#stray kids 1960 AU | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

kumeko · 1 year

Text

A/N: For the @notmyfortezine! I wanted to do a Kids on The Slope-inspired AU (basically 1960s Japan with lots of Jazz music).

…

Bakugou didn’t believe in luck. Why rely on such a wishy-washy thing? Either you wanted something bad enough to do it yourselves, or you didn’t want it in the first place. He didn’t believe in fate or destiny either—no one, not even a god, could force him to do anything. His future was his own to grab.

Unfortunately, there was no other word to explain how he met Kirishima. It was pure chance that he was in class that day, that his last suspension had ended last week and he hadn’t fought anyone since. Most people must have expected him to ditch; he barely attended class as it was. Yet, despite what everyone thought, Bakugou liked class, liked learning, liked picking up facts and figures and the world slowly clicking into place with each new info.

He just didn’t like everyone in his class, his school, or the world for that matter. They didn’t find any aliens last year when they landed on the moon, but he was certain that even if they had, they wouldn’t be any friends of his.

If he could tolerate anyone, it was his teacher. Aizawa-sensei seemed to hate the world more than he did. Even the morning attendance was done gruffly, with barely any expectation or desire for a response. Bakugou liked it better that way.

Just as he was about to put down the sheet, Aizawa frowned. “Almost forgot. We have a new—”

The door slammed open. A redhead burst in, all smiles and sunshine as he bounced to the front. “HI!”

Everyone stared at him. Bakugou wasn’t sure what was brighter, the new guy’s smile or his hair.

“—student from Kamakura.” Aizawa set down the attendance sheet and yawned. As usual, he looked utterly exhausted, big dark circles under his eyes. “Introduce yourself.”

“I’m Kirishima Eijiro!” His smile was still as blinding as the sun and he waved. “I love the Crimson Hero and I’m gonna be just like him.”

Bakugou scoffed as the class erupted into flames. Who wanted to be like a third-rate comic book hero? At least Kirishima had the build in it—the school uniform couldn’t hide the strength in his stocky build, the muscular arms and legs built up from years in martial arts training. Maybe he should challenge him to a fight later. Just to see if he hit as hard as Bakugou guessed.

“Done? Good. You could sit in the back. There’s an empty seat next to Bakugou,” Aizawa drawled. “Raise your hand.”

Bakugou glared. The empty seat was a buffer between him and the assholes. Like hell he wanted to lose that to someone like Kirishima.

Unphased, Aizawa gestured. “He’s the one who’s angry.”

“Alright!” Kirishima trotted eagerly down the aisle. As he reached his seat, he grinned at Bakugou. “Nice to meetcha, neighbour!”

“Fuck off,” Bakugou snarled.

-x-

If there was something worse than Kirishima sitting next to him, it was the fact that everybody surrounded him like locusts during the break. For once, Bakugou’s glares and snarls did nothing to scare the pests away, his class more interested in learning about Osaka and who their new classmate was.

“I can’t believe you left the beach for here!” Mineta bemoaned, his hands in his hair. “The babes! The swimsuits! The nip slips!”

Ashido elbowed him out of the way. “Of course he’d come to Tokyo! Everything’s here.”

“The sea ain’t,” Kirishima replied good-naturedly, his head turning from one classmate to the other. He looked overwhelmed. “But you guys get so many movies here! Even the Hollywood ones!”

“Once a month the theatre shows them,” Asui croaked. For some reason, her voice was always a little hoarse. “You didn’t get any at home?”

“We did but…they’re real hard to find.” Kirishima’s voice rose, excitement rolling off him in waves. “And music’s even harder. We always had t’ go t’ the city to get ‘em.”

“What else was hard to get there?” Uraraka asked, pushing a stray lock behind her ear.

“Do you really live in the middle of nowhere?”

“Is the fish cheap there?”

“What was your old uniform like?”

Bakugou twitched at the tsunami of questions. They asked them faster than Kirishima could answer and at the rate they were going, they’d be at this for two days. He could not handle this noise for two fucking days. He could barely handle it for ten minutes.

Leaning back in his chair, he slammed his foot down on his desk.

Ashido and Uraraka jumped, their heads snapping to him.

In response, he glared harder and slammed his other foot down.

Iida, the class president, recovered first. Glancing at the clock, he clapped his hands. “Break’s almost over, everyone!”

“R-right,” Yaoyorozu nodded, shakily gesturing at their seats. “Let’s sit down before class starts.”

It only took seconds, but the quiet returned. The flies were gone. Bakugou could finally sit in peace.

And Kirishima was looking at him with wide, adoring eyes. He leaned forward, invading Bakugou’s personal space, his hands grasping Bakugou’s tightly. “That was AWESOME!”

It was hard not to feel pleased under that gaze. Bakugou yanked his hands free and turned away. “Like I need you to tell me that.”

-x-

Bakugou wasn’t hiding. Hiding wasn’t a word in his vocabulary. It was something cowards do.

No, he was merely avoiding Kirishima when he sat up on the roof, chewing the bun he’d bought for lunch. Ever since that first break, the guy followed him around like a puppy and all of Bakugou’s usual insults and jabs rolled off him like water off a duck. If he weren’t so goddamn annoying, Bakugou would have respected his resilience.

As It is, he was wondering if murder was worth it.

The rooftop door slammed open and he tensed, expecting to find red. Instead, an unfortunately familiar raven-haired boy walked out, followed by a tiny blonde girl and lanky blue-haired senior. Bakugou gritted his teeth.

Dabi.

Toga.

Shigaraki.

He wondered how long his suspension will be this time.

“You.” Dabi noticed him at the same time and sneered. His piercings glinted in the afternoon sun and his burned and bruised skin made him look like a patchwork zombie. “Look who’s back?”

“Ohh, I was just thinking it was boring!” Toga grinned, pulling out a switch knife from god-knew-where. She licked the blade. There was nothing innocent about the way she looked at him.

Shigaraki smiled, all teeth and menace. He cracked his hands. “Think they’ll kick us out this time?”

“If you’re lucky,” Bakugou growled, cracking his knuckles as he lurched to his feet. He was never one to back down from a fight, no matter how stupid it might be. “Guess you forgot what I taught you last time. I’ll make sure you don’t forget the lesson this time.”

“So aggressive.” Dabi pulled out a lighter. He flicked it once, twice, his lips curling into a smirk. “Just like your American mom, half.”

Bakugou didn’t know if they actually cared about why his hair was so light it was almost blonde, if they cared that he could speak Japanese and English. Not that it mattered; they’d still fight for some other inane reason even if he looked just like them.

It was fine by him. There was no way he’d ever see Dabi’s smirk and think of it as anything other than punchable. Hell, even now, he didn’t wait for their taunts before launching at Dabi. it was a familiar dance, a drill he knew by heart.

Anticipating it, Dabi took the blow to the cheek and swung back, hitting Bakugou in the gut.

Bakugou coughed, the breath knocked out of him, and staggered back. Toga joined in, her switchblade grazing his cheek as he narrowly dodged. His body’s reactions were automatic. They always made the same opening moves. Next was Shigaraki—

The door banged open, catching them off guard. Kirishima popped through, a goofy smile on his face as he waved. “Hey.”

They all stared at him. Kirishima stared back. Noticing Toga’s weapon and their positions, Kirishima immediately tackled Shigaraki, shouting, “That’s not a fair fight!”

“Who the fuck is this?” Dabi snarled.

Bakugou didn’t know the answer. He had known Kirishima for three hours. The guy was fighting like his life depended on it. This didn’t make sense.

What did make sense was Dabi’s open face. Bakugou jabbed him in the nose.

-x-

There were few things Bakugou hated more than owing someone. He was used to suspensions, used to the way his cheeks stung and his knuckles ached, the bandages only stopping the bleeding and not the pain. These were all things he knew. What he didn’t know, though, was why Kirishima came to ‘help’ him.

He didn’t need it.

He didn’t want it.

He didn’t even ask.

Yet, it still hung over him like an axe. Bakugou owed Kirishima something. It was the guy’s first day at school. It wasn’t his fight. Yet, despite that, he was suspended for the week too, as though he was just as bad as the rest of them. Something heavy settled in Bakugou’s gut, akin to guilt.

The easiest way to fix this was to get rid of the debt. And to do that, he had to find out where Kirishima lived. Luckily, there were some highlights to having an idiotic childhood ‘friend’, Izuku, in class, and it wasn’t long before Bakugou was standing in front of a small, two-storey music shop. If Kirishima lived here, the second floor had to be a residence.

Unfortunately, it looked like the only way up was in. A bell chimed as Bakugou opened the door. The soft sounds of a saxophone filled the air, the music a lot calmer than he had expected. Inside there were rows upon rows of records, a variety of genres and artists, and Bakugou lingered on them before looking around for Kirishima.

“Bakugou!” Not that he had to wait long. Kirishima appeared out of nowhere, his eyes wide and smile wider. “You’re here!”

It was too early in the day to deal with this. There didn’t seem to be an off switch for Kirishima’s energy.

“Man! I can’t believe you’re here!” Kirishima babbled, rocking back and forth. “I really wanted to call but I forgot to get your number. Or your address.”

“You’re not getting it,” Bakugou automatically replied, scowling. “Why’d you fight? I didn’t need your help.”

Kirishima laughed. It seemed all he did was smile and laugh. He rubbed his neck. “Well, yeah, you looked like you could have taken them all on, but it wasn’t a fair fight. Three on one? Nothing honourable about it. Besides, what sort of man just walks away from that?”

“The normal kind.” Bakugou rolled his eyes. He shouldn’t have bothered to ask. “What’d you want?”

He cocked his head, confused. “What do you mean?”

Bakugou felt off-balanced. He gritted his teeth. “Look, I owe you. I don’t like owing you. What do you want?”

“Nothing!” Kirishima snorted, shrugging lightly. He gestured upstairs. “Hey, since you’re here—wanna play cards? Man, you’ll be like my first friend over.”

Bakugou bristled. “Since when were we friends, bastard? And were you even listening?”

“Well, we fought together. Think that kinda makes us buddies.” Kirishima scratched his nose. “Right?”

“Wrong—”

There was a soft ding, the bell on the cashier desk chiming, and Kirishima turned around. “One sec. Lemme deal with this first.”

“Wait—” The bastard just waved as he jogged to the cashier and Bakugou stomped his foot. He was dealing with an air-head. He should have known better after years of dealing with Izuku. Bakugou glared at the customer but the woman didn’t notice, staring instead at the record in her hands.

Bakugou clicked his tongue. There was no point to this. Taking a deep breath, he stomped over to the closest aisle as he waited. Might as well see if there was anything here worth getting. The closet section was jazz and he scoffed as he picked up a record with a black man playing the trumpet. Birth of the Cool. More like ‘birth of the lame’. He was pretty sure the mellow music above was also jazz. This genre was made for sleeping and doctor’s offices.

There were dozens of similar records on this shelf. All jazz. All equally boring.

“You listen to jazz too?” Kirishima asked, popping in out of nowhere, and Bakugou all but dropped the record back into place.

“No,” he snapped, irritated that he got caught off-guard. “It’s fucking boring.”

Kirishima stared at him for a moment before his lips flattened, his brow furrowed, and suddenly everything that was soft about the guy was now hard. “It’s not boring.”

Bakugou wondered if he’d look like that if they fought and a thrill ran down his spine. Scoffing, he picked up Kind of Blue and shook his head. “It’s slow, fucking boring, and pointless.”

Kirishima’s eyes narrowed. “You just haven’t heard the right ones.”

“There were no right ones.” Bakugou rolled his eyes.

Kirishima frowned deeper before realization flashed across his face. His eyes widened, taking in Bakugou, and then the record in his hands. He grinned. “Alright, come here tonight.”

“Huh?” Bakugou stares. “What?”

“We have a performance tonight, in the basement. Come around eight, it’ll be fun.” Kirishima stood taller now. “You’ll see how amazing jazz could be.”

“The fuck am I doing that?” Bakugou growled.

Kirishima smirked. “You said you owe me one, right?”

-x-

This wasn’t Bakugou’s first time at an underground club. Nothing really got to him as someone telling him no, so he was a regular at the local bars, sneaking in when no one was looking. it was not so much the drinks he was after as it was the fact he needed to prove he could get in regardless.

Today, there was no need for that. The record shop was still open when he arrived at 8:10, deliberately late to show his irritation with it all. Kirishima didn’t seem to care, still smiling like a hundred watts as he opened the door and all but shoved him into the basement. The access was free, there were no drinks, and the entire basement looked like a gym dance. Small tables were scattered across the floor, adults setting their glasses on them as they smoked and talked. There’s a hazy glow to the room, cigarette butts bright in the gloom, and this might be the most relaxed club Bakugou had ever entered.

Then again, it made sense. It was jazz. Boring music for boring people.

The only person with any energy was the redhead next to him. Kirishima rocked on his heels excitedly, as though he was filled with too much energy and didn’t know what to do with it. He stuck out like a sore thumb. “You’re going to like this.”

“I’m only here because I owe you,” Bakugou ground out, before Kirishima could get the wrong idea. Again. “That’s it.”

Kirishima clasped him on the back. “Right, right—oh, it was starting! Nothing beats hearing it in person.”

On the low stage in the front, four men positioned themselves. One sat behind the drums while the rest stood with a saxophone, trumpet, and trombone. A woman in a silky dress step[ed into the spotlight, her bangs covering an eye as she held the mike stand.

A hush fell over the crowd as the music started, the woman singing low and soft. it was practically a lullaby. Maybe he could just sleep on his feet.

The tempo picked up, the drum growing louder, and a trumpet rang through the room. Bakugou blinked, wide awake, as the woman started singing in English. The trombone was aggressive, the saxophone on fire.

It’s like watching an argument on stage. Bakugou stared as the players started to compete for spotlight, each of them calling at another with their instrument, notes shouting for dominance. Kirishima was right—there was no way he could call this boring. This music was alive, a growing beast, and his hands twitched.

Kirishima leaned close, whispering in his ear, “Amazing, right?”

Bakugou shivered at the unexpected contact and elbowed Kirishima in the gut. “Fuck off.”

Rubbing his side, Kirishima laughed, undisturbed. “I knew you’d like it.”

-x-

Kirishima’s grin was no less annoying the next day, when Bakugou found himself in the shop for the second time in as many days. it was like looking at the sun when Kirishima bounced toward him, as though he had personally made his day by just appearing. “Bakugou! Wanna play cards? I’m learning poker!”

“You asking that again?” Bakugou muttered, hands in his pocket, feeling oddly awkward as he stood inside. It wasn’t like yesterday, when at least he had a purpose to be here. Here he was, back again, and he wasn’t sure why.

“Thought you might agree this time.” Kirishima hummed, still rocking on his feet. After a few seconds, he straightened. “Oh, right, I wanted to give you something.”

“What?” Bakugou asked suspiciously as Kirishima rummaged through the shelves.

“A gift. Kinda.” Kirishima pulled out two records—Bakugou recognized the Birth of The Cool that he’d mocked yesterday—and held them out. “I can’t really give ‘em away, but you could borrow them for like a day or two.”

“And?” Bakugou raised his eyes to Kirishima’s, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“And I thought you’d like them?” Just like last time, Kirishima was guileless before his lips part in a soft oh. “You don’t have a player? You could listen upstairs then.”

There it was again. Just like with Izuku, there was no other shoe. it was unsettling. He still felt like he owed Kirishima something.

“We’ll play your stupid cards,” Bakugou growled, taking the records.

-x-

Despite his stupid smile and stupid opinions, Kirishima had a surprisingly good taste in music.

Bakuguou almost didn’t want to return the records.

-x-

When Bakugou finally stepped into the classroom again, a hush fell over the class as usual.

Only, this time, a moronic redhead waved from the back. “Bakugou!”

Bakugou grunted in response as he slid into his own seat.

“Man, it was nice to be back, huh?” Kirishima grinned, taking in the class. “Not that I really got to do anything last time. Is this still technically my first day?”

“Maybe.”

“Man, it’s hard to read you sometimes! You’re like a man of mystery!” Kirishima leaned over and pats him on the back. “Say, wanna hang out after school?”

To his surprise, he didn’t hate the touch. it was an uncomfortable fact.

“Come on, bro!” Kirishima pleaded.

“We’re not brothers.” Bakugou finally muttered. “And you’d better have some good food this time, none of that biscuit crap.”

Kirishima lighted up, somehow looking even brighter than before. “Yeah! We could get chips on our way home.”

He regarded him for a second and then nodded. The hand was still on his back. Bakugou didn’t shake it off.

#kiribaku #kirishima eijirou #bakugou katsuki #bnha #kirishima x bakugou #fanfic #kids on the slope was such a fun show

2 notes · View notes

kitty35 · 5 years

Text

The Rich And The Poor

Lee Minho x Reader - 1950/60 School AU / Rich and Poor AU (A/N - This is heavily inspired off of Pretty In Pink. I just watched that movie and loved it, so when I saw this request I knew it would mirror the movie even if I didn’t mean to)

Type - fluff

Requested - Yes

Summary - People from different classes rarely ever mingled. The rich though everyone below them were poor homeless people who couldn’t afford a mouse off the street. The ‘poor’ - well poorer then the rich kids - thought the rich were all snobs who were too full of them selves just cause they could spend their parents money whenever. Can you guess which class I’m in?

I walked the halls with my friends. From the other side of the crowded space, my eye managed to catch his. For a few seconds I stared, just admiring his features. The way his sharp eyes peered into mine. How wide - yet still slim - his chest and shoulders are. The way his lips quirked up in an almost smirk that was barley seen. Everything about him intrigued me.

We never talked.

We weren’t allowed to talk. People from different classes rarely ever mingled. The rich though everyone below them were poor homeless people who couldn’t afford a mouse off the street. The ‘poor’ - well poorer then the rich kids - thought the rich were all snobs who were too full of them selves just cause they could spend their parents money whenever. Can you guess which class I’m in?

My friend, Paige, rolled her eyes and pulled me to the parking lot and then to her car to drop me off at work. We both got in and sat down. As soon as she turned the car on her radio began to blast, scaring both of us half to death since we both forgot we had it so loud this morning. People around us that sat in their cars and talked with their friends gave us weird looks but we just laughed them off. The people who parked here were all like us. They all knew us. After all, we’ve all grown up together since elementary school.

“I saw you lookin’ at Minho~” My friend started as she pulled out of the student parking lot.

“What are ya talkin’ ‘bout?” I asked while plopping a lollipop in my mouth. The cherry flavor took over my taste buds for a few seconds.

“I’m talkin’ ‘bout in the hall!”

“I was just lookin’.”

“Sure you was. I saw that look in his eyes.”

“Let’s just forget about. He’s a rich-ie, not like he’d go for me anyway.” Paige shrugged and let me blast the music again while rolling down the windows. Not even ten minutes passed before we made it to the small music shop I worked at. With a final goodbye from my friend I walked in and sat down behind the counter.

It was always quiet now. Not many people would like to get music when they think a mob of teenagers were at the store and not many teenagers were thinking about going to a music shop right now. So instead of doing what I was supposed to do, I pulled out my home work.

“That doesn’t look like work from your job.” Amanda, my boss, spoke while looking over my shoulder and scaring me half to death. We have known each other since I was just a little kid. Her and my mom were really good friends despite the large age gap between them. All she did was laugh at my reaction and say it was fine since the place was so slow before going back to trying to hang something up. After a few minutes the bell rang, signaling that someone walked in. I didn’t look up for a till something was placed down on the other side of the counter. As soon as I saw the person it felt like my breath left my lungs.

“Hello.” Minho spoke shyly.

“Hi.” I said back, still in shock.

“I have a question.” All I did was nod for him to continue, “What do you think of this band?” I looked down at the phonographs record cover.

“It’s okay. Not the best but not the worst either.”

“Cool. Do you like them?”

“I’ve listened to them before. I think I have a different album of theres at home.”

“Okay, I’ll get it then.” With that I rang him up. From the corner of my eye I could see him fidgeting and messing with his hands as if he was nervous. “Can I ask you somethin’ else?” He rushed out as his receipt printed.

“Oh - um - sure.”

“Will you go out with me? This Friday?” “What?”

“I know it’s sudden but I think you’re really pretty and smart and I want to get to know you.”

“Okay.”

“You will?”

“Yeah, it could be fun.” I mumbled while slightly looking down.

“I’ll pick you up at your place at 7.”

“Oh, I - I have work on Friday so you can just pick me up here,”

“Okay. I’ll see you around then.” He smiled and grabbed the phonograph then left.

“Look at you go~” Amanda said as I rolled my eyes while blushing.

The next few days came and went. Minho started to hang around me more. In the mornings he would sit in the court yard with me and Paige instead of inside with his friends. We talked over the phone a few times too. He was really sweet, not like how I expected him to be.

“Aren’t you all dolled up. What for?” Amanda asked when I came out of the workers bathroom. Everyone else had already gone home and we already closed the store.

“I have a date tonight.” I smiled at my feet.

“With that cute guy from Tuesday?”

“Yeah.”

“Good for you.”

“Thanks.” There was a small pause as I hopped up onto the counter. “Hey, can I ask you somethin’?”

“Of course.” She stood across from me and leaned against a shelf.

“Is it bad if I’m going out with him cause of his money?” She didn’t say anything for a few seconds.

“If you’re happy and no one is gettin' hurt then of course it’s not bad.” I nodded and looked to the clock.

“I don’t think it much matters. He was supposed to be here thirty minutes ago.”

“Just give him a few more minutes, you never know.” She patted my shoulder before looking out the window, a smile growing on her face. “See? There he is.” I looked up and saw him looking through the windows. Quickly, I jumped off the counter and opened the door, throwing a last goodbye to Amanda before leaving.

“So where are we going?” I asked as he grabbed my hand.

“My friend is throwing a party. I figured it could be fun.” My face slightly dropped before it came back.

“Okay.”

“Are you fine with that?”

“It’s worth a shot. I just don’t think your friends will like me much.”

“Nonsense, they’ll love you.” With that we got into his car. The ride was filled with music, bad singing from both of us, and laughter. Pretty soon we made it to the house and walked in, still hand in hand. Everywhere I looked there were drunk people and the place wreaked of alcohol.

“Watch where you’re goin’.” A drunk girl slurred out after bumping into me. Minho led me around a few places before I stopped him.

“Can we just go somewhere else?” I asked.

“Why don’t we go up stairs? It’s a lot quieter.” I just gave him an ‘are you serious’ look. “Wait! Not like that! My hands won’t leave my pockets!” Again my eyebrow raised as he began to pick up some drinks and a bag of chips with his mouth. He nodded towards the stairs. With a final roll of my eyes I followed him, a smile growing on my lips. We made it up stairs and to a room. He opened the door only to see one of his friends, Chris to be exact, sitting in front of the TV trying to fix it while wearing only boxers. Instantly I looked away as Minho tried to close the door.

“Minho!” The almost naked boy slurred, “Come here!”

“Oh, no, it’s fine.”

“No, really. Get in here!” Minho looked to me before reluctantly walking in with me and sitting down on the couch. As we sat down, Chris flopped down on the bed and his girlfriend, Ava - who was also basically naked - , came out.

“You. I know you.”

“Gym.” I said, referring to the class we had together.

“Your names ‘Gym’?” Oh lord, I had to bite my tongue. “What are you doin’ here?” She asked while glaring at me, climbing onto Chans back and bitting his ear.

“She’s my date.” The girl just laughed.

“What a fuckin’ looser. She’s not even pretty, you can do so much better then that slut.” She went on and on for a while before Minho had enough.

“Just shut up, why don’t ya’.” And then we left. For a while we walked the streets, just looking around but not talking. Mostly everything was closed by now so there wasn’t much to do.

“What do you wan’a do?” He asked.

“Can we just call it a night?”

“Was it my friends? I’m real sorry ‘bout them. I should have known that they’d be drunk like that.”

“No, I have to wake up early tomorrow anyway.”

“Okay, where do you live? I’ll drop you off.”

“You can just drop me off at the fields, they’re close to my house.”

“Nonsense, I’ll just take you home.”

“I don’t want you to take me home.” He paused for a minute.

“O-okay, then what do you want to do?”

“I want to go home.”

“Where do you live?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Why not?”

“Because I can’t?”

“Why?”

“Because I’m ashamed! Are you happy?! God, you probably sleep in a room thats the size of my whole house!”

“I don’t care.”

“But I do.” All he did was grab my cheeks and pull me in for a kiss. It took a second for me to respond, but eventually I did. We stayed like that for a few minutes, just enjoying the feeling of our lips moving together. When he pulled back he opened the door for me and took me home. I showed him the way and soon we were parked in front of my house. My hand went to his cheek and I tilted his head towards mine to share one last kiss before I got out and went to my room. That night I fell asleep with a fuzzy feeling in my heart, not knowing Minho had the exact same feeling.

101 notes · View notes

yourkeeperoftherunners · 4 years

Text

Roommate?

Summary: AU You buy a condo/townhouse from a young couple without picking up on their awkwardness about the quirks of their place. Over time you get the feeling that someone is present, but you can’t see them. Their presence is surprising but oddly comforting when you’re all by yourself in a city you’re starting to become familiar with. It’s only when you’re trying to excuse yourself from an awkward “date” that you finally see your ghostly “roommate” face to face.

Rating: PG-13 (Language, Mention of ghosts, Mention of jealousy, Mention of death, Mention of violence, Light Intimacy)

Characters: Ghost!Hyunjin/Sam (Stray Kids) x Older Female Reader, Han/Peter, Seungmin, plus mention of other Stray Kids members and Itzy members.

Notes: This is an AU scenario – I own nothing. It is partly inspired by a true ghost story of a spirit that haunted an inn turned apartment complex in Los Angeles in the 1970s that was known for comforting women like a lover would. In this story, Hyunjin speaks fluent English and in his backstory, he went by his English name Sam when he was alive. (Which is his real English name when he used to live in Las Vegas as a young boy.) He is slightly aged up to 21-22 in this story. Han goes by his English name Peter in this story. Reader is 1-2 years older than the characters and has moved in from another town.

Happy Birthday Hyunjin!

-------------------------------

“Please feel free to look around.”

You absently twirled the flyer in your hands as you wandered from room to room, taking in the space. It seemed to be a pretty well-kept place – spacious for a single occupant with the option to host a guest in a small guest room, decent kitchen with upgrades, close proximity to your new job, and best of all, it was under your budget. But you had to wonder what the catch was with this place.

The condominium was in a pricey neighborhood where newer establishments were charging closer to $600,000+ for brand new condos. In addition, the space you were looking at had a balcony looking out over the city. You thought this would demand a higher asking price, but apparently the couple showing it thought about asking less.

Once you returned to the entrance, you smiled at the couple before glancing out at the double doors leading to the balcony.

“What are your thoughts?” the woman asked.

You snapped your head toward her and you nodded, saying that it looked like a great place to call home. You turned to face them and asked why it was priced low for the area.

The man smiled faintly and gestured to the construction going on outside the window. “Well you used to have a money view of the stadium, but with the new buildings going up, that’s gone,” he explained. “Plus a lot of people said with there being one bathroom for two bedrooms, it does decrease the value sightly.”

“Are you the first owners?” you asked as you stepped closer to the couple.

The woman spoke up, confirming they were, but the building used to be an apartment complex where tenants rented the spaces out. “I think it was owned by the university at one point,” she explained. “But when they got approved to build another dormitory on the school campus, they were eager to sell the building to a condominium developer. We were one of the first residents to buy a place here.”

“They didn’t keep the bones of the place from what I’ve heard,” the man added. “But they said it was old – the apartments were built in the 1960s and it wasn’t up to code.”

You nodded to show you understood. A slight nagging feeling at the back of your mind told you that maybe there was more to this story than they were saying, but you decided not to press them further. The flyer was tucked into your purse and you thanked them before departing.

-------------------------------

“Honey that’s wonderful news!” Mom exclaimed.

You smiled as you shifted the phone to your other ear. Despite the odd sensation you got from the couple that day, you decided after shopping around for condos or townhouses that theirs was the best option for your budget and it was the closest to work. You put an offer in and they accepted, which meant you could finally get out of the hotel you were put up in by your company.

The movers were scheduled to arrive in two days and you were to get the keys to your new home later tonight.

“Yes! I’m excited,” you told her. “My realtor said they were quick to move on the paperwork to close the deal and I should be able to move in on Wednesday.”

“Sounds like everything is falling into place,” she said. “Work going okay? You like your new team?”

“Everyone’s great so far! They took me to lunch on my first day and even decorated my cube,” you said.

“Good! Well call me once you’re in your new place. Definitely want to see pictures.”

-------------------------------

“You really didn’t have to help me,” you told the intern as she followed you up the stairs.

She shook her head and insisted that it was the least she could do to help you settle in.

“I really do appreciate it Lia,” you told her. She started about a month before you did as the year long intern in Communications and Marketing. Despite being a bit younger than you, she was sharp and many were amazed by her proficiency in three languages. Sometimes you overheard her speaking in French to one customer, then switching to another line to answer someone in Korean.

“I mean, I didn’t have anyone here to help me when I came,” she admitted. She looked around the hallway and commented that when she put the address in for your complex, she was surprised since it looked familiar to her.

“Actually I thought this was a dorm building,” she corrected herself. “My friend Yeji went to university in the area and she was assigned to a dorm on this street.”

You paused and looked back at Lia. “Apparently this used to be the university dorm, but they sold the land to a developer to become a condominium complex after the school got permission to build a new dorm closer to campus.”

Lia’s lips formed a small o shape and she nodded, hoisting her box higher. “Bummer, I guess I’ll have to share with Yeji that her old dorm is gone. She invited me over once and I couldn’t go because I had finals in Canada. But I heard our friend Yena accidentally spilled nail polish on the carpet and they spent all weekend trying to get it out. She said the school was strict about dorm damage and would issue fines.”

“Oh boy,” you murmured, trying to picture two panicky girls trying to get the vibrant color off the carpet. You put your box down and fished out the keys to your new place. The key went into the lock and you turned it, the other hand opening the door.

“Oh wow, this is nice! If you don’t mind me asking, how much did you pay for this place?” Lia asked as she stepped inside and put her box down.

You retrieved yours and carried it to the counter in the kitchen, placing it down carefully. You shoved your keys back into your pocket and shared the final price you paid for the condo, making Lia’s eyes widen in shock.

“I was surprised too,” you confessed. “They said they lost their view of the stadium due to the construction and there’s only one bathroom for two bedrooms. That’s why it’s so cheap.”

Lia nodded as she walked back to the door and pointed in the direction of the elevators to the garage. “I’ll go get more boxes. May I have your keys?”

You tossed over your car keys and she caught them, promising to return as soon as possible. You turned attention back to the two you carried in, frowning when you saw one was open.

You walked over to it and peered inside, noting that everything was still wrapped in bubble wrap or packing paper. The only thing out of place was the fact that the box flaps were no longer secured down and tucked inside one another.

Lia was carrying this one when she came in, you recalled. Maybe she started to unpack it before deciding to get more boxes instead...

-------------------------------

“I don’t think I opened your box,” Lia said, frowning as she tried to recall her actions.

You waved it away as nothing, telling her maybe you hadn’t tucked the flaps in as securely as the other boxes. She relaxed her shoulders and picked up some noodles with her chopsticks, carefully placing them in her mouth. You focused on enjoying your meal, dismissing the incident as nothing to worry about. The important part was getting all of the boxes into your place and making a clear path for the movers to get your furniture installed in the various rooms.

Because the movers wouldn’t come until tomorrow, you knew it would be another night in the hotel. The only rooms you could unpack would be the bathroom and the kitchen, one of which you planned to tackle before calling it a night.

Once the check came, you placed your card down before Lia could grab hers. She frowned slightly and you explained that it was a small thank you for taking her entire afternoon to help you.

“Thank you, I’m glad I could help,” she replied. “So are you going to camp out there tonight? Or go back to the hotel?”

“I’m gonna try to get the kitchen unpacked, then I’ll sleep one more night in the hotel,” you explained. “First, let me drop you off though.”

-------------------------------

You flicked on the lights in your new place and scanned the kitchen, trying to decide which box to start with. Your eyes fell on the one that was partially opened and you walked over, slowly lifting things out and unwrapping them from the packing paper and bubble wrap. Cabinet doors were opened and you began placing plates, bowls, and glasses in each one.

As you emptied boxes, you paused and grabbed your box cutter, using it to cut away the tape at the bottom, so you could flatten the box. You began to prop them up by the front door, making a note to take them down to the recycling area. Your eyes started to feel a bit heavy and you covered your mouth, stifling a yawn.

One hand reached for your phone and you checked the time. 21:39 PM. No wonder you were tired. You blinked a few times before surveying what was left in the kitchen. The only items left that you hadn’t come across yet were the utensils and cooking pots. Part of you wanted to finish what you started, but the rational side of you was saying that you should get some sleep, as tomorrow was going to be another long day.

Tomorrow, you told yourself as you turned toward the island, looking for your keys. You reached a hand out and frowned when you couldn’t find them on the counter. Odd...

You shook your head and decided to check every cabinet and drawer that you put stuff away in. Maybe in your daze you accidentally put them there. Yes, that had to be it.

You huffed when you came up empty and shook your head. Your hands patted your pockets to check for them, only to feel your phone and wallet. Your eyes drifted to one drawer you hadn’t checked yet and it was likely going to become your utensil drawer once you unpacked the box.

You slowly opened the drawer and breathed a sigh of relief, finding them in the front of the drawer, on top of a long, white legal envelope.

How did they...?

Clearly you were more tired than you thought. You didn’t recall opening this drawer, otherwise you would have noticed the envelope as well. But perhaps this was a sign you should call it a night. You retrieved your keys from the drawer and plucked the envelope out as well. Maybe you’d check it out tomorrow after you had sleep and caffeine in your system.

-------------------------------

“Here?”

“Actually, can you center it?” you asked the movers, pointing to the exact place you wanted them to put your couch.

The guys nodded and carefully hoisted it higher, shuffling to the left and looking over at you for approval. You flashed them a thumbs-up and they put it down.

“We just need to unload your dresser and bed, then we’ll need your signature,” one of them said.

“Sounds good,” you replied. You watched as they excused themselves and got back to work on unpacking boxes.

This morning you finished the kitchen and now you were in the middle of unpacking the living room. The floor rug was unrolled and placed a few feet from the edge of the couch. You placed a lamp on one side table, reaching over to plug it into the outlet.

“Coming through with the bed!” one of the movers announced.

You straightened up in time and stepped back to give them more room.

“Back there, please center the bed too,” you instructed them. “The wall facing the door.” You waited until they passed you, then followed behind to watch them put the bed where you wanted it.

It took a little bit of adjusting, but eventually it was set in the perfect place and the dresser came up soon after. You scribbled signatures on the paperwork, acknowledging that you received all of your belongings and that it was delivered with little to no damage.

“Welcome home,” one of the movers commented, pocketing the pen.

-------------------------------

“It’s coming along,” you said to your mom, showing her the space via video call. You sank down on the couch and tucked a strand of hair behind your ear.

“Sleeping here tonight?”

You nodded and explained you unpacked your bedding. Your eyes drifted to the front door as you remembered that your dryer was going to be ready in a few minutes.

“I’m gonna grab my bedding, put it on my bed, then grab a bite to eat,” you told her.

“Use the emergency credit card – a little welcoming treat from me and Dad,” she insisted. “I wish I could dine with you in person, but this will do for now. Pick whatever you want.”

You thanked her with a smile and bid her goodbye. The phone was tucked into your back pocket and you set off for the laundry room to retrieve your bedding.

Everything was pulled from the dryer and folded quickly, piled neatly on top of each other for easier handling. You walked back to your place and tried to make your bed neatly. You propped your pillows up against the headboard and folded down the top part of your quilt a couple of inches.

Once you finished, you grabbed your phone and turned off the lights, patting your pocket for your keys and wallet. Your eyes looked to Yelp on your phone as you looked up nearby restaurants to check out.

-------------------------------

“Y/N?”

You turned your head when you heard your name, Lia walking toward you with another girl in tow. She waved, then introduced the other girl as her friend Yeji.

Yeji glanced at Lia and asked if you were the girl who moved into the condominium that took over her old college dorm. Lia nodded and Yeji turned back to you, extending a hand to shake.

“Yeah I was telling her about your place,” Lia explained. “It’s changed a lot since Yeji last lived there.”

“I probably wouldn’t recognize it,” Yeji confessed. “It was okay when I was at school. Lighting was weird and old and sometimes the door hinges squeaked on cold days, but it was all good. Some of us used to have parties in the lounges when the RAs were out or asleep.”

“Oh I saw some large rooms on my floor – I wondered what those used to be!” you exclaimed. “They’re now vending machine rooms for drinks, snacks, and electronics. Did you have a lot of friends living on your floor?”

Yeji crossed her arms over her chest as she tried to recall her neighbors back in school. Lia looked thoughtful and she raised a brow as she turned to face her friend.

“Hang on, didn’t someone from your family also go to that school?” she asked.

Yeji froze and you watched as she tried to keep a neutral expression. She shot a look at Lia and then flashed you an apologetic smile. She cast a quick glance at her phone and stammered that she needed go.

“Early meeting tomorrow for my workplace,” she claimed. “It was so nice meeting you, Y/N-unni!” She grabbed Lia by the arm and began dragging her away, the latter flashing you a confused look before bidding you goodbye.

“Here is your meal Miss,” the waiter announced. “Anything I can get you?”

You shook your head and focused your attention on your plate. Well, the recent interaction was bizarre. Yeji didn’t seem thrilled to talk about the person at her school that was related to her and she seemed upset that Lia brought it up in the first place.

Maybe this person worked at the university and embarrassed her like a parent would a child? you wondered. Or perhaps the pair could have had a nasty spat and she was trying to forget about it? Whatever it was, you didn’t feel a need to pry – it was her business after all.

-------------------------------

You unlocked your door and turned the lights on. Once the deadbolt was thrown, you walked to the fridge and put your leftovers away on the top shelf.

You went through your normal nighttime routine, removing makeup and getting dressed for bed. You yawned as you put your toothbrush in the holder, a free hand turning off the bathroom light.

Your other hand rubbed your eyes as you shuffled into your bedroom and turned on a light. You moved your hand away as you noticed that your quilt and flat sheet were folded back on a diagonal, ready for you to climb into bed.

Didn’t I make my bed before I left? you thought as you slowly approached it. You glanced back toward the direction of the front door and remembered you locked the deadbolt and knob before leaving for dinner tonight. None of the windows were open or had been opened since you moved in.

Stop overthinking it, you scolded yourself. Maybe you thought you left the quilt one way then left it like this.

-------------------------------

Over the next few weeks, you buckled down at work, trying to do your best and prove to your boss that she made a wise decision hiring you. Often you came in early and left late, getting home when it was dark out and often nibbling at some snacks or light food, then falling asleep immediately.

Lia didn’t bring up Yeji’s behavior during this time and you rarely saw her, guessing that your boss was keeping her busy as well. Sometimes you hardly got up for lunch, opting to eat at your desk to keep working.

“I’m not inspired!” your boss sighed during a meeting. She put down the pitches everyone had passed out at the start and looked around the table. “Honestly, this is what I get after several weeks?”

She turned and placed your pamphlet in front of you. “There’s a glimmer of an idea there Y/N, but you got bogged down in the packaging. I need you to clean this up and redo your pitch by Friday.” She turned and addressed each of your co-workers one-by-one, telling everyone what they needed to correct. As soon as she was done with each person, your co-workers stood up and excused themselves to work on the revisions.

When your boss got to Lia, the intern lowered her gaze and listened quietly, nodding to show she understood. She seemed to be getting the harshest critique, as she was supposed to pitch a big idea as her final assignment before the internship was over.

You walked slowly to your desk and groaned, messing your hair up as you sank into your seat. You heard the meeting room door open and saw Lia emerge, trying to hold back tears. Part of you wanted to check on her, see if she was okay, but then you saw your boss exit the meeting room. Time to fix the issues.

-------------------------------

You bit your lip as you propped your head up with your hand, blinking to give your eyes a break from the computer screen. Most of your co-workers had called it quits a few hours ago, but it was just you and Lia left in the building. She hadn’t made much noise, other than a lot of scratching of a pen across a piece of paper. You on the other hand had typed up your revised talking points and were researching competitor companies to see if any of them had done what you were planning.

“Y/N?” Lia asked from her desk. “Is that you?”

You stopped working and answered that you were still there. She took a deep breath and you heard her chair rolling back.

She walked around the other offices and paused at the entrance to your cube.

“Have you eaten dinner yet?” she asked.

You shook your head and checked the clock on your computer. 20:47 PM. Geez, why was she still here? Why were you still here?

“Lia you should head home and try to get some sleep,” you suggested. “I know all of us are upset, but trying to push out an idea when we’re stuck isn’t good. I’m starting to realize that I’m hitting a brick wall by staying here.”

She nodded and clasped her hands together. “Do you like sushi? I know a late night place near here we can go.”

You grabbed your purse and logged off your computer. She perked up slightly and hurried to get her things too.

-------------------------------

Dinner seemed to calm both of you down. You discussed your original pitches and how you could fix them to meet your boss’s expectations. Lia relaxed over the course of the meal and she apologized to you about Yeji’s behavior.

“Don’t worry about it – she has a right to not talk about that part of college,” you said, waving it away as nothing.

“Oh the person wasn’t the problem,” Lia began, “it was actually her cousin on her father’s side. He went to the same school, but they studied different majors. She said he was about to graduate, but he passed away unexpectedly.”

You froze and almost dropped your chopsticks at this bit of news. No wonder the young woman tensed up at the mention of someone else from her family attending school with her – losing someone in her family during an important time had to be hard.

“Were they close?”

Lia waved her hand side to side and explained that they were civil, but not super close. Because they were the same age, his death left her shaken.

“Dying in your twenties is too soon,” she concluded. “I didn’t know the circumstances until she told me. But she wanted me to tell you that you weren’t the reason for her sudden mood drop! It’s just...thinking about him is too–”

“Too soon,” you finished. “I understand.”

-------------------------------

The drive home was quiet and you couldn’t stop thinking about Yeji’s situation. Sure you didn’t know her super well or the young man who was her cousin, but it was a very sad situation for everyone involved. To die unexpectedly in your twenties was shocking and felt wrong. While you didn’t know the exact reason for his passing, you hoped it was peaceful.

You moved slowly as you got ready for bed and slipped under the covers. Today was draining, physically and emotionally. Disappointing your boss, seeing Lia get chewed out, learning about Yeji’s late cousin...

You sniffled, but couldn’t bring yourself to cry after the events that transpired. You closed your eyes and sucked in a sharp breath of air, trying to calm yourself so you could catch a few hours of sleep before waking up again. But your mind was going a million miles an hour, thinking about tomorrow, fixing your pitch...

A few seconds passed and you felt a warm sensation wrapping around your body, almost like someone was giving you a hug from behind. You knew the doors were locked and you hadn’t invited anyone over. Instead of feeling scared or alarmed, you felt at ease for some reason.

You began breathing normally through your nose and allowed yourself to drift off to sleep. Perhaps this was your body’s unique way of telling you that you needed the rest now – pretending some warm presence was helping you fall asleep.

-------------------------------

“Here’s your mail and packages Miss Y/N,” Seungmin announced as he stopped by with his cart.

You accepted the packages and a small pile of letters, thanking him with a smile. Everything was placed on your desk and you turned back to face him.

“How’s your week going so far?”

He shrugged and nodded over at the cart, which wasn’t as full as usual. “Quiet day,” he confessed. “But I know once I’m done delivering stuff here, my boss is gonna send me home and I’m gonna have to listen to my annoying roommate whine about being single.”

You shot him a sympathetic look and reached for a letter to open while you continued chatting. “Sorry to hear that. He does know that there’s no rule saying he has to be paired up right now, right?”

Seungmin rolled his eyes and shoved his hands in his pockets. He leaned slightly against the cart and looked around to make sure no one was looking for him. “He’s jealous because our old friend proposed to his sweetheart and she said yes, then one of our old roommates moved in with his new girlfriend, and now our neighbor is seeing some guy that looks like a fairy.”

You winced and put down the letter. “So the world’s bombarding him left and right, huh?”

“Yeah I guess you can say that,” Seungmin sighed. “Don’t get me wrong – he’s nice and he pays the bills on time, but don’t hang around him when he’s mopey and looking for love.”

You nodded to show you understood. Unlike you, Seungmin worked for the building mail room and often got sent home at various times, depending on when he was done passing out or picking up packages and mail. Your eyes wandered to a rolled canvas that you meant to ship back to your printer and you had an idea.

“Well actually, I might have one or two things for you today,” you mused. “I need to ship this back to the printer – it’s their only proof they have and they need it back by Friday. Also, I was wondering if you could check the tracking/status on a package for me? It says it’s coming soon but I kind of need–”

“Say no more,” Seungmin cut you off, a grin spreading across his face. “Let me take care of the deliveries here, then I’ll check that package for you. I’ll also get the pricing for your canvas. Do you know how much it weighs? Dimensions?”

-------------------------------

Once he finished the regular mail delivery, Seungmin headed back down to check both things for you. His boss allowed him to stay longer so he could assist with your requests. In between waiting for the FedEx guy to arrive and checking pricing options for your canvas, he got a message from his roommate, asking when he’d be home.

Peter

I can pick u up. Sent 14:29 PM

Seungmin

It’s fine. I gotta stay longer – had some special delivery requests. Sent 14:31 PM

I’ll take the bus or walk. Sent 14:31 PM

Peter

Nah I’ll come over. Tell me when okay? Sent 14:32 PM

“My roommate Sir,” Seungmin sighed when his boss noticed him replying to the messages in his phone. “He’s my ride home. Told him I’m working later today.”

“Nice roommate,” his boss commented.

Seungmin hid a wince as he glanced at the security footage for the front of the building, spotting the FedEx guy entering the lobby. He buzzed the guy in and stuck his head out of the mail room.

The FedEx guy unloaded several parcels and prompted Seungmin for a signature, claiming they were received. He scrawled a quick, electronic signature and thanked the guy before carefully lifting the parcels and putting them on his cart.

He paused by the computer where he had scribbled down pricing for the canvas options before he made his way upstairs. He noticed everyone else was leaving your office and he excused himself, maneuvering around the other employees.

“One special delivery for Miss Y/N,” Seungmin announced.

You turned in your seat and beamed as you took the package from him. He produced a scrap of paper with the quotes for the canvas and you peered at his writing, trying to decide the best option.

“How about the courier? Am I too late?” you asked.

“Nah I can call him and have him come here in a few minutes,” he reassured you. “Thank you Y/N, you saved me.”

“You helped a lot,” you remarked. “I’m about to leave, can I come hang out with you until the courier shows up?”

He nodded and took your canvas. “I’ll put it in a poster tube and get the label ready. You take your time okay?”

-------------------------------

“Well you got a few more hours away from him,” you teased Seungmin as you walked out of the building.

Seungmin sighed with a shake of his head as a free hand removed his cell phone from his pocket. He shot you a look before taking the call.

“I’m leaving now. No I’ll take the bus. No man it’s fine!” Seungmin groaned. “Oh okay fine. I’m out front. Bye.”

“He’s picking you up?”

“Yeah, but I told him I wanted to take the bus or walk,” Seungmin said. “He’s a student like me, but he does an internship with a radio station. Normally he does it a few weeknights and the weekends, but they thought he had midterms this week.” He turned to face you and flashed you a sympathetic smile. “If I were you, I’d probably leave before he sees you – he might start trying to use cheesy pick-up lines on you once he gets a good look at you.”

“I’m probably too old for him,” you reassured him. “I don’t mind waiting with you Seung, it’s the least I can do for you after you helped me with my stuff.”

The young man sighed as he craned his neck, spotting a black car turning into the drop off area for your building. He raised a hand toward the driver and glanced over his shoulder at you.

“See you tomorrow,” he said.

You nodded and turned to head to the employee parking structure where your car was. You thought you heard Seungmin arguing with the driver, but you focused on getting to your car so you could get home right away.

-------------------------------

The weekend was uneventful, with you doing a bit more decorating of your new space and chatting with your parents to let them know how things were going. Once the new week started, you focused on work again.

You heard the mail cart roll down the row and you heard a familiar voice greet you. You turned in your seat and accepted the mail from Seungmin, who had a nervous look on his face.

“Hey Seung, something wrong?” you asked.

He grimaced and slightly moved his head side to side. “I know you walked fast last week when you waited with me,” he began, “but I’m afraid Peter saw you and now he’s asking me if you’re single. I already told him that you’re older than him, but that didn’t work. I’m sorry Y/N noona.”

You shrugged and put the mail on a free section of your desk. “Why are you apologizing? It’s not your fault – you don’t have control over him.”

Seungmin leaned against the cart and murmured that he knew that. He bit his lip and asked if he needed to make up some kind of excuse for you to get his roommate to drop the subject of possibly asking you out.

“I mean, I can tell him you’re not into younger guys or something,” he offered. “Look, I said he’s not a bad guy, but I think he’s trying too hard–”

“I mean, how bad is he?” you cut off.

“He’s chatty but not misogynistic,” Seungmin said. “I know some of his dates felt he was too hyper for them and they said, he’s nice, but he’s like the Energizer Bunny and it was too much to handle. Or they felt he was a bit immature. He never went far after the date – trust me, he’s not that kind of guy to put out, unless you say something.”

You leaned back in your chair and swiveled left to right slightly. Ever since you arrived here, you struggled to make friends or even find time to date. Your mom had asked if you met anyone interesting yet, which made you change the subject quickly. Part of it was due to work and you made excuses saying you were still settling into your new place.

“Um, what does he look like?”

Seungmin raised a brow at your question and you prompted him to show you a picture of his roommate. The young man pulled out his phone and unlocked it, before clicking on the Instagram app and scrolling to his roommate’s page. He flicked through the posts, then paused when he found one that he liked.

“I get why girls find him attractive,” Seungmin stated as he showed you his phone. “And by the way, that’s his skin – no filters or makeup. Yeah, I’ve been trying to figure out his skincare routine for a while, but no luck.”

You leaned forward to look at the image of the young man sporting a sharp pinstripe suit while leaning against the window sill. His light colored hair was styled back, his gaze focused to the right.

Seungmin was right, his roommate was handsome. But you detected a slight twinkle in his eye based on this photo, which made you think that he was probably more lighthearted and fun than shown. You nodded and leaned back in your chair as Seungmin put his phone away.

“I mean...how would he be if we met for coffee or dessert only?” you offered. “I’m not talking a serious date, more like an icebreaker, sorta?”

“Wait, seriously? Y/N don’t force yourself to consider a date with him if you’re not that interested,” the young man said.

You shrugged and confessed that you wanted to get out and meet more people.

“I mean, not to friendzone him right off the bat,” you began, “but I haven’t had time to meet more people, aside from my co-workers up here and you. You um, mind giving me his number?”

One of your co-workers stuck her head out of her cubicle and asked about her mail. Seungmin apologized to her and reassured her that he was on his way to her cube. Satisfied with his response, your co-worker went back inside and the young man took this as a sign that he needed to get back to work.

Seungmin straightened up and moved to the front of his cart. He took the brake off and paused before continuing his route. “Tell you what, I’ll let him know that you might be free to do something lowkey. I can introduce you over text and you guys can take it from there.”

-------------------------------

Eventually you exchanged messages with Peter and decided to meet up at a trendy dessert cafe that opened near your complex. You made sure to get out of work on time and headed back to your place to freshen up.

You placed your keys on the kitchen counter closest to the door, then made a beeline for the bathroom to brush your teeth and touch up your makeup. Instead of changing clothes, you felt your current ensemble of a t-shirt tucked into the waistband of your high-waisted skirt was perfect. You swapped out your heels for flats and dug around for a casual jacket to replace your blazer.

Peter

Hi noona! Did you want me to pick you up? Sent 18:41 PM

Y/N

Hey Peter, no I’ll meet you there. It’s really close and I’d love to walk over. Sent 18:42 PM

You draped the jacket over one arm and put your phone into a smaller purse, along with your wallet and ID. As you headed for the door, you frowned when you saw the counter by the door empty. You froze, looking around for the keys, while your brain tried to remember exactly where you put them.

You closed your eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly, you opened your eyes again and decided to check everywhere in the kitchen. They weren’t on a counter and you didn’t see them on a hook by the door, which held your rain and winter coats. You knelt down to check if you dropped them on the floor somewhere, sighing when you couldn’t find them.

I know I didn’t open a drawer, you thought, deciding to backtrack to the bathroom and your room to check again. Both places came up empty and you sighed, emerging from your bedroom to try the kitchen one more time.

As you approached the kitchen, your eyes widened when you saw your keys on the counter, along with the envelope from the previous owners, which you kept forgetting to open. Your hand reached out, then retracted from the keys. What was going on? A few moments ago you couldn’t find them, and here they were, right where you thought you placed them. Except, you didn’t remember leaving the envelope out.

Shakily, you picked up your keys and slowly lifted the envelope from the counter. It had your name on the front and you flipped it around to lift the flap up.

Inside was a typed letter from the previous owners, printed front and back. Your eyes skimmed the contents, which primarily congratulated you for buying their old place, rules about guests and parking, utilities covered by the complex, etc.

Before you could flip it over to read the other side, your phone buzzed and you dug around in your bag for it.

“Hey Y/N noona, I hope Peter doesn’t drive you insane,” Seungmin said. “He left a few minutes ago – said you were gonna meet him there.”

“Oh um, yeah, I’m on my way,” you confirmed. “Hey, if you get a quiet night in, that’s all that matters. Hope you can enjoy it while it lasts.”

“Be gentle if you have to let him down,” Seungmin warned. “I know you won’t be a bitch, but he can be a bit fragile after a failed date.”

“This is technically a meet-up, not a date in a way,” you admitted, cradling the phone between your shoulder and ear. “He didn’t dress to the nines, did he?”

“Oh no, I told him you were going to be coming from work,” Seungmin reassured you. “I’ll let you go – don’t wanna keep you.”

You thanked him before hanging up and putting the letter down on the counter. You could finish reading it later – right now, you didn’t want to keep Peter waiting.

-------------------------------

“Y/N noona?”

You looked up from your phone to see the young man from the picture, this time dressed in a blue button-down shirt tucked into a neat pair of black jeans. As your eyes met, his shy expression melted away to a brilliant smile.

You extended both hands to shake his and he took them, giving them a firm shake.

“It’s nice to meet Seungmin’s roommate,” you replied.

Peter nodded and took the seat opposite you. He gestured to the menu and asked if you had ordered yet. You shook your head and explained that you were waiting for him to arrive.

“Ah you’re too sweet noona, you didn’t have to!” he protested. He picked up his menu and looked it over, biting his lip as he tried to make a quick decision. He peered over the top of the menu and asked if you were okay with cheesecake.

You shot him a quick smile and declined, explaining you had your eye on a berry tart. “But we can order different things,” you insisted. “After all, this is meant to be more of a lowkey meet-up.”

Peter bit his lip behind his menu and nodded, trying to hide his disappointment. He looked around for a waiter and froze when he saw who it was.

“Felix?”

“Oh hey!” the young man greeted as he came over. “You live with Seungmin, right?”

Peter nodded and he put his menu down. He looked at you as he asked if you were ready to order and you agreed, turning to look at the waiter.

“Felix, right?” you asked.

The waiter nodded and produced a pen and order pad. “What may I get for you?”

You pointed out the berry tart and thanked him as you passed over your menu. Peter held out his menu and ordered the cheesecake sampler, before asking if you wanted to order drinks.

“Oh I’m cool with water,” you confirmed.

“Oh um, okay then! Same here,” Peter replied. “Thanks Felix.”

The waiter excused himself and went off to key in your orders. Peter jabbed a thumb behind him and explained that he knew him through a neighbor.

“There’s this guy who lives on our floor by the elevator and he started dating Felix,” Peter explained.

“So he’s the fairy?”

“Huh?”

“Oh, Seung joked that your neighbor started seeing a fairy-like guy,” you explained.

“Hah, oh yeah, he sorta does have fairy visuals,” Peter remarked. “Funny thing is, this guy who lives in our building, he looks like the epitome of darkness and hardcore stuff. So to see him with Felix, it’s kinda –”

“A TV trope?” you offered.

Peter nodded and you fell silent as Felix returned with water glasses. Both of you thanked him and the young waiter informed you that your desserts were coming out shortly.

“Not to rush you, but are you paying together or separate?” Felix asked as he clasped his hands together.

You opened your mouth to say separate, but Peter beat you to it, saying it was one bill. Felix nodded and excused himself to check on your desserts.

“We can split if you want,” you spoke up. “I brought money.”

Peter shook his head and flashed you a smile. “No I’m not making noona pay on our date.”

Didn’t Seungmin tell him this wasn’t one? you thought, the smile still frozen on your face. Well, maybe it was a slip...

-------------------------------

“You didn’t have to,” you said.

Peter shrugged his shoulders and replied it was no big deal. He pushed his hands into his pockets as he walked beside you.

The desserts were good and Peter was pretty nice. But his roommate wasn’t kidding when he described him as a chatterbug. You almost wondered how that guy got a moment to breathe with all of the questions he fired at you, all while taking brief breaks to try the five different cheesecakes he got in the sampler. At one point he tried to persuade you to try one of his, which had strawberry in it, but you declined, explaining you weren’t a big fan of the dessert. He seemed crestfallen at this revelation, but eventually bounced back and asked what you did like to eat.

By the time the bill came, you tried to put down your share of the tab, but he shot you a look as he tugged it closer to him. You gave up and thanked him, planning to walk home and take it easy the rest of the night. But he insisted on walking you home.

You had to give him credit for being a gentleman and making sure you got home safely, but honestly, you were ready to curl up in bed and be a bit anti-social. Seungmin was right – his roommate was sweet, but a bit too energetic for you to handle. Once you reached the gate that blocked out non-residents from entering without a key, you turned and thanked Peter.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to walk you to your door?” he asked with a slightly concerned look.

You waved it away as nothing and explained your place was secure past this point. One hand slotted the key into the gate’s lock and you turned it, pulling it toward you. You stepped through and glanced back briefly at Peter.

“Hey it was nice meeting you,” you told him. “Next time, how about you, me, and Seung hang out and get coffee. On me, by the way.”

“Oh um, ye-yeah! Yeah that’s cool,” he said. He tilted his head and murmured, “I um, I ruined it, didn’t I?”

“Sorry?” you asked as you backtracked, holding the gate open slightly.

“The date?” he said.

“Peter...I’ll be honest, I thought Seungmin told you it wasn’t really a date,” you confessed. “See, I wanted to meet new people and I thought it would be cool to meet Seungmin’s roommate. I’m sorry there was miscommunication.”

Peter blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Ah he did tell me it wasn’t a big deal,” he replied, “but I’ll admit I was a little hopeful. I don’t wanna seem desperate, but I like the idea of being with someone and showing them I care, you know?”

“I get that,” you said. “I had a good time tonight and I would like to meet up again as friends, if that’s okay. Right now, I’m not in a good space to date, if you get me.”

He nodded and raised a hand to say goodbye. “If the coffee hangout still stands, I’d like that. I think Seungmin would like that too. Thanks again.”

You bid him good night before slipping through the gate and heading to the elevator leading to your floor. You quietly congratulated yourself for handling the situation well, as the young man seemed to understand where you were coming from and realized that a friendship was possible. Once the elevator reached your floor, you stepped off and made a beeline for your door.

You immediately took your flats off at the door and arranged them under your coat hooks. One hand reached up to place the keys on the empty hook over your head and you felt a warm presence touch your hand, taking your keys from you to put on the hook. You slowly averted your gaze from your flats, spotting a second pair of feet beside you. Gradually, your eyes traveled from the black boots, the long legs, the broad shoulders, and the angular jaw of a young man in his twenties.

You took a step back in shock as you watched the young man place your keys on the hook and you blinked a few times to make sure you weren’t imagining things. At first glance, his face reminded you of Yeji’s, but you noticed his brows were fuller and he had a small beauty mark under one of his eyes. Then you remembered Yeji’s cousin who died before graduation. Could this be...?

“Are you...?” you whispered.

“The guy who died here? Sam Hwang?” he offered.

You raised a brow in confusion. Sam? “Um, Yeji never told me your name.”

Now it was his turn to look confused. “You know my cousin?”

“Um kind of?” you confessed. “My friend introduced us. She only revealed she lost a cousin who went to the same school, but that’s it. No offense...but what is your birth name? You don’t look like a Sam to me.”

His eyes closed, giving him a cute eye smile as he laughed lightly. “Hyunjin. Jin or Jinnie is fine with me.”

You straightened up and stared at the young man. He had a faint glow around him and you suddenly remembered some of the odd things that took place: the box being opened, keys misplaced, bed turned down, and the warm hug after your rough night.

“You were behind all of those things, weren’t you?” you asked in a soft voice. “Was this your dorm room?”

He nodded and glanced over at your kitchen, gesturing to the area where you placed your bar stools. “How about we sit and talk?”

You agreed as you walked around him, eyes barely leaving him as you took a seat. The letter from the previous owners was within reach and you moved it closer, remembering the other side you forgot to read.

Hyunjin took a seat beside you and watched as you skimmed through the second side of the letter. He propped an elbow on the counter and rested his chin in his hand. “No they didn’t see me, but sometimes I played a few light jokes on them,” he spoke up. “They were pretty nice. Kind of got nervous when they left, but then you moved in and you seemed like a good person.”

You tore your eyes from the letter and put it down on the counter, turning to look at your ghostly companion. You struggled to find the words to ask the question you had been wondering for a while, but wondered if that seemed rude. Almost as if he could read your mind, Hyunjin reached over and rested a hand on top of yours.

“It was a misunderstanding,” he said in a soft voice. “A friend of mine left a party with a frat president’s ex and the guy thought it was me. He came over looking for his girlfriend and pushed me around. I hit my head pretty hard and, well, things got fuzzy and I remember blacking out. Eventually I realized I didn’t make it and...”

“Please tell me he got jail for what he did to you,” you whispered.

Hyunjin shrugged and explained that he never knew what happened to the frat president. “I felt like I couldn’t leave and eventually the school sold the building. What you heard about wanting the dorm on campus is only part of the truth – they didn’t want to advertise a dormitory where a student was killed.”

You swallowed hard as the news sunk in and you stared down at your hands. It was a lot to process at once and you closed your eyes before taking a deep breath. Hyunjin watched you and gently rubbed his thumb on top of your hand.

“I’m so sorry Hyunjin,” you said after a moment.

“You don’t have to apologize,” he said. He cast a glance at the door and allowed a faint smirk to cross his lips. “So, that date didn’t go so well, huh?”

You snapped your head up and glanced at him in confusion. He snorted and explained that he heard you speaking to someone on the phone about a date tonight.

“Care to explain why you keep hiding my keys?” you asked with a teasing smile.

Hyunjin blinked and looked away, suddenly looking bashful. “Well...wait, I asked you first!”

“Were you jealous?” you teased.

“Ah...maybe. Fine, yes,” he huffed. “I thought noona seemed nice and I started to enjoy your company. Originally I hid your keys for fun, just to see if you could figure out that I was here. But then when you talked about seeing someone else, I sort of felt...I don’t know? Sad? Jealous?”

“I wasn’t going to bring him home,” you reassured the ghost. “Also, it wasn’t a date. The guy seemed interesting and I wanted to meet him after hearing so much about him from his roommate.”

Hyunjin tilted his head and asked if you planned to see the guy again. You raised a brow at him and replied that it would only be as friends.

“Relax Hyunjin, no boy’s coming home with me for a long time,” you promised. “Actually, speaking of which, I really wanna go change and curl up in bed.” You moved to get off your stool and Hyunjin slowly rose from his.

“Do you want space tonight?” he asked. “I’m sorry about that one time. You seemed down and I wanted to make sure you were all right and getting enough sleep.”

You turned to face him and flashed him a soft smile. “No, don’t apologize. I didn’t know I needed someone to comfort me until you did. Thank you.” You glanced over at your bedroom, then back at the ghost. “You mind cuddling tonight?”

#Stray Kids Hyunjin #Hwang Hyunjin #Hwang Hyunjin AU #Skz Hyunjin #Happy Birthday Hyunjin #Hwang Hyunjin Day #Itzy Yeji #Itzy Lia #Lee Felix #Kim Seungmin #Han Jisung #yourkeeperoftherunners original #number 2933

62 notes · View notes