#she's also most active and loud at night when my sound tolerance is at its lowest

[sunflowers-and-mooncakes]

To Dream of an Angel

Part 2 of Dreams of Birds and Angels a series of two one shots written for @pawsitivelymiraculous for the Maribat Valentine’s Day Fic Exchange hosted by @eat0crow!

Ao3

Part 1 can be found here

***

Damian Al Ghul knew only the bare minimum about soulmates. He had been taught by his instructors in the League that they were a phenomenon that no one quite understood. To the members, they were a hindrance and should be terminated promptly. In respect to their targets, they were used as leverage to get information.

After the young boy turned 8 years of age, he dreamt of her. A small girl with wide blue eyes who would draw dresses in bright colors. The next night, his mother would explain in hushed tones what soulmates really meant. A soulmate is someone who is meant to compliment you perfectly, and once you met them you would never want to let them go. She would whisper to him about the man who helped create him, and how desperately she wished he had been the angel meant just for her.

Angel, he thought with a humorless laugh, what a fine name for the soulmate of the Heir to the Demon.

Every night when Damian would close his eyes, he would be greeted with the sight of his blue-eyed Angel. He would watch as she played with her friends. He would laugh in amusement as she spilled flour all over herself while working in a bakery. He would frown when she was pushed around by a blonde-haired bully.

The girl puzzled the young heir greatly. She was a bizarre sort; always smiling even when being knocked around. No matter how much abuse she took from that blonde trollop, his soulmate was always kind to others and give everything she could to help them, all the while asking nothing in return. It frustrated him to see someone so wholly selfless. Didn’t she know that she would be better off trying to profit from her interactions with others?

At the age of 10, Damian’s life rapidly changed. No longer was he revered as the Heir to the League of Assassins. Now, he was in his father’s home, fighting against his father’s wards for attention, and being told to relearn everything he had ever known to be true. It was frustrating, being so out of his element, but the longer he was Damian Wayne instead of Damian Al Ghul. He realized how skewed his world had once been.

While his mother had tried to soulmates explain differently from the Leagues teachings, he had always seen her words as foolish. It seemed futile to him, her longing for something she couldn’t have. However, living in Wayne Manor also allowed the now ex-assassin to see a different side of soulmates. Grayson would often talk about his dreams of his mate Starfire with a dopey grin on his face. Similarly, Drake would mention in passing how his dreams started at an older age due to the elder Superboy having not been created yet.

It was strange, living in a house of people who weren’t constantly ready to fight him. His new siblings were perplexing. Grayson was always trying to rope him into some strange “bonding” activity. With Todd’s return came his aggressive attitude, yet occasional helpfulness. Drake was usually passed out somewhere or so full of caffeine he couldn’t even hold a proper conversation. Cain was the most tolerable, having shared similar experiences and understanding the importance of silence.

The biggest influence on his new lifestyle, however, was Alfred Pennyworth.  His dedication and care for the family was to be admired. The Englishmen had a way with words and always knew just what to say to help Damian through his many sour moods. Most importantly, the butler’s selfless love for his charges helped the young Wayne to understand his soulmate’s behaviors.

As his world changed, so did his dreams of her. He would see her take her drawing from paper and bring them to life with fabric. He would look on as she made new friends. As well as enemies. If Damian had been able to, he would have fought that sly fox himself, but the smug smile on his face when Angel put her in her place.

What was most jarring to see, was her fighting villains in a red and black spotted suit. Magic had never been something he took kindly to; it having more than once put his and his family’s lives in danger. After watching countless battles in his visions, and later finding recordings of them online after much research. He could only conclude that the nature of her powers and villains were indeed magic.

It didn’t take Damian long to figure out that his soulmate was the Parisian heroine Ladybug. However, this still did not allow him to meet her. At the very beginning of her tenure, Ladybug and the government of Paris had barred all Justice League access to the city, keeping him from getting there using the cover of Robin.

His next plan was to go to Paris as a civilian. However, he could find no way under his family’s constant hovering to get there. He couldn’t use the private jet without getting caught, and him buying a plane ticket would be immediately suspicious. The last thing he wanted was for his family to find out about his blue-eyed soulmate and get involved. While he had come to care for them more than he ever imagined, in some manners they were simple too overbearing for him to deal with.

So, Damian, rather begrudgingly, chose to let fate take its course. After much thought, he realized that his Angel may not even want to meet him. She had spent the early years of their bond watching him act as a bloodthirsty killer. She was most likely appalled. Who would want a soulmate like him anyway?

Now 18, the black-haired boy spent most of his days the same. He would take Titus for walks in the park, help his father and Drake at Wayne Enterprises, and fight back the crime of Gotham in the dead of night.

Damian was on one such walk when Titus suddenly pulled his leash out of the boy’s grasp. The dog went racing down the path and out of sight with a loud bark.

“Titus!” he called, jogging forward to see the Great Dane stopped in front of a woman who had bent down to pet him.

“I apologize, miss,” he said, coming forward and lowering himself to be at the same level as Titus and her. He put his hand on the dog’s head to pet him as well, bumping the woman’s hand slightly.

“He usually doesn’t go running off towards strangers…” he looked from the dog to the woman and trailed off. His eyes widened as his heart skipped a beat. He tried hard to control his reaction. Now that he was up close, he recognized that face. It was the face of his Angel.

The woman, noticing his change in demeanor, looked up at him. When their eyes met, her expression quickly turned to surprise as well. Looking at her now. the blurry image of her that he had known before began to fill in.

He had always been attracted to his mate. Once he had assumed it was simply because the strange magic of soulmates dictated it so. But now, seeing her face to face, she was more beautiful than he had ever imagined. She had a small button-shaped nose. Her blue-black hair that had once been pulled into cute little pigtails was now in one long braid over her shoulder. What drew his attention most was her big round bluebell eyes that were so kind, yet held mysteries that even he, who had seen much of her life from afar, didn’t have the answers to.

Damian looked down at his dog who seemed quite smug, almost like he knew who he had brought his owner to. It was then that he noticed the marks. On the back of their hands flew a ladybug being followed by a red-breasted robin.

“Miss?” he called, looking back up at her.

“Yes?” she replied. He would never admit it, but his heart melted a bit at the sound of her voice like tinkling bells.

As they made eye contact once again, he made a small gesture towards where their hands sat atop Titus’ head. He swore her eyes couldn’t get any wider as she looked from the marks back up to him. “It appears we are soulmates,” he said plainly as he stood up from the ground, doing his best to appear less shaken than he was. She stood as well. “It appears so,” She gave him a nervous smile and held her hand out to him. “I’m Marinette,”

The boy hesitated for a moment, having a hard time believing the situation he found himself in was real and not a fantasy.

After a moment he took her hand and shook it. “My name is Damian,”

“Well, Damian,” she smiled brightly at him. “would you like to go on a walk and get to know each other?”

He gave her a soft look back. “I certainly would.”

#Maribat #daminette #maridami #soulmarks #soulmate au #soulmate marks #soulmate dreams #Valentine's Day fic exchange #background relationships

[def-initely-soul]

house rules {2}

pairing: jimin x reader (f.)

genre: fluff; angst; roommates au; kinda new girl au; smut; f2l au

rating: explicit

warnings: sexual content; mention of emotional abuse; mention of manipulative relationship; mention of body issues; explicit smut

words: 19.6k

summary:

↠ {living with two guys has always its pros and cons. Pros being someone will always get you popcorn for your midnight cravings. Cons being you might like one of them…?} ↞

or alternatively, the shenanigans of five friends, where two of them are in a loving relationship, one is Kim Seokjin and the other two don’t know what the fuck they’re doing

.

.

Next morning, on Christmas eve, you try to be as nonchalant as you can. Thankfully your walls are thick enough so no one took notice of your late-night shenanigans and what happened between you before Hoseok’s interruption was barely anything out of the ordinary.

Thankfully you get yourself distracted with the preparations for this evening. Every year the five of you plan a traditional Christmas dinner, idea courtesy of Hoseok’s and Seokjin’s minds, where every single one of you was assigned to different tasks.

Seokjin is in charge of the roasted turkey, as he is every year, Hoseok will cook his famous vanilla-roasted sweet potatoes, Jimin will prepare a cauliflower soup and Ana is always in charge of the desert. This year choosing the recipe of a Buche de Noel.

You’re left with the simple task of making smooth mashed potatoes and bringing the booze.

Even though simpler than what others have to do, it gives you time to be alone and focus on something else other than Jimin. Whether you’re cooking or going to the store to pick up the alcohol, your time is productively filled with anything other than thoughts of him.

You take a nap around midday, leaving the kitchen free for the guys to use. Taking a hold of this opportunity to stay clear of Jimin’s gaze. You make sure your interactions are limited between the lines of what is only necessary, even when the preparations are done and you sit around the table.

Ana and Seokjin arrive together, the turkey the size of a small TV, which Seokjin himself puts on the table. Not letting anyone else help him or carve it, flashbacks of last year when Jimin tried to carve it and nearly dropped it still etched to everyone’s memory.

You help Ana move the desert to the fridge for later, and as all of you take your places at the dinner table, you feel a particular set of eyes on you.

Thankfully you don’t sit next to him so you don’t have any one-on-one conversation like you do with Seokjin sitting to your right. You only talk to him when the conversation involves the whole group and that’s only to not alert anyone that something is off.

Your mind is swarmed with memories of Jimin’s look. With the way he’s looking at you now.

You ignore it in favour of talking to Ana at the end of the table as she rumbles excitedly about the party next week. You immerse yourself in that conversation, going lightly over some details and pouring another glass of wine as Seokjin passionately joins you.

Although, even if you’re engrossed to something else you can’t help but notice one thing. 

He never mentions Dinah.

And that gives you magnificent, dreadful hope.

.

.

It’s New Year's Eve, and you’re in an awfully good mood.

The party is in full bloom, the essence of joy and excitement wafting through the air, people dancing their worries away and laughing under the neon-lights (Ana really went all-in in the decoration department), having fun in what can only be a fitting welcome for a bright New Year.

The mulled wine has gotten slightly into you, landing you in that perfect spot between sober and tipsy, just enough to elevate your already high spirits. Besides you’re also celebrating finally finishing your book. It’s been a bitch of a struggle but finally, you’ve gone and did it. Finally booking an appointment with a publishing company that took an interest in you after reading one of your drafts you’ve previously sent them.

And well. Dinah isn’t here.

“I cannot believe I’m talking to the next Stephen King!” Hoseok yaps excitedly, throwing an arm around your shoulder, voice raised higher than normal due to the several “old-fashioned” he managed to throw back.

You grunt from the sudden weight as he leans a bit too much on your side to stand up. “Okay, step it down a notch, buddy,” you chuckle, patting him on the shoulder.

He thinks it over before-. “Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?”

Your eyes widen, an involuntary laugh escaping you. “I said step it down a notch, not climb the whole mcfreakin ladder?” Hoseok giggles happily, before his eyes rest on the hostess, who’s currently talking to a coworker, gleeful smile in full bloom.

He waves at you to lean closer to him and you oblige. “See that girl over there?” he whispers to you conspiratory, pointing at Ana who seems oblivious to your conversation. You chuckle at his drunk antics but decide to appease him and nod.

A blissful smile takes over his lips. “Imma marry her someday.”

You barely keep your smile at bay. Honestly, Hoseok is whipped for Ana and anyone who doesn’t see that is blind, so it doesn’t sound weird coming from him. You’re willing to bet his wish is gonna come true someday. It’s just a matter of time.

Though you’re happy for your friends, you can’t let this teasing opportunity pass you by.

“Hey, champ, I got some bad news for you…” you press your lips together in mock-sadness and Hoseok’s face falls.

“She has a boyfriend,” you deliver the final blow and his eyes widen. Before he bursts into tears.

At least a couple of people stare at you, as Hoseok bawls his eyes out and you can’t stop cackling. Oh, god, you didn’t know he was this drunk, he was perfectly fine moments ago! Although to be perfectly candid, he has a low alcohol tolerance, so really this one is on you.

Ana shows up after a few seconds, worry etched into her features after seeing her boyfriend cry like a baby. “What happened? Are you okay?” she asks him, obviously more sober than him, but once she sees you laughing, her eyes narrow. “What did you do to him?”

You shrug, your expression being the poster-child for innocence. “Nothing! I just told him you have a boyfriend.”

This sends another wave of tears down Hoseok’s cheeks and Ana laughs incredulously. 

“Is it true? Do you have a boyfriend” Hoseok struggles to ask through his hiccups and Ana can’t repress the lovesick smile on her lips.

“Yes and he’s a giant baby.”

“Does that mean I still have a chance?”

Ana chuckles before pressing a kiss on Hoseok’s pouty lips. “It’s you, you dufus! Now, come on, let’s get you to lay down…”

“Really?” he says with the most childlike smile you’ve ever seen on him. And only seconds later it turns into a smirk. "Oh, I will lay down, I will lay down so hard that you-” he struggles to complete his sentence, “that you’ll want to lay down with me…”

You groan out loud, not ready for the scene to turn into an NSFW one. “Are you horny all the time?” you complain out loud and the couple raises their brows at you.

“...Already know the answer to that one. Thank you very much five years of living together!” you admit regrettably and Ana tsks you.

“Serves you right for having the nerve to terrorize the sun himself!”

“That’s me!” Hoseok points to himself with a proud smile and you press your lips together to stop the giggles from escaping as Ana rolls her eyes fondly at her boyfriend.

“I’ll get him to my room-” Hoseok finger guns her, winks and blows her a kiss, “could you please make him some coffee?” Ana pleads you as she struggles to push a drunk Hoseok down the hall.

“You got it, babe! I’m gonna roast this coffee so bad, it’s gonna go running to its momma!” you announce in the spur of the moment, but Ana just looks at you like you’ve grown a second head.

“Doesn’t work for me, does it?” Ana just shakes her head and you huff. “I’ll go get the coffee…”

You drive through the crowd, barely avoiding the drinks spilling left and right and finally reach the kitchen. Thankfully there’s only like a couple of people around, so you reach for the french press easily, adding the coffee grounds and warming some water in the microwave.

“Why on earth are you having coffee with so much alcohol around and why does that weirdly make sense for you?” Jimin enters your vision, resting his hip on the counter in a mirror of your stance and you have to take a breath.

His dark blue hair is slicked back, revealing the magnificence of his eyebrows (yeap, that’s another spot of Jimin you’re weak about). He’s dressed in all black; black jeans, black T-shirt with an open neckline, a leather belt hugging closely at his hips, a dangly earring gracing his earlobe and a silver chain resting against his glistening collarbones. He has been dancing and all you wanna do is dive in and bite at the skin of his neck, glinting welcoming under the dimmed lights.

Focus.

“Give me a break, it’s not even for me…” you joke back, just in time to cover up your little zone-out. Jimin stares back confused.

“Who then-?” he makes a sound of realization before he chuckles. “Hoseok,” he responds and you nod, a giggle already on your lips.

After Christmas eve, when you refused to even speak to him, things became less weird. It seems like the two days you spent actively avoiding each other helped in restoring the dynamics back to normality. You’re not even sure who made the first move but after a few days, you were back to normal, as if that thing on the couch never happened.

Maybe it is for the best to pretend it never happened. No feelings are going to get hurt this way.

“Yeap, Ana took him back to her bedroom,” you reply, moving to pour the water into the french press.

Jimin raises an unconvinced eyebrow as he hands you a mug. “And are you sure they’re not gonna fuck back there?”

You take the mug with an appreciative nod. “Honestly, they’re probably fucking right now on their way there. Maybe they are, maybe they’re not. Maybe I’ll be scarred for the rest of my life walking into that and maybe I won’t.”

“And you’ll take those chances?” Jimin chuckles incredulously and you almost swoon at the way his smile lights up the room.

“This coffee won’t deliver itself!” you joke and Jimin’s smile turns bigger.

“Your service is greatly appreciated!” he says with an awful British accent and proceeds to laugh.

“Well, thank you good sir!” you play into it with a curtsy and both of you burst into happy, slightly intoxicated giggles.

Your eyes rest on the french press as the coffee grounds seep into the water and it’s like your lips have a mind of their own when they ask the following question.

“So, alone tonight?” you ask with fake nonchalance and you swear Jimin tenses.

You can’t help yourself. From the moment you realized Dinah was absent you wanted to know why. They’ve been dating for almost a month, so that means they’d still be all over each other, you figured they’d want to spend New Year's together.

So how come Dinah isn’t here?

Jimin nods, eyes absentmindedly following your fingers as they trace the marble counter.

“What happened to Dinah? Didn’t want to spend New Years with our ugly asses?” you joke, hoping to lift the tension off his shoulders and rejoice when Jimin cracks a smile.

“No, no. Actually, her friends are throwing a party too…” he simply says, not giving you another explanation even though something else clearly bothers him. You don’t ask further, figuring he’ll tell you if he wants to, so you move to press the plunger down and pour the brown liquid into the cup Jimin handed you earlier.

“And I actually didn’t …” he hesitates, biting his bottom lip.

God, this is straight-up torture.

“Didn’t…?” you urge him on, sensing his desire to say whatever’s bothering him.

He takes a breath.

“Didn’t have the need to invite her…?” he admits, eyes on the steaming cup of coffee, struggling to put his thoughts into words as you stare at him utterly confused. He didn’t have the need to invite her? Like, he didn’t care if she was here?

No, Y/N, don’t get your hopes up.

Jimin huffs, running a hand through his hair.

“I mean.. I didn’t want to.”

And you find him staring at you again, with those intense, magnetic eyes and your breath is sucked out of your lungs.

He didn’t want to invite her. Why? What does it mean? Why did he do it?

And why is he looking at you like that?

Did he-?

“Surprise!” a familiar female voice echoes through the kitchen as Dinah throws herself literally against Jimin, hugging his waist with an excited smile. No concern in her eyes over your panicked faces.

You don’t know if she heard your conversation but if she did, she doesn’t show it.

Jimin’s wide, panicked eyes travel between you and Dinah. “Dinah, what are you doing here? I thought you were spending New Year’s at Minoh’s?” he turns around to bring her forward and the intimacy hiding in the domestic action drives a knife through your chest.

“That party was boring as hell. And I missed you,” she says with a blinding smile and leans in to press a soft kiss on Jimin’s lips, ripping your heart in two.

You can’t stand this. You can’t stand to watch as she kisses him right in front of you and you feel like an outsider, glimpsing at something you long for but can’t have. Is it always gonna be this hard?

You swallow the lump in your throat, gripping the cup tighter and force a smile on your lips just in time for the couple to miss your crestfallen expression.

It’s time to get out of here.

“That’s great! You’re just in time to spend New Year’s together!” you exclaim with forceful enthusiasm and Dinah nods excitedly as Jimin looks at you with an indecipherable expression. “You’ll have to excuse me, I have to deliver this bad boy!” you smile, pointing at the mug and you start walking away, already waiting for the moment you don’t have to keep that smile on your face any longer.

That seems to wake Jimin up as his eyes widen. “Wait, Y/N, I didn’t-”

“Have fun at the party!” you interrupt him, keeping the smile on for a little longer, before you turn your back at them, smile disappearing, steps fast as you miss Jimin’s face filled with despair.

.

.

Your steps bring you back to the living room, already having delivered the coffee to Ana’s room. Although Jimin’s suspicions were correct and you walked into a scene you’d rather forget, closing your eyes to avoid any more damage on your retina, resulting in you leaving the couple with a half-spilt coffee.

Not that they’ll be needing it now anyway.

Stepping into the main area of the party you can’t help the sour mood that takes over you, watching everyone have a good time. You were also having a good time until Dinah arrived.

Which reminds you. What did Jimin mean back then? Was it just stupid you with your tendency to read way too much into things or did he actually mean what you wanted him to?

And if he did, why is he still dancing with her?

Your eyes are stuck to the couple in question, dancing in the middle of the living room as a mid-tempo dance track plays through the speakers, Dinah’s hands wrapped around Jimin’s waist as he sways her softly to the beat.

The night started out so well. You were having fun, for once all worries put aside as you didn’t have to think about the book or Dinah, or Jimin. You were happy.

But then someone decided to shit all over that happiness and you were back to the beginning. Having your heart broken by your best friend and he doesn’t even know.

You take a breath to calm the erratic beating of your cracking heart when you see a too familiar face emerging from the kitchen.

Oh no, what is Jaehyun doing here?

You move quickly, dreading to talk to him, hoping he won’t see you but, alas, luck was never on your side.

His eyes spot you all the way across the room, with numerous people in between like he has laser vision or something. A smile takes over his lips as he waves at you and begins walking towards you.

God, no. No, you can’t deal with him right now. He’ll probably want another date and you know he deserves to know the truth but you just can’t do it right now.

You’re quick to move to the balcony, trying to lose him through the crown but his voice keeps calling you even outside. You slip through the people and into the living room, stopping to see him briefly lose you as his eyes scan the balcony.

You escape into the kitchen, hoping he won’t look for you here and in your hastiness to hide, you fall face-first into Seokjin’s chest.

“Fuck, sorry, you need to move!” you say urgently, trying to hide behind the massive wall he calls his shoulders.

Seokjin regards you with a suspicious glare. “What are you doing?”

“Trying to hide from Jaehyun!” you bite through gritted teeth as your eyes scan the open area behind you. With relief you realise Jaehyun isn’t anywhere near, just a bunch of other people and Jimin talking with Dinah and Hoseok.

Your heart still clenches uncomfortably when Seokjin interrupts your thoughts.

“Why are you hiding from Jaehyun? Didn’t the date go well?” he asks you purely confused and with guilt, you realize you never told him nor Ana that you bailed.

You bite your lip. “I didn’t go…”

Seokjin’s eyes widen comically. “What?! Why?! I thought you wanted to!”

You groan rubbing your palm on your face. “I just… didn’t feel like it anymore! And now he’s here, looking for me and I don’t know what to do! Who invited him anyway?”

At that Seokjin has the decency to look guilty. “I may have seen him at the coffee shop and invited him… But in my defence I didn’t even know you bailed on him!” he looks at you with a scolding glare and another groan leaves your lips.

“Oh, shit here he comes…” Seokjin looks carefully behind you and you steal a glance to indeed see Jaehyun stepping into the living room and walking straight towards you.

“Okay, fuck, let me think…” you mumble in thought when you see something on the ceiling, hanging just a few centimetres behind Seokjin.

“Got it!” you exclaim, and when Seokjin doesn’t follow, you push him back so both of you stand right beneath the thing hanging from the ceiling and then you point at it, knowing he’ll catch the drift.

Seokjin’s eyes follow your fingers, only to widen in horror when they rest at what you're pointing at.

Mistletoe.

“No! No, no, no, I’m not kissing you so you can get rid of him!” he hisses, eyes swimming in denial and disbelief. But you narrow your eyes at him.

“It’s your fault he’s here! So step the fuck up Kyle!” you hiss back and Seokjin looks less than thrilled.

“Don’t quote vines to me, you heathen, I won’t hesitate bitch!” he responds and you know you’re halfway winning him over.

“I can’t believe you’ve done this…” you reply, mastering the perfect puppy eyes.

The sound of his favourite vine has him yielding in a matter of seconds, choking back a laugh before he rolls his eyes. “Fine. But we gotta hurry up, he’s almost here,” Seokjin relents, eyes falling behind you.

“Buckle up,” is the only thing you say before grasping Seokjin’s panicked face and press your mouths together.

You stay like that for a few seconds, simply pressing your lips together like an awful K-drama kiss though there’s no romantic music playing in the background. The kiss is at its best… underwhelming. That’s what you were lusting after all those years? It certainly doesn’t live up to the expectations.

You lean back, staring at Seokjin who barely manages to conceal his weirded out face. “Is he gone?” you whisper and Seokjin nods in relief.

“Yes, he’s gone…” he mumbles, letting out a breath as you let his face free and take a step back, finally breathing freely.

“Don’t ever do that again!” he exclaims, his words followed by a loud gagging noise.

“Anything for you Beyonce!” you say, sharing the sentiment and you grab a random shot glass on the counter, to wash out the feeling of Seokjin’s clumsy mouth on yours.

“We don’t tell anyone. We take this to the grave and live the rest of our lives feeling slightly awkward with each other. Sounds good?” Seokjin states with wide eyes and you laugh at his seriousness.

“Ay, ay, captain! Now take a shot with me to erase the memory for good!” you say, filling two glasses with tequila and you hand him one.

“To forgetting this ever happened!” he raises his shot and you follow his movements before downing the contents of the glass.

“Amen to that.”

.

.

Half an hour later, its time for the countdown so the New Year can officially begin.

The automatic clock on Ana’s TV screen reads 23:59:03 and you rush to gather your friends together in one place, so the New Year can find all five of you together as it has for the last four years.

The rest of the attendees also gather in groups; friends, couples, coworkers, newly made acquaintances but all shimmering with the vibrating delight to welcome the New Year and the opportunities that are bound to come.

Ana and Hoseok are already counting down the numbers - admittedly a bit too early -, and Seokjin passes you four tequila shots to celebrate once the clock strikes midnight. But then he’s left with an extra one and realization strucks you.

“Hey, where’s Jimin? He’s supposed to be here!” you yell to be heard amidst the loud chattering of the crowd, but your question remains unanswered when Seokjin shrugs his shoulders in loss.

Ana looks around to find said-man but it’s Hoseok that finally puts an end to the mystery. “Uh, actually he went home!”

Your eyebrows furrow, confusion apparent in your eyes. He’s never missed out on this! How could he leave? You always spent New Year’s together, the five of you, it was your unique tradition, one you’ve expected him to keep up with.

Maybe he was feeling a bit under the weather, you try to reason with yourself. Let’s not get mad at him before knowing the whole story.

“Wait, so he left without telling anyone? Is he okay? Did he even tell Dinah he’d leave?” you question back, aware of Ana & Seokjin’s wary gazes but you don’t bother to acknowledge them.

Thankfully, Hoseok still isn’t entirely sober to notice them either and start asking questions.

He just shakes his head at you. “Oh, no, they both left. Oh, the countdown’s started!”

As people begin shouting along with the voice on the TV you can’t help but stare aimlessly into space.

They both left. Jimin ditched you, all four of you to spend New Year’s with Dinah. Alone.

And it hurts. It hurts, it hurts, it hurts.

It shouldn’t feel as much as a personal attack but it does. He left all four of you but it still feels like he specifically left you behind. As if he doesn’t care anymore. Before all that the chance of the two of you ever happening was abysmal. But it was still there, however small. You were fine with that cause at least you knew he valued you as a friend.

Now, you’re not even sure of that anymore.

You should be fine with him leaving. You’re just his friend.

And yet the heartbreak is overbearing.

Seokjin looks at you carefully as Hoseok keeps counting down to one, entirely unaware of what just happened as Ana counts with him but her eyes are on you.

You give her and Seokjin a weak smile, before averting your eyes quickly to count as well, not bearing to see the looks of pity in their eyes.

You hate this.

The clock strikes midnight.

You’ve never felt more alone.

.

.

The next morning finds you exhausted when you wake up on Seokjin’s couch. You’re not sure you could handle going back to the apartment and having Dinah and Jimin across the hall from you. Hoseok was going to spend the night at Ana’s, meaning firstly he kinda gave Jimin the pass to run wild and secondly you couldn’t crash at Ana’s. Of course, she insisted it was okay but you didn’t want to cockblock her on New Year’s. So Seokjin offered his home as an alternative which you happily accepted.

You’re dreading to go back to your flat, though already knowing it’s an inevitable curse, you leave a note for Seokjin to find when he wakes up and then you leave his apartment.

On the way home, you wonder if you should trek over to the donut shop around the corner for some heavenly delicacies but then you’d have to buy Jimin and Dinah some. And that is simply something you’re not willing to do.

Hopefully, they’ll be both asleep when you arrive, too tired to be up at 10 am on New Year’s, so you’ll get your chance to quietly slip into your room and avoid everyone for the rest of the week.

Maybe even a month until those stupid feelings finally decide to disappear.

You try your best to be as soundless as possible when you unlock the front door. You enter the living room on your tiptoes, closing the door quietly behind you before moving to throw your coat on the hanger.

The moment you think you’re alone passes by quickly when you hear the door of the fridge being shut and immediately turn around to see Jimin staring at you with bleary eyes. His hair is a mess as he’s clad in a white T-shirt and grey sweatpants as his pjs, a cup of what must be steaming coffee on one hand as the other runs through his locks. You find yourself salivating.

“Where did you go this early in the morning?” his gruff voice comes out, purely confused and before you get to correct him, his eyes fall on your figure. And he realizes you’re still dressed the same as last night.

“Did you just get here?” he asks, his voice a tad too sharp and accusing to be considered friendly and your arms wrap around your middle protectively.

“Uh, yeah… I crashed at Seokjin’s… Too tired to come back after helping Ana clean up…” you joke, forcing a laugh to hopefully ease the sudden tension hanging in the air.

Though your airy laugh doesn’t reach Jimin. Instead, his eyes are fixed on the wall to his right, jaw tense in what seems almost as anger before he takes a quick sip of his coffee and slum the cup on the counter.

“Ugh… are you okay-?” your confusion is apparent in your voice as Jimin walks off the kitchen, down the hallway.

“I’m going back to sleep…” he mumbles through clenched teeth before he disappears inside his bedroom and closes the door with a loud bang.

You stare weirdly at his door, bewildered by his entire behaviour but you’re still too sleepy to let it get to you. So instead you opt for crawling over to your room and hide beneath the covers.

.

.

The days after New Year’s turn out weirder and weirder to the point of questioning your mental state.

Seokjin still feels somewhat awkward around you after the kiss but instead of avoiding you, as any normal human being would do, he actively seeks you out, clinging to you and following you around like a shadow, as if the over-exposure will help him get rid of the awkwardness faster.

True to your words, none of you have said anything about it to the others, so you were half waiting for everyone to be immediately weirded out by Seokjin’s sudden display of affection. But apart from Ana that gave you some scarce confused looks, the other two haven’t made a single comment, as if this is a completely normal situation. They barely blink when even yourself gets creeped out from Seokjin’s insistent coddling.

Which brings you to the other weird thing happening in the flat.

Jimin barely talks to you anymore.

You don’t have the slightest idea why. If you said something, or done something that offended him, you’re none the wiser. And how are you supposed to know when he barely greets you in the morning?

Every time you attempt conversation, there’s always something he has to do, which sounds completely ironic, given you were the one that kinda did the same before.

Not to cover your own ass but you did that for the sake of your friendship! If Jimin ever finds out you’re into him, you can’t bear to think the effect this might have on your friendship.

Whereas Jimin might as well be angry over such a small thing as you using his earbuds.

It wouldn’t have bothered you that much if it wasn’t for Dinah.

Well, she barely does anything, it's just that Jimin always goes to her when he has the chance. Nights spent with all five of you together munching on popcorn in front of the TV, turn into awkward gatherings as Ana and Hoseok pair up against you and Seokjin, leaving the two of you cringing whenever the couple does something too coupley.

At New Year’s Eve, he practically admitted he wasn’t that much into her anymore and now he’s always with her. Did he lie back then? And if so why?

Everything is wrong and you don’t know how to fix it.

If only Jimin hadn’t begun dating Dinah, none of this would’ve happened. You wouldn’t have realised you liked him, he wouldn’t have spent so much time with her, he wouldn’t abandon the four of you for her.

Although, a small part of you screams you would’ve realised you liked Jimin either way. It wasn’t about Dinah.

And yet you can’t help the loathing that emerges like bile in your throat when you hear her name.

Or when Jimin, after two weeks of avoiding the rest of you, announces you are to throw a dinner so you can get to know her better.

You feel the headache splitting your skull open.

.

.

It’s nearly impossible to hide your sour mood once Dinah steps into the apartment.

A switch has flipped and where there was a smile from joking around with Ana, now there’s a permanent scowl on your face as you refuse to even acknowledge the newcomer, as she greets the rest of your friends.

Once she says hello to you too, you mumble something that resembles a greeting, not even bothering to look at her direction, as Ana regards you with a warning glare.

Deep down you know most of your attitude comes from Jimin’s behaviour these last couple of days, and Dinah’s direct contribution is only at roughly 10%. But you’re stubborn, immature and putting the blame on her seems like an easy way to cope with the situation and the hurricane of feelings swirling in your mind.

No one said it’s the right one. But for now, it’s what keeps you from hiding in your bedroom and wallowing in self-pity. Not that you won’t do that later.

You result in setting the table with Hoseok in silence, not really in the mood to talk, as everyone else sits in the living room and you catch glimpses of their conversation.

Seokjin and Ana talk about a new addition Seokjin wants to put on the menu of his restaurant, while Jimin and Dinah dally on the other side of the room.

You think you’re gonna barf.

“Ugh… Y/N are you okay?”

You turn around at the voice, surprised to see Hoseok stare at you with confused and worried eyes. Shit, did he sniff out something?

“Ah, yes! Why?” you put forward your most cheery voice in the hopes it will throw him off.

“‘Cause you keep stabbing the meat with the forks…” he comments carefully, leaning a bit backwards as his worry grows, once your confused eyes meet his.

And then you look back to the meat and, surely, all the forks you were supposed to pass around the table are stabbed into the steaks on the centre of the table.

Your eyes widen as you press your lips together in horror. God, why can’t you just behave for once?

You rush to remove all the utensils, dumping them into the sink and you pick out new ones, as Hoseok keeps staring at you with a raised eyebrow.

“I’m fine!” you respond with a clipped voice and you’re not sure what Hoseok hears in your voice but he drops it, in favour of placing the napkins around the table. Though you can still feel his weirded-out stare from time to time.

Once the table is set, Hoseok calls for everyone to gather around and one by one flock to their seats.

And as you put the finishing touches, you can’t help but hear Jimin’s conversation with Dinah.

“We have ice cream for dessert, you’re gonna love this one, it’s heavenly!” he says with excitement.

“Oh, only if it’s vegan, me and regular milk don’t go along…” she jokes and as Jimin says he’ll have someone check, an idea pops into your head. A petty, childish idea but it gives you some purpose for now.

So, she’s lactose intolerant? It would surely be a shame if she were to eat normal ice cream.

And by “shame” you mean hilarious.

The little voice in the back of your head berates you for acting so immature but at this moment you desperately need this. You can be salty for one evening.

What’s the harm?

.

.

Once everyone’s plates are empty, the lot of you migrate to the living room, as you stay in the kitchen to get the ice cream out of the freezer.

Jimin told Ana to ask you to check for the ice cream some time ago, -can you believe it, he didn’t even ask you! He had to talk to Ana for god’s sake-, and you did. But just as you’d suspected it wasn’t vegan.

So your plan is good to go.

You have Seokjin help you carry the bowls of ice cream to the living room and you pass each one around as they’re expected with excited noises.

Ana almost moans at the delicious flavour and Hoseok chuckles at his girlfriend’s antics as you sit next to Seokjin and dive straight into your own bowl.

During dinner it seemed everyone got along just fine with Dinah, talking and joking together as if she’s been a part of this group for a long time. And it bothers you even more.

You also recognize her attempts to get close to you as well but really you can’t be bothered. It comes to the point where she talked to you and all you did is give her a one-word answer before turning your attention somewhere else.

Though right at this moment your attention is solely on her as she takes a scoop out of her ice cream.

“Mmm, it’s really good!” she says excitedly to a smiling Jimin, as she swoops in for another spoon.

But after a few seconds, her eyebrows scrunch in confusion, as she keeps the ice cream in her mouth, looking as if she’s trying to figure out something. You can barely contain your gloating.

“Uhm, this ice cream is vegan right?” she rushes to say, eyes growing just a bit wider with what seems like panic.

Ana turns to look at you and you answer with the most innocent look you can manage, acting like you just realised you didn’t.

“Oh, oops! I guess I forgot to check, sorry! Why, are you lactose intolerant?” you respond in the first complete sentence you’ve given her tonight, internally gloating at her misfortune.

She swallows, her eyes widen even more, traces of fear growing in them. “Ugh, no-”

What does she mean no?

“I’m allergic.”

At once every conversation ceases, all eyes resting on her, wide in shock.

Fuck.

Jimin is the first to react.

“What?! Shit. Are you okay, should we take you to a hospital?” he asks in panic, placing the ice cream as further away from her as he can while you’re left staring at her in horror.

“Well, since I can feel my tongue thwelling, I thay we thould,” she comments shaking, losing the ability to pronounce the letter “s” as more time passes.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” you struggle to say, full of remorse, but no one seems to hear you as the situation goes haywire.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, this wasn’t supposed to happen!

Seokjin is immediately on his feet. “I’ll drive you there, you guys clean up here okay?” he commands urgently and as you feel the guilt overwhelming you, you stand up form your spot in an instant.

“I’ll come with!” your voice trembles as you reach for your bag while Jimin and Seokjin help Dinah out of the apartment hurriedly.

But as soon as you speak Jimin’s furious eyes are on you.

“I think you’ve done enough.”

And then he slams the door behind them.

You’re left staring at the piece of wood with trembling eyes, as Ana and Hoseok simply stare at you, Hoseok’s eyes wide in shock as yours while Ana’s are filled with disappointment.

You. Fucking. Idiot.

.

.

It’s almost four hours later when Jimin and Seokjin return, finding only Hoseok in the living room waiting for them as he asks them how it went.

But Jimin doesn’t bother answering him as he instead marches with loud, angry steps towards your room.

On the other side of the door, your nails are nearly non-existent from all the nervous thinking that has plagued your mind for the last few hours. Your texts to both of them asking how Dinah was, were left unanswered and you were left brewing in your own nerves.

Until the door opens and Jimin walks in.

You freeze in your spot once your eyes meet his and see the undecipherable expression on his face.

You only manage to mumble a guilt-ridden “hi” and he closes the door behind him as he closes his eyes and takes a deep, calming breath.

Although it seems to not do much.

“What the fuck, Y/N?!”

Your answer is immediate, full of regret. “I know, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! Is she okay?” you ask, out of your wits with panic as you wait for him to answer.

He seems too tired, too exhausted as he responds. “They gave her an antihistamine, she’ll be fine,” he says with a sigh but then his eyes are full of rage as they rest on you again. “But do you realize what might have happened if we were a bit late?! She could have died!” he yells at you, voice full of unbridled outrage as his eyes grow even more with the passing of time and you feel smaller and smaller.

“I’m sorry!-” you repeat again, feeling incredibly awful with what you’ve done, “-I thought she was just lactose intolerant, not allergic!” you say in hopes of redeeming yourself even just a bit but maybe this wasn’t the right thing to say as it seems Jimin’s anger only grows.

“This isn’t the fucking point, Y/N!”, you flinch at the volume of his voice, “The point is you've been trying to sabotage this for weeks! You think I haven't seen the side-glances and the mocking giggles?! I fucking know you don’t like her but couldn’t you just pretend for my sake? Do you have to go to such lengths to let us all know you hate her?!” he spits at you with wild eyes and you fight the urge to wrap your arms around your frame.

“I didn’t poison her on purpose…” you mumble in explanation and your eyes stare at your feet, not daring to look at him, drowning in shame.

“No, but all the other things were!” he refutes with impatience, but then he sighs. His shoulders fall down but his jaw’s still clenched. “Why can’t you just be happy for me? I know what she did better than anyone, believe me, but people are allowed a second chance, and frankly, it’s not your place to decide if she deserves it or not. All I was asking of you was to be decent towards her because I was stupid enough to think you’re my friend above everything and you’d respect my wishes!” he confesses, face crest-fallen and what you once feared, -him looking like this because of you-, has finally come true. You can feel your eyes watering but you can do nothing to stop them.

“I am your friend!” you respond desperately with pleading eyes, trying to stop him from questioning how much he means to you. If only he knew exactly how much.

“Are you really?”, he questions back, “Because the rest of the guys are my friends too and they don’t have a problem with her. It’s just you! And if you can’t accept her and be happy for me then…” he stops, eyes falling on the floor, refusing to meet your gaze and you have an awful feeling blooming in the pit of your stomach.

“...Then we’re better off as just roommates,” he delivers the final blow.

You can’t believe your ears. There’s no way, no way.

You feel your throat closing up. “...You don’t mean that…” you mumble in denial, eyes blurry and voice almost breaking at the possibility of losing your best friend.

Jimin still refuses to look at you, his lips pursed as he shakes his head. “Yeah? And you said you’ll support me no matter what so I guess we both said things we don’t mean.”

“Or I guess that was just you,” he says in a final tone, eyes serious this time on you before he turns towards your door to leave your bedroom. To leave your life.

You can’t breathe.

“Jimin-” you manage to stutter out although you feel like choking. You can’t lose him, you simply can’t.

“No, Y/N, you can’t just-!” he snaps back but stops himself before saying anything else, pressing his lips together.

Then he takes another breath. He collects himself and before you manage to stop him, he closes the door on his way out with a loud bang.

And you can’t move. Your eyes simply stare at the door, refusing to let any tear drop and you purse your lips, feeling a mixture of stubbornness and sorrow.

He left. How could he? How could he push you aside for her?! You’ve been friends for a little more than five years now and he ruins your friendship because of her?! Her?!

You rush to lock the door behind him with blurry eyes, putting the blame on him as for now you need this to stay sane.

Tomorrow you’ll know that everything was your fault.

But for now, you choose to believe otherwise.

You step back from your door, crossing your arms on your chest in defiance.

“If he doesn’t want to be friends then we won’t be!” you exclaim in an attempt to salvage your broken ego but once those words are out of your mouth, once they finally feel real, you can’t stop the tears from rolling down your cheeks.

You have to cover your mouth to drown the sound of your sobs.

You can’t let him hear.

At that moment there’s a knock on your door, before “Y/N? It’s Seokjin, can I come in?”

His voice is quiet, calm, reminding you that he and Hoseok probably heard everything. You can’t deal with it. You can’t deal with any of it.

“Go away, Seokjin…” you mumble with a low voice in order to hide the fact you’re crying.

You hear him sighing. “Come one, at least talk to me-”

“Go away!” your voice is coarse as you yell back, for a second not realising it was you. You know you're gonna regret yelling at him later, but you just want to be alone.

There’s silence on the other side. Then the echoing steps of someone leaving.

And then you break down in the middle of your room.

Alone.

The only sound coming from your quiet sobs.

.

.

{Jimin’s POV}

Keep it together. Don’t lose focus now just because she looks like she’s about to cry.

It’s easier said than done, but Jimin manages to remain focused on what he came here to do. Even if it’s just barely.

He can’t go on like this. Maybe if you were happy for him and actually supported him, things would be different. But when you act like a spoiled baby that didn’t get her wish with no excuse whatsoever when you were supposed to be okay with Dinah… there’s not much he can do.

Not when your behaviour acts as a false beacon of hope. One he can’t afford to see. Otherwise, he might do something he can’t take back.

He’s got to be firm and decisive.

So he turns around to leave before he takes it all back.

“Jimin-” he hears the breaking in your voice, knowing how much this may weigh you down but all he can feel right now is unfairness. It’s unfair how he wants to move on but with one single word he finds his resolve crumbling.

You shouldn’t affect him this much.

“No, Y/N, you can’t just-!” he begins but stops himself. What was he about to say? Something he shouldn’t, probably.

Still, you stop talking. And you just stare at him, with disbelief written in your eyes. He avoids those in favour of staying true to his words.

There’s no saying what he’ll do if he meets them.

So, he simply leaves your bedroom.

Marching through the small distance between your door and his, he can see Hoseok and Seokjin, from the corner of his eyes, staring.

They probably heard everything.

He steps into his bedroom, closing the door behind him, needing some space. To calm down, to take a breath, to finally think about what he just did.

You looked like you were ready to break down at any moment.

Maybe he shouldn’t have been that harsh with you. Maybe he was a bit too hasty, too vengeful in making that decision.

Someone knocks on his door.

What if it’s you?

His steps can’t take him to his door any faster.

But it’s just Hoseok.

“... what?” he hears himself get defensive once he sees your door still closed shut behind the other man.

Hoseok stares at him with understanding. “It doesn’t have to be like that, Jimin…” he comments with a soft voice, always knowing how to approach Jimin when he’s angry, better than anyone.

Jimin sighs, still feeling stubborn but he knows by the end of what Hoseok has to say, he’ll almost certainly listen.

“... Let’s talk about it okay? I’m sure Y/N wants that too…” at those words Jimin swears he feels a small pinch of pain on his chest. He wishes they’re true.

“Seokjin is also gonna talk to her…”

But those words manage to bring his stubbornness back full force.

There’s a chuckle coming out of Jimin but none of it sounds happy.

“Of course he will…” he snaps at Hoseok, who bites his lip once he realises his mistake. “Yeah, Hoseok, I think I’ll pass,” the bitterness is evident in his words, not bothering to hide it from the one person that knows the cause of it.

Hoseok’s eyes widen once he realises Jimin is about to close the door on him. “Wait, Jimin, don’t-”

“Goodnight,” is what Jimin simply says before closing the door on his best friend.

.

.

He can’t be sure when everything began to change. He can’t place a finger on the exact moment his feelings had changed.

On the exact moment, he fell in love with you.

Was it the moment you walked through the door as a roommate applicant? He can’t be sure. But somewhere along the way, the feelings bloomed, outgrew everything he ever felt for anyone.

He just was a bit late at realizing it.

When he woke up after you slept together and his eyes rested on you as you slept, he felt a pain in the middle of his chest. But it didn’t feel like a regular pain, it felt like his heart was expanding like he was experiencing growing pains. Because while he stared at you, he realised there was nothing else he’d rather do. You looked so serene, so at peace sleeping next to him, he never wanted the moment to end.

And that’s how he realised.

Of course, he had to push his newly-found knowledge aside when he saw you nearly going into panic mode. Just because he felt like this, didn’t mean you did too.

So he hid those feelings, playing it cool for the sake of being your friend.

But this shit was difficult when he was surrounded by you twenty-four-seven.

Right before Seokjin’s birthday he had sworn he’d finally tell you. He thought that maybe, just maybe you’d like him back, or at least he’d get to have a weight lifted off his chest.

But then he saw you hugging Seokjin…

He wasn’t trying to spy on you or anything. He was just trying to reach the bathroom when he saw you wrapping your arms around Seokjin. Around the guy you had a crush on for the past few years. It was like a stab to his stomach, even more so when he knew you weren’t really into hugs and when you did hug someone, it usually meant a lot to you.

Jimin couldn’t believe his eyes. He also couldn’t believe how much it hurt and how much he needed something to distract himself.

Or, rather, someone.

That’s how Dina came along.

He never intended to string her along this far though. At that night she was just a distraction, someone familiar who knew how to take care of him, despite everything that had transpired between them in the past.

But Dinah kept trying, kept fighting vigorously for that second chance and he couldn’t help but acknowledge how much she’d changed over the past year. So he let her back into his life, hoping that at least she’d help him forget about you.

And it worked for some time. Until that night.

Until the night you were supposed to go on a date with Seokjin and cancelled it because of him - he’s sure of it even if you vehemently denied it back then-. The night you were dressed on that tight, little, black dress, the one that reminded him of that night eight months ago and suddenly his mind was going haywire with thoughts, or rather, memories of you.

He swears he saw hunger in your eyes when his palm was on your thigh, scorching both of you at the connected spot and if it wasn’t for Hoseok’s interruption, he was sure he’d’ve lost control.

Jimin hates to admit it but that night he kept thinking of you, of your eyes, of your lips, of the way your thighs had fit around his waist back then, of the sound of his name falling from your lips as he touched himself, trying to drown his moans onto his pillow.

He couldn’t talk to you after that for a couple of days. Too ashamed, too embarrassed, too enamoured with you, he thought you’d be able to see right through him.

But once things got back to normal, they were ruined once more.

Dinah appeared at the worst of times at New Year’s. He was so close to letting you know how he feels, encouraged by your reaction when you ditched your date for him, which was another green light for him at the moment. But Dinah showed up and you were out of there before he even got a chance to explain.

Hoseok had found him then, drinking away his sorrows.

“And the worst of all is, she’s dating Seokjin, which I now realise makes me a big jerk and an awful friend as I keep trying to steal away his girlfriend,” Jimin mumbled before downing the rest of his drink.

Hoseok seemed perplexed but that might have been from the near-alcohol-poisoning he just had before Dr. Ana “nursed” him back to health. “And remind me, how are you sure she’s dating Seokjin? They haven’t told us anything yet…”

Jimin stared into his drink, already sort of tipsy on alcohol and self-pity. “Saw ‘em huggin’...” he mumbled behind the glass. Hoseok had to do a double-take at that.

“What?” Hoseok responded in disbelief. “That’s it? Dude, I do that with Seokjin all the time, that doesn’t mean I’m dating him!”

Jimin sighed in annoyance. “It was more than that okay? There was this feeling to it! I could tell it wasn’t just a simple hug!” Jimin groaned as he rubbed his face with his hand.

Hoseok rolled his eyes at his friend. “Still you can never be sure by just a hug! Have you talked to her?”

“No, I tried to but Dinah came in and she left as soon as she saw her…” Jimin admitted and Hoseok almost laughed out loud at his friend’s idiocy.

“Bro, if that isn’t a sign to talk to her, then I’m not dating the most bomb person in the whole ass world.”

Jimin wasn’t impressed as he cocked an eyebrow at his friend.

Hoseok wasn’t deterred. “I can see you have an objection here and it’s a complete disgrace to Ana’s name, so Imma pound you to logic city later, you limp dick, but right now you need to talk to Y/N!” he concluded as he shoved Jimin out of his stool.

Jimin groaned as he stood up, but as his eyes fell to the bottom of his drink, he realised Hoseok was right. He should’ve talked to you first. Maybe he had misunderstood and there was nothing going on with Seokjin.

And right then as he saw you bumping into Seokjin, he figured it was a great opportunity to find out what was happening between the two of you from both parties involved.

But as his steps got him closer and closer, he saw you kiss him.

He froze. He couldn’t look, couldn’t bear, but still, his eyes stayed glued to the both of you as your arms circled around his neck to press him closer.

Jimin felt like vomiting.

He turned around right then and there and walked away. He needed to get out of there. He gave Dinah a half-assed apology as he also sent her on her merry way and he left for his apartment. He couldn’t even tell Hoseok why he was leaving the party, only announcing his departure and disappearing.

It was the first time in years he spent New Year’s alone.

He hated it.

.

.

{Y/N’s POV}

You’ve done the worst sleep in ages.

You rub your eyes, immediately regretting it when the slightest touch has them stinging from how swollen they are from all the crying.

Right. It wasn’t just a dream.

You drag your feet begrudgingly across the floor to the bathroom to splurge some water on your face, in a futile attempt to calm down your puffy eyes. Before you’re off to the kitchen where Hoseok is currently eating his breakfast cereal.

Once he hears the sound of footsteps, he raises his head, only to see you awkwardly walk in the kitchen, eyes downcast as you go for the fridge.

“Hey,” you hear him say.

With your face facing the inside of the fridge you take a breath, letting the low temperature calm you down.

You knew it was coming. Hoseok definitely listened to everything along with Seokjin. And yet you don’t feel like replying.

Nonetheless, you turn around and acknowledge him with a tilt of your head as you move to have the coffee machine working.

“So… How you feeling?”

The question prompts a humourless chuckle out of you and Hoseok sighs in response.

“I know, that’s a lousy question. I just…” he takes a breath, eyes gentle on you, not at all judgemental as you’d expect them, after what you’ve done yesterday, “I mean I know Jimin’s side of the story, but I never heard yours…” he concludes, letting a soft smile take over his features.

Huh. Your side of the story.

You swallow the lump in your throat, but the words don’t come out. Instead, you resolve to looking down at the floor as your hands grab tightly at your empty cup.

Hoseok, sensing your hesitation, sighs resigned but he doesn’t push you on it.

A moment passes when both of you remain silent until your coffee is ready. You pour the liquid into your cup, almost moaning in relief you don’t have to stay here another second.

But before you get to leave Hoseok speaks up again.

“I know things may look like a mess right now but I’m sure this won’t be the case forever. Jimin… yeah, he’s mad but you're his best friend. He’s gonna change his mind soon…” Hoseok’s gentle words reach you and, oh god, how do you want to believe them.

You turn to look at him and see the hope written in his eyes.

You give him what might have resembled a smile if you weren’t feeling so beat-down.

“You didn’t see the way he looked at me Hobi…” you whisper and Hoseok’s face falls just a bit at how broken you sound.

“Things will change, I’m certain of it,” still he replies, eyes full of determination that make the slightest sliver of hope go through the cracks of your sorrow.

Right then another pair of footsteps echoes as Jimin walks into the kitchen.

His sudden arrival has you both freeze, eyes resting on the newcomer and while Hoseok keeps on looking at Jimin, you’re quick to avert your gaze, the lump in your throat growing.

A second passes where Jimin doesn’t move forward or backwards. Like he isn’t sure if you could be in the same room anymore after yesterday's events. Your heart pangs at the thought.

He coughs awkwardly.

“I didn’t know you were awake, I can come back later-” he begins softly, eyes avoiding yours as well, making the pain grow a little sharper.

“No, it’s okay, I was done anyway…” you interrupt him, hands gripping tightly at your steaming cup as if it is a life board.

And without another word, you’re out of the kitchen.

.

.

{Hoseok’s POV}

A week passes by and it seems there’s no hope for reconciliation on the horizon.

Both of you went the extra miles and rearranged your schedules to avoid each other as much as possible. Jimin spends nearly every night at Dinah’s, barely seeing the others and you spend days locked into your room under the pretence of writing, but really you’re just avoiding everyone.

The rest of the guys don’t know what to do anymore.

It’s a Friday afternoon when Hoseok is over at Ana’s place, the mood in his apartment too heavy to bear and he can’t bear this anymore.

“Babe, I’m back, they didn’t have any vinegar chips so I bought oregano instead. Can you imagine the disgrace?” he shouts as soon as he steps back into the apartment, after a small walk to the seven eleven down the street.

But instead of hearing his girlfriend’s welcoming back, he hears her sigh. Then he sees her walk around the corner from the kitchen with her phone pressed to her ear like she’s in a conference call.

“I still don’t understand why won’t you just tell him!” Ana speaks on the phone, sending a tired wave to her boyfriend who looks at her entirely confused.

Hoseok just takes his shoes off and plops himself on the couch, sensing Ana won’t be done with that phone call anytime soon.

There’s a silence from her side as she listens intently to what the other person is saying. Hoseok decides to open the bag of chips just to keep his hands occupied.

After a while, Ana talks again.

“But what if she doesn’t tell him?” she? First, she mentioned a “him” and now a “she”? Hoseok’s getting more confused by the second.

“And what about Jimin then? Doesn’t he deserve to know the truth?” her voice is stern, like a mother berating her child and a sound of understanding leaves Hoseok’s lips, as he concludes Ana is talking to you.

There’s a small silence from your side, indicating no response to Ana’s question and so she keeps talking.

“And I’m talking about the whole truth Y/N.”

Hoseok’s intrigued. What whole truth?

“I know I was the first person to be against telling him about your feelings but with how poorly you handled the situation, I don’t think you can possibly make anything worse!”

At that, Hoseok’s eyes blow wide open. Feelings?! What feelings?! 

He’s immediately up, approaching Ana with quick steps as she listens to your response. Your voice, even though muffled through the phone, sounds weaker, sadder. Disheartened.

Ana’s words are softer now. “But you’ll never be able to do this. You’ll never be ready but, the truth is, no one ever is. That’s kinda how it goes and that’s okay. But you gotta do it at some point, sooner or later,” she talks to you calmly, Hoseok sensing her sorrow at hearing you like this.

But he can’t shake the feeling that he can somehow help if he finds out what those feelings are.

Ana sighs tiredly as if what she just said didn’t have much of an impact. “Y/N-” but before she gets to respond you hang up.

Ana gasps while staring at her phone. “She just hung up on me, I can’t believe it, how dare?” she says to no one in particular as she rubs her hands on her face tiredly.

“Tough luck?” Hoseok comments wrapping his hands around her waist. Ana welcomes the embrace, her hands winding around his neck as she rests her head on his shoulder.

“She just won’t listen! She’s so infuriatingly stubborn and it’s driving me nuts!” she blows a stray hair out of her face, accidentally tickling Hoseok’s skin in the process and he chuckles.

“Kinda like you then?” he teases as he finally pushes that stray lock behind her ear and she pokes out her tongue at him in retaliation before falling into peaceful tranquillity.

Hoseok hates to disrupt this but he has to ask her what all of those things meant. For the sake of Jimin.

“Hey, babe…” he begins and Ana hums in acknowledgement.

“When you talked about Y/N’s feelings…” he feels her stiffen in his embrace but nonetheless he carries on, “... what did you mean?”

Ana takes a breath. “I guess there’s no point in not telling you now…” she speaks softly before taking another breath, one Hoseok holds until he hears her answer.

“Y/N… she likes Jimin. Well I mean that’s what she says anyway. I think it’s way more than that…” Ana admits sadly but Hoseok’s mind goes into overdrive.

“Are you serious…?” he asks in what can be perceived as a calm demeanour but in reality, his head is about to explode.

Ana chuckles calmly, still in Hoseok’s embrace. “I know right?”

Oh my god, they’re both idiots, he thinks. But he has to do something now.

“Oh god, those giant baboons!” he almost yells, making Ana flinch and take a step back to look at him perplexed.

“Hoseok…?”

He laughs incredulously as he takes a step back, trying to process the situation.

“For how long?” he asks and Ana looks more weirded out by the second.

“Two months, give or take?” Ana responds with narrowed eyes.

Hoseok chuckles. “That’s…” when Jimin started going out with Dinah, of course, it all makes sense!

“Seriously our friends are the worst idiots ever!” he complains once more.

“Okay, now do you mind telling me what’s going on?” she retaliates, getting irritated with her boyfriend and his tendency of not explaining anything for the dramatics.

“Jimin likes her back!” he shouts out loud, the magnificence of what he found out too overwhelming to bear.

Ana’s eyes widen. “What? How can that be? What about Dinah?”

Hoseok narrows his eyes at her. “He began dating her again after that one night stand that only happened because he saw Y/N hugging Seokj- Wait! What about Seokjin?”

Ana seems confused. “What about Seokjin?”

“Isn’t Y/N dating him?”

Ana almost bursts out in giggles. “What? No! Of course not! Why would you think that?”

“Cause of the hug!”

“So what, a simple hug means automatically they’re dating each other?”

“Well, we all know Y/N hates hugs, plus she had a crush on him so it would be believable- Wait, that’s not the point. So Y/N isn’t dating Seokjin?”

“Nope. Never did,” Ana concludes as both of them fall into the same realization.

“So Jimin did all that stuff…” Ana begins, not quite believing the absurdity of the situation.

“...Because he thought Seokjin was dating Y/N,” Hoseok admits tiredly.

“We gotta tell Jimin,” Ana grabs her phone to punch in his number before Hoseok stops her.

“Wait…” he stares at the phone, the cogs in his mind whirling before his eyes light up.

“I got a better idea.”

.

.

{Jimin’s POV}

Sweat still drips down his forehead as Jimin bids goodbye to his students, after the end of his contemporary class. He reaches for his water bottle and heads for the teachers’ lounge where his stuff is before he gets to his last class.

He wipes his forehead with the back of his hand before pressing the now lukewarm bottle on the nape of his neck, to get some sort of relief.

Once again, his focus wasn’t entirely on the class. It has been like that ever since your fight, but at least it started getting better as time passed. Still not at its best though.

He finds himself feeling guilty more than he thought he would. Guilty towards you, towards Dinah. It’s a mess.

Admittedly, he was really mad at you but as he got to think it over, he realised he acted too rashly in cutting you off. And he misses you already.

But the thing is… you haven't made a move to reconcile either. That could be because you’re afraid of him pushing you away again. But shouldn't you make the first step? If you did, Jimin is sure he would forgive you on the spot.

He shakes his head tiredly as he enters the teachers’ lounge and reaches for his backpack. Everything’s a mess.

And then there’s Dinah. Dinah who’s changed, who’s kind and understanding. Dinah who he strings along and who’s possibly already aware of Jimin’s use of her as a distraction. They both know that, even though Dinah’s changed and everything’s seemingly fine, the relationship is doomed this time around as well.

Although this time it’s Jimin’s fault.

He needs to come clean to her. He has to end this.

Right then his phone begins ringing.

Once he sees the contact name, he’s a little less willing to answer it.

“What do you want?” is his response once he picks up and there’s an awkward chuckle at the other end before the caller finally replies.

“Whoa, okay, forward, can’t you buy me a drink first, champ?” Seokjin tries to make the tension disappear unsuccessfully, resulting in Jimin not even answering that particular quip.

He hears Seokjin sigh on the other side, before “Anyway, can’t I just call my friend to see how he’s doing? It’s been a while since the last time we talked…” the other man admits cautiously and Jimin’s defensiveness slowly ebbs away to give place to additional guilt. He’s the one blowing off all his friends because he wants space. Or more precisely, he thinks, because he’s a coward, too afraid to really deal with the situation, so instead picking the easy way out, at the expense of his friends.

He rubs his face with his hands, before letting out a breath. “Yeah, I know, things have been kind of…” Jimin trails off but Seokjin hums, as if he understands what Jimin means without him having to say it out loud.

“Yeah…” Seokjin agrees quietly and Jimin feels more horrible as time goes by. When did he begin to feel such animosity towards his friend? They used to be really close ever since they worked together at the same shift, and now Jimin can barely be in the same room as him. It’s not Seokjin’s fault in any way and the truth is Jimin’s animosity arises not towards Seokjin but more towards himself.

He has stuff he needs to work on.

“Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about…” comes Seokjin’s response that has Jimin sitting up straight in his seat, terrified of what his friend wants to talk to him about.

And it seems his fears were not unjustified.

“How long have you liked Y/N?”

There it is.

Jimin takes a breath, panic trying to take over him but he wills it to go away and answer his friend. Even if he’s terrified to do so.

“I…” he begins, audible shakiness colouring his voice, “... how do you know?”

Seokjin doesn’t hesitate to answer. “Hoseok told me…”

Jimin takes another breath, one full of guilt.

“Look, I… I’m sorry, I didn't mean for it to happen, it just did! And I know it’s awful of me to have done this but, yeah, for some time I had thought of acting on it. But now that I know for certain you’re together, I wouldn’t even dream of-”

“First of all, Y/N and I are not together.” Seokjin interrupts the babbling idiot and Jimin stops mid-sentence.

He blinks, uncertain. “I… what?”

Seokjin sighs with a chuckle. “Y/N and I aren’t dating,” he repeats.

Jimin opens his mouth like a fish, in complete and utter shock. “But… but I saw you…” he states full of doubt, almost like a question.

He can almost hear Seokjin raising his eyebrow. “You saw us doing what?”

The lump in his throat doesn’t make this any easier. “I saw you kissing a-a-aand-and hugging!” he retaliates, trying to support his reasoning.

Seokjin sighs once more, the gesture coming off him naturally by now. “Okay, she kissed me because she wanted to avoid a dude she ghosted, I had little to no say in this!” Seokjin responds in a typical Seokjin fashion.

But Jimin has more questions. “A dude she ghosted?”

“Yeah, she was supposed to go on a date with this guy in my restaurant but blew him off for some reason…”

Wait.

“When was this?” Jimin asks, eager but nervous to find out the answer.

“A couple of days before Christmas.”

So that wasn’t a date with Seokjin but just a rando?

God, Jimin has fucked up big time.

“And what about the hug?” he asks for the last time, to make sure he resolves any misunderstanding.

“What hug? Oh, you mean on my birthday? Dude, that was just her coming clean about her past crush on me and us moving past this like a couple of adults.”

Jimin’s throat constricts uncomfortably but in unbelievable hope. “Past crush?”

Seokjin’s smile is nearly audible. “Yeah, “past”. Know why? Because she has feelings for someone else.”

And just as easily as Seokjin has given him hope, he just as easily rips it away.

“Oh…?” Jimin barely manages to utter, voice almost breaking alongside his heart. “Who?”

Seokjin groans on the other side, taking Jimin wholly by surprise by the irritated tone in the older man’s voice. “Oh my god, you really are both idiots,” he says almost to himself, “You, you soggy tit! Do you really think she did all that to Dinah simply because she didn’t like her? No, she was fucking jealous!” Seokjin concludes, voice rushed and angry to berate his friend and finally put an end to this huge mess.

But Jimin hears only one word.

You.

She has feelings for you.

The girl he’s been in love with for nearly a year now, if not more, has feelings for him. Reciprocated feelings.

Is this real? Is this a fucking dream from which he’ll wake up in the morning, feeling shittier than ever?

But Seokjin said she was jealous. Jealous.

“She- She was? Seokjin, just…” he stops himself to take a calming breath, refusing to believe this just yet, “Please, don’t joke about this, I’m not gonna laugh,” he warns his friend. He can’t bear to have his heart messed with any more than it already has been.

“Does it sound like I’m joking? Believe me, I wouldn’t, we’re all too invested in your shit, it’s not healthy.”

Jimin can’t believe this. He wants to, desperately, but what if it’s not real? What then?

“I…” he swallows his nerves, “She really has feelings for me?” he asks, not unlike a hopeful child. God, his heart is about to burst.

“Yeah, buddy, I know it’s hard to believe when I exist!” Seokjin tries to lighten up the mood with a joke.

Jimin doesn’t laugh.

“...Too soon? Sorry, anyway, I thought you should also know Y/N really feels awful for everything and if there’s one thing that can confirm that, is the fact she apologized to Dinah,” Seokjin concludes carefully.

Jimin doesn’t know how to respond.

“But if you don’t believe me… Ask Y/N herself.”

But he knows what to do.

.

.

{Y/N’s POV}

You’re washing the dishes, alone at home for another hour at the very least as Jimin’s classes end in one hour.

Should you go to Ana’s? Ugh, but Hoseok is there.

Maybe you should just hole yourself up in your room for the scarce time Jimin will be here before he’s off to Dinah’s.

Which reminds you of earlier today.

In Dinah’s defence, she handled your apology quite gracefully, in contrast with you. You were a babbling mess, trying to put your thoughts into place and at first, she was suspicious of you, but once your visit made sense, she seemed to understand. Something even you couldn’t at times.

She accepted your apology with a calm smile, confusing you even more as she said she appreciated your effort to put all of this behind you.

You were glad she seemed to not hold it against you although, honestly… you don’t think you deserve it.

You have no idea if she’s planning on telling Jimin or not and quite frankly you’re terrified of what he’ll say if he finds out.

Once you’re done with the dishes and close the tap, you hear the front door open and close, assuming it’s Hoseok back from Ana’s.

“Hobi, is that you?” you ask before turning around, only to almost choke on your own breath when you see Jimin instead.

He’s standing just in front of the door, not going forwards or backwards, as his eyes stare at you. Serious, careful but calm. No anger residing in them. Just awkwardness as he seems to not know what to do with himself, as he simply rests in place and somehow a tiny drop of hope begins to bloom.

“I… Don’t you have classes?” is the first thing you manage to get out of your mouth and he takes a breath.

“I had to get out early…” he responds and you can’t help but focus on the “had to”. Did Dinah talk to him after all?

“...Why?” is your careful question, when in reality your mind is in a state of disarray. Is this a good sign? A bad one? Is he here to restore your friendship to what it used to be or finally cut ties with you and move out?

Your mind is gonna short-circuit.

“I…” he begins, eyes falling to the floor. Then he takes another breath. “I had to talk to you,” he says.

Oh god. This is it. You’re done.

Your throat closes up as you blink quickly trying to stop your eyes from welling up. Damnit, you already cried so much about this, you shouldn’t have any more tears left!

He takes a tentative step forward, eyes finding yours once again. But they look… soft, tender. Apologetic.

“I… I’m sorry. For the way I acted,” he breathes out and your eyes widen, having to do a double-take to make sure you heard right. “I was too harsh on you, basically taking out my nerves on you and even though what you did was awful, I shouldn’t have taken such drastic measures. I took it too far by saying we shouldn’t be friends and I’d like to take it back if you want to…” he concludes, observing you cautiously.

You’re left staring at him like a deer caught in headlights. Is he serious? Did he just apologize to you like he was the one at fault?

“Jimin, oh my god, you shouldn’t have to apologize, I should!” you rush to say, instinctively grabbing his hands to soothe him, completely missing the taken aback turned loving look in his eyes.

“I acted way out of line and truth be told I think I needed that as a wake-up call. You were right, what kind of friend am I if I don’t try to get along with the girl you’re dating?” you continue, too self-conscious to be able to look Jimin in the eye, instead staring at your joined hands with a new kind joy.

You got your best friend back. And if keeping him means you have to bury your feelings for him, then you’ll do it. For real this time. Whatever it takes to not lose him again.

Jimin chuckles in response. “Used to date,” he corrects you.

This time though you can’t help it when your eyes snap back at him. “What? What do you mean?”

Where you expected to be a sorrowful expression, there is none. Instead, Jimin is looking at you with a soft smile, a serene one, one that matches the peace in his eyes. “We broke up,” he says and you can’t find the proper words to react to this.

“Oh… H-how so?” you say instead, unwillingly holding your breath.

Jimin’s eyes rest on your face for a moment, that damned smile still gracing his lips, before his eyes fall to your hands. “I guess you helped me realise some things with what you did,” is his cryptic response.

But before you get to question his answer his eyes turn stern, with a note of mischief hiding in their corners. “That does not mean what you did was okay, though,” he says, pointing his finger at you like a teacher disciplining a child and you chuckle at his attempt of lightening up the mood.

“Believe me, I know. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive myself…” you respond, rubbing a hand awkwardly at the base of your neck, still awfully aware of your other hand still connected to Jimin’s.

“Well…” he says quietly, his eyes on your joined hands, “Good thing I did then…” he mutters, his thumb running over the back of your palm soothingly and once your eyes meet his, you know you’ll be okay.

.

.

After that talk with Jimin, -that ended with the both of you watching Space Jam and cuddling to sleep-, everything is once again back to normal. The past week has been amazing compared to the one before it. You find yourself smiling all the time as your friendship with Jimin is back to its prime, laughter and joy returning to your shared apartment.

Your group returns back to its routine, hanging out together in front of the TV, roasting Hoseok for his abundant sexual energy, you know, the usual.

And yet you feel like something’s changed. More particularly, with Jimin.

You catch his eyes on you more than once, more than what could be considered normal but ever since you made up the two of you haven’t been left alone once. The guys are always around and, really, it’s not like you don’t want them to be but there’s always something hanging from Jimin’s mouth, something he wants to say but never does due to their presence. It’s slightly unnerving, reminding you of that night outside your bedrooms when he wanted to say something but didn't.

You can’t tell if it’s good or bad. All you know is suddenly your knees shake when he looks at you for too long and you have goosebumps whenever his skin touches yours.

So that’s why tonight you chose to sit on the lone armchair as he sits next to Hoseok on the big couch and Ana is placed next to Seokjin on the small one.

Somehow the conversation managed to go on that New Year’s party and Seokjin ended up spilling about your kiss.

“You said “we take this to the grave”!” you respond with a low voice, trying to mimic him unsuccessfully as Ana and Hoseok stare at you with eyes wide as saucers. Jimin, for some reason, looks unresponsive to the news yet he laughs at your bad impression of Seokjin.

Seokjin at least has the decency to look guilty as Ana’s scandalized eyes turn to you. “You kissed?!”

You raise your hands in defence, for some reason avoiding to look over at Jimin. “I didn’t do it on purpose! Well… I kinda did but not with the motive you’d assume,” you rush to explain, though Ana is less than satisfied.

“Oh then with what motive? Please amuse me, hoe,” she responds, crossing her hands on her chest and you huff out in annoyance.

Seokjin answers her. “Well, obviously, she wanted a piece of all that. I’m pretty irresistible to all humankind,” he jokes lightly and you suppress a snort.

“Yeah, no, this ain’t it, chief,” you rush to say, suddenly nervous, not wanting anyone to think you’re still into Seokjin.

Actually, replace “anyone” with just “Jimin”.

Seokjin gasps in offence. “What in the world do you even mean?! You’re lucky I kissed you and not just because you got rid of that dude! I’m a pretty good kisser, no scratch that, I’m an excellent kisser, a connoisseur of kissing if you will!”

“I think I won’t be able to kiss anyone after that…” Hoseok responds which makes Seokjin gasp once more before he looks over at you.

“Y/N, tell them the truth. How my kissing is so utterly magnificent, it could end world hunger!” he says before actually hearing what he just said then deciding against it, “Nope, can’t do that, sorry, that’s on me.”

You chuckle at his antics, although a bit reluctant to actually reveal the truth.

“Actually…” you start.

Another gasp resonates. “Don’t “actually” me! Just tell them!”

You turn to the other guys with a roll of your eyes.

“Look, it’s not like you were a bad kisser per se. It’s just that it was a bit… lackluster?” you finish, almost afraid to see Seokjin’s reaction to the reveal.

Jimin suppresses a chuckle, Hoseok oohs from the side and Ana’s eyes widen in surprise.

Seokjin looks at you with disbelief.

“Lackluster?”

You rush to make amends. “I mean it’s okay given I took you by surprise, but due to that crush I used to have on you, I had this notion of a kiss full of passion. And that one just… didn’t have it.” 

Seokjin pouts angrily at you before crossing his arms on his chest as Ana pats his shoulder soothingly. “I can’t believe you just said my kiss didn’t have any passion.”

You shrug. “Well, it didn’t,” you say as a matter of a fact before Ana jumps into the conversation.

“It’s probably a good thing your kiss didn’t have any passion, it just means your friends. No chemistry there so don’t beat yourself up too much, champ,” she says with an affectionate pinch on Seokjin’s cheek, who ponders on her input.

“Yeah, Ana is right!” you rush to agree. “It’s because we’re just friends! When you find someone you really like, believe me, it’ll be nothing like that,” you go off track a bit as certain memories reappear. “It’ll be full of passion and yearning and not getting enough of each other, you’re not sure if you can go on without kissing them!”

And somehow by the end of that, your eyes fall on Jimin’s and stay there.

Because he stares back.

“Okay, I think we heard enough about Seokjin’s kissing techniques,” Ana comments, breaking the spell and your eyes fall to your lap, fire residing in your cheeks.

“I just have one last comment on what I think Seokjin could’ve used but didn’t cause he’s a wuss,” Hoseok jumps in.

“Tongue.”

A round of gagging noises is heard around the apartment.

.

.

The hours pass by smoothly and soon everyone’s getting sleepy. Seokjin leaves early, having to go to the restaurant first thing in the morning, leaving the rest of you to clean up.

Once again Jimin picks up the trash with Ana as Hoseok helps you do the dishes. The apartment falls into a comfortable silence with the occasional chatter between the four of you while you clean up. Hoseok is to sleepover at Ana’s so when you’re all done the couple bids you goodbye, heading to Ana’s apartment.

Leaving you and Jimin totally alone.

Which is something that shouldn’t scare you but for some reason your nerves are going through the roof.

“Are you done with the kitchen?” Jimin asks from the living room, where he’s rearranging the pillows on the couch.

“Yeap! Just finished!” you call back, your voice a bit higher than usual and you cringe internally before clearing your throat.

“Good, I’m going to bed then,” he responds as you walk out of the kitchen.

“I’ll walk with you,” you respond with a smile, following him into the corridor.

You walk in comfortable silence, but still, you find yourself getting nervous as you walk side by side. It doesn’t make any sense.

Once you reach your bedrooms, both of you turn around to face each other, seemingly unwilling to depart just yet. Jimin looks at you with a soft smile as you grab at the opportunity to talk to him.

“Jimin, I just… I’m really happy we got past that and again I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused,” you say in what seems like the hundredth apology this week.

Jimin’s smile grows fonder as he shakes his head gently. “I told you, you should stop apologizing, I’m no longer mad at you,” is his quiet reply as he tilts his head, his eyes staring at you in a way it makes your heart race.

“I know I just… That week we spent not talking to each other was the worst week of my life and I…” you pause searching for the right words, but no words could ever describe the magnificence of what you’re feeling right now, the desperation of wanting to have him in your life. So you simply stare at him, out of breath, hoping he gets it.

His smile is one of the best things you’ve ever seen and you know he does.

You smile back. “Anyway, I’ve gotten too sentimental…” you chuckle, clearing your voice to sound more collected.

Jimin giggles softly. “Happens to the best of us…” he responds gently and you have to remind yourself to not stare. Even if he does and it makes you feel out of breath.

You nod with a smile. “Well…” you respond nervously, yearning for the moment you’re alone in your room, free of all this tension. “Goodnight,” you say simply, turning around to get to your door.

But a hand wraps itself around your wrist, turning you around suddenly. Your hands naturally fall to Jimin’s chest as his palms wrap around your waist and hair as his lips fall fervently on yours.

Your mind goes into overdrive and you can only kiss him back.

His plump lips wrap around your own softly but with an intense sense of urgency, a soft gasp falling from your lips as your hands are quick into grabbing his shirt to pull him unbelievably closer. You respond with just as much hunger, letting your mouth move fervently against his own, pushing more and more against him, aiding his hand that’s tangled in your hair, gripping the locks as if he can’t get enough. Then both of his palms are on the small of your back, holding you close as if fearing you’ll leave. But you never do and that makes him press more against you until your back hits the wall next to your door.

The impact makes Jimin lean back just enough to stop the kiss, but his eyes still remain glued to the image of your swollen lips, as you almost lean after his own.

Your heavy breaths mingle in the otherwise quiet corridor, his hands still on your waist, yours still on his open shirt as you try to wrap your mind around what just happened.

“Did you mean something like that?” comes out his gruff, deep voice that sends a shiver down your spine.

His question brings you back to the earlier conversation about a perfect kiss and you can’t control your breathing any more than your beating heart.

You nod quickly, eyes still on his lips. “Yes,” is your breathless answer.

Jimin’s still breathing heavily as his eyes land once again on your lips.

“Good.”

And then he’s kissing you again.

And, fuck, you can’t get enough.

Your palms land on his neck as you stand on your toes to reach him better and his hands wrap around your waist to keep you in place.

Fuck, you’re kissing him. You’re kissing him and he’s kissing you back. As if he’s a man starved of your kiss and he needs anything you can give him.

But then he stops again and you almost groan out loud.

“You need to stop doing that…” you exhale with an affected chuckle and he chuckles as well.

“I just… I need to talk to you before anything else happens….” he whispers and even though you know he wouldn’t do anything to hurt you, you can’t help but feel a pang of fear in your chest.

“I…” he says, eyes dazedly looking at your face before he takes an encouraging breath.

“I want you to know that this isn’t like last time. It’s more, it means more, I-” he stops once more, voice trembling as he refuses to look anywhere else but you.

His words give you hope but for the first time in weeks, you welcome that hope. You welcome that glorious feeling to settle deep in your chest because you recognize that warm glint deep in his eyes.

“I’m in love with you,” he reveals and you swear your heart will burst. There’s moisture in your eyes but you will it to go away.

“You are…?” you ask with a small voice and Jimin smiles at you, all happiness and comfort. There’s a fuzzy feeling in the middle of your chest and at this moment nothing makes any more sense than you two.

“Yes. And I spent the past year trying to run from it…” he admits carefully as he slightly crouches down to meet your eyes.

“I’m not running anymore…” he concludes, a spark in his eyes and you’ve never seen him more sure for anything in his life.

There’s a whirlwind of emotions in you. Relief, hope, undeniable joy. It makes your throat close and for a few seconds, you can’t answer him. You only stare back and hope he understands like so many times before.

“I-” you manage to choke out with a weak voice but he’s quick to shush you, before kissing the inside of your palm.

“I know…” he responds softly, still holding onto your palm as his eyes find yours. You can’t look away, couldn’t if you wanted to.

And then you can’t stop smiling, and he’s smiling back and before you know it you’re kissing again.

Happiness rolls like a current between, from all the places your bodies touch, you can’t contain it so you keep on kissing fervidly, hands touching whenever they can, mouths moving in tandem like it’s natural. Like it’s the way it’s supposed to be.

“God, I have so much I want to tell you…” he whispers against your lips before he’s diving back in, tongue reaching out to meet yours.

“Me too…” you reply after a few seconds, pushing him closer as your fingers tangle in his hair. “But not now…” you whisper sternly, pushing your chest against him, needing to feel more of him.

He curses under his breath, the sound sinful, licking his lips before he’s kissing you again and his hands fall lower down your back to rest over the swell of your ass.

You moan in appreciation when his hands grab at the tender flesh, making you arch out so he has better leverage. There’s a throbbing between your legs and you resist grinding on him just yet, to drag it out as long as you can.

Jimin’s lips move down the column of your throat as his body cages you against the wall, hands keeping your hips still as he wedges one leg between yours, so his thigh can press upright against your mound.

You moan again when he leaves a particularly deep hickey on your skin and your hips instinctively roll against his thigh, your hands holding on to his back afraid you might fall.

He chuckles darkly against your skin. “Still into thighs I see…” he mumbles before biting softly at your earlobe, a shiver running down your spine.

You bite your lip before, “Correction, still into your thighs…” you admit as you roll your hips slowly on top of his thigh, starting to feel that delicious warmth building up in your stomach, making you feel dizzy.

Jimin almost bucks into you with a low moan, as his hands are certain to leave marks on your hips as he struggles to remain sane.

“Fuck… Although I’m really tempted to just fuck you here, we should probably move…” he murmurs between kisses to your collarbone and you have half a sane mind to agree. The other half is already picturing him doing it either way.

But before you get to move, his arms are quicker, lunging under your thighs and you instinctively wrap them around his waist with a surprised yelp. His palms are resting right on top of your ass, subconsciously pushing you closer, making your insides burn in anticipation.

There’s a smirk on his lips as he licks them, eyes roaming your face to make sure you don’t have second doubts. Although your eyes are glued to the movement of his wet tongue.

When he realises this, he’s quick to move towards his room as you choose now as the perfect moment to lick and suck bruises on his neck, not able to deny yourself any longer.

“Shit… Y/N, if you keep this up I’m gonna drop you…” he mumbles with a stern but clearly-affected voice and you smile in victory before softly biting at his skin, savouring his taste on your tongue.

He kicks his door open before he carefully lays you on his bed, lips immediately after your own as you reach for his neck to desperately press more of him against you.

Your palms move down his chest, grabbing the edges of his flannel to push it off his shoulders, leaving him in his T-shirt and jeans.

“Why are you wearing so many clothes…?” you ask breathlessly, immediately reconnecting your lips like a woman starved and Jimin chuckles, grabbing the hem of your T-shirt instead and pushing it upwards. You sigh in relief as soon as your heated skin is free, yearning to feel more of his skin against yours.

“Just trying to keep myself warm,” he comments rushedly as he discards the piece of clothing somewhere behind him and his eyes fall to your covered breasts. He curses, lowering his face to kiss down your collarbones until his lips reach the bare top of your tits. His mouth leaves a wet trail behind that’s making you gasp as your thighs rub together to gain some relief.

Jimin notices and chuckles darkly before biting your bottom lip. “You want any help there?” he teases and you groan out loud with a pout.

“Yes, but please take your clothes off a little bit faster. It’s making my dick soft,” you whine, bucking your hips towards him.

He pins them down between his own legs, forcing them to stay still. His fingers toy with the waistband of your leggings as your breaths turn heavier while only looking at his eyes.

“Aw, so I won’t have my ass rawed by your dick? Such a shame baby…” he teases once more with a sinful smirk and the last word has your eyes rolling back into your head.

“Fuck, say that again…” you murmur, arching your chest upwards as you feel moisture gather between your legs, just by the single mention of a nickname.

Jimin laughs out loud as he moves to get your leggings off and you’re quick to aid him. “Is this really what turns you on?” he comments playfully as he leans in, lips kissing the underside of your jaw.

“No, I meant…” you stop, suddenly self-conscious, “... the other part…” you mumble quietly, turning your face to the side, knowing a deep red has taken over your cheeks. It’s not simply about the nickname or the tenderness in his voice as he said it. It’s about what it represents, what you already heard from his lips but you simply can’t have enough of. It makes everything real.

Jimin regards you for a second before, “What? Baby?” he asks, rather innocently and yet you still can’t look at him, too embarrassed as you nod.

Jimin’s eyes turn softer as he bites his lip to contain his smile. Fuck, he’s so in love.

He moves to press a tender kiss to your jaw. “Baby,” he repeats slowly, before resting his lips on your collarbones and you sigh in content. “Baby…” he says again, leaving a kiss in the valley between your breasts, making your breath hitch. “Baby…��� he moves lower, dragging his plump lips down your torso as your breaths quicken, the sound of the nickname having your heart making somersaults.

“Baby…” he whispers lowly one last time, the tone completely different, darker, more promising. His eyes rest on you as his face now lays above your panties. Then his hands are hooking behind the waistband, dragging the material down your legs and he bites his lips at the sight of your glistening folds.

“God, I wanna taste you so bad…” he says almost to himself and before you get to react, he hooks your legs on top of his shoulders and his tongue lands with kittenish licks on your clit.

An involuntary groan escapes you, bucking your hips into his mouth for more. And yet he maintains his pace, sending waves of pleasure up your body but never enough to get you where you want to. You can’t help the movement of your hips as you crave for more friction, his movements delicious but never enough. Jimin pins your hips down, tsking you before he presses a kiss at the junction between your thigh and cunt.

“You’ll get what you want, baby, all in due time…” he says sternly, his voice low, sending shivers down your spine as his mouth returns to your clit, and you bite your lip to drown your moan.

Though now, he leaves aside the kittenish lick to wrap his mouth around the swollen nub and suck it between his lips.

A loud moan breaks free from your lips, heavy pants resonating as his plush lips envelop your clit, finally giving you more, moving expertly against your folds and your hands find purchase on Jimin’s locks to press him more against you.

He lets you do as you please while one of his hands travels up your torso, pushing your bra’s cups down to toy with one of your nipples.

The added pleasure has you cry his name in ecstasy, losing all control of your hips as they move against Jimin’s face, as if they have a mind of their own, chasing after your high like a madwoman.

And as one hand tugs at your erect nipples, the other finds this chance to move down your body and trace around your entrance, making your pussy clench in anticipation. Before finally pushing two digits inside your velvety walls.

“Jimin!” you almost sob, your hips furiously chasing after your high as you feel the warmth building up more and more inside your stomach. 

His fingers keep thrusting inside you, slowly at first to let you get used to the intrusion, before he picks up the pace, moving them quickly, roughly inside you. Knuckles deep as his fingertips find that little soft spot inside your walls that has your eyes roll to the back of your head.

And when you open your eyes and see Jimin staring you back with darkness and lust in his own from between your legs, the band snaps.

You come with a loud moan, riding your orgasm against Jimin’s tongue, as the pleasure seems too much, too intense. But then the feeling starts to fade away and Jimin lets you relax as he leaves butterfly kisses against your thighs.

You try to catch your breath as Jimin’s kisses move upwards, up your stomach, to your breasts until he’s kissing you again. Your hands move to wrap around his neck, never having quite enough of him.

“This is not fair, you know…” you chastise him playfully, kissing his underjaw when a quiet moan rolls from his tongue.

“What’s not fair?” he asks, trying to keep up with the conversation but judging by the way his hip rut against you, you know he’s struggling.

“The fact I’m completely naked while you still have your clothes on…” you observe with a cock of your eyebrow and a smirk grazes his lips as his finger tugs at the elastic of your bra and lets it snap against your skin.

“Ah but you’re not completely naked…” he teases against your lips as his fingers move down your body in a sensual caress.

But being you, you take that as a challenge. So you push him slightly away just so you can move your hands behind your back and unclasp your bra with one movement.

Jimin’s eyes go wide as you flick the undergarment across the room, swallowing heavily before his eyes return to your bare chest.

“Now I am…” is your witty retort as you subtly arch your back just so he can have a better view. He stands there staring at you for a few seconds before he curses and moves quickly to get rid of his clothes.

You giggle at his impatience when he ends up stuck in his T-shirt, sporting an adorable pout. “Easy, baby, I’m not going anywhere…” you joke, sitting up to help him take off his t-shirt with a soft smile, one he reciprocates as he moves to unbuckle his pants.

“Well, it wasn’t me getting too impatient to- Wait…” he stops mid-sentence after taking his pants off. A spark of realization has entered his eyes before he turns to you to meet you with a teasing smile.

“Did you just call me baby?”

Your eyes widen in shock as a blush creeps into your cheeks and with a scoff you lightly shove him for daring to make fun of you.

“Y-you said it first, genius!” you try to justify yourself with a frown, but Jimin’s smirk only grows as he pushes aside his pants and crawls towards you.

“Yeah, but I’m not the one that spent more than half her life refusing to call her partners that because it’s cheesy…” he comments playfully as he traps you beneath his body once more.

“Even if the rule never applied to her…” he smiles teasingly at you, brushing his lips softly against your pout, reminding you that even if you never called your partners “baby”, you never stopped them from calling you that.

You purse your lips together as you look at your fidgeting hands, too embarrassed to look him in the eye. “Well…” you begin, swallowing the lump in your throat, “...you’re different…” you mumble quietly, not really ready to look at him even if you know he feels the same.

That has him halting, and as he sees you too uncomfortable to go on, he doesn’t say anything else. He presses a soft kiss to your knee instead, wishing to convey everything he feels as well through that small kiss.

The movement of his lips on your skin is so tender that has your heart flutter and, while he looks back at you, his smile puts your embarrassment to rest. Because he’s here for you because he feels the same.

“I know it comes a little late but… Can I kiss you?” he asks softly, eyes stuck on your face, tracing your features as if he hasn’t really seen you before, not until now.

The question has your heartbeat quicken even though it’s completely unnecessary. Though your lips stretch out in a smile as you nod.

Jimin leans closer, eyes on your lips as if he’s under some spell. You suppose it’s the same you’re under.

You let his lips envelop yours gently, hands tangling in his hair as you both find yourselves moving back until you’re lying down with Jimin on top of you.

Your hands are greedy to explore his body, even though you’ve done so before. Though that time you’re main motive was to get off, so now gives you the perfect opportunity to get reacquainted with his body, to map out every little detail to memory, until he’s the only thing you see.

His lips move lower to kiss and bite at the column of your throat, eliciting the sweetest moan from your lips that sound like music to Jimin’s ears.

Your breaths get quicker, hands moving recklessly to get rid of the remaining piece of fabric that separates you. Jimin rushes to help you, throwing away his boxers, now standing in his complete naked glory.

There’s nothing else to say, not really when a single look can convey everything you feel without unnecessary words. And the way Jimin looks at you right now makes you feel like you’re in heaven. Like you’re cared for, safe and content right here in his arms.

His hand brushes a lock behind your ear and the motion is so tender, loving, it makes your heart skip a beat.

“Are you ready?” he whispers softly, eyes gentle, ready to back off if you say so, reminding you of yet another reason you’re so helplessly in love with him.

You simply nod, too afraid to talk but your smile is all it takes for Jimin to go forward.

He grabs the base of his shaft, eyes glued at that spot between your legs with anticipation. He moves forward, guiding his tip through your folds, going slowly in case it’s painful but the look of pure bliss on your face and the way your walls welcome his cock has him losing control and going the rest of the way in with a deep thrust.

Your nails claw into the skin of his back with a loud cry while Jimin breathes deeply against the skin of your neck, making goosebumps rise on your skin.

“Fuck, I-...” he exhales, lost in the feeling of your pussy wrapping around him like a grip. “... You okay?” he says breathless, eyes searching yours for anything that’s not okay.

A breathless chuckle escapes you as you press your lips on his jawline. “More than okay. But please move.”

“Oh, thank god….” he mumbles before pulling out and thrusting in again. His movements are slow, yet the perfect pace to help you build up slowly but surely towards a second high.

Jimin rolls his hips with the expertise only a dancer could possess, driving his cock deeper and deeper with each roll, hitting that spot again and you can’t help but close your eyes to savour this feeling.

Shallow breaths leave you as his pubic bone brushes against your clit with each motion, driving you crazy.

“Ugh, you feel… mm’ so good…” he mumbles between thrusts, letting his lips land on your breasts, to suck lovebites on your skin.

“Jimin, fuck…!” you cry out, high-pitched moans escaping you as your hands go to his ass, coaxing him to drive his cock even deeper.

He growls from above your chest before you feel his palm cupping your cheek. “Open your eyes for me, love…” he mumbles quietly and you have no choice but to comply.

Opening your eyes, you’re met with Jimin’s piercing ones, staring at you intensely, burning with unspoken feelings that are too easy to recognize. After all, you feel them too.

You move to the side to kiss the inside of his palm before you smile at him.

He smiles back fondly at you before his hands move to lace his fingers with yours at each side.

“Keep your eyes on me, love…” he whispers before moving again.

This time around, his pace is slightly quicker, his cock hitting your sweet spot with renewed vigour and yet you can only concentrate on his eyes. His eyes that stare at you with such fondness and love it makes your eyes water.

You see the frown on his face before he stops moving in concern, yet you push your heels on his ass to keep him going.

“No, it’s okay, I’m okay, keep going…” you say, almost choking with the emotions overwhelming you. “It’s just that… I can’t believe I’m so lucky…” you admit softly, an unbelievable chuckle escaping you as you stare at him with what you hope he sees as undeniable adoration.

He smiles at you again, -you think you’ll never get tired of that smile-, before he leans in to kiss away the stray tear that flowed free from your eyes.

He picks up the pace once more, resting his forehead on top of yours, as shallow moans roll off your tongue. Your high keeps approaching, you can feel it and still you’re only focused on his eyes. Soft grunts escape him as he drives his hips into you, getting closer to his high as well, his hands grasping yours as if they’re a lifeboat.

He brushes his lips gently against yours before “I love you…” he mutters against you and you think your heart is gonna burst.

You press another kiss on his lips before, “I love you too.”

And then you don’t say anything else as your high approaches and after a few more thrusts you both come entangled in one another, each other’s names on your lips.

You lay like this for a few moments, with Jimin’s body on top of yours as both of you struggle to catch your breaths. Then your eyes find each other again and everything seems so clear, so right.

You can’t stop smiling at each other like lovesick fools as you fall asleep next to each other, at last content.

.

.

When Jimin wakes up the next morning he thinks it was all a dream.

But as his eyes rest on your peaceful sleeping form he knows he could never dream something as perfect as this.

He can’t help the lovesick smile taking over his lips as he looks at you through sleep-ridden eyes. He shuffles closer, resting his face on his hands to get a better look while you sleep soundly next to him. He feels like he can never get enough of you. Not now, not ever.

Suddenly your body begins moving though your eyes remain closed and Jimin figures you’re still asleep.

“Stop being creepy…” you mumble with a sleepy smile and Jimin grins too, realising he was wrong.

“I’m not being creepy…” he argues softly, still smiling. You pop open one eye to look at him unimpressed before you yawn and open both your eyelids.

“Oh, yeah, ‘cause it’s super romantic staring at me while I’m asleep, where can I find another man like that…” you tease him with a drowsy smile as your eyes find his.

He groans dramatically though his smile still remains. “You’re unbelievable…” he mumbles, his voice still gruff from sleep and you have to suppress a shiver before shuffling closer.

“I know but you love me…” you mumble against him before kissing his lips slowly. He lets himself get lost on the kiss before you lean back and he licks his lips to savour your taste.

“And now you can’t take it back!” you exclaim out loud before smiling mischievously at him.

Another groan breaks free from his lips. “Already regretting it…” he comments, checking your reaction from the corner of his eyes.

You gasp as if offended by his quip. “Well, maybe then I’ll just leave so you won’t regret it anymore!” you respond, gathering his sheet on your chest as you make a move to leave his bed.

But Jimin is faster, grabbing you by the waist and throwing you back on the bed, crawling on top of you with a predatory smile.

“Now, now, let’s not result in desperate measures…” he dives in for another kiss.

You can’t help but smile again as you kiss him, hands circling around his neck as he softly bites your bottom lip.

“Careful sir. You might trigger something dangerous here…” you whisper seductively, moving one leg so your thigh can rub against his already half-hard member.

Jimin’s smirk only grows. “Mmm, maybe I like danger…” he responds before his lips envelop yours once more. His hands travel beneath the sheet, tracing your skin before they move lower and-.

A loud bang echoes through the apartment, surprising both of you before a booming voice is heard through the walls, one that belongs to none other than Hoseok himself.

“Have you fucked yet or nah?!”

Your eyes widen, face immediately growing red. Jimin looks at you with an apologetic smile and before you get to ask why Hoseok is asking that, said man bursts into the room.

There’s a sudden explosion of sounds, you screaming as you hide beneath Jimin, Jimin cursing at Hoseok as he pulls the sheet to cover you both and Hoseok whistling at the image before him.

“Woah! You finally did it buds, I’m so happy for you!” he cheers you on as he steps inside to fist bump a very angry looking Jimin and a very visibly confused you.

“Hoseok, excuse my french, but what the fuck are you doing here?” Jimin is positively seething with his friends' interruption but as you see Hoseok basically beaming at the both of you, you can’t help but giggle at the absurd situation.

“I came to see if my buddies finally worked it out! And you did, finally! Can you imagine if you hadn’t and I’d burst through the door screaming that? That’d be awkwaaaaaaard!” he comments, too cheerful to notice Jimin’s deadly stare and you bite your lip to stop yourself from laughing.

“Right. That would’ve been awkward…” Jimin comments sarcastically though Hoseok still seems oblivious as he sits on top of the bed with a happy smile hanging from his lips.

You’re about to burst into giggles as you watch Jimin’s eyes growing wider in disbelief and you’re certain he’s gonna kill Hoseok any minute now.

“I’m so happy for you guys! My besties are finally dating!” he comments full of joy and Jimin is about to have smoke pouring out of his ears.

“Hobi, we’re happy too but I think it’d be better for you if you left…” you comment with a smile, pointing with your head at Jimin who’s about to lose it any second.

Hoseok’s eyes widen finally in realization. “Oh, whoops! Right, right, I’m leaving, keep going, stallion, show her how it’s done!” Hoseok throws finger guns at Jimin as he leaves the room and closes the door behind him.

As soon as Hoseok is out of earshot and you turn to look at Jimin you can’t help but burst into giggles by how absolutely mad he looks.

Though when you start laughing, Jimin’s incredulous stare turns to you. “Why are you even laughing?!”

Even though his ominous stare is directed at you, you can’t stop laughing. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s just too funny!” you say breathlessly through your giggles.

“Too funny?!” he asks incredulously before his gaze turns dark. His eyes have your laughter dying in your throat and instead another feeling rising up at the pit of your stomach.

“I’ll show you funny…” he whispers sinfully before he lunges forward and you forget what you were laughing at for the rest of the day.

There are more important matters to tend to.

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[queerbrujas]

then it vanished away from my hands (part two)

pairing: nate sewell x eva navarro word count: 3.6k for this chapter (6.1k total so far) rating: T warnings: same as before, lots of angst and this won’t have a happy ending

part one | part three | read on ao3

The mutation in her blood was not known to inhibit physical abilities. None of the studies had indicated even the slightest possibility of immunity to vampire venom.

once again thanks to @crowsintheisland for the text post that inspired this entire fic—and uh, i’m sorry?

—

part two: everything that’s under my skin

The transition can last anywhere from twenty minutes to several hours.

The exact duration is impossible to predict with certainty, as is the intensity of the pain she will endure, or the extent of the physical transformation.

(She has now heard all about Nate’s, how extreme it was—the worst the Agency has known since its establishment.

But things are easier now than they were three centuries ago, in the middle of the ocean, with… with everything that happened to him.

Things are easier.

There are substances that can dull the pain, if not counter it entirely. There are measures in place to make this go as smoothly as it possibly can. She will not have to suffer like he did.

Not least of all because she is choosing this.

That is a difference.)

Once the transition is complete and deemed successful, she will, in all likelihood, pass out from exhaustion. Nearly everyone does.

(Nearly everyone, of the ones who survive.)

She will then stay at the facility overnight, under observation until her condition becomes stable.

In addition to any of the common complications that might arise from the process itself, she will be monitored for out of control, violent tendencies upon reawakening (this is not a rare occurrence among the newly turned, she has been told), or for any unexpected reactions her blood might have to the vampire venom.

This will be the most difficult, painful period. Anything that touches her skin will feel like sandpaper. The slightest sound will be too loud.

There will be screaming. Thrashing. She will want to tear her skin apart and climb out of her body.

(A body she may or may not recognize anymore.)

This is expected.

And there will be the hunger. She will have to learn to live with this. Control it.

Over the next few days, her senses will stabilize. It will still be painful, and it will take much longer to learn to dampen them if she so chooses—but she will learn to function despite the pain. It will be a dull, constant ache she will grow used to.

She will then be reintroduced to people other than Agency medical staff.

Nate will be first. His presence is likely to be the only one she will be able to tolerate at this point.

(He will not be allowed to see her before this. This is for the best.)

Then the others.

Morgan.

Adam.

Farah.

In that order.

Then Rebecca.

(Because she is Agent Rebecca Navarro, the handler of Unit Bravo. Not because she is Rebecca-comma-her-mother.)

Her first feeding will be supervised, once again, by specialized staff.

It will not be human blood, not the first time.

Human blood is too intense, too flavorful, and it risks overwhelming her already fragile senses. It will give better results for her to work her way up to it over a period of time.

(She wonders who was the first to arrive at this conclusion, and how they had done so, but this has been Agency policy for at least a hundred years.)

Then, later, there will be tests.

Her blood will be studied again, analyzed for the way its unique composition might have changed or been influenced by the turning process. To assess if it retains any of its special properties, or if it is now indistinguishable from that of a regular vampire.

Eventually, she will be allowed to leave the Facility, and move back to the Warehouse.

She will meet with the fae counselor again. Twice a week, at first, then once weekly. This will continue for the next few months.

Once they deem it appropriate, she will be cleared to go on missions again.

Things will continue as normal.

With Eva finally, fully, a part of this world she has had a foot in for years now.

—

These are the things Eva had been prepared for.

The things she had researched, been informed of, agreed to. This is how things were supposed to go.

(Everything had been outlined in the paperwork she had signed, laid out for her in meetings and sessions the minute she had formally expressed her wish to turn.)

These are not the things that happened.

What did happen is something that has never, for as long as the Agency has had records (and the Agency has records dating back a very, very long time), happened before.

Failed supernatural turnings happen all the time, even under the supervision of the Agency.

Bad reactions to the venom, to the bite. People who are not strong enough, physically or mentally or emotionally.

People who are simply unlucky. It happens.

The strain of the process has claimed many lives.

The Agency tries to minimize the risk with all their prior assessments, but the odds are still not, never, favorable ones.

Eva knows this—this is what she agreed to.

In the end, it was a simple matter of probability—a 50%, 60%, 70% chance of death was always better than the eventual 100%.

(Always better than the knowledge that she would eventually waste away, and that her family—that Nate, her Nate—would have to watch. That she would have to see the already very obvious gap between them grow wider and wider with each passing year.)

It was the only thing that mattered that she had a chance, rather than none at all.

All or nothing.

This is what she agreed to.

But it has never happened before, for as long as the Agency has records, that the bite of a vampire, with the intent and the ability to turn, has absolutely no effect on the person who receives it.

No transformation.

No pain.

Nothing.

Eva’s blood has been studied in as much depth, its properties determined with as much precision and certainty, as the Agency’s technology and reagents have allowed.

The results have been—had been—deemed conclusive.

She was found to be immune to pheromones of all types, siren song, aura reading, precognition, tracking abilities, mood amplifiers.

All of this she has experienced firsthand during missions.

She is not immune to toxins, poisons, spores, paralyzing agents, venoms, or magically inflicted conditions.

This she has also experienced firsthand.

The mutation in her blood was not known to inhibit physical abilities. None of the studies had indicated even the slightest possibility of immunity to vampire venom.

And yet.

And yet. Here she is.

A still-bleeding bite on her neck.

Still human.

—

That night, she does not sleep.

She stays at the facility overnight, as she was meant to.

For very different reasons than she was meant to.

No one knows how to react to what has happened, Eva least of all, so she does the only thing she can trust herself to do: try to find an explanation, a solution.

Something that will allow her to move forward.

The medical staff is just as bewildered as she is, almost as eager to find out why it didn’t work.

There are more tests.

There will need to be more tests, later.

More studies, things they had measured before that will need to be measured again.

Her blood is drawn, sent for quick analysis.

There is no trace of venom in it.

It shouldn’t have disappeared so quickly. It shouldn’t have disappeared at all.

It makes no sense.

—

Nate is as panicked as she is forcing herself not to be.

(He has never done well under stress. This, too, has not changed.)

There is that tightness to his mouth, that slightly more forceful way he shoves his hands in his pockets.

It is so easy to revert to old habits. Especially ones that are hundreds of years old.

He tells her she should sleep, tells her they can work this out in the morning.

(Tries to soothe her when all she wants is to solve this.)

This was not part of the plan. Her hands are shaking.

Nate takes them in his—unsteady as he is right now, the contact helps. It always does.

He is probably right: it makes no difference to have the tests carried out at three or eight in the morning. But it is about the feeling of activity as much as it is about activity itself, and if she stands still she might go mad.

Too often she falls into action as a replacement for feeling.

It is so easy to revert to old habits. Even if they are not hundreds of years old.

She takes a deep breath. Lets Nate’s proximity ease her a little.

Nate is right.

She will—they will—figure this out.

It will work out.

It has to.

—

Over the following weeks, once the initial wave of panic subsides, Eva falls into a routine.

She does not have obligations to the station or to Wayhaven anymore, so she dedicates herself entirely to the Agency.

Unit Bravo is still sent on missions. She is still expected to take part in them, as she was before.

Her life at the Warehouse continues much the same as it was. With Nate, with the others.

She has always been good at compartmentalizing.

Every moment she does not spend with them, however, is now spent at the Facility, in the lab, meeting with doctors and scientists.

She doubles down on the research she had already begun to specialize in: supernatural biology was always going to be her field of study, a chance to put her skills and previous knowledge to far, far more use than she had ever managed as an officer, as a detective. From the moment the Agency started to trust her she had requested to be kept up to date on findings and developments, had requested permission to be included in research programs—to varying levels of success—and spent much of her free time studying what was already known.

(There had been many long, comfortable evenings spent with Nate in his library, reading treatises and books she still couldn’t believe ever made it to regular, human publication. He’d laughed softly when she’d brought that up, once, as she lay on the couch with her head resting on his lap.

“I mean it,” she said, sitting up with a half-laugh of her own. She’d been reading a tome from the early 20th century that detailed the regeneration abilities of phoenixes. “How did anyone take this seriously enough to publish?” She turned the book to look at the cover again. “And this was a regular publishing house.”

That, in turn, led to a fascinating conversation about humans’ tendency to ignore anything that disrupted their worldview too much, and the extent to which the Agency had in fact been connected to that “regular publishing house”, and how Nate knew the person responsible for the publication of that specific book.

The amount of actual studying she managed during those evenings always varied.)

Her newly acquired clearance now grants her access to tests and studies that she can sign off on herself, that she doesn’t need to request from Rebecca (or from anyone) with the hope that they’ll be approved.

Old habits come back, forgotten from her days at university, from a different life. She finds herself slipping into the same rhythm she had been so comfortable with, once—but there is a strange calmness to it even underneath her fevered, focused drive; something soothing about losing herself in slides and results and research.

This is what she had wanted, years ago, before the police, before Bobby. This is exactly what she had wanted.

She has so much of what she had always wanted.

And yet underneath that feeling, there is something else that is slowly, very slowly growing.

Very slowly taking root.

She does not look at it.

She does not think about it.

(Please don’t let it be taken away.)

She does not think about it.

She keeps herself busy.

—

When the Agency clears it, she contacts Verda again.

Eva knows he still has the blood test results from the Murphy case, from Janet Greenland. His research led nowhere, but it remained untouched.

He’s happy to hear from her—asks about her new job. She tells him she’s working in a lab that would make him jealous, would make even the City people jealous. She makes a joke about the Agency’s budget; he laughs.

It’s so easy.

(She is glad to hear his voice, and she asks with genuine interest about Eric and Cara and Lacey—they are doing wonderfully; little Lacey just had her birthday—but it is still so, so easy to lie.)

It is just as easy to convince him to send her his findings. The Agency, it turns out, is a wonderful excuse for pretty much anything, and he is all too happy to help her.

It ends up being yet another dead end. Janet Greenland’s blood had the same properties as her own, and Verda’s analyses say far less than the Agency’s.

There is nothing new in them, nothing Eva didn’t already know.

Another closed door.

(And that feeling is still there. Roots and vines spreading within her.)

—

It has been months.

She is no closer to finding a solution now than she was then: every door closes as soon as it opens. There had been another attempt—a different vampire, an Agency representative she didn’t know—it didn’t matter, it still didn’t work.

There have been tests and studies and even the possibility of turning into a different kind of supernatural—nothing, nothing. Nothing seems to lead anywhere.

It has been months, and she is too aware, too painfully aware in a way that she can’t ignore that months easily turn into years and she is not thirty years old anymore, has not been for a while.

It has been months and the roots and vines that grow within her have taken hold, have reached her throat. That thought is still there, that feeling.

She wakes up in the middle of the night and she can’t breathe.

It takes a terrifying, delirious moment to realize she is in her room—

(in their room, hers and Nate’s, their room in the Warehouse)

(and she’s not sure what she was dreaming except that she is left with that feeling of being on the edge of an abyss, of being about to fall)

—and Nate is there, he is always there, warm hands and strong arms and he is holding her against him, whispering into her ear—in languages she does not know but which have become familiar to her because they are his—until she can breathe again.

He whispers to her in Spanish, too, and in the middle of the night, lost as she feels, it hurts.

Hurts in the full, aching way his love has always hurt, in the way that makes the unshed tears of years past want to finally fall.

They don’t.

She blinks them away, buries her face in the crook of his neck.

“Jaan, love,” he says later, later, after her breathing has settled. His voice is all concern, all sweet care, spoken against her hair. “Sleep.”

He knows he won’t get her to talk, not when she is like this. He has learned her moods and her disposition, knows them better than she herself does. But she hasn’t slept through a night in weeks, and the worry in his voice mirrors the way his hands trace shapes on her skin, warm, soothing.

She doesn’t respond.

“I will figure this out,” she says instead. I have to, she doesn’t say.

She doesn’t look at him.

She’s not sure, really, if she’s saying it to Nate or if she’s saying it to herself.

He draws back, puts the smallest amount of space between them. Hooks a finger under her chin, tilts her head up so she can meet his eyes.

God, those eyes.

Those eyes have always been her undoing.

The purest, darkest brown (and she can’t see well enough now in the low light of their room, but she doesn’t need to, she knows them by heart, could bring them to mind at any moment—there is an even darker ring around the iris, long dark lashes framing them), warm and blazing in a way that stirs her alive.

“Eva,” he says, simply (and yet not, because there is nothing simple about her name in his mouth). It pulls her back from her thoughts, as it always has, as it always does.

(It’s in the way he says it. He has always said it the way it’s meant to be said, the way very few people in her life ever have. The subtle inflections of his accent shape themselves around it instead of forcing it into a different sound and those two syllables have never sounded so right as they do when he says them.

The name of a person you love is more than language. She’s not sure where it’s from. He quoted it to her once.

I summon you back by saying your nombre. This one she knows. It stings, in that same full, beautiful way.)

It’s too much.

His eyes and her name and his voice and his arms and the warmth of him around her and the vines in her throat. Too close. Too close.

Too much.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers.

Her voice cracks. She hates that it does.

Nate blinks, once, twice, before his frown deepens with even more concern and even more love and even more care.

Those are not words heard from her often or even at all. I apologize, if she needs to, if she feels it is warranted—reparations and actions but not this. Never this.

“What for, my love?”

I don’t know.

I’m sorry I’m falling apart.

I’m sorry I’m breaking down.

I’m sorry this is such a mess and I’m sorry I’m getting overwhelmed and I’m sorry I don’t know what to do and and and

Everything in her wants to push the words down.

So she drags them out of her throat.

Painful, painful, it has always been painful (it will never not be painful; her heart was not made for this) but it is pain she embraces, pain that comes from love and from feeling.

She would not, could not hide anything from him. Even if it means giving voice to that one thought that she has refused, refused to look at ever since she felt it make its home there.

Voicing it gives it shape.

Giving it shape makes it something that needs to be confronted.

(“I’ve cracked myself open for you and nothing has ever given me such pleasure,” she wrote once—it seems so long ago—in a letter she meant to give to him but never did. Finding the words, looking at the parts of herself that she hated—she wouldn’t have had a reason to do it were it not for the fact that she wanted him to know all of her.)

“I’m scared, Nate—I don’t know what to do, I’m fucking terrified. What if it doesn’t—what if I can’t—”

And she is sobbing now, words half-formed, tumbling out with the fear acknowledged.

And she knows he doesn’t want to hear this, she knows, it took so long to even have this conversation in the first place and it only happened because she’d been the one to push for it—

Nate holds her, and lets her cry.

“Whatever happens, you have me. You will always have me, I promise,” is the last thing she hears before she falls asleep again, exhausted, drained.

(She thinks he might be crying, too.)

—

Things are different, after that.

She feels—fragile.

Unmoored.

—

Finally, finally, the answer comes.

The results of those initial tests, the ones from years ago, the ones before Murphy—they provide the key.

It is not the mutation in her blood that is preventing the venom from working.

Her blood would, should be able to react to it.

Except—

Except that because of what Murphy did to her, half her blood is supernatural. Half the blood in her veins is vampire blood.

Only half.

Only the blood.

Her DNA remains unaltered, purely and uniquely human, but it's enough.

Enough for the venom to be absorbed without any effect or consequence, because vampire venom does not react with vampire blood.

Because supernaturals can't be turned into other supernaturals.

It’s conclusive, this time, (and trying to undo it would kill her, with such certainty that it is not even something that can be considered at all), and what a fucking joke it is—she would laugh if she weren’t so stunned, isn’t sure she doesn’t—she can never not be human because her body thinks it's already something else.

—

That feeling of dread that grew steadily with every closed door, with every negative result—it claws up her throat now. Spills out, nothing containing it anymore.

It was only a matter of time.

Her hands shake as she turns the key in the lock (and she catches a glimpse of the scar on her wrist and she almost screams) and she is fucking glad she kept the apartment in Wayhaven, now, as she shuts the door behind her and collapses to the floor, a wailing sound like a wounded animal's leaving her—

And then she is crying, sobbing on the floor of an empty apartment she hasn't been to in god knows how long, the palms of her hands pressed hard against her eyelids and still her mind is trying, trying, desperately reaching for any kind of solution, anything that will let her hold on to hope for just a little longer—

But there isn't one.

She knows there isn’t one and she can’t look away from it anymore.

Her whole life she has always found a way forward, a way out of everything; things have always worked out in the end, but this, this, this one time—

This one thing—

She can never be their equal.

This one thing that she wants—

That abyss between them that she had thought possible to bridge, had not thought she could not bridge will do nothing but grow wider and wider and wider until—

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit, shit.

What the fuck happens now?

How does she—?

Fuck.

#the wayhaven chronicles #nate sewell #qbwrites #qbwritestwc #oc: eva

[nekokoaa]

Wolves Among Us - Bakugo x Reader (XVI)

Wolves Among Us – Bakugo x Reader

Series Warning: Fantasy AU, Fluff, NSFW

(Chapter XVI/??) All chapters in AO3 and masterlist

Phew, glad I got this out! Enjoy!

Taglist:

@freedom-for-bum@reallyfuckingangrylatina@risarisarisaa@ashherssss@mels-heart@xa-dia@shanty-lol@amkxh@chims-kookies@fantasticapple@thalia-luna-hawthorn​@skzero-99@marvelobsessedteen@thenezuko@icythotsenpai

-------------------

XVI: Bonded

Your clothes dropped to the floor with a soft thump, rimming around your ankles as your eyes briefly looked over your nude body in front of the mirror. You could hardly see yourself since the fog around the edges of the surface crawled until it completely engulfed it. Even a brief wipe on the mirror did nothing to deter the fogginess. As long as you were near the hot springs, you figured it would be like this. You gathered your clothes, folded them, and left them on top of a table.

In your peripherals, you spotted Ochako approaching you, cautiously and light on her feet. Like she was hunting you or something, but she was really nervous to speak to you. She pulled you aside earlier today to talk to you about what you stumbled upon. You were with Katsuki at the time, so you told her later before the bathing ceremony. It was another one of the wolves’ traditions before the wedding day, which was tomorrow. You found it was similar to bachelor and bachelorette parties instead the bride and her friends and the groom and his friends would hang out in the hot springs the night before. Their last night before becoming bonded.

“Are you mad at me…?” Ochako’s wolf ears were pulled back and her tail hung low and limp behind her. Even her natural curls in her hair seemed dull. Although it could be the surrounding humidity being the cause.

“I’m not mad,” the image of Ochako on top of Izuku resurfaced in your head, “just surprised.”

“Izuku and I wanted to keep it a secret especially with what’s been going on in the pack. We just thought it would cause trouble.”

“It’s okay. It’s none of my business anyway.”

“Then why does your tone sound short with me?” A whimper left Ochako. She was biting her bottom lip.

“It was awkward seeing you guys like that, but I���m not mad, really, I’m not.” It was true. There wasn’t a hint of anger within you. You kind of just wanted to forget what you saw.

“Hmm,” another whimper, “okay then…”

Ochako then left you alone, turning around and disappearing in the heavy steam coming from the outside. You followed after her shortly, exiting the cave and walking through the steam. The deeper you went the less opaque your surroundings became until it revealed large pools of water with stones and large rock formations curbing the edge. The surrounding trees were slanted forward while it’s branches and leaves enclosed like a curtain sufficing the perfect privacy.

Mitsuki, Mina, Kyoka, Momo, and Tsuyu were already relaxing in one of the pools, deep in conversation. Ochako was climbing in, toes first, her worries melting from her expression, at least temporary. When the rest of the girls spotted you standing by the pool they beckoned for you to come and you listened. Mimicking Ochako, your toes touched the water first and already you felt its hotness that you yelped and pulled your feet out.

Mitsuki laughed.

“Just throw your whole body in! You’ll adjust!” Mina said with a grin.

You doubted her words but followed it anyway. You couldn’t hold back the painful groan that left you. Through gritted teeth, you submerged your legs in the water and walked through with until you sat between Mina and Mitsuki. It was only a couple of seconds until your body adjusted to the heat and you returned a smile towards Mina.

“This is nice…” you sighed, already feeling the heat penetrate your strained muscles.

“I knooooow. I needed this. Especially after dealing with all that set up for tomorrow,” Mitsuki moaned and sunk deeper into the water. Her skin was flushed pink from the heat. It was amazing how good her skin looked for her age, not a single wrinkle in it.

“I’m excited! It’s been a while since we had a wedding. Last one was…”

“Mine!” Mina interjected Momo, raising her hand in the air.

“Oh, that was a blast. Remember when Eijirou started crying as soon as he saw you?” Kyoka laughed.

“Oh, Eijirou cried his eyes out! But that was very sweet of him.”

“You were beautiful that day. I don’t blame him.” Momo smiled softly.

Mina giggled, “If I wasn’t pink already! Well, now it’s ____’s turn tomorrow. Nervous?” She turned to you, leaning until her shoulder briefly bumped yours. Tsuyu already pulled herself from the water and sat on the rocks with her legs still half in. She fanned her hot cheeks, thin tongue flat on her bottom lip as you could swear you heard a small “ribbit” from her.

“Um, is it obvious?” You chuckled to hide the nerves that resurfaced whenever you thought about the wedding.

“There’s nothing to be nervous about. You’re just marrying my loud-mouth son.”

“I understand why you would feel that way.” Momo also pulled herself from the water. “Being bonded is not easy. You can’t just think about yourself anymore.”

“Yeah and wait until children come in the picture,” Mina sighed.

“You and Katsuki were waiting until the wedding night, right?” You didn’t think your cheeks could get any warmer until you heard Ochako’s question.

“Ooooh yeah, are you ready?” Mitsuki nudged your shoulder with her elbow.

“I—yeah I am… Actually, I was wondering… do you guys have any advice for that night? I never had sex before—like I know what to expect but I don’t want to seem inexperience.”

“You shouldn’t worry about that. Just have fun,” Kyoka shrugged.

“Well, one advice I can think of is if you like it, don’t hesitate to give him a scratch or two,” Mitsuki smirked.

“Maybe even a bite! You won’t regret it,” said Mina.

“It’s a huge compliment. We love scratching and biting during sex. It’s how we show if we’re enjoying it or not,” Momo added.

“I’m sure Katsuki will take good care of you. Maybe be honest about how you’re feeling at the moment too.” Tsuyu dipped back into the water.

“If anything, the only thing you should worry about is becoming pregnant.” Pregnancy? It was something you didn’t consider a possibility. “Katsuki was conceived on our first night being bonded. I’ll never forget the look on Masaru’s face when I told him I was pregnant weeks after. He was so happy but so terrified at the same time.”

“On your first night?!”

“Yeah, now you and Katsuki will be living away from us for a few weeks so plenty of time for me to finally become a grandma!” Mitsuki looked genuinely excited but her words had worried you. It was a tradition after the ceremony for newlyweds to live away from the pack for a few weeks to enjoy their time alone—an equivalent to a honeymoon. You had no doubt you and Katsuki would be sexually active during those few weeks, but pregnancy and children was something you didn’t even think of. You weren’t even sure if Katsuki wanted children so soon.

“But it’s not like I’ll get pregnant during that time, right…?”

The women looked to one another, their expressions unreadable. It worried you to no end until Mina spoke up.

“Um—Well, things happen, you know? You don’t really know when it happens but the more you do it, the more chances you’ll have.”

Tsuyu nodded, “but it’s nothing to really worry about. You have Katsuki and us to help you if that happens.”

“Okay…” you gulped. Fuck. You really didn’t think that far, but now you seriously had to. It wasn’t just marrying Katsuki because you love him but creating a partnership that’ll help you grow as a person and possibly a family. You never thought of yourself as a mother and wasn’t sure if you could even handle it. It was a conversation worth talking about with Katsuki.

After the hot springs, you said your good nights to the girls and retreated to your cave. Katsuki wasn’t there so you assumed he was still at the springs with his friends. You decided to go to bed before him and crawl under the sheep wool covers.

But you couldn’t fall asleep. You were anxious, of course. Tomorrow, you were to become a bride, a wife to a wolf. But it wasn’t just any wolf but one who was a descendant from Fenrir and the future leader of the largest wolf pack on this side of the planet, and you would also be considered a future leader once you marry him. It was why some wolves were still against it. They didn’t want to take orders from a human. You understood that.

Most of the pack decided to tolerate it. They were more loyal to Katsuki and the Fenrir bloodline and if that’s what he decided, they would go along with it. Some even used the argument that Fenrir’s wife was human, so it was permissible for Katsuki to marry you. The few who were against the wedding were given permission to leave the pack until they were ready to return. Mitsuki would accept them with open arms.

“You awake?” You jumped slightly as you felt Katsuki climb into bed. He expected to find you asleep, but you were lying in bed with the covers over your body and you were staring at the burning candles on the table. You felt his heavy arm hook around your waist and turn you around to face him. You felt your cheeks warm up. Gosh, there was just something about seeing a shirtless Katsuki in dim lighting with the shadows hitting his face and muscles just right.

“Yeah I am. How was the spring?”

You soon felt his fingers in your hair and his face moved close, then you felt his lips touch yours, kissing you lightly but with a sort of aggression that only seem to fit Katsuki. He even let out a growl when he pulled away like he was reluctant to do so but had to. He didn’t move far but stayed close enough for you to feel his breath. You also felt his tail wagging as it would smack against your thigh sporadically—the only indication that he was happy right now.

“Good. Were you waiting up for me?” You realized Katsuki’s skin was still moist from the springs when you stroke the side of his arm.

“Not really, couldn’t sleep,” you started drawing circles in his skin with your finger.

“Thinking about tomorrow?”

Your eyes flickered up to find Katsuki’s glowing red ones with a hint of gold reflecting in them from the candle flames.

“Yeah… Can’t believe it. Kind of feels like it was yesterday when I met you.”

“Yeah…” his fingers lightly brushed your arm. He looked tired. “You’re scared?”

You laughed.

“More nervous actually—Don’t worry, I’m not going to leave you at the altar or something—I’m just a bit worried about becoming a wife and a leader. You know—me being human and all.”

“You’re worried about that shit again? I told you—”

“I know what you told me. But you know I can’t help but think about it. I’m not insensitive like you,” you sighed. You didn’t mean to sound so harsh. Although, Katsuki was unaffected by your tone.

“You don’t have to think about being a wife or leader. Everything will be the same only that we’re bonded forever. Don’t let all these duties and those old jerks cloud that.” The ‘old jerks’ that Katsuki mentioned were the Elders. The Elders were advisors to the pack leaders. They usually like to give their opinions on what goes on in the pack, but the leaders have the final say. You met them a couple of days after the party and it was a group that consisted of four men and four women, all elderly, hence the name ‘The Elders’, and you remembered that they didn’t stop pestering you about your studies about the wolves’ culture and surprisingly, baby plans. They even questioned whether or not you were pregnant now. The nerve of them!

“I can’t believe they asked if I was pregnant.”

“I don’t blame them. We don’t wait until marriage to mate. You probably would’ve been a mother already.”

You looked at Katsuki through wide eyes. He was just telling the truth but something about it unsettled you. You weren’t ready to be a mother and won’t be for a couple of years.

“I can’t imagine myself… pregnant,” you mumbled. “Do you even want children, Katsuki?”

You thought you should have this conversation with him since there was a good chance of you conceiving on the wedding night.

Katsuki shifted slightly to where his head was on the pillow and the arm around you started to squeeze your waist and his hand began to roam around your back. Whenever he did this, he was preparing to sleep.

“I wouldn’t mind having a few brats running around, you know…” he yawned, his large fangs on display for you.

“I don’t think I’ll be ready until—maybe, after a few years?”

“Take all the time you need… Don’t let those old jerks pressure you… I’ll wait…”

Before you knew it, he was snoring lightly, his eyes closed, and body limp. Katsuki was tired from everything he had to do today. Before he hung out with his friends in the springs, he helped the pack with the final preparations for tomorrow, setting up the stage, the sitting area, making sure everything was in order for you two to wed. So, it did not come as a surprise that Katsuki nearly knocked out the moment he climbed into bed.

You sighed softly, and you still couldn’t fall asleep.

You brought a hand to Katsuki’s cheek and softly caressed it. Your fingers touched his nose and parts of his lips. You then moved to buried them in his hair and as soon as you touched his wolf ears, they began to twitch. You smiled because you thought it was so cute. That wasn’t a word you normally used to describe Katsuki, but it definitely fit the situation.

You continued playing with Katsuki’s hair, waiting for sleep to claim you.

The echo sound of drums being beaten was what woke you out of your slumber. It was early in the morning, perhaps a few hours since the sun had risen. You heard your name being called and you opened your eyes and saw several wolf women surrounding you. You let out a gasp, bringing your covers over your chest when you noticed it had fallen when you sat up. You quickly looked to your right and noticed the space next to you was empty. Where was Katsuki?

“Sorry for scaring you,” one of them said, smiling lightly, wolf ears fluttering. “But you have to get ready for the ceremony.”

“Congratulations!” Each of them said immediately after, already pulling you up by your arms. Your covers dropped. You couldn’t shield yourself because they were still holding your arms. Even though they were women, you still felt self-conscious.

“Ah—wait, where’s Katsuki?”

“Future leader is already getting ready. You won’t see him until it’s time for the bond.”

The women then gathered some of your clean clothes, helping you dress before they pulled you towards the bathhouse. You were practically pushed into the baths, and they scrubbed and scrubbed on your arms and legs until you felt yourself turn raw.

“Humans have such soft skin,” one of them commented, seeing parts of your skin start to bruise before they dumped a large bucket of warm water on the top of your head. “Don’t worry, we have some cream that’ll make those go away.”

“You’re so lucky, miss, to be getting married to our future leader!” One of them gushed and the rest giggled.

“L-Lucky, really?” They brought you to your feet and helped you step out of the bath. They immediately began drying you with towels. You haven’t been this pampered since… never.

“Of course! Future leader is the descendant of Fenrir, the first wolf. There’s magic in his blood, you know.”

“And not only that, but he’s hot.”

“And I heard he’s good in bed.”

The women could not stop yammering about Katsuki even after they dressed you up in simple clothes and guided you back towards the mountain. Once they had you in a cave, they undressed you and moisturized your skin with that cream they spoke of and they sprayed an excessive amount of perfume all around your body including your inner thighs. They mentioned something about smelling delightful for the wedding night. You found yourself at their mercy as they sat you down in front of a mirror and began doing your makeup and hair. Slowly, you watched yourself transform. By the time they were done, you looked like a completely different person.

And then it was time for your dress that was custom fit to your size. The women mentioned that it was a dress designed specifically for Katsuki’s betrothed. As you looked in the mirror, you couldn’t believe the woman staring back was you. Not that you ever thought you were unattractive, but you have never seen yourself look this beautiful. Even the women who helped you dress were in awe of your beauty, soon telling you that it was Katsuki who was the lucky one.

The drums were louder outside. They echoed into the blue sky, absent with clouds as the sun shimmered brightly upon the mountain. There was no longer any snow except for the mountain tops and the temperature was the warmest it’s been since winter diminished.  It was a glorious day to marry. Many of the wolves believed it was Fenrir himself, giving them his blessings.

Crowds of wolves had already gathered in the courtyard. It was a mixture of different packs from nearby lands that traveled far to see the descendant of Fenrir marry. The energetic Kaminari Clan, the strong Toshinari Clan, the mellow Aizawa Clan, the caring Ashido Clan, and more well-known packs were all here. And even though there were wolves who disagreed with who Katsuki was marrying in attendance, they respected his family line enough to be cordial. A wolf marrying a human hasn’t happened recently in modern times. In fact, in some packs, the hatred of humans was so severe that if caught having a relationship with one would lead to exile, hence becoming a lone wolf.

Regardless of their opinions, Katsuki was relieved that all seats were full. He was sitting cross-legged on a cushion on the stage, arms folded at his chest, while he waited for you to come out. He could see everyone’s faces from this height. His mother was sitting in the front row along with all the pack leaders and the Elders. The second row was family and friends—those who were close to him and you. He had to hold back his snarls when he saw Izuku next to Ochako. He hated that he came but it was what you wanted, and he wasn’t going to deny what you wanted on your wedding day. Surprisingly, the pack wasn’t so against having him here so at least his presence didn’t cause any problems.

Katsuki’s traditional garments were his usual but he was lathered in jewelry from necklaces to bangles. Black lines of paint from his forehead, over his eyes, to his chin and under. His left shoulder was red and swollen from the tattoo he received before dawn, an intricate silhouette design of Fenrir’s head surrounded by a border with rounded edges—a symbol that he’s a bonded member of his bloodline. And on top of his shoulders was the fur top of his red cape that draped the stage behind him dramatically.

To everyone, Katsuki looked like a powerful, stoic leader ready to be wed. But internally, Katsuki was nervous as any man on his wedding day. It was the feeling of butterflies in his stomach which he wouldn’t have been able to describe until this day. Katsuki of the Bakugo Clan, descendant of Fenrir, next in line for pack leader, had never been nervous before and he never thought he would ever be bombarded with these feelings because of a woman. Katsuki used to walk this earth untamed—no strong bonds that tethered him. He always expected to wed a random woman, probably forced to by the Elders because he was getting older and he needed to birth an heir. He never would’ve predicted that he would marry for love, nor did he desire to at that time.

But ever since he first saw you, there was a force that pulled him to you and he hasn’t been able to shake it off—not that he wanted to, of course—but it was a tether that connected you two, an unbreakable bond that would never sever even after death.

Katsuki looked up the moment he heard the drums slow to a steady beat. It could only mean one thing. You were coming out.

As if on cue, all the wolves turned their heads to look down the aisle.

Katsuki was quick on his feet, steady red eyes glued on you when he saw you standing at the end of the aisle. Oh, his heart fluttered wildly at the sight of you, palms clammy like fire had come from his fingertips. You were the moon to him, beautiful with a glow that had him staring for ages. Apparent, even in the darkest of surroundings. Full, in the shape of your hips in your mostly white dress where the hue changed to a fiery orange-red at the bottom—like fire lilies, like his eyes, his cape. At that moment, he questioned if you were real because he couldn’t believe such a woman like you would be by his side willingly.

When you started to slowly walk towards the stage, Katsuki made his way down the stage, almost slipping on the first step, and recovering ungraciously that it had you giggling—A warm tune that made his ears twitch in joy, heart palpitating, hands shaking. He didn’t care how clumsy he looked walking down those stairs. He wanted you in his arms already. Katsuki’s strides were wide and covered more ground than you. He ignored the hissed words of his mother telling him to slow down.

And when he met with you at the center of the aisle, he grabbed your arms and saw through the veil covering your face that you were smiling—widely, giggles leaving you like you were mad.

“What are you laughing about?” He growled, a playful smirk on his face. He saw that you were decorated with jewelry similar to his own on your ears, arms and wrists but your neck laid bare for his golden necklace to be put on.

“Hehe… you tripped.”

Katsuki sucked his teeth, pulled you closer, and pressed his forehead against yours. He breathed in your scent deeply and you hummed at the feeling of his warmth.

He grabbed you by your hand and together, the two of you walked back to the stage. He helped you sit on your cushion and as soon as Katsuki sat on his, the drums creased and Mitsuki stood up, turning to face the guests.

“Thank you everyone for being here. Today, we witness another bonding ceremony for a member of the Fenrir family line. I’m sure those of you who were old enough to remember my ceremony could recall the looks on Masaru’s and I’s face when we walked out of here bonded and how much blessings and love we received from everyone. I ask that you show that same love and respect to my son and his beloved on this day. Regardless of how we feel about humans, we will treat her like she’s one of us and after this day, she will be.” Mitsuki spoke loud to where all the wolves in the vicinity heard her, some of them sneered at her words but stayed quiet, others nodded, agreeing with her.

It was a divided crowd, but it was the least of Katsuki’s worries.

“Now we will begin the ceremony, once again, thank you everyone for being here.” Mitsuki sat back down and another person rose up, this time an older wolf wearing long robes and holding a large book in his hands that he flipped open when he kneeled in front of the stage, facing you and Bakugo. Around his wrists and hands were tiny bells that jingled the moment he slapped his hands together and in a loud voice he said, “O’Fenrir! Let us call upon you to bless this joyous day!” And he began to recite what was on the pages. He was the head priest of the pack. First, he would pray to Fenrir to accept and bless the marriage and then he would read from the scriptures in an old language long forgotten in the pack—only those training to be priest learn to read them.

But Katsuki didn’t care about any of that. Since he sat down, he’s been glancing at you—sometimes even staring at you. He was so used to seeing you in your regular clothes, bare faced or sometimes with light make up that you honestly looked like a different person in that dress. It was a different from when he saw you at the party last week. He wanted you in his bed because of how sexy you looked but this time, you looked like a pure beauty, delicate but not fragile. You held your head high and although the veil covered your face, he saw those strong eyes behind them—steady like a leader overseeing her people.

And when you finally caught him staring, the brightest smile he ever saw from you hit him like a branch in the forest. The flutters in his stomach grew at an all-time high, his cheeks turned a red hue, and his tail began to wag furiously. He couldn’t believe it. A single smile had reduced him to a teenage wolf again.

You didn’t expect Katsuki to reach out and hold your hand on your lap. It was strange to see him so happy (by the sight of how fast his tail was moving) but you were enjoying it. Your smile grew larger and with your other hand, you clasped it over his and caressed his fingers. This only made him happier as there were moments when his tail would thump against the stage and the sound echoed throughout the courtyard with the priest’s voice. You glanced at Mitsuki. You could tell she already wanted to tell him to calm down.

“Now I call upon the carriers to bring the necklaces to the descendant of Fenrir.” The priest kept his head low as he called for Minato and Mie who were already walking down the aisle with their short legs and hands heavy with the necklaces on top of cushions. Mina and Eijirou were smiling proudly as they watched them climb the stairs and kneel down on one knee to present them.

“Thanks, brats.” Katsuki ruffled both of their heads before setting down the cushions in front of him.

“With the necklaces arrival, we may begin the bond.”

The moment the loud booms of the drums returned, the faster your heart seemed to beat. Katsuki turned to completely face you and you did the same. He slowly reached for your veil and flipped it over your head like he’s been waiting to do that since he saw you. You heard some wolves gasped when your face was revealed, and you felt your cheeks warmed because you knew it had to do with how beautiful you looked. You even felt the light touch of Katsuki’s knuckles brush against your cheek because he couldn’t help but marvel at how perfect you looked. He needed to touch you to confirm your existence.

“Please repeat after me, Future leader. I, Katsuki of the Bakugo clan, will take this human to be my wife. With Fenrir’s blessing, I will do my duties as a husband, protect my wife and my family from anyone who might threaten them. Honor this bond through sickness and health and care for my bond whenever she may need me.”

Katsuki looked straight into your eyes, grabbed your hands and repeated the vows. You felt tears welling in your eyes as you listened to him.

“Now please repeat after me, ____. I, ____ of the human race, will take this wolf to be my husband. With Fenrir’s blessings, I will do my duties as a wife, protect my husband and my family from anyone who might threaten them. Honor this bond through sickness and health and care for my bond whenever he may need me.”

It was hard to repeat the vows because you were trying to hold back your hiccups. A single tear rolled down your cheeks and was quickly captured by Katsuki’s thumb. He smiled so softly—it was a look you rarely saw; his eyes glossy and he couldn’t hide those flushed cheeks, nor could he blame it on the warm weather.

Katsuki then picked up your golden necklace from the cushion, he felt the weight of his ancestry in his hands as he dressed it around your neck. With a click, he secured it on your neck and looked you over like a completed masterpiece.

Next was your turn as you reached for the other necklace that looked similar to yours but less decorative—still, it held the meaning of someone who was bonded. You hooked it around his neck and it stood out among all the necklaces there. He looked so handsome, like you finally found a piece to complete a puzzle.

The priest had raised both his hands in the air, praising Fenrir once again, before he closed his fists and then the drums creased with a final boom. His body dropped into a prostrate, both his forehead and nose touched the ground as his cloak drape around his body. You thought it was dramatic how he was acting but you knew the priests practically worshipped the Fenrir bloodline. They weren’t upset at Katsuki marrying a human because Fenrir did the same thing and as long as Fenrir did it, it was permissible to them.

“With Fenrir’s blessing and vows exchanged, I announce the ceremonial bond complete.” He spoke into the ground and then the wolves immediately broke into howls, noses high in the air, lips pursed as they celebrated your joining. Even Mie and Minato joined the howling with their tiny voices and jumped in place excitedly. Izuku joined in by applause, clapping awkwardly as he was startled by the sudden howls.

You were grinning at Katsuki, sight blurry with endless tears springing from your eyes. It was happy tears nonetheless, and you gazed upon your now husband that returned your grin with one of his own. You could tell he wanted to kiss you, but it was tradition that the bride and groom must not engage in anything intimate until the wedding night. You and Katsuki let go of each other and turned to face the crowd, smiling brightly as the wolves howled and cheered for your bond.

If you had told yourself months ago that you would meet a wolf, fall in love with him, and marry him, you wouldn’t have believed it. Becoming a wife and the second leader of a wolf pack, abandoning your own people to live with the wolf you love. You wondered if you made your parents roll in their graves with the decisions you’ve made. But at this point, you didn’t care. You were living life the way you wanted.

Katsuki’s such a brash, arrogant, and cocky wolf, all qualities that’s unlikable at first but after getting to know him—all that hardness, that coldness, was his exterior. Inside, he cared, loved, and helped in his own way, a Katsuki’s way, that you wouldn’t truly understand if you didn’t bother getting to know his true self. Yes, he wasn’t perfect. And yes, there were times when he was unbearable, and he would get on your nerves with his snide comments, but you learned that your love for him had overwhelmed the negatives. You gave up your life for him just as he risked his life for yours. You wanted to be with him, start a family with him, and live out your days with him. Today was only just the beginning.

With sacrifices and all, finally, you and Katsuki were bonded forever.

The ceremony after was one you would never forget. The wolves partied for hours. When evening reached, lanterns around the courtyard lit up around you as well as the ones behind you on stage. The wolves were continuously handing you and Katsuki wedding gifts on the stage that you accepted with a smile. Most of it was meat and handmade trinkets or jewelry. Mina gave you these beautiful beads that you thought was supposed to go around your neck, but she told you with a laugh that it was for your waist. And with a whisper in your ear, she told you to wear it for tonight. The heat rose to your cheeks and you gave a glance at Katsuki who was distracted by what Eijirou was telling him. Mina left you a wink before dragging Eijirou away. Next came Ochako and Izuku who earned a snarl from Katsuki.

“Ignore him,” you simply said but Izuku couldn’t help but cower under his glare. Ochako smiled uneasily probably because she was still thinking about what happened at the hot springs yesterday. But you moved to hold her hand and that gentle smile on your face had relieved her. It was too joyous of a day to keep the awkwardness between you and her.

Ochako then gave you a bottle of perfume made from flowers while Izuku pulled out a bouquet with a letter attached to it. He told you the letter was from Inko who he informed about your situation. You were grateful he did because out of everyone, you at least wanted Inko to know that you were alive and happy.

Many other wolves came to give you gifts as well, many that you didn’t know yet. Some of them were important clan leaders that congratulated you and Katsuki, neither friendly or rude, just acted in curtesy. Denki and Kyoka gave their gifts with Denki mentioning he couldn’t believe Katsuki found someone willing to be around him. Katsuki, of course, didn’t take that lightly. He banged his fist on the stage and told him to stop talking, growling through gritted teeth.

In between everyone visiting the stage, you and Katsuki took the time to look at each other. Unfortunately, you couldn’t show any intimacy yet, but you can tell from the look in Katsuki’s eyes that he couldn’t wait to have you all to himself. You could even hear his low growls from his chest the longer he stared at you. Love embedded in those red eyes, and of course, you didn’t miss the lust in them—a look you recognized since he kissed you on that tree many months ago.

Soon, Mitsuki came after Denki and Kyoka, interrupting the silent moment between you. She gave you a hug and expressed how happy she was for you. She then gave Katsuki one and as reluctant as he was to wrap his arms around her, he still awkwardly held her with his frown deepening. Their relationship was still sour, but you knew Mitsuki was proud of her son and supported him in everything he wanted to do. She was the first one to trust you because she trusted her son. In her eyes, he was still the young wolf that she raised to be the man he is now—stronger than all in the pack. She only wished Masaru lived long enough to see it.

“Your father would’ve been proud…” She whispered when she released him, her shaky hands still on his shoulders. Katsuki didn’t expect to see Mitsuki’s glossy eyes, but not a single tear fell because he knew she was holding it in. He couldn’t deny that his mother was strong. It was where he got his strength from.

The gifting went on, even after food was brought to you and Katsuki. Honestly, it was a little annoying because you wanted some alone time with Katsuki already. You couldn’t get a word in without someone coming to interrupt you. Weddings in the wolves’ culture was definitely different than human weddings. Majority of the time, you and Katsuki were sitting on the stage overlooking everyone while they converse and ate with each other. There was no dance between the wedded couple nor a cake to cut and smash the piece in Katsuki’s face. No father and daughter dance nor a mother and son one. Although, there was a dance performance that impressed you with their rhythm and ended with fire being blown from their lips. You gasped and grabbed Katsuki’s arm when the flames blew into the air. All Katsuki did was laugh at you and watched on.

Next, Kyoka sang a song for you two. You never knew she had such a beautiful voice. Even Denki looked mesmerized by his wife. Katsuki told you that Kyoka often sings to Denki before bed (Denki loves to brag about it which is why Katsuki knew).

After Kyoka was the belly dancers which was something you weren’t fond of. The men started howling and licking their lips as soon as the dancers rock their hips to front of the stage in revealing, flashy clothes. Their eyes on no one else but Katsuki. Of course. You huffed and crossed your arms. You really wanted to tell them off and show them Katsuki was your man. The dancers shook their hips side to side, creating a perfect arch that had most men wagging their tails. Honestly, you couldn’t move that way even if you tried and it was quite obvious that these women were trying to make you jealous on your wedding day.

You were taken by surprise when Katsuki’s hand moved over yours. Your angry eyes broke away from the dancing women and softened once they met with Katsuki’s. He leaned towards your ear and whispered something about one of the girls on the left being off sync and laughing about it. He wasn’t enticed by the women at all. His eyes only saw you.

The celebration stretched through the evening and the party would continue on without the newlyweds.

As you and Katsuki get ready to end the night, you’ll have a party of your own—privately, away from everyone, whisked away by pleasure. At least you hoped. You didn’t exactly know what to expect. You knew what went on between humans but how exactly did wolves have sex? You had to admit you were a little startled when Mitsuki and Momo told you about biting and scratching being an important part when you’re feeling good. Surprisingly, you weren’t afraid at all—definitely nervous, but not afraid. You knew Katsuki would treat you well and would go at your pace. You looked forward to spending some time alone with him, talking and cuddling by the fire in bed. Maybe sharing a kiss or two and feeling his palms massage your thigh and other places.

You held your hot cheeks, wanting to slap them to calm yourself down from your heated imagination. Gosh, it was really going to happen.

As Katsuki helped you down the stage, most wolves gathered near you two to say farewell and to wish you luck on your night. Katsuki ended up telling you that the women who helped dressed you for the wedding would help you get ready for the night and as if they were summoned, they surrounded the two of you, bowing before their bright smiles shone on their faces.

“I’ll see you soon,” Katsuki gave your hand a squeeze before you were dragged off.

The women acted fast in preparing you. They dressed you in a bra and underwear and a sheer garment-like dress draped around your figure in layers. Through the sheer, Mina’s beads were loosely hugging your hips and bangles dangling on your wrists matched the golden necklace on your neck. Natural perfume was sprayed on your inner thighs again just in case the smell worn off and soon they started giving you some tips and advice. Not that you asked but they taught you things about what wolf men normally did and liked done to them. You didn’t think scratching and biting would be such a big deal to them, but the women advocated that it was the best thing to do.

Once they were finished, they threw a heavy fur cloak over your body. They helped you travel off the mountain and into the forest. They led you another way that made you reach another part of the mountain you haven’t been to. At the base, there was a fairly large cave cavity with a heavy cloth hanging over the opening. You could tell the cave was already brightly lit by the glow that emulated through the fabric. This was probably the cave that you and Katsuki would stay in for the next couple of weeks.

The women bid you farewell far from the entrance. They said it was to not have their scent linger in the area any longer. You didn’t have the chance to ask them why it was a problem before they scattered away and left you alone.

You eyed the cave before you approached it, light on your feet and cautious. Although you didn’t know why, but you felt your anxiety rising. It was possible that Katsuki already arrived and was waiting for you inside. You shifted your cloak by the lapels nervously, feeling the night chill run through your spine. You were basically in your underwear under there and that urged you even more to go inside, especially as you felt the heat sneaking through the small cracks of the cloth, beckoning you to slip inside.

And so, with a deep breath, you listened.

The cloth fell behind you gently, and immediately you were drawn to glowing crimsons across the room. The hue so prominent behind the orange flames of the candles that your heart rattled as it so often did when in front of them. The heat from the makeshift fireplace was not the only thing making you warm, but the presence of your now husband, standing by it topless. Without a doubt, the shadows had contoured his muscles making them seem more profound and elevated that you wanted to feel them under your fingertips. There it was—that curiosity that sprang from you the moment his tongue had touch your leg many months ago. Finally, you will be able to indulge it.

#bnha #mha #mha x reader #bnha x reader #katsuki bakugou #bakugo x reader #bakugo katsuki x reader #wau bnha #my hero academia x reader #my hero academia #boku no hero academia #boku no hero academia x reader

[falconfriend]

Central character: Zane

A/N: Pixal isn’t here? Yet, and ideally she’s coming in on part 2. I goofed on the transition originally because I had some canon facts about her timeline wrong, so I’ll be editing that soon. People who’ve followed me since I was more active will know I love Pixal very much; let’s write some fic involving you soon, my girl. (It’s been a while since I published fic at all.)

There’s a part 2 coming.

Warnings: Major (robot) injury, death references, some existential themes going on, minor burns.

--------------------

The hard surface of Nya’s workbench rattles into Zane’s skin, rattles because he’s shaking—

“Zane!” Nya startles, bustling over to him. She puts a hand on his arm as if to pull him back onto his back, but snatches it away, shaking it out at her side immediately. “That’s good. Keep pulling in those deep breaths, Zane, you’re overheating. Oh…”

Nya’s voice holds a sense of command that she’s put there, deliberately, for Zane to latch onto, but also a little for herself. She stares at him for a little longer, hands hovering in the air between them as if looking for some way to help him, before she turns back to her screens, eyes scanning rapidly over line after line. This is the part where she can help him.

She presses a call button, and a much calmer version of her voice rings through the Bounty: “We could use a bit of a hand down here, asap.”

“Nya,” Zane gasps.

Nya winces. Oh, she doesn’t know how to do this part… 

She has grown close with all of the ninja, they’re her family, but aside from trading quips, she and Zane have always… struggled to connect. Kai’s the one who’s good with other people’s emotions. Nya’s just good at calling Kai on his own feelings, and building things, and pulling off logistical feats—

Zane had rolled onto his side when he woke up, and now he’s facing away from her. She walks around the table to him and crouches in front of him. She can’t use a metal workbench with Zane, the electronics need an insulator (though sometimes she runs a cable to ground in case of emergency), but if he stays like this much longer he’ll burn parts of this one dark brown.

“Hi, Zane,” Nya begins, at the same moment that a voice saves her from the doorway with, “Hey, Frosty.” 

Nya could melt in relief. She stands to welcome Cole in, remarking, conversationally, “Not so frosty right now, watch out—”

(This conversational tone is a performance for Zane’s sake, too, like the way some grown-ups can be about tragedies and disasters when a child is in the room.)

And Cole has already rested a hand on Zane’s back. Nya winces, knowing how high the metal has heated, and Cole winces too, pulling his hand an inch back and sucking in a quick hiss through his teeth. He recovers quickly. “Okay, big guy, okay. You’re safe. Eeeeeeasy, Frosty. You’re safe. We’ve got you.”

Nya watches from a step behind him, slightly flummoxed, amazed she once thought they were similar people. It’s more of this as she turns back to her workstation to try to figure out what had even happened, Cole’s voice droning on over her shoulder.

“That’s right, Astroboy. Let’s slow it down—Nya, should he be breathing like this?” And then Cole’s voice turns severe, softer: “We will always come for you, Zane. You hear me? We’re always coming for you.”

“Slower is better,” Nya confirms, as Kai and Jay come into the doorway. Her voice has gone softer, now, too. “He is overheating, so I thought that was his fans working on overdrive, but he’s having a panic attack.”

“How can we help?” Lloyd has joined our doorway crew, now, too. It seems less kind to linger in the hall, but the room is so cramped already, and Zane probably needs air.

Nya considers Jay, who looks, though he’s trying not to, like he’s chomping at the bit to ask to double-check her wiring work. She would ask him to if she thought it wouldn’t freak Zane out right now—he tolerates being prodded at like it’s nothing, but it can’t actually be nothing. The part of her that’s learning to be wrong really wants to ask him to anyway.

She checks herself, four times, for overconfidence. Better to stress Zane out and get a second opinion to keep his physical body safe if she has to. But her readings show a clear signal coming from Zane’s CPU and everything else on her screen says there’s nothing wrong.

“Just be a friend right now, I think.”

Zane came into her workshop today totally trashed. She didn’t feel the need to document and explain every one of them to him this time, he’s grown a lot less attached to the original hardware since he rebuilt himself, but she had to put in a lot of new wiring. Welding work. Multiple circuit boards scorched, and half a motherboard she’d assigned Jay to replicate—he keeps spares. 

Jay had found him on the ground torn open.

He must have held off a massive crowd at once. Thirty, fifty. He’d kept fighting long after he should have been on his knees, and most tellingly, he hadn’t let any of them get behind him—the damage is on his front.

Cole has shifted to rub Zane’s back again, now that the temperature’s dropped enough for it to be thinkable, but there’s still a little grimace on his face. 

Kai steps in once he notices that it’s burning him, offering— “Here, I can—”

“I got it.”

And the room settles into this tense sort of quiet.

Cole knows he was a little too sharp.

“I was just letting Zane know we’re always coming for him, and that he’s safe right here on the Bounty. We’re hundreds of miles away from the battle, isn’t that right? Kai, you’ve been manning the bridge.”

“Autopilot right now,” Kai clarifies, “before you worry, Zane. Cole’s right, we’re hundreds of miles away.”

“And what Cole said! We are, uh.” Jay fumbles, because it’s not sounding as good out loud now that he’s saying it. “Always coming for you.”

The stillness really wasn’t fixed by this.

Kai shifts uncomfortably on his feet. 

“No, you know what, that’s not what it’s going to be,” Kai asserts, already decided. “We’re not going to need to keep coming for you, because it’s not going to happen like this. Isn’t that right, Lloyd.”

Lloyd perks up, grateful for something to do. Cole’s eyes are still trained on Zane’s face, Jay watching anxiously over his shoulder, everyone else’s eyes on Lloyd. Nya’s paused in her work to listen.

“That is right.” He decides, then and there. “Zane, if you are in any situation where one of us would retreat or we would die, I want you to retreat. It’s the same standard for everyone. Not any more of this.”

“Retreat wasn’t an option.” Zane croaks out. It’s the second thing he’s said all night. His voice, for all it’s just been through, is surprisingly calm. Cole very gingerly jostles his shoulder, the same way he would ruffle someone’s hair.

“...Okay. I believe that.” Lloyd sounds a little chagrined, voice pulling away from its leader-y command. “I’m sorry it happened that way. We’ll keep a better eye out, alright? No, I’ll keep a better eye out. No one’s running off and getting surrounded anymore—that goes for all of you.”

There are a few very quick murmurs of assent, a quiet aye-aye Lloyd from Nya.

Kai sits on the workbench by Zane’s feet. He reaches as if to touch him, to be here with him somehow, but he’s unsure how to and Zane has already brought his breathing back down. Cole is keeping his hand draped behind the other’s back where Zane can’t see it. Kai notes that the palm’s a little burned.

Zane rolls onto his back, and Cole and Kai move out of the way.

He turns his eyes up toward Nya, who stills, pausing her fidgeting. “Nya, what are my diagnostics.”

Nya rattles them off, one by one, clear and moderately-paced. “You can’t access those yourself, or you just wanted to hear a voice?”

“I wanted a voice.” It’s easier, too, not to need to think for them. If anything is wrong, anything permanently damaged or even just hurting for an extra night, he’d rather not look at it directly.

“Okay, anytime.”

-

It’s well past dark when Kai finally moves toward bed later that night, speeding through the hall with the kind of quiet you use when you’re the only one left awake.

“Retreat was not an option.”

Kai halts. That came from Zane, fully alert—when he walks back to peer through Nya’s door, he half expects Zane to have sat up to face him, but he hasn’t, of course, he’s still curled on his side. He still catches Kai’s eye from the door, all the same, and Kai’s step quickens without waiting for him to ask it to as he steps inside.

“Oh, Zane, are you still-? Lloyd isn’t mad at you, he wasn’t saying-“

“No. Retreat wasn’t an option.” Kai has by now reached his side, and takes Zane’s hand where Zane lies on the workbench. He debates hopping up to sit on its edge, but by the time he’s finished thinking it, there’s already been too much quiet, and he can tell with an uncomfortable internal squirm that Zane is as empathetic to his predicament as he is to Zane’s. He opens his mouth to do something about it, just before Zane shakes his head and cuts in faster, like he’s racing him to break the silence on purpose. “I was built to-“ his voice chokes.

Kai’s eyes lock on Zane’s, and he takes a slow, comprehending kind of breath. He grips Zane’s hand, Zane grips it tighter back.

“...To protect those who cannot protect themselves,” Kai’s mouth helpfully, carefully supplies; he says it like he’s not sure Zane wants it said.

There’s a little moment, somewhere in the space they share right then, when Kai grows something unreadable on his face. A hint of the Kai from years ago who might have snapped on this, who might have given the problem an immediate villain and a villain he wants to punch. He has grown either the maturity or the embarrassment to bite the anger back, and Zane is selfishly grateful for either.

Zane pulls their hands closer to his face, affirmative hum interrupted by a full-body hitch. This part has never been hard. They’re brothers. Zane squeezes his hand, and Kai squeezes it back.

“We can protect ourselves. Zane. We can. Do you believe that?”

Zane shakes his head, not that he doesn’t believe, but that: “Retreat wasn’t-“

“Okay.” Kai cuts him off before he can explain himself into the ground. “You’re gonna be okay. We’re gonna make sure you’re safe, Zane.”

-

“Sorry I’m late, Kai.” Lloyd’s entry, arriving at the door with posture that says ‘casual’ and through the door with posture that says ‘leader,’ turns the half-baked gathering into a Meeting. “You wanted everyone on the bridge?”

“I actually wanted everyone down in Nya’s workshop, but I thought we should get there all at once. We need to talk about this.” 

Lloyd nods in acknowledgement; we all know what ‘this’ is. “You asked Zane?”

“I suggested it, but no, actually, Zane asked me.”

Lloyd nods again, once up and down, and once over his shoulder at the door. Jay, craning his neck up from the back of the room, gives him a smile, Lloyd takes that smile and gives it to the room. His expression goes serious once more, with his head on straight. “Alright, everyone, Zane called a meeting. Did he say right now?”

“Sooner is probably better.”

“Let’s head down.“

#ninjago #lego ninjago #lego ninjago: master of spinjitzu #zane julien #zane ninjago #kai ninjago #zane #kai #nya #cole #jay #lloyd #I tagged zane and kai because they get the most character exploration in this one! #my writing #mine

[excitedlysuffering]

Deidara Headcanons Collection

Oh god I’m like minutes from being too late but HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEI🥺❤️😍

What He Looks For In A S/O~

• He would most likely want someone who was an artist, cuz he needs someone who understands and relates to his passion and will challenge him on perspectives (respectfully, ofc)

• Needs someone who is as active as he is, he could not deal with someone who wanted to stay home all the time

• Dei is a wild child so whether he knows it or not, he’s going to need someone to balance him out with a more calm/logical outlook on life

• But that’s not to say he wants to date a square cause that’s a big fat LIE

• He needs an S/O who’s able to keep with his spontaneous attitude and mood swings

• He’d probably be drawn to the innocence of his S/O, he’s seen and done a lot of hard things in his life so would love to be able to leave the darkness behind around you

• If his S/O was a shinobi he’d be relieved cause they can take care of themselves, but he would also want to accompany you on missions because this boy can WORRY

• If you’re not a shinobi, he wouldn’t mind all that much cause he doesn’t have to be concerned with you getting injured on missions, but he would want to teach you the basics defense combat

• This boy just needs some love with a capital L, tbh

Relationship With Dei Stuff~

• He’s surprisingly empathetic and can pick on your emotions/moods quite easily but that doesn’t mean he always acts on it

• He’s a naturally happy person so negative emotions are a bit hard to deal with

• If you’re just grumpy, he’ll just stay out of your way (a bit) but if you’re really struggling or on suffering through Satan’s Week he’ll try to do his best to comfort you

• (be patient with him)

• Even though he can’t take you out on dates to the city like he wants to, he’ll improvise

• Boi isn’t an artist for no reason

• Ofc he takes you out to see his art and to fly on his creations, but he’s a romantic at heart and loves cheesy cliches

• Watching the sunset on picnics

• If he’s free camping in the forest

• Or just art dates where you guys will find a common project and will work on it together

• Bonus points towards you if you and Sasori can at least tolerate each other

• They might never admit out loud, but they are best friends

• Even if no one could ever tell

• The three of you are around each other a lot so if you and Sasori are always arguing or getting on each other’s nerves your relationship could suffer a little because of it

• LOVES to spoil you. Like just because

• If you and Dei are dating, you two make a great team whether it’s art collabs, missions, or just life in general

• He can be a real sweetheart and is more sensitive than people give him credit for so if you just love on this boy you’ll have him forever

How To Lose/Annoy Him~

• Insulting or just plain not acknowledging his art goes without saying, I would think

• I haven’t seen this mentioned before, but hating on or trying to avoid his mouth hands. Although they’re a huge part of his life they’re also strange so he can be a bit insecure

• Being insensitive about his speech tic (un, yeah, hm) he’s already come to term with them, but he doesn’t need you, or anyone else rubbing it in

• As stated earlier, not being able to get along with Sasori, or him just generally disapproving of you more than he does the average person

• Being overly clingy. Example, when he’s working on his art and you’re all over him, infringing on his special time

• Playing hard to get or trying to make him jealous. Dei is naturally impatient so it makes no sense as to why you’re trying to get a rise out of him. He can pretty blunt and he expects you to just come out and say it if something is bothering you.

• Slightly nsfw, but pulling on his hair. He doesn’t like his hair being ripped out in the slightest

• Being friends with Tobi

Soft Deidara Things~

• Definitely one for matching shirts (i.e His= Art is a bang! Yours= I’m a bang!)

• He loves to just cuddle up with you after a long day, no words he’ll just collapse on you

• PLAY. WITH. HIS. HAIR.

• Brush it, braid it, comb it, whatever, but it’ll soothe the heck outta him

• He really loves to pick out your clothes. Dei is a fashion master and he loves seeing you in clothes he likes

• Will be that one person to sleep crazy to the point of kicking you off the bed. Now you sleep literally on top of him so he’s pretty still

• Loves to wake up before you to look at you like ‘wow she loves me??’

• Can actually cook really well (i mean he did live on his own for a while) and loves having you try new recipes he’s come up with

• Just loves being around you, you’re presence can calm him like no other

Random Dei Facts~

• His love language is a mix of words of affirmation and physical touch

• As much as he likes to go go go, he also appreciates a good nap here or there

• He’s bad at taking care of himself like he’s on the brink of artistic genius and he’ll genuinely forget to eat or sleep

• Has a big thing for music, whether it’s a song or just instrumental he loves the environment it brings

• He doesn’t quite have PTSD, but somethings do trigger him or make him anxious. You just can’t live like he does and not be effected

• That one scene where he’s recruited and is under Itachi’s Sharingan/genjutsu and calls Itachi art and then is repulsed by the thought really makes me think that one of Dei’s biggest fears is thinking/realizing someone’s art is better than his own

• He isn’t religious but is a strong believer in fate, karma, and such things

• Contrary to popular belief, he doesn’t use his hand mouths for anything other than art. Those are his art tools, his partners, and he’d be much too weirded out to use them for anything different

• He’s like a scarily healthy eater. Not necessarily vegetarian/vegan but is a calorie counter and has a very balanced diet

• He loves to do little not so harmless pranks on Itachi as mini revenge. He’s even more ruthless as Itachi begins to lose his eyesight

Little Things~

Favorite:

• Place to kiss- Behind your ear because he loves hugging you from behind and surprising you

• Way to hug- As previously stated, from behind cuz he feels like he’s protecting you and you fit in his arms like a puzzle

• Thing to do with you- Discuss or work on art projects together or in each other’s general vicinity

• Cuddle position- Lotus (you in his lap, facing him, your legs around his waist) cause he just loves to hold you and you can easily mess with his hair

• Type of date- Anything that’s just the two of you spending quality time away from his busy life

This or That-

• More of a summer person, he loves the outdoors, even more now that he has someone to share it with

• Definitely a night person. He gets more done at night but also loves being able to unwind with you

• Likes to cook more than being cooked for, cause he likes treating you

• Is not much of a reader, it can’t hold his attention for long, but occasionally will ask you to read to him if he likes the sound of your voice. He does

Conflict Happenings~

• Passionate and Stubborn Boi™

• If you’re also headstrong, there will be plenty of arguments, usually over small things

• Best case scenario, something says something that makes you both laugh and problem solved or you end up making out (cuz oh my jashin scowling Deidara can step on my NECK)

• Worst case scenario, someone storms out and you don’t talk for a bit

• When he wants he can give a verbal tongue lashing harsh enough to make anyone cower

• Eventually, one of you will cave. You miss each other too much and even art isn’t filling the void

• Apologies are mumbled but heartfelt as to not bruise either of your egos but also cuz you’re both genuinely sorry

• However, if you’re not confrontational, it might actually cause him to mellow out a bit (only around you though)

• He can’t bring himself to have a one-sided argument with you. It makes him feel guilty and does a lot of damage

• Instead, he might actually talk things out, courtesy of self-calming techniques you probably showed him at one point

Modern Dei~

• He’s that one college student that is at every party but still gets great grades??

•!He has a double major for sure, art and chemistry, cause how else is he going to make perfect explosions?

• If he wasn’t recruited to a sports team (I could see him doing gymnastics or wrestling honestly) then you had best believe he’s a serious martial artist

• He’s smart and sells (non-explosive) sculptures for money on the side

• He loves road trips, doesn’t care as much about the destination, he just loves driving places

• A serious ride or die friend, like loyal to a fault, but if you ruin that he won’t make any efforts to restore it

• Incredibly independent and struggles to ask for help even if he’s bad at a particular subject

•’CEO of completing assignments the night before its due and still acing it

• His living space is purely organized chaos like everything has it’s own system even if it looks like a mess

• Wouldn’t mind having a roommate, but he’s also used to living alone so he’s fine either way

• If he did, it’d probably be Sasori, cause he’s one of the only people who could TRULY handle Dei 24/7 (barely)

• Isn’t an overachiever, but just like with art, if someone’s going to see his work, it’s going to be his best work

• Even when his friends drink, he’s not that big on it. Feels like it hinders his inspiration and he gets AWFUL hangovers and can barely handle it

• Modern Dei is a great Dei, cause no matter what our blonde baby is best. Period.

#deidara x reader #deidara #headcanon #naruto scenarios #birthday #fluff #akatsuki

[bitchynaruto]

Missing Scene - The Country Between Us (CH.3)

Embarrassingly I forgot to include this scene in ch. 3 which is actually kinda important to Sasuke’s headspace and his relationship with Suigetsu + coping. ANYWHOM, it’s included now in TCBU but here is a quick link to just read the one-shot instead of rereading the entirety of the chapter again lol.

Anyway this scene takes place after Suigetsu is recruited and right before Karin is recruited into Taka. More under the cut!

Night comes and the terrain grows more dangerous in the cover of darkness. Sasuke agrees with Suigetsu about finding a place to rest, and remembers the location of a nearby town at the midway point between Orochimaru’s hideout and prison.

“Thank fuck I’m giving my back a break from the dirt,” Suigetsu says with a relieved sigh. Stretches his back until it pops before shrugging his shoulders enough to loosen the joints. “You must really be liking me today to rent us a room for tonight, eh, Sasuke?”

Honestly, Sasuke was growing tired of sleeping on the hard ground, but Suigetsu didn’t need to know that.

“We’ll see,” Sasuke replies, the corners of his mouth twitching despite himself. “I can still leave you outside if I feel like it.”

“Cold. Ice cold. I like that in a man.”

Sasuke gives a tch and a roll of his eyes, letting the comment slide off him like water. Whatever energy he has for tolerating Suigetsu’s games is at the lowest threshold, and he doesn’t much feel like indulging them any further tonight.

They make their way into town. It’s out in the open and small, quiet and glowing with lanterns and the insides of homes, lighting up the dirt paths. Noise travels from the center of town, where a few food shops are still open, and people surrounding a bar that also serves as an inn. When they step inside, the place is loud and filled to the brim with people, alcohol staining the air and burning his nose. All of the rooms for the night are taken except one, but there’s only a single bed and a couple cushions to use as a makeshift one. Sasuke takes it anyway.

The woman in charge of the inn takes the money with only a mild look of contempt for the two men standing before her, until she leaves to clean up the room. Suigetsu is already at the bar attempting to order something, only to be slid a cup of water that makes him hang his head in shame even as he takes the drink. A curl of Sasuke’s lips escapes him at the scene before him, amused, until a light of reflecting metal catches his attention. 

Across the bar, a man with a Hitai-ate, carved with the symbol of a leaf dead center, hangs his head back and laughs loud and drunk without a care in the world. 

Sasuke’s about to flash his Sharingan, fingers twitching to his sword, before he realizes the man is too drunk to notice him. There’s only two other Leaf Shinobi surrounding him, one with his head pressed flat against the table while the other is matching him shot for shot. Only then does he relax his muscles, take a deep breath before making his way towards Suigetsu.

Now tell me, Sasuke, a familiar voice echoes within his mind, I thought I taught you better than this.

The voice has Sasuke stilling, narrowing his eyes. Now that he knows Orochimaru is a figment of his mind, and cannot harm him aside from manipulating memories and visions, he’s no longer caught off guard. Won’t let himself be fearful again. That doesn’t make him unweary, or stupid enough to believe Orochimaru won’t do anything less than cause a scene.

You really think I would allow any harm to fall on my precious vessel? Sasuke-kun, you disappoint me. I pegged you smarter than this.

Taking a deep breath, settling the anger and annoyance burning through him, Sasuke finally asks through gritted teeth, “Get to the point.”

I believe your enemies are vulnerable in front of you as you speak, and yet you’ll let them pass you by without taking an opportunity to better yourself. Shameful.

“If they get in my way, I’ll kill them,” Sasuke points out, knowing Orochimaru can sense the truth in that statement. “Right now, they’re not in my way.”

Don’t be so shortsighted. There is a reason why your paths crossed, and it is ignorant of you to believe otherwise. Knowledge, Sasuke, is power.

As much as Sasuke hates to admit it, the snake has a point. It is strange that Konoha Shinobi would be out so far from the Land of Fire, even though this were in fact a mere pitstop on the way to or from a mission. If there’s more of them near here, Sasuke shouldn’t make light of their increased presence.

Afterall, Sasuke’s a wanted man.

Sasuke makes his way through the crowded bar towards the booths and tables where the men talk amongst themselves. Most of the patrons are drunk, or are older than him, and pay him little mind—in fact, actively ignore his presence. It doesn’t take him long to settle into the table behind the men, back towards them as he focuses out the abstract noise of the other patrons aside from his target. 

None of the men notice him either. 

“I swear, I can’t wait to get back home,” one of the men drawls out, clearly on the verge of drunkenness. “Nobody makes katsudon like my girl does.”

“Don’t torture your poor lady by coming back home,” the other says through fits of laughter. “She’s probably having the time of her life without your ugly ass there.”

“Oi, fuck you.”

The men at the table burst out into a fit of full-bellied laughter to which Sasuke rolls his eyes at. He should have realized they were too drunk and off-duty to give anything worthwhile for Sasuke to pick up on. Listening to Orochimaru has never yielded in anything positive, and to do so now only proves his point further.

Don’t turn away now. 

But Sasuke’s already standing, about to leave the table and go upstairs into bed. No more entertaining Orochimaru’s desires any longer. Sasuke may have to deal with the snake slithering in his thoughts and mind, but that didn’t mean he had to act on them.

Sasuke’s about to head over towards where Suigetsu’s at, until a name has him freezing.

“Danzō’s a little crazy over this Orochimaru business anyway,” the third man says on the quieter side, sounding more sober than the rest. “How long has he been dead for now? What we really should be looking for is that traitor, Sasuke.” 

The man spits Sasuke’s name with so much venom and hatred, but it’s only a fraction of what Sasuke feels for them. Cute, in its own way. 

“You know our orders,” one of them slurs. “Find the prisoners and rescue them. Strengthen Konoha in our numbers.”

Sasuke’s blood turns to ice at that statement.

“What do you think he’s doing with them all anyway?”

“When’s the last time you’ve been in Konoha? Can’t go anywhere without an ANBU breathing down your neck or walking the streets. Not hard to figure out where they’re all ending up, and then we get stuck on these boring rescue missions. It’s unfair.”

“Shut up,” the more sober one seethes, smacking the other with the palm of his hand. “You’ve got a loose tongue. If we continue to do well, hell, maybe we’ll be assigned to hunt down that bitch Uchiha. Think of how fun that’d be.”

“Finally, it’s time someone put an end to that cursed clan,” says the other. “I’ll give the Hokage that much. Nobody has come close to bettering Konoha this much since the Senjus were in charge.”

The others murmur in agreement, laughing, and Sasuke’s already stomping past the group, fuming. Heartbeat pounding in his ears, the hatred and rage surging through him is all he can feel, all encompassing. 

All of them had wanted the Uchihas gone from the start. They didn’t need to know the details, but they had accepted Danzō’s role in the decimation in the clan—had even claimed his decisions made Konoha better, stronger. Sasuke’s read the journal belonging to the second Senju, has read the vile words of hatred without any fancy words hoping to hide away their true intent. 

After the massacre, so many of Konoha’s people looked at him with sympathy or pity. Approached him in ways they never had before. Sasuke had thought it came from their inability to understand his situation and trying their best to mask it, to push through it in order to offer their best sympathy to a boy who had lost everything in a single night. He knew the village thought of him as a survivor, a relic of an extinct and powerful clan, a piece in the machine to showcase the village’s strength and superiority to the rest of the world. 

Reality crashes into him and shatters the last illusion he had about Konoha. None of them approached him because of the tragedy of what happened, they only approached him because he was nothing to fear on his own. A fledgling Uchiha to control and use for Konoha’s own benefit.

Like Orochimaru had chosen him.

Now you understand why I sought Konoha’s destruction, Orochimaru’s voice slithers through his thoughts, I was made by Konoha. Only I could understand the pervasive nature of its being, and knew to avoid anything worse birthed from that village, it would need to no longer exist.

“Shut up,” Sasuke snaps as he goes up the stairs towards his room. Second on the left if he remembers the innkeeper correctly, but it’s hard to focus with his racing thoughts and Orochimaru’s voice. “Your reason for destroying Konoha has nothing to do with my reasons for my mission. We are nothing alike.”

You may say that now, but Konoha birthed your hatred and anger also. We are cut from the same cloth. Perhaps you believed you could fulfill your mission without me, but you’ll soon realize you still need me, my precious Sasuke.

He shuts his eyes so tight until all he can feel is his pulse pushing against his. The laughter comes back, echoing, and the muscle in his jaw threatens to jump right out.

“Sasuke?” Suigetu’s voice comes through as he steps inside the room. When he opens his eyes, the other has a glass of water in his hands, quirking a single brow at him. “You good?”

The laughter cuts off like a scratch of a record, and Suigetsu’s presence delivers the silence Sasuke had been seeking. 

After a moment to revel in the quiet, Sasuke answers, “Fine.”

Suigetsu eyes him a moment before he shrugs, moving to take off his shirt and get into his sleep pants. As always, the other doesn’t care for modesty, and as he’s changing into his sleep pants, says, “I saw you hanging around those Konoha jerks and thought you were getting into trouble.”

“No,” Sasuke replies. “Trouble usually finds me.”

“You can say that again,” Suigetsu says with a feral grin. “Never a dull moment with you around, Sasuke.”

Sasuke eyes him, and the anger and hatred burning through him has smoldered. “Is that why you came with me? For a good time?”

“Yeah, but that’s not the only reason.” That piques Sasuke’s curiosity, gets him to keep listening—the blatant honesty of Suigetsu surprisingly being one of his more endearing traits. “Nobody else has the balls to kill Orochimaru, not even that pesky Hokage of yours could. You woke up one day and figured it was time for that old bitch to die.”

A quiet huff of air leaves past his nose, lips twitching upward momentarily. “It wasn’t as simple as that. I spent a lot of time researching on ways to kill that snake, trained until my body gave out, and waited until he was at his weakest.”

“And modest, too.”

“Not modest,” Sasuke replies. “Just telling you the truth.”

“Either way people tried to kill him, and you were the only one who didn’t fail. Orochimaru tried to make you his bitch, but you came out the other side,” Suigetsu shrugs, turning to Sasuke with a smirk on his face. “ I listen to you and I don’t hear a bullshitter. I hear someone who can get shit done.”

Sasuke stares at Suigetsu, at the way the words fall off his tongue and the heat in the pools of his eyes. The longer he does, the further the grin split across the other’s face continues to grow. Suigetsu steps closer and closer, until he’s standing in Sasuke’s personal bubble.

Funnily enough, Sasuke doesn’t care.

“What?” Suigetsu asks, tilting his head down towards Sasuke. A pleasant warmth spikes in him, electrifying in a way the overwhelming anger from earlier drowned out anything good. “Said too much?”

“No, just enough.”

“Oh?” 

“You had a point, before,” comes Sasuke’s words as he undoes the belt holding his white tunic together. Doesn’t break eye contact with the other, not even when Suigetu’s gaze drops to where his hands are pushing the fabric away. “Weeks after we first met.”

“Remind me what point I made, my brain’s forgetful around men who look like you.”

“I was holding back before.” Sasuke chuckles, dark and deep. Hooks his fingers into the waistband of Suigetsu’s pants and pulls him close. From this close, he can see his own reflection in Suigetsu’s dilated pupils, a mirror of his own eyes staring back at him. “Abstaining from what I really wanted for some idea of a nobler cause.”

Maybe he was holding onto an outdated notion of what he must do to make sure the Uchiha were avenged. Taking off the head does nothing if the claws are still attached and the venom still surges throughout the veins within the body. 

Konoha created Danzō, Orochimaru, and Itachi. It is not enough to simply take out the leaders when the village itself is the poison. 

Which is why the Leaf Village must be destroyed. Only through destruction can the world be purged from its insidious beliefs that plagues not only the Land of Fire, but the entire world. Anyone who stands with Konoha is as guilty as its leaders, and deserves equal punishment for the crime of passivity for believing in the sham that is the Will of Fire. 

“Not anymore, though.”

Three words are all the other needs, and Suigetsu is all over him. Hands roaming over him with enthusiasm. When Suigetsu presses his mouth against him, he is reminded that this is his body. His choice. 

Everything up to here has been ruled by other’s actions besides his own, but now he’s truly broken free and can see the future with clear eyes.

Sasuke’s mind and body is his own.

No going back to how it was before.

#p #mine #my writing #the country between us #for ref #one day im gonna go back and edit the whole thing ... ONE DAY.. not today tho

[thewildwaffle]

Abduction - Chapter 30

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***

Waking up was more painful than normal. It didn’t help that Simmo didn’t recognize her surroundings once she was awake. It was a hospital, she gathered that from the tubing and scanners that were attached all over her carapace.

She didn’t remember how she got here.

She groaned. What did she remember? Being on the Arum Bloom. That brought a flood of memories rushing overwhelmingly through her brain. She pushed them back. They could be processed later. What happened after?

She remembered being cramped on the shuttle. She knew she had passed in and out of consciousness a number of times. She remembered seeing an impossibly huge ship-fortress-thing and that it was getting closer. That must have been the legendary Rock Base she’d always heard of. Her antenna twitched suddenly. Oh. That’s where she was. She looked around her again. She was on the Galactic Confederation’s Rock Base? Well, it didn’t look like much from here.

Her mandibles rapidly clicked as she struggled to sit up. No. That wasn’t happening. Her sharp claws sunk into the soft gel underneath as she tried to at least prop herself up enough to get a better look at her surroundings.

It was your basic med bay room. Although the long-necked, armed guard at the door was probably not part of the standard package.

It was a striped Daydam, Simmo noticed. They were usually spotted. Its fur was also darker than most Daydam, or at least any Daydam she had ever come across before, ruddy brown and black with thin off-white stripes. It was slouched on all fours, but as soon as it noticed Simmo staring, it straightened up onto two legs and activated its comm device.

“Room 14C reporting in. It’s awake… yes… yes… affirmative… standing by.”

Simmo hissed. It. She’d been called an “it”. Not for the first time in her life, to be fair, but it had been a while. If she had the strength, she’d strut over to the pompous guard and cut some respect into them.

But she could barely lift herself enough to see the room. She couldn’t even quite reach up to all the wires and tubes that were attached to her. She was stuck here for the time being. Until whatever plans the guards around here had for her were put in motion. She gave her best death glare to the Daydam. She doubted that in her state she looked that threatening though.

Movement caught her eyes from beyond the door.

“Hey guys, I found Simmo, she’s in here!” Mike’s iconically loud voice made both her and the guard jump.

“Hey! What are you doing out?”

Mike was followed by Wenona who was wearing a blank expression and blinking slowly. Mike must have woken her up.

“What do you mean, ‘out’?” Mike stepped into Simmo’s room and quirked an eyebrow at the Daydam. It would have been a funny looking expression if it wasn’t being directed at a now very tense guard. “It’s basically house arrest to this medical ward. We’re in the medical ward. We’re fine.” He paused and looked over to Simmo. “Simms! What’s up with you? You look like crap.” Simmo froze and tilted her antenna disapprovingly. “Excuse me?”

“Uh, sorry. You look like a mess.” He walked fully into the room followed by Wenona, and to Simmo’s surprise, Jebannuck, who immediately found a seat and sat down with a quiet huff. From her low vantage point, Simmo also thought she saw the tip of a poof of orange fur following him. A Booka gingerly tried jumping up into the chair next to Jeb. Simmo recognized her as the Booka from the rescue team, though the name escaped her. Seeing her struggle, Jebannuck leaned over and helped her up into the chair.

The dark Daydam looked out into the hall, back at Simmo’s visitors and huffed. “You shouldn’t be in here.” Wenona closed her eyes and sighed tiredly. “And why not?”

The sounds of steps pulled the guard’s attention back to the hall. Two more guards marched into the room. One was wearing a different uniform. It must have been significant of some leadership role.

“How long has the Montauk been awake?”

“Not long, Chir.”

“Where’s the medic responsible? I’ll need to let him know he’s relieved of care.”

“I believe he’s with the other humans.”

Mike cut in. “Woah, Woah, Woah! Uh, what? What’s going on?”

The head guard turned their bulgy eyes to the human, it’s shiny skin reflected the lights on the ceiling, studying Mike for a moment before responding. “We’re taking the Montauk to the brig for closer watch before we’re ready to begin the criminal hearings.”

Jebannuck frowned. “You’re processing her? She hasn’t done anything wrong, she’s been with us even before we were on the Arum Bloom.”

“That may be,” the head guard made a low creaking noise as it turned back to Simmo, “but under Security Code ruling 89 sub-section 4, we cannot allow pirates free access on Galactic Confederation domain.”

“I’m not a pirate!” Simmo argued at the same time Jebannuck countered the guard with, “You’re using that ruling completely out of context!”

The guard looked a bit taken back and turned to Jebannuck. “I beg your pardon?”

“Then beg,” Wenona murmured under her breath just loud enough to be heard.

The guard paused but blinked her huge eyes before she continued. “Who are you to challenge me on Security Code?”

Jeb carefully lifted himself back up to his feet and braced himself as imposingly as he could. “Jebannuck Sefra, Head Security Officer aboard the ESS Gladius. I know the rules, and I also know you can’t take a patient from a medic’s care without proper clearance and medical release.” He made a show of looking around the room. “I don’t see Medic Demfar here.” He looked back at the head guard. “She’s not going anywhere, Chir.”

Chir glared back, the low creaking noise from her throat getting louder. “If you have an issue with my interpretation of security policy, you can file a complaint. I have jurisdiction here. Not you, Sefra.” She turned to walk to Simmo but was stopped by Wenona. Or rather, Wenona’s back. While she hadn’t been looking, the human had stepped up to Simmo’s medical slab and just stood there.

Wenona stared at Simmo. Not angrily, she realized with a start. Just stared. Looking at her like she was looking for something. She eventually turned back to Chir. “She’s not going anywhere unless we all are.”

“Listen,” the taller Daydam by the door spoke up, “We’re just following procedures. We have to-” “I don’t care,” Wenona cut them off. “You can go tell whoever you report to that if they want to take away any of my friends, they’ll have to go through me.”

All three of the guards shifted their weights uncomfortably. Even more so when Mike stepped up beside Wenona. “And me,” he added.

The Chir sighed exasperatedly. “Listen, we’re here to just do our jobs. You’re civilians and need to stand down and let us work.” She reached a hand out as if to try pushing her way through, but Wenona grabbed her hand firmly to stop her.

“We’re about as far away from just ‘civilians’ as we can be right now,” she hissed. Chir’s expression changed- the pompous air about her lessened ever so slightly. “You’re not taking Simmo. End of story. If your superiors have a problem with that, they can come here and deal with us themselves.”

The guard pulled her hand back. The rest of them looked at the group, a bit vexed, but the humans weren’t budging. Neither was the Sefra or Booka that had stood up and hobbled to their sides. With a nod from the head guard, they turned and left the room quietly.

There was a collective silent sigh of relief.

“And just what do you… what do you think you’re doing?” Simmo’s voice haltered. “I’m a Montauk. To the Galactic Confederation, I’m a criminal, through and through. You’re all a… all a bunch of idiots!” There was a small catch in Simmo’s voice at the end, as much as she tried to play it off. It was all true though, she thought miserably. A rogue Montauk without a hive. Without her crew. Stuck in the middle of the Galactic Confederation.

Wenona turned back to her and this time glared at her for real. “You’re the idiot Simmo.” Her gaze softened a bit.

“But you’re our idiot,” Mike finished with a smile.

“Do you think we’ll get in trouble for that?” the Booka chirped up.

Everyone shared a glance and then shrugged.

“What are they going to do? Send us back home?” Wenona smiled and sat on the corner edge of Simmo’s medical slab.

“If they try anything,” Jeb found another seat, “You better believe I will be filing a report on them. That was an egregious attempted misuse of the Security Code.”

“Yeah, you tell them Jeb!” Mike lightly punched the Sefra’s shoulder. One might think it was an odd action, but Simmo knew it was one of camaraderie between humans, or at least it was with Mike.

She stared at the group around her. There was a swirl of mixed feelings and she wasn’t sure how to really process or understand all of them. She felt warm and pleased that she was surrounded by these aliens… these beings that seemed to tolerate and even seek out her presence. That defended her. 

At the same time, she felt a wave of cold loss. Sadness. She thought back to a time before her life had been torn apart. She had spent time like this with her crew. Their battle calls and their laughter echoed inside her head hollowly. She had mourned them after their death. She had spent several of her first nights on Gamnut 5 screeching and wailing to the silent stars above her. She thought she had finished and left those feelings behind. Why were they bubbling back up now?

“Simmo?” Wenona’s voice pulled her back out of her thoughts. “Are you okay? Are you in a lot of pain? We can leave if you need more rest.”

“No,” she whispered. Her voice had an edge of desperation. She hated sounding weak, but she couldn’t stop it. She couldn’t go home. A lone Montauk? Without her crew, she had no hive. “Please… don’t leave. I don’t have anyone. There’s no one left.”

She could never go home. She had lost her hive, and in the eyes of her people, she was no better than a deserter. A traitor. A rogue.

Mike bent low enough to be eye level with her on the slab. “Wenona was right, you are an idiot, Simmo. You’re not alone. You have us.” He grabbed Simmo’s shoulders, and, careful of her still-healing wounds, pulled himself closer to his torso and held her. She’d seen the humans embrace like this before. She’d always thought it was weird, but it felt oddly nice and comforting.

Mike pulled back and smiled. “If you don’t have anywhere to go, you can just come with us back to Earth. We’re not technically part of the Galactic Confederation, and most of Earth isn’t either anymore, apparently.”

Simmo stared at them. They smiled back. 

Wenona adjusted her sitting position. Wenona’s knee accidentally bumped into Simmo’s leg. It wasn’t hard or anything, it was only really perceptible to her because she knew Wenona usually make it a point to avoid physical contact at all with her. She didn’t seem to notice though, and instead just looked steadily into Simmo’s eyes. “None of us have gotten through all this without having a lot of loss or pain or whatever. It’s okay to not always be okay.”

There was a moment of just content peace. Everyone seemed to be able to feel it. Simmo felt like they’d all been through the pits and back. But they had made it back. Not unscathed, but they had made it.

After a moment, Mike almost jumped out of his seat. “Oh, I just realized too- my family owns Near Star! I could get you guys jobs too when we get back! Simmo, you’re great at fixing stuff- I mean, you built the Junk Lego from scrap! I bet my parents would hire you on the spot!” He looked around at everyone. “You all can come! I mean, I know Thurrin and Jeb, you’ve already got jobs, but you should at least come and visit!”

Jebannuck nodded quietly with a smile. 

Thurrin’s fur just about exploded with faux fire. “I’d love to come visit!” She jumped up and stood with her front paws on Jeb’s shoulder. “Jeb, when do you think they’ll let us visit Earth?”

Jebannuck closed his eyes and sighed deeply. Thurrin continued to nearly bounce with excitement until the strain became a bit too much for her injured back leg and she slowly calmed down as she ran out of immediate questions about what Earth was like and what they should do first when they got there.

Simmo looked the two humans over. Their offer felt genuine. Her mandibles clicked together excitedly. After everything, they could share their planet with someone like her? With a Montauk? Would she be able to settle on an alien planet? To stay? Maybe. At least for a while. She felt a warmth in her chest that she hadn’t remembered feeling in what felt like decapartecs. Mike and Wenona looked at her, smiling and waiting for her answer. She cleared her throat and flicked her antenna noncommittally. “You really expect me to go live on a death world like Earth with you?”

Mike’s smile spread across his face. “Don’t worry, we can help you call it home too.”

***   ***   ***   ***   ***

I thought this was going to be the last chapter, and that I was just going to an epilogue, but what I want to wrap up might take a bit more than that. At least one more chapter with two perspectives? We’ll see. I swear...

Just as a help for the next chapter: Is there anything you as the reader noticed that I’ve forgotten? I’ve left threads to pick up on for future stories, but are there any actual loose ends I need to address for this story? (I know there are a few and that’s why I’m doing at least one more chapter) but I just want a bit of outside perspective to make sure I’ve got everything taken care of before I start redrafting this story. Any feedback or comments is always appreciated! Thank you, you beautiful you!

Next Chapter 

#abduction #HUMANS ARE WEIRD #humans are space orc #simmo #montauk #first draft #original writi #aliens #space #earth is a deathworld #found family is my jam! #writeblr

[antiquecompass]

Untamed Winter Fest Day 23: Gift

Xichen had woken in the middle of the night to a room empty both of his boyfriend and his dog. Even still half-asleep he was able to guess why, so he slipped out of bed, only setting off one of the motion-activated ornaments on the Christmas tree (this year their room’s tree theme was, fittingly, cats and dogs).

The house was silent, unlike most nights during the Jiang Holiday Fortnight of Excess. They always fell silent on Christmas Eve though, from the youngest of the Jiang and Yu relatives to even Wei Ying, never exactly known for his quiet manner. There was something solemn about the night.

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Except for outside.

From the windows in the kitchen, Xichen could spot Jiang Cheng standing towards the water. He had a blanket wrapped around his shoulders and eyes trained to the distance. Xichen carefully opened and closed the door behind him, not wanting to disturb the peace of the house inside or Jiang Cheng outside.

“Isn’t it past your bedtime?” Jiang Cheng asked, even as he held out his arms for Xichen to come and huddle with him and his blanket.

“Isn’t it past yours?” Xichen asked. “Aren’t you supposed to be worried about Santa coming down your chimney?”

“I’ll come down your chimney,” Jiang Cheng scoffed. Then snorted. Then outright laughed. “That sounded better in my head.”

Xichen said nothing, just rested against Jiang Cheng and watched the ocean. Even Sugar had grown still at their feet.

“Okay?” Xichen asked.

Jiang Cheng nodded. “I’ve always loved this time of year. From Thanksgiving through to Valentine’s Day, Mom is actually nice to all of us. She loves winter, always has. Even when we were kids, even when she’d spend hours making cutting remarks about all of us, come Christmas everyone was indulged, even Wei Ying. It’s always been a time of peace in our family.”

Xichen had noticed that; he’d also noticed Mr. Jiang was absent for most of it. Last year he’d barely noticed it, caught up in his first time experiencing this whirlwind. This year it was far more obvious. He’d emerge from the library to play with his grandchildren, but when it was just his grown children and his wife, he’d disappear again.

“Dad basically lives in the library and lets Mom do whatever she wants and somehow it works for them,” Jiang Cheng said. “And she only puts garland and flameless candles in the library so Dad can have his peace. And he just nods and agrees as she starts taking trips out here, every weekend, starting in September, to oversee the decorating progress.” He laughed, though not a joyful sound. “Perhaps that is their gift to each other--a ceasefire and some tolerance.”

Jiang Cheng’s fingers were wrapped around the pendant Xichen had given him hours ago. It was a simple jade lotus pendant, but one Xichen had carved himself.

“Thank you for more than just tolerating me,” he said.

Xichen shifted, wrapping the blanket tighter around them, pulling Jiang Cheng deeper into his arms, letting him lay his head on Xichen’s shoulder, to let him have a moment of weakness, hidden from the rest of the world, just the two of them and the night and Sugar at their feet.

He remembered a conversation they had once, about their parents--their fathers. And Jiang Cheng’s words from then rung in his ears now.

 My father knows how to love those who are easily loveable. He struggles to understand sharp edges. It’s taken me years to realize that’s a failing in him, not me.

Xichen loved Jiang Cheng’s sharp edges. The way he could spit words like knives. The guttural harsh sounds that came out of him when he was on the warpath. The furrow between his brows. The clenched jaw. The fact that a sweet kiss to his cheek could unclench that jaw. A gentle finger across his brow could soothe it. Arms wrapped around him could turn tense shoulders lax. That for Jiang Cheng happiness really was a warm puppy. That sharp edges protected the softest of souls within.

“Fuck,” Jiang Cheng muttered into his shoulder. “I swear I just came out here to walk Sugar. But the fucking walk from our room to the door through that silent house, it woke-up all the ghosts of Christmas pasts. Each year I’d be so fucking thankful that peace reigned in our family, looked forward to it, anticipated it. And each year by March it was gone.”

March. Over twenty-five years ago Jiang Fengmian disappeared on a sudden business trip and came back with a child, claiming it was his nephew. March remained a fraught month in the family, full of bad memories.

“Anyway,” Jiang Cheng said with a heavy sigh. “Something about Christmas Eve always gets to me because it’s the turning point, you know?”

He straightened up, stealing a kiss, a hint of desperation in him.

Xichen pulled him closer, deeper, pouring into him the words he wanted to say, but Jiang Cheng couldn’t handle hearing right now.

They were silent as they walked back to the house. Jiang Cheng held Sugar while Xichen took care of the blanket. The silence stayed as they entered the house, only breaking when they both heard childish whispers and a creak of the floorboards near the nursery.

Jiang Cheng pressed Sugar into Xichen’s arms as he stealthily crept up the stairs, keeping to the shadows, until he was looming over both Yuan and Ling.

Xichen had to press his face into Sugar’s fur to keep himself from laughing loud enough for them to hear.

“Why do I find a little bun and a little peachick out of bed?” Jiang Cheng asked. He quickly caught both boys before they could fall over. “Don’t you know Santa won’t come until you’ve slept?”

“But we already slept!” Jin Ling said.

“You need to sleep some more,” Jiang Cheng said as he scooped up both boys.

“But Uncle!” Yuan said. “I can see our stockings from here!”

“Well, that’s because the elves have to come and check the house first,” Jiang Cheng said as he carried the boys towards the nursery. “They fill up the stockings as a sign that this house has good children who are asleep in their beds.”

“The elves are everywhere,” Yuan said.

Jiang Cheng nodded. “I won’t tell them, if you won’t. We’ll just all go back to our beds and not come out until,” he turned to Xichen with a smirk. “Five? Isn’t that right?”

Xichen nodded. “Standard Lan time. Perfect hour to greet the dawn.”

His brother, and possibly Yanli, were going to kill him. But he couldn’t imagine that the boys would stay in their beds for much longer than that, not when they knew full stockings and presents were downstairs.

He waited there, on the stairs, listening as Jiang Cheng put both the boys to bed, gave into Jin Ling’s demand for a bedtime story, and Yuan’s for a song.

Sharp edges covering the softest of souls; a man so full of love, even growing up with those parents, because those three siblings banded together and protected each other after a rocky start. They were inseparable. He remembered watching the boys from his place next to his uncle, their first summer at Cloud Recesses. They’d cried when they had to leave Yanli, and she cried leaving them. And here they were now, so many years later, still inseparable, still so deeply connected, still so protective and full of love for each other.

It made this house, even with all its ridiculous decor, feel like a home. Lived-in, well-loved, full of good memories.

Jiang Cheng softly closed the door to the nursery and greeted him with a small smile.

It made Xichen’s pulse jump with the anticipation of getting to taste those lips again, hold him close, breathe him in.

“Why are you still standing there?”

“Waiting for you,” he said.

And he would always wait for him, as long as there was still life in him. Because the man before him wasn’t his entire world, or his entire family, but he was the one who made it all the more worth it, all the more fun, all the more tolerable.

He’d spent years mourning a love he’d never thought he’d get to experience. Resigned to a life of duty and trying to survive on the fantasies of what could have been, in another time, if things had worked out in different ways.

And somehow, someway, life--fate--Jiang Cheng himself--had given him this gift of a man before him.

Love wasn’t a strong enough word, but it was the best one he had for now.

“I love you,” he whispered, in the silence of the night.

“I love you too,” Jiang Cheng said, a gift always freely given. “Now, let’s try to get some sleep.”

#untamed winter fest #long post #day 23 #xicheng #fandom: the untamed #verse: lahl #fic: hold me like you want me #my ridic writing

[adonis-koo]

1 2 3 drink (M)

Note: this was suppose to be like an attempted BJ fic but it turned into an actual one ??? help ? this highkey wasn’t suppose to be an M Oneshot but here we go.

Also I should probably say right now 8th Member series isn’t in chronological order so this takes place before both previous oneshots.

Pairing: Platonic!Namjoon/8thM!Reader, romantic implied!Jungkook/Reader

Tags: Blow job, hand job, male receiving, slight hair pulling, Sub!Namjoon

Plot: In which Namjoon has to babysit you after one too many drinks.

Word count: 3996 this was suppose to be a drabble x)

-

Namjoon sighed exasperated, the poor guy never seemed to catch a break and today was not an exception as he cringed inwardly. Watching you throw your head back downing another shot of tequila, your fourth shot of tequila to be exact. How could someone so small hold so much alcohol? You were arguably the most heavy drinker out of Bangtan constantly “looking for a good time” but more times then less you found trouble before you found anything remotely fun.

Maybe it was because you were one of the youngest members, or maybe it was because you always went hard on drinking. Namjoon wasn’t quite sure anymore and frankly it was too mentally taxing to figure out why you did it so much. If there was any sort of ulterior motive or underlying reason you hid it incredibly well. Watching you smack the countertop with a loud laugh Namjoon had the distinct feeling it most likely was because you just genuinely enjoyed drinking.

Raising your hand lazily to ask for another shot, Namjoon’s view of you was suddenly blocked by the familiar black hair of his elder. Seokjin turned to look at you before looking back at Namjoon, “Guess you could say she’s pretty shot huh?” He suddenly laughed that loud- as Jungkook often teased- wind shield wiper laugh at his own, in Namjoon’s humble opinion brain dead dumb joke. Pulling his lips into a harsh fake smile that made Seokjin laugh even laugher. Finally patting the younger’s shoulder as his laughter calmed down, looking amused at his suffering before finally offering consolation, “I can watch her tonight if you want.”

Namjoon was half tempted by the idea, all you had done was slur for the last half hour on how Naruto and Sasuke would always be superior to Naruto and Sakura before slumping in your seat. Taking another shot before saying something else incomprehensible. You were an honest drunk, a funny and incredibly honest one. But you were also someone who gave way too much information. One moment you were talking about Naruto and the next you were babbling about being between Red Velvet, Irene’s legs during the after party of an award show. Zero to sixty real fast.

Sighing Namjoon peered over Seokjin’s shoulder before shaking his head, it was his turn to babysit you tonight and he wouldn’t bow out now, despite how tempting it was, “It’s fine. You should go ahead and take Jimin home, he’s been slumped in the corner crying for the past fifteen minutes about what if ‘dogs only dream about their owners since that’s all they know’.”

As if on cue they both heard a whimper, turning around they watched fat crocodile tears rolls down Jimin’s cheek as he cuddled against Jungkook, who sat indifferencely on his phone looking bored and ready to leave, just as he had been for the past 45 minutes , “Kookie listen-“ he sobbed out, “Kookie! It only makes sense, dogs only know their owners-“ he suddenly hiccuped before bursting into a new set of tears, “Humans are so mean! We d-don’t deserve them.”

“Mhm.” Jungkook replied, not looking invested in the least at his elders drunk babbling as he continued typing with both hands, not bothering to look up at his elder that continued to hug against his arm crying. Taehyung had been sitting across from them letting out a loud obnoxious laugh, one Namjoon was surprised the other drinkers hadn’t come to knock him out yet for being so loud, “Don’t listen to him Jiminie,” Taehyung practically cooed out coaxing him on with a shit eating grin on his face, pulling out his phone to video it, “There’s no other explanation.”

Namjoon was positive he would’ve gotten up but he had been strapped to his seat on the couch. Where Hoseok, who had long sense passed out laid sprawl across his lap, having the lowest alcohol tolerance in the group he had inevitably fell asleep after his fourth beer, why did they even go out drinking? Nobody seemed to be able to handle their liquor, and even the ones that did never bothered to limit themselves to be sober by the end of the night. It would’ve been nice if Yoongi had atleast entertained the idea rather then promptly saying ‘No’ before shutting the door to his studio.

Shrugging Seokjin got up, putting a hand on the youngers shoulder as he replied, “Good luck, we all know how handsy she gets after so many shots.” They gave you one last look, you had currently been chugging a whole bottle of beer due to boasting to the bartender, he had promised a free drink if you could actually chug the whole bottle and naturally with you being so competitive you couldn’t say no, slamming the empty against the countertop before doubling over beside the bottle, putting a hand on your mouth in attempt to keep the substance down. Seokjin parted ways from the leader, walking over to Jimin before bossing Jungkook to carry the near passed out and sniveling drunk that sobbed against him.

Obviously despite being made out of pure muscle Jungkook whined before caving in, he had pressed his lips together taking a glance your way before asking Seokjin something, who shrugged nodding to Namjoon before making way to Hoseok’s collapsed figure. Sighing Jungkook effortlessly threw his elder over his shoulder who didn’t even put up a fight. Jimin dangled over his shoulder like a leftover rag dog as he let his floppy black hair cover his defeated, tear stained face.

Taehyung sighed as well not appreciating the kill joy but helped Seokjin regardless to pull Hoseok up. His head jerking down towards the floor before flopping back up towards the ceiling as he muttered something incoherently in his unconscious state. Watching the doors to the private bar close as Namjoon sighed, pulling out his phone once more while keeping an eye on you, this wasn’t his ideal Saturday night but all the extroverts of the group, including you had wanted to come.

The late evening went by fairly fast and you had slowed down in drinking thank god, nursing the margarita you held for the last half hour, a new record of self restraint. Or more like in attempt to keep yourself from throwing up, it came in very visible phases, your face would pale and you’d shift in your seat before hunching over putting a hand on your mouth, after a few minutes you’d resume your normal position and continue drinking, but regardless you had slowed down. The only thing that didn’t was your voice as you would cheerfully though rather slurred, talk to anyone who was even remotely close to you. Namjoon didn’t think anything of it at first, you were a bubbly person drinking or not.

The alcohol only made you all the more outgoing, not like you needed the extra help but when you started drinking it was always difficult to get you to stop. He had stopped in his tracks though when he noticed a man clad in a three piece suit talking to you, leaning in, smiling while letting his knees brush against yours, he wasn’t an idol definitely, or an actor, which left him to obviously be a business man.

Regardless of status you were absolutely wasted and not in any state to get laid whether you believed it or not. Namjoon instantly stood up, trudging over as he put a hand on your shoulder, making you stumble in sentence as you swerved around, confused as to who interrupted your difficult train of thought, only to suddenly smile again at seeing your elder. Wrapping your arms around his waist as you buried your face in his stomach, “Joonie! (hic) meet my new friend!”

Namjoon glanced down at you before straightening as he glanced up at the stranger unamused, taking advantage of a drunk girl was not something he’d ever approve of, especially when it was from someone who looked like he was in his mid thirties with a wife, judging by the ring on his left finger and most likely had two kids waiting at home, “Nice to meet you,” he gave a forced tight mouthed smile, suddenly hauling you up out of your seat making you stumble towards him with a whine, not understanding why he was handling you so roughly as he continued, “We’ll be going now.”

Swallowing thickly the business man made no attempt to stop him, the pro to his staggering height made him considerably intimidating to anyone who wasn’t in his inner circle of family and friends. You continually whined as Namjoon pulled you along to the door, stumbling out a sentence that suspiciously sounded like, “I (hic) was about to...” trailing off your eyes dilated as if forgetting what you were going to say before suddenly shouting, “To get laid! (hic) why did you- you cockle...” you suddenly giggled out at your last slurred word before repeating it again, “Cockle...”

Namjoon sighed exasperatedly, “It’s almost one in the morning Y/n you already have a hard time sleeping as it is,” being the pragmatic person he was he couldn’t let you continue on at the bar regardless of if someone was hoping to get into your pants or not. Which he wouldn’t have interfered with had you not took over seven shots, three beers and a half drank margarita. With having someone so sexually active in the group it was just easier to let you go about your business without mention of the details or who it was with.

BigHit had put you on birth control the moment you turned legal which said something in its self, but with that being taken care of the only scare of you getting pregnant was put to rest and no one bothered or nagged you about your sex life anymore. But still, nothing good could come out of you getting some while drunk. Even if you wouldn’t regret it in the morning Namjoon not in a million years would risk that. So you sat pouting in the backseat of a taxi beside Namjoon whining about being horny and so close to having it took care of. It was mostly drunken slurs at that point, thankfully even the driver couldn’t make out what you were complaining about.

And Namjoon had ended up tooning it out as well, looking non pulsed until you arrived home. Helping you up the stairs of the building, drunkenly you refused to go to bed stating you wouldn’t sleep anyways. Doubting how true that was Namjoon hadn’t bothered putting up a fight though, when Y/n didn’t want to do something she wasn’t going to do it. Letting you follow him around like a lost puppy until he settled down into his studio in hopes of getting some lyrics written that night. He had been going back and forth between writing a line down when you peered from behind, sitting like a lost puppy behind him, “Joonie?”

He gave a hum in response, not turning to face you but letting you know he was listening, “(hic) why did you stop me from sleeping with that guy?”

Sighing he let his hands drop from the keyboard, swiveling around in his chair to face you, your eyes dark with circles and your cheeks red flushed from alcohol, “You’re drunk Y/n, you didn’t know him. Even if you wanted it- which you wouldn’t have sober trust me- and still even if it was consented, if you changed your mind midway there was a likelihood he wouldn’t listen. Im not going to take that chance when you aren’t sober. Do I need to remind you of what happened back in our debut days?”

Explaining word for word to you as if you were a little school girl, and when you were drunk you were definitely the equivalent of such in demeanor. Teetering between filthy minded and so naively drunk you missed the innuendo, there was never an in between. Licking your lips you thought for a moment before replying, “And what if it was someone I did know? And I did trust?”

Namjoon curved an eyebrow, leaning back in his seat as he shrugged, “I mean if you trusted them then maybe. But that’s still a risk I can’t let you take, not when you’re this drunk.”

You suddenly whined, kicking your legs in your seat childishly before crashing onto the floor, stumbling between his legs as you buried your head into his thigh, “But you wouldn’t do that would you (hic) Joonie?”

Namjoon’s pupils widened as his lips parted, unsure of what to say at the suddenly movement as you continued to nuzzle your nose against his inner thigh, it was a tempting offer but he could in no way, especially let himself do it with you, “Y/n....” he sighed pinching the bridge of his nose, wanting to smack himself from feeling the arousal travel between his legs, “I wouldn’t do that too you. But you don’t know what you actually want right now.”

Whining again you shuffled to get closer into his legs as you looked up at him, big pouty lips and puppy eyes to match as you fumbled out, “I-I...” You furrowed your brows, as if trying to figure out how to speak, “Just want a dick right now, I don’t really care if it’s yours Joonie (hic)-“ you suddenly hiccuped again before looking down at his clothed members, which had been frustratedly hardening at your words much to his disproval, “I’d say the same thing if you were (hic) sober- me I mean if I was s- (hic).” You had the case of hiccups now, causing you to wrinkle your nose in frustration at the phenomenon that continually cut off your speech.

Gritting his teeth Namjoon could feel a vein popping out from his neck in self restraint, “Why don’t you just go see Jungkook? You like him don’t you?”

You frowned while giving another hiccup, “B-but his room is all the way upstairs (hic). And you know I’m not (hic) good with feelings.”

Namjoon parted his lips, raising his eyebrows in almost disbelief, did you just confess you actually liked the maknae? Sure the elder line had teased you about it but you had never crumbed to their curiosity, until now atleast.

Whimpering you didn’t seem to notice his expression as you rubbed your nose against his thigh again, “P-please? If you’re so concerned about me not consenting then atleast let me suck you off.”

Namjoon suddenly jolted in his seat, feeling your hand suddenly squeeze his clothed members pumping his base, making him grab the armrests of his chair tightly. You suddenly stopped as you frowned looking as though something had just occurred to you with parted lips, “(hic) unless you don’t want too....”

“No!” Namjoon stumbled out a little bit louder then he would’ve liked too, quickly constraining his voice has he tightly closed his eyes murmuring, “Fuck...Fine I’ll let you, but no more outside of touching got it?”

Nodding you eagerly grinned, something innocent that should not have been on your lips as you squeezed his hardening length again, stroking it from the base all the way to the tip as your lips parted in awe, “You feel so big.”

Attempting to keep himself from bucking into your hand Namjoon closed his eyes. Feeling his face become hot at your words as you more then happily continued to stroke and pump his clothed length, finally licking your lips as you looked up at him, “C-can I take it out?”

It was hard to say no to your doe eyes and parted lips, tongue peeking out as if ready to be beg if necessary, running a hand through his hair he nodded. Not trusting his lips or his hands to be anywhere else as you excitedly pulled down his sweats and boxers. Letting his hardened cock spring free. The angry red tip that oozed of pre cum was more then enough to make you rub your thighs furiously in hopes of getting friction.

Gripping the base you slowly gave a few pumps, squeezing his shaft tighter as you stopped at the mid point. Gauging his reaction you watched Namjoon freeze, his body tense and his eyes closed in trance, his head hung back looking as though he enjoyed every moment that also felt like utter agony before suddenly bucking against your hand impatiently.

Making the base of his cock reach your grip before sliding all the way back down to his tip. Finally cracking he let out a shaky moan with parted lips as you smiled coaxingly, “Go ahead, you can buck into my hand, I know it feels good.” You had practically purred it out half lidded as his hips obediently bucked into your hand. Switching between a tight grip at the base of his cock before letting it soften at the tip. Feeling him strain beneath you, muscles clenching and relaxing repeatedly from being edged so close to his orgasm.

You sighed, watching as his hips sloppily thrusting into your hand faster, his cock twitching and pulsing as his released came closer and closer, “You don’t get to cum without my say,” You pouted sighing once more, almost tsking at his over eagerness leaving you no choice but to abruptly let go of his dick, making him shakily whimper as he cracked his eyes open. Watching as you shrugged casually, almost looking more sober then you had all night as you continued, “My hands, my rules, understood?”

Namjoon bit his lip looking towards his cock, which stood up eager to be used again and desperately waiting to release, nodding he still couldn’t speak. Unable to in this situation, Sure you had slept with some of the younger members. But the older ones? He didn’t think you were honestly interested, he was obviously wrong in his assessment as you regripped his cock, flattening your tongue on the mid of his shaft before letting your wet muscle slide up to his tip. Swearing Namjoon clenched the armrests of his chairs again, he didn’t realize you were so dominant until you huffed looking up at him again sternly, “Remember, no cumming until I say so.”

Namjoon quickly nodded, wanting your tongue back against him as soon as possible. Complying you gently pumped the base of his cock while letting your tongue drag back up against his shaft. Hearing him twist and moan beneath you as a smirk curled onto your lips, “Eyes on me okay?” You murmured. Watching him obediently look at you. Keeping his gaze you opened your mouth as you began to suck his tip, making him attempt to buck against your mouth. He was extremely big, just his tip stretched your mouth, making you sigh as you retracted away from his thrust, “You’re so big...It’ll be difficult to deepthroat you but I think I can do it.”

He suddenly bucked harshly against your hand that squeezed his cock, wishing you had a firmer grip as he finally whimpered out, “Please Y/n, I can’t last much longer.”

Curving an eyebrow you laughed, “Yes you can, you will.” You’re voice didn’t leave room for debate as you began to lick the precum from his tip making him give another whimper while moaning, attempting to thrust into your mouth as you felt his cock twitch in excitement. So close but not enough for you.

Finally giving in you began to pump his base faster, taking in his tip before hollowing your cheeks. Letting him fill your mouth as his cock painfully stretched your mouth. You hadn’t even gotten half way down his shaft when you felt his tip hit the back of your throat.

His cock continuously pulsed and he began to moan repetitively trying to keep his body from twisting and withering as his knuckles turned white from clenching, “Please!”

Taking him all the way down your throat you began to bob your head obviously enjoying his begging. Noting he wouldn’t last much longer you lifted your mouth from him as you looked up, pausing for a second as he withered beneath you, “What are you waiting for? Use my mouth to cum.”

You could barely laugh as you felt a large hand suddenly grab your hair, knotting it tightly as you felt your mouth forced back against his cock. Standing up hurriedly he suddenly slammed himself in and out of you.

His size making tears that already stung your eyes began to stream down your face at the raw burning in your throat as you felt his size painfully squeeze against the tight space. His hips had become erratic and rough as he yanked your hair moaning as he closed his eyes.

Namjoon was so close to his orgasm so, so close. Just a few more thrusts. He quickly picked up the pace, mouth fucking you as rough as he could go. Oblivious to the shuffling outside the door.

“Jesus what’s going- okay nevermind.” Neither of you had bothered to notice Yoongi open the door for a rough estimate of ten seconds before instantly closing it as he sighed, “Seriously?”

Feeling his cock twitch one last time Namjoon gave one last thrust before feeling a string of hot thick liquid slide down your throat.

Lips hanging open as he sighed, slowing down his thrusts until he fully stopped staying there for a moment before letting his softened members out of your mouth. Tear stains streaked your face but you grinned cheekily letting yourself collapse into your back in satisfaction.

“T-thanks.” Namjoon stuttered out, unsure of what to say as he ran a hand through his hair closing his eyes.

He was going to offer to help you out as well but as soon as he opened his eyes he sighed, you were knocked dead out asleep.

---

“Okay but seriously? In his studio?” Seokjin rose an almost judging eyebrow as he mixed his bowl of soup around. Why did you constantly sleep with the other members, did you have some sort of secret pact to get all of them in bed one by one?

Namjoon only groaned as he ran a hand through his hair, looking at you red faced and thoroughly apologetic as memories of the night before came to mind, “Are you sure you’re okay Y/n?”

Raising an eyebrow you gripped your glass of water, sighing at your worried leader before taking in the only other two people at the kitchen table.

You didn’t necessarily regret it, you just wished you had been sober so the poor guy wouldn’t be so worried about you, bless his heart. In fact, you were glad drunken you had blowed him, in your humble opinion he deserved it. Namjoon didn’t ever like talking about it but he had the preconceived notion he was one of the “ugly members” of Bangtan and you wouldn’t stand for that kind of talk or mentality.

Taking a sip of water before replying you kept your eyebrow rose, “Unless you’re referring to my headache the answer is yes, of course I’m fine Namjoon. I don’t really see what the big deal is.” You rubbed your head as if trying to recall last nights events, “I honestly don’t remember half of the blow job. I do remember your size though,” you blew a dramatic breath of air as you laughed, “Not gonna lie that was the biggest di-“

“Okay I’m gonna stop you right there,” Namjoon held up a hand flustered, you had been with a lot of people, so to say his was the biggest was probably the most flustering thing he had ever heard, “Let’s just pretend like you didn’t turn me into a bitch last night, okay?”

Coughing on your water you slapped the table, “Wait you subbed for me!?”

“Y/n!”

#bts #bangtan #bangtan boys #kim namjoon #bts kim namjoon #namjoon x reader #namjoon x you #namjoon smut #bts smut #8thM!reader #Namjoon x 8thM!reader #namjoon reader insert #bts reader insert #reader insert #jungkook x reader implied #if you squint you can see it #bts x reader #burn the stage series

[shostakobitchh]

Aim & Ignite Second POV?

It began with Severus’ least favorite thing — children.

While saying such things out loud would probably have created an uproar amongst the staff, he spent each night before term began hating them. The Sorting was, admittedly, the most tolerable of the nights, but it only reminded Severus that tomorrow, he’d have a brand new batch of dunderheads to keep from killing one another, and themselves. Dumbledore belittled him every summer, just before the start of term, to update his syllabus, to find something worth teaching in the little cretins, but Severus couldn’t understand why he bothered. He hated them all, each and every one. There were far too many of them, in his opinion, to which Dumbledore would reply that enrollment had actually dwindled throughout the years due to the war. That little fun fact was enough to shut the both of them up.

They both knew why he was really here, and it wasn’t to teach children. Those little monsters turned the castle into a demon-sent-hellspawn wasteland — Hogwarts was so different when it wasn’t spilling over with those… things. Severus could almost enjoy the long days of summer, the way the wind moved through the grass and the only voices were its whispers in the empty halls.

The rest of the staff had busied themselves away with things that seemed silly and inconsequential to Severus. Minerva had been flustered by the letters back and forth from parents, Sprout was rearranging the layout of the greenhouse, and Flitwick had been transfiguring his desk back and forth between designs for several hours now. Severus only knew of these activities because of Dumbledore — he’d found him in the dungeons this morning, using his genuine interest in their activities to segway into another, more repulsive, subject. Even more repulsive than the lemon drops.

Severus watched the last rays of summer filter in through the castle windows, wishing he could fade away alongside them. Beside him, Dumbledore watched the sunset with an annoyingly pensive look on his face. “Have you given any thought to what we were discussing this morning?”

Severus barely turned his head to acknowledge him. “No.”

Despite his cold reply, Dumbledore chuckled. “Humor an old man, my boy.”

He was, of course, referring to something Severus did not want to talk about, and if Severus did not want to, he would, under any circumstances, not. Dumbledore had found him here for this precise reason. To his relief, Dumbeldore gave a great sigh, his mustache twitching in a knowing smile. There came a familiar crackling sound soon after. As Severus glanced sideways at the old man, he found him unwrapping one of those Muggle sweets — a lemon-drop.

Dumbledore caught him staring and stopped just as he was about to pop one into his mouth. “I’m sorry, my boy, did you…?”

“No,” Severus said, looking back toward the sunset, which had hidden itself behind the treeline.

Dumbledore twinkled at him. “You did enjoy the toffee flavored ones, I believe.”

He gave a sound that was passable enough for agreement. While Dumbledore waited patiently beside him, Severus forced himself to continue ignoring him, hoping he would simply drop the subject and leave him to sulk by himself. Dumbledore, however, was an annoying and meddlesome old man, and no matter how many times Severus pointed out this fact, it never deterred him.

“You must stop worrying about the world ending today.” said Dumbledore. “It’s already tomorrow in Australia.”

Severus stifled the urge to roll his eyes. “How unfortunate.”

You’re sulking, Conscience told him, is rather pathetic.

“My boy,” Dumbledore gave him an understanding look. “I know where your trepidation comes from, but I would be remiss if I did not inquire as to the state of your mind these past few days. I can only imagine…”

He trailed off, following Severus’ gaze to the sunset, which was completely enveloped by the trees, now. The sky was a brilliant red, the clouds purple tufts of smoke decorating the tree-landen horizon. Off in the distance, he could hear whatever creatures Hagrid had brought in for the nights calling to one another, or perhaps Hagrid for a feeding. They sounded like hippogriffs, but they were distant, and the sound distorted.

“I’ve sent Hagrid to get her things for school.” Dumbledore said, motioning to the smoke that drifted across their field of vision, most likely coming from Hagrid’s hut. “He insisted, seeing as he brought her to Lily’s sister.”

Severus tensed.

“I wonder,” said Dumbledore, when Severus did not respond yet again. “if Tom realizes.”

Severus felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over his head. He hadn’t mentioned the Dark Lord directly this morning —  he’d danced around it with pleasantries and such — but this was the first time in years he’d said his name. It still unnerved him that Dumbledore used the Dark Lord’s birth name, as if the being with the red eyes and cruel, high voice could be reduced to such a common, Muggle name. The Dark Lord was something you could not comprehend a beginning to, like a human creator. Wizards and Muggles alike could fathom something living forever, but not something having always existed. It was an unreachable place in the mind.

“It feels as though it is another start to term.” Severus finally said, making sure his voice was devoid of any emotion. “New students joining the general population is inconsequential to my current state of mind. I’m sure the Dark Lord feels the same, if he’s truly still out there.”

He wouldn’t bring up the girl — he would not. He rarely thought of her, rarely remembered that the beginning of her schooling at Hogwarts drew closer at the end of every school term. Severus could not acknowledge both the continued existence (whatever quality it may be, at this point, anyways) of the Dark Lord and Lily’s daughter.

Dumbledore was quiet for another long moment. “Well, I applaud you for treating the situation as such. I’m sure Lily’s daughter will have enough people paying her unwanted attention… having someone treat her no differently than the others is reassuring. I know Minerva is anxious to have the girl join us… but she admits openly that Lily was one of her favorite pupils. It’s different, I suppose.”

The old man stared at him intently over half-moon spectacles, trying to draw out some sort of reaction. Severus had forbidden it, and Dumbledore had respected that, but as the days drew nearer to Lily’s daughter beginning her education at Hogwarts, the memory of That Night had begun to crack itself open amongst the staff. They whispered about it excitedly amongst themselves, with looks of both sombre remembrance and bright anticipation. Severus, however, had taken the memory of Godric’s Hollow and the Dark Lord’s last spell and locked it in an untouchable, unbreakable box. At it’s mention, though, the memory began to thump against its box and rattle the chains that had kept it buried all this time.

“The girl is of no matter to me.” said Severus, not liking that he was being forced to admit her existence out loud. “You know I will do what I need to, if it is required. I sense that is what you’re after, really.”

“She’ll need that protection, Severus.” Dumbledore faced him fully now, his face full of something like expectation, but also a graveness that Severus did not want to acknowledge was there. “Tom will return, and when he does, she will need us all. There is no easy way to say that. Her tenure here is not something to be gawked at… it’s to be a marker. I fear for her going forward, I do, but I have faith that she will be safe here…” Dumbledore trailed off, returning his gaze to the sunset. It wasn’t like him to speak of such things, and this unnerved Severus.

“Has something happened?” he asked sharply.

Dumbledore blinked at him in surprise. “No, no, my dear boy. I apologize, I was simply —”

He froze, suddenly, like he’d had a nasty shock. Severus turned towards him finally, fully, letting down his wary guard. As intentionally mysterious as the old man could be, this was not usual behavior for Dumbledore, even when he was trying to get his way. No, he used matters of the heart for that.

“The Blood Wards.” Dumbledore said. “They’ve fallen.”

It took Severus a moment to grasp what he was saying, but even if he hadn’t, the look on Dumbledore’s face would have been jarring enough. He would never forget that look — he’d never seen the Headmaster look alarmed, let alone afraid, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

“What do you —” before Severus could even finish, Dumbledore was offering him his arm.

“We must move, quickly.” he said, in a voice like lightning. There was no arguing with it, or refusing it. The aftermath, the thunder, was inevitable.

Severus took his arm.

#writing until my hands fall off #so here's the second part!! #I think I might break up the rest of the chapter into two more parts #one from girl!harry POV and one from snape's #but then again I really have no idea its been so long since I've written literally anything #I feel like I have too many ideas and yet none at all

[a-closet-emo]

Phanniemay 2019 Day 5: Second Gen

Word Count: 2423

Genre: Angst

Warning: slight mentions of dissection but nothing graphic.

A/N: Ok so I know that Phanniemay is over and this phic is long overdue. But, I just want to finish the prompts, no matter how long it takes. So here is probably the longest thing I’ve ever written. Sorry it took me so long. I know it isn’t much, but I’m working on getting better at this kind of thing.

Maddie woke to the sound of cement cracking and a bad pun. That could only mean one thing: a ghost fight that involved Phantom. Again.

She looked at the clock. 3:05 am. Maddie sighed. Of course, since ghosts don’t sleep they’ll fight at any time they want to. She stole a glance at Jack. The big figure next to her was sleeping soundly, snoring through all the chaotic noises and witty banter outside. She pecked him on the cheek.

“Sweetie, what’s the commotion? Are the ghosts trying to steal my fudge?” he murmured, still only half awake.

“No, Jack, just some cats fighting in the street. I’m just going to get some water. Don’t—“

She was interrupted by his loud snores.

She smiled in the dark.

She quietly got out of bed, quickly putting on her HAZMAT suit. Her husband was sweet and he meant well, but he wasn’t exactly stealthy. And the orange suit certainly did not help. If she moved fast enough, Maddie could get to the fight in time to possibly capture the ghosts.

Maddie tiptoed past Jazz’s and Danny’s rooms. She was rather surprised that Jazz was still asleep. Her daughter had been getting quite good at ghost hunting as of late. But this was for the better. No need to wake them up and alarm them.

Despite her recent interest in the family business, Jazz was still a psychologist. She would be mad at Maddie for bothering with ghosts at this hour. She would go on a tangent about how ghosts took up too much of their time and how she and jack,”Have an obsession, just as much as the ghosts do!” Maddie shook her head. Jazz may be smart as a whip, but ghosts were Maddie’s field of expertise.

Danny…...Maddie didn’t know exactly how he’d react. The boy seemed to be so afraid of ghosts nowadays. Which was so unlike him. Then again, he’d been so distant lately, Maddie wasn’t so sure what was “like him” anymore. She sighed. She worried about her son. A lot. But it’s not like she could force him into telling her what’s been going on. She didn’t need Jazz to know that that was a very bad idea. So all she could do was wait, and hope that soon he’d start talking to her again.

In the basement, she decided to take the Fenton Finder™️, the Fenton Hand Blaster™️, and the Jack o’ Nine Tails™️. All patented and licensed as per the regulations of that year.

All stocked up, she went out into the night.

~~~

When Maddie had left her house some minutes earlier, the neighbors hadn’t made too much of a fuss over the fight. After all, ghosts and their subsequent fights were as common as rain nowadays.

She followed the trail of property destruction to its end. Phantom probably won this one. Like he always did. She took out her Fenton Finder(™️) and input Phantom’s ecto-signature.

As the ghost tracker processed the information, Maddie looked around. Then she noticed another trail. A trail of ectoplasm leading to the park. That meant….that one of the ghosts was injured. This was a golden opportunity. An injured ghost would be much easier to capture and subdue.

She turned her device off, it was too loud anyway, and let the drops and puddles of ectoplasm lead her to her prey.

~~~~

There he was, floating in the middle of a clearing surrounded by birch trees in the park. By the light of the full moon, she could tell that he was still bleeding. A Fenton Thermos(™️) lay beside him on the grass.

Maddie silently inched her way to a bush close enough to his little sanctuary, careful not to step on any stray twigs and cause a snapping sound. She kept her eyes on him, and her ears open to any indication that he was aware of her presence.

The ghost slowly lowered himself to the ground, wincing from his wounds. He was muttering to himself and Maddie only caught a few words.

“Skulker….new gadgets…”

Maddie readied her Jack O’Nine Tails. The infamous ghost boy was only a few meters away from her. She decided it was best to stun him with the weapon first, (in case he wasn’t as vulnerable as he looked at the moment) and capture him in his own (stolen) Thermos after.

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” the specter screamed, and Maddie flinched, thinking it was directed at her. But no, she had not been discovered. The ghost had just managed to hurt himself by accident.

This one was so strange. Of all the ghosts in and outside of Amity Park, this Phantom (as he likes to be called) was the most powerful, the most dangerous, and yet the townspeople adored him.

“Freakin Vlad Masters. I’m gonna fricking kill him!” he said to the moon as Maddie crouched in the bushes. She was aghast. He added a little something else, more to himself, that Maddie didn’t quite catch. But that was of little to no importance.

She honestly didn’t see why Jack liked Vlad so much. She liked him, sure. And if she was being honest with herself, she only tolerated Vlad because of how much Jack liked him and because she didn’t want to completely cut him off. The three of them were close in college after all and she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. But he was a bit of a creep, and she just didn’t like the way he acted around her and her family sometimes. He gave her bad vibes. But that didn’t mean that Vlad deserved to die.

How could the people of Amity Park treat Phantom like such a hero? He was a ghost and all ghosts were evil. That should be common knowledge at this point. Here he was, saying that he wanted to kill their mayor. Not only that, Phantom’s fights with the other ghosts cause so much property damage and so many injuries. He’s brainwashed almost the entire town into thinking he’s the “good guy”, the “hero”. But ghosts are nothing but evil.

Maddie cocked her Jack O’Nine Tails.

Phantom turned around, startled, but she could see he was still dazed.

She fired.

The nine long arms of the weapon whipped around Phantom and tied him up, while the sharp ends dug into his flesh and started zapping him.

After a few seconds of agonized screaming, Phantom was out cold. Although, that figure of speech was a tad redundant considering how ghosts (being dead) were already cold.

Maddie walked over quickly and picked up the stolen Fenton Thermos(™). She sucked him into it and sat down on the grass, wondering at what she had just done.

She did it. She finally captured Phantom! She turned the thermos around in her hands, smiling. She was almost giddy with happiness. Phantom was such a...different ghost. Here she actually had the chance to examine him and find out what made him so unique.

There was no time to lose then. Even though Amity Park was quite used to all sorts of noises in the night, Maddie knew it was best to get this specter home before one of his many human fans or few ghostly allies realized what had happened and went after her.

She gathered her things and did her best to quietly run home.

~~~

By the time she had gotten home, all the lights in Maddie’s neighborhood had turned off. She checked the time; it was only 4 am. Seems like the few people who had been curious enough to get out of bed to see the fight earlier where now sleeping once more.

After a few minutes dealing with a minor problem involving only getting Phantom (without getting the other ghost, Skulker) (although she planned on doing so soon) out of the thermos, she finally had him on her examining table.

She quickly strapped him to the table and activated the anti-ghost locks. They locked a ghost in place. Once turned on, a ghost caught in them would be “locked” in their current form and also in place.These were their heavy duty ones. With those turned on, even a strong ghost like Phantom wouldn’t be able to use their powers.

~~~

While preparing her equipment, Maddie wondered if she should wake Jack for this. He would love this. But she didn’t want to turn her back on Phantom. There were many reasons as to why he was the strongest ghost in Amity Park, and the strongest ghost they had ever fought. What if he suddenly came to while she was busy trying to get Jack to wake up? While she trusted her and Jack’s inventions, she didn’t want to take any chances. Who knows when she’ll have an opportunity like this ever again? She sighed. She’d just have to make it up to him in the morning with fudge. A lot of fudge.

She brought her tray of dissecting equipment over to the examining table. Phantom was slowly waking up. Maddie wondered if she should get some anesthesia. No, there’s no need for that. It would be good to be able to talk to the ghost while the procedure was underway. Aside from the dissection itself, talking to Phantom might help her get some answers to questions she’s been so frustrated by. And maybe she was a bit mad at Phantom for always managing to escape her.

As she prepared her things, she flicked her eyes over his dormant form.

He looked so peaceful, almost as if he were asleep. It was probably the fluorescent lights contrasting with his own eerie glow that somehow made Phantom seem different. He almost looked like Danny in that moment. Seeing the way his white hair was strewn all over his head, she sighed. He needed a haircut, just like Danny. She almost reached out and ruffled his hair, like how she did sometimes with her son, no matter how much it embarrassed him.

She shook her head and pulled her hand back. This wasn’t the time or place to be a mother. Right now, she was a scientist. Dr. Madeline Fenton was in.

She knew Phantom was special somehow. He managed to trick almost everyone, even her own kids, into thinking that he’s good. With that he gets away with most anything. All the property destruction, the injuries, and the chaos. No one minds because he “does it to save the town”.

Another thing about this specter was that he was probably the most complicated one in Amity park. He was the one that resembled humans the most. He seemed to be the only one capable of copying complex human emotions so well. Maybe that was why he was so popular.

The ghost seemed to finally understand the situation he was in.

“Maddie, wait, you don’t understand,” he said as he tried to activate his powers. To no avail. He started to panic a bit. “You don’t want to do this-”

“And why not? Why wouldn’t a scientist like myself want to continue my research?” she asked, calmly.

“Because you can’t! I’m--’

“Can’t I? You’re not exactly in a position to be making demands, Phantom.”

She could see beads of sweat forming on his forehead and neck. Interesting. He was the most human ghost she and Jack had ever encountered. This dissection should answer their questions as to why. She moved toward him, scalpel in hand.

“WAIT!”

Maddie cringed. He was so loud. He’d wake up Jack and the kids. He’d wake up the entire neighborhood.

But that wasn’t the only thing that had bothered her. His voice had cracked, which was no surprise since he must have died before puberty ended, but why she was suddenly reminded of her son in that moment was disconcerting. Phantom reminded her of when Danny was still little and would get so frustrated when she wasn’t paying attention to him. It also reminded her of her Danny now, the one who was still figuring out puberty.

“Be quiet!” she hissed. “You’ll wake my children.”

He spoke louder. “OH I’M SORRY I SURE DON’T WANT TO WAKE UP ANYBODY. CERTAINLY NOT ANYONE NAMED JAZ—”

The gag Maddie had quickly gotten was just right. The muffled sounds of him trying his hardest to say something were much better than his inhumanly loud shouting. The quiet also helped her to clear her thoughts. She didn’t need to be thinking about Danny now, not when she knew that this was such a monumental scientific moment.

She picked up her scalpel once more.

Phantom fought against his restraints. Shrieking. His muffled shouts were now accompanied by tears.

He—It, she corrected herself—was begging her now.

Maddie hesitated for a second. Only a second.

The ghost of course was only copying humans.

Ghosts can’t cry. Ghosts can’t feel anything other than anger or hate. They completely lacked the ability to feel empathy. Ghosts were mere imprints of the good, caring human beings they used to be. It was all just a ploy. It was trying to trick her into setting it free.

It was trying to say something. No doubt something to stall her or something it’d fabricate to get her to stop.

She held her tool tightly and started the dissection. She ignored the eerily human-like cries of the specter and carried on with her work. It was all for research. She needed to find out what made this one so different. Why this ghost was the most human. How it could copy humans so convincingly. For a world without ghosts. A better world. She thought about her children sleeping upstairs. It was so the next generation could lead safer lives. For her—

“MOM, PLEASE.”

The ghost in all its struggling somehow managed to remove the gag from its mouth. Maddie knew she should’ve made it tighter. She chose to ignore its choice of words. You can’t trust anything a ghost says after all.

“STOP.”

Despite her strong determination to just get on with the procedure, she found herself staring at her subject.

It was looking up at her with pleading eyes filled with tears. Those green eyes that so reminded her of her son’s blue ones. It looked so vulnerable in that moment, so...human. She almost obeyed the command to stop from the specter she held captive.

But no, she thought as she tightened its gag. It was all for her children after all. For Jazz. For Danny.

For the second generation.

#danny phantom #phanniemay19 #phanniemay #angst #danny fenton #maddie fenton #dissection #my writing #mine

[sapphicscholar]

Hello. I just read that on Wednesday there will be a total lunar eclipse and it’s both a blue moon and super moon. I remember in one of your stories that Alex and Maggie watched the solar eclipse. Can you maybe write a fic in the same AU where they watch the lunar eclipse as well? :) In case you couldn’t tell, I’m an astronomy nerd.

Hey! I just posted the chapter on AO3 here! 

A/N: This is in the HSAU, though at this point, they’re in college. If you’re looking for the solar eclipse one, it’s Chapter 126. 

A/N 2: As a reminder, I’m still catching up on old prompts. I’ve been spending a lot of time on my slow burn political AU, and things at work (plus also wedding planning) have been a bit busy, so the prompts are on the back burner a little bit for now. There’ll still be updates, but I just don’t have time to make them as regular (read: daily) as they were for a while, especially since plenty of the prompts I’ve gotten recently really require some world-building so it doesn’t feel like I just threw you in without context. And I like to think that if you’re trusting me with your prompt or headcanon, you’d like to see it done with the thought it deserves, even if it means waiting a bit longer. 

Chapter Text:

“You know she’s been here before, right?” Daisy teased Maggie, watching as she straightened her comforter for the fourth time that hour. “And she loves you. And probably won’t dump you if your half of the room happens to be slightly less than immaculate.”

“I know, I know,” Maggie relented. “I just want things to be nice for her.” They’d agreed not to be that couple that spent the entirety of their freshman fall visiting one another and failing to make friends on their own campuses. So Alex had come to NCU to help Maggie set up her dorm room, since she’d gotten to arrive early for a pre-college week for first-gen students, and then Maggie had gone up to Stanford to visit Alex for the long weekend she had off from classes and work during the fall break. But otherwise they’d kept it to phone calls and FaceTime chats and a handful of fumbling attempts at Skype sex that were only once interrupted by a roommate—Daisy, in fact, who had proceeded to give Maggie all sorts of shit about it for weeks. Of course, she and Alex had spent large chunks of winter break together, and Eliza had invited Maggie and her aunt over to have Christmas dinner with them, but somehow she was still nervous about the visit.

“Look, if your girl agreed to try Skype sex again after I walked in on you two, I really doubt she’s gonna run off just because your military corners got a little fucked up.”

“Stop!” Maggie hissed. “Alex doesn’t need to know you know!”

“It’s college,” Daisy laughed. “You’d go crazy if you didn’t have someone to talk to! Plus, if I didn’t know you at least had someone to get freaky with over the phone, I might think you were sorta boring for all those nights you spent home while I went out.”

“You’re the worst,” Maggie grumbled, but her smile gave her away. It had been nice having someone to be open and honest with. They’d met during the first day of pre-college week programming, and after a bit of uncertainty, they’d slowly but surely let their walls down. All the forced openness during the ice breaker events probably helped, though Maggie found herself letting her guard down the most during the late nights they together spent back in their room, propped up in their own beds wearing ratty old high school t-shirts and pajama pants that still smelled like home.

“Nah, I’m pretty excellent, actually.”

“I mean, maybe…but I’m definitely better.” Maggie shot a shit-eating grin in Daisy’s direction.

“I suppose you’re better at chemistry, but otherwise…” Daisy trailed off with a shrug and a crinkle of her nose.

“I’m better at holding down a girlfriend.”

“That’s cause I’m not looking for one,” Daisy shot back. “That’d be like if I said I was better at dating men than you.”

“Ah yes, sometimes I forget that you are tragically heterosexual,” Maggie teased.

“Hence the complete and total lack of desire to date seriously. I’ll give ’em a few more years to mature. It’s like…a nice wine. I want them good and ready before I commit to a bottle. For now, ya know, I’ll take some sips of that two-buck Chuck here and there.”

Maggie cackled as Daisy mimed sniffing at a glass and sipping it with a shrug. “The most refined of palates—truly.”

It was then that a knock startled Maggie to attention and, with one last tug at the corner of her comforter, she nearly skipped to the door. “Hey! Come in!”

“Hey!” Alex swept Maggie into a tight hug and let herself be pulled into a kiss once the door was kicked shut.

“Hey, new friend!” Daisy nearly yelled, laughing at the death glare Maggie sent her way when Alex startled.

“Oh, um, I’m so sorry. I’m Alex.”

“I remember.”

“Daisy!” Maggie hissed, watching as Alex’s cheeks flushed a light pink.

“What? We met the day you moved in for a few minutes, Mags. God, get your head out of the gutter.”

“Excuse me, that’s where you live!”

“Well you’re my roommate, so you must live there too.”

Alex watched the back-and-forth like a spectator, rather than an active participant. This was a part of Maggie’s life that she knew about, but wasn’t really privy to—and she got it! That was what they had decided would be best, and she was grateful for it. She’d gotten involved in clubs and made friends up at Stanford that she suspected would have been more difficult if she and Maggie were taking turns visiting one another every weekend. But it was still…new—this idea that Maggie had someone, had a whole part of her life, that Alex didn’t know intimately.

“Anyway, Daisy doesn’t get much better behaved than this, but she’s nice enough to let me borrow some of the Hiking and Outing Society’s camping gear so we can hang out at the park comfortably instead of trying to squeeze in at the campus observatory.”

“Are you coming too?” Alex asked, hoping she sounded polite. It wasn’t as though she would be angry, but she had hoped for some time alone with Maggie.

“No, no, won’t go interrupting you lovebirds again.”

“Daisy!”

“It’s fine,” Alex insisted, not wanting to make a bad impression by being the stick in the mud girlfriend who couldn’t take a joke. She’d tolerated a lot worse from Lucy, and surely at least one or two of her new friends would do the same to Maggie.

“See! Told ya that people love me, Maggie.”

“Tell that to the girl who sits next to you in history,” Maggie snorted.

“It was an accident! I talk with my hands—she should know that by now.” She’d actually been rather apologetic, but the girl had huffed out something about a rush event that night and now refused to sit in the seat directly next to Daisy, preferring to put her bag there and leave one in between them.

“Whatever you say… Anyway, Alex and I are gonna go grab dinner, then we’ll come back here and sleep for a bit before we head up early in the morning.”

“Have fun! I’m gonna go crash with Tasha down the hall before we go down to the observatory. And call if you have any issues with the gear.”

“Thanks, you’re the best!”

“Aha! I knew it!” Daisy crowed, earning a shove from Maggie.

“It was good seeing you again,�� Alex offered with a small wave. “If you’re around tomorrow, I’ll be here through lunch. It’d be great to get to know you a little better.”

“Yeah? I could do lunch before my 2 o’clock class.”

Maggie nodded, happy to see her girlfriend and her roommate making an effort.

“Perfect! Maggie was telling me there’s a pizza place just outside of town that she just loves, and since I have a car, I figured maybe we could go?”

“I like her, Mags. Don’t fuck it up!” Daisy called after them.

��

“I know it hasn’t really been that long since break, but I’ve really missed you,” Maggie whispered, pressing soft kisses across Alex’s stomach as she drew herself back up from between her legs.

“God, I’ve missed you too. So much.” After a pause, she added, “And not just for that, you know. It was nice getting to see you everyday again and know that you were just a few minutes away if anything happened.”

“Yeah, I get that.” She kissed Alex—softly now, without the desperation they’d had crashing back through the door before falling into bed together. “We should probably try to get a little sleep.” The plan had been to go to bed early, but they were far past that point now.

“Fine,” Alex huffed, smiling as Maggie pressed a few last kisses to her lips and cheeks before pulling the comforter up and over them.

“I’ll set an alarm for 3, and then it’s only, like, half an hour max from here.”

“Well then, I’ll see you in two hours.”

Maggie groaned at the idea of waking up that early, but soon found herself sinking happily into a restful sleep with Alex tucked into her side.

—

The alarm was gratingly loud, but Alex’s enthusiasm about the lunar eclipse was more than enough to outweigh Maggie’s annoyance at losing sleep. They stumbled out of bed and found comfortable clothing before dragging their bags out to the car. The drive over was spent blasting music to ensure they stayed awake, and their first half hour was spent setting up their tent. At 3:48, Alex took a break from helping to point up at the sky. “The umbral eclipse is starting,” Alex whispered, as though speaking any more loudly could upset the delicate balance of nature at work.

They worked quickly and efficiently as they got the tent set up, knowing they likely wouldn’t use it much at all. But they hung out in it for a bit, positioning their heads near the entrance to get an upside-down view of the moon as it worked its way toward totality.

“So, that super blue blood moon, huh?” Maggie teased, laughing as Alex huffed.

“That phrase is misleading. People keep thinking it’s gonna be blue. It’s only called a blue moon because it’s the second full moon of the month, which is really rare…hence, you know, the expression. Once in a blue moon. Doesn’t mean the moon is blue!” Maggie smiled as Alex worked herself up. “It’ll be red-ish brown—hence the blood moon. And that’s all because of the Earth’s shadow. But people on the internet keep acting like it’s the end of the world or a sign of the apocalypse or something, and it’s just frustrating.”

“You’re pretty perfect, you know that?”

“What?”

“You’re such a nerd, and I love you for it.”

“I love you too,” Alex chuckled, letting herself be pulled into a soft kiss. “Now, wanna tell me about your classes?”

For the next hour or so, they hung out in the tent and talked about their new semester of classes, every so often pausing to snap photos and document the building eclipse. A little before 5, they pulled their sleeping bags out of the tent and settled back down to watch as the eclipse reached totality. They took several more photos, and for a while, they just watched in silence, their hands intertwined and resting in the grass between their sleeping bags.

“I’m really happy I got to see this with you,” Maggie whispered.

“Well, there’s another super blue blood moon”—Alex crinkled her nose in distaste at the phrase—“in 2037…maybe we could even come back here again.”

Maggie looked over at Alex, blinking back tears, only to find Alex studiously avoiding eye contact and busily checking the photos she had taken on her phone. “Hey, uh, Alex?”

“Yeah?” Alex’s voice was soft and slightly gravelly, and she looked more vulnerable than Maggie had seen her since they first talked about whether or not they would stay together when they went off to different colleges.

“I’d love to come back here with you in 2037.”

“Really?”

“Oh yeah. So start getting some facts ready, cause I’m definitely gonna want a whole new presentation on this special moon from my nerdy expert scientist girlfriend.”

#fanfic #sanvers #college au #fluff #prompt fill #ao3feed #stronger together #supergirl #alex x maggie #alex danvers #maggie sawyer #ofc #lunar eclipse #date

[breakdawn-avenue]

ZarcRayWeek, Day 2: Seasons

Day 1: Everything I know will change || Day 2: Let’s fall in love again || Day 3: To know your name || Day 4: Can’t stay away (Part 1 | Part 2) || Day 5: Put on your war paint || Day 6: Baby, anyhow I’ll get another toy || Day 7: Your own worst enemy || Day 8: This love will never end

Summary: A malicious rumour ruined their relationship. Their siblings found out the truth but they still wouldn’t make up. After a year, the siblings had had enough.

Word count: 3.370 Note: special thanks to @seasaltmemories and @authoratmidnight who helped me with better wording!

It was past midnight when Serena locked the back door of the You Show Duel School. Yuri growled in an annoyed mood in a hushed tone. “You don’t have to escort me back to LDS,” she told him as she handed him the keys. “I don’t even know why you stayed until I finished the paperwork. You didn’t even distract me! What was even the point in staying when you didn’t do shit?!” “Stop complaining. I was practising Synchro Summoning. Besides, I’m one of the few who tolerates your nagging presence while I’m also one of the few you don’t back away from.” She was right. Yuri hated it. “Let’s get you home before I freeze to death,” Yuri snarled and slowly started to jog. “You would be doing somewhat better if you would like... work-out or something? It contains some dark magic like leaving the house more often, wimp!,” Serena teased in amusement. “Weak! Not enough to change my mind,” Yuri countered and buried his slowly aching nose into his scarf. “Wimp!,” Serena giggled. “Shut up, witch!,” Yuri snarled back. Much to his surprise, though, she did. Serena even stopped walking. Yuri turned around, ready to complain about her indecisiveness, the late hour and the coldness, but eventually came to a halt as well. Her sea green irides were fixed high above them, and once the lazy clouds started to clear, they were almost sparkling. He knew very well what captured her so that he didn’t have to look up. But he did anyway. With the dark clouds gone, the moon shone brightly in this starry night sky. Since it looked always the same for him, he hadn’t had any trouble to look away from it. He had more trouble to get off his eyes from Serena who was still so enchanted by this view. She even forgot to fasten her coat. Her clumsy attempts couldn’t fool him that she was cold as well. Yuri took off his scarf and wrapped it around Serena’s bare neck. Since he did forget his own winter gloves, he put her hands into her pockets. Serena flinched slightly. Yuri merely scoffed, “Let’s go, Moonlight Princess.” “What was that!?,” Serena blurted out before following him again. “Anything new?,” Yuri asked after a little while. “No. Ray’s still so upset about that stupid rumour. We still didn’t find out who started it, though.” “Ts, damn... ” _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

An average spring day. The sun was shining, the air was warm for once, and no single cloud darkened the blue sky. A soothing breeze, not too cold, played with the blossoming leaves. All the flowers started to bloom as well. Birds chirped and tried to impress the females. Bees buzzed lazily and visited every flower they reached. Butterflies completed this scenario. Just everything on this day at this afternoon hour had a romantic touch. “ ...Aaaarrrgh!” Instead of enjoying this fine spring day, Yuzu was trapped in the basement for cleaning. Every now and then she would end up at the small window to observe the blooming scenery in the backyard. “Why do I deserve to clean it all alone?!,” she complained. It wasn’t her fault that the computers malfunctioned again when she programmed new Action Duel Fields. Maybe it just hadn’t been a good idea to do it with a freshly made cup of oolong tea. And maybe she should have chosen a different time to do it. Without Yuya in the dueling area where he practised a new entrance move. Maybe she wouldn’t have been so captivated by his performance, then. And maybe she wouldn’t have dropped the cup while leaning in to the monitor. Lately, her feelings always got in her way. “ ...I deserve this punishment,” she eventually concludes and let her head drop with a heavy sigh. Lazily, she walked back to the shelf and took out the old books. After a while, she looked back when she suddenly heard the door close. “Oji-san?” She hurried to the four stairs where she found a big bouquet full of bubblegum coloured roses with two azure coloured in the midst of them. Inside of the bouquet was a small note. »In half an hour, I’ll join to help you. Yuya« Maybe it wasn’t such a big, bad punishment to clean the basement in the end. If just all arguments could be solved with a beautiful bouquet of coloured roses. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

With a sullen expression on his face, Yuto munched his Tako-yakis. This year’s Tanabata festival was in full swing, and he was looking forward to it since the new year began. His evening started with a disaster, and he wavered whether going would be a good idea. But he had already asked Ruri out so he felt bad to cancel the date. She would have to deal with his grumpy mood for the rest of the evening, though. “Sorry I kept you waiting!,” he heard Ruri call as she found him a little aside from the festival. The second after that he noticed that he already finished his Tako-yakis. Almost pouting, he threw away his paper plate and toothpick. Ruri walked up to him. It was just then that he saw the Yukata his friend was wearing. Dull blue with white and white blue-ish feathers scattered all over it. It was the second time that he felt like being punched in the face. But he was absolutely sure that the now more than likely visible redness wasn’t from an imaginary punch. “You’re looking funny at me... ,” Ruri noticed with a deep blush on her face. “N- no! I’m sorry!” He cleared his throat and tried to smile a little. “You... look amazing!” Her magenta coloured eyes started to sparkle. “Thank you!” She smiled fondly but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She must have seen his gloomy expression. She didn’t even need to ask what wore him down. They started to stroll as Yuto began to explain on his own accord. Serena, Yuya and he found out the one who started the rumour. It was a former colleague of Ray who attended the Synchro Course in LDS. Since he was so badly in love with her and immensely jealous of Zarc, he did everything he could to break them up. With more or less success. But that wasn’t what riled Yuto up so bad. He couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that Ray and Zarc, despite knowing the truth, still refused to talk to each other. Even though everyone around them and they themselves knew that they still loved each other so much. “Well,” Ruri eventually said with a quiet sigh, “I can’t make their dispute go away but maybe... your gloomy mood.” Yuto was just about to question her as she pre-empted him with placing a glass figure in his right hand. He raised his hand to have a better look on it. A glass dove. With big and round eyes, Yuto looked back to Ruri just to find out that she was holding a similar glass dove in her hand. Her cheeks turned pink again. “I saw them at a stand, and I couldn’t hold back myself,” she admitted. “The vendor told me that these glass doves are a pair. Since they were his last ones, he gave them for free to me, and that I should give the second one to a dear friend of mine. So... here you are... ” If he wasn’t sure before he loved that girl he definitely knew it now. “It’s precious. Thank you!” Ruri finally smiled a big one that reached her eyes. He was about to take her hand as a loud explosion near them erupted. They jumped and tried to find its source. Just a heartbeat after that, another explosion sounded around the festival. They forgot the firework. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Once the plan for the Halloween party was clear, Rin went to the kitchen to fetch two knives, two big spoons and two bowls while Yugo headed for her room to take the stencils and markers for the pumpkin faces. After that, they met in the backyard. Yugo counted the pumpkins a last time before distributing them fairly among them. Rin spread the stencil sheets and examined them. Yugo already cut out the top from one of his pumpkins. “I hope it will work out,” Rin mused after she decided which stencil she wanted to use first. “It has to!” Yugo switched for a spoon to hollow out the pumpkin. “They both love Halloween, Ruri’s creamy pumpkin soup and mom’s pumpkin pie! You don’t argue that much with a full belly anyway!” Rin stopped halfway in cutting out the top of her first pumpkin just to look with a deadpanned expression in her eyes at him. “ ...You just described yourself, Yugo!” Her vis-à-vis just laughed. “Maybe – but if it comes to Halloween and all this special food, he’s not that different from me!,” he explained. Rin smiled with a quiet huff. She continued to cut out the top. “Well, but it’s not wrong what you just said. If anything, they’d come for the food. There’s no way they’d ever miss it!” “You took the words right out of my mouth!” Yugo nodded proudly. “It has to... ,” Rin repeated his words and placed the cut out top next to Yugo’s before taking the second spoon in her hand. But she didn’t move a muscle anymore. Yugo looked up to her. Rin’s amber coloured eyes darkened a little bit while setting them on the lawn. A mild breeze blew around them that made Rin’s short mint green hair dance a little. The situation was urgent. Their eldest siblings still refused to interact with each other even though everyone could see how much it hurt them. Therefore, all eight siblings made up the surprise Halloween party for them to offer them a good opportunity to at least spent time with each other again. But seeing Rin on this nice autumn afternoon in her backyard was a precious sight he decided to mesmerize in his mind and heart. Since he was the loudest and most active from the Sakaki-quadruplets, these quiet moments were rare around him. But he loved them all the more. Only Rin was able to slow him down. “You’ll see, it will work out. Not even Ray-san and Zarc can stay mad forever. Especially at each other,” he reassured her. Rin blinked slowly before turning her head back to him. “In the end, they love each other! It’s not nothing!,” Yugo added with a smirk. His vis-à-vis blinked again but after a heartbeat, she returned his smile. “Yeah, you’re right!” She wiped her right cheek with the back of her hand. “Now, we better hurry or the party might start without us!” “No way we’ll let that happen!,” Yugo agreed and returned to hollow out his pumpkin. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

With an odd patience in his whole body language, Zarc observed his brothers who gave Ray’s sisters white chocolate. All four of them. Even Yuri – his evil brat, of all siblings – gave Serena a pouch. He was sure its content wasn’t even poisoned. Zarc had survived Valentine’s Day and even managed to leave Ray’s chocolate locked in his drawer. Successfully resisting the desire to devour the sweets. But Yuri accomplished the same. He understood that it wasn’t all about eating the chocolate but accepting it. And since he did, it was only plausible that Ray expected something for White Day in return. He cursed his own reckless stupidity and old feelings. They grew up, though, learned much and suffered already enough. But he wasn’t about to let her off the hook just yet. “Don’t like what you see?” Zarc didn’t even bat an eye as he stood up from the bench and rested his gloved hands on his deck holders as Ray slowly approached him. “Don’t even think about it, pesky woman,” he made it clear right away. “Aww, what a shame! Not even a toothy smirk?” Zarc started to walk down the path. Ray followed suit. “We’re not running away, are we?” “See them? Our brats arranged this ordeal because we blew up their little Halloween party back in October.” Ray giggled in a quiet tone. “Ordeal? Don’t be mean,” she asked him. Zarc stopped again. A cherry blossom sailed in his view. He opened his right hand. It landed peacefully on his palm. At first, he thought about throwing it away but then another thought crossed his mind. He turned back to Ray who watched him curiously. He made sure she couldn’t see what he was holding so he went back to her and stuck the cherry blossom behind her right ear. He even fastened it with her hair to prevent it from promptly falling down. After that, he continued his stroll. He smirked for a moment. Then he counted silently the seconds until she hurried after him. “Zarc – wait! Can we talk?” “We do,” the recipient pointed out. But she didn’t continue after that. She went completely silent. Zarc looked over his shoulder just to find her staring at the ground. Her bangs covered her eyes. He stepped to the side because she would have bumped into him otherwise. At first, he thought it was her intention. But then, she just passed him slowly. She didn’t even notice that Zarc stopped walking. “You know... if you really want to talk, use your voice to make the words you’re spilling audible,” he told her. “I’m not a mentalist yet.” Ray flinched a little bit before she stopped walking and turned back to him. “We already established that our issue won’t disappear like that if we continue pretending it was never there in the first place.” His vis-à-vis nodded slightly: “You know... we tried” Zarc’s eyebrows shot up. “Woah, Ray, hold it! If you continue to treat it – me like a joke, I’m out- ” “No, I don’t!,” the recipient reassured him. “It’s just... “ She huffed to play a little for time. “I admit, that start was really clumsy but I mean it when I say that I want us to work!” Zarc merely turned his upper body more towards her. “Winning the... Maiami Youth Championship was thrilling,” Ray eventually began. “It was the first time that I – I of all Akabas, was getting recognition for something that wasn’t arranged beforehand from my father. I felt... popular. I would be lying if I say that it didn’t felt good... I guess... it had turned to my head.” “Before that, you’d have never gotten such an idea like pretending to be a couple,” Zarc noted, “or rather celebrity couple.” “I already realized that it wasn’t one of my better ideas... ,” Ray admitted begrudgingly. They continued their stroll. But Zarc was sure that they wouldn’t lose their siblings who were curiously following them. Since none of them knew the real issue – they were still the perfect couple in their eyes like the several thousand photographs were portraying them to be – he couldn’t really blame them for their curiosity. After all, they were silently suffering with them. “Besides, I never knew you wanted to see me dead this badly,” Zarc suddenly threw in. “Come again?!” “Forgot your father hates me? He never said anything before because he knew we were setting up this farce solely for the media.” Ray blinked and muffled her laughter with a big huff. “He’s a human, Zarc, not a monster,” she said. “He loves me – and yes, trying very, very hard to protect me.” She scolded him for his knowing look he gave her now. “But he also saw how miserable I was the past year... ” She sighed again. Zarc turned his head to the seemingly endless cherry blossom tree that flanked the path. Just behind the trees and bushes, he saw some wisps of hair for a split second. “He realized... he realized that I had feelings for you even before I did. And how much it hurt me that we weren’t on speaking terms anymore,” Ray eventually continued. “He was even actually the one who encouraged me to approach you again. Because... he knew that I was the one who screwed this up so badly.” Zarc snorted. “Geez, I don’t know if I should be happy or mortally terrified to have his blessing!” But Ray mumbled quietly: “If you want me to stop treating our problem like a joke, you shouldn’t tempt me like that!” A small snort escaped Zarc again as he shrugged with his shoulders. “Touché.” For a moment, Ray was silent again. She only looked at him with an apologetic expression in her eyes. The recipient raised his right eyebrow. “ ...Why do we care about the rumours?,” she whispered. “I never did”, Zarc replied. “Or rather... at the beginning, I did believe it was true. Because it sounded so much like you at that time.” The look from her turned remorseful when she adverted his eyes. “I hate the media, and being followed by the forsaken rainbow press was more dreadful than the time father was still an active duelist. But I never said anything because I was so stupidly in love with you.” Zarc crossed his arms. “Why didn’t you say anything, though?,” Ray asked even though she already knew the answer. Her vis-à-vis shrugged. “Why bothering? We weren’t a real couple after all. You seemed to be more occupied with both our reputation and pleasing your fans rather than me... or us.” Ray couldn’t come up with a counter-argument so she went silent again. Zarc didn’t push her. “ ...Remember our first time dueling each other?” Her cheeks reddened slightly. Zarc couldn’t help but smile a little before he continued walking. This sudden switch of the topic just didn’t click right away with him. But since they already established to stop treating their issue as a joke, he doubted that she would consider it solved just yet. “You had your own kind of Action Dueling going on – and you somehow managed to make me forget where I was so I followed you. Our monster and we kind of... danced while dueling. And it’s so cheesy to say but... it kind of felt like... magic.” Now he was the one who couldn’t come up with a counter. They met before but it was the first time Ray actually noticed him. It was the first time he was able to sweep her off her feet. He knew that he would never forget her amazed expression on her face. How her wisteria coloured eyes sparkled and that beautiful blush on her nose. Suddenly, Ray stopped him by grabbing his left arm jacket: “Will you make me wait another four seasons before I get an answer?” Zarc realized that he had zoomed out. “Well... I was... wasn’t here anymore for a moment,” he admitted with a slight blush on his own. But instead of getting frustrated like she did before, Ray only smiled shyly. “ ...Let’s fall in love again, Zarc,” she whispered. The recipient snorted once again. “Silly, I never stopped loving you,” he replied. Because sometimes, love wasn’t enough to cover up the dark and dirty sides. He had learned it the hard way. Ray smiled the sweetest smile he had ever seen on her lips. Her wisteria coloured eyes sparkled with a little shimmer of hope. But still, he couldn’t stop but thinking that her suggestion didn’t feel like letting go but rather continuing. They may change the reason but they would always end up with battling powers. Whether it was on the dueling grounds or between the sheets. He let out a surrendered sigh. He needed to get her something white before midnight. That was, if he was able to leave her for the time being. He leaned down to kiss her on the lips. Once he heard the quiet cheers, he couldn’t resist the urge to smirk. But it was Ray who broke up the kiss with a relieved laugh. They may haven’t solved everything just yet. They needed to think especially about the media which was breathing down their necks. But this may be a good start for both of them.

#zarcray week #Day 2 - Seasons #yugioh arc v #Akaba Ray #Zarc #genesisshipping #guests: the counterparts #real life!AU #kind of #bA's writing