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oveliagirlhaditright · 4 months

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Found Treasure - A NeShiki AU fic

Summary: An AU where Neku and Shiki are Ben and Abigail from "National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets." Shiki loved Neku with all her heart... but when it became clear to her that, in some ways, he valued that big brain more than listening to her, she knew she had to end the relationship. But she gets pulled back into his world when he's bound and determined to clear his ancestor's name and needs her help to do it. And she might be starting to fall for him again, too. Because, after all, the adventure is fun. And even more than that, people DO change. Oneshot.

Found Treasure

Shiki's PoV

Shiki loved Neku with her whole heart. She did. But when it became more and more clear that in many ways, he valued his intelligence more than he did her—and would never ask her opinion on things, in being all assuming—she knew she had to break up with him.

And maybe in her heart of hearts, there had been a part of her hoping that he would change and they’d find their way back to each other—since he had touched her soul like no one else had—but she couldn’t waste her life waiting for a miracle. She had too much self-respect for that.

And so, Shiki had tried to move on. In fact, it was when she’d invited her new love interest over to her house for the first time that her and Neku’s lives would end up colliding again.

Neku had broken into her house with the key he’d yet to return to her… which surely would have been the biggest offense—if Shiki hadn’t noticed right away that he had Joshua working on something on her computer, and was trying to keep her from noticing it.

“Neku, are you kidding me?! You can’t just do these things anymore!” Shiki reprimanded her ex, stomping up to him in her little black dress and heels, and still one hundred percent being a force to be reckoned with even in this getup.

And Neku must have realized this, because he didn’t try to lie and pretend that he hadn’t tried to pull a wool over her eyes, or wasn’t at this very moment wasn’t using her government connections, but he just looked at her with despairing eyes and said, “Please, Shiki. You know how much my family’s name means me to me. And I think I found a clue to clear us. Just let me find it, and then I’ll be out of your way.”

Well, there was no way she could deny that, was there? Shiki had heard how Shiba Miyakaze had shown the world today that the Sakurabas had been part of the plan to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. And Shiki didn’t want to believe it for a second, so if Neku had found proof to show that he was lying… who was she to stand in his way? She knew that if it was her family that someone had said were linked to such an awful conspiracy, she’d be fighting it tooth and nail, too.

And, admittedly, she was curious to see how this turned out…

“Alright, Neku. Find this link. But then you really have to leave,” Shiki whispered, knowing that her date, Shuto, would be done looking at her collection from working in the museum any minute now, and would see that her ex was here and she was speaking to him.

Neku didn’t have to be told twice, and disappeared back into the den with Joshua after giving Shiki that heartbreaking smirk that had made Shiki fall in love with him in the first place. Though she refused to be pulled back in again, unless he changed. And she had yet to see that he really had. Though him being so thankful towards her again was definitely a start…

“Damn, Shiki!” Shuto exclaimed, as he joined her back in her living room, about just as soon as she’d assumed she would. And suddenly—despite how it would have ruined everything—Shiki found herself wishing that Neku would have seen Shuto, so he would have realized that she was on a date with someone else. She wondered if he would have been jealous. Or if he would have cared at all… “You weren’t kidding about the impressive presidential pin set that you have! I wish I had one like it!”

Shiki had to laugh at that, as she strode toward her current date and tried to put thoughts of her former love behind her.

“I also store all the best outfits that I’ve sewn right beside them, if you didn’t see that. I love my job as a curator. But sewing is definitely my favorite hobby, and I might have chosen a career there if things had gone differently.”

…

Shiki, in a million years, would have never thought that she would have ended up at Beckingham Palace—on another date with Shuto—at the same time that Neku happened to be there. Yes, she had once thought that the two of them might be soulmates… but seriously, what were the chances of this? Especially since Shiki thought she had done a pretty bang-up job of putting Neku behind her these past days, and she was actually starting to enjoy Shuto Dan’s company.

The museum curator would have been happy to pretend she’d never seen Neku and return her later, when he wasn’t at the location, if he hadn’t immediately recognized her and pulled her into a rather large argument that was completely out of character for him.

“Shiki… I just can’t believe you broke up with me and won’t even tell me why. And this coming from you: the girl who was always prattling on and on in my ear!”

Shiki was doing her very best not to react to this and create a bigger scene, but she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t irked. How dare Neku insult her for talking too much, like he had when they’d first met?! Didn’t he know how much saying such a thing would hurt her?!

And was he seriously saying he had no idea why she broke up with him? Wow: talk about even more proof that he didn’t listen to her and she was right in her decision.

“Oh, you are just so insulting,” Shiki shot back, trying not to be too loud, but still wanting him to hear her as she fought him, of course. “And if you’re still wondering why our relationship ended, then we never should have dated in the first place, Neku. You just don’t listen!”

“Oh, because I’m just always the wrong one in our relationship, aren’t I?” Neku spat. “Men always are... Kind of like how you think I’m wrong about my ancestor Isamu Sakuraba being innocent!”

Shiki was about to respond to that and remind him that she didn’t feel that way at all, because she’d let him use her computer for his ancestor’s sake, hadn’t she? When she looked Neku in the eye and it suddenly became very clear to her that this whole thing was an act. Oh. Was the next clue he needed to prove Isamu Sakuraba’s innocence here? Undoubtedly.

And if the way Neku was carrying on, it had to be in a place that was off limits to the general public… unless they made a scene. Well, if that was the case, Shiki found she definitely wanted to help him. But first she needed to get Shuto out of the way…

“Wow, you really dated this jerk?” Shuto asked incredulously, unknowingly giving Shiki the perfect excuse to send him away.

“Yes, unfortunately. And he- he seems drunk, doesn’t he? I’m afraid he’s going to do something stupid! Shuto, I left my purse in your car, that has my pepper spray in it. Do you mind going to get it in case I need it?”

“I-I guess,” Shuto said reluctantly, though it seemed to Shiki that he really didn’t want to do this and there were a lot of things he would have rather said here instead. But nonetheless, he was a gentleman and left to fulfill Shiki’s request.

“Alright, that’s enough you two,” a guard said as he took Shiki’s arm and then Neku’s. “We’re not having a confrontation like that in public. And we’re not having it get violent. If you’re determined to have an ex-lover’s spat, do it in private.”

“Hey, get your hands off of me! I have a right to defend myself!” Shiki protested, as she was led away, half-hamming it up and half-serious.

“You see? You see what I deal with? Thank you for defending me, at least,” Neku gave his own piece, as he was pulled away right behind her.

“Neku, go screw yourself!” Shiki bellowed, when they were both finally slammed into a cell.

“Not when you do it so well, honey,” Neku zinged.

Shiki stuck her tongue out at him. And though she knew Neku was really acting here, she was tempted to do much more. But she knew that would just make things worse for them and ruin their plan.

“Wow, do you two need couple’s therapy,” one of the guards said, shaking his head at them. “I’m going to give you two a minute to think things through, work it out, and if you don’t do that, I’m calling the police. If I were you, I’d really think about if whatever he or she did is worth time behind bars.” And then all of the guards were, miraculously, gone. That had to be a mistake… right?

But once they were, Shiki turned to Neku with a raised eyebrow. “Okay, Neku. What the hell is going on?”

“I have to get to the queen’s resolute desk…”

Shiki nodded her head, acting like this was the most natural thing in the world, even though it was of course anything but. “And you didn’t think you could try to tell me that through, I don’t know, Morse Code or something, before you gave me a heart attack in thinking you lost it?!”

That seemed to embarrass Neku for a second, that he didn’t think of that, and he hid behind his collar for a second before shrugging. “Didn’t really think about it. ‘Sides, it might have affected your acting, and I wasn’t sure if your new beau knew Morse Code or not. And things worked out well enough.”

“Sure they did, Neku. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re locked up! How are we supposed to get out of here, to-”

But before she had finished the sentence, the door to the cage swung open and Neku grabbed her hand and was leading her along.

“Sometimes, I hate that you and Joshua are friends,” Shiki complained. “He’s part of the reason you don’t put others first and think you’re infallible. But whatever, I guess. We’ll once again save this conversation for another time. Lead the way… Since I’m assuming we’re on a time crunch here.”

“Naturally, Chic. Is it fun in any other way?” Neku asked as he turned back to look at Shiki and offered her a small smile.

Despite herself, she couldn’t help but return it as the two of them began running together. “No, I guess not.”

And their maneuver to find the item that would help Neku proved to be fun in its own right, too. It turned out the queen’s resolute desk was half Japanese puzzle box, half desk. And Shiki and Neku ended up having to maneuver every which way to solve it. As a very clever girl, Shiki had to say that she enjoyed the brain tease and doing this sort of thing with Neku again. And she would even admit she liked this one moment where she had to be under Neku, so she could dial in a number via a tumbler as Neku told her the correct combination from above. She was only human, after all. The intense car chase they ended up in with Shiba in his men afterwards helped to make Shiki feel alive again, too.

So all of this was how Shiki once again found herself pulled back into Neku’s world, completely forgetting Shuto, and going with him to his last destination that seemed like it would take them to the City of Gold (the whole point of all of this, it seemed. Shiba had framed Neku’s ancestor just so he would help him find this), but Shiki didn’t want to get her hopes that it was said city just yet…

Except the moment that Shiki, Neku, his parents Koki and Uzuki, and Shiba were all trapped in a room filling up with water together, Shiki found herself wishing she’d never hoped that this was Eldorado. She was now certain it was, but at what cost? They were all going to drown for their knowledge of it!

“There’s no way we can all swim to the exit in time,” Koki said far too calmly, as far as Shiki was concerned. “The way this trap is designed, someone’s weight has to hold the lever down to keep the door open. And, yeah: the door stays open for a few seconds it looks like. But not fast enough for the person holding the door open to swim out. It’s meant for someone to sacrifice themselves.”

“Ugh!” Uzuki screamed, ripping her hair out before looking at everyone in turn. “Koki, swim over there and sacrifice yourself for your son, his lovely girl, and moi, your lovely ex-wife,” Uzuki cajoled, but Shiki could tell her heart wasn’t really in it. Whatever issue the two of them had been having, they’d since made up on this journey. And no doubt, she really wished Shiba would do this, but knew that he wouldn’t.

“No way, Mom,” Neku protested, immediately gaining Shiki’s attention as she turned to him with a sharp glance. “I’ll stay. I’m closest to the lever, anyway. And the longer we stay in here arguing, the room is filling up. Go.”

“Neku, absolutely- absolutely not!” Shiki protested, whilst she tried her best to swim to him. But it was getting hard to do so, as a wave rose up and tried to take her under: Neku was right. It was getting way too deep in here. “I- Okay, so I don’t regret my reasons for breaking up for you, and those are things we still need to work on, but I do regret that I ended the relationship. We could have tried to deal with it together. I love you, Neku. I just got you back. And I- I won’t lose you.

“And, damnit! You’re being sexist! I could totally sacrifice myself too, you know!” Shiki protested, having finally made it close enough to Neku so she could lean her forehead against his and press a hand to his cheek. She very much wanted to kiss him, too, but their lips were so close to being underwater, anyway, and unfortunately, there really wasn’t enough time for it.

“I bet you could, Chic,” Neku laughed, rising up and kissing her forehead. “But unfortunately, you really aren’t close enough. So go.”

“Neku,” Shiki whined, looking at her partner with tear-filled eyes. She didn’t care what he said. She didn’t. She would not leave him here. She would die with him, if she had to.

Except that Koki was already beginning to pull her away. Shiki shouted and tried to fight it, but it was no use, until-

“Now hold on, sheeple!,” said Shiba unexpectedly, as he pulled Shiki out of Koki’s arms and somehow sent her sprawling into Neku, so he was spinning away from the lever now.

“Shiba, what the hell are you doing?!” Neku protested. “If we keep this up, the weight of the water will be such that the door won’t even open! Do you want to drown?”

“Yes.”

“What?!” Everyone said at once. Shiki had not seen that coming, but perhaps she should have from someone who had already gone to these lengths to be famous. But to die over it?

“Well… no,” he swiftly corrected. “But I have no choice. Let’s be honest, Sakuraba. Your dinky arms could have never held the lever down to keep the door open long enough for your precious family to get out, and I’m the closest to it beside you. I will sacrifice myself for all of you. On one condition: When you tell the press who made this discovery, it was me.”

“Of course,” Neku said, looking at Shiba with nothing but respect in his eyes, Shiki saw. She might have tried to gauge even more then, but there was simply no time. Shiba made a soul screeching cry as he tried to press the lever down, the door opened once more and then Shiki found herself rocketing out of it into… some golden area if her eyes could be trusted?

Koki and Uzuki were just in front of Shiki, and she was so thankful to see that Neku’s parents had made it out, but then she was desperately looking behind her to see if Neku was there. Shiki didn’t have to look far. As she continued to glide on the water that was finally starting to slow down, she felt a hand slip into hers on her right side: a hand that Shiki had never been so glad to feel in her life. And the seamstress knew that if she hadn’t been afraid of finding more booby traps, she might have tried to tackle hug him right then.

Finally, the two of them got to their feet and took in the City of Gold, and it truly was a marvelous sight. Don’t get Shiki wrong. But she still didn’t really think it was worth everything that had happened to get here. And she thought she’d probably appreciate it more in the morning, when she was looking at it with the press and police, surely. Right now, she just wanted to sleep…

And Neku seemed to understand that sentiment, bless him, because he and his parents took care of most things for the moment: like finding an exit and calling said police to get them out of here.

…Though, unfortunately, the latter didn’t end up happening right away. Surely because Neku had told them about Shiba and because it wasn’t every day one found a City of Gold, after all.

But the police had been so kind as to get Shiki some coffee, and she was feeling much rejuvenated now, as she sat on a railing and talked to Neku who stood below her.

“I really do want to give us another try, Shiki… But I’ll always be me. I’ll still jump to assumptions, and that sort of thing.”

“That’s not a bad thing when it comes to figuring out puzzles, and whatnot. But with people… you still need to ask, Neku. Yes, you know I’d love to go to a dance with you know… but it still feels nice to be asked and cherished that way, you know? To not feel taken for granted?”

“I think I get it…” Neku smirked up at her. “So, how’s this as an example of me asking? Shiki Misaki, will you marry me?”

Shiki gasped. She was pretty smart, herself (book smarts and in reading Neku) and she had not seen this one coming. And yes, Neku was pretty suave at times, but damn had he knocked this one out of the park. Shiki didn’t think he’d been planning this when they’d been together before. So that meant he must have decided this recently: during the up and down rollercoaster when they found their way to each other again, and that somehow made it all the more special to her.

“I think you get an A+, you genius, you,” Shiki said, before pulling on Neku’s collar to bring him in for a sweet kiss. But when they broke apart, he still seemed confused, proving that even geniuses needed help sometimes. Somehow, the thought thrilled her. “And yes, I’ll marry you.” This time, it was Neku who kissed Shiki. And was it hot in here or was it her?

She was definitely seeing fireworks with him again… though part of that might have had to do with some of the policeman setting some off in their excitement in seeing the City of Gold. But the couple were none the wiser of that, and continued on happily kissing to the news of their engagement.

Author's Note: For BlueRosesBurnBlue/Liz, as I’ve been meaning to get this story to you for, like, two years now. I am SO sorry it took so long. I guess now it can be like a Christmas gift to you?

I also meant to get this story done for NeShiki Day back in August. But better late than never, I suppose:)

I may do more in this universe in the future, perhaps. This was actually a lot of fun!

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okimightbecrazy · 1 year

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In episode 8 of Edge of History, a henchwoman of Billie's that stormed Sadusky's house is played by an actress who is Mirabelle from a Leverage International team in Leverage Redemption. My Edge of History/Leverage Redemption fanfiction to come is looking better by the minute.

#this is just writing itself now #once edge of history season 1 is done #im writing that fanfiction #edge of history #national treasure #national treasure edge of history #leverage #leverage redemption #leverage international #fanfiction #crossover

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ericac318 · 1 year

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Another Treasure Hunt

Summary:

Tasha and Jess’ roommate Elsie has a slight history with Riley Poole. What will that history mean when Mr. Poole shows up during their treasure hunt? I couldn't help myself after seeing Riley on the new series.

Chapter 6

After thirty minutes on the road, Riley and Elsie reached a dock where there was one boat sitting unclaimed.

“I guess everyone else got a pretty good headstart,” Elsie stated as she followed Riley onto the one boat left behind. “How do we find the others?” she inquired as she watched him navigate down the river, confidently.

Riley pointed ahead at something which was invisible to Elsie’s eyes, “Most people don’t know this but boats leave back a trail when they move across rivers like the Mississippi. We’re going to follow it until the trail goes cold,” he shared.

“Is that something you learned from Ben or is this one of your little treasure troves of knowledge?” she inquired, genuinely as she sat back, enjoying watching him in his element.

He glanced back at her, his face wearing a prideful expression, “This one is all me, baby. I wouldn’t get too relaxed if I were you. Billie is no idiot. She probably has people stationed all over the river,” he added as a warning, causing her to grasp her weapon, readying it for confrontation.

After another thirty minutes, and a very uncomfortable spot littered with fog, Riley pulled their boat onto land.

“The trail ends here,” he shared as he got out before reaching his hand out to her, “We’ll be on foot from here. Stay sharp,” he instructed as he moved into the jungle of the Mississippi, reaching his hand back to take hers in his own.

Riley and Elsie walked through the swamplands of Mississippi until they heard someone else and moved quickly to a spot of supposed safety.

“Don’t do anything foolish,” Riley instructed as he saw Elsie peek around the tree to see who was in their midst.

She caught a glimpse of a man she didn’t know before she whispered to Riley, “There’s a man and he is definitely not someone associated with my group. I think I can distract him long enough for you to take care of him,” she added as she moved out of the safety of the trees with her arms raised.

“Excuse me!” Elsie shouted, “Can you help me? I’m lost and I don’t know how to get back to my group. I was with my college science class when I got separated from them. Have you seen anyone in the area?” she inquired while Riley admired her ability to come up with a quick excuse to explain her presence in the area.

Riley had his gun trained on the stranger as he watched the man respond, “I highly doubt that any college class would be here, even for a science class.”

Before Riley could fire, the man shot off a bullet that landed in Elsie’s shoulder. Riley shot the man in the head, but he was too late as he rushed out of their hiding spot to be by her side.

“Are you alright?” Riley asked, his voice filled with panic as he lowered himself down to her level

Elsie took a deep breath, gasping as she pulled off her sweater to put pressure on the wound in her shoulder, “I’m alright. We can keep going. The bullet went straight through,” she shared as she grasped onto his hand to stand back up and continue moving through the forest to where Jess had gone.

Riley shook his head as he took on her weight to guide her through the swamplands until they reached a familiar face.

“Ethan!” Elsie exclaimed as she saw Jess’s friend who she thought should be her boyfriend making his way towards them, “Is Jess ok?”

Ethan nodded, “She’s ok for now,” he replied, “Billie is the only one with her. Everyone else on her team is dead,” he shared as he saw the blood-soaked cloth on her shoulder, “Are you alright?”

“I will be,” Elsie replied, “What’s your plan? I know you’ve got some idea of how to handle this mess,” she added as Riley continued putting pressure on her shoulder.

Ethan nodded, “I already called for help. The FBI should be here any second. I would say that you should follow me into the action, but I think Riley should get you to a doctor. You’re losing a lot of blood,” he stated, matter-of-factly.

Riley raised his brow as he looked at her wound, “Babe, I want to help you help your friends, but he’s right. You’re losing blood much faster than your body can handle. Can we please turn back?”

Elsie took a deep breath before she nodded, “Yes, we don’t have a choice. I’m feeling more and more light-headed as we move forward so I’ll be no help to anyone,” she directed her attention to Ethan, “Are you going to go back in? I’ll feel much better if you do,” she added as she felt herself depending on Riley more and more.

Ethan nodded, “Yes, I’ll go in with the good guys. You two should get back to the docks. I promise that everything will be ok,” he added with the confidence Elsie needed to see for her to agree.

“Thank you,” Riley mouthed to Ethan as he turned back, carrying most of Elsie’s weight back to their boat.

Riley and Elsie reached the docks within thirty minutes of the meeting, Ethan. Agents were already en route to meet Ethan while others had stayed behind to help with medical emergencies.

Riley pulled an almost unconscious Elsie off of their boat to the nearest agent, “She was shot in the shoulder,” he began explaining, “The bullet went straight through but it must have hit something important because the bleeding hasn’t stopped,” he shared as the agent took her from him and moved her to the triage area.

After a few minutes, the agent spoke, “You’re right. She was hit and it went straight through but she lost a significant amount of blood which means that the bullet hit an artery,” he shared, but Riley had a feeling the agent had more to say.

“Is there something else?” Riley questioned as she grasped Elsie’s hand in his own, no longer caring about the treasure or anything else.

Before the agent could respond, Jess and the others returned to the dock.

“Did you find the treasure?” Riley asked as she stood by Elsie’s side, holding onto her hand tightly.

Jess nodded as she wiped the sweat from her brow, “How did you two get here? Is Elsie ok?”

Riley replied, “Tasha reached out and Elsie insisted that we be here, but she was shot before we could get to you guys.”

The agent interrupted their reunion, “Mr. Poole, Elsie is pregnant. That’s why her body reacted so strongly to the injury. Don’t worry,” he reassured the newly panicked father-to-be, “She and the baby are doing just fine.”

Riley glanced down at his fiance, “You would be expecting our first child while we’re out hunting for a treasure that we have no business finding,” he whispered as he noticed her eyes starting to open.

“I’m pregnant?” Elsie asked as she looked into Riley’s eyes, her own wide with surprise.

Riley nodded, “You are. And, your friends found the Pan American treasure,” he leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead, “I’d call today a great day all around.”

His happiness caused Elsie to smile, no longer worrying about any of the other logistics involved in their news, “You’re right, baby,” she stated as she pulled his face down to hers in a passionate kiss.

The End

#national treasure #Riley Poole #riley poole x oc #original female character #Justin Bartha #fanfiction #archive of our own

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wordofthewolf · 1 year

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History Protectors - A National Treasure Story

Jess Valenzuela and Tasha Rivers stood outside of an office building in Baton Rouge. Jess was nervous and, as usual, Tasha was there for her friend. It had been three weeks since their adventure ended in Mississippi. It had taken several showers to clean off Devil’s Swamp and days to come down from everything. They had returned home to Baton Rouge. With the help of Agent Ross, they settled things…

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#A to Z #A to Z Blogging Challenge #Edge of History #Fanfiction #Fiction #H #National Treasure

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justafandomfollower · 1 year

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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: National Treasure (Movies) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Benjamin Gates & Riley Poole Characters: Benjamin Franklin Gates, Riley Poole Additional Tags: Friendship, near panic attacks, Whump, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Febuwhump 2023, febuwhumpday8, Panic, Canon Compliant, Missing Scene, First Movie Series: Part 8 of FebuWhump 2023 Summary:

“I almost died,” Riley said, quiet, muttered, gaze distant, more to himself than anything.

Carefully, carefully, Ben helped him lower himself to the ground. His own heart was racing, even though he knew that this was a logical reaction for Riley to have. As bad as it sounded in his own mind, he hoped Riley got over things quickly; he’d carry his friend if he had to, but they wouldn’t get far that way. They couldn’t afford for true shock to set in, not now.

“I know,” he said, gentle, “I know. It’s alright. Ian’s gone now.”

#Febuwhump 2023 #Febuwhumpday8 #National Treasure #Fanfiction #My fic #Whump

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blog-name-idk · 11 months

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The Plot Twist | 03

Written by @blog-name-idk and @eserethriddle

Summary: Once upon a time you would have jumped at the chance to live the idol girlfriend life. The cameras, the action, the whirlwind romance. But what was once a dream has now become your worst nightmare, and you fully intend to fight the universe as it repeatedly conspires to set you up with your seven perfectly good soulmates from Bangtan Sonyeondan.

In which we punt Y/N into all the fanfiction tropes and you do your feral best to subvert the love story.

Because nani the fuck, you are The Plot Twist.

Pairing: OT7 X Fem!Reader

Genre: Soulmate!AU, crack, humor, idol!AU, light angst, slow burn, romantic comedy, just a fun silly old time

Rating: 18+

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Chapter 3: "I'm moving out."

You've never been a hypochondriac. Each time something strange and new occurred over the past week, you simply normalized it and moved on. But seven sevens mysteriously appearing on your skin the morning after your fever spell were admittedly too much, too eerie.

Something was definitely up.

So you went to the all-seer, the earthly keeper of scientific knowledge, the only place that could tell you what the hell was going on with concrete authority: NaverMD.

But then even you and NaverMD were stumped. Feeding your symptoms into the search engine reported a limited consensus of only two diagnoses. Dr. Naver, MD concluded that you either had a soulmate, or some extremely rare, spontaneous condition in which all your toenails will fall off and cause your eventual and sudden death.

Well, actually, no, the first diagnosis was cancer. But it always is, even when you're just constipated from too many snacks and too little fiber, so you discarded that one immediately.

Despite yourself, you found yourself leaning towards the worse of the two. Because somehow even the prospect of a bizarre, yet-unproven disease still seemed more believable than you having a soulmate.

And then you made your first mistake.

Oh, how simple life had been. You were just a wee child, trying to narrow down your suspicions, so young and naive. You never stopped to realize that some things were better left unknown, uncharted.

Like some theological figures before you, you couldn't resist the forbidden fruit of knowledge. Too drawn by the serpentine lure of instant internet search results, you plugged "7 tattoo" into Naver. And now you must live with your decision.

Because smoldering at you from behind your suddenly hateable phone screen are seven men widely considered to be amongst Korea's national treasures.

The thus-far revealed tattoo locations match some of yours, and you try to stave away the sinking feeling that the remaining others are just as accurate. Because that would mean…

…That would mean…

You have a soulmate. Soulmates.

Seven soulmates… who happen to be Bangtan Seonyeondan.

And that’s the moment your mind breaks.

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It's fine. You're fine. You are handling recent revelations with utmost grace and dignity.

Or at least you are sticking your pinky up as you completely obliterate a tub of ice cream in panic. It takes all the poise you can muster. Understandably. And then you almost throw up all that processed dairy back up, your stomach churning too much for you to punish it with cookies and cream like your usual comfort mechanism.

Why is this happening? Why you? You're not some chosen one, and you've never wanted to be the main character in some lame k-drama or fanfiction.

Maybe this is a weird prank your mother concocted to punish you for completely ignoring her texts and forgetting your "obligations" – i.e. popping out grandchildren for her to coo over. And that, to her well-meaning if conservative outlook, requires a well-established partnership and romance at the minimum. Your father must have let slip that you've skipped all of the group dating events she's been spamming your family group-chat with.

Your caring, loving, ruthless mother has picked your worst nightmare and brought it to reality, all to teach you a lesson. To try to ensure that you find love before you reach hagdom at thirty and must be sent to live shrouded in the woods, away from decent, beautiful society. (Her words, despite the fact that she herself is quite a ways past that age. Not that you would ever point that out. You value your life.)

The thought calms you, and you decide to vacuum the feathers from the pillows you destroyed in a fit of rage and madness. You needed to buy new throw pillows, anyway.

The loud drone of the vacuum soothes you further. Of course, having more than one soulmate is possible, but extremely unlikely. Having seven? Who happen to be the some of the most famous people in the world? That is as statistically likely as you winning the lottery seven times in a row. Probably less, actually.

Pfft! Soulmates? Hah! Nice try, eomma.

You have to hand it to her, she really had you going there for a second. You chuckle to yourself as you turn off the vacuum and go to empty it in the trash. Noticing your kitchen trash is full, you tie it off and carry it downstairs to the garbage room.

You feel oddly pensive as you carry the bag down. Perhaps something about the odor of the two-day old kimchi jjigae leftovers emanating from the plastic is addling your brain, because despite your rationalization you now can't stop thinking about the concept of soulmates.

It seems like there's so much that goes into a partnership, even with pre-destined compatibility. Sure, your parents are soulmates and love each other very much, but that doesn't mean their marriage is perfect. The equilibrium, the joy, the easy comfort they find in each other now is the result of many years of growing both together and apart, of being their own individuals who have learned to fit into each other like puzzle pieces.

They are soulmates, but their happiness wasn't fated. Perhaps the universe contrived for them to meet, but their bond was forged by their own hands. They chose each other.

You can't imagine ever giving someone the keys to your heart and trusting them not to disappoint you.

Or trusting yourself not to disappoint them.

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

On your way back to your floor, you’re surprised to see your landlord with a guest when you step into the building elevator.

“Oh, great timing! Say hello, this young man moving in at 8004, right next to you,” your landlord says.

Your new neighbor is decked out in a bucket hat and oversized sweater ensemble. You see the moon tattoo peeking out from the back of his sweater and gulp.

That… That can’t be Park Jimin… right?

A split second, and that’s when everything you have been avoiding clicks with the finality of a key turning in a lock.

The call with Mijin, the anomalies you’d experienced, the comical twist of your recent everyday life.

It wasn't a prank.

And despite all the very real and terrifying things your mother is capable of, surely this coincidence is beyond even her ability to machinate. Which can only mean one thing.

You do have soulmates, and the universe has begun plotting.

But you… you refuse to do this. You’re not a little girl that the world can tell to spin in her skirt and flutter her lashes. There are things worth fighting against, and these things are love and the eventual disappointment of finding out that the person you adored is fallible and rife with flaws. All the more so when it's an idol with a perfect shiny image to uphold.

Despite your earlier post-Naver meltdown, you now find yourself strangely calm. This is a do-or-die situation, and you have never been one to go down without a fight. Your will shall not be bent, no matter what anyone says about "fate."

You realize your new neighbor is peering at you curiously, and you staunchly avoid his gaze. Your hair falls in front of your face like you're Sadako from The Ring, because you don't want him to remember any identifying features. Your landlord looks confused at your silence, but says nothing, and an awkward silence envelops the cramped confines of the elevator.

When the elevator finally, finally dings open, you refuse to wait and walk with your companions like a normal person. To both your landlord and your – ugh – soulmate's shock, you power walk out of there like you're an ahjumma heading to the store on discount day. When you finally make it to your once-safe haven, your now forsaken sanctuary, you slam the door behind you.

With your heart thundering in your chest, you look in the mirror and take in frantic breaths.

You decide once and for all.

“Let’s not fall in love,” you tell yourself, the promising ferocity in your eyes a hand-me-down from your mother.

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

Today is a good day, thinks Kim Jaehyung. The sun is shining, his wife is making his favorite oxtail soup for dinner, and he's finally managed to rent out the last vacant unit in his building. The new tenant is polite and, more importantly, has paid the entire lease up front without even needing any bank loans.

The only blip is his other tenant's odd behavior in the elevator, and the way you practically fled into your apartment. The new renter is a handsome young man – Jaehyung would have thought that a pretty girl about his age would have been happy to show him the ins and outs of the building. Though perhaps you needed to go to the bathroom – he's certainly had those moments.

"She's my neighbor?" the man asks, sounding curious, his gaze following the way you speed walk away from them.

"Yes! Right next door," Jaehyung replies, trying to remember the new tenant's name. He had just looked at the lease agreement, too! "She's normally very accommodating, so I'm sure the two of you will get along well."

As if to mock his statement, your door slams shut behind you. With a shrug, Jaehyung leads the renter – Park! That was it! Tenant Park! – to the door next to yours.

After showing Park-ssi his new apartment and handing him the keys, Jaehyung is in the elevator when his phone buzzes in his pocket.

You I'm moving out

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

You're exhausted. You might have told your landlord you were moving, but finding a new place within your budget that doesn't come with charming qualities like decorative mold or live-in, six-legged pets is proving difficult on such short notice.

Why isn't Park Jimin of fucking BTS living in one of the more expensive areas of Seoul, anyway? Why would someone that rich and famous choose your cozy, decent little building? He's gentrifying your already gentrified neighborhood! You're too accustomed to the luxuries of upper-middle class life to be happy about being forced out.

So you've taken to leaving home absurdly early and working until late, in hopes of avoiding any run-ins with your soulmate neighbor.

Despite your best efforts, you have somehow managed to end up alone in the elevator with Jimin. You were already inside, and he was running for the door looking so frazzled you didn't have the heart to press the close button on him. Curse the universe for taking advantage of your kind heart and gentle, amiable nature.

"Thank you," Jimin gasps, clearly out of breath. A bead of sweat trickles down from his temple, which you definitely do not notice. "I forgot my wallet."

He takes off his mask to breathe more easily, and you try to look anywhere but at his plump lips and the way his eyes squish when he smiles at you. The universe may have all manner of nefarious powers at its beck and call, but that smile might be the deadliest weapon of all.

"No problem," you mutter, hoping he never sees you again and yet also wishing you had used more eye cream today. Thankfully, the elevator is fast, but as the door dings open somehow Jimin keeps pace with you.

"We didn't get a chance to formally meet," he says cheerfully, somehow keeping stride with you despite your best efforts to break the world record for fastest casual walk. "I'm Jimin. What's your name?"

The simple, completely normal question makes you panic. You've reached your door and you gaze longingly at the handle, dreaming of the safety that beckons on the other side. So near, but so far.

You unlock it, and realize he's paused next to you, awaiting your response. That violently sweet smile is still on his face, and you find yourself staring dazedly at him for a moment before snapping out of it.

You need to exit this situation. Immediately.

You open the door and look him dead in the eye. "I don't talk to strangers."

Swiftly stepping inside, you close the door firmly behind you and try not to dwell on the fact that he is just as beautiful with his mouth hanging open.

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

Jimin stares in shock at the closed door in front of him, wondering what on earth he did wrong. He just wants to be on friendly terms with his neighbors – well, especially the pretty one – but you seem to be avoiding him like the plague.

Maybe you're shy? Or slow to trust? Jimin doesn't think he's been doing anything threatening or overly familiar – certainly nothing to warrant the way you almost flee whenever you see him.

Then again, he's not a single (well, not that he knows whether you're single or not, but you seem to live alone, and haven't had any visitors of any gender despite being quite attractive, not that he's spent that much time thinking about whether or not you are single or anything) young woman living alone, so perhaps his judgment is biased.

Maybe he just needs to try harder! Show you that he really does have good intentions. Or would that be creepy?

It's been so long since anyone has treated him like this – just a regular, pesky person – that he can't help but be endeared.

And intrigued.

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

These days even the temporary security personnel know your name. They know to expect you putting in overtime, but for today’s working hours you’ve completely outdone yourself.

It's late. Late enough that even for a workaholic Korean, you're the last one out of the office. You begin to make the trek to the train station, grabbing your keys from your oversized purse in case any weirdos try to follow you. Though then again, your bag itself could probably be a decent weapon – your building was updating and refreshing all of the first-aid stations, and so you have a bulky, metal kit weighing you down.

It would be kind of funny, actually, if you were able to injure someone with a first-aid kit. Something, something, irony.

You smile, mildly amused at the thought, but it quickly fades when you see a figure slumped on a bench at the bus stop. It looks to be a man, dressed in torn clothing, and when he shifts you see bruises littering his skin. His hair and eyes are hidden by the brim of a black baseball cap, and his features are otherwise also covered by a black mask, and you wonder if his face is also in bad shape.

You make your way closer, the kit weighing heavily in your purse, because you're an idiot who can't leave well enough alone.

"Do you need help?" you ask carefully, standing just slightly far away in case this is a violent person who's going to lunge at you. The man looks up in surprise, and you feel your lunch try to make a resurgence.

Because staring back at you with a black eye is Min Yoongi of BTS.

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

Yoongi exhales and slumps forward on the bench outside the photoshoot location, wondering why he's been feeling so off lately. It's not quite the same as the depression slumps he's used to – rather than numbness, it just feels like something is missing.

The only time the feeling recedes is at night, when the ghost of that strange lullaby whispers at the edges of his mind. Yoongi's put the basic melody to paper, but he can't get it quite right. Every time he tries, it's like some note eludes him, flitting out of reach just before he can grasp them.

"Do you need help?"

Yoongi almost jumps before looking up to see a prim, well-dressed woman gazing at him in a mixture of suspicion and concern. Your eyes widen at his face, and he can register the exact moment you realize who he is.

Fuck.

You look horrified, which is not the expression he's used to seeing from fans. You take a step back, half turning as if to run. Also not something that typically happens.

Yoongi should leave, return to the photoshoot, find his manager and tell him he's been spotted in case damage control is needed. Instead he finds himself strangely spellbound, staring as your jaw clenches and your eyes close. You set your shoulders as if steeling yourself for war and turn back to him.

You reach into your purse and he tenses, ready to hide his face for when you inevitably pull out your phone to try to take a picture of him with fake bruises all over his face.

To his utter bemusement, instead of a phone, you pull out a metallic-looking case and toss it at him without warning. Yoongi is too taken aback to do anything other than watch it clatter to the ground.

"What the–" he begins, but you whip back around before he can finish and take off as fast as your heels allow. "...Fuck?"

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

As far as obnoxious things the universe has thrown at you go, this one isn't so bad.

That's what you tell yourself as you stare at the very shiny, very pointy looking knife being brandished in your face in the alley you use as a shortcut home.

At least it's not a soulmate.

"There's no one here to rescue you, little girl," this apparent mugger gloats, and for a moment you actually feel a little flattered. Little girl? Really? At twenty-five? That's downright polite, honestly.

"Huh? Is everything okay back there?" calls a strangely familiar voice, making the both of you freeze. Thanks to your recent frantic googling and research, you recognize it surprisingly quickly, and you gasp and look your assailant dead in the eye.

"Kill me. Right now," you order, your voice leaving no room for argument. The maniacal glint leaves your attacker's gaze and he stares at you in confusion. And perhaps a little fear.

"Uh, what?"

"Fucking do it, bitch," you hiss, casting your gaze frantically behind him to see if the owner of the voice is coming to investigate. You point at your chest, where you assume your heart probably is. If you have one. "Right here."

"What the fuck, no, I just want your money?" he says in bewildered tones, beginning to back away from you. You hear footsteps from behind him, and panic begins to set in.

"DID I FUCKING STUTTER?" you screech, wanting your attacker to just hurry the fuck up already. Seriously if he wasn't prepared to stab someone why the hell is he waving around a knife? What a little bitch. This is the problem with youth these days – all talk and no follow-through.

"You know what, fuck it, just go," the guy finally says, dropping the knife to the floor. "This is too much for me. I should have just gone to trade school like my mom wanted."

"Whatever dude," you say with a shrug, taking the opportunity to gear up and sprint out of the alley. You pass a confused looking Kim Taehyung, and pat yourself on the back for avoiding another contrived situation the universe tried to force onto you. It can take its cosmic intervention theory and shove it up its black hole where the stars don't shine.

Unfortunately you don't realize that to Taehyung, time slows as you run by. The scent of your hair, the silhouette of your lips… he is utterly captivated. He can't help but to peek into the alley to see where you were coming from, and is surprised to see a masked man just standing there, staring blankly at the ground. Metal glints, and he's shocked to realize that it's not the ground that has drawn the man's attention, but a knife.

"Yeah, I'm not cut off for this," he hears the guy mumble as he kneels down to pick up the weapon. Taehyung tenses, unsure of what to do, only for the man to toss it into a dumpster. "I… I should go apologize to mom."

Had this man tried to attack that girl? Taehyung's fist clenches at the thought, an uncharacteristic flare of anger lighting his chest. Then it relaxes as it dawns on him that you must have talked the man down. Not just talk him down, but give up on his supposed path of crime entirely.

So not just beautiful, but intelligent too. Empathetic. You probably love animals, because he can already tell you're perfect.

For days after, he can't get the strange girl out of his head, or the smell of your flowery shampoo out of his nose.

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

You should have known. You should have fucking known.

"Eomma," you say carefully, lest you invite another scolding from your mother that leaves you equal parts guilty and offended. "This is a very strange place for auntie's birthday."

She purses her lips, managing to look simultaneously irritated with you and pleased with herself, and shoves you forward.

You sigh, resigned, and begin to walk inside the building with slumped shoulders, heels clicking morosely beneath your feet. Until the very pointed throat clearing behind you automatically straightens your spine in a lecture-induced response you have never been able to shake.

"Are you here for the dating event?" chirps the far-too-chipper woman at the front desk, face brightening at the appearance of such a lovely attendee. You force a smile in response, glancing over your shoulder to see that yes, your mother is still watching outside with her arms crossed.

You send her a wave that just makes her tap her foot impatiently. With a sigh, you turn around and nod.

"Yes," you respond with all the joy of a human sacrifice walking to their doom. "I guess I am."

The employee beams at you and pushes forward a form for you to fill out. When you check the box indicating that you indeed have been experiencing soulmate phenomena, because you're an idiot who can't lie even to save yourself, her smile grows even wider.

"It's so great that you're taking initiative," she gushes, oblivious to the way you are now grinding your teeth. "Some people think cosmic intervention will take care of everything, and never end up meeting their soulmate!"

God, goddesses, saints and shamans, whoever the fuck, you think silently. That is literally all I want.

For a moment the image of two spinsters laughing at your pain flashes through your mind, but it's gone before you can really register what happened. What you do notice is that your mother has left.

"Oops, I think I left my ID in my car," you say with a smile suddenly much more genuine than before. "I'll be right back."

The poor, unsuspecting attendant just nods, and you're out the door and around the corner just as a black Palisade rolls up to the building.

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

The store owner blinks in surprise at your appearance. It's broad daylight, and most of his customers are kids and teenagers. Grown adults don't tend to come here, other than the idol who thinks he's sneaky and the tired salarywoman who –

"Hey, Lee-ssi!" you greet cheerfully, sliding your game card out of your dainty purse. "Is there a new score for me to beat today?"

Lee Seungwon blinks again. You're wearing a sleek maroon dress that ends right above your knees, your hair is coiffed, you smell like a field of flowers instead of burnt coffee, and your face is powdered to perfection.

"[L/N]-ssi?" he asks tentatively. It looks like you. It sounds like you. But he wants to make sure, because you look far too perky for someone dressed like they're supposed to be on a date.

"Yes?" you reply, looking just as confused as he feels. "Is something wrong?"

"Er, no," he replies, accepting the game card from your manicured hand. "The usual? 2,000W?"

You grin and nod, prancing off to the Pacman machine with a bounce to your step.

Seungwon feels a strange sense of foreboding.

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

Seokjin is the best hyung. Obviously. He's handsome, he's funny, he cooks, he takes care of his brothers, and even drives them to speed-dating events that are objectively a terrible idea.

In fact, he's such a great hyung that instead of returning immediately home, he deserves a little bit of fun. So he heads to a familiar little establishment. Seokjin's managed to re-establish his place as number one in Pacman, but it can't hurt to fill up the leaderboard even more and show that immature punk who's boss.

The fact that he is a grown man in a silent war with a child over an arcade game wooshes gently over his fluffy hair.

Lee-ssi's eyes widen in surprise when Jin walks in, and the idol follows the dart of the elderly man's gaze to see a maroon dress and a very shapely backside. He stifles a sigh when he realizes it is parked right in front of the Pacman machine, and that he likely can't even ask the woman to hurry up lest she recognize him.

Then he realizes that she is inputting a name on the high score screen.

Right above his.

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#bts fanfiction #bts fanfic #bts ot7 x reader #ot7 x reader #bts soulmate au #soulmate au #eserethriddle #reveri #fruit party 🥭🍒

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