her.

“I kinda want to wait.” He shrugged.

“No, be honest, is there something wrong with me?”

Alex’s brows furrowed.

She stroked his cheek. “No, you’re perfect, i just don’t think—”

“Then why won’t you have sex with me? It’s been weeks, Alex. I need you.” He crawled back on top of her and started kissing her again.

She got nervous but decided not to fight it anymore.

He licked his lips as his hand proceeded to touch her folds. She felt uncomfortable.

He chuckled. His middle finger found her clit and started rubbing it. She let out a quiet moan.

“You can be louder, my parents are out on a business trip.” He said in amusement.

Alex scoffed and hit his shoulder playfully.

“Then why the hell did you sneak me in?” She chuckled.

“I didn’t want to wake Cheryl.” He shrugged as he kissed her neck. She moaned once again.

“Then shouldn’t i still be quiet?” Alex whispered.

“No, Cheryl knows i have girls in and out of here.” Jason said without giving it a thought.

He instantly regretted it when Alex scoffed and took his hand out from under her skirt and pushed him off while she got up.

“Girls in and out of here?!” She raised her voice.

Jason groaned. “Babe, don’t do this.”

“What the fuck do you take me for, Jason? Am i just one of the random girls you bring in and out of here?” She asked as she got more angry at the thought of him being with other girls.

“You told me you were done with that shit, was it a lie?” Her voice broke.

He got up and pulled her into an embrace.

“No, it wasn’t. I didn’t mean it like that, baby, i’m sorry.” He began kissing her.

She tried pulling away but couldn’t resist him.

She finally pulled away. “No, stop it.”

“Come on, i’m sorry.” he whispered as he continued.

He sat on the bed and pulled her on to his lap.

“It’s only you, okay? Only you.” He kissed her along her jawline.

She was still pissed.

Jason put his hand back under her skirt and felt that she was wet. He started rubbing her clit again.

She moaned as his finger quickened.

He continued for a few more seconds until he lowered his fingers to her entrance, dipping his finger in ever so slightly.

She braced herself for pain as she knew where he was going with this.

He pushed it inside of her, smirking at her reaction.

She cried out loudly. She felt a mix of both pain and pleasure.

“Just relax..” Jason instructed as he kissed her neck. “It’ll start to feel good soon, i promise.”

She nodded as she placed both hands on his shoulders.

It took a few more strokes before he finally hit the spot she needed him in to make it feel good.

She gasped loudly and began moaning continuously. He picked up the pace a little bit, but it wasn’t enough. She started riding his finger.

He felt her inner walls clench his finger and it was turning him on.

She noticed his giant bulge and moaned louder even at the thought of it inside her.

She gripped his shoulders as her eyes flew shut. “Holy shit.”

He grinned. “Right there?”

She nodded as she let out a breathy moan.

“Are you close?” He asked, quickening his finger.

“Yeah.” She whimpered.

He took out his finger and sucked it clean.

“Why did you do that for?” She whined as she stuck her head in the crook of his neck.

He chuckled.

“Because I want you to come on my dick.” He simply stated.

She got nervous all over again.

Before she could say anything, he flipped her over and settled between her legs again.

“It’s okay, it’s no different than my finger.” He insisted.

She let out a stifled laugh. “Uh, I disagree. It’s much.. bigger and longer..”

He laughed. “Which is why it’ll make it better.”

He kissed her neck as he unbuckled his belt and jeans.

She helped him. She pulled them down as far as she could, which was enough for him.

She decided to say 'fuck it’ and just go along with what he wanted. Although, she was still shifting nervously under him.

She started playing with his member, pumping up and down. He exhaled through his nose.

“You’re a natural.” He chuckled and went in for a kiss.

She smiled.

He pulled back. He reached over to his night stand and pulled out a condom. He opened it with his teeth, rolled it on and threw the wrapper to the side.

He got back in position. “If it hurts too much, let me know, and i’ll stop.”

She nodded, feeling super nervous now.

He noticed her breathing differently. Quick.

“Hey, it’s okay.” He consoled her. “It’ll feel good, i promise.”

He caressed her cheek. She nodded once again.

He put his hand one her hip while his free hand guided himself into her. She gasped loudly as she felt him inside of her.

He paused for a minute to kiss her and let her adjust.

“I’ll go slow.” He assured her.

“Okay.” She whispered as she braced herself once again for pain.

He pulled out slowly, and began rocking his hips back and forth.

She whimpered at the pain. Jason mistook it as 'pleasuring her.’

After a couple of more strokes, it started feeling good. She started moaning out of pleasure now.

He sped up a little, biting his lip as he tried to hold back his moans.

He went deeper, hitting her sweet spot, making Alex cry out loud.

“Shit, did i hurt you?” He quickly stopped and looked at her.

They were both breathing over each other.

She shook her head. “No, that actually felt really good. Keep going.”

He smiled and continued. “Where was it?”

Seconds later, he found her spot again. She started moaning louder.

He was close but held off his orgasm to try and finish her off.

“Oh, fuck. Please don’t stop.” She moaned as she gripped the sheets.

He grinned and went faster. Not too fast, he didn’t want to hurt her.

She kept gasping and moaning. Her face turning into a dark shade of pink.

With every stroke, he was getting closer and close to his orgasm.

“Are you close?” He asked breathlessly.

“Yeah, just go faster.” She gasped.

He obliged, making her moan louder than she ever had that night.

He stroked one more time. He felt her tighten as she let out a loud cry, seeing stars.

She was gasping, feeling the ecstasy.

He smiled.

Once she felt herself come down, she felt Jason’s thrusts getting sloppier.

He lowered his face into the crook of her neck, grunting and his breath quickening.

She kissed his neck and tried meeting his thrusts by moving her hips.

Eventually, he paused and let out a loud groan.

She smiled. He stopped completely with his breath still hitching.

He crawled off and fell beside her. He took the condom off and disposed of it.

He pulled his pants back up, but didn’t bother to buckle or zip them.

They both laid on his bed, gasping for air.

Jason broke the silence. “Was it better than my finger?”

Alex chuckled. “Way better.”

He got up and kissed her. His hand made its way to her neck to hold her face.

“I love you.”

Alex smiled. “I love you too.”

“Is it me or did the temperature just drop like it does in horror movies?” Betty asked.

Alex snapped out of her flashback. She went back into reality.

She nodded. “I felt it too.”

“That’s just the icy chill of the dead.” Jughead responded as he scanned the room.

Betty noticed Alex acting a bit strange.

“Are you okay?” Betty asked.

Alex nodded.

Jughead was concerned but didn’t ask.

Betty approached the bed. “Where does a teenage boy hide things?”

Jughead bent over to check under the bed. Alex looked around his shelfs.

“Under the mattress, maybe in the drawers, behind the headboard, in the closet.” Jughead began listing.

Jughead walked over the bookshelf and checked the bottom of it.

Betty looked through his drawers.

Alex crouched down to look under the mattress.

“Hello..” A familiar voice suddenly said.

All of them turned to face the voice and gasped, nearly jumping out of their skin.

“Fuck.” Alex whispered as she clutched her chest.

Jughead hid behind Betty. Alex glared at the both of them.

They saw Cheryl and Jason’s grandmother approach them.

“I’m so sorry, we were just leaving.” Betty began to apologize.

“Oh! It’s you.” The old lady exclaimed. “How lovely to see you again.”

Alex’s brows furrowed.

Betty and Jughead seemed very confused.

“Come closer, I wanna get a good look at you.” The lady reached for Betty’s hands.

“The horror.” Jughead repeated in Betty’s ear.

Alex’s jealousy grew by the minute.

Betty curiously approached the lady.

“Come closer, Polly dear.” The lady insisted.

Betty was taken back. She glanced at Jughead and Alex. They shrugged.

Betty sat on the small couch in front of Jason’s bed.

“It’s nice to see you again, too.” Betty played along. “I’m sorry it has to be under such terrible circumstances.”

Alex slowly stood up and walked over to them.

“Well, of course you’re not wearing it.” The lady whispered. “God bless.”

“Wearing what?” Betty asked.

“The ring, Polly.” The lady casually said.

Betty was in shock. Alex began breathing heavy. She felt an anxiety attack coming at her.

The lady went to explain that the ring is a family heirloom, while Betty half listened. She glanced at Alex, where she saw her sitting on the bed, not breathing very well.

“Jug, go..” Betty whispered.

Jughead grew concerned once again and helped her with her breathing.

“I-I can’t..” Alex wheezed.

“Let’s go.”

He lifted her off the bed and into the hall.

After a few minutes, her breathing slowed down.

She felt her eyes fill up with tears.

“H-He was going to marry her..” She sighed heavily.

“What?” Jughead agitatedly asked.

A tear streamed down her face.

“Oh, my god.” She whispered. “I’m so stupid.”

Jughead’s eyes soften. Alex began sobbing.

“No, you’re not, Alex. You’re okay. You’re fine.” Jughead tried to calm her down.

“He used me.. H-he took.. advantage of me..” She wailed quietly.

Jughead went in to hold her. She sobbed into his chest.

“I’m so fucking stupid..” She whispered.

Jughead held her tighter.

He pulled back and gripped her upper arms.

“Listen to me,” He began. “He’s the stupid one, okay? He knew what he was doing. You didn’t. It’s okay, Alex.”

She quieted down. She began inhaling and exhaling.

Jughead pulled her back into his chest to hold her.

“Jughead, i’m so sorry.” She whispered.

He nodded. “It’s okay.”

He held her for a bit longer before Betty came out of the room.

“Alex, are you okay?” She asked with her eyebrows furrowed.

Alex nodded. “Just a small breakdown.” She forced a chuckle.

“What did she say?” Jughead asked, dying to know.

Betty sighed. “Apparently, Jason proposed to Polly. He took the family’s ring and gave it to her. Penelope doesn’t even know..”

Jughead nodded. “I sort of figured.”

Betty zoned out, looking at the ground.

“Hey,” Jughead reached out to wrap him arm around her shoulder. “Are you okay?”

Alex tensed up.

Betty nodded. “Just a little shaken up.”

He nodded.

Eventually, they all headed back downstairs.

Archie was nowhere to be found that time.

She decided to go home, since she wasn’t feeling all that well.

——————————————————————————

They had school the next day. Everything didn’t seem the same after Jason’s funeral.

It all seemed sad and mournful.

Alex finally met Betty and Jughead at the Blue and Gold office.

She was taking a look at the famous murder board as Betty explained what went on after she asked her dad if he knew that she was engaged to Jason.

“Wait,” Alex paused. “Why is my picture and name here?”

Both Jughead and Betty paused. “U-uh, you were a suspect at some point.”

Alex’s eyebrows furrowed. “What?”

“Yeah,” Betty shrugged. “Because of your 'affiliation’ with him.”

Alex scoffed and kept observing the board.

“Guys,” Betty groaned. “I feel like i don’t even know who my parents are anymore.”

“Betty,” Jughead began. “if your parents lied about Jason and Polly,” He walked over to the murder board. “there’s probably more they lied about.”

Betty turned around and walked over to them.

“What do you mean?”

“Your dad said he would do anything to protect Polly.” Jughead continued.

“So the next logical question is…” Jughead trailed off.

“How far would he go to protect her?” Alex finished for him.

Jughead nodded.

“Jughead,” Betty began. “whoever broke into Sheriff Keller’s house and stole all his evidence wasn’t at the drive-in.”

“Shit.” Alex whispered as she realized where Betty was going with this.

“My dad wasn’t at the drive-in.” Betty continued.

Jughead sighed. He wrote their names on a note card and gave it to Betty. She pinned it to the board.

Alex huffed.

“I know this is what we’re all thinking,” Alex groaned, not wanting to say what she needed to. “But I think we need to talk to Polly ourselves.”

They nodded.

Tag: @vilolisun

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